Abbey M.

The Senate and House of Representatives have begun early preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled in July. Both chambers want to ensure the smooth flow of the program.

Although nearly three months remain before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth SONA, officials from the Senate and House of Representatives met on Tuesday, May 5, to begin preparations. 

Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza said that while they usually begin preparations in late May for the annual event set on the fourth Monday of July, they are aiming for earlier coordination this time, ahead of the expected sine die adjournment of Congress.

Mendoza, however, firmly clarified that the early preparations are not connected to the possible transmittal of articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte or the anticipated start of an impeachment trial.

The Senate secretary also said that the leadership of both the Senate and the House has given clear instructions to keep the occasion simple.

"Because of what's happening right now, di ba medyo baka magalit ang tao, mag-react. Medyo tame down lang ng konti, yun lang naman. Okay, so parehong bilin sir ni Speaker and Senate President na simple. Simple lang."

["Because of what's happening right now, people might get angry or react. Just tone it down a little, that's all. Okay, so the instruction from both the Speaker and the Senate President is to keep it simple. Just simple.”]

Mendoza added that discussions between the two chambers regarding the upcoming SONA are still in the initial stage. House officials are set to meet again, this time joined by the executive department and security agencies.

"Siguro ano lang, yung setup lang. More on sa setup siguro. Mas simple lang siguro gagawin namin. Initial pa lang naman to. First meeting pa lang naman. Kumbaga nagexchange lang ng views kung ano yung mga possible na pwede naming gawin namin."

["Maybe just the setup. More on the setup, I think. We'll probably make it simpler. This is still initial. Just the first meeting. We basically just exchanged views on what we could possibly do.”]

The fifth SONA of President Marcos Jr. is set on July 27, 2026.

Authorities have arrested more than 5,000 high-value drug targets (HVTs) and confiscated close to PHP32 billion worth of illegal narcotics since the Marcos administration launched its anti-drug campaign in mid-2022, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced.

In its latest report, PDEA said 5,366 HVTs were arrested between July 1, 2022 and January 31, 2024. These individuals are part of the broader 79,841 drug suspects apprehended across 58,496 operations during the same period.

Seized illegal drugs during the crackdown totaled PHP31.98 billion in estimated value. The haul included 4,317.46 kilograms of shabu, 50.47 kilograms of cocaine, 54,013 ecstasy tablets, and 3,197.19 kilograms of marijuana.

On the barangay level, 28,247 out of the country's 42,000 villages have been declared drug-cleared, while 7,264 remain under active clearing operations. A barangay receives drug-cleared status upon certification issued by members of the oversight committee overseeing the barangay drug-clearing program.

Authorities also dismantled 856 drug dens and one clandestine shabu laboratory within the covered period.

The Department of Health has issued a public advisory reminding residents, particularly those in the most affected towns of Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay, that the ash being released by Mayon Volcano poses serious health risks.

According to the DOH, volcanic ash is not ordinary dust. It contains sharp, fine rock particles mixed with minerals and volcanic glass that can cause harm to the body. Doctors warn that exposure can lead to severe coughing, as well as irritation of the eyes and skin.

To protect themselves, residents in affected areas are advised to wear N95 masks to avoid inhaling volcanic ash. Those without face masks may use a wet cloth to cover their nose and mouth. Wearing glasses or goggles is also recommended for eye protection.

Residents are further advised to avoid sweeping dry ash to prevent it from spreading further into the air. Keeping doors and windows closed, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and monitoring updates on the volcano's activity are also strongly encouraged.

Authorities are also strictly reminding the public not to enter the volcano's permanent danger zone given its continued activity.

Those in need of immediate assistance may contact the National Emergency Hotline at 911 or reach DOH Bicol at 0992-811-0733.

Two towns in Albay were blanketed by heavy ashfall after Mayon Volcano erupted on Saturday afternoon, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology continues to closely monitor the volcano's activity.

Residents in Albay were caught off guard when Mayon Volcano suddenly erupted at around 5:38 p.m. on Saturday. Lava flowed down the volcano's slopes and generated a pyroclastic density current on its southwestern side. Videos and photos taken by residents showed a massive, thick column of smoke billowing from the volcano.

The towns of Camalig and Guinobatan in Albay bore the brunt of the ashfall. Thick ash covered homes, crops, roads, animals, and residents in the affected areas.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the eruption was caused by a lava collapse near the Mi-is Gully. Phivolcs also said this was the largest pyroclastic density current recorded since January 1 of this year, when Mayon Volcano was raised to Alert Level 3.

The volume of ash was so heavy that it reduced road visibility to near-zero levels, causing delays for motorists in the area.

The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office immediately distributed face masks to residents as protection, particularly for those with existing respiratory conditions.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed all government agencies to respond to areas affected by the heavy ashfall from Mayon Volcano.

The directive specifically covers the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig in Albay.

According to Malacañang, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun clearing operations to remove thick ash from major roads to allow residents and emergency responders to pass through.

The Department of Health has also distributed N95 masks and deployed mobile clinics and water stations to address residents experiencing breathing difficulties and coughing.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, has started distributing food and other necessities to families in evacuation centers.

President Marcos has also instructed authorities to closely monitor rivers and other waterways due to the risk of lahar flow, particularly once heavy rains set in.

Residents are urged to stay indoors as much as possible, wear protective masks, and follow announcements from their respective local government units.