Marcos backs private sector’s call to suspend real property tax hike

MANILA, Philippines — The trough of a tropical depression will continue to affect Visayas and Mindanao, while localized thunderstorms may prevail over the rest of the country on Thursday, Sept. 24. This is the forecast from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday). The weather bureau reported that the

MANILA, Philippines — The tropical depression (TD) off Southeastern Luzon may intensify as it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, Sept. 24, the state weather bureau said.  The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in its 5 p.m. weather advisory that the TD is likely to enter the

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara commended Congress on Wednesday for ratifying the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act, as it would strengthen the Department of Education’s private school assistance framework. “This legislation provides a pragmatic solution to public school constraints while giving families more equitable access to quality schooling,” Angara said in a DepEd

CALAPAN CITY, Occidental Mindoro – The Mangyan-Iraya Repungpungan sa Malatabako, an indigenous group in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, has denounced what it calls “fabricated criminal charges” filed against its members by a real estate developer. They described the cases as retaliation for the legitimate defense of their ancestral domain. In a video statement posted by

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may not achieve full electrification until 2033, five years later than the government’s target, Camarines Sur Rep. Arnie Fuentebella said Wednesday. Fuentebella said connecting remote rural areas to the electric grid could cost as much as P67 billion, with funding shortfalls potentially delaying the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) rollout. He

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City police have recovered a Mitsubishi Montero during a follow-up operation in Mandaluyong City, they said on Wednesday.  In a report, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said its operatives seized the 2024 Mitsubishi Montero in response to a victim’s complaint filed at the District Anti-Carnapping Unit on Sept. 17.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A cascading “collapse” of family guidance, school security, and government regulation is turning Philippine classrooms into killing fields, a criminology expert said on Wednesday. Dr. Gerry Caño, president of the Asian Criminology Society and Professional Criminology Associations in the Philippines, criticized the Philippine National Police (PNP) and state agencies for

MANILA, Philippines — Senate finance panel vice chair Sen. Pia Cayetano confirmed with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Wednesday whether it could investigate the publishing of her flight details. She inquired about the matter after her flight details were made public when she and her brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, took a trip to

MANILA, Philippines — Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando criticized the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for its proposed funding for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for 2027. The lawmaker on Wednesday emphasized that the proposal is not even enough to sustain the university’s operations next year.  During the House sponsorship and

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday dismissed Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice’s description of the almost P60-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) as a “presidential pork barrel,” calling it an attempt to stir controversy. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Erice was free to challenge the legality of the LGSF before the Supreme Court but

MANILA, Philippines — Even if the Senate Impeachment Court has ruled to allow a lower number of votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, the job of the prosecution panel would not be easier as there are no changes to its role of presenting evidence, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said. Diokno, a member of the House