General

Davao City: Some 46,000 indigent senior citizens from Davao Oriental received PHP137 million worth of financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao (DSWD-11) in a payout conducted from June 16 to June 20. According to Philippines News Agency, the agency stated that each qualified beneficiary received PHP3,000 as assistance earmarked for their medical and daily needs. The DSWD’s Social Pension Program is one of the agency’s initiatives that provides monthly financial assistance to indigent senior citizens to meet their basic needs, including food, medicine, and other necessities. ‘We encourage qualified senior citizens to contact their local Office

Manila: Malaca±ang has moved to address growing public concern over the possibility of a global war, assuring Filipinos that the government is prepared to respond to any situation as tensions rise in the Middle East. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed relevant agencies to prioritize the protection and welfare of overseas Filipinos, particularly those in high-risk areas. According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized the President’s message of readiness and government support in a recent Palace press briefing. The statement aimed to calm fears fueled by online discussions of a potential World

Iloilo City: The city government is setting its sights on bringing back the love for reading following the launch of its first outdoor library at the Plaza Libertad on Monday. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Tre±as led the launch by reading a story and engaging in a short interaction with children from various daycare centers across the city. According to Philippines News Agency, Tre±as said he noticed a stark change in children’s reading habits compared to the time before television, smartphones, and malls became prevalent. “That’s part of development. But we need to bring back the love for reading,” he said,

Zamboanga City: Growing up amid the tumultuous backdrop of Zamboanga City and Basilan Province in Mindanao, Rhadem Musawah witnessed the profound struggles faced by marginalized communities during decades of armed conflict and displacement. “We grew up with bombings, corruption, and human rights violations all around us,” Musawah reflects. “But even within that, LGBTIQ+ people were often the most vulnerable, unseen, and unheard in humanitarian responses and peace processes.” According to UN Women, Musawah’s advocacy today spans the entire nation, though his formative experiences in Mindanao continue to shape his mission. As a queer Muslim advocate, he is committed to supporting

Manila: Oil firms on Monday announced staggered price hikes on fuel products this week. In separate advisories, Seaoil, Shell, and Caltex stated they will implement the first round of price increases on June 24, while the second round will take effect on June 26. According to Philippines News Agency, these companies will hike gasoline prices by PHP1.75 per liter, diesel prices by PHP2.60 per liter, and kerosene prices by PHP2.40 per liter for both June 24 and June 26. CleanFuel also announced it would implement a PHP2.60 per liter increase for diesel and PHP1.75 per liter for gasoline on June