Day: September 24, 2024

Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday said 92 higher education institutions (HEIs) have been granted a three-year autonomous and deregulated status. ‘The 77 autonomous private universities represent the best of the best among our higher educational institutions, producing world-class graduates and are included in international rankings,’ CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said in a statement. For autonomy, De Vera cited the HEIs’ performance in professional board examinations, employability rates, curriculum alignment with industry demands, and global linkages and engagements, among others. ‘The new guidelines include global partnerships and international engagement with top universities all over

Anti-illegal drug operatives in Negros Oriental confiscated more than PHP 1.5 million worth of suspected shabu during a three-day enhanced anti-criminality operation. Lt. Stephen Polinar, Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) spokesperson, said Tuesday that the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) on Sept. 20 to 22 resulted in the arrest of thousands for various crimes and offenses. In the drug crackdown, 12 separate operations led to the seizure of 224.83 grams of suspected shabu and the arrest of 12 involved in illegal drug activities, Polinar reported. The police also conducted 18 operations targeting illegal gambling, arresting 44 individuals. Meanwhile,

Manila: A new anti-smuggling-law set to be signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sept. 26 will make food more affordable and accessible to many Filipinos and provide better income for local farmers and fisherfolk, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Tuesday. Escudero said the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, a priority measure of the Marcos administration, will give more teeth to government efforts to run after smugglers whose illegal activities are hurting local farmers and fisherfolk, as well as consumers. “Isang malaking hakbang patungo sa pagpapatupad ng layunin ng pamahalaan na makapag-hatid ng murang pagkain sa bawat tahanan ang

Manila: The House of Representatives on Tuesday wrapped up the plenary deliberation on the proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies for 2025 amounting to PHP793.177 billion. In her sponsorship speech, Davao De Oro 1st District Rep. and House Appropriations Committee vice-chair Maria Carmen Zamora said the DepEd’s proposed budget for next year will support the agency’s five-point agenda, which includes improving educational outcomes by ensuring senior high school graduates are employable, raising the quality of education by enhancing the curriculum, and addressing classroom and digital gaps. Zamora said the five-point agenda, which is in

Manila: Former mayor Alice Guo finally relented to an executive session on Tuesday, terminating for the day the Senate panel inquiry on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Guo was allowed to talk to her lawyers using a mobile phone prior to the closed-door session. “Hindi po ako mastermind. Masasabi ko po na ako ay (I am not the mastermind. I can say I’m a) victim,” Guo responded to Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito when asked about the extent of her involvement in the POGO web. “I think sa tagal po ng investigation, alam na rin po ng committee