Day: March 20, 2025

Manila: The northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” continues to affect most of Luzon while the shear line impacts the eastern parts of the Visayas, as reported by the weather bureau on Thursday. These weather systems are expected to bring varying degrees of rainfall across different regions of the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, cloud clusters caused by the shear line are affecting the Visayas, Mimaropa, and the Bicol Region, resulting in heavy rains in these areas. Rhea Torres of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicated that the eastern Visayas and nearby provinces will also

Manila: A majority of Filipinos believe former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for killings related to his administration’s war on drugs, according to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. According to Philippines News Agency, the survey, conducted from Feb. 15 to 19 and commissioned by the Stratbase Consultancy, showed 51 percent of the respondents said they are in favor of holding the former president liable for the killings, 25 percent disagreed, 14 percent were undecided, while the remaining 10 percent said they did not know enough to give an opinion. Support for accountability was highest in the

Tacloban City: Several local government units in Eastern Visayas declared class and work suspensions on Thursday due to heavy rains dumped by the shear line. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez issued an executive order suspending classes in all levels, following the red rainfall alert warning issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as ‘precautionary measures and in anticipation of any developments that may arise out of the weather disturbance.’ According to Philippines News Agency, a similar declaration was also issued by towns in Leyte province, including Palo, Tanauan, Tunga, Abuyog, Alangalang, Barugo, Carigara, Jaro, and Tabontabon. Work

Manila: The country’s creative economy has experienced an expansion of 8.7 percent, reaching PHP1.94 trillion in 2024 compared to PHP1.78 trillion in 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). According to Philippines News Agency, preliminary data released on Thursday revealed that the sector contributed approximately 7.3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024. The creative economy encompasses industries such as audio and audiovisual media, digital interactive goods and services, advertising, research and development, various artistic service activities, symbols and images, media publishing and printing, music, arts and entertainment, visual arts, traditional cultural expression, and establishments like

Vatican City: Pope Francis’s pneumonia is currently under control, though it has not yet been completely resolved, the Vatican announced on Wednesday. The Pope, who is battling bilateral pneumonia, remains in stable condition. According to Philippines News Agency, while the infection is being managed, it cannot yet be declared eliminated. The Vatican Press Office reported that the Pontiff is also suffering from a polymicrobial infection, which is likewise under control. The update was provided on the 34th day of his hospitalization at the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Medical tests, including bloodwork, have returned normal and stable results. The