Day: July 3, 2025

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has activated its core disaster protocols to assist at-risk populations in four regions of the country amid the prevailing low-pressure area (LPA) and intensified southwest monsoon (habagat). According to Philippines News Agency, Disaster Response Management Bureau Director Maria Isabel Lanada stated in a press briefing that the DSWD has implemented focused preparedness actions for Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region. This initiative is in coordination with concerned Field Offices and local government units. The latest weather advisories indicate that these four regions are projected to be impacted

Manila: The National Food Authority (NFA) announced plans on Thursday to initiate procurement of both white and yellow corn in the second quarter of 2026. This move is set to take place across five pilot regions within the country. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has projected that at least 118,000 50-kilogram bags will be procured. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson communicated through a Viber message that the procurement will commence within the first half of the year, likely starting in the second quarter rather than the first. The pilot regions designated for this initiative are Ilocos,

Maguindanao sur: Two warring Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) factions here reached a peaceful resolution to their misunderstanding and clan conflict on Thursday. Brig. Gen. Edgar L. Catu, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, facilitated the ‘reunion’ of Teng Mamo and Mutawali Simpal, both MILF field commanders in nearby Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao del Sur. According to Philippines News Agency, the peaceful settlement of the ‘rido’ (clan war) was initiated by Lt. Col. Germen Legada, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB), who has jurisdiction over Sultan sa Barongis. Legada credited Maguindanao del Sur’s provincial government, headed

Manila: Strong demand for government securities issued in the Philippines resulted in a 0.99 percent rise in the national government’s total outstanding debt as of May to PHP16.92 trillion. According to Philippines News Agency, data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed that the bulk, or 69.6 percent, of the outstanding debt consists of domestic borrowings, with the remaining 30.4 percent attributed to foreign borrowings. Total domestic debt as of May reached PHP11.78 trillion, increasing by PHP189.96 billion from the previous month. Government debt papers issued in May amounted to PHP190.87 billion, but the BTr reported this was

Manila: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto are being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) after being implicated in the disappearance of several cockfight enthusiasts, known locally as ‘sabungeros’. According to Philippines News Agency, the investigation follows allegations made by Julie Patidongan, also known as Totoy, who accused Ang of masterminding the abductions and linked Barretto to the disappearances. Remulla stated that both individuals would be included as suspects in the DOJ’s ongoing probe. “They will be included. Because they were named, then we will have to include them as