Day: July 29, 2025

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the elevated prices of vegetables might stabilize within two weeks. This statement follows the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center’s report on significant agricultural damage amounting to 53,356 metric tons, valued at PHP2.34 billion. The agricultural losses were attributed to the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Emong, Dante, and Crising. According to Philippines News Agency, the damage includes PHP421.95 million in losses for high-value crops such as various vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelons, bananas, pineapples, papayas, and root crops. In a phone interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa

Manila: Senator Loren Legarda on Monday expressed support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s continued investment in flood control, infrastructure, and water service projects, but stressed that the quality of implementation and public accountability must match the scale of the programs. ‘We must view the state of the nation not only in what programs exist but in the quality of their implementation, and in the discipline with which both government and citizens carry them out,’ she said, reacting to the President’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA). According to Philippines News Agency, Legarda emphasized that efforts must go hand

Manila: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has expressed his support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to digital transformation, especially within the education sector, while stressing the importance of ensuring that such reforms deliver tangible benefits to citizens. According to Philippines News Agency, Cayetano emphasized that the government’s digital initiatives should not only focus on infrastructure but also be part of a broader effort to make citizens feel valued and included. He highlighted the need for digital transformation to be relevant and transformative, underscoring the significance of nation-building that prioritizes the people’s needs. In his recent State of the Nation

Manila: The reported death toll from the combined effects of heavy southwest monsoon (habagat) rains and a succession of tropical cyclones has risen to 34, according to the latest tally by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of Tuesday morning. According to Philippines News Agency, only two of these fatalities have been confirmed – one in Northern Mindanao and another in the Caraga Region – while the remaining 32 deaths are still under verification by the NDRRMC. The breakdown of these unverified fatalities includes nine from the National Capital Region, eight from Calabarzon, six from Western

Manila: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced its plan to significantly increase the number of teaching positions by 2026 in a strategic move to tackle the ongoing shortage of educators in public schools. According to Philippines News Agency, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman revealed during a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) briefing that the government has already established 60,000 new teaching positions along with 5,000 non-teaching roles aimed at reducing the administrative burden on teachers. Secretary Pangandaman emphasized the administration’s commitment to resolving the backlog, stating that under President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s leadership, efforts will be made to