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H5N1 bird flu outbreak detected in Laos
H5N1 bird flu outbreak detected in Laos. (Photo from VNA/VNS) VIENTIANE – The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Department of Livestock and Fisheries recently reported an H5N1 bird flu outbreak in a Vientiane market. The Lao centre for animal disease research said, of the 65 poultry samples it received from Danxang market in Saythani district, 30 were…
Casualties in raging Chile forest fires now at 88 at least
BOGOTA, Colombia – At least 99 people have been killed and 1,600 have been left homeless by forest fires in central Chile’s Valparaiso region, authorities said. Chile’s Legal Medical Service, the state coroner said “its forensic institution delivers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.” There are 161 active fires across Chile, according to Alvaro Hormazabal, director…
On Love and Lent
By Gladys Serafica DARAGA, Albay – In case you haven’t checked your February 2024 calendar yet, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. With two seemingly contrasting holidays sharing the same date—as the start of the liturgical 40-day season of Lent requires fasting and abstinence while the most romantic day of the year encourages luxurious indulgences—this…
LandBank’s agri dev’t loans post double-digit growth in ’23
State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) said its loans to agriculture and rural development recorded double-digit growth in 2023. In a statement Monday, LandBank said outstanding loans to the entire agricultural value chain amounted to P755.1 billion as of end-December 2023, higher by 23% than the P614.8 billion recorded in the third quarter. The amount accounts for about…
BPI pioneers consumer loans for ‘green solutions’
MANILA – The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is pioneering the country’s consumer loan for “green” purchases. The bank launched on Monday the BPI Green Solutions providing solar mortgage, eco-build financing and electric vehicle (EV) financing. In line with the Marcos administration’s commitment to the Paris Agreement to pursue initiatives on clean energy and promote sustainability across…
IPOPHL to provide patent services to Brunei’s IP office
MANILA – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will be providing patent services to Brunei Darussalam IP Office (BruIPO), processing a maximum of 200 applications a year over the next five years. In a statement Monday, IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said the BruIPO is outsourcing patent services following the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in…
Coast Guard uses solar power for northern Negros lighthouse station
NEW LIGHTHOUSE. The new Cadiz City lighthouse operated by the Philippine Coast Guard in northern Negros Occidental. It uses solar energy to aid navigation among fishermen and vessels. (Photo courtesy of Cadiz City government) BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has harnessed and now uses solar power to operate the newly-inaugurated lighthouse in Cadiz…
OCD: No direct damage so far from Mayon’s phreatic eruption
LEGAZPI CITY – The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) on Monday said no direct damage was reported by local government units after Mayon Volcano’s phreatic eruption on Sunday afternoon. In an interview, Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD Bicol spokesperson, said they are now monitoring and coordinating with the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and…
50 NorMin women entrepreneurs undergo ‘digital transformation’ training
TRANSFORMATIVE. Dr. Ambrosio Cultura II (left), president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) talks about the Digital Transformation upskill partnership with Kiyoung Ko, director of the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information Communication Technology Development (APCICT), in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday (Feb. 5, 2024). The USTP…
Bicol police reports 4.30% decline in crimes for January
LEGAZPI CITY – The campaign of the Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO5) to step up police presence in public has resulted in a 4.30% decline in crimes in the region last month. In an interview on Monday, PLt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said 1,448 crimes were recorded for January 2024, lower than the 1,513 recorded…