Day: July 30, 2025

Manila: Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has called on Congress to expedite the passage of Senate Bill No. 1, which seeks a PHP74.4 billion supplemental budget for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). He emphasized that the success of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law hinges on the availability of adequate and timely funding. According to Philippines News Agency, Ejercito, who is the principal author and sponsor of the UHC Law, stressed the importance of this funding boost to achieve zero balance billing in government hospitals. This reform aims to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for indigent patients, senior citizens, and other

Tacloban city: Classes and government work were suspended on Wednesday afternoon in many parts of Eastern Visayas after authorities issued a tsunami warning following the magnitude 8.7 earthquake off Kamchatka, Russia. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez suspended both classes in all levels and work in the government, heeding the advisory of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), as a precautionary measure. According to Philippines News Agency, in Northern Samar, Governor Harris Ongchuan also suspended classes in all levels in all areas except for the towns of Catubig, Las Navas, Lope de Vega, and Silvino Lubos. The local governments

Iloilo city: Only 3.51 percent of barangays in Western Visayas are drug-affected, with only 119 villages yet to be deliberated for the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) showed on Wednesday. The latest data showed that 3,389 barangays in the region, or 96.49 percent, are cleared of illegal drugs. Of these, 1,963 were declared cleared, while 1,307 others are already drug-free. According to Philippines News Agency, Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras have 100 percent drug-cleared barangays. Capiz is still left with 30 drug-affected barangays, six in Iloilo province, and 83 in Iloilo City. PDEA 6

Manila: Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, has initiated an information campaign to promote the online driver’s license renewal system (ODLRS). He encouraged drivers to renew their licenses through the eGovPH mobile application. According to Philippines News Agency, Mendoza instructed all LTO regional directors to enhance traditional and social media campaigns to support the ODLRS, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for a digital transformation in government transactions. Mendoza highlighted that the digital platform enables citizens, particularly busy workers, to save time, energy, and money by eliminating the need to visit LTO offices for

Manila: Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for accountability within the police force, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has disclosed the dismissal of 19 police officers since Gen. Nicolas Torre III assumed office on June 2. According to Philippines News Agency, Inspector General Brigido Dulay of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS), which serves as a watchdog agency of the PNP, announced during a press conference at Camp Crame that the highest-ranking officer among those dismissed was a police lieutenant colonel. Other personnel dismissed included non-commissioned officers, an executive master sergeant, a senior master sergeant, a police corporal, and a