By Tony Chavez With an overwhelming 203 votes, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved, on the third and final reading, a measure institutionalizing environmental assessments in all policies, plans, programs, and projects. This is a significant move towards sustainable development and environmental protection. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez hailed the passage of House Bill…
By Tony Chavez Despite the absence of government subsidy, the leadership of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday committed members of the House of Representatives to reduce members’ premium contribution rates from 5 percent to 3.25 percent while expanding hospitalization coverage by 50 percent. PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. committed during…
By Tony Chavez The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved, on the third and final reading, a bill postponing the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 12, next year, to May 11, 2026, with 198 votes in favor and four against. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the…
House deputy majority leader and former Health Secretary Janette Garin delivered a scathing critique of detractors opposing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among Tingog Party-list, PhilHealth, and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The agreement aims to build hospitals and medical facilities nationwide, addressing critical healthcare gaps. In her privileged speech, Garin slammed critics…
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the University of the Philippines on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a housing project under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program. DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and UP president Angelo Jimenez signed the MOU during…
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and San Miguel Infrastructure formally signed a 25-year lease on December 12 to use PAGCOR’s 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino property in Pasay City. A major consideration of the agreement is the construction of PAGCOR’s new corporate office building, which will soon be built on a two-hectare portion of the…
Renowned actor and Philippine Navy reserve officer Dingdong Dantes is lending his voice and influence to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the World Bank’s new disaster preparedness campaign, Panatag Pilipinas. Launched in Quezon City on November 25, the campaign aims to strengthen public understanding of disaster and climate risks while inspiring action through…
Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently intercepted two foreigners who are in the Interpol’s list of wanted fugitives. In a statement, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the passengers, a Korean and a Chinese, were apprehended separately at the NAIA terminal 3 last week before they could board…
A Buy-bust operation led by PDEA RO NCR together with PNP resulted in the arrest of a drug personality and the seizure of more or less 1,500 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride at about 1600H today (November 22, 2024). The operation happened at Manila Doctors Village, Almanza 1, Las Piñas City. During the operation, authorities arrested…
Marikina City has earned top recognition from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) for achieving the highest sewer coverage among the cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, with an impressive 81% sewer coverage. Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” R. Teodoro received the prestigious 2024 “Gawad para sa Kaagapay sa Kalusugan at…