Day: April 3, 2025

Manila: An official of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) lauded on Thursday the government’s PHP1 billion investment to fund the construction of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in low-income local government units (LGUs). According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is a joint effort of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) upon the recommendation of EDCOM II. It targets 328 LGUs that lack access to early childhood care and development (ECCD) services and was formalized through a joint circular signed on April 3 in Malaca±ang, witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos

Manila: The Philippine government continues to monitor a Chinese research vessel to ensure it does not conduct a maritime survey in Philippine waters, the National Security Council (NSC) said Thursday. This development follows confirmation from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) regarding the deployment of its aircraft on Wednesday morning to challenge the presence of the Chinese research vessel ‘Song Hang,’ which was spotted 58 nautical miles east of Aborlan, Palawan. According to Philippines News Agency, in a Palace press briefing, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya stated that the Chinese vessel was approximately 48.65 nautical miles northeast of

Bani: The municipal government of Bani has received PHP1 million for the rehabilitation of the Bangrin pavilion at the mangrove marine protected area as an initial cash prize after winning the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan: Search for Most Outstanding Coastal Community in the Ilocos Region, organized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). According to Philippines News Agency, municipal agriculturist Jeffrey Pamo stated that the pavilion will serve as a viewing area of the around 40-hectare mangrove plantation, where they could also conduct ‘nature and lecture’ sessions as well as bird watching. Pamo highlighted that marine protected areas

Davao de Oro: About 132 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in Davao de Oro have been granted debt relief amounting to PHP17.7 million by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). According to Philippines News Agency, the ARBs are members of the agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) Ricop Monkayo Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Cooperative (RIMFARCO) in Barangay Jaguimitan. RIMFARCO chair Danilo Gevero expressed his deep gratitude to the DAR and to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the financial relief, stating that it was something they had long awaited and did not expect. He noted that the cooperative no longer needs to pay

Manila: Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has publicly criticized the ongoing spread of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) across online platforms, directly addressing tech companies’ inadequacies in controlling the use of their services for such harmful activities. According to Philippines News Agency, Hontiveros made these remarks during a Senate hearing focused on the enforcement of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-CSAEM Act of 2022. The hearing’s objective is to scrutinize emerging trends in the creation and dissemination of CSAEM, evaluate the compliance of internet companies with their legal responsibilities, and assess the