Day: April 9, 2025

Manila: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has granted special permits to more than 1,000 buses to address the anticipated increase in commuters during the Holy Week. According to Philippines News Agency, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III announced that a total of 1,018 special permits have been issued. These permits are valid from April 11 to 27, covering the Holy Week and extending several days beyond to accommodate travelers. To ensure the safety and convenience of passengers, LTFRB personnel have commenced random inspections of public utility vehicles and transport terminals. These inspections include checking the validity of operators’

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for vlogger Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson, a candidate for councilor in Manila’s 3rd District, to reconsider the use of her campaign jingles that include “double meaning” content. According to Philippines News Agency, in a letter dated April 8, Comelec advised Uson to use straightforward language in her campaign materials, avoiding words that might be interpreted as obscene. The jingle titled “Cookie ni Mocha,” which resembles a Filipino term for female genitalia, was highlighted as particularly contentious. This jingle was featured at a March 30 rally for Yorme’s Choice, the political group Uson

Manila: Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has directed the acceleration of the Metro Manila-Bulacan section of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR). During a recent inspection of the NSCR project site, Dizon highlighted the project’s significance for commuters, noting that it would cut travel time from Metro Manila to Malolos, Bulacan to just 30 minutes by train. According to Philippines News Agency, the NSCR will include train stations in the towns of Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas, and Guiguinto, continuing all the way to Clark in Pampanga. The entire 147-kilometer NSCR line is designed to connect Metro Manila to Pampanga in the north

Manila: A dedicated ‘overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wing’ has been opened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to ensure faster and more efficient immigration processing for departing migrant workers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the expansion of the immigration area includes six additional counter spaces, manned by 12 immigration officers, which will help decongest processing lines, especially during peak travel seasons. “This dedicated OFW wing is a testament to our commitment to making immigration procedures smoother and more efficient for our modern-day heroes,” he

Manila: The weakening Korean won is expected to impact the country’s inbound travel in 2025, Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said. Korean won fell to its lowest level in over 16 years on April 8, following the Trump administration’s announcement of sweeping ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on states, prompting fears of a global trade war. According to Philippines News Agency, citing the Department of Tourism (DOT) data, LPC Director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure Alfred Lay stated that the first quarter figures indicate the tourism sector is ‘plateauing’ in terms of increasing international visitor arrivals. Lay highlighted that external factors, like the decline