Day: July 4, 2025

Manila: Finance Secretary Ralph Recto announced that the deflation recorded for the bottom 30 percent income households at 0.4 percent in June 2025 demonstrates the government’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the burden on the most vulnerable and lift more Filipinos out of poverty. “Magandang balita po ito sa lahat. Ibig sabihin, mabisa ang mga hakbang ng gobyerno para panatilihing mababa at abot-kaya ang presyo ng mga bilihin lalo na para sa mas higit na nangangailangan (This is good news for everyone. It means that government measures to keep the prices of goods low and affordable are effective, especially for those

Antique: Around 100 children with physical disabilities from this capital town of Antique received PHP10,000 financial aid under the Children’s Health, Education, and Resources for Inclusion, Support and Hope (CHERISH) project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday. The amount is the first of the two-tranche financial support the recipients will receive for the School Year 2025-2026, said DSWD Regional Director Arwin Razo, who led the distribution of assistance. The second tranche will be released in September. According to Philippines News Agency, the beneficiaries are in-school learners who have physical disabilities and need financial aid. The

Manila: Local shares slipped on Friday as investors booked profits, while the peso weakened. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 1.13 percent to 6,395.57, and All Shares also declined by 1.01 percent to 3,764.71. All sectors experienced a downturn, with Services and Property recording the most significant declines. According to Philippines News Agency, the situation arose as “Philippine shares were sold down as investors booked profits despite June inflation print coming in relatively stable at 1.4 percent,” explained Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan. The market activity saw decliners leading advancers at 111 to 85. Meanwhile,

Cebu: Nine Chinese nationals were arrested for human trafficking and illegal operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) in Cebu province. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) news release Friday identified the suspects only by their first names — Cai, Lei, Wei, Tawei, Shiao, Ye, Ying, Lu, Yin. They were arrested in the raid of an alleged POGO and scam hub at Silver Sea Subdivision in Alang-alang, Mandaue City on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, all arrested Chinese nationals failed to present passports and valid documents supporting their stay or work in the

Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down a travel agency and its partner licensed recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, for alleged illegal recruitment activities offering jobs in Poland. The DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), together with the Manila Police District (MPD), padlocked the offices of Reiven Air Travel and Tours Consultancy OPC and its partner recruitment agency, Reliable Recruitment Corporation, under Closure Order 15 and 16, Series of 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who led the operation, stated that the travel consultancy was conducting recruitment activities without the required license, violating