National
El Niño expected to affect up to 80 provinces – task force
February 28, 2024, 5:55 pm
MANILA – Task Force El Niño on Wednesday warned that about 80 provinces may experience the adverse effects of the weather phenomenon, sparing only two provinces in the country. This is as the number of provinces currently affected by El Niño has already increased to 51 from the previous 41, as… Read More
P10-B increase for 4Ps budget in 2024 to benefit 4.4M beneficiaries
February 28, 2024, 5:17 pm
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is pleased with the higher 2024 budget allotment of PHP112.8 billion for the 4.4 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a senior official of the agency said Wednesday. “We thank the Marcos… Read More
E-bikes, e-trikes banned on nat’l roads starting April
February 28, 2024, 5:06 pm
MANILA – The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has approved a resolution to ban the use of e-bikes, e-trikes, and other electric motor vehicles on major roads across the National Capital Region (NCR) starting April. During a press conference following an MMC meeting Wednesday, Metropolitan Manila… Read More
Korea donates 750MT of rice to disaster-hit regions in PH
February 28, 2024, 5:04 pm
MANILA – South Korea has donated 750 metric tons of rice to the Philippine government to support several areas in the country previously affected by calamities, the Korean Embassy in Manila said Wednesday. Embassy Deputy Chief Minister Sang Seung Man turned over the sacks of rice to the National… Read More
Streamline, not abolish, PS-DBM – Angara
February 28, 2024, 4:46 pm
MANILA – The Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) should be streamlined instead of being abolished, Senator Sonny Angara said Wednesday. "I don’t think we’re going to abolish. I think we are going to streamline," Angara said in an interview after the… Read More
Interpol Red Notice out vs. fugitive ex-solon Teves
February 28, 2024, 4:42 pm
MANILA – The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued a Red Notice against fugitive former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday. In a press briefing, Remulla said a team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be… Read More
DOJ: Dual citizens can join Maharlika Corp. board
February 28, 2024, 4:25 pm
MANILA – The President can appoint Filipinos with dual citizenship as independent directors of the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday. In Opinion No. 13, series of 2024 dated Feb. 19 and furnished to Presidential Management Staff head… Read More
DOLE, BI ink pact on sharing of foreign workers' data
February 28, 2024, 4:16 pm
MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have forged a data-sharing agreement (DSA) to facilitate information exchange on foreigners working in the Philippines. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco signed the… Read More
Experts call for protection of marine biodiversity, blue economy
February 28, 2024, 4:15 pm
MANILA – Marine biodiversity and economic experts on Wednesday stressed the importance of protecting and harnessing the country's rich marine resources to boost the "blue economy." During Waypoint’s hybrid forum in Quezon City, University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute Prof.… Read More
No compromised documents in PCG Facebook hack
February 28, 2024, 3:54 pm
MANILA – There are no compromised documents in the hacking of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Facebook page, an official of the PCG said Wednesday. In an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the contents of their Facebook page are all… Read More
1,182 4Ps beneficiaries in Aklan attain 'self-sufficiency’ status
February 28, 2024, 3:35 pm
MANILA – Some 1,182 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Aklan have achieved “self-sufficiency” status after successfully graduating from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) program in February. On behalf of Secretary Rex… Read More
DepEd posts 97% E-GASTPE utilization rate
February 28, 2024, 3:15 pm
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has posted a 97 percent utilization rate of its 2024 budget amounting to about PHP40 billion for the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE). E-GASTPE is DepEd's largest private school scholarship… Read More
3 persons of interest, sabotage seen in Marikina FB page hacking
February 28, 2024, 3:14 pm
MANILA – The Marikina City government is looking into two to three persons of interest as behind the hacking of its official Facebook page, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said on Wednesday. In an interview, Teodoro said these persons are not insiders but might be "formerly connected to the city… Read More
Seniors, PWDs to get P500 monthly grocery discount starting March
February 28, 2024, 3:05 pm
MANILA – Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will receive a higher monthly discount on groceries and other prime commodities worth PHP500 beginning next month. During a meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials led by Undersecretary Carolina Sanchez on… Read More
Comelec eyes longer voting hours for 2025 midterm polls
February 28, 2024, 2:59 pm
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it plans to implement longer voting hours in next year's midterm elections. In an interview, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. voting period aims to give more voters a chance to exercise their right… Read More
Navy ship seizes boat carrying P28-M smuggled cigarettes off DavOcc
February 28, 2024, 2:41 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) on Wednesday announced that one of its patrol ships intercepted and seized a motorized banca carrying contraband cigarettes off the waters of Balut Island, Davao Occidental. In a statement, the PN said its offshore patrol vessel BRP Artemio Ricarte captured the… Read More
BOC finds P76-M kush inside balikbayan boxes at Manila port
February 28, 2024, 2:38 pm
MANILA – Authorities have discovered nearly 63 kg. of dried kush or high-grade marijuana worth around PHP76 million inside balikbayan boxes at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). In a statement Wednesday, Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS)… Read More
PPA to remit record P5-B dividend
February 28, 2024, 2:34 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to remit over PHP5 billion in dividends to the national treasury for 2023, a record amount breaking 2022’s PHP4.4 billion record. In a statement Wednesday, the PPA announced the approval of PHP5.06 billion as a cash dividend by the board of… Read More
5 PNP colonels promoted to 1-star rank
February 28, 2024, 1:39 pm
MANILA – Five colonels of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been promoted to brigadier generals, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Wednesday. Promoted to one-star rank were Colonels Florendo Gerdan Jr., Porfirio Calagan, Rolly Octavio, Bernard Yang and Rogelio… Read More
Gov’t allots higher budget for health facilities improvement – DBM
February 28, 2024, 11:30 am
MANILA – There is an increase in this year’s budget for the improvement of the health facilities in the country, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday. In a statement, the DBM said around PHP28.58 billion has been allocated under the 2024 General Appropriations Act for… Read More
