General

Manila: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is keen to reinforce inter-agency cooperation in regulating and making available animal vaccines to safeguard animal health and national food security. The spread of African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza (AI) is a major animal health threat that has affected the pork and poultry industries in the country, the FDA said in a news release on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, to curb the infection and prevent the disruption of the country’s food supply chains, FDA Director General Paolo Teston and Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)

Maguindanao: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has unveiled plans for two significant flood control projects in Maguindanao. These initiatives aim to address persistent flooding issues in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH has completed the feasibility study for the PHP39.219-billion project, and it is now pending loan application approval. The initiative includes the design and construction of the Ambal Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects, with construction scheduled to begin in March 2026 and completion expected by February 2030. The projects will be situated in the Mindanao mainland, part

Honolulu: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified on Wednesday night that no Filipino nationals were arrested during a recent raid conducted by United States immigration authorities in Hawaii. The operation, which took place early this month, involved US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents targeting a residence in Kahului, Maui, where a group of teachers, including Filipinos on J-1 visas, were temporarily detained. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu has reached out to the affected Filipino teachers. The consulate confirmed that none of them were arrested and assured that they are safe and in

Manila: Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines reported strong performance on Wednesday, registering an average of 85 percent load factor for the first months of 2025, and hitting almost three million passengers for the first half, including forward bookings. Airline spokesperson Steve Dailisan highlighted that 80 percent of the load factor comprised domestic travelers, with Puerto Princesa emerging as the top local destination. According to Philippines News Agency, this robust performance aligns with a positive trajectory for local tourism. Dailisan emphasized AirAsia’s commitment to supporting this growth through initiatives like the AirAsia Fiesta Series and promotional campaigns tied to local festivals, which

Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Wednesday assured that the police force is fully prepared for disaster response in the upcoming rainy season. ‘Prepared kami 100 percent ang pulis natin (We are 100 percent) prepared to help. Yung gamit namin sabi ko nga although konti pero yung puso namin talagang nandun, talagang committed (Although we lack equipment, our heart is committed),’ he told the media during an inspection of the PNP’s disaster response equipment at Camp Crame. According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP Public Information Office (PNP PIO) stated that the police force has