Day: September 1, 2025

Manila: Senators on Monday raised suspicions that construction companies owned by businesswoman Sarah Discaya and her relatives were being favored in bidding for flood control and other infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). During the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry into alleged anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada pressed Discaya to explain how her family’s nine companies were consistently winning government contracts. According to Philippines News Agency, records presented at the hearing showed that Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation alone secured 71 flood control projects

Lingig: The local government unit (LGU) of Lingig in Surigao del Sur welcomed the full implementation of Republic Act 10787, which mandates the creation of a multi-species marine hatchery in the municipality, calling it a major step forward for the town’s aquaculture sector. Municipal Agriculture Officer Ricky Tubo said in an interview on Monday that the newly completed PHP40-million hatchery is expected to significantly improve the milkfish industry in Lingig. According to Philippines News Agency, the facility is projected to produce up to 25 million milkfish fry annually, providing a vital resource for the town’s more than 2,000 registered fisherfolk.

Manila: An international marine conservation group has expressed approval of the newly signed Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) Law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The law aims to enhance marine conservation, food and livelihood security, and climate resilience. According to Philippines News Agency, Oceana stated that the law will draw national attention to Panaon Island, which is identified as one of the 50 priority reefs worldwide with a high likelihood of surviving the adverse impacts of climate change. Oceana Vice President Von Hernandez noted that the PIPS Law is the result of extensive scientific research, advocacy, local organizing, and

Manila: Around 217 health facilities in Eastern Visayas have been accredited as Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) clinics, providing free consultation and laboratory services, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) regional office here reported on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, as of August 2025, 80 of the accredited clinics are in Leyte, 36 in Samar, 34 in Eastern Samar, 32 in Northern Samar, 25 in Southern Leyte, and 10 in Biliran province. Acisclo Militante Jr., chief of the PhilHealth Eastern Visayas field operations division, said they are working to enlist more accredited health service providers under the program launched

Manila: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is anticipated to implement further reductions in policy rates extending into the coming years, with expectations for inflation to remain within the targeted range, as stated by BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. According to Philippines News Agency, the central bank is likely to maintain steady policy rates during its upcoming October meeting, but a 25 basis points rate cut is projected for December. “While a sharp fall in rice prices drove headline inflation down from 1.4 percent year-on-year in June to 0.9 percent in July, we expect near-term price pressures from the