General

Manila: The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) fully awarded bids for Treasury bills (T-bills) during Monday’s auction. The 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills fetched average rates of 5.573 percent, 5.667 percent, and 5.697 percent, respectively. According to Philippines News Agency, last week, the average yield of the 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills were lower at 5.546 percent, 5.655 percent, and 5.688 percent. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort stated that the latest T-bill average auction yields were higher following the latest upward correction in the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield at 4.31 percent. The auction was almost 3.0

Manila: Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday hailed the launch of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan 2025-2034 as a critical step toward establishing a long-term, nationwide framework for employment generation, while calling for stronger local alignment and flexibility in the face of rapid technological change. According to Philippines News Agency, Villanueva, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, described the plan as a ‘Herculean’ product of inter-agency collaboration involving the Departments of Economy, Trade, and Labor, and a landmark shift toward sustained and inclusive job creation. ‘This comprehensive, long-term normative framework for employment generation is the result of

Negros Island: Elections in Negros Island’s insurgency-affected areas will proceed as scheduled on May 12 despite recent clashes between government forces and rebels, an official said Monday. Comelec-Negros Island Region Director Lionel Marco Castillano assured that measures are in place to prevent disruptions by the New People’s Army (NPA). According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Army and police have intensified their operations to safeguard the electoral process. Castillano emphasized that the recent encounters in Kabankalan and Guihulngan cities were conducted proactively to ensure that peace and order remain intact during the elections. In Guihulngan City, displaced residents have been

Davao City: The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced plans to file a lawsuit against a vlogger who disseminated false information about an impending police raid on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s residence in Davao City. PNP chief Gen. Romel Marbil confirmed that the Davao-based vlogger responsible for the fake news has been identified. According to Philippines News Agency, Gen. Marbil emphasized the importance of preserving evidence, stating, “Pina-freeze natin ang (We freeze the) evidence. I don’t want to name the person, but we’ll be filing a case doon sa isang tao na nagkalat na [we will raid] ‘yung bahay [of Duterte]

Manila: A week before the 2025 elections, the Department of Energy (DOE) ordered the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Electrification Administration (NEA), electric cooperatives (ECs), and private distribution utilities (DUs) to immediately remove obstructions from power infrastructure to ensure safe and uninterrupted 2025 elections. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOE had received reports from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding widespread violations involving campaign materials illegally affixed to power poles and electrical wires. The DOE emphasized that campaign materials placed near or within power lines are unlawful and could cause accidents, including electrocution and fires,