Day: October 8, 2025

Manila: The number of employed Filipinos increased in August this year as a result of the government’s efforts to facilitate job creation. In a briefing Wednesday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa reported that the latest Labor Force Survey revealed approximately 50.10 million Filipinos were employed in August, up from 46.05 million in the previous month. According to Philippines News Agency, the employment rate reached 96.1 percent, with the services sector accounting for the largest share of total employment at 61.5 percent, followed by agriculture at 20.4 percent and industry at 18.1 percent. The Labor Force Participation Rate rose to 65.1 percent

Manila: Malaca±ang on Wednesday said incoming Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is expected to uphold transparency and ensure that government officials found guilty of wrongdoing are held accountable. In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that Remulla’s appointment comes with the responsibility to serve the entire nation, and not any particular group or interest. According to Philippines News Agency, Castro reiterated that Remulla’s role as Ombudsman is to act with transparency and accountability. She quoted Secretary Boying Remulla, who has stated that his appointment must ensure those responsible for any wrongdoing face the necessary consequences. Castro highlighted that

Geneva: Global tobacco use has dropped significantly over the past 15 years, but one in five adults around the world remains addicted, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. In its latest analysis covering smoking trends from 2010 to 2024, the WHO said tobacco use fell from 26.2 percent in 2010 to 19.5 percent in 2024, a decline that nevertheless fails to end what it continues to describe as a global epidemic. According to Philippines News Agency, the UN health agency projects further reductions in the coming years but warns that new nicotine products are threatening recent gains. WHO Director-General Tedros

Iloilo city: Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) is planning to install solar panels and a battery energy storage system to replace the diesel units currently undergoing decommissioning in Barangay Ingore in the La Paz district. The decommissioning of the two diesel plant units began last year and is projected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. According to Philippines News Agency, MGEN Thermal Panay energy site head Antonio Cabalhug Jr. stated that the existing technology is not economically viable, prompting the shift to solar and battery systems as part of sustainability efforts. The company plans to replace the outdated

Manila: The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has successfully obtained a new freeze order targeting additional bank accounts connected to flood control projects. This move marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into financial irregularities associated with these projects. According to Philippines News Agency, the latest freeze order was procured from the Court of Appeals and encompasses several more bank accounts linked to individuals of interest. Notably, this includes an entity whose license was allegedly utilized in the execution of non-existent flood control projects. The AMLC has already implemented four previous freeze orders, resulting in the freezing of 1,632 bank