Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Friday, March 31, 2023.
MARINA starts probe into deadly Basilan ferry fireThe Maritime Industry Authority on Friday said it has launched a marine safety investigation into the fire on MV Lady Mary Joy 3 off Basilan that left 29 people dead. “Pursuant to the directive of MARINA Administrator Atty. Hernani Fabia under Special Order No. 364-23, our Enforcement Service has commenced the marine safety investigation of MV Lady Mary Joy See more...
Two former DA Region 1 execs get jail time over fertilizer scamThe Sandiganbayan has found two former Department of Agriculture (DA) officials in Region 1 guilty of six counts of graft in connection with the 2004 fertilizer fund scam. Francisco Casil, former chief administrative officer and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman, and Lourdes Gonzales, former budget officer, were meted with a 36- to 60-year jail time for all six counts, See more...
Housing prices rise in fourth quarter of 2022: BSPMANILA - Housing prices were higher by 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The central bank however also noted that compared to the third quarter, residential real estate prices of various types of new housing units across the country rose See more...
Cebu Pacific offers ‘Super Pass’ for P99Cebu Pacific is offering a P99 travel voucher in celebration of its 27th anniversary. The “CEB Super Pass” can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 31, 2023. “Customers can purchase as many CEB Super Passes as they want, with each voucher for only P99 one-way base fare, exclusive of surcharges and other fees,” the airline said See more...
Dreamscape drops ‘Drag You & Me’, ‘Linlang’ trailersMANILA – Kapamilya fans are in for a treat this summer as the much-anticipated new shows of Andrea Brillantes and Kim Chiu are nearing their premiere. On Friday, Dreamscape Entertainment dropped the teasers of Brillantes’ “Drag Me & You” and Chiu’s drama series “Linlang” on various social media platforms. Brillantes turns into a drag queen in the teaser See more...
Deep ocean currents around Antarctica headed for collapse, say scientistsThe fast melting of Antarctic ice threatens to slow deep currents in the world's oceans, adversely affecting the climate, the spread of fresh water and oxygen as well as life-sustaining nutrients for centuries, scientists have said. According to a new study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, deep water currents around Antarctica could slow by more than 40% in See more...
Zubiri stresses need for wage hike to address nurse shortage in PHSenate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday emphasized the need for a salary increase to address the shortage of nurses in the Philippines. In a statement, the Senate leader said nurses are paid by small local private hospitals as low as P15,000 to P20,000 per month. “Who can blame them for leaving? Overseas, they earn somewhere around P150,000 to P200,000 See more...
Those protruding T-Rex teeth? They were covered by lips: studyWASHINGTON - Sorry, "Jurassic Park" and toymakers everywhere. Tyrannosaurus rex probably did not have those exposed jagged teeth. The fearsome choppers of arguably the most celebrated of dinosaurs were likely covered by lips when the mouth was closed. It's not an open and shut case, but that's the conclusion of a team of international researchers whose findings are published Thursday See more...
Philippines posts 272 new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 8,920The Philippines monitored 272 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, while the number of active cases rose to 8,920. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s caseload is currently 4,081,215, as the active tally increased to 8,920 from 8,749 on Thursday. The National Capital Region logged the highest number of new cases (731) in the past two weeks, followed See more...
Marcos: Bataan-Cavite bridge to decongest Metro Manila, generate savingsPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Friday that he was confident the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge would help decongest traffic in Metro Manila. Marcos, who attended the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) Milestone Ceremony held in Bataan's Mariveles town, said the travel time between the provinces of Bataan and Cavite could be reduced to 45 minutes from five hours. "With the See more...
Inaccurate manifest posing challenge to Basilan ferry fire search ops —officialAn inaccurate manifest is making it difficult for authorities to conduct search, rescue, and retrieval operations on MV Lady Mary Joy 3, which caught fire late Wednesday evening, a local official said Friday. "'Yan 'yung magiging challenges natin, isa sa mga challenges ng search and rescue or retrieval po sa insidente na to kasi 'yung manifest po kasi hindi nasusunod," See more...
'Slow transition' needed to revert to pre-pandemic school calendar - DepEdMANILA — Returning to the pre-pandemic school calendar, with the school year starting in June and the school break slated for April to May, will have to go through a "slow transition," the Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday. DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said among the factors to consider is the minimum number of school days. "For this school calendar, See more...
Water agencies bracing for El Niño impactMANILA -- The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday said contingency plans are being readied to prevent water shortage ahead of the possible impact of El Niño by the third quarter of 2023. El Niño is a weather phenomenon characterized by below-normal rainfall that can lead to dry spells and drought. "Tayo sa NWRB nakahanda 'yung contingency See more...
GoTyme announces 5% savings rate, plans more offeringsThe Gokongwei Group’s digital banking unit GoTyme Bank Corp. has increased its annual savings interest rate to 5%, with QR and bills payments and investment features set to be rolled out within the year. The higher interest rate will take effect April 1, 2023 from the previous 3%, available through the Go Save feature with no minimum balance and no See more...
Jollibee Group opens 500th store in mainland ChinaMANILA - Jollibee Foods Corp said on Friday it opened its 500th store in mainland China with its Yonghe King branch located in Shanghai's Putuo Rong Chuang Xiang Yi area. In a statement, the group said China is one of its "pillar markets." “Opening our 500th store comes with a renewed commitment to continually deliver the same superior-tasting food and, See more...
Sabrina Carpenter is coming to Manila in JulyMANILA – American singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter is returning to the country for a show on July 25. Billed as “emails i can’t send tour,” Carpenter’s show is set to happen at the New Frontier Theater as part of the Asian leg of her concert tour, according to Live Nation Philippines. Carpenter visited Manila in 2018 where she See more...
Bangkay ng lalaki, natagpuan sa loob ng kotse sa QCNatagpuan ang bangkay ng isang lalaki sa loob ng kotse na mahigit dalawang araw nang inabandona sa may Capitol Hills Drive sa Old Balara, Quezon City. Sa ulat ni Ian Cruz sa Unang Balita nitong Biyernes, sinabing napansin ng ilang TNVS driver na nakaawang ang pintuan sa likod ng sedan at dun na sila kinutuban ng masama. Pahayag ng See more...
155 BI personnel deployed in preparation for Holy Week exodus —spoxThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said it has deployed 155 immigration officers to the country's airports in preparation for throngs of vacationers during the Holy Week. "Tayo po ay nagdagdag ng tauhan. 155 immigration officers have been deployed dito po sa mga paliparan natin para masigurado po na fully manned ang ating mga counters," BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval See more...
WATCH: Vice Ganda marks 'chill' birthday on 'Showtime'MANILA -- Comedy superstar Vice Ganda marked his birthday on Friday on "It's Showtime." In the ABS-CBN noontime program, Vice said his wish is for everyone to be happy and to learn how to chill. "Ang wish ko simpleng-simple. Happiness for everyone, good health for everyone, and for everyone to learn just to calm down. Chill. Chill girls, chill See more...
Lalaking nangholdap sa cake shop sa QC, nahuli sa tulong ng CCTVNaaresto na ang lalaking nang-holdap sa isang cake shop sa Quezon City, matapos siyang matunton gamit ang CCTV. Sa ulat ni Jonathan Andal sa Unang Balita nitong Biyernes, sinabing agad sinundan ng mga operatiba ng La Loma Police ang suspek na si Joreen Adduru sa mga kuha ng CCTV sa kalsada matapos magsumbong ang mga staff tungkol sa nangyaring holdap See more...
Amazing Women: How Dr. Pia Bagamasbad helped fight COVID-19 in PhilippinesMANILA — When the novel coronavirus broke out in the Philippines in early 2020, the country had its back to the wall, having only few laboratories capable of diagnosing COVID-19. The country was in a race against time as early detection was crucial to contain the spread of the virus. While the world stood still, Dr. Pia Bagamasbad and her See more...
3 National Artists headline CCP's Performatura FestivalMANILA -- Two living National Artists for Literature Virgilio Almario and Gimeno Abad and one for Film and Broadcast Arts, Ricardo Lee, will give talk-back sessions in the three-day Performatura Festival, on March 31 to April 2, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Performatura, dubbed as a “festival of written words and performances,” returns on See more...
DICT: 32.01% of mobile subscribers registered as April 26 deadline nearsThe Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Friday it is intensifying calls for unregistered mobile subscribers to register their SIMs as only 26 days are left before the deadline. In a statement, the DICT said it is “calling for collective action to ensure that all Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable members of society, have registered their SIMs.” This See more...
PH Army, US troops conduct live fire drills in Nueva EcijaMANILA -- The Philippine Army and US Army Pacific troops on Friday conducted live fire drills in Nueva Ecija as part of the Salaknib Exercise, the annual Army-to-Army exercise geared towards strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American soldiers. Laur town was the first stop for the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) live fire exercise. Philippine Army soldiers See more...
What's next following Trump indictmentWASHINGTON — In a political bombshell, Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury, the first ever serving or former US president to face criminal charges. Here's what happened on Thursday and what is expected to happen next: CRIMINAL CHARGES The grand jury, which meets in secret, voted to indict the 76-year-old former Republican president following an See more...
Basilan ferry fire death toll cut to 28The Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on Friday lowered the death toll in the Basilan ferry fire to 28. Interviewed over dzBB’s Super Radyo, Basilan PDRRMO Head Nixon Alonzo said that the number of bodies authorities recovered inside MV Lady Mary Joy 3 was 17 and not 18 as reported earlier. Some passengers died of drowning See more...
LOOK: Issa Pressman supports Julia Barretto's new businessMANILA -- Issa Pressman showed her support to Julia Barretto, who recently launched her latest project as an entrepreneur. In her Instagram post on Thursday, Pressman uploaded snaps of Barretto taken during the launching event of latter's swimwear line under her accessories brand The Juju Club. "Juju swim just launcheeeed 🤎🌞 congratuammmalations juju," Pressman captioned the post. In See more...
Mga kaeskuwela ng pinatay na college student sa Cavite dorm nagdadalamhatiPILA, Laguna — Puno ng sakit at panghihinayang ang nararamdaman ng mga kamag-aral ni Queen Leanne Daguinsin sa De La Salle University (DLSU)-Dasmariñas sa kaniyang pagkamatay. Ninakawan at sinaksak umano nang 14 na beses si Daguinsin sa loob ng kaniyang inuupahang dormitoryo sa Barangay Santa Fe, Dasmariñas noong Martes. Ngayong Biyernes, nagpunta dito sa hometown ni Daguinsin ang kaniyang mga See more...
Inihayag ni Kuya Kim Atienza na hindi na siya takot sa kamatayan, matapos ang kaniyang dalawang near-death experience. “Hindi na ako takot mamatay, Boy. I can die today,” saad ni Kuya Kim sa “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.” “Kasi alam ko kung saan ako pupunta. Alam kong pupunta ako sa langit. Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and See more...
'Unbreak My Heart' drops exciting first trailer!The first trailer of "Unbreak My Heart" just dropped and yes, we are jittery with excitement! Let's see: There's lots of kissing, a drunken night, several dates, a confrontation, a whiff of action — all under a minute. From what we can gather so far: Jodi Sta. Maria plays Rose, whom Joshua Garcia's character says is his destiny. They go See more...
Vatican rejects doctrine used to justify colonial abuseVATICAN CITY, Holy See — The Catholic Church took a fresh step Thursday in acknowledging abuse endured by Indigenous peoples with the Vatican formally rejecting 15th-century papal edicts that empowered Europeans to colonize non-Christian lands. During a trip to Canada last July, Pope Francis faced repeated calls to rescind the so-called Doctrine of Discovery, which was used to justify abuses See more...
Amazing Women: Gilas Women share how they let their game do the talkingMANILA - "We got game" and so should all women do, members of the Gilas Pilipinas Women's national basketball team declared this Women's Month of March as they prepare for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia in May with a goal of bagging their third straight gold in the regional competition. "Nowadays, women are showing they are so capable See more...
LIST: Malls adjust operating hours for Holy Week 2023MANILA - Mall operators in the country announced adjusted mall hours during the upcoming Holy Week from April 6 to April 9. In an advisory, SM Supermalls said regular mall hours will be observed across all branches nationwide from April 3 to 5 or Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday, the Sy-led operator said. Meanwhile, the following adjusted schedule See more...
DMW reaffirms gov’t commitment to protect rights of migrant workersDepartment of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople on Friday reaffirmed the Philippine government's commitment on Friday to uphold international statutes protecting the rights of migrant workers and to pay special attention to female workers and their children. "We underscored throughout the past two days the Philippine government's belief that migrant workers' rights are human rights and that our See more...
Fire hits commercial building in Ortigas areaA fire hit a room in a high-rise commercial building located in Ortigas Center in Quezon City early Friday morning, according to the report of Bam Alegre on "Unang Balita." The fire occurred at the 27the floor of the building and was raised to first alarm at around 2:30 a.m., the report said. Some 10 firetrucks responded to the alarm. See more...
Final date, venue for Miss International 2023 announcedOrganizers have announced a final date and venue for the Miss International 2023 pageant. Jasmin Selberg of Germany will crown her successor on October 26 at Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2 in Tokyo, Japan. This year's competition is said to be "the biggest and most exciting Miss International edition of all," as announced in the pageant's social media pages. See more...
Fil-Am sa Guam, kinilala bilang isa sa Obama Foundation Asia Pacific LeadersGUAM - Kinilala sa Guam ang isang local Fil-Am o Filipino-American media personality bilang isa sa Asia Pacific Leaders ng Obama Foundation. Siya si Kyle Mandapat na isa sa mga napili para sa 2023 Leaders Asia Pacific Program. 2019 nang simulan ni dating U.S. President Barack Obama ang programang ito para kilalanin ang husay ng mga baguhang lider See more...
Quiapo Church to hold Nazareno motorcade on Good FridayThe Quiapo Church will hold a motorcade and parade the image of the Black Nazarene around Manila on April 7-Good Friday, Quiapo Church spokesperson Father Earl Valdez said on Friday. Valdez told reporters that the Nazareno motorcade will start at 12:01 a.m. The route of the motorcade had yet to be discussed. “Dadagsa ang mga deboto (Many devotees will take See more...
DLSU-Dasmariñas, nagdadalamhati sa pagkamatay ni Leanne DaguinsinLAGUNA — Puno ng sakit ang panghihinayang ang nararamdaman ng mga kamag-aral ni Queen Leanne Daguinsin sa De La Salle University (DLSU)-Dasmariñas sa kanyang pagkamatay. Ninakawan at sinaksak ng 14 na beses si Daguinsin sa loob ng kanyang inuupahang dormitoryo sa Brgy. Santa Fe, Dasmariñas noong Martes. Ngayong Biyernes, nagpunta ang mga kamag-aral sa burol para kay Daguinsin sa kanyang See more...
Pokwang meets lawyer amid issues involving ex-partnerMANILA – Amid controversies involving her former partner Lee O’Brian, comedienne Pokwang has met a lawyer for her youngest child Malia. Pokwang took to Instagram to share her meeting with Atty. Ralph Calinisan. “Thank you atty. @ralph_calinisan. #tuloylanglabanparasakinabukasan. Hindi ako susuko para sayo anak @malia_obrian kung naitaguyod ko si ate ng mag-isa mas lalo ako magsisipag at magiging See more...
NNC reports increased prevalence of obesity among Filipino childrenThe National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Friday reported an increased prevalence of obesity and overweight among Filipino children. At the public briefing, NNC Information and Education Division chief Jovita Raval said at least 3.9% of Filipino children aged five and below and 14% of those aged five to 10 are overweight. Raval said around 40% of adults aged 20 and See more...
Padilla files bill recognizing civil effect of church decreed annulmentSenator Robin Padilla has filed a bill legalizing the civil effects of annulments filed before the church or other religious sects. In filing Senate Bill 2047, Padilla explained that the only legal way to dissolve a marriage is through civil or court annulment which is processed with designated family courts. “Church annulment…is processed by the sect through matrimonial tribunal based See more...
Marcos to go on retreat during Holy WeekPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday said he will go on a retreat for a few days during the Holy Week. Interviewed in Mariveles, Bataan, Marcos said he is also planning to spend Easter Sunday with his family. "Ako simple lang, I'll do what I do every year. I go [on a] retreat for few days and then I'll See more...
P1.1M, alok para madakip ang suspek sa pagpatay sa babaeng estudyante sa CaviteUmakyat na sa P1.1 milyon ang alok na pabuya para madakip ang suspek sa pagpatay sa isang babaeng estudyante na pinagsasaksak sa loob ng isang dormitoryo sa Dasmariñas, Cavite. Sa ulat ni Jun Veneracion sa GMA News "24 Oras" nitong Huwebes, sinabing ang alok na pabuya ay mula kina Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla at Senator Bong Revilla. Martes nitong hapon See more...
BSP expects slower inflation in March within 7.4% to 8.2%The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expecting inflation to continue a downward trajectory this month on the back of lower fuel and food prices. In its month-ahead forecast, the BSP said it projected inflation—the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services—to settle within the range of 7.4% to 8.2%. The central bank’s projection is lower than See more...
With BNPP not in operation, Marcos now keen on battery energy farmsPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is keen on having more battery energy farms in the country, noting their significant role in ensuring enough energy supply and lowering the power cost. At the inauguration of San Miguel Global Power's Battery Energy Storage System in Limay, Bataan, on Friday, Marcos said that the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant "was never in operation." The See more...
Vanessa Hudgens reminds aspiring actors: Don't do it for the fameMANILA -- For Vanessa Hudgens, being an actor is about telling a story that moves people. The Filipino-American star, known to many for portraying Gabriella Montez in the "High School Musical" film series, considers acting for film as "sacred," pointing out that it should always be done out of passion for the craft. She made the statement in a press See more...
NWRB raises MWSS allocation from Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water systemThe National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday raised the water allocation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system until the middle of April. In a statement, the NWRB said it decided to raise to 50 cubic meters per second (CMS) the share of MWSS from the current 48 CMS. This is to See more...
Sen. Imee Marcos calls ICC 'a caricature' of int'l justiceSenate foreign relations committee chairperson Imee Marcos on Friday called the International Criminal Court (ICC) a “caricature of international justice” for picking on the Philippines, and African countries for alleged crimes against humanity, but turning a blind eye on the human rights excesses of Western nations. “The ICC's long-standing failure to investigate Western nations for countless crimes against humanity makes See more...
PH books $531-M net outflows of 'hot money' in FebMANILA - More foreign portfolio investments flowed out of the country in February compared to money that came in, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Thursday. The BSP said there was a net outflow of $531 million in transactions on foreign investments registered with the BSP through Authorized Agent Banks or AABs. This was after $1.2 billion worth See more...
#WalangPasok: Palace suspends afternoon gov't work on April 5MANILA (UPDATE) — Work in government offices will be suspended on April 5 from 12 p.m. onwards, Malacañang said on Friday. The move is meant to "give government employees ample time to travel to and from different regions in the country" on Holy Week, the Presidential Communications Office said. April 6, Maundy Thursday and April 7, Good Friday are See more...
WayV fulfills promise in 1st PH fan meetingMANILA — During Chinese boy band WayV's first visit to the Philippines last October, the members admitted to feeling upset with the turn of events. Ten and Winwin missed the group's appearance at a local concert due to health problems, while the remaining members who attended barely performed any of their songs, filling the set instead with an interview segment See more...
Nurses tribute ‘Siglo ng Kalinga’ to hit cinemas in MayMANILA – “Siglo ng Kalinga,” a tribute to healthcare workers during the pandemic, is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide starting May 3. Produced by Dr. Carl Balita Productions, “Siglo ng Kalinga” is inspired by the life story of Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) founder Anastacia Giron-Tupas and the heroic lives of Filipino nightingales. It also commemorates the centennial See more...
Castro backs proposal to revert summer vacation to April-MayHouse Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Friday threw her support to the proposal to revert the summer vacation of students to April to May, saying it should be done "at the soonest time possible." "Reverting the summer vacation of students to April-May at the soonest time possible would be best since students and teachers are now suffering the intolerable See more...
'Kakapagod na': Ex-gov Teves says 'exasperated' with brother ArnieMANILA – Former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves said Friday he is already exasperated with his older brother, suspended Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., who has refused to come home to the Philippines for fear of his life. The older Teves is implicated in the murder of Governor Roel Degamo, and is facing charges for the killing of Board See more...
Over 6,000 classrooms eyed to be built this year - DepEdMANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) aims to construct 6,379 classrooms this year, with its P15.6 billion allotment under the General Appropriations Act, it said Friday. DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said the procurement is ongoing, and the list of areas where the classrooms will be built is being finalized. The project is being done in coordination with the Department See more...
An alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced Friday. Remulla said the case is 99% solved. “The NBI was able to catch a main player, a main player. A name we have not discussed, we have never discussed here. But practically, See more...
Villanueva seeks inquiry on MARINA, PCG enforcement of seaworthiness rulesDue to the March 29 fire aboard the MV Lady Mary Joy 3, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said on Friday that he was filing a resolution seeking an inquiry into the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG's) and the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA's ) implementation of vessel seaworthiness regulations. “With these tragic events, it seems that we are backsliding from the See more...
Palace: Gov't work suspended on April 5 from 12 p.m. onwardsMalacañang on Friday announced the suspension of work in all government offices starting noon on April 5 amid the observance of Holy Week. According to the Presidential Communications Office, the work suspension will begin from 12 p.m. onwards "to give employees ample time to travel to and from different regions in the country." This is in observance of the regular See more...
From tinikling to adobo: Vanessa Hudgens talks about 'eye-opening' PH visitMANILA -- It took more than three decades for Filipino-American star Vanessa Hudgens to finally visit the Philippines, and she wouldn't have it any other way. The "eye-opening" experience, as described by the Hollywood actress, came at a good time. Now older and wiser, she is able to focus on returning to her roots as she prepares to start her See more...
Marcos: Rising prices remain biggest problem of FilipinosPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Friday the rising prices of commodities remain the biggest problem of Filipinos as he stressed the need to open more Kadiwa stalls to help consumers as well as local and small businesses. "Alam naman natin sa kasalukuyan 'yan ang pinakamabigat na problemang hinaharap nating lahat at pataas nang pataas ang presyo ng bilihin," Marcos See more...
Tweeters, and celebs, await 'blue tick' ultimatumSAN FRANCISCO, California - All eyes are on whether Elon Musk will go through with stripping blue checkmarks from celebrities and other high-profile Twitter users starting April 1 unless they pay for the privilege. Musk vowed to act, despite a previous attempt triggering a swarm of trolls and imposters. The prized verification mark became a signature element of Twitter's success See more...
Bataan-Cavite bridge to address supply chain woes: MarcosMANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday hailed the engineering design of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) in a milestone ceremony of the project in Mariveles, Bataan. He led the ceremonial switching of BCIB geotechnical investigation drilling equipment that marked the official launching of the project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). BCIB is a 32-kilometer See more...
EU signs deal to phase out cars with internal combustion enginesPARIS, France - The European Union approved on Monday a deal that will lead to the phaseout of sales of new fossil fuel cars by 2035, with a final green light by energy ministers due on Tuesday. The 27-nation bloc joins more than a dozen other nations which have set deadlines for ending sales of new cars with internal combustion See more...
Padilla releases draft report on measure seeking Cha-cha via con-assSenator Robin Padilla on Friday released a draft copy of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes' report on the measure seeking to reform the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution via constituent assembly (con-ass). The committee proposed that the Senate and the House of Representatives amend Sections 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11 of Article XII See more...
BSP: $531M net 'hot money' exited Philippines in FebruaryShort-term foreign investments or “hot money” registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ) through authorized agent banks reversed to a net outflow in February. Data released by the BSP showed that transactions on foreign portfolio investments posted net outflows of $531 million, a turnaround from $292 million net inflow in January. The net “hot money” outflow resulted from the See more...
ASF affects all Philippine regions except Metro ManilaAll regions in the country were affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) except Metro Manila, according to Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report on Friday. Based on the data of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), at least 16 regions have recorded ASF cases, except for Metro Manila because there were no hog raisers in the region. However, the Department See more...
Padilla accepts Cha-cha's doomed fate in the Senate: 'May halong kalungkutan'MANILA — Sen. Robin Padilla on Friday admitted feeling "sadness" over the likely failure of his bid to amend some provisions of the 1987 Constitution, citing the lack of support from his colleagues. "Siyempre may halong kalungkutan pero ganun po talaga. Siyempre may konting kalungkutan, pero hindi po naman po yun nababalot ng kasawian. Sapagkat naniniwala naman po tayo See more...
Maternal mortality ratio in PH declining — DOHThe maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines has been declining over the years, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday. Dr. Diego Danila Jr., of the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Division, said maternal mortality globally is also on a downward trend based on the data collected by the Word Health Organization, See more...
Amazing Women: Girl boss Rhea Tan supports other girl bossesMANILA -- In business, it’s harder for women — you have to look and act in a certain way. “Her dress is too sexy,” “She’s too loud,” are just some of the comments from social media a female executive usually gets. To mark International Women’s Month, girl boss Rhea Tan, founder and CEO of Beautéderm, talked about how she breaks See more...
Marcos to military: Ensure airworthiness of PAF assetsPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directed the Philippine military on Friday to conduct regular checkups on air assets to ensure their airworthiness. Marcos witnessed the recommissioning of the C-130T aircraft with tail numbers 5011 and 5040 at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. These two units were acquired by the Philippines from the United States under the Excess See more...
Marcos reminds Air Force: Keep assets ‘ready’ for deploymentCLARK, Pampanga — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday reminded the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to keep all assets “ready to go,” underscoring its mandate to be the country’s “first line of defense against external security threats.” Marcos gave the statement after he inspected the PAF's three recommissioned C-130 units. “Should any unfortunate events happen, we must be able to See more...
LTO asked to postpone cap on driving lesson feesThe Association of Accredited Driving Schools of the Philippines Inc. has appealed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to postpone the implementation of the cap on driving lesson fees, Unang Balita reported on Friday. According to the group, it was not clear in LTO's memorandum circular if the price cap also covers driving lessons using expensive cars. The group requested See more...
BSP sees inflation easing to 7.4 to 8.2 percent range in MarchMANILA - Inflation in March likely settled within the 7.4 to 8.2 percent range, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Friday. The estimate is lower than the 8.6 percent rate the previous month. The lower outlook was due to the rollback in domestic petroleum prices, lower prices of fruits and vegetables as well as the decline in chicken and See more...
Over 77,000 PNP personnel to be deployed for summer holidaysMore than 77,000 police personnel will be deployed for patrols and to areas of convergence to ensure the security of the public during the summer holidays. In a statement on Friday, the Philippine National Police said 38,387 officers would be deployed for more police presence through mobile and footbeat patrol. Another 39,504 officers will be designated in select areas of See more...
Philippines' maternal mortality ratio dropped in 2022 - groupMANILA — The country's maternal mortality ratio decreased in 2022, a obstetrician-gynecologist said Friday. Maternal mortality refers to deaths due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth or during the pregnancy or within 6 after end of pregnancy. According to Dr. Maria Stephanie Fay Cagayan of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the maternal mortality ratio declined to 104 per 100,000 See more...
DOJ clears 17 cops in 'Bloody Sunday' killings of Batangas fisherfolk leadersMANILA — A Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors has junked the murder complaint against 17 policemen involved in the Bloody Sunday killings of Batangas fisherfolk leaders Ariel and Ana Mariz "Chai" Lemita-Evangelista in 2021. In a resolution dated December 5, 2022 but received by respondents’ counsel only on Thursday, the panel cited “insufficiency of evidence” in dismissing See more...
'Holy week' exodus ramdam na sa ilang terminalMAYNILA - Bago pa man mag-Semana Santa ay nagsisimula nang umuwi sa mga probinsiya ang ilang taga-Metro Manila na nais makasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Kabilang dito si Grace Demerin at kaniyang asawa, na pumunta ng Ninoy Aquino International Airport limang oras bago ang kanilang flight. "Mahirap makipagsabayan pag marami tao lalo dito sa Manila sobrang traffic, See more...
Homegrown app Happy Hotels takes on Agoda, AirbnbMANILA - Filipino-owned travel booking app Happy Hotels, which was officially launched on Friday, aims to compete with global players in the tourism industry by banking on its expertise in local festivities and catering to traveler needs depending on their budgets. With the app, local and foreign travelers can book hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and dormitels in as fast See more...
GCash to roll out GChat feature in coming monthsFinancial application GCash, operated by G-Xchange Inc., has unveiled new initiatives including a messaging feature which will remove the need for users to take screenshots of receipts for proof of transaction. Dubbed as the GChat feature, the in-app messenger will allow users to chat and transact with their contacts and merchants, share receipts instantly, and trace transaction histories. GChat is See more...
Provincial buses allowed on EDSA from April 6 to 10 amid Holy Week —MMDAProvincial buses can use EDSA from April 6 to 10 in light of the expected influx of passengers during the Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday. The MMDA added that provincial buses will also be allowed on EDSA from April 3 to 5 but only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. “Provincial buses coming from North See more...
'99 percent solved': NBI nabs alleged mastermind in Degamo slayThe National Bureau of Investigation has arrested one of the suspected masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March 4, Justice Secretary Crispin "Boying" Remulla said Friday. “There’s a breakthrough. It’s 99% solved - the Degamo case is 99% solved,” Remulla said. However, Remulla did not reveal the identity or location where the suspect was arrested. See more...
Vanessa Hudgens says being in the Philippines ‘really lined things up to me’Vanessa Hudgens is in the Philippines to film a travel documentary, but her exploration goes beyond the city sights and beaches. The Filipino-American artist said in an interview with GMA Integrated News that being in the country has “been really eye-opening and really grounding,” because she has learned more about her roots and has been able to reflect. “But it's See more...
Easterlies to bring scattered rain showers over MindanaoScattered rain showers may prevail in the southern Philippines due to the continuing effect of the easterlies or the warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean. State weather bureau PAGASA on Friday said cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Mindanao as the weather system affects the region and Visayas. Metro Manila and the rest of See more...