National
PH to get share of $8.1-B US emergency aid package
April 23, 2024, 7:28 pm
MANILA – The Philippines' inclusion in the proposed USD8.1 billion aid package of the United States House of Representatives would help strengthen the country's defense capabilities, especially amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a news release… Read More
Measles cases 5x higher compared to last year – DOH
April 23, 2024, 7:22 pm
MANILA – The country has logged 1,817 cases of measles from Jan. 1 to April 13, which is five times higher compared to those reported in the same period last year, a health official said Tuesday. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau showed that 374 cases of… Read More
CTA junks Zuellig Pharma’s P59-M tax refund claim
April 23, 2024, 7:18 pm
MANILA – The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has turned down for lack of merit a suit filed by Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific Ltd. for tax refund amounting to PHP59 million for 2011. The company had claimed that it is entitled to the tax refund when it rendered services for its foreign affiliate, citing… Read More
Respondents in 990K drug haul given until May 30 to answer raps
April 23, 2024, 7:12 pm
MANILA – The 74 individuals implicated in the major drug haul in Tondo, Manila in 2022 which yielded 990 kilos of “shabu” have been given until May 30 to answer the charges following the start of a formal preliminary investigation, a Department of Justice (DOJ) official said Tuesday.… Read More
Pertusis cases in PH still on upward trend -- DOH
April 23, 2024, 7:00 pm
MANILA – Cases of pertussis or whooping cough in the country are on an upward trend with 1,566 recorded infections as of April 13. “Hindi pa po natin nakikita ang downward trend. Hinihintay pa natin pumasok ang epekto nung pagbabakuna (We don’t see the downward trend yet. We’re still… Read More
PH Navy: Use of retired China-made tanker in Balikatan coincidental
April 23, 2024, 6:43 pm
MANILA – The selection of the decommissioned oil tanker BRP Lake Caliraya for a sinking exercise as part of this year's Balikatan exercises between Filipino and American soldiers is coincidental, a ranking official of the Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday. PN spokesperson for the West Philippine… Read More
Rice supply enough despite El Niño –Marcos
April 23, 2024, 6:14 pm
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured Filipinos of sufficient rice supply despite the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. In an interview in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Marcos said the ample supply of the Filipino food staple was due to the new farming techniques and improved… Read More
House to focus on nat’l security, economic dev’t in remaining sessions
April 23, 2024, 5:51 pm
MANILA – The House of Representatives would focus on strengthening national security and enhancing economic development in the remaining sessions of the 19th Congress until June 6, 2025. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Tuesday that the initiatives are critical in maintaining… Read More
CA issues Writ of Kalikasan vs. Golden Rice, Bt Eggplant
April 23, 2024, 5:48 pm
MANILA – The Court of Appeals has directed the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to cease and desist from commercially propagating, field testing and conducting activities related to Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant, respectively, citing… Read More
BI to deport 2 ‘wanted’ Chinese nabbed in Cebu, Parañaque
April 23, 2024, 4:49 pm
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday said two Chinese nationals recently arrested in Cebu province and Parañaque City are now awaiting deportation. Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified them as Zhu Yuanjiang, 25; and Ma MIngjie, 51, who were arrested last week in separate… Read More
Globe cracks down vs. SIMs involved in scams
April 23, 2024, 4:32 pm
MANILA – Globe Telecom Inc. (Globe) has blacklisted a total of 36,549 subscriber identity module (SIM) cards from competing networks in the first quarter of 2024 as part of its campaign against scams. In a statement on Tuesday, Globe said the number of blocked SIM cards during this period is 62… Read More
PAF to deploy FA-50, C-130 aircraft in 'Pitch Black' drills
April 23, 2024, 4:26 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said it would deploy around six fighter aircraft to represent the country in the upcoming "Pitch Black" exercises hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force. "The plan is to send in six FA-50s and one C-130 (to transport ground personnel and… Read More
PBBM’s anti-poverty programs, efforts improving lives of Filipinos
April 23, 2024, 4:24 pm Updated on April 23, 2024, 5:09 pm
MANILA – A recent OCTA Research survey showing a notable decrease in self-rated poverty and hunger among Filipino families is a clear indication that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-poverty programs and efforts are effectively reaching and improving the lives of Filipinos, Speaker… Read More
No reason to replace VP Sara as DepEd chief – PBBM
April 23, 2024, 4:24 pm
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. does not see any reason to replace Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary amid her reported rift with First Lady Liza Marcos. In an interview in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, Marcos said Cabinet members will be replaced based… Read More
NFA gears up for purchase, drying of palay on wet harvest season
April 23, 2024, 4:08 pm
MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) assured Tuesday that it is preparing for the procurement and drying of play (unhusked rice) as early as now for the wet harvest season. The NFA's move came shortly after it implemented a new and higher pricing scheme for palay on the tail-end of dry… Read More
Estrada seeks more bed capacity, staff for PGH
April 23, 2024, 4:06 pm
MANILA – Senator Jinggoy Estrada is seeking an upgrade of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) by increasing its bed capacity from 1,500 to 2,200, additional staff and improved services. Under Senate Bill (SB) No. 2634, which Estrada filed on April 15, he noted that PGH, the largest government… Read More
ILO warns intense heat can trigger mental illnesses among workers
April 23, 2024, 3:54 pm
MANILA – The International Labor Organization (ILO) on Tuesday cautioned workers against the effects of intense heat in the workplace on their mental health. In a statement, it said aside from the threat of heat stroke and heat stress, sweltering heat index levels may trigger "stress, anxiety,… Read More
Marcos: ASF vaccine procurement underway, rollout by midyear
April 23, 2024, 3:51 pm
MANILA – The government is currently in the process of procuring African swine fever (ASF) vaccines and is eyeing to roll out the immunization shots within June or July, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday. “Namimili tayo... Magro-roll out na ng bakuna, siguro Hunyo o Hulyo,… Read More
HPG's 'wang-wang' crackdown nets 1.7K sirens, banned accessories
April 23, 2024, 3:38 pm
MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Tuesday said it has seized a total of 1,707 sirens, blinkers and other prohibited vehicle accessories in various operations nationwide. Citing its latest data, HPG chief Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro said these items were seized… Read More
NAIA parking operator told to dig up grass; cover lot with gravel
April 23, 2024, 3:36 pm
MANILA – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has ordered the concessionaire of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport parking area to dig up the grass and cover it before they could operate again following a fire that damaged 19 vehicles on Monday. MIAA head executive assistant… Read More
