MANILA – No Filipino was reported hurt in Lebanon as the death toll from Israel’s wave of airstrikes in its capital Beirut reached approximately 300, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday night. The barrage had injured 1,200, leaving hospitals to operate at maximum capacity. Citing the latest information from the Lebanese Ministry
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Gov’t scrambles to find support funds
MANILA, Philippines — With fuel prices at historic highs and living costs climbing, where else could the government source additional funding to support projects vital to easing the economic strain from the oil crisis? Authorities are still seeking a clear funding source to finance a supplemental budget should lawmakers call for it, but one option
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Marcos releases P8B for barangay, student projects
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate distribution of P8 billion worth of subsidies to more than 42,000 barangays to help the communities cushion the impact of the Middle East crisis. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said in a statement on Thursday that each of the barangays would receive P200,000 as funding
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Sugar planters push cloud seeding
MANILA, Philippines — The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has urged the government to initiate cloud seeding operations in sugarcane areas to alleviate dry conditions caused by the onset of El Niño. Unifed President Manuel Lamata said the sugar industry, particularly thousands of sugar farmers and workers, will grapple with “significant challenges”
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Balisacan: Check oil industry for cartel-like behavior
MANILA, Philippines — Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should look into any possible cartel-like behavior in the oil industry. Balisacan made the remarks on Wednesday during a hearing called by the Legislative Energy Action Development (LEAD) committee of the House of Representatives where
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Marcos pledges veterans hospitals in VisMin
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to build hospitals for military veterans in the Visayas and Mindanao and expand health-care access for retired servicemen who for decades have relied on just a single dedicated medical facility located in Luzon. Marcos made the commitment on Thursday in a speech during the 84th Araw ng
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SC stops firm’s quarrying in Bulacan forest
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered a construction company to immediately stop its illegal quarrying operations at the Angat River-Bustos Dam Forest Reserve in Bulacan province for causing destruction to the crops, vegetation and wildlife habitat in the area. The court, in an en banc session on Wednesday, granted the petition for a
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Marcos orders P10/liter fuel subsidy for PUVs
MANILA, Philippines — Drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) will make a weekly savings of P1,500 for three months under a new government subsidy ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday. Marcos said in a video statement that the P10-per-liter fuel subsidy for PUVs would alleviate the impact on transport workers of
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Zambales fishers lukewarm about PH-China energy venture in WPS
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—As the government renews its interest to pursue joint venture with China to explore oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), fishers in Zambales are ambivalent. Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, said while the initiative could help address the country’s fuel crisis following the conflict in the
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Baguio under calamity state due to fuel crisis
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Residents dealing with long lines at jeepney terminals here on their way home at night found some relief on Wednesday when more units were deployed—financed by the city government after Baguio was placed under a state of calamity. Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday signed City Resolution No. 257 declaring a state
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