General

Bicol: Over 2,287 sites in the Bicol Region are now providing internet access under the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Free Wi-Fi for All program. DICT-5 Director Rachel Ann Grabador stated that the public can now enjoy free internet access in numerous public places throughout the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the free Wi-Fi sites are available not only in national and local government offices but also in basic education institutions, hospitals, health centers, rural health units, parks, plazas, libraries, barangay reading centers, airports, seaports, and transport terminals. The DICT has also focused on initiatives targeting Geographically

Antique: The Antique Provincial Development Council (PDC) adopted Supplemental Annual Investment Program (SAIP) No. 3, containing the PHP500 power subsidy for each of the 169,000 households during their special meeting on Tuesday. PDC Secretary General Bienvenido Nallos Jr. said the subsidy is eyed to be available as early as August this year. According to Philippines News Agency, the provincial government has a savings of PHP1.8 billion from its national wealth share or taxes paid by Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) as of 2024, which they can use for the assistance. ‘The PHP1.8 billion savings will be more than enough

Manila: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has called on the public to report pharmacies that continue to impose value-added tax (VAT) on medicines that are exempted, in light of Revenue Memorandum Circulars (RMC) Nos. 59-2025 and 62-2025, which expanded the list of VAT-exempt medicines. According to Philippines News Agency, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. stated that the agency has been receiving numerous reports from consumers about non-compliance by some pharmacies. Lumagui encouraged the public to report these non-compliant pharmacies directly to the BIR via [email protected]. The BIR chief also highlighted that complaints could be filed with the Food and

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisted more than 12,000 child laborers from 2021 to 2024 through the Strategic Help desks for Information, Education, Livelihood, and Other Developmental Interventions (SHIELD) Against Child Labor Program. Of the total, 3,887 minors have already been reintegrated into their families and communities, the DSWD said. According to Philippines News Agency, child labor is a serious concern that hinders the development of children. To address this problem, the DSWD implements the SHIELD Against Child Labor Program, which is a community-based program that taps the whole-of-society approach to provide holistic and immediate interventions

Manila: The Marcos administration has vowed to intensify its initiatives to create more job opportunities for Filipinos, as Malaca±ang welcomes the recent rise in employment figures recorded in May 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the nation’s labor force participation rate climbed to 65.8 percent in May 2025, a notable increase from 64.8 percent in the same month of the previous year. This development comes as a positive sign amid ongoing efforts by the government to enhance employment conditions. In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos