General

Manila: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui on Tuesday expressed confidence that the agency would reach its PHP3.23-trillion collection target this year amid the strengthened drive to encourage taxpayers to pay their dues. According to Philippine News Agency, preliminary figures for the first quarter of the year show that revenues as of end-March reached PHP668.79 billion, which is PHP3.2 million short of the PHP671.99-billion goal for the quarter. This indicates an improvement over the PHP593-billion revenue from the same period last year. Commissioner Lumagui noted that for 2025, the target remains PHP3.23 trillion. He expressed optimism that the

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday announced that it is ramping up efforts and collaborating with other government agencies to address the rising incidences of bullying in schools across the country. According to Philippine News Agency, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara spearheaded the largest executive committee meeting to date, focusing on the troubling increase in bullying incidents within public schools. Angara emphasized the importance of prioritizing this issue, calling for a comprehensive approach that extends beyond school grounds to include households and communities. Currently, reported bullying cases have increased to 2,500 for the Academic Year 2024-2025, up from 2,268

Manila: After three decades of being out of school, 53-year-old grandmother Rowena Taboso graduated with high honors from senior high school (SHS) on Tuesday. Taboso was among the few students recognized for achieving a general average grade of 95 during the graduation ceremony at Northern Tacloban City High School in New Kawayan village here. According to Philippine News Agency, she achieved academic excellence despite juggling roles as a mother, wife, and student. “This is a fulfillment of my dream after I stopped coming to school in 1993. I am very happy that I am a senior high school graduate now.

Manila: A Filipino fugitive with an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice was arrested for multiple sexual offenses, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday. According to Philippine News Agency, NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin stated that a highly coordinated operation among the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), the National Central Bureau of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other national law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of the 56-year-old electrician assistant upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City at about 2:11 p.m. on Monday.

Manila: House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday hailed Google Maps’ recognition of the “West Philippine Sea” label as a “geopolitical affirmation” of the Philippines’ maritime claims and a boost to international support for the country’s sovereign rights. Romualdez said the move marks more than a cartographic update, highlighting its political and diplomatic significance. According to Philippine News Agency, Romualdez stated that Google’s decision to reflect the West Philippine Sea label is a significant geopolitical statement that enhances global awareness and adds considerable weight to the Philippines’ maritime claims. He emphasized that the change aligns with the 2016 Permanent