Aquino bares stimulus fund to boost economy, alleviate poverty
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday unveiled an expenditure package that aims to speed up infrastructure and poverty alleviation projects and keep the economy afloat.
Speaking before members of foreign media, President Aquino said the P72 billion stimulus package will also boost the...
Aquino unveils P72-B stimulus package
MANILA (Update) -- President Benigno Aquino III formally unveiled Wednesday a P72-billion economic stimulus package to pump prime the economy this year.
"I have authorized additional expenditures of more than P72 billion between now and the end of the year," Aquino said in his...
House, Senate agree to discuss Cha-cha separately
MANILA -- The House of Representatives and the Senate agreed Thursday to discuss the proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution through a bicameral constituent assembly.
In the first-ever legislative assembly of Congress leaders, Senator Franklin Drilon...
'Pedring' intensifies further
MANILA (5th Update, 11:14 p.m.) -- Typhoon "Pedring" (international codename: Nesat) intensified further Monday evening as it threatens Isabela and Aurora provinces, state weather officials said.
Coupled with this intensification process is the storm's widening cloud mass, which...
Aquino off to Japan after US visit
FOLLOWING a five-day official working trip in the United States, President Benigno Aquino III is set to undertake another working visit to Japan from September 25 to 28.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro...
Arrested general may still face plunder case
MANILA -- Dismissed general Carlos Garcia may still face a plunder case as Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales asked the Sandiganbayan on Friday to void a plea bargain agreement that it approved in May.
Garcia was detained earlier Friday at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after...
No meeting with Obama during Aquino's US visit
THERE will be no one-on-one meeting between United States (US) President Barack Obama and President Benigno Aquino III after the latter is set to attend the launching of the Open Governance Partnership (OGP) in New York on September 20.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant...
Arroyo camp belittles new plunder case
MANILA -- The camp of Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo downplayed the filing of fresh plunder case against her and her husband, saying progressive groups are merely playing politics at their expense.
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan...
Aquino defends metro rail fare hike
MANILA -- The impending rail fare increase in the capital will allow government to save funds for the mass transport projects in the Visayas and Mindanao, President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday.
The fare hike will partially cover the government subsidy paid to the Metro Rail Transit...
Senate panel readies charges vs Arroyos, others
MANILA -- The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is readying graft charges against brothers Jose Miguel and Ignacio Arroyo for their alleged involvement in the sale of used helicopters to the police in 2009.
Senator Franklin Drilon and other members of the committee believe Jose Miguel "Mike"...
Peace talks to proceed despite threats
MANILA -- Malacañang on Thursday said peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will continue despite threats of renegade MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato.
The government will not give in to Kato's threats, Presidential Communications Development and...
New Tourism chief ready to hit the ground running
NEWLY appointed Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said Thursday that he will use his extensive experience in advertising and marketing communications in his new job.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Jimenez said the only way he would be able to succeed in his job is to start rallying...
Government agencies probe Baguio trash slide
BAGUIO CITY -- Two government agencies are conducting separate investigations on the August 27 Irisan dumpsite tragedy that killed three people and left two others missing.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is looking into the accountability of local government...
Aquino replaces Customs chief
MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III confirmed Monday that the head of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the government's second-largest revenue source, will soon be replaced.
Aquino said he is no longer satisfied with the performance of Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, whom he chose...
China keeps hands off Hong Kong travel warning
MANILA -- China will not ask the Hong Kong government to lift its black travel warning against the Philippines as a consequence of the Manila hostage crisis in August last year.
Chinese Ambassador to the...
Aquino's China visit to focus on trade, investments
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III and Chinese officials will focus their discussion on matters of trade and investment during the Philippine leader's five-day visit to the People's Republic of China next week.
Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Cristina Ortega, in a press...
Palace denies resignation of Customs chief
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday denied that Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez submitted his resignation to President Benigno Aquino III.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Aquino has not received any resignation papers from the Customs official.
"The President is...
Aquino appoints adviser on environmental protection
MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III has appointed former Bukidnon representative Juan Romeo Nereus Acosta as Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection.
Malacañang furnished reporters a copy of the appointment paper of Acosta signed by the President and authorized by Executive...
Palace condemns killing of radio broadcaster in Negros Occidental
MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday condemned the killing of a radio broadcaster Neil "Lito" Jimena in Negros Occidental on Monday.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda extended condolences to the family of Jimena, 42, a block-time radio broadcaster of Radio Mindanao Network in Iloilo...
Moro rebels reject government peace proposal
MANILA -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rejected Tuesday a government proposal for autonomy in the Philippines’ south as inadequate but said it will continue the peace talks.
Representatives from the MILF insisted on a substate for minority Muslims, chief government negotiator...
No penalties yet for police execs in hostage crisis
MANILA (Updated, 6:01 p.m.) -- Police officials involved in a botched rescue of tourists held hostage inside a bus for nearly 12 hours have yet to be penalized, a year after the incident took place.
This was indicated by a report prepared by an ad hoc committee of the National...
Palace confirms resignation of LTFRB chief
MANILA (2nd update, 3:39 p.m.) -- Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed the resignation of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Nelson Laluces.
"The statement of Chairman Laluces is pretty straightforward. He wants to give (Transportation) Secretary Mar...
Aquino rejects call for apology for Hong Kong deaths
MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III has expressed regret for the deaths of eight Hong Kong hostages who were killed in a botched police rescue last year but is rejecting the families' call for a formal apology.
Aquino said the lone gunman, a dismissed police officer, and not the state...
Mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Libya ordered
MANILA (Updated 7:07 a.m.) -- The government has ordered mandatory evacuation in Libya due to the rising political tension in the Middle Eastern country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the crisis alert level in Libya to 4, which means mandatory evacuation and...
Ban on worker deployment in Libya stays
OVERSEAS Filipino workers are still banned from going to Libya even as hostilities in the country are expected to end soon.
This was announced by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Monday, saying that the deployment ban stays "until the political and the security...
