Philippines News Today April 29, 2023

Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Saturday, April 29, 2023.

PEZA sees increase in investor confidence ahead of Marcos’ US visit

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on Saturday said there was an increase in confidence among local and foreign investors to expand their operations in the Philippines due to the official visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to the United States next week. “The impact of the presence of the President in the United States really strengthened iyong confidence See more...

Government aims to form El Niño team ‘in 10 days’: DILG

MANILA —The government seeks to form a team focusing on addressing the El Niño phenomenon “within 10 days,” an official from the interior department said on Saturday. Allan Tabel, a director at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the current El Niño task force previously created must be abolished, as this is currently led by the See more...

PH, US expected to mount ‘more complex’ Balikatan next year: US ambassador

PULILAN, Bulacan — The Philippines and the United States are expected to mount a “more complex” and “more challenging” Balikatan exercises in next year after the traditional allies recently concluded its biggest military exercise earlier this month, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson said on Saturday. This year’s Balikatan exercises, where over 17,000 Filipino, American and Australian troops See more...

Saweetie's advice to Fil-Am artists: 'Embrace your culture'

MANILA -- Grammy-nominated Fil-American artist Saweetie is in Manila to perform at the FIBA World Cup draw later Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Saweetie, who proudly embraces her Filipino-Chinese and African-American heritage, first came to visit the Philippines a decade ago with her Filipina mom. “I knew I had to come back,” Saweetie told ABS-CBN News. She arrived Thursday See more...

AFP refuses to comment on PH-China vessels incident in Spratlys

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has declined to give its comments on the near-collision incident between a Chinese Coast Guard ship and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, carrying journalists, in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. “Yes, nakarating na po ito sa amin. But I would rather let the National Task Force for the West See more...

Two vessels collide near Corregidor; one dead, 18 rescued, 1 missing —PCG

A dredger and a chemical and oil product tanker collided in the waters off Corregidor Island on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday. One crew member died, 18 others were rescued, while search and rescue (SAR) operation is ongoing for the last missing crew member, the PCG said. The vessels involved in the collision were the Sierra See more...

Ilang OFWs sa Sudan nanawagan sa gobyerno na madaliin ang paglilikas

Muling nanawagan sa gobyerno ang ilang Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) sa Sudan upang matulungan silang agad makalikas lalo na’t patuloy ang giyera sa lugar. Nakasentro ang bakbakan sa pagitan Sudanese army at paramilitary group na Rapid Support Forces (RSF) sa Khartoum, Sudan. Ito’y bunsod nang pag-aagawan sa kapangyarihan. Ayon sa sugar worker na si Joemar Calacat, kahit na anim See more...

Maguindanao del Sur, del Norte OICs take oath before Marcos

MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday administered the oath-taking of designated officers-in-charge (OICs) of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, seen as a symbol of "sincerity of all parties to push forward long-lasting peace and genuine progress in the newly-created provinces." Marcos earlier this month appointed Abdulraof A. Macacua and Bai Mariam S. Mangudadatu as acting governors See more...

Japan to honor ex-Defense chief Lorenzana, 3 others

MANILA -- The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines on Saturday announced that 4 Filipinos are set to receive the 2023 Spring Conferment of Japanese Decorations. Former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Alberto Romulo will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun; former Department National Defense (DND) secretary Delfin Lorenzana will receive the Order See more...

Dutch court orders sperm donor to stop after 550 children

NETHERLANDS - A Dutch court ruled Friday that a man who fathered more than 550 children is no longer allowed to donate sperm. An advocacy group and a mother who had a child with the man's sperm had applied for an injunction against him, citing clinical guidelines, which say a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 See more...

B.I returning to PH for joint K-pop concert in June

MANILA -- South Korean singer-songwriter B.I is coming back to the Philippines in June for a concert with other K-pop artists, marking his return to the country after just three months. B.I joins the lineup for the Overpass: K-pop Music Concert, happening on June 11 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the event's producer Cornerstone Entertainment announced late Friday. See more...

340 Filipinos reach Egypt, to be repatriated in coming days - gov’t

A total of 340 Filipinos had made it to Egypt after escaping the violence in Sudan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday. The Filipino evacuees arrived in Argeen, which is near Sudan's border with Egypt, from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and were welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago. There had been delays in processing their See more...

Clouds carry drug-resistant bacteria across distances — study

MONTREAL, Canada - For a team of Canadian and French researchers, dark clouds on the horizon are potentially ominous not because they signal an approaching storm -- but because they were found in a recent study to carry drug-resistant bacteria over long distances. "These bacteria usually live on the surface of vegetation like leaves, or in soil," lead author Florent See more...

ITCZ, easterlies to bring scattered rains over Eastern Visayas, Caraga

The easterlies will continue to affect parts of the country on Saturday, PAGASA reported. Eastern Visayas and Caraga will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies and Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Flash floods or landslides may possibly result due to moderate with at times heavy rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country See more...

PH Navy joins first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy has sent a 140-member contingent to join the first ever ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in Singapore from May 2 to 8. The Navy held a send-off ceremony for Naval Task Group 80.5 on board BRP Antonio Luna FF151 - PF with an embarked AW109 naval helicopter last Thursday at the Naval Operating Base in Subic. See more...

BEXCS Logistics Solutions embarks on aggressive expansion

BEXCS Logistics Solutions Inc., a four-year-old logistics company founded in Bulacan, is embarking on an aggressive expansion plan as it aims to cover the entire Philippine archipelago, banking on the potential growth of the e-commerce sector. “We are aiming to open 278 branches across the Philippines this year, of which 81 will be owned by BEXCS.” BEXCS founder, chairperson, and See more...

Abandoned ship on fire for 10 hours in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Disaster responders in Lapu-Lapu City took about 10 hours to put out the fire in an abandoned vessel off the shores of Punta Engaño in Cebu. The vessel, identified as MV Diamond Highway, caught fire at past 2pm yesterday. It was declared fire out at past midnight today, Saturday. Based on the investigation of the Philippine Coastguard, the vessel ran See more...

'Cold Spring' na may P20 admission, tampok sa Agusan Del Norte

Sa halagang P20 ay ma-e-enjoy na ang nakabibighaning Tumipi Cold Spring sa Brgy. Putingbato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. Ito ang masayang kwento ni Bayan Patroller Verna Sajol na namasyal sa nasabing cold spring noong Lunes, April 24 kasama ang kanyang karelasyon. Dagdag pa ni Sajol, kung maliligo sa Tumipi Cold Spring ay pwede ding makapag-rent ng life vest See more...

What beauty means for Miss World PH 2021 Tracy Perez

MANILA -- Before the #nofilter era, fair-skinned women were more celebrated and accepted as “beautiful.” But things have changed now as more young women today are not afraid to show vulnerability, authenticity, and diversity. For Miss World-Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez, beauty is subjective. "I’d like to think of myself as beautiful and use it in a way na See more...

Deadly invader devastating Venezuelan coral reefs

CHORONI, Venezuela - An ominous shadow in the turquoise Caribbean waters off Venezuela comes from a deadly intruder -- a soft coral that experts say has caused one of the most destructive habitat invasions on record anywhere. The Unomia stolonifera, native to Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific, is a pinkish type of pulse coral so called for its dance-like movements in See more...

BSP wins Gold Stevie Award for online museum

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has won a Gold Stevie award for its online museum featuring collections of fine arts, pre-colonial gold, and pottery, numismatic, and decorative arts. The Gold Stevie award received by the BSP for its museum webpage was given under the "Innovation in Government Websites" category. "The central bank developed the webpage to See more...

OPM artist mrld drops new single 'The Fate of the One Not Chosen'

MANILA — Rising singer-songwriter mrld has released her new single “The Fate of the One Not Chosen,” which has been featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in five countries. The 18-year-old artist from Catbalogan, Leyte’s new track dropped on leading digital music platforms, including Spotify, on Friday, April 28. Currently, it is featured in countries across Southeast Asia such See more...

First Republic bank in limbo as shares fall further

NEW YORK - Shares of First Republic fell further into an abyss Friday amid mounting speculation over the US regional bank's way forward after it reported a big drop in deposits. After dropping more than 50 percent earlier in Friday, shares of First Republic stood at $3.80 shortly after midday, down 38.6 percent. The stock has been in free fall See more...

Lalaki, nalunod nang tangkaing sagipin ang nalulunod na pamangkin

Nalunod ang isang lalaki nang tangkaing iligtas ang nalulunod na pamangkin sa- isang ilog Mangaldan, Pangasinan. Sa ulat ni Jasmin Gabriel-Galban ng GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, na iniulat din sa Saksi, kinilala ang biktima na si Ricardo Ducusin, 44-anyos. Nasa outing ang magbabarkada kasama ang mga kamag-anak nina Ducusin nang mangyari ang insidente. Tinangka pa ng mga See more...

Marcos’ Team El Niño to be created in 10 days — DILG exec

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to form a team that would address and mitigate the effects of El Niño will materialize in the next 10 days, according to an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). During the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, DILG Disaster Information Coordination Center Director Allan Tabel said that with the See more...

Army, Air Force teams compete in Pasig obstacle race

MANILA—The Philippine Army track and field team went up against the Philippine Air Force head-to-head in the Swiss Military Hanowa Bridgetowne Challenge at the Obstacle Park in Pasig City. The challenge was composed of 10 courses: hurdles, wall climbing, balance beam, and monkey bars to name a few. Each team went through a relay and the group with the fastest See more...

US envoy wants Baguio residence open for school tours

PULILAN, Bulacan — US Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson on Saturday said she is pushing to open the American Residence in Baguio to school tours to create “new touchstones” for younger generations of Filipinos and Americans. “It’s my goal to open that in Baguio to have more opportunities for school children to have educational field trip there,” she said See more...

Customs welcomes Philippines’ improved logistics ranking in WB report

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has welcomed the World Bank’s recent report which showed the Philippines has improved its logistics performance ranking which covers 139 countries. Citing the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI), which measures countries’ ability to trade goods across borders with speed and reliability, the BOC said that the Philippines moved up 17 places from 60th in See more...

Higit 600 tindahan sa Pritil Market, nasunog

Umabot sa ika-apat na alarma ang sunog sa Pritil Market sa Manila. Champ de Lunas, ABS-CBN News. Tinupok ang mahigit 600 stalls o tindahan sa Pritil market sa Tondo, Maynila, gabi ng Biyernes. Naiulat ito at itinaas ang first alarm bandang alas-10:43 ng Biyernes. Sa tindi ng sunog, itinaas na ang ika-apat na alarma dakong alas-11:14. Base sa See more...

Coast Guard official counters China, says West PH Sea patrol 'non-provocative'

MANILA — An official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday countered China's claim that a Philippine boat's "provocative action" led to its near-collision with a Chinese coast guard ship in the West Philippine Sea. "The routine, seven-day maritime patrol carried out by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the West Philippine Sea from April 18 to 24 was See more...

Aussie envoy tells Pinoys: Apply for tourist visa to Australia

Australia’s ambassador to the Philippines said Filipinos should not be afraid to apply for an Australian visa as she invited more visitors from the country to visit the "Land Down Under" for tourism. At the Philippine launch of Australia’s Come and Say G’Day global tourism campaign this week, Yu said Filipino applicants can expect shorter visa processing time See more...

Mga gumawa ng kidnap prank, muntik mabaril ng rumesponding pulis

Muntik nang mabaril ng isang pulis ang isang grupo ng kalalakihan na nagsagawa ng prank na kidnap sa Las Piñas. Matapos kasing isakay ng mga prankster ang kunwari nilang biktima, rumesponde ang nakasibilyang pulis na residente sa lugar at may hawak na baril. Sa ulat ni Jun Veneracion sa GMA News “24 Oras” nitong Biyernes, sinabing nangyari ang insidente noong See more...

DMW wants OFW families intact amid repatriation efforts in Sudan

The Department of Migrant Workers is willing to extend assistance even to foreigners fleeing the conflict in Sudan. According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras", DMW Secretary Susan Ople said the department would want to see families of overseas Filipino workers intact amid the evacuation. “Humanitarian crisis na ito eh. Sabi nga ni Presidente kung sakali habang nagse-set up See more...

DOE: Gov’t to hasten Mindoro Island’s connection to main Luzon grid

The government will expedite Mindoro Island’s connection to the main Luzon power grid as a long-term solution to power outages, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). “The entire island should be interconnected to the grid already, so we plan to hasten it,” DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. “It should be See more...

DOLE: No wage hike announcements on May 1

There will be no wage hike announcements on May 1, Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Saturday. In an interview on Dobol B TV, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said, “Sa May 1, walang lalabas na adjustment [sa sahod] agad kasi dumadaan pa sa proseso.” (There won't be any wage hike announcements on May 1 as these See more...

8 OFWs mula Sudan nakauwi na sa Pilipinas

MAYNILA -- Nakarating na sa Pilipinas nitong Sabado ang 8 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) mula Sudan kung saan may nangyayaring kaguluhan. Ayon kay Jhonny Mariano, labis na pangamba ang kanilang sinapit lalo’t tinamaan ng lampas 15 ligaw na bala ang hotel kung saan sila nagta-trabaho. "Hindi naman nag-eexist ang ceasefire nila kasi here and there merong mga putukan," dagdag See more...

Philippine COVID-19 positivity rate rises to 14.3% –OCTA

The country’s COVID-19 positivity rate increased to 14.3% on Friday, according to the independent monitoring group OCTA Research. The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested. Meanwhile, citing data from the Department of Health, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David also reported 858 new cases, 525 See more...

DOE eyes interconnectivity of Mindoro island to Luzon power grid by 2026

MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) said Saturday it sought to fast-track the interconnectivity of Mindoro to the main Luzon power grid by 2026 to solve the island's power crisis. In a forum, Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella said they are addressing the power problems in Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. The National Power Corporation, he said, was able to See more...

DOE says looking into multiple power interruptions in Visayas

MANILA – The Department of Energy (DOE) on Saturday said it was looking into multiple power interruptions in Visayas, after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said some power plants got disengaged from the transmission system. Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella said authorities are “looking into the situation why it happened.” “Naka-time stamp naman ang lahat ng mga reports See more...

AFP awaiting probe on aircraft that intruded Balikatan drills

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Saturday it is awaiting the result of the country’s civil aviation authority probe regarding an unidentified aircraft that had intruded during the live-fire exercises during the Balikatan drills in Zambales. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Thursday it was coordinating with the Balikatan 2023 organizers after a See more...

Some private schools ask for 4% tuition increase on average

Members of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines have filed petitions for tuition hike due inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic. "Actually meron pong schools na nag-apply na po ng tuition increase para sa susunod na academic year," COCOPEA Legal Counsel Attorney Kristine Carmina Manaog said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. Atty. Manaog See more...

NGCP investigates power outages on Panay Island

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on Saturday said it is looking into what caused the power outages that affected provinces on Panay Island. “At 8:54 a.m., NGCP monitored a disturbance. Multiple power plants in Panay disengaged from the transmission system,” the grid operator said in an advisory. Provinces within the Panay Island are Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique. See more...

LRT2 will offer free rides to Pinoy workers on Labor Day —DOLE

Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2) rides during peak hours will be free of charge on May 1, Labor Day for Filipino workers, the Department of Labor and Employment said Saturday. In a statement, the DOLE said it requested the Department of Transportation to provide free rides to workers during peak periods from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from See more...

DOH reports 304 new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 5,070

The Philippines reported 304 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, while the active tally dropped to 5,070. The fresh cases increased the country’s caseload to 4,092,158, according to the Department of Health. The number of active cases went down to 5,070 from 5,293 on Friday. The National Capital Region logged the highest number of new cases with 2,533 in the past See more...

2 patay sa banggaan ng dalawang barko sa Corregidor

Dalawa ang patay habang tatlo pa ang pinaghahanap matapos magbanggaan ang isang dredger vessel at oil tanker sa karagatan ng Corregidor Island. Ayon sa Philippine Coast Guard, 9:30PM Biyernes nang magbanggaan ang Sierra Leone flagged na dredger vessel na MV Hong Hai 189 at Marshall Island flagged na oil tanker na MT Petite Soeur. Agad na-rescue ng dumaang See more...

El Niño: Bakit hindi dapat magtanim ng palay kung walang irigasyon?

MAYNILA -- Nagbabala ang agricultural group na Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) sa mga magsasaka na walang irigasyon na iwasan ang pagtatanim ng palay dahil sa El Niño. "Medyo yung non-irrigated area we don't suggest magtanim sila ng rice sa ngayon dahil kung yung El Ninno is coming and walang tubig doon sa area, talagang hindi natin in-encourage," ani See more...

Easterlies, thunderstorms to bring rains across country

The easterlies and the Intertropical Convergence Zone will bring rain showers over some parts of the country, PAGASA said Saturday. The Davao Region, Caraga, and Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies and ITCZ, according to PAGASA’s 4 p.m. weather forecast. PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides. Metro Manila See more...

Abalos orders PNP, NCR LGUs to ensure peace and security on Labor Day

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units in the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure peace and security on May 1, Labor Day. DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos issued the statement in light of possible protests in connection with Labor Day. “While we support all lawful and peaceful See more...