Day: December 17, 2025

Baguio: The city government of Baguio is enhancing its waste management strategies by introducing an upcycling program that repurposes discarded plastics into functional furniture, thereby reducing waste and related expenses. According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Benjamin Magalong has instructed barangay officials to gather and temporarily store cleaned and dried single-use plastics at their materials recovery facilities. These plastics include items such as sachets, bottle caps, rings, and bubble wrap. Once the collected plastics reach approximately 35 kilograms, they can be transformed into a durable adult-sized armchair with the help of an upcycling company equipped with the necessary technology. Mayor

Manila: Hundreds of city buses plying the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway now accept cashless payments using GCash. During its launch at the Para±aque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Wednesday, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced that the new cashless payment system will provide an additional payment option for a more convenient experience at the EDSA Busway. According to Philippines News Agency, the new payment system is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve the daily experience of those using public transportation. Lopez emphasized that the cashless payment option is a significant step towards enhancing

Pasig city: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday launched the National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) to provide early detection and intervention for vision problems among kindergarten learners nationwide. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara led the program’s rollout at Rosario Elementary School in Pasig City. According to Philippines News Agency, Angara stated that the initiative is part of the government’s shift to preventive healthcare in all public schools. He emphasized that the Universal Health Care law aims for PhilHealth to focus not only on treatment but also on prevention of illnesses, a goal that aligns with the kind of preventive healthcare

Manila: Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday announced that the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) includes a provision that prohibits politicians from being present during the distribution of government cash assistance. This move aims to prevent the misuse of aid for political gain. According to Philippines News Agency, during the Bicameral conference on the upcoming PHP6.793-trillion national budget, objections were raised regarding the involvement of politicians in the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. It was noted that some politicians were previously involved in leading aid distribution, prompting the introduction of a special provision to ban their participation

Ilocos norte: The Kadiwa ng Pangulo program in Ilocos Norte has achieved PHP6 million in total sales since January this year, sustaining the livelihood of farmer-entrepreneurs while boosting the local economy, an official stated Wednesday. “This program is being conducted by the provincial government every 2nd and 4th week of the month,” Chira Cacatian, provincial agribusiness and marketing coordinator of the Office of Provincial Agriculture, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview. According to Philippines News Agency, Cacatian disclosed that this year’s sales figure is lower compared to last year’s PHP6,972,254 due to the cancellations caused by tropical cyclones,