Day: October 15, 2025

Manila: Overall power transmission rates for end consumers will be lower this October, after these fell by 1.23 percent to PHP1.3998/kWh, officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said. In a briefing Wednesday, NGCP Assistant Vice President and Regulatory Management head Julius Ryan Datingaling said the overall average transmission rate declined from PHP1.4171 per kilowatt-hour, due largely to lower ancillary services (AS) rates and transmission wheeling rate. According to Philippines News Agency, Datingaling explained that transmission wheeling rates are what the transmission operator charges for its core service of delivering electricity, while AS rates refer to the

Manila: Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Wednesday assured the public that the PHP249 billion in unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed PHP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget are lawful, transparent and strictly regulated, serving only as a fiscal reserve that can be used when government revenues exceed targets. According to Philippines News Agency, Dy emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are reserve funds of the government and are not part of the proposed budget for next year. He explained that the amount, which is equivalent to around 3.6 percent of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, is well within the 5-percent ceiling set by the

Manila: Contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Cezarah Rowena ‘Sarah’ Discaya have decided to cease their cooperation with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) concerning the investigation into irregularities in flood control projects. According to Philippines News Agency, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka revealed the Discayas’ decision during a press briefing on Wednesday. “Basically, they (Discayas) explained that they were thinking that when they cooperate before the ICI, they will be getting a favorable recommendation from the commission as state witness[es],” Hosaka explained. He further stated that the couple has now opted not to appear before the commission or

Iloilo city: The provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has yet to receive a copy of the dismissal order for Zarraga Mayor Ma. Jofel Soldevilla and Vice Mayor Michael Omar Lacson from the Office of the Ombudsman. DILG-Iloilo Director Carmelo Orbista, in a media interview, disclosed that traditionally, the Ombudsman coordinated with their central office to execute dismissal or suspension orders, but since earlier this year, it has begun to serve the orders directly to the respondents. According to Philippines News Agency, the respondents are required to step down immediately upon receiving the orders.

Manila: Illegal online gambling has dropped by 93 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from cybersecurity and analytics firms Gogolook and Whoscall. According to Philippines News Agency, in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV on Wednesday, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Acting Executive Director Aboy Paraiso attributed the result to the combined efforts of private partners, legislators, government agencies, and law enforcement. ‘Natatakot na daw mag-invest iyong mga foreigners pagdating sa mga online gambling dahil mahigpit talaga ang regulasyon ng ating bansa (Foreigners are afraid of investing on