Day: December 17, 2025

Sultan kudarat: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Peace and Development Buong Bansa Mapayapa Program (PDBBM) and in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), conducted a cash-for-work (CFW) payout for 1,433 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) decommissioned combatants on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay of the DSWD’s Peace and Development Group emphasized that the initiative is not only about financial assistance but also a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening communities and sustaining peace. Tanjusay highlighted the program’s goal of promoting long-term economic stability, community

Soccsksargen: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 12 has successfully assisted 1,315 youth aged 18 to 30 years through the Government Internship Program (GIP) in 2025. The initiative aims to bolster the employability of young individuals in the region by providing them with practical work experience. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOLE Regional Office stated that the beneficiaries participated in three to six months of paid internships, allowing them to acquire practical skills essential for enhancing their competitiveness and readiness for future careers. As of November 2025, 86 GIP beneficiaries have already secured employment, either being

Manila: The effective transmission rate for December slipped to PHP1.35 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from last month’s PHP1.51/kWh, driven by changes in consumption, officials of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Julius Ryan Datingaling, NGCP Assistant Vice President and head of the Revenue Management Development, stated that the rate adjustment in the Luzon grid is a decrease of PHP0.22/kWh due to an increase in energy consumption. In contrast, the Visayas grid experienced a PHP0.22/kWh increase in rate due to a decrease in energy consumption, while the Mindanao grid saw a PHP0.4/kWh

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans on Wednesday to diversify crops in response to the significant irrigation damage in Nueva Ecija. This initiative aims to mitigate the potential impact on local agriculture, especially for rice farmers who face disruptions due to illegal quarrying activities affecting the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIS). According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. revealed that the DA is preparing to transition at least 37,000 hectares of rice farmland to mung bean cultivation. The shift comes as the damaged irrigation system threatens to reduce palay (unhusked rice) output by

Cagayan de oro: The Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. on Wednesday launched its five-year strategic plan to complement the thriving economy of Northern Mindanao. In a statement, Oro Chamber President Almarco Brito said the plan would serve as a roadmap to ensure leadership continuity while strengthening advocacy for ease of doing business and inclusive economic growth across the region. According to Philippines News Agency, Brito emphasized the chamber’s ambition to become the leading advocate for the business sector over the next five years. Brito added that leading the industry includes pushing for policies that support