General

Manila: Guimaras province is fully prepared to welcome an estimated 50,000 visitors this Holy Week and is reminding tourists to transact only with the Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited establishments for a safe and smooth travel experience. Francis Gentoral, Guimaras provincial economic and development officer, confirmed that preparations have been finalized across the province, from the Parola Wharf in Iloilo City to key destinations on the island. According to Philippines News Agency, Gentoral stated in an interview on Wednesday that all systems are in place, with monitoring teams assigned to check the destinations starting Thursday. Tourism information centers have been set

Laoag: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday conducted random drug testing of bus drivers and conductors in public transport terminals here ahead of the expected influx of passengers during the Holy Week break. According to Philippines News Agency, Maripe de Guzman, public information officer of PDEA Region 1 (Ilocos), stated that approximately 100 public utility drivers and conductors were targeted for random testing in various terminals throughout the day. “The surprise drug testing on bus drivers aims to ensure the safety of passengers,” De Guzman explained during an inspection and random drug testing at the Florida Bus station

Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported that over 140,000 maritime passengers navigated through ports nationwide on Wednesday. This substantial movement of travelers was closely monitored by the PCG in its continued effort to manage the flow of passengers during the busy Holy Week period. According to Philippines News Agency, the PCG’s situation report highlighted that from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, there were 77,782 outbound passengers and 68,890 inbound passengers recorded across all ports. The PCG also deployed 4,748 frontline personnel across its 16 districts to inspect 647 vessels and 1,113 motor bancas, ensuring safety and security during

Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday cautioned Filipinos anew against dubious overseas jobs after it repatriated 26 Filipinos from Cambodia. According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA highlighted an advisory by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia, urging Filipinos to remain vigilant and verify job opportunities abroad, particularly those advertised as ‘customer service representatives (CSR)’ or chat support positions. The advisory warned that these jobs often involve victimizing individuals through love scams or fake investment schemes. The advisory noted that many Filipinos have either knowingly pursued or been misled by employment offers promising salaries ranging from USD800 to

Antipolo City: The Antipolo City government and an environmental watchdog on Wednesday called on participants of the “Alay Lakad,” a sacred tradition celebrated every Maundy Thursday, to maintain the cleanliness of the Antipolo Cathedral. ‘Let us honor this sacred tradition with respect for our environment. A clean city reflects our discipline and devotion,’ Mayor Casimiro Ynares III said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, pilgrims from different parts of Metro Manila join the Alay Lakad or walking pilgrimage to the church, also known as the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. They do this