More food packs sent to flood-hit towns in Agusan Sur
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 6 February) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development dispatched an additional 34,000 food packs to seven towns in Agusan del Sur that remained flooded as of the weekend.
In a statement, the DSWD in Caraga Region said the food packs were delivered to the towns of Veruela, Rosario, San Luis, Trento, Loreto, Talacogon and Esperanza.
For their part, the Philippine National Police in Caraga deployed 629 policemen from their Reactionary Standby Support Force and search and rescue units to Butuan City and the affected towns in Agusan del Sur.
“Ahead of the possible heavy rainfall this week, all PRO-13 units were directed to preposition disaster response personnel, equipment and resources to the flood-prone areas,” Police Regional Office-Caraga director BGen Kirby John Kraft said.
Meanwhile, the Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office imposed forced evacuations in the villages beside the Agusan River on Sunday evening.
The agency said there’s a danger that the river might swell due to flood waters from Agusan del Sur that would flow into the city where the mouth of the river is located.
(Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
Van hits parked truck, driver killed, 6 passengers hurt
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 6 February) – A van driver was killed while six of his passengers were injured when the van he was driving hit a cargo truck parked along the highway in Midsayap town, Cotabato last Saturday.
Lt Col John Miridel Calinga, Midsayap town police chief said the driver identified as Hezam Tambilan, 25, died after he was pinned under the white van.
Calinga said the van was heading to Cotabato City from Davao City when the road crash happened around 4 a.m.
He said parked trucks along the highways are considered a nuisance by other drivers who complained that many of the vehicles do not display early-warning devices.
He said many drivers make it a habit to park their trucks along the highways to spend the night or wait for the lifting of local truck bans in other municipalities. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
Cebu ban hurting profits of ZamPen fish traders
Zamboanga Peninsula. Map courtesy of Google
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 6 February) — Fish traders in the Zamboanga Peninsula complained that the new health restrictions being implemented by the Cebu provincial government are hurting their profits.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed Executive Order No. 2 on January 10, 2024 restricting the entry of vehicles carrying wet goods like agricultural products, meat, seafood, liquids and chemicals into the province of Cebu.
The order said “wet goods” are unsanitary if the products are in open containers (banyeras), recycled leaking styrofoam, overflowing containers, improper drainage, unsanitary packaging and improper ventilation.
Affected by the ban are products from Zamboanga Peninsula and outlying provinces of Cebu.
Jaime Calelo, a trader from Zamboanga City, said 10 fish trucks arrive daily in Cebu City from Zamboanga peninsula.
He said all of these trucks are inspected and passed scrutiny by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
Smuggled cigarettes worth P2.7M seized in Maguindanao del Norte
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 6 February) — Police intercepted a cargo truck loaded with P2.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at a checkpoint in Barangay Dalumangcob, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte last Sunday.
Lt Col Esmael Madin, town police chief, said three suspects were arrested and 150 boxes of “Berlin” cigarettes were seized from the truck.
Madin identified the suspects as John Rex Paglinawan of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur; Jason Lanoria of Parang, Maguindanao del Norte; and Abubakar Nawal of Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur.He said the truck had documents that it was carrying a load of palay and corn grains. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
