General

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed government agencies to expedite the release of benefits and assistance to families of soldiers and police officers who have been killed or wounded in the line of duty. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos emphasized the importance of speeding up the process during a gathering at the Tejeros Hall at Camp Aguinaldo, which was part of the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) commemoration. The event saw the attendance of families of fallen members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. The Comprehensive Social Benefits Program

Manila: The weakening Korean won is expected to impact the country’s inbound travel in 2025, Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said. Korean won fell to its lowest level in over 16 years on April 8, following the Trump administration’s announcement of sweeping ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on states, prompting fears of a global trade war. According to Philippines News Agency, citing the Department of Tourism (DOT) data, LPC Director for Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure Alfred Lay stated that the first quarter figures indicate the tourism sector is ‘plateauing’ in terms of increasing international visitor arrivals. Lay highlighted that external factors, like the decline

Dumaguete: The Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete plans to deploy approximately 15,000 volunteers for the forthcoming May 12 national and local elections. Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, who serves as the DEB convenor and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) coordinator for Negros Oriental and Siquijor, announced that these volunteers will be actively engaged before, during, and after the election day. According to Philippines News Agency, the volunteers will include poll watchers, technical personnel, logistics, and other crucial support staff. The DEB, as an umbrella organization of the PPCRV and other entities, holds recognition from the

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that the consultation process for the updated curriculum guides for Grades 11 and 12 is now accessible to the general public and private stakeholders. This move aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to enhance the quality of education and improve the employability of Senior High School (SHS) graduates. According to Philippines News Agency, the DepEd emphasized that the feedback gathered from the public consultation will be reviewed and incorporated into the final framework of the Senior High School curriculum. The consultations are open to a broad audience, including teachers, students, parents,

Manila: A dedicated ‘overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wing’ has been opened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to ensure faster and more efficient immigration processing for departing migrant workers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the expansion of the immigration area includes six additional counter spaces, manned by 12 immigration officers, which will help decongest processing lines, especially during peak travel seasons. “This dedicated OFW wing is a testament to our commitment to making immigration procedures smoother and more efficient for our modern-day heroes,” he