Day: May 29, 2025

Tokyo: Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, agreed to deepen cooperation between their countries and the United States to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. According to Philippines News Agency, the top diplomats agreed to hold maritime consultations and a vice-ministerial strategic dialogue by the end of this year. They welcomed the start of discussions on an information protection agreement and negotiations on an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, following a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month. Iwaya and Manalo also confirmed their cooperation to help Japanese-Filipinos

Dinagat Islands: Dinagat Islands’ Provincial Tourism and Cultural Office (PTCO) reported a significant increase in domestic and foreign tourist arrivals during the first three months of 2025, boosting local economic activity in the island province. Domestic arrivals jumped from 60,700 in the first quarter of 2024 to 105,092 in the same period this year. In January alone, 37,279 travelers visited Dinagat Islands, followed by 33,569 in February and 33,831 in March. According to Philippines News Agency, PTCO chief Benglen Navas stated in an interview that the increase of domestic arrivals was driven by the New Year celebrations and extended weekends,

Siargao Island: Road traffic injuries claim the lives of about 1,670 children in the country every year. According to Philippines News Agency, this alarming statistic was presented during the three-day Health Literacy Seminar organized by the Department of Health (DOH) 13 (Caraga Region) held in Siargao Island from May 26 to 28. The seminar addressed the global issue of road traffic injuries, which remain the leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14 and young adults aged 15 to 29, as highlighted in a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The report was part of a

Baguio: The city government is considering the implementation of a speed limit on specific roads to deter accidents. According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced plans to convene a meeting with relevant offices to address the increasing number of road mishaps, which he described as alarming. He noted that a scientific study indicates the impact of speed limits on reducing vehicular accidents. Maj. Marcy Grace Marron, the information officer for the Baguio City Police Office, reported that from January 1 to May 27 this year, there were 375 recorded vehicular traffic accidents in the city. These incidents resulted

Davao City: Approximately 2,954 abandoned ‘balikbayan’ boxes are set to be sent to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) regional offices for return to the families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Mindanao, following a turnover ceremony on Thursday. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Davao facilitated the transfer of these consolidated ‘balikbayan’ boxes at the Terminal Facilities and Services Corp. (TEFASCO) Port in Barangay Ilang, Davao City. According to Philippines News Agency, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio stated that these boxes represent more than just packages, emphasizing their emotional significance to the families of OFWs. Rubio highlighted the collaborative