General

Antique: Nine schools in the province of Antique have been selected as pilot institutions for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) strengthened senior high school curriculum for Grade 11 this academic year. According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative aims to streamline the curriculum by merging specific tracks and core subjects, enabling students to concentrate more effectively on their studies. DepEd Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Edward Ba±a explained that the revised curriculum will now feature two primary tracks: academic and technical-professional. This is a shift from the previous system, which included four tracks-academics, technical-vocational, arts and design, and sports. The schools

Nueva Ecija: At least 246 police officers have been deployed across 104 public and private schools in Nueva Ecija province for the opening of classes on Monday, according to the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO). According to Philippines News Agency, Col. Ferdinand D. Germino, the NEPPO director, stated that they have established 32 police assistance desks located near school premises to readily assist students, parents, and school staff. “We want to ensure that our children return to school without fear or harm. Our police officers will be in every possible area to provide protection, guidance, and support,” Germino said

Manila: Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday called for restraint and renewed diplomacy amid rising hostilities between Israel and Iran, warning that continued escalation threatens not only regional stability but also the safety of Filipino workers across the Middle East. According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez emphasized the importance of diplomatic solutions and highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to peace. He noted that under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remains a top priority, especially as tensions escalate in the region. Romualdez urged all involved parties to prioritize dialogue over conflict, expressing concern that further

Pagudpud: A kilo of shabu approximately worth PHP6.8 million was recovered off Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, on Monday morning, police said. The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) reported that a 44-year-old fisher noticed a floating plastic package about two miles from the Pasaleng shoreline at about 10:30 a.m. The package had markings of a durian-like fruit with Chinese characters and the number ’66.’ According to Philippines News Agency, the Regional Border Control and Pagudpud Police Station were alerted about the discovery. The package is now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Ilocos Norte for proper

Manila: Amid the high prices of pork in local markets, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday announced plans to make cheaper pork available to more Filipinos through its Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that while the initiative is not intended to compete with retailers, it aims to provide more affordable options for consumers. According to Philippines News Agency, Tiu Laurel anticipates that this move will help reduce inflationary pressures on pork, starting in the first week of August. He emphasized that the initiative is not limited to minimum wage earners but is