By Tracy Cabrera More than 11 million Filipino households, or 20% of families nationwide, experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Conducted from April 23 to 28, the survey found that one in every five families went hungry at least once between January and March. The figure …
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In a message released ahead of the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV drew heavily from Pope Francis’ Laudato si’, reiterating the Church’s firm stance against environmental and social injustice. He emphasized that God’s creation was never meant to be a battleground for vital resources. Set for September 1, this year’s observance is …
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The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is advocating for a substantial hike in the starting monthly salary of public school teachers to P50,000—a move that Education Secretary Edgardo “Sonny” Angara appears open to supporting, though not spearheading. The proposal, filed in Congress by ACT party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Louise Co, was brought up during a …
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Relatives of some of the 34 missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) visited the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headquarters at Camp Crame on Friday to request updates and appeal for renewed efforts in the search for their loved ones. Maricel Ramos, whose son is among the desaparecidos, said the families initiated the visit in the hope of meeting with CIDG …
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The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of a travel consultancy and its partner recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment by offering unauthorized jobs in Poland. In a joint operation with the Manila Police District (MPD), the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) on Friday shut down Reiven Air Travel & Tours …
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Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to widen the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines to help ease the financial strain on Filipino patients. “Walang Pilipino ang dapat mapagkaitan ng pagkakataong mapangalagaan ang kanilang kalusugan at makabili ng murang gamot (No Filipino should be denied the opportunity …
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Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is championing a bill that seeks to grant senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) the full 20% discount and 12% value-added tax (VAT) exemption even when availing of existing promotional offers from business establishments. In a statement on Friday, Romualdez said House Bill No. 16, or the “Act Enhancing the Discount on …
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied a petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team seeking the disqualification of two judges from the case he is facing. In a ruling dated July 3, the ICC’s plenary of judges found no merit in the claims questioning the impartiality of Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores …
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Two former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees were arrested in Las Piñas City for allegedly selling counterfeit money online, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) reported on Friday. In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang identified the suspects as alias “Usa,” 18, from Cotabato City, and “Agila,” 30, from Zamboanga …
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday that chicken prices may soon decline following the lifting of the import ban on poultry products from Brazil and six U.S. states. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Orders No. 34 and 32, officially removing the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, eggs, and …
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