Drilon says House to blame for SEA Games budget mess
PHILIPPINE Senator Franklin Drilon on Tuesday, November 26, said the House of Representatives is to blame for the mishaps in this year’s Southeast Asian Games which the country is hosting….
Category: Across the Islands
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories throughout the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Hontiveros: ‘China-made’ blackouts can cripple PH
PHILIPPINE Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, November 25, warned that “China-made blackouts” could paralyze the country’s economy, vital communications system and even the electoral system. According to her, with China…
PH to continue rice imports, tighten food safety measures
The importation of rice into the Philippines will continue in accordance with the law, the country’s agriculture secretary clarified. Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Thursday, November 21 said that instead…
Recto: No funds provided for national ID
SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Tuesday, November 19, noted that despite the Duterte administration pressing Congress to pass the National ID law and making it the highest priority,…
Robredo not a Cabinet member, Duterte states
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 18, clarified that Vice President Leni Robredo is not a Cabinet member despite her appointment as the administration’s anti-drug czar. The president made this…
Hontiveros: Gov’t needs health, rights-based law enforcement approach to drug problem
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, November 15, expressed her support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s plan to use a public health approach in her fight against illegal drugs, saying that…
Go supports additional budget for Robredo’s drug war
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday, November 13, said he fully supports Vice President Leni Robredo’s request for additional funds in the fight against illegal drugs. “I, as a legislator,…
Robredo meets with UN to discuss ‘best practices’ in tackling drug problem
Palace says VP can scrap ‘tokhang’, ICC still has no jurisdiction Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, November 11, met with the officials of the United Nations Office on Drugs…
PH to file protest vs China’s firing flares
Malacañang on Wednesday, November 6, said the Philippine government would file a protest over China’s reported firing of warning flares against a Philippine military aircraft patrolling the West Philippine (South…
Philippines new deportation rule: Leave country even on appeal
Justice Undersecretary for Immigrations Markk Perete on Friday, November 1, said new deportation rules stating that a foreigner ordered to be deported have to leave the country after 30 days…
DOT: WWII Memorial, a beacon to the world
SURIGAO CITY –Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Myra Paz V. Abubakar said the newly-inaugurated Battle of Surigao Strait Memorial and Museum in this city will serve as a…
23 dead after series of earthquakes in Mindanao
A TOTAL of 23 people have died from the earthquakes that have struck areas of Mindanao since mid-October, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its…
Duterte to give Robredo a Cabinet secretary rank as drug czar
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans on giving Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet secretary rank as the administration’s drug czar to show the seriousness of his previous offer, Malacañang on…
Filipino, 7 Chinese arrested for alleged kidnap attempt at NAIA
A Filipino and seven Chinese nationals were arrested on Friday, November 1 for allegedly trying to kidnap a Chinese man at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in…
More than 8,000 people affected by Mindanao earthquake
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its latest situation report released Wednesday, October 30, said that 1,681 families or 8,402 people in Mindanao have been affected…
PH among world’s worst impunity offenders — report
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday, October 29, listed the Philippines among the 13 countries that make up the world’s worst impunity offenders. According to its 2019 Global…
Robredo won’t buy: Palace not serious about drug czar offer
The spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo insisted Wednesday, October 30, that the administration could not be serious about its offer of a drug czar post since the invitation was…
DOT hails Camiguin’s 40th Lanzones Fest
CAMIGUIN, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday lauded the province of Camiguin for reaping not only the sweetest harvests of lanzones in the country but also for…
No need to release Duterte’s medical bulletin — Palace
Malacañang on Friday, October 25, dismissed calls to release a medical bulletin of President Rodrigo Duterte’s condition since the Constitution only requires a health dispatch in case of a “serious…
DOH: Pork and processed pork products are safe to eat
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, October 24, assured the public that eating pork products contaminated with African swine fever (ASF) does not affect human health. “It is…
Lagman files bill seeking to repeal ‘archaic’ crime of blasphemy
A bill that seeks to repeal the crime of offending religious feelings, of which the late artist and activist Carlos Celdran was found guilty of, has been filed by Albay…
Russia to help PH develop its own defense industry
Russia Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev on Tuesday, October 22, said Russia wants to build a long-term strategic cooperation with the Philippines, with defense and security as a key…
Duterte to disclose result of medical consultation – Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday, October 23, vowed that President Rodrigo Duterte will disclose to the public the result of his medical consultation after concerns were raised due to the chief executive’s…
PH retirement system among worst in the world
A recent study revealed that the retirement or pension system of the Philippines is the 4th lowest out of 36 countries. According to the 2019 Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index…
UN body: PH the country with fastest growing epidemic of HIV
A study conducted by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) found that the Philippines has the “fastest growing epidemic” of the sexually transmitted disease, with a 203 percent rise…
TPB mounts biggest international travel trade event in the Philippines for 2019
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to boost tourism in the Philippines as it simultaneously mounts the…
Survey: Duterte’s satisfaction rating dips, but remains ‘very good’
The number of Filipinos satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance as chief executive saw a slight dip in the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released this…
Report: HIV cases rise in the Philippines, as more people turn to dating apps
HIV in the Philippines is spreading faster than any other country in the world, and health advocates are saying that dating apps — along with the lack of education —…
2020 national budget ‘pork-free’
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 1, transmitted the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 to the Senate ahead of the month-long break beginning Oct. 4 for its consideration…
Duterte on swine fever: Contain it, stop it
Malacañang on Monday, September 30, said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Agriculture (DAR) to stop the spread of African swine fever. “Contain it, stop it,” presidential spokesperson Salvador…