General

Manila: Concerns on the latest US tariff rates that will take effect on Aug. 1 resulted in the negative close of the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) on Thursday, but the peso gained against the US dollar. The local bourse’s main index shed 0.63 percent to 6,463.20 points, and All Shares by 0.14 percent to 3,812.46 points. According to Philippines News Agency, most of the sectoral gauges tracked the PSEi, led by the Financials after it fell 1.10 percent. Industrial followed after it dropped by 0.80 percent, Holding Firms by 0.75 percent, and Property by 0.31 percent. On the other

San remigio: The municipality of San Remigio is calling for volunteers to help in the establishment of a ‘forest library’ on its 18-hectare timberland. In an interview Thursday, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) chief Ruth Martinez said the local government will be planting dipterocarp, or the endangered tree species such as yakal, kamagong, and almasiga, in a timberland in Barangay Osorio II. According to Philippines News Agency, the project is being implemented in partnership with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) through its Nature-based Solutions Trial Project. Martinez emphasized the need for volunteers to assist in planting approximately 18,000

Manila: The proposal to reset the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) and extend the terms for all village and youth officials needs to be carefully studied, Malaca±ang said on Thursday. In a Palace press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has yet to receive the enrolled bill on the postponement of the 2025 BSKE and extension of officials’ terms. According to Philippines News Agency, Castro explained, “Kapag po natanggap na po, pag-aaralan po iyang mabuti para po mapirmahan kung dapat mapirmahan, aayunan kung dapat sang-ayunan (Once received, it will be studied carefully

Manila: Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. on Wednesday called on researchers to continue exploring bioscience and harness innovation in this field. “By connecting scientific breakthroughs with community needs, the biosciences can provide relevant, transdisciplinary, and comprehensive solutions that promote community resilience, environmental responsibility, and economic progress,” he said during the National Academy of Science and Technology’s 47th annual scientific meeting. According to Philippines News Agency, Solidum cited as an example the country’s drug discovery and development program called Tuklas Lunas, which currently supports 29 institutions in developing locally-derived therapeutic agents and possible commercialization of new

Northern mindanao: Northern Mindanao’s main public airport, now officially known as Laguindingan International Airport (LIA), is set to gain international status as part of its ongoing expansion and enhanced manpower services. According to Philippines News Agency, Franz Jonathan De La Fuente, corporate communications and branding manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) Inc., announced Wednesday that the airport officially adopted its new name when AIC began operations earlier this year. “The official name of LIA is ahead of the upcoming international flights (to be announced) soon,” De La Fuente said. Aboitiz InfraCapital Laguindingan Airport Corporation now manages the airport. It has also