The Philippines and Quezon City earned major recognition for transparency, civic engagement, and open governance at the 2025 Open Gov Challenge Awards during the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Quezon City was named Regional Winner for Asia and the Pacific and received the Thematic Award for Civic Space, while the Philippines won the Thematic Award for …
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Following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the town of Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday morning, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) immediately deployed assistance worth ₱615,000 to affected communities. The initial relief included 50 family food packs (FFPs) to be cooked into hot meals through the agency’s mobile kitchen and 606 boxes of ready-to-eat food (RTEF) for …
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The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of former Quezon City District III Councilor Dante De Guzman for graft involving more than ₱6 million worth of ghost projects. In a 15-page decision, the Court’s First Division affirmed the Sandiganbayan ruling that found De Guzman guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. …
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied former president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release, citing flight risks and the need to prevent obstruction of justice or the commission of further crimes. In a 23-page decision dated October 10, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I ordered Duterte’s continued detention, saying he “continues to pose a flight risk” and that his release …
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A special division in the Sandiganbayan dedicated to handling cases linked to the ghost flood control projects may soon be formed, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. Remulla said he plans to raise the proposal when he meets with magistrates of the anti-graft court next week, along with other possible measures to expedite the resolution of corruption cases. “I will …
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the ₱20-per-kilo rice program under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” initiative will soon be available across all provinces in the Davao Region, even as the area reels from the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Davao Oriental. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the program’s rollout remains on track and may …
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The Senate Subcommittee on Finance chaired by Senator Loren Legarda will review the request of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to increase its proposed 2026 budget from ₱2.8 billion to ₱3.9 billion. During Friday’s budget hearing, Legarda said the panel will carefully evaluate the request based on the government’s available “fiscal space,” or capacity to expand spending without endangering long-term …
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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started building a detour bridge near the collapsed Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, as part of a three-pronged strategy to ease the transport of agricultural goods in Luzon. DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon said the new 124-meter detour bridge, which has a 40-ton capacity—more than double the 18-ton limit of the old …
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In a nation long plagued by corruption, the latest scandal surrounding overpriced farm-to-market roads and botched flood control projects is beginning to follow a familiar script — one that ends in impunity. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), without the knowledge or coordination of the Department of Agriculture (DA), has been exposed for constructing farm-to-market roads with bloated …
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The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo banked on Rommel Calahat and Jeff Manday to thwart the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, 65-61, on Friday and rev up their playoff drive in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued, Abra. Calahat, a burly former star of the San Sebastian College Golden Stags, bunched 8 points …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business