National
Bishops' group issues statement amid 'contraceptive mentality'
July 25, 2018, 11:30 pm
MANILA — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday said for Filipinos, every child is a gift from God. “It is natural for married Filipino couples to wholeheartedly embrace each child, who is a fruit of their love for each other. Despite the fear and criticism that… Read More
DepEd to review K-12 program
July 25, 2018, 9:59 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) will conduct a “thorough review” of its K to 12 education program, two years after it was implemented in various schools nationwide. “We are going to have a thorough review of the curriculum of the Department of Education. After all, we have been… Read More
Senate approval of Charter change this year ‘very slim’: Sotto
July 25, 2018, 9:57 pm
MANILA -- Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday said the chances of Charter change (Cha-cha) being approved at the Senate this year are “very slim,” given that the proposed shift to federalism is not among the priorities of all senators. “Let me say that perhaps the… Read More
TESDA, DPWH to boost partnership for 'Build, Build, Build'
July 25, 2018, 9:47 pm
MANILA -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is revising its existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to boost the two agency's partnership for the government's "Build, Build, Build" program. TESDA has been… Read More
Better weather in NCR seen as ‘Jongdari’ unlikely to enter PAR
July 25, 2018, 9:42 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasts better weather for the next two days in Metro Manila. "We will have better weather in the morning for the next two days, but will have rains in the afternoon and evening in Metro Manila,"… Read More
Duterte okays merger of PhilExim with other guarantee firms
July 25, 2018, 9:10 pm
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the merger of the Philippine Export-Import Credit Agency (PhilExim) with other state-run guarantee corporations particularly the Home Guarantee Corporation (HGC). In his Executive Order 58 signed on July 23, Duterte has also transferred the… Read More
Alvarez concedes speakership to Arroyo
July 25, 2018, 9:03 pm
MANILA -- Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has conceded the speakership to former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Alvarez recognized Arroyo as the new Speaker of the House after 184 lawmakers voted in favor of the latter's… Read More
SC justices Peralta, Reyes join search for next CJ
July 25, 2018, 8:45 pm
MANILA -- Two more Supreme Court magistrates have accepted their nominations for the position of Chief Justice (CJ), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Andres Reyes Jr. have submitted letters stating their acceptance of the… Read More
Clean air advocates form anti-air pollution group
July 25, 2018, 8:28 pm
MANILA-- Various clean air advocacy groups on Wednesday banded together to push giving more "teeth" on government programs for clean air and environmental protection, with the launch of the "Health Care for Cleaner Air Alliance." During the launching in Quezon City, advocacy groups, led by Health… Read More
LGUs should decide on class suspensions, DepEd asserts
July 25, 2018, 8:15 pm
MANILA -- Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday opposed calls to bring back the task of suspending classes during rainy days to her agency, stressing that local government units were in a better position to do so. “It used to be the task of the DepEd but the… Read More
Gov't to borrow money if TRAIN 2 not passed, Briones warns
July 25, 2018, 7:46 pm
MANILA -- If the second package of the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law is not passed, the government may have to borrow money, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones warned Wednesday. Briones, who was a former national treasurer, made this… Read More
Growers, exporters call for zero-tariff on banana exports to Korea
July 25, 2018, 7:05 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines could lose South Korea as a top export destination for locally produced bananas three years from now unless tariffs are removed on this agricultural product. The proposed move is to enable the Philippine bananas to compete with other banana exports entering this lucrative… Read More
8 domestic flights cancelled due to bad weather
July 25, 2018, 6:08 pm
MANILA -- Eight domestic flights to and from Manila and Tuguegarao, and between Manila and Busuanga were cancelled as of Wednesday afternoon due to harsh weather, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said. Cancelled flights were Cebu Pacific (5J) 504/505 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila;… Read More
Bello mulls filing of raps vs. detractors
July 25, 2018, 6:07 pm
MANILA -- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III is ready to file cases against detractors for their “vicious and malicious attacks.” “Let me address you all, I am left with no recourse but do what is legal and proper under the circumstances,” Bello said in… Read More
DOJ mourns passing of ex-CA justice Puno
July 25, 2018, 6:01 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed grief over the passing of former Court of Appeals (CA) justice Ricardo Puno Sr. on Wednesday. "The entire DOJ family grieves the passing of one of their most illustrious department secretaries, who served as head of the agency for several years,"… Read More
DND welcomes MILF move to decommission fighters
July 25, 2018, 5:55 pm
MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana welcomed the announcement of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stating that it is willing to disarm and decommission over 30,000 to 40,000 of its fighters once the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is passed. "(This… Read More
Liberal Party House reps 'duly constituted minority'
July 25, 2018, 5:44 pm
MANILA -- Liberal Party lawmakers at the House Representatives have constituted themselves as the minority bloc in the lower chamber amid the ascension of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the speakership. The 12 LP members who abstained from the speakeship vote made the announcement in… Read More
Arroyo, Alvarez vow to 'continue good relationship'
July 25, 2018, 5:29 pm
MANILA -- Newly-elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday met for the first time following a leadership shakeup at the House of Representatives. The meeting at Alvarez's office came two days after Arroyo's ascension to the speakership. Pampanga Rep.… Read More
Bicam to approve final version of coco levy bill
July 25, 2018, 5:28 pm
MANILA – Senator Cynthia Villar on Wednesday said the bicameral conference committee on PHP100-billion coconut levy trust fund will be held on August 1, heeding President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Congress to pass the bill "at the soonest possible time." "I urge you Congress to convene the… Read More
PH ready to assist Laos after dam disaster
July 25, 2018, 5:22 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the Philippine government is ready to assist its ASEAN neighbor, Laos, in the wake of a dam collapse that displaced as many as 6,000 people and left more than a dozen dead and hundred others missing. So far, only 10 of the 28… Read More
