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Vice President Sara Z. Duterte (PNA file photo)   MANILA – The Office of the Vice President (OVP) will prioritize underserved areas alongside assistance to teachers nationwide. "Hinahanap natin iyong mga underserved na areas doon sa iba't ibang satellite offices natin. Syempre nandyan pa rin iyong para sa kababaihan, para sa kabataan, at para sa LGBT (Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender), and senior citizens natin (We are looking for the underserved areas in different various satellite offices. Of course, there’s the [programs] for women, for the youth, for the LGBT, and our senior citizens," Vice President Sara Duterte said in a media interview on Thursday. She said they are planning to launch another program called “Lawyers for Teachers” under OVP. "Ngayon na hindi na hati ang oras ko sa dalawang [...]

AN alliance of small-scale and subsistence fishermen on Thursday held a rally at the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City to call on the government to focus on providing the people with food and jobs, instead of allotting a huge budget for military spending. The members of Pangisda Pilipinas said the Marcos administration needs to address challenges in the agriculture and fishing sector to ensure the country attains food security. This can not be achieved if it continues to allot a huge chunk of the national budget to procuring military assets and prioritize its goal of solving the ongoing territorial disputes with China over parts of West Philippine Sea, they said "We are not belittling the West Philippine Sea issue, but this does not mean that our government [...]

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday, July 19 vowed to look into the legality of the purported transfer of around P90-billion worth of funds representing unused government subsidy for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) back to the National Treasury. Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health said that as part of the oversight functions on the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, he will be seeking answers from PhilHealth, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Health (DOH) on the propriety and legality of the transfer such “excess” funds which is supposed to help finance the government’s health programs “Simple lang naman ang mga tanong ng mga kababayan natin: tama at legal ba ang ginawa ng DOF at PhilHealth? Kung [...]

WPS BASTION. An aerial view taken on March 9, 2023 shows Pag-Asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea. As a Philippine Coast Guard plane carrying journalists flew over the Spratly Islands in the hotly disputed South China Sea, a Chinese voice issued a stern command over the radio: ‘Leave immediately.’ AFP     President underscores ‘big role’ Palawan plays in nat’l security The development of an airport on Pag-asa Island is among the priorities of the government, President Marcos said Thursday. Pag-asa, the largest island the Philippines controls in Spratlys, is at least 285 nautical miles off Palawan. Mr. Marcos also said the military runway project at the Balabac Island airbase is nearing completion. Balabac is a town in Palawan strategically close to Chinese fortifications in the West [...]

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has no regrets running the Department of Education (DePed) during her two year-stint as she turned over the reins to former senator Juan Edgardo Angara who "hit the ground running" on Thursday. "In fact, it is with a heavy heart that I will leave the Department of Education, minahal ko itong trabahong ito, minahal ko yung mga kasama ko sa DepEd, so, mayroon talaga akong regrets, dahil gusto ko talagang tapusin ang deliverables ng (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) administration (I loved this job, I loved my colleagues in DepEd, so I really have regrets because I would have wanted to finish the deliverables of the Marcos administration)," Duterte said in a chance interview with reporters after the turnover ceremony. Duterte said that [...]

Department of Foreign Affairs   The Philippines and China’s hotline on the South China Sea would soon be elevated to include the level of presidential representatives and top diplomats, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The DFA said the recently signed “Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms” would provide various “channels for communication” between the two countries, specifically on maritime issues. These avenues include one “through the representatives to be designated” by the Philippine and Chinese presidents. Another channel is between the DFA and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including at the secretary (foreign minister) and undersecretary (vice foreign minister) levels or through their designated representatives “The DFA is in discussions with the Chinese side on the guidelines that will govern the implementation of this Arrangement,” it [...]

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, July 13, announced that the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," may prevail over the western parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao "Kung saan ngayong araw ay magdadala pa rin ito ng mga malalakas na pag ulan, lalong-lalo na yan dito sa may kanlurang bahagi ng Visayas at Mindanao (Today, it will bring heavy rains, especially in the western parts of Visayas and Mindanao)," PAGASA Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda in the weather report. Thus, PAGASA reminded the public to take precautions for the possibility of flooding and landslides in these areas. Meanwhile, despite not monitoring any low pressure areas, the state weather bureau is observing cloud clusters located in the western part of Palawan, outside the Philippine Area of [...]

MANILA, Philippines — China urged the United States and the European Union to refrain from encouraging the Philippines to pursue further arbitration. In a press conference on Friday, coinciding with the eighth anniversary of the arbitral ruling that favored Manila in its territorial dispute with Beijing on parts of the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said it was hypocritical to selectively apply international law with double standards. "This is hypocrisy, double standard, and selective application of international law. Second, the US and the EU disregard the history and facts on the South China Sea issue, act against the UN Charter, and misinterpret the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and other international laws," Lin said "Their position and proposition do not hold [...]

Senator Risa Hontiveros   The government must declare July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victor Day to mark the country’s historic triumph against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016, Senator Risa Hontiveros said yesterday as the country marked the 8th anniversary of the arbitral award. Hontiveros’ call followed the approval of the Palawan provincial board of an ordinance that declares July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day.” Palawan Liga ng mga Barangay President and Board Member Ferdinand Zaballa, who authored the measure, said that the arbitration tribunal’s decision is a “resounding affirmation” of the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights in the WPS. “The ruling definitively settled historic rights and maritime entitlements in the region, rejecting claims that exceeded the limits set by UNCLOS. It [...]

Senator Risa Hontiveros resumes the probe on Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged involvement in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) on May 22, 2024 MANILA, Philippines — After skipping the Senate investigation into the alleged criminal activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the upper chamber officially ordered Saturday the arrest and detention of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and seven other individuals. The arrest order was signed on July 11 by Senate President Francis Escudero and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. Guo was "ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms until such time that she will appear and testify in the Committee, or otherwise purges herself of that contempt." "The Sergeant-At-Arms is hereby [...]

This photo shows Makabayan bloc lawmakers during a SONA rally. Makabayan bloc   MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc will field a full 12-member senatorial slate in the 2025 elections, its representatives announced on Thursday, who also expressed willingness to work with non-Makabayan candidates with a "strong track record in standing up for the people." Branding themselves the "oposisyon ng bayan" (opposition of the people or the nation), the Makabayan coalition said its candidates will push for a comprehensive national program that will ensure progress for all, respect for human rights and national sovereignty. The Makabayan coalition is made up of five progressive partylists, namely the ACT Teachers partylist, Gabriela Women's party, Kabataan partylist, Bayan Muna partylist and Anakpawis. The first three have incumbent representatives in the House of [...]

Inflation graphics. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO   MANILA, Philippines — Controlling inflation remains the top concern for Filipinos, a polling firm Pulse Asia survey a month before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) showed. A report from Pulse Asia released on Friday showed that 72 percent of Filipinos feel controlling inflation should be immediately addressed by the administration, which is followed by increasing the pay of workers (44 percent), reducing the poverty of Filipinos (32 percent), creating more jobs (30 percent), and fighting graft and corruption in the government (22 percent). Controlling inflation was also the top concern across all locales and financial classes — 67 percent of National Capital Region (NCR) residents considered it as a top issue, along with 74 percent of respondents from [...]

Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre (PNA file photo)   MANILA – The Philippines will remain steadfast in standing against any territorial encroachments that undermine its sovereignty. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año made this assurance as Manila marks the 8th anniversary of the historic Arbitral Award on the South China Sea on Friday. "For the Philippines — notwithstanding the challenges we face —we will continue to stand our ground and push back against coercion, interference, malign influence and other tactics that seek to jeopardize our security and stability," Año said in his speech at the Stratbase ADR Institute's forum titled "The 8th Year of the Arbitral Victory: A Collective Pursuit of Maritime Security in the West Philippine Sea" at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. "We will do [...]

Courtesy: Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook   Vice President Sara Duterte will skip the third State of the Nation Address of President Marcos on July 22, and “appointed” herself the “designated survivor.” “No, I will not attend the Sona,” Duterte said in an interview Thursday in Davao City. “I am appointing myself as the designated survivor,” she added. Lawmakers from both administration and opposition parties criticized the Vice President’s reference to the “designated survivor” — a US government official chosen to stay at a secure location during events where top leaders are gathered as a continuity measure in case a catastrophic event kills or incapacitates the president. Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel likened her comment to a “bomb joke,” while Manila Rep. Joel Chua warned the security of the President is [...]

SEAFARERS’ HUB. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) opened on Thursday (July 11, 2024) the Seafarers’ Hub in Malate, Manila. OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio said the hub is open 24 hours a day to all Filipino seafarers who are processing their papers. (Photo courtesy of OWWA)     MANILA – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Thursday formally opened the Seafarers’ Hub where Filipino seafarers can hang out while waiting for their documents to be processed. The hub in Malate, Manila, which is closer to most seafarers' agencies, will be open 24 hours a day to accommodate seafarers awaiting their papers or interviews, or undergoing training, OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio said during the opening ceremony that was also attended by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. Ignacio said [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office/Facebook)   President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government had allotted P10 billion for the Philippine Rural Development Plan in Region 4-A (Calabarzon) from 2023 to 2024. The President reported the budget was allocated to develop major projects and programs to boost the economy of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. “However, more than just these help and services, we continue to work to strengthen the economy of Calabarzon,” Mr. Marcos said. He highlighted ongoing projects, including the Taal Lake Circumferential Road, Lobo Malabrigo-San Juan Laiya Road, Quipot Irrigation Project, and Macalelon Irrigation Project President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government had allotted P10 billion for the Philippine Rural Development Plan in Region 4-A (Calabarzon) from 2023 to [...]

MB File Photo/Mark Balmores The rice tariff cut  was formalized through Executive Order No. 62 which also ordered the modification of nomenclature and tariff rates on various products to ensure continuous supply of goods and to protect the purchasing power of Filipinos. By issuing the order, Marcos acknowledged the need for a new multi-year and comprehensive tariff schedule that will provide transparent and predictable tariff structure. The new tariff schedule, he said, will also allow businesses to engage in medium to long-term planning to improve productivity and competitiveness, facilitate trade and enhance consumer welfare. “The implementation of an updated comprehensive tariff schedule aims to augment supply, manage prices, and temper inflationary pressure of various commodities, consistent with the Philippine national interest and the objective of safeguarding the purchasing power [...]

Inquirer file photo Manila, Philippines — The motoring public may brace for another oil price increase next week due to geopolitical conflicts, with industry players projecting close to P2 upward adjustments per liter. In an advisory over the weekend, Unioil said fuel prices would climb anew from June 25 to July 1. It said the per-liter prices of diesel may go up by P1.70 to P1.90.Gasoline, meanwhile, may jump by P1.10 to P1.30 a liter. The estimates from the Department of Energy (DOE) also showed hefty price hikes. According to the DOE forecast, gasoline prices may increase by P0.85 to P1.15 a liter. Increases in the per-liter prices of diesel and kerosene ranged between P1.55 to P1.85, and P1 to P1.10, respectively. “Relevant news for the week that push [...]

GUO RAPS. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission led by Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz and PNP-Criminal Investigation Detection Group file a human trafficking complaint at the Department of Justice in Manila against Mayor Alice Guo, Dennis Cunanan and 12 other for their alleged involvement in the Bamban POGO operations. Norman Cruz   Human trafficking charges were filed on Friday against Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and 13 others in connection with the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in her municipality. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) submitted the complaints with the Department of Justice against Guo and her alleged conspirators. Her co-accused include former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, as well as 12 officers [...]

Photo from Presidential Communications Office Palace says MDT invocation ‘not considered’ Malacañang said the attack on unarmed Filipino soldiers by China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels in Ayungin Shoal was a “misunderstanding” and does not require invoking a defense treaty with the United States. In a press conference held on Friday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the government does not consider the June 17 incident an armed attack. As such, the Philippines will not invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States yet, hoping the issue will be resolved after the National Maritime Council (NMC) laid out its recommendations to the President, he said. “We are not yet ready to consider this as an armed attack,” Bersamin told reporters when asked if Manila would ask [...]

Construction of the CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 2 (R-1 Interchange). | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of CAVITEX / Google Earth Motorists using the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) Project will be enjoying toll-free access for 30 days—a move President Marcos hopes will ease the impact of rising fuel prices on motorists. “With all of these, we are creating a nation where Filipinos may easily access and traverse our communities and have a comfortable and productive time as they do it,” he said. Marcos made the remarks as he led the groundbreaking of the Cavitex-Calax Link and the Cavitex C5 Link Segment 3B and the inauguration of the Cavitex C5 Link Sucat Interchange on Friday morning. He described these as “milestone projects” that will “transform the lives of millions of Filipinos” [...]

THE Federation of Free Workers (FFW) on Friday "strongly urged" former vice president Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo to run for the Senate in the 2025 national and local elections. FFW's call came after Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman announced that Robredo could possibly run for mayor of Naga City in Camarines Sur, a government position her late husband Jesse held before he was appointed interior and local government secretary. "The nation and the common good need more women representation in the Senate to ensure that diverse perspectives are included in the decision-making process at the highest levels of government," FFW President Sonny Matula said in a statement Former vice president Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo   According to Matula, a former senatorial candidate under Robredo's slate in 2022, the [...]

Manila, Philippines —The barangay tanod (village official) in Bato, Camarines Sur responsible for the death of a golden retriever has been indicted, an animal welfare group announced on Friday. In its Facebook page, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said this meant that the case was now "People of the Philippines vs Anthony Solares" of Barangay Santa Cruz. Back in March, PAWS filed a complaint against Solares before the Prosecutor's Office in Naga City over the death of Killua In a three-page resolution, Provincial Prosecution Service-Iriga Cityrosecutor Wilhenry Villar found probable cause for Solares to be charged with violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Villar likened the case to an 1855 case in the United States where lawyer-politician George Vest argued about pets being part of the family. "When [...]

Maritime expert and Director of the University of the Philippines' Institute for Maritime Affairs and Laws on the Seas, Jay Batongbacal Guns seized, rubber boats punctured Chinese maritime forces injured eight Philippine Navy soldiers, one seriously, and seized their guns in a violent encounter in the waters surrounding Ayungin Shoal. The Filipino soldiers were part of a group delivering much-needed supplies to the crew of the marooned BRP Sierra Madre when their rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) was rammed by a larger Chinese vessel. The military confirmed the incident hours after the media broke the story. It was unclear however whether the incident was the same one wherein the Chinese rammed a resupply boat headed for BRP Sierra Madre “A Philippine Navy personnel sustained severe injury after the CCG’s [...]

Screengrab from the live stream of Vice President Sara Duterte's press conference on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Courtesy: DepEd Philippines/Facebook)   Vice President Sara Duterte has officially stepped down as member of President Marcos’ cabinet on Wednesday, June 19, leaving the Department of Education (DepEd) in a leadership vacuum effective next month. In a press conference held at her DepEd office, Duterte confirmed she has sought an audience with the President to formally submit her letter of resignation. She did not discuss the reasons behind it. “Earlier today, June 19, 2024, I sought an audience with the President and tendered my resignation as Secretary of Education effective July 19, 2024. I have given my 30-day notice to ensure the proper and orderly transition for the benefit of the next [...]

  Manila, Philippines — United States intelligence and foreign policy experts said America was just using the Philippines to create the conditions of potential conflict with the Chinaz even if it knew it could not fight and engage China and win. "[The US] is using [the Philippines]. You are a tool, nothing but a tool. And when the tool ceases to be useful, we will discard you," says one of the experts, Scott Ritter, during an online media briefing early Thursday morning (Manila time) at the US National Press Club in Washington. "It's high time the Filipino people pressure their government to start sitting down and engaging the Chinese government responsibly...[because] China is not your enemy. China is your neighbor. China is your friend," said Ritter, former [...]

  Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has said she agrees with a Senate bill seeking to prohibit the use of electronic gadgets and mobile devices within school premises during class hours. However, the public official said the gadget ban should only cover personal use, with exceptions made for necessary cases like educational and emergency reasons. “We’re okay with the banning of gadgets for personal use, (but) subject to exceptions. I understand and have read the draft that there are exceptions, particularly if the gadget is used for learning and teaching,” Duterte told the media in Davao City on Wednesday. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian recently filed Senate Bill 2706 or the proposed Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act. The said measure covers teachers and students from kindergarten to senior high school [...]

Photo by Danny Pata   The ‘Atin Ito’ coalition is aware of the risks attached to the expeditions it launched in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), but co-convenor Emman Hizon said they hope more civilians can go on these kinds of adventures without fearing for their safety. “We want to normalize civilian missions to WPS,” Hizon told broadcast journalist Howie Severino in a recent podcast. The two talked about the intense preparation that went into the recent tension-filled convoy of the group in the disputed waters. The ‘Atin Ito’ coalition organized a flotilla of over 100 Filipino civilian boats last May to navigate the perilous WPS under the shadow of the Chinese naval might. Their mission was to assert Philippine sovereignty over the waters by delivering essential supplies to [...]

FILE PHOTO: Local government units (LGUs) is being urged by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to pass an ordinance banning Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) within their jurisdictions. | PHOTO: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB   Manila, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) have been urged by a senator to pass an ordinance banning Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) within their jurisdictions. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday offered this unsolicited advice to local chief executives as recent raids sparked speculations that local leaders may have been allowing the operations of illegal offshore gaming firms. “Ang payo ko sa ating mga local chief executives ay gumawa na ng ordinance para i-ban na ‘yung Pogos ng mga  local government units dahil malalagay sila sa alanganin ‘pag nag-operate itong Pogo sa kanila eh,” he said [...]

TACTICAL COMBAT CARE. Philippine and US Marine personnel join the "tactical combat casualty care" (TCCC) exercises at the Bonifacio Naval Station Grandstand in Taguig City on June 12, 2024. The Philippine Marine Corps said Friday (June 14, 2024) the TCCC is part of this year's Marine Aviation Support Activity slated from June 3 to 21. (Photo courtesy of the PMC)     MANILA – Filipino and United States Marines medical troops have conducted "tactical combat casualty care" (TCCC) exercises as part of this year's Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA), the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) said on Friday. In a statement, PMC spokesperson Capt. Marites Alamil said the event was held at the Bonifacio Naval Station Grandstand, Taguig City on June 12. PMC regular troops and reservists took part in [...]

Fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy   MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has appealed to fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who again eluded a third attempt by the police to arrest him on charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse, to surrender and face the allegations against him. The PNP simultaneously served an arrest warrant against Quiboloy in several of his properties in Davao City on Monday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing in Camp Crame. While Fajardo could not immediately provide details, she said one of those properties included the Prayer Mountain in Barangay Tamayong. Quiboloy heads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect, based in Davao City. “We appeal to Pastor Quiboloy… to turn himself into authorities so he can answer the charges against [...]

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on March 24, 2024 and dated March 23, 2024 shows Chinese and Philippine ships in waters where the Philippines said the China Coast Guard blocked their supply vessel and damaged it with water cannon, during a Philippine supply mission near Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines said the China Coast Guard blocked a Filipino supply vessel and damaged it with water cannon on March 23, causing injuries near a reef off the Southeast Asian country. —Agence France-Presse     MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is conducting maritime exercises inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the first time, increasing to 146 the number of Chinese vessels, among them 22 [...]

Chinese personnel onboard two RHIBs rush to take a food package airdropped by personnel of the AFP onboard two smaller rubber boats during a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal on May 19, 2024. (Photo by AFP) A total of 146 Chinese vessels have been monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during the past week, a ranking officer of the Philippine Navy (PN) disclosed Tuesday, June 11. Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for WPS, said 22 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships, 16 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, and 108 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) were spotted operating in the country’s waters from June 4 to 10. This was more than the 125 Chinese vessels (11 PLA Navy ships, nine CCG vessels, and 105 CMMVs) monitored during the [...]

  Photo from PBBM's Official Facebook Page     On this year’s Independence Day, President Marcos underscored the public’s crucial role in the nation’s progress and sovereignty. His message highlighted the steadfast spirit of freedom in farmers, fishermen, teachers, and soldiers, noting their essential roles in sustaining the nation and protecting its sovereignty. “While the times may be different our struggles remain the same. Still, we continue to witness the true spirit of freedom in every Filipino who fights fairly in their day-to-day lives,” President Marcos said. “We see it in the resilience of our farmers and fisherfolks as they provide us sustenance. We see it in the dedication of our teachers as they nurture the minds of the future generation. We see it in the tenacity of our [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to unite and help each other as the country celebrated Independence Day Wednesday. "Ito ay isa ring paalala sa atin na ipagpatuloy natin ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa tungo sa isang matatag, mapayapa, at maunlad na bansang Pilipinas (This is also a reminder to us to continue helping each other and be united towards a strong, peaceful, and prosperous Philippines)," Duterte said in her short Independence Day message at the Rizal Park in San Pedro Square, Davao City. Independence Day, she added, honors the great legacy left by the country's forefathers who displayed true courage, bravery and patriotism It also recognizes all Filipino heroes for their sacrifices for the country's freedom and independence. "We not only celebrate our liberation, but also place emphasis [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte Despite consecutive declines in her satisfaction and trust ratings for the second month in a row, Vice President Sara Duterte maintained the highest satisfaction and trust ratings among top government officials this month. Based on survey results released on Thursday, May 30, Duterte received a satisfaction rating of 52 percent and a trust rating of 60 percent in the May 22 to 25 survey conducted by Tangere, a technology application and innovation-driven market research company. Tangere noted that the Vice President experienced a 2 percent decrease in her satisfaction rating and a 4 percent decline in her trust rating from March to May However, she continued to draw significant support from Mindanao with a trust rating of 66 percent and a satisfaction rating of 63 [...]

MANILA – Motorists traveling to and from the northern part of Luzon would have to pay higher toll fees by next month. In an advisory on Wednesday, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said it has approved the second tranche of the North Luzon Expressway Corp. (NLEX Corp.) consolidated petitions from 2018 to 2020 for periodic toll adjustments starting June 4. Under the new toll fee matrix, motorists traveling anywhere within the open system will pay an additional PHP5 for Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and sports utility vehicles), PHP14 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks), and PHP17 for Class 3 vehicles (big trucks). The open system is from Balintawak in Caloocan City to Marilao, Bulacan while closed system covers the portion between Bocaue, Bulacan and Sta. Ines, [...]

The highly transmissible Covid-19 subvariants called FLiRT could have entered the country, the Department of Health (DoH) said. In a statement, Department of Health spokesman and acting Assistant Secretary Albert Francis Domingo said the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine were doing sequencing efforts to determine the presence of such variants. "Whether or not sequencing shows variants flagged by global health agencies, the DoH assumes the flagged Omicron sub-variants are already likely here and notes that cases continue to be clinically mild and manageable," Domingo said. He added that they had yet to find evidence that the two variants cause severe to critical Covid-19. Several countries have reported spikes in the number of cases of Omicron subvariants KP.2 and KP.3, known informally as [...]

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay   Bill is ‘anti-family, anti-marriage, and anti-children’—CBCP The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines remained firm in opposing the proposed divorce law, warning lawmakers they are supporting a measure that is “anti-family, anti-marriage and anti-children.” “It’s a betrayal of their constitutional mandate to uphold marriage and the family,” said CBCP Spokesperson Father Jerome Secillano. The House of Representatives earlier approved on third and final reading the absolute divorce bill, but the measure is facing an uphill battle in the Senate. STRAW VOTE. An informal survey by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada shows an 8-7 vote so far against the divorce bill being shepherded by Sen. Risa Hontiveros in the 24-member Senate. The House has passed the measure with a 130-109-20 vote. On Wednesday, Senator Cynthia Villar [...]

Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday, May 22, highlighted the country's commitment to improving Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs. (DepEd/ Manila Bulletin) “The Philippines took on the Presidency of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council (SEAMEC) in February 2023,” Duterte said in her speech. She emphasized the theme of the presidency, "Transformation through Learning Exchange: Building Resilient Systems as a Region," which aims to strengthen cooperation in education, science, and culture among member countries. To achieve this, Duterte announced the launch of SEAMEC 7-7-7, a series of seven programs designed to address the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council’s (SEAMEO) seven priority areas in education — one of these areas is  “achieving universal early childhood care and education.” [...]

FILIPINO VESSEL. Passengers board the passenger vessel/RoRo St. Michael Archangel in this undated photo. The Department of Transportation on Wednesday (May 22, 2024) announced the country's inclusion in the International Maritime Organization White List, proving the status of the country's seafarers in the international stage. (Photo courtesy of MARINA)     MANILA – The Philippines is included again in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) White List, signifying that seafarers trained and certified in the country meet rigorous standards set by the IMO Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. This came after the IMO Maritime Safety Committee said the country has fully complied with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention. In a statement on Wednesday, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the inclusion is aligned with the administration’s [...]

  The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said 55 new cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are being reported daily. DOH chief Teodoro Herbosa, in an interview, expressed concerns over the growing number of daily HIV cases. “Our new cases are high, at 55 new cases a day, we have the highest in the world. That’s why we need to stop,” Herbosa said. Herbosa pointed out that the majority of the new HIV cases in the country were younger individuals, who are said to be more “experimental” and more exposed to the internet. “The ones that are being diagnosed are as young as 15 years, and positive for HIV,” Herbosa Herbosa, moreover, stressed that the DOH is coordinating with the Department of Education to educate [...]

MANILA – The Philippine government is expected to convene two foreign and defense ministerial dialogues or 2+2 meetings with Japan and the United States in the third quarter of 2024. In a lunch meeting in Manila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that his counterparts Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will conduct an official visit to the Philippines in the coming weeks. “We’re planned to have meetings with Japan on a 2+2… And also, there’s a possibility of a Philippine-US 2+2 meeting, this is also standard,” he told reporters. There is no specific date set yet, but the US-Philippines 2+2 is currently being planned in July or August. The date for the Japan-Philippines 2+2 is likewise yet to be finalized but Tokyo-based [...]

Sen. Risa Hontiveros | PHOTO: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB Manila, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros gladly received news on the divorce bill’s progress at the House of Representatives. “Sana (I hope) all!” she said, reacting to House lawmakers’ approval of House Bill (HB) No. 9348, or the proposed Absolute Divorce Act, on the second reading on Wednesday.Hontiveros then vowed “to continue to work in the Senate to pass [the] necessary though contentious legislation, despite the challenges we face.” “Panahon na [para] bigyan ng second chance sa pag-ibig at buhay ang mga Pilipinong babae, lalaki, bata, at pamilyang nangangailangan nito,” the chair of the Senate committee on women told reporters in a message on Thursday. (It’s time to give Filipino women, men, children, and families who need it a second [...]

Volunteers from the 'Atin Ito' Coalition and allied organizations. (Photo by Akbayan Party/via Facebook)   The flotilla of boats carrying fuel, food, and other essential supplies for Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc is now wrapping up their “solidarity regatta” mission after its advance team made it to at least within 25-30 nautical miles (NM) of the reef. Organizers from the ‘Atin Ito’ Coalition reported on Thursday that although their second civilian supply mission did not sail smoothly as they expected, there were things that went according to plan. The advance team was able to slip past the China blockade situated at 40 NM of Bajo de Masinloc. The non-government organization, which was trying to assert Philippine sovereign rights over the area, said they spotted a Chinese Navy vessel [...]

The convoy was expected to reach the area of the shoal Thursday morning, May 16, the organizers said, adding they would seek to avoid confrontations but were ready for any contingencies A Chinese Coast Guard vessels shadows fishing boats carrying activists and volunteers belonging to Atin Ito coalition as they head towards Panatag or Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Photo by Miguel de Guzman, The Philippine STAR Chinese coast guard ships shadowed a group of Filipino activists and fishermen sailing on wooden boats toward a disputed shoal in the South China Sea which Beijing has fiercely guarded from what it regards as intruders. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed three patrol ships and a light plane to keep watch from a distance on the group of about 100 [...]

GLOBAL HEALTHCARE WEEK. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa looks at a graph at the Global Healthcare Week in Abu Dhabi in this undated photo. The event aims to bring global health leaders together to discuss the changes and challenges in global health. (Photo courtesy of the DOH)     MANILA – The Philippines continues to face challenges in digitalizing healthcare, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said. The country's geography is one of the factors, with nearly 60 percent of households still lacking internet access. "About 12 percent of Filipinos lack electricity, hindering digital technology use, especially in isolated areas," Herbosa said during his talk at the Global Health Care Week from May 13 to 15 in Abu Dhabi. Herbosa said infrastructure remains inadequate outside the National Capital Region [...]

(FILE PHOTO) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Wednesday banned the substitution of candidates after the last day of filing certificates of candidacy if the substitution will be made due to the withdrawal of the candidate, Comelec chairman George Garcia said “Unanimous po, pumayag ang ating Commission En Banc sa naging proposal ng inyong lingkod na wala nang substitution after ng last day ng filing ng candidacy, which is October 8 [2024], kung ang ground ay withdrawal ng candidacy,” Garcia said. (The Comelec en banc unanimously agreed with my proposal to ban substitution after the last day of COC filing if it will be made on the grounds of withdrawal of candidacy.) The filing of COC for the May 2025 midterm polls is scheduled from October 1 to 8. “Substitution is supposed to be allowed until November 15. Now, [...]

One of the five main boats of the Atin Ito civilian mission to the West Philippines Sea (WPS) experienced an engine problem on Wednesday, according to organizers. The Atin Ito coalition said the pangulong boat has been fixed and continues to sail with the civilian mission. “The pangulong that had an engine problem was already fixed. It is still part of the civilian supply mission. All four pangulongs are committed to proceed to the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal),” the group saidAtin Ito said another pangulong boat was scheduled to participate only in the first part of the civilian mission and has already returned to land. Around 100 boats departed from Zambales on Wednesday to participate in the civilian mission, which aims to conduct a “peace and [...]

THE United States is helping the Philippines tap its space programs to monitor and document vessels in the country's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, agencies from both governments announced on Tuesday. In a joint statement, the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, the US National Space Council, and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said Earth observation is a priority area for bilateral cooperation. They agreed to consider the possible hosting in the Philippines of a US Geological Survey Landsat ground station. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza. AFP PHOTO   The Philippines is also considering signing on to the Artemis Accords, which establish guidelines to ensure safety and responsible behavior in outer space as countries explore the Moon and beyond. The joint [...]

Small fishing boats assemble in the port of Barangay Matalvis in Masinloc town, Zambales, to participate in the civilian convoy in Scarborough Shoal. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza   Masinloc, Zambales — The civilian convoy for the West Philippine Sea officially embarked on a voyage to Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal early Wednesday morning on a mission that may witness another attempt by China to disrupt the activity. Over a hundred fisherfolk, along with Atin Ito coalition volunteers, journalists, and foreign observers, all clad with life jackets, started to depart from the port here at Barangay Matalvis at 7:26 a.m. The journey was led by five indigenous mother boats called “pangulong,” where volunteers, foreign observers, and members of the media, including INQUIRER.net, are also aboard. About a hundred small fishing boats also participated [...]

Manila, Philippines — The Philippines said Wednesday it deported 165 Chinese citizens it accused of working in an online scam center based in the north of the country. The group was flown to Shanghai on Tuesday and forever barred from returning to the Philippines, the immigration bureau said in a statement. The deportees were among hundreds of employees, Filipino and foreign, rounded up by an anti-crime government task force in a raid of an office compound in the northern municipality of Bamban on March 14 The 165 were involved in "scamming activities" and did not have proper travel documents, making them "undesirable aliens", the immigration statement said. After the raid, the authorities said some of the workers were forced into it and "were controlled by having their passports confiscated [...]

Volunteers from the 'Atin Ito' coalition and allied organizations prepare for their voyage to Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Photo by Adia Lim/'Atin Ito')     ‘Atin Ito,’ the non-government organization advocating for sovereign rights, asserted on Wednesday that China has already lost the battle of narratives concerning its actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This statement comes as the coalition officially starts its second civilian supply mission to Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag/Scarborough Shoal, which is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. “China’s narrative has significantly faltered. It is running a very bad script,” said Rafaela David, president of Akbayan Party and co-convenor of the ‘Atin Ito’ coalition in response [...]

Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Lakas-CMD were part of the UniTeam alliance that supported President Marcos and his then running mate Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte in the 2022 general elections President Marcos looks on as House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Partido Federal ng Pilipinas president, shake hands after the signing of the alliance between the two political parties on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Manila Polo Club in Makati City.   The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) led by President Marcos formalized its alliance with the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) on Wednesday, May 8, marking the revival of a UniTeam alliance for the 2025 midterm elections. Marcos witnessed the signing of the “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” between [...]

A mural features the image of late Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada [File: Chris Helgren/Reuters]   Reacting to Indian nationals’ arrest, Trudeau acknowledges fear in Canada’s Sikh community but underscores ‘rule of law’. Canada’s investigation into alleged Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Vancouver last year is a “political compulsion”, India’s foreign minister has said after three Indian citizens were arrested over the killing. Canadian police on Friday arrested the trio for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying they were investigating their links to the Indian government, “if any”. He migrated to Canada in 1997 and acquired citizenship 18 years later. He was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, the allegations he had [...]

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro   Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in a statement, called the alleged “new model” a “devious machination of China,” telling Beijing, “This charade must stop.” In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command agreed to a “new model” on the management of disputes over the waters, which was also supposedly approved by key Philippine officials, belonging to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Security Council (NSC). China made the statement after the Philippines already denied the existence of any deal that would compromise the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea. The embassy stressed that all “communication and negotiation on this subject matter is kept on record in every detail by [...]

‘NOT ONLY SHOCKING BUT APPALLING’ A frame grab from video footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows its ship, the BRP Bagacay, being hit by water cannon from Chinese coast guard vessels near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Also hit on its way to the shoal was the BRP Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE   MANILA, Philippines — A further deterioration in diplomatic relations between Manila and Beijing caused by escalating tensions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) could inflict some serious economic damage to the Philippines, according to the Bank of America (BofA). BofA in a new report flagged the potential impact of heightened tensions on Chinese trade, tourism and investments in the Philippines. It retained its [...]

INQUIRER PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE   Manila, Philippines — A farmers’ group has called for the complete repeal of the rice tariffication law, or Republic Act No. 11203, despite the efforts by the House of Representatives to amend it, asserting it won’t resolve the persistently high prices of rice in the country and instead demanded for the enactment of a “new pro-farmer, pro-people rice development program.” “Congress created the problem that is the rice tariffication law. Lawmakers cannot simply undo the problem by tweaking parts and provisions of the despicable law,” Danilo Ramos, chair of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said in a statement on Sunday. According to KMP, the law has led to more than P344 billion in economic losses for rice farmers by clipping the powers of [...]

THE National Book Development Board (NBDB) has formed a unified network that gathers readership advocacy groups and individuals from all over the country to boost readership. Daniel Mariano, head of the NBDB Readership Development Division, said the National Alliance of Reading Advocates (NARA) is a platform dedicated to nurturing a robust national reading culture. Mariano said NARA will "form a mesh of various readership campaigns" through an online community. It organized regular milestone meetings and conferences on the state of readership in the country He said besides consolidating readership campaigns from around the country, the alliance shall also aid in the cross-media adaptation of Philippine literary works, the creation of fan-based markets and help popularize homegrown literary characters. "With the decline of readership in nonschool books, it is high [...]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)     MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of an inter-agency coordinating council to consolidate the master list of all government lands to ensure optimal use. In his Administrative Order (AO) No. 21 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on April 30, Marcos said one of the key strategies identified in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to establish liveable communities “is the creation of a database containing a complete inventory of idle government lands.” “To ensure the efficient and effective allocation and utilization of land resources for the country’s national development goals, it is necessary to consolidate a comprehensive list of all government lands,” Marcos said in the AO. The coordinating council [...]

MODERN JEEPNEYS. Golden Eagle Transport Service Cooperative unveiled its modern jeepney units that retain traditional designs at Araneta Center Jeepney Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, on Feb. 14, 2024. The Department of Transportation on Wednesday (May 1, 2024) said the consolidation component of the Public Transport Modernization Program is now over, with route rationalization and the modernization of public utility vehicles as the next steps in the program. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)     MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has moved onto the next stage in its Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), the proper assignment of routes and the purchase of modern public utility vehicles (PUV). Jonathan Gesmundo, Executive Assistant to the DOTr Secretary, said the consolidation phase of the PTMP is officially over with no [...]

The Philippine Senate building. (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)   MANILA – The directive by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to regional wage boards to review pay rates in their respective areas earned the Senate's support on Thursday. “I am one with our President in calling for the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards to do a regular review of our minimum wages and for the National Wages and Productivity Commission to ensure that the boards do so,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said. But Zubiri proposed that a legislated minimum wage hike would be the best gift President Marcos could give to the workforce. He is referring to the PHP100 Daily Minimum Wage Increase Act which was recently approved in the Senate. “In tandem with this, I also [...]

DOCKED. The Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Bagacay, which was bombed with water by the China Coast Guard while en route to Bajo de Masinloc, is now docked at Pier 13 in Manila South Harbor on Thursday (May 2, 2024). China’s aggressive actions, particularly its water cannon use, caused damage to the Philippine vessels conducting routine humanitarian mission to Bajo de Masinloc. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)     MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday summoned the Chinese Embassy of Manila Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong over another harassment of Philippine vessels conducting routine humanitarian mission to Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. In a statement, the DFA said the Philippines "protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other [...]

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order 17, which provided the guidelines for the issuance of certificate of necessity to import 25,000 MT of frozen pelagic fish for wet markets from Oct. 1 to Dec. 21, 2024. STAR / File     MANILA, Philippines — Fish catch around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal has decreased since the start of the Balikatan exercises, which may have prompted the Chinese to send more vessels to the area and continue harassing Filipino fishermen, a local fishers’ group said yesterday. “The bullying of the Chinese coast guard continues and their number increased right after the Balikatan,” New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association president Leonardo Cuaresma said in a radio interview. The 39th Balikatan joint military exercises kicked off on April 22, and will last until May [...]

President Marcos has called on Filipinos to rise against modern-day oppressors and uphold Lapulapu's legacy of patriotism that has been passed on for generations. Malacañang file photos Marcos said this as the country commemorates Lapulapu Day on April 27, the day he killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan at the Battle of Mactan in 1521. In his message, the President urged Filipinos, especially the youth, to continue embracing the ideals of Lapulapu and the wealth of the Philippine heritage as the country shifts to a "Bagong Pilipinas." "The challenge now for all, especially the youth, is to continue embracing his (Lapulapu) ideals and the wealth of our heritage as we realize a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ that is built on the foundations of the liberty and freedom that he and all our [...]

(UPDATE) VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte is the overwhelming choice for president in the 2028 elections, according to a survey by Oculum Research and Analytics. Duterte gained the nod of 42 percent of the 3,000 respondents ages 18 and above randomly selected nationwide by Oculum. Support for her was highest in Mindanao at 62 percent and lowest in Southern Luzon at 23 percent. She also got the highest support from respondents in the Class E socioeconomic bracket, with 44 percent, and the lowest from Classes A and B. TOP PRESIDENTIAL PICK IN 2028 (From left) Dr. Dennis Coronacion, Oculum chief political analyst; Dr. Racidon Bernarte, Oculum research head; and Felipe Salvosa II, moderator, present the results of a presidential survey to the media on Friday, April 26, 2024. The first-quarter [...]

CALAMITY Local technicians in South Cotabato assess crops wilted by the intense heat. The province was placed under a state of calamity on Friday. —PROVINCIAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE-SOUTH COTABATO PHOTO The monthslong drought caused by extreme heat and lack of rain has bludgeoned the country’s crop and livestock production, with damage rising to P4.3 billion this week, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). In a bulletin posted on Friday, the DA said agricultural losses recorded on April 23 were higher than the P3.94 billion reported a week earlier. Rice was the crop most affected by the dry spell, accounting for 61.71 percent of the total damage, or 113,446 metric tons worth P2.71 billion from 50,511 hectares. High-value crops comprised 19.8 percent, or P869.34 million, of overall [...]

PHOTO: BBM FB PAGE     President Marcos approved on Thursday the proposed Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030 and the MATATAG Agenda of the Department of Education (DepEd) led by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. This developed following the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting at the Malacañan Palace. Marcos did not object to the proposals of DepEd as he highlighted its importance to the country’s education system. “The [NEDA] board approves the adoption of the Basic Education Development Plan 2023 and MATATAG Agenda as a national policy and plan for basic education,” said Marcos, who also chairs the NEDA Board Duterte was present during the meeting to present her BEDP 2030 and the MATATAG Agenda of her department. The MATATAG Agenda comprises four [...]

  Transport group PISTON on Saturday announced its three-day transportation strike from April 29 to May 1 in protest of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program. The strike’s convergence areas in Metro Manila will include Agoncillo, Alabang, Anonas, Baclaran, Katipunan, Litex, Monumento, Novaliches, Philcoa, Sucat, and Taft. Members of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and party-list Bayan Muna are set to join the transport strike in solidarity as early as April 29 until it culminates through Labor Day demonstrations on May 1 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this month said there would be no further extension of the said program’s April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation. PISTON deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon said although jeepneys that fail to consolidate beginning May 1 will [...]

  Some 1.7 million individuals have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon, which has resulted in close to P4 billion in damage and losses to the country’s agriculture sector. DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the affected individuals are in Regions 2, 3, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. “The DSWD is distributing family food packs. This is part of the humanitarian response in areas affected by El Niño, especially for families experiencing lack of food due to severe drought,” she said. DSWD has already distributed more than P58 million worth of family food packs in the affected areas, Dumlao said. According to the Department of Agriculture, damage on rice crops accounted for more than half of the total losses or at [...]

  Earth Day Every Day Project, a plastics collection competition among students, will be launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during the celebration of Earth Day on Monday, April 22. In a statement released on Saturday, April 20, the DENR said the project seeks to instill in young people the significance of recycling plastics and to promote an environmental consciousness consistent with scouting values The environment department said student scouts from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) from various schools will bring the plastic items they collected including plastic bottles and plastic bags for a weigh-in at SM Mall of Asia. “The class with the highest volume of plastic items will win a prize,” the agency said. The [...]

THE Philippine government, through its National Security Council (NSC) on Saturday, rejected China's claim of a supposed "new model" to deescalate tension in the West Philippine Sea based on its agreement with the previous administration. Security Adviser Eduardo Año and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea spokesman Jonathan Malaya insisted that any "agreement" reached between China and the Philippines in the previous administration, referring to then president Rodrigo Duterte, if it existed, has been rescinded and was not binding under the administration of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "The President has been very clear: This administration is not aware of any secret or gentleman's agreement, and if there was such done under a previous administration, the same has been rescinded," Año said in a statement [...]

FILE PHOTO: Taal Volcano looks serene in this photo taken from Tagaytay City on September 25, 2023. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday, April 20, 2024, reported the occurrence of phreatic eruptions at Taal Volcano. PHOTO FROM THE TAGAYTAY CITY TOURISM OFFICE AND EVELYN GONZALEZ   (UPDATED at 1:10 p.m., April 20, 2024, to reflect the latest information from Phivolcs.) MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday recorded three “short-lived” phreatic eruptions at Taal Volcano. According to the state seismologist, their Taal Volcano Network (TVN) logged the first two “phreatic or steam-driven eruption events” from 8:50 a.m. to 9:12 a.m. “The events lasted more than 2 minutes and produced up to 350 meter-tall steam plumes that drifted West-southwest and Southwest. Alert [...]

JOB HUNT. Job seekers line up at the Mega Job Fair of the Manila City government at the SM City Manila on Jan. 18, 2024. The DOLE said Friday (April 19) it would hold simultaneous job fairs in 94 venues across the country on May 1, in commemoration of Labor Day. (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)     MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to hold simultaneous job fairs across the country in celebration of the 122nd Labor Day. In an advisory on Friday, the agency's Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) said these job fairs featuring local and overseas employment opportunities will be held in 94 sites mostly in malls on May 1. "DOLE is presenting a huge opportunity for all jobseekers. We [...]

TIGHT SUPPLY For the second straight day this week, the NGCP placed the Luzon grid under yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and the Visayas grid from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m on Wednesday PHOTO FROM NGCP   MANILA, Philippines — Electricity supply problems continue to hound Luzon and the Visayas as more than 30 power plants remain shut or are running below capacity due to intense summer heat being made more unbearable by the El Niño dry spell. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged the public to adopt energy-saving measures to cut electricity consumption as power supply problems continued to hound Luzon and Visayas on Wednesday after more than 30 power plants remain offline or operating at lower capacities. In a post on his Instagram account [...]

'DANGEROUS' MOVES. The civilian vessel Unaizah May 1 is harassed, blocked, and blasted with water cannon by a Chinese coast guard vessel while on a resupply mission to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on March 5, 2024. The Group of Seven (G7) on Friday (April 19, 2024) called out China over its militarization and “intimidation activities” in the South China Sea, particularly its “dangerous maneuvers” against Filipino vessels carrying out routine resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal. (Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines)     MANILA – The Group of Seven (G7) has called out China over its militarization and “intimidation activities” in the South China Sea (SCS), as it took note of Beijing’s "dangerous maneuvers” and water cannon use against [...]

(PNA file photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)   MANILA- The weather bureau warned of dangerous heat index levels in 19 areas across the country on Saturday. Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) 5 p.m. forecast on Friday, the following areas may have a heat index ranging from 42 C to 44 C on Saturday: Dagupan City, Pangasinan – 44 C Bacnotan, La Union – 42 C Aparri, Cagayan – 42 Tuguegarao, Cagayan – 42 C Clark Airport (DMIA), Pampanga – 42 C Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas – 42 C Coron, Palawan – 42 C Aborlan, Palawan – 44 C Virac (SYNOP), Catanduanes 42 C CBSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur – 43 C Roxas City Capiz – 43 C Iloilo City, Iloilo – 42 C Dumangas, Iloilo – [...]

  At least three Filipinos have died amid the flooding in the United Arab Emirates, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Thursday. “With extreme sadness, we report the death of 3 OFWs during the flooding in UAE,” DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said on X. “Two OFWs died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flood. One other OFW died due to a vehicular accident. We shall provide utmost support and assistance to their families,” he added. Two of the victims are females while one is male, Cacdac said “The department assures the families of the three OFWs of its fullest support and assistance,” DMW said. The DMW said Philippine offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were preparing to distribute relief goods and other essential items [...]

    The Chinese embassy in Manila said: The unfounded accusation of our educational exchanges is yet another malicious sleight of hand to incite suspicion and hatred of China. Insightful people in the Philippines have not lost sight of this tendency by calling it ‘McCarthyism’ resurrecting in the Philippines. This deserves high vigilance and must be resolutely opposed. This came on the heels of a House Resolution filed by Cagayan 3rd District Rep. Joseph Lara for a probe into the alarming rise of Chinese students enrolled in higher institutions in his province in the northern tip of Luzon. “The Senate should look into the reported presence of Chinese nationals around EDCA sites. This is a national security concern that must be addressed,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said. Senate [...]

STRONG PH-US TIES. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center, left panel) meets with United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III (center, right panel) at the Pentagon in Washington DC on Saturday (April 13, 2024, Manila time). During his meeting with Austin, Marcos emphasized the Philippines’ strong relations with the US. (Photo from PBBM’s official Facebook page)     MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed optimism on Saturday (Manila time) that the Philippines’ trilateral alliance with the United States (US) and Japan would usher in sustained peace and stability in the South China Sea (SCS). During his meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III at the Pentagon in Washington DC, Marcos said the result of his historic trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime [...]

One of the four discrete phreatic or steam-driven eruption events, observed between 9:45 a.m. and 3:22 p.m. through the Taal Volcano Network (TVN) at the VTMC (Main Crater) observation station on April 12, 2024.     MANILA, Philippines — Taal Volcano in Batangas exhibited increased volcanic activity with five phreatic eruptions occurring within a 24-hour period, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs reported that between 12 a.m. Friday and 12 a.m. Saturday, Taal experienced five phreatic eruptions, with one event lasting for 13 minutes. A phreatic eruption, according to Phivolcs, is a steam-driven explosion that occurs when water, either below the ground or on the surface, is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or fresh volcanic deposits. During the same monitoring [...]

MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of dangerous heat index levels in nine areas across the country on Saturday. Based on the weather bureau’s 5 p.m. forecast on Friday, the following areas may have a heat index ranging from 42°C to 45°C on Saturday: Laoag, Ilocos Norte – 42°C Dagupan City, Pangasinan – 45°C Aparri, Cagayan – 44°C Tuguegarao, Cagayan – 42°C Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 42°C Aborlan, Palawan – 42°C Masbate City, Masbate – 42°C CBPSUA-Pili, Camarines Sur – 42°C Catarman, Northern Samar – 42°C PAGASA said heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. The weather bureau advised the public to limit the time spent outdoors, especially [...]

MALARIA MOSQUITO. Malaria cases nationwide increased by 90 percent in 2023, according to Department of Health - Disease Intervention and Prevention Bureau medical officer Kim Patrick Tejano during a press briefing on Friday (April 12, 2024). Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes on people. (PNA file photo)     MANILA – Malaria cases in the country almost doubled in 2023 and the Department of Health (DOH) believes that climate change contributed to the uptick. Latest data from the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) showed that about 6,248 cases were recorded in 2023 or 90 percent higher than the 3,245 cases posted in 2022. Of these cases, 11 deaths were reported and still under investigation. "While the cases [...]

The Department of Energy warned of another round of oil price hike next week by as much as P1 per liter due to the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Gaza Strip. This will be the fourth consecutive weekly increase for gasoline and the second weekly increase for diesel and kerosene. The DOE estimates the increase at P0.80 to P1 per liter for diesel and P0.85 to P1 per liter for kerosene. Prices of gasoline may remain steady or go up by P0.20 per liter. ”Another round of increase is expected next week as a result of an intensified geopolitical concerns in Gaza Strip wherein Israeli’s airstrikes killed 3 sons of a Hamas leader. However, inventory build up of crude and fuels in the US tempered the oil price increase.(These [...]

This photo provided by Police Regional Office 4A shows the Philippine Navy helicopter that crashed near Cavite City Public Market on Thursday morning, April 11, 2024. Two pilots were killed in the incident, according to the military. | PHOTO: Police Regional Office 4A     PAMPANGA, Philippines — A Philippine Navy (PN) helicopter crashed near Cavite City Public Market on Thursday morning, killing two pilots, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. “A PN Robinson R22 trainer helicopter conducted an emergency landing this morning in the vicinity near of Cavite City Public Market,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters in a Viber message. “The two navy aviators were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment but succumbed to their injuries,” she said. Padilla said families of [...]

The Department of Education eyes the full return to the old academic calendar in 2026, when classes would open in June. Additional electric fans have been set up inside a classroom of the Rafael Palma Elementary School in Manila on April 1, 2024, to keep students cool in the hot weather. Photo by Edd Gumban, The Philippine STAR The Department of Education (DepEd) must speed up the return to the old academic calendar amid widespread suspension of onsite classes due to extreme heat, teachers group Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reiterated on Friday, April 5. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, TDC national chairman Benjo Basas said the reversion to the old academic calendar – where classes run from June to March and school break from April to May – seemed [...]

OFF TO WASHINGTON. President Marcos waves to well wishers before departing for Washington, D.C., where he will join US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for the first Philippines-US-Japan Trilateral Summit. PPA POOL US, Japan, PH to assure freedom of navigation in WPS President Marcos on Wednesday flew to the United States to participate in a landmark trilateral meeting with the United States and Japan, which would also iron out the agreement between the three nations regarding peace and security in the West Philippine Sea. “This is essentially an agreement between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines on cooperation in terms of maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. That is the essence of it,” the President told reporters before leaving [...]

Marcos heads to Washington for tri-summit As the nation marked the Day of Valor, President Marcos on Tuesday said the Philippines “must not back down from challenges that seek to threaten its peace, honor, and very existence.” Marcos made the statement during the 82nd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan at the Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan, where he called on Filipinos to stand against oppression amid current challenges that threaten the country within its territory. The Day of Valor commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of Filipinos who fought in the Battle of Bataan during World War II. Meanwhile, the President is set to fly to Washington today (Wednesday) to participate in the historic trilateral leaders’ summit between the Philippines, Japan, and the United States. Mr. Marcos will [...]

    President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File Photo)     MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called for unity amid Filipinos’ diversity in beliefs and philosophies as he joined Muslims here and abroad in the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or the Festival of Breaking the Fast. In his written message released by the Office of the President, Marcos emphasized the festival's significance for the spiritual renewal of Muslims after Ramadan's month-long observance of prayer, sacrifice, and penance. “Truly, the Festival of Breaking the Fast marks not only the culmination of Ramadan, but also the rededication of one’s journey towards a more disciplined, dignified, and gracious life,” Marcos said. “As you take to heart the insights from your devotion, may you become shining examples of humility, [...]

AIR Force pilots from the Philippines and the United States are set to conduct maneuvers over a wide area of Luzon during the Cope Thunder-Philippines military exercise that began Monday at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Air Force Public Affairs chief Col. Consuelo Castillo said that at least 12 US F-16 supersonic multi-role fighter aircraft and four FA-50s from the Philippines would participate in the reconnaissance and training maneuvers. A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130J cargo aircraft will join the drills. The first iteration of Cope Thunder this year, taking place in the Northern Luzon Intensive Military Training Area, Basa Air Base and Benito N. Ebuen Air Base, involves about 700 airmen and will last until April 19. Castillo said the exercise would focus on expert exchanges, [...]

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned of dangerous heat index levels ranging from 42°C to 44°C in eight areas on Wednesday. Based on the weather bureau’s 5 p.m. forecast on Tuesday, the following areas are: Dagupan City, Pangasinan – 44°C Bacnotan, La Union – 42°C San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – 42°C Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 43°C Aborlan, Palawan – 43°C Roxas City, Capiz – 42°C Guiuan, Eastern Samar – 42°C Cotabato City, Maguindanao – 42°C Heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. The state weather bureau advised the public to limit the time spent outdoors, especially at noon, and drink plenty of water. Use umbrellas or wear hats and sleeved clothing [...]

MARITIME COOPERATION. The missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) is one of the three Philippine Navy ships that participated in the April 7, 2024 multilateral maritime cooperative activity of the Philippines, the US, Japan, and Australia in the West Philippine Sea. The AFP on Wednesday (April 10, 2024) said the holding of future multilateral drills between Manila and its allies would depend on the approval of these nations’ respective governments. (Photo courtesy of the AFP)     MANILA – The conduct of future multilateral maritime drills between the Philippines and its allies will depend on the approval of the governments of these nations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Wednesday. "Conducting MMCA (multilateral maritime cooperative activity) with allied countries in the coming days is feasible, provided that [...]

(1st UPDATE) It is the second month in a row that inflation has risen since being on a downtrend for four straight months   Manila, Philippines – The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.7% in March, driven by higher food prices and transportation costs for the month. The 3.7% rate reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday, April 5, is higher than February’s 3.4%, but lower than the 7.6% recorded in March 2023. The 3.7% rate for March is near the top end of the government’s 2% to 4% target range for inflation. It also means that the inflation rate has risen for the second month in a row since being on a downtrend for four straight months March’s inflation rate was primarily driven by food and non-alcoholic [...]

SIZZLING. A worker does fencing work at the Alabang station of the Philippine National Railways on April 4, 2024. Companies are urged to adopt measures to mitigate the impact of sweltering temperatures on workers. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)     MANILA – A labor group on Friday urged companies to create a "heat risk action plan" in workplaces as the country continues to grapple with sizzling temperatures. In a statement, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on employers to come up with policies and practices that will protect the health and well-being of workers from heat exhaustion. "It is our shared moral responsibility, not only of workers who toil day in and day out not only at work but also in commuting to and from [...]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo from PBBM's Official FB Page ‘They can’t cover our eyes, pretend nothing happened’ President Marcos said the Philippines needs to “respond to the actual situation on the ground” in the West Philippine Sea even as it does not seek conflict with any other country. “They cannot cover our eyes and pretend that nothing happened,” Mr. Marcos told newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to the PhilippinesEndo Kazuya during the latter’s presentation of credentials in Malacañang. He said as a matter of foreign policy and geopolitics, the most important thing is to find a way to keep the West Philippine Sea at peace. “That is what the Philippines will always work for,” the President said. Mr. Marcos is set to participate in a historic trilateral cooperation meeting [...]

                                                          (Photo courtesy of Commission on Population and Development)   MANILA – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Friday urged Filipino couples to observe and be educated about family planning despite the recorded drop of fertility rate in the country in the past few years, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "Our prescription in the Commission on Population and Development is still family planning. The importance of planning when, where, how many ang gusto mong maging anak para makamit mo yung (children you want to have and achieve your) aspirations as a family," CPD Knowledge Management and [...]

(FILES) Philippine and Australian soldiers march in formation while a US marines V-22 Osprey hovers above during military exercise Alon (wave), a joint amphibious landing drill held at a naval base in San Antonio town in Zambales province, north of Manila on August 25, 2023. The Philippines will hold joint naval drills with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources told AFP on April 4, 2024, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)     Manila, Philippines — The Philippines will hold joint naval drills with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources told AFP Thursday, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China’s expanding influence in the [...]

The government on Tuesday urged the public — especially Metro Manila residents — to conserve water as dam levels continue to drop due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon and the dry season. El Niño Task Force spokesman, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, said that while Metro Manila was not yet experiencing a water crisis, the water level of Angat Dam, which supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila's potable water needs, could drop further because of increased consumption, lack of rainfall and evaporation due to the heat "For now, we don't see that there will be a problem or that the Angat Dam will drop below the critical level of 180 meters, but as the temperature gets warmer, the household consumption increases, and of [...]

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) continues to monitor cases of pertussis or whooping cough in the Philippines, as it logged a total of 49 deaths since the beginning of this year. As of March 23, the DOH has recorded at least 862 cases, most of whom are from Mimaropa (187), Metro Manila (158), Central Luzon (132), Central Visayas (121), and Western Visayas (72). Of the total pertussis cases, 79 percent were under 5 years old. At least 66 percent of these young children were either unvaccinated or did not know their vaccination history. Adults aged 20 and older account for only 4 percent of cases, the DOH said. "The DOH is cautious in interpreting trends as the number of cases may still change as there may be [...]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (File Photo)     MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended his sympathies to the people of Taiwan after it was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake early Wednesday. In a statement posted on social media, Marcos also assured assistance to all the Filipinos currently in Taiwan. “Our hearts are with the people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath of today's powerful earthquake,” Marcos said. “Rest assured, our Department of Migrant Workers is diligently ensuring the safety of the 159,480 Filipinos currently residing in Taiwan. We stand ready to assist and support our fellow Filipinos in Taiwan in any way possible during this difficult period,” he added. Taiwan was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake past 7 a.m., the strongest [...]

  This photo taken by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on April 3, 2024 shows emergency workers assisting a survivor after he was rescued from a damaged building in New Taipei City, after a major earthquake hit Taiwan's east. A major 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan's east on Wednesday morning, prompting tsunami warnings for the self-ruled island as well as parts of southern Japan and the Philippines. (Photo by CNA/AFP)     At least nine people were killed and more than 900 injured Wednesday by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted. Dozens of people were believed safe but unreachable in areas cut off by massive landslides triggered by the quake—many in tunnels [...]

  Backpackers of the Philippines conducted an outreach program to the residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan on March 26 to 30, 2024. Zcheeko Zacarias, one of the group's administrators, said that they had been planning the outreach program for two years, and they deemed this year as the right moment to execute it. "Seeing the genuine smiles on the faces of the people makes our efforts worth it. Although I had many chances to visit the island in past years, I decided that it would be best to bring our group and conduct the outreach together," Zacarias said. During the program, the group donated medicines, organized a feeding program, conducted storytelling sessions, distributed gifts, and arranged games for the children. They also provided programs for [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio     Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has assured immediate action on the alleged discrepancies in the voucher program under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE). Duterte made the response in an ambush interview on the sidelines of her engagements in Cambodia as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) President on Thursday. Duterte mentioned establishing the Government Assistance and Subsidies Office (GASO) to look into the reported discrepancies in the billing issued by the private schools. “First of all, we are not issuing payments, we’re holding the payments,” she said. “Second, if it’s already paid and we see that it’s ineligible, either there’s a mistake or problem in the billing, we are asking for a refund [...]

Former Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Photo courtesy of House of Representatives)     MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed before midnight Thursday the arrest of ousted Negros Oriental 3rd District congressman and designated terrorist Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in Dili, East Timor. The DOJ news release posted on Facebook said Teves was nabbed at the Top Golf Driving Range and Bar around 4 p.m. Thursday. Teves is facing multiple murder charges in connection with the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March 2023, and three others in 2019. "We already confirmed that the mastermind of my husband's murder has finally been captured by Timor Leste police. Words cannot express how it feels to finally see the man [...]

Filipino marine scientists on Pagasa Island’s Cay 2. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard)     MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday criticized China for employing what it described as “intimidation tactics” against Filipino scientists conducting research in the West Philippine Sea. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003) were deployed Thursday to Pagasa Island Cay 1 and Cay 2, respectively. Carrying marine scientists, the two ships departed from Pagasa Island port at 10 a.m. and arrived at Cay 1 and 2 at 10:28 a.m.However, before arriving at Pagasa’s Cay 2, Tarriela said the MMOV 3003 experienced “dangerous maneuvers” from a China Coast [...]

Chocolate Hills (Photo grabbed from Department of Tourism Facebook page)     MANILA – Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said Friday all illegal structures built in the iconic Chocolate Hills in Bohol, which has been declared a protected area, must be removed. Loyzaga said this in an interview over a radio program after an aerial inspection she conducted with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos. She said that aside from the Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, which has gone viral on social media and received negative comments from netizens, they discovered similar structures illegally built within the protected area. “Sa palagay ko, sa nakita ko, yes po, kailangan, ito yung ginagawa namin ngayon, ang tawag namin ay mitigation approach sa mga gawaing ganito (From what [...]

    The damage to agriculture due to the dry spell induced by the El Niño has reached P1.31 billion mark, according to the Task Force El Niño. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said it was considering reducing the water pressure of concessionaires in Metro Manila due to the continuous decline of water levels in Angat Dam. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has also made the same observation, saying El Niño has caused at least P1.31 billion worth of agricultural damage as of mid-March Task force spokesman Joey Villarama said the country was still experiencing “strong and mature” El Niño. Villarama pointed out, however, that this year’s damage caused by the drought was less than previous figures. “We are anticipating that we have seen [...]

  MANILA - Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday reiterated his call for the creation of a "forward operating bases (FOB)" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Benham or Philippine Rise amid the continued tension between the Philippines and China over the disputed waters. Tolentino made the call nine months after he filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 654 or An Act Institutionalizing the Philippine Navy Forward Operating Bases in line with the Philippine Navy Strategic Basing Plan 2040. The FOB, he said, is smaller than a main naval and operating base and would not require the same budgetary allocation as a regular naval base. Tolentino said FOB would only serve as an outpost strategically located near the WPS and the Philippine Rise. “SB No. 654 identified strategic [...]

INDUSTRY BOOST. Workers harvest salt at Borlongan Aqua Salt Farm in Barangay Banog Norte, Bani, Pangasinan in this photo taken April 29, 2023. The Department of Agriculture on Monday (March 18, 2024) said the passage of Republic Act 11985 or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act will boost local production and income of salt farmers. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)     MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said the passage of Republic Act No. 11985 or the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act poses favorable benefits to farmers amid efforts to boost local production. Among the key areas in the priority regions for implementation are Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula. DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the law enables [...]

    MANILA – Senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) of Manila will soon have a chance to work at McDonald's, an American fast-food chain. The city government of Manila entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the personnel provider of McDonald’s for the implementation of a program that would provide jobs for senior citizens and PWDs. The agreement was signed last March 12 by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and J&F Food Corporation Training Consultant Sofia Loriega, with Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto and Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marlon Lacson as witnesses, and Manila's public employment service office head Fernan Bermejo in attendance. In a statement on Monday, Lacuna said the program aims to re-integrate the senior citizens and PWDs as "productive members of [...]

As Marcos downplays Xi orders for China to prepare troops BERLIN—President Marcos said he will meet with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Manila on Tuesday (March 19) as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation amid the ongoing incursions of China in the West Philippine Sea. “The first item I will be seeing [is a] meeting with Secretary Anthony Blinken on Tuesday,” Mr. Marcos told reporters in an interview before leaving for Prague Wednesday evening. Mr. Marcos arrived at the capital of the Czech Republic, the second leg of his Central Europe tour, at 6:25 p.m. Prague time (1:25 a.m. in Manila). The President also shrugged off Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent order to his troops to prepare for conflicts in the East and South [...]

File photo shows a man holding a Philippine passport. The STAR / Edd Gumban, File   Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the "New Philippine Passport Act," designed to modernize passport application processes nationwide. The law aims to greatly improve accessibility and streamline procedures, especially benefiting senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and individuals with special needs or exceptional circumstances, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday. The recently enacted law, signed on March 11, replaced Republic Act No. 8239, also known as the Passport Act of 1996. "The new passport law now authorizes DFA to provide offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts (FSPs)," the PCO said. "The DFA is also mandated by the new law to arrange accommodations for [...]

Hundreds of exhibitors in construction and design sector are joining the WORLDBEX 2024 from March 14 to March 17 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center.     About 1,500 local and international exhibitors are showcasing the latest innovation in construction and design sectors during the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition. The exhibit, organized by Worldbex Services International (WSI), started on March 14 and will run until March 17 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center. WSI founding chairman Joseph Ang said this year’s theme “Drawn to Ascendency” encapsulates the collective journey of WORLDBEX towards progress and innovation in the word of building and design. “WORDLBEX has become the cornerstone of innovation and collaboration within the industry. As we explore [...]

  MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday warned the public against consuming shellfish from six areas in the Visayas and Mindanao due to paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide. The DOH and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the advisory covers all types of shellfish, including mussels or tahong, oysters, clams, and alamang sourced from the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; San Pedro Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; and San Benito in Surigao del Norte. "Bring patients with symptoms after eating unsafe shellfish to the nearest emergency room immediately. Prevention is the best: do not eat tahong, talaba, halaan, other shellfish, and alamang from [...]

                                                                 (File photo)     MANILA — The Philippines is eyeing to launch the pharmaceutical-medical device (pharma-dev) economic zones within 2024, with four locations across the country already under consideration. At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga said PEZA is now in the site selection stage. “So, nasa site selection kami, establishment ng criteria. Mayroon sa Laguna, mayroon Bulacan, mayroon Tarlac, mayroon din sa Cebu (We’re now in site selection, establishment of criteria. There’s Laguna, Bulacan, Tarlac, and Cebu),” he said. In a separate interview, Panga said PEZA [...]

The former President, in a press conference in Davao City late Saturday evening, says only ‘stupid people’ would believe the claim that he is involved in any destabilization plot. Screengrabs from ANC, Facebook live     There is nothing ‘legally wrong’ in the appointment of former President Rodrigo Duterte as administrator of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) properties. In a phone interview Sunday, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio told Manila Standard that Duterte is now a “private person, a lawyer, and a member of the Bar in good standing.” On the other hand, he said KOJC is a juridical entity and a corporation sole, owned and occupied by a single person who appointed the former President, Topacio said He said almost all religious groups are corporation soles—or an [...]

The Senate has approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2386 or the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA). With 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and zero abstentions, SB 2386 was approved by the Senate during its plenary session on Monday, March 11. The bill is another priority legislation of the Marcos administration Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the enactment of the bill into law will provide a respite for taxpayers of real property tax as it sets a two-year amnesty on interests and penalties for taxpayers with unpaid real property tax. “Waiving the payment of interests, penalties, and surcharges on unpaid or delinquent real property taxes through the amnesty component of RPVARA would encourage tax compliance later on and significantly enhance the government’s [...]

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and South Korean company Miru Systems officially signed on Monday the P17.99 billion contract for the procurement of a new automated election system (AES) for the 2025 National and Local Elections. The agreement covers 110,000 new automated counting machines; 104,345 ballot boxes; 2,200 consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) laptops and printers; ballot papers for 73.8 million voters; and ballot printing and ballot verification services. The awarding of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project came more than two weeks after Comelec announced that it awarded the contract to Miru, the lone bidder for the project. Comelec Chairman George Garcia and Commissioner Rey Bulay led the signing with Miru President Chung Jin Bok. The election body noted that its joint venture with the South Korean [...]

MISMATCH. A Philippine Coast Guard escort vessel (foreground) is blasted with water cannon by the Chinese Coast Guard during the rotation and reprovisioning of troops for BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on March 5, 2024. In a radio interview Monday (March 11), Senator Imee Marcos on called for restraint and more dialogues amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo courtesy of AFP Facebook)     MANILA – Senator Imee Marcos on Monday emphasized the importance of upholding independent foreign policy through restraint and more dialogues amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a radio interview, the presidential sister said no one should bring up or discuss war and conflict. "Huwag tayo masyadong maanghang magsalita kung puros daldal lang. Eh mainam, tiisin natin kahit nakakapikon at [...]

Coffee table book. The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) launches its first coffee table book entitled ‘Dugong Tsinoy, Pusong Pinoy’ in Binondo, Manila. Leading the ceremonial turnover of the book are (from left) FFCCCII vice president Jeffrey Ng, book editor AA Patawaran, FFCCCII president Dr. Cecilio Pedro and FFCCCII board member and public information and media committee chairman Wilson Lee Flores. The book highlights the contributions of FFCCCII and the Tsinoy community across various domains including trade, philanthropy, commerce, charities, economy, education, volunteerism by Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigades, calamity relief efforts and socio-economic reforms.     The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) launched its first coffee table book entitled “Dugong Tsinoy, Pusong Pinoy” on March 8 [...]

GET OFF FROM NATIONAL ROAD. An electronic tricycle (e-trike) traverses Recto Avenue in Manila on Feb. 29, 2024. Starting April 15, e-trikes, e-bikes, and other electric motor vehicles are banned on major roads across the National Capital Region. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)     MANILA – The ban on e-bikes on major roads in the National Capital Region (NCR) will start on April 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday. "Walang bago dito. I-eenforce na po ng MMDA ang prohibitions na ito dahil marami na tayo nakikitang insidente ng aksidente, paglabag sa mga traffic rules and regulations at 'di na po natin aantayin na dumami pa at lumala pa ang sitwasyon bago tayo kumilos (There is nothing new in this regulation. The MMDA will enforce the [...]

  NAIC, Cavite—Standard Insurance, one of the leading insurers in the country, joined the “Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody” program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “We are dedicated to the adoption of the rivers, actively advocating for their cleanliness and preservation. Our efforts will be directed towards enhancing the rivers’ health and ensuring the sustainability of their surrounding ecosystems,” said Standard Insurance Co. Inc. chairman Ernesto Echauz Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody is one of DENR’s priority programs being implemented nationwide through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). Private company partners commit to enhancing the environment of the waterway they’ve chosen to adopt under the program. This involves various initiatives such as routine cleanup endeavors, dredging, educational campaigns, community engagement efforts and training sessions for relevant stakeholders. Standard Insurance adopted the Kay-Alamang [...]

MANILA – The first contract package (CP101) of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is 40 percent complete and is on track for partial operations by 2029, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday. In a press conference following a site visit and launch of tunnel boring machine (TBM) 4 at the MMSP’s North Avenue Station, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the project’s on-time completion would mostly depend on resolving right-of-way (ROW) issues. To date, he said some properties where stations are located are owned by private individuals, in addition to a Department of Education (DepEd) building that cannot be demolished due to its status as a heritage site. “Meron din issues like property owners na ayaw nila 'yung MMSP dumaan sa ilalim ng kanilang property (There are also [...]

Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Palawan Chapter chairman Pan Ming Yuan     PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Palawan Chapter chairman Pan Ming Yuan expects tourism in this province to sustain its growth this year as the economy continuously recovers from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. International visitor arrivals in the Philippines reached 5.45 million in 2023, which surpassed the target of 4.8 million set by the Department of Tourism. “Hotels and beach resorts are very good investments in the province,” said Pan, who is also the chairman of Filipino-Chinese Amity Club in Palawan Pan expressed hope the government would provide more assistance for the promotion of tourism such as the construction of roads and bridges to reach the remote tourism sites and providing lower water [...]

Filipino scientists (Photo courtesy of Department of Science and Technology)     MANILA – The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) on Thursday said it supports the discoveries and inventions of Filipino scientists nationwide. “In fact, sa kasalukuyan, ang pinopondohan namin ay ‘yung basic research. Pagdating sa application, may iba’t ibang ahensiya sa pamahalaan na iyan ang trabaho (currently, we fund the basic research. When it comes to application, there are different government agencies taking care of that),” NRCP Executive Director Dr. Bernardo Sepeda said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV4. He noted that the Department of Science and Technology conducts and funds research. “Upang, halimbawa, ang DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government], ang DICT [Department of Information and Technology] o kaya even ang [...]

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in the Philippines owned by the Sy family, said Friday it will discontinue its old banking app for Apple/iOS users starting March 12, 2024. The bank said in an advisory Apple/iOS users should download and switch to its new app for better access to the bank’s services. The new app has more upgraded features compared to the old one, it said It will allow users view and manage all their BDO accounts in an all-new interface. The app will automatically display all the active personal accounts of the users. BDO said it created a FAQ page to address user inquiries, which include steps to reset password, retrieve username and registration. BDO is a comprehensive universal bank in the Philippines that offers [...]

STILL WANTED. This file photo shows the ‘Wanted’ poster issued by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation last year for Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founder Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing sex trafficking and other charges in a California court.     A California judge has ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founder Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused, bringing the case a step closer toward extraditing the pastor, who is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, a New York-based lawyer said. Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants issued against Quiboloy and threeother accused for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of [...]

OPERATIONS in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will continue despite increasing harassment from China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and their maritime militia, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command said Thursday. "Our operations in the WPS will continue, along with our patrols and along with the exercise of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction," Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said in Filipino, saying that the troops were "undeterred" and would not yield Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Westerm Command Chief, speaks during an interview with the media at a port in Palawan on March 6, 2024. The Philippines said on March 5 that China Coast Guard vessels caused two collisions with Philippine boats and water cannoned one of them, leaving four [...]

(UPDATE) THE government on Thursday confirmed the death of two Filipino seafarers in a missile attack Wednesday by Houthi rebels on their ship in the Red Sea. The attack set the Liberian-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze, about 50 nautical miles or 93 kilometers off the coast of Yemen's port of Aden. "We in the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) sincerely extend our deepest condolences to the family and kin of our slain, heroic seafarers. For reasons of privacy, we are withholding their names and identities," the DMW said in a statement RESCUE This handout photograph taken on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, and released by the Indian Navy shows the rescue operation of crew members of a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier by the Indian Navy after an attack by Yemen’s [...]

The number of jobless Filipinos increased to 9.4 million in December 2023 from 7.9 million in September 2023, according to the survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) The national survey conducted from December 8 to 11 last year said the 9.4 million unemployed represent 19.5% of the adult labor force. The figure was 2.6 points higher than the 16.9% jobless in September 2023. SWS defines the labor force as adults (18 years and above) presently with a job, and those looking for a job. According to the survey firm, the jobless consist of those who voluntarily left their old jobs; are seeking jobs for the first time; or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control. The December 2023 survey also found the labor force participation rate at [...]

MANILA, Philippines- The House of Representatives' Committee of the Whole on Wednesday approved Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7 which seeks to amend certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The resolution was approved after the committee deliberations which started on March 4, 2024 and which were attended by resource persons. Like the RBH 6 filed at the Senate, RBH 7 covered Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4), and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11). Both resolutions seek to add the words "unless otherwise provided by law" to these provisions. They also seek to add the word "basic" before the words "educational institutions" in the first sentence of paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV. An approved committee report would have to be [...]

  China spurned the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippines, in connection with its recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, warning that it would continue despite Manila’s complaint arising from the latest China Coast Guard (CCG) cannon attack and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels. The Chinese embassy in Manila said it found nothing wrong when CCG blocked the path of a Philippine vessel and attacked the latter with a water cannon. The blockade led to a collision, which CCG described as just “mild” as well as the injury of four Filipino crew. China made the statement after Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong was summoned on Tuesday to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to shed light on the latest actions by the CCG in the [...]

BUCAS CENTER. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa (left) leads the inauguration of the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in the Philippines in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga on Wednesday (March 6, 2024). He said the BUCAS center was inspired by the concept of the LAB For All project, headed by First Lady Atty. Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Health)     MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday opened the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in the Philippines in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga. “The DOH was inspired by the concept of the LAB For All project, headed by First Lady Atty. Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos. We want to institutionalize the LAB For All concept through BUCAS [...]

This photo taken on March 5, 2024 shows a vessel identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as “Chinese maritime militia” during sunrise in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines said on March 5 that China Coast Guard vessels caused two collisions with Philippine boats and water cannoned one of them, leaving four crew injured during a resupply mission in the South China Sea. AFP       BEIJING — China on Wednesday accused the United States of using the Philippines as a “pawn” in the South China Sea, as hostilities between the two Asian nations escalate over their territorial dispute in the region. “China urges the United States not to use the Philippines as a pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea. The Philippines should [...]

President Marcos took out slightly more loans last year to finance the government's operations and projects. Based on the Bureau of the Treasury's data, the national government's gross borrowings increased by 1.4 percent to P2.193 trillion between January and December 2023 from P2.163 trillion in the previous year. However, the actual borrowings were 0.6 percent lower than the administration's full-year target of P2.206 trillion The Treasury report indicated that the increase was mainly due to higher foreign financing despite decreased borrowings from local banks. Total domestic market financing dropped by 0.5 percent, or P9 billion, to reach P1.634 trillion in 2023, from P1.643 trillion in 2022. This is also below the P1.653 trillion target. The majority of local borrowings, making up 71.9 percent, were in the form of fixed-rate [...]

The Department of Management (DBM) has recently approved fresh funding to bolster the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) health research and development initiative. Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the DBM has given the green light for the release of P179.9 billion to the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD). This funding is earmarked to support the implementation of DOST-PCHRD’s grants-in-aid program, Pangadaman said in a statement on Sunday, March 3. Specifically, the allocated budget will be utilized for research and development, capacity building, financial assistance for researchers, organization of forums and conventions, provision of stipends for scholars, and offering financial support to State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). “Investing in health research translates to investing in a healthier and more resilient future for our nation. With [...]

THE Gabriela Women's Party kicked off the celebration of Women's Month with a protest rally against rising power rates and the proposal to amend the Constitution, especially for poor Filipino women. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said the government continues to push for charter change amid increasing water and electricity rates. STARTING THEM YOUNG The youth sector of the Gabriela Women’s Group leads an anti-charter change protest on Mendiola in Manila, on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the start of Women’s Month. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA     Brosas said Filipino families are struggling to cope with increasing expenses, which would intensify if the government continued with its plan to open the economy to 100-percent foreign ownership. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) recently raised its rates by P0.5738 per [...]

Manila, Philippines- The first storm would likely enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this March and would be named "Aghon," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday. Weather specialist Benison Estareja said the northeast monsoon or "amihan" will bring light rains over Northern Luzon while the easterlies will affect the rest of the country. Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. advisory that amihan will affect Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora where partly cloudy to overcast skies would prevail. Metro Manila and the rest of the country, meanwhile, would likely experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms, it added.    

(UPDATE) HOURS after the Philippines and Australia signed an agreement to enhance maritime cooperation, China issued a warning against actions that undermine the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. The agreement is one of three signed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s visit to Australia last Wednesday. The two others involve cyber and critical technology and effective competition policies. Malacañang said the maritime pact aims at building up civil-military cooperation and promoting international law and a rules-based order in the region. Mao Ning, deputy director of the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Information Department. AFP Photo   In a statement shared by the Chinese embassy in Manila on Thursday night, Mao Ning, deputy director of the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information Department, said the South China Sea "is generally stable. [...]

AUSSIE ADDRESS. President Marcos addresses the Australian House of Representatives at the Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday. AFP with PPO Pool     Canberra—President Marcos told Australia’s parliament the Philippines was on the “frontline” of a battle for regional peace Thursday as he urged Canberra to join forces in facing the threats that disrupt peace, stability, and the rule of law. With Beijing’s warships loitering in waters off the Philippines’ coast, Mr. Marcos told Australian lawmakers he will remain firm in defending the country’s sovereignty, despite “formidable” challenges. “I shall never tire of repeating the declaration that I made from thefirst day that I took office: I will not allow any attempt by anyforeign power to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory,” Mr. Marcos said. [...]

President Marcos has signed two landmark laws that aim to honor two key sectors of society and promote their rights and development — the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act and the Expanded Centenarians Act. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM screenshot) Marcos signed the two measures in a ceremony in Malacañan on Monday, Feb. 26. He was initially set to sign three laws, but Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers Act was still "under further review." "It's my honor to sign into law two bills which do not only honor two key sectors of society but mandate measures that protect their rights and promote their development," he said in his speech. "Each of these laws encapsulates the merits that the Bagong Pilipinas upholds to [...]

The committee will be convened to expedite discussions on the Resolution of Both Houses 7 or the House version of economic Cha-cha or Charter change, according to Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr Various groups march towards EDSA on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the people power revolution and oppose moves to amend the Constitution. Photo by Jesse Bustos, The Philippine STAR     The House of Representatives will convene today, Feb. 26, the committee of the whole to deliberate on the proposed economic Charter change. The committee will be convened to expedite discussions on the Resolution of Both Houses 7 or the House version of economic Cha-cha, according to Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. “The conversion of the House into a committee [...]

A front view of the Edsa Shrine’s calm facade, taken an hour before scheduled protests on February 25, 2024, at the historic site for the commemoration of the 38th People Power anniversary. (Photo by ZEUS LEGASPI / INQUIRER.net       Manila, Philippines — While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may not have declared Feb. 25 a holiday, this did not prevent groups, including some government agencies, from commemorating the 38th anniversary of the first People Power Revolution that saw millions of people gathered for four days on Edsa, leading to the ouster of his father and namesake, and the restoration of democracy in the country. But unlike in previous years, no prominent personalities were at the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying rites held in the morning by the National Historical [...]

Former President Rodrigo Duterte over the weekend urged against amending the 1987 Constitution to favor the current administration, Unang Balita reported on Monday. In a prayer rally in Cebu, Duterte said the six-year term for the president is already enough. "Huwag baguhin ang Konstitusyon pabor sa kasalukuyang nakaupo at maghahangad pa ng karagdagang termino. Kumportable na tayo sa anim na taon. One term, let us stick to that," Duterte said in his native dialect. (Don't amend the Constitution to favor the president who would want an additional term. We are already comfortable with six years. One term, let us stick to that.) Duterte reportedly added that he is in favor of amending the economic provisions of the current Constitution or even changes in the term of the president as [...]

MANILA – Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday called for the approval of a bill he filed more than a year ago seeking mandatory installation of rainwater collection systems (RCS) in new residential and commercial buildings, particularly in urban or densely-populated areas. With the advent of the El Niño, the lawmaker from Mindanao is calling for the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 4837 mandating the installation of RCS, primarily to promote sufficient water supply during the extreme dry weather phenomenon and to reduce flooding in urban areas in times of La Niña. “The global extreme weather conditions apparently due to climate change prompted the idea of calling for the mandatory RCS installation in all residential, commercial and institutional buildings that would be built in the future,” [...]

Manila, Philippines- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. explored defense and security collaborations with the United Kingdom and Vietnam amid security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea. Teodoro met separately with the UK's Trade Envoy to the Philippines, Richard Graham, and Vietnam's Ambassador to the Philippines Lai Thai Binh in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday to discuss defense and security matters Defense Spokesman Director Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro and Graham expressed interest in joint ventures with British investors and other forms of cooperation to support the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He said that Graham echoed the UK's desire for closer defense ties with the Philippines. "He reaffirmed the UK's commitment to collaborating with allies and partners under the Protect, Align, and [...]

Photo from the Facebook account of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)     Manila, Philippines — Twenty-two more medicines for different diseases have been endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) to make them more accessible to consumers. Under FDA Advisory No. 2024-0329, signed by Director General Samuel Zacate, the regulatory body endorsed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the inclusion of 14 drugs for cancer, four drugs for hypertension, and four drugs for mental illness in the list of medicines exempt from the 12-percent VAT. The advisory was dated February 15 but was released on the FDA website only on Monday. The cancer medicines to be exempted from VAT are the following Sonidegib (as phosphate) 200 milligram (mg) [...]

The multilateral lender's latest warning comes as international bond sales from emerging market governments hit an all-time record of $47 billion in January, led by less risky emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Romania. LONDON, United Kingdom - The World Bank warned that high borrowing costs have "changed dramatically" the need for developing nations to boost sluggish economic growth. The multilateral lender's latest warning comes as international bond sales from emerging market governments hit an all-time record of $47 billion in January, led by less risky emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Romania. However, some riskier issuers have started to tap markets at higher rates. Kenya recently paid more than 10% on a new international bond - the threshold above which experts often consider borrowing unaffordable. "When it [...]

FILE PHOTO: A flare burns excess natural gas in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S. November 23, 2019. Picture taken November 23, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant//File Photo     NEW YORK — Oil prices rose 1% on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions raged on in the Middle East and traders assessed signs of near-term supply tightness. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) rose 87 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $77.91 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 69 cents, or 0.8%, to $83.03 a barrel. Oil contracts tied to near-term deliveries have been trading at their steepest premium to later-dated contracts in multiple months, a market structure known as backwardation and considered a sign of a tightly supplied market. Timespreads are showing markets tightening, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo [...]

The Philippines and the US have launched a P1.6 billion program, first announced by leaders of both states​ in May 2023, to help ​Philippine higher education graduates become more globally competitive. ​L​ed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the ​five-year US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) ​program was rolled out on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to strengthen innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in Philippine colleges and universities. ​According to the US Embassy in Manila, the program will bring together U​S universities​, Philippine government agencies ​that are engaged in human capital development​, and private sector partners to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions​. ​That will be done through faculty and staff training, curriculum improvements, and increasing community outreach and technology transfer​, the embassy said. [...]

Manila, Philippines-  The Department of Education moved the end of school year 2023-2024 to May 31, 2024, paving the way for the gradual return to the old school calendar. The directive under Department Order 003 series of 2024 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte also set the date of the school break from June 1 to July 26, 2024. It was set initially on June 14 School Year 2024-2025 is set to begin on July 29, 2024 and end on May 16, 2025. Education Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa said the department order was their way of gradually shifting the school calendar without compromising the number of school days of learners. "You can see that our school calendar will gradually shift back to the usual April to [...]

The Commission on Elections has approved the distribution of “withdrawal forms” to registered voters who wish to remove their signatures from the people’s initiative petition to change the 1987 Constitution.   In a memo, the poll body said the withdrawal form was adopted during a referendum on Feb. 14. Comelec in its memo also directed its Education and Information Department to disseminate the information “while clarifying that the acceptance of withdrawal forms shall not be construed as formal action by the Commission on the signature sheets/petition for People’s Initiative.” Among the details asked for in the withdrawal form are the person’s name, address, precinct number, and reason for taking back their signature to the PI petition. Last month, the Comelec suspended all proceedings concerning the people’s initiative [...]

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to continue its rotational deployment of ships in the West Philippine Sea in a move that "does not intend to provoke anybody" but will merely ensure that Filipino fishers are protected against China's harassment and incursions. The President's order comes as Chinese vessels moved to block access to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Saturday morning as Philippine ships conducted another Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission to Filipino troops stationed on board BRP Sierra Madre This photo taken on February 15, 2024 shows Filipino fishermen aboard their wooden boats queueing for free fuel beside the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Tamblot (L) as a Chinese coast guard ship (background R) monitors near the [...]

Most Filipino adults expressed discontent with how the current administration manages inflation and reduces the existing poverty in the country. Photo courtesy of OCTA Research The OCTA Research on Saturday, Feb. 17, said the majority of adult Filipinos were "dissatisfied" with how the national government takes steps to help alleviate the lives of those in the lower sector of the economy. "A significant majority of adult Filipinos are dissatisfied with the national government’s performance in managing inflation (only 14% satisfaction) and reducing poverty in the country (only 6% satisfaction)," OCTA said. It also said "more" adult Filipinos are "dissatisfied" with the national government’s efforts in controlling the prices of basic goods or managing inflation at 75 percent; reducing poverty at 46 percent; ensuring food security or access to affordable [...]

DANGEROUS MOVES. This photo taken on Feb. 15, 2024 shows an aerial view of a China Coast Guard vessel (upper) and China Coast Guard personnel on a rubber boat at Bajo de Masinloc. AFP     PH accuses Chinese boats of ‘dangerous’ actions Chinese fishers have been using cyanide in Bajo de Masinloc to intentionally destroy the traditional fishing grounds of Filipinos, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources chief information officer Nazario Briguera said. Briguera said parts of the resource-rich area has been destroyed. The Philippines also accused Chinese coast guard ships of “dangerous” maneuvers after they repeatedly blocked a Filipino vessel delivering supplies to fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, on Thursday and Friday. Bajo de Masinloc has been a flashpoint between the countries [...]

MANILA – The Philippine government said Saturday it will continue its “rotational deployment” to the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) to support Filipinos fishing in the area. The statement came as it presented its initial deployment report, detailing how the operation was a “success” despite the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels’ dangerous maneuvers and shadowing activities to prevent government ships from engaging with the Filipino fisherfolk. “Sa kabila po ng mga hamon, matagumpay po ang ginawang paglalayag ng BRP Tamblot at ang mga gawain nito ay ayon po sa isinasaad ng ating batas at sumasakop na pandaigdigang batas katulad po ng UNCLOS (Despite the challenges, the deployment of the BRP Tamblot and its mission was a success and were all in line with domestic and [...]

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)     MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday said there is no new directive to soften actions in asserting the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a media forum in Manila, the Filipino top diplomat said the Philippines has always and will maintain a policy to manage disputes diplomatically and peacefully while firmly defending its maritime rights over the area. “So, our position has not changed, it remains the same. I think that's how we will proceed in whatever future discussions we have,” he said. Manalo said the government would also sustain a policy of transparency in the WPS, noting that the country's actions have been consistently “hinged on international [...]

Department of Education spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa (PNA file photo)     MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it is awaiting the result of a World Bank (WB) study to assess ideal benefits for public school teachers. “We are expecting preliminary results from the World Bank in a few weeks. They are just requesting additional data from DepEd which we are now processing,” DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa told reporters in a Viber message. Poa's remarks came after progressive lawmakers in the House of Representatives filed House Bill 9920 on Tuesday, seeking to increase the entry-level salary of public school teachers to PHP50,000. He mentioned working with the WB to commission the study last year, even before the filing of the said proposal. Poa said [...]

    TALKS ON E-BIKES. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Don Artes (right), Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, and several other national and local government officials attend the discussions on having a unified regulation towards the use of e-bikes and other unregistered electronic vehicles nationwide, at the MMDA head office in Pasig City on Thursday (Feb. 15, 2024). Artes said the regulation is meant to control the proliferation of e-vehicles that have often been marketed by vendors as not requiring registration or license to operate. (Photo courtesy of MMDA)     MANILA – Several national government agencies and local government units (LGU) on Thursday began discussions on regulating the use of e-bikes and other unregistered electronic vehicles (e-vehicles) nationwide. The [...]

MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Wednesday committed to enhance their services and patients’ benefit package. PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. made the commitment during the hearing of the House health committee in response to the call of Speaker Martin Romualdez to expand the state-run health insurer's benefit packages for its members. “We are one we are one with Speaker Martin when he says we have to aggressively and continuously increase the case packages of PhilHealth across the board,” Ledesma said Ledesma said as part of PhilHealth's mandate, they would increase the benefit packages to make it easier for Filipinos to avail of healthcare services. He added that it would be better for the country and its healthcare system if Filipinos could enjoy significantly [...]

A NUMBER of religious and civic organizations on Wednesday formed a coalition against attempts to amend the 1987 Constitution. The Koalisyon Laban sa Cha-cha (Coalition against Charter change) said revising the Constitution will not solve the country's problems, as claimed by its proponents. Among its founding members were Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros, Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Bishop Jonel Milan of the K4Philippines Intercessors Movement, Caritas Manila Executive Secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao, Ging Quintos-Deles of the Buhay ang EDSA Campaign Network, Minnie Anne Mata-Calub of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Josua Mata of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and members of Akbayan youth Religious and various group's launch ed Wednesday, February 14 at Knight's of Columbus, a coalition against a renewed push for Charter Change(Cha-Cha) which [...]

PEACE MISSION. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines Chief of Mission Tristan Burnett (2nd from left) and Japanese Ambassador yoo the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko shake hands during the launch of the project “Enhancing and Sustaining Peace and Security Mechanisms in Mindanao" at the Dusit Thani, Makati City on Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2024). The Japanese government allotted USD2.58 million (PHP141.9 million) for the project that will rehabilitate four peace and security stations in Mindanao as a way to sustain the peace efforts in the region. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)       MANILA – The Japanese government is funding a USD2.58 million (PHP141.9 million) project that will rehabilitate four peace and security stations in Mindanao as a way to sustain the peace efforts in the region. The [...]

In this handout photo from the Eastern Mindanao Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) taken on February 7, 2024 and received on February 8, 2024, shows responders conduct search and rescue operations in Maco, Davao de Oro. Handout / Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command     Manila, Philippines — Flooding and landslides in Mindanao caused around P738.6 million in infrastructure damage, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday. According to the latest report from the NDRRMC, infrastructure damage in Caraga and Davao region was estimated at P473 million and 265.6 million, respectively. Relentless downpours triggered floods and landslides that damaged approximately 1,344 houses across Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga. The NDRRMC reported that over 1.38 million people in the southern Philippines [...]

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has assured that it is watching closely the country’s southern international seaports against human trafficking. “Traffickers might think that there is less regulation in our southern ports, hence attempts to send out trafficking victims there,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said. “However, the IACAT’s (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) presence remains strong there, ensuring that victims are intercepted before departure,” he pointed out Last Jan. 22, Tansingco said immigration officers intercepted at the Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS) three Filipinos who posed as tourists but were discovered to be human trafficking victims. Citing reports from the BI’s Immigration Border Protection and Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), Tansingco said the women were prevented from boarding a vessel bound to Sandakan, Malaysia after immigration officers found inconsistencies in their documents. The [...]

LABOR groups lauded the Senate move toward a legislated nationwide P100 daily minimum wage increase as a step forward in fulfilling workers' long-standing clamor for a uniform minimum wage system throughout the country. "This Senate action renews hope among workers and their unions for a standardized wage increase across the country, paving the way for the potential establishment of a singular national minimum wage in the coming days. It highlights a pivotal concern within our present economic structure," the joint statement of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (Nagkaisa) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said A standardized wage structure, according to the labor groups, should be put in place as workers all over the country have the same needs regardless of their regional locations. Also, the labor groups pointed out that [...]

LOVE BY THE NUMBERS. This graph by the Social Weather Stations shows the trends in romance among Filipinos through the decades.       More than half of respondents polled by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said they were “very happy with their love life,” with the rest saying they “could be happier” or they had no love life. The noncommissioned survey conducted in December last year among 1,200 adults nationwide was released on Feb. 11 ahead of Valentine’s Day on Wednesday. SWS said the respondents were asked which of these phrases “describes your love life”—“very happy,” “could be happier” and “no love life.” “Fifty-eight percent of Filipinos were very happy with their love life, 23 percent could be happier, and 19 percent have no love life,” the polling [...]

The Philippines has assured the international community that it will continue to undertake efforts against tobacco use in the country. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Dominic Guevara stated that the Philippines will continue to engage constructive dialogues, collaboration and share its experiences with fellow Parties of the Conference to overcome various challenges in realizing the goals of the Convention in terms of tobacco control. Guevara said President Marcos has underscored the importance of a tailored, multi-sectoral approach to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) implementation. Guevara, whose speech was delivered by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Digital Media and Communications Patricia Kayle Martin in Panama, said the Philippines welcomes the positive strides that parties have made, but also acknowledged the remaining challenges. [...]

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday insisted that there was nothing illegal with his proposal for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines. In an interview with Atty. Salvador Panelo, Duterte said his proposal to secede doesn't mean going to war. "[My proposal] is a legal process that will be brought to the United Nations [akin to that of] Timor Leste," Duterte said. "They thought if you want to secede, it's going to be a war. No. We are going to do it the legal way," he added Told that secession was against the 1987 Constitution, Duterte said, "It is not against the Constitution. It is outside the Constitution. Mag-secede ka nga e." "It is based on the right of a free will of determination of the people," Duterte said. [...]

A fugitive South Korean wanted in his country for alleged telecommunications fraud and illegal drugs trafficking has been arrested in Marinduque, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, Feb. 9. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the foreigner as Sim Dongwoo, 43, who was caught last Tuesday, Feb. 6, by operatives of BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) in Buenavista, Marinduque. “We will deport Sim Dongwoo immediately so he could face trial for the crimes he allegedly committed,” Tansingco said. "Sim was already included in our blacklist and perpetually banned from re-entering the Philippines," he said. He also said that Sim was arrested pursuant to the summary deportation order issued by the BI board of commissioners over three years ago. Based on information received from the International Criminal Police Organization [...]

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Friday, Feb. 9, reiterated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute any person in the Philippines. “Our nation, as a sovereign entity, possesses the inherent right to determine our own legal framework and address internal matters without any interference from external bodies,” Remulla said. He reminded that the  Philippines has already withdrawn as a part of the Rome Statute that created the ICC and the withdrawal took effect in 2019 “The country’s withdrawal from the ICC clearly showcases our unwavering commitment to upholding national sovereignty and preserving the integrity of our justice system,” he pointed out. “We have consistently demonstrated our preparedness, willingness, and capability to thoroughly investigate and prosecute crimes committed within our jurisdiction, ensuring [...]

Manila, Philippines - Leaders from Germany and Czech Republic on Thursday discussed with Defense Secretary c Jr. the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) defense requirements in dealing with the challenges to the country's maritime domain. Secretary Teodoro first met German Federal Parliament member Dr. Johann Wadephul at his office where the two discussed common security challenges affecting both countries, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said DND spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong in a statement on Friday. Andolong said that Teodoro laid down the Philippine defense capability development priorities, highlighting area denial, maritime domain awareness, air defense, and cybersecurity in the AFP modernization program. Under the modernization program Horizon-3, the AFP intends to acquire more naval ships, attack aircraft, a submarine and other sophisticated armaments to boost defense and [...]

Safety concerns and high development costs are stumping nuclear power development in Asia, with new facilities unlikely to come online in the next decade, according to an international think tank. The Fitch Group, through its unit BMI, said in a report that nuclear power generation in the region would be limited to “a handful of markets,” particularly China, India, South Korea and Bangladesh. While nuclear power capacity in Asia is expected to grow to 185.8 gigawatts by 2033, BMI said the growth would only be driven by developments in China, which will account for 78 percent of the total projection. India will contribute 11 percent, while South Korea and Bangladesh will account for the remaining 11 percent. “The sentiment in Asia remains relatively against nuclear power reactors, reflected by [...]

MANILA – The bill institutionalizing new organizational reforms in the Philippine National Police (PNP) is one step closer to becoming a law after it was unanimously approved by the Senate on Monday. Voting 23 in favor, zero against and zero abstentions, the chamber passed Senate Bill (SB) 2449, which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 and RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a former PNP chief and the sponsor of the bill, thanked his colleagues and those who have helped in crafting the measure. "After all these years, finally, the PNP organizational reforms we sought to introduce are being materialized. They are beginning to see the [...]

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has raised the alarm on the considerable rise in teen pregnancies, as it called on lawmakers to pass a law that would help address the problem. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), CPD, also known as Popcom, noted that a total of 3,135 adolescent girls younger than 15 years old gave birth in 2022—a 35.13 percent increase from the 2,320 recorded in 2021. “Although live births from adolescent girls, 14 years old and below, [are] just 0.22 percent of total live births recorded, CPD is still deeply concerned about the increase in adolescent pregnancy, especially among our very young girls,” CPD executive director Lisa Grace Bersales said in a statement on Monday. Registered live births by adolescent [...]

SENATE President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said Monday the senators would not set a deadline for amending economic provisions of the Constitution. Zubiri assured the public the Senate would carefully deliberate the amendment proposals and come out with "the best possible outcome for the people." "We must discuss this [proposed revisions] with all members of society, not just our learned luminaries here, as well as different sectors that will be affected by the most amendments of our Constitution," he said IT STARTS Senate President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri listens to Sen. Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara during the hearing on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, on Resolution of Both Houses 6, which seeks to limit Charter amendments to economic provisions. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA   The Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional [...]

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated around P14 billion to rehabilitate and modernize as many regional airports, particularly those with access to major tourist spots of the country. DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the fund will come from the 2024 national budget and will be reinforced with airport development projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank. The P14 billion budget allocation covers improvements of the Catbalogan, Tacloban, Laoag, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, lloilo, and 16 other airports nationwide. On the other hand, those which will be covered by the PPP are airports in Bohol, Siargao, Bacolod-Silay, Davao, and Iloilo. “Our goal is to make the Philippine archipelago more connected and [...]

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS)     Manila, Philippines – The Philippines will import up to 2 million metric tons of rice from Vietnam yearly for five years. The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) said that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and his Vietnamese counterpart signed the five-year trade memorandum of understanding (MOU) during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s trip to Vietnam. “Under the MOU, Vietnam agreed on a five-year trade commitment to supply, through its private sector, white rice to Philippine private sector, amounting to 1.5 million to 2 million metric tons per year at a competitive and affordable price,” said the PCO in a statement on Tuesday Laurel announced the prospective agreement in a Palace briefing earlier in January. The PCO said that [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday denied orchestrating "Oplan Tokhang" in Davao City during her term as mayor as accused by former Davao policeman Arturo Lascañas. In a video message, Duterte said her name is being dragged into the issue so that she will be included in the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the extrajudicial killings being linked to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. “Bago ang script na ito. Sa mga taon na nagsilbi ako bilang vice mayor at mayor ng Davao City, ni minsan ay hindi naugnay ang aking pangalan sa isyung ito,” Vice President Duterte said. “Maliban sa tiyempo, malinaw na sadyang pinilit lang na maidugtong ang pangalan ko sa isyung ito para ako maging akusado sa ICC,” she added. (This is a [...]

Former President Rodrigo Duterte     Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night called for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines through a process based on a signature campaign that would be presented to the United Nations. At a news conference in Davao City, Duterte said it was Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez who first pushed for the secession. “It’s not a rebellion; it’s not sedition,” Duterte said. “There’s a process, I think, before the UN wherein you would gather signatures from all sorts of Mindanao verified under oath in the presence of so many people [to] decide that we want a separate [state],” Duterte said. “If you want to do it in Luzon and the Visayas, too, that’s up to you,” he added in Filipino. Duterte has [...]

TOAST TO VIETNAM. President Marcos offers a toast to Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and First Lady Phan Thi Thanh Tam during the state banquet in his honor at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday night. The Philippines signed a five-year deal with Vietnam to ensure a steady supply of affordable rice to the country as global prices of the staple continue to surge. PPA POOL     President Marcos raised the possibility of pursuing a separate bilateral code of conduct in the South China Sea with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “What I was saying before about having an agreement, if we cannot finish the code of conduct with ASEAN and China, I said let us make it bilateral first with [...]

Fuel firms on Thursday announced an upward adjustment in the retail prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In an advisory, Petron said it hiked its household LPG price by P0.95 per kilogram, effective 12 a.m. on February 1. The adjustment is equivalent to about a P10 increase in the price of a typical 11-kilogram LPG cylinder. “This reflects the international contract price of LPG for the month of February,” Petron said. Solane, likewise, said it increased its LPG price by P0.91 per kilogram —translating to around P10 hike for an 11-kilogram LPG tank. The adjustment took effect on February 1 at 8 a.m. This is the second consecutive month of hikes in LPG prices since the beginning of the year, when a P3.40 per kilogram increase was implemented for the [...]

Fishermen arrive to unload their catch for the day at a fish port in Paranaque, Metro Manila on July 12, 2023. AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa MANILA, Philippines — Peasant groups denounced Sunday the so-called “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) movement of the Marcos Jr. administration, saying this fails to address the root causes of their struggles and offers no real solutions to the country’s problems. The government will hold a rally this afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to launch the “Bagong Pilipinas” branding, which started in 2023. The Philippine Information Agency called the event a “historic gathering” that “aims to ignite hope and inspire participation in building a better Philippines through collective action.” But for Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), the administration’s rebranding will not [...]

CALL FOR TRANSFORMATION.  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the launching of "Bagong Pilipinas" at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday (Jan. 28, 2024) attended by more than 400,000 people. The President said "Bagong Pilipinas" is a call for the transformation of our idea of being a Filipino, of our economy, governance, and society. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)       MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday said the "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) is a new approach to governance that will benefit all Filipinos. "Bagong Pilipinas is not a political game plan that caters to a privileged few. It is a master plan for genuine development that benefits all people," Marcos said in his speech during the "Bagong Pilipinas" kick-off rally held [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte attends the Bagong Pilipinas rally on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)   Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Hakbang ng Maisug Prayer Rally on Sunday evening, hours after she briefly appeared at the “Bagong Pilipinas” kick-off rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. As seen in a Facebook Live on the official page of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president graced the Davao City event and expressed her gratitude to their supporters there. In an earlier post, the vice president said she would attend both events. “My fellow Filipinos, I will attend the Bagong Pilipinas Kickoff Rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. The DepEd is also pushing for the 8-point Socioeconomic [...]

ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to issue a statement expressing deep concern over the growing tension in the South China Sea, saying it threatens the safety of people, after their two-day meeting in Laos starting on Sunday. During the two days of meetings, the top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to discuss the South China Sea disputes, the Myanmar crisis, the North Korean threats, and the wars in Ukraine and Israel. While the foreign ministers will avoid mentioning the series alarming incidents between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards last year,they will express concern how the territorial face-offs were putting the safety of people in peril. The statement will likely be issued by the Laotian chair on behalf of the ASEAN ministers on [...]

FORMER palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the cease-and-desist order issued to Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) is an "outright suppression of the press freedom." "What they did to us is an outright suppression of the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression. No doubts about it," Roque said at the "Business and Politics" program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd. Swara Sug Media Corp., the mother company of SMNI, was first docked a 30-day preventive suspension order on Dec. 21, 2023, for alleged franchise violations. Former palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO   On January 22, the NTC issued another suspension order against SMNI after receiving reports the media company was "still operating" in certain [...]

NO TO CHA_CHA. Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio speaks at the Davao prayer rally against Charter change organized by allies and officials who served under her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on Sunday night, hours after her brother, Davao City Mayor Basti Duterte, called on President Marcos to resign.     Local government officials and supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday gathered to attend a leaders’ forum in Davao City ahead of a prayer rally against the signature campaign to push for Charter change. At the forum, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte expressed his frustration with President Marcos and the government, saying in closing in Cebuano: “If you don’t show love and aspiration for the country, better resign.” Duterte told supporters at the “Hakbang ng Maisug” forum he [...]

SECOND BATCH | About 800 Filipinos who had just arrived from Sabah await transport to a facility of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (Photo from the Zamboanga Peninsula Police Region Office)     ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Some 800 deportees from Sabah arrived here on Thursday aboard a commercial vessel, social welfare officials said. This is the second batch of deportation this year as part of Malaysia’s continuing crackdown against illegal immigrants. Although the crackdown has been regularly done by Malaysian immigration authorities, these activities became intense following its legal dispute with the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu starting in 2019. The sultanate’s heirs secured a $14.9 billion award from a French arbitration court pertaining to Sabah, over which they lay a proprietary [...]

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Saturday said the “no work, no pay” policy will be implemented during the Chinese New Year holidays on Feb. 9 and 10, which have been both declared as special non-working days. In Labor Advisory 01, series of 2024, the DOLE also advised employers to pay their employees the correct remuneration on those days. “On a special (non-working) day, ‘no work, no pay’ will be implemented unless the company has a policy or collective bargaining agreement that gives salary for that day,” it said in a statement posted on social media. The department explained that an employee who works on a special (non-working) day will be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily wage for the first eight hours of his [...]

Bagong Pilipinas: Better govt services, big-ticket projects More than 200,000 people were expected to join today’s inaugural rally of “Bagong Pilipinas” governance brand led by President Marcos at the Quirino Grandstand, the Presidential Communications Office said on Saturday. PCO Undersecretary Gerald Baria said “big and long-term” projects will be rolled out by February, adding that “Bagong Pilipinas” is more than just a branding but a commitment to improve the lot of Filipinos “We will pursue big projects because these really benefit the people…This is like a declaration of commitment from the Philippine bureaucracy to elevate government services to reach our goal of Bagong Pilipinas,” Baria said. A coalition of businessmen, civic leaders and employers have likewise committed to support the initiative aimed at shoring up the economy. Led by [...]

Photo from PBBM's Official FB Page     President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to discuss maritime and regional issues with Vietnam during his state visit there next week, a Department of Foreign Affairs official said Friday. This developed as some 50 Chinese vessels were spotted near Ayungin Shoal ahead of the rotation and resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to BRP Sierra Madre, an American security analyst said. In a Palace briefing, DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said the President would start a discussion on various regional and international issues with Vietnamese leaders during his state visit from Jan. 29 to 30 “If it’s on the MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the (Philippine and Vietnamese) Coast Guard, it’s a simple agreement on how both coast [...]

Manila, Philippines: The Department of Education (DepEd) removed certain administrative tasks of teachers, as part of Vice President Sara Duterte's Matatag education agenda. According to Department Order 002-2024 issued on Friday and signed by Duterte, administrative tasks, such as personnel administration, property and physical facilities custodianship, general administrative support, financial management, records management, and program management are now removed from the workload of teachers "without prejudice to the teacher ancillary tasks as defined by other DepEd issuances, "Accordingly, School Heads and non-teaching personnel shall have the sole responsibility to perform the administrative tasks [that were enumerated]," the order read. "School division offices may cluster deployed non-teaching personnel in accordance with the deployment parameters of the Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development or hire contract of service or job [...]

Consumers can expect pump prices to go up again next week, with gasoline expected to rise by as much as P2.10 per liter to reflect the movement of prices in the world market for oil. Industry sources said that based on the four-day trading of the Mean of Platts Singapore, the pricing benchmark used by oil importers, domestic pump prices will increase by P1.95 to P2.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.65 to P0.85 per liter for diesel and P0.20 to P0.30 per liter for kerosene starting Jan. 30, 2024 Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero confirmed the impending oil price hike and attributed it to several international oil market developments. Romero said the reduction in the US crude stockpile, the issuance of a [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines– Senator Imee Marcos believes the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind the funding and timeline planning of the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution. Asked by reporters in a Friday press conference if she was convinced Romualdez was behind the signature campaign, she said: “Definitely, yung opisina niya yung nag-alok ng ₱20 million kada distrito, definitely nanggaling sa kanila yung very attenuated timeline na July 9 tapos na ang lahat.” [Translation: His office is the one that provided ₱20 million for each district, it also came up with the timeline which sought to conclude the initiative by July 9. “So definitely, that derived from his office with very clear numbers identifying the staff members and attorneys involved,” she added. Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte —Photo from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook     Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has declared she will run for office again “in the next elections.” Duterte revealed her political plan during a flag-raising ceremony in Barangay Bago Gallera, Davao City on Monday. “Narinig ko na sinabi ng aking kapatid, si Mayor Baste (Sebastian Duterte), at ng aking mas matandang kapatid, si Congressman Pulong (Paolo Duterte), na hindi sila tatakbo. Baka hindi sila tatakbo sa susunod na eleksyon, kaya’t narito ako sa inyong harap dahil mangangampanya ako sa inyo dahil tatakbo ako sa susunod na eleksyon,” Duterte said in a speech in Bisaya. (I heard that my sibling, Mayor Baste, and my elder sibling, Congressman Pulong, mentioned that they won’t run. Maybe they won’t run in the [...]

(MANILA BULLETIN/ Mark Balmores)     The proposed Philippine Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program--one of four remaining bills on the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) list--has been overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. Embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 9713, the measure was passed during plenary session Tuesday, Jan. 23, or just the second session day of the year. The measure, which aims to boost the country’s national defense industry, garnered 194 affirmative votes during nominal voting. Only three House members voted in the negative, while there were zero abstentions. The three remaining LEDAC measures out of the list of 57 are the bill proposing amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which is under technical working group finalization; and Budget Modernization Bill [...]

  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the creation of a new office under the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) that will cover counterintelligence, cyber intelligence, and countering weapons of mass destruction in a bid to “adapt to the evolving threats to national security.” “There is a need to reorganize the NICA to ensure a more vigorous intelligence collection, intensify internal and external coordination, and prepare intelligence and security assessments and estimates using data analytics to ensure national security and promote the national interest,” Mr. Marcos said in Executive Order (EO) No. 54 The EO establishes an Office of the Deputy Director General (ODGG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats under NICA. “Cyber threats—that is really an emerging problem. We need to coordinate with our foreign and domestic counterparts for this,” [...]

Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza     The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it is considering the mandatory registration of all kinds of electronic bikes or e-bikes. LTO chief Vigor Mendoza, quoted by Unang Balita, said this was due to the high number of accidents involving e-bikes “If the vehicle is running less than 25 kilometers per hour, you don’t have to register it with the LTO, although we’d like to deviate from that thinking,” Mendoza said. From January to November last year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded 556 accidents related to e-bikes in the National Capital Region (NCR). At present, e-bike drivers are not required to have a license. Mendoza said the LTO is coming up with a proposal that e-bikes should be registered regardless [...]

  Metro Manila, Philippines— All of the country’s senators issued a manifesto on Tuesday rejecting the push for Charter change via people’s initiative as they warned of a no-election scenario and amendments that are seen to “erode the nation as we know it.” The manifesto signed by all 24 lawmakers at the upper chamber said senators respect and recognize the people’s right to demand changes in the 1987 Constitution, but warned against "any sinister and underhanded attempt to change the Constitution by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people's initiative. “This so-called ‘people's’ initiative (PI) proposes only one change: in acting as a constituent assembly, the Senate and the House shall vote jointly. While it seems simple, the goal is apparent -- to make it easier [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the national government will "not lift a finger" to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling the tribunal a threat to sovereignty. "Let me say this for the 100th time, I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines. I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty, therefore, the Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation the ICC conducts," Marcos told reporters on Tuesday. "However, as ordinary people, they can come and visit the Philippines pero hindi kami tutulong sa kanila [but we will not help them]. In fact, binabantayan namin sila [we're keeping an eye on them]," the president said when asked if the ICC agents were already in the country. [...]

For this year’s celebration of the International Day of Education (IDE), the Department of Education (DepEd) will highlight the urgent need to improve the engagement of Filipino youth in education. (DepEd file photo)  Observed annually on Jan. 24, the IDE aims to underscore the important role of education in peace and development. In a Facebook post, DepEd announced that its External Partnerships Service-International Cooperation Office (EPS-ICO) will spearhead the celebration of IDE 2024 through a forum. With the theme “Education in the Transformative Times: Making Early Grade Learning Contribute to Lasting Peace,” DepEd said the “IDE 2024 Forum is a call for action to bring individuals, civil society, and policymakers to take solid steps towards ensuring that primary and secondary education is given to children, as well as improving [...]

DSWD seeks to double beneficiaries to 5,000 this year President Marcos ordered the expansion of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s “Pag-abot” Program to ensure the effective delivery of services to disadvantaged and vulnerable street dwellers. “The Pag-abot Program is hereby institutionalized as a platform for an enhanced and unified delivery of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, individuals, and families in street situations, through provision of social safety nets and protection against risks brought about by poverty,” Mr. Marcos said in Executive Order No. 52 According to data released by DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay, the Pag-abot program was able to take 1,722 people out of the streets of Metro Manila from June to December 2023 out of 2,695 profiled individuals. Punay told Manila Standard the agency is [...]

Cebu City: A Holy Mass kicked off the 2024 Sinulog Grand Parade Celebration held at the South Road Properties. The Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious event celebrated on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City that serves as the focal point of the Philippines' observance of the feast of Santo Niño or the Child Jesus The Santo Niño de Cebu is the oldest Christian artifact in the Philippines, given to Rajah Humabon (baptized as Carlos) and his wife and principal consort, Hara Humamay (baptized as Juana), by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 in recognition of their Christian baptism. Photo by Moises Cruz       The much awaited 17 contingents will participate in the grand parade this afternoon. For the Sinulog-based category these are: 1. Abellana [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Another increase in pump prices is expected next week, according to a forecast by Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. on Saturday. Unioil said gasoline may cost 90 centavos to ₱1.10 per liter more, while diesel may go up by 70 to 90 centavos per liter. The price adjustments are expected from Jan. 23 to 29, it addedThe Department of Energy's Jan. 16 data showed that the price movements have resulted in a year-to-date increase of 30 centavos per liter for gasoline, 60 centavos per liter for diesel, and a decrease of 40 centavos per liter for kerosene.  

Metro Manila traffic is the worst in the world for a metropolitan area, according to a 2023 study. Photo: Philippine News Agency     This study is by TomTom Traffic, a povider of detailed traffic information. It revealed that in 2023, the average travel time in Metro Manila was 25 minutes and 30 seconds per 10 kilometers, marking an additional 50 seconds from the 2022 recorded data of 24 minutes and 50 seconds. With a congestion level of 52 percent and an average speed of only 19 kph during rush hours, commuters in Metro Manila lose an average of 117 hours per year due to traffic. Following Metro Manila’s traffic congestion are Lima (Peru) with an average travel time of 24 minutes and 20 seconds per 10 km, and [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — While the Sandiganbayan acquitted Senator Jinggoy Estrada of plunder in the multimillion-peso scandal involving discretionary funds for pet projects of lawmakers, the court found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery The anti-graft court handed down its verdict on Friday, almost a decade after the case was filed in June 2014. During an ambush interview after hearing the court's decision, Estrada said he was "elated" as he was exonerated from the major case slapped against him. "I'm not guilty of anything. I did not steal any money," Estrada told reporters. Two state witnesses, including an employee of businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, implicated Estrada in the controversy. Napoles herself is serving time over the scam. The senator was accused of [...]

National flags are placed outside a room where Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng address reporters after their meeting in Beijing, China, January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights, opens new tab BEIJING/MANILA- China and the Philippines agreed to improve maritime communication and to properly manage conflicts and differences through friendly talks in regards to issues around the South China Sea, their foreign ministries said in a statement. China Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Philippines Foreign Ministry undersecretary Theresa Lazaro held a frank and in-depth exchange of views on the situation while co-chairing the eighth meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea in Shanghai, according to statements released by the Chinese and Philippine foreign ministries. In [...]

A jeepney driver gestures as he takes part in a protest against the jeepney modernisation plan in Manila on January 16, 2024. Philippine jeepney drivers staged a noisy protest in the capital Manila on January 16 over the government's plan to phase out the smoke-belching vehicles nationwide and replace them with modern mini-buses. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)       Manibela on Wednesday vowed to storm the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRAB) should the agencies apprehend operators and drivers of unconsolidated franchises that continue to operate after the Jan. 31 consolidation deadline. Manibela president Mar Valbuena said: “We really do not know what will happen on Feb. 1. It is beyond our control if they still ply the streets [...]

  Prices of regular-milled rice could reach P60 per kilo, the watchdog group Bantay Bigas warned Wednesday as it urged the government to monitor the prices of the staple. Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo said prices of regular-milled rice in large markets in the National Capital Region now range from P54-P55 per kilo “In other markets, P60 is already their cheapest (for well-milled). The premium varieties range from P65 to P68. But the P54 is already a heavy burden on the pockets of our kababayan,” she said in a radio interview. “Prices can increase even more given that we are facing an El Niño phenomenon,” Estavillo added. She appealed to the government to ensure that the price of regular-milled rice does not hit P60 per kilo. For his part, [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Some 400 cities and towns nationwide have already received as of Wednesday signed forms seeking amendments to the 1987 Constitution under a people's initiative, the Commision on Elections (Comelec) said. “Actually po hindi lang po sa Mandaue…Ngayong araw na ito, apat na daan na siyudad at munisipyo sa buong bansa ang nakatanggap na ng mga signature forms at signature pages,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon. [Translation: Actually po, not just in Mandaue…As of this day, 400 cities and municipalities in the country have already received the signature forms and signature pages. He said the Comelec is currently trying to classify the submitted forms according to district. “Dahil premature po at this point eh, [kung 'yan] ay kabilang sa isang distrito o ilang [...]

In a 27-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and co-petitioners Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman argued that increasing the original amount of unprogrammed funds is prohibited under Section 25.1, Article 6 of the Constitution. Philstar.com / EC Toledo       Manila, Philippines — Minority lawmakers are asking the Supreme Court to nullify the P449.5 billion in unprogrammed allocation in the national budget, saying the amount was way above the P289.1 billion originally proposed, making it unconstitutional. In a 27-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and co-petitioners Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman argued that increasing the original amount of unprogrammed funds is prohibited under Section 25.1, Article 6 of [...]

The Canadian government is advising its citizens who will travel to the Philippines to exercise a high degree of caution due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping in some areas. In its advisory dated January 10, the Canadian government told its citizens to “avoid all travel” in the following areas in the Philippines Basilan Sulu Tawi-Tawi Lanao del Sur Maguindanao Bukidnon Camiguin Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental Cotabato Sarangani South Cotabato Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Sultan Kudarat With the “avoid all travel’ category, Canadians should not travel to these areas as their personal safety and security are at great risk. Citizens who are already in the area were advised to leave. Meanwhile, Canadians are also advised to “avoid non-essential travel” to the [...]

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte met with officials of SM Supermalls to discuss the possibility of the retail chain giant offering an immersion program and employment for graduates of the country’s K to 12 program   Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte (center) tackles the possible partnership of the Department of Education (DepEd) and SM Supermalls on the immersion of K to 12 students. (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)     In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Jan. 17, the Vice President shared photos of her recent meeting with SM Supermalls executives, headed by Hannah Sy, at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Mandaluyong City and expressed gratitude for the company’s plan to support K-12 graduates. “Napag-usapan din namin ang posibling partnership ng Department [...]

Taiwan has allowed multiple visa entry for foreign workers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based there According to a report by the Migrant Workers Office in Kaohsiung, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said that more than 150,000 OFWs could apply for these visas. MECO said that the multiple-entry individual visa allows the holder to travel to a country more than once and as often as preferred throughout the validity of the visa.MECO reminded OFWs who will leave Taiwan for vacation to inform their manpower agencies at least three weeks before their scheduled departure so that their resident certificate could be processed and be given the multiple-entry visa. — VDV, GMA Integrated News  

SEVERAL members of the House of Representatives minority bloc filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the P449.5-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget. In a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed on Monday, Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay 1st District), Rep. Mujiv Hataman (Basilan Lone District), and Rep. Gabriel Bordado (Camarines Sur 3rd District) said the unprogrammed funds allocated by Congress constitute a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of congressional jurisdiction They claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. only proposed a ceiling of P281.908 billion for unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) and that the constitution prohibits Congress from exceeding the ceiling of the appropriations proposed by the President. "[Th]e unprogrammed appropriations are used as a sanctuary for [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — China warned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to “play with fire” after his congratulatory remarks to Taiwan's President-elect and pro-sovereignty leader Lai Ching-te. “We would like to make it clear to the Philippines that it should refrain from playing with fire on the Taiwan question,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a press conference Tuesday. The Chinese official also urged the Philippines to “stop the wrong words and deeds” regarding Taiwan-related issues as it may send the wrong signal to the separatists forces of Taiwan For Mao Ning, Marcos’ move violated Philippines’ political commitments to China and interfered into China’s internal affairs. Earlier that day, the spokesperson also said they have summoned Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jaime FlorCruz on Tuesday for an explanation [...]

FOR FREEDOM. A group of media practitioners, artists, and press freedom and freedom of expression advocates hold placards during a press conference. The group shares issues on attacks on freedom of expression and opinion in the country in time for the official visit of Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Manny Palmero       United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan is set to make an official visit to the Philippines from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights website, Khan will examine, in the spirit of cooperation and dialogue, the situation of the rights to freedom of opinion and expression in the country The UNSR [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines– Next year’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) is being eyed at around ₱6.2 trillion, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Wednesday. This is an increase of about ₱432 billion compared to the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) worth ₱5.768 trillion. “We’ll review the numbers again but as of now it’s ₱6.2 trillion,” Pangandaman said, referring to the interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). It is composed of the DBM, the Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Office of the President, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Asked about the 2025 NEP priorities, Pangandaman said that it would be similar to the 2024 budget with a focus on health, education, and the administration’s infrastructure initiative dubbed Build Better More. She [...]

Teachers watch their students walk along a corridor after a short break at the start of classes at a school in Quezon City, suburban Manila on August 22, 2022 as millions of children in the Philippines returned to school as the academic year started on August 22, with many taking their seats in classrooms for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. AFP / Ted Aljibe     Manila, Philippines — The Department of Education has released the guidelines for the implementation of its “Catch Up Fridays” learning intervention program, which will be officially rolled out in public schools nationwide starting January 12. DepEd Memorandum 001 s. 2024 states that the “Catch Up Fridays” program will dedicate half of every Friday to reading and the other half to values, [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos revealed receiving a detailed timeline about the alleged plan to push to amend the 1987 Constitution, which even included the specific date when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will prepare for a plebiscite. Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday, Marcos said she initially received an unknown text before Christmas Day detailing a timeline for “Project PI.” “It was fairly detailed, Project PI ang tawag. Timeline, major activities 15 December to 3 January prepare petition, print proposition, signature sheets. Detalyado sya hanggang darating sa February, pag dumating sa February 12 hanggang sa 10 March verify signatures, 11 March and so on,” she said. [Translation: It was fairly detailed, it's called Project PI. Timeline, major activities on 15 December to 3 January [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has junked ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro’s grave threats complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte for lack of sufficient evidence. Castro accused Duterte of threatening to kill her based on statements he made during two airings of his show “Gikan sa Masa” broadcast on the controversial Sonshine Media Network International. Duterte denied Castro’s accusations and was a no-show in both preliminary investigations over the case. He said his statements did not demonstrate actus reus, the actual utterance of threat, and mens rea, or intent to be taken seriously. He also said the lawmaker’s complaint was made for propaganda purposes by staunch critics of his administration. In a resolution obtained by CNN Philippines, prosecutors wrote: “This Office finds the evidence insufficient to indict [...]

                Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro   DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Friday said transformation of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be sustain throughout 2024. Teodoro issued the statement as he led the traditional joint New Year’s Call of the DND) and the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo, marking the start of the working year In his message, Teodoro said that transforming the whole defense department, with its civilian bureaus and the AFP, will carry on in the new year. “We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, [...]

Photo by Anna Felicia Bajo/GMA Integrated News President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo met on Wednesday and discussed a range of regional issues, including developments in the South China Sea and closer cooperation among member states of the Southeast Asian bloc. In a joint press statement in Malacañang after the two leaders' bilateral meeting, Marcos said they had a fruitful and honest discussion about events in the South China Sea, saying that they both stood by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. ''President Widodo and I had a fruitful and honest discussion on regional events of mutual interest such as the developments in South China Sea and ASEAN cooperation and initiative,'' Marcos said. ''And speaking of ASEAN, as founding members [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines—  The number of devotees participating in the Feast of the Black Nazarene reached more than six million, as the tradition returned after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The image of the Black Nazarene left the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park around 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday and reached the Quiapo Church after nearly 15 hours at 7:44 p.m., making it the shortest Traslacion or grand procession recorded in the recent years. The previous record was in 2016 when the procession took around 16 hours due to an early start and shorter route. But the procession in 2012 remains the longest in history after the image of the Black Nazarene took 22 hours to arrive at the church. Based on the accumulative count from midnight [...]

PHILIPPINE growth will likely slow this year but remain one of the highest among the Asean-6 economies that include Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, DBS Bank Ltd. said. In a January outlook for the six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries, the Singaporean multinational forecast Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.3 percent for 2024, short of the government's target of 6.5-7.5 percent and moderating from the expected 5.8 percent for last year Full-year GDP results will be released at the end of this month. As of end-October, growth remained below target at 5.5 percent. "[T]he Philippines will stand out with slower 2024 expansion, dampened by the lagged impact of high interest rates, following the most aggressive monetary tightening cycle in the region," DBS said. GDP [...]

In this photo proved by the Defense Department, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia Michael Chase hosts delegates from China for the annual U.S.-PRC Defense Policy Coordination Talks at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. U.S. and Chinese military officers have resumed talks that were frozen after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. It’s a development U.S. officials have said is key to keeping the growing competition between the two great powers from turning into direct conflict. (Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza/U.S. Navy via A.P.)       WASHINGTON — U.S. and Chinese military officers have resumed talks frozen after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in the summer of 2022, a development U.S. officials have said is key [...]

Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) should expect higher electricity bills this month after the power distributor hiked its household power rate amid higher generation costs. In an advisory, Meralco said it adjusted its rate by 8.46 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for January, bringing the overall overall rate for a typical household to P11.3430 per kWh from P11.2584 per kWh in December. The upward adjustment could translate to an increment of P17 in this month’s bill of a residential customer consuming 200 kWh. Meralco attributed the rate increase to higher generation charge, which inched up by 11.36 centavos to P6.6468 per kWh from P6.5332 per kWh last month, “owing to higher cost of power from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).” In particular, WESM [...]

DAVAO CITY – Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte here has disagreed with the People’s Initiative for constitutional amendments. In a statement on Tuesday night, January 9, Duterte said that someone informed him that PBA party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles is spearheading the PI in this city. “This so-called People’s Initiative for Charter change (Cha-cha) is nothing but pure PI,” Duterte said There has been a resurgence in the push for Cha-cha in the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to modify the Constitution’s perceived “restrictive” economic provisions. Cha-cha includes political and legal procedures for modifying clauses in the 1987 Constitution. Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution states that amendments cannot occur within five years of its ratification nor more frequently than once every five years after that. The Constitution [...]

This photo shows a picture of people lining up at the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Manila to file their income tax returns. The STAR / File photo   Manila, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced on Tuesday that it has scrapped its annual registration fee (ARF) paid by business taxpayers. According to an advisory signed by BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui on January 8, business taxpayers are no longer required to pay the P500 ARF starting January 22. The BIR said the change complies with the Republic Act No. 11976 or the "Ease of Paying Taxes Act,” signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on January 5. The Ease of Paying Taxes Act has simplified the tax payment process, enabling taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically [...]

(Photo from DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo's Twitter account)       Metro Manila, Philippines— The Philippines and Indonesia agreed to strengthen cooperation to address common challenges and global concerns at the 7th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) held in Manila on Tuesday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi spearheaded the JCBC ahead of the arrival of Indonesian President Joko Widodo for his three-day official visit to Manila. The last JCBC meeting between Philippine and Indonesian foreign ministers was held in 2014 In a post-meeting statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the JCBC serves as the primary dialogue mechanism between the Philippines and Indonesia to review accomplishments on mutual collaboration initiatives. Participants in the JCBC discussed the progress of the Philippine-Indonesia Plan [...]

This photo shows a sailing U.S. Pacific Fleet. US Navy Manila,  Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Wednesday their second maritime cooperative activity with the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) in the West Philippine Sea. According to an official statement from the AFP, this joint operation will involve a range of strategic exercises. They will conduct passing exercises, communication checks, cross-deck exercises, joint patrols, Officer of the Watch maneuvers, and fixed-wing flight operations in conjunction with USINDOPACOM. "The 2nd maritime cooperative activity marks a significant leap in our alliance and interoperability with the United States. It also demonstrates our progress in defense capabilities and development as a world-class armed force, as we carry out our mandate to protect the people and the state," AFP [...]

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III     Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said he would file a petition before the Supreme Court this week to challenge as unconstitutional the additional P450 billion in unprogrammed funds in the 2024 national budget. “The target is this week, but of course, it depends on the lawyers’ readiness,” Pimentel said about the timing of his petition. He also said he has been talking to a member of the House of Representatives who wants to join him in filing a case Earlier, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said he agreed with Pimentel on the “fatal defects” brought about by the unprogrammed funds, but the senator said it wasn’t Lagman he was talking to. Pimentel said the budget ran afoul of the Constitution on [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines - The country’s debt has skyrocketed to ₱14.51 trillion as of November 2023, which is 0.19% higher than the ₱14.35 trillion logged in October 2023. In a statement, the Bureau of the Treasury said the rise was “primarily due to the net issuance of domestic securities. Of the total borrowings, 30.91% were sourced externally while 69.09% were from local sources. The country’s domestic debt stood at ₱10.02 trillion, which is 1.3% higher than the October figure of ₱9.79 trillion “due to the net issuance of government securities.” Meanwhile, the November foreign debt dipped to ₱4.48 trillion, or 2.06% lower than October’s ₱4.56 trillion, because of net repayment of foreign loans and favorable foreign exchange movements. Year-on-year, the country’s total debt ballooned by ₱864.56 billion.    

This aerial photo shows part of the Subi Reef and Chinese vessels identified by the Philippines as "maritime militia" near Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on December 1, 2023. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)       Beijing and Washington both announced military deployments in the South China Sea on Wednesday, following heightened tensions between China and the Philippines in the disputed waterway. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said it had “organised naval and air forces to conduct routine patrols” in the sea from January 3 to 4. The United States meanwhile announced that a carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson was conducting two days of drills with the Philippine Navy “The US Navy regularly conducts exercises like [...]

No tsunami threat to the Philippines has been detected following a massive earthquakethat hit central Japan and its western coast on Monday afternoon, Phivolcs said. In an advisory, the monitoring agency said that the 7.4 quake struck at 3:10 p.m. Philippines time (4:10 p.m. Japan time) near Honshu's west coast. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the quake triggered waves of around 1 meter along parts of the Sea of Japan coast with a larger wave expected. The Japan Meteorological Agency, which measured a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama. Russia also issued tsunami warnings in its far eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka. — BM, GMA News  

TOKYO: A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit central Japan on Monday, the USGS said, prompting tsunami warnings and authorities to urge people in the area to move to higher ground. "All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground," national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 p.m. (0710 GMT) Hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometers (190 miles) of the quake's epicenter along the Japan coast, the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. A tsunami of 1.2 meters was confirmed to have arrived in Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture. But a much higher tsunami of five meters was expected to arrive in Noto in the same region, the Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA said the Noto region, on the [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Beijing has warned it will not sit idly by should Manila push through with its plan to build a permanent civilian structure on Ayungin Shoal, a disputed feature in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which has seen heightened tensions between both sides this year. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told the press on Friday that such a “major move” by the Philippines would “severely infringe” on China’s sovereignty and would prompt the latter to take resolute measures. “Ren’ai Jiao is an uninhabited shoal,” Mao said, referring to the name China uses for Ayungin. “According to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and ASEAN countries, parties should keep Ren’ai Jiao uninhabited and facility-free. The official was citing [...]

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and US Secretary of State  Anthony Blinken talked on the phone on Thursday and discussed strengthening cooperation between the Philippines and the US in the New Year 2024. The call came in the wake of a series of statements by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claiming that the Philippines committed provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea "Secretary Blinken underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty," the readout read. "Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcos’s official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May," it added. "Secretary Manalo reaffirmed the Philippines’ abiding interest to protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, [...]

                          Senator Christopher Go     Senator Christopher Go said the newly-signed Republic Act No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Law will bridge the gaps in Philippine healthcare services. Go, in a statement, emphasized the need for the law, stating, “As the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the measure together with no less than Senate President Migz Zubiri, I have long recognized the need to bring specialized medical services to more poor and indigent Filipino patients, most of them living outside Metro Manila where most, if not all, of our national specialty centers are found. Go is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of the law which was recently signed by [...]

The Quiapo Church on Thursday bared the route for the 2024 Black Nazarene Traslacion procession on January 9. For the year’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the church will use the same route for the grand procession in 2020. The 400-year-old image will take the following route: From Quirino Grandstand Right to Katigbak Drive (left side) Right to Padre Burgos St. through Finance Road Straight to Ayala Bridge Left to Palanca St. Right to Quezon Boulevard Right to Arlegui Street Right to Fraternal Street Right to Vergara Street Left to Duque de Alba Street Left to Castillejos Street Left to Farnecio Street Right to Arlegui Street Left to Nepomuceno Street Left to Conception Aguila Street Right to Carcer Street Right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen [...]

In its latest revenue regulation, the BIR is imposing a withholding tax on gross remittances made by electronic marketplace operators and digital financial service providers to sellers or merchants for goods and services sold or paid through the former’s platform and facility. STAR / File     Manila, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has officially imposed a one percent withholding tax on online platform providers as part of government efforts to tap digital transactions for economic growth. In its latest revenue regulation, the BIR is imposing a withholding tax on gross remittances made by electronic marketplace operators and digital financial service providers to sellers or merchants for goods and services sold or paid through the former’s platform and facility. In April this year, the BIR had [...]

There has been a “noteworthy shift” in pro-administration sentiment among Filipinos, which has declined from 50 percent in the third quarter of 2022 to 46 percent in the same period in 2023, the Pahayag End of Year survey showed. PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., which conducted the non-commissioned survey and released the results Thursday, also said anti-administration sentiment remained “stable” at 18%, while those adopting a neutral stance increased from 30% to 36% during the same period Economic concerns, including price inflation, joblessness, low wages, and a perceived lack of productivity, emerge as driving factors behind the changing political landscape, the survey said. These issues, left unaddressed by the administration, have prompted a notable migration of pro-administration voters toward neutrality, PUBLiCUS Asia said. In regional breakdowns, the National Capital Region (NCR) [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued new guidelines regarding the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program with only three days left for the consolidation deadline. Under Memorandum Circular no. 2023-052, "unconsolidated individual operators in routes with less than 60% consolidated NAU (number of authorized units) shall be allowed to operate until 31 January 2024." The LTFRB Board will issue a list of routes with less than 60% consolidated NAU, the order read. PUV operators in routes with no consolidated transport entities will also be allowed to ply roads until the end of January 2024. The LTFRB said its board and Regional Franchising Regulatory Offices will issue show cause orders during the period to the unconsolidated individual operators in compliance [...]

The winning bidder for the project will be given a concession period of 15 years, extendable by 10 years, to operate and maintain Ninoy Aquino International Airport and expand its passenger capacity to 62 million yearly, from 32 million at present The Philippine STAR file photo shows the façade of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has received four proposals for the P170.6-billion privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Bidders Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC), Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airports Consortium and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) SAP & Co. Consortium are affiliated with some of the most prominent conglomerates in the country. MIAC is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global’s Infracorp Development Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development [...]

Workers store sacks of local premium rice at a rice mill warehouse in Bocaue, Bulacan on September 8, 2023. STAR / Michael Varcas   Manila, Philippines —  Nearly 500,000 metric tons of rice from Taiwan and India will arrive beginning this month until February 2024, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday. This is in preparation for the possible impact of the El Niño phenomenon on palay production. “We received reports that around 100,000 tons of imported rice have already arrived in the country. This is part of the 495,000 MT committed by import permit holders to (Agriculture) Secretary (Francisco) Tiu Laurel,” DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro said in a statement yesterday Meanwhile, a total of 20,000 bags – equivalent to 1,000 MT – delivered before Christmas Day constituted the [...]

People watch fireworks illuminate the sky at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila on December 22, 2023. AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa Manila, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on cities and municipalities to strictly enforce their respective ordinances prohibiting the use of harmful fireworks to ensure safe New Year festivities. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos issued the call Wednesday as the number of fireworks-related injuries reached 75 just days before New Year's Eve. According to the DILG, at least 1,210 local government units (LGUs) have ordinances in place banning the use of harmful firecrackers "Make sure that these ordinances are enforced. Let's put teeth into these ordinances against dangerous fireworks," Abalos said in Filipino. "These policies are meaningless if we do not [...]

FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte is the top choice for senator in the 2025 midterm elections, a survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. showed. The polling firm said its Pahayag End of Year voting disposition survey showed that the former president got the "vote" of 48 percent of the respondents and an "impressive" trust rating of 59 percent Following closely is Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who secured a 44 percent voting predisposition and a parallel 44 percent trust rating. Dr. Willie Ong, the former vice presidential candidate and cardiologist, secured a substantial 43 percent voting predisposition and a commendable 50 percent trust rating. "Notably, Erwin Tulfo experienced a drop in support in Mindanao, sliding from 50 percent to 44 percent," the polling firm [...]

  Manila, Philippines — While the number of Filipinos who expect their holiday celebrations in 2023 to be more prosperous than last year declined, an overwhelming majority remain confident that life in 2024 will be much better, according to a recent survey from Pulse Asia. Reports released by Pulse Asia on Friday showed that only 30 percent of respondents believe they would be having better celebrations in 2023 compared to 2022 — down from the 43 percent registered in November 2022. This accounts for a 13-point drop. Belief in better celebrations for 2023 decreased the most in Visayas, from 66 percent in 2022 to 42 percent in 2023 (-24 points), followed by Mindanao (from 46 percent to 31 percent), National Capital Region (NCR) (from 32 percent to 18 percent), [...]

Department of Energy (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau assistant director Rodela Romero said results of four-day trading showed potential increases of over P1 per liter for diesel, gasoline and kerosene next week. Philstar.com / Irra Lising,file     Manila, Philippines — Hefty price increases at the pumps await motorists for the final week of 2023. Department of Energy (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau assistant director Rodela Romero said results of four-day trading showed potential increases of over P1 per liter for diesel, gasoline and kerosene next week. Specifically, prices of gasoline and diesel are both expected to rise by P1.40 to P1.60 per liter, while that of kerosene could go up by P1.60 to P1.80 per liter Romero said these come as oil prices surge amid growing avoidance of [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez has revealed that there are 'open discussions' on Manila’s possible procurement of F-16 fighter jets from Washington. The diplomat said that should the deal push through, it would be a big boost to the country's air defense capabilities. Security officials earlier said the Philippines is trying to build up defense capability, play catch up by modernizing its armed forces, and establish robust presence in the country's exclusive economic zone particularly in the West Philippine Sea where there is simmering maritime row with China. "Yung F-16 matagal na nating gusto yan ang ating Air Force hinihintay na nila," said Romualdez in an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday.. [Translation: Our Air Force has been wanting the F-16 fighter [...]

                        Vice President Sara Duterte                         Inday Sara Duterte / Facebook page     Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has again spoken strongly against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed component New People’s Army (NPA) as well as its political wing the National Democratic Front (NDF) following the death of a soldier in Batangas. In a video message posted on her official Facebook account Thursday night, Duterte described the CPP, NPA and NDF as “traitor,” “deceiving,” and “violent” enemies who wreak havoc in communities. “We wholeheartedly recognize and honor the bravery, heroism and service of Sgt. Jernell Ramillano,” Duterte said in Filipino [...]

Manila, Philippines -The Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines questioned government plans to amend the 1987 Constitution, saying this would cost the people "time and money." "This will take away resources that could otherwise be used to address rising commodity prices, the education crisis, and new environmental and health threats," the LP said in a statement on Tuesday. "It can also be asked: Is the Constitution to blame on why investors are not approaching us?" they added. "When we open foreign ownership of businesses, are our infrastructures, manpower, and institutions ready for those changes?" They also ask if it is really just the economic provisions that needed to be amended in the Constitution and said the "cha-cha" should not be used to increase the country's bureaucracy. "When the amendment [...]

In a statement, PLDT president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said the telco company supports the passage of House Bill (HB) 7393 and Senate Bill (SB) 2039 seeking to imprison and penalize money mules. BW / File Manila, Philippines — More than half of cybercrimes documented this year were online scams, data from the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) showed. Based on the data, 19,884 cybercrimes were recorded from Jan. 1 to Dec. 7 this year, of which 11,071 cases or 55.67 percent represented online scams. A far second is illegal access in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Law, which has 3,181 cases or 15.99 percent There were 1,536 computer-related identity theft cases, which comprised 7.72 percent of the total cybercrimes documented. Online libel is at 6.74 [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — Economic concerns are still the biggest worry of Filipinos, according to an end-of-year survey by Publicus Asia Inc. The independent and non-commissioned "PAHAYAG" survey conducted from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4 showed economy and inflation are the top concerns on the macroscale for the majority 15% of respondents. Earlier this month, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the inflation rate continued its slowdown, dropping to 4.1% in November from 4.9% the month before. This brings the average inflation from January to November to 6.2%, still outside the government's target range of 2% to 4%. Publicus Asia said corruption and poverty are the next top concerns for Filipinos at 12% and 9%, respectively. "Notably, Corruption is least concerning to those with No Formal Education at 5%, while [...]

    Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines needs a "paradigm shift" in how it deals with China's aggressions in the West Philippine Sea as current diplomatic efforts with Beijing are going "in a poor direction. According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos told Japanese media over the weekend that China's continued disregard of the Philippines' "traditional" diplomatic methods calls for a new approach. "Well, to this point, we have resorted to the traditional methods of diplomacy where, should there be an incident, we send note verbal. Our embassy will send a démarche to the Foreign Affairs (Ministry) office in Beijing, but we have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress," Marcos said. "We have to do [...]

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Monday, Dec. 18, announced that it has received recertification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certification 9001:2015, proving that its management system is at par with international standards. (Office of the Vice President/Facebook)     In a Facebook post, the OVP said that the office underwent audit sessions last Dec. 6 for the ISO 9001:2015 recertification. Aside from the OVP recertification for the next three years, the OVP Satellite Offices in Davao and Panay and Negros Islands also got certified for the first time. “Ang ISO certification ay iginagawad sa mga organisasyong nagpapamalas ng kakayahan sa pagbibigay serbisyo na may magandang kalidad at sumusunod sa mga batas at regulasyon ng pamahalaan (The ISO certification is given to organizations that showed [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines -President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan will help keep the peace in the West Philippine Sea as China continues to escalate tensions in the disputed waters. During his bilateral meeting with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the chief executive said the RAA will boost maritime cooperation between the two countries, and facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa. "That is something that I believe is very, very significant and that it will bring to us greater capacity to maintain the peace in [the South China Sea],” Marcos said in his preliminary remarks during his talk with Kishida on the sidelines of the 50th Commemorative [...]

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical storm Kabayan (international name: Jelawat) made landfall over Concepcion, Davao Oriental at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 18. PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin that Kabayan is expected to traverse the rough terrain of Mindanao and emerge over the Sulu Sea between Monday afternoon and evening. Kabayan will then travel south of the Cagayancillo Islands across the Sulu Sea By Tuesday morning or afternoon, Dec. 19, the tropical storm is expected to make another landfall over central or southern Palawan as a tropical depression. It will then re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, Dec. 20, Kabayan may pass close to or over the Kalayaan Islands. As of 8 a.m., tropical cyclone wind [...]

Manila, Philippines -The Philippines posted a bigger trade deficit in October compared with a year ago on the back of a sharp contraction in exports while imports recorded a milder decline. The trade gap widened by 26 percent to $4.17 billion in October from $3.3 billion in the same month last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Tuesday. The latest reading was also larger than the $3.58 billion trade gap in September. A trade deficit happens when the country’s import bill is larger than its export sales. Exports plummeted 17.5 percent year-on-year to $6.36 billion during the month, with electronic products registering the steepest decline. The decline in imports was slower at 4.4 percent to $10.54 billion in October. According to the PSA, total external trade declined by [...]

FILE PHOTO: Teacher Ann Mariel Foronda guides a kindergarten pupil in writing his name at Pinyahan Elementary School in Quezon City during the resumption of full in-person classes for public schools on November 2, 2022. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA       Manila, Philippines – Qualified employees of the Department of Education (DepEd), including around 900,000 public school teachers, will each receive a special recognition incentive (SRI) of P18,000 starting Tuesday. In a memorandum dated Dec. 15, DepEd said schools division offices would begin processing the additional benefit on Monday, with distribution to follow the next day. The incentive to be given out in cash is in compliance with the Office of the President’s Administrative Order No. 12 which authorizes the “release of a one-time SRI at a uniform rate [...]

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, Dec. 16, said the Low Pressure Area (LPA) being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) may enter the country within 24 hours In PAGASA's 4 a.m. live broadcast, weather specialist Obet Badrina said the LPA was seen 1,225 kilometers east of Southeastern Mindanao. Badrina added that PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility for the LPA to develop into a tropical cyclone. "Whether or not the LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone, starting tomorrow, it may still bring rains particularly in the eastern portion of Visayas and Mindanao," said Badrina. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or "amihan" may still bring isolated light rains in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley where partly cloudy to [...]

TRANSPORT JUSTICE. Representatives of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, PISTON, Sanlakas, Oriang, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Move as One, and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino stand to dramatize their demands to scrap the PUV Modernization Program in a press conference Friday in Quezon City. Manny Palmero     Transport groups PISTON and Manibela on Friday announced they would give the public “12 days of strikes” for Christmas, with plans to launch another transport holiday from Dec. 18 to 29 to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) The announcement comes on the second day of a two-day transport strike by PISTON, and with traffic in Metro Manila and nearby areas expected to worsen amid the Christmas holiday rush. “Today is just the start [...]

“Sometime in the first week of December 2023, the DepEd was in receipt of a letter from Transpac suddenly informing DepEd that it may now haul the goods stored in its warehouses,” the statement read. STAR / File Manila, Philippines — The Department of Education’s regional and division offices have started hauling the learning resources from its previous logistics provider, Transpac Cargo Logistics, “for distribution to public schools nationwide,” DepEd said in a statement issued yesterday. “Sometime in the first week of December 2023, the DepEd was in receipt of a letter from Transpac suddenly informing DepEd that it may now haul the goods stored in its warehouses,” the statement read. “Therefore, our regional and division offices have immediately started hauling the goods. The DepEd aims to completely haul [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said it gave a commitment to its stakeholders to study rehabilitating traditional jeepneys instead of requiring them to buy new units as part of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program. Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, DOTr Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said this was one of the concerns raised by Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) during the group’s dialogue with government officials on Thursday amid its two-day strike. “There were additional things that need to be further studied such as for example whether traditional jeepneys can be rehabilitated for purposes of complying with the standard step under the PUV modernization program and we of course gave our assurance that those additional concerns… [...]

The Philippine government’s P175-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge is now closer to fruition after the project has secured loan financing from Manila-based multilateral lender Asian Development Bank (ADB). As early as July, the project implementer Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it is eyeing to secure funding from the ADB to bankroll the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. In a statement on Tuesday, the ADB said it approved financing of up to $2.1 billion for the construction of the 32.15-kilometer bridge that would connect the provinces of Bataan and Cavite across Manila Bay. The lender said the bridge project will be bankrolled through a multi-tranche financing facility, the first tranche of which will amount to $650 million. The Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project is one of the Marcos administration’s flagship infrastructure [...]

Metro Manila , Philippines — SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz will be celebrating Christmas and New Year with their families after a House panel agreed to release them from detention. Citing humanitarian grounds, the House Legislative Franchises Committee unanimously voted during a closed-door hearing on Tuesday to release the two hosts from Batasang Pambansa They were freed Tuesday night after undergoing a medical exam. Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, the committee chairman, clarified that the development has nothing to do with the writ of habeas corpus petitions filed by the spouses of the two hosts before the Supreme Court. "Sila po ay papalayain for humanitarian reasons dahil Kapaskuhan. May sulat naman tayo galing kay Ka Eric na sila ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa kanilang ginawa," Tambunting said. [...]

    THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday launched a framework designed to decongest public schools and equalize the level of teaching between the public and private schools. Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said public schools can learn from private schools, adding that students’ good performance is attributable to the high level of support the teachers gave them. “One of the most important reasons why we did not regress during the pandemic is because of our teachers. That’s a very important factor,” he said The structure, dubbed Public-Private Education Complementarity Framework, was rolled out  during the 2023 Private Education National Conference which sought to promote coherence in the development of a mixed education system in the country. Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte said every [...]

  Metro Manila, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) said on Tuesday it took months before it was able to finalize with other agencies involved the new strategy that the country will implement in protecting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “It’s the entire government bureaucracy who’s involved… It took some time and given that we have regular ROREs (rotation and resupply), there’s always something that crops up so we make adjustments to the national strategy. Now that things have become very clear we are now preparing to make this presentation,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines’ The Source During a briefing on Monday, Malaya said the government made a new national game plan on the WPS to reflect “some [...]

(Arnold Quizol / Manila Bulletin) Majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the national government’s performance in providing quality education and infrastructure, based on the OCTA Research survey conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. The results of the 3rd Quarter 2023 Tugon ng Masa survey, released on Monday, Dec. 11, showed that Filipinos are satisfied with the government’s provision of quality primary and secondary education (72 percent) and quality tertiary and technical or vocational education (71 percent). Most Filipinos also approved of the government’s construction of public infrastructure (71 percent) The government also received majority ratings for protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (69 percent) and providing quality and affordable healthcare (69 percent), as well as responding to natural disasters (68 percent) and defending Philippine territory (64 percent). [...]

TRANSPORT groups led by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) will hold another nationwide strike this week to protest the government's December 31 deadline for franchise consolidation. In a press briefing on Monday, Piston announced that the strike will be from December 14-15. It said transport organizations based in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog will join the strike. The group said it would extend the strike if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) does not change some of the provisions of Department of Transportation (DoTr) Order 2017-011 and lift the deadline for consolidation. The group said the mandatory franchise consolidation would lead to a phaseout of traditional jeepneys which will automatically take away the livelihood of drivers and operators. Drivers and operators [...]

A video of the recent incident in Second Thomas Shoal is shown during a press conference about the recent Chinese aggression and harassment in Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, in Manila on December 11, 2023. The Philippines said it had summoned China's envoy on December 11 and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries' vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea. AFP / Earvin Perias DFA summons Chinese envoy MANILA, Philippines — Only Filipinos have the “legitimate right” to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea, President Marcos has asserted, stressing that the country would remain steadfast in the defense of its sovereignty amid China’s continued “dangerous actions against our [...]

    THERE was general dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of inflation and controlling prices of basic goods, a recent independent opinion survey showed. According to the non-commissioned study by the OCTA Research conducted on September 30 to October 4 this year, only 14 percent were satisfied with how the national government controlled inflation and reined in prices of consumer goods. Curiously however, 29 percent said they were contented with the government’s efforts to fight poverty, while 34 percent gave the thumbs up approval on hunger reduction. On non-economic issues, bigger number of the people indicated that the government was doing alright. Forty-three percent believed that the national government was on the right track in the fight against graft and corruption, 46 percent favored efforts to reduce [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to send China’s ambassador home, saying he has "done nothing" amid incidents where Chinese ships repeatedly fired water cannons at Philippine vessels. "I urge President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to send the current Chinese Ambassador home. He has done nothing to address the continued attacks of his government on our troops and on our people," Zubiri said in a statement. This comes after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Sunday morning that a commissioned vessel on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal sustained "serious engine damage" after it was blasted with water cannon by the China Coast Guard (CCG) On Saturday, Chinese ships repeatedly fired water cannons at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic [...]

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last November told Chinese officials to uphold international law, and follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding areas of the South China Sea.—RF, GMA Integrated News     Top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday reiterated ownership of the West Philippine Sea, on board the BRP Sierra Madre which was ran aground along the Ayungin Shoal. “West Philippine Sea, atin ‘to (this is ours)!” exclaimed AFP Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. and Western Command commander, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, and the military detachment stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) as seen on videos on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday This comes after the top officials personally witnessed China [...]

  Prices of regular-milled rice may reach up to P60 per kilogram amid rising prices in the international market, rice price watchdog Bantay Bigas said. Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo said prices of regular-milled rice in some markets in Metro Manila now ranged from P52 to P54 per kilogram Even in rice-producing Aurora province, Estavillo said rice sells for P52 per kilogram. “That is the sad reality. And Christmas is just around the corner,” she said in a radio interview. “It is really scary. It might really hit P60 per kilo since the only solution of the government now is to import,” she added. Agriculture group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chairman Rosendo So said rice prices in other countries are also rising, which may affect local rice [...]

Vice President Sara Duterte thanked Filipinos for their continued support for the Department of Education (DepEd). She expressed her gratitude after an OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey showed the department as the most trusted and top-performing government agency in the third quarter of 2023. Vice President Sara Duterte poses with students and Education officials during the culmination of the observance of National Children’s Month on Nov. 27,2023.     "Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa mamamayang Pilipino para sa patuloy na tiwala at suportang ibinibigay ninyo sa DepEd (I give my heartfelt thanks to the Filipino public for their continued trust in and support for the DepEd)," the VP said. She said the result of the poll was an honor for the department and credited the achievement to [...]

WATER CANNONED, TOWED. This handout photo taken and released on Dec. 10 by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the M/L Kalayaan being towed after a Chinese coast guard ship unleashed its water cannon onto the vessel (inset), during a mission to deliver provisions at Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. AFP Water cannons fired at supply ships anew A Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a hotly contested reef on Sunday, with both countries trading blame for the latest confrontation in the disputed South China Sea. Chinese ships also used water cannons on two supply boats and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel during a resupply mission to a tiny garrison on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly Islands, [...]

Manila, Philippines- A low pressure area (LPA) and six other weather systems are likely to affect the country, along with one or two tropical cyclones that may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the month, the state-run weather agency said on Friday. This northeast monsoon, locally known as "amihan," is bringing overcast skies with light rains only in areas in Batanes and Babuyan Islands, according to weather specialist Robert Badrina of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) PHOTO FROM DOST PAGASA     The easterlies, meanwhile, are affecting Metro Manila and the rest of the country where isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may prevail, especially in the afternoon or at night. "We could expect another generally-fair weather. In fact, based on reports from our various [...]

In a bid to align the Philippine medical technology sector with global standards, Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go filed on Tuesday a bill aimed at enhancing the existing framework governing the practice of medical technology in the country. Senate Bill (SB) 2503, also known as the "Philippine Medical Technology Act of 2023," seeks to update several decades-old laws, specifically Republic Act 5527 and 6138 and Presidential Decrees 498 and 1534. Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that the current laws, dating back over half a century, might need to be updated to reflect the advancements and requirements of modern medical technology. "The landscape in medical technology education and profession has significantly evolved," said Go, emphasizing the need for a legal framework that keeps pace with [...]

The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund is all set to implement the deferred increase in members’ contribution starting January 2024. To recall, Pag-IBIG postponed the premium hike to next year in consideration of the “continuing effects of the pandemic to both the business community and our members. ”In a chance interview, Pag-IBIG CEO Marilene Acosta said, “Tuloy na (it’s a go).” “We are just waiting for PBBM’s (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.)… not his approval because the Board approved it already. We just informed PBBM,” Acosta said, noting that Pag-IBIG Fund sent a memorandum to the President in the last week of November. The Pag-IBIG Fund chief said so far there has been no opposition from Malacañang concerning the planned members’ contribution hike. “I think it’s good to go. [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — More than 40 volunteers departed Manila for Palawan Friday morning for their planned three-day Christmas convoy to the disputed West Philippine Sea. Civilian group Atin Ito said the first batch of volunteers includes youth and student leaders, and fisherfolk representatives. "Loaded with essential donations and supplies, the group set sail for El Nido, Palawan, aboard a 150-capacity civilian marine vessel," it said in a statement Based on the photos forwarded to the media on Friday, a sculpture of a saint was seen as one of the things being carried on the ship. In El Nido, the group will be joined by 100 fishers, with 40 boats participating in the civilian convoy. The convoy, which aims to deliver Christmas gifts and supplies to Filipino troops assigned [...]

As a "Christmas gift" to all Filipino children and future generations, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, Dec. 6, led the simultaneous conduct of a nationwide tree-planting activity. (Photo courtesy of DepEd)  Dubbed “236,000 Trees – A Christmas Gift for the Children,” the project was participated in by public schools and field offices nationwide. DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael Wesley T. Poa, National Capital Region (NCR) Director Jocelyn Andaya, and Pasig Representative Roman Romulo led the main program conducted in Pasig Central Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of DepEd)  Officials, teachers, and learners of DepEd likewise joined the program in their respective areas. DepEd said the said project was participated by approximately 47,678 public schools. As stated in DepEd Memorandum No. 69, series of 2023, Vice President [...]

Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is working toward the establishment of a fleet base in Subic, Zambales. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said they were currently identifying possible locations of port facilities that can accommodate bigger ships. "On the issue of a port facility for these bigger ships, we are working toward the establishment of our fleet base in Subic," Gavan said in an interview.. "And we are also looking at other areas" within Manila Bay, Gavan said. The PCG announced this as the country continues to face Chinese incursions into its territorial waters in the West Philippines Sea. Aside from a new Coast Guard fleet base, Gavan said they were also beefing up their personnel, with 4,000 recruited this year and another 4,000 expected next [...]

Keel laying for the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 1. dfa.gov.ph     Manila, Philippines — South Korea is ready to partner with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its modernization, and a shipyard in that country has started building the Philippine Navy’s first Corvette. Philippine Navy chief Toribio Adaci Jr. visited the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan City for the keel-laying ceremony of Navy Corvette No. 1 and the steel cutting for Navy Corvette No. 2, the Philippine embassy in Seoul reported yesterday. The ceremony formally marks the beginning of the shipbuilding process In Manila, South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa said his government is trying to take on a stronger role and responsibility in upholding and enhancing a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. [...]

This August 2007 file photo shows the facade of Asian Development Bank in Pasig City. (Eugene Alvin Villar/Wikimedia Commons) MANILA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $450 million loan for the Philippines to fund its universal healthcare program, the multilateral lender said in a statement on Wednesday. The loan will help “the Philippines strengthen health policy reforms and further improve Filipinos’ access to medicines and health services”, the ADB said. — Reporting by Mikhail Flores

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos agreed with Vice President Sara Duterte urging the government to reconsider granting amnesty and reviving peace talks with communist groups. "Yes. That's the short answer," Marcos told reporters on Wednesday. "I'll give a statement when I'm ready," she added. Duterte, who's also vice chairperson of the government's anti-communist task force, made it clear on Monday that she does not agree with the new peace efforts with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Before her statement, there had been speculations about a rumored crack with her UniTeam alliance led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., after the House of Representatives stripped her of ₱650 million in confidential funds under the proposed 2024 national budget. But for the president's sister, the two top [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed there are four cases of "walking pneumonia" in the country. "As of November 25, 2023, there are a total of four confirmed cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among reported Influenza-like Illness (ILI) cases. These cases have been reported in the previous morbidity weeks 3, 30, 37, and 38, with one case each," the DOH said at a briefing. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children. It is treated by antibiotics, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The DOH added walking pneumonia is not a new pathogen and has been previously detected among other cases "This is not a notifiable disease globally. The DOH can scan but we [...]

A father and his children wearing face masks walk on a pedestrian overpass to school during the opening of classes at a school in Quezon City, suburban Manila on August 22, 2022 as millions of children in the Philippines returned to school as the academic year started on August 22, with many taking their seats in classrooms for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. AFP / Ted Aljibe     Manila, Philippines — The dismal performance of the Philippines in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) indicates that students in the country are five to six years behind in learning competencies, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) “If we follow the computation (of PISA) with caveats, based on the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation [...]

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a deadly explosion that ripped through a Catholic mass service at a university gym in the southern Philippines on Sunday. At least four people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the blast at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, according to authorities. In a communique, ISIS said its fighters “detonated an explosive device on a large gathering of Christian disbelievers in Marawi City,” according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a counterterrorism threat intelligence organization that tracks the online activity of extremist groups. Photos of the scene showed soldiers and emergency workers standing among debris in the gym. A section of the seating area was blown up, chairs strewn across the floor. Lanao del Sur province Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., told [...]

Metro Manila, Philippines— Commuters taking the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) may pay more by the end of the second quarter next year, nine years after the last fare hike, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Monday. The end-to-end fare of ₱28 from North Avenue to Taft Avenue stations may be adjusted to ₱34 and the minimum fare of ₱13 will increase to ₱16 if regulators approve the petition, Jorjette Aquino, DOTr MRT-3 officer-in-charge and assistant secretary for railways, said in a public briefing. Aquino said the train operator has yet to refile a notarized petition after the regulators disapproved the fare hike request, while approving the LRT Manila Light Rail Transit System fare adjustment in July. "Ang aming nire-request ay additional ₱2.29 boarding fare, at 21 centavos [...]

                       Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Sara Duterte   Manila, Philippines — In a rare move, Vice President Sara Duterte publicly disagreed with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., calling moves to make peace with National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) “an agreement with the devil.” She also criticized Marcos’ efforts to grant pardons to captured rebel groups through several proclamations. “Mr. President, the government’s statement with the NDFP in Oslo was an agreement with the devil,” said Duterte during the 5th Anniversary of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). Duterte argued past experiences indicated NDFP has no sincerity when it comes to peace and that the rebels will only betray government and the public. “Mr. [...]

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill expanding the scope of legal aid extended to overseas Filipinos and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). A total of 246 lawmakers voted to approve House Bill (HB) 9035, a measure expanding the use of the Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) and the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo Para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund to be managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), respectively. “Our overseas Filipinos are our modern-day heroes. Their immeasurable contributions to our country, their families, and communities merit the utmost protection from the government. This measure aims to do just that: protect them at all stages of the legal proceedings, from investigation to trial proper and [...]

The Department of Education is the most trusted and best-performing government agency, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed. In its Third Quarter Tugon ng Masa survey held from September 30 to October 4, DepEd got a 79 percent trust rating, followed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at 75 percent, the Department of Health (DoH) at 74 percent, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 73 percent The DepEd got its highest trust rating in the Visayas and Mindanao — 88 percent — while its lowest is in Balanced Luzon at 70 percent. It also had the highest trust rating among socio-economic class D and E at 80 percent and 78 percent, respectively, while the lowest was [...]

                       A worker counts dollars at a money changer (Reuters) MANILA — The Philippine government posted a 34.4 billion pesos ($621.95 million) budget deficit  in October, the Bureau of the Treasury said on Wednesday. The deficit was narrower than the previous month’s 250.9 billion pesos gap and brought the year-to-date budget deficit to 1.018 trillion pesos   Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty  

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 11965 or the Caregiver Welfare Act to protect the rights and welfare of the sector, the Presidential Communications Office announced on Friday. According to the law signed by Marcos on Nov. 23, the working hours of caregivers in the Philippines will be based on their employment contract. It also mandates overtime pay for work beyond eight hours daily. Caregivers who have rendered at least one month of service are also entitled to 13th month pay. They will be entitled to benefits such as Social Security System contributions, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig. It also gives caregivers the option to terminate their employment contract any time before expiration if they suffer physical, verbal, emotional abuse or inhumane treatment at the [...]

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