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Government

DA EXPANDS ‘BENTENG BIGAS’ PROGRAM TO 4 NEW AREAS

The Department of Agriculture launched the latest phase of its flagship food security initiative, “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! Para sa Magsasaka,” in four additional locations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the P20-per-kilo rice is available in Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), Roxas City (Capiz), Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City […]

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Government

NEPOMUCENO: NO CUSTOMS ‘SPECIAL TREATMENTS’

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) warns the public and stakeholders about fraudulent individuals impersonating Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno and other BOC officials to solicit money in exchange for alleged “special treatment” or expedited processing of shipments.The BOC has received reports regarding a solicitation scheme called “Enrollment” falsely attributed to the agency. This scheme claims to offer […]

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Government

ERC BARES STRATEGIES BEFORE HOUSE ENERGY PANEL

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) briefed the House Committee on Energy on the Commission’s key priorities and regulatory strategies governing the Philippine electric power industry. ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan, together with other ERC officials, presented before the Committee chaired by Palawan 2nd District Representative Jose Chaves Alvarez at the House of […]

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Government

BIR FILES 75 CASES VS ILLICIT VAPE RETAILERS

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed 75 criminal complaints against illicit vape retailers and sellers before the Department of Justice (DOJ), covering simultaneous operations nationwide across all revenue regions. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. announced “ngayong araw, inihain namin sa DOJ ang 75 […]

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Government

DA: PALAY PRICES UP AFTER RICE IMPORT BAN ORDER

A week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a two-month suspension of rice importation starting September 1, farm gate prices of palay have begun to rise in six of the 13 key rice-producing regions, according to data from the National Food Authority (NFA). Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is closely monitoring […]

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Government

DTI: ASTRAZENECA TO CREATE PHARMA INNOVATION HUB

The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), sealed a partnership with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Phils.) to establish the country’s first Pharma Innovation Hub, a flagship project aimed at boosting healthcare innovation and expanding access to affordable medicines in the Philippines. Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, who also chairs the […]

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Government

BOC SEIZES P47M-WORTH OF SHABU AT NAIA

Agents of the Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), intercepted 7,005 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, during a recent operation at the NAIA Terminal 3. A checked-in luggage belonging to a South African passenger underwent non-intrusive inspection, which revealed a suspicious image suggesting possible concealment of illegal drugs. The discovered […]

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Government

BOC, PDEA BOOST BORDER PROTECTION VS DRUG TRADE

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have reaffirmed their joint commitment to intensifying border protection through enhanced information-sharing, system integration, and operational coordination to combat the smuggling of dangerous drugs and controlled chemicals. This echoes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen enforcement through digitalized processes, closer inter-agency collaboration, […]

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Government

DA: P20 RICE PROGRAM TO BENEFIT FISHERFOLK

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is accelerating the rollout of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship food security program “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!,” which aims to provide rice at P20 per kilo to 15 million households by 2026. On August 29, the DA will include fisherfolk to the growing list of beneficiaries of the affordable rice […]

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Government

DOTR TO LRMC: AID RIDERS IN LRT-1 ESCALATOR MISHAP

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) directed the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1, to provide immediate assistance to passengers who were injured following the reported malfunction of an escalator in FPJ Station recently. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said LRMC must always prioritize the reliability of LRT-1’s facilities to ensure the safety […]