General

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Caraga Region (DSWD-13) has reported the successful distribution of social pensions to indigent senior citizens during the first quarter of 2025. As of Tuesday, DSWD-13 said 178,818 indigent elderly have received their three-month pension of PHP3,000 under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SocPen) Program. According to Philippine News Agency, this figure represents an impressive 96.82 percent of the target beneficiaries in the region as of the end of March. ‘These beneficiaries have already claimed their stipends, totaling a substantial PHP536,454,000.00,’ DSWD-13 said in a statement Tuesday. Payouts for

Manila: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday announced a comprehensive crackdown on reckless public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers following a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urging for stricter enforcement of road discipline. According to Philippine News Agency, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III confirmed that this initiative is a response to recent road incidents on Commonwealth Avenue and in Valenzuela, where ‘kamote’ PUV drivers have been found disregarding traffic regulations, thereby endangering the safety of passengers and other road users. Guadiz remarked, “The President is right. This has to stop. These drivers are a threat

Lambunao: A total of 65 elderly residents, including octogenarians, nonagenarians, and a centenarian from Lambunao, Iloilo, have received cash incentives as part of the Expanded Centenarians Act. According to Philippine News Agency, Lambunao Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Althea Lacuesta shared that the recipients were individuals who reached the ages of 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100 during the first quarter of 2025. The breakdown of recipients includes 31 individuals aged 80, 18 aged 85, six aged 90, nine aged 95, and one centenarian. The octogenarians and nonagenarians were each awarded PHP10,000 by the National Commission of Senior Citizens

Manila: The Philippines will have a lesser hit from the Trump administration’s new tariff policies compared to other countries because of its service-oriented economy, an economist said Tuesday. “Because of that, I think, the tariff impact on the Philippines will be much lower. But I know you produce semiconductor, which is exempted. So our assessment has been that the tariff rate is going to be much lower and the impact is smaller,” ASEAN Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) chief economist Hoe Ee Khor said in a briefing held in Singapore and streamed online. According to Philippine News Agency, the country is

Manila: Demonstrating its commitment to senior citizens, the Surigao City government has launched the Milestone Program of Distinction (MPD), providing a one-time PHP50,000 cash benefit to residents aged 90 to 99. The initiative aligns with Republic Act No. 11982, also known as the Expanded Centenarians Act. According to Philippine News Agency, Ordinance No. 529-2024, the local legislation behind the MPD, earmarks the PHP50,000 financial assistance for each eligible nonagenarian residing in Surigao City. Seventeen nonagenarians initially received their cash benefits Monday. The City Information Office said in a statement that a total of 152 nonagenarians have been identified as potential