Category: General

Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday a temporary suspension in the issuance of Guarantee Letters (GLs) associated with the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao informed reporters during the department’s weekly media forum that the last day for issuing guarantee letters should not extend beyond December 13. This measure aims to facilitate the annual liquidation process and ensure that payments are completed to service providers who have already assisted beneficiaries. Despite the suspension of GLs, Dumlao emphasized that the provision of AICS assistance

Bicol: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated nearly PHP500 million to cover the wages of workers affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) and Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-Yi) in the Bicol Region, and given emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. In an interview on Thursday, DOLE-Bicol Director Imelda Gatinao said the fund would benefit more than 144,000 affected and displaced workers for the six provinces in the region. According to Philippines News Agency, as of Nov. 13, initial payouts of close to PHP200 million were awarded to beneficiaries

MANILA: An official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said the return of Mary Jane Veloso from Indonesia to the Philippines would help the government pursue pending charges against her recruiters. Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez explained that while two of Veloso’s known recruiters, Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, were sentenced to life in 2020 for the illegal recruitment of other individuals, they are still facing separate charges for human trafficking and estafa. According to Philippines News Agency, Veloso was caught, jailed, and sentenced to death in 2010 after 2.6 kilograms of heroin were found in her suitcase.

Manila: A workers’ party-list group on Thursday called for the immediate ratification of an international convention ensuring decent working conditions and welfare of Filipino fishers. In a statement, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Party-list emphasized the importance of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (Convention No. 188), which sets global standards for safety, medical care, fair pay, and social protection in the fishing industry. According to Philippines News Agency, the TUCP highlighted the severe conditions faced by millions of Filipino fishers and seafarers aboard foreign fishing vessels, including dangerous working environments, meager wages, and

MANILA: Following the successful rollout of 10,000 doses of AVAC live vaccines against African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced its plans to distribute an additional 150,000 doses under government-controlled vaccinations. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the completion of the initial distribution and outlined the procedures for the upcoming rollout during an ambush interview. According to Philippines News Agency, the DA had previously expanded its vaccination program to cover healthy and ASF-negative hogs in regions beyond Batangas, including Laguna and Central Luzon. The new batch of 150,000 doses is anticipated to bolster these efforts, although