Day: December 4, 2025

Mandaluyong city: Trade officials have revised the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) targets for exports from 2025 to 2028, acknowledging the need for more attainable objectives due to the effects of US tariff policies and disruptions in global trade routes. Based on the presentation by Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Director and Export Development Council (EDC) Executive Director Bianca Pearl Sykimte during the Exporters’ Week event in Mandaluyong City, the export target for this year is set between USD110.8 billion and USD113.4 billion. According to Philippines News Agency, the targets for subsequent years have also been adjusted. For 2026, the export

Manila: The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earned two major honors at the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) Awards Ceremony on Dec. 1, reaffirming its status as one of the country’s leading Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations. According to Philippines News Agency, PAGCOR received a 99.92 percent score on its 2024 Performance Evaluation Scorecard and was also awarded the Sustainability Award for its efforts in upholding sustainability values and best practices in corporate governance. PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated that the recognitions reflect the agency’s progress in improving operations, enhancing regulatory systems, and ensuring that its revenues continuously

Muscat: Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday thanked Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the Omani government for their tireless efforts in securing the safe release of the nine Filipino crew of MV Eternity C held hostage by Houthi militants in July. The Filipino crew arrived in Muscat from Sana’a, Yemen, aboard a Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the crew members of MV Eternity C were among the 21 Filipino sailors on board when the ship was attacked by Houthi rebels on July 7 while traversing the Red Sea. The

Antique: The Pagsapupo (Care) Center, a temporary shelter for abused and abandoned children in Antique, is reaching out to families willing to join their ‘Share-A-Home’ program this Christmas season. Social Worker Rebecca Hope Lotilla, who is in charge of the center, announced that from December 20, 2025, until January 4, 2026, the center’s clients could stay with families eager to share their blessings during the Yuletide season. “We are looking for families who would like to invite our wards to stay with them during the duration,” Lotilla stated in an interview. According to Philippines News Agency, a 17-year-old resident, who

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a partnership with BDO Unibank Inc. and Friends of Hope Inc. (HOPE) to accelerate classroom construction across the country through a ‘zero-cost-to-government’ fundraising initiative. The collaboration aims to address the classroom shortage in public schools nationwide. According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative was formalized with the launch of the BDO HOPE Mastercard, a program designed to generate funds for public school classrooms with each usage of the card. Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that this initiative represents a significant step toward reducing the classroom gap that may otherwise persist for decades.