Day: March 26, 2025

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully recovered approximately PHP65 million from 40 out of 54 private schools flagged for irregularities in the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) for the School Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd announced that from the 54 schools expelled from the SHS-VP, 38 have fully refunded the government, while two have made partial repayments. Fourteen schools are yet to return the disbursed funds, prompting the department to issue final demand letters. The investigation continues as the agency evaluates whether the irregularities constitute fraud. For the current academic year, DepEd’s

Manila: Seven personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspected to be involved in illegal activities have been relieved from their posts. In a statement Wednesday, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate corruption and strengthen border security. According to Philippines News Agency, the relieved personnel, assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, are under investigation following reports linking them to the illegal departure of trafficking victims repatriated on March 25. If found to have assisted the victims, these employees would face charges before the Department

Davao City: Davao City’s employment rate increased from 93.7 percent in 2021 to 95.9 percent in 2023, according to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Labor Force Survey released Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the PSA 11 (Davao Region) credited the consistent growth to the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which facilitated the hiring of 105,719 jobseekers between 2022 and 2024. During these three years, local businesses posted 148,844 job vacancies. PESO head Lilibeth Pantinople explained that the office employed multiple strategies to connect workers with employers. Annual job fairs resulted in 37,721 hires in 2022 and 34,870

Manila: Malaca±ang on Wednesday clapped back at Vice President Sara Duterte for claiming that the Philippines seems to be heading “to the dumpster,” questioning her commitment to her duties as the second-highest leader of the land due to her prolonged ‘absenteeism.’ According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro turned the tables on Duterte, saying that the country could indeed be heading in the wrong direction if absentee leaders like her were in charge of the country. Castro highlighted concerns about Duterte’s priorities, questioning her frequent travels abroad while

Manila: Motorists plying Tomas Mapua Street in Manila are advised to brace for traffic slowdowns, as drainage rehabilitation works along the street start on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – National Capital Region (NCR) has announced that the drainage rehabilitation activities covering Tomas Mapua Street between Tayuman and Herrera Streets are expected to be completed by April 20. The rehabilitation works will require the closure of one lane, covering 40 linear meters long and 2.9 meters wide of Tomas Mapua Street. Motorists are also asked to use possible alternative routes until