Category: General

MANILA: The National Human Settlements Board (NHSB) has reduced the cap on rental increases for residential units with monthly rates of PHP10,000 or less to a maximum of 2.3 percent, down from last year’s limit of 4 percent. The new regulation, intended to protect low-income tenants from excessive rent hikes, will be in effect from January 1 to December 31, 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, the NHSB’s decision, articulated in Resolution No. 2024-001, was adopted in December 2024 following a recommendation from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Undersecretary Henry Yap signed the resolution on behalf of the

SEOUL: South Korea’s wider Seoul area and the eastern region of Gangwon experienced heavy snowfall on Sunday, leading officials to enhance weather alerts and prepare for potential disruptions. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted significant snow accumulation, with expectations of up to 8 centimeters in Seoul and up to 10 centimeters in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon by Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, the Ministry of Interior and Safety responded by activating the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at Level 1. The crisis alert was elevated to “caution” from “attention” at 8 a.m. to address the situation effectively.

BACALOD: The city government of Bacolod is set to begin issuing identification cards to members of accredited sectoral associations starting January, aiming to facilitate easier access to government services and assistance. The initiative is part of an effort to create a comprehensive database to verify membership and streamline aid distribution. According to Philippines News Agency, the Management Information Technology and Computer Services is currently encoding individual information to build this database. City Administrator Lucille Gelvolea stated that the initial issuance of sectoral IDs will be prioritized for those belonging to accredited associations. This measure is expected to simplify the process

CAGAYAN DE ORO: More than 75,000 kilograms of waste were collected in Cagayan de Oro following this year’s New Year celebrations, marking a notable decrease in the volume of waste compared to previous years. This effective waste management was attributed to proactive measures implemented by local authorities and waste management firms. According to Philippines News Agency, Jermie Danuco, operations manager of Tencil, a third-party waste collection firm, stated in a radio interview that the collected waste originated from five public markets in the city. Danuco emphasized that the reduction in waste volume was a result of deploying collection trucks as

CEBU: The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) has reported 93 fireworks-related injuries between December 21, 2024, and January 2, 2025. This data, released on Thursday, highlights the region’s challenges during the holiday season, as celebrations led to a significant number of injuries. According to Philippines News Agency, 19 of these cases were documented following the New Year’s festivities. The data was gathered from 34 hospitals, comprising two sentinel and 32 non-sentinel facilities across the region. The DOH-7 figures notably surpass those reported by the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), which recorded 14 fireworks-related incidents during the same timeframe. Additionally,