The Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) is optimistic that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will approve the recommendation to place the entire region under a state of calamity due to the three-ton load limit imposed on the weakened San Juanico Bridge. RDRRMC chair Lord Byron Torrecarion said the declaration will allow…
Authorities have arrested another suspect in the human trafficking case involving former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong, linked to the crackdown on illegal offshore gaming operators. In a statement Saturday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre confirmed that police apprehended the suspect, identified only as “Mariano,” at the…
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday emphasized that declaring a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas is crucial for the immediate rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge and addressing logistical and economic disruptions caused by current load restrictions. The move comes after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended to President…
The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) is calling for a more focused international marketing strategy to help reverse the decline in foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines. Loleth So, HSMA president and Group Commercial Director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, said in an interview on Saturday that the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its…
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expanded the implementation of its Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) to enhance border security and support the country’s digital transformation. APIS is a digital platform that allows authorities to screen inbound travelers before they arrive. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the system is a “critical defense line at…
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque on Saturday underscored the importance of embracing digital transformation to boost the country’s creative industry and bring Filipino talents to global stages. Speaking at the Go Negosyo Creative Entrepreneurship Summit held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Roque assured micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the…