FLOODED. The aerial view of the flooded portion of the municipality of Sigma in Capiz due to Tropical Depression Agaton. The province has been declared under a state of calamity on Tuesday (April 19, 2022) by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.(Photo courtesy of Speed Pelaez/PDRRMO FB page) ILOILO CITY - The province of Capiz was placed under a state of calamity on Tuesday afternoon after the onslaught of Tropical Depression Agaton last week. Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) officer Judy Grace C. Pelaez said on Wednesday they are waiting for the final copy of the resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on April 19 to be furnished to appropriate agencies. She also confirmed that Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras has filed a petition for exemption before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the use of their funds for the procurement of welfare assistance. "It was already filed and next to that is the authority to have Red Cross as p
LIVELIHOOD TRAINING. Participants are trained on organic soap-making in Ilocos Norte in this undated photo. In partnership with the provincial government, more livelihood trainings will be provided to the public in the future to boost their income. (Contributed photo) LAOAG CITY-The Ilocos Norte government is strengthening its partnership with the state-run Mariano Marcos State University-College of Industrial Technology (MMSU-CIT) to provide free livelihood training for interested individuals in the province. Elma Gabriel, head of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Office (MSMEO), on Tuesday said the provincial government has allocated funds for the implementation of the project this year. "We are collaborating with the MMSU-CIT to improve the quality of life of the people through the provision of livelihood training," she said, adding that training kits for the participants will be provided by the provincial government while the training venue and the facilitators will
ASSISTANCE.President Rodrigo R. Duterte conducts an aerial inspection of the areas affected by Tropical Depression Agaton in Capiz province on Saturday (April 16, 2022). Following the inspection, the President also led the distribution of assistance to affected families. (Screengrab from PCOO video) ILOILO CITY -President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday led the distribution of assistance to families affected by Tropical Depression Agaton following his aerial inspection of the damaged areas in Capiz. President Duterte was joined by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista, and Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras during the distribution held at the Pontevedra Elementary School in the municipality of Pontevedra. "The DSWD will be here. For as long as there are people who cannot eat, we will sustain the food," he said in his message. DSWD Regional Director Evelyn Macapobre, in a media interview,
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PNA photo by Jess Escaros) MANILA - The World Health Organization has commended the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic. In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific, Dr. Takeshi Kasai,commended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's "solid leadership" amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "Gayundin, binati ng Covax ang ating naging agarang pag-angkat ng mga bakuna sa ating bansa. Lahat ng ito ay ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan at Kagawaran ng Kalusugan para sa proteksiyon ng bawat Pilipino (The Covax also commended our immediate purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. The government and Department of Health do all these for the protection of all Filipinos)," she said, referring to the global initiative for supporting fair vaccine allocation. As of April 7, more than 66.5 million or 73.9 percent of our targeted population are already fully vaccinated against C
NO SPIKE. A motorist avails of a drive-thru vaccination in Baguio City in this undated photo. City officials on Tuesday (April 5, 2022) said there are no indications yet that coronavirus disease 2019 cases would increase even after the 2022 Panagbenga Festival. (PNA file photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - Local health officials are not seeing any signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases going up even after the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2022 attracted thousands of tourists to the country's summer capital. City health officer Dr. Rowena Galpo, in an interview on Tuesday, admitted that the city had expected an increase in cases when it eased restrictions in the city and when it held its famous three-week festival. However, the complete opposite seemed to have happened. "Our vaccination rate is high and the residents are still observing the minimum public health protocols - like distancing, wearing of face mask, washing of hands, ventilation in buildings.&q