Day: June 18, 2025

Manila: The Philippines has officially surpassed the 2 million metric tons (MT) mark in local sugar production, as announced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday. This achievement is seen as a positive outcome of the administration’s efforts to enhance local agricultural production, in alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to support farmers. According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted this milestone as a testament to the administration’s effective strategies. “Guaranteed na mag-breach tayo (that we will breach) and we will have the highest harvest of sugar in history. So, that is

Pasig City: The Israeli government is set to finance the establishment of a women’s wellness center at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City, marking its largest health initiative in the Philippines. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa formalized this partnership through a joint communique signed at a ceremony held at the medical center. According to Philippines News Agency, the center will be developed with support from Israel’s international aid agency, MASHAV. This collaboration will focus on procuring equipment, upgrading systems and technologies at the Rizal Medical Center, and facilitating capacity building for medical

Quezon City: The number of individuals undergoing dialysis treatment has surged to 64,845 in 2024, marking a significant 22-percent increase from the 53,296 cases recorded in 2023. National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) adult nephrology consultant Anthony Russel Villanueva highlighted this rise as indicative of the serious burden chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses in the country. According to Philippines News Agency, Villanueva noted that kidney disease remains one of the top ten causes of death among Filipinos, emphasizing its profound impact on patients’ livelihoods as many are unable to work properly due to their condition. Data from the Philippine Renal

Manila: Four agriculture officials, part of the Philippine delegation that was stranded in Israel, have successfully arrived in Jordan, as confirmed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. This development comes amidst a tense situation in Israel, where airspace has been closed due to missile attacks from Iran, leaving 17 government officials, including mayors, temporarily unable to leave the country. According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel shared in an ambush interview at the Paco public market in Manila that the officials had reached Jordan the previous night. The group was initially considering land travel to Egypt or Jordan to

Manila: UK-based air transport rating organization Skytrax has named AirAsia the “World’s Best Low-Cost Airline” in the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025. AirAsia co-founders Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun accepted the award at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Fernandes expressed that the award holds significant emotional value, reflecting on the airline’s journey from flying 200,000 guests in its first year to approaching one billion guests this year. The recognition marks the 16th consecutive year that AirAsia has been honored by Skytrax. Skytrax chief executive officer Edward Plaisted noted that AirAsia’s success for a