General

Bicol: The Bureau of Fire Protection in Bicol (BFP-5) reported on Friday the arrest of an alleged illegal recruiter who was demanding money from applicants for the BFP during an entrapment operation carried out on Thursday. In a phone interview, BFP-5 Director Achilles Santiago said the suspect, known as alias Liezel, was apprehended for violating Republic Act 9160 (robbery extortion). According to Philippines News Agency, the arrested individual engaged in illegal activity by falsely claiming to be affiliated with BFP officials and allegedly soliciting money from applicants with the promise of guaranteed employment in the BFP. Santiago said the relatives

Taguig city: The Philippines is eager to sustain the momentum in its robust partnership with the United States, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said. Speaking at the 249th US Independence Day reception in Taguig City on Thursday night, the new Filipino top diplomat highlighted the dynamic Philippine-US engagement across all areas of cooperation from political, security, and defense to trade, investment, and development. According to Philippines News Agency, Lazaro emphasized that for the alliance to be strong politically, it must also be strong economically, underpinned by a shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. She

Allen: The Northern Samar provincial government is set to establish a hemodialysis center in Allen town, aimed at alleviating the financial challenges faced by dialysis patients within the province. According to Philippines News Agency, the facility will be one of three new dialysis centers that the provincial government plans to operate soon. This initiative is intended to meet the healthcare needs of people, particularly from the Balicuatro area or the northwestern part of the province. Another center is planned for the Laoang GB Tan Hospital to serve patients from the Pacific area of the province. Currently, the Northern Samar Provincial

Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines. He emphasized that this initiative would alleviate the financial burden on patients. According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian made this appeal after the recent inclusion of 19 more medicines in the VAT exemption list. He welcomed this development as a significant step in making essential treatments more accessible and affordable for the public. Gatchalian stated, “This move is a clear win for ordinary Filipinos, as it directly translates to reduced costs for

Bicol: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Bicol Region has distributed 11,796 family food packs (FFPs) to beneficiaries of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) at BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished). According to Philippines News Agency, Claudio Villareal, chief of DSWD-5’s Disaster Response Management Division, stated that the FFPs, valued at PHP8 million, are part of a food-for-work program. This initiative is designed to ensure the sustainable implementation of their projects, providing support to beneficiaries engaged in community projects. Villareal explained that beneficiaries receive FFPs through the food-for-work initiative as a