Nation
Politics, governance and communities across the Philippines.
Nation Page 15 of 60
Marcos admin revives DSWD Academy, aims to make it Southeast Asia’s center for social welfare
The Marcos administration has revived and renovated the DSWD Academy in Taguig, originally a project by former First Lady Imelda Marcos in the 1970s, as a center of excellence for social welfare and community development in Southeast Asia, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday.…
DSWD’s crisis assistance budget triples to ₱63 billion under Marcos admin
The budget for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program has tripled under the Marcos administration, growing from ₱18 to ₱20 billion to ₱63 billion now, Undersecretary Pinky Romualdez said Saturday. Romualdez made the disclosure in an…
More 4Ps beneficiaries exit as 1.6 million families graduate under Marcos admin
For the first time in the 18-year history of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), mass graduation has taken place under the Marcos administration, with 1.6 million families having exited the program because their lives improved, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday.…
Marcos administration builds PH’s largest-ever disaster food stockpile
The Marcos administration has built the largest disaster food pack stockpile in Philippine history, with 4.9 million family food packs now pre-positioned in 1,010 warehouses nationwide, up from only about 200,000 when the administration began, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday.…
Modular tents, maternity kits, ready-to-eat meals: DSWD overhauls quality of disaster response
The Marcos administration has overhauled the quality of disaster response, going beyond food distribution to ensure that evacuees retain their dignity and receive care tailored to their specific needs, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday. Gatchalian made the statement in an…
‘Walang Gutom’ program: Marcos administration ambitiously targets zero food poverty
The Marcos administration has set a clear and ambitious target: by the end of the President’s term in 2028, no Filipino family should go hungry, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday. Gatchalian made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on July 25…
Marcos’ flagship anti-hunger program exclusively supports small Filipino agriculture cooperatives, not large grocery chains
The “Walang Gutom” Food Stamp Program exclusively accredits small agriculture cooperatives as redemption points for its food credits, a deliberate policy to ensure government aid flows directly to both food-poor families and small Filipino farmers. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian made the…
No administration ever did this before: Marcos launches PH’s first-ever anti-hunger program
For the first time in Philippine history, the national government has launched a comprehensive program designed specifically to eliminate hunger, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Saturday, July 25. Because hunger is the most severe form of poverty, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s…
U.S. imposes new 12.5% tariff on Philippine exports
The United States has imposed new tariffs of 12.5% on Philippine exports, citing the country’s alleged failure to adopt sufficient safeguards against goods produced using forced labor. The decision, announced Friday (Manila time) by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, followed an…
Car sales weakened by 11.4% in six month due to high fuel prices: CAMPI
Vehicle sales in the Philippines declined by 11.4% year-on-year to 204,557 units, weighed down by high fuel costs linked to the Middle East crisis. Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association showed that sales in June alone fell…
DA says ube may help manage diabetes, offers morehealth benefits
Ube, or purple yam, is more than just a popular Philippine crop known for its sweet, nutty flavor—it also offers a range of health benefits. Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez said ube’s low glycemic index makes it a suitable food option for people with diabetes. Speaking to DZRH News’…
NFA now buys freshly harvested wet palay, freeing farmers from traders’ grip
The National Food Authority (NFA) can now buy freshly harvested or wet palay for the first time, freeing farmers from having to sell cheaply to traders when they need to move their grain quickly after harvest, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said Saturday. Lacson made the disclosure in an interview…
DA builds mega food hubs across PH where only farmers can sell, no traders allowed
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is building five to six mega food hubs across the Philippines—each spanning 30 to 40 hectares—where only farmers, not traders, can sell directly to consumers, Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel said Saturday. Tiu Laurel made the disclosure in an…
DA chief eyes heirloom rice comeback in international markets
Philippine heirloom rice—prized varieties grown in the highland communities of Banaue and Ilocos—is set to return to international markets next year, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel saying the premium grain can command as much as 20 euros per kilo abroad. Tiu Laurel made the…
Marcos gave DA chief three orders on Day 1—here’s how they fared years later
When Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel took office under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November 2023, he received three clear directives—clean up the department, implement ₱20-per-kilo rice, and help farmers earn. Years later, Tiu Laurel says there have been wins—but also…