General

Batangas City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to collaborate with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to bolster farmers’ cooperatives. This directive was announced during the inauguration of the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC) Grains Terminal and Trading Project in Batangas City, where Marcos emphasized the crucial role of cooperatives in enhancing farmers’ productivity and income. According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos expressed his commitment to supporting cooperatives by providing them with essential resources such as new machinery and post-harvest facilities. He highlighted the success of SIDC as a model for other cooperatives

The Hague: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. on Thursday commended the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for providing assistance to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his companions, calling it a reflection of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “compassionate leadership.” According to Philippines News Agency, the embassy’s action underscores the Marcos administration’s commitment to humanitarian law. Gonzales pointed out that Duterte’s presence in The Hague, The Netherlands, to face the International Criminal Court (ICC), offers him the opportunity to address allegations against him “in the proper forum.” “We commend the Embassy and its staff for extending assistance. We believe it was

Quezon City: The new online system for the application for travel clearance of minors travelling abroad (MTA) is a vital tool in expediting transactions and doing away with the interventions of ‘fixers’ and middlemen, a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said on Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the digital system for MTA permit application, which was launched on Feb. 18, is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to automate and streamline government processes, and fight human trafficking. In a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary

Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday reminded hospitals and health facilities to submit good claims to receive payments due for their services. In a public advisory, the state insurer announced that its national turnaround time (TAT) on good claims for 2024 has improved to 24 days from 34 days in 2023. According to Philippines News Agency, this improvement highlights PhilHealth’s ongoing commitment to processing and payment of good claims ahead of the prescribed 60 days TAT. Good claims are defined as those without deficiencies and compliant with all pertinent policies and requirements of the National Health Insurance

Iloilo: The provincial government has mandated the implementation of minimum public health standards for hazardous heat index (MPHS-HHI) and the establishment of evacuation centers to protect vulnerable residents from extreme heat. Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., through Executive Order No. 20 issued Thursday, directed local government units (LGUs) to set up air-conditioned or temperature-regulated evacuation centers as primary protection for at-risk individuals. According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Defensor stated, “The evacuation centers shall be air-conditioned/temperature-regulated facilities that shall serve as a primary measure for the protection of vulnerable persons from hazardous heat.” These centers will operate from 8 a.m. to