CASH CARD. Fisherfolk from Badoc, Ilocos Norte cut their fishing trips due to the oil price hike in this undated photo. To help farmers and fisherfolk, the government plans to distribute fuel discount cards to them each worth PHP3,000. (Photo by Leilanie G. Adriano) LAOAG CITY - Amid the rising oil prices, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in Ilocos Norte will be distributing cash cards worth PHP3,000 to eligible fisherfolk-beneficiaries in the province. Vanessa Dagdagan, senior aquaculturist at the BFAR, said Monday a total of 591 registered fisherfolk from the coastal towns of Badoc, Currimao, Paoay, Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud, and Laoag City are being validated to see their eligibility. "The funds are ready but we are just waiting for the schedule for the distribution of fuel discounts to farmers and fisherfolk in the province," she said, citing the program aims to aid the corn farmers and fisherfolk who own and o
BLOOD DONATION. Jamie Malingan, 26, donates blood in Baguio City in this undated photo. She said she donates every three months not only to help others but also to stay healthy. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - More people are now realizing that donating blood does not only help recipients but also offers quite a few health benefits for the donor. Among the people who have known this all along are media practitioners Jamie Joie Malingan, 26, of the Philippine Information Agency-Cordillera who has been donating 450 cubic centimeters (cc) of blood every three months since May 2021, and Jonathan Munar, 50, a reporter of Radyo Pilipinas who has donated 45 times already in the last 14 years. Malingan said it was her way of giving back after her grandparent benefited from blood donation. "Matagal ko ng gustong magbigay kasi bago namatay ang grandparent ko, nakahingi kami sa Red Cross (I have long wanted to give blood because we were able to get blood from the Red Cross when my
Incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos MANILA - Incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos on Friday said the bilateral and multilateral negotiations with China to settle the South China Sea (SCS) dispute will continue under the Marcos administration. During the Laging Handa program, Carlos said the country would also pursue talks with other SCS claimants. "We would continue to do bilateral and multilateral talks with China and other powers because it's not only China who is laying claims to the contested South and the East China Sea," she said. Carlos made the statement, as she acknowledged that a hostile approach would only aggravate the sea disputes among the sea claimants. "Let's just continue to talk because the alternative is something unacceptable to all of us," she said. She, however, ensured the continued filing of diplomatic protests against provocative acts in the contested waters, saying the country would not "acquiesce to
Incoming Cabinet officials Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez (left) and National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos (Photo courtesy of Atty Vic Rodriguez Facebook) MANILA - Incoming National Security Adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos on Friday said the Marcos administration will adopt a "neutral" stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. During a "Laging Handa" program, Carlos said it is better for the country to stay neutral to keep its "very robust" ties with Russia. "Siguro (Perhaps), we will take a mutual stance. 'Yun naman talaga ang ginawa natin (That's what we did) from the beginning, and we have a very robust relationship with Russia," she said. Valuing Moscow as the Philippines' "friend," President Rodrigo Duterte has opted to avoid meddling in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Carlos backed Duterte's decision, saying Russia could help the Philippines, especially amid the surge in oil prices. "Russia might be able to suppl
HOPEFUL. Angelie Montibano, a beneficiary of the "Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa" program shares her struggles and dreams with the Philippine News Agency at the BP2 depot, Quezon City on June 2, 2022. She is now home in Negros Oriental with her 13-year-old daughter. (PNA photo by Lade Kabagani) MANILA - Angelie Montibano was in her early 20s and out of college when she left Negros Oriental province with dreams of a successful life in the Big City. She luckily found employment at once as a timekeeper in a construction company. Later on, she got pregnant and raised her daughter, Samantha, alone. She had a job and knewthey would be just fine. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic came out of nowhere and reality struck Montibano hard. First, she was laid off from work. "Kapag babae ka, ikaw ang unang aalisin kasi construction site 'yun. Tingin nila, trabahong panlalaki lang 'yun (If you are a woman, you will have to go first because it's a construction site. They