General

Nueva ecija: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that the National Food Authority (NFA) will not reduce the buying price of palay even as the government continues its PHP20 per kilogram rice program. Addressing concerns during a dialogue with this year’s Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija, Marcos emphasized that farmers’ income remains a top priority of his administration. According to Philippines News Agency, the President stated that the current price range of palay-PHP19 to PHP23 per kilogram for dry palay and PHP18 per kilogram for wet palay-will be maintained. Marcos reassured the farmers, saying, “Kahit anong presyo

Mount fuji: Mount Fuji, the highest peak of Japan, will open for this year’s summer climbing season in early July with new fees and restrictions. Starting this year, both Shizuoka and Yamanashi, the two central Japan prefectures home to the mountain, will collect JPY4,000 per person climbing beyond its fifth stations. According to Philippines News Agency, restrictions will be tightened to prevent congestion on mountain trails and eradicate reckless overnight climbs. They include banning entry to the mountain beyond the fifth stations between 2 p.m. and 3 a.m. the following day. An official at a mountain hut operator voiced hopes

Navotas city: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has stepped in to assist a shipyard company in managing flooding in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City, following the collapse of a river wall over the weekend. According to Philippines News Agency, engineer William Zamoranos from the DPWH’s Malabon-Navotas District Engineering Office reported that sandbags and plywood have been provided to temporarily cover the collapsed section of the wall, which is located on the property of the private firm. “We started putting up sandbags and plywood early Sunday morning to enclose the affected portion and prevent water from entering,” Zamoranos

Malaca±ang: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday swore in Ariel Nepomuceno as the new Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Nepomuceno, who formerly served as the Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), will be taking over from Bienvenido Rubio as the BOC chief. According to Philippines News Agency, the oath-taking ceremony took place in Malaca±ang, signifying another key appointment in President Marcos’ ongoing Cabinet reorganization following the 2025 midterm elections. Before being appointed to the OCD, Nepomuceno held the position of Deputy Commissioner for the Enforcement Group at the BOC from 2013 to 2017. Rubio had

Manila: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday revised its balance of payments (BOP) projections for 2025 and 2026, considering global uncertainty, increased geopolitical risks, and investor confidence’s impact on the BOP outlook. The BOP summarizes a country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world over a specific period and can be in surplus, deficit, or balance. According to Philippines News Agency, the BSP expects a BOP deficit of USD6.3 billion this year, larger than the earlier USD4 billion deficit projection. For 2026, the BSP anticipates a reduced deficit of USD2.8 billion. The outlook reflects a continued current