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Iloilo City: Water rationing efforts have commenced in select barangays of Iloilo City to address water scarcity issues exacerbated by the dry season. The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported the delivery of 63,900 liters of treated water to 10 barangays as of Wednesday night.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative, dubbed 'Oplan Bulig sa Syudad,' utilizes treated water donated by various organizations and government agencies. CDRRMO officer Donna Magno stated that the plan aims to serve 25 barangays identified as high and medium risk areas for drought. Water distribution depends on the availability of volunteer tankers, with treated water advised for boiling before consumption.

The city government is also procuring additional water using its quick response fund to expand the rationing efforts. Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes due to extreme temperatures forecasted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), urging residents to conserve water during the dry season.

water rationing efforts have commenced in select barangays of Iloilo City to address water scarcity issues during the dry season.

Ilocos: The Ilocos Police Regional Office (PRO-1) confiscated PHP36.6 million worth of shabu and marijuana in various operations conducted from April 1 to 30, 2024.

According to Philippines News Agency, deputy chief of PRO-1 Regional Community Affairs Development Division, 95 operations led to the seizure of 84,300 marijuana plants and significant quantities of shabu. One major operation involved the eradication of marijuana plantations in Ilocos Sur, yielding millions worth of marijuana plants. Operations in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and La Union also resulted in the destruction of large quantities of marijuana plants.

Several suspects were arrested, and significant amounts of shabu were seized in separate operations across Vigan City, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur. The police force is not only targeting the supply of illegal drugs but also focusing on rehabilitation programs for drug users. PRO-1 director Brig. Gen. Lou Frias Evangelista emphasized the importance of monitoring borders to prevent the influx of illegal drugs into the region.

The Ilocos Police Regional Office conducted various operations resulting in the confiscation of PHP36.6 million worth of shabu and marijuana.

Makati City: The Philippines, in partnership with the government of Canada, has initiated a program aimed at finding nature-based solutions for adapting to climate change. During the program launch of the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) in Makati City, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga highlighted the critical need to strengthen capacity for adaptation, especially for vulnerable populations.

According to Philippines News Agency, he partnership aims to enhance the resilience of Filipinos, particularly rural and indigenous women, against the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. It includes knowledge sharing, expertise exchange, and resource allocation for assessing protected areas and applying science and new tools for ecological integrity. Secretary Loyzaga emphasized the importance of nature-based solutions rooted in science and indigenous knowledge, highlighting their role in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The completion of the NAP was presented at the 28th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC), estimating the cost of inaction on adaptation within the 2030 decade to be around PHP1.4 trillion. With initiatives like PCP4NbS, Secretary Loyzaga expressed optimism toward biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, gender equality, and community resilience.

The Philippines has partnered with Canada to launch the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) in Makati City.

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering implementing labeling measures for both local and imported rice to prevent the mixing of rice varieties in retail markets. In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa emphasized the importance of providing consumers with information regarding the origin of rice they purchase.

According to Philippines News Agency, He expressed concerns about potential mislabeling activities where cheaper rice is mixed with more expensive varieties to fetch higher prices. Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives national manager Raul Montemayor echoed these concerns, stating that some imported rice closely resembles local produce and can easily be mixed, while unscrupulous traders may repackage imported rice as local to increase profits. Retail prices for imported and local rice varieties vary, with imported rice generally cheaper due to global price trends. The DA assured it is investigating the price gap between farmgate and retail prices to ensure fairness for consumers.

According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, the Department of Agriculture is planning to put labels on local and imported rice to prevent the mixing of rice varieties.

McDonald's Corporation reported a shortfall in quarterly profits, missing its target for the first time in two years as it faces a global boycott sparked by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The announcement came on Tuesday, highlighting the challenges faced by the fast-food giant in light of international disputes.

According to a statement from the company, despite achieving a 1.9 percent increase in global comparable sales during the first quarter, the impact of the Gaza conflict has significantly affected its market performance, especially in regions involved in the conflict. The statement elaborated that while there was positive sales growth in the U.S. and some international markets, sales were adversely affected in the International Developmental Licensed Markets segment due to the conflict in the Middle East. The call for a boycott began after Alonyal Limited, which operates McDonald's in Israel, distributed thousands of free meals to Israeli forces involved in actions in Gaza, resulting in widespread casualties. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski remarked earlier this year that the ongoing conflict is negatively impacting the brand and reducing sales in Muslim-majority countries.

LONDON - King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday, nearly three months after receiving a cancer diagnosis. His reappearance was marked by a visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London, alongside Queen Camilla. During this visit, he was announced as the new patron of Cancer Research UK.

According to Philippines News Agency, the visit involved interactions with medical specialists and patients at the center, signaling the start of several scheduled public engagements for the King. In early February, following his diagnosis, Charles, aged 75, began outpatient treatment supervised by a specialist medical team.

Manila – In a move to counteract surging electricity prices, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will temporarily suspend the operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) during red alert statuses on the country's power grids. The decision aims to stabilize rising costs amid increased demand triggered by the current heatwave.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos outlined the government’s response to recent yellow and red alert notices in the Luzon and Visayas grids. These alerts have been frequent over the past weeks due to a significant spike in electricity demand, attributed to unusually high temperatures brought on by the El Niño phenomenon. The President noted that the ERC took action to suspend WESM operations to prevent further price increases during these critical periods.

The ERC, which manages the regulatory framework, confirmed that during the suspension period, administered prices would be imposed to govern transactions within the spot market. This market functions as a centralized platform where electricity is traded between buyers and sellers, with prices fluctuating based on demand and supply dynamics. The administered price mechanism is designed to prevent price spikes that can occur when market supply becomes constrained during emergencies.

The temporary suspension aligns with provisions in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, which allows for such measures during national emergencies or significant natural calamities.

MANILA - Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte praised the contributions and commitment of what she termed 'modern-day heroes' during her Labor Day address. The Vice President recognized the essential roles played by workers across various sectors in the Philippines, emphasizing their crucial part in the nation's progress.

According to Philippines News Agency, Duterte specifically acknowledged the hard work and dedication of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), medical staff, security personnel, community workers, teachers, and all other public and private sector employees. She heralded these individuals as the true heroes of contemporary times, expressing gratitude for their daily efforts which she noted as vital to the country’s development.

Furthermore, in a recent move to support educational workers, Duterte approved the rationalization of workload for public school teachers. Department Order No. 5, issued two days before Labor Day, now allows teachers to allocate up to six hours for classroom teaching, with the remaining two hours dedicated to ancillary tasks that can be performed on or off school premises. This order is part of broader efforts to enhance the teaching environment by reducing administrative burdens previously shouldered by educators, aiming to improve both the quality of teaching and educational outcomes.

Seoul – On Labor Day, President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to uphold the "value of labor" in South Korea, emphasizing his commitment to improving workplace safety and fairness. In a statement released via Facebook on Wednesday, Yoon expressed gratitude to South Korea's 28.4 million workers, crediting their efforts for the nation's significant economic growth.

According to Philippines News Agency, the government aims to enhance the quality of work life, ensuring that labor remains a meaningful part of life for all South Korean workers. Yoon's administration has promised to make concerted efforts to protect labor values and ensure safer and fairer working conditions across the country.

DALY CITY - Daly City is set to enhance its long-standing sister city relationship with Quezon City in the Philippines, aiming to expand cooperation in various sectors including social development and emergency services. Mayor Juslyn Manalo of Daly City, who hosted a meeting with Filipino journalists on April 29, expressed her city's intent to share more resources and expertise, particularly in progressive leadership and social development.

According to Philippines News Agency, discussions with Quezon City have been focused on the next steps to take in their partnership. Quezon City has shown a keen interest in Daly City’s wastewater management model, which could serve as a blueprint for similar systems in the Philippines. Furthermore, Daly City is prepared to support its sister city by providing surplus firefighting equipment to enhance Quezon City's emergency response capabilities. This initiative comes as Quezon City has expressed a need for such resources due to frequent fire incidents.

The relationship between Daly City and Quezon City was formally established on August 8, 1994, with the aim of fostering mutual cooperation across various fields including the environment, human resources, community development, science and technology, education, sports, tourism, and trade. This partnership was reaffirmed during a Daly City Council session on July 10, 2023.

Mayor Manalo, who is the first female Filipino-American mayor of Daly City, highlighted the deep cultural and historical connections between the two cities, which are enriched by Daly City's significant Filipino-American population. Currently, Filipinos and Filipino-Americans constitute approximately 34 percent of Daly City’s population, the highest concentration in the United States.

In her career, Mayor Manalo has been an advocate for the Filipino community, beginning as a community service worker assisting Filipino World War II veterans. She is also dedicated to addressing housing issues for low- to moderate-income families and combating anti-Asian sentiment in California.

The official expressed optimism about the future of Daly City's relationship with Quezon City and hopes to host Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City soon to discuss further collaboration.

Manila – A recent survey has disclosed that more than 50,000 unaccompanied child migrants are unaccounted for after arriving in Europe.

According to Philippines News Agency, the survey spanned 13 European countries and covered the period from 2021 to 2023. Italy recorded the highest number of missing minors at 22,899, followed by Austria with 20,077, Belgium with 2,241, Germany with 2,005, and Switzerland with 1,226.

The survey indicated that the actual number of missing children might be higher due to unreliable and incomplete data collection practices across many European countries. The report highlighted the gravity of the situation, with thousands of children missing and their current locations unknown. Aagje Ieven, head of Missing Children Europe, commented on the findings, suggesting they represent only a fraction of a much larger problem.

MANILA - On Wednesday, at least 35 areas throughout the Philippines are predicted to face dangerously high heat indices, as per the latest advisories from the nation's weather authorities. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued warnings indicating that Pili, Camarines Sur could see temperatures soaring to a heat index of 48°C. Similarly, Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Aparri in Cagayan are expected to experience indices of 47°C and 46°C, respectively.

According to Philippines News Agency, the heat index, a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored with the actual air temperature, could hit between 42°C and 45°C in various cities including Pasay, Quezon City, and several locations in Ilocos Norte and Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Olongapo City, Quezon, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Eastern Samar.

The agency categorizes heat indices from 41 °C to 51°C as at a danger level, where heat cramps and heat exhaustion are probable, and prolonged exposure might lead to heat stroke. Meanwhile, PAGASA also reported that the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will influence weather conditions in southern Mindanao, leading to cloudy skies with potential scattered rain showers and thunderstorms across Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, is expected to encounter cloudy to partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to easterly winds.

PAGASA further cautioned that moderate to heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods or landslides in affected areas. Additionally, light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas are forecast across the archipelago.