General

Manila: State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) recorded a 67-percent surge in digital banking usage in 2024, with 162.28 million transactions from 97.08 million transactions in 2023. The digital transactions last year amounted to PHP3.38 trillion, 38 percent higher than the value in 2023 at PHP2.45 trillion, LandBank reported Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, LandBank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette Ortiz emphasized the importance of digital banking for financial inclusion. “Digital banking is not just about convenience – it’s about inclusion. Through our digital banking channels, we are empowering every Filipino to take control of their finances.

Leyte: Recruited as minors, former rebels Ferning Canhatan and Guillera Gozon are now actively participating in the Philippine Army’s effort to save the youth from the deception of the New People’s Army (NPA). At 16, Canhatan, also known as alias Dods, was recruited as a warrior of the NPA in Agusan del Sur and later assigned to the southern part of Leyte province as a vice squad leader. He was a member of the NPA for 12 years. According to Philippines News Agency, Canhatan, now 29, expressed his commitment to preventing youth recruitment into the rebellion. “We faced a lot

Davao: The Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC) guaranteed consistent and high-quality service in its franchise areas in the Davao Region as it awaits regulatory procedures for Republic Act (RA) 12144, which expands its franchise to Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro provinces, to take effect. The law was published in the Official Gazette on April 9 and will take effect April 24. According to Philippines News Agency, the new legislation will allow the DLPC to extend its services, which are currently under the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco). Nordeco said it will defend its franchise areas and

Tagoloan: PhilCo Food Processing, Inc., a unit of Thai World Group of Companies, is investing more than PHP1 billion within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental province, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). According to Philippines News Agency, PEZA informed trade reporters in a Viber message that the investment promotion agency had already registered the project of PhilCo for a coconut processing facility. The company plans to start construction in October this year, with commercial operations expected to commence between December 2025 and January 2026. The output of the factory will be exported to Thailand,

Manila: Government aid will be extended to the domestic worker who was arrested and subsequently lost her job in Qatar for joining a rally without permit. The 36-year-old mother of two was among the 17 adults and three minors arrested at a Doha resort on March 27. According to Philippines News Agency, in a news release on Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced that financial aid, sourced from the Department’s Aksyon (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo Para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) Fund, was immediately provided to the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) upon her arrival at Ninoy Aquino International