National

Seven senators have withdrawn their support for Senate Bill 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, following concerns raised by various groups. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada told Senate President Francis Escudero he has decided to distance himself from the measure after evaluating feedback from private organizations. “I arrived at this…

The National Bureau of Investigation has recently nabbed eight (8) Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in online phishing operations at their base in Parañaque City. The NBI identified the arrested suspects as Xiao Li, Chuan Zi Gao, Ming Ru Li , Wen Shu Liu, Qui Shun Li, Cai Li Pan, Changfu Liu, and Zhang Zhen. A…

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia has appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to immediately appoint the replacements of the two commissioners who are set to retire next month. Garcia told media Commissioners Socorro Inting and Marlon Casquejo are set to retire early February after completing their respective seven-year terms. “It is our…

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on the third and final reading a measure seeking to regulate the practice of agriculture as a profession in the Philippines. The measure, House Bill 11186, which proposes the establishment of a Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to oversee licensure examinations, registration,…

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora MANILA – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has affirmed the United States’ commitment to sustaining its trilateral cooperation with the Philippines and Japan under the administration of newly installed US President Donald Trump. The new US top diplomat made the reiteration during a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya…

The Sin Tax Coalition has thanked the Speaker Martin Romualdez, House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, and other House leaders on their decision to cancel further deliberations on HB11279, which they say will ‘sabotage’ the Sin Tax Reform Law by lowering tobacco tax rates. The Sin Tax Coalition is composed of…

Senatorial candidate and Partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta shared his views on critical national issues during the third episode of Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews. On the issue of Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF), Marcoleta highlighted the need for transparency and accountability while expressing reservations about the current approach to investigations. He acknowledged the importance…

The New Zealand government has provided the Philippine National Red Cross NZD500,000 (approximately PHP17 million) to help support its response to victims of the series of calamities that ravaged the country recently. The New Zealand Embassy in Manila said Friday “New Zealand stands in solidarity with the Philippines, reaffirming its commitment and offering support during…

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants local government units (LGUs) to have their own Business Permit and Licensing Offices (BPLO) to help encourage investments and support economic growth. Gatchalian, who co-authored Senate Bill 1278 or the BPLO Act, said the bill  seeks to ensure that every city and municipality will have a dedicated BPLO, that will enable…

President Bongbong R. Marcos has approved the 2024 National Security Strategy (NSS) designed to enhance the country’s ability to address both local and global security challenges. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the President approved the NSS during a meeting at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Deceber 19. The NSS, supports the administration’s National Security…