UCPB says earnings rose due to increased loans

EARNINGS of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) went up for the first quarter this year after loans increased.

Pacquiao twits relevance of reproductive health bill

WOLRD boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao engaged the main author of the controversial Reproductive Health bill in a debate over its merits at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Fuel subsidy cards distributed in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY – Hundreds of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying different routes in the province of Pangasinan are now holders of the national government’s Pantawid Pasada cards.

Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. of the Department of Energy (DOE) led the distribution of the fuel subsidy cards to the recipients on Wednesday.

Aquino: Conscience matters in RH fray

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday parried the attacks leveled at him by the Catholic Church over the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, reminding his detractors that conscience plays a part in governance and choosing what is right.

"Tinuroan po ako ng eskwelahan na pinangalingan ko isang Catholic institution na yung talagang final arbiter po yung konsensya natin," Aquino said during the press conference at the Grand Regal Hotel where he graced the Philippine Medical Association's 104th national convention.

Suspected drug courier arrested in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Authorities in North Cotabato arrested Tuesday a 19-year-old man believed to be a member of a big-time drug syndicate operating in Maguindanao and in other parts of Central Mindanao.

Superintendent Alex Tagum, chief of the Cotabato Public Safety Office (CPSO), identified the suspect as one Muhammad Gamong, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation along a highway in Midsayap town. A big sachet of suspected shabu was recovered from Gampong.

Philippines needs heavy hand in governance: lawyer

A MANILA-based lawyer lauded the kind of governance of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, saying the latter is feared by many and that is what the Philippines needs.

Lawyer Salvador Panelo, who was guest in Wednesday's Club 888 forum, said, "Abusado kasi tayong mga Pinoy, pero takot tayo sa authority, kaya we have to change the environ for the future generation."

No threat of oil spill in Bakud Reef: exec

KIAMBA, Sarangani -- The threat of an oil spill that may affect the protected seascape of Sarangani Bay is already remote after the tanker salvor transferred the fuel from the front portion of the ship that was wrecked to the rear compartment.

Random drug testing continues

THE Davao City Government said the implementation of a random drug testing among City Hall employees will extend to personnel of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Task Force Davao (TFD).

Pips program launched to reduce crime incidents

THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao Region has launched an anti-crime program to prevent crime incidents in various areas in Southern Mindanao.

284 pass police recruitment

AT LEAST 284 out of 600 have passed the police recruitment process in Davao Region.

Aquino wants to keep love life private

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III begged to be allowed to keep his love life private in the wake of talks that he is dating another girl these days.

Agdao villages heighten campaign vs dengue

BARANGAY officials in Agdao district, Davao City have reinforced their campaign to stop the spread of dengue, which has caused several deaths in the area.

Fishermen arrested in protected waters

POLICE arrested three fishermen caught fishing on protected waters in Don Marcelino, Davao del Sur.

No case yet vs bank robbery suspects

POLICE authorities said they cannot file any charges yet against the suspects who robbed Banco de Oro (BDO) Osmeña-Ramonal branch last week pending the complaint-affidavit from the bank's management.

Police Inspector Buenaventura Reyes, station commander of Cogon Police Station in Cagayan de Oro City, said they have already identified the suspects but no charges have been filed until now.

Poverty project now covers lesser towns

THE social welfare office in Northern Mindanao has lessened the beneficiaries for the third phase of its poverty project due to the issue of sustainability of implemented projects in identified poorest towns in the region.

Noemi Marla Cinco, social marketing officer of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) project, said that out of the seven beneficiaries, at least three towns were removed.

Drugs agency penetrates shabu tiangge

OPERATIVES of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao conducted Tuesday a buy-bust operation at Purok 5, Lawis, San Roque in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental but failed to arrest a suspected drug pusher.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. said that during the operation, a certain Elde Laraga, a resident of the area, eluded arrest upon sensing the arrival of the operatives.

Convention set to tackle Pinoy domestic helpers' rights

TO ENSURE the basic rights and prevent future violations and abuses of Filipino domestic helpers all over Europe, the International Labor Organization (ILO) is all set for a convention in June after the European Parliament has adopted its resolution.

P2.16-M fuel subsidy distributed in Northern Mindanao

THE Local Government office in Northern Mindanao has started releasing Wednesday some P2.16-million fund for fuel subsidy of tricycle franchisees to 64 cities and municipalities in the region.

Woman stabbed 13 times

A 26-YEAR-OLD woman died after her former live-in partner stabbed her 13 times in an east coast village in Zamboanga City, the police said Wednesday.

The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) reported that the incident took place around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday in the village of Tetuan.

Labor department turns over project to fisher folks

THE labor department turned over a livelihood project to the San Antonio Fishermen Association (Safa) in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Zamboanga Peninsula Director Ponciano Ligutom said on Wednesday the Payao and Buntay-Pukot Project aimed to increase the income of Safa, which comprises of 42 marginalized fishermen.

Cops hot on trail of van-riding thieves

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Operatives of Pampanga Provincial Police Office and City of San Fernando Police Office are now pursuing robbers riding a white Nissan Urvan.

The van-riding robbers struck early morning Sunday in Mexico, where they held up a freight truck of some P10,000 in cash before striking a gasoline station in Barangay Telabastagan, robbing it of an estimated P100,000 in cash, then proceeding to Mabalacat to rob another party.

Pamintuan's supporters ready for mass actions

ANGELES CITY -- Members of several non-government organizations (NGOs) here said Wednesday that they are ready to mobilize and march to the streets to show their support to incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

The move came amid the ongoing electoral protest and revision of ballots at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) initiated by Pamintuan's political rival, former mayor Francis Nepomuceno.

Cities league welcomes Mabalacat cityhood

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) president and this city's Mayor Oscar Rodriguez expressed happiness Wednesday over the passage of a bill converting the first-class municipality of Mabalacat into a component city.

On Tuesday, the House committee on local government approved House Bill 2509 (An Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the Province of Pampanga into a component city to be known as the Mabalacat City) sponsored by first district Representative Carmelo Lazatin, paving the way for its cityhood within this year.

Lawmaker to file ordinance to go after illegal fishing

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth district Board Member Nestor Tolentino said Wednesday that he will forward the committee on environment's recommendation to create a provincial ordinance penalizing illegal fishing activities along the Pampanga River Delta.

Provincial Board asked to monitor local executives

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Masantol Association of Barangay Captains head Bernard Guevarra on Monday called on the Provincial Board's committee on environment to look into the non-implementation of environmental laws by elected town officials.

Central Luzon police ready for class opening

CAMP OLIVAS -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon is all geared to provide assistance to students during the opening of classes on June 6.

Dinagyang group ready for New York trip

MANILA’s Aliwan Festival grand champion, Dinagyang Tribu Pan-ay is all set for their New York trip in June.

Philippine Independence Day Celebration Inc. (PIDCI) president Joji Jalandoni and Consul General Cecilia Rebong invited the City of Iloilo to showcase the Dinagyang Festival to the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration and parade in New York, USA.

Mayor lauds bidding of bulk water supply

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is optimistic that city residents and consumers of the city’s water district are assured of 30,000 cubic meters of water daily more with the bidding of the bulk water supply.

The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) held the bidding for the bulk water supply on Tuesday. The additional supply is seen to augment the dwindling potable water supply services of the water district.

Military headquarters relocation plan shelved

THE plan to relocate the main headquarters of the 8th Infantry Division (ID) to another town in Samar has been shelved for good, Major General Mario Chan, commanding general of the division, said.

Local governments urged to work double time vs malnutrition

LOCAL government units (LGUs) must focus and work double time in addressing malnutrition problems in Eastern Visayas, now that only four years are left before the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a foreign-backed non-government organization said.

Plan International Philippines said the focus now must be on health, particularly malnutrition, as there is still a lot to be done to solve the problem.