Category: General

Manila: The 17 Filipino crew members of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, who were held captive by Houthi rebels for 14 months, are set to arrive home Thursday night, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega told the Philippine News Agency that the 17 are scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 9:30 p.m. According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA shouldered the seafarers’ expenses for pocket money when they arrived in Oman as well as their repatriation. The Department emphasized its commitment to ensuring the immediate repatriation of

Marawi City: Anti-narcotics agents supported by police special forces arrested two suspected drug peddlers, including a provincial security force employee, and confiscated PHP3.4 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Marawi City on Wednesday afternoon. According to Philippines News Agency, Gil Cesario Castro, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), identified the suspects as ‘Alex,’ 42, a member of the provincial security force and a resident of Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, and ‘Muning,’ 33, of Barangay Tampilong, Marawi City. ‘They have been under surveillance for about three weeks

Manila: Operations of Cebu Pacific’s Cebgo to Siargao and Masbate will be moved from Manila to Clark International Airport (CRK) beginning March 30. The move is in line with aviation authorities’ plan to gradually transfer turboprop operations from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to other airports. According to Philippines News Agency, the resolution was issued by the Manila Slot Coordination Committee, which includes key aviation officials and the New NAIA Infra Corp. general manager. This committee, on December 3, 2024, decided to initiate the transfer of 30% of turboprop operations. MIAA General Manager Eric Ines explained the initial transfer,

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported an increase in beneficiaries redeeming food assistance under the ‘Walang Gutom’ program. Tonyson Luther Lee, assistant director for administration of the DSWD-Central Visayas, stated that the redemption Period No. 12, spanning from January 13 to 22, saw 26,195 household beneficiaries. According to Philippines News Agency, the number of beneficiaries for this period is higher compared to Period No. 11, which had a target of 13,170 household beneficiaries. For the current redemption period, 15,761 beneficiaries, who mostly reside in 24 towns and cities in Negros Oriental, have redeemed their food assistance.

Davos: Speaker Martin Romualdez has reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment through ongoing legislative and regulatory reforms in a meeting with top business executives at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF). According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez addressed a breakfast interaction between the Philippine delegation and top business executives in Davos, Switzerland. He highlighted the administration’s efforts to strengthen partnerships and attract foreign investment. ‘I wish to emphasize that a key objective of our engagement is to seek the private sector’s counsel and listen to your concerns,’ Romualdez said. ‘Our desire is to stimulate national development that