Day: June 23, 2025

Manila: The Philippine government has assured that contingency measures are in place to safeguard overseas Filipinos as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, now further complicated by the direct military involvement of the United States. According to Philippines News Agency, in a virtual briefing on Sunday night, Philippine diplomats in the Middle East, led by Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos and Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Achilles Mandap of the Philippine Embassy in Israel, said the government is closely monitoring developments. “As you know, the safety of our nationals, their well-being, they’re the primary concern of the Philippine government

Manila: Millions of learners are now studying in improved and newly built school buildings and better classrooms through the Special Education Fund (SEF) of local government units (LGUs), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, this achievement reflects the Marcos administration’s priority to strengthen public education by providing better school facilities for children across the country. The DILG said SEF is sourced from the additional 1 percent tax on real property, as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991. It is allocated to support education-related programs, projects, and activities.

Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has issued a warning to the public against fraudulent messages falsely using the name of its President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado. In a news release, PhilHealth cautioned individuals about a circulating scam message that claims Mercado is requesting people to deposit money on his behalf. According to Philippines News Agency, the scam message alleges that Mercado is in a crucial meeting and promises reimbursement of the amount afterward. The message includes specific details, such as a GCASH number (0938-4354071) under the name MieEl Briin Liin, and a Viber account with the

Manila: Oil firms agreed to the government’s request to implement on a staggered basis the fuel price adjustments for this week, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Monday. In a statement, DOE said the proposal aims to cushion the impact on Filipino consumers by distributing price movements over a more manageable period. According to Philippines News Agency, DOE officer in charge Sharon Garin and Undersecretary Alessandro Sales met with representatives of the downstream oil industry Monday to discuss the staggered implementation of domestic petroleum price adjustments. The DOE said oil firms would submit their implementation scheme, including the breakdown

Zamboanga Peninsula: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed concerns about the ongoing issue of foreigners using illegally-acquired Philippine identities, suggesting that these individuals may be engaging in espionage or other criminal activities within the country. According to Philippines News Agency, BI intelligence operatives in Region 9, in collaboration with military intelligence units, recently apprehended four foreigners pretending to be Filipinos in Zamboanga del Sur. One of these individuals was discovered to be operating a business without the required documentation. “The arrest stems from the BI’s intensified drive against illegal aliens using fake identities, in line with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’