General

Manila: The Philippine government welcomed home the first batch of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East with a comprehensive package of assistance, including rescue and transport, as well as medical, financial, and reintegration support. Among the 31 OFWs who arrived was Arman Naz, a hotel worker from Tel Aviv, Israel, who opted for repatriation after enduring days of missile attacks by Iran and fear for his life. According to Philippines News Agency, Naz recalled that when sirens started and bombs were falling, they all rushed to shelters afraid and trembling, not knowing what would happen next, and

Iloilo City: Three companies showed interest in partnering with the local government here to operate and manage the Uswag Iloilo Hospital and Medical Arts Building through a public-private partnership. According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer David Abraham Garcia, head of the Iloilo City Public-Private Partnership Office, announced that The Medical City (TMC) submitted an unsolicited proposal this month. Furthermore, Healthway Qualimed Hospital by Ayala and West Visayas State University Medical Center have also expressed intent to participate in this initiative. “They all want to operate and manage the city hospital,” Garcia stated in an interview. TMC’s proposal outlines an upfront

Camiguin: The Camiguin provincial government is determined to impose harsher penalties on business owners selling smuggled cigarettes. During Wednesday’s second Quarter Joint Council Meeting, Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo urged the five municipalities in the province to pass an ordinance banning the sale of smuggled cigarettes. He said businesses found selling such contrabands will have their permits revoked as part of the proposed ordinance’s penalty provisions. According to Philippines News Agency, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has intensified its efforts to crack down on smuggled cigarettes nationwide, with help from the Philippine National Police,

Basey: The Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar is now fully operational around the clock, providing service to passengers and truckers following the completion of upgrades aimed at mitigating transportation disruptions between Samar and Leyte due to weight restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge. According to Philippines News Agency, improvements to the port have increased its service capacity, with six landing craft tank vessels now operating 24/7 between Tacloban Port and Amandayehan Port since Monday. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced that the installation of navigational aids, funded by the PPA, has been completed, facilitating smoother maritime traffic and enhanced safety

Manila: The 19th Congress passed 40 out of the 64 priority bills under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). According to Philippines News Agency, this is the highest number of priority measures passed since the 10th Congress during the Ramos administration. LEDAC serves as the President’s consultative and advisory body on programs and policies essential to achieving the goals of the national economy. Before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 11, the Senate and House of Representatives ratified the reconciled versions of seven priority bills under the CLA. These include the