Day: March 6, 2025

Manila: The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has officially handed over a PHP25 million public market to the municipality of Upi in Maguindanao del Norte. This development is expected to significantly enhance local governance and stimulate economic activities in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, Upi Mayor Ma. Rona Cristina Piang-Flores described the new market as a catalyst for growth in the upland town, which is predominantly inhabited by Indigenous Peoples (IPs). The turnover ceremony was led by Lawyer Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, BARMM’s Interior Minister, and was attended by local officials. Mayor Flores expressed confidence in the

Manila: The planned meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and United States President Donald Trump will proceed as both sides expressed openness to meet, Malaca±ang said Thursday. In a television interview, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that both leaders had expressed their intention to hold a meeting, though no specific timeline has been set. “They expressed their intention to pursue po a leaders’ meeting at an appropriate time,” Castro said. “Wala pa po tayong definite kung anong timeline, pero nandoon pa rin po iyong intensiyon na ipagpatuloy po ito (We have no definite

Isabela: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the Rice Processing System II (RPS II) in Barangay Ipil, Echague, Isabela. Marcos was accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and local officials during the tour of the facility. According to Philippines News Agency, the state-of-the-art project, inaugurated in November 2024, is part of the government’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program. The total investment in the project amounts to PHP67.48 million. This includes a multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of three tons per hour, valued at PHP48.58 million, as well as five recirculating dryers, each with

Isabela: The government will construct a new bridge in Isabela province, following the collapse of Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed on Thursday. Marcos made the commitment after inspecting the collapsed bridge, saying the old design was ‘poor’ and ‘really weak.’ According to Philippines News Agency, the original budget for the construction of the bridge was PHP900 million but rose to PHP1.2 billion because of retrofitting. Marcos described the design flaw as the root cause of the collapse. The project cost was initially intended to be PHP1.8 billion but was reduced to under PHP1 billion in an

Bacolod City: Drug operatives in Western Visayas were ordered to sustain their aggressive campaign amid successful operations in the region last month. Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, the region’s top cop, directed them to further intensify their intelligence gathering, operations against drug syndicates, and engagement with various stakeholders. According to Philippines News Agency, data released by the regional office showed that in February, the regionwide operations yielded around PHP40 million worth of shabu and marijuana, which is lower by PHP5 million compared to their accomplishment in January. Police Regional Office 6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis mentioned that Wanky has a