Last Monday, the Department of Energy announced that it will be issuing show cause orders to power generation companies that repeatedly fail to deliver their expected output.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said that the power firms could face blacklisting and cancellation of permits for poor service.
While she declined to identify the generation companies, she said that 164 gencos are connected to the main power grid while another 11 are servicing off-grid areas, mainly small or remote islands.
There is a strong possibility that SUWECO could be in the hit list as a DOE team was here a few months ago to check on its performance.
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On his brief sojourn in Catanduanes last week, TGP Partylist Congressman Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. was spotted engaging in physical activity – walking around the Calatagan area in the company of close-in security.
The former Baras mayor and former provincial vice governor’s dedication to keeping himself healthy is commendable, unlike a few local politicians who are now watching their bellies grow.
Cong. Teves’s political stock and influence is undiminished despite being on his last term as TGP representative in the Lower House.
In fact, he now holds one of the most coveted seats in Congress – that of a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) responsible for vetting and approving the appointment of Cabinet members and other officials of Cabinet rank.
Add to this the TGP solon’s being one of the House Deputy Majority Leaders, the vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations and president of the Partylist Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI), a bloc of about 63 lawmakers who have the collective capability of swinging the crucial vote on key measures.
While the 2028 campaign is about a year and a half away, Teves is nonetheless one of the key players voters should watch out for by this time next year.
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The lone Mercury Drug store in Catanduanes, located at the Center Mall in Virac, is among the 262 Mercury Drug branches across the country where beneficiaries of the government’s medicine assistance can use Guarantee Letters (GLs) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
A new agreement with the giant pharmaceutical company and Generika Drugstore will allow those granted the medicine assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program to easily avail of essential drugs and healthcare supplies without out-of-pocket costs.
Last June 22, 2026, Mercury Drug branches began honoring the GLs, an official DSWD document that promises direct payment to accredited service providers for the cost of prescribed medications for qualified beneficiaries.
The GLs can be obtained by visiting the nearest DSWD Field Office or local Social Welfare and Development Office (SWDO) and presenting a valid ID for the interview, as well as an authorization letter if they are processing the request on behalf of the beneficiary.
For medical assistance, applicants must present a Medical Certificate, Clinical Abstract, Discharge Summary, or Alagang Pinoy Tagubilin Form issued within the last three months. It must be an original or certified true copy and must clearly state the diagnosis, the patient’s full name, and the physician’s name, license number, and signature.
The prescription must be valid and issued within the last three months, bearing the date of issuance, the patient’s full name, and the physician’s name, license number, and signature.
However, for requests exceeding P10,000, the following additional documents are required: Price Quotation for the medicine or assistive device and a Social Case Study Report or Case Summary from an accredited social worker.
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THE ADVANTAGES OF BREAST MILK. A pre-med student takes an examination and the last question is: Give four advantages of breast milk.
The student begins to answer the question:
- No need to sterilize bottles.
- Healthier for the child.
- Available whenever necessary.
But the fourth point eludes him. When there are only a couple of minutes left to finish the exam, he gets desperate and answers:
- Available in attractive containers.