Category: General

Negros Island: The government has so far provided some PHP197.5 million worth of assistance to families affected by the ongoing restiveness of Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday. The amount includes PHP126.8 million for Central Visayas and PHP70.7 million for Western Visayas, according to the disaster response body’s latest situation report. According to Philippines News Agency, the assistance provided includes family food packs, hygiene and sleeping kits, financial aid, modular tents, filtration kits, and generator sets. A total of 10,054 families have benefitted from the assistance – 7,552 families in

Surigao City: The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has completed and handed over five quadruplex houses to 20 families from the Sama-Badjao community in Surigao City. The housing initiative aims to provide stable and sustainable living conditions for the indigenous group known for their nomadic lifestyle. According to Philippines News Agency, the housing project is part of the Huy-anan sa Badjao Project, which is a collaborative effort involving the DHSUD, the Surigao City government, and the United Nations (UN) – Habitat. DHSUD Undersecretary Henry Yap highlighted the project’s significance, stating that the new homes offer the Sama-Badjao

Manila: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has revised the guidelines on the issuance of alien employment permit (AEP) to foreigners working in the country. Under the new guidelines, the conduct of labor market test is simplified and integrated in one publication in a newspaper of general circulation, which effectively reduces cost and waiting period for employers and foreign nationals. According to Philippines News Agency, PhilJobNet, the government’s official job-matching portal, has also been tapped to post the rules making the process more efficient and transparent for both employers and jobseekers. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the revised AEP

Manila: The Philippines is shifting its tourism strategy to attract more travelers from India, Europe, and the luxury Middle East market in response to the decline in Chinese tourist arrivals last year. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco acknowledged the impact of the lower Chinese arrivals, which reached just over 300,000, falling significantly short of the two million target for the year. According to Philippines News Agency, Frasco emphasized the importance of visa liberalization in addressing the challenges with the Chinese market and highlighted the potential of the Indian market. “The challenges we are facing with the Chinese market have led us

Seoul: South Korea was suffocated by thick ultrafine dust for the second day in a row Wednesday, prompting authorities to regulate the operations of government-owned vehicles, coal power plants, and other large-scale dust emission facilities. According to Philippines News Agency, due to the continued influx of fine dust from abroad, the density of ultrafine dust particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, known as PM 2.5, is forecast to remain at “bad” levels nationwide throughout the day, excluding the southern Jeju Island and east coastal regions, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. In particular, the PM 2.5 density is expected