The two 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRV) recently acquired for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are seen to boost the country’s ability to patrol the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the rest of its maritime jurisdiction. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the PCG said the ships — manufactured by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. In Japan — will be the PCG’s largest vessels, a record currently held by the French-made 83-meter off-shore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Gabriela Silang. “Bahagi ito ng Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase II (MSCIP Phase 2) ng Department of Transportation – Philippines (DOTr) para sa

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has denied a PHP156 million tax credit claim filed by mining firm Oceanagold (Phils.) Inc. for taxes paid for the year 2017. In its 21-page decision dated Nov. 10 and written by Associate Justice Jean Marie A. Bancorro-Villena, the tax court’s Second Division said it “finds no erroneous or illegal collection of excise taxes refundable in favor of the petitioner,”. Oceanagold is a mining service contractor and under its Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) with the government, it is given a period of five years from the commencement of its operations to recover

The local government here has ordered the immediate lifting of the restrictions on the sale and public consumption of liquor for fully vaccinated customers to help more business establishments to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Thursday signed Executive Order (EO) 137-A allowing restaurants and other establishments which offer liquor, or any alcoholic beverages to serve the fully vaccinated patrons. “For this purpose, restaurants and other permitted establishments must require presentation of vaccination cards and proof of identification from their customers before serving,” the mayor said in his EO. The sale and consumption will

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) distributed on Thursday over PHP187 million worth of farm machinery to areas in Mindanao. Some 36 farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the province of Bukidnon were awarded some PHP114 million worth of various rice machinery under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program. The turn-over ceremony was held in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. DA-PhilMech said a total of 100 pieces of rice machinery were distributed and expected to benefit around 5,616 farmer members. Municipalities and cities covered were Cabanglasan, Maramag, Valencia City, Quezon, Manolo Fortich, Impasug-ong, Malaybalay City,

The House of Representatives on Thursday held a memorial service to honor incumbent and former House members and employees who passed away this year amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Speaker Lord Allan Velasco led the tribute to former President and Deputy Speaker Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, as well as Antipolo Rep. Resurreccion Acop, Cebu Rep. John Henry Osmeña, and Albay Rep. Victor San Andres Ziga at the plenary hall inside the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City. The House also paid homage to 26 other members from previous Congresses and 23 House employees who passed