General

Manila: The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) composite team tasked to crack down on erring public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers at the country’s main gateway continues to apprehend more individuals via random inspections. On Wednesday, at least 41 taxis, motorcycle taxis, and vehicles were inspected at the NAIA Terminal 3. Two PUVs were issued violation tickets for having expired registration and were later impounded, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said in a news release. According to Philippines News Agency, the LTO is among the members of the composite team, together with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), its Airport Police

Manila: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is exerting all efforts to prevent the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation from reaching Mindanao, which has recorded the highest growth in sugar production for the current crop year. In a statement on Wednesday, Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona reiterated that Mindanao is the country’s next frontier in terms of sugarcane production and that the SRA is eyeing the expansion of its services in the region. ‘If you look at our production numbers this year, the highest growth for sugar production is in Mindanao,’ he added. According to Philippines News Agency, during a press

Ilocos region: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has provided cash assistance to 15 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Ilocos Region who fell victim to the ‘balikbayan box’ scam. Each OFW received PHP30,000 from the agency’s Aksyon Fund. According to Philippines News Agency, DMW 1 (Ilocos Region) officer-in-charge Assistant Director Romeo Jaramilla disclosed during a phone interview that these OFWs were identified based on a list provided by the Bureau of Customs, which confirmed the loss of their balikbayan boxes. The department reached out to the affected workers and facilitated the documentation needed for them to receive the cash

Antique: The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is collaborating with the University of Antique (UA) to address the vulnerabilities and improve the agricultural productivity of Antique. PhilSA Space Science and Technology Deputy Director General Dr. Gay Jane Perez, in an interview on Wednesday, said they are collaborating with the UA for data sharing and a joint data analysis for environmental monitoring and agricultural applications. According to Philippines News Agency, Perez is currently in Antique with PhilSA Director IV Ariel Blanco for the July 2-3 PhilSA Integrated Network for Space-Enabled Actions towards Sustainability (PINAS) workshop at the UA main campus in Sibalom

Manila: Seventy-four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel are set to return to the country this week as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured continuous repatriation efforts despite the lowering of the alert level following a ceasefire in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan mentioned in a Bagong Pilipinas interview that although the Department of Foreign Affairs has downgraded the alert level in Israel to Alert Level 2, the government’s monitoring and assistance remain available for OFWs who wish to come home. Caunan stated that 21 OFWs are expected to arrive from Israel