Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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 Philippine transportation department said it was committed to improving airport security measures after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a travel advisory on Wednesday, December 26, because aviation security at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was not up to par with international security standards. “Aviation security at Ninoy Aquino International Airport…
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…
Malacanang responded to the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur Michel Forst on Tuesday, December 18, claiming that the report is “reckless and irresponsible” for urging the government to stop the stigma against human rights defenders. According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the report the Special Rapporteur released…
AFTER 117 years in the United States’ possession, the Balangiga bells made their way home to Balangiga, Eastern Samar. President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, December 15, witnessed the turnover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells from U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The…
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…
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reportedly left the country for trips to the United States and Europe on Tuesday, December 11, via an EVA Air flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1. The senator presented all the necessary documents before the immigration officers at the airport as he proceed to his flight….
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 12, adopted a resolution calling for the resignation of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to quit his post. This is a day after he was summoned for a “question hour” on the irregularities of the proposed 2019 budget. Minority Leader Danilo Suarez filed Resolution 2365 that “urged the office…
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday, December 12, called the list of people allegedly conniving to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte posted by former Davao City vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte as “fake news.” “The first time I saw that posting: I said it’s fake news. I still maintain that is fake news,” he told reporters…
Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, December 12, reiterated his call to increase the excise tax on tobacco products to P60 per pack as he pushed for the Senate Bill No. 1599 to aid in the universal health care (UHC) bill. According to Pacquiao, the increase in the excise tax will help reduce the number of…
A REPORT from Gallup’s “The World’s Most Generous” index revealed that Filipinos are among the least generous people in Southeast Asia in terms of donating money to a charity, volunteering their time to an organization, or helping a stranger or those in need. According to the report involving 146 countries, the Philippines had a score…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, December 13, alluded to the awarding of Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa as TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” during the birthday celebration of former Senator Manny Villar. “Time of the what, Time of the magazine, Time – ‘Woman of the Century’ and all, inyo na ‘yan (you can have it),”…
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 9, promised to continue his campaign against illegal drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and insurgency campaign despite being labeled as the “biggest threat to human rights” by activists and human rights group. Presidential Human Rights Committee and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a statement on the 70th anniversary of…
The House of Representatives on Monday, December 10, approved on third and final reading the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (E-VAWC), a measure that criminalizes electronic violence and involves the use of information and communication technology. With 207 affirmative votes, lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 8655, which seeks to amend Republic Act 9262…
THE plunder trial of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly receiving P172.8 million in kickbacks from projects funded by his office’s pork barrel will finally start in 2019 by the Sandiganbayan Third Division. It is set to begin on February 19, 2019 by the anti-graft court’s third division. Due to the Supreme Court granting…
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…
The assessment of President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity will be continued by the International Criminal Court despite the Philippines’ withdrawal of its ratification from the Rome Statute. The ICC confirmed this in an annual report released this week months after a preliminary examination into the situation was opened by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda….
ACCORDING to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, it would be more appropriate for President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the U.S. once the Balangiga bells have been returned to the Philippines. Taken by American soldiers as war booty in 1901, the Balangiga bells are expected to arrive in Manila at Villamor Airbase…
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…
THE Philippines placed 11th worldwide among the countries with the most number of casualties due to extreme climate disasters and 20th in the most affected by climate-related disasters in 2017. In an article from The Philippine Daily Inquirer, a Global Climate Risk Index report by Germanwatch indicated that last year garnered the highest number of…
