Philippines News

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has yet to formally withdraw the policies enforcing Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, giving the world a “runaround” on the "war on drugs" killings and rights violations continuing under his watch, human rights groups said. 

AN AMERICAN national was detained at the Talamban Police Station after he was caught picking up three water faucets without going through the counter of a department store in Sitio Nasipit, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

The foreigner was identified as Jeremiah Michael Stevenson, 37, who hails from Los Angeles, California, but currently resides on Cabantan St., Barangay Luz. Luz.

According to Larabel Arnejo of the Human Resource Department of Gaisano Talamban, their security guards, Protacio Eder Conge and Christian Cañete Eleptico, arrested Stevenson when he was about to leave the building carrying three faucets worth P9,989.

Police learned the suspect was previously detained at the Waterfront Police Station also for theft.

Maj. Janelito Marquez, chief of Talamban Police Station, said they will inform the American Embassy so that the foreign national can be deported. (AYB, BBT, TPT)

AN American national was detained at the Talamban Police Station after he was caught picking up three water faucets without going through the counter of a big store in Sitio Nasipit, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

The foreigner was identified as Jeremiah Michael Stevenson, 37, who hails from Los Angeles, California, but currently residing in Cabantan Street, Bo. Luz.

According to Larabel Arnejo of the Human Resource Department of Gaisano Talamban, their security guards, Protacio Eder Conge and Christian Cañete Eleptico, arrested the foreigner when he was about to leave the building carrying three faucets worth P9,989.

Police learned that that the suspect was previously detained at the Waterfront Police Station 3 for theft.

Police Major Janelito Marquez, chief of Talamban Police Station 8, said they will inform the American Embassy so that the foreign national can be deported. (AYB, BBT, TPT)

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has vowed to seek accountability from perpetrators in the shooting of a photojournalist in Barangay Masambong on Thursday.

AN IMMACULATE wedding begins with the perfect location. Craft a wedding that is imaginative and luxurious, and make it easy and seamless with Club Serena Resort's all-inclusive wedding package.

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A two-night stay in the resort's opulent ocean suite is incorporated to extend the couple's relaxed luxury experience.

In true destination resort style, added luxuries include a club DJ or other entertainment, a prenuptial shoot, and a wedding officiant duly authorized to solemnize a civil wedding. All of this is provided to the couple on a sandy shore that fronts one of the country's largest marine protected areas, the splendid Tañon Strait.

Visit Club Serena Resort at the "Kasalan at Kotilyon 2023" at Ayala Center Cebu from June 30 to July 2, Friday to Sunday. Bookings for weddings made during the event will receive extra benefits. Additionally, room bookings will come with discounts of up to 56 percent off the standard rate.

For more information, contact “Jeziel” at (0917) 872 6367 or message Club Serena Resort on Facebook and Instagram: @ClubSerenaResort.

Club Serena Resort is the pioneer property of Aragma, a subsidiary of AppleOne Properties, Inc. Discover relaxed luxury when you discover the Club. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

THE ACER High 2023 “Back-to-School” promo is bigger than ever with over P2,000,000 worth of prizes at stake. This coincides with Acer’s 20th anniversary this year. 40 Acer customers will get a chance to win amazing overseas and domestic trips, and Acer and Acerpure products.

Join Acer High 2023 “Back-to-School” ambassadors Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano in Acer’s biggest promo yet!

Customers will earn a raffle entry with every purchase of participating Acer, Predator, and Acerpure products from June 15 to August 15, 2023. Participating products also come with a discount of up to P15,000 and Acer HighCare Warranty Upgrade which includes a three-year coverage for parts, labor, and on-site or door-to-door service worth P5,060. The product must be registered for warranty at warranty.acer.com.ph within one week of purchase to qualify for the raffle. There will be two winners each of trips for two to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, and 10 winners of a barkada local travel package for four to Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Siargao, El Nido, and Davao. All trips are inclusive of round-trip airfare and accommodations.

There will also be one winner each of amazing Acer products such as the Aspire 7 worth P47,999, Aspire Vero worth P41,999, Swift Go worth P55,999, Predator Helios Neo worth P79,999, Acerpure Cool C2 worth P14,999, and Acerpure Clean V1 Cordless worth P10,999 among others!

The promo period is from June 15 to August 15, 2023. Participating products are available in Acer Concept Stores, Acer Philippines Online Store, or any of Acer’s authorized resellers. For more details about the promotion, check posters, print ads, and Acer’s social media accounts.

Taxes, including 20 percent withholding tax for prizes exceeding P10,000, and other expenses that will be incurred in relation to the prize shall be shouldered by Acer Philippines. Customers can win multiple prizes during the duration of the campaign. The deadline for submission of entries is on September 5, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. The prizes are not convertible to cash but are transferable.

Get your “Back-to-School” gear from Acer and have an amazing school year ahead!

Visit Acer’s official social media pages for more details - Facebook (@acerPH), Instagram (@acerph), Twitter (@acerphils), or through the official website www.acer.com. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

(Kyiv, June 30, 2023) - The Ukrainian government should act on its expressed commitment not to use banned antipersonnel landmines, investigate its military's use of these weapons, and hold those responsible to account, Human Rights Watch said today. The government statement, at a June 21, 2023 meeting of the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, came nearly five m

AFTER getting hit by a fast craft last May 21, 2023, cargoship LCT Poseidon 23 is now back in full operations, according to the Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas (PCG 7).

Lt. Mark Anthony Tolentino, information officer of PCG 7, told Sunstar Cebu on Thursday, June 29, that the cargo ship did not incur major damages and was cleared to sail.

The cargoship was struck by the fast craft vessel mv St. Jhudiel, as it was traveling through the Mactan Channel after the latter experienced a steering controls malfunction.

mv St. Jhudiel was carrying 208 passengers and crew with at least 19 passengers being injured during the incident.

“It is a big vessel, and it had no damage. The one that was damaged was the St. Jhudiel,” he said.

The cargo ship is owned by Primary Trident Marine Solutions, while the Supercat Fast Ferry Corp. owns the fast craft.

It can be recalled that the Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (Marina 7) announced a day after the collision disaster that the safety certificates of both vessels had been suspended while investigations were ongoing.

The suspension took effect on the day of the collision and would be lifted once the investigations were finished.

Dry dock

Tolentino said investigations confirmed the fast craft indeed experienced a steering casualty making it lose its ability to steer off or maneuver the ship.

mv St. Jhudiel is currently placed in a dry dock of Colorado Shipyard in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion town in northern Cebu for the repair and rehabilitation works of the vessel.

Tolentino said right after they performed the initial investigation, the results were forwarded to the PCG main office in Manila under its Maritime Safety Services Command.

By then, PCG would release recommendations to shipowners regarding the results of a broad investigation.

According to Tolentino, this might involve suggestions for stepping up safety inspections of the ships and for teaching commanders and crew how to handle emergencies.

Tolentino revealed there was a settlement between two shipowners. Thus, no cases were filed. Supercat also said they accommodated all passengers onboard.

NEGROS Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria to focus on intensifying the province’s security and peace and order first amidst the petition for the deferment of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in the province this Oct. 30, 2023.

Sagarbarria told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, that whether the Commission on Election (Comelec) en banc decides to proceed or postpone and move up to a later date the BSKE in his province, he will make sure to maintain the security and the peace and order in the province.

This was his comment on the ongoing public hearing and consultation in different towns and cities across the province, where various Local government officials and government agencies, churches, the business community, youth, and other sectors discussed the proposed deferment of BSKE in Negros Oriental.

Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia together with en banc officials, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Andres Centino, and Philippine National Police chief General Benjamin Acorda, Jr. led the public hearing and consultations.

Reasons for the proposed deferment include security concerns, threats, possible violence, and criminal activities to take place in the province if the BSKE proceeds as scheduled.

He added the decision on the proposed deferment of BSKE is out of his hands and whether it was decided by the Comelec or by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to postpone or proceed, he will support such a decision.

The murder of Gov. Roel Degamo on March 4 has affected the tourism and commerce of the province, due to fear of possible violence and criminal activities.

Hence reviving tourism is one of his priorities in his term as the new head of the provincial government.

“I felt pity for your businessmen, to our resort owners, particularly small sari-sari store due to the fact that Negros Oriental was considered a hotspot, but I guarantee under my leadership the province is now safe and peaceful,” Sagarbarria said in a mixed Cebuano and English.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that an increase in the minimum wage in the country may be implemented soon to alleviate inflationary pressures on workers.

This development was relayed by Marcos to International Labour Organization (ILO) Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo who paid him a courtesy visit at Malacañan on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reported.

The President said the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) had engaged in discussions with workers and labor unions regarding this matter.

“I think our negotiations with workers, with the unions, with the different negotiations, we will be able to come to a good working number, a good compromise,” Marcos said.

Resolving the issue

Dole Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who was also present during the meeting with the ILO chief, mentioned that they might be able to resolve the wage increase issue within the week.

Laguesma echoed the President’s comments by highlighting that majority of businesses in the Philippines fall into the micro and small categories. Micro businesses employ only one to nine workers, while small businesses employ 10 to 99 workers.

Laguesma also said that they will present the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, which has been endorsed by both the labor sector and Dole, to the President and the Cabinet before organizing a national tripartite conference. The PDP 2023-2028 is a plan for deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path, according to the National Economic Development Agency.

According to the PCO, the current minimum wage in the Philippines ranges between P372 and P470, depending on the region where the business is located.

Calls

However, the PCO report does not provide specific details on the wage increase, including whether it will be enacted through legislation or the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in each of the 17 regions.

Labor groups have been calling for a wage increase, and some lawmakers have introduced bills supporting their cause.

One such measure is Senate Bill 2002, filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. The bill (the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of 2023) proposes a P150 daily across-the-board wage hike for employees in the private sector, regardless of agricultural or non-agricultural nature, capitalization and number of employees.

Earlier this month, fifteen business organizations in the Visayas jointly issued a statement opposing the legislation, citing potential harm to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. They also expressed concerns about wage rate disparities across regions and possible discouragement of investors if the bill becomes a law.

The progressive labor group, Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno, disputed the business groups’ position, arguing that the P150 across-the-board wage increase would not significantly impact larger businesses. They referred to a study conducted by the non-profit research group IBON Foundation, which analyzed the effects of a P170 wage hike on various industries.

According to the IBON Foundation study, only micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees would be significantly affected, and they would require government subsidies to achieve full recovery.

Negative effects

According to Marcos, the rapid industrialization and economic expansion could have negative consequences for the labor sector.

“When there is rapid industrialization and rapid expansion of the economy, there is a tendency to leave the labor sector behind and just exploit the labor sector,” he said, adding that more than 96 percent of the businesses in the Philippines are small or “nano-enterprises.”

“Our workers, of course, are asking for a (wage) increase, workers in those small businesses. We might drive the businesses out because they (employers) cannot pay because they are too small,” he added.

Assessment

Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 29, Marcos expressed that while his administration has achieved significant changes and growth since he assumed office last year, there is still much more work to be done, particularly to fulfill his promises to the people.

During an interview with reporters in Parañaque City, Marcos acknowledged an economist’s assessment of his first year in office as “incomplete.”

“I saw a report earlier this morning where one of the economists said ‘the grade that I will give for the President is incomplete.’ I agree with him. We are not done,” Marcos said.

Marcos said his campaign promises are still a “work in progress,” one of which is to boost the country’s agriculture sector.

“There are many, many things that we still need to do. We have to undo 30, 35, almost 40 years of neglect when it comes to the agricultural sector. And the agricultural sector still occupies the most fundamental part of our economy,” said Marcos, who is also the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We have achieved a lot of growth. We are beginning to see the systemic changes that are going to be part of the new bureaucracy, but there is still a long way to go,” he added.

Inflation

Marcos also said that his administration has implemented initiatives to address the country’s inflation rate, which he considers as one of the challenges facing the Philippines.

Earlier this year, Marcos said finding ways to lower the country’s inflation rate kept him up at night.

In January, the country experienced a significant surge in inflation, reaching 8.7 percent, the highest annual rate recorded since November 2008.

However, inflation gradually decreased from February onwards, with rates of 8.6 percent in February, 7.6 percent in March, 6.6 percent in April, and 6.1 percent in May.

During this period, the country faced challenges in the supply of onions and sugar, resulting in a sharp increase in their prices.

The price of sugar soared to as high as P720 per kilo in December last year, while onion prices rose to over P120 per kilo.

In response, the administration established Kadiwa ng Pangulo in various parts of the country. This program, facilitated by the DA, aims to create market linkages and ensure accessibility, availability and affordability of essential commodities such as rice, fish, poultry, livestock, fruits and vegetables for low-income families.

It eliminates several marketing layers, enabling producers to earn greater profits by directly selling their produce.

One of Marcos’ campaign promises is to reduce the price of rice to P20 per kilo.

At a Kadiwa store in Quezon City, some residents are already able to purchase rice for as low as P25 per kilo.

Marcos stated that he will continue serving as the DA secretary until efficient systems are established to ensure the country’s food security. (KAL, TPM / SunStar Philippines)

THE new officers of the employees’ union of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has decided to withdraw its petition filed on Sept. 21, 2022, before the Office of the Ombudsman, seeking the removal of three board members, including its chairman Jose Daluz III.

However, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said in an interview on Thursday, June 29, 2023, that such move would not change the fact that the MCWD employees had petitioned against their chairman and two other board members.

Daluz, for his part, has welcomed the support of the employees’ union.

“I am very thankful to our employees, to the management for their unity in our MCWD institution. It is clear that our management, union, and employees as a whole, along with the Board of Directors, are united for the welfare of our consumers,” Daluz said.

With this development, Daluz said they can now focus on managing the water district, while the mayor can concentrate on serving the city.

He said the MEU’s decision will “give peace to MCWD.”

“Ang importante dinhi nga magmalinawon na ang MCWD aron maka-focus ta sa atong trabaho (The important thing is for MCWD to be peaceful so that we can focus on our work). I’m so happy nga nahitabo ning tanan (all this happened), and I hope that the mayor... he is a very understanding person. I think, he will understand nga wala nay problema (there is no more problem), mayor,” he said.

General assembly

During the general assembly attended by at least 400 members of the MCWD Employees Union (MEU) on Tuesday, June 27, a resolution was approved categorically repudiating, rendering ineffective, and abandoning the petition.

The former MEU officers had filed the petition, seeking the removal of Daluz and other members of the MCWD Board of Directors due to various issues. These issues included the alleged deteriorating corporate health of MCWD, undue interference in the appointment and personnel selection process, and the proposed increase water rates by 60 percent in July 2023, and another 10 percent in the succeeding year 2024, or a total of 70 percent.

The Ombudsman has endorsed the petition to Cebu City Hall for appropriate action, which the City used as one of the bases for its decision and recommendation to remove Daluz in May this year. This recommendation later extended to include vice chairman Miguelito Pato and secretary Jodelyn May Seno.

The new MEU members, led by its president Samuel Suson, condemned “all resultant political action” that stemmed from the Sept. 21, 2022 petition.

According to the resolution of the new MEU, the previous petition was made “without due consultation and discussion with the MEU membership” and it was “based on unfounded allegations. It also lacked “sufficient proof, and was taken as an initial step towards privatization by the previous MEU officers.”

The new MEU officers and members said they are against the privatization of MCWD.

Allegations

Based on their resolution, the new MEU officers and members clarified the following points, which were used as reasons by the previous MEU officers in filing the petition:

Regarding the increase in non-revenue water (NRW), the incumbent MEU officers and members explained that NRW was due to leaks from damaged pipelines during Typhoon Odette (Rai), pilferage and damage to pipelines caused by independent parties conducting digging activities.

On the allegation of minute management, including undue interference in the appointment and personnel selection process, the incumbent MEU said that no data was presented to support the allegation. They said the appointment and selection of personnel do not involve the board.

Regarding the issue of a planned 70 percent increase in water rates by 2024, the MEU clarified that it was presented without proper context. It explained that the proposed adjustment of water rates is necessary to address the rising capital and operational expenses incurred by the water district.

Addressing the allegation that MCWD does not meet the needs of the communities, the MEU debunked such claims, stating that it is unfair and uncalled for, particularly to the hardworking employees of MCWD who strive to provide the best and adequate service to consumers.

“The present MEU membership sees the declaration of the previous MEU officers as detrimental to the morale of the employees,” read a portion of the resolution.

Guise

The current MEU alleged that the previous MEU officers used the petition for the removal of board members as a guise, claiming that it was actually a declaration supporting the privatization of the water district.

It assures the current MCWD management and board members of its support, particularly acknowledging the board members’ independence, integrity and exceptional leadership in prioritizing the interests and progress of MCWD.

Rama’s reaction

Rama acknowledged the current effort by the MEU to withdraw the petition filed by its former officers.

However, he pointed out that there is already a record of MCWD employees accusing their chairman of the aforementioned issues.

The mayor said it will be up to the Ombudsman and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to decide and act on the petition and the recommendation of the City.

“The fact remains that there is a petition, and that petition, what? Should we burn it? We cannot just be burning it. It’s a document,” Rama told SunStar Cebu.

Timeline

In a press conference on May 18, City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo informed reporters about Rama’s decision to remove Daluz from his position as chairman of the board in the MCWD.

The reason cited for this decision was the water district’s “unsatisfactory” preparation for the threat of El Niño. Rama chose Pato as the new chairman.

On May 22, the City Government, represented by City Administrator Collin Rosell, sent a letter to the BOD members demanding that they submit the necessary legal formalities related to the appointment of Pato as the new chairman.

However, the board decided to defer the matter during its meeting on June 2.

In a press conference on Friday, June 16, Castillo announced the recommendation to remove Daluz, Pato and Seno. All three board members were appointed by the late mayor Edgardo Labella in 2020.

On June 19, Seno revealed in an official statement that a breakfast meeting took place last Feb. 16 between the executives of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., a company owned by the Villar family, and Rama at the mayor’s residence in Espina Compound, Barangay Guadalupe.

Daluz said that on Feb. 17, PrimeWater presented its proposal to the board and MCWD management, which, according to him, seemed like a complete takeover.

Both Rama and PrimeWater denied the allegations made by Daluz. (with PAC / TPT)

HOMEGROWN University of Cebu (UC) emerged as one of the top 10 schools in the country preferred by employers, according to a latest survey of online job portal JobStreet by Seek.

UC landed on eighth spot at 2.06 percent, along with two other schools, as one of the top educational institutions preferred by companies in the Philippines when it comes to recruiting applicants due to the strong impact of alignment of its courses/programs with the needs of the industry and also of its reputation.

Additionally, employers also see UC graduates as hardworking.

UC has been popular for having produced board topnotchers in the areas of engineering, marine studies, nursing, accounting and law.

Conducted last May 2023, the survey encompassed 42 industries and involved more than 700 companies of varying sizes from the platform’s hirer base, according to JobStreet.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) topped the list (23.39 percent) followed by University of the Philippines (UP) (9.17 percent) which ranked second and De La Salle University (DLSU) (6.88 percent) which ranked third.

Completing the list are University of Santo Tomas (5.28 percent), Mapua University (3.44 percent), Batangas State University (3.21 percent), University of Mindanao (2.29 percent), Technological Institute of the Philippines (2.06 percent) and STI College (2.06 percent).

“The survey aims to empower hirers to be more focused on the jobseekers being approached and guide them in crafting policy recommendations to enact changes in both the academe and in the workplace while obtaining a deeper understanding of the distinctive strengths possessed by each academic institution,” the company said in a statement.

Preference

According to the survey, hirers from information technology (IT), human resources and call center/business process management (BPM) industries are the top recruiters that hire talent from PUP and UP.

On the other hand, DLSU graduates are frequently sought after in healthcare, information technology, and property and real estate sectors.

Companies from call centers, BPM, business consulting and hospitality, among others, recruit graduates from UST.

Employers from construction, IT and telco are likely to hire graduates from Mapua Institute of Technology.

When it comes to employers’ desired attributes from applicants, the survey revealed that employers prioritize factors such as the schools’ alignment with their business sector, hard work and reputation.

Other factors they consider also include a candidate’s self-esteem, location and alumni status.

Growth in hirer base

Meanwhile, JobStreet also announced it has logged 40,000 active employers registered in its platform, double from an average of 20,000 employers before the Covid-19 pandemic.

This growth will pave the way for more job opportunities to be available for Filipino employees, according to JobStreet by Seek country manager Philip Gioca.

The growth of its hirer base also translated into P1 billion in revenue.

Currently, the platform records a daily average of 80,000 jobs available, the highest number to date since the pandemic.

Of these, 40 percent are entry-level jobs available for fresh graduates or jobseekers with no experience.

Gioca also added that 30 percent of the employers in JobStreet offer flexible working arrangements.

UNCLAIMED impounded vehicles will soon be auctioned off to open up space in the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) facility.

Kent Francesco Jongoy, the CCTO section head of the legal and investigation, told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, June 29, 2023, they will be officially proposing to the Traffic Management Board to auction the vehicles to recover uncollected penalties resulting from the unclaimed vehicles.

Still, Jongoy said the city’s traffic office is considering giving the owners enough time to redeem their vehicles.

“We will notify them that if they fail to do so, their vehicles will be forfeited, then we will proceed with the public auction,” Jongoy said.

“The office has just completed the first step of the auction process, that is, with the recently concluded inventory,” he added.

According to the data from the CCTO they have seized 1,628 motorcycles, 1,179 trikes, 20 bicycles, 169 four-wheeled vehicles, and seven trailer vans from 2011-2021.

“Once we have their approval and directives then we will proceed,” he said.

Jongoy explained that car owners have to pay fines for their violations and storage fees to claim the impounded vehicles.

The storage fee is P100 per day for two-wheeled vehicles, P200 per day for four-wheeled vehicles, and P500 per day for trucks and trailers.

They also have to clear any other pending violations related to their vehicles before getting them back.

 

The Government is backing investigations into a potential new food industry for New Zealand - based on protein-rich, carbon-absorbing native microalgae.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Rachel Brooking has announced funding to help scientists and businesses look at which of hundreds of strai

Every Filipino child has a legal right to free education, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution. High dropout rates and subpar results on national and international accomplishment tests nevertheless continue to plague the nation's educational system.

The same underlying problems that plague Philippine education now have existed since colonial times. These include high dropout rates, poor student achieveme

The Government is delivering on its climate commitment to ban new coal boilers and to phase out by 2037, existing coal boilers, the Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced.

The National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards for greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heat gives coun

NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister of India S. Jaishankar and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique Manalo on Thursday decided to further strengthen bilateral partnership in such areas as maritime, space, law enforcement, trade and investment.

Manalo is on an official visit to India from June 27-30. The two foreign ministers co-chaired the 5th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bi

President Marcos has directed the Philippine Coconut Authority to fast-track the coconut industry’s modernization for the Philippines to become a major coconut exporter.

May Richell Cestina-Parsons, the Filipino-British nurse who administered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, received a presidential citation in Malacañang.