National

Senators bare Surigao Norte cult involved in rape, marriage of minors

MANILA–The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality has been asked to investigate cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriages by an alleged cult in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.The reported cult, identified as the Socorro Bayanihan Services,... Read More

DA to assist 500 young farmers in starting agribiz ventures

MANILA – The government is looking to help over 500 young farmers to start their own agribusiness ventures this year.In a statement Tuesday, the DA said its expanded Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program under its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) is helping 546 new young... Read More

Senate panel detains helper Elvie Vergara’s employer for contempt

MANILA - The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Tuesday cited in contempt France Gracia Ruiz, the former employer of the alleged abused household helper Elvie Vergara.Senator Jinggoy Estrada made the motion during the third marathon hearing of the Senate panel on Vergara’s case... Read More

PBBM still bullish on reducing price of rice to P20/kg

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday he is optimistic that he would attain his goal of bringing down the price of rice to PHP20 per kg.In a media interview on the sidelines of the distribution of confiscated sacks of imported rice in Zamboanga City, Marcos raised the... Read More

Over 80M Filipinos now registered to PhilSys

MANILA – More than 80 million Filipinos already registered to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday.The PSA said as of Sept. 1 this year, it has already registered 80.54 million Filipinos, representing about 87.5 percent of the... Read More

Lotto critic-turned-patron claims half of P31.7-M jackpot

MANILA – A resident of Cavite who once thought that the Lotto games were just scams had the biggest turnaround of her life after becoming one of two winners in a recent Lotto draw.The Cavite resident was a co-winner of the Aug. 15 Super Lotto 6/49 draw that carried a jackpot of PHP31.7 million... Read More

Online seller of abortion drug nabbed in Manila

MANILA – Authorities arrested a 29-year-old man allegedly involved in the online selling of an abortion drug in Manila on Monday afternoon, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said Tuesday.In a statement, the ACG said the suspect Enrique Jose Bulda Jr. was arrested... Read More

Solons seek revocation of franchises of non-performing electric coops

MANILA – House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo and four other lawmakers have filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to conduct an immediate review and possible revocation of the franchises of the non-performing electric cooperatives, and the consideration of the entry of new... Read More

Pampanga as ‘Christmas Capital’ to spur local economy, create jobs

MANILA – The proposal to officially make Pampanga the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” will be a huge boost to the province’s economy.House Bill (HB) No. 6933, filed by Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., recognizes... Read More

New C-208 reconnaissance plane to help secure PH maritime domains

MANILA – The brand-new Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft donated by the United States to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) would greatly enhance the military's capabilities to secure the country's vast maritime territories, Armed Forces of... Read More

PBBM leads distribution of confiscated rice to 4Ps beneficiaries

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the distribution of around 1,500 sacks of confiscated imported rice to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) during his visit to the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Zamboanga City.The sacks of rice... Read More

CSC urges career scientists to boost S&T, innovation level

MANILA – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) called on career scientists to advance the level of science and technology (S&T) and innovation to build a stronger and better nation."To all our scientists, always remember that your service to our kababayans (countrymen) and your contributions... Read More

LGUs urged to use lotto, STL shares for medical services

MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) can utilize their share of revenues from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's (PCSO) lotto games and small town lottery operations (STL) to provide medical services to their constituents, the agency said Tuesday."I also remind the LGUs that they... Read More

OCD vows continuous aid for Mayon-hit communities

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday night assured that communities affected by Mayon Volcano's ongoing unrest, which has affected 9, 876 families or 38, 396 persons, would continue to receive assistance from the national government.Mayon Volcano is still under Alert Level 3... Read More

DBM: P1.008-T allotted for LGUs in 2024

MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) nationwide are expected to receive about PHP1.008 trillion in 2024, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Tuesday.“Local government units (LGUs) will be provided with PHP1.008 trillion, equivalent to 17.5 percent of the proposed FY... Read More

Marcos hails state workers’ dedication to public service

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday hailed the government's 1.8 million workers for their commitment to providing quality service to all Filipinos.This, as Marcos joined the “meaningful and joyous” celebration of the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary in... Read More

OPAPRU cites PNP's vital contributions to peace process

MANILA – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a vital partner in the country's comprehensive peace process.In a news release Tuesday, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. noted that the police force has... Read More

ITCZ to bring scattered rains over parts of Mindanao

MANILA – The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the weather bureau said Tuesday.Flash floods or landslides may occur in these areas due to... Read More

Act responsibly, cease damaging acts to marine life – DFA

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised "serious concern" over reports of coral destruction at the Rozul Reef within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), calling for a halt to activities damaging marine life.In a statement Monday night, the DFA said the... Read More

House bill giving Muslim Filipinos better access to Shari’a court OK’d

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday approved on the third and final reading a measure seeking to provide Filipino Muslims better access to Shari’a courts through the electronic processing of routine documents in the said courts.House Bill (HB) 9045, which was approved with... Read More