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Person seen emerging from drainage hole in rich Makati barangay. A social media post showing a person exiting a Makati City drainage canal went viral. William Roberts, the poster, witnessed the event while walking near V.A. Rufino and Adelantado Streets in Legaspi Village, Barangay San Lorenzo and reported seeing a head emerge from the canal before the individual fled.
In response to the viral post, authorities sealed the canal on Tuesday afternoon. An investigation by the Makati City Police and the IDMS Tracker Team recovered personal belongings, suggesting the canal was used as shelter by a homeless individual. Authorities are working with the Makati Commercial Estate Association, DSWD, and the barangay to locate and assist the person, who reportedly only uses the canal at night. Increased police presence is now maintaining security in the area. PHOTO CREDIT: RoughMasterpiecei/Reddit
27 Guimaras barangays bags Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays. Twenty-seven barangays in Guimaras received the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB) after successfully passing a rigorous evaluation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The SGLGB assesses barangays across four governance areas: transparency, disaster preparedness, peace and order, and quality service delivery. Each barangay that passed the provincial screening received a PHP20,000 cash incentive, with an additional PHP100,000 for those that also passed the national screening. Notably, Barangay Tanag excelled by passing the national screening and was awarded PHP200,000 for both 2023 and 2024, while Barangay Agsanayan received PHP100,000 for passing in 2023.
The awards were presented during the 33rd provincehood anniversary of Guimaras, with hopes that the cash incentives will be used for community development projects. DILG Guimaras Director Roselyn Quintana encouraged other barangays to strive for improved performance, emphasizing self-assessment in preparation for the 2025 SGLGB evaluation.
Remote Palawan town receives medical aid. Over 1,000 residents of Barangay Mangsee in Balabac town received free healthcare services during a two-day medical mission organized by Remote Area Medical-Philippines (RAM-Philippines) in collaboration with the Western Command (Wescom) on May 22–23. A team of 13 medical and non-medical volunteers provided various services, including pediatrics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, OB-Gynecology, physical therapy, dental care, surgery, and circumcision.
Dr. Heidi Sampang, who founded RAM-Philippines in 2017, emphasized the belief that healthcare is a human right and should be accessible regardless of one's background. She highlighted the importance of health education, particularly in remote areas where health literacy tends to be low. Sampang noted that many residents only seek medical attention when ill, leading to inadequate preventive care.
The mission aimed not only to provide medical services but also to educate residents on health issues such as hypertension, proper lifestyle choices, and medication management. Since its inception, RAM-Philippines has conducted 60 clinics in various regions, including Linapacan and San Vicente, and has a history of helping communities across the Visayas and Mindanao.
Department of Agrarian Reform transitions barangay farmers to organic farming. Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay Princess Urduja, Narra, Palawan, are transitioning to organic farming to boost production, reduce costs, and increase yields. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conducted a two-day training on organic vegetable and corn production for the Mariwara Pag-Asa Multi-Purpose Cooperative, focusing on sustainable agriculture practices. This initiative aims to enhance ARBs' skills in organic farming, protect their health, and promote environmental sustainability.
Additionally, DAR has turned over a P300,000 greenhouse to the Magallanes-Samahang Magsasaka Ng Kay-Apas at Medina cooperative in Cavite to improve food security and farmers' livelihoods. The greenhouse is designed for durability and efficient crop protection, benefiting 86 ARBs. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed to ensure ongoing support and management of the greenhouse, with the cooperative committed to its upkeep and profitability.
Water company to clean septic tanks in Taguig barangays. Manila Water is highlighting the significance of regular septic tank maintenance to safeguard water channels and promote the health of Taguig residents. They are encouraging locals to utilize scheduled septic tank cleaning services available this June. Regular desludging, recommended every five years, is vital for preventing untreated wastewater from contaminating waterways and fostering a sustainable future.
Barangay Tuktukan and Napindan will receive service this month. Jeric Sevilla, Director of Manila Water Communication Affairs Group, emphasized that proper septic tank maintenance helps protect water sources and minimizes pollution risks in communities.
Scam prevention in the barangays discussed in forum. On April Fools' Day, Rappler focused on educating people about scams and fraud instead of pranking. They held their first #ScamAlert public event on March 28 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, in collaboration with several partners, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Laguna and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. The event featured a morning forum attended by over a hundred people and included three afternoon workshops.
A key takeaway from the event was that scams affect everyone, regardless of social status or education. Attendees shared personal experiences, including a heartbreaking account of a retiree who lost P2 million in a love scam. The forum also highlighted that women are the primary victims of such scams.
In addition to discussing victimization, the forum aimed to empower participants with knowledge and tools to prevent scams. Gemma Mendoza from Rappler provided insights into disinformation trends and tactics in the region, drawing on the organization's research and journalism.
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Comelec no longer accepting certification as proof of residency in voter registration. To prevent voter registration irregularities, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will eliminate the barangay certificate requirement for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and subsequent elections. This decision, announced by Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Thursday, follows reports of widespread fraudulent barangay certificate issuance. Voter registration for the 2025 BSKE will be held from July 1st to July 11th, 2025. This marks the first time the Comelec has dropped this requirement.
