General

Sorsogon: Over 3,500 families from two provinces in the Bicol Region started receiving unconditional cash grants totaling PHP18.3 million on Monday through the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio reported that the 3,563 beneficiaries are from Sorsogon and Camarines Norte provinces. Of the PHP18.3 million, families in Camarines Norte received PHP13.4 million, while Sorsogon received PHP4.9 million. “The recipients included families affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine, internationally known as Trami, in the towns of Irosin and Casiguran in Sorsogon, as well

Manila: Some 5,000 Filipinos based abroad have enrolled in the online voting and counting system (OVCS) to be used in the May 12 midterm polls. This development comes as the enrolment period for internet voting for overseas voters commenced on March 20. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia expressed optimism about the enrolment process in an interview before the escrow deposit of May 2025 Election Source Codes at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Manila. Garcia stated, “There will be more enrolling in the coming weeks. It’s good that the enrollment has been quick and

Ilocos Norte: The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) on Monday announced that 27 additional firearms have been turned over for safekeeping. This initiative aims to ensure a safe and secure election period while promoting responsible firearm ownership. According to Philippines News Agency, the firearms were surrendered and deposited from March 17 to 23, aligning with the nationwide implementation of the election gun ban. During a briefing at Camp Capt. Valentin S. Juan, Maj. Sheryll Guzman, the information officer and chief of INPPO’s Provincial Community Affairs Development Unit, highlighted the ongoing efforts under Oplan Timpuyog. These efforts include conducting dialogues

Manila: The Philippines is emerging as the new preferred destination in Southeast Asia for companies with operations in China looking to expand, according to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga. Panga highlighted this trend in a recent social media post, attributing the shift to the current United States government’s tariff policy, which imposes a 20 percent tariff on all imports from China. According to Philippines News Agency, Panga noted that the “C+1” strategy, where companies look for an alternative location to China, has evolved into “C+1+1” (or C + 2), with the Philippines now being considered as

Manila: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday warned purveyors of fake news operating from outside the country to change their ways or face the full force of the law. In an interview with reporters, Remulla explained that when fake news enters the realm of being a cybercrime, it may become actionable. According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla stated that cybercrime laws could be applied to those spreading fake news, even if they are based overseas. ‘Cybercrime. We can get a form of cybercrime against them in the process and that is very, very different kind of law,’ he said.