Day: November 12, 2025

Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Wednesday directed all local police offices to start reviewing and updating security preparations for the Christmas holiday season. In a statement, Nartatez stressed the importance of adaptability in managing security during the festivities, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos to uphold peace and order and maintain stability in communities, ensuring that the government’s efforts against criminality are sustained during peak seasons of public convergence. According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez emphasized that the PNP will make necessary adjustments in security protocols, particularly

Manila: More Filipinos now have insurance coverage as total premiums rose 13.2 percent on an annual basis as of end-September, data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed. Total premiums of the domestic industry reached PHP372 billion by the end of the third quarter this year, up from the PHP328.55 billion in the same period last year, the IC said in a press release on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, data from the IC website showed that the latest figure was significantly higher than the PHP242.84 billion as of the end of June. Premiums for life insurance rose 13.77 percent

Manila: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has initiated an investigation into several of its personnel allegedly involved in ‘syndicate-style’ operations that circumvented shipment inspections, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno informed senators on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns about reports of BOC employees manipulating vehicle inspection results to facilitate the release of imported cars. Gatchalian described the operations as being run by an internal syndicate and questioned whether those responsible had been identified and faced consequences. Nepomuceno confirmed that show cause orders have been issued to

Iloilo city: The city government of Iloilo has announced a temporary allowance for sidewalk vending during the holiday season, coupled with guidelines to ensure order and safety, starting this weekend. According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Raisa Tre±as issued Executive Order No. 139 on Wednesday, highlighting the cultural significance of sidewalk vending as part of Filipino tradition. The order allows vendors to set up stalls along designated streets in the metro, facilitating a source of livelihood and economic recovery during the holiday rush. The executive order specifies that open sidewalk vending is permitted on all Saturdays and Sundays of November,

Manila: Philippine Army (PA) units are working nonstop to restore access to isolated communities in typhoon-hit areas in Aurora and Cebu provinces. According to Philippines News Agency, in a statement on Wednesday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said these units are working “around the clock” to clear roads of debris left by recent powerful cyclones Tino and Uwan. In Aurora, where Super Typhoon Uwan made landfall on Sunday, combat engineer regiment (CER) teams conducted rescue and clearing operations in Barangay Bacong in San Luis town, Dema-ala stated. “CER teams also cleared roads and helped repair washed-out thoroughfares in Barangay Amper,