National

PAL's 9th Boeing 777 delivered, 10th one coming in few days

MANILA -- In a bid to become a certified four-star airline by 2018, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been building up its fleet and adding new routes, especially for its Clark hub.In a statement on Friday, PAL said it just had its ninth Boeing 777-300ER delivered, to be used mainly for... Read More

PH to tackle reported developments in South China Sea

MANILA -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday assured that the Philippines would raise the issue of reported Chinese developments in the South China Sea in an upcoming bilateral consultative meeting with China.Cayetano said this when asked about the recent Asia Maritime... Read More

'Urduja' slightly weakens as it traverses northern Samar

MANILA -- Tropical storm (TS) "Urduja" has slightly weakened and is now traversing the northern part of Samar, state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saturday afternoon."Urduja" made landfall Saturday afternoon in the vicinity... Read More

Diplomatic corps receiving ML extension well: Cayetano

MANILA -- Members of the diplomatic corps understand the gravity of the situation in Mindanao and support the extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the region, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.In a press conference on Friday, Cayetano told... Read More

'Urduja' fails to prevent Catholics from attending 'Simbang Gabi'

MANILA -- Typhoon Urduja did not stop Catholic faithful in the Visayas Region and Southern Luzon from attending the first day of the nine-day Simbang Gabi on Saturday.Priests in the different Dioceses in the two regions, which were affected by the storm, relayed this good news.Rev. Fr. Jenious... Read More

OFW cluster in Duterte cabinet eyed

MANILA-- Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recommeded the addition of an Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) cluster in the Cabinet to further improve service for Filipino migrants and their families.In an interview, Cayetano said one of 2017's... Read More

DFA allows Pinoys to come home and still return to Iraq

MANILA-- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that Filipinos in hardship areas, such as Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, could now come home to the Philippines following the approval of a proposal that would allow them to visit their loved ones and still return to their jobs.In a... Read More

‘Urduja’ causes flight cancellations at NAIA

MANILA -- Several flights were canceled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Saturday as Tropical Storm Urduja continues to move closer to the Northern Samar-Eastern Samar area.In an advisory, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the following flights were canceled due... Read More

11K passengers stranded in ports due to ‘Urduja’

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said more than 11,000 passengers were stranded in seaports across the country as Tropical Storm Urduja continues to move closer to the northern-eastern Samar area Saturday.In its latest advisory, the PCG said that 11,101 passengers were stranded in ports in... Read More

Maritime sector to boost security for holidays

MANILA -- The maritime sector will activate next week its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Kapaskuhan 2017” to ensure the safety of the riding public during the Christmas season.“Maritime personnel are expected to implement several safety measures and contingency plans, such as activating... Read More

Maynilad to hike water rates starting January

MANILA -- The Maynilad Water Services Inc. on Friday announced a hike in its average basic rate by PHP0.97 per cubic meter starting January next year. In a statement, Maynilad said the average basic rate adjustment amounts to 2.8 percent of the PHP34.51 per cubic meter average basic charge in 2017,... Read More

PH, China to bolster bilateral defense cooperation

MANILA -- Senior defense and military officials of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China on Friday conducted talks to bolster the two nations’ bilateral defense cooperation.Defense public affairs office chief, Arsenio Andolong, said the Philippine delegation was led by... Read More

Army chief fetes troops involved in Marawi liberation

MANILA -- Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista honored troops and units from various services involved in the five-month battle to liberate Marawi City from Maute Group terrorists in a short ceremony in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Friday.Bautista led the awarding ceremony... Read More

'Urduja' slightly intensifies, heads for Samar Island

MANILA -- Tropical Storm Urduja has slightly intensified and is expected to make landfall in Samar Island within the day, the state weather bureau said Saturday morning."Urduja" was last eyed at 180 km. east-northeast of Borongan City, eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near... Read More

Banner stories of Manila's leading newspapers, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017

BUSINESSMIRROR– Paving the way for the third telco playerINQUIRER– Senators stand by Aquino on DengvaxiaPHILIPPINE STAR– AFP to uphold rights, vows no ML abusesMANILA BULLETIN– Widespread rains fearedMANILA TIMES– Military warns vs IS-inspired groupMANILA... Read More

PH, Cambodia forge media cooperation pact

SIEM REAP, Cambodia -- The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Ministry of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia signed here on Friday a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at fostering greater media collaboration.The agreement was inked by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar... Read More

Congress should have been told about Dengvaxia purchase

MANILA -- The Congress should have been informed about “huge” transactions made by government, such as the purchase of dengue vaccines worth PHP3.5 billion, before it pushed through, a senator said Friday.Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito made this remark a day after the Senate Blue Ribbon... Read More

Pray for the country, CBCP says on eve of Simbang Gabi

MANILA -- An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee urged the faithful to include the country in their prayers, as Catholics start the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi on Saturday."We remind the faithful to continue adhering to... Read More

Hontiveros renews call for better budget for cancer treatment

MANILA -- Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday reiterated her call for a better budget for cancer medicines and treatment.Hontiveros made the call during a community outreach program that featured free breast and cervical cancer screenings for the women residents of the BASECO evacuation center in... Read More

Probe results on POEA personnel’s link to illegal recruitment out soon

MANILA -- The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is set to release early next year the findings of its fact-finding investigation committee on the illegal recruitment activities involving the agency’s personnel and private recruitment agencies.“By early next year we... Read More