Day: November 20, 2025

Manila: Senator Erwin Tulfo has urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to launch a full investigation into alleged corruption in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), particularly the reported misuse of the agency’s Letter of Authority (LOA) system that has allegedly become a long-running ‘money-making scheme.’ According to Philippines News Agency, in an interview over DZBB on Thursday, Tulfo said he would recommend to Blue Ribbon chairperson, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, that the committee take up the BIR issue next, citing the volume of complaints from taxpayers who fear retaliation from examiners. Tulfo noted that many business owners

Iloilo city: The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) marked the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) celebration with a series of activities that will culminate with the ‘Power Run for Rice’ on Saturday. In an interview on Thursday, DA-6 agri-fishery information section chief James Earl Ogatis said that the 5-kilometer fun run is open to farmers, DA employees, the private sector, and anyone interested in joining. According to Philippines News Agency, there will be top three winners for finishers in the male and female categories, the oldest and youngest finishers, and the most captivating runner. Additionally, over 50 bags

Manila: A series of weak earthquakes, including a magnitude 4.1 tremor, shook areas off the coast of Aurora province early Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported: A series of earthquakes struck the coastal areas of Aurora province, with the initial tremor occurring at 1:43 a.m. The seismic activity was recorded east and southeast of Baler and Dinalungan and included five aftershocks. According to Philippines News Agency, Phivolcs classified most of the tremors as shallow and suggested they were likely related to aftershock activity. The initial quake, with a magnitude of 4.1, struck at a depth of

Baguio: The city government is confident it can generate the PHP3.65 billion operational budget for 2026 through internally raised revenues, its share of the national tax allocation (NTA), and other mandated income sources. Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan stated that the council-approved PHP3,651,592,560 budget under Ordinance 90-2025 is ‘realistic.’ According to Philippines News Agency, Olowan indicated that the budget was based on the actual 2024-2025 collections vetted by the city treasurer. He described the budget as a conservative estimate, emphasizing that the necessary resources would be accessible for 2026. Olowan highlighted various steady revenue streams, including the newly turned-over Maharlika Livelihood

Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has dismissed allegations that he is hastily defending President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concerning the purported PHP100 billion budget insertion and kickback scheme. Lacson asserted that evidence suggests the President was misled, indicating that the alleged kickback deliveries could not have involved Marcos. According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson pointed out that President Marcos’ decision to veto PHP1.15 billion worth of items from the proposed budget insertions serves as a basis for his exoneration. Lacson highlighted the contradiction in the claim made by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who alleged that he