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  LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, May 31 (PIA) - - The provincial government is  assisting returning Overseas Filipino Workers and locally stranded individuals through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Governor Melchor Diclas said the EOC recorded to date a total of 140 OFWs and 131 LSIs who were assisted, and preparations are ongoing with the expected influx of returning residents  in the coming month.  OFWs assisted were mostly seafarers, domestic helpers, teachers, and factory workers.  Diclas said for    those  LSIs who register online, they contact them and the EOC communicate and coordinate with them on how they can return back from the province to their respective municipalities in coordination with the concerned municipal government. For the returning OFWs, they need to have complete papers such as certification from the Bureau of Quarantine and document indicating results of negative COVID-19 test from the Department of Health.    Diclas said the provincial government is prepa

LUNGSOD NG CALAMBA, Laguna, Mayo 31 (PIA)-- Ibinahagi ni Department of Health Center for Health Development Region 4A, Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo ang estado ng CALABARZON hinggil sa laban kontra coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Sa isang panayam sa Usapang PIA,  ipinaliwanag ni RD Janairo ang mga napapanahong impormasyon na madalas itanong ng publiko na may kaugnayan sa nakahahawang sakit na COVID-19 at binigyang linaw rin niya ang bawat isa tungkol sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng buong rehiyon. Ayon kay RD Janairo, hindi nagtutugma ang mga datos na sinisikap ipagbigay-alam sa publiko sapagkat dumadaan ang mga ito sa masusing proseso at hindi dahil hindi tugma ay hindi na tama ang datos na inilalabas ng iba’t-ibang ahensya. Aniya, kung ang isang testing center ay pribado madalas ay hindi kaagad nagkakaroon ng datos ang national dahil diretso ang pagsumite ng mga datos sa provincial o municipal level at hindi kaagad nairereport sa national level kung ilan ang karagda

(Larawan mula sa Jun-Andeng Ynares Facebook Page) LUNGSOD NG ANTIPOLO, Rizal, Mayo 31 (PIA)-- Idineklara ni Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares sa kanyang Facebook Page ang paglift sa Liquor Ban sa Lungsod ng Antipolo sa darating na Hunyo 1.   Aniya ay ilan sa mga realidad na dala ng liquor ban ay ang iilang mga mamamayang patagong bumibili sa ibang bayan at nagpapabili sa mga "black market" sa mas mataas na presyo.   Dagdag pa rito ang iilang mga negosyong apektado ng at ang kita ng mga mamamayan kaya minabuti ng LGU na ibalik sa darating na Hunyo ang pagbebenta ng alak sa lungsod.   Ngunit paalala ng Pamahalaang Panglungsod sa mga kapulisan at barangay officials ang ilan pang patakarang dapat alalahanin.   Tanging quarantine pass holders lamang ang maaring bumili ng alak at ipinagbabawal pa rin ang pag-inom sa pampublikong lugar.   Bukod dito ay mahigpit pa ring ipapatupad ang IATF guidelines kung saan ipinagbabawal ang pagtitipon ng mahigit sa sampung tao habang

VIGAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) - The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Adopt a Family” program has provided food packs and other voluntary donation to a total of 1,560 indigent families and stranded individuals in Ilocos Sur to help sustain their needs during the quarantine period. These food packs include essential goods such as rice, canned goods, noodles, condiments, biscuits, and coffee. Aside from providing security in the province, the Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office (ISPPO) said that all municipal and city police offices and 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) in the province have been constantly distributing relief packs to individuals and families who are in need of assistance. Police Executive Master Sergeant Joseph Fieldad of ISPPO said that police officers in Ilocos Sur have been very supportive to the implementation of the program since the beginning of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). “Initially ito ay fund raising through voluntary donation ng

VIGAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) - The city government of Vigan, headed by Mayor Juan Carlo Medina, issued Executive Order (EO) No. 28, series of 2020, which states the guidelines on the imposition of modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the city starting Monday, June 1. Through a press conference held on Saturday, Mayor Medina, along with the members of the city Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF), informed residents of what is prohibited and what is allowed while the city and the rest of Ilocos Sur will be under MGCQ pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 41, series of 2020 dated May 29. Mayor Medina said that all persons, regardless of age and health status, shall be permitted to go outside of their residences provided that they observe minimum public health standards. However, the EO states that all residents are required to observe minimum public health standards at all times such as wearing face masks or coverings and the compliance to

SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte, May 31 (PIA) – The municipal government of San Nicolas, through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), has rolled out an environmental initiative in an effort to address the increasing plastic trash while the country is still under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis. This environmental program is called “Palit-Basura” which encourages locals in the municipality to exchange their plastic wrappers to food packs. This includes empty wrappers of powdered juice, milk, coffee, creamer, instant noodles, and other plastic wastes. As a reward, those who join in this initiative will receive food packs containing canned goods, instant noodles, and coffee. PALIT-BASURA. Mayor Alfredo Valdez Jr. shows the Palit-Basura booth, an environmental initiative of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. (Photo by RJ Ribao)   This program is open to the residents in San Nicolas. In the municipal government’s official Facebook page, they ex

CALOOCAN CITY, May 31 (PIA)--The Bureau of Immigration (BI) appealed to the public to stop spreading fake news about arriving aliens despite the ongoing travel restrictions being implemented by the agency. The call follows a viral post on social media that a flight from Wuhan, China has landed yesterday in Manila. The post, which was uploaded by a political page, garnered thousands of shares on Facebook. In a news release posted at the Agency's Facebook page, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente expressed his disappointment at the resurgence of the fake news that is being used by anti-government bodies for political propaganda. "This has already been addressed before, but apparently some people who wish to put malice in regular activities keep on reviving this issue, hence the need to send reminders to stop the spread of misinformation," said the BI Chief. Morente reiterated that flights are not banned, and some flights from all over the world continue to operate, but they a

BORONGAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) -- The City Government of Borongan through City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda started distributing relief goods to six northern municipalities of Eastern Samar that were affected by Typhoon Ambo. According to Engr. Jaime J. Voces, city disaster risk reduction management officer (CDRRMO) some 35,311 families will receive relief goods. He disclosed that the relief goods contain three kilos native rice and two canned sardines. The northern municipalities and the number of families that will receive the relief goods are: Maslog – 1,370, Jipapad -2,341, Arteche - 4,071, San-Policarpo – 4,546, Oras – 10,313, and Dolores – 12,670. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar through Resolution No. 60 series of 2020, declared the six northern municipalities, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San-Policarpo, Oras, and Dolores under a state of calamity due to the catastrophic effects caused by Typhoon Ambo. Typhoon Ambo has brought injury, destruction and vast damages to

Ayon kay Dr. Roger Capa, Schools Division Superintendent ng Dep Ed Occ Min, may apat na paraan silang kinukunsidera - distance learning, modular, blended, homeschooling, at tradisyonal na paraan o face-to-face. FILE PHOTO. (VND/PIA Occ Min) SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro, Mayo 29 (PIA) – Upang mapangalagaan ang mga mag-aaral sa lalawigan laban sa patuloy na banta ng COVID-19, masusing tinitingnan ng Department of Education (Dep Ed) Occidental Mindoro (Occ Min) na magpatupad ng mga alternatibong pamamaraan ng pag-aaral simula ngayong school year 2020-2021.  Ayon kay Dr. Roger Capa, Schools Division Superintendent ng Dep Ed Occ Min, may apat na paraan silang kinukunsidera - distance learning, modular, blended, homeschooling, at tradisyonal na paraan o face-to-face.  “Ang distance learning ay maaaring gawin sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng computer, smartphones at internet o kilala rin bilang online distance learning,” paliwanag ng opisyal. Pwede rin naman aniyang modular kung saan may mg

CALOOCAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) --The Quezon City government has lifted the Special Concern Lockdown (SCL) imposed in three areas after completing the 14-day period without new positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said Masbate St. in Barangay Batasan Hills, and Victory Avenue and BMA Avenue in Barangay Tatalon are no longer under SCL following the recommendation of the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD). “These areas have completed the 14-day lockdown period, which also entailed rapid testing and confirmatory swab testing,” said Kimpo. Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the QC-Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) of the QCHD, said that out of the 137 residents in Victory Avenue who underwent rapid testing, only 7 were swabbed for they are symptomatic or positive for IgM. In BMA Avenue, Cruz said that only 5 out of 72 residents were swabbed. “Residents who tested positive for IgM and those negative for IgG and IgM anti

CORTES, Bohol, May 31 (PIA) -- Around 39,278 Boholano farmers who have been tilling between half an hectare to two hectares of ricelands, received P5,000 unconditional cash assistance in time when the country’s poor and low-income families also receive their Social Amelioration Program cash aid.  Department of Agriculture (DA-7) Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador Diputado bared that while the country’s poor and low-income families received their SAP aid, small rice farmers also get to see the realization of the government’s promises in the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Act. The Rice Tariffication Act has imposed a 35 percent tariff on the entry of imported rice to be collected by the government. The collection would be the fund source of programs that would boost small local farmers’ capacities to compete in the flooding of cheaper imported rice. Owing to outdated technologies, manual labor, and other cultural factors, compared to rice production in neighboring c

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is placing the entire Barangay 847 under a 48-hour Enhanced Community Quarantine beginning June 1. (Photo courtesy of Manila PIO) CALOOCAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) --Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has placed the entire Barangay 847 under a 48-hour Enhanced Community Quarantine. Domagoso signed Executive Order No. 24 ordering the implementation of the ECQ for purposes of COVID19 surveillance, rapid risk assessment and testing operations “as the city’s response measures to the imminent danger posed by COVID-19." The order will be effective from 12 a.m. of June 1 until 11:59 pm of June 2. The mayor issued the executive order upon the request of barangay officials from Barangay 847. "May request ang chairman na mag-lockdown. Tiningnan namin ang datos, viable ang lockdown. Granted po ang inyong request," Domagoso said via Facebook Live. The Mayor said that an ECQ has to be imposed given the four reported confirmed cases of C

THEY WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE.  DA-7 Regional Director Atty. Salvador Diputado speaking during the recent Kapihan sa PIA in Bohol where he discussed the alleged anomalous listing of unqualified beneficiaries for the government’s emergency cash assistance under the Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) CORTES, Bohol May 31 (PIA) -- From barangay and municipal officials including social workers, investigations into the anomalies in the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and other related government cash assistance has also put the crosshairs on the agricultural officers in local government units.  Municipal agriculture officers (MAO) who allowed unqualified persons in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) will also be looked into as the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has assumed the investigations into the alleged anomalous listing of unqualified beneficiaries for the government’s

PARANAQUE CITY, May 31 (PIA) -- Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal odered all terminal managers to prepare for the expected resumption of domestic flights  after Metro Manila has been placed under General Community Quaratine (GCQ) beginning June 1.  Following the recommendation of DOTr Secretary Art Tugade to President Rodrigo Duterte, domestic flights will operate between GCQ to GCQ areas only.  In a statement, Monreal said, domestic carriers have already expressed their intention to operate beginning June 1. The MIAA will determine terminal usage depending on the number of flights that will be mounted.  Only flights duly approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will be considered for slotting.    International operations on the other hand shall continue subject to the 400 passengers a day cap imposed by the IATF for inbound flights.  For planning purposes however, the MIAA requested the airlines to submit their plans

CALOOCAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) --The Philippine National Police will resume mandatory career training courses and recruitment program under the 'new normal' starting on Monday, June 1. In a news release sentIn a Memorandum circulated by the National Headquarters thru The Director for Human Resource Doctrine and Development, Police Major General Amador V. Corpus prescribed a new set of guidelines in conducting PNP mandatory career courses and training under the 'new normal'. The recruitment program will also resume under the supervision of newly-established PNP Recruitment and Selection Service (PNP-RSS) on Monday, June 1, for pending applicants of 1st Cycle 2020 Recruitment and Regular Atrrition Quota for Patrolman and Patrolwoman and lateral entry program to strengthen the 205,000-strong police force. "I am pleased to announce that the PNP Recruitment and Selection Service (RSS) will resume processing of applications for recruitment to fill existing vacancies for

TACLOBAN CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- The local government unit of Tanauan, Leyte has set some basic health protocols for returning residents as the municipality expects more arrivals in the coming days. This, after the municipality recorded its first COVID-19 case on Thursday as reported by the Department of Health 8.    During the Panindugan Virtual Kapihan on Friday hosted by PIA-8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia Tiu, Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson said that those who wants to come home are very much welcome but they have to follow certain guidelines such as the 14-day quarantine period and RT-PCR testing.  "Itong mga kababayan natin that are returning home, we made a policy that we will have to accept them back because kailangan talaga nila makabalik, many of them are displaced in Metro Manila, stranded sila doon at mga kababayan natin ito. However, they have to be coordinated well, yung return nila sa atin at importante sumunod doon sa mga protocol, "Tecson said.  Tecson lik

ILOILO CITY, May 31 (PIA) – The Regional Task Force COVID-19 has established a Bayanihan One-Stop-Shop for the management of the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic at SM City Iloilo here. Office of Civil Defense Director Jose Roberto Nuñez, head of the task force, said the one-stop-shop offers assistance services such as the swift processing of Travel Authority and queries and requirements of various programs of the government amid the present health emergency. The assistance center started its operation on May 29 and will do so until such time that the response management is stabilized, according to Nuñez. It is open from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. Its establishment is in partnership with the members of the Western Visayas Regional Inter-Agency Task Force and RTF. So far, the initial list provided by OCD Information Officer Cindy Darling Ferrer of government agencies that were the first to respond to the RTF’s call to join the one-stop-shop includes aside from OCD, the Philippine Air

DAVAO CITY, May 30 (PIA) – The province of Davao del Sur has registered ten confirmed COVID-19 cases in just a span of one week, and nearly two months after the first two cases have been recorded. Of the cases recorded for the period May 26-29, 2020 in the province, eight patients are frontline personnel of the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital (DSPH) and all are residents of Digos City. The other two cases are from the municipalities of Sulop and Hagonoy. The COVID-19 case in the provincial hospital was first found out when a 29-year old male staff of the laboratory department tested positive in the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) conducted on May 22, 2020 on the laboratory personnel.     The said patient was confirmed COVID-19 positive through the RT-PCR test, and he was recorded as the second confirmed case in Digos City on May 26, since the first case was reported on March 30. On Friday evening (May 29), City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Dr. Ronald Jumilla of Dig

ILOILO CITY, May 31 (PIA) – Around 1,500 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) repatriates who are from Western Visayas have arrived in the region during the period this week set by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to effect the mass transport of OFWs to their homes in the regions. The repatriates arrived in the region May 25-27 through the Malasakit voyage involving 2GO Shipping Lines and sweeper flights. While in Manila, they have completed the mandatory quarantine period, yielded negative COVID-19 test results and have been issued authority to travel as compliances before they could go home. The Regional Task Force COVID-19 together with its Inter-Agency Task Force here managed the arrival of the OFWs and transporting them to their respective provinces and cities through the Sub Task Unit on OFW Repatriation led by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The biggest number of OFWs in a single trip of about 500 arrived on May 25 aboard a 2GO Malasakit voyage in the ports of the

Results of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) are out. #UPCAT2020 | via UP Office of the Student Regent Congratulations!

Boys’ Love (BL), also known as Yaoi, has been around for a few years now. But while it used to spread quietly in the realms of online fanfiction, it has recently started to become more mainstream—thanks to streaming sites, their wide array of content and, of course, the people that watch them.  Series that star LGBTQIA+ stories might still be far and few between, but Thailand is shaping up to be a leader in this narrative. And because the love for Thai Boys Love has been growing in the Philippines,  Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi  has partnered up with VLIVE a fan meeting we know you’ll want to be part of.  May 30, 2020: Krist & Singto From  SOTUS: The Series  are Krist (Perawat Snagpotirat) and Singto (Prachaya Ruangroj), neither of who are strangers to their Philippine fans.  Singto plays a freshman who doesn’t go by the rules of SOTUS (seniority, order, tradition, unity and spirit) and stands up to those who bully his class. Then he meets the character of Krist, who is initially the

SANTA, Ilocos Sur, May 30 (PIA) – The local government unit (LGU) of Santa, in partnership with the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC), offers the Recovery Investment for Santanian Entrepreneurs or Santa RISEs, a loan assistance program for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that were adversely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.   Mayor Jesus Bueno Jr. and Dr. Divina Quemi, chief executive officer of NSCC, signed the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Santa RISEs loan assistance program last May 18.   According to Vice Mayor Jeremy Jesus Bueno, the Santa RISEs aims to help the MSMEs bounce back and build back better their enterprises and livelihoods and revitalize the local economy.   Beneficiaries of this loan assistance program are bona fide residents of Santa who are engaged in micro, small or medium type of commercial businesses.   They should also be a member of the NSCC Multi-Purpose Cooperative and NSCC

PASIG CITY, May 30 (PIA) – As Metro Manila gets ready for the implementation of a general community quarantine (GCQ) on Monday, June 1, the Light Rail Transit Line-2 is also gearing up for its resumption of operation.  On its Twitter account, LRT-2 announced that its operation will be back but with a reduced capacity and some safety guidelines has been set to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Passengers are advised to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.  Likewise, passengers are reminded to wear a face mask. Train riders are also reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth. Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is also advised. If soap and water are not available, the use of alcohol and hand sanitizer is encouraged. And to further ensure safety, always observe physical or social distancing by keeping one (1) meter away from other passengers. Earlier, LRT-2 Spokesperson Atty. Hernan Cabrera encouraged train riders to use ticket

Laging Handa Public Briefing, which regularly airs on PTV, features guests from government and the private sector discussing the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. (PIA NCR)   PARANAQUE CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai has distributed cash assistance to around 7,000 overseas Filipinos in the country, a diplomat said over the weekend.     During Friday's edition of the Laging Handa Public Briefing aired on the People’s Television (PTV), Philippine Consulate in Dubai Consul General Paul Raymond Cortes said that aside from the assistance from DOLE’s AKAP  for OFWs, DSWD is providing relief packs and financial assistance to undocumented OFWs.   Cortes also reminded the overseas Filipino workers in Dubai to be careful in their AKAP application and to make sure that all requirements are provided to fast-track the appeal.     “We’d like to assure ang mga kababayan natin, na nandito po ang ating konsulado at embahada para tulungan yung mga kaba

BIKE LANES. The Pasig City Transportation Department started the road works for the pop-up bike lanes and sidewalk extensions recently. Earlier, the local transport department declared "biking" as an essential mode of transportation in the city. (Pasig City Public Information Office Facebook page) PASIG CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officials and major Filipino bike groups have welcomed the inclusion of a Sustainable Urban Mobility provision in the Better Normal Bill by the House of Representatives. During a recent online discussion series to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices dubbed, "Stories for a Better Normal," MMDA Undersecretary Frisco San Juan expressed support to a move for a bike masterplan in Metro Manila, which would include dedicated and protected bike lanes, to be incorporated in House Bill 6864, or the "Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spac

SAN FERNANDO CITY, May 30 (PIA) – The Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) in the Ilocos assured full support on returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Manila back to the region and clarified the procedure on how they will be assisted here. In a Kapihan sa Ilocos held on May 27, OWWA-Regional Welfare Office 1 regional director Gerardo Rimorin said, “Our agency is on-the-go to bring home our stranded OFWs with the help of our partner agencies.” OWWA reiterated that OFWs need first to follow strict health measures to be able for them to gain their entry to the region. This is to also ensure safety of residents in the region. Upon entry to the country, he said that an OFW will undergo coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swab testing in the airport to be administered by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and shall be quarantined for about 14 days. “While waiting for their results to come out, OWWA will provide accommodation an