Day: July 17, 2025

Manila: With just days before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA), the government’s continuing rollout of Super Health Centers (SHCs) has become a key highlight in the administration’s health agenda. According to Philippines News Agency, over 600 SHCs have already been funded and constructed nationwide since the program began in 2022. These centers are designed to bring essential medical services closer to communities, especially in far-flung and underserved areas. Citing that SHCs are part of the government’s long-term strategy under Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa

Manila: The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Thursday backed the launch of the Philippine Maritime Workforce Portal (PMWP), a centralized digital platform for data on the Philippine maritime workforce. In a statement, MARINA Deputy Administrator for Planning Nenita Atienza highlighted the portal’s role in crafting policies for the maritime sector. According to Philippines News Agency, the PMWP aims to be more than just a database, serving as a strategic tool to enhance the lives of Filipino seafarers and bolster the country’s maritime capabilities. MARINA is one of the designated data source agencies for the portal, joining forces with the Commission

Manila: An official of the Department of Health (DOH) has called for collective effort in the implementation of the anti-rabies campaign in the Ilocos Region. DOH 1 (Ilocos Region) Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, in a statement on Thursday, said this goal requires coordinated action from stakeholders, including national government agencies, individuals, and communities. According to Philippines News Agency, Sydiongco encouraged village officials to ensure there are no stray dogs in their respective areas and noted that local governments also provide rabies vaccines for dogs and cats, as well as other veterinary services. A total of 62,638 animal bites were reported

Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday issued a stern warning to motorists regarding the use of fake plates. This warning comes on the heels of an intensified crackdown targeting illegal manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit plates. According to Philippines News Agency, LTO acting Assistant Secretary Greg Pua Jr. emphasized that there is now no justification for using fake plates, as the backlog of vehicle plates has been completely cleared. Pua stated, “Lahat may plaka na (All plates have been made), and right now, we are focusing on the immediate distribution of these plates to their owners. In fact,

Manila: Talks about the possible change in the Federal Reserve’s leadership pushed the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) and the peso deeper Thursday. For the third straight day, the main stocks gauge slipped and ended the day’s trade at 6,295.55 points, down 0.66 percent; and the broader All Shares by 0.67 percent to 3,723.14 points. According to Philippines News Agency, Mining and Oil led the sectoral counters with a decline of 2.35 percent, followed by Holding Firms, 1.41 percent; Industrial, 0.77 percent; Financials, 0.73 percent; Property, 0.61 percent; and Services, 0.59 percent. Trading volume reached 2.41 billion shares amounting to