People in Davao ‘deceived’ into signing people’s initiative forms – barangay officials
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 February) – Voters in the city were deceived into signing documents purportedly in exchange for money and other benefits but were actually meant to gather signatures for a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution, barangay officials from Davao City claimed during a Senate hearing on Friday. The witnesses alleged […].....»»
Mati City, 10 municipalities in Davao Oriental suspend classes, work
Following the impact of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Northern and Southern Mindanao, local government units (LGUs) in Davao Oriental have collectively suspended classes and government and private offices. The City of Mati and 10 municipalities, including Baganga, Governor Generoso, Cateel, and others, have issued Executive Orders in line with Presidential Executive Order No. 66, series of 2012. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has forecasted moderate to heavy rains in Davao Oriental due to the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and LPA, posing a risk of landslides and flash floods. The Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao Oriental and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils have reported landslides in Lupon and Cateel, with ongoing clearing operations. The Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies have rescued families affected by flash floods in Cateel and Caraga. Franz Irag from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region confirmed that around 200 individuals or close to 500 families in Davao Region have been displaced and are now in evacuation centers. Additionally, five LGUs in the province of Davao de Oro have also declared the suspension of classes and work in both public and private offices......»»
Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
P3-M damage reported in school building fire
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported a devastating fire at F. Bustamante National High School in Tibungco, Davao City, on January 14, causing an estimated P3 million in damages. The fire affected 14 rooms, with nine being totally damaged and one partially damaged. The Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao (BFP-Davao) struggled to contain the blaze, which lasted for two hours. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or houses affected despite the school's proximity to a residential area. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. This incident adds to a series of school fires in the region, with three state-owned schools destroyed in 2023. The BFP-Davao and Team Davao Rescue have responded to over 15 fire incidents in the first and second weeks of January 2024, indicating a significant increase compared to the same period in 2023......»»
Bacolod forms ad hoc committee to review Bredco s contract
Bacolod forms ad hoc committee to review Bredco s contract.....»»
Customs revives declaration forms for arriving international passengers at NAIA
THE filled out Customs declaration forms for arriving international passengers at the NAIA Terminals is being revived by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and is now under pilot testing. BOC-NAIA district collector Atty Yasmin Mapa said that international passengers arriving in the country are now obliged to submit […].....»»
DSWD-11 launches ‘Program SOLo’ for solo parents in Davao
IN A significant move towards supporting solo parents in the region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) officially launched the Program SOLo (Strengthening Opportunities for Lone Parents) on March 14, 2024. The launch took place through a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Local Government of Panabo and DSWD-Davao......»»
Calinan District residents protest vs disguised Cha-cha
Residents from the 19 barangays in Calinan District rallied against the disguised People's Initiative for Charter Change in a protest held on January 19, 2024. Organized by the barangay captains, around 100 individuals from each barangay gathered at Rizal Park, chanting Dabawenyos are not for sale and expressing their disapproval of the alleged cash-for-signature scheme. The protest emphasized the residents' desire for fairness and a better government approach, rejecting the notion of exchanging signatures for money. Participants, including both young and old residents, voiced their opposition to the charter change, with the youth expressing concerns about power-hungry officials. Even 75-year-old Rosminda Amarilla joined the protest to question the need for change after numerous presidents have governed without such alterations. The rally, which included a motorcade and drew approximately 300 participants, received disapproval from Congressman Paolo Pulong Z. Duterte and Congressman Isidro Ungab, who alleged that the signature campaign was orchestrated by leaders of the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist. As of the latest update, PBA Representative Margarita Atty. Migs Nograles has yet to release a statement on the matter......»»
MGB-Davao urges residents in Mt. Diwata to relocate Asap
THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Davao Region (MGB-Davao) urged residents in critical puroks of Barangay Mt. Diwata, Monkayo, Davao de Oro to relocate soonest after finding out that the majority of puroks in the barangay are susceptible to landslide and debris flow accumulation......»»
Dipolog bishop urges people not to sell signatures for people’s initiative
'A people’s initiative that does not genuinely come from the people themselves... only favor the interests of the powerful few,' says Dioscese of Dipolog Bishop Severo Caermare.....»»
Small-Scale Mining sa Barangay Obi, May Permit na mula sa DOE
Caramoran, Catanduanes – Mahigpit na tinututulan ng mga residente maging mayoriya ng Barangay Council ang panukalang Small-Scale Mining sa Barangay Obi, Caramoran, Catanduanes. Itoy matapos lumabas na ang sinasabing permit mula sa Department of Energy (DOE) na nakapangalan sa isang nagngangalang Adelbert Z. Almario. Si Almario ay tubong Barangay Mabini, Caramoran na nabigyan ng coal […] The post Small-Scale Mining sa Barangay Obi, May Permit na mula sa DOE appeared first on Bicol Peryodiko......»»
The Municipality of Baras and one Barangay in Caramoran Declared Drug-Cleared
In the deliberation conducted by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) at nine o’clock in the morning on the 19th of January, the Municipality of Baras was officially declared a “Drug-Cleared Municipality,” while Barangay Baybay in the Municipality of Caramoran was declared a Drug-Cleared Barangay. The activity was led by Dir III […] The post The Municipality of Baras and one Barangay in Caramoran Declared Drug-Cleared appeared first on Bicol Peryodiko......»»
LEGAL RIPPLES: “It’s not Amendment, it’s Revision Stupid!”
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 January) — Last January 6, 2024, Liberal Party President Edcel Lagman, Representative of the 1st district of Albay, issued a press statement on Charter Change via People’s Initiative launched by Congressmen from the supermajority coalition using People’s Initiative as a mode of amending the Constitution. Lagman raised among others, three basic questions: who […].....»»
Noor Dubai Foundation Initiative transforms lives in Philippines through free cataract surgical caravan
DUBAI, 6th March, 2024 (WAM) -- The Noor Dubai Foundation, in cooperation with the EYE hEAR Foundation and the Department of Health, launched an initiative to provide a free Cataract Surgical Caravan in Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines following the successful implantation of a similar initiative in Catarman, Northern Samar in November last year.The collaborative programme reflected the UAE's commitment to m.....»»
Comelec releases withdrawal form for PI signatures
Withdrawal forms are now available for those intending to take back their signatures gathered in a signature drive by proponents of the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution......»»
LPA affects 394 families in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 31 January)— A total of 394 families or 1,411 individuals in the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental have been affected by the trough of the low pressure area (LPA) which brings in rains in several parts of Mindanao, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao. Franz […].....»»
DSWD-Davao raises child feeding budget to P21
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has increased its budget for the Supplementary Feeding Program to P21 per child, up from the previous P15 allocation. Kyla Denise T. Pamat, a nutritionist dietician at DSWD-Davao, shared in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on January 26, 2024, that the enhancement is a result of a budget insertion in 2023. The 13th cycle targets 122,400 children in Davao Region, with five local government units (LGUs) already initiating the feeding program, while others are in the procurement process. The program focuses on children aged two to four in child development centers and supervised neighborhood places, providing hot meals (rice and viand) for 80 days and alternative meals (pancake, nutribun, and fruit salad) for 40 days during the 120 feeding days. Additionally, selected LGUs with a prevalent number of underweight children receive milk feeding for the entire duration. The 12th cycle showed an 82.27 percent improvement in the weight of underweight children, reducing their number from 4,567 to 784 after the 120 feeding days. Pamat highlighted its alignment with Republic Act 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, and encouraged LGUs, communities, and parents to support the program for continuous improvement......»»
Classes suspended in Davao City, three Davao provinces amid heavy rain
Classes in all levels are suspended in Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental today, January 16, following heavy rains and bad weather conditions brought by the shear line weather......»»
Senators praise Comelec for suspending people’s initiative proceedings
MANILA, Philippines — Senators rejoiced at the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to suspend all proceedings related to a people’s initiative aimed at amending the 1987 Constitution, saying that it is nothing but a victory for the Filipino people. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, in a statement, said the Philippine government has finally.....»»
Davao Bus Project to begin major infra construction
FOLLOWING the ceremonial signing of civil works contracts for the construction of the Davao Bus Project’s infrastructure facilities (e.g. terminals, depots and bus stops), the City Government of Davao extended its gratitude to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and appealed to the agency to guarantee appropriation necessary to deliver the project on time......»»
Coverage of ABS-CBN, Villar deal ignores relevant context
By: CMFR StaffPosted on: May 7, 2024, 2:20 pm JEERS TO media for failing to include relevant background in reporting the signing of documents by officials of ABS-CBN and ALLTV to seal a business deal. Coverage made no reference to other issues involved, including the potential breach of the law on ethical standards regulating the conduct of public officials.From April 13 and 24, media (.....»»