General

Manila: The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has tapped the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help strengthen measures against illegal chartered flights. CAAP on Thursday said the FAA conducted a virtual briefing about illegal charter operations on March 19. According to Philippines News Agency, “Among the topics discussed include aviation safety risks and regulatory concerns, identifying illegal charter operations, and the latest trends and enforcement measures,” CAAP information officer Bea Bernardo told the agency. CAAP reaffirms its dedication to strengthening regulatory enforcement and increasing awareness to protect passengers and uphold the integrity of aviation operations through international

Eastern Visayas: Flooding and a landslide led to the closure on Thursday of some road sections in parts of Samar and Leyte provinces, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported. According to Philippines News Agency, the affected roads are in the villages of Malinao, San Pablo, and Mabuhay in Taft, Eastern Samar. These sections are impassable to all vehicles due to floods estimated to be around 100 centimeters deep as of Thursday noon. Additionally, a landslide occurred along the same road in Binaloan village in Taft town, resulting in the closure of half of the road. These road

Tacloban City: Several local government units in Eastern Visayas declared class and work suspensions on Thursday due to heavy rains dumped by the shear line. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez issued an executive order suspending classes in all levels, following the red rainfall alert warning issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as ‘precautionary measures and in anticipation of any developments that may arise out of the weather disturbance.’ According to Philippines News Agency, a similar declaration was also issued by towns in Leyte province, including Palo, Tanauan, Tunga, Abuyog, Alangalang, Barugo, Carigara, Jaro, and Tabontabon. Work

Quezon City: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday that it has implemented stricter guidelines for the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) to prevent its exploitation for political purposes during the campaign period and ensure the responsible use of public funds. According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao stated at a forum in the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City that the new rules include publicly posting the names of AKAP beneficiaries by province to promote transparency. Dumlao explained, “Under the joint memorandum circular (JMC) issued for the implementation of AKAP,

Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed support for the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) initiative to investigate vloggers and online trolls disseminating false information on social media platforms. “With more people relying on social media for information, the proliferation of fake news has increased over the years, necessitating government intervention,” Gatchalian said in a statement. “I fully support the NBI’s decision to probe vloggers peddling fake news.” According to Philippines News Agency, spreading disinformation poses a serious threat to public trust and unity. Gatchalian urged the NBI to file appropriate charges against individuals who deliberately spread false information, particularly