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

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region (DENR-11) said Tuesday a thorough investigation is being conducted into the death of a Philippine eagle last week. On July 8, Philippine Eagle ‘Mangayon’ died from severe blood loss due to a wound from an improvised air gun called ‘jolen’ (marble). During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas episode, DENR-11 Director Maria Mercedes Dumagan said DENR personnel, in close coordination with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), are still looking for the culprit responsible for the killing of Mangayon. ‘Within the week, they (PEF) will coordinate with the National

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

COTABATO CITY – The Maguindanao del Sur provincial board approved Tuesday a resolution declaring the entire province in a state of calamity due to massive flooding that submerged 17 of 24 municipalities and affected over 60,000 families. Tim Ambolodto, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has recommended placing the province under calamity to allow the provincial government to use its calamity funds. A total of 123 villages in 17 of 24 towns in Maguindanao del Sur remained underwater due to light to heavy downpours in the province and nearby areas

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 2,792 rice farmers in Negros Occidental and Guimaras provinces received a total of PHP13.96 million in cash assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA). In Bago City, the top-producing local government unit in Negros Occidental, a total of PHP4.305 million were distributed to 861 beneficiaries in Barangay Sampinit covered court on Monday, a report of the City Agriculture Office showed. On Tuesday, 863 rice farmers received a total of PHP4.315 million at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center. Meanwhile, 1,068