General

Bandar Abbas: The death toll from the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran, has risen to 40, with more than 1,000 others injured, officials confirmed Sunday night. Hormozgan Governor-General Mohammad Ashuri stated that among the injured, 194 people remain hospitalized, while the rest have been discharged. According to Philippines News Agency, nine of the critically injured have been transferred to hospitals outside the province for specialized care. The explosion, which struck the port in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, caused extensive damage to one of the facility’s 23 piers. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, appointed by President

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue providing medical and burial assistance to Filipinos who would need these services during the 10-day ‘ayuda’ ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from May 2 to 12, a senior agency official said Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao announced in a news release that while the department’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) are included in the government aid affected by the ‘ayuda’ ban, medical and burial aid provisions have been granted

Manila: The Philippines, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will be hosting the 13th ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) Conference from April 29 to 30 via online video conference. With the theme, ‘Promoting Competency-development and Standardization Towards Strengthening Social Work in ASEAN,’ the conference aims to reinforce regional cooperation to enhance social work practice and education across the ASEAN region. According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who also serves as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) Leader of the Philippines, emphasized the significance of the ASWC Conference. He stated, “The

Manila: Malaca±ang on Monday vowed to expand the government’s anti-poverty and hunger initiatives in response to a recent survey showing a rise in the number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor. According to Philippines News Agency, 55 percent of Filipino families, or 15.5 million families, rated themselves as poor in April, a slight increase from 14.4 million families in March. In a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro acknowledged the survey’s findings and emphasized that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. takes such reports seriously. She quoted National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio

Vancouver: Concerned Philippine government agencies have pledged support and solidarity with the Filipino community in Vancouver, Canada, where a vehicle plowed into a crowd of attendees at the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party on Saturday night (Sunday, Philippine time), leaving 11 dead and dozens injured. According to Philippines News Agency, in a statement on Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) expressed profound sorrow and sympathy for the victims. “As we await further details about the incident, we ask for prayers of healing, safety, comfort, solidarity, and justice for those affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac