Brunei News Gazette

CEBU CITY — Officials from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Central Visayas were unable to serve a suspension order on Mayor Michael Rama and seven other Cebu City Hall officials on Friday, as issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

According to Philippines News Agency, the regional director of DILG-7, the team attempted to personally deliver the suspension order but found that Mayor Rama and the other officials were not present at the city hall upon their arrival Friday afternoon. "Our team will discuss other options. We may resort to substituted service of the suspension order by sending them to the respondents through registered mail," Trovela explained to reporters, emphasizing the department's intention to personally serve the order.

The suspension order includes Mayor Rama, city administrator Collin Rossel, Rossel's wife who is the officer-in-charge of the City Assessor's Office, and other high-ranking officials within the city administration. They are under investigation following allegations by former city government employees that their salaries were withheld for 10 months.

Furthermore, the DILG has posted the Ombudsman's order at the Office of the City Assessor, which constitutes official notification to the suspended officials. Meanwhile, the Office of Vice Mayor Raymund Alvin Garcia confirmed on Friday that they received a directive from the DILG authorizing the Vice Mayor to "exercise powers and perform duties and functions of the local chief executive in an acting capacity," as stipulated under Section 46(a) of the Local Government Code of 1991.

A source from Vice Mayor Garcia's office indicated that Garcia is expected to assume office as acting mayor on Monday, as he is currently on official business in Manila.

Sibalom, Antique - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has officially opened the Sibalom Natural Park to tourists, positioning it as the latest ecotourism destination in Antique.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Community Environment and Natural Resources officer, the park, which spans 6,778.44 hectares on Mt. Porras in Barangay Imparayan, is now a key part of the tourism circuit in southern Antique. "Through the launching of the SNP as an ecotourism destination, we look forward to the improvement of the livelihood of the people as well as continuing conservation efforts," Laud stated in an interview.

The inauguration of the park included a familiarization tour for tour operators, organized by the Department of Tourism, to introduce them to the new site. Rona Horbino, a tour operator participant, mentioned that the SNP would be incorporated into their travel packages, alongside other attractions like Malumpati Cold Spring in Pandan and Boracay Island in the adjacent Aklan province.

The park is noted for its rich biodiversity, including the native nato tree, century-old red and white lauan trees, and the Rafflesia speciosa, the world's largest flower. It also serves as a habitat for several endangered species such as the Visayan warty pig, tarictic hornbill, Walden's hornbill, and the spotted deer.

In preparation for the opening, the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (Biofin), supported by the United Nations Development Program, partnered with DENR to enhance local capacities. Biofin facilitated training for about 70 Bantay Gubat (Forest Guardian) volunteers from Barangay Imparayan who will guide tours in the park. Anabelle Plantilla, Biofin project manager, detailed that the training covered aspects such as tour guiding, hospitality, food and beverage preparation, marketing, branding, and the development of an ecotourism management plan.

One of the new guides, Ayman Agting, shared his transition from working as a security guard and construction worker in Manila to becoming a tour guide at SNP. He explained, "The fee I could receive as a tour guide would already be enough for my daily subsistence."

PASIG CITY — The Philippines is set to host the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships from November 4-14 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

According to Philippines News Agency, a memorandum of agreement signed by Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella and Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) Secretary General Mohammed Ahmed Al Harbi, the event is expected to draw approximately 400 athletes from various AWF member countries. The competition will feature 10 categories for both men and women, with the Youth division catering to athletes aged 13 to 17 and the Junior division for those aged 15 to 20.

"This is one big event for us; we need a tournament that will inspire the youth to become world-class," said Puentevella during a press conference at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena. He also expressed satisfaction with the support from Al Harbi for what is anticipated to be a successful tournament staging. Al Harbi, who inspected the facilities, praised the infrastructure of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, which will serve as the training venue.

Al Harbi, also the president of the Saudi Arabia Weightlifting Federation, concluded his visit with a courtesy call on PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann before the signing ceremony. He was scheduled to return home on the same date.

In preparation for the upcoming championships, the SWP will utilize the Philippine Open, scheduled for June 9-15 in Cebu City, to select its entries. The Philippines had a strong showing at the 2023 edition of the event in New Delhi, India, where they won 19 gold medals. Notable performances included Vanessa Sarno of Bohol, who dominated the women's 71kg category with a total lift of 216kg, and contributions from Zamboanga lifters who were significant medal contributors in various categories.

Manila - The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Friday that it could begin selling government-subsidized rice for PHP29 per kilogram as early as August, pending legislative amendments.

According to Philippines News Agency, this initiative has been previously implemented through the National Irrigation Administration's contract farming with farmers' cooperatives and associations. "That's possible, of course, there will be a subsidy from the government. We've already done that before in some areas," de Mesa stated.

De Mesa elaborated that the affordability of the rice could be achieved by reducing production costs, including the provision of free seedlings, fertilizers, machinery, and waived irrigation service fees through partnerships with the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and other entities.

He indicated that the subsidized rice program might be rolled out in collaboration with the National Food Authority (NFA) once the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) are approved. "We are studying and working hard on this, hopefully by August, especially if the amendments are passed," de Mesa added.

The urgency of these amendments has been underscored by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has certified the proposed RTL amendment as a priority, aiming to stabilize rice prices in the market.

The proposed legislative changes would allow the sale of NFA rice only through government agencies, outlets of registered women's groups or cooperatives, consumer groups, similar associations recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Kadiwa stores. Currently, the NFA's role is confined to maintaining national rice reserves for buffer stocking.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently addressed accusations from a former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent, dismissing them as unfounded. During a media interview at a distribution event for government assistance to El Niño-affected residents, Marcos strongly criticized the former agent's credibility.

According to Philippines News Agency, the claims made by ex-PDEA agent Jonathan Morales, who accused him of illegal drug involvement, are meritless. "It's hard to give it importance. This fellow is a professional liar, like a jukebox. As long as you pay, he will play whatever song you want. That is why it's pointless," Marcos stated during the interview. He further highlighted Morales' dubious record, noting his history of involvement in multiple court cases and false testimonies.

Morales, who was dismissed from the PDEA for dishonesty and misconduct, is currently facing several legal proceedings. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has been investigating the alleged leak of confidential PDEA documents that falsely implicated President Marcos in illegal drug activities. The PDEA has denied the existence of the documents presented by Morales.

PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo has also refuted Morales' allegations, labeling them as "fabricated" and without any factual basis. Lazo criticized the reliance on Morales' testimony, given his prior perjury in concealing his dismissal from the Philippine National Police during his application to PDEA. The Senate committee has similarly expressed skepticism over Morales' testimony, which failed to substantiate the claims against President Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano.

Dumaguete - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has declared the Amlan-Siaton 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Negros Oriental as reaching a critical level due to overloading, prompting calls for accelerated work on a new line.

According to Philippines News Agency, NGCP-Negros public relations officer, the existing line's capacity has been exceeded, and the construction of the new Amlan-Dumaguete 138 kV line is urgently needed to prevent potential power outages. "We are asking stakeholders and government officials in Negros Oriental to help us fast-track the acquisition of permits and the Certificate of No Objection from concerned local governments and private individuals," Visera stated during an interview.

The new 138 kV line, which began construction last year, is slated for completion by September of this year. However, Visera noted that resistance from local communities has necessitated an application to extend the deadline to January 2026. She highlighted that the Amlan-Siaton line is currently carrying a load of 69 megawatts (MW), well above its normal capacity of 58 MW.

The urgency of the situation was underscored last weekend when many parts of Negros Oriental experienced a 12-hour brownout. This outage was due to preventive maintenance carried out by NGCP on the overloaded 69-kV line to ensure its stability.

Visera emphasized that speeding up the completion of the Amlan-Dumaguete 138-kV project is crucial to address the growing power demands and reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions in the region.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Iligan Mayor Frederick Siao has announced the city's openness to new partnerships for enhancing its water supply infrastructure. In a recent livestream interview, Siao discussed potential collaborations with both government and private entities aimed at improving the Iligan City Waterworks System's efficiency and financial viability. According to Philippines News Agency, Representatives from the Local Water Utilities Administration and other stakeholders have engaged with the city to explore avenues for better service delivery and increased revenue through possible rate adjustments and public-private partnerships, including a prospective engagement with Manila Water.

DUMAGUETE CITY — Negros Oriental officials are taking steps to ensure the proper disposal of hospital waste as they advance a major "Medical City" project, set to expand local medical facilities significantly.

According to Philippines News Agency, chief of the Provincial Health Office, the province has initiated measures including the procurement of a shredder machine intended to safely dispose of both infectious and non-infectious waste from the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital. Although the initial machine was returned to the supplier due to non-compliance with specifications, the province is actively managing waste storage and disinfection as it prepares for the project's inauguration on May 17, coinciding with the 100th jubilee anniversary of the provincial capitol.