LATEST NEWS

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – After recording its first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fatality, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, through the concerted efforts of the Task Force Salun-at, launched intensified proactive measures to control the possible upsurge of in coronavirus cases in Sarrat town.

The measure seeking to establish the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport continues to breeze through committees in the House of Representatives.

BAGUIO CITY – The country’s summer capital opens its doors, and offer its cool climate only to visitors from Region 1 (La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte) on September 21, creating a tourism bubble in a bid to gradually open the city’s economy.

The Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division (7ID) disputed Tuesday the claims of an advocate group that Aeta communities in San Marcelino, Zambales were allegedly bombed and members of the tribal group were maltreated and tortured.

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro - A 53-year-old businessman will be charged with attempted murder after he tried to kill Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano with a knife inside the governor's office in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, September 1.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has decided to reverse its decision convicting former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca of her graft charge.

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Five Aeta members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were nabbed, while four minors were rescued, by joint elements of the military and police from the site of a recent encounter in Sitio Lomibao, Barangay Buhawen in San Marcelino, Zambales.

BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office reported that 84 percent of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city had no travel history, and that the virus could have already been in the locality during the declaration of community quarantine.

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (PNA) – The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in this province rose on Sunday to 188 with the addition of seven new infections as confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH).

Motorists will now have a pleasant view of the Sorsogon’s coastline with the opening of a new coastal road from Rompeolas or the Sorsogon City’s baywalk up to Barangay Balogo.

Three poachers reportedly shot and butchered a critically-endangered tamaraw in the Mounts Iglit- Baco Natural Park in Mindoro last Friday, August 28.

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The province of Ilocos Norte has recorded its first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) death, according to Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc.

BAGUIO CITY – As part of the month-long celebration of the 111th City Charter anniversary, the city government is planning to reopen all the parks, and the night market, as well as resume with the weekly pedestrianization of Session Road in September for local residents only.

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – A total of 25 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections have been reported in Bataan, increasing its total tally to 799.

NUEVA VIZCAYA – The latest victims of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) attended fitness classes and sessions at a gym in Solano town.

BAGUIO CITY – As expected, more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have begun to surface with the continued expanded testing of workers in groceries and other sectors here.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Cagayan early Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.

MASBATE CITY – Governor Antonio Kho has demanded the temporary suspension of Filminera Resources Corporation’s operation while some issues on alleged environmental violations have remained unresolved after a strong quake hit the province last August 18.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Kho said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has approved a resolution, requesting the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to immediately halt the operation of Filminera mining in Aroroy town while it has yet to comply with the requirement of having an MGB-standard waste disposal facility.

“Filminera failed to upgrade their tailing pond containing wastes from 59 meters to 71 meters in elevation. This is susceptible to spillage that will pose serious risk to the community,” Kho said.

He added that once the company complies with this requirement, then it can resume its operations.

About 40,000 residents are in danger because of any spillage once a strong earthquake hits the province again, Kho disclosed.

On August 18, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of Masbate, claiming at least one life and injuring hundreds of residents in the municipalities of Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz and Esperanza.

According to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, the earthquake caused a total of almost P280 million in damages to school buildings, learning facilities and materials, P29.96 million damages roads, bridges and other government buildings, and P55,000-damage to health facilities.

“We are also demanding that a third party consultant (be appointed) that will study and determine the capability of the tailing pond that will hold 69 million metric ton of wastes materials. Hindi pwede yung sa kanila, dapat independent at mga eksperto na hindi tayo lolokohin,” Kho said.

Board Member Jamon Espares, spokesperson of Provincial Bantay Kalikasan Task Force, said that based on the structural assessment of the Filminera mining tailing ponds, the structure’s quake resistance factor capability was only up to a magnitude-7 earthquake.

This could pose a serious problem because the province is right on the Philippine Fault System that could generate an earthquake of up to magnitude-8.6.

“Binibigyan sila (Filminera), kung natatandaan ko hanggang 2019 na i-elavate yung kanilang tailing pond, pero hanggang ngayon walang nangyari. Nag-try naman sila, kaso lang, yung gagawin nil asana, ipapatong nila sa kalsada ng DPWH. Kaya ni-re-route nila ang kalsada. Pagmamay-ari nila yung kalsada kaya lang hindi sila nagpa-alam sa probinsiya. Kailangan magpa-alam sila kasi lahat naman ng mga movement na ganyan may paalam sa local government, lalo na sa superior local government,” Espares told the Manila Bulletin.