Day: March 31, 2023

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao) has seized suspected shabu and marijuana plants with an estimated street value of PHP2.2 million for this month alone. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the PRO-10 said their latest operation led to the confiscation of suspected shabu valued at PHP737,800 in the towns of Maramag and Valencia towns in Bukidnon. On Wednesday, operatives of the Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Orlando Obial, the sixth most wanted drug personality in Maramag town. Recovered from him were shabu valued at PHP329,000 and other drug paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the PRO-10’s Special Operations Unit – Provincial Drug Enforcement Group also uprooted more than PHP1.5 million worth of 7,500 marijuana plants in Barangay Guinuyoran, Valencia City on March 24. No cultivator was apprehended but all uprooted marijuana plants were burned. Gen. Lawrence Coop, PRO-10 director, has warned cultivators to stop growing marijuana plants as this is considered illegal under the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. “The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from PHP500,000 to PHP10,000,000 shall be imposed upon any person who shall plant, cultivate, or culture marijuana, opium poppy, or any other plant regardless of quantity,” he said. In this city, anti-narcotics operatives also conducted a buy-bust operation resulting in the arrest of Christopher Lorenzo of Barangay Carmen earlier this week. Confiscated from the suspect were PHP408,000 worth of suspected shabu.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) have urged the public, especially the youth, to participate in this year’s Philippine Veterans Week (PVW) from April 5 to 12. This is in line with the nation’s observance of the 81st anniversary of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) on April 10. A series of commemorative and special events will be held to memorialize the valor and heroic deeds of Filipino veterans, the DND and PVAO said in a joint statement on Friday. Anchored on the theme “Kagitingan ng mga Beterano, Pundasyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino,’ this year’s observance aims to remember the veterans whose courage and sacrifices became the foundation of the country’s freedom. “Their stories of heroism and of working together for a singular purpose will also be highlighted to remind every Filipino of the value of solidarity and unity in nation-building,” it added. Under Proclamation 466, s. 1989, the country celebrates the PVW from April 5 to 11 of every year to promote, preserve, and memorialize the principles, ideas, and deeds of the war veterans to enhance patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth. Meanwhile, April 9 of every year is designated by Executive Order 203, s. 1987 as “Araw ng Kagitingan.” The observance of the PVW will commence on April 5 with the Sunrise Ceremony and the wreath-laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City at 7 a.m. It will be followed by the Review in Honor of the Veterans at the Hunters ROTC Guerilla Field at the Philippine Army Headquarters, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City at 9 a.m. April 10 was declared a regular holiday in observance of the “Araw ng Kagitingan,” under Proclamation 90, s. 2022, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos. Jr. The commemoration will start at 8 a.m. at the Mt. Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan where the “Dambana ng Kagitingan” or Shrine of Valor stands. The Tribute to all Filipino Heroes, traditionally held in Corregidor Island, will be observed along with the Paggunita sa Capas at the Capas National Shrine in Capas, Tarlac at 8 a.m. on April 11. The PVW will be capped off with the Sunset Ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City at 5 p.m. on April 12, where veterans will gather amid the setting sun to share stories about the veterans and recite a pledge of patriotism. Supporting activities will also be held in different parts of the country to promote the legacies of Filipino veterans and heroes. Among these are the “Ride for Valor,” a motorcycle/big bike riders’ tour event traversing the route of the Bataan Death March, on April 9. The Philippine Veterans Bank’s traveling exhibit, ‘War of our Fathers,’ will also be open at The Bunker in Balanga City, Bataan from April 3 to April 18, and an awarding ceremony of the US Congressional Gold Medal will be held in Capas, Tarlac on April 12 to recognize the Filipino World War II Veterans residing in Central Luzon. The Department of Education, in partnership with PVAO, Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), and VFP-Sons and Daughters Association, Inc. will also conduct several national competitions for students nationwide, including a poster-making contest, an essay writing contest, a songwriting contest, and an oratorical contest in April to encourage youth participation and develop deeper awareness about the Philippines’ history. All events for the national observance of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” and the 2023 PVW are open to the public, provided minimum health protocols are observed.

Source: Philippines News Agency

At least 64 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Southern Leyte have availed of the credit assistance program offered by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in more than two years. Mark Obregon, monitoring and evaluation coordinator of DAR Southern Leyte provincial office, said on Friday some PHP3.6 million have been released by the state-run bank to the beneficiaries under DAR’s accessible fund for delivery to ARBs (AFFORD-ARBs) credit assistance program from 2021 until early 2023. Under the AFFORD-ARBs program, LBP provides direct credit assistance to individual ARBs not yet members of ARB organizations. The loans can be used for the production of rice, corn and high-value crops, and the acquisition of small farm implements, such as hand tractors and power tillers. ‘Borrowers in Southern Leyte used the amount as capital to improve their abaca and cacao productions. We have been encouraging agrarian reform beneficiaries to avail of the different credit assistance programs offered by DAR since it has minimal interest rates,’ Obregon said in a statement. The financing program is seen as an opportunity for the ARBs to recover from the devastation of Typhoon Odette which battered the province in December 2021. In this program, LBP no longer asks for collateral in availing the AFFORD-ARBs loan. However, the borrower must not have any other insurance application with the Philippine Crop Insurance Company (PCIC), since the proceeds they will get from PCIC will serve as their collateral.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The weather bureau on Friday said generally fair weather will continue to prevail over most parts of the country. Isolated rain showers in the afternoon may still be experienced due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms. In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the chance for a tropical cyclone to develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility is less likely throughout the weekend. Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas still prevail across the country, PAGASA said.

Source: Philippines News Agency