EXPANDING ROLES. A police officer in this undated photo assists a boy in answering his modules. More than law enforcement, the police are taking the roles of community leaders to develop good relations with its host communities through its Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay Program. (Photo courtesy of PRO-11) DAVAO CITY - Beyond their mandate to maintain security and safety, the Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) has embarked on expanding its community engagement through its Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) Program. Major Rowena Jacosalem PRO-11 chief for regional community affairs, noted that police forces have earned the trust and confidence of the people in the region, especially the indigenous people (IP) communities, through the RPSB program. "The program, which is still in effect under our new director Police Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr., is our contribution to ending the local insurgency problem. This is a non-combatant dimension, we are offering service-
PROGRESSIVE MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte (center, seated) and members of the Intergovernmental Relations Body meet at Malacanang Palace on Thursday (June 16, 2022). Composed of officials of national government agencies and the Bangsamoro government, they discussed the gains of the comprehensive peace process in the region. (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU) MANILA - The recent report released by the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) reflected the fulfilled promises of President Rodrigo Duterte to sustain the gains of the comprehensive peace process in the Bangsamoro region. The IGRB is composed of officials from the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal as co-chairpersons. Iqbal, Dominguez, and BARMM officials met with President Duterte at the Palace on Thursday to discuss the second progress report of the IGRB, covering December 2019 to December 2021 w
NATIONAL ARTISTS. President Rodrigo Duterte has conferred the Order of National Artists on eight personalities in Philippine culture and arts. The award was given to Nora "Nora Aunor" Villamayor, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, and Ricardo Lee (National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts); Antonio "Tony" Mabesa (National Artist for Theater); Agnes Locsin (National Artist for Dance); Fides Cuyugan-Asensio (National Artist for Music); Salvacion Lim-Higgins (National Artist for Design); and Gemino Abad (National Artist for Literature). (Screenshot fromRadio Television Malacanang) MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday conferred the Order of National Artists on eight personalities in Philippine culture and arts. The conferment rites were held at the Malacanan Palace's Rizal Hall. A short pre-recorded video clip of the ceremony was uploaded by the Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) on its official Facebook account. The award was given to Nora "Nora Aunor" Vill
GET PROTECTED. The "Back-to-Vax Champion" Covid-19 vaccination ramp-up program reiterates the importance of getting the jab against the virus at SM North Edsa in Quezon City on Friday (June 17, 2022). Health authorities continued to remind that vaccines and wearing face masks will prevent a surge in cases and infections from developing severe symptoms. (Screengrab from PCOO livestream) MANILA - The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) insisted Friday on the need to wear face masks, both indoors and outdoors. Secretary Vince Dizon, IATF-EID deputy chief implementor, said other countries record higher daily cases than the Philippines because they have stopped the mandatory use of face masks. "Kailangan pa rin ang face mask. Ayon sa mga sinasabi ng mga eksperto, ito ang isa sa mga napakalaking rason kaya mababa ang kaso natin kumpara sa ibang mga bansa (We still need face masks. According to experts, it is one of the biggest