Day: January 23, 2025

Eastern Visayas: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here is expanding the implementation of Tara, Basa! (let’s read) tutoring program to cover more areas in 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, from serving 1,981 struggling learners in 2024, the program served 5,040 non-readers in Samar and the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, according to the DSWD. The number of tutors will increase to 1,508 this year from just 375 in 2024. Some 5,040 parents will participate in the program, up from 1,977 who took part last year. ‘The DSWD field office has been working closely with

San Juan City: National University Nazareth School (NUNS) demolished De La Salle-Zobel, 91-69, to notch its second straight win in the UAAP Season 87 boys basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday. Reigning MVP Collins Akowe delivered 21 points, 21 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks for the Bullpups. According to Philippines News Agency, NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro expressed satisfaction with the victory but emphasized the importance of continuing their momentum into their next game against Far Eastern University Diliman (FEU-D). Akowe played a pivotal role in an 18-7 run that gave

Tacloban: The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here is ramping up its fight against schistosomiasis in the Eastern Visayas region with about 3 million tablets available this year for mass administration for residents in the region’s endemic areas. Hygeia Grace Agosto, DOH regional schistosomiasis program manager, said in a phone interview Thursday that vulnerable populations are assured of sufficient stocks of praziquantel tablets to combat the disease, also known as snail fever. According to Philippines News Agency, on top of the new deliveries from the central office, provinces have stocks of praziquantel tablets delivered mid or late last year.

Manila: The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) is requesting an additional budget to enhance its poverty reduction programs aimed at improving the lives of the marginalized sector. According to Philippines News Agency, during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, PCUP Chairperson Meynard Sabili expressed hope that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Congress would grant the agency’s request for a higher allocation for its urban poor community programs. Sabili emphasized the importance of increasing the budget to support the growing number of accredited urban poor organizations (UPOs), which have risen from 370 in 2024 to 477 as

Makati City: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is taking seriously any indication of espionage operations by foreign nationals in the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza stated that the agency acknowledges the ongoing investigation into suspected espionage activities involving a Chinese national working with Filipinos in the country. She emphasized the department’s commitment to safeguarding national security and its readiness to support relevant government agencies. Daza highlighted the DFA’s willingness to collaborate with the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other concerned agencies as they