National

TRAIN frees 99% of Filipinos from paying income taxes: Palace

MANILA -- Malacañang on Tuesday said the tax reform package, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill that President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law would spare 99 percent of Filipinos from paying income taxes.In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque... Read More

France, US offer prayers to ‘Urduja’ victims

MANILA -- After tropical storm "Urduja” lashed Eastern Visayas and southern Luzon, the French and United States government on Tuesday extended its full solidarity and prayers to Filipinos and the Philippine government as it begins efforts rebuilding damaged areas.

In a statement sent to... Read More

Duterte signs into law 2018 budget, tax reform package

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday signed into law the PHP3.767-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2018 (RA 10963) and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act (RA 10964), which he said are the fulfillment of his campaign promise to institute genuine fiscal... Read More

PH a prime investment destination in SE Asia

MANILA — The Philippine delegation at the 5th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Connectivity Forum in Seoul, Korea was able to highlight the country's attractiveness "as one of the most viable investment destinations in ASEAN," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on... Read More

Mercado relieved as Navy chief

MANILA -- Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was formally relieved from his post effective Tuesday.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acting spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo.

He added that the instruction to relieve... Read More

Misamis Oriental mayor, 6 others face graft raps

MANILA -- Jasaan, Misamis Oriental Mayor Grace Jardin and six members of the town's Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) are facing trial before the Sandiganbayan for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” for giving unwarranted benefit... Read More

EDC restoring power plants in Leyte

MANILA -- Listed geothermal leader Energy Development Corp. (EDC) said Tuesday it is working to restore power plants in Leyte which had been affected by landslides and flooding brought about by typhoon Urduja.“We are working to restore the facilities at the soonest time possible, with priority... Read More

Palace warns public vs. fake OPA exec

MANILA -- The Office of the Political Adviser (OPA) is warning the public against a certain Jolo Granados, an individual posing as an assistant secretary of the office.In a notice from Malacanang signed by OPA Secretary Francis Tolentino, the office said, "No one named Jolo Granados is or was... Read More

PDEA, PCCAI renew MOA on medical aid for anti-drug agents

MANILA -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine-Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. (PCCAI) on Tuesday signed anew a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the extension of comprehensive medical assistance to PDEA agents.PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino, and PCCAI chairman... Read More

Solon says 2018 budget 'brimming with hope'

MANILA --Davao City Rep.KarloNograles, chairman of the House appropriations committee, onTuesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signinginto law the PHP3.767-trillion nationalbudgetfor 2018.In a statement,Nogralessaid the approved General AppropriationsAct(GAA) for 2018provides hopeto Filipinos... Read More

PH Marines, ADF conclude 1st urban terrain training

MANILA -- Philippine Marine Corps and Australian Defense Force personnel completed their first ever Mentor Training Team (MTT) Program for Military Operations in Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) during short ceremonies at Marine Base Gregorio Lim, Ternate, Cavite, Monday.Capt. Maria Rowena B. Dalmacio, PMC... Read More

CBCP slams NPA attack on soldiers helping 'Urduja' victims

MANILA -- The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) slammed the attack by New People's Army (NPA) against government forces who provided relief to calamity victims in Northern Samar.“The ambush of soldiers while delivering relief goods is deplorable!” said Fr. Edu... Read More

PH withdraws from next round of MCC grant to focus on Marawi rehab

MANILA -- The Philippines has decided to withdraw its application for the next round of development aid from a US-based agency to focus its resources and attention on rebuilding Marawi City, Malacañang said Tuesday.“We have opted to withdraw from the second Millennium Challenge and this... Read More

DOJ taps PAO to aid Dengvaxia victims

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) to provide free legal assistance to the victims that will file possible criminal charges against those involved in the controversial PHP3.5-billion dengue vaccine project of the Department of Health (DOH).In... Read More

2 dead due to Dengvaxia vaccine: PAO

MANILA -- The Public Attorneys Office (PAO) on Tuesday confirmed that there were two victims who died due to Dengvaxia, the world's first-ever dengue vaccine which was found to cause health risk to individuals with no prior dengue infection.In a press conference held in Manila, PAO chief Atty.... Read More

House pushes regulation of food technology in PH

MANILA -- The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on final reading a measure seeking to regulate the practice of food technology in the Philippines.With 189 affirmative votes, the Lower House passed House Bill 6714, or the Philippine Food Technology Act, which seeks the creation of the... Read More

PH-US partnership robust, says diplomat

MANILA-- Manila's engagement with Washington on political and security issues "are as robust" as the two parties' economic relationship, said Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez on Tuesday.
In a year-end report at the Philippine Embassy, Romualdez identified counterterrorism and... Read More

AFP to deploy engineering units to help in ‘Urduja’-hit areas

MANILA -- The military will deploy its engineering units to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas hit by tropical depression ‘Urduja’.Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made this assurance in an interview Monday.“We will assign yung ating... Read More

TRAIN is biggest income transfer mechanism for poor Pinoys: Salceda

MANILA -- Lowered personal income tax (PIT) and higher take home pay for 99 percent of the country’s 7.5 million individual taxpayers is the leading achievement of the approved Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law which President Rodrigo Duterte will sign soon.Albay Rep. Joey... Read More

'Urduja' to exit PAR Tuesday: PAGASA

MANILA—Tropical depression "Urduja" (international name Kai-Tak) has maintained its strength as it approaches the western boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said."Urduja" is... Read More