Day: July 17, 2025

Manila: The Philippines’ population stood at 112,729,484 as of July 1, 2024, according to the official results of the 2024 Census of Population (POPCEN), which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared official. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos issued Proclamation 973, directing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in coordination with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), to disseminate the population data by province, city/municipality, and barangay to all concerned government agencies and offices. The census was conducted by the PSA from July to September 2024, using July 1, 2024 as the reference date, according to the proclamation signed by Executive Secretary

Manila: The Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday clarified that the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA) does not impose a new tax but standardizes the tax rate on interest income to correct an unfair system that favored the wealthy. In a statement, the DOF said under CMEPA, the tax on interest income was set at 20 percent to simplify compliance, eliminate confusion, and level the playing field for all Filipinos. According to Philippines News Agency, prior to the law’s passage, the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 imposed a 20 percent final tax on interest earned from bank deposits

Tokyo: The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached an estimated 21,518,100 in the first half of 2025, passing the 20-million line at record pace, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the figure for January-June was up 21.0 percent from a year before, boosted by increases in visitors mainly from China, especially during the country’s Lunar New Year holiday period and the cherry blossom season in Japan. Meanwhile, a preliminary report from the Japan Tourism Agency showed that consumption by foreign visitors to Japan in April-June rose 18 percent year-on-year to 2,525 billion

Manila: The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday called for transparency and accountability in the publication of global travel reports following the retraction of a controversial safety index by insurance platform HelloSafe that listed the Philippines as one of the world’s least safe countries to visit. According to Philippines News Agency, HelloSafe has issued a formal apology, expressing ‘sincere regrets for the misunderstanding and negative perception’ caused by the publication in a media statement released on July 15. The company also suspended the report as of June 20, pending a ‘full audit of the methodology and criteria used in its

Leyte: Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday expressed full support to the government’s initiative to provide financial compensation to young victims of violent crimes, underscoring the crucial role of the state in helping them recover and rebuild their lives. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) establishing a referral system enabling child victims to access monetary remuneration for their basic needs and other recovery-related expenses. ‘Our young ones deserve to be cared for, nurtured, and protected. When