National
Jan. 21 special non-working day in ARMM, 2 other cities
January 17, 2019, 2:07 pm
MANILA -- Malacañang has declared Jan. 21, 2019 (Monday), a special non-working day in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City, and Cotabato City for the plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of the President,… Read More
Solon eyes ‘Build, Build, Build’ jobs for affected Hanjin workers
January 17, 2019, 1:41 pm
MANILA -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to immediately extend economic and livelihood assistance to some 3,800 workers of bankrupt South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines. In a statement, Gatchalian… Read More
Bicam OKs Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act
January 17, 2019, 1:15 pm
MANILA -- The Bicameral Conference Committee has approved the reconciled Senate and House of Representatives' versions of a measure institutionalizing a framework to advance energy efficiency and conservation practices in the country. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the approval of the reconciled… Read More
Drop in hunger rate shows PRRD efforts bear fruits: Palace
January 17, 2019, 12:12 pm
MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday welcomed the recent survey which showed a significant drop in the hunger rate among Filipinos in the fourth quarter of 2018, as it hailed President Rodrigo R. Duterte's efforts that "have started to bear fruits". "The Palace considers the improvement experienced by… Read More
2018 hunger rate lowest in 15 years: SWS survey
January 17, 2019, 11:37 am
MANILA -- The Philippines registered its lowest hunger rate in 15 years in the recent 2018 annual hunger rate survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The over-all hunger rate for the year 2018 is at 10.8 percent and is the lowest since the 7 percent hunger rate recorded in 2003. Hunger… Read More
DICT unveils national cyber intelligence platform
January 17, 2019, 11:30 am
MANILA -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has launched a platform for intelligence sharing to monitor threats and defend the country’s cyber 'infostructure' from cyberattacks on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City. The Cybersecurity Management System Project (CMSP)… Read More
NE monsoon continues to affect PH
January 17, 2019, 10:45 am
MANILA — Fair weather is expected Thursday as the northeast monsoon continues to affect the country. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 4 a.m. forecast, said Batanes, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Metro Manila and the rest of the… Read More
DICT hikes tower firm partners to 5
January 17, 2019, 10:42 am
MANILA -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will officially expand its common tower provider partners to five as it is set to sign with three foreign companies this week. Nigeria’s IHS Towers and Malaysia’s Edotco Group are scheduled to sign a Memorandum of… Read More
Madrigal lauds solons for passage of DND, AFP 2019 budgets
January 17, 2019, 9:26 am
MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal expressed his appreciation to legislators for approving the defense department and the military's budget for 2019. The Department of National Defense (DND)'s budget for 2019 is placed at PHP183,893,177,000, of… Read More
Lorenzana ready to defend ML extension in Mindanao before SC
January 17, 2019, 9:26 am
MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is more than ready to go to the Supreme Court (SC) to explain the need to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year. This is in response to the Makabayan Bloc's filing of its second petition at the SC… Read More
PTFoMs exec vows continued drive to protect journalists
January 17, 2019, 8:40 am
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Gains on the program to protect Filipino media practitioners will continue especially now that the Philippines has been removed from the top 5 deadliest countries in the world for journalists. During the launch of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Press… Read More
Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Thu. Jan. 17, 2019
January 17, 2019, 7:07 am
INQUIRER – Drugstores ordered: Give VAT exemptions PHILIPPINE STAR – Rody open to gov’t takeover of Hanjin MANILA BULLETIN – Gov’t takeover of Hanjin eyed DAILY TRIBUNE – Leadership by trust MANILA TIMES – Pacquiao gets huge welcome in Vegas MANILA STANDARD – DBM a… Read More
Sirisena invites Duterte for state visit to Sri Lanka
January 17, 2019, 1:19 am
MANILA -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday invited Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte to visit his country as the first Philippine leader to ever do so. “I would like to extend to Your Excellency and Madam Cielito an invitation to undertake a State Visit to Sri Lanka… Read More
PH, Sri Lanka sign 5 agreements
January 16, 2019, 10:01 pm
MANILA – The Philippines and Sri Lanka signed five agreements as President Rodrigo R. Duterte officially welcomed Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday. Duterte said the five-day historic visit of his Sri Lankan counterpart in the Philippines “is held for… Read More
DOH wants smokers reduced to less than 15% by 2022
January 16, 2019, 8:30 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said the government aims to reduce number of Filipino smokers from 21 percent to less than 15 percent by 2022. “Ang goal kasi natin is 2022 (The goal by 2022 is) to have less than 15 percent of Filipinos smoking. Right now, nasa 21 percent na… Read More
Solon urges DOF to revisit Lateral Attrition Law
January 16, 2019, 8:09 pm
MANILA -- House Minority leader Danilo Suarez on Wednesday urged the Department of Finance (DOF) to fully implement the Lateral Attrition Law following reports that revenue collections under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law was slightly below its targets for 2018. Citing… Read More
PAGASA belies 'wrong' forecast on 'Usman'
January 16, 2019, 8:06 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday it did not issue wrong forecast and warnings related to Tropical Depression Usman that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last December. On its official Twitter… Read More
DFA chief seeks counterpart's help on release of 7 sailors
January 16, 2019, 7:31 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the Philippine government is actively monitoring the case of seven Filipino seafarers detained in Libya, with no less than DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. seeking the aid of his Libyan counterpart. The statement came after an… Read More
Collective push to boost PH maritime education system sought
January 16, 2019, 7:29 pm
MANILA -- The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs) to improve the maritime education system in the country and make it at par with… Read More
House OKs 'new' Road Board abolition bill on 2nd reading
January 16, 2019, 7:00 pm
MANILA -- The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a new bill that would “genuinely abolish” the graft-ridden Road Board. House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. led the introduction of the new measure with “perfecting amendments” to the original House Bill… Read More
