General

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

Bacolod: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Environment Management Bureau (EMB) 6 (Western Visayas) is set to conduct public scoping and hearing sessions for three significant proposed projects in Negros Occidental next month. The initiatives include an oil palm plantation, a poultry farm expansion, and a solar power project, each poised to have substantial impacts on the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the public scoping for the PHP60 million oil palm plantation by Hacienda Asia Plantations, Inc. (HAPI) in Candoni will occur at the municipal covered gymnasium on July 3. Meanwhile, the poultry farm expansion project by

Manila: Southeast Asia is witnessing rapid economic development, which has brought several challenges, including the strain on sewage infrastructures to meet the rising demand. Indonesia, a leading economic force in the region with a 5 percent annual growth rate, exemplifies these growing pains. Despite its economic prowess, Jakarta, the nation’s capital, has a sewage coverage rate of only around 12 percent, lagging behind other major cities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to Philippines News Agency, Japan is actively assisting Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia by offering official development assistance (ODA) and private-sector technologies. A significant step

Abucay: The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office 3-Central Luzon has commenced the distribution of more than PHP348.75 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to over 62,000 families affected by Super Typhoon Carina in July 2024. According to Philippines News Agency, the ECT payouts began on Tuesday in the municipalities of Abucay in Bataan and in Arayat and Candaba in Pampanga, with plans to continue until the first week of July. This initiative follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing the need for sustained support beyond the provision of immediate relief goods. Assistant Secretary

Cagayan de Oro: Filipino and Australian troops formally ended the first “Kasangga” bilateral exercise held in Mindanao on Tuesday. “The PA (Philippine Army) and the Australian Defense Force bolstered their bilateral defense partnership with the conclusion of the Philippine-Australia Army-to-Army Exercise (PAAE) ‘Kasangga’ 2025-1 at Montalvan Hall, Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on June 24, 2025,” PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, a total of 140 from the PA’s 504th Combat Engineer Battalion, Combat Engineer Regiment, and selected troops from the 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions trained side