MANILA, Philippines—Acting Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte who is now in custody of International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague, Netherlands lambasted and dared Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to a slugfest.
Duterte said that General Torre is just brave because of his power and position but he is sure that he beat him when it comes to brawl or fistfight.
“Do not worry Mr. Torre sanay na ako sa iyo. Kase matapang ka lang naman kase you have the position eh pero kung suntukan tayo eh alam kong kaya kita” Duterte said.
Torre accepted the challenge and proposed a boxing charity match at Araneta Coliseum. “Maybe we can use this moment or this opportunity to raise funds, well, a charity boxing match, this coming Sunday in Araneta with 12 rounds bout so we can raise a lot of money. Torre said.
Videos of General Torre and Acting Mayor Dutere undergoing training and sparring sessions for the said upcoming fight have surfaced in the internet.
Torre now wants to host the boxing match at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on July 27, Sunday, saying he is old, and his punches are weak but hopes that charity boxing match will still commence on the said date, to help the typhoon and flood victims for the fund raising fight.
“Mapansin niyo eh, matanda na tayo at a sabi nga ng trainer ko mahina na nga ang hangin kaya wala nang diin ang mga suntok” Torre said.
Torre added that there are already sponsors for the coming fight.
Duterte responded with his own condition that President Bongbong Marcos and all elected officials undergo hair follicle drug test first before he accept the Charity Boxing Match.
People around the world still hopes the boxing fight materializes this coming Sunday.
Officials of Barangay Balubad man the traffic as up to nearly 1ft. flood water slows down light vehicles in the boundary of Barangay Mayaantol nearly 2p.m. on Friday. The flood is aggravted by high tide.
Officials of Barangay Balubad man the traffic as up to nearly 1ft. flood water slows down light vehicles in the boundary of Barangay Mayaantol nearly 2p.m. on Friday. The flood is aggravted by high tide. NEWSCORE PHOTO
CITY OF MALOLOS—Hagonoy, Marilao, Bocaue and Bulakan towns in Bulacan are now also in state of calamity due to 1-4 ft. level of flood brought by rains from recent typhoon Crising, continues southwest monsoon,typhoons Dante and Emong, high tide and backflooding, according to the latest report of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).
PDRMMO chief Manuel Lukban Jr. said on Friday that backflooding of flood waters from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija bound to Manila Bay have started on Thursday leaving more villages in Calumpit under 6ft flood waters. Calumpit has already declared a state of calamity on Tuesday.
The backflooding will next reach Hagonoy town going to sea waters.
4.86 ft. high tide
On Friday morning, sea water level or high tide was at a higher 4.86 ft from 4.79 ft. the previous day which further aggravate flooding in the said towns and other areas in the province.
Mayor Vergel Meneses on Friday also declared Bulakan town under state of calamity through Resolution No. 035-2024 due to widespread flooding in the town and damages brought to agriculture, properties and which have affected the livelihood of the people.
Mayor Charo Sy-Alvarado of Hagonoy through Resolution No. 2025-96 om Thursday declared the town under state of calamity. In Marilao, Mayor Jemina Sy also declared Thursday the town under state of calamity.
Almost all the 26 villages in Hagonoy—Abulalas, Carillo, Iba, Iba-Ibayo, Mercado, Palapat, Pugad, Sagrada Familia, San Agustin, San Isidro, San Jose, San Juan, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Pablo, San Pascual, San Pedro, San Roque, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena, Santa Monica, Santo Niño (formerly Poblacion), Santo Rosario, Tampok, and Tibaguin were affected of up to 4 ft. flood waters, according to Lukban.
In Marilao, Lukban said almost all the 16 barangays—Abangan Morte, Abangan Sur, Ibayo, Lambakin, Lias, Loma de Gato, Nagbalon, Patubig, Poblacion 1st, Poblacion 2nd, Prenza 1st, Prensa 2nd, Santa Rosa 1st, Santa Rosa 2nd, Saog and Tabing Ilog are also in 1-4 ft. flood waters.
In Bocaue, Mayor Eduardo Villanueva Jr. on Thursday also declared the town under state of calamity due to damages brought to different structures and agriculture sector in most from the 19 barangays—Antipona, Bagumbayan, Bambang, Batia, Binang 1st, Binang 2nd, Bolacan, Bunducan, Bunlo, Caingin, Duhat, Igulot, Lolomboy, Poblacion, Sulucan, Taal, Tambobong, Turo and Wakas.
Flood im Bocaue were also in 1-4 ft. level.
While many from the flood-affected residents were evacuated to different evacuation centers, most of the residents have stayed in their respective houses and braved the flood waters inside their home domiciles.
According to Lukban, cut off in electricty supply to prevent electrocution incidents are done theiugh close coordination between barangay officials and their respective MDRRMO’s.
In Marilao, Sandico St. (Abangan Sur – Poblacion 1) Marilao, Poblacion 2 (under the beidge), Lias (Plain View), Nagbalon (Town and Country) and Ibayo (Itlogan) were rendered not passable to light vehicles because of high level of flood waters at the height of typhoon Crising and during Habagat and high tide.
Guiguinto town Mayor Ambrosio Cruz Jr, is also declaring the town any moment now under state of calamity, Lukban added. Including Guiguinto and the eight towns—Bulakan, Marilao, Hagonoy, Calumpit, Balagtas, Paombong the City of Meycauayan and Bocaue, nine LGU’s in the province are now already under state of calamity.
CITY OF MALOLOS—A 74 year old man and his wife in Calumpit town died of electrocution Thursday morning while inside their flooded house in Barangay Calumpang in Calumpit town.
Manuel Lukban Jr., head of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) identified the victims as Felipe Razon, 74 and his wife Ofelia Razon, 57.
Rains and winds caused the metal sheet roof of their nipa hut with live electircal wires attached to fall on the flooded grounds of the house.
According to Enriquito Santiago Jr., head of Calumpit Municipal DRRMO, the couple were electrocuted at around 9:00 a.m. Felipe was the first one to to be exposed to the live electricity surge in the flooded grounds of the house. His wife who immediately came to rescue him was then electrocuted.
Santiago said it took a while before any rescuer could save the victims because of the live electricity in the waters.
Meralco also rushed to the site to cut off the electricity supply. However, the two couple were already dead, Santiago said.
Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando personally visits some 136 families that were affected by the onslaught of the southwest monsoon intensified by Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, with Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro (not in photo), and distributes food packs at the evacuation center in Balagtas Central School, Brgy. Wawa, Balagtas, Bulacan recently.
Some of the affected families who are temporarily seeking shelter at the evacuation center.
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Immediately responding to the needs of its stakeholders, NLEX Corporation started the distribution of relief goods to local government units (LGUs) and host communities that were severely affected by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
The tollway company donated 160 boxes of canned goods and 250 boxes of instant noodles to the Valenzuela LGU, headed by Mayor Wes Gatchalian.
(L-R): Iluvel Sio Coralde, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Staff; Gerry Esplana, City Sports Director; Dr. Arnaldo Antonio, Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRMMO) Head; Vice Mayor Marlon Alejandrino; Mayor Wes Gatchalian; Luis S. Reñon, NLEX Corporation Officer-In-Charge and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation Chief Finance Officer; Denn Charly G. España, NLEX Corporation Traffic Operations Head; Edward Allan Gregorio of the MPTC Central Regulatory Office; Dorothy Evangelista, CSWD Head
In a separate effort, fifty sacks of rice were handed over to Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso as part of the assistance for residents of Manila. Host communities from Tondo, Sampaloc, Sta. Cruz, and Sta. Mesa also received relief goods from the company.
(L-R): Ronnie Lacsamana, NLEX Corporation Project Management Manager; Juan Ramon Ampil, NLEX Project Support/Network And Alliance Building Senior Specialist; Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso; Kiko Dagohoy, NLEX Corporation Government Relations Manager; Robin Ignacio, Traffic Operations Assistant Vice President; Atty. Wardee Quintos, City Administrator
Meanwhile, fifty sacks of rice were turned over to the Quezon City local government to help provide relief to residents affected by the massive flooding.
(L-R): Juan Ramon Ampil, NLEX Project Support/Network and Alliance Building Senior Specialist; Atty. Aristotle Mejia, AVP for TDE Contracts Admin and ROW Central Head; Luis S. Reñon, NLEX Corporation Officer-In-Charge and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation Chief Finance Officer; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; Carolina Patalinghog, Head of Social Services Development Department
Despite continuous rains and the onset of a new tropical depression, NLEX Corporation continues to distribute relief to ensure that affected stakeholders receive timely assistance. In addition to Valenzuela, Manila and Quezon City, the company has so far extended aid to the municipalities of Guiguinto and Marilao, among other affected areas. NLEX will extend relief assistance to a total of eight (8) Local Government Units and 79 NLEX-SCTEX-NLEX Connector host barangays.
On Monday, July 21, amid heavy rain and massive flooding across Luzon brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), the NLEX team distributed food and water to stranded motorists.
These acts of “malasakit,” a core value deeply embedded in the company’s culture, reflect its enduring commitment to support the communities it serves, especially during difficult and uncertain times.
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In the midst of unpredictable weather, keeping your household ready is crucial for your safety and well-being. Proper knowledge and preparation can make all the difference during a typhoon or heavy rain. Here are five essential safety tips to protect you and your family:
Stay Informed. Keep yourself updated with regular weather forecasts from reliable sources, including trusted news outlets and media platforms. Equip yourself with a rechargeable retro radio from Surplus to stay informed about any alerts or updates regarding your area during severe weather.
Be Prepared. Have your emergency and first aid kits ready to go. Ace Hardware offers a wide range of products to help you complete your emergency kit, while Watsons has readily available first aid kits. Don’t forget to withdraw some cash beforehand, as ATM access may be limited during and after a typhoon.
Secure your Home. Protecting your home is paramount during a storm. Reinforce doors and windows with sturdy locks and braces, and tighten any loose nails or screws on your roof. Ace Hardware offers a wide range of home improvement tools and products that can help you secure your home effectively.
Invest in Portable Generators. Keep your home powered during outages by investing in energy-efficient generators from Ace Hardware. Choose a model that can support your essential appliances to ensure safety and comfort.
All these essentials and more are conveniently available at SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan. Stay safe and prepared!
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DOTr Director IV Joshua Joseph R. Rodriguez emphasizes the importance of referring to road incidents as “crashes” rather than “accidents,” as they are often preventable through precautionary measures.
DOTr Director IV Joshua Joseph R. Rodriguez emphasizes the importance of referring to road incidents as “crashes” rather than “accidents,” as they are often preventable through precautionary measures.
NLEX Corporation continues to empower drivers and transport operators with the fourth installment of its vital road safety initiative, the BiyaHero Road Safety Caravan last July 3 to 5, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City, in partnership with the Philippine Commercial Vehicle Show.
Building on past successes, this year’s caravan equipped the participants with practical knowledge and preparedness, aimed to help reduce road crashes nationwide.
“The BiyaHero Road Safety Caravan is more than an annual event, it’s a commitment to saving lives,” said Luis S. Reñon, Officer-In-Charge of NLEX Corporation. “Through education, collaboration, and innovation, we hope to shape safer driving habits and help our partners become true champions of road safety,” he added.
LTO Acting Assistant Secretary Greg Pua Jr. highlights law-mandated traffic rules, including the use of child car seats and motorcycle helmets, as well as the corresponding penalties for violations.
A core part of the NLEX’s Mission Road Safety advocacy, the caravan brought together over 300 drivers, operators, mechanics, and leaders from various transport organizations, including the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), Inland Haulers and Truckers Association (INHTA), Haulers and Truckers Association in the Watersouth, Inc. (HATAW), Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, Inc. (NSNPBPI), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Bulacan Federation of Transport Cooperative (BUFETRANSCO), Pinagsama Transport Cooperative and UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines, and other independent trucking companies.
Participants immersed themselves in a day of intensive learning focused on accident prevention, compliance with traffic rules, and proper vehicle maintenance.
“This initiative gives our drivers the tools and knowledge to protect themselves, their passengers, and the communities they serve. We truly appreciate NLEX Corporation and its partners for continuously putting safety at the forefront of the transport industry,” shared Teddy Gervacio, President of INHTA.
DOTr Director IV Joshua Joseph R. Rodriguez discussed safe cargo handling and loading practices, LTO Acting Assistant Secretary Greg Pua Jr. shared insights on traffic enforcement and violations, while Shell High Risk Transport Road Safety Advisor Edward Tan and AC-1 Transport & Equipment, Inc. Senior Safety Officer Dawny Rubillo talked about journey management risk assessment.
Meanwhile, NLEX Asst. Manager for Environment, Health, and Safety Dave Bautista and the NLEX Patrol Team (Eric Cruz and Maike Lacson) discussed driver readiness and handling road emergencies with a safety-first mindset and tollway rules and regulations, respectively.
Beyond the lectures, the caravan featured interactive activities to reinforce safe driving habits. Participants tested their skills on a driving simulator equipped with safety prompts and wore drunk goggles to understand the dangers of impaired driving firsthand, turning learning into an impactful, memorable experience.
At a time when road crashes remain a serious concern, the 2025 BiyaHero Road Safety Caravan stands as an essential step forward. With focused education, innovative tools, and proactive training, NLEX Corporation remains steadfast in its mission to build safer roads and ensure every Filipino driver is “may alam at laging handa” – knowledgeable and always ready.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
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As widespread flooding due to monsoon rains continues to impact many parts of the country, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) assures the public that it covers hospitalization due to dengue and leptospirosis, two of the most common conditions affecting Filipinos during the rainy season.
PhilHealth’s enhanced benefit packages now stand at P19,500 and P47,000 for moderate and severe dengue, respectively; while coverage for leptospirosis has been improved to P21,450.
These enhancements are in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to make healthcare benefits not only within one’s reach, but more importantly, truly felt by all Filipinos.
“Kung tinamaan ng dengue o leptospirosis sa kabila ng pag-iingat, magpunta na po kayo agad sa malapit na PhilHealth-accredited health facility para kayo ay magamot. Huwag na po kayong mag agam-agam dahil sagot ng PhilHealth ang malaking bahagi ng inyong gastos sa pagpapagamot,” assures PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado
PhilHealth also reminds the public to prioritize personal safety during the rainy season. To avoid waterborne diseases and prevent leptospirosis infection, the public is strongly advised to avoid wading or playing in floodwaters, wash hands before eating and after using the restroom, and drink clean water. It is also necessary to ensure that food is clean and properly cooked. To avoid dengue, authorities advise to keep the surroundings clean and use mosquito nets or insect repellent to avoid dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
For more details on the benefits or for those needing assistance in availing of their benefits, members may call PhilHealth’s 24/7 hotline at (02) 866-225-88 or at the following mobile touchpoints: 0998-857-2957, 0968-865-4670, 0917-1275987 or 0917-1109812.###
#Rise30
#SamasamangPagangatParaSaBagongPilipinas
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Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro distribute Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) food packs to flooded victims in City of Malolos on Thursday.
Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro distribute Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) food packs to flooded victims in City of Malolos on Thursday.
CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro distribute daily the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) food packs to flooded residents in different towns and cities due to heavy downpour brought by recent typhoon Crising and current Tropical Cyclones Dante and Emong and high level of sea water (high tide).
Reports from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said the province 22 towns and cities—Angat, Bulakan, City of Baliwag, Balagtas, Bustos, Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Calumpit, Hagonoy, Pandi, Obando, Paombong, City of Malolos, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Miguel, Norzagaray, Marilao, Guiguinto, Bocaue, Sta. Maria, City of Meycauayan and City of San Jose del Monte have 20,347 individuals from 6,324 families who remained in at least 206 evacuation centers in their respective areas.
Only the towns of San Rafael and San Ildefonso have no record of current evacuees.
PDRRMO chief Manuel Lukban Jr. said the evacuees in the said two towns could either been sent home already or that there was no evacuees at all.
Fernando and Castro had started distributing food packs on Saturday at the height of typhoon Crising.
Evacuees in Bocaue, Balagtas, Marilao, City of Malolos, Bulakan and other towns and cities already received the packs of goods.
Rowena Joson-Tiongson said each box of the DSWD food packs contain six kilos of rice, assorted canned goods (sardines, corned beef and tuna flakes) and instant coffee or cereal drink sachets.
Naw Paw Pree wearing a traditional blue Cheh Su of the Karen sits in the panel with speakers from Centre for Research and Advocacy-Manipur (SorokhaibamPanthoi, Jiten Yumnam, Laishram Kiranmala), Northeast India and Kapaeeng Foundation (Pallab Chakma) from Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh.
Naw Paw Pree wearing a traditional blue Cheh Su of the Karen sits in the panel with speakers from Centre for Research and Advocacy-Manipur (SorokhaibamPanthoi, Jiten Yumnam, Laishram Kiranmala), Northeast India and Kapaeeng Foundation (Pallab Chakma) from Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh.
How often do Indigenous Peoples find spaces where they can share their suffering, feel safe, and freely learn and build hope?
Naw Paw Pree, Indigenous Karen from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), joined the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS) with IPMSDL as one of the co-organizers, and felt the comfort of being with fellow brother and sisters in struggle for self-determination.
“The “People Power Hour” organised during IFPRS was a global platform where Indigenous Peoples and other marginalised groups were able to make their voices heard at a global scale,” she shared.
In an event organized for Indigenous activists from Karen, Manipur and CHT in Bangladesh, Naw Paw Pree expressed how different victims of oppression around the world gathered to learn and share their experiences, suffering and struggles for their rights to land, culture, tradition, freedom, and self-determination.
“It was a safe space for all people to enjoy freedom of expression, share their feelings, and demand for change,” Paw Pree said.
For her, she learned the similarity between different Indigenous Peoples from around the world: having diverse cultures, traditions, beliefs and social practices, but the same struggles and oppression.
She also felt a deep honour for community members from the indigenous Karen peoples of Southeast Burma to attend the event to learn about the struggles of other Indigenous Peoples and minority communities, and to share the struggles of the Karen peoples.
It was a very touching moment for her as she presents and the participants listened to her peoples’ pain and understood about the Karen people’s struggle to fulfill their basic human rights, to defend their people and land, and for self-determination.
According to her, “their sympathetic response and respectful reflections show the international understanding of our struggles, so it made Karen people feel dignified and it honoured the 75 years of revolutionary struggles.”
“The People Power Hour event made us feel confident to continue our fight, without feeling the burden of other international views that often accuse us of being rebels, terrorists, and dangerous people,” she said with a firm and enlightened smile.
“We need more international solidarity to support the voices of indigenous and minority people and to stand firmly with us,” she added.
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