Day: July 3, 2024

MANILA: The House of Representatives is targeting to approve the proposed PHP6.352-trillion 2025 national budget by the end of September this year, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Wednesday. In a statement, Romualdez said the government’s spending plan for next year would be a top priority of the House in the next session of Congress, which convenes on July 22. ‘Aside from our commitment in approving the few remaining LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) priority measures, the House will again work doubly hard to pass the proposed PHP6.352 trillion 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) before we go on break this end

LEGAZPI CITY: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) reported on Wednesday the seizure of PHP4 million worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 94 drug personalities during 101 drug operations conducted by police units in the six provinces of the region in June this year. Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said in a report that the seized illegal drugs consisted of 91.98 grams of marijuana and 592.21 grams of shabu. Among all the provinces and independent component cities, Camarines Sur recorded the highest number of seized drugs at PHP1.79 million; followed by Albay with PHP1.43 million; Camarines

MANILA: The management and the labor unions of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City have agreed to settle their labor dispute after the closure of the establishment amid safety concerns, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday. In a news release, the DOLE said the National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant and Allied Industries (NUWHRAIN) – Philippine Plaza Chapter (rank-and-file Union), Philippine Plaza Supervisor’s Chapter (supervisory workers’ union) and the Philippine Plaza Holdings, Inc. (management) signed a two-page settlement agreement at the agency’s main office in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday. Under the agreement, the

MANILA: The guidelines on the sale of semi-automatic rifles to civilians would soon be released, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday. In an interview at Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano said they are in the ‘final stage’ of drafting the memorandum circular for the measure. ‘Hopefully, makakarating na ito kay Chief PNP (Gen. Rommel Marbil) within this week or the following week kasi minamadali na rin ni Chief PNP actually ito, special directive niya rin ito sa FEO (Firearms and Explosives Office) na tapusin na itong guidelines about sa pagbebenta

MANILA: Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) seized more than PHP1.2 million worth of kush (high-grade marijuana) and ecstasy in a buy-bust in Pasay City on Wednesday. In a report, PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said Mark Cedrick Nicolas, 26, was arrested during the operation along Service Road, Roxas Boulevard at about 5:50 a.m. Seized from Nicolas were about 700 grams of kush with an estimated street value of PHP1.05 million and 100 ecstasy tablets with an estimated drug price of PHP170,000, as well as other pieces of non-drug evidence. “I’d like to underscore to everyone