Day: July 10, 2025

Manila: The Marcos administration will exert all efforts to attract more tourists and investments by making the Philippines ‘more peaceful,’ Malaca±ang said on Thursday. ‘Hindi titigil ang gobyerno para paigtingin pa ang katahimikan dito sa bansa (The government will not stop to further strengthen the peace in this country),’ Palace press officer Claire Castro told reporters. According to Philippines News Agency, this announcement comes as Castro welcomed the Philippines’ best peace placement in eight years in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), climbing six spots to 105th out of 163 countries. The Philippines’ latest ranking is the highest since it

Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers is working on verifying reports that Houthi forces may have kidnapped several crew members of MV Eternity C after attacking and sinking the vessel while traversing the Red Sea. According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, in a Palace briefing on Thursday, stated that five Filipino crew members and an Indian armed guard, out of the 22 crew of MV Eternity C, have been rescued, while the rest remain missing. Cacdac emphasized the need for confirmation regarding the claims made by the Houthis and the United States about the crew’s

Tuguegarao city: The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) inaugurated its Cagayan Valley Regional Coordinating Office (RCO) on Thursday, marking a significant step toward bringing anti-poverty programs closer to grassroots communities in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the inauguration of the Cagayan Valley RCO is part of NAPC’s broader strategy to localize its anti-poverty framework and enhance public service delivery in underserved regions under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In a news release, NAPC Secretary Lope Santos III emphasized the importance of decentralizing government efforts to eradicate poverty. The NAPC aims to ensure that voices from the

Batangas: The families of missing sabungeros (cockfight aficionados) welcomed the start of the government’s search for human remains possibly linked to the disappearance of their loved ones at Taal Lake in Batangas province. The Department of Justice, together with technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard, initiated the search for the sabungeros’ remains in Taal Lake on Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, this action followed a revelation by whistleblower Julie ‘Dondon’ Patidongan, who claimed that the remains of the missing sabungeros were disposed of in the lake. Cha Lasco, sister of Ricardo Lasco, an online cockfighting (e-sabong) master agent

Manila: The 20 percent tariff recently announced by the United States is expected to have a limited impact on the overall economic growth of the Philippines, as the country’s economy is less reliant on exports, according to an economist. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation’s chief economist, Michael Ricafort, emphasized that the Philippine economy is relatively resilient and primarily consumer-driven, distinguishing it from major ASEAN economies that heavily depend on merchandise exports. According to Philippines News Agency, Ricafort stated in a Viber message that the local economy is predominantly domestically driven, with consumer spending comprising about 75 percent of the economy. In