Category: General

Manila: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday said it has entered into an agreement with a business company for the employment of former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) as part of efforts to integrate them into society and reduce recidivism among released inmates. BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. signed the agreement with BP One Foods Inc., represented by its president, Antonio Sebastian Escalante, for employment opportunities for reformed PDLs. Under the MOA, the BuCor, through the Directorate for External Relations (DER), shall be responsible for the implementation of the Pre-release and Post-release Reintegration Programs for former PDL, which

Manila: Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) will launch flights to Tagbilaran, Daraga and Dumaguete via Iloilo on the first three days of December, respectively. Iloilo-Tagbilaran flights will be offered daily, while both Daraga and Dumaguete flights will be thrice weekly. The Gokongwei-led airline’s expansion of Iloilo hub reaffirms its commitment to enhancing inter-island connectivity. ‘We are excited to introduce three new domestic routes from Iloilo, which comes just in time for the holiday season when many Filipinos go the extra mile to visit loved ones in different provinces,” CEB President Xander Lao said in a statement Monday. Lao added they

Manila: The Sandiganbayan has found former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Ampatuan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of graft and malversation of public funds involving PHP400 million intended for the construction and rehabilitation of 22 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in 2009. In its 66-page decision promulgated on Oct. 18 and shared Monday, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Ampatuan to up to 40 years in the malversation charge and ordered a fine and restitution totaling PHP786 million. He was sentenced to up to 12 years for the separate charge of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Two of Ampatuan’s co-accused, provincial treasurer Oscar Bandila

Manila: The country’s agricultural production will be continually boosted with the strengthened cooperation with Italy, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported an agreement on a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and Italy during the World Food Day celebrations last Oct. 16 in Rome. ‘Italy’s agricultural machinery industry is world-class, and the Philippines can greatly benefit from this expertise as we modernize our agricultural sector,’ Tiu Laurel said. The draft partnership, which was presented during the meeting with Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, aims

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s satisfaction and trust ratings saw a slight increase in October, a survey by polling firm Tangere showed on Monday. The Tangere survey, conducted from Oct. 16 to 19, bared that Marcos’ satisfaction rating increased to 46.9 percent, up from 46.4 percent in the previous month, while his trust rating rose to 59.3 percent from 58.8 percent. The pollster noted that support for Marcos was strongest in Northern and Central Luzon. The highest levels of satisfaction and trust were reported among younger respondents aged 18 to 35. The highest levels of dissatisfaction and distrust towards