March, 2025

• 24 March

  Pope Francis indicates continuity despite health concerns

  

  Pope Francis’ pontificate is not over, and his latest decision on what happens between now and 2028 will shape the rest of it, according to Massimo Faggioli, an American academic and professor at Villanova University who has closely followed the papacy for over a decade. Following last October’s inconclusive Vatican summit, which resulted in no concrete action on possible reforms, …

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• 24 March

  PHLPOST lowers rates for trackable mail services

  

  The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) announced on Friday the launch of promotional lower rates for its domestic and international tracked or registered mail services, including its express mail service. This initiative aims to strengthen PHLPost’s market position and make its services more affordable, offering the public better value for their money. PHLPost Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Luis Carlos …

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• 24 March

  Cyberattacks surge after Duterte’s arrest—DICT

  

  Pro-Duterte vloggers linked to the House fake news probe apologized to lawmakers, but cyberattacks targeting government websites have surged following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) official confirmed.   In a recent interview, DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy disclosed that most cyberattacks related to Duterte’s arrest came from local hackers attempting to …

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• 24 March

  PWDs assured of continued services amid ID system shift

  

  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Council on Disability Affairs have assured the public that essential services for persons with disabilities (PWDs) will remain accessible while the government develops a unified identification (ID) system. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to implementing effective policies and programs that ensure equitable opportunities for …

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• 24 March

  DepEd Supplier’s Registry launched

  

  The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched a Supplier’s Registry platform to fast-track the delivery of learning resources to public schools nationwide. Following the first Suppliers’ Summit held from March 19 to 20, Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored suppliers’ vital role in procurement reforms. “Sa ating mga suppliers at bidders, hindi lang kayo negosyo. Kayo ay kaagapay po natin sa …

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• 24 March

  Fake news dividing Filipinos, says PCO chief

  

  The government’s chief communicator expressed concern on Friday over the growing division among Filipinos due to online disinformation, misinformation, and fake news. “What is happening to us right now is we are being polarized, being divided online. Filipinos are being pitted against Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz said during the House Tri-Committee’s (Tri-Comm) hearing on malicious and …

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• 24 March

  DICT welcomes new chief

  

  The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) welcomed the appointment of Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda by President Ferdinand R. Marcos last week. In a statement, DICT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Renato Paraiso assured the agency’s full support for Aguda in realizing Marcos’ vision of a “secure, inclusive, and progressive Philippines.” “Under (Aguda’s) leadership, we reaffirm that digitalization, connectivity, digital inclusion, …

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• 24 March

  Recovery of swine industry to take a long time

  

  BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz The swine sector, which is now reeling from the rampage of the African Swine Fever as with so many other countries around the world, would take a long time to recover from this virus. An article on Pig Site said Dr. Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian of the National Pork Producers Council in Des …

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• 24 March

  Miners not ready for ban on ore exports

  

  After decades of lucrative profits from exporting ores of precious metals (iron, steel, nickel, gold, copper, etc,), the mining industry claims it is not yet ready for a total ban on ore exports, which Congress is now considering passing bills to discourage ore shipments in place of finished mineral products, where the country could earn more from. In a statement, …

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• 24 March

  FPA is open to longer-term CPRs based on track record

  

  Executive Director Glenn Estrada of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority said his agency is open to granting long-tenured certificate of product registration of up to 5 or 10 years just like the licenses for Land Transportation Office, but this must be based on track record of the product, consistency of ingredients and encouraging outcomes of the product on actual farms. …

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