National
House leader to Quiboloy: Obey subpoena, no one is above the law
February 23, 2024, 6:14 pm
MANILA – Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy should heed the congressional subpoena and realize that no one is above the law. In a statement Friday, House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. urged Quiboloy to attend the March 12 hearing of the Committee… Read More
DOTr seeks bids for Laguindingan Airport modernization
February 23, 2024, 6:01 pm
MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has invited contractors from the private sector to submit their proposal for the development and modernization of the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental province. In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said the Laguindingan International… Read More
'Illegal recruiter' promising fruit picker jobs in Japan nabbed
February 23, 2024, 5:49 pm
MANILA – Authorities on Friday arrested an alleged illegal recruiter promising "fruit picker" jobs in Japan in an entrapment at the compound of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Mandaluyong City. Members of the DMW-Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) and the local police nabbed the… Read More
PH 1st in Asia to ratify ILO accord vs. workplace violence, harassment
February 23, 2024, 5:29 pm
MANILA – The Philippines became the first country in Asia and the 38th in the world to ratify Convention No. 190 aimed at curbing violence and harassment in workplaces, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Friday. This came after Manila deposited the instrument of ratification of… Read More
PhilHealth hikes 'Z benefit' for breast cancer patients to P1.4M
February 23, 2024, 5:00 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has increased its “Z-benefit” package for breast cancer patients from PHP100,000 to PHP1.4 million. PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said Friday the increase has been approved and is on top of… Read More
Indian tech firms keen on exploring opportunities in PH – envoy
February 23, 2024, 4:51 pm
MANILA – More Indian information technology (IT) companies are eager to explore business opportunities and offer various technology solutions to the Philippines, Indian Ambassador to Manila Shambhu Kumaran said Friday. In a presser in Taguig City, Kumaran said the embassy would host a number of… Read More
Filipino seafarers get protection under expanded HRA in Gulf of Aden
February 23, 2024, 4:41 pm
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has lauded the expansion of the scope of “high-risk areas” (HRAs) to the entire Gulf of Aden as it would provide better protection for seafarers, including Filipinos. In a statement on Friday, DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo… Read More
Comelec eyes start of poll automation deal negotiations by next week
February 23, 2024, 4:29 pm
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to start negotiations next week with South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd. (Miru) on the PHP18 billion contract for its 2025 poll automation project. In an interview on Friday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Miru has… Read More
DND chief: PH needs to reaffirm alliances to uphold UNCLOS
February 23, 2024, 4:27 pm
MANILA – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. stressed the need for the Philippines to reaffirm its alliances with like-minded nations if it wants to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) amid security challenges in the region. Teodoro made this remark during the… Read More
Foreign investment in HEIs can have big impact on human capital dev't
February 23, 2024, 4:06 pm
MANILA – Removing the foreign investment restrictions on higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the 1987 Constitution can have a big impact on human capital development, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. Gatchalian made the statement in response to statements downplaying that the proposal… Read More
PhilHealth’s contribution hike still under review: Palace
February 23, 2024, 3:55 pm
MANILA – The implementation of the increase in the premium contributions of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is still under review, Malacañang said Friday.In a statement, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to make sure that any… Read More
PBBM sees need for more collab to develop PH creative, design sectors
February 23, 2024, 3:53 pm
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the importance of forging more tie-ups with local and international partners to strengthen the Philippine creative and design industries.Marcos made the call during the launch of the “Art X Design” exhibition at the National… Read More
DA lauds FAO's support to boost PH aquaculture
February 23, 2024, 3:38 pm
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) lauded Friday the efforts of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to help boost the country's aquaculture industry. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. made the statement following the bilateral meeting on the… Read More
Sandiganbayan rejects cop's bid to junk raps in PNP chopper scam
February 23, 2024, 3:24 pm
MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has denied the motion filed by one of the original accused in the charges arising from anomalies in the 2009 purchase of second-hand helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The anti-graft court, in its 15-page resolution dated Feb. 21, denied the motion… Read More
DBM’s P1-B support fund project to benefit 75 municipalities
February 23, 2024, 3:16 pm
MANILA – Around 75 municipalities will benefit from the PHP1-billion Support and Assistance Fund to Participatory Budgeting (SAFPB) Project launched by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). In a statement on Friday, the DBM said PHP1 billion will be released under the Local Government… Read More
MMC regulations on use of e-trikes to include definitive penalties
February 23, 2024, 2:23 pm
MANILA – The Metro Manila Council is set to release a resolution regulating the use of electric motor vehicles, especially along major thoroughfares. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Director Victor Nuñez of the Traffic Enforcement Group said Friday that the resolution, up for… Read More
BI to deport Indonesian human trafficking ring leader
February 23, 2024, 2:18 pm
MANILA – An Indonesian wanted in his home country for human trafficking is set to be deported for being an undesirable and undocumented alien, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Friday. In a statement, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the suspect, 43-year-old Aris Wahyudi alias… Read More
Pope Francis names new Caceres archbishop
February 23, 2024, 12:28 pm
MANILA – Pope Francis has appointed a new archbishop of Caceres. Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, 53, was named as the new head of the archdiocese based on an order from the Vatican released on Thursday night. He will oversee the pastoral care of Catholics in Naga City, considered the economic,… Read More
Marikina LGU's official FB page hacked, probe underway
February 23, 2024, 12:26 pm
MANILA – An investigation is now underway into the hacking of the official Facebook page of the city government of Marikina, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Friday. In a phone interview, Teodoro said the Facebook page of the Marikina Public Information Office (PIO) has been inaccessible since… Read More
AFP chief hopeful of 'total victory' vs. NPA in Visayas by yearend
February 23, 2024, 10:53 am
MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. directed the Visayas Command (Viscom) to continue with their operations to eliminate the threat of communist insurgency. Brawner made the directive after visiting the Viscom headquarters in Cebu and the 301st Infantry… Read More
