National

Blinken to meet Philippine leader on bolstering alliance

MANILA, March 19, 2024 (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to hold talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday, as the countries seek to reinforce security and economic ties in the face of growing Chinese aggression. Blinken’s visit to Manila — his second since Marcos took office in June 2022 — is part of a brief Asia tour that also included South Korea. Washington is keen to improve relations with […]

Gov’t condemns ambush of soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur

PBBM orders swift administration of justice for four fallen soldiers (Eagle News)–The government condemned the March 17 ambush of soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur that killed four soldiers, with President Bongbong Marcos calling it a “despicable act.” “This…only strengthens our resolve to eradicate terrorism from the region and the entire nation,” President Marcos said. In a separate statement, the Philippine Army said the ambush was perpetrated by terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah. Army Commanding General Lt. […]

At least 63 Filipinos to be repatriated from Haiti amid ongoing violence

(Eagle News)–The Philippines will repatriate at least 63 Filipinos from Haiti amid the ongoing violence in the Caribbean country. The Presidential Communications Office said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers are looking to charter a flight since no flights are coming out of Haiti and land travel to Port-au-Prince is discouraged due to violence. According to the PCO, the Philippine Embassy led by Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez and the DMW-Migrant […]

PAGASA: Easterlies affecting the PHL

(Eagle News)–The easterlies are affecting the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said as a result, Aurora will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Flashfloods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains are possible. Metro Manila and the rest of the country, meanwhile, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers. According to the weather bureau, the entire country will have light to moderate […]

LRT-2 operations suspended from March 28-31 to give way to train maintenance activities

(Eagle News)–Operations of the Light Rail Transit-2 are suspended from March 28 to 31 to pave the way for its annual maintenance activities. The Light Rail Transit Authority said the day prior to the suspension of operations, or on Wednesday, March 27, the LRT-2 will implement shortened operating hours. On that day, the first train will leave Recto Station  and Antipolo Station at 5 a.m. The last train will depart those stations at 7 p.m. […]

PBBM signs No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act

(Eagle News)–Students can now take their periodic and final examinations even with unpaid tuition and other school fees. This was after President Bongbong Marcos signed Republic Act 11984, or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act” on March 11, covering all public and private basic (K to 12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical vocational institutions (TVIs). “All public and private educational institutions covered by this Act are hereby mandated to accommodate and allow Disadvantaged Students […]

Hundreds rescued from Philippines scam centre: police

Hundreds of people forced to work in an online scam centre in the Philippines were rescued in a raid on Thursday that also saw eight suspects arrested, according to police. Acting on a tip from a Vietnamese man who alleged to have escaped the sprawling compound north of capital Manila, police said they unmasked an operation where suspected victims of human trafficking were forced into conducting various online scams. “The rescued workers told us (the […]

MRT-3 operations suspended from March 28 to 31

(Eagle News)–The Metro Rail Transit-3 will suspend operations from March 28 to 31. The MRT-3 said this was to pave the way for maintenance activities. On March 27, the last train trips before the suspension of operations will be at 9:30 p.m. if coming from the North Avenue Station, and 10:09 p.m. from the Taft Avenue Station, the MRT-3 said. Normal operations will resume on Monday, April 1, with the first train trips scheduled at […]

Czech Agriculture Minister Výborný to visit PHL next week

(Eagle News)–Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný is set to visit the Philippines next week. Czech President Petr Pavel said also coming to the Philippines are Czech businessmen. “We also have companies that are involved in defense industry, manufacturing, in farming and agriculture, science, technology, energy sector, power sector, many of these businesses do have particular specific plans for the future cooperation with the Philippines,” he said. According to the Presidential Communications Office, Výborný, in particular, […]

PCO: At least $4 billion worth of investment deals secured during PBBM working visit to Germany

(Eagle News)–President Bongbong Marcos has secured at least $4 billion worth of investment deals during his working visit to Germany, the Presidential Communications Office said. According to the PCO, of the eight agreements clinched during the Philippine-Germany Business forum in Berlin, three are letters of intent (LOI) from different German companies, two memoranda of agreement, and three memoranda of understanding (MOU). The  first LOI is aimed at the development of a partner hospital to support […]

PCO announces new appointees

(Eagle News)–The Presidential Communications Office has announced new appointees in various government departments and offices, including the Office of the President. Felix Castro Jr., who was presidential assistant for Marawi rehabilitation, was named the OP’s assistant secretary. Cris Tenorio was appointed Director IV at the OP’s Asset Management Office. Julius Leonen and Adrian Bautista, meanwhile, were appointed Director II and Director III, respectively, at the PCO. In the Department of Finance, Joven Balbosa was appointed […]

A free, open South China Sea benefits the world: PBBM

(Eagle News)–A free and open South China Sea benefits the world. This was the declaration made by President Bongbong Marcos during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. The President is on a three-day working visit in Germany. “Because it really, it has to be recognized that the South China Sea handles 60 percent of the trade of the entire world. So, it’s not solely the interest of the Philippines, or […]