MANILA: Heavy rains caused by the shear line have so far affected 44,888 families in the Davao Region, the National Disaster Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

The agency, in its latest situational report, said the number is equivalent to 187,108 persons in 109 barangays in the provinces of Davao De Oro, Davao Del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.

It added that 1,190 families or 6,709 individuals are being served in 36 evacuation centers while another 525 families or 2,198 persons are being aided outside.

The NDRRMC also said some PHP2.9 million worth of assistance have been provided to the affected population in these provinces.

The Office of Civil Defense earlier said affected families include those displaced and those not needing transfer or removal from their residence.

As of this time, the NDRRMC has yet to receive reports of any casualties and damage caused by the shear line.

Four flooded areas were reported in Davao de Oro along with 30 in Dav
ao Del Norte.

Meanwhile, eight “rain-induced” landslides were also reported in Davao de Oro.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN CITY: Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. visited South Korea on Wednesday to ensure the deployment of additional seasonal workers from the province this year.

During the visit, Demerey had an audience and a meeting with Yecheon County Mayor Kim Dong Han and Agricultural Administrator Yong-Jun Kwon.

‘The meeting was focused on the security, shelter, and other benefits of our seasonal workers who will be deployed this year,’ he said in a statement on Thursday.

Demerey was accompanied by Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines National Executive Vice President Dick Carmon during the visit.

Also on Thursday, he met with representatives of employers coming from the agriculture and fishery sectors in South Korea.

‘Initially, more than 200 seasonal workers will be sent to South Korea this year, but the number will still increase as many residents in the province are eager to work and study here,’ he said.

Working and learning are essential under the program to replicate the knowledge t
he workers gain in the province, Demerey said, especially on the new and advanced technologies in agriculture and fishing.

At least 240 seasonal workers are currently undergoing a 15-day basic Korean language tutorial in Dinagat to enable them to communicate effectively with their Korean employers, colleagues, and the communities where they would be assigned to work.

Last year, 472 seasonal workers from the province completed their six-month work and learning experiences in South KoreaDinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. visited South Korea on Wednesday to ensure the deployment of additional seasonal workers from the province this year.

During the visit, Demerey had an audience and a meeting with Yecheon County Mayor Kim Dong Han and Agricultural Administrator Yong-Jun Kwon.

‘The meeting was focused on the security, shelter, and other benefits of our seasonal workers who will be deployed this year,’ he said in a statement on Thursday.

Demerey was accompanied by Provincial Board Members League of the
Philippines National Executive Vice President Dick Carmon during the visit.

Also on Thursday, he met with representatives of employers coming from the agriculture and fishery sectors in South Korea.

‘Initially, more than 200 seasonal workers will be sent to South Korea this year, but the number will still increase as many residents in the province are eager to work and study here,’ he said.

Working and learning are essential under the program to replicate the knowledge the workers gain in the province, Demerey said, especially on the new and advanced technologies in agriculture and fishing.

At least 240 seasonal workers are currently undergoing a 15-day basic Korean language tutorial in Dinagat to enable them to communicate effectively with their Korean employers, colleagues, and the communities where they would be assigned to work.

Last year, 472 seasonal workers from the province completed their six-month work and learning experiences in South Korea.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ANKARA: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka advanced to Round 3 of their respective races for the men’s and women’s titles at the 2024 Australian Open on Wednesday.

The men’s world tennis no.1 beat Australian Alexei Popyrin in 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3 sets.

Serbian tennis legend Djokovic will face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Round 3.

Sabalenka eliminates Brenda Fruhvirtova

The reigning women’s singles champion, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, eliminated Czech teenage qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova in 6-3 and 6-2 sets on Wednesday.

“For someone who’s 16 years old, she’s doing an incredible job,” the Belarusian said about her young opponent, “I wish I would be on this level when I was 16. She’s an unbelievable player and I’m pretty sure she’ll keep going, keep working and will be at the top very soon.”

Current women’s world no.2 Sabalenka will take on Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the next round.

Source: Philippines News Agency

_: China was the biggest buyer of Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery products in 2023, and it is expected to remain a promising market with numerous opportunities for Vietnamese farm produce to increase the market share and export value. Fourteen agricultural products of Vietnam have been licensed to be exported via the official channel to China, namely bird’s nest and related products, sweet potato, dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, black jelly, lychee, passion fruit, and durian. China currently accounts for nearly 54% of Vietnam’s total fruit and vegetable exports.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The police officer involved in the disappearance of beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon has been dismissed from the service, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A (Calabarzon) said Thursday.

In a statement, PRO 4A chief Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said Maj. Allan de Castro was dismissed from the service effective Jan. 16, following an investigation by the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) 4A.

Lucas said the case against de Castro stemmed from allegations of conduct unbecoming of a police officer after a series of thorough investigation by the RIAS 4A uncovering evidence of an illicit and extramarital affair between the respondent and Camilon.

‘We are committed to the conduct of fair and impartial investigations into any allegations of misconduct, regardless of our personnel’s rank or position. Hindi natin hahayaan na masangkot sa ano mang katulad na insidente ang ating mga personnel (We will not allow our personnel to be involved in similar incidents) that will taint the image of the
PNP, especially here in the PRO Calabarzon,’ he said.

Lucas added de Castro’s dismissal shows the force’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of conduct and integrity within its ranks.

He, meanwhile, clarified that de Castro’s dismissal is an independent administrative action which is separate from the ongoing criminal investigation related to the disappearance of Camilon.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Calabarzon filed a case of kidnapping against de Castro, Jeffrey Magpantay and two John Does before the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, which held three preliminary investigations in December.

Camilon, a teacher in Tuy town, was last seen alive in October at a mall in nearby Lemery.

Camilon last made contact with her family when she called up to say she was in Bauan and was going to a meeting in Batangas City.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD: Negros Occidental’s provincial government has vowed to boost immunization efforts against Covid-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases, especially for the most vulnerable groups.

The commitment was made during the three-day project orientation and micro-planning session on the Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Support Tranche (CDS 3) at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.

The project orientation, which is led by Relief International, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Department of Health (DOH), aims to expedite and fortify vaccination efforts for high-risk populations in the province, the provincial government said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the province has made strides in vaccinating the target population against Covid-19 and other communicable diseases,

Data from the Provincial Health Office showed that as of July last year, Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 1.38 million residents against Covid-19.

It
accounts for 66.04 percent of the targeted 2.09 million vaccinees, equivalent to 80 percent of the province’s 2.62 million population, which is the target set by the Department of Health.

However, the governor said the provincial government still encounters challenges in reaching the most vulnerable groups and preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, and efforts must be further strengthened to save more lives.

‘The significance of immunization cannot be overstated, as it has played a very important role in diminishing the spread of deadly diseases and has saved countless lives throughout history,’ he said.

Lacson added that preventing the spread of diseases through immunization has proven to be more effective and cost-efficient than treating diseases and illnesses that could have been prevented in the first place.

The CDS 3 is strategically designed to facilitate the seamless integration of Covid-19 vaccination and routine immunization programs, as well as strategize and plan specific actions
and activities aimed at increasing immunization coverage, particularly in priority areas.

The project orientation and micro-planning session will end on Jan. 19.

Source: Philippines News Agency