Category: Politics

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

Politics

4,245 Families in Southern Leyte Get Free Rice—But the Government Aid Doesn’t Stop in Malitbog

MALITBOG, Southern Leyte — More than 4,000 families in Malitbog, Southern Leyte, received 10 kilograms of rice each as the national government’s food assistance program reached 4,245 beneficiaries across 20 barangays on August 13. The distribution delivered approximately 42,000 kilograms of rice to indigent individuals and families through the Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) Food Assistance Rice Distribution Project. The assistance was

August 16, 2026

Politics

Baguio-Bauang Road Alert: Motorists Warned of Dangerous Sinking Section as Rain Damage Continues

BAGUIO CITY — Motorists heading to or from Baguio City via the Baguio-Bauang Road, also known as Naguilian Road, are being urged to exercise extreme caution as authorities continue to deal with a damaged and sinking portion of the highway in Barangay Banangan, Sablan, Benguet. The warning comes after continuous heavy rains associated with Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, caused further damage to roads across the Cordillera. According to the Phil

August 16, 2026

Politics

Pampanga Declares State of Calamity as 860,076 People Reel From Massive Floods—But the Danger May Not Be Over

PAMPANGA — Pampanga has been placed under a state of calamity after days of relentless rain and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, triggered widespread flooding across the province. The declaration came as the scale of the disaster continued to grow, with provincial authorities reporting that 297 barangays in 17 local government units (LGUs) had been affected by flooding as of August 12, 2026. The provincial situation report placed the number of affected residents at 860,076 people, o

August 16, 2026

Politics

DPWH Completes 1.3-Km Farm-to-Market Road in Romblon—But the Biggest Change May Be What Happens Next

LOOC, ROMBLON — A new 1.3-kilometer concrete farm-to-market road in Barangay Agojo, Looc, Romblon has been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), opening a more reliable route between agricultural areas and the municipality’s main road network. The project, reported by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on August 14, 2026, involves a five-meter-wide concreted road designed to make the movement of farm products and residents easier. For farmers, however, the signi

August 16, 2026