MANILA: A veteran journalist and a former senior editor of the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Renato M. Alviar died on Nov. 27 at the age of 74 after battling a prolonged illness.   Rene, as called by his colleagues and friends, first served as a senior reporter of PNA from 1976 to 1982.   He went to work for other major publishing companies as business reporter for Manila Evening Post, Bulletin Today (now Manila Bulletin) and Malaya.   He was also a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star and an assistant business editor of Manila Standard

MANILA: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has granted the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) around PHP5.2 billion to bankroll the distribution of PHP500 monthly cash aid to 9.8 million poor households.   In a statement on Tuesday, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Nov. 17 approved the release of Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to PHP5.2 billion to the DSWD.   The DBM said the latest fund release, which will be charged against the Unprogrammed Appropriation (UA), will cover the third tranche of the DSWD’s TCT (targeted cash transfer) program.   “The amount

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte: The Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) condemned Tuesday the attack against an outpost of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Buldon town that left four dead and one injured.   The attack perpetrated by a still unidentified armed group occurred around 1 a.m. Monday.   Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, the 6D commander, said the militiamen were part of the security of the bridge undergoing rehabilitation in the village of Edcor.   Heavy trucks and heavy equipment are prevented from passing through the bridge in Barangay Edcor, after Typhoon Paeng in October weakened its

MANILA : The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is set to host another simulation exercise (SIMEX) in January next year for Cabinet officials and other executives, this time focusing on a magnitude 7.2 earthquake scenario in Metro Manila.   The objective of the exercise is to demonstrate the leadership and unified decision-making of national leaders after a major disaster, as part of the preparedness measures of the government, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a statement Monday.   The target date is Jan. 26, 2023.   This came about following the fourth NDRRMC full council

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to making the lives of all Filipinos better in a post-pandemic economy, Malacañang said Tuesday.   Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary, made this remark following the release of a survey which showed that most Filipinos believe the country is headed in the right direction under the Marcos administration.   Based on the recent survey conducted by OCTA Research and Manila Bulletin, 85 percent of Filipino adults strongly believe the country is headed in the right direction, while only 6 percent think otherwise.   “…The President is