Category: Politics

Politics

DepEd Chief Names Samar as Education Model—But What Did He See That Could Change Schools Nationwide?

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — Samar is gaining national attention as Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara considers some of the province’s youth and education initiatives potential models for programs elsewhere in the Philippines. During his visit to Samar for the province’s 185th Samar Day celebration and Tandaya Festival 2026, Angara highlighted two initiatives in particular—the Purple Desk program, which provides support for young people’s mental health, and the SIRAK youth programs, w

August 16, 2026

Politics

49,200 Zamboanga Sibugay Households to Receive ₱100-Million Rice Aid Under Marcos Program

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — Nearly 49,200 households in Zamboanga Sibugay are set to receive continuing rice assistance under the Marcos administration's Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) Rice Distribution Program, with ₱100 million allocated for the initiative. The assistance is being funded through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) and is designed to provide families with more sustained food support rather than a single distribution. Under the program, qualified households will receive 10

August 16, 2026

Politics

Labor Chief Makes a Bold Promise to Filipino Workers—But the Real Test Begins With These Unresolved Issues

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis N. Tolentino has pledged greater transparency and open communication with labor groups as the government faces mounting demands on wages, job security, union rights and protections for workers in emerging forms of employment. Tolentino made the commitment during a meeting with leaders of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila, where both sides discussed

August 16, 2026

Politics

₱7.2-Trillion 2027 Budget Moves to the Senate—Lawmakers to Scrutinize Every Peso

The Philippines’ proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 has officially entered the congressional review process, putting billions of pesos in planned government spending under the microscope as lawmakers begin determining where public funds should go. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) formally transmitted the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to Congress on August 11, with the Senate and House of Representatives receiving the spending proposal in separate turnover cer

August 16, 2026

Politics

64-Year-Old Woman Living Alone Gets ₱2,000 From DSWD—What She Plans to Spend It On Says Everything

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — For 64-year-old Lydia Boloboco, ₱2,000 may not seem like a large amount of money, but for a woman who lives alone, has no children and no regular source of income, the government assistance means something much bigger: a little more room to get through the day. Boloboco, a resident of Barangay Maulong in Catbalogan City, was among the beneficiaries who received ₱2,000 in cash assistance under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Unified Package for

August 16, 2026

Politics

5,803 Families, 58 Tons of Rice: Eastern Samar Expands PBBM Aid in Dolores—But There’s More Coming

DOLORES, Eastern Samar — What was initially planned as targeted rice assistance for selected vulnerable sectors has been dramatically expanded, allowing 5,803 families in the poblacion barangays of Dolores, Eastern Samar, to receive 10 kilos of rice each under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) Rice Distribution Program. The expanded distribution means a total of 58,030 kilos—or about 58 metric tons—of rice will be provided to families covered by the latest rollout.

August 16, 2026

Politics

DOH Clarifies Who Can Get MAIFIP Medical Aid in 2026—But There’s One Rule Patients Must Not Ignore

BAGUIO CITY — Patients struggling to pay hospital bills may have another government assistance option in 2026, but the Department of Health (DOH) is stressing that the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program is not automatic and is subject to eligibility assessment, documentation, program rules, and available funds. The clarification from the Department of Health–Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) comes as more patients seek information abo

August 16, 2026

Politics

DOH-CAR Clarifies MAIFIP Rules: Who Can Qualify, What Medical Costs May Be Covered

BAGUIO CITY — Patients struggling to pay hospital bills may still seek government assistance through the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program—but the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) is stressing that not everyone automatically qualifies, and assistance is not a blank check. The clarification comes as MAIFIP continues to provide financial support to patients facing medical expenses they canno

August 16, 2026

Politics

BCDA-DOST Training Center to Boost Science, Technology and Innovation in New Clark City

NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac — A major push to strengthen the Philippines’ science and technology pipeline is taking shape in New Clark City as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) join forces to develop a dedicated training center for the Philippine Science High School (PSHS). The partnership, formalized in August 2026, is designed to create an environment where Filipino students, researchers, educators and future scientists can de

August 16, 2026

Politics

2,550 Ferrol Families to Get More Rice Aid—But There’s Still One More Tranche Coming

FERROL, Romblon — Thousands of households in Ferrol, Romblon are receiving another round of government-funded rice assistance as the municipal government began distributing the second tranche of its ₱7-million Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) rice program. The latest distribution, conducted on August 10, 2026, provided 10 kilograms of rice per beneficiary household as part of a three-tranche assistance program targeting 2,550 households across the municipality. But the assistance does not

August 16, 2026