Category: General

Marikina City: Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo has been designated acting chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations after Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co stepped down from the post, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed on Tuesday. In a statement, Velasco said Quimbo’s designation adheres to Rule IX, Section 32 of the House rules of the 19th Congress, which outlines provisions on “vacancy and succession” within committees. According to Philippines News Agency, Velasco stated that in the event of a vacancy in the position of committee chairperson due to death, resignation, permanent disability, or removal, the vacancy

CARAGA: Twelve newly inducted ‘Doctors to the Barrios’ will soon provide healthcare services to underserved communities across Caraga, the regional Department of Health (DOH-13) announced Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the new doctors took their oath on Monday under the supervision of DOH-13 Director Cesar Cassion. They will undergo pre-deployment orientation until Jan. 17 to prepare them for their assignments. They are expected to start serving their designated areas on Jan. 22 following endorsements to their respective provincial health offices. The doctors include Ivanka Lizbeth Priete, Jade Pajaron Calang, Hazell Mae Dorado, Hanni Bless Linconada, Michelle Pespes, Kathlyn Labiang

Manila: The House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading a bill reorganizing the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDEV). According to Philippines News Agency, during the plenary session, a total of 178 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill 11199, or the proposed Economy, Planning, and Development Act. No lawmaker voted against the measure or abstained from voting. The bill outlines that DEPDEV would serve as the primary policy planning, coordinating, and monitoring arm of the executive branch for national economic development. The proposed department is tasked

Bacolod City: The December 2024 inflation rate for all income households in this highly-urbanized city eased further to 2.4 percent while Negros Occidental province’s went slightly higher to 3.7 percent, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday showed. According to Philippines News Agency, in Bacolod, the inflation rate in November settled at 2.7 percent, from 3.2 percent in October, while Negros Occidental recorded 3 percent in November, after the 3.5 percent in October. In a press briefing, John Campomanes, chief statistical specialist of PSA-Negros Occidental, noted that the top major contributor to last month’s inflation in Bacolod

Benguet: The Benguet State University (BSU) plans to establish approximately 100 hectares of bamboo forest to aid reforestation efforts, support a bamboo textile project, and promote engineered bamboo production. Dr. Roscinto Ian Lumbres, BSU vice president for research and extension, discussed the initiative, which began in 2024 with the production of propagules planted this year. According to Philippines News Agency, the project utilizes a PHP5 million bamboo development fund from Senator Loren Legarda to propagate planting materials in San Pascual, Tuba, Benguet. Initial reforestation sites include a two-hectare area at the Benguet Corp. in Itogon and the BSU compound in