Day: April 29, 2025

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday assured candidates in the May 12 elections that there is no discrimination when it comes to the issuance of show cause orders (SCOs) to those accused of committing campaign infractions. “If you look at the list of those with SCOs, it doesn’t look into the political parties nor the positions involved,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview. “We will issue (SCOs) to whoever needs to explain to the Comelec.” According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec has been consistent in its approach, as seen during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan

San Antonio: The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that its flagship guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), successfully fired two MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers for the first time. The test-firing took place in the waters of San Antonio, Zambales. According to Philippines News Agency, the two drones targeted by the BRP Jose Rizal were supplied by the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability and Threat Systems Management Office. The ship successfully hit both targets. This event, described as historic by the Navy, validated the effectiveness of a new capability for the PN and the Armed

Manila: Investment approvals by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) from January to April this year surged by 112 percent to PHP63.5 billion, from PHP29.96 billion in the same period in 2024. PEZA reported Tuesday that its board approved an additional 20 new and expansion projects worth PHP4.58 billion for this month alone. According to Philippines News Agency, seven of the newly approved projects are in the export manufacturing sector, five in the information technology and business process management (ITBPM), five facilities, two utilities, and one each for logistics and the domestic market. These projects will generate 9,000 jobs and

Quezon City: Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that approximately 4 million Filipinos in the Visayas region stand to benefit from the PHP20 per kilogram rice program, set to launch in pilot areas. The program’s initial rollout is scheduled for Cebu province on May 1 and in eight select Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers in Metro Manila on May 2. According to Philippines News Agency, the initial target includes almost 800,000 families across Regions 6, 7, 8, and Negros Island, translating to around 4 million individuals. These figures do not account for the beneficiaries at the Kadiwa sites. The

Manila: Filipinos continue to pay their last respects to the late Pope Francis as they lined up at the Embassy of the Holy See-Apostolic Nunciature situated along Taft Avenue, Manila. “It is really a joy to witness the outpouring of affection for Pope Francis that we’re seeing today. Not only today, but in these last several days after the departure from this earth of Pope Francis on Easter Monday,” Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown said in an interview on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, people from all walks of life have trooped to the Apostolic Nunciature