Day: September 4, 2025

Ilocos region: Thirty-one members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and communist front organizations (CFOs) have surrendered to the authorities in August, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 (Ilocos Region). According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-1 information officer Maj. Divina Albino stated in a phone interview that the surrenderers included four NPA rebels who handed over two firearms and four explosives. Additionally, 27 CFO members turned in three firearms. “This significant haul of personnel and weapons deals a blow to the operational capacity and influence of these threat groups in the Ilocos Region,” Albino remarked. Albino mentioned

Davao: The Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) announced Thursday that a United States-based buyer has expressed interest in the region’s premium coffee and durian commodities. This follows the region’s participation in the Specialty Coffee Expo 2025 in Houston, Texas, last April. According to Philippines News Agency, in a Facebook post, DA-11 said Sophia Calderon of Cup and Co. returned to Davao to explore the global potential of the region’s high-value crops. Calderon’s visit was facilitated by DA-11 through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) and High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). During her visit, Calderon met with

Dumaguete city: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental is taking steps to institutionalize the Consumers’ Network in the province, aiming to bring together government agencies, advocacy groups, and media to enhance consumer complaint resolution processes. Jade Krystle Bato, spokesperson for DTI-Negros Oriental, stated in an interview that the initiative seeks to streamline and expedite the handling of consumer complaints to ensure timely resolutions. According to Philippines News Agency, the Consumer Network will include various government agencies, such as provincial and local government units, and media outlets that run consumer welfare programs. Bato emphasized that these institutions

Manila: Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday issued a stern warning to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), threatening to obstruct the approval of its proposed 2026 budget unless it takes decisive action against underperforming field inspectors. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo, who serves as the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, expressed his dissatisfaction with DOLE’s current enforcement efforts during a committee hearing. He pointed out that numerous manufacturing companies in Metro Manila, which he personally inspected, are underpaying their workers, with some employees earning as little as PHP280 per day. Tulfo criticized the discrepancy between

Manila: Malaca±ang has released the official list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2026. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, on Sept. 3, signed Proclamation 1006, containing the list of holidays for next year. According to Philippines News Agency, the proclamation lists the following dates as regular holidays: January 1 (Thursday) for New Year’s Day, April 2 for Maundy Thursday, April 3 for Good Friday, April 9 (Thursday) for Araw ng Kagitingan, May 1 (Friday) for Labor Day, June 12 (Friday) for Independence Day, August 31 (the last Monday of August) for National Heroes Day, November 30 (Monday) for Bonifacio