Do beauty queens need to have an advocacy? Ahtisa Manalo, Gazini Ganados answer

MANILA, Philippines — As Manila Water gears up for the anticipated strong El Niño conditions, which may persist up to the first semester of 2027, the company is maximizing the capacity of its Cardona Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to help ensure a reliable and resilient water supply for customers across the East Zone. Located in Cardona,

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it is eyeing to vaccinate over 2 million girls in Grades 4 and 5 nationwide against human papillomavirus (HPV) under its school immunization program. According to Dr. Alethea De Guzman, director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, the agency recommends a single dose of the

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Nine years after the liberation of Marawi from Islamic State-aligned militants, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) honored the sacrifices of more than 1,500 military and police personnel who were killed or wounded during the five-month siege. The commemoration took place during a flag-raising ceremony at Camp Evangelista on Monday,

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur— An alleged former communist rebel leader wanted for multiple offenses was arrested in Butuan City on Saturday, Oct. 17, following a joint police and military manhunt, authorities reported on Monday. The suspect, known by the aliases “Kenny” and “Tikoy,” ranks fourth on the list of most wanted persons in Surigao

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — A landmark tree that produced vibrant yellow blooms along the national highway each summer was uprooted Monday afternoon after heavy rains and strong winds from localized thunderstorms battered the city. Personnel from the Malaybalay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) responded to a distress call at around 2:55 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Monday that the mix-up in the coordinates of a flood control project billed to Taguig City, which pointed to Leyte, was due to the contractor’s error. Earlier, Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to validate a flood control

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — The National Irrigation Administration Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) has instructed its personnel to implement crop diversification strategies and administrative reforms to cushion farmers from the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Engr. June Nathaniel Plaza, NIA-9 regional manager, on Monday urged personnel to take proactive measures to help farmers

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Northern Mindanao police seized nearly half a million pesos’ worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during operations in Iligan City and Misamis Occidental on Sunday night, Oct. 18. The Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) reported confiscating a total of 597 reams of illicit cigarettes valued at P477,600. In Iligan City, authorities flagged

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, scrutinized the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on Monday over its supposed focus on inspecting projects in Taguig City. The senators pointed out the LLDA’s seemingly “special interest” in Taguig City, led by Sen. Alan’s wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, despite

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expanded its fuel marking operations to 10 revenue regions, testing 189 fuel stations as of Oct. 13, 2026, as part of its intensified enforcement against illicit fuel trade and efforts to protect the country’s revenue base. Of the stations subjected to field tests, 111 passed,

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito called for a detailed accounting of the P90-billion allocation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, particularly fund releases, obligations, expenditures, and project implementation. During the Senate Committee on Finance’s subpanel hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, Ejercito

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate finance subcommittee on Monday approved the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies. “The budget of the DND is now deemed submitted for the plenary’s consideration, subject to discussion and possible budgetary adjustments,” said finance panel head Sen. JV Ejercito. The National Expenditure