National

Palace throws support behind Briones amid COA findings vs DepEd

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Monday, Aug. 12, threw its support behind Education Secretary Leonor Briones after the Commission on Audit noted errors in some textbooks for public schools. “As far as I know, the Secretary of Education is a very competent, intelligent educator and she is someone who will never allow any irregularity or any anomaly inside her department,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. The COA said in its  2018 audit report that filled with […]

Price rollback of petroleum products on Tuesday

(Eagle News) – Expect a rollback of petroleum prices starting Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at 6 a.m. Pump prices of gasoline will be slashed by as much as 50 centavos per liter, while diesel prices will be cut by P1.10 per liter. Kerosene prices will also be reduced by P1.30 per liter. Flying V, Seaoil Philippines, Shell, and Caltex have already made their announcement on the rollback of pump prices in separate advisories. Total Philippines, […]

Lorenzana: Vessel that docked in Subic not China’s, just a yacht that caters to tourists

(Eagle News)–Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday, Aug. 12, clarified the reported Chinese vessel that docked in Subic was just a yacht. Lorenzana said this was upon verification by the Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police maritime unit. He said authorities found the yacht was  owned by a businessman based in Subic. “It has been bought and converted into a motor yacht. It caters to tourists that are already in Subic,” Lorenzana said. Earlier, […]

Recto files bill mandating installation of solar energy systems in all gov’t offices

(Eagle News)–Senator Ralph Recto has filed a bill seeking to have all government buildings and offices utilize solar energy systems in a reported bid to reduce utility costs and promote the development of renewable energy resources. Under Senate Bill No. 48 or the bill on Solar Energy in National Government Offices, Recto seeks the installation of solar energy systems that can initially  supply 10 percent of the power supply of government offices or buildings. The […]

De Lima wants free tertiary agricultural education for qualified farmers’ children

(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima has filed a bill seeking for free tertiary agricultural education for the dependents of indigent farmers. In filing Senate Bill No. 853, De Lima cited data from the  Philippine Statistics Authority 2015 Poverty Statistics for Basic Sectors report which noted that farmers and fishermen are the sectors with the highest poverty incidence. She said the poverty incidence for the sector of farmers was at 34.3 percent. “Naturally, families of farmers […]

Robredo to visit kin of victims in Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy

(Eagle News)–Vice President Leni Robredo is slated to visit the families of the victims in the Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy. At present, Robredo is now in Iloilo and will proceed to Guimaras later in the day, an advisory from her office said. Robredo’s scheduled visit takes place days after  M/B Chi-chi, M/B Keziah 2, and M/B Jenny Vince sank off the waters of Iloilo-Guimaras on August 4 and killed at least 31 people. Authorities said the […]

DFA: Fishing vessel carrying 7 Filipinos, others sank off Brunei waters

(Eagle News)–A fishing vessel carrying 11 people, including seven Filipinos, sank off the waters of Brunei, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, Aug. 12. The DFA said only two survivors were rescued from the sinking of Radims 2, with search and rescue operations terminated on Sunday. The DFA said it was still monitoring developments. Brunei’s National Search and Rescue Coordination Committee has already asked  the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for assistance in locating […]

Parts of PHL to have cloudy skies; southwest monsoon affects Luzon, W. Visayas

(Eagle News)–Cloudy skies are expected in parts of the country as the southwest monsoon affects Luzon and Western Visayas. In its recent bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said  Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan is forecast to have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon. Flash floods or landslides due to scattered light to moderate rains are possible. Pagasa predicted  Metro Manila and the rest […]

Palace: Law allows policemen to receive “unsolicited gifts or presents of small or insignificant value”

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Sunday, Aug. 11, said the law allows policemen to receive “unsolicited gifts or presents of small or insignificant value.” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte told police officers during the 118th anniversary of the Philippine National Police that they could accept gifts but not bribes. “Unlike other politicians who forget their laws and grab at opportunity to find fault at what the President says or does, […]

Palace expresses alarm over fall to death of Chinese national trying to escape from his employer in Las Piñas

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Sunday, Aug. 11, expressed alarm over the death of a Chinese national who fell from his office window reportedly while trying to escape  in Las Piñas City. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo noted  27-year-old Chinese Yang Kang was handcuffed when he fell to his death from the sixth floor in Pamplona around 4 a.m. on Friday. Las Piñas police have said it was possible Kang was escaping from his […]

DFA: No Filipino hurt in car bomb attack in Benghazi, Libya

(Eagle News)–No Filipino was injured in a car bomb attack outside a shopping mall in  Benghazi, Libya, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday, Aug. 11. The DFA said the Embassy is, however, still monitoring the situation. It advised Filipinos in the area to avoid unnecessary travel for the moment and exercise caution. The car bomb attack in Libya’s  eastern city on Saturday killed several people. “Two members of the UN mission, one them […]

Cloudy skies to prevail in parts of PHL; PAGASA monitors active tropical cyclone outside PAR

(Eagle News)–The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring an active tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. PAGASA said Typhoon “Krosa” was spotted 1945 kilometers east of extreme N. Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 175 kilometers per hour. “Krosa,” PAGASA said, is moving northwest slowly. Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon will still […]