Day: May 29, 2025

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced the removal of barangay clearance from the list of requirements for voter registration. This decision comes in response to the misuse of barangay certificates by certain individuals to manipulate voter registrations. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia revealed this change during the monthly Balitaan forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita. Garcia emphasized that barangay certificates have been used as tools for enabling “flying voters,” a practice that involves the fraudulent transfer of voter registrations. To combat this issue, Comelec

Manila: A government employee facing an administrative offense for drug use must be given an opportunity to undergo rehabilitation, the Supreme Court (SC) said Thursday. ‘Dismissal is only justified if they refuse to cooperate with, or fail to complete, the required rehabilitation program. This is consistent with the approach provided by law and treaties to consider drug use as a public health challenge,’ the court said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, this was underscored by the SC En Banc in a decision dated May 20, 2025, which modified the Court of Appeals’ (CA) rulings that upheld the

Manila: The “Atin Ito” civilian mission is now sailing back to Manila after wrapping up a successful mission to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Navy (PN) said Thursday. “The Navy will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the convoy’s safe return to Manila by its expected arrival at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon on May 30, 2025,” PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a message to reporters. According to Philippines News Agency, as of Thursday afternoon, the Navy said the civilian convoy’s

Malaca±ang: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is seeking more dialogues with motorcycle rider groups, cyclists, and other mobility groups before issuing a resolution on the exclusive motorcycle and bicycle lanes in Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). According to Philippines News Agency, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Victor Maria Nu±ez, in a press conference on Thursday, revealed that a dialogue with motorcycle groups held on Wednesday showed a division among them regarding the exclusive motorcycle lane in EDSA. While 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez opposed the lane, arguing it could affect motorcycle taxis and delivery services, Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF)

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday flagged around PHP9 million worth of smuggled sugar at the Port of Manila. The operation was in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify efforts against agricultural smuggling as it poses a threat to local farmers’ income and public health safety. In particular, the agencies seized 2,000 50-kilogram bags of sugar, equivalent to 100,000 kilograms or 100 metric tons (MT) in volume, found inside four container vans. These include 50 tons of unauthorized imported sugar from Thailand, and another