RED ALERT. The Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas launches the Regional Emergency and Disaster Management (RED Alert) Program to intensify its campaign on various disaster risk reduction management efforts on Friday (Nov. 5, 2021). The program will air every Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., via the Civil Defense 6 Facebook page. (PNA photo courtesy of OCD-6) ILOILO CITY - The Office of Civil Defense in Western Visayas (OCD-6) on Friday launched its Regional Emergency and Disaster Management (RED Alert) Program to intensify its campaign on various disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) programs amid this health pandemic. RED Alert is a weekly program that will air every Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. via the Civil Defense 6 Facebook page. "We would like to strengthen information dissemination at the local level while we are still under the pandemic. We would like that our connection with them in terms of information on DRRM and stories on resiliency will continu
POLICY LIFTED. Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi announces via Facebook the lifting of the "no movement Sunday" policy starting Nov. 7, 2021. The mayor lifted the policy that has been implemented for a year now to revive the city's economy and help the business sector recover from losses brought about by the pandemic. (Screengrab from Mayor Sayadi's FB page) COTABATO CITY - The city's Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Tuesday announced that the "no movement Sunday" policy will be lifted on Nov. 7. This came about as Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, concurrent city IATF chair, said that the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the city has gone down. Citing data from the city health office, Sayadi said the city now only has 145 Covid-19 cases and the number continues to drop. She cited the massive vaccination as one of the contributors that reduced the number of daily Covid-19 infections here. She also acknowledged the public's c
MANILA - The Israeli government is in close partnership with the Philippines to boost ties on technology and innovation, with a goal of helping the country's tech ecosystem grow. In a forum hosted by the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Wednesday, Ambassador Ilan Fluss touted Israel as a startup nation that continues to help over 6,000 businesses thrive even during the pandemic. "We're looking at all kinds of opportunities but (we also want to) share best practices and Israeli approach in helping this ecosystem to grow. So we're in touch with the Department of Trade and Industry and other Philippine government organizations," he said. "We have the Israeli trade and economic representation here in the Philippines and one of its tasks is to get the Philippines and Israeli companies together. We are focusing on technologies and Israeli innovation and bringing it to the Philippines, "6 he added. Inbal Arieli, a serial entrepreneur, and busine
DOF spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez MANILA - Studies instituting an appropriate carbon pricing instrument (CPI) are ongoing as the Philippines helps combat climate change. The Office of Department of Finance (DOF) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez said the country currently does not have a carbon taxing plan but studies have been conducted in coordination with the World Bank (WB). "Imposing a carbon tax would require significant institutional capacity from the government and sector stakeholders," Alvarez said in a reply to questions from the Philippine News Agency. She said the government will use the appropriate carbon pricing instruments (CPIs) in engaging relevant legislators who have shown interest in establishing policies in the Philippines. "Currently, the House of Representatives and the Senate are in the process of developing legislation that will promote and establish appropriate CPIs in the Philippines," she added. Alvar
VEHICLE DONATION. Col. Thomas Joseph Martir (2nd from right), acting director of Bacolod City Police Office, together with other police personnel, receives a pick-up truck donated by Dr. Ramel Uy (center), chief executive officer of 5K Broadcasting Network and Clinica de Alternativo Medicina and Wellness Center, in rites at the BCPO compound on Monday (Oct. 25, 2021). "We will return the favor by giving Bacolodnons a quality police service for a safe and secure city," Martir said.(Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office) BACOLOD CITY - The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has acknowledged the support of its stakeholder-donors in boosting the mobility and communications of the police operatives. Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, acting city police director, said on Tuesday they have received a pick-up truck as well as hand-held radios, following his assumption as the BCPO chief earlier this month. "The vehicle is not necessarily for me, it's open to other police person