General

Manila: Reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday expressed his unwavering support for the expansion of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na (BBM Na)’ program. He emphasized that this initiative is a vital step for ordinary Filipinos and reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the needs of its people. According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez highlighted the importance of rice as a staple food in Filipino households, stating, “Rice is the staple in every home. That’s why the PHP20 per kilo rice is not just a price – it brings hope to each Filipino

Cagayan de oro: Alexis Nailga displayed his brilliant form again in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series on Thursday, dominating the premier boys’ 15-18 division at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. The 16-year-old from Bukidnon carded a 73 to win by seven strokes. ‘It’s a great feeling to score a three-peat. I now have a strong chance of making it to the national finals,’ Nailga, who also won the Del Monte and Mactan legs, said. According to Philippines News Agency, Nailga had a 36-37 round and a 54-hole total of five-over 221. CDO’s Armand

Warsaw: World Soft Tennis Championships veterans Bien Zoleta and Joseph Arcilla are spearheading the 15-member Philippine team competing in the Poland Cup from July 4 to 9. The team aims to sharpen their skills ahead of the Asian Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea, scheduled from September 13 to 23. According to Philippines News Agency, the lineup also includes players Princess Catindig, Christy Sa±osa, Bea Ebriega, Shyryn Salazar, rookie Airies Nuguit, Patrick Mendoza, Adjuthor Moralde II, Sherwin Nuguit, and Jason Caminting. The delegation is further strengthened by head coach Michael Enriquez and assistant coaches Josephine Paguyo, Wenifredo De Leon, and Mark

Washington: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially ceased operations on Tuesday, with its remaining functions merged into the US State Department, a move that drew sharp criticism from former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. According to Philippines News Agency, the reorganization, initiated under President Donald Trump, involves transferring select USAID functions to the State Department while terminating others that do not align with the administration’s foreign policy agenda. In a previous statement, Trump had derided the agency as being managed by “a bunch of radical lunatics.” Obama called the shutdown ‘a colossal mistake,’ warning of

Tacloban city: The Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 in Eastern Visayas distributed 200 units of push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) radios to police stations across the region. PRO-8 Director Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad highlighted that this initiative aims to improve communication among police units, facilitating more efficient information relay. According to Philippines News Agency, the lack of communication equipment has been a significant barrier to timely police response. The turnover is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that all patrollers are fully equipped with necessary communication tools. Brig. Gen. Cumigad emphasized that this is a continuing procurement based on needs. Earlier