Day: August 5, 2025

Manila: India will grant free e-visa to Filipino tourists as the two countries continue to elevate their partnership and cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement Tuesday, following his bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is on a five-day state visit here. The initiative aims to boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, alongside the resumption of direct flights between India and the Philippines starting October 2025. New Delhi’s move follows Manila’s visa-free entry policy for Indian nationals starting June this year. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos welcomed the move and thanked

Manila: The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) auction committee raised approximately PHP210 billion during the coupon rate setting auction for the five-year retail treasury bond (RTB) on Tuesday. The event marked a successful fundraising effort for the government, attracting significant attention from investors. According to Philippines News Agency, the debt paper, designed to accommodate small investors with a minimum placement of PHP5,000 and multiples of PHP5,000 thereafter, achieved a coupon rate of 6 percent. The auction saw total bids reaching PHP354.175 billion, far surpassing the initial PHP30 billion offering. The offer period for the bonds will continue until August 15,

Bacolod: The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is modifying its preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in areas around Mt. Kanlaon, which were previously considered ‘high risk’ due to volcanic activity. According to Philippines News Agency, the adjustments follow the return of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology decreased the volcano’s alert level from 3 to 2. This change allows the IDPs to leave evacuation camps, except for those within the 4-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). Comelec-NIR Election Director Lionel Marco Castillano stated that the

Manila: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Oriental distributed land titles to thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in July, an official said Tuesday. The distribution, which took place in Bago City, Negros Occidental, marked the first phase of DAR’s target to provide land titles to 5,000 beneficiaries by 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, DAR-Negros Oriental provincial agrarian reform program officer Manuel Galon stated that 2,600 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) were distributed to 1,382 ARBs, covering a total of 1,960 hectares. Galon explained that many ARBs received more than one title because the DAR issues

Puerto princesa: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday appealed to all stakeholders to strongly collaborate with the persons with disabilities (PWD) sector to ensure that they also benefit from the country’s programs and services. According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of aligning with the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’ to dismantle barriers hindering the full participation of PWDs. His message was delivered by DSWD Undersecretary Fatima Aliah Dimaporo during the 3rd National Conference of Persons with Disabilities in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The conference, organized by the League of