Category: General

TACLOBAN CITY: A top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in a clash between government forces and rebels in the upland Osmeña village in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar on Thursday. The Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion (78IB) identified the slain rebel as Joel Guarino alias Duran, the squad leader of squad 2 of the recently dismantled Apoy Platoon of the NPA. Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan said in a statement that government forces had an armed encounter with a band of seven NPA combatants early Thursday while troops were conducting development and security operations in the upland village of

DAVAO CITY: Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. is optimistic that his province will receive much-needed development aid and investment opportunities after participating in the Mindanao Development Forum 2024, which culminated here Thursday. In a press briefing Thursday, Demerey said the forum has become a platform that would unlock the province’s potentials with the help of foreign and domestic investors. ‘I am hopeful that not only investments will come in, but also assistance. I have been with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for two days, and I saw potential connections where the programs implemented in certain areas

CEBU CITY: Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has instructed city engineers to speed up the completion of a medium-rise building (MRB) intended for poor families displaced by fire, demolitions, and enforcement of easement along riverbanks. Garcia said Thursday that he ordered the re-bidding process to fast-track the completion of the second MRB that the contractor left unfinished two years ago. He expressed disappointment over the unfinished project that caused a significant housing shortage, noting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s wish to address the country’s housing backlog during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). Garcia inspected MRB-2 in the

MALASIQUI: La Union recorded its first casualty since rains from the southwest monsoon aggravated by Super Typhoon Carina started Tuesday, while the number of evacuees has declined to 59 families. La Union Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Aureliano Rulloda III, in his report on Thursday, identified the 11-year told victim as Hayzel Rey Gaudia from Barangay Tammocalao Bacnotan town. He said the victim was brought to a hospital after she was hit by a fallen tree on July 23 but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor. Meanwhile, the search and rescue or retrieval operations

TACLOBAN CITY: The Northern Samar provincial government is positioning the province as a potential business processing and outsourcing (BPO) investment destination to create job opportunities in the province. Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the provincial economic development and investment promotions office (PEDIPO), said in a phone interview Thursday attracting BPO investments is timely since there is an ongoing improvement in mobile and broadband services through the new cell sites built by Globe. ‘Residents and businesses can anticipate reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. We are also in the process of preparing the compliance of Catarman town to the scorecards as a