News & Current Events

Giving confiscated rice to poor families 'best deterrent' vs smuggling, says lawmaker MANILA, Philippines – President Marcos' decision to give away smuggled and hoarded rice to poor families would be the “best deterrent” against smuggling. This is according to Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto, who said the President's decision would mean “confiscated smuggled rice can no longer be rescued by bribes.” The latest action taken by the President took effect in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay where confiscated rice was distributed to the residents and the local government units in the province. “By giving them to the people, it has been placed beyond the reach of those who have illegally brought them in,” said Pleyto, a member...

DOH issues health advisory amid Mayon Volcano’s increased activity The Department of Health (DOH) issued a health advisory on Wednesday, Sept. 20, to assist the public in preparing for potential health risks associated with Mayon Volcano's ash fall. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported ash eruptions from Mayon Volcano, maintaining an alert status of Level 3. DOH recommended various respiratory safety measures in response to these volcanic activities. Residents near the Mayon Volcano were advised to refrain from opening doors and windows or use thick curtains to reduce the entry of ash particles. The necessity of using masks or other face coverings to protect the mouth and nose was also...

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MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued a toxic red tide alert in eight regions in the Philippines. According to the official Shellfish Bulletin released on Wednesday, several areas have recorded higher than safe levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP), making shellfish collected unsafe to eat. The affected areas are as follows: Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz, Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan) Coastal waters of Panay Pilar President Roxas Roxas City in Capiz Coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur "All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas...

In confidential funds fiasco, Sara Duterte resorts to personal attacks vs critics Bonz Magsambol A political analyst recalls the case of former vice president Jejomar Binay, who had been leading the surveys to succeed then-president Benigno Aquino III, until controversies struck in the lead up to the 2016 presidential polls MANILA, Philippines – The issue of Vice President Sara Duterte’s use of confidential funds (CF) continues to hound her a little over a year into her term. While the Duterte-allied Congress skipped scrutinizing the Vice President’s use of CF, she couldn’t escape being excoriated by critics who grilled her on how and why she spent the P125 million...

Two activists under military custody requested not to join presser, NSC official claims Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 17) — Two activists who are now under military custody after being reported missing in Bataan in early September “requested” not to join the news conference last Friday, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said on Sunday. “Karapatan and their co-conspirators have made a big fuss of the absence of the two in the Friday press conference but this was because they requested not to join at this time,” Malaya claimed, adding that they “treat them with utmost respect.” “Moreover, due to security concerns, Jhed (Tamano) and Jonila (Castro) were hesitant to join a press...

'Medyo mahirap sabihin na bababa': Expect high fuel prices until end of 2023, DOE says Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday said the public may need to endure high oil prices until the end of the year as global crude supplies remain tight. DOE Oil Management Bureau Director Rino Abad said that earlier this year the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel along with Russia slashed oil production. Around P2/liter increase forecast in 11th straight oil hike Based on OPEC's projections and the forecast of the International Energy Agency, Abad said, the reduced output from oil producers will persist "until the end of the year." Last month, the fuel shortage peaked at 3...

BOC: P400M worth of smuggled rice, other products seized in Tondo warehouses raids BY Aaron Recuenco The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized around P400 million worth of rice and other imported products in another anti-smuggling operations on three warehouses in Tondo, Manila. BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said the confiscated items include 36,086 sacks of rice imported from Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar with an estimated amount of P90.2 million. “While our government and kababayans scramble to make rice cheaper and more accessible, these businesses are possibly smuggling and hoarding them, which further adversely impacts our efforts to bring the prices down,” said Rubio. An agent of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation...

Over 80M Filipinos now registered to PhilSys By Anna Leah Gonzales MANILA – More than 80 million Filipinos already registered to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday. The PSA said as of Sept. 1 this year, it has already registered 80.54 million Filipinos, representing about 87.5 percent of the population aged five years and above. "Within this group, 78.12 million individuals have been issued a unique PhilSys Number (PSN), ensuring their distinct identity through the verification of their demographic and biometric information," it said in a statement. "The issuance of PhilID and ePhilID is meticulously managed by the PSA, with a rigorous Quality Assurance process and...

Storm likely to enter PH in September – Pagasa THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) revealed on Wednesday that one tropical cyclone will likely enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in September. Meanwhile, the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) – an imaginary line where the air from the southern and northern hemisphere meet – is affecting most parts of the country where scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail especially in the afternoon or at night. Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina told The Manila Times that the ITCZ is affecting Mindanao in particular. "While it would be generally fair weather in Visayas and Luzon, including Metro Manila...

Gov't to borrow P2.46 trillion for 2024 budget: Quimbo RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News MANILA — The government will borrow P2.46 trillion to partly fund the P5.768 trillion national budget for next year, Rep. Stella Quimbo said Tuesday. Some 43.32 percent of the 2024 national budget will come from borrowings, while the remaining 57 percent will be financed by local revenues, said Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "From borrowings, it would be P2.46 trillion," she said during the House of Representatives plenary deliberations on next year's proposed budget. Quimbo also said that the 2024 national budget sets aside resources for programs critical in accelerating the nation's growth. The House plans to approve the...

Hontiveros renews call for China to pay billions in environmental damages in the WPS Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday renewed her call for China to pay environmental damages in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), after the Philippine Coast Guard recently confirmed that the destruction of coral reefs in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal was most likely caused by Chinese maritime militia vessels. The senator then filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 804, condemning the massive coral harvesting and urging the appropriate Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter. "We should seek payment for damages caused by China in the WPS. Aabot ng bilyon-bilyon ang makukuha natin kung mao-obligang magbayad ang Tsina. Ninanakawan na nga nila...

A Senate panel has approved a consolidated bill expanding the grounds for dissolution of marriage and instituting divorce in the country. advertisement In its report, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality said while the State continues to recognize the sanctity of family, it is also duty bound to safeguard the dignity of every person, guarantee full respect for human rights, uphold the fundamental equality before law and protect the best interest of children. “Towards the end, the State shall adopt a divorce policy in keeping with the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution…,” it said. The Senate committee said that to obtain an absolute divorce, a petition must be filed...

Taiwan says 55 Chinese warplanes detected around island Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan — Dozens of Chinese warplanes were detected around Taiwan in a day, the self-ruled island's defense ministry said Tuesday, as it called on Beijing to stop its "provocative actions". The latest sorties came a day after China flew 103 warplanes in the 24-hour window from Sunday to Monday morning around Taiwan, which the island's authorities said was a "recent high" number. On Tuesday, the ministry said China flew 55 aircraft and sailed seven naval vessels around the island from Monday to Tuesday morning. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, and has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taipei in recent...

Bar exams' 1st day a smashing success By Franco Jose C. Baroña WITH a whopping 96.38 percent taker turnout, the Supreme Court described the first day of the 2023 Bar Examinations held last Sunday as a "smashing success." The Office of the Bar Chair said out of the 10,791 applicants expected to arrive for the exams, 10,400 braved and completed both the two tests prepared for the day. On Day 1, the morning exam was Political Law and Public International Law, while the afternoon test was Commercial and Taxation Laws. Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, 2023 Bar Chair, said the Supreme Court and its 2,310-strong Bar personnel "vigilantly stood watch" over the Bar examinees and "ensured the safe, peaceful, and orderly conduct of the...

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Story by The Manila Times To resolve online and text scams and fraud, the telco company urged its peers and stakeholders to come up with a more coordinated response against cybercrimes. "We need to dive deeper into how criminals operate and bring to light the entire cyber scam ecosystem. Instead of obsessing over or focusing on certain parts, all stakeholders should work together on a holistic solution," Roy Ibay, vice president and head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart, said. Smart added that SIM cards are largely imported and are also used in several IT devices such as tablets, smart watches and E-vehicles other than mobile phones. Ibay stressed that investigation should focus on the misuse of these devices by criminal elements...

Story by GISELLE OMBAY,GMA Integrated News The pilot implementation of the recalibrated Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K-10) curriculum of the basic education will start on September 25 in select schools across the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced Sunday. Thirty-five schools will be participating in the pilot run of the new MATATAG K-10 curriculum which was launched on August 10. Five schools each from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga will also join the pilot implementation. DepEd deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas earlier said that DepEd will consolidate all the findings and results of this pilot run in...

They hold the belief that their lies will be true if idiots follow their path. 🤡 Article : Makabayan solons admit they have 'no proof' VP Duterte misused P125-M confidential funds

150,000 classroom shortage 100,072 school buildings that need minor repairs, 89,252 school buildings require major repairs 21,727 school buildings are for condemnation. 224,981 sets of tables and chairs lacking 144,789 teacher shortage 94,540 needed education support personnel PH ranked last in reading and second to the last in both science and mathematics among 79 participating countries 1 out of 4 parents are saying that their children are not learning 9 out of 10 children aged 10 struggle to read and write (DepEd, PBed, and World Bank data) It’s not the rallies. Deal with these, Madam Secretary. Our students deserve better. Sources: PH education in crisis Enrollees still 2.5 million short of DepEd target The Philippines’ Basic...

US considering seeking access to more Philippine bases, admiral says The chief of the US Indo-Pacific command says he and the Philippine military chief, Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner, discussed further expanding the number of bases US forces could access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement MANILA, Philippines – The US military could be granted access to more bases in the Philippines under a joint defense agreement between the two countries, the chief of the US Indo-Pacific command said on Thursday, September 14, after meeting the head of the Philippines armed forces.

Get rid of Philippines, Chinese university partnerships, CHED urged© Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos shouldn’t be sleeping with the enemy. In light of China’s repeated incursions in the West Philippine Sea, a House of Representatives lawmaker suggested that it would be best for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to remove partnership agreements recently signed between several Philippine and Chinese universities. “The CHED, particularly Chairman Prospero de Vera, should cancel those partnerships. While we have been protesting against continuous Chinese aggression, here we have the CHED going the opposite direction by engaging with Chinese universities,” Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said. “He...

Can you believe it's been 20 years already since the world's most resilient torrent website was created? Founded in 2003 by the Swedish anti-copyright group Piratbyrån (“Bureau of Piracy”), the site is still as relevant today as it was back then. The site's creators, it's Admin, 'Winston' and the TPB Crew are all staunch defenders of information piracy and freedom of speech. Censorship is abhorrent and always will be. DMCA takedown notices are never complied with, and often ridiculed by staff. Hollywood has tried and failed to end the site many times, and even googly-eyed non-entity Kanye West once declared war on TPB. Most of the current TPB Crew have been here for well over 10 years, many for much, much longer, and we're proud to be...

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10) – Groups of educators condemned the planned changes of the Department of Education (DepEd) in its Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan curriculum, which they said would spread disinformation and historical distortion. "The alteration of historical terminology is not only distortion but also undermines the truth about one of the darkest periods in Philippine history," the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said on Sunday. Read More: CNN Philippines

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Human rights lawyer Atty. Chel Diokno says that the solution to the problem of inflation is not martial law, but good governance that always puts the interests of the people first.

GCash takes down over 4 million accounts Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines — E-wallet giant GCash has removed more than four million accounts in its platform for engaging in fraudulent and risky transactions that endanger the trust network of the app. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cybersecurity forum, G-Xchange president and CEO Oscar Reyes Jr. said the e-wallet blocked over four million users between January 2022 and June 2023. Reyes said these GCash accounts were linked to malicious activities, especially digital fraud, and that they must be stripped of access to the app for safety and security. “When we see transactions that are potentially fraudulent or risky, we are able to block them. We took down more than...

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel says the highest form of courtesy in the country should be extended to the Filipino people. Manuel made the manifestation following the termination of the House Committee on Appropriations FY 2024 budget briefing of the Office of the President. #BantayBudget2024

Australia to introduce new visa schemes, double scholarships for Filipinos MANILA, Philippines — The Australian government has committed to introducing new work and holiday visa arrangements and providing more international education opportunities for Filipinos to strengthen ties with the Philippines, according to a joint statement by the two nations. In a joint statement on the bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the latter said that the two countries have agreed on the following arrangements to strengthen people-to-people ties: Introduction of new reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangements Doubled number of slots for Filipinos in the Australia Award...