OIL COMPANIES on Monday cut the prices of petroleum products, marking the third straight week of rollback to follow the direction of prices in the international market.

THE OPERATIONS Center (OC) of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) was placed on red alert status on Monday as typhoon Rosita (international name: Yutu) was expected to make landfall in parts of Isabela and Aurora provinces on Tuesday morning, Oct. 30.

THE IMPLEMENTATION of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) IDs will finally take off as the government begins the six-month trial for distribution, covering the one million unconditional cash transfer beneficiaries.

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) has ordered six police personnel to be available for an investigation after they were included in the drug matrix released by the President in connection with the high-profile drug smuggling incident at the Bureau of Customs.

THE TOURISM Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority inaugurated on Oct. 28 the TIEZA Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) Office and Tourist Information Center in, San Vicente, Palawan. On the same day, Philippine Airlines launched its flights between the town and Clark International Airport in the Luzon mainland.

The 5^th Iloilo Bike Festival was held Saturday, Oct. 27, where the Dahan-Dahan sa Daan, the road safety campaign of artist-activist group DAKILA, was also launched.

THE PASSENGER shipping route linking Manila to Davao was reopened on Sunday, Oct. 27, to allow a more affordable transportation option between the country’s north and south.

THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will file a case against five steel mills accused of emitting high air pollution levels that pose serious hazards to public health and the environment, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) said yesterday.

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

AT THE CELEBRATION of Bacolod City’s 39^th MassKara Festival, President Rodrigo R. Duterte gave village chiefs and policemen there a stern warning against drug trafficking, saying he will have them killed.

CHINESE STATE Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Davao City on Sunday afternoon for his two-day official visit in the Philippines.

THE SENATE committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation, chaired by Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III, has recommended the “criminalization” of premature campaigning of candidates.