Philippines: New Drug War Declared in Davao City
(Manila) - The mayor of Davao City in the Philippines, Sebastian Duterte, recently declared a new "war on drugs," suggestive of the abusive campaign of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Human Rights Watch said today. Local authorities killed five people in the 24 hours after he made the declaration and at least seven within a matter of days.The failu.....»»
460 BRGYS. DRUG-FREE | New Liga prexy to prioritize anti-drug campaign
460 BRGYS. DRUG-FREE | New Liga prexy to prioritize anti-drug campaign.....»»
CLOSAP: 3 Barangay Ibo employees fail drug test
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Three out of 88 employees of Barangay Ibo tested positive for drug use in a surprise drug test conducted on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The drug test was carried out by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP). CLOSAP executive director Garry Lao reported that one garbage worker and two.....»»
Rama on Duterte-Marcos word war: ‘It’s not fair to those who supported UniTeam’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama could not help but express his dismay on the ongoing word war involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte. Rama said he finds the “tug-of-war” involving the two UniTeam leaders “unfair” especially to their members. The Cebu City mayor said that it was.....»»
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......»»
Drug test: 3 Lapu CTMS employees fail random testing
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu- Three Lapu-Lapu City employees tested positive in the random drug test initiated by the city’s anti-drug agency. On Monday, January 22, 115 job order employees from the city hall and traffic enforcers from the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) underwent random testing. Garry Lao, executive director of the City of Lapu-Lapu Office.....»»
San Fransico drug bust: Ex-drug surrenderee, cohort nabbed with P816,000 shabu
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A drug peddler, who voluntarily surrendered earlier and completed the government’s reformation program, and his alleged cohort will be spending time in jail after they were arrested in a drug bust in San Francisco, Cebu Friday night. Jufer Belmoro, 40, and Jilou Montalban, 34, were nabbed with five packs of suspected.....»»
Marcos- Philippines will not lift a finger to help ICC drug-war probe - BenarNews
Marcos: Philippines 'will not lift a finger' to help ICC drug-war probe BenarNews.....»»
Drug war-related killings of children continue, refuting Marcos Jr’s claims
In the first six months of the Marcos Jr administration, the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center documented 12 children killed. In 2023, 20 children died in Caloocan and Manila alone. The post Drug war-related killings of children continue, refuting Marcos Jr’s claims appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Justice for drug war victims up to judiciary – Marcos
It would be up to the Philippine police and judiciary to give justice to those who were killed during the previous administration’s drug war, President Marcos said, as he maintained that he won’t support the International Criminal Court probe on the controversial campaign......»»
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......»»
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......»»
Lapu-Lapu: 2 members of city’s clearing team fail drug test
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Two individuals were found positive of using illegal drugs during the drug test initiated by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP) on Wednesday afternoon, January 24, 2024. Twenty six personnel from the City’s Clearing Team underwent the drug test, after Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan called.....»»
Cebu City drug bust: 5 persons nabbed, P102,000 ‘shabu’ seized
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A Cebu City drug bust led to the arrest of a man, who was once arrested for a drug case and released on bail, and his nephew and 3 others after a buy bust in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City on Thursday evening, February 15, 2024. The operation, which was initiated.....»»
Hontiveros dares both Marcos and Duterte to undergo drug test
MANILA, Philippines — In order to put an end to tirades from both camps, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros encouraged on Wednesday both President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte to undergo drug tests. “Drug testing should always be suspicionless and voluntary. Para matapos na ang patutsadahan sa drug use ng dalawang.....»»
Groups urge to include placemaking in planning for public spaces
The push for placemaking in planning for public spaces was emphasized by various groups during a recent forum in Davao City. ATTY. Mark Peñalver, executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), stressed the importance of incorporating placemaking in public space planning to not only enhance the physical environment but also to promote inclusivity. He highlighted the exclusion of certain sectors in existing public spaces and emphasized the need for stakeholders' input and acknowledgment of their stories in the planning process. Dr. Derlie Mateo-Babiano, an associate professor in Urban Planning Assistant, described placemaking as a means to transform places into spaces that people will cherish. She emphasized the significance of engaging the community in the planning process to understand their cultural, environmental, and other needs. Peñalver also cited a successful placemaking project in Davao Executive Homes, which catered to children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, demonstrating the positive impact of placemaking. Furthermore, Peñalver advocated for the institutionalization of placemaking in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and other development plans in Davao City. He highlighted the potential of placemaking to ensure that government projects are beneficial to the community. Architect Harold Delima, co-convenor of Placemaking Davao, discussed ongoing workshops with various demographics to integrate placemaking into the city's development. The groups involved are hopeful that placemaking will become a fundamental aspect of public space planning in Davao City, aiming to create inclusive and community-centered environments......»»
Davao Oriental under state of calamity
The entire province of Davao Oriental has been declared under a state of calamity following the impact of the shear line, allowing the provincial local government unit to access its Quick Response Fund for rehabilitation efforts. The unanimous resolution was approved during a regular session in Sangguniang Panlalawigan, based on comprehensive assessment and recommendation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Governor Niño Uy. This declaration is crucial for providing emergency aid to the affected constituents and enforcing price control on essential items. Rapid Disaster Assessment and Needs Assessment reports indicate that around 63,337 families are affected, with 645 families and 1,830 individuals currently displaced and in evacuation centers. The damages in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock are estimated to be significant. Several municipalities have already declared a state of calamity, and the entire province is yet to announce its final assessment on the value loss in agriculture. This declaration aims to expedite rehabilitation and recovery plans to restore normalcy in the affected areas......»»
Gaza war: Fierce fighting between Israel, Hamas continues as efforts for truce gains pace
International efforts towards a new pause in the devastating Gaza war gathered pace Wednesday, as Israel bombarded the Palestinian territory during fierce fighting with Hamas militants. Hamas was reviewing a proposal for a six-week truce in its war with Israel, a source told AFP, after mediators gathered in Paris. While talks take place, the population.....»»
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......»»
If he gets elected, Yogi Ruiz warns drug traders to leave Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Illegal drug traders were warned by former Bureau of Customs Commissioner (BOC) and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz to leave Cebu City within 30 days if he is elected as mayor in the 2025 local and national elections. This was his promise as he is 100%.....»»