General

Surallah: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provided a PHP1.8 million delivery truck to a farmers’ group in Surallah, South Cotabato on Tuesday to enhance their agricultural trading operations. The Little Baguio Small Water Impounding and Diversified Farmers Association received the vehicle through DAR’s Agrarian Reform Fund program. Provincial agrarian reform officer Valerie Seiton led the turnover ceremony in Barangay Little Baguio. According to Philippines News Agency, “This is a symbol of hope and progress,” association president Randy Cabaya said in an interview Wednesday. Cabaya stated that the truck will assist the 50-member group in transporting rice and palay to

Manila: The Philippine government continues to work with Australia to sustain its citizens’ interest in traveling to the archipelago amid its latest travel advisory. Speaking to reporters Monday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Australia remains one of the Philippines’ highest growth and recovery sectors post-pandemic. According to Philippines News Agency, they are averaging around 22 percent in terms of growth for arrivals month-on-month compared to 2024. “We continue to work with both the Australian government and stakeholders to ensure this interest of Australians in the Philippines is sustained,” she added. The Philippine government, she said, is doubling efforts to ensure

Ilocos Region: The Department of Health (DOH) 1 (Ilocos Region) has reported a 90 percent to 97 percent success rate in tuberculosis (TB) treatment across the region’s four provinces. According to Philippines News Agency, Regional Communicable Disease Prevention Unit Head, Dr. Rheuel Bobis, highlighted that Ilocos Sur achieved the highest treatment success rate at 97.23 percent, followed by Pangasinan at 93.10 percent, La Union at 92.40 percent, and Ilocos Norte at 91.93 percent. Dr. Bobis mentioned during a phone interview that the DOH is actively procuring TB commodities at the local government unit level, while also strengthening active case-finding initiatives.

Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed his full support for the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) initiative to collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in tracking down Filipinos allegedly disseminating fake news from abroad. Gatchalian emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating that the law’s reach now extends beyond national borders and that those responsible should be brought back to the Philippines to face legal consequences. According to Philippines News Agency, NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed that the agency is actively coordinating with Interpol to target individuals overseas accused of spreading disinformation. Santiago noted the legal challenges of

Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday repatriated 176 Filipinos who are alleged victims of human trafficking from illegal scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The group, which flew on a special flight from Bangkok, Thailand, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 5:40 a.m. According to Philippines News Agency, this repatriation comes after the arrival of 30 other Filipino human trafficking victims from Myanmar via Thailand on Tuesday. ‘The Philippine government is unwavering in its commitment to protecting Filipinos abroad,’ the DFA said in a statement. ‘This successful operation reaffirms the country as the gold standard