Arts group calls for release of activist detained in Occidental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other concerned agencies are continuously preparing to ease the effects of the looming super El Niño, including the maintenance of irrigation systems and clearing operations on irrigation canals, Malacañang said Wednesday. Palace press officer Claire Castro made the assurance after the NIA outlined its mitigation action

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Mimaropa is studying the reproductive biology of the octopus Octopus cyanea, locally known as “pugita,” to generate scientific data that could support sustainable fisheries management in the region, according to a social media post on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The assessment, which

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court’s swift dismissal of the petitions seeking to nullify the impeachment court’s Sept. 23 ruling on the 2/3 vote requirement needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte proves that its interpretations and proceedings are “constitutionally bullet-proof.” That’s according to Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol. In a statement, Tongol said the impeachment court acknowledges

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Wednesday hailed the dismissal by the Supreme Court of the petitions challenging the Senate Impeachment Court’s ruling on the voting threshold to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. Ridon emphasized that their work on impeachment proceedings will continue.  The SC has junked separate

BACOLOD CITY—A government armed auxiliary member was killed, and two soldiers were wounded after an armed group attacked military personnel in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday afternoon, the Army reported Wednesday. Members of the 79th Infantry Battalion’s Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program (MCSSP) were conducting a security patrol in Sitio Bautista, Barangay Malasibog,

MANILA, Philippines — APO Production Unit Inc., the printing agency for Philippine passports, clarified on Wednesday that it did not request an increase in passport fees. Instead, its president, Atty. Gil Carlos Puyat, told the Senate finance subcommittee that the agency had asked for a government subsidy to offset passport printing costs without passing the

MANILA, Philippines — The reported shooting incident at Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province on Wednesday was a “false alarm,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed. Earlier, Governor Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu said in a social media post that there was an alleged shooting incident at the school, but no confirmed reports of injuries or

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading three bills seeking to provide further legal and financial protection to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). During Wednesday’s session, lawmakers in a voice vote approved House Bill (HB) 9462, HB 9805, and HB 9806, all sponsored by Agimat party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla, chairperson

BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya — Bagabag town showcased a giant ‘buko’ (coconut) pie display made up of 480 standard-sized pies during the 23rd Pabbalat Festival and its 285th Founding Anniversary on Tuesday. Bagabag Mayor Benigno Calauad told reporters that the giant display of buko pies, which had a 15-meter diameter, was given free to residents who

MANILA, Philippines — The National Unity Party (NUP) on Wednesday called for an end to withholding district funding as political punishment for lawmakers who break ranks and do not toe the line, saying the practice is a form of retribution that ultimately harms their constituencies. “The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions

Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines / YouTube Dole: P25 NCR wage hike still possible if Wage Order 27 upheld in court MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday said the additional P25 daily wage increase for Metro Manila workers can still be implemented if the courts will ultimately uphold

MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the 18 “maleta boys,” said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is the one who needs to take a lie detector test. Baligod made this statement when asked about the NBI chief’s remark that the bureau also asked the “maleta boys”—who implicated various government