Day: May 7, 2025

Bulacan: The government’s PHP20-per-kg. rice initiative can help keep headline inflation low, Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday. In a media interview at the Bulacan State University, Lacson emphasized the importance of implementing the rice program to sustain the downtrend in inflation. According to Philippines News Agency, headline inflation fell to its lowest level in over five years at 1.4 percent in April, the lowest recorded since the 1.2 percent in November 2019. This decline has been attributed to lower food inflation, driven by a faster year-on-year decline in the rice index at 10.9

Vatican City: The Catholic Church’s cardinals gathered on Wednesday for the pre-Conclave ‘Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice’ Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica, marking the commencement of the process to elect a new pope. According to Philippines News Agency, the Mass was led by Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The service included both the 133 cardinal electors eligible to vote in the Conclave and those who are not eligible due to age restrictions, being over 80 years old. Later in the afternoon, the cardinals are expected to leave the Santa Marta residence within the Vatican. This procession

Ilocos Region: The weeklong ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ Labor Day celebration in the Ilocos Region generated PHP901,185 in total sales, benefiting 378 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from April 25 to May 1. The event was organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and local governments. It was designed to enable farmers and MSMEs to sell directly to consumers, providing affordable goods to workers and their families while aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s food security thrust. According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE reported that

Bulacan: Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo emphasized the urgency of reviewing the government’s existing agreements with private companies like Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC). Speaking at a press conference at Bulacan State University, Tulfo urged Congress and the Senate to reassess these deals, citing failures in service delivery. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo proposed that any contracts with private companies that fail to provide reliable public utility services should be revoked. He criticized companies for not adhering to the required regulations, suggesting a thorough examination of the rules governing franchise grants

Bacolod: Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has enjoined residents here to inform the city government of water-related concerns amid the clamor for PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., the joint venture partner of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), to address supply shortage in many parts of the city. “Water access remains a top priority. I urge everyone to stay vigilant and report any water concerns in your areas as we push for lasting solutions for Bacolod,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Benitez made the call as PrimeWater announced on the same day the activation of the Matab-ang