General

Pasay City: Government authorities seized PHP29.7 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City over the weekend. In a statement on Tuesday, District Collector Yasmin Mapa said the contraband, weighing 4,368 grams, was discovered during a routine screening of the luggage of a passenger arriving from Malaysia on June 14, 2025. The passenger was immediately arrested, Mapa said. According to Philippines News Agency, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio stated that the interception is a testament to the bureau’s sustained vigilance and the dedication of its

Bacolod City: The Negros Occidental provincial government has recently enrolled 515 additional educational scholars, joining a total of 1,350 grantees striving to complete their education. The province has earmarked approximately PHP72.3 million this year to support these scholars across 11 different categories, as stated by Karen Dinsay, head of the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP), during an interview on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the scholars were selected from a pool of 8,600 applicants. These beneficiaries will receive free tuition, miscellaneous fees, book and uniform allowances, and various other forms of assistance. In a ceremony held on Monday, they

Benguet: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has initiated the enrollment of elementary school learners and their parents into its Konsulta program at Puguis Elementary School. This initiative aims to provide primary and preventive healthcare services to students and their families. According to Philippines News Agency, Noemi Gri±o, a mother of two pupils at Puguis Elementary School, registered her Grade 1 child during an off-site registration event at the school. Following the registration, her child was able to receive a dental check-up. Gri±o expressed her appreciation for the program, highlighting its benefits in addressing the healthcare needs of students. She

Iloilo City: Around 4,000 non-plantilla employees of the local government here can now have access to social health insurance following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Health Office in Western Visayas (PhilHealth VI). According to Philippines News Agency, the mandatory coverage will benefit personnel and direct hires under project-based, job order, and contract of service status through the group enrollment program of the National Health Insurance Program. The agreement was signed by Mayor Jerry Treñas and Administrator Melchor Tan for Iloilo City, and acting Regional Vice President Larry Tabsing and Field

Manila: The Philippines has made notable progress in the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), climbing three spots to secure the 8th position among non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries. This advancement reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance its appeal as a Muslim-friendly destination. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippines achieved a score of 53 this year, marking a significant improvement from the previous year’s score of 47. The Halal in Travel Awards in 2023 and 2024 also recognized the Philippines as the Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year (Non-OIC). Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco expressed