Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories throughout the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday, January 4 that P12.5 million has been provided to families in the Bicol region that were affected by Tropical Depression Usman. Usman made landfall in Eastern Samar last Friday, December 28, 2018, bringing heavy rains across the eastern Visayas and southern Luzon regions, and triggering…
PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, January 2, pledged to provide psychological assistance to landslide survivors in Iraya village after tropical depression Usman ravaged their area. “Apart from psychological therapy, they also need help to start over, especially those who lost their parents,” Robredo said according to reports. Robredo visited Barangay Iraya to distribute…
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol relieved the entire quarantine team of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for failing to follow protocol on Friday, January 4. “The whole Quarantine Group assigned at the country’s main airport of entry, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, will be relieved effective 5 pm…
A bronze statue depicting a “comfort woman” was taken down on Sunday, December 30, 2018 in the Laguna province after the Japanese government expressed disappointment in its construction. The statue — reported to have been a one-meter tall seated girl with a vacant chair next to her — was unveiled just two days before on…
ONCE the Philippine Senate session resumes on January 14, the senators will have their hands full as they target to pass several priority measures to improve public services like the controversial proposal on the security of tenure and end of contract (endo) system. In an interview on dwIZ, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) recently listed 18 towns and cities as “areas of grave concern” in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections. The said municipalities and cities were concentrated in Luzon and Mindanao. No particular area in Visayas mainland was listed. There are seven places in the list for Luzon while 11 from Mindanao. Among…
A joint congressional resolution extending the validity of the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) in the 2018 budget has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. He signed Joint Resolution No. 3 on December 28, 2018, and it was made public on Thursday, Jan. 3. It extends the validity of these…
A Philippine military official on Thursday, January 3 said Communist leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison is “hallucinating,” a day after Sison said that ousting President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 was the “priority” of the communist rebels. “He must not only be dreaming, he is hallucinating. From here on, any moves by the CPP-NPA (New People’s…
THE House on Thursday, January 3, began its probe into the alleged anomalies in the current 2018 budget and the proposed P3.8-trillion budget in 2019 — both of which were prepared under Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The first public hearing was held at the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur at 10 a.m….
POPE Francis appointed Fr. Rex Andrew Alarcon from the Diocese of Daet as a new Philippine bishop in Camarines Norte, Bicol on Wednesday, January 2. The 47-year-old bishop served as a superintendent of the parish schools and a spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Caceres. He was also a member of the College of Consultants and…
Malacañang on Tuesday, January 1, said Catholics should not be offended by President Duterte’s remarks on their beliefs, instead they should regard his words as a means to strengthen their faith. Duterte, who has been at odds with Catholic bishops over the war he waged against drugs, questioned the doctrine of the Holy Trinity last…
THE United Kingdom and Australia issued a warning to their citizens, cautioning them not to travel to areas in Mindanao affected by terrorist threats and insurgency due to last Monday’s bomb explosion in Cotabato City. The UK travel advisory stated that visiting Mindanao could pose a risk considering the incidents that transpired in the area….
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday, December 28 placed the Mayon Volcano on Alert Level 2 — indicated a moderate level of unrest — as it continuously spews out ashes. “Alert Level 2 currently prevails over Mayon Volcano. This means that Mayon is at a moderate level of unrest,” Phivolcs said…
MEMBERS of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) gathered on Wednesday, December 26 to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of the CPP-NPA. As the members proceed with their parade, press conference and cultural presentations, supporters of the movement were notably absent. Officials said that military threats made them opt…
A recent study revealed that the majority of Filipino jobseekers — students and fresh graduates — have to go through additional training to become work ready and employable. The Philippine Talent Map Initiative conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed that 31.7 percent of job seekers or a total of 18,928 have…
China’s first infrastructure project here in the Philippines, a drug rehabilitation center, took less than a year to finish, according to Sarangani Governor Steve Solon. The P350-million Chinese-funded Soccsksargen Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DDATRC) had its groundbreaking on January 12. It was then turned over last week to the provincial government, which…
A NEW Gallup survey revealed that the young Filipino population will possibly decrease by about 9 percent due to migration as more job opportunities open abroad for the talented Filipino residents. According to the data from the Potential Net Migration Index (PNMI), Gallup Inc. said that the Philippines has a PNMI score of a contraction…
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, December 19, said that close to 29,000 suspected human trafficking victims were stopped from leaving the country in the first 10 months of this year. According to BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina, a total of 28,467 people, including 151 minors, were prevented from boarding their flights….
A document released on Thursday, December 20 named at least 41 members of the Philippine Congress as proponents of projects under the allegedly graft-ridden Road Board. According to House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara were allegedly identified by Road Board Executive Director Luisito “Chito”…
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, December 20 called for the review the 1951 Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States amid conflict between China and the U.S. in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “Since we have a Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. we might get involved in their…
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and the Department of Tourism (DOT) family joins the Filipino nation in conveying joyful and proud congratulations to our very own newly-crowned Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray. Amidst Ms. Gray’s preparations prior to heading for Thailand, she took precious time to do a series of video clips promoting unique…
IN PHOTOS: The closing ceremony of the Antique Harvest marks the last day of another successful food and travel fair. It showcases the best of agri-based and community-based tourism products of the province of Antique. In attendance is Tourism Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III delivering a message on behalf of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. #AntiqueHarvestFair #ExperienceWesternVisayasFirst#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat today assured that the Balangiga Bells would be a historical treasure that will be preserved for all the world and future generations to see. Puyat made the statement in view of the expected influx of tourists desiring to see the three Balangiga Bells along with the old church…
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, December 11, said that the agency does not see Dengvaxia being used anytime soon despite its one-year ban coming to an end. DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo, in an interview, noted that the one-year suspension of the marketing license of Dengvaxia will likely get an extension after December 29….
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the period of casting votes for the May 13, 2019 elections by an hour, making it end at 6 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m. As reported by the PNA, the decision is contained in the 49-page Comelec Resolution No. 10460 or the General Instructions for the…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, December 10, warned all candidates for the 2019 midterm elections not to intimidate Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies regardless of their political affiliations to the president. “Ke kasama kita sa gobyerno, kasama kita sa partido o kalaban kita sa politika (Whether you’re a colleague in…
PHIlIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte urged the two legislative chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives — to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019. In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated December 6, Duterte noted that it is still necessary…
MALACAÑANG on Thursday, December 6, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent “kill the bishops” statement as only a hyperbole intended for a dramatic effect. Despite the president’s previous attacks on the Catholic Church and religious leaders, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters that the public should get accustomed to Duterte’s manner of speaking. “I think that’s…
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, December 5, announced the creation of a new infantry division specialized to locate the whereabouts of Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups in Sulu. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo announced the plan to ultimately defeat the threats to safety in Mindanao. However, he noted during…
SANDIGANBAYAN First Division on Friday, December 7 acquitted former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. of plunder while his former chief of staff Richard Cambe and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles were convicted of the same charge. The anti-graft court ruled through a majority vote that the former senator is not guilty of a total of P224.5…
