Day: October 8, 2025

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday assured the public that the country’s rice supply will remain stable even if the government extends the import ban until year-end. In a phone interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the country’s ending rice stock inventory will be sufficient despite potential production losses from recent weather disturbances. According to Philippines News Agency, the country’s local palay production outlook for 2025 ranges from 20.29 million metric tons (MT) to 20.51 million MT, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) analysis of standing crops. “Regardless kung lower end ng projection ng

Manila: Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into the condition of bridges nationwide following the collapse of the 50-year-old Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, which disrupted transport and trade in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, in Senate Resolution No. 153, Estrada urged the appropriate committee to conduct a comprehensive inquiry, in the exercise of the Senate’s oversight functions, to assess the structural integrity, inspection procedures, and maintenance systems of bridges across the country to prevent similar incidents and protect public safety. ‘Hihintayin pa ba natin na may bumagsak na naman na tulay

Antique: Antique’s provincial government is planning to establish two cold storage facilities and two rice processing plants in the northern and southern regions of the province to enhance the income of farmers and fisherfolk. According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Bienvenido Nallos Jr. mentioned in an interview that these facilities could help preserve produce and secure better prices. Currently, fisherfolk in the province face challenges in preserving their catch due to insufficient ice production facilities. Nallos highlighted that there are only two private ice plants in San Jose de Buenavista, forcing other fisherfolk to source ice

Cebu: Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday urged the filing of cases against business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu that allegedly endangered their employees during the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake. Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said one BPO firm reportedly blocked its emergency exits to prevent workers from leaving, while another allegedly forced its employees to immediately resume work after the tremor. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo, who visited Cebu after the quake, stated that the erring companies and those responsible should face legal consequences for prioritizing profit over employee safety. He

Manila: The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) has formally requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue immigration lookout bulletin orders (ILBO) targeting several individuals linked to the investigation of anomalies in flood control projects. According to Philippines News Agency, the ILBO, a directive that requires immigration officers to closely monitor the travel of specific individuals, has been sought for various current and former government officials, including former Senate President Francis Escudero and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Also named were Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, and former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay. The list extends to