General

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is gearing up to begin the procurement of white and yellow corn in 2026, as announced by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. This initiative follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent declaration during a dialogue with Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija regarding the National Food Authority (NFA)’s resumption of corn buying. According to Philippines News Agency, the DA plans to focus predominantly on white corn, with a smaller volume allocated for yellow corn. Secretary Tiu Laurel highlighted that white corn can serve as an effective substitute for rice, which remains the primary staple

Manila: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque on Tuesday thanked Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CPFI) for the PHP1 rollback on the prices of its canned sardine products. According to Philippines News Agency, the rollback on Ligo and 555 sardine brands took effect Tuesday, which the company said was made ‘to ease the burden on consumers and support them during these times.’ The price cut, Roque said, is a big help in reducing consumers’ expenses. ‘Patunay din ito na sinusuportahan at nakikipagtulungan ang pribadong sektor sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para matiyak na mananatiling mura

Manila: Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero is advocating for a legislative package designed to bolster micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through tax incentives and enhanced access to financing. According to Philippines News Agency, these proposals are part of Escudero’s 10 priority bills for the 20th Congress, with a focus on reducing the financial strain on MSMEs, which he referred to as the ‘backbone of the Philippine economy.’ MSMEs are responsible for 67 percent of employment across the nation. Escudero stated that these measures would enable financially struggling MSMEs to sustain their operations, increase their workforce, and potentially pursue expansion.

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday administered the oath of office of Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro as the new secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a ceremony held at Malaca±ang Palace. Lazaro, who most recently served as DFA undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, formally assumed her post as the country’s top diplomat, replacing Enrique Manalo, who is set to return as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. According to Philippines News Agency, alongside the oath-taking, Marcos also conferred on Lazaro the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of

Iloilo: The Schools Division of Iloilo will implement a community literacy project in support of the vision of the national government to improve the performance of learners. According to Philippines News Agency, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. announced that the ‘Kasimaryo Ko, Tudlo-an Ko’ (My Neighbor, I will Mentor) initiative will be rolled out in partnership with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials. This announcement followed a convergence meeting with stakeholders on June 26. The project was conceptualized to address the urgent need for literacy improvements, aligning with the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education