President Duterte graces groundbreaking rites of villas for soldiers and policemen

BALO-I, Lanao del Norte (28 Feb 2018) - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, February 28, graced the groundbreaking ceremony of Christine Villas under the New Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (AFP/PNP) Housing Program, assuring the men and women in uniform that public funds are put to good use under his watch.

Iligan City Mayor offers rewards to informants of terroristic activities

ILIGAN City (28 Feb 2018) - Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia offers a cash reward of ten thousand pesos (Php10,000) to informants of any terroristic activities within the city.

Duterte inaugurates Bahay Pag-asa Housing Project in Marawi

MARAWI City - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the inauguration of the Bahay Pag-asa Phase 2 housing project at Barangay Mipaga in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

PCOO to provide internet in 42,000 barangays

MANILA (28 Feb 2018) - All barangay officials nationwide will soon be able to watch presidential speeches and other government activities and announcements without tuning in to commercial television channels.

President Duterte determined to build 'strong' security forces

DAVAO City (27 Feb 2018) - The administration is focused on strengthening the country's military and police forces, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said Monday, February 26.

PNP paid salary of alleged terror suspect nabbed along "Marwan's" widow

CAGAYAN de Oro City (27 Feb 2018) - ONE of the five terrorism suspects was hardly noticed because all eyes were on the widow of slain Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli Abdhir a.k.a. 'Marwan,' the target of the botched January 25, 2015, operations of the Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Sogod Southern Leyte rehabilitates abaca production industry

SOGOD, Leyte (21 Feb 2018) - The town of Sogod in Southern Leyte was once a lush abaca plantation.  For many years, residents led happy and prosperous lives as they maintained sustainable livelihood from abaca production.

Iligan City rice enough despite low NFA stock

ILIGAN CITY (25 Feb 2018) - Local and national government authorities here allayed the fears of some sectors about the possibility of a rice shortage in spite the low stock as admitted by the local National Food Authority (NFA).

Rosita Tabugo, NFA stock manager, said the Iligan warehouse has about 3,000 sacks of rice that occupies less than half the space of the entire stockroom in Barangay Tipanoy.

"There is a need to boost our stock, but we are awaiting a significant infusion from the national office anytime," Tabugo said.

With the current stock, the NFA will provide 10 bags of rice per day to each of the 75 active accredited rice retailers in Iligan who would need NFA support, according to officer-in-charge Sambitory Dimaporo.



Some sectors have expressed apprehension at the low NFA stock that they think has reached an alarming level.

But Iligan City Agriculture Office director Octavius Molo said there are many retailers who still have a lot of commercial rice stocks.

"These retailers do not have to depend on the NFA alone since they have their own sources," Molo added.

The coastal towns of Lanao del Norte, particularly Maigo, Lala and Kapatagan are high producers of quality rice.

Lanao del Norte has been lauded as one of the top rice producers of 2016 and is vying for the rice Achievers Award at the AIM Conference Center in Makati. [Ted Khan Juanite, The Manila Times]

Marwan's widow, 4 others arrested in Lanao del Norte

BAROY, Lanao del Norte - Police and military personnel arrested the wife of slain Jemaah Islamiyah bomber Zulkifli Abdhir alias 'Marwan' and four others in a joint operation at Purok 5 Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte around 6:22 a.m. Sunday.

Iligan City police now on alert over alleged terror plot

ILIGAN City (24 Feb 2018) - Police here went on alert although its chief downplayed an alleged new terrorism plot here and Cotabato City.

Iligan police director, Senior Supt. Leony Roy Ga, yesterday said the threat "is not new."

Principal suspect in Demafelis murder now in custody

The principal suspect in the gruesome murder of overseas Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis in Kuwait more than a year ago is now in the custody of authorities in Lebanon, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced today.

BIR slaps Dunkin Donuts with P1.118-billion tax evasion raps

MANILA (23 Feb 2018) - As part of the Duterte administration's campaign to go after tax evaders, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Friday filed a tax evasion complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Golden Donuts Inc. (GDI), exclusive franchiser and license grantee of US company Dunkin Donuts, for failing to pay PhP1.118-billion in taxes.

Naic kicks off 7th Pawikan Festival at Labac Beach Front

NAIC, Cavite (23 Feb 2018) - Naic Mayor Junio C. Dualan will lead the day-long festivities marked with coastal clean-up, games, and contests as the town celebrate its 7th Pawikan (sea turtle) Festival at the town's Labac Beach Front on Friday.

Northern Mindanao post increased rice and corn yield in 2017 - PSA

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) disclosed the positive increase of rice and corn production at 3.57 percent and 4.01 percent, respectively, for Northern Mindanao for the calendar year 2017.

The PSA presented the data during the CY 2017 Commodity Production Performance Assessment of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

President Duterte witnesses establishment of "TienDA Para sa Mga Bayani" in Iloilo

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnesses the establishment of "TienDA Para Sa Mga Bayani," a farmer and fisher-folk outlet in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), at Camp General Adriano Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo on February 22, 2018.

President Duterte condoles family of Joana Demafelis

SARA, Iloilo (22 Feb 2018) - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte condoles with the bereaved families of Joanna Demafelis, in a wake visit at Barangay Ferraris in Sara, Iloilo on February 22, 2018. 

President Duterte receives PH, Japan conglomerates at Malacanang

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, February 21, met with Philippine and Japanese conglomerates at the Malacanang Palace.

In their courtesy call to the President, the Philippine conglomerates discussed competitiveness and macroeconomic fundamentals, infrastructure, and innovation matters to the President.

BFP, NBI probe second Iligan fire

ILIGAN City (16 Feb 2018) - After the fire that razed seven stores along Aguinaldo Street on February 7, a second fire destroyed a number of office complexes, including a private school on February 13 prompting an investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Senior Fire Officer 1 Ruel Lee, BFP chief investigator, said the second fire gutted a larger commercial block on Badelles Extension in Barangay Pala-o which started at the warehouse of Double Tap Security Agency inside U&J complex and spread towards Santo Nino Academy de Iligan, a private school also owned by U&J.

The entire school was totally burned but the U&J building was partially damaged.  But the teachers said there were no classes on that day because of tropical storm "Basyang."

Also located in the area is the office of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) that is now occupied by the NBI.  Acting NBI agent-in-charge Jam Dimaporo said the office of the chief and the agents' quarters were burned but the clearance processing section was spared.

The BFP estimated the initial damage at PhP1-million citing faulty wiring that could have caused the fire. [Ted Khan Juanite, The Manila Times]

Fire hits school, NBI office in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY (13 Feb 2018) - Fire hit the Sto. Nino Academy and nearby National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) building along Badelles Street, Barangay Pala-o in Iligan City on Tuesday afternoon.

Witnesses said the fire started at the school where only a few students and teachers were present as classes were suspended earlier in the day due to the heavy rains brought about by Tropical Depression Basyang.

Meanwhile, the office of NBI Chief Atty. Abduljamal Dimaporo was damaged while some evidence was destroyed because of the fire.

The Bureau of Fire Protection declared a fire out by 3:25 p.m.

Fire Insp. Butch Baulete said the estimated cost of damage is P1-million and that they are still investigating the cause of the fire. [Merlyn Manos/BAP, GMA News]

First batch of 400 repatriated Kuwait OFWs arrive upon order of President Duterte

KUWAIT International Airport (12 Feb 2018) - Around 400 of our kababayans in Kuwait will be reunited in a few hours with their loved ones after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to start to bring our workers there home.

 
The first batch of some 240 Filipino workers who availed themselves of the Kuwaiti Government's amnesty program left for Manila this afternoon via Philippine Airlines.


Shortly after, another batch left Kuwait for the Philippines on board two Gulf Air flights that transited through Manama.


More of our kababayans will be repatriated in the coming days by the Philippine embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait. [Elmer G. Cato]

Iligan City government launches "Oplan Hapsay Dalan" program

ILIGAN City (8 Feb 2018) - The Iligan City Government launches its OPLAN HAPSAY DALAN program today, Thursday (February 8, 2018), the City Administrator's Office chief said. 

Fire razed two commercial buildings in Poblacion barangay of Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY (7 Feb 2018) - A firefighter was slightly injured in a fire that broke out and razed two commercial buildings at the corner of Aguinaldo and Badelles Streets here on Wednesday afternoon.


The fire occurred some 150 meters away from the main station of the Bureau of Fire Protection here.

Iligan City Fire Marshall Butch Baulete said that the fire, which quickly spread, was reported at around 2:30 p.m.

He said support fire engines from the towns of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Balo-i, Kolambugan, Tubod in Lanao del Norte and fire trucks from Marawi City helped put out the fire.

"We are still conducting the investigation on the cause of fire and assessment of damage," Baulete said. [Divina Suson and Richel V. Umel, Inquirer]

Afternoon fire razed commercial establishments in downtown Iligan City

PHOTOS: Richel V. Umel

ILIGAN City (7 Feb 2018) - An afternoon blaze consumes commercial establishments near the Iligan City Public Plaza Wednesday at Aguinaldo street and Mariano Badelles Sr. street in Barangay Poblacion this city. 

Mayor Celso G. Regencia gives update on City gov't on-going projects

ILIGAN City (7 Feb 2018) - City Mayor Celso Gomera Regencia gives updates, Tuesday, 6 February 2018 on the on-going projects undertaken by the City government under his administration. 

The City Mayor disclosed that the City has appropriated P21-million for traffic lights which shall be installed in five locations within the city, including the crossing between C-3 and Tipanoy road, which has already claimed many lives due to traffic accidents thereat.  It will be implemented within this year, the Mayor said.



Mayor Regencia also announced that the market vendors at the Pala-o Public market shall be relocated on May 15, 2018, within the Northbound Bus and Jeepney Terminal in Tambo, Barangay Hinaplanon, this city.  The construction of the new Pala-o Public Market shall commence thereafter. The mayor revealed that he has already reserved an amount of 400-million pesos for this project.

HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Traffic Light budget P21-M up for bidding on 5 locations
2. Tow Truck and implementation of clearing the streets of vehicles that are illegally parked
3. Limunsudan Falls
4. Privatization of Iligan's Water System
5. KCC Mall - more jobs for the Iliganons.  70% from Iligan City, except special positions exclusive to the KCC Management
6. Relocation and Construction of Palao Wet Markt
7. Waste Segregation
8. Warning to Traffic Violators who practice Road Rage (slapping of CSU or Traffic Enforces) 

Duterte witnesses the destruction of smuggled luxury vehicles

PORT AREA, Manila (6 Feb 2018) - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte bears witness to the condemnation of several smuggled luxury vehicles and graces the 116th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the South Harbor in Port Area, Manila on February 6, 2018.


A total of nineteen (19) smuggled luxury vehicles at the BOC compound in Manila are destroyed, with seven (7) more in Davao City and three (3) in Cebu City, during the simultaneous ceremonial condemnations.
 

The President is joined in the inspection of smuggled vehicles by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapena, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Caesar Dulay, and other top government officials.

He also presents the awards to the representatives of the top 10 performing ports in the country during the BOC anniversary celebration.

President Duterte to Maranaos: "Reject terrorism"

MARAWI City (30 Jan 2018) - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appealed to Maranaos on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, to fend off terrorism in order to spare the city from massive destruction and loss of lives.

The Chief Executive made this statement as he led the distribution of certificates of acceptance and occupancy of transitory shelter units at Barangay Sagonsongan here.

"Let us try to avoid terrorism... It is not the correct way to obey Islam.  You do not kill and destroy for no reason at all," the Chief Executive said in his speech.

"Kaya huwag nating papasukin, I beg of you not to allow them to enter because it will just cause massive destruction and the loss of lives, including the innocent ones who are really the helpless in case of war," he explained.

According to Duterte, what happened to the city during the siege was a nightmare to him being the country's President.

President Duterte pledged that his administration would continue to fund the rehabilitation of the city.

At the same time, he assured the Maranaos that they would be able to rehabilitate their businesses.

"We try to build a new city.  I will guarantee you for the remaining years that there will always be money for you, that you'll be able to rehabilitate your business kung talagang gusto lang ninyo.  Pagandahin ninyo ang Marawi and welcome everybody," Duterte said.

The President said the Trade and Agriculture departments, among others, would assist the City in its rehabilitation.

The Duterte administration has allocated at least P10-billion for the rehabilitation of Marawi City for this year alone.

President Duterte also promised to pour in money for the rehabilitation of the Islamic City's agricultural production.

In the rebuilding phase of Marawi City, the President said he would not condone abuses.

"I will never condone abuses.  If you think that sabi mo naabuso kayo, may nawala kayo... give it to Jun or kay Secretary Mamao and I will try to investigate.  I will not condone [abuse]." he said.

Meanwhile, the President said that the government would proceed with the peace talks.

"As a matter of fact, this is our golden opportunity.  We will proceed with the peace talks," Duterte said.

"We avoid trouble in Mindanao, we go for a federal system and we'll try to craft something that could fit the BBL or whatever is convenient that could make the Moro happy," he added.


The President also witnessed the launching of Landbank's financial assistance program.

Marawi City government received P10-million from Landbank while Lanao del Sur got P5-million.

At the same time, the Siyapen community-based drug rehabilitation center of Ayala Foundation was launched on Tuesday.

The Ayala Foundation turned over P3-million for Marawi's internally displaced persons (IDPs).  It also turned over two vehicles.

Before the event in Barangay Sagonsongan, the President led the inspection of Bahay Pag-asa Phase II Shelter project at Barangay Mipaga. [PCOO]