Day: June 30, 2025

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for modern and high-tech agricultural technologies to attract young Filipinos to farming, aiming to counter the aging trend in the sector. He addressed this issue during a dialogue with the 43 Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija, highlighting the government’s commitment to transforming farming into a viable career for the younger generation. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos pointed out the high average age of farmers and fisherfolk, attributing it to the challenging nature of agricultural life. He noted that young people are often drawn to more comfortable office jobs, suggesting

Manila: The Senate on Monday reiterated its commitment to transparency in the national budget process, saying it is open to proposals seeking greater public access to bicameral conference committee deliberations. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. issued the statement amid renewed calls to make budget negotiations between the Senate and the House of Representatives more accessible to the public. According to Philippines News Agency, Bantug said the practice of inviting media to cover bicameral meetings on the General Appropriations Bill has long been institutionalized in the Senate. “This consistent practice reflects our commitment to openness and accountability,” he said. Bantug emphasized

San francisco: Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday warned that Filipinos in the United States, including green card holders, could face detention and deportation over past criminal offenses-even minor ones-amid stricter immigration enforcement. Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, issued the warning following his courtesy visit to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco where he was briefed on recent US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo highlighted that even if individuals have already served their sentences, some were still arrested when attempting to re-enter the US, either at the airport or

Manila: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday revised its balance of payments (BOP) projections for 2025 and 2026, considering global uncertainty, increased geopolitical risks, and investor confidence’s impact on the BOP outlook. The BOP summarizes a country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world over a specific period and can be in surplus, deficit, or balance. According to Philippines News Agency, the BSP expects a BOP deficit of USD6.3 billion this year, larger than the earlier USD4 billion deficit projection. For 2026, the BSP anticipates a reduced deficit of USD2.8 billion. The outlook reflects a continued current

Nueva ecija: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that the National Food Authority (NFA) will not reduce the buying price of palay even as the government continues its PHP20 per kilogram rice program. Addressing concerns during a dialogue with this year’s Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija, Marcos emphasized that farmers’ income remains a top priority of his administration. According to Philippines News Agency, the President stated that the current price range of palay-PHP19 to PHP23 per kilogram for dry palay and PHP18 per kilogram for wet palay-will be maintained. Marcos reassured the farmers, saying, “Kahit anong presyo