Day: April 7, 2025

Manila: The House of Representatives will verify whether individuals whose names appear to be legitimate in the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential fund records actually received public money, a lawmaker said on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V announced during a press conference that the 942 names confirmed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to exist-670 recipients listed under the OVP’s acknowledgement receipts and 272 under the Department of Education (DepEd)-will be reviewed. Ortega stated, “Maganda rin pong malaman kung nakatanggap nga po ba sila o hindi (It would be good

Manila: Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will launch direct services between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam starting July 1. The new service will utilize Airbus A321 aircraft to accommodate up to 199 passengers and will be offered every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. According to Philippines News Agency, PAL president Stanley Ng expressed excitement about the new route, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strengthening ties with Vietnam. Ng highlighted the importance of the new service in offering greater connectivity and promoting tourism and commerce between Manila and Da Nang, stating that PAL looks forward to welcoming more leisure and business travelers onboard.

Leyte: Abaca farms in upland Anonang village here have started to recover from the destructive disease that wreaked havoc in the past 25 years, but there is still a long way to go to restore production. According to Philippines News Agency, Eastern Visayas was the top fiber producer in the country until abaca disease, particularly the bunchy-top disease, wreaked havoc on many farms in the region in early 2000. Ruel Quimzon, one of the 22 trained personnel deployed by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), shared insights on the ongoing recovery efforts. He explained that a two-year special project,

Manila: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic team is scheduled to convene on April 8 to deliberate on the government’s strategy in response to the United States’ imminent implementation of worldwide reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 9. According to Philippines News Agency, the meeting is prompted by Malaysia’s call for a unified response from ASEAN member states to counter the tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump’s administration. Roque confirmed the Philippines’ intention to join the collective ASEAN response, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation.

Manila: The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced on Monday the seizure of illegal drugs valued at PHP146 million between January 1 and April 4 this year. According to Philippines News Agency, the NCRPO’s anti-narcotics teams conducted 2,386 operations, leading to the arrest of 3,683 suspects. The confiscated substances included 21,273.25 grams of shabu worth PHP145.87 million, 7,977.69 grams of marijuana valued at PHP957,322, 17.30 grams of cocaine worth PHP91,690, and 112.50 grams of kush valued at PHP168,750. NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin emphasized the commitment of the police force to dismantling drug networks and safeguarding communities from