Day: July 10, 2024

MANILA: Leaders of the House of Representatives on Wednesday lauded the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan as it could serve as building blocks of diplomacy and cooperation for future bilateral agreements with other countries. In a statement, House Committee on National Defense and Security vice-chair Raul Tupas said he expects the Philippines to forge more international agreements with other countries who prefer “cooperation over discord” after the signing of the historic defense pact with Japan. ‘It is possible for the Philippines to have a similar reciprocal access agreement with South Korea,’ Tupas

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed optimism about the economic gains that the recently greenlighted Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project will provide the country. Speaking at the signing of the concession agreement for the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX Extension Project, Marcos said the project will usher further economic development in northern Luzon. ‘With the signed Concession Agreement for the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX Extension Project, we are now witnessing another milestone that brings into fruition the Build Better More infrastructure program,’ Marcos said. ‘The TPLEX Extension Project exemplifies our dedication to progress, the extension

MANILA: Three members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were injured in an explosion that resulted from a firecracker disposal that gone awry in Barangay Cabatangan in Zamboanga City on Monday. In an incident report Wednesday, two PCG petty officer third class (PO3) and one Seaman First Class sustained minor injuries in the incident. The victims, who were not named, are members of its K9 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit – Southwestern Mindanao. ‘The Philippine National Police (PNP) report emphasized ‘premature detonation’ that severely wounded five of the 19 affected uniformed personnel who were part of the joint operation,’ it said.

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said they are eyeing to launch the Rice for All program on Friday to benefit the general population, with its initial target price range set at PHP45 per kilogram to PHP48/kg. of mixed imported and local well-milled rice. In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said this might be done alongside the P29 program expansion or the sale of aging but good-quality rice to the vulnerable sector in three additional sites in Malabon, Navotas, and Marikina. This covers the members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo

ILOILO CITY: MORE Electric and Power Corp., the electricity provider here will spend around PHP1 billion in the next four years to improve power services in Bohol, its top official said. ‘For Bohol, that [investment] should be between… perhaps a billion would be more or less doable in the next four years,” MORE Power president and CEO Roel Castro said in an interview at the sidelines of the 16th Media Seminar organized by the US Embassy in the Philippines on Tuesday. “It’s not also as big as Iloilo, and I was looking at the system hindi naman siya sirang-sira (not