General

San Fernando: Gilas Pilipinas Youth escaped Indonesia in a gritty 77-68 win in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers on Wednesday evening at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. Unlike their lopsided wins over Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, the nationals found themselves in a close contest for the first time in the tournament. According to Philippines News Agency, the young Filipinos proved they can also do it even in tight games, relying once again on a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures. The win gave Gilas a 4-0 slate and is now

Tacloban: The city council here declared a state of emergency on Thursday as transport of goods and medical supplies between Leyte and Samar provinces has been disrupted due to the limited access of San Juanico Bridge. According to Philippines News Agency, citing Section 16 of the Local Government Code and relevant national disaster protocols, the city government, in a statement, said a state of emergency can be declared when public safety is at risk or when immediate action is needed to respond to a crisis or disruption of essential services. ‘With restricted access to San Juanico, the main gateway in

Bacolod City: The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has assured continuous and close monitoring efforts to contain the red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) infestation that has affected sugarcane crops in Negros Occidental. This pest was first reported in Luzon in 2023 and threatens to decrease sugar content by nearly 50 percent. According to Philippines News Agency, SRA Administrator Luis Pablo Azcona highlighted the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) supportive role in addressing the situation. He mentioned that there have been collaborative measures with the DA-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR), allowing for a swift response to the outbreak. Despite these efforts, Azcona noted the challenges

Quezon City: The Philippine government has slashed permit processing time by more than 90 percent in key sectors, which significantly improves the ease of doing business and attracts more investments, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said. According to Philippines News Agency, in a forum celebrating the Ease of Doing Business month in Quezon City, ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez highlighted the major regulatory gains achieved through its National Effort for Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies (NEHEMIA) Program. This initiative has streamlined bureaucratic procedures in sectors such as telecommunications, energy, construction, housing, logistics, food and pharmaceuticals, mining, agriculture, semiconductor,

Manila: Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairperson and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco announced that he, along with all members of the agency’s Board of Directors, submitted their courtesy resignations last week. According to Philippines News Agency, Tengco stated that this move is intended to provide President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with the flexibility needed to restructure the bureaucracy. “We serve at the pleasure of the President,” Tengco remarked, emphasizing their readiness to accept any decision made by the Chief Executive. Those who resigned in addition to Tengco include PAGCOR president and chief operating officer Wilma Eisma and Directors