Day: April 3, 2025

Manila: A total of 328 low-income barangays across the country will receive funding from the government to help them establish Child Development Centers (CDCs). This development comes as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the signing of a joint circular between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Malaca±ang. According to Philippines News Agency, the circular provides guidelines for local government units (LGUs) to establish CDCs funded through the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to LGUs. The initiative follows Marcos’ directive to the DBM last month to fund the establishment of CDCs in

Zamboanga City: A high-value drug suspect was arrested and suspected shabu valued at more than PHP2 million was seized in an anti-drug operation, police reported Thursday. The Zamboanga City Police identified the suspect as Hares Ibrahim, 50, who was apprehended in a buy-bust operation along Sampaloc Drive, Barangay Baliwasan at about 8:12 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the suspect was arrested after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover police officer. A follow-up search led to the confiscation of six more plastic sachets containing 305 grams of the illegal drug, with an estimated street value

Manila: The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revised upward on Thursday the fourth quarter 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 5.3 percent from 5.2 percent. In a report, the PSA said the full-year 2024 GDP growth rate was also revised to 5.7 percent from 5.6 percent. According to Philippines News Agency, the PSA revises the GDP estimates based on an approved revision policy, which aligns with international standard practices on national accounts revisions. The first quarter of 2025 Philippine economic growth data is scheduled to be released on May 8. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has set a 6

Manila: Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin emphasized on Thursday the importance of the Philippines’ planned procurement of fighter jets from the United States as a critical measure to enhance the nation’s defense capabilities. According to Philippines News Agency, this statement follows the US Department of State’s approval of a potential foreign military sale involving 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, valued at approximately USD5.58 billion. Bersamin clarified that the acquisition of these jets is not directed against any particular country or third party. “The details will be worked out still. But that is not for any specific target

Manila: ‘Glad I could help.’ This was the response of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, to Vice President Sara Duterte, who thanked him ‘ironically’ for helping mend the relationship between her and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. According to Philippines News Agency, the Vice President is in The Hague, Netherlands, where her father is detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges related to his controversial war on drugs as mayor of Davao City and as president. In one of her media interviews, the younger Duterte credited Marcos as there had