National
First in years: PH posts travel surplus in 2023
April 2, 2024, 6:12 pm
MANILA – The Philippines posted a net trade surplus of USD2.45 billion in travel last year, meaning foreign visitors to the Philippines spent more than what Filipinos shelled out for travel abroad. In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said this was a “first in 15 years”… Read More
DFA urged to lobby for pardon of convicted overseas Filipinos
April 2, 2024, 6:01 pm
MANILA – The chairperson of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on Tuesday urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to lobby for the pardon or commutation of sentences of overseas Filipinos convicted of crimes as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close. In a statement,… Read More
DOTr: Right-of-way body to hasten land acquisition for rail projects
April 2, 2024, 5:34 pm
MANILA – The committee created to streamline the process of land acquisition will accelerate big-ticket rail projects in the country due to several right-of-way (ROW) challenges of such projects. In a statement on Tuesday, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said the… Read More
PCG to boost cybersecurity after 2nd Facebook hack
April 2, 2024, 5:30 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to conduct another hardware check with information technology (IT) experts to strengthen its cybersecurity measures after the second hacking of its Facebook page within the year. In a statement on Tuesday, PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo… Read More
DA: No cause for alarm over rabies cases in cattle, pigs
April 2, 2024, 5:26 pm
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) allayed fears over reported cases of rabies among cattle and pigs in Marinduque and Pampanga provinces. In a phone interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Constante Dante Palabrica said although the reported cases may be a cause for concern,… Read More
Bill seeks safe ports for Filipino fisherfolk in WPS
April 2, 2024, 5:20 pm Updated on April 2, 2024, 5:57 pm
MANILA – The House of Representatives will push for a bill that will establish fishing shelters and ports in nine occupied maritime features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the Philippine Rise. House Bill 9011 will involve the islands of Lawak, Kota, Likas, Pag-asa, Parola, Panata, Patag,… Read More
Comelec: Most Filipinos abroad may vote online in 2025 polls
April 2, 2024, 5:06 pm
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday announced that internet voting would be the primary method of casting votes for overseas voters in the 2025 midterm polls. In an interview, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco noted that Filipino registered voters who are living or… Read More
DOH to boost anti-bullying, patients' rights drive in hospitals
April 2, 2024, 4:42 pm
MANILA – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa on Tuesday assured lawmakers that the agency will strengthen its campaign against bullying among doctors and patients in hospitals. In a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Herbosa said steps have been… Read More
New PNP chief eyes 5-year 'smart policing' dev’t plan
April 2, 2024, 3:59 pm
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil is looking into the creation of a five-year development plan on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other modern technologies as part of smart policing strategies. In a press briefing shortly after his first… Read More
PDEA: Viral docs on 2012 anti-drug operation fake
April 2, 2024, 3:16 pm Updated on April 2, 2024, 8:52 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday denied the authenticity of operational documents about an anti-drug operation in 2012 that circulated on social media. “PDEA ran a check through its Plans and Operations Reports Management Information System or PORMIS and found… Read More
Poe to water concessionaires: Ensure uninterrupted service this summer
April 2, 2024, 2:51 pm
MANILA – Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday called on water concessionaires to implement supply contingency and augmentation plans during the summer months, and coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure continuous water supply. "The heat is on, water is on high demand, and without it, our health is… Read More
More areas shift to alternative learning modes amid extreme heat
April 2, 2024, 1:44 pm Updated on April 2, 2024, 7:41 pm
MANILA – More areas have resorted to alternative learning modes (ADM) due to sweltering temperatures, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday. As of 9 a.m., suspension of face-to-face classes from preschool to senior high school, both for private and public schools, has been implemented… Read More
SC sets guidelines for ‘digitalized’ Sharia Bar Exams
April 2, 2024, 1:36 pm
MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday said it will adopt the use of the Examplify program for the “digitalized” 2024 Shariah Bar Examinations (SBE). In a statement, the tribunal said Examplify is a secure computer-based program to be installed in the examinees’ laptops to allow them… Read More
Teodoro to Filipinos: Don't lose sight of China's illegal acts in WPS
April 2, 2024, 1:29 pm
MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday reminded Filipinos not to lose sight of China's illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), as debates heat up over the so-called "gentleman's agreement" reportedly made by the former administration with Beijing. "While we… Read More
UAE's efforts to improve labor conditions of foreign workers lauded
April 2, 2024, 1:22 pm
MANILA – Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III has commended the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for its significant strides in enhancing the labor conditions of foreign workers in the UAE. Pimentel highlighted a… Read More
Marcos creates organizing council for PH hosting of ASEAN 2026
April 2, 2024, 11:35 am
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of a national organizing council (NOC) for the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit meetings in 2026. In his Administrative Order (AO) 17, Marcos said, “It is imperative to… Read More
OCD belies arrival of foreign military equipment
April 2, 2024, 10:22 am
MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday belied a video quoting its chief, who was wrongly identified as a Marine general, and announcing that military equipment from the United States and France had arrived in the country for use in this year's "Balikatan" exercises. "The OCD… Read More
DND eyes more engagements with India on climate action, defense
April 2, 2024, 9:53 am
MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) is looking to forge stronger climate change mitigation cooperation with its Indian counterparts, aside from boosting its defense ties with the South Asian country. "For his part, as the Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction… Read More
PBBM forms committee for right-of-way activities for railway projects
April 2, 2024, 8:21 am
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has created an inter-agency committee tasked to oversee the right-of-way (ROW) activities for the country’s railway projects to expedite the process of land acquisition needed for their implementation. Under Administrative Order (AO) 19 inked by… Read More
Warm, humid weather to prevail across PH
April 2, 2024, 8:11 am
MANILA – Warm and humid weather will continue to prevail across the country, a weather forecaster said Tuesday. "No cloud clusters that could cause rains were monitored," added Rhea Torres of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). She said the… Read More
