Senate hearing to zoom in on flood problems

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rio N. Araja and Julito G. Rada

AS THE country absorbs the impact of a third typhoon this month, senators are seeking hearings on the perennial problem of flooding and plan to summon officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies.

Calls for hearings came as the Department of Agriculture said that the agricultural and fisheries sector in Northern Luzon suffered losses of P3.17 billion from the damage wrought by Typhoon “Egay,” affecting

Supply of 7m tons of rice sufficient—DA

THE country has a sufficient supply of rice at over 7 million metric tons (MT), an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Wednesday.

DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said the harvest during the dry season was “good,” with a total yield of 5.7 million metric tons. The country’s supply of imported rice is at 1.9 million metric tons.

HARVEST FESTIVAL. Despite the recent inclement weather, children join the ‘ginoyudan’ tag-of-war events with gusto along Hapao River as the town of Hungduan in Ifugao celebrated the Punnuk (Harvest) Festival. Authorities and volunteers were on hand to secure the games, which went smoothly amid strong river currents. Dave Leprozo

College students to tutor Grade 2 pupils on reading

By Maricel Cruz

THE Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development launched Wednesday a program to help grade school students who are struggling to read.

In the “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program,” college students will teach in- coming Grade 2 students how to read.

This developed as the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Culture is set to approve for plenary consideration the substitute bill seeking to enhance the existing K-12 basic education program.

The measure is a substitute for House Bill 7893 authored by Deputy Speaker

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which seeks to amend the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

The effectiveness of the Senior High School under the K-12 Program in terms of job readiness and college readiness of students was also raised during the congressional hearing.

WELCOME VISITOR. Former President Rodrigo Duterte (center) chats with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace in this selfie taken by Senator Christopher Go on

Wednesday. According to Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Duterte went