Category: General

TACLOBAN CITY: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has successfully established 1,048 free Wi-Fi access points in public locations throughout Eastern Visayas, with a particular focus on remote areas. This initiative marks a significant expansion in public Internet access in the region, as highlighted by Dante Rosales, chief of DICT 8 (Eastern Visayas) technical operations division, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas event on Tuesday. Rosales noted that this figure represents a fourfold increase compared to the installations completed prior to 2023. According to Philippines News Agency, the expansion has been made possible by a PHP120 million funding

TACLOBAN CITY: The Philippine Army recovered on Tuesday firearms after a clash with remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Catubig, Northern Samar. Found are one M16 rifle with an attached M203 grenade launcher, an M653 baby Armalite, and personal belongings abandoned by members of the NPA sub-regional guerrilla unit, sub-regional committee arctic. Acting on tips from villagers, troops from the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion chased a group of armed rebels in C.M. Recto village in Catubig town. After a brief armed encounter, the rebels retreated and left some of their firearms. According to Philippines News Agency, the encounter

Manila: A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday emphasized the urgent need for the passage of House Bill (HB) 8941, which aims to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) in the workforce. The bill, known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, is grounded in a constitutional mandate that requires the state to uphold the rights of all citizens, particularly marginalized groups such as PWD. According to Philippines News Agency, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo stressed the importance of recognizing the potential and talent of individuals with disabilities, who often encounter obstacles in employment

MALASIQUI: A total of 2,275 Free Wi-Fi for All sites have been established by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Ilocos Region since 2022 under the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP). DICT Ilocos regional director June Vincent Manuel Gaudan, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Ilocos on Tuesday, said the sites are located in 815 public places all over the region. According to Philippines News Agency, in 2022, 148 sites were established and were followed by 1,129 sites in 2023 and 998 sites from Jan. 1 to Nov.

MACTAN: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. stated that another policy rate cut might be considered next month or during the Monetary Board’s subsequent meeting in 2025. “We’re still in the easing cycle. Either we cut in December or we cut in the next meeting, pero dahan dahan lang (but gradually),” Remolona mentioned on the sidelines of the 2024 BSP-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Systemic Risk Dialogue held in Mactan, Cebu. According to Philippines News Agency, Remolona did not dismiss the possibility of a pause in the easing cycle. The Monetary Board of the BSP has so far