Day: January 16, 2025

Iloilo City: Iloilo City is set to mark the 21st Chinese New Year celebration with a grand cultural show and fireworks display at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on Jan. 31. Allan Ryan Tan, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc., emphasized the event’s importance in celebrating the contributions of the Chinese community to the city’s progress and culture. ‘This celebration highlights harmony between the Chinese and Filipino communities. Iloilo takes pride in being the first city outside Metro Manila to host such an event,’ Tan said. According to Philippines News Agency, the celebration will feature a cultural parade with 5,000

Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday allayed anew various concerns regarding its financial stability and commitment to universal health coverage. During the Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. emphasized the agency’s sound financial footing despite challenges stemming from zero subsidy allocation in the 2025 General Appropriations Act and the Department of Finance’s directive to transfer PHP30 billion in unutilized funds to the National Treasury. According to Philippines News Agency, Ledesma assured the panel that PhilHealth remains fully capable of meeting its obligations without disruption to members’ benefits.

Mandaluyong City: A mall security guard may have his license revoked for kicking a young female vendor and destroying her sampaguita garlands, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, PNP Civil Security Group spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano indicated that the guard possibly violated ethical standards and conduct in performing his duty. “There is a violation of ethical standards, professional security creed and we would also determine whether there is a violation of special laws and if we can add these to the administrative complaint to the SOSIA (Supervisory Office On Security And Investigation Agency),”

Cebu: Food stamp redemption under the Walang Gutom Program is ongoing in Cebu and Negros Oriental, benefiting 26,195 households, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said Thursday. Tonyson Luther Lee, DSWD-Central Visayas assistant regional director for administration, announced that the redemption, part of Period 12, runs from January 13 to 22. According to Philippines News Agency, on January 14, 344 households in two northern Cebu municipalities redeemed food commodities. These included 188 beneficiaries in Liloan and 156 in Poro town on Camotes Islands. In southern Cebu, 801 households across six municipalities accessed food packages. Partner retailers served

Eastern Visayas: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has recorded 193,350 subscribers of e-Government Philippines (eGov PH) in Eastern Visayas, allowing more people in the region to simplify their transactions with the government. According to Philippines News Agency, the DICT regional office reported that the figure includes 9,959 new users who recently joined the growing number of Filipinos with access to digital services. The government launched the project in October last year. Dante Rosales, chief of the DICT 8 (Eastern Visayas) technical operations division, said 25 new digital platforms are making government services more efficient and accessible. Among