The Civil Service Commission has imposed a sweeping ban on all forms of gambling among government officials and employees, extending the prohibition beyond office hours and into private time. Under Resolution 2600111, the policy covers the entire bureaucracy and reinforces the principle that “public office is a public trust,” requiring state workers to uphold the highest standards of conduct at …
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The Philippine National Police has ordered faster processing for trucks carrying food and agricultural goods at checkpoints, aiming to prevent supply disruptions as global tensions tied to the Middle East drive up fuel and logistics costs. PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police commanders nationwide have been directed to recalibrate security procedures to avoid delays that could inflate transport …
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last week assured stricter oversight of the ₱57.87-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for 2026, vowing that public money for local projects will be spent wisely and transparently. In a statement, the agency said the record allocation under the current administration will be monitored through a three-tier accountability system designed to …
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Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday urged authorities to go beyond shutting down hubs and dismantle the entire criminal network linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), following the rollout of new enforcement rules. Hontiveros warned that many POGO sites functioned as fronts for a broader web of illegal activities, including human trafficking, scam operations, extortion, illegal detention and money laundering—issues …
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A proposed measure in the Senate is pushing for a wide-ranging relief package aimed at shielding workers and small businesses from the continuing impact of rising fuel prices. Senator Mark Villar said Senate Bill No. 2032, or the Relief and Recovery Interventions for Low-Income Earners, Minimum Wage Earners, Self-Earning Individuals, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (RELIEF) Act, is designed …
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The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday said the lawmaker remains in the Philippines and will exhaust all legal remedies after reports that the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against him. Lawyer-spokesperson Ade Fajardo confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the order was reportedly issued upon the request of the …
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Applications for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) solar financing program have surged to ₱5.7 billion as of April 21, reflecting strong demand from government workers seeking relief from rising electricity costs. GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso said the growing uptake of the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan (GSEL) shows how members are increasingly turning to renewable energy …
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Text and photo by Tracy Cabrera RIZAL PARK, Manila — With high fuel prices driving up farm input and production costs, Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, enthused that preparedness is the key to ensuring food security for the country. Soeaking at the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila, DE Mesa …
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Three major developments have overtaken what should have been welcome economic news: a two-week slide in fuel prices. Instead of relief dominating public discourse, the spotlight has shifted to accountability, legality and political survival—issues that cut deeper than pump prices ever could. The International Criminal Court ruling affirming jurisdiction over criminal cases offormer President Rodrigo Duterte is arguably the most consequential. For thousands of families who lost loved ones in …
Read More »We live in interesting times. Internationally, the world’s superpowers are aligning towards bi-polarity, ultimately clustering into US and Non-US camps, like two warring Latin-named fraternities in disorganized brawls. Then, as if the on-going mayhem wasn’t enough, there is a spicier sideshow of names and emails of the high and the mighty proposing to cavort with under-aged pizza pies in the Virgin islands. The cause of it all lies below …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business