Congress commits to pass 10 priority bills by June 2

TEN priority bills were adopted for passage by June 2 this year during the first Executive Committee Meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) in Malacañang on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. The Ledac serves as a consultative and advisory body to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the National Economic and Development Authority Board, […]

P28.9-B fund to help LGUs build capacity for devolution

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the P28.9-billion Local Government Support Fund will be deployed for capacity-building projects ahead of the imminent devolution of National Government (NG) services. “We will formulate capacity-building training, and seminars for our LGUs (local government units) to help them — so that by the time we have full […]

More than 50 million national ID physical, digital cards printed

THE Philippine Statistics Authority has printed more than 50 million Philippine Identification System physical ID cards (PhilIDs) and ePhilIDs combined, it reported Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, meaning it has covered nearly half of the Philippine population. According to the 2020 census, the Philippines had a population of 109,035,343 persons. As of Feb. 2, the PSA […]

Experts: New security adviser indicates strong military lobby

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter ANALYSTS on Sunday said the appointment of an ex-military general and former Duterte Cabinet member to the National Security Council under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. showed a strong military lobby in the government. “The military bloc obviously is really interested to keep its hold or control over important […]

Marcos says cybersecurity upgrades to accompany digitalization push

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. promised a corresponding effort to upgrade cybersecurity alongside his government’s push to digitalize the bureaucracy, the Palace said in a statement. “Security has become a huge issue… that’s what we are trying to design now, a cybersecurity system for sensitive information,” he was quoted as saying in an open forum […]

More militarist approach to security policy seen with Año’s appointment

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter   ANALYSTS expect a shift towards a more militarist approach in the Marcos administration’s national security policy after the appointment of a former military general to the National Security Council (NSC).  Malacañang on Saturday announced that Eduardo M. Año, a retired general of the Philippine Army, has been appointed as […]

Top Philippine cops urged to quit to cleanse their ranks of illegal drugs

By John Victor D. Ordoñez and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporters THE PHILIPPINES Interior Secretary on Wednesday called on hundreds of high-ranking police officers to quit to help cleanse their ranks of the “deep infection” of the illegal drug trade. “It is coming out that there are generals and colonels involved in illegal drug activities,” […]

PSC fast tracking development in grassroots and elite sports

FOLLOWING President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s hailing Filipino athletes as our new heroes, the fourth quarter of the year saw the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) further sustaining its momentum with a newly chartered plan for Philippine sports and fresh achievements both in the elite and grassroots sports. PSC Chairman Jose Emmanuel Eala began his stint conducting […]

Analysts: Transparency vital to economic recovery

IMPROVING transparency in government spending, both at the national and local levels, will be a crucial factor in the success — or failure — of the Philippines as it navigates through economic challenges with limited public funds next year, according to analysts. “There is a need to strengthen democratic oversight and improve transparency, accountability, and […]

Hitachi Energy and Linxon support National Grid in achieving sustainability targets through pioneering 420 kV SF6-free gas- insulated switchgear technology

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Dec 22, 2022 – (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – Hitachi Energy and Linxon are collaborating to strengthen London Power Tunnels (LPT), a key power infrastructure project that will ensure reliable, clean electricity supply for England’s capital city. To support National Grid in accelerating its net zero targets, Hitachi Energy will deliver EconiQ 420-kilovolt […]

Regulators agree to consult on GOCC competition impact

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said on Tuesday that it signed an agreement with the regulator overseeing government companies to promote competitive behavior in the latter’s activities, especially in mergers and acquisitions. The PCC and the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GCG) signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) recently to formalize consultations with […]