Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Uncategorized

Bagulin’s Coffee Farmers Are Finally Reaching Bigger Markets—But the Real Game-Changer Is What Happens After the Harvest

BAGULIN, LA UNION — For years, coffee farmers in the highlands of Bagulin had a familiar problem: growing the beans was only half the battle. The harder question was what happened after the harvest. Limited processing facilities, transportation costs and access to stable buyers made it difficult for small farmers to capture more value from the coffee they produced. That equation is now beginning to change. The turning point came with the development of a local coffee-processing facility in Ba

August 17, 2026

Lifestyle

THIS ILOCOS SUR TOWN TURNED TRASH INTO RAFTS, BENCHES AND LIVELIHOODS—AND THE REAL SECRET ISN’T TECHNOLOGY

ALILEM, ILOCOS SUR — What if the plastic bottle thrown away today could become a bridge to livelihood tomorrow? In the mountain town of Alilem, Ilocos Sur, residents are proving that waste management does not always require expensive technology. Through community participation, functioning barangay Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), skills training and local incentives, discarded plastic bottles and old fabrics are being transformed into useful products, community facilities and even an alter

August 17, 2026

Politics

WHO WILL GET THE NEXT SC SEAT? JBC Opens Race to Replace Amy Lazaro-Javier

MANILA, Philippines — The race for a seat on the Supreme Court is officially underway. The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened applications for the position that will be vacated by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, who is set to compulsorily retire from the high court on November 16, 2026. Applicants have until 4:30 p.m. on October 1, 2026, to submit their requirements. The vacancy will create an opening among the Supreme Court's 14 associate justice positions. The JBC is tasked wi

August 17, 2026

Business

PSEi at 6,297: Stocks Could Be Poised for a Breakout—But One BSP Decision May Change Everything

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine stocks are expected to move largely sideways this shortened trading week, but investors may see a slight upward bias as markets weigh the possibility that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could take a less aggressive approach to interest-rate hikes. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended last Friday at 6,297.30, gaining 0.11% week-on-week, as investors continued to assess weak economic growth, elevated inflation and the direction of monetary polic

August 17, 2026

Uncategorized

FUEL SHOCK: Pump Prices Jump Tuesday—But the Biggest Increase Isn’t Gasoline or Diesel

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino motorists are in for another painful hit at the pump as fuel prices rise starting Tuesday, August 18, ending two consecutive weeks of price rollbacks and putting fresh pressure on household budgets, transport operators and businesses. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Monday that gasoline prices will increase by ₱2.49 per liter, diesel by ₱3.84 per liter, and kerosene by ₱5.01 per liter. The new prices will remain in effect from August 18 to 24, 2026. The

August 17, 2026

Business

₱900,000 in Sales, 57 MSMEs: What Made Ilocos Norte’s ‘Produkto Ilocandia’ Trade Fair a Breakthrough?

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — What began as a showcase of homegrown products turned into a significant opportunity for small entrepreneurs in Ilocos Norte, with the second Produkto Ilocandia Trade Fair generating more than ₱900,000 in sales and bringing together 57 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers’ associations. Held from August 7 to 15 at the Laoag City Hall Grounds, the trade fair gave local producers a direct avenue to meet consumers, sell their products and gather feedba

August 17, 2026

Lifestyle

Bohol’s Youth Home Is Giving Children in Conflict With the Law a Second Chance—But What Happens Behind Its Doors?

CORTES, BOHOL — For children who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, a mistake can easily become a label that follows them for life. But in Bohol, the provincial government is taking a different approach. The Bohol Youth Home (BYH) in Cortes was established as a residential care and rehabilitation facility for children in conflict with the law (CICL)—offering structured intervention, education, psychosocial support and family reintegration instead of placing children in ordinary dete

August 17, 2026

Lifestyle

Pangasinan on Blue Alert as Rivers Breach Critical Levels—Then 34 Barangays Were Hit by Flooding

PANGASINAN, Philippines — Pangasinan has intensified its disaster response as persistent rains trigger flooding, rising river levels and road disruptions across several parts of the province, prompting authorities to mobilize rescue equipment and preposition response teams. The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) raised the province's alert status from White to Blue at 8 p.m. on August 16, as rainfall and rising waterways increased the risk of further fl

August 17, 2026

Lifestyle

Aeta Scholars Get a Shot at College in Ilagan—But Their Biggest Dream Goes Beyond Graduation

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — For Jessica Cabaldo and Rosemarie Maximino, college was once a dream that could easily have remained out of reach. Today, the two young Aeta scholars are stepping into classrooms at the newly established City of Ilagan College (CIC), carrying not only their personal ambitions but also the hopes of their families and community. Through the scholarship program of the City Government of Ilagan, Cabaldo and Maximino have been given an opportunity to pursue higher educatio

August 17, 2026

Politics

DILG Trains Kalinga LGUs to Audit Public Infrastructure as Disaster Threats Loom

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is strengthening the disaster preparedness of local governments in Kalinga by training engineers, planning officers, and disaster risk reduction and management personnel to conduct standardized infrastructure audits. The training focuses on the DILG Infrastructure Audit (IA) Program, which is designed to help local government units (LGUs) determine whether critical public facilities are structurally sound, function

August 17, 2026