News
Ash clouds cover Indonesia’s Java island towns as Mount Merapi erupts
ISTANBUL – Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, began spewing lava on Sunday, with ash clouds covering some towns on the Java island, a senior official said. The rocks and lava flows spewed by Merapi’s eruption spread over a two-kilometer (1.24-mile) area on the slopes of the volcano, the ABC News reported, citing Agus Budi Santoso, director of…
Governmentย targetsย single-digit poverty rate by 2028
The government targets to reduce the country’s poverty to a single-digit figure by 2028. In his first State of the Nation Address in 2022, President President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Marcos vowed to bring down poverty to as low as 9 percent by the end of his term. Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest data showed the country’s poverty rate already…
BSP supports immediate passage of AFASA bill
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hopes for the enactment of the proposed Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act or AFASA bill, which will allow it to examine financial accounts involved in prohibited acts. Elmore Capule, BSP senior assistant governor and general counsel of the office of the general counsel and legal services, said in a recent media information session Senator Mark Villar has expressed optimism…
New SBMA chief: More infraย and hotelย projects to attract investors
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Businessman Eduardo Aliño officially has assumed post as Chairman and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). In his first press conference as SBMA chief, Aliño noted the vast potential of Subic should be given priority for development. “We have so many potentials here in Subic and we may put up more hotels, more infra projects to attract more investors,” he said, adding his management…
Recto: PHย heartilyย welcomesย US investors
Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has assured United States officials of the Philippines’ strong commitment to roll out a welcoming “red carpet” to potential investors in the country as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In a statement, the Finance department said Recto recently met with US officials led by Treasury Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for…
DA, SRA, stakeholders discuss plan to buy sugar from local farmers
STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (1st row, 4th from left) and Philippine International Trading Corp. president and chief executive officer Undersecretary Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong (4th from left), and Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Azcona (6th from left), with sugar industry stakeholders after a meeting at the Department of Agriculture central office in Quezon…
BARMM hails peace gains as reg’l gov’t marks 5th anniversary
QUINQUENNIAL FESTIVITY. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim strikes the ‘gong’ on Sunday (Jan. 21, 2024), signaling the start of the regional autonomous government’s weeklong 5th foundation anniversary celebration. Regional officials have hailed the peace gains the BARMM is enjoying, as evident in the regional government’s performance in economic, social, infrastructure, peace, security, and governance. (Photo by Bangsamoro…
Pag-IBIG Fund members welcome planned contribution hike
BAGUIO CITY – A good number of Pag-IBIG Fund members here have expressed optimism on the benefits of the planned increase in the monthly contributions starting February this year, noting its long-term impact and benefits. “I favor that because that’s a forced savings system, and it’ll be returned to us in due time. That is why I also availed of the (Modified) Pag-IBIG II…
DSWD completes 2K sub-projects, benefiting 369K families in Bicol
PROJECT TURNOVER. Residents of Barangay Malitbog in Minalabac, Camarines Sur gather for a turnover ceremony of a sub-project that included a public address system, communication device, and sound system in this undated photo. The sub-project was a part of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program of the…
OTC: There will beย enough PUVs in unconsolidated routes by Februaryย 1
OTC chair Andy Ortega (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc) The Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) has assured on Monday there would be enough public utility vehicles (PUV) operating in all routes nationwide, including those without unconsolidated jeepneys, by February 1. OTC chair Andy Ortega said replacing PUVs that failed to comply with the consolidation requirement of the government is a top priority…