Day: September 16, 2025

Negros oriental: Police teams have seized over PHP4.4 million in suspected shabu during a weeklong anti-illegal drug operation in Negros Oriental, an official said Tuesday. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), reported that the seized ‘shabu’ weighed approximately 655.23 grams and was confiscated from various locations across the province between September 8 and 15. According to Philippines News Agency, the weeklong, region-wide Simultaneous Anti-criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) led to the arrest of 21 individuals during 19 anti-illegal drug operations. In addition to drug-related activities, the operations also targeted illegal gambling, resulting in five

Manila: Local palay (unhusked rice) production in the Philippines is projected to rise in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest outlook from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Tuesday. ‘The estimated palay production based on standing crop for July to September 2025 may increase to 3.94 million metric tons (MT) or by 18.4 percent,’ the PSA report read. According to Philippines News Agency, the harvest area may expand by 19.1 percent to 943,380 hectares, compared to 792,220 hectares in the third quarter of 2024. As of Aug. 1, around 550,540 MT of palay had already been

Manila: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday lifted the suspension on procurement activities for locally-funded civil works projects in the country. ‘Pending a full review of the Department’s internal processes, and in the exigency of the service to prevent delays in the implementation of critical national infrastructure, the suspension is hereby lifted, subject to strict adherence to the following preliminary measures and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations,’ Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said in a memorandum signed Sept. 16. According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH chief has laid out several guidelines and strict reminders

Manila: The government further increased its measures against corruption and illicit financial transactions in the country’s extractive industry following the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) gray list last February. According to Philippines News Agency, the signing of a data sharing agreement (DSA) between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Finance (DOF) on September 3 at the DOF office in Manila supports the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI). The PH-EITI, established through Executive Order No. 147, series of 2013, and placed under the DOF, serves as the country’s implementing body of the

Manila: The municipality of Banna in Ilocos Norte is ensuring that residents across all its villages have access to safe, clean, and potable water by implementing a reverse osmosis water filtration system. According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Mary Chrislyn Abadilla has confirmed that the water purifier technology has already been installed in six out of the municipality’s 20 villages, which include Bugasi, Caestebanan, Sinamar, Bomitog, Imelda, and Caribquib. Mayor Abadilla assured residents that the installation process will soon extend to the remaining villages, emphasizing the local government’s commitment to providing free drinking water to every Bannatiran. The initiative is