Day: September 24, 2024

Manila: Most Filipinos in Lebanon refuse to return home despite the intensified conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. In an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, DFA Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said there had been consultations with the Filipino community leaders in Lebanon and ‘almost unanimously are opposed to any mandatory repatriation” by the Philippine government. ‘We’re a democracy here in the Philippines and abroad so we cannot force those Filipinos in Lebanon, they are used to the crisis there. However, we are processing more than 1,000 requests,’ he said. Ferrer assured their families

Manila: The House of Representatives on Tuesday suspended the plenary deliberations on the proposed Department of Health (DOH) 2025 budget due to the agency’s inaction and lack of specific plans to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipinos on medical services. AGRI Party-List Rep. Wilbert T. Lee moved for the suspension of the debates as he was not satisfied with the agency responses regarding the implementation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) benefit increases. ‘Nakakadismaya po itong ganitong ginagawa ng DOH. Nagbibingi-bingihan ba ang mga opisyal ng kagawarang ito o manhid na ba ito sa mga hinaing ng mga Pilipino

Manila: House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday thanked the public for his improved satisfaction and trust numbers, based on the results of the latest Tangere survey. ‘I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the trust and confidence that our people have placed in me, as reflected in the recent survey results,’ he said in a statement. According to the survey conducted on Sept. 16 to 19, Romualdez’s satisfaction rating increased from 45.55 percent to 46.3 percent, while his trust rating rose from 56 percent to 56.4 percent. ‘These numbers may seem like small figures to some but to me,

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is optimistic that rice prices would go down further, consistent with the current price trend of the staple in Southeast Asia. In a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Tuesday, Marcos discussed with top government officials ways on managing food and non-food inflation. During the meeting, the President said rice prices are following the government’s projections. ‘Doon sa rice, mukha namang sumusunod dun sa projections natin sa rice prices (As for rice, it seems that the prices are within our projections). And it seems to be consistent again with the same experience of other ASEAN [Association

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in Davao Region (DSHUD-11) has provided PHP3.2 million in emergency shelter support (ESS) to 322 families affected by disasters last year. The ESS is a one-time unconditional financial assistance for households whose homes were damaged by calamities. During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum Tuesday, DSHUD-11 Director Roberto Mauro Miguel Palma Gil said the aid distributed this year went to families whose homes were damaged by earthquakes, severe weather and fires in 2023. ‘Each beneficiary received PHP10,000 in financial aid, aimed at offering immediate relief during the emergency phase,’ Palma Gil explained.