Day: August 5, 2025

Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero announced his proposal to criminalize the unauthorized use of an individual’s likeness and identity through artificial intelligence (AI). He expressed concerns that AI-generated content is being misused to spread fake news, commit fraud, and endorse illegitimate products. According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero introduced Senate Bill No. 782, also known as the Physical Identity Protection Act. The bill aims to impose jail terms, substantial fines, and permanent disqualification from public office for government officials found guilty of AI misuse. Escudero emphasized that while AI can be a valuable tool for education and business, it is

Manila: The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has released over PHP942 billion in loans to more than 1.1 million government workers under its Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) programs since 2020. According to Philippines News Agency, the MPL programs, now rebranded as ‘Ginhawa Loans,’ aim to provide financial relief for everyday needs such as medical bills, education, emergencies, and livelihood ventures, as stated in a news release on Monday. GSIS officer-in-charge Juliet Bautista emphasized that the loan disbursements underscore the agency’s commitment to supporting its members’ well-being, noting that nearly PHP1 trillion in disbursements reflect the real financial needs of government employees

Manila: Through its 911 hotline for swift and responsive police service, a cop and another suspect were arrested for illegal discharge and illegal possession of firearms in separate incidents in Manila and Caloocan City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin reported that a concerned citizen called 911 around 10:53 p.m. Sunday to report the alleged firearm discharge along Moriones St., Barangay 123 in Tondo, Manila. Operatives from the Raxabago Police Station under the Manila Police District (MPD) were immediately dispatched to the scene and observed

Pangasinan: The top health official of Pangasinan proposes the establishment of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) center, where confirmatory tests, counseling, and tracing for suspected cases, as among ways to address rising cases. According to Philippines News Agency, acting Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Vivian Villar-Espino cited the need for intensified education and the establishment of an HIV hub since as of the moment, 10 out of the 14 provincial government-run hospitals in Pangasinan are accredited to do initial testing. Meanwhile, confirmatory tests for HIV positive individuals are done at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City, as

Manila: The country’s inflation, or the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services, reversed its path in July 2025, decelerating to 0.9 percent from the previous month’s 1.4 percent. This change was driven primarily by slower increases in electricity rates and prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). According to Philippines News Agency, the latest inflation figure, the lowest since October 2019’s 0.6 percent, brought the average for the first seven months of the year to 1.7 percent, still below the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa, in a briefing, stated