Here are the latest news from the Philippines taken from various media sources.
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Philippine farmers get more tech-savvy
The Philippines has been called the texting capital of the world, with some 70 million mobile phone users sending up to 300 million messages a day.
In 2001, texting was credited with helping topple then President Joseph Estrada when it was used to bring tens of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets in protest.
From this month, IRRI scientists led by Roland Buresh of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)plan to use text messaging to send precise management advice and fertilizer recommendations to local farmers by Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
All the farmer has to do is dial a number on his mobile phone, toll free. An automated voice message will then ask him a series of questions to which he should respond by pressing a number on the phone keypad.Social Networks Influence Health Behaviors
Scientists have long thought that social networks, which features many distant connections, or "long ties," produces large-scale changes most quickly.
But in a new study, Damon Centola, an assistant professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, has reached a different conclusion: Individuals are more likely to acquire new health practices while living in networks with dense clusters of connections -- that is, when in close contact with people they already know well.
ScienceDaily3,390 - tourist workers' intercepted
MANILA, Philippines A total of 3,390 people who were only carrying tourist visas were prevented by immigration officials from leaving the country in August as part of the government's campaign against human trafficking.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Officer-in-Charge Ronaldo Ledesma said on Friday that the suspected "tourist workers" could have planned to use the visas to find work overseas.
Government records show that some Filipinos who went overseas to work illegally ended up in sweatshops and even prostitution dens.
Former Pag-Ibig chief seeks probe on bogus loans
The former president of Home Development Mutual Fund will help in the investigation to be conducted by Congress on the alleged bogus housing loans of the agency.
Former HDMF president and Chief Executive Officer Romero Quimbo, incumbent congressman of Marikina's second district, plans to author a bill to investigate the issue involving Pag-Ibig and Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation.
"Yes (I intend to file a bill) with a number of colleagues who were formerly connected with the housing sector including Amado Bagatsing," Quimbo said.
Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)New Zealand earthquake map/Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday reported that no Filipino was hurt in the strong quake that hit New Zealand.
Fire hits QC food chain
MANILA, Philippines- A fastfood chain was engulfed in a thick smoke after one of its air conditioning units caught fire Saturday morning in Quezon City.
Peacekeepers Return
With the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration just around the corner, nine personnel of Royal Brunei Armed Forces who have successfully completed their one year mission in the sixth International Monitoring Team overseeing ceasefire agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front , returned home safely to their ...
Crocs unveils new shoe collection
MANILA, Philippines Shoes have been around for so long that nobody can say how the first ever produced pair looked like.
