Day: March 13, 2025

Manila: Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary, Scoot, are set to implement a ban on the use and charging of power banks during flights starting April 1. According to Philippines News Agency, this decision aligns with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, which classify power banks as lithium batteries. Passengers will be restricted from charging these devices through onboard USB ports or using them to power other portable devices during flights. Power banks must be carried in cabin baggage on all Singapore Airlines flights, as they are not permitted in checked baggage. The advisories from the airlines specify

Manila: Administration-backed senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo on Thursday proposed full Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage of hospital bills for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. Tulfo emphasized the importance of accessible and worry-free healthcare for OFWs, particularly those in low-wage jobs such as domestic work and manual labor. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo highlighted the financial relief this proposal would bring to OFWs, who often earn just enough to support their families. “This will be a huge relief for OFWs, especially those who earn just enough to support their families,” he stated. “They

Marawi City: A notorious drug suspect was arrested and PHP3.4 million worth of shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation in Marawi City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro said the operation, conducted with police support, took place in Barangay Matampay on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the operation aligns with the ongoing efforts of PDEA-BARMM and the local government unit to dismantle drug networks in the area. The suspect, identified as ‘Angko,’ 35, a resident of Barangay Kanyugan Papandayan, was arrested after intensive

Manila: Total assets of the Philippine banking sector went up by over 9 percent as of end-January this year. Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the total assets of the banking sector amounted to PHP27.11 trillion in January this year, up by 9.3 percent from PHP24.81 trillion in the same month last year. According to Philippines News Agency, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort stated that the growth in Philippine banks’ total assets aligns with their status as one of the most profitable industries in the country. Earnings growth for the largest banks

Quezon City: The new online system for the application for travel clearance of minors travelling abroad (MTA) is a vital tool in expediting transactions and doing away with the interventions of ‘fixers’ and middlemen, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said on Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the digital system for MTA permit application, which was launched on Feb. 18, is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to automate and streamline government processes, and fight human trafficking. In a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary