Philippines News

MANILA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,624 people displaced by the unrest of the most active Mayon volcano in the Philippines have suffered from acute respiratory infections, the Philippines' Department of Health said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said health authorities in Albay province have reported that some people in temporary shelters have been sick with coughs, colds, and sore throats.

CEBU City joined the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Central Visayas in launching the annual Nutrition Month with a series of activities.

This month-long celebration, which carries the theme "Healthy diet gawing affordable for all," celebrates NNC’s 49th year in advocating for health and wellness.

Among the activities lined up for the celebration is a Nutrition Caravan, said Nutrition Officer III Norre Jean Delos Santos.

The caravan will happen in different barangays in Cebu, as it aims to reach out to families in need of proper food and diet.

Along with this are outreach programs for the citizens.

Breastfeeding programs have also been initiated to educate mothers about what they should do and eat during the first 1,000 days of their babies, as mandated by Republic Act 11148, which covers nutritionally at-risk mothers and babies aging 0-2 years old.

Dietary supplementation feeding programs have also been carried out for pregnant women to learn what foods will make them and their babies strong and healthy, Delos Santos added.

Volunteers are also recruited through the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program, which caters to over 200 students to help NNC-7, under the Department of Health (DOH), in monitoring children's health and nutrition.

The BNS Program includes teaching volunteers basic health tasks such as caring for the malnourished, mobilizing the community, and other forms of assistance.

NNC-7 has asked local government units (LGUs) to help it fulfill its programs all throughout Cebu.

Efforts and interventions must be done even after the month of July to continuously support the needy and improve the region's nutritional status, Delos Santos said.

This year's Nutrition Month was launched last July 4, 2023 at the Plaza Sugbo, highlighting affordable healthy foods from local markets through cooking contests and food fairs. (Chrys Chelsea Bernales, UP Cebu intern)

Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Monday said their city government will coordinate with national agencies to continue support to more than 300,000 former residents of Makati City that have been transferred to the jurisdiction of Taguig following a Supreme Court ruling on the territory dispute.

MISS Supranational 2023 First Runner-up Pauline Amelinckx highlighted “dedication” as what pushed her to move forward after successfully representing the Philippines internationally at Strzelecki Park Amphitheater, Poland on Friday, July 14, 2023.

In a Facebook post on July 16, 2023, two days after the coronation, Amelinckx said it was the training, hard work, heart work, and dedication that made her conquer the ups and downs in her journey.

“It felt so surreal to go through all the challenges and ups and downs of this journey and still have been able to make it this far, and it’s all the training, hard work, heart work and yes, DEDICATION, that made this happen,” she said.

She stressed how dedication played a huge role in the numerous times she tried competing to represent the country.

“It takes a great amount of dedication toward your own personal growth and belief in your own worth to see rejection as redirection,” she said.

The value of this dedication can also be recognized in her response during the question and answer portion.

“It would be dedication. Dedication to this journey, dedication to the people who have brought her up to this journey and dedication of course with the organization that she’ll end up working with. This is such a beautiful experience. And she has to be someone who can bring people, together. Someone who knows that this is not a one-woman journey. We all have differences but we also realize that we have so much in common. And we are now gathered here on this stage transcending our own borders, bringing nations together,” said Amelinckx when asked what makes a good brand ambassador for the organization.

The beauty queen from Bohol also pointed out that representing the Philippines internationally has been her greatest dream, and she considered it an honor and pleasure to turn it into a reality.

“Ever since I stepped on our national stage it has been my greatest ambition to represent the PH internationally. It has been my greatest honor and pleasure to turn that ambition into reality and finally have been able to attach Philippines to my name,” she said.

Amelinckx also said that she felt so blessed and filled with gratitude, thanking everybody who sent every single vote, view, like, comment, and prayer for her.

“I will be looking back and reflecting some more for a bit. But for now, know that I am immensely proud of our victory, grateful for the love and excited to be back home,” she said.

Amelinckx is the second Filipino to get a crown in Miss Supranational, winning the Supra Chat challenge, after Mutya Johanna Fontiveros Datul, who was crowned Miss Supranational 10 years ago.

Miss Supranational 2023 is Andrea Aguilera from Ecuador. She replaced Miss Lalela Mswane of South Africa.

Second runner-up was Sancler Frantz from Brazil, followed by Emma Collingridge from the United Kingdom, and Ngan Dang Thanh from Vietnam. (GK Marie Dejacto, CNU intern)

"We have always been used by the government as an excuse to counter the calls of public school teachers for salary increase as such may purportedly cause the shutting down of many private schools," ACT Private Schools Secretary General Jerome Geronimo said.

POP-UP stores from various Cebu-based farmer groups and cooperatives occupied the atrium of the Robinsons Galleria Cebu as part of the simultaneous launching of Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) outlets across the country on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The KNP pop-up stores allow farmers to sell directly to consumers, making agricultural and fishery commodities accessible at affordable prices to consumers.

The KNP pop-up stores in Robinsons Galleria Cebu will run for three days, until July 19.

Simultaneous launches also took place in Central Visayas at the Tagbilaran Old City Airport in Bohol, HPG Grounds, Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Capital Square.

Roghelin Pañares, from Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative of Pinamungajan, stated how significant the establishment of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” is in showcasing local products and commodities of farmers.

“Dako gyod ni siyag tabang para mabaligya sad lagi ilang commodities. Pamaagi sad aning Kadiwa, ma-display namo ilahang products nya ma-known kon unsa ilahang commodity nga naa didto. Ug usa sad, matabangan namo sila nga mabaligya ang ilahang products,” she said.

(It really is a huge help with regards to getting their commodities sold. Through Kadiwa, we are able to display their products and give the exposure they need. Another thing is that we are actually able to help them sell their products.)

All of the profits go to the farmers and small entrepreneurs.

Rosemarie Roma, a 35-year-old vendor selling mangoes, bitter gourd, tomatoes and chili peppers, said everything being sold at her pop-up store is fresh and purely organic.

“Kani tanan gibaligya diri kay organic gyod ni, natural kaayo. Wala’y bisa’g unsang sagol nga makapabati sa lawas,” she said.

(All of the goods being sold here are organic and natural. No toxic additives that could harm the body are mixed.)

Sierra Mae Delposo, a tourism staff from Dalaguete, said the event not only showcased local products, but also promoted the livelihood and tourism destinations of their municipality.

She added that the launching of the program helps in boosting the sale of local products from various municipalities.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies on Monday, July 17, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the establishment of KNP outlets in all local government units nationwide.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also serves as DA secretary, witnessed the MOA signing in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

The MOA aims to strengthen cooperation between local government units and national government departments to increase the number of KNP outlets and support farmers, shoppers, and small business owners.

As of 16 June 2023, there were 342 KNP outlets nationwide.

The MOA was likewise signed by representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Presidential Management Staff, and the Philippine Communications Office. (CNU interns Miguel Angelu Lumen and Camille Erika Butas)

POP-UP stores from various Cebu-based farmer groups and cooperatives can be found at the Robinson Galleria Cebu Atrium for three days, July 17-19, 2023, as the government launched the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in local government units (LGUs) nationwide.

The program allows farmers and manufacturers to sell their produce directly, offering more affordable prices.

Pop-up stores are designated by city or municipality, including Boljoon, Dalaguete, Mandaue City, Samboan and Santander.

The launching Monday, July 17, also simultaneously took place at Old Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol, Siquijor Capitol Square of Siquijor and HPG Area, and Capitol Site in Dumaguete City.

Roghelin Pañares, from Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative of Pinamungajan, stated how significant the establishment of "Kadiwa ng Pangulo" is in showcasing local products and commodities of farmers.

"Dako jud ni siyag tabang noh kay para mabaligya sad lagi ilang commodities. Pamaagi sad aning Kadiwa, madisplay namo ilahang products nya ma known kung unsa ilahang commodity nga naa didto, ug usa sad, matabangan namo sila nga mabaligya ang ilahang products," she said.

(It really is a huge help with regards to getting their commodities sold. Through Kadiwa, we are able to display their products, allowing their commodities to have the exposure it needs. Another thing is that we are actually able to help them sell their products.)

All of the profits go to the farmers and small entrepreneurs, without any percentage of the profits whatsoever going to the local government.

Rosemarie Roma, a 35-year-old vendor selling mangoes, bittergourd, tomatoes and chili peppers, said everything being sold is fresh and purely organic.

"Kani tanan gibaligya diri kay organic jud ni, natural kaayo. Wala'y bisa'g unsang sagol nga makapabati sa lawas," she said.

(All of the goods being sold here are organic and natural. No toxic additives that could harm the body are mixed.)

Sierra Mae Delposo, a tourism staff from Dalaguete, said the event not only showcased local products, but also promote the livelihood and tourism destinations of their municipality.

She added that the launching of the program helps in boosting the profits of local products sold from various municipalities.

The farmer groups and cooperatives were invited to participate in the three-day event through an official letter sent to them by the Cebu Provincial Government.

Inocencia Gerona, Agricultural Technologist of Mandaue City Agriculture's Office, said the Casili Farmers' Association has been invited to install a pop-up store again at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on August 1, 2023.

This is in celebration of the Cebu Provincial Government's 454th Founding Anniversary. (Miguel Angelu Lumen and Camille Erika Butas, CNU Interns)

AROUND 660 classrooms will be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Mandaue for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October this year.

Lawyer Anna Fleur Gujilde, head of Comelec-Mandaue, said Monday, July 16, that each of the city’s 27 barangays should have their classrooms, which will be used as precincts on election day.

“All barangays must have their own schools to accommodate the number of classrooms needed, but unfortunately, there are still additional voters since our registration continues. The number of classrooms decreased, so we need makeshifts, or additional classrooms,” Gujilde said in Cebuano.

Gujilde said there will be nine barangays in Mandaue that will need to put up makeshift classrooms.

These are Bakilid, Banilad, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao-Estancia, Labogon, Pagsabungan, Maguikay, and Tabok. (HIC)

(Bangkok) - The Malaysian government should immediately prioritize a thorough and transparent investigation into the abduction of the Myanmar refugee activist Thuzar Maung and her family, Human Rights Watch said today.

On July

Moscow and Riyadh have both announced voluntary output cuts in a bid to prop up crude prices

Russia is about to surpass Saudi Arabia as the top OPEC+ crude producer, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report last week. 

Saudi Arabia's total crude output should drop to 9 million

SOME residents of Toledo City in western Cebu were told to prepare for scheduled brownouts lasting 10 hours on July 18, 20, and 22, 2023.

The brownouts will occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on these dates and are necessary for the upgrade and rehabilitation of overhead distribution lines in Barangay Panog to Casoy, Toledo City, said the Cebu 3 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cebeco 3).

In an advisory on Facebook, Cebeco 3 said these power interruptions are part of the Capex project aimed at improving power quality and addressing the high power demand in the area.

The activities to be conducted during the brownouts include pole dressing and guying, as well as final line stringing.

On July 18, the affected areas will be Dakit, Cambang-ug; Putting Bato, Toledo City; and Tunnel, Malubog, Gen. Climaco.

The power interruption on July 20 will affect Panog, Magdugo; Cawayan, Magdugo; Proper, Cambang-ug; Ilag, Cambang-ug; and parts of Riversmith, Cambang-ug.

On July 22, placed to be affected are Dakit, Cambang-ug; Putting Bato; Tunnel, Malubog; Panog, Magdugo; Proper, Cambang-ug; Ilag, Cambang-ug; parts of Riversmith, Cambang-ug; General Climaco; Biga; and Carbonan, Pangamihan.

Cebeco 3 said that its line personnel and engineers are committed to restoring electricity service within the specified timeline.

But it appealed to the residents of the affected barangays to bear with them during the maintenance work.

Cebeco 3 assured the public that these scheduled brownouts are necessary to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the power distribution in Central Visayas.

It apologized for any inconvenience it may cause and appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the residents during the period. (Ian Christopher Ostulano, NWSSU intern)

The NDRRMC also reported that the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Dodong (international name: Talim) have affected over 26,000 people from Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas. 

POLICE in Consolacion town, northern Cebu, have launched a hot pursuit operation against a man who stabbed his live-in partner Sunday night, July 16, 2023.

Police Liuetenant Colonel Verniño Noserale, chief of Consolacion Police Station, identified the victim as Perlita Cabanes, a 37-year-old maid.

The suspect was Bernabe Biasca, live-in partner of the victim and resident of Carmen town.

Cabanes was rushed to a hospital but she succumbed to stab wounds.

The police are looking into jealousy as a possible motive for the crime, as the suspect reportedly believed that Cabanes was into another relationship.

Noserale said the police received a call about the stabbing incident around 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

An eyewitness reported to the police that they saw Biasca holding a bloody knife in the presence of the victim. The victim attempted to escape from the house, and the suspect fled the crime scene.

Noserale said they will file a case against the suspect for his partner’s death in court. (BBT/LMY)

"We made a good decision and we will stand by that," PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco said in a mix of Filipino and English.

The government should work more closely with researchers from the University of the Philippines to develop climate-resilient crops, a lawmaker said, emphasizing state scientists’ role in protecting farmers from the threats of El Niño.

AMONG the equally astounding provinces of the Philippines, the most acclaimed perhaps when it comes to food and cuisine is Pampanga.

From appetizers to entrèes to desserts, the delectable creations of Pampanga are almost surely among the favorites. That special blend of flavors and native spices make Kapampangan dishes irresistible to the tongue’s palette.

The story of how Pampanga developed into the country’s Culinary Capital is not one that is written in Philippine history books. All that is known is that the Spanish friars and soldiers discovered the Kampangans’ cooking skills and their creativity in combining a variety of flavors to create dishes that to this day remain Pampanga’s best.

Kapampangans were trusted to cook and serve government and church authorities during the Spaniards’ rule of the Philippines. Kapampangan cooking must have been really good to have earned the confidence of those in the seat of power.

Geography might give us a clue on how Kapampangans developed their kitchen secrets. Some have surmised that this skill was developed because of the readily available supply of ingredients in the area. Pampanga is situated in Central Luzon where land was vast for rice and vegetable plantations, as well as its proximity to Manila Bay where all sorts of ocean food treasures may be found.

Pampanga’s rivers and mountains also provide a rich supply of other native ingredients that give Pampanga dishes their distinct taste.

As already mentioned, Pampanga is known today as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, a title given by media. Among the flavorful dishes that Pampanga is locally and internationally known for include sisig, which was invented by a local carinderia in Angeles City, morcon, menudo, caldereta, estofado, embutido, asado, lengua, lechon, afritada, bringhi or paella, taba ng talangka, tocino at longganisa.

Many of the “lutong bahay” dishes that we know are original Kapampangan food creations. Desserts from Pampanga are also among the favorites. Who doesn’t love Razon’s halo-halo from Guagua, their suman sa gata, suman sa lihiya, and tamales? There is also tibuk-tibuk which is a sweet delight made of carabao’s milk.

Food tourism not only in Pampanga but also in other parts of the Philippines should be given the support and boost needed to further develop Filipino cuisine and explore broader horizons for the Filipino brand of flavor. More than the scenic views that provide feasts for the eyes, the warmth and hospitality of our people, we can likewise provide a gastronomic experience for tourists that will keep them coming back for more — and Pampanga is surely the place to start. (Sponsored Content)

Below is a live list of cities, municipalities and provinces that have canceled classes:

There is a “high chance” that the LPA spotted 1,070 kilometers east of northeast Mindanao will become a cyclone in the next 24 to 48 hours, PAGASA weather forecaster Obet Badria said. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has doubled the daily aggregate amount limit of fund transfers via an electronic fund transfer service from P50,000 to P100,000.

It took effect on Friday, July 14, 2023, the state-run bank said in a press statement.

Landbank said its clients can transfer up to P50,000 per transaction via InstaPay, and a total of up to P100,000 per day. Starting June 15, the bank also reduced its transaction rate for fund transfers via InstaPay from P25 to P15.

The changes are in line with its commitment to providing accessible and convenient digital services to its clients, Landbank said.

“We continue to extend the limits of our digital banking solutions to meet the growing needs of our diverse client base. Landbank is driven to promote greater digital adoption to help accelerate financial inclusion in the country and build a cashless society,” said Landbank president and chief executive officer Lynette Ortiz.

No more daily limit

The bank has also eliminated the daily transaction limit for both fund transfers and bills payment, enabling customers to perform an unlimited number of transactions per day.

The previous daily aggregate amount limit of P50,000 for bills payment facilitated through the Landbank iAccess has been removed.

According to Landbank, it is currently working on providing depositors with the ability to set their own fund transfer and bills payment limits, offering added flexibility and convenience.

Meanwhile, inter-bank fund transfers using Landbank and Overseas Filipino Bank accounts will remain free of charge.

These new fund transfer and bills payment policies apply to transactions facilitated via Landbank’s retail digital banking channels, the Landbank Mobile Banking App, and iAccess.

During the first five months of 2023, the combined usage of the two digital platforms facilitated 66.7 million transactions with a total value of P123.4 billion, according to Landbank. (KAL)