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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday rolled out an expanded version of PhilHealth’s primary healthcare benefits under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) — a revitalized initiative aimed at bringing essential health services closer to Filipinos, especially those in far-flung areas. Speaking at the program’s launch at Gateway Mall in Quezon City, Marcos said YAKAP Para Malayo sa Sakit …

Every year, we see the same heartbreaking scenes: homes submerged, roads impassable, families stranded — and, tragically, lives lost.  The recent devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the enhanced southwest monsoon is no longer just a wake-up call.  It is an alarm that’s been ringing for decades — and we continue to hit snooze. At least 12 lives …

By Tracy Cabrera Despite the looming impact of a steep 20% tariff imposed by the United States on Philippine exports, the country’s economy is expected to remain resilient, buoyed by easing inflation and a more supportive monetary policy stance. In its latest ASEAN macroeconomic outlook, Maybank Research forecasts the Philippine economy to grow by 5.8% in 2025 and 6.0% in …

In a major step toward digital transformation, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has partnered with leading payment solutions provider Dragonpay to make financial transactions easier, faster, and more accessible for its members and pensioners. The partnership was formalized on July 16, with GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso and Dragonpay CEO and founder Robertson Chiang signing …

The Marcos administration’s push for digital governance is getting a major thumbs-up from the country’s jeepney drivers and operators, as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) launches the Online Driver’s License Renewal System (ODLRS) via the eGovPH mobile app. For many in the public transport sector, the move is a game-changer. “Sobrang ginhawa nito,” said jeepney driver Romeo Magura, who sees …

Malacañang on Friday urged the public to remain calm amid viral misinformation about the 20 percent tax on interest earned from bank deposits, assuring Filipinos that their savings are untouched and that the tax is neither new nor alarming. At a Palace press briefing, Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that the tax applies only to interest income, not to …

Filipino workers eyeing global careers in the hospitality industry can soon pack their bags for Croatia, thanks to a newly signed government-to-government labor agreement between the Philippines and the Croatian government. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Friday that Undersecretary Felicitas Bay and Croatian Employment Service Director General Ante Loncar formalized the Implementing Guidelines for the Pilot Project on …

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Friday condemned the China Coast Guard (CCG) for tailing and obstructing the BRP Teresa Magbanua near Bajo de Masinloc, calling the incident a blatant act of aggression inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Estrada slammed China’s continued harassment of Philippine vessels, saying the latest provocation on July 15 was part of …

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lowered the crisis alert level in Iran from Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) to Level 2 (restriction phase) following what it called “positive developments” in the country’s security landscape. The downgrade takes effect immediately, weeks after Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites, sparking tensions in the region. Despite the alert level adjustment, the DFA …

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered a full investigation into the case of a missing jewelry box that was eventually recovered at NAIA Terminal 3, calling for greater accountability and heightened airport security measures. In a statement last week, Dizon directed the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to probe the incident and ensure that such lapses “do not happen again.” …