Day: August 5, 2025

Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public anew against the dangers of leptospirosis, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. In the past weeks, parts of the country experienced heavy downpours and widespread flooding due to tropical storms. According to Philippines News Agency, the public is urged to exercise caution when wading through floodwaters, which may be contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rats, the primary carriers of leptospira bacteria. The bacteria commonly enters the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. It is found in water, moist soil, or

Manila: The National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) continues to exert efforts to help members of the elderly sector, especially those who have little to no pension, provide for their needs through skills training and employment. NCSC Chair and Chief Executive Officer Mary Jean Loreche said allowing senior citizens to work is more than just giving them a chance to earn money. According to Philippines News Agency, Loreche emphasized that the initiative is aimed at instilling a sense of belongingness and inclusivity among senior citizens. “This is more of giving them the feeling na ikaw ay kailangan, may silbi (you

Manila: The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) on Tuesday advocated for the comprehensive and prompt enforcement of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) updated anti-bullying guidelines. This call follows the recent signing of the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. According to Philippines News Agency, EDCOM 2 commended DepEd for introducing significant changes aimed at enhancing school safety. These changes include an expanded definition of bullying, a three-tiered system for handling cases, and harsher penalties for schools that fail to address reported incidents. “With this new IRR, we commend DepEd for taking concrete

Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday welcomed the signing into law of Republic Act (RA) 12231 or the Government Optimization Act, describing it as a landmark measure to build a more streamlined, agile, and responsive bureaucracy. ‘The signing of the Government Optimization Act marks a pivotal step toward a more efficient and responsive bureaucracy. This reform is designed to eliminate overlapping mandates and streamline operations across government agencies, ensuring faster and more effective service delivery to the public,’ Escudero said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero clarified that the law is not meant for downsizing or

Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday called on the national government to expand the ‘no-balance billing’ (NBB) policy to cover local government hospitals, following a surge of patients in Department of Health (DOH)-accredited facilities. According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized that the high turnout of patients highlights the need to broaden the NBB policy, which ensures that indigent patients pay nothing for services covered by PhilHealth, beyond national hospitals. He stated, “Such a situation demands the need for the national government to expand the NBB policy to include all local government hospitals by downloading subsidies to LGUs.” Gatchalian further