General

Manila: The Clark International Airport has welcomed Shandong Airlines’ cargo services. “The additional route between Shenzhen and Clark boosts cargo connectivity between the Philippines and China,” airport operator Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) said in a social media post on Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, this development supports LIPAD’s vision of transforming Clark Airport into a premier logistics hub in the region. The consortium highlighted its ongoing efforts to position the Clark Civil Aviation Complex as a globally competitive logistics center in Southeast Asia. In addition to Shandong Airlines, Clark Airport is home to other air freight

Antique: An initial group of 105 minimum wage earners in Antique took advantage of the PHP20 per kilogram rice offer during the launch of the ‘Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!’ program in the capital town on Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Antique Provincial Director Ma. Cecilia Acebuque stated that the program is a realization of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s promise to provide affordable yet quality rice at the rate of PHP20 per kg. To support this initiative, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma Jr. collaborated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National

Leyte: Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is advocating for a legislative measure that mandates business establishments to apply the 20-percent discount and exemption from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) enjoyed by senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) on top of any existing promotional offers or discounts. According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez introduced House Bill No. 16, titled ‘An Act Enhancing the Discount on the Purchase of Goods and Services of Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities’, with the aim of maintaining the preferential treatment provided to these groups. The bill seeks to ensure that the current

Manila: The Philippines has welcomed eight additional Rohingya refugees who will pursue undergraduate degrees at selected universities across the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Friday. The eight, who arrived in Manila on Thursday, are beneficiaries of the Philippine government’s Complementary Pathways (CPath) program, which offers tertiary education opportunities and comprehensive support services to displaced Rohingya refugees in Southeast Asia. According to Philippines News Agency, the program is a reflection of Manila’s ‘enduring tradition of offering refuge and solidarity,’ the DFA said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). ‘(They will stay in the Philippines) at least until

Ilocos norte: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 1 (Ilocos Region) has officially handed over nine farm-to-market roads aimed at enhancing economic growth in rural farming villages within Ilocos Norte. These roads, valued at PHP140 million, span a total of 11.028 kilometers and serve several barangays including Nagsurot in Burgos, Carusikis in Pasuquin, Francisco and Baresbes in Dingras, and Camanga, Nagrebcan, and Balbaldez in Badoc. According to Philippines News Agency, during the ceremonial turnover, Rommel Aquino, the chief agrarian reform program officer, emphasized the significance of these infrastructure projects. He highlighted that the construction and improvement of these roads are