Philippines News

SOME members of the LGBTQ+ community in Cebu found the “Ama Namin” drag performance of Pura Luka Vega offensive and blasphemous.

In a tweet, drag queen Pura Luka Vega showed a video where he performed as Jesus Christ, singing along with other people a remix of “Ama Namin” (the Lord’s Prayer), on July 10, 2023.

Emjee, a member of the LGBTQ+ community who refused to give his full name, said it is not the song that lost its dignity, but the doer who mocked it.

“It is clearly offensive for the Catholics, knowing that someone we adore and worship became an icon for entertainment,” said Emjee from Talisay City.

“Blasphemy na man siya to consider kay bugal-bugal naman to (It was already considered blasphemy because the act was mockery). Wala naman niya gi-imitate or gi-emulate ang God figure ni Jesus (He was no longer imitating or emulating the God figure of Jesus),” he added.

Emjee also stressed that there were better ways to entertain people without hurting religious feelings or making fun of their beliefs.

Another member of the community from Dalaguete, who asked not to be named said every religious aspect should be respected and valued, and Vega’s action is an example of why LGBTQ+ does not deserve the Sogie bill.

The Sogie bill aims to end gender-based discrimination by penalizing people who discriminate against people due to their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie).

“It is critical to handle such performances with sensitivity and respect, as they can be contentious and may upset certain people with religious views,” he said.

Choky Repollo from the City of Naga, a church server, said he was saddened to hear about what happened.

He said respecting the beliefs of Catholics and other religions is simple and “common sense.”

“Is it necessary to be perfect for you to give respect to holy things not only to Catholics but also other religions?” he said.

Calyxto, not his real name, said he felt insulted because it was losing the sacredness and the value of The Lord’s Prayer.

“I think this is too much nga kani siya is part of freedom of expression. Naa na siya below the belt,” he said.

(I think it’s too much to consider even this impersonation of Jesus as part of freedom of expression. It is already below the belt.)

“Whether the intention is good or bad, since nanobra naman, so sayop gyud sya (since it was too much, it was wrong),” he added.

Franco Francisco, a worship committee head, questioned how people currently interact with the Lord, and if they even understand the fundamentals of the Catholic faith.

“The community has been longing for others to respect our sexuality, yet in this case, we are the ones who are not respecting others’ beliefs. The longer this is tolerated, the more people are unaware of our beliefs and respect,” he said.

“As a Catholic and a drag fan, I was disappointed and saddened to know that he used the image of Christ in the art form of drag. A reminder that anything can be a kind of art or drag, but we must consider our boundaries,” he added.

Vega, in a tweet on July 13, said he understands the perspectives of people on his performance.

“However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag. That performance was not for you to begin with. It is my experience and my expression, of having been denied my rights,” Vega said. (CNU INTERN GK MARIE DEJACTO)

TWELVE of the 101 dogs that were rescued from an abandoned house in the mountain barangay of Adlaon in Cebu City have survived, said the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, head of the DVMF, said eight of the 12 dogs were already adopted by some residents, while the remaining four are also candidates for adoption.

“There are four (dogs) left. Two of them are adoptable because they were separated. So until someone adopts, it’s really up to them if they can survive or not,” she said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

She stressed that two of the four dogs will be placed under observation.

“With regard to the two (dogs), we have already included them in our rehabilitation. If they still do not approach our caretakers, and then based on our assessment, of course, it is possible that they will also be candidates for euthanasia,” Maribojoc said.

It was reported in June this year that 29 dogs had passed away naturally, while the remaining dogs were candidates for euthanasia.

Maribojoc said she is hoping that the remaining four dogs will survive until they will be fit for adoption.

She assured that the case against the couple who abandoned the animals had already been processed and they were just waiting for the decision from the prosecutor’s office.

The couple, Lorna Oberes and her partner Edwin Casas, and their unidentified caretakers were charged before the prosecutor’s office for allegedly committing cruel acts against animals. (CNU INTERN KIMBERLY GOC-ONG)

THE Commission on Audit (COA) found several irregularities in some transactions of the Cebu City Government, including deficiencies in the financial assistance for survivors of Typhoon Odette (Rai) amounting to P791.8 million, some 2021-2022 expenditures which COA considered unnecessary like the purchase of T-shirts for different associations and activities amounting to more than P1.1 million, and lapses in the grant of financial assistance to senior citizens amounting to P922.7 million.

The state auditor also noted that more than P4.5 billion from delinquent real property taxes (RPTs) could have been added to the City’s coffer, emphasizing that the City needs to improve its collection efforts to generate more income which could be used for development programs and projects of the City and its 80 barangays.

The 2022 annual audit report was submitted and included in the agenda of the Cebu City Council during the regular session on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Typhoon Odette financial assistance

The state auditor questioned the regularity and validity of the financial assistance for survivors of Typhoon Odette after several deficiencies were found, including the presence of signatures opposite the names of some constituents who claimed to have not received the cash assistance; duplication of names and payments; and non-submission of complete supporting documents.

After Typhoon Odette hit parts of the country in December 2021, including Cebu City, the City decided to provide financial assistance or subsidies of P5,000 for homeowners whose houses were either damaged or destroyed.

Based on the record of the City Accounting Department, a total of P791.835 million was disbursed in 2022 for 158,367 beneficiaries.

Mayor Michael Rama issued Executive Order 149 on Dec. 23, 2021 to set the rules and regulations for the Typhoon Odette assistance, which also contained the mayor’s instruction to the Department of Social Welfare Services, in coordination with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, to prepare the list of beneficiaries.

As part of audit procedures, the audit team conducted a random written interview with 241 residents from 10 different barangays on Nov. 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, and 28 and on Dec. 1 to verify whether there was strict adherence to the set guidelines.

One of the questions was: “Did you receive the financial assistance from the Cebu City Government for the victim of typhoon Odette? If no, please state the reason/s given by the cash disbursing personnel why you were not given the aid/assistance?”

Of the 241 responders, 91 answered yes, while 150 answered no, according to COA.

COA also noted the inconsistent application of the EO that resulted in selective profiling.

Some residents disclosed that they were not selected for the reason that their house was only damaged.

COA said the non-adherence to the guidelines set in the EO only promoted government distrust.

It also found various loopholes in the data profiling which made it difficult to identify the specific person listed as qualified beneficiary, opening rooms for possible fraud or irregularities.

The state auditor found 296 names or beneficiaries with a total amount of P1.480 million appearing twice or thrice in the submitted database, with 70 belonging to the same barangay while the remaining 226 belonging to different barangays.

COA also noted that distribution was delayed for three to 12 months with P138.620 million, or 14.90 percent of available funds, still undistributed.

Other notable observations included names lacking the complete information such as middle names and the names of their sitios of residence, duplication of misspelled or interchanged names which may refer to one, and non-submission of the endorsement letter or barangay certificate of residence and copies of the valid identification card with specimen signatures of the beneficiaries, among others.

The City has agreed to COA’s recommendation to further investigate the noted deficiencies.

COA also recommended avoiding giving a similar task to two or more offices with equivalent or parallel authority as this may cause confusion, disagreements, conflicts, or opportunity for fraud.

Based on the COA report, it has yet receive a concrete comment from the City on the findings.

Unnecessary expenditures

The state auditor also flagged several expenses the City made in 2021 to 2022 as unnecessary or irregular, including:

• Purchase of 1,957 T-shirts amounting to P391,400 for the general assembly and election of officers of Cebu City Habal-Habal Riders in December 2021;

• Purchase of 1,000 T-shirts amounting to P200,000 for the general assembly meeting of persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Dec. 26, 2021;

• Purchase of 517 T-shirts amounting to P103,400 for the LGBTQ+ strategic planning in December 2021;

• Purchase of 1,754 T-shirts amounting to P263,100 for religious purposes, orientation, and anniversary celebration in October 2021;

• Purchase of 2,000 T-shirts amounting to P300,000 for senior citizens and PWDs in October 2021;

• Purchase of 2,000 T-shirts amounting to P300,000 for the anniversary celebration of Repos Angels Inc., a nongovernment organization, and Quiot LGBT in October 2021;

• Provision of afternoon snacks for a morning half-day event which COA deemed unnecessary, adding that the event’s budget of P93,792.19 could have been lower;

• Provision of lunch for a half-day event and morning snacks for an afternoon event incurring a total of P986,593, both of which COA deemed unnecessary;

• Provision of breakfast for various activities, including 1,500 breakfast meals amounting to P240,000 for the Barangay Women’s Culinary Courses on Nov. 20, 2021, and another P1,500 breakfast meals amounting to P240,000 for the Barangay City Health Workers general assembly in November 2021; and

• Provision of breakfast totaling P158,485 for a morning event.

The state auditor recommended strengthening the City’s measures to curb and cut unproductive spending or eliminate unproductive, unnecessary, wasteful expenses, and maximize use of funds for programs that support an important objective.

“In the context of limited government resources and against the backdrop of competing government priorities, curbing or cutting unproductive spending should always be an important government objective,” the COA stated in its report.

Senior citizens financial assistance lapses

COA noted various lapses in the grant of financial assistance to senior citizens totaling P922.780 million in 2022, such as claims through authorization despite explicit prohibition, inconsistent signatures, inclusion in the distribution payroll of deceased senior citizens, and signed payroll for deceased senior citizens.

The City disbursed a total of P922.780 million in 2022 for such program.

COA conducted an audit using more than 5,000 samples.

It found that in 2022, senior citizens who were unable to personally claim their financial assistance were subjected to different guidelines set by the City or the executive director of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) depending on the distribution period.

Of the total samples, 35 samples fell under this audit condition.

“Notwithstanding such clear and express prohibition on claims via authorization letter ‘for and on behalf’ of the qualified SC (senior citizen), the AOs (account officers) did not strictly comply with the same as we discovered that some SCs financial aid were still received by another person through authorization letter,” COA noted.

COA also noted that some beneficiaries’ signatures appeared to differ significantly from one payroll to another, which raised doubts about authenticity.

As part of the audit process, the state auditor also wrote to the Office of the City Civil Registrar for a copy of the list of deceased senior citizens in 2021 and 2022.

From the data the COA gathered, a total of 4,691 senior citizens died in 2021 and 3,727 in 2022. After cross-checking 1,483 samples, it found 30 deceased senior citizens still included in the current payroll.

COA discovered that the names of 13 deceased senior citizens were signed, manifesting that their financial assistance was claimed.

COA also noted large amounts of unclaimed or returned funds amounting to P40.225 million, indicating either excessive grant of cash advances or flawed distribution methods.

The state auditor recommended improving the City’s distribution and communication methods by having a fixed distribution schedule per barangay with a clear communication flow employing all available platforms to target beneficiaries.

The City has agreed to COA’s recommendation to further investigate the noted deficiencies.

P4.5 billion delinquent RPT

COA noted delinquent RPTs amounting to P4.598 billion in the records of the City Treasurer Office (CTO), which remained uncollected as of December 2022.

It recommended instructing the CTO to strategize and exert effort to enforce collections of delinquent RPTs, including the conduct of a tax campaign and sending of notices of delinquencies.

It also recommended tapping the barangays.

COA noted that during the exit conference, it was informed that the CTO still had to reconcile and update its records with the City Assessor’s Office.

It said the City also committed to maximize collection in the future.

BARANGAYS Mambaling and Inayawan in Cebu City are now regarded as “areas of concern” in Central Visayas after logging the highest cases of teenage pregnancy in 2022.

The report caught Barangay Captain Gines Abellana of Mambaling and Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo of Inawayan by surprise.

Maria Lourdes Garillos, population program officer of the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) 7, said the two barangays in the south district recorded more than 85 cases of teenage pregnancy last year.

But she did not provide the exact number of teenage pregnancies in each barangay.

Garillos informed SunStar Cebu about the data last Thursday, July 13, 2023, after the presentation of the results of the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which focused on women and children’s health.

“First is because these youths, they are not aware. There is not much information acquisition in terms of comprehensive sexuality education and adolescent reproductive health,” Garillos said.

Addressing the problem

Abellana said he is yet to conduct a survey on how many teens in Mambaling have been impregnated by accident, or “gipaangkan” in Cebuano.

He said the figures are alarming, adding that they will look into it as it is inappropriate for teens to be bearing children at such a young age.

“We (involved stakeholders) will meet on Monday (July 17) to perform my obligations as the barangay captain on this matter,” he told SunStar Cebu on Sunday, July 16.

Repollo, his counterpart in Inayawan, echoed his sentiments.

Repollo told SunStar Cebu on Saturday that he did not receive any report from Popcom 7, but vowed to continue the ongoing programs against teenage pregnancy in their barangay.

“Even without that report from [Popcom 7], we already had been conducting a lot of seminars and symposiums regarding teenage pregnancy to the students, parents and different people’s organization in the barangay,” he said.

He said that they have been coordinating with administrators of the Inayawan Elementary School and Inayawan National High School to monitor youngsters.

He said they are also implementing a curfew for minors in the barangay.

Garillos said Cebu City had the highest number of teenage pregnancies among highly urbanized cities in the region in the past year, which she considered alarming.

“This is what we call ‘too young, too risky, and too soon.’ They are not ready for their reproductive health and even so for their future,” she said. “Their future is very vague. They are still in school. Then they are very prone to maternal and infant mortality in these cases.”

She said the youngest girl to have gotten pregnant was 10 years old, but she did not divulge where the girl came from.

Garillos also did not share statistics from other barangays in the city, as well as data from other provinces in the region.

Ignorance

She said that while she had identified a number of potential contributing factors based on the agency’s monitoring, lack of awareness remained the main reason for teenage pregnancy.

She said children and teenagers in these places hardly received any education on reproduction health.

She stated that it is important for them to understand the fundamentals, such as the possibility of pregnancy when a girl first gets her period and when a boy starts producing sperm.

Garillos said it is important to understand that early pregnancy happens when neither party is aware of what can happen after having unprotected sex.

She also said there are cases where the male is much older than the female.

Programs

Garillos said Popcom 7 will continue to intensify efforts to educate the youth about reproductive health to combat teenage pregnancy.

According to her, there are teen centers in various locations throughout the region with trained peer educators conducting training programs for teenagers.

She said they partnered with organizations in the youth sector, such as the National Youth Commission and the Sangguniang Kabataan, for their initiatives.

“Instead of them only conducting activities like basketball leagues and pageants, it would be better if there is an advocacy aspect that advocates towards making known what is teenage pregnancy,” she said.

Garillos said they are also collaborating with the Department of Education in conducting age-appropriate “heart-to-heart” discussions with students about reproductive health.

According to the provided data for 2021, there were 10,717 teenage pregnancies involving girls between the ages of 15 and 19, and 164 pregnancies involving girls under the age of 15 in Central Visayas.

IN LIGHT of its remarkable contributions to revitalizing fishing communities of Cebu Province following typhoon Odette), the Aboitiz Foundation’s “Project Banca” was awarded Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project in Disaster Resilience at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards on July 6, 2023.

Together with its Cebu-based Aboitiz business units, the Aboitiz Group successfully aided in the recovery of fishing communities and families affected by the calamity.

Project Banca helped restore livelihoods by providing fisherfolk with the necessary equipment to resume fishing activities.

“We are humbled and honored to receive the Outstanding CSR Project in Disaster Resilience award for ‘Project Banca.’ Being able to uplift and have a positive impact on the lives of those affected by the calamities is already an achievement for us, but this recognition will further fuel our determination to continue supporting communities in their journey towards recovery and resilience,” said Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

Brand-new bancas

Coinciding with the launch of “Project Banca” on April 4, 2022 was the transfer of brand-new bancas to beneficiaries in Talisay City, Toledo City and Liloan in Cebu.

The event represented the collaborative efforts of the Aboitiz Foundation, the local government, and the resilient communities aiming to empower fishing communities and revive the local economy.

The donated boats help fishermen catch fish more efficiently and safely.

In just two months, the beneficiaries caught 645 kilograms of fish, which they sold for a total of P129,000.

With their fishing activities back on track, the lives of 75 fisherfolk and their families significantly improved.

“Project Banca” is an integral component of the Aboitiz Group’s #RebuildCebu Campaign, which aims to assist in the rehabilitation of areas severely affected by typhoon Odette in Cebu Province.

Commitment

The recognition of the Aboitiz Foundation’s “Project Banca” as the Outstanding CSR Project in Disaster Resilience underscores the Aboitiz Group’s strong commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.

As the Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, it is powered by technology and a renewed entrepreneurial spirit, and through initiatives like Project Banca, it actively fosters and encourages that entrepreneurial spirit among fellow Filipinos, even in the face of setbacks and natural disasters.

By providing support, resources, and resilience training, Aboitiz empowers entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and create opportunities for themselves and their communities.

OVER 70 residents of Lapu-Lapu City volunteered to donate blood during the bloodletting activity conducted by the Philippine Seven Corp. (7-Eleven), in partnership with the Lapu-Lapu City Government, Subnational Blood Center for Visayas and National Voluntary Blood Services Program, on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Most of the donors were aged 24 to 50 years old, although individuals as young as 16 were allowed to donate blood with parental consent.

Delsie Dungog Salgado, a nurse and blood coordinator of Lapu-Lapu City Health, said the activity aimed to gather 300 donors.

Salgado added that personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) 7 collected and processed the blood, and the Philippine Red Cross was also involved.

Dr. Mar Carlo Alcontin of the DOH 7 emphasized the significance of the activity, saying: “For our families, patients, or individuals who need blood, we can easily provide blood as we have stocks.”

One of the blood donors was Filomeno Tumabiene, a resident of Barangay Babag 2.

“I was just sending my child to the basketball court and then I saw the activity. I tried and passed the screening, so I donated blood.”

Tumabiene said he can help save lives by participating in the activity and expressed hope that the bloodletting activity would continue in the future.

A teenager, who preferred not to be named, said, “I am happy that I donated blood. You know that feeling of satisfaction.”

The bloodletting activity will also be held in Olango Island on Friday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Organizers stated that donors must have had at least six hours of sleep or more, should not have taken antibiotics within the week, and must weigh 50 kilograms or above. (CNU INTERN JULIE LIZA ALANTOSON)

An increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme will help ensure that approximately 100,000 low-income homeowners are able to pay their local council rates this coming financial year, Kieran McAnulty announced today.

The Rates Rebate Scheme is a partial refund for people who pay rates to their council. It exists to provide financial relief for low-income New Z

WATSONS, a leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer brand, continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to improving the health and wellness of communities throughout the Philippines. In a recent collaboration, Watsons joined forces with Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) to conduct a medical mission in Cauayan, Isabela from July 10 to 15, 2023—marking its second initiative of the year.

The mission not only paved the way for giving back smiles to 60 beneficiaries—all children with a cleft palate condition—but also a more meaningful experience for the Watsons employees who volunteered and took part in this endeavor.

A total of 35 Watsons employees joined the Isabela OSP mission. Truly, it was one extraordinary experience that left a lasting impression on everyone.

Pharmacy manager Ellyrose Simplina of Watsons Isabela talks about her experience during the mission: "As a volunteer for OSP Mission, it was very rewarding, especially when we see the smiles of the patients and the parents after a successful operation. It warms our hearts and gives us a sense of purpose. Indeed, you can find happiness by helping others.”

The mission also helped make the team work together and showed how hands-on they can be in taking care of the beneficiaries. The volunteers helped in different aspects such as the final screening of the patients, interviewing parents, filling up the patient records, and even post-operative hygiene care assistance.

“My experience as a volunteer of the OSP mission taught me empathy, compassion, and teamwork. Working with people you’ve never met before can be intimidating, but it helped me strengthen my communication skills. To see the smile of each patient makes it a valuable and rewarding experience,” pharmacist Sabrina Faye Reyes shared.

“We are delighted to witness the profound impact of our partnership with Operation Smile Philippines. Through this collaboration, we are not only transforming lives but also reaffirming our commitment to employee volunteerism and making a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Sharon Decapia, Marketing AVP of Watsons Philippines.

Watsons takes great pride in sharing this humbling and inspiring experience with its entire team. This partnership in the Philippines exemplifies A.S. Watson's global commitment to bringing 10,000 perfect smiles in collaboration with Operation Smile. With two successful medical missions completed this year, Watsons has plans to organize an additional medical mission in the coming months, with a mission in Tacloban already scheduled. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

THE Filipinos’ listening habit is becoming borderless, especially Filipinos who identify as “Gen Z.” They listen to songs from the U.S.A., U.K., South Korea, but also pay homage to rising local artists nationwide.

Joem, an 18-year-old from Davao City is one of these rising artists. He is a singer-songwriter who plays multiple instruments and first made waves when he won his first ever music competition, Globe Virtual Hangouts GoJAM Onstage Talent search in 2022.

After earning the approval of music executives and producers, he received a record contract with Kroma Entertainment, Inc. and released his first track, “Gustong Gusto Kita.” His soothing voice is enough to convince anyone that they’re very beautiful (“napakaganda mo,” the lyric goes). It’s a great song to play on a laidback afternoon.

Joem’s newest song, “Pangako,” was created in collaboration with Brian Lotho, one of the judges from the competition Joem won in 2022. Lotho believes in the power possessed by young musicians and fully supports them in their music career: “A lot of producers are already working with talents from different parts of the Philippines, but I have hope this pushes it even further [...] There’s so much talent here and most of them just need guidance,” he said.

“Pangako” takes on an upbeat tempo but with a melancholic undertone as Joem sings of a broken promise and a love lost. He’s holding on to hope, even if it’s just wishful thinking. The song is set to be the next anthem of every sawi, in the Philippines.

Kroma Entertainment, a Filipino tradigital entertainment company made this song possible. Joem’s “Pangako” is its first venture into domestic music distribution under the business unit, Kroma Music, headed by Denise Seva.

“This collaboration from a young talent in the South and a highly regarded music producer in the center stage of the industry proves that OPM is gearing up to a new heights. No matter what an artist’s area code is, music can be made and can be heard—across the country, across the globe,” said Denise.

Support Filipino music and listen to Joem’s “Pangako” now available worldwide: joem.lnk.to/pangako.

Follow Joem through the following platforms:

Facebook: facebook.com/joem.officialmusic

Instagram: instagram.com/joem.officialmusic

Twitter: twitter.com/joem_official

TikTok: tiktok.com/@joem.officialmusic

Spotify: spoti.fi/3NWYazn

Apple Music: apple.co/3NKFQcy

YouTube: t.ly/RYC7

Follow Kroma Entertainment through the following platforms:

Facebook: facebook.com/kromaent

Instagram: instagram.com/kromaent

Twitter: twitter.com/kromaent

TikTok: tiktok.com/@kromaent

YouTube: youtube.com/c/kromaent

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kromaent

Website: kroma.ph

(SPONSORED CONTENT)

Following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine in June as a result of continued Russian aggression, Georgians began to worry about the possible hazards of Black Sea water for swimmers. 

Authorities give assurances there are no signs of pollutants reaching Georgian shores yet and experts, too, see little risk of the country's coastline being affected. 

Most senators will support Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros’ resolution urging the Marcos administration to call out China’s aggressions in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations General Assembly.

With the meager P40 increase in the minimum wage in Metro Manila, the Senate remains unwavering in its commitment to increasing the wages for all workers nationwide through a legislated wage hike, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday.

The Senate panel tackling the possible restructuring of the pension system of military and uniformed personnel should look for police and military assets that can be privatized, or enter into joint ventures as sources of MUP pension funds, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday.

The labor group Federation of Free Workers is backing calls for a thorough examination of the Philippines’ diplomatic relations with China.

Expanding access to facilities for women and child victims and survivors of violence and abuse, the Australian government and the United Nations Children’s Fund Philippines launched new tele-Women and Child Protection Units in Kapalong and Nabunturan, Davao del Norte.

The water level of Angat Dam increased by 58 centimeters following the rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong but is still below the 180-meter minimum normal operating level, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

State broadcaster People’s Television Network Inc. has yet to settle the P75.8-million Notices of Disallowance issued by state auditors after the controversial ad placement deal between the Department of Tourism and private media outfit Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. in 2017.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Filipinos are encouraged to use bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation, an official of the Climate Change Commission said.

A total of 1.797 million pairs of license plates worth P808.702 million, paid by registered car owners since 2015, remain undelivered to them by the Land Transportation Office the Commission on Audit has said.

The Department of Health plans to closely coordinate with other government agencies in finding unemployed registered nurses, with the aim of luring them to work in state health facilities.