Day: July 30, 2025

San juan city: The Department of Energy (DOE) is set to discuss with other government agencies the inclusion of more Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in the Lifeline Rate program. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, during the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussion in San Juan City on Wednesday, said only around 330,000 of the 4.5 million 4Ps beneficiaries are currently enrolled in the discounted power rate program. According to Philippines News Agency, Garin attributed this to the intricacies of applying for the subsidized electricity rate program, which is intended for households consuming less than 100 kilowatt hours (kWh)

Makati city: Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has teamed up with Vietnam-headquartered V-Green Global Charging Station Development Corporation (V-Green) and Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (Green GSM) to develop electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure systems in Metro Manila and other major cities. Meralco, in a statement Wednesday, announced that the collaboration aims to identify and evaluate sites for EV charging stations and electric taxi hubs, support the efficient roll-out of charging networks, explore opportunities to scale up electric vehicle adoption, and engage in technical cooperation and knowledge exchange on EV technologies and system design. According to Philippines News Agency,

Manila: A free trade agreement (FTA) with Chile is possible this year after the initial round of talks this month, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. “And I would say that in terms of progress, we are on track to conclude the free trade agreement, or we call it actually Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) this year,” DTI Undersecretary Allan Gepty, who went to Chile recently for a week-long negotiation, told reporters Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Gepty explained that CEPA involves several factors such as intellectual property, competition, services, investments, financial services, digital

San juan city: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez on Wednesday urged students to consider lifelong learning and to upskill. “Wala pong katapusan ang upskilling, dahil pabago-bago po ang larangan ng trabaho at dumadami at lumalawak ang mga klase ng skills na kailangan nating pagsanayan. (Upskilling never ends. Because the demands and skills needed in jobs are always evolving),” he said during the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) conference in San Juan City. Benitez said he hoped students would realize that training and the additional skills would also help them land good jobs. According

San juan city: Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is in ongoing discussions with ship owners as tensions rise anew in the Red Sea due to fresh threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Speaking on the sidelines of a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City, Lazaro said the safety of Filipino seafarers navigating the region remains a key concern. According to Philippines News Agency, Lazaro stated that discussions are taking place with ship owners about the safety of seafarers traversing the dangerous parts of the region. Lazaro