Author: Homer Pangilinan

  • Tragic Ambush Claims Lives of Iloilo Village Leader and Spouse

    TRAGIC END. The aftermath of a brutal attack in Barangay Tinucuan, Dueñas, Iloilo, where Rodney Lamela was fatally shot alongside his wife, Michelle Lamela, the village chief of Barangay Sto. Niño. The incident occurred on Thursday, December 5, 2024. (Image provided by CIDG) MANILA – In a shocking incident, Michelle Lamela, the head of Barangay…

  • Perpetual Help Cooperative to Gift 5 kg of Rice to 80,000 Members This Christmas

    The Perpetual Help Community Cooperative, Inc. (PHCCI) based in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, is set to distribute 5 kg of premium rice to around 80,000 of its members this Christmas. This initiative, now in its third year, will see a total of PHP17 million allocated from the members’ benefit fund, according to Maricar Aranas Vensuelo,…

  • Dengue Cases Surge in Eastern Visayas, Reaching Nearly 15,000

    The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas has reported a significant increase in dengue cases, totaling 14,998 infections and 26 fatalities as of the third week of November 2024. This marks a dramatic 279% rise from the 3,953 cases and 9 deaths recorded during the same period last year. Leyte province leads with the…

  • Philippines Breaks Guinness World Record with Massive Bamboo Planting Initiative

    The Philippines has achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people planting bamboo simultaneously. On October 18, 2024, a total of 2,305 participants across 19 different locations in mainland Mindanao and Leyte province came together to plant bamboo, an event that was officially recognized by Guinness…

  • Cebu City Mayor Promises Zero Balance Billing Despite Rising Hospital Costs

    In a move to reassure the public, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has pledged that patients at the Cebu City Medical Center and Guba Community Hospital will continue to benefit from zero balance billing, despite a recent hike in hospital fees. This assurance comes in the wake of a decision by the Cebu City…

  • Authorities Seize P2 Million in Smuggled Cigarettes in North Cotabato

    In a significant crackdown on smuggling, law enforcement officials in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, uncovered and seized PHP2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes on Sunday afternoon. The operation followed a crucial tip that led to the interception of a cargo truck at a checkpoint in Barangay Panatan around 3 p.m. Major John Mark Mutlah, the head…

  • Over 10,000 Bacolod Residents Benefit from City’s Comprehensive Health Initiative

    In Bacolod City, a bustling urban center, more than 10,758 locals have taken advantage of the hospitalization support offered through the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) as of November this year. This initiative has seen a total of 267,319 residents registered, with 71,887 of them receiving family health cards. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has…

  • DPWH Allocates PHP468 Million for Infrastructure at Eastern Visayas Universities

    The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has committed to enhancing the educational landscape in Eastern Visayas by investing PHP468.14 million in infrastructure projects for state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region. This initiative, set to commence in 2025, is part of a broader effort to upgrade educational facilities across the Philippines. The…

  • Massive Evacuation in Bicol as Super Typhoon Pepito Looms

    In a massive response to the looming threat of Super Typhoon Pepito, over 491,000 people from the Bicol region have been evacuated to safety. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol reported that 137,726 families, totaling 491,047 individuals, have been moved to evacuation centers across the six provinces of the region. The evacuation numbers…

  • Antique Farmers Receive Machinery to Enhance Rice Production

    In a significant boost to rice production in Antique, three farmers’ associations have been equipped with advanced farm machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) handed over the equipment, which includes two rice combine harvesters and a four-wheel drive tractor, to the associations in a ceremony held in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. The recipients include…