Category: General

MANILA: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help boost the capacity of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in earthquake and tsunami analysis and monitoring. The record of discussions between the two agencies was signed at the Phivolcs’ auditorium in Quezon City on Tuesday. Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the project aims to capacitate their technical staff in delivering timely and accurate information concerning earthquake and tsunamis. “This is Japan’s commitment and contribution to the promotion of international cooperation, especially towards developing countries,” he told the Philippine News Agency. Phivolcs will send employees for short term training

MANILA: The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined Tuesday on profit-taking, while the local currency improved its performance. The PSEi closed the day lower by 0.33 percent at 6,667.09, with All Shares also shedding by 0.23 percent down to 3,585.93. ‘Local shares succumbed to profit taking following a successive run-up of the index as investors bet that the unsuccessful assassination attempt boosted Donald Trump’s chances of reclaiming the White House,’ Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said. Among sectoral indices, only Property boosted its shares to 2,697.04, higher by 1.73 percent than its Monday close. Those in

LEGAZPI CITY – To provide better medical access to women and children, a PHP300 million facility will soon rise inside the compound of the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) in Daraga, Albay. During a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-list Representative and House Committee of Appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co said to be constructed is Phase 1 of Women’s Health and Child Care Specialty Center, which will be a 10-story medical care facility for the townsfolk, especially pregnant women and children. The new facility will have a capacity of more than 120 beds. “As a Bicolano, I

LEGAZPI CITY – A total of 239 students from Albay province received on Tuesday a financial grant under the Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In an interview during the payout at Embarcedero de Legazpi, Jean Cardiño, CHED Bicol chief administrative officer, said each beneficiary received PHP25,000 in one-time assistance, totaling PHP5.97 million. “The SMART Grant Program is a project of the commission being given a one-time fixed financial grant to qualified students for as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program for the school year 2023-2024,” she

BUTUAN CITY – The conviction of former party-list congressman Satur Ocampo and incumbent Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro is a triumph for all Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Mindanao, especially the victims of the communist New People’s Army (NPA). Datu Rico Maca, IP Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, said Tuesday that Ocampo, Castro and other left-leaning organizations orchestrated the establishment of schools in IP villages in Mindanao that served as recruitment grounds for the NPA. On July 3, the Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Tagum City convicted Ocampo, Castro and 11 others for