Category: General

Manila: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Philippine Retirement Authority, and Filipino-American advocacy groups, is advocating for the portability of US Medicare and Medicaid benefits to the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, CFO Secretary Dante Ang II discussed the potential benefits of the proposal during a media briefing, describing it as advantageous for both the Philippines and the United States. Ang emphasized that enabling Medicare portability would encourage more Filipino-American retirees to return and reside in the Philippines, thereby boosting the local economy. He highlighted the CFO’s desire to reverse the

Baguio City: Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara has fortified the Marcos administration’s commitment to supporting last-mile schools in the country. This initiative follows a series of school visits in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) led by Angara, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to improve the quality of education while ensuring the welfare of learners and teachers. According to Philippines News Agency, Angara emphasized President Marcos’ priority to assist last mile schools located in remote mountain or island areas. Highlighting the potential positive outcomes from the right interventions, Angara expressed hope after visiting various schools in

Manila: A party-list lawmaker has called for a joint motu proprio inquiry into allegations of ‘ghost beneficiaries’ in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Senior High School (SHS) voucher program. Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Jil Bongalon is urging the House Committees on Basic Education and Culture, as well as Good Government and Public Accountability, to investigate reports that private schools have been listing non-existent students to exploit the government program since 2016. According to Philippines News Agency, preliminary findings indicate that these phantom beneficiaries have drained millions of pesos from the education budget, compromising the program’s original purpose of alleviating overcrowding

Oriental Mindoro: The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has confiscated 21,000 liters of illegal diesel petroleum products worth PHP1.26 million in Oriental Mindoro province. According to Philippines News Agency, CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III stated that the suspect, identified as Rommel, was apprehended while distributing and trading the petroleum products in Barangay Del Pilar, Naujan town on February 21. This operation was conducted by the CIDG Oriental Mindoro Provincial Field Unit agents, leading to the arrest of the suspect. Maj. Gen. Torre mentioned that charges are being prepared against the suspect for violating Batas Pambansa 33, which

Manila: Ride-sharing and delivery service Grab Philippines (Grab) has launched its ‘Green Programme’ that allows users to give small donations to fund environmental conservation projects. According to Philippines News Agency, Grab announced that customers can donate PHP2 for every GrabCar or GrabTaxi ride, while every GrabFood or GrabMart delivery allows for a contribution of PHP1. The initiative introduces a new toggle-on feature across Grab’s on-demand mobility and delivery services, enabling users to actively participate in environmental conservation efforts with strategic program partners Fostering Education and Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED), EcoMatcher Ltd, and the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Project. A