Day: September 2, 2025

Manila: The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has issued a warning regarding the strategy employed by communist rebels to capitalize on public dissatisfaction over government corruption to bolster their ranks. According to Philippines News Agency, NTF-ELCAC executive director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., emphasized that the most perilous form of corruption extends beyond the misappropriation of public funds and includes the manipulation of the Filipino mindset. He revealed that it is a well-documented tactic of communist rebels to leverage societal anger towards governmental corruption as a means to recruit new members, particularly focusing on the youth

Balanga: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines is ’80 percent’ closer to realizing universal healthcare for its citizens, emphasizing the strides made in establishing a system for accessible, affordable, and quality medical services. This statement came during his visit to the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in Balanga, Bataan, where he evaluated the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program’s execution. According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the program, which he believes is a significant step towards universal healthcare. “We are very close to achieving this goal, being 80 percent of

Manila: Finance Secretary Ralph Recto on Tuesday expressed grave concern and dismay over the reported anomalies and corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects, noting that ghost projects already cost the economy as much as over PHP100 billion. During the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s briefing at the Senate, Recto, citing DOF data, said these ghost flood control projects have cost the Philippine economy an estimated PHP42.3 billion to PHP118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025. This is equivalent to 95,000 to 266,000 jobs that could have benefited Filipinos. According to Philippines News Agency, Recto expressed

Manila: The House Infrastructure Committee (Infra-Comm) on Tuesday opened its investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects across the country, vowing to spare no one in holding accountable those behind ghost, substandard, and overpriced projects. Committee chairperson Terry Ridon said the investigation, a joint undertaking of the House Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works, and Good Government, directly answers the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address (SONA). According to Philippines News Agency, the committee’s first target is the PHP55-million Baliuag, Bulacan flood control project for a reinforced concrete river wall, which

Manila: The public is advised to take precaution against possible volcanic smog (vog) formation from the Taal Volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded a recent sharp increase in the volcano’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission, indicating fluid movement or gas changes. According to Philippines News Agency, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol reported that Taal Volcano’s SO2 emission measured 450 tonnes on Aug. 27, but increased to 4,514 tonnes on Aug. 30. The tenfold increase, he said, may be attributed to the sudden release of larger volumes of volcanic gas from magma due to pressure or fluid movement