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UNITED NATIONS: The head of the United Nations on Monday urged world leaders to take decisive action to tackle ever-worsening climate change when they gather at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates starting this week. "We are trapped in a deadly cycle," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "The solutions are well known. Leaders must act to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, protect people from climate chaos, and end the fossil fuel age." United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers remarks during a Security Council open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security at the UN headquarters in New York City on Nov. 20, 2023. AFP PHOTO Guterres spoke ahead of the summit, where 70,000 people are [...]

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) reiterated its warning to Filipino workers against accepting high-paying job offers in Myanmar and other neighboring Asian countries. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the warning on Monday after four more Filipinos returned from Myanmar where they fell victim to illegal recruitment The victims, whose names were withheld for their protection, arrived in Manila from Yangon via a Thai Airways flight on November 21. "The best way to avoid these sad experiences is for you to go through the legal process that migrant workers should follow in applying for overseas jobs," Tansingco said. He said the experience of the repatriates should serve as a warning to other Filipinos that they should not be lured by promises of high-paying jobs from strangers and foreigners who will [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines is importing 21,000 metric tons of onions that are scheduled for delivery in December, the head of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry said on Monday. DA-BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban told reporters that the imports of the bulbs should boost supply, easing the pressure on prices in the run-up to the Christmas holidays. "Medyo tumataas na siya, siguro P10, P20. But dahil kino-complement natin dahil halos paubos na stocks natin o baka hindi pa nailalabas, we are complementing it with the importation na sapat for the month," Panganiban said. [Translation: It's getting a little higher, maybe P10, P20. But because our stocks are almost down or maybe they haven't been released yet, we are complementing it with the importation that [...]

In a Nov. 17 memorandum, Duterte said that 47,678 public schools would be in asynchronous mode for the tree-planting activity, in which one school would plant at least five trees.  Inday Sara Duterte / Facebook page     Manila, Philippines — Public schools in the Philippines will plant 236,000 trees on Dec. 6 as part of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s Christmas project, according to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. In a Nov. 17 memorandum, Duterte said that 47,678 public schools would be in asynchronous mode for the tree-planting activity, in which one school would plant at least five trees. Duterte said the trees should be planted within school grounds but if space is scarce, schools may find alternatives in local parks, marine protected areas or any [...]

Philippine Navy warships BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS15) and BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), along with the USS Gabriel Gifford (LCS 10) conduct tactical maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines)       Manila, Philippines — A civilian group that earlier failed to get the government’s approval to bring Christmas presents and provisions to soldiers in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) can now finally proceed with its plan. But it was not clear whether the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea has also allowed the Atin Ito coalition to stop over at BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded vessel that serves as a military outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. According to the group, the task force has “agreed” to its [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Vice President Sara Duterte said she respects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to consider proposals for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC). “We should respect the position of the president being the chief architect of foreign policy so ‘yun dapat ang position nating lahat [that should be the position of all of us],” Duterte, who also serves as Education chief, told reporters on Monday at the sidelines of a National Children’s Month event. Meanwhile, the vice president maintained her stance against cooperating with the ICC in its probe into alleged abuses that occurred throughout her father's anti-illegal drugs campaign. “Pero [but] we will continue to reach out to the Department of Justice regarding our position on this matter,” Duterte said. Last week, the [...]

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Senate PRIB Photo)   Is the House of Representatives using the International Criminal Court (ICC) to silence Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte? Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said this is what people are asking after the Lower House presented a resolution urging President Marcos to work with the ICC in the investigation into the alleged brutal war on drugs launched by the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa, who was the chief implementer of the Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug said he believes some members in the House “are being encouraged to file” probably to “silence the Dutertes” noting that it took them one and a half years before they decided to do so. “The timing [...]

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said the DepEd has allotted a separate budget for last mile schools in the provinces, apart from the budget for construction of classrooms in regular schools. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte delivers a speech during her visit to Dororian National High School, a last mile school in Gigmoto, Catanduanes, on Nov. 23, 2023. OVP photo The Department of Education will prioritize the hiring of additional teachers and the construction of more classrooms in last mile schools or LMS, Vice President and concurrent DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte said. LMS are schools located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Duterte said the DepEd has allotted a separate budget for LMS in the provinces, apart from the budget for construction of classrooms in [...]

BINALONAN, Pangasinan: Vice President Sara Duterte urged residents in this eastern Pangasinan town on Saturday, November 25, to rally behind the government to achieve peace and progress in the communities SMILE : Vice President Sara Duterte gamely takes a group selfie with residents of Binalonan, Pangasinan, where she distributed gift packs on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. PHOTO BY GABRIEL CARDINOZA "I urge everyone to support the government, the newly elected barangay officials, our local government here in Binalonan and Pangasinan province," said Duterte, who was here for a gift-giving activity. Some 1,500 residents from the different villages here received gift packs. Speaking in Filipino, Duterte said that the unity of the people leads to a peaceful and orderly community. "And what we want is a peaceful life, where we [...]

JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE. The third day of the joint naval exercise called Samasama ’23 between the Philippines and the United States involved training on multiple shipboard operations including communications check and maritime domain exercise prior to the conduct of a visit, board, search and seizure drill by a combined boarding force from Philippine Navy’s BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902) and the U.S. Navy. The BRP Antonio Luna FF151 - PF and USS Dewey (DDG 105) performed Replenishment at Sea Approaches with supply ship. USNS Wally Schirra       The Philippines and Australia started joint air and sea patrols as they seek to deepen their defense cooperation to counter China’s assertiveness in the region. The “maritime cooperative activity” came days after the United States held a similar exercise with the [...]

A man pushes a trolley along a market in Manila on May 11, 2023. AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa     Manila, Philippines — The number of Filipinos who reported a decline in their quality of life over the past year has increased in the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations. Results of the September 28 to October 1 survey showed that 30% of 1,200 adults said that their quality of life had worsened, compared to 22% in the previous poll conducted in June and July. Twenty-eight percent of respondents saw an improvement in their quality of life, while 41% said it remained the same, from 33% and 45%, respectively, in the previous survey. The latest survey resulted in a “net gainer” score of -2, classified by the [...]

This handout photo taken on November 21, 2023 and received from the Philippine Coast Guard on November 22 shows coast guard personnel evacuating a sick resident from a flooded home due to heavy rains at a village in Catarman town, Northern Samar, central Philippines. Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP     Manila, Philippines — More than one million individuals were affected by the low pressure area and the shear line that triggered floods and landslides, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday. A total of 254,160 families from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga were affected by the shear line—a weather system formed when cold and warm winds converge—and a dissipated LPA. Over 81,110 people were displaced, [...]

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) has committed to train two million individuals in artificial intelligence (AI), mostly from under-represented communities through collaborations with the government and other universities. In a recent interview with The Manila Times, IBM Philippines President and country general manager Aileen Judan-Jiao said they intend to help under-represented communities, especially with many jobs going to be replaced by AI. The training will be done through IBM's SkillsBuild platform, a free education program that aims to help adult learners, high school and university students, and faculty to develop new skills and access career opportunities. SkillsBuild is an online platform that can be accessed anywhere through any device and offers 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing and many other technical disciplines. [...]

CAPTURED SHIP The Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Nov. 20, is shown two days later docked at a port on the Red Sea in the Yemeni province of Hodeida and flying Palestinian and Yemeni flags. The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned vessel operated by a Japanese firmbut with links to an Israeli businessman, was headed from Turkey to India when it was seized along with its 25-member crew, 17 of them Filipinos. The rebel group said the capture was in retaliation for Israel’s war against Hamas, sparked by the Oct. 7 attack of the Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials. —AFP     Lawmakers urged the government on Thursday to seek help from the international community and [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — China's Ministry of National Defense (MOD) has accused the Philippines of enlisting foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble in the region. "Since November 21, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy ship Yuncheng has conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea," the MOD said in a statement issued Thursday. "During this period, the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea, stir up trouble, and hype up regional peace and stability, violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea." "The theater troops maintain a high degree of vigilance, resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China [...]

These are in Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Central Visayas, where upticks in cases were logged from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11. Pixabay     Manila, Philippines — Three regions have reported an increase in dengue cases, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday. These are in Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Central Visayas, where upticks in cases were logged from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11 The DOH said it recorded 179,444 dengue cases nationwide as of Nov. 11. It said dengue cases dropped by 10.96 percent or from 12,169 to 10,835 in the past two weeks. The DOH recorded 614 dengue deaths, a case fatality rate of 0.34 percent The department stressed the need to closely monitor the situation, saying cases may further increase due to late reports. Meanwhile, cases [...]

BEIJING: The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the country, urging people to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. Northern China has reported an increase in "influenza-like illness" since mid-October when compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a children hospital in Beijing on November 23, 2023. The World Health Organization has asked on November 23, 2023, China for more data on a respiratory illness spreading in the north of the country, urging people to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. China has reported an increase in "influenza-like illness" since mid-October when compared to the same period in [...]

The Senate on early Tuesday morning ended the plenary deliberations on the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024. The session ended at 4:50 a.m. Tuesday. Among the highlights of the Senate plenary deliberations are the dropping of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education's proposed confidential funds for 2024 Other agencies that also dropped their request for controversial funds were the Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Meanwhile, the confidential funds of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) were decreased. The Senate deliberated on the 2024 spending plan for nine days. After the debates, the Senate finance committee, chaired by Senator Sonny Angara, will introduce amendments to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). It [...]

Manila, Philippines: THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday allayed fears of a possible stronger earthquake following the discovery of sand fissures or splitting in a town in Sarangani province where the November 17 magnitude 6.8 tremor occurred. "The people especially in the province (Sarangani) must not worry about this sand fissuring because it is a natural occurrence especially in an area where a strong earthquake took place," Phivolcs director Teresito "Toto" Bacolcol told The Manila Times via Viber. Bacolcol said that the sand fissures found in Barangay Padidu in the municipality of Glan, also in the same province, were produced by liquefaction. "Liquefaction usually happens in sandy areas near rivers and coastlines," he said. "This happens when during strong ground shaking, sand particles settle down [...]

Arrested stock photo. Philstar.com / Jovannie Lambayan, file     Manila, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Malaysian and 11 Filipinos for allegedly “renting out” SIM cards with verified GCash accounts, the NBI announced yesterday. In a series of operations in Quezon City, Manila and Parañaque from Nov. 9 to 10, the NBI’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division arrested Lau Wen Xiang and 11 Filipinos. Aside from the 50,000 SIM cards, the bureau also confiscated 13 desktop computers, 40 GSM modems or text blasters, 57 cell phones and a laptop. The operations started with information about people on Facebook looking for GCash account holders with a P500,000 limit who are willing to have their accounts rented. Account holders were offered P2,000 as payment and an [...]

In an interview after the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in Caraga, Davao Oriental on Saturday, Go renewed his advocacy for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). Voltaire F. Domingo / Senate Photo       Manila, Philippines — In the wake of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck parts of Southern Mindanao last Friday resulting in a significant loss of life and property, Sen. Bong Go has emphasized the need for a proactive approach to disaster management in the Philippines. In an interview after the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in Caraga, Davao Oriental on Saturday, Go renewed his advocacy for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). “I will not lose hope. Maybe, at the proper time, we will be [...]

Families spend quality time at Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on June 4, 2023. STAR / Jesse Bustos     Manila, Philippines — The Philippines’ population may reach 115 million by the end of the year, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said yesterday. “The Philippines, based on the 2020 census, has recorded 109 million Filipinos, and it is estimated that it will reach around 115 million by the end of 2023,” CPD deputy executive director Lolito Tacardon said in an interview with “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” program over government-run PTV. The number is based on the country’s population growth rate of 1.6 percent annually, according to Tacardon. The Philippines is now 13th among the most populous countries in the world. “Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has issued a writ of execution on a previous ruling that declared the employees of Lianga Bay Logging Co., Inc. (LBLCI) as rightful owners of the majority of the company’s shareholdings. In a resolution signed on Nov. 7, the anti-graft court’s 5th division said its July 18, 2023 decision is final and executory without any appeal or pleading by the defendant. “Let therefore, a Writ of Execution issue to enforce the Resolution promulgated on July 18, 2023,” the court said. A writ of execution is a court order that begins the transfer of assets following a judgment. The Sandiganbayan in July 2023 ruled in favor of the Diatagon Labor Federation (DLF), a union based in Mindanao, in its claim to 60% of LBLCI. [...]

Grade 7 students of Araullo High School along United Nations Avenue in Manila line up during school opening dry run. The STAR / Edd Gumban     Manila, Philippines — All schools will be required to hold whole-day reading programs every Friday starting January as part of the Department of Education’s newest initiative to boost students’ literacy, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced on Tuesday. The DepEd secretary said that the department’s curriculum and teaching strand is currently crafting a policy that will guide schools in implementing “catch-up Fridays” beginning January 12. “This means that on Fridays, our sole focus will be on teaching children to read,” said Duterte, who made the announcement during DepEd’s culminating activity for the National Reading Month Under the “catch-up Fridays” program, [...]

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is investigating the allegation that the camp of a 2022 presidential candidate had met with the president of Smartmatic, the poll service provider during the last national and local elections. Senator Imee Marcos disclosed this during the Senate plenary deliberations on the Comelec's proposed 2024 budget upon the inquiry of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. "There have been allegations that a certain camp of a certain candidate met with the owner of Smartmatic during the election period of 2022. Has this report reached the Comelec and [has] the Comelec investigated this report?" Pimentel asked. He pointed out that meetings between interested political camps with poll service providers should be prohibited. Marcos, in response, said the reported meeting "was also studied by the [...]

Tropical Fish Gatherer Association president Joeffrey Elad expressed hope that talks between President Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping will benefit fishermen currently experiencing bullying from Chinese ships A 300-meter-long floating barrier is installed by China to prevent Filipino fishermen from entering Panatag or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Inset shows a Philippine fishing boat being shadowed by the Chinese Coast Guard near resource-rich fishing ground on Sept. 22, 2023. Photos by Michael Varcas, The Philippine STAR Filipino fisherfolk will sail again to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to determine if the supposed meeting between President Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco, California over the weekend will result in an improved situation in the area amid the harassment of Chinese coast guard and militia, according to [...]

(FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected any talk of Vice President Sara Duterte's ouster, saying he does not want her out and she doesn’t deserve to be impeached. “Binabantayan namin nang mabuti [We are monitoring that closely] because we don’t want her to be impeached. We don’t want her to—she does not deserve to be impeached. So, we will make sure that this is something that we will pay very close attention to,” President Marcos said at a briefing with the media in Hawaii on Monday (PH time). Marcos added impeachment calls against government officials were not new. “So, I guess, a continuing evolution of that thinking na basta ayaw namin diyan, tanggalin natin, i-impeach natin. Well, meron naman sigurong dahilan kung hindi lang [...]

                 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks at the Daniel Inouye Asia Pacific for Security Studies in Hawaii, on November 19, 2023. Screenshot of RTVM streaming     Honolulu, Hawaii — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday (US time) said the Philippines needs the United States and other allies amid “heightening tension” in the West Philippine Sea, as he reiterated his vow not to give up an inch of the country’s territory. Speaking at the Daniel Inouye Asia Pacific for Security Studies here, the President cited the “critical role” of the US-Philippine alliance. “The United States is our, I would say, our oldest and most traditional partner and that has been in various forms, ongoing over a hundred years. And I think it [...]

During the plenary debates for the 2024 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, November 15, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, emphasized the significance of the agency's budget for the nation's post-pandemic recovery. "I want to underscore the importance of the 2024 budget of the DOH in our path towards recovery," stressed Go, underscoring that now is a critical time to invest in the healthcare system to meet emerging challenges. Go inquired about the specifics of DOH's budget request, to understand the additional funding sought and the prioritization of various health programs. Senator Pia Cayetano, senior vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, responded that the Senate increased the DOH budget by [...]

Farm workers check on their crops, spray organic pesticides, and remove unwanted weeds at a rice field in Tanay, Rizal on September 19, 2023. Ernie Penaredondo / The Philippine STAR     Manila, Philippines — Retail prices of rice have increased by at least P6 per kilo compared to the prevailing price a month ago as cost of the grains continued its uptrend, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA). Based on latest price monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, local regular milled rice is sold to as high as P51 per kilo compared to P45 on Oct. 16, or P6 per kilo difference; local well-milled rice at P54 per kilo from a previous price of P48; local premium rice at P62 per kilo compared [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States on Friday signed a historic civil nuclear cooperation deal, which is seen to help with the country's energy security by laying the legal basis for the transfer of nuclear equipment and material from the US to Manila. The two countries signed the “123 Agreement,” or the Philippines-United States Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco after less than a year of negotiations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the inking of the deal is another milestone “towards a more energy secure and green Philippines,” as he sees nuclear energy becoming part of the country’s energy mix by 2032 “We would be more than happy to pursue this path with the [...]

This handout photograph released by Philippine's Office of the Press Secretary and taken on January 4, 2023, shows Philippine's President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (2L) shaking hands with China's President Xi Jinping (2R) during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. Philippines's Office of the Press Secretary / AFP Leaders aim to bring down sea tension SAN FRANCISCO — President Marcos said he wants to “bring down the temperature” in the West Philippine Sea, as he meets here today with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid rising cases of Chinese aggression in Philippine waters that risk escalating into full-scale hostilities. In a video statement, Marcos cited the need to discuss ways to prevent the escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea.He said the matter would be [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Wednesday questioned the National Food Authority (NFA) over the country's insufficient rice buffer stock. "I heard wala tayong buffer stock, isn't that the function of the NFA?" Pimentel said during Wednesday's deliberations on the Department of Agriculture's proposed budget for next year. The NFA did not specify the current buffer stock, but admitted it was not compliant with the 9-day amount mandated by law. Aside from maintaining sufficient rice buffer stocks sourced solely from local farmers, the agency must also be capable of managing the country's buffer stock within the next ten years. https://nfa.gov.ph/transparency/mandate-functions-name-of-official In response, NFA's Roderick Bioco argued that prices of palay are "too high" during planting season. He further explained that they already increased their [...]

Google Street View image shows the exterior of the Department of Budget and Management central office in Manila. Google Map Manila, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has started releasing nearly P70 billion in bonuses and cash gifts for government workers. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said qualified state personnel started receiving their yearend and cash gift bonuses yesterday in time for the Christmas season. Data showed that P45.3 billion have been earmarked for the yearend bonuses of qualified civilian personnel and another P15.2 billion for the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) in various government agencies Another P8.9 billion was appropriated for cash gifts under this year’s budget for the over 1.7 million civilian workers and MUP. This year’s bonuses and cash gifts are higher by six [...]

  President Ferdinand Marcos arrived at the San Francisco International Airport in California at 5:06 p.m. (9:06 a.m. Manila) with First Lady Atty. Louise Araneta-Marcos and the Philippine delegation for the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting and related activities. Upon his arrival at San Francisco International Airport, President Marcos received a warm welcome from city government officials. This visit marks his third trip to the United States since taking office on June 30, 2022 Before the APEC Summit began, President Marcos met with the Filipino community at the San Francisco Conference Center. During the event, he presented the government’s initiatives and programs aimed at improving the lives and ensuring the welfare of Filipinos, including those working abroad. In his statement ahead of the APEC [...]

FILE PHOTO: Philippine Coast Guard’s air patrol spots Chinese vessels in the waters around Ayungin Shoal, following the February 6, 2023, laser “attack” on a PCG vessel in the area. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta     Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday said it has monitored a fleet of 38 Chinese vessels – the biggest so far – within the vicinity of Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela disclosed that they spotted China’s fleet during the latest resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre on Friday, November 10, when the China Coast Guard (CCG) also drenched a military-commissioned boat using the water cannon. “As to the number of Chinese vessels who are present within the vicinity [...]

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)     Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has emphasized the critical need for ample government support for Filipino healthcare workers. He reminded the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Health, and other concerned agencies to ensure that allowances and benefits due to qualified HCWs are released in accordance with the law. During the Senate plenary session on Wednesday, November 8, Go questioned the delayed disbursement of the health emergency allowance and underscored its significance in providing immediate financial relief to healthcare frontliners “We passed Republic Act 11712 which grants continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during public health emergencies, like COVID-19. Last July, the state of public [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and nine members of the House of Representatives have been sworn in as new members of the political party that brought Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the presidency. Among those joining Abalos at the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) are 4th District Representative Richard Gomez, his wife Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez, and Senator Raffy Tulfo's son Congressman Ralph Tulfo. Marcos, the national chairman of the PFP, attended their oath-taking on Friday The other lawmakers who joined the president's party are: - Maria Jamina Katherin (Laguna, 4th District) - Francisco Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) - Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan, 6th District) -Florida Robes (San Jose Del Monte City) - Leody Tarriela (Occidental Mindoro) - Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan)   [...]

                  (FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines— Malacañang on Saturday released the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act, which expands the powers of its board of directors and the President, and lowers the qualifications for the Maharlika Investment Corporation’s (MIC) top officials. The IRR, which is published on the website of the Official Gazette, showed changes to several sections in Rule VI which covers the governance of the MIF. Changes in Section 30 of the IRR now allows the President to either reject or accept recommendations made by the advisory body for nominees to fill the positions of president and chief executive officer (PCEO), regular, and independent directors of the MIC "In the interest [...]

This photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows China coast guard personnel sailing aluminum hulled boats at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. AFP / Jam Sta Rosa Manila, Philippines — Lawmakers are urging Congress to promptly approve increased funding for agencies responsible for safeguarding the West Philippine Sea, especially in the wake of China's recent provocative actions China Coast Guard vessel 5203 reportedly blasted a boat carrying provisions to Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last Friday, endangering lives in the process. "This incident should push Congress to finally approve a higher budget for the intelligence funds for agencies that defend our territories. When our frontliners in the West Philippine Sea become stronger, so will our national security," said Sen. [...]

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued an advisory for the mass production of humanoid robots by 2025. The country aims to secure the safe and effective supply of essential components for mass-producing androids. More importantly, it aims to lead a reliable industrial robot supply chain by 2027. Technology seems to be progressing faster than ever after the pandemic. Its end gave rise to the AI revolution sparked by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, the United States’ neighbor from the other side of the world wants to lead innovation in hardware instead of software. China’s ambitions to lead robotics globally may significantly transform our world soon. This article will discuss China’s robotics ambitions for the coming years. Later, I will cover the country’s other robot breakthroughs. On November 3, [...]

Gaza is “becoming a graveyard for children,” the United Nations chief warned on Monday as the death toll rises and calls grow around the world for a ceasefire, one month into Israel’s assault on Hamas - the militant group that runs the enclave. “The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters in New York, adding that the need for a ceasefire is becoming “more urgent with every passing hour. “The parties to the conflict – and, indeed, the international community – face an immediate and fundamental responsibility: to stop this inhuman collective suffering and dramatically expand humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said. His comments come four weeks after Israel declared war on Hamas, following the [...]

SEN. Christopher "Bong" Go on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to support freelance workers as the Philippines secured its place as one of the top global remote work hubs. Thus, Go filed Senate Bill (SB) 2107, or the "Freelance Workers Protection Act," that seeks to establish safeguards and incentives for freelance workers, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging their rights and guaranteeing fair compensation for their services Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go. Senate PRIB "In a world marked by unprecedented changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and other global crises, the way we work and where we work have evolved significantly. The rise of remote work is fast becoming a hub for freelance workers," said Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Labor. "Remote work has opened up opportunities for [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The number of Filipinos with no work went up in September due to lack of available jobs and elevated inflation, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Wednesday. In a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa reported that those without jobs reached 2.26 million, up from August’s 2.21 million. This translates to a national unemployment rate of 4.5% The labor force participation during the period also dropped to 49.93 million from August’s 50.29 million, which the official contributed to schooling and the limited availability of jobs in the market. Mapa said this was reflected in unemployment data. “They are looking for work pero there’s no available. Bad weather contributed, but not that large. They’re waiting for rehire or job recall,” he said. Asked if the higher [...]

FARM output contracted further in the third quarter (Q3) as livestock and poultry gains failed to offset a decline in crops and fisheries, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Wednesday. The value of agricultural and fisheries production fell by 0.3 percent in July to September, reversing from the 1.6-percent growth posted in the same period last year but narrowing from the 1.2-percent drop posted three months earlier At constant 2018 prices, production for the period amounted to P412.41 billion from the year-earlier P413.6 billion. Year to date, farm output remained positive with growth at 0.2 percent. This was down slightly, however, from the January-September 2022 uptick of 0.3 percent. Fisheries production, which accounted for 14.2 percent of total third-quarter output, posted a 6.1-percent drop to P58.72 billion. Thirteen of [...]

  Some 2,600 Philippine and US Marines will join this year’s edition of the “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” (Kamandag) exercises that aim to enhance the interoperability of both forces. Philippine Marine Corps deputy commandant and “Kamandag” exercise director Brig. Gen. Jimmy Larida said about 1,732 Filipino Marines and some 902 US troops would participate in the exercises from Nov. 9 to 17 Also taking part in the exercises are 57 personnel of the South Korea Marine Corps and 50 personnel of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. South Korean and Japanese troops only joined as observers in the 2022 iteration of “Kamandag.” Eight personnel from the United Kingdom will observe the annual exercise for the first time. As this developed, a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by international [...]

Based on the DA’s latest monitoring, the retail prices of local red onions ranged between P80 and P220 per kilo; imported red onions, between P125 and P140 per kilo; local white onions, between P100 and P160 per kilo; and imported white onions between P80 and P200 per kilo. STAR / File     MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of onions has increased by P30 per kilo, setting the price to as high as P220 per kilo in Metro Manila markets compared to the prevailing prices a week ago, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). Based on the DA’s latest monitoring, the retail prices of local red onions ranged between P80 and P220 per kilo; imported red onions, between P125 and P140 per kilo; local white onions, between [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales forged an alliance with Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) along with two other lawmakers from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Gonzales was joined by fellow Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin and Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa in uniting with the 77-member Lakas-CMD, whose president is House Speaker Martin Romualdez. “We are very honored to welcome Senior Deputy Speaker Dong, Cong. Jon and Cong. Zaldy to our party,” Romualdez said in a statement on Wednesday The senior deputy speaker on Monday resigned from PDP-Laban over the remarks made by the political party’s chairperson, former president Rodrigo Duterte, against the lower chamber. In a TV interview in October, Duterte accused the lower chamber of corruption, even calling it the “most rotten institution” in [...]

  Masinloc, Zambales – A group of fishermen here released on Monday morning a giant buoy effigy at the island of San Salvador to convey their anger and hunger to China as a result of their continued harassment and aggression at Scarborough Shoal. In a statement after the release of the buoy, the Association of Masinloc Fishermen shared the event that transpired – the release of the giant buoy with the inscription “Atin Ang Pinas” (The Philippines is Ours) as a sign of the fishermen’s claim of their source of livelihood According to Richard Pascual, village councilor and incoming barangay captain of the island of San Salvador, the island is dependent on the bounty of the ocean. Food, employment, brought about by their simple life in the [...]

House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., (left) former president Rodrigo Duterte (PPAB, Malacañang photo)     Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. has named his party-mate, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as the one who has assailed the integrity of the House of Representatives. But just before doing so, Gonzales resigned from his party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). He was the erstwhile party treasurer. This took place on the plenary floor Monday, Nov. 6 during a meeting of the Committee of the Whole, which involved all 227 House members present at that time. In a cordial exchange with independent minority solon Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, Gonzales admitted to "feeling bad" when a certain personality called the House as [...]

  Despite assurances from the government that prices of commodities will remain stable, agriculture stakeholders forecast spikes in the cost of basic agricultural products like chicken and rice. Grains Retailers’ Confederation (GRECON) national spokesperson  Orly Manuntag said there is an impending P2 to P3 increase per kilo of local rice, owing to the increase in the buying price of palay. “We expect this by mid-November. It might be an increase of P2 to P3 pesos kilo of rice in the market. Usually during the holiday season, our prices are stable and steady, however, we noticed that the increase in the buying price of palay is driving rice prices,” Manuntag said. According to him, the buying price of palay by the National Food Authority (NFA) has increase form [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The newly appointed agriculture chief is still not seeing the realization of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s campaign promise of ₱20 per kilogram of rice price within the near future as modernizing the sector will take “a little time. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday said that reducing the commodity’s price is an aspiration but he noted that the global market is facing a 15-year high in rice prices. He also said there are more “complicated” world problems that would make it difficult to achieve the target, such as climate change, El Niño, and if there would be other wars in other parts of the globe. “Today, that is not possible,” Laurel said of Marcos’ rice price goal. “We are getting ready [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Senate on Monday said it hopes to approve the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan next year. “We are looking at a timeline of a year, less than a year siguro (maybe). Maybe by the first half of next year they can take this to the Senate and we can already ratify,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told CNN Philippines’ The Source During Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to the Philippines last week, he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed that Manila and Tokyo have started negotiating for the establishment of an RAA. This will be similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that will allow troops of one country to freely visit another temporarily. Some groups have protested [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — More than half of the country's provinces and nine cities in the National Capital Region are prone to tsunamis, according to state seismologists. "We have 66 out of 82 provinces in the country that face various tsunami risks," Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Friday. Bacolcol said these are low-lying provinces along the eastern seaboard facing the Philippine Sea. He added that coastal provinces bordering the West Philippine Sea are also vulnerable to local tsunamis from earthquakes coming from the Manila, Negros, and Sulu trenches. Aside from the 66 provinces, Bacolcol said nine cities in Metro Manila are also included. These are - Caloocan - Las Piñas - Manila - Makati - Malabon - Navotas [...]

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. also denied saying that there is a plot to destabilize the government, saying his statement was “taken out of context.” File photo taken by The Philippine STAR’s Michael Varcas shows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leading the change of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from Gen. Andres Centino to Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on July 21, 2023. There is no plot to destabilize the government, although there are “passionate” debates among retired military officers on the policies of the Marcos administration, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said on Saturday, Nov. 4. Reports quoted Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. as saying earlier that he had heard [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Japan is giving the Philippines ₱235 million for its maritime security, and another ₱334 million for disaster response in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. The deals were signed after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who's on an official two-day visit in Manila. The Presidential Communications Office said the military aid—signed through Japan's Official Security Assistance or OSA—is intended to boost the efforts of the Department of National Defense "by securing coastal radars for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enhance their maritime domain awareness and security." Meanwhile, the agreement to mitigate the impact of flooding aggravated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region was signed under Non-Project Grant Aid or NPGA "Today, key [...]

The House of Representatives has realigned the biggest amount of budget increase to the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P64.5 billion under its approved version of the proposed P5.768 trillion budget for 2024. Based on the list of amendments released by the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte, the P64.5 billion increase to the DA budget is broken down to: frican swine fever vaccines (P1.5 billion) Rice subsidy for agri business and marketing services (P20 billion) Solar-driven pump irrigation (P15 billion) National irrigation system/communal irrigation system (NIS/CIS)(P25 billion) Massive planting/replanting program purchase of coconut seednuts and fertilization (P2 billion) Construction of fishery and post harvest facilities in Palawan and Kalayaan Group of Islands (P1 billion) The Health Department ranked second in terms of increases with P43.9 billion for [...]

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said there is no need for its allies, including the United States, to escort Philippine vessels delivering provisions to Filipino soldiers stationed on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal amid the growing number of maritime confrontations between China and Manila. "Our RoRe (rotation and resupply) mission is for us to undertake," said AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar in a briefing on Thursday This aerial photograph taken from a military aircraft shows the dilapidated Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) with Philippine soldiers on-board to secure the perimeter in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, on May 11, 2015. AFP PHOTO / POOL / RITCHIE B. TONGO     RoRe [...]

The Philippines has an unusual visitor from New Zealand—the naval vessel HMNZS Aotearoa – which dropped anchors for three days in Manila staring October 30 as part of its effort to “strengthen longstanding maritime and diplomatic ties between the two maritime countries.” Aotearoa is part of New Zealand’s Defence Force (NZDF)’s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific. “This three-day ship visit is a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation shared between New Zealand and the Philippines and signifies New Zealand’s commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the New Zealand Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement Aotearoa’s port call built on the maritime alliance between the two countries, which was bolstered in November 2021 when foreign ministry officials of both sides met to [...]

File photo of gasoline refill. The STAR / File     Manila, Philippines — Pump prices could see a rollback next week, potentially ending three straight weeks of price hikes for gasoline. “Based on the four-day trading, we will be expecting another round of rollback on prices of petroleum products,” Department of Energy (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau assistant director Rodela Romero said. Romero said the estimated amount of adjustments could be a possible decrease of P0.40 to P0.60 per liter for gasoline, P1 to P1.30 per liter for diesel and P0.80 to P1.05 per liter for kerosene An oil industry source, on the other hand, estimated potential price reductions ranging from P1.20 to P1.30 per liter for diesel and a possible decline of between P0.60 and P0.70 per [...]

The US Navy assault ship USS America (LHA 6) docks at Pier 15 in Manila on August 27, 2023. STAR / Edd Gumban     Manila, Philippines — The United States Navy will maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific Region amid China’s “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea (SCS) and the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This was according to Capt. Claudine Caluori, Mission Commander of the US Navy’s Pacific Partnership 2023, when asked by reporters at a virtual briefing if the US would be doing more to help the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy deal with Chinese harassment in the West Philippine Sea. “While I cannot comment directly on US response, again I will say that the US will continue to fly, sail and operate safely [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines and Japan have opened negotiations for the establishment of a Reciprocal Access Agreement between troops of the two nations, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida disclosed on Friday. The RAA is similar to a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which allows troops from one country to freely visit another temporarily Japan currently shares RAAs with Australia and the United Kingdom, while the Philippines has a VFA with the United States and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia. “I also would like to recall our commitment to work on a framework for our Status of Visiting Forces or proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan," Marcos said during the presentation of agreements between the two countries. "We are cognizant of the benefits [...]

MANILA  -The early Christmas season frenzy in the Philippines triggered higher average prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in the first two weeks of October, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) said over the weekend. According to Iemop, the average spot market prices in the Luzon grid soared P7.58 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from only P4.87 per kWh in September as the approaching Christmas season pulled up consumer demand—an increase of 55 percent. Data from Iemop show that the average demand in Luzon in the first half of October went up to 9,638 megawatts (MW) from 9,377 MW the previous month.  

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (REUTERS)     MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and wife Yuko are set to visit the Philippines later this week to forge stronger ties with Manila. The couple will be arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday at 3 p.m. for a two-day visit. Kishida is set to have a meeting with President Marcos on Friday and a visit to the House of Representatives on Saturday. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria Garafil said Mr. Marcos and Kishida would hold a bilateral meeting to discuss security issues in the face of growing tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, among other areas of mutual concerns such as political, people-to-people ties, economic and development cooperation.Garafil said the two leaders [...]

                                                   Vice President Sara Z. Duterte     Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte said that the growth of the country’s semiconductor industry could be enhanced via collaboration between industry stakeholders and educational institutions. In a social media post on Tuesday, Duterte suggested that educational institutions could enhance their curriculum by collaborating with industry experts and stakeholders to ensure that they are always a step ahead of the evolving needs of the industry “By incorporating emerging technologies, industry-specific skills, and practical training opportunities, education can equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field by the time they [...]

Workers arrange LPG tanks that are sold along Kamias Road in Quezon City, July 7, 2023. The Department of Energy (DOE) is now strictly implementing all LPG sellers to secure a License to Operate (LTO) before they can continue selling LPG products. The LTO is mandated under Republic Act No. 11592 or the LPG Industry Regulation Act of 2021. The LTO is a requirement for all LPG sellers, regardless of their size or the volume of LPG they sell. It is intended to ensure the safety of LPG consumers by ensuring that LPG sellers are properly licensed and that they are following the necessary safety standards..MANNY PALMERO     Oil companies will increase the price of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P0.45 to P0.50 per kilo [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Despite the drizzle, thousands of Filipinos start arriving in cemeteries Wednesday morning to remember their dead on All Saints’ Day. In the Manila North and Manila South cemeteries alone, there were already visitors at around 4 a.m., an hour before gates opened at 5 a.m. There were also those who camped out at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. Thousands of passengers even caught last-minute trips a few hours before Nov. 1. Cemetery authorities have said they are ready for the influx of large crowds this Undas. The number is expected to reach 80,000 at the Manila North Cemetery and 300,000 at the Manila South Cemetery. Those heading to these cemeteries were reminded visiting hours will only be until 5 p.m. but they can [...]

Comelec chairperson George Garcia     The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants a one-week transition period for the proclaimed winners of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) before they assume office. Comelec chairman George Garcia said Monday night this was the commission’s position in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision that found the postponement of the BSKE to October 30, 2023 unconstitutional “The Supreme Court said the start of term of office of those who will win the 2023 BKSE should start January 1, 2023, but that date has long passed,” Garcia said. “That means if they win and get proclaimed tonight, they should assume office tomorrow (Tuesday),” he added. Election boards started canvassing votes at around 8 p.m. last night and the Comelec expected [...]

Britain announces the joint statement - which also lists the United States, German and Australian governments among its 27 signatories - in the run up to a global summit hosted by the UK on AI safety this week     LONDON, United Kingdom – Tech firms including TikTok, Snapchat and Stability AI have signed a joint statement pledging to work together to counter child sex abuse images generated by artificial intelligence. Britain announced the joint statement – which also listed the United States, German and Australian governments among its 27 signatories – at an event on Monday being held in the run up to a global summit hosted by the UK on AI safety this week. “We resolve to sustain the dialogue and technical innovation around tackling child sexual abuse in the age [...]

STRONGER PH-NETHERLANDS PACT. Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Foreign Affairs Minister of The Netherlands Hanke Bruin Slot sign a memorandum of understanding during Slot’s official visit to the Philippines. The two officials discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on other regional matters of mutual concern. Avito Dalan     The Philippines and the Netherlands have forged an agreement to boost trade and investment relations to complement an already strong partnership on defense. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot on Monday pushed to designate a focal point to carry out both countries’ understanding of economic and technical cooperation Slot came to Manila for a bilateral talk with her Filipino counterpart, the first to be taken by a Dutch foreign minister in [...]

A market vendor shows the size comparison of the onion bought from local farmers and a giant onion that came from an undisclosed origin at the Marikina City Public Market on January 23, 2023. STAR / Jesse Bustos     Manila, Philippines — Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura yesterday lamented the Office of the Ombudsman’s order to file charges against Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, but excluding hoarders who profited from excessive onion prices last year “It is very unfortunate that Assistant Secretary Evangelista was first to be charged while… those already identified by the marathon hearings of Congress that hoarded and profited from excessive onion prices last year up to early this year remain untouched,” SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said. “The government officials [...]

Stock image of potatoes. Image by Couleur from Pixabay     Manila, Philippines — The price of potatoes has risen, but is expected to normalize because of the harvest, which is seen to augment the supply of the root crop, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa linked the higher prices of potatoes and other crops to recent typhoons that entered and hit the Philippines. “This (increase in the price of potatoes) may be attributed to the typhoons that hit the country during the months of July and August,” De Mesa said in a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office He added that the DA is looking into the situation, but is expecting the price to normalize because of the incoming supply. [...]

(FILE PHOTO)     Metro Manila, Philippines— Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo explained why the Philippines abstained from voting in a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for "immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” between Israel and militant group Hamas In a media briefing on Monday, Manalo said the proposed resolution did not include the terrorist attacks last Oct. 7. "There was one issue that was not reflected and that was the mention of the terrorist attacks on October 7 where in our case, four Filipinos were confirmed to have been killed during the attacks," he said. Manalo explained the Philippine government felt that it was important for the resolution to include the terrorist acts since Filipinos were killed and two more [...]

  Manila, Philippines — A lawmaker urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to implement a 20 percent increase in its benefits coverage. In a statement on Sunday, AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee cited inflation as one of the reasons why PhilHealth must apply the said increase. Lee made the call during the 1st National Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Congress held in Cebu City last Tuesday, where he also thanked PhilHealth for listening to their appeal to increase the coverage of several benefit packages for its members, which include high-risk pneumonia and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.“Pero imbes na mga piling sakit lang ang dagdagan ng suporta ng PhilHealth, dapat magkaroon ng pagtaas sa lahat ng sinasagot nitong bayarin sa pagpapa-ospital ng mga miyembro,” he said. (But instead of increasing [...]

South Luzon Expressway (Photo courtesy of SMC SLEX Inc.) MANILA – The toll fees at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) will increase starting Nov. 3, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said. In an advisory, the TRB said the toll increases in both expressways would be implemented in two tranches, this year and next year, "to protect the general welfare, curb existing inflationary situation and to mitigate the impact of the toll rate adjustments". For SLEX, this is the first periodic toll rate adjustment for SLEX since 2011, following the petitions for an increase last 2012 and 2014. Motorists traveling from Alabang to Calamba will pay an additional PHP10 for Class 1, PHP20 for Class 2 and PHP30 for Class 3. Those traveling from Calamba [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is studying plans to set up a marine research station on Pag-asa Island in the remote town of Kalayaan in Palawan. Following her visit to the island, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said the department and its partner groups discussed plans "to expand research and monitoring" on Pag-asa Island and nearby areas Loyzaga and a research team visited the research station of University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) on the island to check the crushed corals littered on the beach. "This further facilitated our discussion on the partnership between the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau and UP-MSI in establishing a DENR marine research station on Pag-asa Island," Loyzaga said in a statement. During her stay, Loyzaga met [...]

DESPITE his pronouncement that he has retired from politics, former president Rodrigo Duterte is the top choice as candidate for the Senate in a survey by the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI). The poll was conducted in select villages nationwide from October 2 to 8. Next to Duterte is former senator and boxing icon Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, followed by Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta. Incumbent senators Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos and Christopher "Bong" Go were in fourth and fifth spots, followed by former Senate leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo. Sitting Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Manuel "Lito" Lapid occupied the 8th to 10th slots, respectively In 11th to 20th place are Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano, [...]

An employee of the Quezon City Comelec office carries a ballot box for distribution to the 4th, 5th and 6th districts of the city yesterday ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. A total 550 jeepneys were hired by the Quezon City government alongside the 170 city-owned vehicles to provide transport during the distribution and retrieval of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia as well as shuttle teachers, poll clerks and relevant personnel. /Jesse Bustos 50,000 cops to ensure peaceful, orderly polls MANILA, Philippines — All roads lead to polling precincts today with the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) pushing through nationwide. Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is 100 percent ready for the conduct of elections, including in barangays declared as [...]

MANILA - A new bill that could be a game changer in the battle against teen pregnancies in the Philippines is inching through Congress with activists hoping it could galvanise a wider campaign to tackle this "national social emergency". The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, which was passed by the House in September and has now moved to the Senate, aims to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services, like contraception, in this mainly Catholic country where early pregnancies, even among girls as young as 10, are rife and where the age of consent was only raised from 12 to 16 last year. The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, one of the groups campaigning for the bill, said it was only two steps away from a vote [...]

The Philippines and the United States on Friday agreed to "redouble" bilateral coordination following the recent collisions incident involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. In a joint statement, Philippine Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his United States counterpart Lloyd J. Austin III said they discussed in a phone call China’s “dangerous and unlawful maneuvers” that led to the October 22 collisions. “The Secretaries reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—to include the Coast Guard—anywhere in the Pacific to include the South China Sea,” the readout of their discussion said “Both Secretaries committed to redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” they added. Teodoro [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Palace on Thursday said that Oct. 31 and Nov. 3 would not be declared as holidays before the Undas long weekend. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that the plan of declaring Nov. 3 as a holiday is “fake news.” Non-working holidays All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day fall on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and Thursday, Nov. 2, respectively. The Palace declared Monday, Oct. 30 as a non-working holiday to make way for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.    

Japan has pledged it will continue its investments in the Philippines' big-ticket projects as its ambassador in Manila noted the growing interests of Japanese investors in the country. Speaking at the Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said there is room for the Philippines and Japan's partnership "to grow even further" considering that both countries have "very strong, solid economic ties." In fact, he said, the presence of different chambers at the event on Thursday proved that there is "a big vote of confidence on the Philippine economy, and the region In his speech, the envoy noted the two "potent tools for success" of the Philippines-Japan economic relations. They are: accelerating investments and creating innovation. On accelerating investments, Kazuhiko [...]

Over P100 billion will be spent on the government’s national health insurance Program next year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Friday, Oct. 27. Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said a total of P101.51 billion budget will be allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in 2024,an increase of P1.28 billion from the previous budget. This amount will accommodate the expansion of beneficiaries and double the annual premium rate for persons with disabilities from P2,400 to P5,000 “Given the lessons from the pandemic, the Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget will continue to strengthen primary healthcare facilities in the country, including medical assistance amounting to P22.26 billion to 1.31 million indigent and financially incapacitated patients who are unable to afford nor access quality healthcare services,” Pangandaman said. [...]

Crew members signal to a F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet preparing to take off for a routine flight on board the US USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during a routine deployment to the South China Sea, Mid-Sea, on Jan 27, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Joseph Campbell)     The US military on Thursday (Oct 26) said a Chinese jet came dangerously close to a US bomber earlier this week over the South China Sea, part of what Washington has said is increasingly risky behaviour by Chinese military aircraft. The US military said that on Tuesday a Chinese J-11 jet came within 3m of the B-52 aircraft "During the night time intercept, the PRC (People's Republic of China) pilot flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner, demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled [...]

Airplane is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights TAIPEI - Taiwan's defence ministry said that it had detected 15 Chinese air force planes entering Taiwan's air defence zone on Thursday morning, including fighter jets and drones, accompanying Chinese warships carrying out "combat readiness patrols" and drills. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has repeatedly complained over the past four years of Chinese military activity around the island. Reporting by Ben Blanchard Editing by Shri Navaratnam

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines is still among the East Asia and Pacific countries with the weakest rule of law, ranking 13 out of 15 in the region, the World Justice Project (WJP) reported. According to the Rule of Law Index 2023, the Philippines fell three positions from 2022, placing 100 out of 142 countries worldwide. The independent and multidisciplinary organization added that the country had an overall score of 0.46, a 0.1 decrease from last year's ranking In 2021, the Philippines scored 0.46 and 0.47 in 2020, a notable change from its 0.53 score in 2015. New Zealand (8th globally) topped the region at 0.83 while Cambodia (141 globally) had the lowest score of 0.31. Data also showed that Denmark had the strongest rule of law across [...]

(FILE PHOTO)     Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine government will file an environmental case against China over the alleged massive coral harvesting in the West Philippine Sea early next year, according to Justice Secretary Boying Remulla. Remulla on Thursday met with former Supreme Court justice and former Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, international environmental law expert Antonio Oposa, and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela to discuss the potential case against China "We were encouraged to pursue what we think is a good case," Remulla said. "Kasi ang apektado naman nito hindi lang yung bansa natin, ang apektado dito is yung buong mundo. Yung sinisira nila na pinapanganakan ng isda, hindi na babalik. Eh kung diyan manggagaling ang gamot sana." [Translation: We were [...]

THE United States and Australia opposed "destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea (SCS), including the disruption of routine Philippines maritime operations around Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) mentioned the Philippines in a joint statement which touched on various topics, including their concern on peace and stability in the region. U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese toast before the start of the state dinner to the White House on October 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. President Biden and the first lady are hosting Prime Minister Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon for a state dinner. Tasos Katopodis/Gettyimages/AFP     Biden and Albanese inaugurated a [...]

READY FOR POLLS. AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, delivers AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.'s message during the simultaneous multi-agency send-off and turnover ceremony of government forces for BSKE duty on Monday (Oct. 23, 2023) in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Brawner also urged task force members to leave behind political affiliations and personal interests as they aim to create an environment where every Filipino can exercise their right to vote without fear and restriction.(Photo courtesy of the AFP)     MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday said the military is determined to ensure that peace and order would prevail in the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) “The AFP stands together with our [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Almost 60 Filipinos in Lebanon said they want to return home amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Islamist group Hezbollah, the Philippine embassy said on Monday. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday placed the Middle Eastern country under Alert Level 3 due to the ongoing conflict there. This started after Palestinian militants fired shots from Lebanon, after Hamas launched a large-scale attack against Israel on Oct. 7. “On Sunday morning when we held our meeting with the FiIipino community leaders, we already received 59 applications,” Philippine ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat told CNN Philippines’ The Source. Of that number, the ambassador said three were from southern Lebanon where most of the exchange of fire between the Israeli forces and Lebanon-based militants has taken [...]

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday urged the public to report fraudulent websites claiming to operate as electronic travel or eTravel sites “There are complaints received through socmed (social media) channels. (The public must) immediately report to CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center),” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval told said in a Viber message, following reports of fake eTravel sites requiring charges from travelers. “The eTravel service is free of charge. Any website using the eTravel name and logo is fake and is a scam,” the BI said in an advisory. Sandoval warned that those behind the illicit scheme may face charges for violation of the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to computer-related fraud. The public may send their complaints online via [...]

The Palestinian health ministry says the Gaza death toll in two weeks of air strikes had topped 5,000   Israel’s military said it was preparing for “unrelenting attacks” to dismantle Hamas while former US President Barack Obama warned that “any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire.” The Palestinian health ministry said the Gaza death toll in two weeks of air strikes had topped 5,000. Israel pounded hundreds of targets in Gaza from the air on Monday, October 23, as its soldiers fought Hamas militants during raids into the besieged Palestinian strip where civilians are trapped in harrowing conditions. Hamas on Monday said it had freed two Israeli women among the more than 200 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which the Islamist group [...]

Chinese coast guard ships (L and R) corral a Philippine civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in the disputed South China Sea, on August 22, 2023. The Philippines accused a Chinese coastguard vessel of colliding on October 22, 2023 with a Philippine resupply boat as it travelled to a tiny garrison in the disputed South China Sea. AFP / Ted Aljibe     MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest against China over last Sunday’s “dangerous blocking maneuvers” by its ships that led to one of them “slightly” colliding with a Philippine vessel carrying supplies and provisions for troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoa Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza [...]

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday "disassociated" itself from the view of Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. with regard to the Israel-Hamas war. Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. File Photo     Locsin recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "That's why Palestinian children should be killed; they might grow up to become as gullible as innocent Palestinians letting Hamas launch rockets at Israel; not that they could stop them but that's no excuse." The DFA said that the post "was made in his strictly personal capacity." Locsin, a former DFA secretary, has deleted the controversial post. "I immediately deleted my sarcastic response to a tweet as I realized it could be misconstrued and retweeted to incite," he said. "My [...]

President Marcos convenes a special command conference of national security and defense clusters at Malacañang yesterday, ordering the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct an investigation into China’s recent harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Top inset shows Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci giving updates during a press briefing on the collision involving Chinese and Philippine vessels. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos convened yesterday his security and defense officials for a command conference at Malacañang where they discussed the disruption by the Chinese of a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, wherein one of its ships slightly hit a Philippine Coast Guard vessel during a “dangerous and provocative” maneuver At the command conference, Marcos was reported to have expressed very serious concern about the incident [...]

A retailer arranges packs of sugars in Pandacan, Manila on January 18, 2023. Ernie Penaredondo     MANILA, Philippines — The government is considering imposing a suggested retail price (SRP) and warehouse inspections as retail prices of refined sugar remained overpriced despite the downward trend in the farmgate price of raw sweeteners, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) administrator Pablo Azcona said yesterday In a radio interview, Azcona said the SRA is considering the imposition of an SRP as white sugar is sold as high as P110 per kilo compared to the P55 per kilo of farmgate raw sugar. “Our last target for the farmgate price of brown sugar is at P60 (per kilo) and for our consumer, it should be P85 (per kilo) for refined sugar. At present, the farmgate price [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines —The Philippines has placed Lebanon under Alert Level 3 as border tensions increased between Israel and Islamist group Hezbollah, the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Saturday. This means that Filipinos are urged to leave Lebanon. De Vega earlier said the Philippine Embassy in Beirut will advise Filipinos there about the voluntary repatriation progra "We are doing this because the situation is rather tense and we already have seen it years ago in 2006 when we had to repatriate Filipinos from Lebanon," he told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word on Friday. There has been an ongoing exchange of fire between the Israeli forces and Lebanon-based militants, which led to the death of some Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters. The conflict between the two [...]

President Marcos chats with Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (left), who requested a short bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Asean-GCC Summit in Saudi Arabia to discuss labor relations between the two countries. At right, the President meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, prime minister of Saudi Arabia, continuing the long-standing 54-year relationship between the two nations. Below, President Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez and members of the Cabinet join OFWs after addressing the Filipino community at the InterContinental Hotel in Riyadh late Friday night. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos said the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait would end “At that very quick, very short meeting, we agreed to continue to discuss some of the obstacles in our [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Oil firms are expected to hike prices of petroleum products next week. In its forecast issued Saturday, Unioil said diesel will cost ₱1.30 to ₱1.50 more per liter, while the price of gasoline will go up by ₱0.90 to ₱1.10 per liter. Fuel companies usually announce the price movements every Monday for implementation the next day. Data from the Department of Energy showed that price adjustments already resulted in a year-to-date per-liter increase of ₱12.80 for gasoline, ₱10.40 for diesel, and ₱4.99 for kerosene.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. abolished the North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail) as the government-owned firm is "no longer achieving the objectives and purpose for which it was designed and created." The President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, issued on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 Memorandum Order 17, containing the abolition of NorthRail. In his order, the President said the Governance Commission for Government-owned and -controlled Corporations (GCG) determined that Northrail was "not producing desired outcomes," "no longer achieving the objectives and purpose for which it was designed and created," and "is not cost efficient and does not generate the level of social, physical and economic returns vis-a-vis the resource inputs. Northrail, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1995, was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bases [...]

Farmers and members of militant groups stage a rally along Chino Roces Bridge in Manila yesterday to press for genuine land reform. Yesterday was the 51st anniversary of the signing of Presidential Decree 27 by Ferdinand Marcos Sr., which was replaced by Corazon Aquino’s comprehensive agrarian reform program law. / Edd gumban     MANILA, Philippines — Around 500 farmers and members of militant groups staged a rally yesterday to call on the Marcos administration to enforce genuine land reform. Members of Anakpawis, Migrante, Gabriela, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Tanggol Magsasaka, Pamalakaya and Courage marched to Mendiola from the Mabuhay Rotonda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila yesterday morning, according to the Manila Police District The protesters carried banners and placards urging the [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – The state weather bureau on Friday announced the onset of the northeast monsoon season, known as “amihan,” which will bring wind and cold temperature surges in October to March. A week earlier, the bureau announced the end of ‘habagat,’ or the southwest monsoon season which brought warm, moist winds to the western portion of the country from May to September. “In recent days, strong northeasterly winds have prevailed over Northern Luzon due to the strengthening of the high-pressure system over Siberia,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. “Moreover, gradual cooling of the surface air temperature over the northeastern part of Luzon and increasing mean sea level pressure have been observed," it said. "These meteorological patterns indicate the onset of the northeast monsoon [...]

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO     MANILA, Philippines—In over a week, millions of Filipinos will again exercise their right to vote and choose leaders that will lead their communities in the long-delayed Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections. On October 30, over 93 million registered voters will cast votes for the barangay and SK polls, a crucial event that will determine the future of local communities across the country. The village and youth elections, as mandated by law, are supposed to take place every three years, but delays and postponements have resulted in officials holding office for up to five years. The last barangay and SK elections took place in May 2018. The next election was supposedly set for May 2020 but was moved to December 2022 after then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will be operational before the year ends despite his recent order to suspend its implementation. “The concept of the Maharlika Fund as a sovereign fund or an investment fund — the concept remains a good one and we are still committed to having it operational before the end of the year,” the President said in a speech before departing for a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia “I was a bit alarmed by the news reports early this morning that I read in the newspapers that we have put the Maharlika Fund on hold. Quite the contrary,” the President said. “The organization of the Maharlika Fund proceeds at a pace. And what I have done though is that [...]

VICE President Sara Duterte and Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. "Joey" Concepcion 3rd are exploring ways of incorporating entrepreneurship as a subject in senior high school. In a meeting last October 17, Concepcion discussed with Duterte, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), ways in which entrepreneurship skills may be taught to students. One avenue is to have veteran and established entrepreneurs join Go Negosyo roadshows and teach the students at their schools Vice President Sara Duterte and Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. ‘Joey’ Concepcion 3rd CONTRIBUTED PHOTO     Another is for students to observe actual mentoring with active and aspiring entrepreneurs. A third option is teaching students entrepreneurship through the help of private companies, specifically those in the agriculture sector. "Our idea is [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Admiral Ronnie Gil Latorilla Gavan was sworn in on Thursday as the new commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard. Gavan, who served as the PCG's Deputy Commandant for Administration, was also promoted from vice admiral to admiral when he took his oath before Transporation Secretary Jaime Bautista. He formally replaced Admiral Artemio Abu, who retired after 35 years of service, during the change of command ceremony at the PCG headquarters in Manila. Bautista lauded Abu for steering the country away from "any deterioration in the volatile situation at the West Philippine Sea" and expressed trust that Gavan would do the same. Bautista highlighted Gavan's introduction of the "Angels of the Sea," a group of female radio operators, to diffuse tension during sea conflict. In his speech, [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Thousands of Filipinos are expected to benefit from agreements with Saudi Arabia worth $120 million, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "The agreements that will be signed today are set to benefit more than 15,000 Filipinos in training and employment opportunities across a wide range of professions in the construction industry," Marcos said in a roundtable meeting with the Saudi Ministry of Investment on Thursday". I hope that this meeting has served as an excellent platform for building greater and closer partnerships between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the president added. Marcos said Saudi Arabia is "home" to about a million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as the largest community of Filipino professionals in industries like engineering, architecture, and healthcare. "I also [...]

INFO (1st UPDATE) President Marcos will attend the one-day ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh on Friday, October 20     MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left Manila on Thursday, October 19, to attend the inaugural summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Saudi Arabia. This will be a short visit for the Chief Executive, who will fly back to Manila after the one-day event concludes on Friday night, October 20. “This Summit will serve as an important platform for the Philippines to highlight the need for cooperation in energy and food security, logistics, supply chains, digital [transformation], the free flow of goods, people, and services, as well as the enhancement and protection of the rights, of course, [...]

THREE weather systems - the northeasterly surface wind flow, shear line and localized thunderstorms - are affecting most parts of Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Thursday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said that the shear line, where the cold and hot air converge, will bring overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Quezon, Rizal, Laguna and Camarines Norte PHOTO From DOST PAGASA Meanwhile, the northeasterly surface wind flow or the wind coming from the north-east that brings mild temperatures, is affecting Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga and Aurora where cloudy skies with rains will prevail, Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. advisory. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers [...]

Fewer residents queue to register for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December 2022 at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office in Quezon City on July 8, 2022. The STAR / Miguel De Guzman   MANILA, Philippines — The campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguiniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) officially begins on Thursday, October 19. According to the Commission on Elections, a total of 672,016 positions are to be decided for this year's election. A total of 294,007 slots are for members of Sangguiniang Barangay, while 42,001 are for barangay captains. The same number applies to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) aspirants. There are a total of 1,414,487 aspirants in the BSKE. For barangay captain, 96,962 slots will be filled; 731,682 for members of Sangguiniang Barangay; 92,774 aspirants for SK [...]

New users who sign up on the web version of X will now be required to pay an annual fee of P42.51 if they want to post content or interact with other users. STAR / File MANILA, Philippines — The social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, announced on Oct. 17 that it has begun charging new users in the Philippines and New Zealand to use basic features under its “Not a Bot” subscription method New users who sign up on the web version of X will now be required to pay an annual fee of P42.51 if they want to post content or interact with other users. The Elon Musk-owned platform said its “Not a Bot” subscription method should “bolster” existing efforts to reduce spam and “manipulation [...]

THE Philippines will build more patrol vessels to further enhance the country's presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, amid China's continued aggression in the disputed waters. In a chance interview on the sidelines of the 122nd anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard, the President said the PCG was expecting around 40 more vessels to be made in Cebu. PCG’s 122nd President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. salutes during the 122nd anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard in Port Area, Manila, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Photo by Rene Dilan     "So we are continuing with the upgrading of the equipment, the training, and the capabilities of all our people, especially the Coast Guard, not only because they are on the frontline in [...]

Metro Manila, CNN Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte told her critics Wednesday that this is not the right time for “politicking” as Filipinos struggle with rising commodity prices, coupled with the potential impact of the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe on the local economy. After a panel from the House of Representatives dropped the confidential funds for several agencies, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she also leads, Duterte issued a statement thanking her supporters for backing her leadership. Duterte said she understands the “disappointment and anger” her supporters felt amid recent developments involving her proposed 2024 budget for both the OVP and DepEd. The official requested for ₱500 million for the OVP and ₱150 million for [...]

This picture taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows an aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8 following a shock land, air and sea assault by the Gaza-based Islamists. The death toll from the shock cross-border assault by Hamas militants rose to 1,200, making it the deadliest attack in the country's 75-year history, while Gaza officials reported more than 900 people killed as Israel pounded the territory with air strikes. AFP / Yahya Hassouna MANILA, Philippines — The first batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel has returned safely to the Philippines. According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), 16 OFWs and a baby were repatriated on Wednesday, [...]

The Manila Bay reclamation projects which President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered suspended are expected to generate over P24 trillion in investments, the Philippine Reclamation Authority has said. In a presentation before the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday, PRA Assistant General Manager Joseph John Literal said the direct investments on the vertical development side is expected to reach P23 trillion. Vertical development is expected to generate another P1.95 trillion for horizontal development. “P24 trillion, Sayang ito. Payagan na lang natin, basta tapusin nila in five years. We can align this to socialized housing,” Salceda said. (It would be such a waste to do nothing on that P24 trillion. We should allow this to proceed, as long as they finish the project within five years.) “A suspension [...]

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. REUTERS/Wu Hong/Pool/File Photo     BEIJING - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a widely watched trip aimed at showcasing the deep mutual trust and "no-limits" partnership between China and its giant neighbor. Putin and his entourage flew into the Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning, according to Reuters video footage, in the Kremlin chief's first official trip outside of the former Soviet Union this year. Putin has traveled little abroad since the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, accusing him of illegally deporting children from Ukraine. Putin visited Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, [...]

The opening of the border in Egypt for the exit of Filipinos from Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war “could be any day now,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday, citing an Israeli official Interviewed on Unang Balita, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Israeli and Egyptian authorities are still coordinating on the matter. “Nakikipag-ugnayan pa rin ang Israelis at Egyptians paano itong prosesong ito kasi ayaw din nilang lumabas iyong Hamas, lumabas ng Gaza at pumasok ng Egypt,” De Vega said. (The Israelis and Egyptians are still coordinating on the process because they do not want Hamas to leave Gaza and enter Egypt.) “Isang problema po iyan. So inaayos pa nila 'yung border arrangements. Pero tignan natin ito kasi sabi ng Israeli ambassador, it could be any day [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) intends to establish a registry of warehouses across the country for better monitoring under a three-year plan amid the ongoing issue on agricultural smuggling and hoarding. Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday, DTI Sec. Alfredo Pascual said the government currently has no database of warehouses. This problem makes data collection more time consuming, he added Pascual said to address this, the DTI proposed a Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which the chief executive has approved. Under this, a warehouse registry will be developed. “Part of the Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda that we developed is the establishment of a warehouse registry so at the national level we know where the warehouses [...]

Rescue teams search for victims in the wreckage of a bus that exploded in Jerusalem on February 25, 1996. At least 23 Israelis were killed and more than 50 injured in the explosion, in the attack claimed by the Hamas. AFP / Menahem Kahana     MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged operatives of the Hamas militant group now at war with Israel were in the Philippines and attempted to operate and ally themselves with local extremists in 2018 and 2022, according to the National Security Council. NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said one was a bomb expert who was arrested and deported five years ago“We saw there was intent by Hamas to launch activities in the Philippines. In fact, in 2018, there was a Hamas bomb maker that [...]

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday said the supply of rice in the country will be stable in the first quarter of 2024 DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the peak of harvest for the wet season has already started this October, according to a Super Radyo DZBB report by Luisito Santos. The national stock inventory of rice is expected to last up to 77 days and up to 94 days at the end of the harvest this November, de Mesa added. Thus, the national stock inventory of rice is expected to reach up to 2.4 million metric tons at the end of the third quarter of 2024, which will last for about 60 to 90 days. The DA also expects the supply of rice to increase due [...]

Abalos: 95% of transport groups to continue operations despite Monday strike Metro Manila, Philippines – Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday said 95% of transport groups will not participate in the transport strike on Monday, assuring that no transportation paralysis would occur. Transport group Manibela called for the strike amid the allegations of corruption in Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). President Ferdiand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III last week, but Manibela is bent on pushing through with the protest. “Ninety-five percent ng lahat ng transport groups ay kasama natin at sila ay hindi dadalo. Number two, nakaagapay ang kapulisan. Number three, may magandang plano rito. Ang central monitoring team will be MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority),” Abalos said during a meeting with [...]

File photo of people lining up for food.  The STAR / KJ Rosales, File photo     MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Sunday that the government's food stamp program has been officially recognized as a flagship initiative. Malacañang issued Executive Order (EO) No. 44, formally introducing the "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program" as a flagship project of the national government. The EO, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday, designated the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the primary government agency responsible for executing and overseeing the food stamp program “The DSWD shall undertake the necessary steps for the successful implementation and expansion of the Food Stamp Program including, but not limited to, the identification of eligible beneficiaries and collaboration with [...]

THE Philippines signed an agreement with Canada that will allow Manila to access for free Ottawa's satellite-based technology to detect dark vessels or ships that turn off their location transmitter often to engage in illegal fishing. The Canadian Embassy in Manila on Saturday said the two states signed the deal during the 6th Canada-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation meeting in Canada on Oct. 13, 2023 "Canada and the Philippines held bilateral talks in Ottawa this week. (They) signed an agreement to deploy Canada's Dark Vessel Detection program to enhance Philippine maritime domain awareness," Colin Townson, Canadian Embassy head of political affairs office, said in a statement. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman told reporters last month that Canada is prepared to deploy the system once the agreement [...]

 A new phase in Israel’s deadly war against Hamas is coming, Israeli forces said, warning that the past week of crippling airstrikes in Gaza could soon be followed by “significant ground operations.” Israeli troops and military equipment have massed at the border with Gaza as Israel prepares to ramp up its response to a deadly October 7 attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave. Warplanes continued to blast Gaza over the weekend, as civilians fled southward, following evacuation instructions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Several United Nations agencies have warned that mass evacuation under such siege conditions will lead to disaster, and that the most vulnerable Gazans, including the elderly and pregnant, may not be able to relocate at all. For days, Israel has [...]

Philippines’ net external liability position increased by 14.5 percent quarter-on-quarter to P2.3 trillion as of end-March this year from P2 trillion in end-December due to the government’s higher net indebtedness, based on central bank data. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in a report said that besides the higher net external liability position of the general government, the lower net external asset position of the other depository corporations (ODCs) contributed to the higher external exposures. The report is based on the latest Balance Sheet Approach (BSA) statistics of the BSP which indicated that by sector, the general government as of end-March is the largest net debtor in the country The BSP said the government’s net financial liability position widened by 3.8 percent quarter-on-quarter to P8.5 trillion in the first [...]

Mourners gather by the bodies of a man and a child who were killed in Israeli air strikes outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza on October 8. AFP / Mohammed Abed     MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has ordered the mandatory repatriation and evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza after the Israel military announced that it is planning a coordinated offensive into the Palestinian territory by [...]

THE Chinese Embassy in Manila reaffirmed its support for China-Philippine law enforcement cooperation, a day after 36 of its citizens were deported for their involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs). "The Embassy will continue its support of China-Philippine law enforcement cooperation to safeguard social, economic, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement posted on its Viber account on Saturday, October 14 Prior to being deported on Friday, the 36 Chinese were arrested in Pasay City in August. The Chinese Embassy said that on August 1, a raid led by the Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc) was conducted on Rivendell Global Gaming Corp. Upon request from the Paocc, the Chinese Embassy in Manila verified the identity of the Chinese as [...]

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Firday confirmed that the systems of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were hacked “Dito sa DOST, we confirm na mukhang breaches nga ito. Initial report is that there are some experts' data, [personal identifiable information] ng mga experts,” DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy told Dobol B TV. (For DOST, we confirm possible breaches. Initial report is that there are some experts' data involved) “Meron din kasing report sa PNP, pero iyan ay sobrang luma naman iyan so kumbaga hina-hype lang nila pero lumang tugtugin na rin iyon,” added Dy. (There is also a report in PNP but that is so old. Hackers are just hyping it.) While the data breach is “dangerous” [...]

The Anti-Terrorism Council will push for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist group following its attack on Israel, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said on Friday “In solidarity with the people of Israel, we will push for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization under RA 11479 as a priority agenda of the Anti-Terrorism Council,” Año said in a statement. He said his office “strongly condemns the terrorist assault by Hamas against the State and People of Israel and offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have perished.” He called the Hamas attack a “deadly and barbaric terrorist assault” on Israel. Because the attack was supposedly targeting civilians, Año said Israel has the right to defend and protect itself from Hamas. [...]

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno admitted that China's economic slowdown would have a minor impact on the Philippines. At the ASEAN Roundtable in Marrakech, Morocco, the government's chief economic manager said that China's economic slowdown would have an impact on Philippine exports. However, Diokno pointed out that the negative effects on exports could be partially mitigated by the strong demand from the substantial domestic market “The Philippines is expected to be less affected by China’s slower economic growth given that the potential slowdown in exports could be partially mitigated by the demand from our large domestic market,” Diokno said. In July, China ranked as the Philippines' fourth largest export trading partner, accounting for 12.3 percent or $758.22 million of the total for that month. Leading multilateral lenders, including the [...]

The epicenter of said rumbling was recorded southwest of Calaca, Batangas at around 8:24 a.m. and had tectonic origins. Released / Phivolcs     MANILA, Philippines (Updated 9:53 a.m.) — A strong magnitude 5 earthquake hit the province of Batangas on Friday morning, with state seismologists from Phivolcs fearing both damages and aftershocks. The epicenter of the rumbling was recorded southwest of Calaca, Batangas at around 8:24 a.m. and had tectonic origins Intensity V (strong) Lemery, Batangas Intensity IV (moderately strong) Cuenca, Bauan, Sta. Teresita, and San Luis, Batangas Tagaytay City, Cavite; Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila Intensity III (weak) Laurel, Batangas City, Batangas Tagaytay City, Cavite; Dolores, Quezon Intensity II (sightly felt) Talisay, and Rosario, Batangas; Magallanes, Cavite Boac, Marinduque City of Las Pinas, City of Pasay, Metro Manila Puerto Galera, Oriental [...]

THE story of a Filipina nurse who died with her elderly ward after she refused to leave her even after Hamas militants attacked Israel has been posted on X (formerly Twitter) by some Israelis in a tribute to her courage in the face of death. Identified as Angeline, the Filipina could have escaped but chose to stay by her patient who was called "Nira" on Kibbutz Kfar, according to the posts Israeli troops search the scene of a Palestinian militant attack in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza on the border with the Gaza Strip on October 11, 2023. Thousands have died and the toll continues to climb dramatically five days after Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, which has responded with a massive bombardment of Gaza. [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities are working on bringing home the remains of the two Filipinos who were killed in the attack on Israel by the Hamas militants, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. “We are not sure if the families prefer to have them here but the process is ongoing,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Thursday The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed on Wednesday that two Filipinos were killed in the ongoing war between the Jewish state and Hamas. In a briefing on Thursday afternoon, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said the identities of the Filipinos would not be disclosed per families’ request. One of the fatalities was caregiver Paul Vincent Castelvi, 42, from Pampanga. His father Nick [...]

(UPDATE) THE Philippines has deployed another warship to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to build up its presence in the volatile waters in the face of increasingly aggressive incursions by Chinese vessels. The Davao del Sur, a Tarlac-class landing platform, will join the Antonio Luna, a guided missile frigate, in patrolling the waterway BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602). Photo from Official Page of the Philippine Navy     The Western Command (Wescom) said three warships stationed in Palawan have orders to stop foreign ships from conducting illegal activities in the WPS such as collecting corals and other marine resources. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. underscored the need to project a strong naval presence in the WPS. Brawner said there were no [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will pay 40 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) more this month, the power distributor announced on Wednesday. The adjustment brought the overall charge to ₱11.8198 per kWh from September's ₱11.3997 per kWh. It is equivalent to an increase of ₱84 for residential customers consuming 200 kWh Meralco pointed to higher generation charge for October, which went up by 30 centavos to ₱7.1267 per kWh from ₱6.8252 per kWh, in particular higher costs from independent power producers (IPPs) and power supply agreements (PSA). The utility company said charges from IPPs increased by 46 centavos to reflect higher cost of fuel utilized by First Gas plants. "Persisting supply restriction of the Malampaya natural gas field compelled the 1,000 MW First Gas-Sta. Rita and [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — At least 23 Filipinos in Israel are waiting for approval from Israeli authorities to exit the Middle Eastern country and return to the Philippines, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). "Meron tayong nakalap na listahan ng 23 na inihahanay natin for repatriation subject to the approval of the proper Israeli authorities," DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac told the House committee on overseas workers affairs on Wednesday. "Kasi halimbawa, ang Ben Gurion International Airport, limited ang operation ngayon so kailangan may pagpapaalam. [Translation: We have a list of 23 Filipinos we are lining up for repatriation subject to the approval of the proper Israeli authorities because for example, the Ben Gurion International Airport, the operation is limited now so there needs to be permission.] [...]

JERUSALEM, Undefined - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to keep fighting Hamas, saying that every member of the Palestinian militant group was "a dead man". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu     In his statement, Netanyahu for the first time clearly expressed Israel's intention to "destroy" Hamas following its surprise attack on Saturday. "Hamas is Daesh (Islamic State group) and we will crush them and destroy them as the world has destroyed Daesh," he said in a brief televised statement, the first delivered jointly with his war cabinet. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant added "we will wipe Hamas off the face of the earth". Netanyahu earlier temporarily settled his political differences and set up an emergency government including centrist former defence minister Benny Gantz for the duration of [...]

Metro Manila, CNN Philippines — The Senate finance committee on Wednesday approved the proposed ₱10.7-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) in just 20 minutes. "There [are] no callings that means I think they have a vote of confidence in your budget, so we will favorably endorse your budget for plenary consideration," Senator Sonny Angara said during the deliberations Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who presented the OP's budget, said its department believes the proposed allocation would be enough for the president to meet the demands as head of government. "We crafted this budget within the parameters and processes set by the DBM from which we sought no special treatment," Bersamin said. Amante Liberato, the deputy executive secretary for finance and administration of the OP, said the proposed [...]

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has formally asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to significantly decrease the P51-million confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) allocated to his office to P1-million under the proposed 2024 national budget.     “Consistent with my earlier pronouncement before your committee, I would like to officially request that notwithstanding its investigative functions, that the Office of the Ombudsman be appropriated the amount of P1-million for its confidential and intelligence fund (CIF) in FYs 2024 and 2025 or until the end of my term of office as Ombudsman,” Martires said. Martires said the same in his letter to Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizady Co. head of the House Committee on Appropriations. A copy of his letter was also sent to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and [...]

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has declared if House Speaker Martin Romualdez decides to run for President, he would demand that an audit be made of how the fourth highest ranking official has spent public funds. (From left) Former president Rodrigo Duterte and House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Photos from Malacañang, Speaker’s office)     In an interview on SMNI on late Tuesday night, Oct. 10, the former chief executive revealed that Romualdez, a first cousin of President Marcos and the former campaign manager of Vice President Sara Duterte, wanted to run as president. However, he also alleged that Congress was “the most rotten institution” in the country, and that the public needs to demand a liquidation report to see how its members spent taxpayers’ money. “Walang limit ‘yun ano nila [...]

VICE President Sara Duterte discussed education and security with Turkish Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol when he paid her a courtesy call at her office in Mandaluyong City on Monday Vice President Sara Duterte receives Turkish Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol in her office on Monday, October 9. PHOTO FROM OVP COMMUNICATIONS In her Facebook page Tuesday, Duterte said that Turkey is offering scholarship privileges to Filipino students. It also offered to help in the Mindanao peace process through the Independent Decommissioning Body. She also shared her sympathy to the victims of the terrorist attack in Ankara last October 1, while Akyol thanked the Filipino people who offered prayers to those affected in the violence. "Our unity is proof of both countries' concern and friendship that won't be destroyed by challenges [...]

WARSHIPS from six countries joined the Philippine Navy in training maneuvers off the coast of Luzon in a show of solidarity and cooperation. The exercise, Samasama (Together) 2023, highlights the commitment of the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia to support an ally, the Philippines, Lt. Kim Paulo Lopez, director for Naval for South Public Affairs Office, said Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate, BRP Antonio Luna FF151 - PF, together with foreign #Navy counterparts carried out Division Tactics (DIVTACS) and Publication Exercise (PUBEX) among others during the first day of Exercise Samasama 2023 Sea Phase in the Naval Forces Southern Luzon area of operations. Photo from Philippine Navy     Vice Admiral Carl Thomas, commander of the US 7th Fleet, said the exercise allows participating [...]

(FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines — Quezon City emerged as the wealthiest local government unit in the country in 2022, according to data from the Commission on Audit (COA). Based on COA’s 2022 Annual Financial Report (AFR) for LGUs, Quezon City retained the top spot among the richest cities for the third straight year, even though its reported assets dropped by around ₱8 billion to ₱443.4 billion last year from ₱451 billion in 2021. Makati City was second richest with total assets amounting to P239.4 billion, followed by the City of Manila in the third spot with ₱77.5 billion. Meanwhile, Mandaue City in Cebu province overtook Cebu City by almost ₱4 billion. In 2021, Cebu City, the capital of the province, was richer than Mandaue by around ₱300 million. [...]

Vendors sell fresh poultry and agricultural products at a public market in Lingayen, Pangasinan on September 30, 2023. STAR / Cesar Ramirez     MANILA, Philippines — Local pork supply is projected to fall short in the fourth quarter of the year due to the expected surge in demand during the holiday season, requiring importation of the commodity to ensure adequate supply and stable prices, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday. The agency is projecting a supply shortfall on local pork of up to 10 days, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa told journalists yesterday “The supply situation can be addressed by importation during the last quarter when demand for pork is high,” De Mesa said. “The shortage only covers local supply. That’s [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Two Filipinos have been killed as the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas rages on, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said. Manalo confirmed this development in a social media post Wednesday. “The Philippines condemns the killing of two Filipino nationals and all other acts of terrorism and violence as a result of Hamas actions against Israel,” he said. Manalo said the Philippine government was committed to cooperate with other nations for the “long-lasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with pertinent UN Security Council Resolutions and the general principles of international law.” The official also assured Filipino nationals currently entangled in the rising conflict that the national government would provide assistance. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also expressed grief over the deaths. “My heart [...]

PHILIPPINE oil companies announced a huge rollback in prices of petroleum products starting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Shell Philippines and Seaoil Philippines Inc. said they will slash gasoline prices by P3.05 per liter, diesel by P2.45 per liter and kerosene by P3 per liter. The Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB) said in a Viber message that the big rollback was due to high interest rates and a strong dollar. Based on the DOE's Oil Monitor Report oil companies rolled back prices of petroleum products on October 3 -- P2 per liter for gasoline, P0.50 per liter for kerosene but increased diesel by P0.40 per liter.      

People are seen among the ruins of dwellings after earthquakes in Herat province, Afghanistan.Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock The death toll from a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan has risen sharply to more than 2,400 people, according to the Taliban government, as rescuers searched for survivors among the ruins of razed villages. A government spokesperson said that more than 10,000 had been injured,. “Many more people are still under the rubble” he told the Guardian. Saturday’s magnitude-6.3 quake – followed by eight strong aftershocks – jolted hard-to-reach areas 19 miles (30km) from the provincial capital of Herat, toppling rural homes and sending panicked city dwellers into the streets “Twelve villages in Zindah Jan and six in Ghoryan district are completely reduced to rubble. We expect the death toll will rise and [...]

Students attend their Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) training on January 28, 2023. Ernie Penaredondo   MANILA, Philippines — More than 70 percent of the population, or seven out of 10 people, support the move to reinstate the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, a nationwide online survey conducted by research and analytics firm Capstone-Intel Corp. found. The survey conducted from Sept. 25-30 aimed to gather insights on the controversial issue and assess the knowledge and perceptions of Filipino adults on the topic “This favorable perception towards ROTC is evident across various age groups, with individuals aged 25-34 exhibiting the highest level of support at 77 percent. This is closely followed by the age bracket of 35 to 44, with a support rate of 73 percent, and individuals [...]

Handout photo taken on Tuesday and released by the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday shows personnel retrieving the body of one of three Filipino fishermen who died in Infanta, Pangasinan after their boat was rammed by a foreign oil tanker near Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. AFP     MANILA, Philippines — The crude oil tanker that collided with a fishing boat in Pangasinan and resulted in the death of three Filipino fishermen is now in Singapore, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said yesterday. Balilo added that the Port State Control (PSC) in Singapore would give way to the maritime officials in Marshall Islands, where MT Pacific Anna is registered and sailing under its flag, to conduct the investigation. An investigation will determine if MT Pacific Anna [...]

Jerusalem, Undefined­­—Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas fighters and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war ahead after the Palestinian militants launched a massive surprise attack. The Hamas attack came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, stunning Israel and sparking bitter recriminations inside the country on what was widely seen as an enormous intelligence failure Gun fights raged in towns and on highways as the Israeli army deployed tens of thousands of forces to secure southern desert regions near the coastal enclave, aiming to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. “We’ll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in Israel,” vowed military spokesman [...]

A jeepney conductor in Philcoa, Quezon City holds signage showing the new PUJ fare, an increase of P1 to the minimum fare, which took effect yesterday. Jesse Bustos     MANILA, Philippines — The P1 provisional fare increase will provide at least P200 additional earnings for drivers of public utility jeepneys after it took effect yesterday, transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said. PISTON national president Mody Floranda added that drivers do not need to secure a new fare matrix as the increase is just temporary. “The drivers just need to post an announcement that the minimum is already P13 so that the passengers are aware,” Floranda said The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved a provisional increase of P1 for both [...]

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday said the continued presence of foreign aircraft could be expected in future resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea. “We can expect that because I think that is also important,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a television interview. A foreign aircraft from an unknown country was spotted monitoring the Ayungin Shoal during the resupply mission of the military and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Wednesday last week. “What they are providing us is a view from above so that, as I’ve said, we will know what is happening on the ground. That is very important in the formulation of strategies, campaigns, or operational plans that will be effective only in providing additional capability, which we don’t have yet,” Aguilar [...]

Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. AFP / Mahmud Hams     SDEROT, Israel — Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory, declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged above 1,100 after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the nation for a "long and difficult" war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of thousands of rockets at Israel and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, according to the latest toll from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday -- [...]

Manila, Philippines — A new Pulse Asia survey released on Thursday revealed that while 95 percent of Filipinos have increased their spending on food, more than half of the population has started eating less. The new survey revealed that compared to 89 percent in September 2022, food is now 95 percent of households’ expenditures within the past three months. “At the same time that nearly all adults (95 percent) report spending more on food in the previous quarter, a small majority of the adult population (53 percent) say they consumed less food in the same period,” said Pulse Asia. Among locations, Mindanao was noted to have reduced its food consumption the most at 65 percent, with Balance Luzon following at 56 percent. Meanwhile, 56 percent of Balance Luzon and [...]

INFO 'That's a bit too much speculation,' Romualdez says, reacting to theories that the House's removal of Duterte's confidential fund is an early infighting move related to the 2028 presidential elections MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Martin Romualdez brushed aside suspicions that the House of Representatives’ decision to strip Vice President Sara Duterte of her confidential funds for 2024 was politically motivated.In a rare press conference on Thursday, October 5, Romualdez said observers who see the move as an early political maneuvering by him ahead of the 2028 elections are “reading too much into it.” “That’s a bit too much speculation,” Romualdez insisted. “Under the circumstances, we felt it would be best that [the funds] be realigned to agencies and departments or areas we consider a priority.” Romualdez even borrowed [...]

The Armed Forces of the Philippines needs P9 billion for the development and security of the features the country occupies in the West Philippine Sea, chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Thursday. “There are a lot of estimates... but it is at P9 billion for the development of our islands. I hope it will be included," Brawner told reporters after his visit to Pag-asa Island with Speaker Martin Romualdez and leaders of the House of Representatives. “The name of the game in the West Philippine Sea is effective presence. Ibig sabihin kung sino ang nandiyan, siya ay may control ng area na naroon," he added. (It means whoever is present in the area has control.) "We still have a lot of things to do, a lot [...]

Metro Manila, CNN Philippines— Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte defended her agencies' use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs), saying ensuring the country's peace and order should not be constrained by time. "It matters not whether it takes one day or one year of spending; what truly matters is the safety and security of our people," she said during the 122nd police service anniversary of the Police Regional Office 13 in Butuan City on WednesdayThe Office of the Vice President (OVP) was heavily criticized by various groups, lawmakers, and the public after Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo revealed that its ₱125 million CIFs were spent in a span of 11 days. But for Duterte, CIFs will provide necessary resources to address unforeseen challenges – whether it be combating [...]

Hackers have started exposing some of the data retrieved from ransomware attack against the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. after a ransom of $300,000 to unlock the data was not paid. Manila, Philippines — Filipinos should brace for a barrage of online scams in the coming days after hackers who stole data from state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) have leaked members’ information to online – and possibly criminal – groups. Reports coming from dark web informants showed that documents stolen from PhilHealth were publicized in online marketplaces like Telegram starting yesterday. Deep Web Konek, a group dedicated to publishing activities in the dark web, shared a screenshot showing large packets of files containing alleged information on PhilHealth members As such, the group warned that PhilHealth members should be vigilant [...]

(UPDATE) THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) clarified on Thursday that the ramming of a boat last Monday that killed three Filipino fishermen did not happen in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, as earlier reported, and that it was an accident. "We would like to clarify that this happened in the waters of Pangasinan and not in the immediate vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. I would like to correct the statement that we issued earlier," PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in an interview Tarriela said the incident happened 180 nautical miles off Agno, Pangasinan. "This is closer to Pangasinan compared to Bajo de Masinloc," he said. "Based on the statements made by the Filipino fishermen, the area was very dark due to the adverse weather conditions at that [...]

A new low pressure area (LPA) is brewing outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which may enter the country over the weekend, the state-run weather agency said on Friday. Weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the weather disturbance was last spotted some 1, 950 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon (outside PAR) PHOTO FROM DOST PAGASA   "We are closely monitoring this LPA which has a chance to enter PAR over the weekend," Aurelio said. Meanwhile, Typhoon "Koinu," ("Jenny" in the Philippines) continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat," even after leaving the country, according to the Pagasa forecaster The trough of Jenny still affects areas in Ilocos Norte, Batanes and Babuyan Islands, the state weather bureau [...]

At a briefing yesterday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said headline inflation, or the rate of change in average prices of goods and services typically purchased by consumers, rose to 5.3 percent in August from 4.7 percent in July. Philstar.com / Irra Lising     Manila, Philippines (Updated 2:42 p.m.) — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the inflation rate for September 2023 climbed to 6.1%, primarily driven by sharp rises in food prices, especially rice, and the constant increase in transportation costs due to surging fuel prices. The inflation, which measures how much prices for everyday goods and services are going up, was faster last month than the 5.3% recorded in August but slightly lower than the 6.9% print in September 2022. Rice prices in September surged by 17.9% — higher than [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Pangasinan on Thursday said the foreign vessel that rammed a Filipino boat and killed three fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Oct. 2 violated two international regulations. “It is mandated by convention na kung ano ‘yung pinakamalapit na barko, regardless kung sila ‘yung nakasagasa o hindi nakasagasa, sila ‘yung unang magreresponde at ire-rescue itong mga distressed persons sa pangyayari. Ito lang ‘yung initial na nakikita natin na violation nung barko,” PCG Pangasinan station commander Alex Corpuz told CNN Philippines’ The Source [Translation: It is mandated by convention that whatever ship is nearest, regardless of whether it was the one who rammed or not, it must be the first to respond and rescue distressed persons. This [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators are considering the realignment of ₱50 million in confidential funds allotted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP). Upon questioning by Sen. Raffy Tulfo during the DA budget hearing on Thursday, agriculture officials told the Senate finance panel that the DA was allotted ₱50 million in confidential funds for surveillance against anti-smuggling operations and law enforcement “Nung lumabas ‘yung NEP [When the NEP came out], they (Department of Budget and Management) allocated ₱50 million confidential funds to be dedicated to surveillance operations for anti-smuggling operations,” DA Asec. James Layug said. Perplexed, Tulfo pointed out that surveillance of agricultural smugglers and law enforcement fell under the mandate of the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of [...]

Rice dealers display rice and their prices at New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City on April 16, 2023. STAR / Michael Varcas     Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced the immediate removal of the price ceiling on rice after about a month since its imposition. In a press conference on Wednesday, Marcos said that “as of today,” the government is “lifting the price caps on rice, both for the regular-milled rice and the well-milled rice.” This comes after the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry presented "positive" indicators to Marcos on Tuesday reportedly showing the effectiveness of the price cap, which was implemented on September 5 to arrest surging rice prices Executive Order No. 39 had imposed a P41 per kilogram [...]

Handout photo taken on Tuesday and released by the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday shows personnel retrieving the body of one of three Filipino fishermen who died in Infanta, Pangasinan after their boat was rammed by a foreign oil tanker near Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. AFP   Manila, Philippines — Three Filipino fishermen were killed while 11 others were injured when a foreign crude oil tanker rammed a mother fishing boat moored some 85 nautical miles off Panatag Shoal before dawn last Monday, according to authorities. In a report sent to the media yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified the three fatalities as FFB Dearyn captain Dexter Laudencia, 47, and his crewmen Romeo Mejeco, 38, and Benedicto Olandria, 62, all from Barangay Calapandayan in Subic, Zambales The three reportedly [...]

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday vowed to hold accountable those behind the death of three Filipino fishermen off Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said at 4:20 a.m. on Monday, Pacific Anna, a crude oil tanker bearing the flag of the Marshall Islands, rammed into FFB Dearyn while it was moored to an anchored fish float 85 nautical miles northwest of Bajo de Masinloc TRAGEDY The body of one of the three Filipino fishermen is transported to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan on Tuesday Oct. 3, 2023. Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard Eleven crew members of the vessel survived using eight service boats. The survivors transported the deceased to Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan. "We are deeply [...]

The total amount of official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants received by the Philippines grew in 2022, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported on Tuesday. In its 2022 ODA Portfolio Review report, the socioeconomic planning agency said the country’s ODA portfolio reached $32.40 billion, up by 0.50% from $32.24 billion in 2021. The total ODA received by the Philippines last year consisted of 106 loans, which amounted to $30.20 billion; and 320 grants, which totaled $2.20 billion. In a statement, the NEDA said the 2022 ODA portfolio “reflected the government’s initiative to sustain a continuous rollout of programs aimed at addressing the socioeconomic scarring brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also seeking to secure assistance for enabling social and economic transformation beyond the pandemic.” The $32.40-billion [...]

Healthcare workers get vaccinated against COVID-19 during the launch of the bivalent Pfizer vaccine at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on June 22, 2023. STAR / Michael Varcas   STOCKHOLM – Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman won the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday for work on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that paved the way for the groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccines. The pair, who had been tipped as favorites, “contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times,” the jury said. The World Health Organization declared COVID a pandemic in March 2020 and the mRNA vaccines were approved for use in December that year Billions of doses have been injected around the world since then. Together with other [...]

The Philippines, highlighting its maritime credentials, has launched its candidacy for a seat in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for term 2024-2025. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a statement on Monday, said the country has been producing "competent maritime professionals" and is "one of the largest" shipbuilding countries in the world. Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista (PNA photo by Joey Razon)     Elections for the IMO Council will be held during the 33rd Session of the IMO Assembly from November 27 to December 6 in London, United Kingdom. The Department of Transportation said over 385,000 Filipino seafarers were deployed in 2022. The DFA co-hosted with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) a diplomatic reception last September 26 to launch the country' s bid for the [...]

Importation in recent years has led to huge opportunity losses for the local poultry industry, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to reverse these losses and give the country better food security, an official said over the weekend. At the recent Poultry Forum 2023, Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to raise local livestock and poultry production by five times within the next five years He noted that chicken meat importation has been rising consistently over the last 15 years, from 45.772 million kilos in 2008, 67.264 million in 2009, 101.957 million in 2010, 127.227 million in 2011, to 411.069 million last year. United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) chairman Gregorio San Diego also said during the same forum that importation has [...]

(FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines — The group suing former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over an alleged misuse of the Malampaya fund almost one-and-a-half decades ago said it has built a solid case against the lawmaker. Pete Ilagan, president of consumer group National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms Inc. (NASECORE), said in an interview on Monday that the complaint may appear like it's resurrecting old arguments from a 2013 case that was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, but this fresh pleading involves a bigger sum – ₱38.807 billion in royalties – that was not tackled in the 2013 graft case which covered only ₱900 million. Central to the argument was whether or not that multi-billion Malampaya fund was used as [...]

This handout photo taken on May 19, 2017 and received from the US Navy on May 25, 2017 shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (L) preparing for a replenishment-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (R) in the South China Sea. The US warship USS Dewey sailed near a reef claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea on May 25, 2017, a US official said, the first such operation by US President Donald Trump's administration in the disputed waterway. The Chinese government charged later on May 25 that the US warship had entered its waters in the South China Sea "without permission", prompting China's navy to warn the vessel to leave. Kryzentia Weiermann / US Navy / AFP     Manila, Philippines  [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines’ outstanding debt went up again in August as the peso continued to depreciate against the dollar, the Bureau of the Treasury said Monday. In a statement, the agency said debt stock reached ₱14.35 trillion as of August, up by 0.7% or ₱105.28 billion from the prior month. “[It] was primarily due to the peso depreciating from 54.834 to 56.651 against the US dollar over the reference period,” the treasury said. Year-on-year, the debt ballooned by more than ₱1.32 trillion The majority or 68.2% of the borrowings were from local sources. Data showed that domestic debt stood at ₱9.79 trillion, a slight dip from a month ago “due to large retail bond maturities.” External debt, on the other hand, climbed by 2.9% to ₱4.56 trillion [...]

Satellite image shows Typhoon Jenny (Koinu) on October 3, 2023. RAMBB     Manila, Philippines — Batanes remained under Wind Signal No. 2, with Typhoon Jenny (international name: Koinu) maintaining its intensity over the Philippine Sea, the state weather agency said Tuesday morning. Jenny was last spotted 350 kilometers east of Basco in Batanes, with peak winds of 165 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 205 kph. It was moving west northwest at 15 kph. PAGASA issued Signal No. 2 for Batanes, indicating the potential for minor to moderate effects from strong gale-force winds. Meanwhile, the following areas were placed under Signal No. 1: Cagayan including Babuyan Islands Northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Ilagan [...]

China, through its foreign ministry, on Sunday claimed that it was the United States that "invented" how to weaponize the global information space. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the remark in reaction to the US State Department report claiming that China invested billions of dollars to "spread disinformation globally. The report said that China seeks to reshape the global information environment to its advantage. Beijing has "invested billions of dollars to construct a global information ecosystem that promotes its propaganda and facilitates censorship and the spread of disinformation," the same report read. The US Department of State (DoS) report "is in itself disinformation as it misrepresents facts and truth," the MoFA said in a statement shared by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines. "The relevant [...]

Rina Papa, vice president of the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), said the suspension of fees for the use of national and other roads not constructed or funded by LGUs would benefit the public as it would mean less cost in the transport of goods. Philstar.com / Irra Lising   Manila, Philippines — Consumers should expect a decrease in prices of basic commodities after President Marcos ordered local government units (LGUs) to stop collecting “pass-through” fees from motor vehicles transporting goods or merchandise, a truckers group said on Saturday Rina Papa, vice president of the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), said the suspension of fees for the use of national and other roads not constructed or funded by LGUs would benefit the public [...]

China’s rail ambitions just keep growing. The latest addition to the country’s portfolio is a 277-kilometer (172-mile) high-speed train line along the southeastern coast, connecting the cities of Zhangzhou, Xiamen and Fuzhou, all three of which are in Fujian province. The maximum speed of the trains along this route is 350 kilometers (218 miles) per hour, according to China Railway, the state railway operator The first train on this line debuted on Thursday, September 28, departing from Fuzhou, the province’s capital, at 9:15 a.m. The new railway currently has 84 bridges and 29 tunnels, plus 20 km (12 miles) of track that goes over the sea, making it the country’s first over-water bullet train. China Railway says that it used intelligent robots and environmentally friendly corrosion-resistant steel to build [...]

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Saturday expressed his intention to revise the current reserve forces paradigm structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In a radio dzBB report, Teodoro said the AFP’s current design might not be able to withstand the looming threats against the country. With the ongoing tension in the Philippines’ territorial waters, citizens might need to take up arms to protect the country from unknown incoming threats, Teodoro added. AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. welcomed Teodoro’s plan to revise the armed forces’ structure. “Well, we welcome that revision because we see that the problems our country is facing now are really different from the problems we faced before,” said Brawner at the sidelines of the 44th National Reservist Week Culminating Activity [...]

This photo taken on November 24, 2022 shows a general view of the mountains as seen from the Masungi Georeserve in Baras.  AFP/Jam Sta. Rosa     Manila, Philippines — Watersheds in the Philippines are facing a dire crisis as over half of these vital basins remain unprotected from destructive activities such as large-scale mining and infrastructure development, a legal and policy research institution said Watersheds are vital for managing water resources, providing habitats for various species, and controlling floods, droughts and extreme climate events. Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that around 6.8 million hectares of watershed areas were assessed as vulnerable to deforestation, biodiversity loss, erosion, floods, landslides and water pollution, while 14.2 million hectares were identified as critical for the national irrigation [...]

  Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the release of a ₱5,000 subsidy to small-scale rice farmers – from a fund totaling ₱12.7 billion – to help them amid El Niño and other agricultural challenges, Malacañang said on Saturday. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos gave his go signal on Thursday, a move that would aid around 2.3 million beneficiaries of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program. “[This would] help them cope with the increasing cost of production and sustain their productivity even in the face of challenges like the coming El Niño [phenomenon],” said Marcos, who is also Agriculture secretary. RFFA beneficiaries are farmers tilling below two hectares of land. The PCO said they include members of farm cooperatives associations, irrigators associations, agrarian [...]

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expecting the inflation rate to continue its uptrend in September. In its month-ahead forecast released Friday, the BSP said it projects this month’s inflation to clock in within the range of 5.3% to 6.1%. The lower-end of the forecast range is the same level seen in August at 5.3% “Higher prices of fuel, electricity, and key agricultural commodities, as well as the peso depreciation are the primary sources of upward price pressures in September,” the central bank said. “Meanwhile, lower rice and meat prices could contribute to downward price pressures for the month,” it said. The BSP, following a Monetary Policy meeting on September 21, hiked its inflation outlook for 2023 to 58% from its previous forecast of 5.3%, and to 3.5% [...]

Rep. Elizaldy Co | PHOTO: Official facebook page of Rep. Elizaldy Co   Manila, Philippines — The House of Representatives will realign part of the P650 million in confidential funds for 2024 requested by Vice President Sara Duterte, who also heads the Department of Education, to agencies protecting the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, the chair of the House appropriations committee, made the announcement on Wednesday, amid mounting criticism of the allocation of large secret funds to offices with no mandate for national security. The leaders of top political blocs in the chamber also separately called for the reallocation of the hard-to-audit funds to agencies with surveillance or intelligence-gathering requirements. “We will realign the confidential funds of various civilian agencies. [...]

Tropical Depression Jenny has intensified into a tropical storm (international name: Koinu) and may enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), PAGASA said in its forecast on Saturday. At 4 a.m., the center of Jenny was estimated to be located at 1,145 km east of Central Luzon. Jenny has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near its center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa. The tropical storm is moving westward at 15 km/h From its center, strong to gale-force winds are extending outwards up to 330 km. PAGASA said it has not raised any tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) at this time. "Tropical Storm JENNY is not directly affecting the country at this time. However, due to the proximity of the track forecast to Extreme [...]

THE Philippines and the European Union urged countries with conflicting claims in the South China Sea to refrain from using force that fuels uncertainty in the region. They expressed serious concern over actions that endanger peace, security, and stability, and the rules-based international order, including recent incidents in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the appeal was made during the meeting of the first subcommittee on maritime cooperation under the Philippine-European Union partnership and cooperation agreement in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, September 27 Screengrab from Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows one of its vessels being fired on by a Chinese water cannon in the disputed South China Sea on August 5. AFP Photo   The next meeting will take [...]

All regions will see an increase in daily minimum wages before the year ends, the Department of Labor and Employment said Friday. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the increases are being carefully reviewed and considered by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) Laguesma said the wage boards are conducting public hearings in three regions, which will be followed by wage deliberations and the issuance of wage orders. Recently, the National Capital Region wage board granted a P40 increase for minimum workers in Metro Manila. This brought the daily minimum wage in the region from P57 to P610 for the non-agriculture sector and from P533 to P573 for the agriculture sector, service and retail establishments employing 15 or less workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 [...]

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. | PHOTOS: PCO and PCG   Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday stressed his commitment to continue to protect the Philippine territories following China’s installation of floating barriers in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos finally broke his silence about the issue on the floating barrier installed by Chinese vessels that surfaced last Sunday. The Philippine Coast Guard has removed the barriers on the orders of the Commander in Chief. “Hindi tayo naghahanap ng gulo,” the President stressed in an ambush interview with media in Surigao “Basta gagawin  natin, patuloy nating ipagtatanggol ang Pilipinas, ang maritime territory ng Pilipinas, ang mga karapatan ng mga fishermen natin namangisda doon sa mga areas kung saan sila nangigisda daan-daang taon na,” he said. (We [...]

The Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers with 14 affirmative votes, no abstention and no negative vote, in time for the celebration of the National Maritime Week. The measure aims to uphold the welfare of Filipino seafarers by mandating decent working and living conditions, standardizing terms and conditions of employment, regulating manning agencies, and incentivizing maritime stakeholders, among others. "I would like to thank my colleagues for their support for this measure, especially Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who has been supportive of this bill from day one," said Sen. Rafael "Raffy" Tulfo, principal sponsor and one of the authors of Senate Bill 2221. Sen. Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo. Photo from Senate "I am equally thankful to the seafarers and their [...]

Sentiments favorable to the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have slipped, while sentiments opposed to the Marcos administration have risen, a survey conducted by Publicus Asia found. In Publicus' third-quarter survey, the results of which were released recently, 43 percent of respondents expressed pro-administration sentiments, down from 48 percent in the second-quarter survey President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo from PCO     In a statement issued Thursday, the polling firm said the decrease indicated "that fewer individuals are aligned with the current administration as well as its priorities compared to the previous quarter." Anti-administration sentiments grew from 18 percent in the first quarter to 23 percent in the third quarter. The shift indicates that a "greater number of respondents" are opposed to or dissatisfied with the administration's leadership, [...]

This satellite photo shows the damage on coral reefs in the Scarborough Shoal due to Chinese fishermen's harvesting of giant clams. AMTI, file     Manila, Philippines — Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippine Coast Guard said it removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed by China to block Filipino fishermen from the area. Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has long been a source of tension between the countries. China seized the ring of reefs from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed patrol boats. The latest spat was sparked by a 300-metre (328-yard) floating barrier that was found across the entrance of the shoal last week during a routine Philippine government resupply mission to fishermen [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday rejected the proposed tariff reduction on imported rice being pushed by his economic managers. “We decided with the agriculture and economic managers that it was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down. So, this is not the right time to lower tariffs. Tariffs are generally lowered when the price is going up,” he said. His made the announcement shortly after a sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday where the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) presented updates on the proposed tariff reduction. Earlier in the day, Senator Imee Marcos joined rallyists opposing the proposed zero tariff on imported rice as she expressed confidence that her brother would not [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said the removal of a floating barrier installed by China in a disputed shoal was "consistent" with the position of the government on the West Philippine Sea. "Technically, we have a right to practice our sovereignty and our sovereign rights. So, it would have been consistent with our position but we're still waiting for the full report," he said in a chance interview on Tuesday. Speaking to lawmakers later that day, Manalo also said the government plans to file a diplomatic protest over the matter “Once we get confirmation sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), we, of course, will issue a protest to the Chinese Embassy here and we will cite the reasons why,” he said during a Senate [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Leaders of political parties in the House of Representatives have decided to realign confidential and intelligence funds to agencies tasked to ensure national security, days after China illegally put up a floating barrier in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the lawmakers said they view China's latest action in the disputed waters "with serious concern. They said not only did the floating barrier endanger Filipino fishermen and halt their livelihood, but it also triggered more conflict. "We extend our collective support to the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) swift and diplomatic actions in removing the barriers at Scarborough Shoal. We commend their dedication to safeguarding our nation's interests and standing up for the rights of our Filipino fishermen," the joint statement [...]

WITH the production of plastic on the rise worldwide and creating ever more pollution, the UN environment chief warned that humanity cannot just recycle its way out of the mess, and she called for a total rethink about the way we use plastics. "There are different sort of onramps to the highway to solutions. But I think everybody recognizes that the status quo is just not an option," said Inger Andersen, director of the UN Environment Program, in an interview Thursday with AFP on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, speaks during an interview at UN headquarters in New York City on September 21, 2023. As plastic production increases, polluting the [...]

Farm workers check on their crops, spray organic pesticides, and remove unwanted weeds at a rice field in Tanay, Rizal on September 19, 2023. Ernie Penaredondo / The Philippine STAR     Manila, Philippines — More farmers’ groups joined the calls for President Marcos to remove Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan over their alleged preferential treatment on importation by moving to bring down tariffs on rice and other imported agricultural products. At least 20 more peasant organizations signed the petition to replace Diokno and Balisacan, after six groups initiated the campaign to axe the two members of the economic team. Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So vowed that more protest actions will be held in front of the Department of Finance building [...]

A sandbar near Pag-asa Island was found to be full of dead and crushed corals, which experts say is a common procedure done by China before it starts reclamation activities. As reported by Joseph Morong on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, Sandy Cay 2 was found to have been covered with piles of dead and crushed corals almost as high as a human—compared with Sandy Cay 1, where the sand is still uncovered. Sandy Cay 2 is one of four sandbars near Pag-asa Island in the town of Kalayaan, located in the West Philippine Sea. It is also said to be blocked by vessels of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels. Prior to entering the area, a ship of the China Coast Guard also attempted [...]

Philhealth is the country's national health insurance system. The STAR / File     Manila, Philippines — After the Medusa ransomware infected the systems of state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Sept. 22, cyberhackers have demanded $300,000 or approximately P16 million, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) “They have already made a demand for $300,000 for them to do two things: One is to delete the data that they captured, and two, is so they would give us the key so we can decrypt the data that they encrypted,” DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy told The STAR yesterday. The stolen data from PhilHealth has been posted on the dark web, he added. The National Computer Emergency Response Team of the DICT Cybersecurity [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday started the pilot implementation of the MATATAG K-10 program in Tinajeros National High School in Malabon City. The recalibrated program will be implemented in Grade 7 in the school, which comprises 19 sections with a total of 681 students. Present during the event were DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong, DepEd Malabon Superintendent Dr. Cecille Carandang, and Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval. Aside from Tinajeros National High School, four other schools from Malabon are part of the initial run of the decongested curriculum. These are Damapalit Integrated School, Santiago Syjuco Memorial School, Muzon Elementary School, and Santiago Syjuco Memorial Integrated Secondary School. Speaking to reporters after the flag ceremony, Sandoval said the selection of five pilot schools was "very challenging," [...]

Sets 300-m floating barrier to keep Filipino fishermen out of shoal Philippine officials and lawmakers on Sunday denounced China’s installation of a floating barrier in the southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough) Shoal, which prevents Filipino fishermen from entering the area to catch fish. The floating barrier, with an estimated length of 300 meters, was discovered by personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) onboard the BRP Datu Bankaw, which conducted a maritime patrol mission on Friday, Sept. 22 in the vicinity of the shoal. Three Chinese Coast Guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the floating barrier upon the arrival of the BFAR vessel, the PCG said in a statement. Filipino fishermen note that the [...]

A rice farmer works in a paddy field in Pulilan, Bulacan province on August 19, 2023. AFP / Earvin Perias     Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has certified a measure imposing stiff penalties for agricultural economic sabotage as urgent, which expedites the bill’s passage in the Senate. Senate Bill 2432 seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, has criticized the existing law as a “failure” due to the Bureau of Customs recording zero convictions over seven years The bill defines economic sabotage as an activity that “disrupts the economic by creating artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply, evading payment or underpayment [...]

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday, September 21, 2023 meets with South Korean officials led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Ju-ho Lee in Seoul to discuss education-related topics. Duterte is in South Korea to attend the Global Education and Innovation Summit where she is one of the keynote speakers. IAN CRUZ/GMA Integrated News     Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday met with Republic of Korea Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Ju-ho Lee in Seoul, South Korea to discuss education-related mattersDuterte said it was an opportunity to learn about the education system of different countries, considering that she serves as the concurrent secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Education (DepEd), and the president of the Southeast Asian Ministers [...]

Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilding and offshore company, plans to participate in the Philippine Navy’s modernization efforts, focusing on submarines, high-speed crafts, and large landing ships. The company proposed an advanced underwater solution, the Jangbogo-III PN Submarine, as part of its Submarine Acquisition Project for the Philippine Navy The submarine is built upon the success of the Korean Navy’s Jangbogo-III submarines and offers unparalleled operational capability with the latest propulsion system, Sound Navigation and Ranging and Combat Management System, and Lithium-ion Battery Technology. Admiral (ret) Steve SK Jeong, Head of International Business of Hanhwa Ocean, former ROKN Submarine Force Commander, said the proposal will not only enhance the Philippines’ defense capability but also provide lifetime support for the Submarine Force of the Philippine Navy. He said this signifies [...]

This photo taken on August 22, 2023 shows Chinese coast guard ships (L and R) corralling a Philippine civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in the disputed South China Sea. AFP / Ted Aljibe     Manila, Philippines — The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a "civilianized" approach to managing the situation at Ayungin Shoal. Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the NTF-WPS, explained in an interview with ANC how to respond to the presence of China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels near Ayungin. "That is a decision that has to be made by higher authorities because we want to keep the tension low in the WPS," [...]

BUDGET Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Monday that the Department of Education's (DepEd) learning materials and education facilities got a major boost in the proposed 2024 national budget BUDGET Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. File Photo     DepEd's Basic Education Facilities Program was given a significant 44-percent increase in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), amounting to P33.755 billion compared to its P23.417 billion allocation in 2023. "Through revitalized education, I aspire to provide every Filipino with a fighting chance to manage life's uncertainties so they can choose to achieve their full potential," Pangandaman said in a statement. The said program will focus on nine areas, including the construction of 7,879 new classrooms and technical vocational laboratories; the repair and rehabilitation of 10,050 classrooms; the procurement of 21,557 sets of school [...]

The National Food Authority (NFA) Council chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday set a new price range for buying palay in order to improve the income of farmers in the country. In a video message, the President said he called for a meeting with the NFA Council to discuss the price of palay, and it was decided that the buying price for dry palay would be P23 from P19 and for wet, P19 from P16. He said the move aimed to improve farmers' income and ensure sufficient supply of the staple. "We needed to look into the wet and dry palay because the situation changed," Marcos said. "So, they will now start earning. We also have a price cap to control the rice prices," he added. The [...]

China’s foreign minister has held talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow as the two countries inch closer amid fraying ties with the West over the Ukraine war and the militarisation of the Pacific. Wang Yi opened his talks with Sergey Lavrov by hailing “strategic cooperation” between the two countries and their shared commitment to a “multipolar world” and a “more just world order” “China and Russia, as leading global powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, bear special responsibility for maintaining global strategic stability and global development,” Wang said. The Moscow trip comes days after Wang held talks with United States President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta. Sino-US ties have deteriorated in recent years over issues ranging from trade to the Chinese [...]

Oil prices rose in early trade on Tuesday for the fourth consecutive session, as weak shale output in the U.S. spurred further concerns about a supply deficit stemming from extended production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 90 cents, or 1 percent, to $92.38, by 0018 GMT, just under a 10-month high reached on Monday, while global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 27 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $94.70 a barrel Prices have gained for three consecutive weeks. U.S. oil output from top shale-producing regions is on track to fall to 9.393 million barrels per day (bpd) in October, the lowest level since May 2023, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Monday. It will have fallen for three months in a row. Those estimates come [...]

The Taiwanese government is set to establish ten overseas bases, with the Philippines being the primary location, as part of its study and work program to boost the region’s workforce. The Ministry of Education plans to invest 5.2 billion New Taiwan dollars (P9.3 million) from 2024 to 2028 to promote international student enrollment and stay in Taiwan Dr. Lee Tien-Shang, President of Kun-Shan University (KSU), announced the plans to establish overseas bases in Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo, among other locations. The bases will serve as platforms for academic and industry-academia exchange and collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines. Each location will promote high-quality Mandarin, cultural experiences, and preparatory courses, with the aim of deepening the international educational exchange and cooperation between universities in both countries. KSU will establish new [...]

The Supreme Court (SC) was asked on Monday, Sept. 18, to declare unconstitutional the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023 under Republic Act No. 11954 that was signed into law by President Marcos last July 18 to be managed by the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) which now has a seed capital of P150 billion. In a petition, the SC was also asked to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or preliminary injunction or status quo ante order (SQAO) to stop immediately the implementation of RA 11954, and to conduct oral arguments. The petition was filed by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, former congressman and Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Javier Colmenares, and former Bayan Muna congressmen Carlos Isagani Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary [...]

The Southern Police District arrested 11 Chinese nationals in Paranaque City over alleged involvement in human trafficking. The police operation took place at Unit 1811, 18th Floor, SoleMare Parksuites in Barangay Baclaran following the issuance of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Jaime Guray of the Regional Trial Court, Parañaque City. One of the suspects was identified as Lin Shengjie, also known as “Boss Lin or Lin Wei,” 32, who faces complaints for violation of Republic Act 10591 and RA 9208. His accomplice, Xiao Ji, alias “Boss Kee” is currently at large and is now the subject of a manhunt operation. Those arrested also include Chinese nationals identified only by their aliases Weichao, Liulizhang, Honghualiang, Luyzhenggang, Zhangmingpeng, Pengke, Dengchaofan, Cai Deqiang, and Chujunyi, and their 48-year-old Filipino cohort [...]

Shoppers flock to Divisoria for last-minute school supplies shopping on August 26, 2023. STAR / Ernie Penaredondo     Manila, Philippines — Less than a majority of Filipinos now think that the Philippine economy will improve within the year, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed. Results of the July 22 to 26 survey released yesterday found that 46 percent of the respondents believed that the economy would be better in six months. Some 43 percent said it would remain the same, while six percent said it would worsen. Another six percent said they do not know Compared to a similar survey conducted in March, optimism in the Philippine economy dropped by four points from 50 percent. Pessimism stayed at six percent. In October 2022, those who believed that [...]

Employers expressed strong doubt that the targeted year-end inflation rate of four percent can still be achieved, saying a 5.6 percent rate is more likely given the rising cost of prices in the local market. Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), issued his projection during the “Pandesal Forum” on Friday, Sept. 15, which gathered business leaders from other business groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), to discuss their opposition on the pending wage hike bill in the Senate. “Yung inflation target natin na four percent sana by end of the year di na mangyayari yun baka 5.6 percent siguro. Next year, yung target natin na [...]

The planned operationalization of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) before the end of the year became closer to fruition after it received fresh funding from state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) In a text message to GMA News Online on Friday, DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus confirmed that the lender remitted to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) its mandatory contribution for the initial capital of the MIF —the country’s very first sovereign wealth fund. “Yes, we remitted P25 [billion] to BTR today,” de Jesus said. The DBP chief’s announcement came on the heels of Land Bank of the Philippines’s announcement that it remitted to Treasury its mandated P50-billion contribution to the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), pursuant to the Republic Act No. 11954, which created the MIF. [...]

Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard shows damage to marine environment and coral reef. Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday that its surveys have revealed “extensive” damage to the marine environment and coral reefs in areas frequented by Chinese maritime militias in the West Philippine Sea. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea matters, said that the underwater surveys of the seabeds in Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal showed that the marine ecosystem there “appeared lifeless, with minimal to no signs of life.”Surveys conducted in Escoda Shoal also spotted visible discoloration of its seabed, which indicates that “deliberate activities may have been undertaken to modify the natural topography of its underwater terrain.” Tarriela added that the presence of [...]

Oil firms are set to implement a major hike in pump prices of petroleum products on Tuesday, marking the tenth straight week of upward movement for gasoline and 11th for both diesel and kerosene In separate advisories, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex) and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P2.00, diesel by P2.50, and kerosene by P2.00. Cleanfuel will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which it does not carry. The adjustment will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, except for Caltex, which will hike prices at 12:01 a.m., and Cleanfuel at 4:01 p.m. the same day. Other firms have yet to make similar announcements for the week.    

Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities have seized smuggled rice products worth ₱40 million in two separate operations in Las Piñas and Bacoor, Cavite, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Sunday. The rice products came from Vietnam, Thailand, and China, the BOC said. The owner was found to be selling a 25-kilo sack of rice from Vietnam at ₱1,320, or over ₱52 per kilo, exceeding the prescribed price ceiling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered a nationwide price ceiling which capped the price of regular milled rice at ₱41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at ₱45 per kilogram. “Prior to this inspection, an extensive investigation, surveillance, and test purchases were carried out,” the BOC said in a statement. Authorities also granted the owner of the warehouse 15 days to submit documents, [...]

Taipei, Taiwan – More than 100 Chinese warplanes and nine navy ships were detected around Taiwan, authorities in Taipei said Monday, describing the number as a “recent high”. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, by force if necessary, and has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure in recent years as relations have soured. “Between the morning of September 17th to 18th, the Ministry of National Defence had detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft which was a recent high and has posed severe challenges to the security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,” it said in a statement. Beijing’s “continued military harassment can easily lead to a sharp spike in tension and worsen regional security,” the ministry said, as it called [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The country’s foreign debt went up by 9.5% at the end of June, one year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office. Based on preliminary data, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said late Friday that external debt reached $117.9 billion, higher than the $107.7 billion level in June 2022 The central bank attributed the increase to the $7.9 billion in net availments, and the change in the scope to include non-residents’ holdings of Peso-denominated debt securities issued onshore. “Meanwhile, the transfer of Philippine debt papers issued offshore from non-residents to residents of $1.3 billion and negative FX revaluation of $295 million partially tempered the year-on-year increase in the debt stock,” it added. However, the latest figure reflected a decrease of 0.8% from the $118.8 billion [...]

Candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are strictly prohibited from promoting themselves on social media until the campaign period starts, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia reminded candidates about Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits election campaigns or partisan political activity outside the designated period Under Comelec Resolution 10905, campaigning is not allowed between September 3 and October 18, 2023. The campaign period is from October 19 to 28. "Once nag-file ka ng certificate of candidacy, ikaw ay kandidato na. Bawal ang pag-post, bawal ang pangangamay, bawal ang pag-iikot, bawal ang pamimigay ng kung anu-ano dahil ikaw ay kandidato na," Garcia said in the latest episode of "The Mangahas Interviews.'' “At the same time, kung mayroon kang social media [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has made clear it will not give up any of its territory despite having a relatively small force compared to "others we encounter in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)," President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said in a speech before members of the military on Friday. Speaking at the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Palawan, Marcos saluted troops for "holding the line. "In comparison doon sa mga ibang nakakatagpo natin doon sa WPS ay kahit na maliit lang ang naihaharap natin na puwersa ay maganda naman ang nagiging resulta," the commander-in-chief said. "Dahil kahit papaano ay nagagawa natin na nagiging maliwanag, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas, kung hindi sa buong mundo na tayo ay di tayo papayag na kukunin sa [...]

Stock photo of a peso money bill. Philstar.com / Jovannie Lambayan     Manila, Philippines — The country is losing over P100 billion yearly due to cancer, a health economist said. Dr. Val Ulep, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, cited a recent study they published showing that the economic cost of cancer would reach around P110 billion annually, or around one percent of the country’s gross domestic product. “When you look at the total economic cost in the Philippines, out of that P110 billion, around P40 billion refers to the medical cost such as hospital expenses, and the rest, P70 billion, is the indirect cost,” Ulep said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday He explained that indirect cost covers their [...]

Only 41 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with the senior high school program, a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian showed. Of the 1,200 respondents surveyed nationwide, over four in 10 or 42% were dissatisfied with the senior high school program under the K-to-12 curriculum, the poll noted Gatchalian said the survey reflects the Department of Education program’s failure to make graduates college-ready and work-ready. The DepEd, however, said it has created the National Task Force to review the implementation of the SHS program, and that the Bureau of Curriculum Development has also started its review of the senior high curriculum following the revision of the K-to-10 curriculum into the recently launched Matatag system. According to a 2020 discussion paper by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies [...]

Rice prices in Baguio City increase on Aug. 10, 2023 due to a problem in supply caused by Typhoon Egay and the continuous rains in Benguet. The STAR / Andy Zapata Jr., File photo     Manila, Philippines — The price cap on rice in the Philippines will take effect on Tuesday, September 5, according to the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Executive Order 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 31, sets a price limit of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kilogram for well-milled riceRice is essential for a population of 110 million in the Philippines. However, the country cannot produce sufficient rice for its needs, consistently ranking among the world's leading rice importers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given [...]

File photo shows tourists wearing masks by the beach. STAR / File     Manila, Philippines — Fancy exploring Philippine territory in the disputed West Philippine Sea as a tourist? For a year now, the municipal government of Kalayaan in Palawan has been offering week-long tours that attract travelers who seek adventure and long to see natural wonders – and has since boosted its local tourism. Among the first batch of tourists who visited the archipelago last April was 30-year-old Julie Ann Lope Lope shared with The STAR that she did not hesitate to join after a friend saw the tour on Facebook and recommended it to her. Onboard an expedition yacht where she and other tourists spent the night during the week-long excursion, the trip from the port of Buliluyan [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said he wants the Senate to pass the proposed ₱150 across-the-board wage increase before year-end or by December, adding senators are "laser-focused" on its passage. "The cost of living has increased all over the country and they need that decent wage para makabuhay sila nang disente, kaya itutulak talaga namin 'yan [so they will have decent living. That's why we will push for it]," Zubiri told reporters. "We are laser-focused on that," he added. "Marami lang issue na dumarating [It's just that many issues are surfacing]. We will take it up to the floor and pass it as a shared advocacy of the Senate." Last March, Zubiri filed Senate Bill 2002, or the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of [...]

Typhoon Hanna was monitored at 375 kms east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour, carrying maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. PAGASA MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rains are forecast to continue in the next few days due to the southwest monsoon, even as Typhoon Hanna (international name Haikui) could exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by tomorrow, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Typhoon Hanna was monitored at 375 kms east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour, carrying maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. Hanna will make landfall over [...]

Petron Corp. said Thursday it is increasing its liquefied petroleum gas or cooking gas prices by P6.65 per kilogram, or P73.15 per 11-kg tank, effective today to reflect the higher contract price of LPG in the world market. Petron said it will also increase the price of auto LPG by P3.70 per liter (VAT-inclusive) by 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 1 The country’s lone refiner said in its advisory the price hikes reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of September. Other LPG retailers are also expected to adjust prices. The price increase is higher than the forecasted P2 to P5 per kg by industry players last week. Sources concurred with the probable hike, which would translate to P22 to P55 per kg increase for every 11-kilo [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Rains are expected to continue over the weekend as three weather disturbances enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday. “Itong si bagyong Saola (formerly Goring), Severe Tropical Storm Hanna, at isa pang severe tropical storm sa malayong parte ng ating Pacific Ocean ay nageehance po ng habagat o southwest monsoon lalo na dito sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon," PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a 5 a.m. briefing [Translation: Typhoon Saola, Severe Tropical Storm Hanna, and another severe tropical storm at the far part of the Pacific Ocean are enhancing the southwest monsoon especially in most parts of Luzon.] In the next three days, Estareja said monsoon rains are expected over the Ilocos Region, Abra, [...]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. approves the Department of Trade and Industry’s Three-year Food Logistics Action Agenda aimed at revolutionizing the country’s food distribution system, reducing transport and logistics costs, and ensuring food supply chain efficiency. Presidential Communications Office     Manila, Philippines — President Marcos is traveling to Jakarta next week to join the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit and related summits, where Manila is expected to push for statements on Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said Marcos would continue to promote a rules-based international order, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), especially in the South China Sea, during the summit set on Sept. 5 to 7. [...]

  Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines filed a protest against China’s issuance of the 2023 version of its standard map showing its extended claim in the South China Sea. Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu confirmed in a Thursday briefing that Manila filed a diplomatic protest regarding the issue. Beijing released this week its updated standard map showing 10 dashes that form a U shape, claiming nearly the entire South China Sea as part of its territory. The area overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the Philippines as well as those of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia In a statement on Thursday, the DFA said “[t]his latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under [...]

This March 8, 2020 photo shows the Manila Center for Infectious Disease Control located on the 10th floor of the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila. The STAR / Edd Gumban   Manila, Philippines — President Marcos has signed into law a measure mandating the establishment of specialty centers in Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals and in government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) hospitals in the country. Signed on Aug. 24, Republic Act (RA) 11959 or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act” aims to ensure accessible and affordable health care services for all Filipinos. Under the law, the DOH is designated to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in GOCC specialty hospitals, prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, [...]

Manila, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that over P92.49 billion worth of premium collections to the Social Security System (SSS) were not remitted by 466,881 employers from all over the country last year. COA’s audit report indicated that SSS was only able to collect P2.48 billion, or less than three percent, of the P94.97-billion target as of the end of 2022. The COA added that the National Capital Region posted the lowest collection percentage at P383.78 million out of the target of P64.67 billion (0.59 percent), followed by the rest of Luzon at P747.59 million out of P22.33 billion (3.35 percent). The Visayas’ collection percentage was at P305.54 million out of P6.48 billion (4.72 percent) and Mindanao at P405.8 million out of P7.33 billion (7.42 percent). [...]

E-LEARNING HUB. Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during the launching of the mobile e-learning hub project of the Visayas Command and 3rd Civil Relations Group (3CRG) at the DepEd Ecotech Center Pavilion in Sudlon, Lahug in Cebu City on Tuesday (Aug. 29, 2023). The facility, a modified trailer truck with 20-foot container van equipped with 20 laptop computers, printers, Smart TV and internet connections, will be deployed in areas in Cebu province where the soldiers are conducting community support program activities. (Photo courtesy of Viscom PIO)   CEBU CITY – The Visayas Command has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) in rolling out a mobile E-Learning Hub project that will serve learners in far-flung areas where internet and computer access is a challenge, a ranking Army [...]

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) three-year Food Logistics Action Agenda aimed at revolutionizing the country's food distribution system, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Malacañang file photo) According to the PCO, Marcos approved the plan during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang with secretaries from different government agencies on Tuesday, Aug. 29. In a statement, the PCO said the creation of the three-year food logistics agenda was one of the directives of the President during the eighth Cabinet meeting in September 20222 to the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Trade and Industry (DTI), Transportation (DOTr), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to develop a food logistics [...]

  Metro Manila, Philippines— The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Philippines on Tuesday said there is still much work to do to strengthen early childhood education in the country. UNICEF Philippines' deputy representative Behzad Noubary said only 28% of Filipino learners aged three and four attend preschool, and about 78% for kindergarten. "If we could increase that, we can see immediate improvements in terms of the success of students in primary learning," he told CNN Philippines' The Final Word. Citing a UNICEF study, Noubary said preschool education gives Filipino students a better chance of success once they get to primary school. He added that preschool education may also help address the country's learning crisis. "There are some LGUs (local government units) where daycare centers are not available. This is [...]

Satellite image shows Super Typhoon Goring (Saola) and Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (Haikui) on August 31, 2023 PAGASA   Manila, Philippines — Three tropical cyclones are enhancing the southwest monsoon, which will continue to dump rain over the western part of Luzon, the state weather bureau said Thursday morning. Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (international name: Haikui), Super Typhoon Saola (formerly Goring) and Tropical Storm Kirogi are currently strengthening the southwest monsoon (habagat). Saola and Kirogi are outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. According to PAGASA, the enhanced southwest monsoon will bring occasional to monsoon rain over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days. The agency warned that floods and landslides may occur in areas that are highly vulnerable to these hazards, and in places that have experienced significant [...]

VISITING ALLY | A sailor from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force stands guard as JS Izumo docks at Pier 15 in South Harbor, Manila, on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. The JS Izumo is a multipurpose and multifunctional destroyer with a full flat deck capable of accommodating an F-35B stealth fighter jet. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)   Manila, Philippines — The Philippines is looking to strengthen cooperation between its naval fleet and its counterparts in the United States and Japan through activities such as joint training and capability development that will be “mutually beneficial” to the three forces, as Manila and its partners reinforce their alliance amid heightened tensions with China. US Navy 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas and Japan Self-Defense Fleet commander [...]

(File photo of AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner) Metro Manila, Philippines — The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said China’s proposed joint military exercises and patrols with the Philippines are unlikely. The proposed joint military exercises with the Philippines was pitched in July. However, details are still indefinite. Gen. Romeo Brawner said the country’s memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation has been existing since 2004. Since then, the military has been sending over Filipino officers and enlisted personnel for schooling in China. Although given China’s aggression in the South China Sea, the government has halted sending over these officers. Brawner also said China should stop what he called coercive and dangerous tactics in the disputed waters when the military are resupplying their stations in islands and occupied [...]

The index, covering 110 countries, showed that 50 of the most affected by food price surges are emerging market economies. Philstar.com / Irra Lising Among emerging Asian economies   Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has emerged as the most vulnerable from rising food and energy prices among countries in emerging Asia, according to the Nomura Food Vulnerability Index (NFVI). The index, covering 110 countries, showed that 50 of the most affected by food price surges are emerging market economies. “A scatter plot of our NFVI scores against net oil imports of each country highlights that the most vulnerable to surging food and oil prices are small frontier economies; the larger ones include the Philippines and Pakistan,” Nomura said in its latest economic insights. Nomura assumed a 20-percent rise in [...]

At a press briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said the eye of Typhoon Goring was located at 245 kilometers (km) east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 155 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph as it is moving north northeastward at 15 kph. PAGASA   Manila, Philippines — Goring has weakened into a typhoon and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday while an approaching severe tropical storm is expected to enter PAR on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday. At a press briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said the eye of Typhoon Goring was located at 245 kilometers (km) east northeast of [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Pump prices will again go up starting Tuesday, several oil companies said Monday. In separate advisories, Seaoil, Jetti, Petron and Cleanfuel said the per liter cost of diesel will increase by 70 centavos while gasoline will rise by 30 centavos per liter. PTT, Phoenix, Petro Gazz, Flying V and Caltex also said they will implement the same oil price adjustments. The cost of kerosene will climb by 80 centavos per liter in fuel stations of Seaoil, Flying V and Caltex.  

On the eve of the school year’s opening today, close to 22.7 million public school students have enrolled, still short of the initial target of the Department of Education’s (DepEd’s) target of 28.8 million. The department, however, expects the number of enrollees to rise during the first week of classes. “We are accepting late enrollees since it is usual that many students enroll on the first day of classes and the days that follow,” said DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa. As students prepare for their second year of face-to-face classes after the COVID-19 pandemic, they are stepping into classrooms devoid of decorations and “clutter,” as schools comply with an order issued by Vice President Sara Duterte, who concurrently serves as DepEd secretary. This academic year marks the final phase of [...]

Super Typhoon Goring has caused massive flooding in the town of Baggao in Cagayan Province. Baggao PS via Cagayan PIO Facebook   Manila, Philippines — Hundreds of people fled their homes as floods unleashed by Super Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) swept through mainly rural villages in the northeastern Philippines, rescue officials said Sunday. Saola brushed past the northeast section of the main island of Luzon overnight Saturday, bringing its 185-kilometre-per-hour (115-mile-per-hour) central winds within 125 kilometres of Tuguegarao, a city of about 160,000 people. "The winds were not too strong but the rains were heavy last night," Ruelie Rapsing, a rescue official in Cagayan province, told AFP by telephone from Tuguegarao. The provincial government's press office released photos on its Facebook page of knee-deep floodwaters swamping homes in the municipality [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Super Typhoon Goring maintains its strength as it begins its loop northeastward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Sunday. In its 2 p.m. bulletin, The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm will turn northeastward and northward on Monday before it shifts northwestward on Tuesday. The towns of Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Mariano and Ilagan City in Isabela remain under Signal No. 3. Signal No. 2 is up over the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, the northern and central portion of Isabela, the extreme northern portion of Aurora and the eastern portion of Quirino. Meanwhile, Batanes, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Isabela, Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, [...]

As US lawmakers vow military support under MDT The Philippines and Australia will “soon” hold joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea where tensions have been high over increased Chinese incursions in the area. “We are working closely together. Doing joint sails is something that we’ve been keen to pursue now for some time. The two defense forces have been working together to make that happen and to do that in the most effective way,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense chief Richard Marles said. “We’re really pleased with the progress of the discussions. We expect the first of those joint patrols to happen in the not too distant future,” Marles added. US Congress’ commitment As this developed, visiting US lawmakers committed American military action to defend the Philippines [...]

Photo from PAGASA   Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over four areas as Tropical Storm Goring continued to intensify on Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA said. In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas: Batanes the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Camiguin Island) the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri) the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Pablo, Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan City)   Goring was located 225 kilometers east southeast of Basco, Batanes or 270 km east of Calayan, Cagayan packing a maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour  and gustiness of up to 105 km/h. It was [...]

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) conducted its very first combined amphibious assault exercise in San Antonio, Zambales on Friday, August 25, highlighting the evolving defense cooperation between the two countries amid security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel hold a combined amphibious assault exercise off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales on August 25, 2023 as part of Exercise Alon 2023. (Screenshot courtesy of PTV-4)  The exercise witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formed part of the Exercise Alon 2023 under the Indo-Pacific Endeavour activity for 2023 (IPE23), which is Australia’s flagship international engagement activity in the Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean region. “This mission is just a manifestation of where we [...]

SMUGGLED RICE UNCOVERED. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (center), along with other lawmakers, joins the fact-finding mission of the Bureau of Customs in inspecting several rice warehouses in Bulacan as part of the exercise of the oversight powers of Congress. The inspection was conducted amid allegations that hoarding of rice supply is driving up the price of the staple grain. Ver Noveno     Government agents seized smuggled rice worth P505 million on Thursday in an operation joined by lawmakers led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio at three warehouses in Bulacan. The warehouses, owned and operated by Great Harvest Rice Mill Warehouse, San Pedro Warehouse, and FS Rice Mill Warehouse are located inside the Intercity Industrial Complex in San Juan, Balagtas in Bulacan, were [...]

The increased cost-of-living crisis sparked by surging inflation last year, combined with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, is continuing to push people in Asia and the Pacific into extreme poverty, the Asian Development Bank said in a report Thursday. It said 155.2 million people in developing Asia and the Pacific, or 3.9 percent of the region’s population, lived in extreme poverty as of 2022, based on Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2023. This was 67.8 million greater than it would have been without the pandemic and the increased cost of living crisis, according to the report. Extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $2.15 a day, based on 2017 prices and adjusted for purchasing power and inflation. “Asia and the Pacific is steadily [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippine military's training with major countries is “extremely important,” as the region’s security conditions remain volatile. Marcos was in Zambales on Friday morning to witness the amphibious assault exercise between the Philippines, Australia, and the US, where about 2,000 personnel participated. He said the joint training exercises are part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen the country’s military capability and create closer cooperation with neighbors around the region. “I think it’s an important aspect of how we prepare for any eventuality considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region,” he said. “This strategic cooperation between countries in the region is extremely important,” Marcos added. The US and Australia have been supporting the [...]

The Philippines, United States and Australia are set to conduct an amphibious landing military exercise on Friday in a simulation of retaking an island in Zambales, a Philippine Marines official said. The Philippines, United States and Australia are set to conduct an amphibious landing military exercise on Friday in a simulation of retaking an island in Zambales, a Philippine Marines official said. (Our main event is the amphibious landing. This is a simulation of island retaking involving landing forces from the Australian Defense Force, US Marines, and Philippine Marines.) The activity would also include a mock opposing force to make the simulation more realistic, according to Larida. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles are expected to personally witness the drill, Larida said. Considering that [...]

The Philippine Coast Guard held a send-off ceremony for BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan, which will patrol the West Philippine Sea and Sulu Sea. PCG / Released   Manila, Philippines — Increasing hostilities from Chinese vessels and its threats to the safety of Philippine Coast Guard necessitate greater funding for their intelligence operations, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said. Hontiveros said that beefing up the PCG’s intelligence funds — discreet funds an agency uses to gather information — would help it better perform its mandate in patrolling the West Philippine Sea. She said this in her privilege speech on Senate Resolution 744, a recently filed resolution that calls for a Senate inquiry into measures that would strengthen the PCG and improve its role in protecting the country's maritime zones. Addressing her [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday said lawmakers should consider allocating funds for the establishment of a permanent structure on Ayungin Shoal under the 2024 budget. “That's a proposal that merits serious consideration from Congress. As we can see, the BRP Sierra Madre is not in a good state, it’s rusting and it’s dilapidated, and it really needs improvement,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines’ The Source. BRP Sierra Madre, a US Navy ship used during World War II, has been on the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. It was intentionally grounded there to serve as a military outpost in the contested waters. In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Sen. Francis Escudero said he would look into allocating ₱100 million for the [...]

Satellite image shows Tropical Storm Goring on July 24, 2023 RAMBB   Manila, Philippines — Cyclone Goring intensified into a tropical storm Tuesday afternoon while moving over the Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said. Goring was last spotted 265 kilometers east of Basco in Batanes, with peak winds of 75 kph near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph. It was moving northwest at 10 kph. Goring may become a severe tropical storm in the next 36 hours, and may reach typhoon category by Saturday. PAGASA said “the inherent volatility of attaining the super typhoon category remains a possibility.” What to expect  According to PAGASA, Goring is “less likely” to bring heavy rainfall over the country in the next three days. But it noted that any [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has approved the revised guidelines for international-bound Filipino travelers. In a statement on Tuesday, the IACAT said the revision aimed to "combat the grave menace of human trafficking." Other than the usual travel requirements, the revised guidelines require self-funded travelers to present additional documents such as confirmed return or roundtrip ticket, proof of hotel booking or accommodation, financial capacity or source of income, and proof of employment. For overseas travels sponsored by a relative or non-relative, an individual is required to secure an affidavit of support and guarantee notarized by a Philippine Embassy, Consulate, or Honorary Consulate. Meanwhile, OFWs deployed for the first time also need to secure an OFW clearance issued by the Department of Migrant Workers as [...]

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian     Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have resumed discussions on the long-planned Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea on Tuesday. Manila is hosting the three-day dialog that gathers diplomats from the region, including those from five out of six claimant counties in the SCS, namely China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. As this developed, Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian welcomed the appointment of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. as special envoy to China. Locsin’s appointment came on the heels of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing after a China Coast Guard ship fired a water cannon against Philippine Coast Guard vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission. Huang likewise [...]

A vendor at Commonwealth Public Market in Quezon City sells rice for P38 per kilo on August 22, 2023. STAR / Sheila Crisostomo   Manila, Philippines — Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) admitted yesterday that the campaign promise of President Marcos to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo is unlikely to see fulfillment in the next two years. “Next two years? Baka mahirap po (I think it will be difficult),” DA Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations Mercedita Sombilla said in response to questioning from Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel during yesterday’s hearing of the House committee on appropriations on the DA’s proposed budget of P167.5 billion in 2024. Marcos, concurrently DA chief, did not attend the hearing. For his part, Albay Rep. [...]

(FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities on Tuesday confirmed that the latest resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre was "successfully conducted." "Notwithstanding attempts by China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Chinese Maritime Militia vessels to block, harass, and interfere with the supply mission, the Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, escorted by PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan, successfully completed their RoRe (Rotation and Resupply mission)," the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in a statement. A CCG ship on Aug. 5 blocked and fired a water cannon at Philippine Coast Guard vessels escorting boats chartered by the AFP to deliver food and supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. This resulted in one Philippine vessel [...]

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they have yet to be officially informed of the naval drill, which would be held in waters claimed by China near the West Philippine Sea. AFP   Manila, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday denied reports that it has declined to join a trilateral naval drill in the South China Sea (SCS) involving United States, Japanese and Australian forces. AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they have yet to be officially informed of the naval drill, which would be held in waters claimed by China near the West Philippine Sea. He said the AFP is verifying relevant information with the US, Japan and Australia. “If there’s such an activity, then we’re not informed. It’s not true that [...]

Jeepney operators will ask the government for a one-peso increase in minimum fares today amid spiraling fuel prices and rising inflation. The petition, Pasang Masda group president Roberto Martin explained in a television interview, would ask for a provisional increase of more than P1 for the first four kilometers and a scaled increase for every succeeding kilometer. Traditional jeepneys charge a minimum P9 fare while modern or e-jeepneys charge P11 minimum. They were briefly at P12 and P14 minimum, respectively, until the government ordered the fares rolled back in April. “To our commuters, we ask for your understanding. We hope you empathize with the plight of our members in the transport sector,” Martin said. Meanwhile, taxi operators again petitioned the government to raise the flag-down rate from P40 to [...]

BUYER’S CHOICE | Prices of assorted varieties of rice are displayed at Trabajo Market in Sampaloc, Manila, in this photo taken on Aug. 10, 2023, to guide consumers on a tight budget. Earlier, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. warned that the price of the staple would increase until the mid-September harvest amid the continued hike in the buying price of palay. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)     Manila, Philippines — As a farmers’ group called for the abolition of the National Food Authority (NFA) over its supposed preference for rice imports, two senators on Monday challenged the agency to prove its worth by helping farmers and buying their produce at higher prices. “If the NFA is filling up its buffer [...]

But PH ‘cancels’ participation in joint exercises with US, Australia, Japan Japan, the United States and Australia are set to conduct naval drills in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Kyodo News, citing multiple sources, said the trilateral exercise comes on the heels of increased tensions between Beijing and Manila after a China coast guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine military-chartered boat near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea earlier this month. The Japanese news agency said the Philippines, which will host the vessels from the three countries before the naval exercises, “cancelled” its participation. “The Philippine forces have canceled their participation in the joint drill since the three other nations’ aircraft are too large to land on the decks of Philippine warships, according to [...]

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (MANILA BULLETIN)   Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III doesn't agree with the municipal government of Kalayaan's move of declaring Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian a "persona non grata". In a statement Monday, Aug. 21, Pimentel said that such actions by the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan in the province of Palawan in Western part of the country should be "avoided as much as possible". "The ambassador of a foreign country to the Philippines is the representative of that country to our country. We should go slow in declaring foreign ambassadors as personas non grata. Avoid this as much as possible," said the veteran legislator from Mindanao. "All grievances related to ambassadors and foreign relations must be coursed through our [...]

In separate advisories yesterday, oil companies said prices would rise by P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.20 per liter for diesel and P0.70 per liter for Philstar.com / Irra Lising   Manila, Philippines — The cost of petroleum products continues to go up, with oil firms implementing another round of pump price increases today. In separate advisories yesterday, oil companies said prices would rise by P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.20 per liter for diesel and P0.70 per liter for kerosene. These extend the price increases for diesel and kerosene to a seventh consecutive week, and gasoline to a sixth straight week. The upward adjustments will take effect at 6 a.m. today for most companies, except for Caltex which implemented the price movements at 12:01 a.m. and Cleanfuel which [...]

Washington, United States -- US President Joe Biden on Friday will announce new security cooperation at a first-of-a-kind three-way summit with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, hoping to send a message of strength to China which has already made clear its displeasure. The summit at the Camp David presidential retreat in the mountains west of Washington would have been unimaginable until recently, with the two treaty-bound US allies at loggerheads for decades over the legacy of Japan's harsh 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula. But South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, taking political risks at home, has turned the page by resolving a dispute over wartime forced labor, instead calling Japan a partner at a time of high tensions with both China and North Korea. Biden, Yoon [...]

Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. greets crowds at a UniTeam campaign rally in Zambales in March 2022. UniTeam / Released   Manila, Philippines — The government’s highly publicized media literacy campaign should be paired with concrete safeguards to prevent politicians from capitalizing on the spread of disinformation, several groups of media literacy advocates and researchers said. In a joint statement, nine non-government organizations advocating for media and information literacy, along with several disinformation researchers, pointed out that politicians and platforms continue to reap financial and political gains from mis- and disinformation. The groups called on the Marcos administration to go beyond its media literacy project with social media platforms and pursue “deeper structural solutions, such as promoting transparency and accountability in campaign finance and political advertising.” “Likewise, independent audits [...]

There was less rice available in the country at the beginning of April, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. Based on the PSA’s latest report, the rice inventory was 1.843 million metric tons at the beginning of that month, a decrease of 26.5 percent compared to 2.506 million metric tons in the same period last year. Out of the total inventory, households had 1.015 million metric tons of rice, which accounted for 55.1 percent. This is a decline of 26 percent from 1.373 million metric tons last year. Commercial warehouses stored about 728,730 metric tons of rice, which is a decrease of 26.9 percent from 997,420 metric tons last year. This represents 39.5 percent of the overall inventory. The National Food Authority (NFA) depositories held 99,030 metric tons of [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities on Thursday seized several items, including almost ₱7 million in cash, in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City that was raided early this month. Also confiscated were 24,000 pre-registered SIM, over 9,000 cellphones, passports, credit cards, and documents like contracts from 32 vaults in SA Rivendell Gaming Corporation, an alleged scam hub fronting as a POGO. Winston John Romero Casio, senior technical adviser and liaison officer of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), said most of the SIM were not yet opened. He added that they already reached out to the telecommunication firm involved, which was also clueless on how the SIM were pre-registered. Hundreds of workers were found operating illegal activities such as love scams, illegal gambling, and cryptocurrency [...]

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)   Manila, Philippines — Plans are afoot in Isabela province to build a naval outpost in the coastal town of Divilacan to keep watch over Philippine (Benham) Rise, an undersea region in the country’s eastern seaboard that is believed to contain huge natural gas deposits, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. The defense chief said Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III was keen to build such a facility for “joint use” with the United States in his province, which hosts one of four new sites under Manila’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) with Washington. “[Albano] is here and he wants to post a stronger military presence not just inside Isabela but along the coastline, in [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has warned the Senate that severing ties with Chinese contractors may cause delays in infrastructure projects in the wake of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri's call to blacklist Chinese contractors. “Potential impact on the economy for possible delays in the projects that will be affected and of course we have to shift to the financing for those projects that have been requested from China,” Diokno said Wednesday. According to Diokno, among those that will be affected are projects funded by Official Development Assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the World Bank. “When it’s ADB project, any member country can compete in the bidding of the project," he said. "If the Chinese contractor wins, we cannot do [...]

The government is ready to provide assistance to Filipinos affected by the deadly wildfires that struck the island of Maui in Hawaii, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday night. Mr. Marcos issued the statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, as he assured the public that he is closely monitoring the condition of Filipinos residing in Hawaii. About 388,000 individuals in Hawaii identify themselves as Filipino or part-Filipino, according to the 2020 US state census. Around 200,000 of the 388,000 have parents who are both Filipinos but only 16 percent are Philippine passport holders. “With the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers, we are trying to get the number of Filipinos affected by the wildfires in Hawaii),” he said. Mr. [...]

A view of the skyline in Singapore, January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Caroline Chia/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights SINGAPORE- Singapore police have arrested 10 foreigners for alleged money laundering and forgery offences, in a case involving about S$1 billion ($737 million) of cash, properties, luxury cars and other assets. The police conducted simultaneous raids on Tuesday across the city-state to arrest the suspects, their statement said on Wednesday. Prohibition of disposal orders were issued against 94 properties and 50 vehicles, with a total estimated value of more than S$815 million. Other seizures included bank accounts, cash, luxury bags, jewellery, watches, electronic devices and some documents with information on virtual assets. The foreigners were aged between 31 and 44, and their nationalities include Chinese, Turkish, Cypriot, Cambodian and Ni-Vanuatu, Singapore police said. [...]

Palace: Move to boost bilateral ties President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin as special envoy to Beijing, days after the Chinese embassy in Manila called on the Philippines to meet it halfway over maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea. “[Ambassador Locsin’s appointment] is to boost bilateral relations between the two countries,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said, adding that Locsin will serve as concurrent Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr.   Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong earlier said Beijing and Manila are neighbors that “can’t move away from one another,” thus disputes between both countries should be managed through dialogue and consultations. “China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through [...]

President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos depart from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for his state visit to China on January 3, 2023. STAR / KJ Rosales   Manila, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday justified President Marcos’ travels, saying they allowed him to check on government projects and encourage businesses to invest in the Philippines. The Palace statement was issued after the Commission on Audit (COA)’s latest report showed the Office of the President (OP) incurred P403.088 million in travel expenses in 2022, up by a whopping 995.6 percent or P366.296 million from P36.792-million total travel expenses in 2021. Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said with the opening of the economy and the lifting of mobility restrictions last year, Marcos has begun going around the [...]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday, Aug. 16 urged those 60 years of age and older to register in the database of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) in support of the ongoing nationwide registration for all Filipino seniors. The NCSC is currently conducting a nationwide registration of all senior citizens using an improved data form, adding some vital features to include the senior’s source of income, if applicable, skill set, and health profile. The form can be accessed through NCSC’s official website. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said the nationwide database of senior citizens will be a great baseline for policy formulation and program development for the protection and promotion of the older person sector. “The national database of the senior citizens, [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday said the Philippines should now build its own structure on Ayungin Shoal as China continues to harass Philippine vessels and fishermen. "During the budget deliberations, I will propose the inclusion in the budget of an item to build a structure already on that island," Escudero told CNN Philippines' The Source. The senator said he will push for ₱100 million for the structure, which can include accommodation for Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre – a World War II-era ship intentionally grounded on Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as the country's outpost in the West Philippine Sea. Escudero pointed out that China was the first to build structures in the contested area. "Kami naman magpapagawa sa sinasabi naming [...]

  ILOILO CITY – The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) High-Value Crops Development Program will help the province of Guimaras expand its dragon fruit plantation by 15 hectares to 20 hectares through a PHP10 million grant. “It’s part of our intervention from the high-value crops. It’s for the expansion,” Jonifer Frades, DA high-value crops regional coordinator, said in an interview on Tuesday. Frades said they would give inputs, including planting materials, fertilizers, and capability building or training to members of the Guimaras Dragon Fruit Farmers Association. He said the grant is part of their pipeline projects next year, and in January they will start with the selection and validation of areas where the crop could be planted. “Currently, they are only at 14 hectares based on the PSA [...]

  PRECIOUS REAL ESTATE. Several Palawan provincial board members are set to plant coconut trees on Kalayaan Island on Aug. 22, 2023. The gesture is meant to highlight and assert the Philippines' territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo courtesy of the Western Command)                             Puerto Princese, Palawan – A Palawan provincial board member on Tuesday announced that he and some colleagues are scheduled to travel to the West Philippine Sea to join the military and coast guard in planting coconut trees on Pag-asa Island, the main seat of government of Kalayaan town. Board Member Aris Arzaga stated that the trip to Pag-asa Island on Aug. 22 is for a symbolic coconut planting [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he is "hesitant" to answer on statements of "act of war" in the recent incident in the West Philippine Sea, stressing that Manila is still committed to China to resolve disputes peacefully. In a budget briefing of the House of Representatives for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel asked the secretary if it was “wise” that the Philippines is on a “war footing” after the recent incursion in the contested waters. Manalo answered that the country is “not on a war footing.” “I hesitate to answer what would be an act of war,” he said when further pressed on the department’s perspective on the matter. “The general understanding among all countries is to try [...]

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has teamed up with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the week-long nationwide school maintenance program to prepare for the official start of classes on August 29. The agencies, both headed by Vice President Sara Duterte, have partnered for the Brigada Eskwela 2023, which will be conducted from August 14 to 19. The OVP said its ten satellite offices in Dagupan, Isabela, Region 5, Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Davao, Surigao, Zamboanga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will participate in the activity. On Monday, August 14, the OVP is set to assist in the maintenance of East Central Integrated School in Dagupan; Cauayan South Central School in Isabela; Gogon Central Elementary School in Legazpi; Labagon Elementary School in Cebu; St. [...]

The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) is affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao on Monday and will bring rain showers over several areas, PAGASA said in its weather forecast. The Bicol Region, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Palawan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the monsoon. Flooding or landslides may occur due to moderate to at times heavy rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the monsoon and localized thunderstorms. During severe thunderstorms, flash floods or landslides may possibly occur. Coastal waters will be moderate to rough in the seaboards of Luzon, and slight to moderate in Visayas and Mindanao. Sunrise was at 5:42 a.m. while sunset [...]

Mayon Volcano in Albay is currently in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In the past 24-hour period, a slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed the established lava flows on the Bonga (southeastern), Mi-isi (south), and Basud (eastern) gullies, Phivolcs also said. The lava flows maintained advances to approximately 3.4 kilometers, 2.8 kilometers, and 1.1 kilometers from the crater. Rockfall and pyroclastic density currents or PDCs generated by collapses of the lava flow margins as well as of the summit dome deposited debris still within four kilometers of the crater. The Mayon Volcano Network recorded a total of 221 [...]

Rex Estoperez, DA assistant secretary and deputy spokesperson, said in an interview that a memorandum of agreement was already signed by both agencies, noting that the NFA has warehousing and logistics capabilities as well as branches nationwide. STAR / File   Manila, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture  (DA) will tap the warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) in the distribution of the 4,000 metric tons or 80,000 bags of smuggled sugar in Kadiwa stores nationwide. Rex Estoperez, DA assistant secretary and deputy spokesperson, said in an interview that a memorandum of agreement was already signed by both agencies, noting that the NFA has warehousing and logistics capabilities as well as branches nationwide. The DA and Bureau of Customs have signed a separate MOA for the formal turnover [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a fresh five-year national policy which his administration said would help address security challenges by aligning all related strategies. Executive Order (EO) No. 37, signed by Marcos on Thursday and released on Saturday, states that the National Security Policy (NSP) 2023-2028 would “provide guidance and a comprehensive approach to improving security sector governance.” According to the National Security Council, it contains the statement of principles that set the current administration’s policy goals and objectives to protect national interests, including sovereignty and territorial integrity. The president directed all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including local government units, to adopt the NSP in formulating and implementing their security-related programs. “There is a need to harmonize the national security efforts of the Government [...]

Stock photo of a peso money bill. Philstar / Jovannie Lambayan DICT, DMW lowest spenders MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) were the lowest spenders in 2023. The information surfaced during Thursday’s hearing on the proposed P5.768-trillion budget for 2024 by the House committee on appropriations attended by the administration’s economic managers. Responding to a question from Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the average “obligation rate” of the national government as whole was 30.5 percent as of March 31. “Obligation rate” pertains to the percentage of the budget already utilized by the government. The data for the second quarter of the year was not yet available as these were only submitted by agencies [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Most Filipinos believe the Marcos administration should engage in “diplomacy or other peaceful methods” to further assert the country’s territorial rights over the West Philippine Sea, according to an OCTA survey published on Saturday. The study conducted from July 22 to 27 found that 70% of the 1,200 participants want a peaceful resolution in the territorial dispute. Filipinos also opted for other top priority measures, including the use of military action (65%) and modernizing and strengthening the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s territory (61%). The non-sponsored survey has a ± 3% error margin at 95% confidence level. The Senate earlier adopted a resolution condemning China’s continued harassment of Filipino fisherfolk and persistent incursions in the West Philippine Sea. Last Aug. 5, a China Coast [...]

  The southwest monsoon or Habagat will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers over the country on Saturday, PAGASA reported. The Visayas, Mindanao, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and the northern portion of Palawan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon. Flooding or landslides could occur in these areas due to moderate to at times heavy rains. Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms with the possibility of flash floods or landslides occurring during severe thunderstorms. The wind speed forecast for Luzon is moderate to strong moving in the southwest to west direction while coastal waters will be [...]

Fishermen on Pag-asa Island on Friday said they opposed a military plan to train them to become part of a reserve force in the face of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In an interview over radio dzBB, Larry Hugo, the president of the Pag-asa Island Fisherfolk Association which operates about 36 fishing boats, said they would prefer to simply report any untoward incident in the area. “That would be difficult for us fishermen,” he said of the military plan in Filipino, adding that their group of 36 boats would not agree to carry firearms. On Thursday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they are considering putting up a maritime militia in the West Philippine Sea to strengthen their presence in [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— China has responded to the statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that there was no agreement between Manila and Beijing to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. On Wednesday, the President even went as far saying that even if there was an agreement, he was rescinding it. CNN Philippines spoke to some diplomatic sources from China and asked if they are willing to show proof of the said promise. “What’s the point [of us doing] that if any agreement will be rescinded,” a diplomatic source said. China maintained that the Philippine government committed to remove the World War II-era ship from Ayungin Shoal. “Over this matter, China had repeatedly made representations to the Philippines and renewed the same demand,” according to a white position paper [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the planned Philippine-Vietnam maritime pact will be “a very big step” for the two countries amid woes in the South China Sea. In a statement, Malacañang said outgoing Vietnam Ambassador to the Philippines Hoang Huy Chung paid a farewell call on Marcos on Thursday, during which they discussed the signing of the maritime agreement. “Now that we are going to start discussions on the agreement that we have between the Philippines and Vietnam, I think it is a very, very important – it will be a very, very important part of our relationship and it will bring an element of stability to the problems that we are seeing now in the South China Sea,” the president said. The realization of the [...]

Teams from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group intercept a coast guard vessel used as a mock illegal vessel transporting drugs during an in-ter-agency exercise dubbed ‘Alalayan’ (provide support) in Manila Bay yesterday. The exercise, witnessed by representatives from US and European embassies, was held to test protocols and demonstrate capability in identifying maritime threats within the area of responsibility. Edd Gumban   Manila, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner made this clear yesterday as the military prepares to resume deploying AFP ships to escort vessels carrying provisions for a Marine outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. A resupply mission on Aug. 5 was cut short after the CCG hosed down one of the civilian supply ships. One of [...]

NEW PH ARMY CHIEF. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) shakes hands with newly appointed Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido during the change of command rites led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (Aug. 7, 2023). Galido served as commander of the Western Mindanao Command before being named Army chief. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)   Manila, Philippines— President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday assured that his administration is committed to supporting the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including the Philippine Army (PA). Marcos made this remark as he challenged the new Army chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, to work on building [...]

The Senate has approved on Monday, August 7, the proposed law that seeks to institutionalize the automatic income classification of provinces, cities, and municipalities on third and final reading. Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2165, thanked his colleagues for supporting the measure. The bill received 22 affirmative votes, two negative votes and no abstentions. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Risa Hontiveros both voted against the measure. “Through constructive collaboration and thorough deliberation, we have ensured that this legislation upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, and balanced governance, all for the welfare and safeguarding the interest of our local government units (LGUs),” said Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government. The House of Representatives has approved [...]

The country’s oil firms raised pump prices by P4 per liter for diesel, kerosene by P2.75 per liter and gasoline by P0.50 per liter effective 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad said over the weekend diesel increase may hit P4 per liter. Abad said the increase in pump prices was driven by cut in production from Russia and Saudi Arabia. Diesel prices have increased by around P10 per liter for the past five weeks, while gasoline prices have already risen by P5 per liter for the same period. This week’s adjustments came on the heels of after a major pump price hike of P3.50 for diesel, P2.10 for gasoline, and [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte. STAR / Jesse Bustos   Manila, Philippines — Pointing out that the education sector is “intertwined with national security,” Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte yesterday defended the Department of Education (DepEd)’s requested P150-million budget for confidential expenses in 2024. In a chance interview with reporters on the sidelines of the DepEd’s Balik Eskwela 2023 national kick-off ceremony at Tarlac National High School in Tarlac City, Duterte said she is leaving it up to Congress to decide on the DepEd’s request, but maintained that the agency needs a confidential fund to play its role in national security. “Because education is intertwined with national security. Napakahalaga na (It’s very important that) we mold children who are patriotic, children who will love our country and will defend our country,” she [...]

PBBM: DFA fires off note verbale to protest latest WPS mess The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Beijing’s envoy Monday to protest the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. “Our secretary of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador Huang (Xilian) today and gave him a note verbale including pictures (and) video about what happened and we are awaiting their reply,” Mr. Marcos told reporters. “The position of China, of course, is they say ‘this is ours so we are defending it’ and we, for our part, are saying ‘no, we own it so we are defending it’. So that becomes a gray area that we are discussing.” ANATOMY OF A BLOCKADE. These screengrabs of videos shared [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Manila and Washington are ironing out the final details of their joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea which may happen in the next few months, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said Friday. “Of course meron pang mga logistical issues na nire-resolve. May mga ina-iron out na mga issues but I don't think these are insurmountable,” Malaya said. [Translation: There are logistical issues being resolved. There are some issues being ironed out.] "I would think before the end of the year there will be a formal announcement by the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] and relevant authorities. Pero [But] as of now I can't disclose yet," he added. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez earlier said the joint patrols were [...]

PE2 president Alexander Ablaza lauded the DOE’s multi-sectoral interventions to accelerate EE&C implementation. STAR / File   Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance Inc. (PE2) has welcomed the Department of Energy (DOE)’s ongoing push for energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) across sectors. PE2 president Alexander Ablaza lauded the DOE’s multi-sectoral interventions to accelerate EE&C implementation. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla has cited the effective implementation of EE&C measures as an equally important aspect or pillar of the government’s energy program. He said EE&C’s effective implementation would bring down overall energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce intensity in the production of goods and services. “This is not just simply a gut feel reaction to the high prices in fuel, but the direction that we must take as [...]

Handout photo from the Philippine Coast Guard showed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel firing a water cannon. Philippine Coast Guard   Manila, Philippines — The country’s coast guard and military condemned on Sunday what they called the China Coast Guard’s “dangerous” actions after it fired water cannons at Philippine vessels, the latest of Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. “The Philippine Coast Guard strongly condemns the CCG’s dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the PCG said in a statement. The incident happened Saturday as the Coast Guard escorted boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies for military personnel stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. The PCG [...]

Zubiri shares idea with PBBM to boost output, cut imports Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has proposed the idea of “rice production zones” (RPZs) to boost the country’s rice output to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is concurrent Agriculture chief. In a statement on Saturday, Zubiri said RPZs would also help lessen the country’s dependence on imported rice, as he discussed his proposal with Mr. Marcos during a dinner hosted by the President for senators last Wednesday. The Chief Executive found the senator’s idea “very interesting,” Zubiri added. The immediate goal is to replenish the country’s rice stocks that were lost when two storms hit Regions 1, 2 and 3 over the last fortnight, the Senate leader said. These regions – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon – [...]

Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BS) governor Felipe M. Medalla was the highest paid government official as of Dec. 31, 2022 with P34.17 million in salaries and allowances. Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno was at second place with P28.78 million based on the 2022 Report on Salaries and Allowance (ROSA) released by the Commission on Audit (COA). The report stated that Diokno, who used to hold Medalla’s position, received P41.811 million in 2021. The amount was more than double than what he received in 2020 with P19.79 million. It also stated that the third to the 14th slot in the ROSA were from the BSP.  They were Monetary Board members Anita Linda R. Aquino and Victor Bruce J. Tolentino, Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier, Members Peter B. Favila and [...]

Spending plan handed to Congress President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is seeking to increase the funding for his administration’s infrastructure and agricultural programs next year, the P5.768-trillion spending plan for 2024 submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress shows. In his budget message, the President said that under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the “Build Better More” program would focus on social infrastructure. “This program, which seeks to continue and expand the Golden Age of Infrastructure of the country, will receive a total of P1.418 trillion. This is equivalent to 5.3 percent of GDP (gross domestic product),” Marcos said. TURNOVER. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (left) submits the 2024 National Expenditure Plan to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who promised next year’s proposed national budget would [...]

New York  — OPEC leader Saudi Arabia is extending its oil production cut for at least another month in a move that threatens to drive gasoline and other energy prices even higher. An official source from the Saudi Ministry of Energy told state-run news agency SPA Thursday that the kingdom will extend this voluntary cut of one million barrels per day for the month of September. The source told state media the cut could be extended further and the move is aimed at supporting the stability and balance of oil markets. It’s the second time the kingdom has extended the cut, which was first announced in June after a meeting of the alliance between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other smaller producers. At almost the same [...]

A China Cargo Airlines Boeing 777-F is seen on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, on July 26, 2023. AFP / Daniel Slim     Beijing, China — China will allow some foreigners to obtain visas on arrival and rural residents to settle more easily in cities as part of a series of measures aimed at boosting its flagging economy. The relaxations aim to "promote the free movement" of "people, vehicles, information and data", an official from the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday. China's post-Covid recovery has run out of steam in recent months, dragged down by sluggish consumption and a real estate sector in crisis. GDP growth increased by just 0.8 percent from the first to second quarter of the year, [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The rate of price increases in the Philippines maintained its downtrend for the sixth straight month in July, but a government official said the onslaught of recent typhoons may affect the slowdown. In a briefing on Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation last month was cooler at 4.7% from the 5.4% recorded in June. July’s inflation rate is within the 4.1% to 4.9% forecast range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the month. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said last month’s inflation was the slowest since March 2022’s 4%. The PSA attributed the deceleration to a slower increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; food and non-alcoholic beverages; and transport. Food inflation likewise showed a drop from 6.7% in June to [...]

About 10.4% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger, that is, being hungry and not having anything to eat at least once in the past three months, according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS). The SWS reported that the June 2023 Hunger figure was higher than the 9.8% in March 2023. However, it was lower than the 11.8% in December 2022. The SWS presented the results of a survey conducted from June 28 to July 1, 2023, using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The hunger rate of 10.4% was the sum of 8.3% who experienced Moderate Hunger and 2.1% who experienced Severe Hunger. Moderate Hunger as defined by the [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday visited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Palace said. "They also discussed other issues. The former President likewise gave some good pieces of advice to President Marcos," Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said. Last July 17, Duterte met with Xi in Beijing. There is no information yet on who extended the invitation to Duterte and in what capacity he represented the Philippines. On July 12, the Philippines commemorated the seventh anniversary of the arbitral ruling that recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone and invalidated China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea. More governments around the world also reaffirmed their support for the landmark [...]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses as he meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (not seen) in Ankara, Turkey, on Jul 26, 2023. (Photo: Stringer/Pool via REUTERS)   Washington— The United States has formally invited China's newly reappointed foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Washington, the US State Department said on Tuesday (Aug 1), after Wang's predecessor was abruptly removed from his post by Beijing. China reappointed veteran diplomat Wang last week, replacing former rising star Qin Gang, who has not been seen for more than month - a mysterious absence after just seven months in the job that has raised questions about transparency. China's foreign ministry has only said Qin was off work for unspecified health reasons. The invitation to Wang was extended on Monday during a meeting at [...]

Former US President Donald Trump has been criminally charged over his alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. He is accused of four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the US, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. The indictment caps an inquiry into events surrounding the riot two-and-a-half years ago at the US Capitol. Mr Trump, 77, who is running for president again, denies wrongdoing. He is already charged in two other cases: with mishandling classified files and over a porn star's hush-money payment. The election investigation has focused on Mr Trump's actions in the two-month period between his loss and the riot in Washington DC, where supporters of his stormed Congress as lawmakers certified Democratic President Joe Biden's victory. The man leading the [...]

The country’s sovereign debt stock swelled to a new record high as of end-June as the government boosts borrowing efforts to support its financing requirement, latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed Tuesday. The national government’s total outstanding debt stood at P14.15 trillion, up 0.4% from P14.10 trillion as of end-May.  The month-on-month increase was attributed “primarily due to the net issuance of domestic securities,” according to the Treasury. Of the total debt balance, 68.6% were sourced locally while the remaining 31.4% were from foreign sources. Broken down, domestic debt totaled P9.70 trillion, up.2% from as of end-May. “For the month, domestic debt growth amounted to P114.32 billion due to the net issuance of government bonds driven by the national government’s financing requirements,” the BTr said. [...]

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has meted out a six-month preventive suspension on several officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Food Terminal Incorporated over an ongoing probe into the purchase of onions for the Kadiwa Food Hub project. In an order, Martires slapped the preventive suspension without pay against DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, DA Administrative Officer V Eunice Biblanias, DA OIC-Chief Accountant Lolita Jamela, FTI Vice President for Operations John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III and FTI Budget Division Head Juanita Lualhati. While Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and FTI President Robert Tan were included in the complaints for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial, they were not covered by the suspension order. ‘’It appears that the evidence of guilt [against] respondents Evangelista, Biblanias, Jamela, Trinidad [...]

This March 22, 2021 aerial photo shows Chinese vessels still present in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Armed Forces of the Philippines Resolution strongly condemns China intrusions at sea MANILA, Philippines — Crossing party lines, senators adopted yesterday a strongly worded resolution condemning China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea and providing the executive department with several options to deal with the matter, including raising it before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The senators unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 718, which was largely based on SR 659 of Sen. Risa Hontiveros and SR 707 of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. After the chamber moved to adopt SR 718, Zubiri clarified that the original points raised [...]

Rice dealers display rice and their prices at New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City on April 16, 2023. STAR / Michael Varcas   Manila, Philippines — The government is planning to import 1.3 million metric tons (MMT) of rice as President Marcos expressed concerns over the combined impact of Typhoon Egay, the El Niño phenomenon and Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain initiative on the country’s supply of the grain, an official said yesterday. During a Palace briefing, Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said they have yet to set the dates of importation, but noted there are pending applications for sanitary and phytosanitary certificates. “I think the President will have to discuss or consult the private sector for help. I think we need the help of the private sector in [...]

(FILE PHOTO)   Metro Manila, Philippines — The US Embassy on Tuesday expressed concerns over ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay, including issues involving the environment. In a statement, US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said they are in constant communication with the Philippine government about how the projects could potentially negatively impact the environment, the resilience of Manila Bay and nearby areas to hazards, as well as commerce. It also raised concerns over the involvement of a Chinese company in the projects. "We are also concerned that the projects have ties to the China Communications Construction Co., which has been added to the US Department of Commerce's Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea," the embassy said. [...]

A mall shopper uses the coin deposit machine deployed at the SM Store in North Edsa, Quezon City on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)   Manila, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was able to bring back into circulation a total of P12.5 million in various coins through 10 coin deposit machines (CODMs) that were launched in select shopping malls since June 20. The rollout of CODMs throughout the past six weeks started with two units installed at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and one each at Robinsons Place Ermita (Manila) and Festival Mall in Muntinlupa City. The rest were spread out across SM City San Lazaro, SM City Bicutan, SM City Bacoor, Robinsons Place Galleria Ortigas, [...]

Typhoon Falcon (international name: Khanun) intensified further on Monday while moving north northwestward over the Philippine Sea. It continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) which will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days, PAGASA said in its bulletin. At 4 a.m., the center of Falcon was estimated to be located at 1,070 km east of Extreme Northern Luzon. Falcon has maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 185 km/h, and central pressure of 950 hPa. The typhoon is moving north northwestward at 15 km/h. From its center, strong to typhoon-force winds are extending outwards up to 750 km. Rainfall, winds PAGASA said rainfall will generally be higher in elevated or mountainous areas. "Under [...]

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. admitted growing concerns about the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, particularly on the prices of the country’s staple grain.   (Keith Bacongco/File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN   The Chief Executive also expressed his worry on the country’s rice supply stock as he starts to consider India as possible import source. “I’m thinking about the national supply of rice,” the President told officials in Tuguegarao City on Saturday, July 29, while there to assess the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Egay’ (international name Doksuri). “Everybody is preparing for El Niño, lahat ng nasa Southeast Asia, sabay-sabay nagbibilihan (all in Southeast Asia have been buying simultaneously),” Marcos, who also serves as the Agriculture chief, noted. “Kaya ninenerbyos ako dahil tataas na naman ang presyo kahit mag-import tayo (That’s [...]

Key officials of Philippine-based private equity investor New Wave Strategic Holdings Inc. and Malaysian state-backed fund Emissary Capital Partners Sdn Bhd present their proposed $50-million investment to help boost the development of the country’s renewable energy sector during President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s three-day Malaysian state visit last week. Photo: New Wave and Emissary Capital     Private equity investment firm New Wave Strategic Holdings Inc. and Malaysian government-backed investment fund Emissary Capital Partners Sdn Bhd are eyeing to invest $50 million into the Philippines’ renewable energy market. In a joint news release, the companies said the planned investment can help generate as much as 1,000 megawatts (MW) of bankable capacity in the country. The investment proposal was presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his three-day state visit in [...]

The 185 new personnel of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division are to perform anti-COVID-19 frontline missions. Philstar.com / John Unson MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines is not closing its doors on the conduct of joint military exercises with China and Vietnam, two countries with overlapping territorial claims on areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and South China Sea, according to AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. “Again, we are not closing our possibilities, our prospect according to our President is that we are friends to all, enemies to none,” Brawner said in an interview on radio station dzBB yesterday. Brawner said that while the AFP is exploring all possibilities to boost the country’s patrolling activities in WPS, there are no arrangements or [...]

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will file a draft resolution condemning China’s incursion into Philippine territory and its harassment of Philippine Coast Guard personnel and Filipino fishermen. The document will no longer limit the call only to asking the government to bring its case to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The original resolution proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros had called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring the issue to the UNGA for a vote, but some senators had questioned the wisdom of this move, saying it could weaken the Philippine position if the vote goes the wrong way. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reacting to the Hontiveros resolution, also said that it is the executive branch, not the legislature, that sets foreign policy. Zubiri said the [...]

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to release interim guidelines for the reduction of the administrative tasks of teachers, an official said Wednesday. At the post-SONA discussion on poverty reduction, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said the guidelines would be issued in a "few weeks' time.'' “Isang napakalaking reklamo ng ating teachers is ‘yung napakaraming admin tasks. That’s why in a few weeks time, we will be issuing interim guidelines in reducing kaagaran ‘yung admin tasks ng ating mga teachers,” he said. (One of the teachers’ biggest concerns is that there are a lot of administrative tasks. That’s why, in a few weeks' time, we will be issuing interim guidelines to reduce them.) “Ibibigay na natin siya sa non-teaching personnel. That’s why we’re also very aggressive in hiring non-teaching [...]

The Philippine Coast Guard installs a navigational buoy at Balagtas Reef in the West Philippine Sea in May 2023. PCG/File photo   A bill designating July 12 as West Philippine Sea Day to mark the country’s unprecedented international court victory against China has been filed in the House of Representatives. The Makabayan bloc filed the measure under House Bill 8583 which designates July 12 as West Philippine Sea day to celebrate the decision, issued on that day in 2016, by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that upheld the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea, outlawed Chinese aggression in common fishing ground areas and ultimately rejected China’s expansive nine-dash-line claim of the entire South China Sea. China has refused to recognize the Hague ruling to [...]

AT A GLANCE DICT estimated that up to 55 million Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) cards have been deactivated after the extended SIM registration officially ended on July 25.  Unregistered SIMs are given a five-day grace period for reactivation. Latest data from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) showed that the SIM registrants reached 105,917,844.   Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy on Wednesday, July 26 estimated that a total of 55 million Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) cards have been deactivated after the extended SIM registration officially ended. Photo credit to Pixabay   “The others that are no longer active as of today are the SIMs that we called ‘active but are non-revenue generating’, meaning this were SIMs that either was used only once or perhaps twice. [...]

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri makes a press statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023 into law a week before he delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2023. Mong Pintolo / The Philippine STAR   Manila, Philippines — The Senate will discuss behind closed doors a proposed resolution urging the Marcos administration to seek support from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in protecting Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri agreed to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal for a caucus on July 31. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and presidential adviser on West Philippine Sea Andres Centino will be invited. Cayetano earlier blocked the Senate’s adoption of a resolution [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Typhoon Egay is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday, but another low pressure area (LPA) is seen to intensify and enter the country's weather monitoring area. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Egay was last spotted 195 kilometers (km) west of Basco, Batanes. It had maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, down from 185 kph. The bureau said the typhoon is expected to leave the PAR by Thursday morning or afternoon and is forecast to cross the Taiwan Strait and make landfall in the vicinity of Fujian, China on Friday morning. PAGASA, however, warned that there is still a moderate to high risk of storm surge, [...]

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) lifted on Sunday, July 23, the existing health safety protocols in all public transportation system after President Marcos issued a presidential proclamation that set aside Covid-19 protocols as part of the move for the normalization. DOTR Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the lifted Covid-19 protocols include the wearing face masks and physical distancing in passenger jeepneys, buses and mass transportation system. “The President’s proclamation rescinds the mask requirement in public transport. All passenger vehicles can continue to operate at full capacity,” said Bautista.  “This new development is a significant step towards normalizing public transportation and supporting economic recovery,” he added. The Covid-19 protocols were strictly implemented since March 2020 and has been gradually eased in the past two years as the number fo infections [...]

Ease of doing business to reduce corruption in government topped the wish list of the business sector that they want President Marcos to commit in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, July 24.   Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George T. Barcelon said that top of mind in the business sector’s wish list for the President’s SONA is the ease of dong business in government agencies and especially at the local government unit (LGU) level. According to Barcelon, the Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is doing its job, but it cannot do it alone. He said the bigger part lies on LGUs to further ease doing business. “It is best to impose a target for LGUs to achieve ease of doing business to facilitate [...]

READY FOR THE REPORT. A giant banner of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) hangs at the entrance of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will deliver his second SONA on Monday. Joan Bondoc   President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) today —a progress report after a year in power in which he says the country made significant strides as he acknowledged that his governance has a long way to go. “That’s what I want to explain to people — that we have made significant progress. We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems work, how the government works. It is also how we are seen or judged [...]

“The US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement are the modern-day legacy of the shared sacrifice borne by our veterans,” she said yesterday. STAR / File   Manila, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have agreed to step up maritime policy and operational cooperation amid tensions in the South China Sea. At the second Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue on July 21 in Washington, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for maritime and ocean affairs Maria Angela Ponce underscored that “the rising tensions and critical situation in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea and the persistent and evolving challenges to the rules-based international order drive us to enhance ways to respond faster, and in a more coordinated and effective manner.” Ponce led the [...]

Typhoon Egay as of 11:10 p.m., July 23, 2023. PAGASA   Severe Tropical Storm Egay has intensified into a typhoon as it moves over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said late Sunday. In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said that the center of Typhoon Egay's eye is estimated to be 490 km east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, or 620 km east of Baler, Aurora. It is moving west-northwest at 10 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and a central pressure of 975 hPa. "Strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 550 km from the center," PAGASA said. Storm Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over the northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, [...]

Satellite photo shows Severe Tropical Storm Egay (international name: Doksuri) on July 23, 2023 at 10:40 a.m. PAGASA Manila, Philippines — Cyclone Egay (international name: Doksuri) has intensified into a severe tropical storm, and will bring heavy rain to parts of the country, state weather bureau PAGASA said Sunday. The cyclone's peak winds increased to 95 kilometers per hour near the center and its gusts increased to up to 115 kph, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin. Egay is forecast to reach typhoon category within 24 hours and may become a super typhoon on Tuesday. Weather forecasters said that rapid intensification may happen within the next 72 hours due to favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Egay is expected to remain offshore for most of the forecast period, but PAGASA [...]

Remulla: PH to ‘stop engaging’ with ICC despite probe Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who initiated a bloody war on drugs that killed thousands of suspects during his term, should stay away from countries where the International Criminal Court (ICC) has influence, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday. Remulla said the same holds true for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who led the war on drugs when he was Duterte’s national police chief. Both are subjects of an ICC investigation triggered by charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed under Duterte’s leadership. Remulla also said the Philippines will stop engaging with the ICC as he will advise the Office of the Solicitor General to stop engaging with the court. “They are citizens of the republic who also need our protection [...]

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague will rule today on the Philippine government’s appeal for the prosecutor not to proceed with the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in the war on drugs under former president Rodrigo Duterte and ex-PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has made it clear authorities would not cooperate with ICC prosecutors. STAR / File     Manila,  Philippines — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court can now apply for the issuance of arrest warrants at the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber. The Philippine government has said it will not implement any arrest warrant from the ICC. “At this stage, the prosecutor can actually already decide who he might charge with crimes against humanity, which is [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a P170-billion proposal to rehabilitate and expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Wednesday. The project is one of three additional infrastructure projects the President approved as part of the administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, Balisacan said. Balisacan said that the proposed NAIA rehabilitation project, which will be undertaken through a public-private partnership, aims to improve the annual airport capacity from 35 million to at least 62 million passengers and enhance air traffic movement and overall passenger experience. The project is expected to begin in 2024. Meanwhile, Balisacan said the P267-billion unsolicited offer of the Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC) was considered closed after the NEDA Board approved [...]

Streaks of lightning strike through the night sky behind condominium buildings in Manila on July 1, 2023. STAR / Miguel De Guzman   Manila, Philippines — The Philippine economy likely posted slower growth of 5.6 percent in the second quarter on weaker consumption, analysts said. During the First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) briefing yesterday, University of Asia and the Pacific economist Victor Abola said he saw a 5.6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the second quarter, slower than the 6.4 percent growth posted in the first quarter. Abola said consumption spending is expected to have slowed down in the second quarter. “It is really the carryover of the inflation into the second quarter. Even though it is lower, people have become more reluctant,” he said. Headline inflation [...]

The low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao is expected to bring rain showers to most of the country and strengthen into a tropical depression in the coming days, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday, July 20. PAGASA weather specialist Patrick Del Mundo said scattered light to occasional heavy rains may prevail over Visayas, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands. It warned of possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to heavy rainfall in these areas. Meanwhile, the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the trough or extension of the LPA. LPA likely to become tropical depression [...]

At the inauguration of new light rail transit (LRT-1) trains, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the government will keep pursuing public transportation projects in the country. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)   Marcos cited his pronouncement in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he emphasized the integral role of infrastructure development such as the construction of agricultural roads and improvement of railways systems in the country's socio and economic progress. "In line with this, I am one with the general public in eagerly anticipating the full operations of the LRT-1 Cavite extension for 2027," the President said during the inauguration ceremony held in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 19. "I assure you that this administration will continue to pursue more public transportation projects [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the dismissal of the government's ₱1.05-billion civil case against the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, his widow Imelda Marcos, and their cronies who allegedly acted as their dummies to accumulate ill-gotten wealth. In a ruling promulgated on March 29 but released to the media only on Wednesday, the high court affirmed the September 2019 decision of the Sandiganbayan, which dismissed the case filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) due to lack of evidence. In October 2019, the government filed a motion for reconsideration, but the Sandiganbayan denied this for lack of merit. This prompted the government to file a petition in June 2020 asking the SC to review the anti-graft court’s verdict. The SC said “there is [...]

Manila, Philippines — A new low-pressure area (LPA) has developed outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the eastern section of Mindanao and may soon develop into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday. “At 2 p.m. in the afternoon (of July 16) the cloud clusters outside PAR have developed into a low-pressure area and may develop into a typhoon within 24 to 48 hours,” PAGASA weather specialist Adlczar Aurelio said. He added that the LPA will be named “Egay” once it turns into a typhoon. Aurelio said that as of 3 p.m. on July 16, Severe Tropical Storm Dodong  (international name Talim), now outside PAR, was located 565 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte or 710 km west of Basco, [...]

(FILE PHOTO) Metro Manila, Philippines— Maynilad Water Services has suspended service interruptions in some areas beginning Sunday as the rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong have increased the water level in Ipo Dam. "Pansamantang isususpinde ang scheduled daily water service interruptions sa ilang bahagi ng Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City at Valenzuela simula ngayon hanggang sa susunod na abiso," the West Zone water concessionaire said in an advisory. [Translation: Scheduled daily water service interruptions in some areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City and Valenzuela are suspended from today until further notice.] "Ang mga pag-ulan nitong nakalipas na araw dulot ng #DodongPH ay nakatulong mapataas ang water elevation sa Ipo Dam, dahilan kung bakit patuloy naming natatanggap mula sa portal ang 2,400 MLD (million liters per day) [...]

FILE PHOTO   Metro Manila, Philippines — Transport group Manibela said from 45,000 to 50,000 drivers and operators from Metro Manila are expected to participate in the three-day nationwide "tigil-pasada" that will begin on July 24. In an effort to draw President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s attention to the government's lack of urgency in addressing their concerns about the PUV modernization program, the transport strike will coincide with his second State of the Nation Address. "Siguro nasa 45,000 to 50,000 po ang kasama dito dahil ilang cities na po ang naikutan natin simula noong maghayag tayo ng tigil-pasada," Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend. [Translation: Maybe around 45,000 to 50,000 people will participate because we have already gone around several cities since we announced the transport strike.] [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the adoption of a new brand of governance and leadership campaign characterized by a “principled, accountable and dependable government.” In a three-page memorandum circular dated July 3, 2023, the President also approved the “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) logo. Mr. Marcos directed all national government agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), to adopt the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign in their programs, activities and projects. “Bagong Pilipinas is the overarching theme of the administration’s brand of governance and leadership, which calls for deep and fundamental transformations in all sectors of society and government, and fosters the state’s commitment towards the attainment of comprehensive policy reforms and full economic recovery,” read the memorandum. Mr. Marcos also ordered that the campaign [...]

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO   You’ve laughed at the parodies. Now comes the serious part. Two days after being unveiled, the new logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) continued to draw scrutiny not only for its design and rationale, but also for its P3-million price tag and other issues. Members of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the “questionable” contract awarded by Pagcor for the rebranding project. The lawmakers noted that the contract was awarded to Printplus Graphic Services, an entity enrolled in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) just last month and registered in the Department of Trade and Industry in March 2021 with “only a barangay scope for its business name.” Filed [...]

WATER CONTRAST. Long lines form on the southbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway as flooding in Bicutan, Paranaque stalled traffic on Thursday. Gutter-deep waters also plague a motorcycle rider in Manila after day-long rains– while ironically the water levels of Angat Dam, Ipo Dam, and Bustos Dam, all in the province of Bulacan, continue to drop. Joan Bondoc, Danny Pata, and Norman Cruz     The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Thursday it is prepared for the El Niño phenomenon as its field office nationwide has action plans that include water delivery schedules, alternate wetting and drying technology, crop diversification, and the use of early maturing drought-resistant crop varieties. Meanwhile, day-long rains owing to the southwest monsoon led to flooding —and huge traffic jams—in portions of Metro Manila [...]

Manila, Philippines — To address the shortage of plastic cards, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be issuing a digital or electronic version of the driver’s license this month, an official announced yesterday. LTO officer-in-charge Hector Villacorta said the e-driver’s license is in line with the agency’s digitalization efforts and to ensure the efficient administration of the licensing system. “The digital driver’s license is a valid, secure and an alternative form of identification for persons driving motor vehicles,” Villacorta said. It will replace the paper-based official receipt that serves as a temporary driver’s license, which is traditionally printed on a plastic card. LTO’s Memorandum Circular No. HAV-2023-2410, which outlines the rules for the digital license will be effective starting July 26. Villacorta said motorists can present the e-driver’s license [...]

Geneva, Switzerland - "The end of AIDS" is still possible by 2030, the United Nations insisted Thursday, but cautioned that the world's deadliest pandemic could only be halted if leaders grasped the opportunity. "AIDS can be ended by 2030," the UNAIDS agency said as it outlined a roadmap of investment, evidence-based prevention and treatment and tackling the inequalities that are currently holding back progress. UNAIDS said that ending the pandemic was, above all, a political and financial choice. "Success is possible -- in this decade," said executive director Winnie Byanyima. The UN first set out in 2015 the target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Byanyima said the greatest progress on HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- was being made in the countries and [...]

Metro Manila , Philippines — Storm signals are raised over areas in Luzon as Tropical Depression Dodong makes landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela early Friday morning, the state weather bureau reported. According to its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dodong has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 55 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan, the northern and central portions of Aurora, and the northern and eastern portions of Polillo Islands. PAG-ASA warns of heavy rainfall and potential flooding and landslides in those areas. It added that wind impacts in [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Customers of Maynilad Water Services in Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, and Valenzuela will encounter water service interruptions for at least nine hours beginning July 12. The service interruptions are an offshoot of lower water allocation from Metro Manila's only source — Angat Dam — from 50 cubic meters per second (cms) to 48 cms in light of declining reservoir level below the 180-meter minimum operating mark. The service interruption will affect around 591,000 connections beginning 7 p.m. The west zone concessionaire advised customers to stock up on supply as water hoarding will result in higher bills. In a press briefing on Monday, Ronald Padua, Maynilad Water Supply Operations head, said supply will normalize beginning 4 a.m., but some remote and elevated barangays will have [...]

Students from the City University of Pasay gather yesterday at the Philippine International Convention Center for their graduation ceremony. Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano was among the attendees.  Ernie Peñaredondo   Manila, Philippines — Business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is urging the country to prioritize the easing of the current education crisis, emphasizing the need to transform the country’s education system to allow it to better adapt to a changed workplace in a technology-driven world. “We in the MAP believe that easing the education crisis should be one of the country’s top priorities, and we call on all sectors to actively participate in addressing it,” MAP president Benedicta Du-Baladad said in a statement on July 10. Du-Baladad said that the time has come for a public-private partnership [...]

Manila, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday projected that the 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2029. The subway has 17 stations stretching from Valenzuela City to Parañaque City. Six of the stations interconnect with Metro Rail Transit. These stations are Line 3 (MRT-3), Light Rail Transit – Line 1 (LRT-1), MRT-7, LRT-2, FTI Terminal and North–South Commuter Railway. “Our new timeline is 2029. Full operations iyon. Our challenges, of course, was (were) COVID – the effect of pandemic, and based sa unang approval with NEDA, initially only 13 states. Nadagdagan. Naging 17,” said DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said in a press conference. (Our new timeline is 2029. That’s full operations. Our challenges, of [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – The military is closely monitoring the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea after a swarm of over 48 Chinese fishing vessels were reported near the Iroquois Reef, south of the Recto bank, on June 30. “The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in coordination with other government agencies under Area Task Force (ATF)-West is actively monitoring developments in the Kalayaan Island Group,” the AFP told CNN Philippines. “The case is being handled by the NTF-WPS [National Task Force-West Philippine Sea],” it added. The ATF-West falls under the task force. It said three China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and two People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels were also seen “regularly loitering” at Sabina Shoal. Created in 2016, the NTF-WPS is chaired by the National Security Adviser. [...]

The Philippines and the United States on Friday opened the second iteration of their air forces’ joint “Cope Thunder” exercise at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. A total of 1,272 airmen are participating in the bilateral exercise: 687 troops from the Philippine Air Force and 585 from the US Pacific Air Force, according to PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo. Maj. Gen. Augustine Malinit, commander of the PAF Air Defense Command, noted the significance of the air drill as “an opportunity to assimilate forces and augment interoperability between the Philippines and the United States.” The first phase of the exercise was held in May, following its revival after over three decades. Washington and Manila first held the Cope Thunder drills in 1991. Malinit said the second Cope Thunder this [...]

President Marcos wants military to catch up, be back on track in 2 yrs amid security threats President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the Armed Forces of the Philippines to modernize faster and catch up with the rest of the world following the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Kung ano ‘yung schedule natin, medyo naatras lang nang kaunti because of the pandemic. But now, we are proceeding back to our established schedule,” the President told reporters during the graduation rites of the Philippine Army Officer Candidate Course “Gaigmat” Class 58-2023 in Taguig City. “Hopefully, we will catch up and, in a year, maybe two, we will already be back to where we were supposed to be at that time before the pandemic,” he said. The AFP modernization program involves [...]

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Amid the reported presence of Chinese ships in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has vowed to continue to “expose” the alleged aggression of China. Previously, the PCG reported that its two ships were “constantly followed, harassed and obstructed” by China Coast Guard vessels during a resupply mission for the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last June 30. The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) also revealed that it saw around 52 Chinese military and fishing boats around Del Pilar (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal. PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, who speaks for the government’s task force on the West Philippine Sea, said 48 of them were Chinese maritime militia vessels, three China Coast [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines– The water allocation cut for Metro Manila takes effect as the water level of Angat Dam fell below its minimum operating level, authorities said. National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the 48 cubic meters per second (CMS) water allocation for concessionaires and 20 CMS for the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) are now being implemented, as the water level in Angat Dam dipped to 179.99 meters early Saturday morning. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) dam information, Angat Dam’s minimum operating level is 180 meters, while its normal high water level (NHWL), or spilling level, is 210 meters. The NWRB on Thursday said it will reduce the water allocation for Metro Manila to 48 cubic meters per [...]

  MANILA , PHILIPPINES— Some 66 areas in the country may experience dry condition, dry spell and drought until the end of the year due to El Niño. In its advisory issued on Thursday, the Department of Agriculture - Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Section (DA-DRRMC) said a total of 28 areas in the country may experience dry condition -- three in Luzon, five in the Visayas and 20 in Mindanao. Meanwhile, dry spell is looming in 36 areas -- 32 in Luzon and four in the Visayas. It added that the provinces of Camarines Norte and Southern Leyte may experience drought. “El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts (such as dry spells and droughts) in some areas of the country,” it said. [...]

Michael Pelagio, a science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) Chemical Laboratory, said that oils and fats such as sesame oil and mayonnaise, unsalted butter, all-purpose cream, and bread and pastry products such as cookies and doughnuts had TFA content of more than two grams per 100 gram serving. STAR / File   MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A chemical analysis of 564 food products sold in local markets found that 17 percent of the products or brands had high trans fatty acid or TFA content posing health risk to consumers. Michael Pelagio, a science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) Chemical Laboratory, said that oils and fats such as sesame oil and mayonnaise, unsalted [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Filipinos are divided on the potential benefits of the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) that now awaits President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s signature, according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted in March. The poll showed 51% of respondents said they expect little or no benefit from the MIF, while 56% expect much benefit from it. There were also differing opinions on their level of confidence that the sovereign wealth fund will not become corrupt – with 31% saying they have a lot of confidence, 29% have little confidence, and 38% unsure. The survey found that only 20% believe they were sufficiently informed about the MIF. On the other hand, 22% said they have little knowledge about the fund, while the majority or 47% expressed they have [...]

President Marcos witnesses the ceremonial signing of the inter-governmental energy board circular on the joint award of petroleum service and coal operating contracts in the Bangsamoro region at Malacañang yesterday. STAR / File   MANILA, PHILIPPINES — President Marcos will sign into law today the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which will officially condone at least P58 billion in arrears incurred by more than 600,000 farmer-beneficiaries from his late father’s land reform program under Presidential Decree 27, including agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the late former president Corazon Aquino. Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said that Marcos will also lead the simultaneous nationwide distribution of at least 31,831 land titles to 23,699 agrarian reform beneficiaries after the signing of the New Agrarian [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said it has already reported to authorities details of the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) "dangerous maneuvers" to block the resupply mission of Philippine ships on June 30, and is now awaiting government's next steps regarding the incident. Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the completed report on the incident was immediately submitted to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was also notified about the matter, he added. “As to the diplomatic action that has to be carried out by the DFA, I know they’re going to have one but as to what that is in particular, it's for the DFA to probably [...]

The Philippines’ inflation rate slowed for a fifth month in a row in June on the back of slower movements in food, transport, and utility prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday. At a press briefing, National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa reported that inflation — the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services — eased to 5.4% last month from 6.1% in May, bringing the year-to-date rate to 7.2%. This is the fifth time that inflation slipped from a peak of 8.7% in January. Last month's inflation rate falls within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' forecast range of 5.3% to 6.1%. —KBK, GMA Integrated News

Global temperatures hit a record on Monday, underscoring the dangers of ever-increasing carbon emissions generated from burning fossil fuels. The average worldwide temperature was 17C (63F), just above the previous record of 16.9C reached in August 2016, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The new high underscores the extremity of 2023’s summer in the northern hemisphere. “This is not a milestone we should be celebrating, it's a death sentence for people and ecosystems,” said Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. “Worryingly, it won't be the hottest day for a long time.” The El Niño weather phenomenon is set to break more records this year, she said. The heat this summer has already put millions of people [...]

  MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has opened a central hotline that the public can call for concerns and complaints on transport issues. The commuter hotline, 0920-964-3687, will receive calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, according to a news release on Wednesday. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the hotline is the agency's channel to receive complaints and reports of red tape from citizens within its offices and attached agencies. "We established this hotline because we recognize the public’s role in creating a clean and efficient DOTr,” Bautista said. “We urge our fellow Filipinos to report your concerns via the commuter hotline that require full attention of the DOTr and its attached agencies." 

PRE-LEDAC GAB. House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left) and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri listen to other lawmakers as they lead the pre-LEDAC meting in Makati City late Monday to discuss priority measures for the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress. Ver Noveno   Speaker Martin Romualdez and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco have signed the Maharlika Investment Fund bill and transmitted the signed copy to the Senate on Monday. The latest version of the bill that was approved by Congress was earlier signed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri while he was in the United States on June 21. Romualdez, the principal author of the bill, earlier said the amendments introduced to the measure, specifically the inclusion of more safeguards against possible abuse and fraud, were “our way [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the smuggling of onions and other agricultural products, saying the act was equivalent to economic sabotage. "I have just given instructions to the DOJ and the NBI to initiate an investigation into the hoarding, smuggling (and) price fixing of agricultural commodities. And this is stemming from the hearing that we've conducted in the House, specifically by Congresswoman Stella Quimbo and the findings that they came up with," said Marcos. In May, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the vice chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee, alleged that Lilia "Lea" Cruz engineered the artificial spike in onion prices late last year until the early part of 2023 through companies involved in all levels of the value chain. Cruz [...]

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson expressed her gratitude to President Marcos for highlighting such friendship and how it will be sustained. STAR / File   MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The United States yesterday thanked the Philippines for the continuing and growing friendship between the two nations as friends, partners and allies. US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson expressed her gratitude to President Marcos for highlighting such friendship and how it will be sustained. “This Philippine-American Friendship Day, we commemorate the deep bond between our nations built on shared values and aspirations. May our thriving partnership continue to bring strength and prosperity to both our peoples,” Carlson said in a Twitter post. She also shared a tweet by Marcos himself where the latter acknowledged the strong alliance and partnership between the Philippines and the [...]

  Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City  (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)   MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemned on Monday the recent attacks against journalists, including the gun attack on photojournalist Joshua Abiad and the death threats against a fact-checking organization Vera Files. Such incidents, which erode press freedom, should serve as a reminder for the government to take proactive measures that protect media workers, the CHR said in a statement. “CHR expresses solidarity with the media community in strongly condemning the gun attack of Remate Online photojournalist Joshua Abiad and his family, and the death threats against fact-checking media organization VERA Files,” the CHR said. “CHR continues to reiterate that acts of violence and intimidation against media [...]

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO   MANILA, PHILIPPINES—With the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) that declared unconstitutional the law that rescheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, originally set for Dec. 5, 2022, to Oct. 30, 2023, the winners of the October elections will have a shorter term. Last year, Republic Act (RA) No. 11935 was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., giving sitting barangay and SK officials almost a year of extended office, but the law was assailed at the SC. The SC later declared that the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, required the conduct of “genuine periodic elections,” which should be held at intervals not excessively long. The village and youth elections, as mandated [...]

The Philippines has remained a lower-middle income economy under the latest World Bank (WB) classification, which saw it trailing behind some of its neighbors in Southeast Asia. Data from the international lending agency showed the Philippines gross national income (GNI) in 2022 at $3,950. The country's GNI per capital fell within the WB's bracket for lower-middle income economies of $1,136 - $4,465.  The income bracket was raised from $1,086 - $4,255 a year ago. Calculated using the World Bank Atlas method, for the current 2024 fiscal year, low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI per capita of $1,135 or less in 2022; lower-middle income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,136 and $4,465; upper-middle income economies are those with a GNI per capita between [...]

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday said the management of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has re-filed a petition for a fare increase before the agency’s Rail Regulatory Unit. Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said no fare adjustment was approved for the MRT-3 for the last eight years. Earlier, MRT-3’s fare hike petition was deferred due to “infirmities in complying with the requirements and procedure.” MRT 3 filed for an additional P2.29 boarding fare and P0.21 distance fare per kilometer to finance its operating expenses. “Therefore, P148 is the indicative subsidy by the government for every passenger for every end-to-end trip,” Chavez said in a mix of English and Filipino. Chavez said the LRT-1 operators had also asked for a fare increase since 2016. The LRT-1 runs from [...]

LABOR DEMAND | Employees of hospitals and other medical facilities hold a noise barrage in front of the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City to demand a higher entry salary for all health workers. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)   MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he was looking at modifying his proposal for a legislated P100 wage increase instead of the P150 across-the-board hike he had earlier proposed. Zubiri said he would be willing to modify Senate Bill No. 2002, even if the Senate Committee on Labor had already prepared its report endorsing the P150 daily hike. “So what we could do is amend it and come up with the committee report, propose a P100 minimum wage increase — [...]

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has terminated its contract with the ad agency which handled the “Love the Philippines” slogan following the controversy that emanated from the use of stock footage of scenic views reportedly taken from other countries. In a statement, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the department was outraged and extremely disappointed with the DDB Philippines’s use of stock footage that was supposed to help the Philippines sell its tourism market abroad. The audio-visual presentation (AVP) for the “Love the Philippines” was prepared, produced, and published by DDB Philippines as a component of the launch of the enhanced tourism branding campaign for the country.  But it was heavily criticized in social media after it turned out that some of the footage used were purportedly taken from other [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rallied members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to brace themselves for “geopolitical changes” as he underscored the importance of maritime air patrol missions in upholding territorial integrity. “The days ahead will not be easy and will demand every ounce of your strength and resilience. The winds of change signal geopolitical changes around our region and other parts of the world that have yet to affect us,” Mr. Marcos said during the PAF’s 76th founding anniversary at Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Monday. “The Philippine Air Force’s maritime air patrol missions are thus essential in upholding our territorial integrity and safeguarding Philippine maritime zones,” added the commander-in-chief. AIR FORCE’S 76TH. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. salutes the line befor speaking in the 76th founding [...]

The Quezon City (QC) government is set to launch the country’s first “care card” that would authorize LGBTQ+ couples to make medical decisions for their partners. QC Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday announced the local government will launch the “Right to Care Card” for residents on Saturday, June 24 in time for the annual Pride Festival, which culminates activities for the celebration of Pride Month. “Dito sa care card na ito, ang isang LGBT couple na matagal nang nagmamahalan, through a Special Power of Attorney, will be able to have authority over the healthcare decisions na dapat gawin o kailangang gawin para sa isang partner,” Belmonte said in a digital show. (Under this care card, LGBTQ+ couples may authorize their partners to make healthcare decisions for their partner under [...]

Several developed economies have boosted annual migration numbers or eased visa rules to help key businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought tighter border controls and kept foreign workers out.   SYDNEY, Australia - New Zealand said on Wednesday it would free up its annual intake of highly skilled migrants and chart a faster route to giving them permanent residency, as rich nations compete to lure the best global talent. Several developed economies have boosted annual migration numbers or eased visa rules to help key businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought tighter border controls and kept foreign workers out. "The changes ... to ensure there is no cap on skilled migrants removes an artificial constraint in the old system," Immigration [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the proposed ₱5.768-trillion national funding for next year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Friday. The proposed budget reflects a 9.5% increase from 2023’s ₱5.268 trillion, the DBM said in a statement. “Guided by our Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, the proposed national budget will continue to prioritize expenditures outlined in the administration's 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and cater to the objectives of PDP 2023-2028,” DBM chief Amenah Pangandaman was quoted as saying in the statement. “It shall continue to reflect our commitment to pursue economic and social transformation to address the scarring effects of the pandemic, as well as the impact of inflation, by prioritizing shovel-ready investments in infrastructure projects, investments in human capital development, and sustainable agriculture and food security, [...]

Cebu Pacific representatives (left to right) Chief Corporate Affairs officer Michael Ivan Shau, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Candice Iyog, and Chief Commercial Officer Alexander Lao during the Senate hearing on the Airline Passengers' Complaints Against Cebu Pacific in Pasay City on June 21, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News​     MANILA (UPDATE) -- The Senate on Wednesday began its probe into the "numerous passenger complaints" against local airlines, with senators and regular passengers sharing their "nightmarish" flight experiences. The Senate resolution filed by Sen. Nancy Binay only specified Cebu Pacific's issue with overbooking and offloading but the Senate Committee on Tourism also invited representatives from Philippine Airlines and Air Asia. "Aside from the power outages in our airports, airline passengers continue to complain of overbooking, offloading and [...]

MULTILINGUAL. Senator Pia Cayetano (2nd right) during the Senate hearing on the status of the mother tongue education for young learners on Wednesday (June 21, 2023), emphasizes that policymakers must prepare the youth for the future which requires being able to speak the top languages of the world. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Pia Cayetano)    Manila, Philippines – A lawmaker urged on Wednesday parents and guardians to secure their children's future with 21st century skills which include communication, collaboration, being able to work in different environments and the ability to adapt. Senator Pia Cayetano said to acquire these skills, learning to speak different languages would matter a lot. During the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing on the status of the Department of Education's (DepEd) Mother Toungue - [...]

Gov’t aims to curb people’s poor diet, raise funds for vital projects The government will push for the passage of new revenue measures that include additional taxes on sweetened beverages and junk food within the year, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Wednesday. The target would be to have the new tax measures take effect in 2024, so they would have until the end of the year to push for their passage, Pangandaman said. Aside from generating additional revenues to be used for vital government projects, the higher taxes would result in better health for the people, she said. In a statement, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Health (DOH) are jointly pursuing a junk food and sweetened beverage tax “as a [...]

Manila, Philippines – Labor groups on Wednesday asked the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) - National Capital Region (NCR) for a PHP100 wage increase during the public hearing in Pasay City.                 (File photo)   According to the Partido Manggagawa (PM), organizations from the workers’ sector are pushing for the approval of the wage petition filed by the Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa (Kapatiran) last December 6. "As of January 2023, workers have lost P88 in the value of the PHP570 minimum wage due to inflation. Thus, PHP100 is necessary to recover the purchasing power of workers’ wages," said PM Secretary General Judy Miranda in a statement. "This wage hike demand is merely wage recovery. We are not yet even [...]

Former President Rodrigo Duterte again topped a list of preferred candidates for senator in the 2025 midterm elections, according to the Pahayag 2023 second-quarter survey conducted by Publicus Asia from June 7 to 12. Based on the “voting predisposition” of 1,500 respondents, the survey saw Duterte ranked first with 51%, followed by health expert Dr. Willie Ong and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who both got 44%. Ong was a losing vice presidential bet in the 2022 elections as the running mate of erstwhile Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. Former President Rodrigo Duterte   The survey results also showed that the top national issue this quarter is the need to use renewable energy, surpassing the perennial concerns on the affordability of basic commodities, wages, livelihood, sourcing more funds [...]