special on saturday
special on saturday Page 12 of 17
PhilHealth exploring AI use for faster claims processing
PhilHealth is looking at deploying artificial intelligence to pre-screen and flag claims as the state health insurer faces a projected surge to 22 million claims in 2026, translating to more than 1.5 million claims per month. In an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on June 13…
PhilHealth expands YAKAP clinic network from 119 to 4,376 clinics, targets 5,000 by end of year
PhilHealth has expanded its primary care clinic network under the YAKAP program from just 119 accredited facilities in 2022 to 4,376 as of 2026 under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with a target of reaching 5,000 clinics by the end of the year. In an interview on DZRH News…
PhilHealth benefit payments surge 250% since 2023, from ₱119-B to ₱378-B
PhilHealth benefit payments are projected to reach ₱378 billion in 2026, nearly tripling the ₱119 billion recorded in 2023, as the state health insurer accelerates coverage expansion under the Universal Health Care law, its president and chief executive officer said Saturday. PhilHealth President…
DepEd protects classroom teaching time as key reform alongside new Grade 6, 9, and 10 curricula
The Department of Education (DepEd) is implementing new curricula for Grade 6, Grade 9, and Grade 10 this school year while pushing to protect instructional time as a parallel reform measure aimed at improving learner performance. DepEd Assistant Secretary Joyce Andaya told DZRH News program…
All Kinder and Grade 1 students to get school meals as DepEd feeding budget doubles to ₱25.6-billion
All kindergarten and Grade 1 learners nationwide will receive school meals under an expanded feeding program this school year, as the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) has been doubled to ₱25.6 billion for school year 2026-2027. DepEd Assistant…
DepEd deploys teachers door-to-door as enrollment dips ahead of June 8 school opening
The Department of Education (DepEd) is sending teachers on house-to-house visits to encourage parents to enroll their children ahead of the opening of classes on June 8, as nationwide enrollment figures dipped slightly from previous years. DepEd Assistant Secretary Joyce Andaya, who also serves as…
‘Pasado, but not exceptional’: UP NCPAG dean gives Marcos a passing grade, but notes agriculture sector remains his biggest failure
University of the Philippines (UP) National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) Dean Dr. Kristoffer Berse gave President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a passing grade at the four-year mark of his presidency—but stopped short of calling his performance exceptional, saying there are still…
‘Sayang ang pagkakataon’: Senate impasse costing PH its window to prepare for El Niño, says UP NCPAG dean
The ongoing leadership crisis in the Philippine Senate is not only hurting legislative productivity and institutional credibility but is also costing the country its window to prepare for a severe El Niño expected later this year, the dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) National College…
Repairs underway on four damaged Visayas power plants as gov’t races to restore 600 MW, says Palace
The government is working to restore nearly 600 megawatts of lost power capacity in the Visayas after four power plants went on forced outage, with repairs expected to be completed within the next few weeks to months, a senior Palace official said Saturday. Undersecretary Erwin Sta. Ana of the…
Palace explores new rice measures as inflation hits 15.6%, bio-fertilizers and Kadiwa expansion among options
The government is exploring new interventions to bring down rice prices after year-on-year rice inflation climbed to 15.6% in May, with bio-fertilizers and the expansion of Kadiwa centers among the measures being considered, a senior Palace official said Saturday. Undersecretary Erwin Sta. Ana of…
PNOC’s Bataan property eyed as site for Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Maharlika Fund to help finance it: Palace
The government is eyeing a property owned by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in Bataan as the site for the country’s first Strategic Petroleum Reserve, with the Maharlika Investment Corporation set to help finance the initiative, a senior Palace official revealed Saturday.…
Gov’t fuel discount for PUVs now nationwide, available at over 5,000 gas stations: Palace official
The government’s ₱10-per-liter fuel discount program for public utility vehicles has expanded from a pilot run in Metro Manila to nationwide coverage, with more than 5,000 gas stations now participating, a senior Palace official said Saturday, June 6. Undersecretary Erwin Sta. Ana of the Office of…
‘Not a cause for celebration’: Inflation eases to 6.8% in May, but Palace official says oil, rice, and electricity still a concern
Philippine inflation slowed to 6.8% in May from 7.2% in April, but a senior official from the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) warned Saturday that the development is not a cause for celebration, as three key price drivers—oil, electricity, and rice—remain elevated and together account for…
DENR, Solicitor General moving to file cases over Navotas landfill fire
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Office of the Solicitor General are moving to file cases stemming from the Navotas sanitary landfill fire, with meetings already held with Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe herself, a DENR official said Saturday, June 6. DENR…
DENR moves to enforce 50,700-tree replanting obligation as SALEx proponent halts Quirino Avenue cutting
The proponent of the Southern Access Link Expressway project has voluntarily suspended the cutting of trees along Quirino Avenue in Manila, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) now focused on ensuring the proponent fulfills its replanting obligations. DENR Assistant…