House OKs 12 LEDAC bills
House OKs 12 LEDAC billsLawmakers voted 270-8 with two abstentions during plenary deliberations stamping their approval to House Bill 6636, an act institutionalizing AICS under the DSWD. MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed several bills on third and final reading this week, including the 12 priority measures of President Marcos listed by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), before going on Christmas break. Topping the LEDAC list was the measure that aims to institutionalize the controversial Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations. Lawmakers voted 270-8 with two abstentions during plenary deliberations stamping their approval to House Bill 6636, an act institutionalizing AICS under the DSWD. House Bill 22, or the Accessible Internet for All Act.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 16:18 UTC
Socialized housing price cap IRR issued
Socialized housing price cap IRR issuedIn a press statement, the DHSUD said the IRR for Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2025-001 was signed by DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Monday. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) have issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the recalibrated price ceiling of socialized housing units. Issued last Dec. 1, the JMC sets the guidelines for updating the price ceiling for socialized housing, both for house and lot packages and condominiums. Under the IRR, the maximum selling price is set at P950,000 for socialized subdivision or horizontal housing projects and up to P1.8 million for socialized condominium or vertical developments. The DHSUD said the revised price ceiling considers the rising construction and development costs and ensures sustained private sector participation in socialized housing.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 16:18 UTC
PNR is offering free rides on Dec. 25
Heads up, yuletide commuters! The Philippine National Railway is offering free rides to the public on Dec. 25, Christmas Day! The schedule for free rides is as follows:Naga to Lupi Viejo - 4:29 a.m.Lupi Viejo to Naga - 6:23 a.m. Meanwhile, all commuters can ride the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 for free on Christmas Day under the Department of Transportation's #12DaysOfChristmas program. Just queue up at your nearest MRT-3, LRT-1, or LRT-2 station to avail of your free trip.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 15:29 UTC
Senate denies holiday furlough for Curlee, DPWH engineers
Senate denies holiday furlough for Curlee, DPWH engineers[Spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya] arrive at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Padre Faura, Manila, on Friday, Dec. 19, for the preliminary investigation into the P7.1-billion tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. MANILA, Philippines — Contractor Curlee Discaya and sacked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza will spend the holidays in Senate detention after their request for Christmas furlough was denied, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said. The detained resource persons, however, were allowed to attend mass at the Senate and to be visited by family within Senate premises. They will not be allowed to leave Senate custody, Lacson said. While Curlee Discaya is under Senate custody, his contractor wife Sarah has been arrested and is now detained at the Lapu-Lapu city jail for a non-bailable malversation case involving an alleged P96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 13:33 UTC
Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers
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Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 13:30 UTC
Chinese warship caught loitering in Zambales waters
Chinese warship caught loitering in Zambales watersA People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship loiters off the coast of Zambales on Dec. 17, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy (PN) responded to a Chinese warship caught loitering in the waters of Zambales, sending two ships to assert the country’s rights over its sovereign waters. In a statement, the PN said that on December 17, it received reports of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), off the waters of Zambales. The warship was a PLAN Jiangkai II (Type 054A)–class frigate, bow number 569. After the Navy confirmed the presence of the Chinese warship, the BRP Diego Silang was also deployed as reinforcement.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 13:26 UTC
Blunt force injuries led to Cabral’s death — PNP
Blunt force injuries led to Cabral’s death — PNPTrigger warning: suicide, mental health issuesMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral died of blunt traumatic injuries. According to the medico-legal report, Cabral’s body was examined on December 20, a day after she was found unconscious in a ravine in Benguet. The report concluded: “THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS BLUNT TRAUMATIC INJURIES TO THE HEAD, TRUNK, LEFT UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES DUE TO FALL FROM THE HEIGHT.”The examination revealed extensive injuries across her head, neck, torso and extremities. Extremity injuries included abrasions, contusions and lacerations on her arms, wrists, palms, hands and ankles. In a separate toxicology report by the PNP, Cabral was also found to be positive for anti-depressant drugs.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 12:58 UTC
P21.4M worth of illegal drugs seized in unclaimed parcels
P21.4M worth of illegal drugs seized in unclaimed parcelsIntercepted unclaimed parcels by the Bureau of Customs on Dec. 15, 2025, which contain illegal drugs. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs intercepted five unclaimed inbound parcels containing dangerous drugs valued at an estimated P21.4 million. In a statement on Wednesday, December 24, the bureau said that it had seized the unclaimed parcels on December 15 at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. Physical inspection revealed the following content:Shabu: 2,928 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with an estimated value of P19,910,400. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act No.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 12:54 UTC
Marcos: If your relatives call you fat this holidays, say ‘ikaw din’
Marcos: If your relatives call you fat this holidays, say ‘ikaw din’MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears to be in a festive mood this holiday season, quipping that if a relative calls you fat during the holiday reunion, you should say it back to them. In a vlog posted on Tuesday, the day before Christmas Eve, Marcos took questions from social media. One of these questions asked: what do you reply to a relative who calls you fat? Ikaw din’,” Marcos said. However, Marcos also cautioned people from eating too much, as cases of heart attacks can increase during the season.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 12:54 UTC
Cloudy Christmas Eve for Luzon
Cloudy Christmas Eve for LuzonMANILA, Philippines — As the country is gearing up for Noche Buena, Filipinos in the Bicol Region, Quezon and several other Luzon areas can expect cloudy skies with chances of rain on Wednesday, December 24. PAGASA forecasted that the Bicol Region and Quezon can anticipate cloudy skies and scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the easterlies. Metro Manila and the rest of the country are also affected by the eastern winds but with only partly cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms. Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley and the rest of Central Luzon will experience partly cloudy skies due to the northeast monsoon. State meteorologists forecast that rains across Luzon will ease by Thursday, giving everyone fair weather on Christmas Day.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 12:54 UTC
Citations for Army units in Central Mindanao lauded
Citations for Army units in Central Mindanao laudedPresident Ferdinand Marcos personally attached the performance citation streamer to the official banner of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade during a symbolic rite at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, December 19, 2025. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Local executives were elated with the president’s grant on Friday, December 19, of streamer awards to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and its two brigades for having neutralized two terror groups and secured the surrender of hundreds of communist insurgents in Central Mindanao in recent months. “These three big Army units covering Central Mindanao deserved those special streamer awards for having achieved remarkable accomplishments in the government’s anti-terror campaign in Region 12 and in parts of the Bangsamoro region," Mendoza, chairperson of the multi-sector Regional Development Council 12, said. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, said on Wednesday that it was for the support of the local communities that their units have succeeded in clearing the towns being secured by their units from NPA presence. Units of the 601st Infantry Brigade have also worked out, with the help of LGUs, the surrender of 715 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF terrorists in the past 36 months.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 12:10 UTC
Zack Tabudlo speaks out on comments about his smell after Paskuhan performance
Singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo is clapping back against those who have been shaming him online following his performance at the UST Paskuhan 2025 last Dec. 19. Some social media users, however, mocked his appearance and claimed that he had an unpleasant odor. I also worked backstage nung paskuhan and let me tell you, si Zack ang pinakamabango," one user said. Lahat tayo tumatae, lahat tayo pinagpapawisan, lahat tayo nagkakamali sa buhay. Tabudlo started his music career when he competed on the first season of The Voice Kids under Bamboo Mañalac's mentorship.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 07:28 UTC
Russell Brand slapped with more rape and sexual assault cases
Russell Brand is facing two new cases for rape and sexual assault, according to the Metropolitan Police. The cases allegedly happened back in 2009. These come after Brand was previously slapped with five offenses in April earlier this year: two counts of rape, one of indecent assault, and two of sexual assault. Another incident purported that the actor kissed and groped a woman in Westminster between 2004 and 2005, while the remaining cases allege that he committed oral rape and sexual assault against a woman in 2004. Brand became known internationally as the husband of pop star Katy Perry after forging a career in Britain with risque comedy routines.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 07:28 UTC
What to know about SEC’s new beneficial ownership rules
What to know about SEC’s new beneficial ownership rulesMANILA, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it has issued a regulatory framework to improve the accuracy and timeliness of corporate beneficial ownership (BO) disclosures. “Strengthening transparency in beneficial ownership is a key regulatory reform to reduce the risk of corporate entities being misused for illicit activities,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said. The rules mandate a 20% reporting threshold for beneficial ownership, anchored in regulations issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council. They also strengthen disclosure requirements by mandating nominee reporting and requiring timely notification of changes in beneficial ownership, according to the SEC. According to the SEC, the two corporations failed to disclose that Sarah Discaya was their beneficial owner, which violated SEC rules.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 05:16 UTC
Johnson, Castle take charge as Spurs silence Thunder
Johnson, Castle take charge as Spurs silence ThunderLOS ANGELES, United States — Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle combined for 49 points as the San Antonio Spurs produced a second-half scoring blitz to rout the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 130-110, on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time). Starting shooting guard Castle finished with 24 points, including four 3-pointers but the key contribution came from Johnson, who added 25 off the bench including five threes. The Thunder fell to 26-4 after the loss, while the Spurs improved to 22-7 to stay in second place in the West. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama finished with 12 points while reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 33 points. Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who scored 47 points in Sunday's win over Miami, missed the game with a right ankle problem.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 04:42 UTC