Day: October 28, 2024

MANILA – The Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to championing women’s empowerment and amplifying their roles in peacebuilding, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Monday. At the opening the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Pangandaman detailed the country’s achievements in advancing the women, peace and security agenda. Pangandaman stressed the importance of the gathering, especially in light of the recent impact of Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) on millions of Filipinos, which underscored the intersection of climate action and women’s security. “Dialogue is always a good

MANILA – Women are underrepresented in peace processes, making up only 26.6 percent of the signatories in global peace agreements, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Monday. Data collected by the United Nations (UN) Women in 2023 also showed that women comprised only 9.6 percent of negotiators and 13.7 percent of mediators worldwide. “These figures are far too low. We must do more. It is possible,” Manalo said at the opening of the three-day International Conference on Women, Peace and Security on Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. “And necessary, in light of evidence that when

MANILA – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday issued subpoenas against retired police officers Royina Garma, Edilberto Leonardo, and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa. During Monday’s hearing, Garma was on medical leave and Leonardo is positive of Covid-19, according to the Senate secretariat. Garma and Leonardo recently testified at the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing that Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go established a reward system that encouraged extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the Duterte administration. Former president Rodrigo R. Duterte attended the hearing. The panel was also informed that Bureau of Corrections’ Senior

MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Monday said micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in seven provinces and 26 municipalities and cities affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) may apply for recovery loans. In an ANC interview, DTI Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said that as of Oct. 27, almost 400 MSMEs were already affected by Kristine. “So, for now, we have the enterprise for rehabilitation fund, which is PHP2 billion, which we are now dispatching to all the MSMEs that were affected by the calamity. This fund, they can get it from

MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is working on proposals for the development of more regional airports in the country, including the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, and Davao International Airport. In a Palace press briefing Monday, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the Bohol-Panglao International Airport concession contract may be awarded within the year if Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the lone proponent for the project so far, faces no opposition. ‘Iyong end noong Swiss challenge niya (The end of the Swiss challenge) will be on Nov. 11. So malaman natin (So by then, we will know). If there