PH, Efta states vow to improve FTA utilization rates

THE free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and European Free Trade Association (Efta) member states—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland has been working well with no critical implementation issues since the FTA’s implementation five years ago. Both are currently enjoying preferential utilization rates of 31 percent for the Philippines and 30 percent for Efta member […]

Marcos urged to seek out more allies to deter China aggression

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter SECURITY and foreign policy experts on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to partner with as many countries as possible to deter China’s aggression in the South China Sea. “Multilateralism will counterbalance too much dependence in the United States,” Chester B. Cabalza, who studied national security and policymaking […]

ASEAN trade show generates over P100M in sales leads for Philippine tourism industry

THE Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said a regional trade show generated over P100 million in sales leads for 16 exhibitors from the Philippine tourism industry. The TPB, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DoT), was reporting the result of Philippine participation in the ASEAN Tourism Forum. In a statement on Monday, the TPB […]

Editorial: Teenage pregnancy problem

Two neophyte senators, Robinhood “Robin” Padilla and Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo, have a somewhat simplistic solution to the complicated problem of teenage pregnancy—limiting teenagers’ access to social media. It could be true that various social media sites, famous among them Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, have effects on the sexual behavior of teenagers, both males and females. […]

UN to boost Manila’s investigative capacity

THE PHILIPPINE Justice department has invited a forensic expert from the United Nations (UN) to improve local capacity in investigating extrajudicial killings in connection with the government’s war on drugs. In a statement on Sunday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had […]

Mayor proposes bill amendment allowing gov’t to directly buy onions from farmers 

THE MAYOR of Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija, tagged as the “onion capital” of the Philippines, recommended to include a provision in a proposed law that will allow government to buy onions directly from farmers and handle distribution to markets.   At a House committee on agriculture and food meeting on Wednesday, Bongabon Mayor Ricardo I. […]

Nutrition groups push for law banning trans fatty acids 

GROUPS in the nutrition sector reiterated their call to enact a law banning trans fatty acids (TFAs) in processed and pre-packaged food after a substitute bill recently passed a House panel.   ImagineLaw, a public interest law group, along with nutrition groups Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Nutrition, […]

Marcos wants to beef up maritime security duties of PHL Coast Guard

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. wants the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to go beyond its sea rescue mission and maritime patrol duties to strengthen the country’s territorial defense, according to the presidential palace. Members of the PCG should become “frontliners ready to confront whatever threats are coming through the country’s coastlines,” Mr. Marcos said during […]

Search continues for missing plane with 6 on board; Air Force plane crash kills 2 

THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said a Cessna single-engined general aviation aircraft went missing after departing Cauayan Airport in Isabela on Tuesday afternoon.   RPC1174, a Cessna 206 type aircraft, took off from the Cauayan Airport at 02:15 p.m. on Jan. 24 and was expected to arrive at an airport in Maconacon, Isabela […]