General

Iloilo City: The Department of Education (DepEd) has reported a substantial enrollment figure, with 1.037 million learners registered across all school divisions in Western Visayas, as the enrollment process remains open for late registrants. According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd 6 (Western Visayas) information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. disclosed in a recent interview that this impressive number includes students from private schools, public schools, as well as state and local universities offering basic education. The current enrollment for the School Year 2025-2026 stands at 93.90 percent of last year’s figures. The province of Iloilo, including Passi City, recorded the highest

Manila: Over 5,099 individuals, some of whom are former employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), have been apprehended in connection with various cybercrimes from January to mid-June this year, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG). According to Philippines News Agency, PNP ACG acting director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang shared in an interview with PTV-4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that these arrests were made due to involvement in a range of online offenses. Brig. Gen. Yang reported that the majority of those arrested are unemployed males aged between 20 and 30. Legal actions have been initiated against the

Manila: Young workers now prefer jobs that offer flexible arrangements and digitally-driven roles, a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) official said Thursday. DOLE Undersecretary Carmela Torres noted a noticeable shift in employment preferences among the youth workforce in the country. According to Philippines News Agency, Torres described this change as a “dynamic shift” towards meaningful work aligned with global demands. She highlighted this trend during her keynote address at the launch of the “Advancing Digital and Green Skills for Youth in ASEAN” project in Manila. Young people are increasingly interested in flexible work arrangements, roles driven by digital innovation,

Manila: The national government’s budget deficit narrowed to PHP145.2 billion in May due to robust growth in revenues and moderation in spending, as reported by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). In comparison, the budget deficit for May of the previous year stood at PHP174.9 billion. According to Philippines News Agency, revenue collections during the month increased by 13.35 percent to PHP433.1 billion, up from PHP382.1 billion the previous year, driven by strong growth in both tax and non-tax revenues. Tax revenues, amounting to PHP1.752 trillion, rose by 10.49 percent, buoyed by the government’s revenue-generating efforts. A breakdown of the

Manila: A PHP1.5 million Swine Industry Recovery Project (SIRP) is set to be established in Lala, Lanao del Norte, according to an official announcement. Vic Thor Palarca, a media specialist at the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) 10 (Northern Mindanao), shared that the San Isidro Upper Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFAMPCO) will manage the project. According to Philippines News Agency, the cheque and groundbreaking ceremony took place last Wednesday, marking the commencement of a facility that will accommodate about 40-head finisher capacity under the SIRP initiative. This project is a significant step in the Department of Agriculture’s strategy to revive the swine