Key leaders from different political parties convened at the Aguado residence in Malacañang on Monday night to lay out a strategic plan for the May 2025 midterm elections, according to Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In a news release on Tuesday, Romualdez said political leaders from Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), and the National Unity Party (NUP), which are united under the banner of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, gathered for their first meeting to discuss the coalition's strategy for the May 2025 polls.
The partnership is spearheaded by Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party headed by
President Marcos.
Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, said the meeting was more than just a strategic planning session, but also a pledge of their "shared commitment" to the Filipino people.
“Our unity is our strength, and today we solidify that bond to ensure that our vision for a better Philippines will continue to be realized. We are here not only to support the programs and projects of President Marcos but also to help realize his vision of unity towards lasting peace and
prosperity for all," he said.
In order to guarantee each party's interests are protected while they collaborate to achieve their shared vision, he stressed the need to foster unity, prevent internal conflicts, and maintain the incumbents' equity.
“We are not just allies in name. We are united by a shared purpose - to serve our nation with integrity, strength, and unwavering resolve,” Romualdez said. “The challenges we face require a coalition that is not only strong but also harmonious. That’s what we are
building here today.”
From the PFP, the delegation during the meeting included Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Executive Vice President; South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, president; retired Gen. Thompson Lantion, secretary general; and Atty. George Briones, legal counsel.
Also present were Lakas-CMD stalwarts Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr.; House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, who also serves as the party’s executive vice president; Agusan del Norte
1st District Rep. Jose Aquino II, the party’s secretary general; and Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez, who serves as treasurer.
Representing the NP were Sen. Mark Villar, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron, and Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Emano.
NPC was represented by its chairman, former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, along with its secretary general, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza.
Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. and NUP president Luis Raymund Villafuerte, and...READ MORE
“TESDA has just gained a genuinely hard-working, wise, and empathetic leader in the person of our well-esteemed colleague and friend, Representative Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District),” shared by Rep. Paul R, Daza (1st District, Northern Samar) as soon as he heard of the news of the former’s appointment as the agency’s head.
Prior to Benitez’ appointment by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., he was the chairperson of the committee on housing and urban development and vice chairperson of the committee on creative industry and performing arts.
“Rep Kiko, as he is fondly called, is highly regarded at the House; he’s a staunch advocate of education. I recall that he also served as President of the Philippine Women’s University from 2010 to 2019. Education is in his DNA,” the solon from Northern Samar added.
The lawmaker from Negros Occidental serves as a commissioner of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).
Recently, President Marcos approved House Concurrent Resolution 28, where Benitez was among the principal authors. The resolution proposed the creation of a Cabinet Cluster for Education, effectively ensuring strong coordination among 68 interagency bodies that are handling education concerns.
“I also wish for people to know that Rep Kiko is very passionate about socialized housing. I remember his hard work in pushing for Resolution 1468 in the previous congress. This urged the executive department to mobilize more resources to accelerate housing production for underserved families. As this is something that I
also support, I remember how deeply committed he is on this matter,” Daza recalled.
The legislator also shared that Benitez is also the principal author of HB 9662, which will establish a framework for blue economy, if enacted into law.
“I share his advocacies. Remember, the Philippines is an archipelagic country—our oceans are wider than our lands. We need to rethink our development framework. An estimate in 2007 has put the value of our marine and coastal ecosystems at USD6.35 billion or PhP 285.75 billion (at USD1=PHP 45 exchange rate) in total annual net benefits,” Daza stressed.
The said bill was recently passed on second reading in the Senate.
“It’s very important that the head in TESDA understands the complexities and...READ MORE
Negros Oriental's business sector is looking forward to new investment opportunities and a vigorous economy once the new airport in the province is completed, an industry executive said.
“What once was a dream has now come true, or at least, will soon come true once the project is finished,” Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Edward Du told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.
Du was referring to the PHP17 billion airport that the national government plans to build in Bacong, a town adjacent to this capital city.
"It will benefit not only Negros Oriental but Siquijor and Negros Occidental being part of the Negros Island Region and the whole country as well," he said.
On Monday, officials from the
Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Finance, and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) presented to Governor Manuel Sagarbarria the documents on the new Dumaguete Airport Development Project.
The DOF and KEXIM have signed an agreement for the new international airport, which will be situated on a 270-hectare lot in Bacong.
During a stakeholders’ gathering at the capitol, provincial officials and private sector representatives were briefed on the airport development project.
>>>READ MORE
Mindanao's potential to become a global halal industry powerhouse is not far from reality given its strategic location and its relationship with its neighboring countries, particularly with the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-region.
Mindanao Development Authority Secretary and Philippine Signing Minister for BIMP-EAGA Leo Tereso Magno highlighted Mindanao's potential during the first Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) BIMP-EAGA Trade, Investment, and Halal Industry Conference at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday.
Magno said more than half of the awardees in this year's National Commission on Muslim Filipinos' awarding of halal certifying bodies are from Mindanao.
He also noted the increasing number of halal laboratories
across the country – through the efforts of the Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Science and Technology in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
"Bringing this conference here in Manila is strategic for us from Mindanao. The goal is to easily gather our business and government leaders based here, and give a glimpse of Mindanao’s potential as the country’s hub for halal production given our cultural ties with the BIMP-EAGA," Magno said.
>>>READ MORE
The Supreme Court has ruled to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from holding plebiscites on Sept. 7 and 21 regarding the ratification of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 53, 54, and 55 creating the municipalities of Datu Sinsuat Balbaran and Sheik Abas Hamza in Maguindanao del Norte, and Nuling in Sultan Kudarat.
In a statement Tuesday, the high court said it ruled unanimously to declare as unconstitutional Section 5 of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 53, 54, and 55, which allows only the qualified voters of the barangays comprising the new municipalities to vote in the plebiscite.
The court ruled that qualified voters “from both the new and mother...READ MORE
Afghan nationals entering the Philippines to process their resettlement to the United States will undergo “full security vetting,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
The Philippines and the US have reached a deal on the temporary housing of a “limited number of Afghan nationals” while the US Embassy in Manila process their Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).
The agreement is waiting for the ratification of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. before it becomes effective.
“All applicants will be subject to full security vetting by Philippine authorities and should secure appropriate entry visa prior to arrival, in accordance with Philippine laws and regulations,”
DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.
“Notwithstanding the possession of a Philippine visa, the Bureau of Immigration retains full authority to exclude any applicant from entry into the Philippines as a result of the standard immigration examination upon arrival in the country,” she added.
Each applicants, she said, will be authorized to stay in the Philippines for no more than 59 days.
PH grants US request to host Afghan visa applicants.
>>>READ MORE
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday assured strategic vaccination to eligible farmers’ hogs against African swine fever (ASF) in Batangas.
The assurance was made after the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) conducted its first orientation of the government-controlled vaccination using 10,000 doses of emergency procured ASF vaccines in the province, with the municipality of Lobo as the first area set for rollout.
In a phone interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa underscored the need for a clustered rollout to prevent vaccine wastage.
“Kailangan clustered iyong mga backyard, naka-mapa iyon para hindi masayang iyong bakuna. Kasi, syempre pag nabuksan iyon, kailangan na iturok agad at may temperature requirement (The backyard farms should be clustered. They should be mapped to avoid vaccine wastage because
once the vaccine vial is opened, it should be immediately administered. There is also a temperature requirement),” De Mesa said.
“Ito yung mga kino-consider at kailangan naka-strategize mabuti para ma-maximize..READ MORE
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The head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday said there were no volcanic quakes recorded in Taal Volcano for the past 12 days, indicating a "good" sign.
"Not even one volcanic earthquake was recorded since August 8. This is a good sign because the presence of volcanic quakes indicate that magma goes up," Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said in the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon aired over PTV-4.
Volcanic earthquakes are among the signs that magma is moving upward since the rocks are breaking as magma ascends.
"When magma rises, it gets closer to the summit, which means an eruption may be imminent," he told the Philippine News Agency.
Degassing of the Taal Volcano temporarily stopped at around 11 a.m. Tuesday but noted that emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is continuous since 2020, Bacolcol said...READ MORE
The Commission on Overseas Filipinos (CFO) said it would gather stakeholders, including Filipino emigrants, local government units and the private sector to foster sustainable development under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. though the "BaLinkBayan" project.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday, CFO chairperson Leo Arugay said the program aims to assist overseas Filipinos (OFs) in making investments, donations and skills transfer initiatives.
“It aims to link overseas Filipinos with the Philippines and encourage them to become development partners in building communities in the country,” Arugay said.
Through the program, the CFO assists overseas Filipinos who want to start a business venture in the Philippines and helps them explore various investment opportunities available, especially in their hometowns.
It also encourages them to give back and help less fortunate Filipinos by facilitating the flow of
assistance from abroad to specific beneficiaries in the Philippines.
The program provides overseas Filipinos access to government online services, Arugay added.
Arugay said the CFO will hold the 2024 BaLinkBayan Stakeholders Conference in Muntinlupa City on Aug. 28 and 29 to gather their partners and update them on the program.
The event will enable participants to learn from experts and empower them to integrating migration into local development plans.
“BaLinkBayan provides an array of options for overseas Filipinos to partner with national and local governments in starting a business, opportunities for donation and volunteer service and accessing online government services,” Arugay said. (PNA)