National
Establishment of Negros Island Region gets Senate nod
March 12, 2024, 5:47 pm
MANILA – Senators unanimously approved on Tuesday Senate Bill No. 2507 creating the Negros Island Region (NIR) composed of Negros Occidental including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. This is to promote administrative decentralization and strengthen local autonomy to accelerate… Read More
Israel condemns Houthi strike; condoles with PH over fatalities
March 12, 2024, 5:44 pm
MANILA – The Israel Embassy in Manila sent its condolences to the Philippines over the death of two Filipinos following a Houthi missile attack that hit their vessel bulk carrier MV True Confidence while transiting the Gulf of Aden last week. In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy condemned all… Read More
$1-B investments from US trade mission ‘vote of confidence’ on PH econ
March 12, 2024, 5:33 pm
MANILA – Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said the USD1 billion worth of investments from firms participating in a high-level United States (US) trade and investment mission represent a substantial "vote of confidence" in the Philippine economy. In a statement, Romualdez said the investment… Read More
Marcos OKs appointment of new DA officials
March 12, 2024, 5:33 pm
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Tuesday its roster of new officials after their appointments were approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In a news release, the DA announced the designation of Christopher Morales as the Undersecretary of the National Rice Industry… Read More
AirAsia PH adds manpower, assures no overbooking for Holy Week
March 12, 2024, 5:09 pm
MANILA – Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines on Tuesday said it added manpower in anticipation of the high volume of passengers during the Holy Week and assured there would be no overbooking of flights in this period. AirAsia has hired additional mechanics and ground staff to ensure smooth and… Read More
SC affirms 10-year imprisonment for fake money seller
March 12, 2024, 5:01 pm
MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the 10-year imprisonment of a man in Bukidnon province who was convicted of illegal possession and use of counterfeit money. In a 12-page decision promulgated on Aug. 23, 2023 and published online recently, the SC's Second Division denied the petition… Read More
House panel cites Quiboloy for contempt over absence in hearing
March 12, 2024, 4:43 pm
MANILA – The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday cited in contempt Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy over his repeated failure to appear before its hearing on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). Surigao del… Read More
Some Chinese proposals on WPS row run contrary to PH Constitution: DFA
March 12, 2024, 4:36 pm
MANILA – The Philippines has denied ignoring China’s proposals to manage tensions in the South China Sea, saying some of them cannot be considered as they run contrary to the national interest and the Constitution itself. The statement came after The Manila Times quoted a Chinese official as… Read More
PH to reach half of overall 5% milk sufficiency target by 2025: NDA
March 12, 2024, 4:34 pm
MANILA – The National Dairy Authority (NDA) said Tuesday that the Philippines aims to hit half of its milk production and sufficiency target by next year. Speaking at the agency's 29th founding anniversary celebration in Quezon City, NDA Officer-in-charge Administrator Gavino Alfredo Benitez… Read More
Gov’t task force readies La Niña mitigation efforts
March 12, 2024, 4:33 pm
MANILA – The government’s task force against El Niño assured the public Tuesday that mitigation efforts to cushion the impact of La Niña will be put in place. This as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recently raised a La Niña Watch… Read More
Former 4Ps child beneficiary lands 2nd spot in licensure exam
March 12, 2024, 4:07 pm
MANILA – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has produced another top-notch licensure examinee in the person of Angeline Ilagan from Imus, Cavite. Angeline, a former monitored child of the DSWD-4Ps, secured the 2nd top spot in… Read More
PhilHealth to add mammogram, ultrasound in Konsulta packages
March 12, 2024, 3:51 pm Updated on March 12, 2024, 5:13 pm
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has instructed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include mammograms and ultrasound in its Konsulta Packages nationwide. “I have directed the PhilHealth Benefits Committee, chaired by Assistant Secretary Domingo, to work on… Read More
Navy: Ayungin's shallow waters prompt use of civilian boats for RORE
March 12, 2024, 3:38 pm
MANILA – The shallow water condition in the Ayungin Shoal is the main reason for the Philippines' use of "indigenous boats" in its rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) missions for troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a ranking naval official said Tuesday.… Read More
DA: NFA must prioritize disaster agencies in rice buffer stock sale
March 12, 2024, 3:17 pm
MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) must prioritize the sale of its rice buffer stock to disaster response agencies, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday. This came after the latest batch of preventive suspension orders from the Office of the Ombudsman which covered two more… Read More
US exec: State Secretary Blinken to visit PH 'in a week or so'
March 12, 2024, 3:11 pm
MANILA – A White House official said here Tuesday United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will set foot again in the Philippines in the coming weeks. US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a meeting with Filipino and American businesses in Makati City, the visit of US officials… Read More
Quezon court junks arson raps vs. film director, 3 others
March 12, 2024, 3:08 pm
MANILA – A court in Quezon province has ordered the release of film director Jade Castro and his three companions who were detained for allegedly burning a modern jeepney in the town of Catanauan. In its 16-page order dated March 11, Catanauan, Quezon Regional Trial Court Branch 96 Judge Julius… Read More
BuCor to lay off 275 personnel for failure to secure eligibility
March 12, 2024, 2:22 pm
MANILA – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Tuesday said it would implement its years-long deferred program requiring eligibility and educational requirements for its workers under Republic Act (RA) 10575 or the "Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013.” In a statement, the BuCor said the program… Read More
Revising procurement law addresses issues of ODA-funded projects: NEDA
March 12, 2024, 2:10 pm
MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) urged lawmakers on Tuesday to streamline Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) to address supply issues in projects being funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA). During a public hearing… Read More
NEDA eyes ADB funding for PNR South Long-Haul project
March 12, 2024, 1:53 pm
MANILA – The government is eyeing to tap the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the Philippine National Railway - South Long-Haul project, an official of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday. NEDA Assistant Secretary Jonathan Uy told the Congressional Oversight… Read More
BOC finds P238-M kush inside 12 balikbayan boxes from Thailand
March 12, 2024, 1:50 pm
MANILA – Customs authorities recently intercepted some PHP238.2 million worth of kush or dried marijuana inside several balikbayan boxes from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). In a statement Tuesday, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)… Read More
