DA seeks faster approval of long-pending agricultural laws
DA seeks faster approval of long-pending agricultural lawsMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging Congress to fast-track the passage of long-pending agricultural reform measures to address structural bottlenecks and revive growth in the farm sector. Tiu Laurel said Congress has already passed the Animal Industry and Competitiveness Act, which aims to modernize the livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries and provide P20 billion in annual funding over 10 years. The DA is also lining up amendments to commodity-specific laws covering rice, corn and coconut to strengthen value chains and raise farmer incomes, according to Tiu Laurel. Beyond legislative measures, Tiu Laurel said reforms must also focus on strengthening agricultural extension services and expanding cooperative development to improve farmers’ access to credit, markets and support services. Tiu Laurel said P2.4 billion has been earmarked next year for port development, with nearly a dozen agri-port projects in the pipeline to reduce logistics costs and improve inter-island trade.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 16:04 UTC
E-trikes now banned on major Metro Manila roads
E-trikes now banned on major Metro Manila roadsMANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) began enforcing the ban on electric tricycles and electric bicycles along several major thoroughfares in Metro Manila yesterday, citing traffic and safety regulations. LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said the move is anchored on road safety considerations, noting that major thoroughfares are designed for faster and larger vehicles. “These primary roads are not suitable for e-trikes due to traffic speed, volume of vehicles and road width. ViolatorsTwenty e-bike and e-trike drivers were flagged down for traversing highways in Manila as the LTO began enforcing the ban on e-trikes and e-bikes along major highways. Limited coverageBicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon lauded yesterday the LTO for its revised coverage of the ban on e-trikes and e-bikes, limiting it to select major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 16:04 UTC
US Navy rescues 3 Pinoy fishermen
US Navy rescues 3 Pinoy fishermenInformation released by the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said the crew aboard the dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez found the Filipino fishermen off Bolinao, Pangasinan at around 12:45 p.m. aboard their motorized fishing vessel while transiting the SCS. MANILA, Philippines — The United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet came to the rescue of three distressed Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea (SCS) on New Year’s Day. “Upon spotting the distressed vessel, watch standers immediately notified the bridge and the ship launched a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to recover the fishermen,” the US Navy said. The Filipino fishermen told US Navy personnel that their boat’s engine flooded on Dec. 28 due to heavy seas, leaving them adrift. The US Navy said it “coordinated with Philippine government officials to return the fishermen safely to the Republic of the Philippines.”The PCG facilitated the turnover of the rescued fishermen from the US navy ship, at approximately 50 nautical miles west of Bolinao.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 16:04 UTC
Inaugural SEA Plus Youth Games to be held in Manila in 2028
The Southeast Asian Olympic leaders have approved the launch of the first youth-focused multi-sport competition in the region, which will be first held in Manila in 2028. Open to athletes aged 17 and below, the Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games is designed to prepare competitors for the Asian Youth Games and the Youth Olympic Games. The 'Plus' element allows for the invitation of at least one non-Southeast Asian nation per edition. Manila will host the inaugural edition, with subsequent events held biennially to maintain alignment with the AYG schedule. According to Tolentino, the goal of SEA Plus YG is to build the strong competitive groundwork these athletes need to challenge for spots on the Summer and Winter Olympic stages.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 15:15 UTC
Monthly horoscope: Find out what January 2026 has in store for your zodiac sign
Aries (March 21 – April 19)The Capricorn stellium crowns your 10th house of career, sparking an undeniable drive for professional dominance. The earthy Capricorn energy stabilizes your grandest visions, making this an ideal month to commit to a course of study or plan a significant journey. This is a "clean house" month where you must look at your budgets and intimate contracts with unblinking realism. Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)The Capricorn stellium activates your 6th house of health, work, and daily ritual, insisting on a total overhaul of your lifestyle. While Capricorn energy is serious, it helps you turn your artistic hobbies into something with lasting, professional potential.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 15:15 UTC
Elisse Joson shuts down mistress allegations: 'Not a kabit, never was'
Elisse Joson is finally setting the record straight regarding rumors that she was a mistress. The actress made the statement in her TikTok post, where she was lip-syncing to the trending audio of Taco Truck x VB and Radio mashup. In her New Year's Day post, Joson talked about how the past year "broke me and quietly rebuilt me." "The year that broke me and quietly rebuilt me. Wishing the new year to be kinder to you in all the ways you need," she captioned her post.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 15:15 UTC
Nana's agency responds to countersuit following home robbery
Nana's agency is planning to pursue "every possible civil and criminal legal action" against the robber who filed a countersuit against the actress. In its Jan. 2 statement, Korean agency SUBLIME said that it was aware of the countersuit filed by the robber against its artist, reiterating that the authorities had confirmed that the robber had committed the crime. With this, SUBLIME stated that they plan to take all available civil and criminal legal measures against the robber. In relation to this matter, we will pursue every possible civil and criminal legal action against the perpetrator," it said. "We will continue to respond responsibly and to the very end to ensure our artist suffers no further harm."
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 15:15 UTC
Eala makes New Zealand stopover before Australian Open bid
Eala makes New Zealand stopover before Australian Open bidMANILA, Philippines — And there goes Alex Eala in Oceania. Alex Eala on Friday arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, before trooping to Melbourne for her much-awaited debut in the Australian Open. Eala earned a direct entry in the 103-player main draw as Top-100 player in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, placing at No. The Australian Open main draw remains as the only major Eala has not played in after doing it so in the Wimbledon, French Open and US Open last year following her WTA rise. A possible first possible home tournament appearance for Eala—at the Philippine Women’s Open from January 26 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex—will depend on her campaign in the Australian Open.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 15:03 UTC
Consistent Abarrientos tows Gin Kings to PBA semis
Consistent Abarrientos tows Gin Kings to PBA semisWith averages of 27.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in Barangay Ginebra's twin victories over the FiberXers, RJ Abarrientos was adjudged as the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week. MANILA, Philippines — RJ Abarrientos shrugged off the holiday revelry of being in a playoff advantage to carry Barangay Ginebra into the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup. And with his average of 27.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in the twin victories over the FiberXers, Abarrientos was adjudged as the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week. “I reminded myself na hindi ako hindi pwedeng gumalaw o hindi makapagcontribute para sa team kasi kami-kami na lang ang inaasahan dito,” said Abarrientos. Holt wound up second in the voting among Press Corps members while San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo and Meralco’s Chris Newsome were also given consideration.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 14:16 UTC
E-trike ban enforced on major highways
E-trikes no longer allowed in major highways in the metroMANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) began implementing a ban on electric tricycles on major highways on Friday, January 2, citing safety concerns. In a statement issued on New Year’s Day, the LTO declared the ban on e-trikes on major thoroughfares, including EDSA, C-5 Road, Roxas Boulevard, and Quirino Avenue to the Magallanes–South Luzon Expressway. Markus Lacanilao, LTO chief, said the restriction is intended to reduce road safety risks. Slow, light vehicles joining these types of roads cause a clear danger to everyone who uses the road,” Lacanilao said in Filipino. Under the new rule, e-trikes caught violating the ban may be fined and their vehicles may be impounded.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 11:13 UTC
Forced into stock scams, 8 Filipinos rescued from syndicates
Forced into stock scams, 8 Filipinos rescued from syndicatesThe BI repatriates several Filipinos who fell prey to human trafficking schemes and were trapped in Cambodia. MANILA, Philippines — Eight Filipinos who were forced to run fraudulent stock trading scams by criminal syndicates were rescued in Cambodia on New Year’s Eve. The modus the victims were forced into involved tricking other Filipinos into investing in "stock trading platforms or pseudo investment accounts." “The Bureau of Immigration is working closely with law enforcement partners to track, disrupt, and dismantle these scam rings. We are committed to protecting Filipinos and preventing these syndicates from continuing to victimize our people,” he added.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 07:50 UTC
Motorcycles involved in 71% of holiday road crashes
Motorcycles involved in 71% of holiday road crashesMANILA, Philippines — Most of the road crash injuries recorded during the Christmas and New Year season had motorcycles involved, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, January 2. Authorities have recorded a sample of 1,113 road crash injuries from 10 selected public hospitals, and derived that 787 of these incidents were attributable to motorcycles. This means that motorcycle drivers account for 71% of all recorded road crash injuries. In terms of fatalities, five out of seven people who died in the chosen hospitals were on motorcycles. The DOH found at least 135 of the injured motorists were under the influence, while 965 were not wearing the right safety accessories.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 07:41 UTC
Now that the missing bride-to-be is back home, is her wedding still pushing through?
With Sherra de Juan, the bride-to-be who went missing on Dec. 10, back home, her fiancé is sharing news about their wedding. "Unang yakap niya sa akin itong sa may Pangasinan, nag-sorry siya, sabi niya, hindi na siya umabot. Sabi niya, 'Opo, tuloy 'yung kasal," Reyes continued. "As of now, hindi namin fino-force na magdisclose si Sherra sa amin kung ano 'yung... naaalala niya," Reyes said. Ayaw na po namin na 'yung mga interviews namin magamit as, para makagawa ng mga kuwento-kuwento, speculations.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 07:15 UTC
ITZY heading back to Manila in July
Here's a New Year's gift for you, Filo MIDZYs! ITZY will return to Manila in July. In their social media posts, the K-Pop girl group unveiled the dates and stops for their third world tour, Tunnel Vision. The Manila stop will be on Saturday, July 11, at SM Mall of Asia Arena, set to be produced by Live Nation Philippines. The tour will kick off in Seoul from Feb. 13 to 15, before going to Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland in April.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2026 07:14 UTC