News
PCG suspends sailing of small vessels in Catanduanes
VIRAC, Catanduanes – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station here has recently prohibited small sea vessels from sailing in the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes. The PCG Station has issued an advisory suspending the venture of all watercraft with a gross tonnage of 250, fishing boats, and other small watercraft due to the strong gale-force winds…
US Library of Congress-inspired municipal hall inaugurated in Pampanga
NEW BUILDING. Porac, Pampanga’s new municipal hall is inspired by the iconic US Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The PHP370-million building, whose construction started in 2021, was inaugurated on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2025). (Photo from Pampanga PIO Facebook) By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario PORAC, Pampanga – This Pampanga town recently its newly constructed municipal hall, the design…
DBM chief to LGUs: Embrace open governance
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has urged local government units (LGUs) to embrace open governance and join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) program. At the recent 2025 OGP Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting Opening Plenary in Taguig City, Pangandaman reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to the OGP principles of transparency, accountability, and…
DepEd partners with NEA to electrify last-mile schools
The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to electrify last mile schools in the country. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the urgency of the partnership deal to ensure the learner’s welfare amid the Marcos administration’s electrification programs for off-grid schools. “Now power is a basic need. If we don’t…
Malacanang extends Marbil’s term as PNP chief by 4 months
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended the term of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil by four months via a memorandum order dated Feb. 4, 2025, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Marbil was supposed to retire on February 7, 2025 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. Earlier,…
UK, PH eye bilateral deals on trade, maritime cooperation
DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro (right) and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific) Catherine West MP (Photo courtesy of DFA) By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora The Philippine government hopes to sign a number of new agreements with the United Kingdom ahead of the 80th anniversary of their bilateral relations next year….
NGPA positions PH as ‘leading model of transparency in Asia’
PIONEER. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks at the 2025 Open Government Philippines Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Taguig City on Thursday (Feb. 6, 2025). In his speech, President Marcos said the New Government Procurement Act has made the Philippines a “leading model of transparency in Asia and a pioneer in open governance in the…
Salceda: Preemptive evacuation, lessons from Mayon 1814 tragedy that buried Cagsawa
DARAGA, Albay – Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, who was guest at the opening of the Cagsawa Festival 2025 here early this week, said the tragedy of the 1814 Mayon eruption that buried the Cagsawa church and its community, has imparted to Albayanos lessons in preemptive evacuation and the Zero Casualty idea. The event has also proven…
PBBM extends PNP Chief’s term by 4 months
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended the term of Philippine National Police Chief P/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil by four months, effective February 7, 2025, his retirement day. A memorandum dated February 4, 2025, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, states that the President approved the extension of Marbil’s government service beyond the compulsory retirement…
Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival will go international in 2025
ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is sure to take center stage in international events this year. This rosy prospect for Dinagyang was announced by Allan Ryan Tan, president of the Iloilo Festival Foundation Inc., during the opening of the Tribes Competition of the world-renowned festival on January 26 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand….