Day: April 16, 2025

Jakarta: The Philippines has been reelected as vice president of the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations Tourism and as chair of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) from 2025 to 2027, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Tuesday night. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco expressed gratitude to the UN Tourism member states at a press conference during the 56th Meeting of the UN Tourism CAP in Jakarta, Indonesia, highlighting Manila’s aim to enhance collaboration within the organization. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOT stated that the Marcos administration remains dedicated to promoting global tourism cooperation

Sarangani: A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocked Sarangani province at 5:42 a.m. Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. According to Philippines News Agency, the quake’s epicenter was traced some 43 km southwest of Maitum town. The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 10 km. Intensity IV was felt in Kiamba, Sarangani; T’Boli, Banga, Suralla, and Tupi in South Cotabato; and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. Meanwhile, Intensity III was reported in Maitum, Glan, and Alabel in Sarangani; the City of General Santos, Norala, City of Koronadal, Lake Sebu, and Santo Ni±o in South

Manila: The easterlies affecting the whole country will cause warm weather in most areas, with four areas expected to see dangerous heat index levels on Holy Wednesday. “The highest (heat index) across the country is 50°C in Los Ba±os, Laguna,” Rhea Torres, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in their 5 a.m. bulletin. According to Philippines News Agency, San Ildefonso, Bulacan’s heat index could peak at 47°C. Meanwhile, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City and the PAGASA Science Garden could see peak heat indices of 42°C and 41°C, respectively. Heat index

Manila: The ongoing Cope Thunder 25-1 air drills between Philippine and US Air Forces units are providing fighter jet pilots from both nations a chance to hone their air combat and defensive capabilities, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, during Cope Thunder 25-1, FA-50PH pilots of the PAF engage US Air Force F-16s in advanced dissimilar air combat tactics (DACT) training. These high-intensity air combat drills allow pilots to face different aircraft types that have unique performance profiles, sharpening their skills in close-range dogfights and tactical intercepts, where speed, timing, and situational awareness are

Manila: As Malaca±ang suspended government work from noon onwards on Holy Wednesday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the local government units (LGUs) to strictly implement appropriate measures to ensure public safety during the observance of Holy Week. According to Philippines News Agency, under a memorandum circular, the DILG enjoined all local chief executives (LCEs) to convene their local peace and order councils, and other local teams ‘to draw up and implement contingency plans for Semana Santa’ in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos