DOTr eyes Metro Manila Subway's groundbreaking in December

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing the groundbreaking of the Metro Manila Subway in December, an official said Wednesday.“Yung ating pag-procure ng contractor para sa partial operability section ng three stations, kasama na yung depot at Philippine Railway Institute, yan ay nakatakdang i-award ngayong Nobyembre. Kaya inila…

Group seeks Congress, CHR probe of Sagay massacre

MANILA — A farmers' group is appealing to Congress and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the massacre of nine farm workers earlier this month in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.The National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) believes the investigation of Congress and the CHR can shed light on the massacre in Hacienda Nene and b…

PRRD approves 11th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List

MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed Executive Order No. 65 promulgating the 11th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List (RFINL).Duterte approved the amended list of investment areas open to foreign investors on Oct. 29 and was released to the media on Wednesday.The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) submitted the lis…

Rice crop damage in CAR, C. Luzon due to ‘Rosita’ hits P112-M

MANILA -- Damage to rice production in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 3 (Central Luzon) that were hit by Typhoon Rosita reached PHP112.01 million on Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.In its report as of Oct. 31, the DA-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Operation Center said the affected area is 7…

Duterte suspends issuance of new permits to firecracker makers

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has suspended the granting of new licenses and permits to manufacturers of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.Duterte signed Memorandum Order No. 31 last Oct. 29, instructing the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other concerned agencies to strictly implement laws and regulations on the sale, manufacture an…

Lanao Norte's coco farm touted to boost NorMin tourism

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Northern Mindanao’s farm tourism got a boost as a Lanao del Norte town recently developed its own coco farm.

Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo said the Provincial Coco Farm Tourism Camp in Barangay Poblacion, Magsaysay town is being primed to become a tourist attraction in the province.

In a statement Wednes…

PCG helps NFA distribute rice in Zambo island villages

Record-high 8,701 aspiring lawyers to take 2018 Bar Exams

MANILA -- More than 8,000 hopefuls are scheduled to take this year's Bar Examinations.In a statement Wednesday, the Supreme Court's Office of the Bar Confidant said 8,701 candidates are expected to take the 2018 Bar Examinations on all four Sundays of November (4, 11, 18, and 25) at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in España, Manila, th…

SC junks ex-Marinduque solon's plea vs. 2015 HRET rules

MANILA -- The Supreme Court (SC) has turned down a petition filed by former Marinduque lone district representative, Regina Ongsiako Reyes-Mandanas, challenging the constitutionality of several provisions of the 2015 Revised Rules of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).In a 20-page decision dated Oct. 16 penned by Senior Associa…

Otico, Capadocia brace for tough battle in PCA Open

MANILA --John Otico and Marian Capadocia are set to defend their respective titles against a tough field in the Philippine Columbian Association Open from Nov. 16-Dec. 9.AJ Lim, the 2016 champ, and Johnny Arcilla, a former eight-time winner, headline the cast of the men's singles competitors who will give Otico a run for his money.PJ Tierro, N…

No reason for DOF chief to step down: Palace

MANILA -- Malacañang on Wednesday said there is no reason for Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to heed some quarters’ calls for him to step down amid the corruption in its attached bureaus, including the Bureau of Customs (BOC).“The Palace finds no reason or basis for such call,” Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presid…

Lung cancer is curable: expert

MANILA -- Lung cancer is treatable, and chemotherapy is not the only way to cure it, a health expert said Tuesday.“People can still be treated from lung cancer, but the treatment goals and management may depend on the stage, performance status, histology and molecular characteristic of the cancer. So those diagnosed with lung cancer should consult…

Public urged to take care of their health this 'Undas'

ILOILO CITY -- The regional director of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas has underscored the need for the public to take good care of their health as they troop to cemeteries this Nov. 1 and 2.“We should hydrate ourselves and avoid too much exposure to the sun,” Marlyn W. Convocar said, adding that too much…

MIAA eyes NAIA terminal fee hike in April 2019

MANILA -- The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is eyeing to increase the terminal fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by April next year to fund ongoing improvements of its facilities.The MIAA is proposing a PHP200-terminal fee hike for international flights and PHP100 for domestic flights.Terminal fee for internatio…

'Camiguin Lanzones' now a distinct brand

10 Filipinos abducted in Gulf of Guinea: DFA

MANILA-- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reported that 10 Filipinos are "in the hands of suspected pirates" who hijacked two vessels in the Gulf of Guinea.Ambassador to Nigeria Shirley Ho-Vicario said two Filipino seafarers on board a Liberian-flagged container ship were among the 11 crew members kidnapped by pirates…

Davao PUJ driver tests positive of drug use in PDEA 'Undaspot

DAVAO CITY – A jeepney driver has tested positive in the random drug test conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)  in its “Oplan Undaspot” on Wednesday at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The driver, whose name is withheld pending confirmatory test, was one of the 60 public utility vehicle drivers who submitted for the random d…

PH, Japan to sign loan deal for MRT rehab next week

MANILA -- The governments of the Philippines and Japan will sign a loan agreement for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on November 7, a Department of Transportation (DOTr) official said Wednesday.“We have finalized the signing of the exchange of notes and the loan agreement. Both governments agreed that this will be on N…

PSEi tracks Wall Street's rise, peso gains vs. dollar

MANILA -- Both the local bourse and the Philippine peso ended the week on a positive note, mirroring the outcome of US stocks ahead of the long holiday.The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) finished the shortened trading week at 7,140.29 points, up 1.77 percent or 124.23 points.All the other counters registered gains, with the All Shares up b…

Sister Patricia Fox set to leave PH Saturday

MANILA -- Australian missionary nun Patricia Fox is set to leave the country for Australia on Saturday, November 3, the day her temporary visitor’s visa expires.In a statement, the camp of the Australian nun said she is required to leave on November 3, after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied on Wednesday her application to extend her temporary…

New NCR minimum wage known Monday

MANILA -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to announce on Monday (Nov. 5) the increase in minimum wage salary of private sector workers in Metro Manila.However, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday did not confirm or deny reports that the adjustment in the salary of minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region…

Petron to cut LPG prices

MANILA -- Industry leader Petron Corp. has announced a rollback in the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) effective Thursday.Petron on Wednesday said it will cut prices of Gasul and Fiesta cooking gas by PHP7.50 per kilogram, and Auto LPG by PHP4.20 per liter.“This is equivalent to an PHP82.50-decrease for standard 11-kilogram Gasul tank,” it…

No casualty as Rosita hits Region 1

Respect tombs; keep cemeteries clean: CBCP

MANILA -- An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday reminded the public to respect the tombs of their dear departed by keeping the cemeteries clean when they visit them on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.“Pakiusap po: Huwag nating lapastanganin ang mga puntod ng ating yumao sa mga basurang dadalhin n…

'Pusher' on PRRD 'narco list' slain in SoCot shootout

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- An alleged drug pusher who was included on President Rodrigo R. Duterte's "narco list" was killed in a shootout with police operatives in the South Cotabato town of Polomolok Wednesday morning.

Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, regional director of the Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), identified the suspec…

10 bodies recovered, 14 rescued in Mt. Province landslide

BAGUIO CITY — 10 bodies were recovered, and 14 people were so far rescued as of 4 p.m. Wednesday from a two-story building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Natonin town, Mountain Province that was buried in a landslide at the height of Typhoon Rosita on Tuesday.Rescue and retrieval operations started in the morning and the …

San Fernando lanterns light up Pampanga's major roads

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Christmas is in the air in this city dubbed as the “The Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.With only 65 days before Christmas Day, one can feel the spirit of the yuletide season as the city’s major thoroughfares are now adorned with the famous “Parol San Fernando.”During the “Lights and Lanterns: Launching of S…

PH, Chinese execs to sign deals for infra projects

MANILA -- Financing agreements for about 18 infrastructure projects will be signed between the Philippines and China during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping here in November, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.“We’re just trying to iron out the remaining documentation for the signing,” Diokno said in a briefing Wednesday.These projects…

PCCI asks for smooth transition in BOC leadership

MANILA -- The country’s largest business organization, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has welcomed a smooth transition in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) so it will not disrupt trade flows in the country this coming peak season.In a statement Wednesday, PCCI Acting President Edgardo Lacson said the decision of President Rodrig…

MMDA team to study Bacolod City’s traffic situation

BACOLOD CITY -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy a 15-man team of technical experts here in December to study the city’s traffic situation.Mayor Evelio Leonardia confirmed this after meeting with MMDA officials led by chairman Danilo Lim at the agency’s head office in Manila on Tuesday.The team, to be led by Traffic…

Zumba, cleanup to raise awareness vs. plastic use in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- More than 200 participants joined the Zumba and cleanup activity on Boracay’s Bulabog Beach on Wednesday to raise awareness against single-use plastic.The Halloween-themed activity led by the Philippine Red Cross- Boracay Malay Chapter and its Red Cross Youth members was participated by different groups on the island that …

105 ARBs installed in NegOcc

BACOLOD CITY -- A total of 105 farmers-beneficiaries were installed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in two separate landholdings in Negros Occidental province on Tuesday.In the north, the DAR Negros Occidental I distributed certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) and installed 49 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Cadiz City.T…

DOTr asks LTFRB to review PUV fares amid lower oil prices

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will ask the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to review the fares of public utility vehicles amid lower oil prices in the world market.“We will ask LTFRB to review the fares in light of the new developments, such as lower cost of fuel in world prices. This applies to all…

Grave cleaners, flower vendors complain of sluggish ‘Undas’

ILOILO CITY -- The observance of “Undas” is an opportune time for enterprising individuals to earn extra income but flower vendors and some cemetery workers here said business is sluggish this year compared to last year.Well Derago said aside from cleaning and maintaining the tomb of his dead relatives, he also accepts jobs from those who would re…

Inflation likely peaked in Sept '18: BSP

MANILA -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Wednesday domestic inflation likely reached its peak last September, projecting the October figure to settle within a range of 6.2 to 7 percent.In a statement Wednesday, the central bank said its Department of Economic Research (DER) forecasts the month-on-month change to be within -0.2 to 0.6 p…

PDEA collars 2 drug suspects in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY –  Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives nabbed two drug suspects during simultaneous raids conducted in Pikit, North Cotabato, on Wednesday.

Neil Liansing, PDEA-North Cotabato provincial director, identified the arrested suspects as Bajunaid Ali, 40, of Barangay Fort Pikit, and Danny Calungsod, 31, of Barangay Ginatil…

9 CDO centenarians get P200K each

PNP deploys 2,260 men for ‘Undas’ in Zamboanga Peninsula

Duterte to visit areas hit by 'Rosita'

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday expressed condolences to the families of victims of Typhoon Rosita, saying President Rodrigo Duterte will visit the affected areas to personally assess the situation.“The Palace wishes to express its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who perished in Natonin, Mountain Province, when the …

Maute 'sighting' triggers panic, evacuation in Koronadal

KORONADAL CITY -- City officials urged residents on Wednesday to be more responsible in sharing information after a report on supposed sightings of Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists in an upland village here triggered panic and evacuation among residents.

Around 100 families from Sitio Acub in Barangay San Isidro and neighboring villages her…

PDEA denies role in disappearance of 2 persons in NoCot

COTABATO CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) office in North Cotabato has denied any involvement in the recent disappearance of two persons in Pikit town.

“We operate as a team and coordinate with our partner military and police operatives for every mission we conduct in localities of the province,” PDEA-North Cotabato provinci…

Formation of security force to protect church questioned

DUMAGUETE CITY – Some local officials here have questioned the legality of the formation of the Parish Volunteer Security Force (PVSF) by five villages during their joint session on Tuesday.Village chiefs Lilia Batalan of Talay, Jimmy Tabada of Cadawinonan, Maximino Umbac Jr. of Junob, Pilardo Sarte of Cantil-e, and Crispin Patrimonio of Bajumpand…

Cebu bus terminal ready for All Saints’, All Souls’ days

CEBU CITY -- The management of the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) has said they are all set for the influx of passengers during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days on Thursday and Friday, respectively.Terminal manager Joy Tumulak on Wednesday said to be able to cater to all outbound passengers, the CSBT will limit the number of peopl…

Cemetery for Filipino, American Jesuit priests

MANILA — Not all people visiting the graves of their loved ones in Novaliches at this time of the year—from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2—end up at the five memorial parks and five public cemeteries in the large district, which is divided between Quezon City and Caloocan City.Many of them also go to the Society of Jesus-owned Sacred Heart Novitiate Cemetery, …

Cost of flowers up in Bacolod; 250 vendors get special permits

BACOLOD CITY -- Weather disturbances in Luzon have driven up the prices of flowers in this city as demand is expected to increase for the observance of All Saints’ Day on Thursday and All Souls’ Day on Friday.Vendors regularly selling in stalls at the Bacolod Public Plaza have noted higher prices since Oct. 15 among flowers sourced from typhoon-af…

PRO 6 to deploy over 4K cops for Undas

ILOILO CITY, Oct. 31 (PIA) - - The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 will deploy a total of 4,975 security personnel to ensure peaceful and orderly celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days.These PNP personnel will man the different places of public convergence, transport terminals such as bus stations, seaports and airports, malls, routes …

Rules on barter trade out in 2 months: DTI

MANILA -- Following the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 64 that revives the barter trade in Mindanao, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) targets to release the comprehensive guidelines governing barter in the next two months.In a text message Wednesday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said his department will conduct consultations in drafti…

No 'militarization' of BOC: Guerrero

MANILA -- Newly-installed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero assured that there would be no militarization of the bureau.“Let us correct the impression that there would be a militarization of the BOC. There will be personnel from the AFP that would support the BOC but that does not mean the BOC would be taken over by the mi…

38 Calabarzon lifeguards complete 8-day training course

LEMERY, Batangas -- In the run-up to ensure life-saving operations for holiday-goers during the observance of “Undas,” the first batch of 38 lifeguards completed their eight-day rigorous training course under the auspices of the Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at the La Suena Brisa Resort here.The DOH tra…

Diokno cites condition for proposed Bulacan airport

MANILA -- Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno said while the government has approved the proposed construction of an international airport in Bulacan, he is not sure if airline companies will automatically relocate from either Clark or the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).“Our condition is very clear, that there will be no com…