Day: October 21, 2025

Manila: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has updated its rules to give more overseas Filipinos more investment options. In a statement Tuesday, the BSP said Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) are now exempt from the non-resident ownership rule that previously limited their ability to invest in BSP securities. According to Philippines News Agency, the move reflects BSP’s continued effort to promote financial health. It helps Filipinos, both at home or abroad, build secure and sustainable retirement savings. It also helps develop the country’s private pension system and strengthens domestic capital markets. Non-residents are

Davao city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 (Davao Region) announced Tuesday that they began distributing the fourth quarter social pension to indigent seniors in this city and Davao Occidental province. During the first week of the payout from Oct. 13 to 17, the agency said about 20,000 indigent senior citizens received PHP3,000 each in financial assistance for October, November, and December. According to Philippines News Agency, this distribution is part of the Social Pension Program targeting impoverished senior citizens who lack steady income or family support. The program provides a monthly stipend of PHP1,000 to qualifying

Manila: As part of its 78th Charter Day celebration, this city on Monday night recognized 44 outstanding small businesses based on consumer choice, highlighting local excellence in food, services, and retail. Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, who led the awarding ceremony at the Ormoc City Stage, emphasized the importance of showcasing homegrown businesses that have earned the trust and loyalty of residents and visitors alike. According to Philippines News Agency, of the 44 awardees, 27 were recognized in the restaurant category; 10 were in the services category, including accommodations, salons, and catering; seven were honored in the retail sector category. A crowd

Mindanao: Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso Magno has made a compelling appeal for the establishment of a more robust disaster response mechanism in Mindanao. He emphasized the region’s increasing vulnerability to both natural and human-induced hazards, underscoring the critical need for improved preparedness and resilience. According to Philippines News Agency, Magno highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting the rising frequency and intensity of weather disturbances attributed to climate change. He reflected on the past, stating, “Before, when we were growing up, we used to say Mindanao was typhoon-free. But due to climate change-because of things that

Manila: Joint operations by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Philippine Navy on Monday intercepted PHP19.2 million worth of suspected marijuana kush in the West Philippine Sea. Navy soldiers discovered a black duffle bag drifting at sea during a routine maritime patrol near Sabina Shoal, containing 32 heat-sealed plastic packs filled with dried buds of suspected marijuana, weighing approximately 16 kilograms. According to Philippines News Agency, the seized items were brought to the Philippine Navy facility in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, where documentation and inventory were conducted in coordination with the PDEA provincial office. PNP