CENTER FOR OFWs. Members of Iloilo's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) vote in favor of the creation of the Iloilo Provincial Overseas Filipinos Migration and Development Center during their regular session on Tuesday (Aug. 30, 2022). The center will look into the concerns of Ilonggo OFWs. (Screengrab from live streaming of Sangguniang Panlalawigan in action on its Facebook page) ILOILO CITY - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) has made permanent a program that looks into the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the province and their families with the enactment of an ordinance creating the Iloilo Provincial Overseas Filipinos Migration and Development (OFMD) Center. Board member Rolando Distura, in a phone interview on Thursday, said the OFMD Center would be institutionalized under the provincial government's Public Employment Service Office (PESO) once the ordinance, which was approved on final reading during their regular session on Tuesda
BUS ROUTE. The city government is offering free bus rides around Baguio City starting Saturday (July 15, 2022) to decongest traffic in the famous travel destination. Tourists can park their vehicles at the Baguio Convention Center compound and hop on the buses to save on gas. (PNA photo from the city tourism office) BAGUIO CITY - The city government will start offering free hop-on, hop-off (HO-HO) bus service to tourists starting Saturday. City tourism officer Aloysius Mapalo, in a phone interview on Thursday, said the service aims to help decongest traffic by letting tourists leave their vehicles in a parking lot and hop on the buses for a free tour of the city. He said the tourist bus would offer an unlimited free ride to tourists who have approved quick response travel permits that are generated by registering at the online visitors' registration portal. Tourists will have to park their vehicles at designated parking areas at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC). Mapalo also said
SEARCH AND RESCUE. Responders composed of various government agencies conduct search and rescue in Panit-an town after two motorized bancas with a total of 18 passengers capsized after being carried away by the strong water current on Wednesday (April 13, 2022). One of the missing passengers, Bianito Denosta, village councilor of Barangay Balatukan, Panit-an, is the brother of Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta.(Photo courtesy of Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office FB page) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The search and retrieval operation continues for five people after two motorized bancas capsized in the main Panay River in Panit-an, Capiz on Wednesday. Panit-an municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer Mark Jay Dumol, in a phone interview on Thursday, said 12 people were on board a motorized banca, including officials of Barangay Balatucan who collected relief goods from the municipal gymnasium for their residents affected by Tropical De
REBUILDING LIVES. Former rebels and government officials during the turnover of livelihood kits in Catarman, Northern Samar in this Feb. 8, 2022 photo. The Department of Labor and Employment is pouring more funds for livelihood assistance to former rebels in four towns in Northern Samar province.(Photo courtesy of DOLE) TACLOBAN CITY - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is pouring more funds for livelihood assistance to former rebels in four Northern Samar towns. Virgilio Doroja Jr., DOLE Northern Samar provincial head, in a phone interview on Thursday, said they have already distributed livelihood grants to 24 former members of the New People's Army (NPA) amounting to PHP900,000. "We have earmarked another PHP1 million livelihood funds for former rebels identified by the provincial task force on ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC)," Doroja said. The distribution of livelihood assistance to another batch of former rebels is on February 23. Recipients
ART ALIVE.Young artists in Baguio City create a mural on buildings at the Central Business district in this undated photo. Rep. Mark Go on Thursday (Dec. 16, 2021) said he is hopeful that the talents of the city will be further honedwith the passage of House Bill 10556 which seeks the creation of the Baguio Arts School. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - Baguio Rep. Mark Go expressed hope that the bill creating a school for the arts in the city will soon be passed by the Senate. This as the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 10556 which seeks to create the Baguio City High School for the Arts, which is expected to hone talented students in the country's summer capital and nurture their creative talents. Go, in a phone interview on Thursday, said the approval of the bill in the lower chamber is a significant milestone for Baguio City, which is known for its strong cultural traditions and highly values its creative industries. He said