(File photo) MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking into the holding of thorough discussions on the utilization of more than 97,000 vote counting machines (VCMs) in the country's future elections. Acting poll body chairperson Socorro Inting, in a forum on Monday, said of the over 107,000 VCMs which were used in the May 2022 polls, more than 97,000 were utilized in earlier polls. "I am not prematurely deciding or influencing the policy direction of the Comelec en banc but I think everyone will agree to a meticulous discussion and review of the propriety of using these VCMs in future elections," the acting Comelec chief added. These VCMs were first used in the 2016 polls. In the same forum, acting poll body spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said only a small portion of the VCMs malfunctioned during the May 9 polls. "We have to admit there were failures in the VCM. On Election day, only 477, or 0.45 percent failed. Other failures, prior to election day
(PNA photo by Joey Razon) MANILA - The Eastern Police District (EPD) on Thursday announced the confiscation of 120 different loose firearms during the "Oplan Kontra Boga" aimed at preventing the use of unlicensed firearms in criminal activities. In a statement, the EPD said the confiscated firearms of various types and calibers were from different police operations such as checkpoint operations, anti-drug operations, among others in the cities of San Juan, Marikina, Mandaluyong, and Pasig from January 2021 to June this year. Pasig topped the list of areas with confiscated firearms with 72, followed by Mandaluyong with 18, Marikina with 22, and San Juan with eight. Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC) Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. issued a directive to all police units to present to the public the inventory of confiscated firearms as evidence through the Forensic Unit which is the official inventory and provides custody of confiscated firearms to be preserved
FUEL SUBSIDY. Jeepney drivers provide free transport to authorized persons outside residence in Laoag City in this undated photo. On Tuesday (July 5, 2022), a total of 1,028 jeepney operators and drivers received PHP4,000 each as fuel subsidy, courtesy of the Ilocos Norte government. (File photo by Leilanie Adriano) LAOAG CITY - Ilocos Norte's provincial government announced Wednesday that all eligible drivers and operators of public utility transport in the province will continue to get financial assistance. Althea Nicolette Pilar, project head of the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC), said almost PHP10 million in cash assistance has been allotted to jeepney and tricycle drivers to help them deal with the rising fuel prices. "The whole project was funded by the provincial government of Ilocos Norte through the efforts of the governor and the Local Finance Council," Pilar said as she reported that the distribution of at least PHP4,000 cash aid to each tricycle driver star
FULLY JABBED. A Baguio City resident avails of the drive-thru vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 in this undated photo. The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region said that as of July 4, 2022, a total of 1,210,617 residents in the region's six provinces and Baguio City have received a full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA file photo) BAGUIO CITY - A total of 1,210,617 residents here and in the six provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Based on the July 4 data from the regional Covid-19 vaccination operations cluster of the Department of Health (DOH)-CAR, the figure represents 81.70 percent of the 1,481,793 eligible population in the region. Baguio City remains a top-notch performer with a 109.70 percent vaccination rate, exceeding the 305,448 target eligible population with 335,067 already fully vaccinated. Abra is second highest with a 102.21 percent
BUTUAN CITY - At least 1,674 youths in the Caraga Region benefited from the PHP45.9 million assistance coursed through the Department of Labor and Employment-Government Internship Program (DOLE-GIP) last year. In its 2021 report released Thursday, the Department of Labor and Employment-Caraga (DOLE-13) said the DOLE-GIP beneficiaries included 1,097 college graduates; senior high school (346), junior high school (203); trade and vocational (18); and alternative learning system (10). Of the total number of graduates, 1,194 were assigned to the different local government units in the region, 443 in the various national line agencies, and 37 at the DOLE-13 offices. Meanwhile, a separate 3,752 students in Caraga also benefited from the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) last year. Some PHP21 million in financial aid was also disbursed to SPES students last year, the report indicated. In terms of job applications, the DOLE-13 said 129,358 job applicants were recorded in the re