Filipino travelers visiting Oman under the country 's 14-day visa-free entry program will no longer be required to present a negative HIV medical certificate, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday, June 29. In a statement, the DFA said the Omani government had waived the...
The Philippines, still under a state of national energy emergency, has secured a record $1.02-billion World Bank Group (WBG) financing package to help lower electricity costs, accelerate renewable energy (RE) adoption, and strengthen water services nationwide. In a press release dated June 25 and...
The Philippines has called on the international community to reaffirm the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework governing the world 's oceans, as the country marks the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. Speaking...
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro reaffirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) remains the primary agency responsible for implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's foreign policy, stressing that the Philippines must "speak with one voice" in its engagement with...
The country’s rice imports surged 23 percent to nearly 2.4 million metric tons (MT) from January to May compared to the same period last year, as traders rushed to fortify inventories ahead of an expected dip in local production. Citing Bureau of Customs (BOC) data, the Congressional Policy and...
The Quezon City government, through the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) in partnership with SHAPE Asia, is advancing efforts to promote healthier food environments through a workshop with retail stakeholders in support of a proposed Healthy Food Retail Ordinance. SHAPE Asia is a regional...
Lower-income households will need to cough up an additional ₱490 in monthly rice spending due to higher fertilizer prices and their impact on retail prices, according to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD). Under a conservative lower-bound scenario, the House of...
The government is expected to generate significantly higher revenues from imported non-agricultural fertilizer products this year as global fertilizer prices surge due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Citing Bureau of Customs (BOC) data, think tank Congressional Policy and Budget Research...
A network advocating evidence-based drug policies rejected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s description of the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign as a “human rights campaign,” saying the bloody crackdown was marked by violence, fear, and impunity. In a statement...
President Marcos has maintained his position over Taiwan, saying the Philippines will not interfere in any internal matter, but hopes that it would be "resolved peacefully." "The Philippines has, from the very start, always held a one-China policy. We have always held a one-China policy. And we...
Vice President Sara Duterte questioned why President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the 2022 elections, accusing him of “lying” to Filipinos about his capabilities and plans for the country amid what she described as worsening economic conditions under the current administration. Speaking before...
This is the question of the hour, fueled by the domestic financial market’s sustained downswing. Yes, Virginia, the financial market is experiencing significant volatility, with upward pressure expected on both the local currency and inflation. The peso is flirting with the ₱62 mark, inflamed...
