Category: Hot News

FLOOD-CONTROL projects in three major river basins in central and southern Philippines are being assessed under a study financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which will be the basis for planning the structures that will protect vulnerable communities.    In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said these flood […]

THE HOUSE of Representatives will pass three more bills, including measures on amending the Constitution and rightsizing the executive branch, before it goes on a break on March 25, a leader of the lower chamber said.   “We still have to pass three measures on third reading, namely HB (House Bill) 7352, that is the accompanying […]

THE PHILIPPINE Congress launched on Thursday a unified website that contains all information related to the House of Representatives and the Senate for easier access to all legislative matters and improve transparency.   At the launching ceremony, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose M. Dalipe said the portal — www.econgress.gov.ph — could be […]

THE PESO weakened against the dollar on Wednesday due to hawkish remarks from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell. The local currency closed at P55.32 versus the greenback on Wednesday, down by 32 centavos from Tuesday’s P55 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed. The peso opened Wednesday’s trading session […]

THE MAIN INDEX closed in the green on Wednesday on last-minute buying and improved market sentiment as inflation eased slightly in February. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) increased by 6.37 points or 0.09% to close at 6,711.49 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index declined by 4.55 points or 0.12% to end […]

SECURITY experts on Wednesday urged the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to stand up against escalating Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and engage in united response with allies. “The best way to address Chinese gray zone activities in the West Philippine Sea is to expose it,” Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay […]

PHILIPPINE transport groups aborted a plan for a week-long strike after the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. agreed to revise its modernization plan and the phaseout of traditional public utility vehicles. Manibela President Mar S. Valbuena and Piston President Modesto Floranda on Tuesday night met with Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil […]

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday said the government aims to clean up the 800,000-liter oil spill from a tanker that sank in the waters of Oriental Mindoro last week in less than four months. “It took four months to clean up the Guimaras oil spill,” he told reporters on the sidelines of […]

THE PHILIPPINE police force will implement tighter security measures such as setting up checkpoints in areas considered under high risk of violence, especially in the period leading up to the October village and youth council elections, a police officer told a House committee on Wednesday.   Brigadier General Matthew P. Baccay told the House public order […]

THE SENATE public services committee called for an immediate improvement in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP) technical capacity and equipment, citing that the New Year’s Day power outage that crippled airport operations nationwide was caused by several malfunctions.   “The January 1 systems failure was indeed a confluence of factors and errors. Experts […]

THE EXPANDED terminal building of the Butuan Airport in southern Philippines was formally opened on March 8, increasing its capacity to 616 passengers from only 248.  “This is in line with the goal to provide locals and tourists with safer journeys to the different parts of the country,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director […]

A DRY run for the implementation of an exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City starts March 9, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Wednesday.   “The dry run is meant to familiarize motorcycle riders traversing Commonwealth Avenue on the said policy. We will have a full deployment of MMDA traffic enforcers […]

A COALITION of women workers’ organizations on Wednesday raised the lack of job opportunities and inadequate minimum wages in the Philippines as the world observed International Women’s Day.    The Women Workers United (WWU), composed of six groups, cited that “7 in 10 Filipinos — mostly women — are being driven into informal, precarious work” while […]

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it will offer 37 hectares in New Clark City for development of a P1-billion solar energy farm. The BCDA said that it is seeking private companies to bid for the long-term lease on a site in the northern section of New Clark City and to develop a […]

THE Department of Agriculture has withdrawn the guidelines for conducting bioefficacy trials on new fertilizer products, an apparent first step in easing the approval process for new types of fertilizer. In a department circular, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban ordered the revocation of guidelines issued by former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar in February […]

CHINA’s reopening is expected to boost tourism in the Philippines, though the overall impact on the economy will likely be modest, according to MUFG Global Markets Research. “The return of Chinese tourists will likely significantly benefit tourism in the Philippines,” it said in a report. China was the second-largest source of visitors in 2019 with […]

SOCIAL protection measures like cash support programs are needed to build climate resilience, especially in at-risk countries like the Philippines, the World Bank said in a blog post. “Adapting cash support programs after a disaster requires careful targeting and understanding of disaster-affected population needs. Making social protection programs more flexible while incorporating reliable mechanisms for […]

A SCIENCE advocacy organization has asked legislators to suspend consideration of a bill creating a new agency that will oversee nuclear power, calling instead for the expansion of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute’s (PNRI) powers. “It may be more prudent and cost-effective to update those mandates and strengthen said institutions (PNRI) by allocating more funding […]