Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco (File photo) MANILA - The province of Maguindanao will be allotting some PHP89 million for the conduct of a plebiscite this year seeking to ratify its division into two provinces, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday. Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the Sept. 17, 2022 plebiscite to ratify the division of Maguindanao into two independent provinces Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur will have a budget of PHP89.14 million. The plebiscite will be held next month after the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11550, which provides for the conduct of a plebiscite for the measure. Another plebiscite that is also scheduled on Sept. 3 is on the conversion of the municipality of Calaca into a component city of the province of Batangas. The conduct of a plebiscite for the measure provided under Republic Act 11544 has a budget of PHP13.7 million. The first plebiscite that will be held on Aug. 20 seeks to ra
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. The Department of Public Works and Highways - Zambales' 2nd District Engineering Office has completed two flood mitigation projects along the Pamatawan River in Castillejos, Zambales. Amounting to a total of PHP154.2 million, the two structures will protect residents from threats of flooding during the rainy season. (Photo courtesy of DPWH-Zambales 2nd District Engineering Office) CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed two projects that would mitigate flooding in the low-lying areas of Zambales province. With a total cost of PHP154.2 million, the DPWH-Zambales' 2nd District Engineering Office finished the construction of a 374-linear meter revetment wall on a steel sheet pile foundation in the Looc section and the 336-lineal meter slope protection structure in the San Agustin section, both along the Pamatawan River in Castillejos town. District engineer Rosbe Dizon said on Tuesday the DPWH contin
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The local office here of the Commission on Elections is already preparing for the registration of new voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections on December 5 this year. Lawyer Stephen Roy Canete, first district election officer, said on Saturday the registration is set to start July 4 until the end of the month. Canete said that individuals aged 15 to 18, including those who failed to register previously will be accommodated. Canete said the registration of voters will be held in one of the local shopping malls which has a bigger space since health protocols still have to be complied with. "The requirements for 15 to 17 years old are school identification card (ID) plus birth certificate while valid IDs for 18 years old and above," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, he said that they are currently preparing the list of those who did not vote during the elections for possible removal from the list. The city, with 98 barangays, has 403,464
MANILA - The Philippine and German governments on Wednesday signed two more labor agreements aimed at enhancing the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the European nation. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the signing of the bilateral labor agreements will provide more job opportunities not only to Filipino medical workers but also to other professionals. He reported that a letter of intent signed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), represented by Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the German Federal Employment Agency represented by its Director for International Relations Alexander Wilhelm, will facilitate the recruitment, deployment, and employment of Filipino professionals and skilled workers in the host country. "This partnership will open opportunities for Filipino professionals and skilled workers, specifically Electrical Mechanics and Fitters, Electronics Servicers, Cooks, H
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - At least 495 police officers in Central Luzon have been dismissed from service due to various infractions since the internal cleansing was initiated in 2016, the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) said on Monday. Brig. Gen. Matthew P. Baccay, PRO3 regional director, said aside from the dismissal from the police service, 536 others were suspended, 55 were demoted, 58 were forfeited of their salaries and 78 were reprimanded. He alsosaid 4,932 cops were exonerated from their administrative cases while the others' cases have yet to be resolved. He said those police officers meted with disciplinary actions were given due process during the duration of the investigation before final decisions were released. Baccayvowed to sustain the PRO3's internal cleansing campaign to regain the public's trust and confidence. "We will continue to weed out hoodlums and punish the undisciplined among our ranks through the strict application of the