English News
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office IV-A, in collaboration with PSA Batangas, successfully conducted a Mobile CRS (Civil Registry System) Outlet activity on April 15, 2026.
The initiative, aimed at reaching citizens in need of vital documents, served residents of Tanauan City and neighboring municipalities. By the end of the day-long event, the team had processed and issued nearly 150 civil registry documents.
Beyond document issuance, the mobile outlet featured a dedicated help desk to address complex civil registration queries and registration for the Philippine Identification System (National ID).
Bringing PSA services directly to the communities is one of its goal. Through these mobile outlets, we eliminate the barrier of travel and make it possible for every citizen to secure the legal documents they need for school, work, and social benefits.
The Mobile CRS Outlet continues to be a vital tool for the PSA in ensuring that no Filipino is left behind due to geographical or logistical challenges.
The Provincial Government of Cavite through the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO) in partnership with Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWCC) conducted the Orientation on the Implementation of Child Budget and Expenditure Tagging and Tracking (CBETT) for Local Government Units (LGUs) on April 15, 2026, at the New Provincial Government Center in Trece Martires City.
The activity aimed to equip participants with a clear understanding of the CBETT framework and guidelines, enhance their skills in tagging and tracking child-focused budgets, and promote collaboration between budget officers and LCPC focal persons to strengthen child-responsive budgeting at the local level.
The program formally opened with a message from Ms. Fely Servañez, OPSWD Officer, who welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of prioritizing children in local governance. She emphasized that through CBETT, LGUs can better ensure that programs and services intended for children are adequately funded and efficiently implemented.
The discussion proper was facilitated by Ms. Julie Ann G. Delen, Planning Officer-CWC, Mr. Elino L. Bardillon, Division Chief and Ms. Florida F. Radam, who guided the participants through the technical aspects of CBETT implementation. They elaborated on the processes of identifying child-focused programs, tagging corresponding budget items, and tracking expenditures throughout the fiscal year. The facilitators also shared practical strategies and best practices to help LGUs integrate CBETT into their planning and budgeting systems effectively.
An open forum followed the discussions, providing an avenue for participants to raise questions, seek clarifications, and share their insights and experiences. The interactive session encouraged meaningful dialogue and helped address common concerns related to the application of CBETT at the local level.
The orientation served as a significant step in reinforcing the commitment of the Provincial Government of Cavite to uphold children’s rights and welfare. By equipping LGUs with the necessary knowledge and tools, the CBETT initiative aims to ensure that investments for children are prioritized, monitored, and translated into impactful programs that support their holistic development. — OPIO
In response to the growing public demand and to ensure wider access to essential services, the Philippine Statistics Authority RSSO IV-A participated in the Civil Registration Service (CRS) Mobile Outlet activity in Bauan, Batangas by promoting awareness on Civil Registration Laws and Programs through primers distribution.
This initiative aimed to educate the public related to civil registration provisions and services as well as updates on relevant laws such as Republic Act No. 9048 (An Act Authorizing the City/Municipal Civil Register or Consul General to Correct a Clerical or Typographical Error in an Entry and /or Change of First Name or Nickname in the Civil Register Without Need of Judicial Order), RA 10172 (An Act Further Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct Clerical or Typographical Errors in the Day and Month in the Date of Birth or Sex of a Person Appearing in the Civil Register Without Need of a Judicial Order, Amending for this Purpose Act Numbered Ninety Forty-Eight), Legitimation by Subsequent Marriage, Adoption, Annulment of Marriage, and Republic Act No. 9255 (An Act allowing illegitimate children to use the surname of their father). Likewise National ID (Philsys) updates and Gender and Development (GAD) advocacy materials were distributed..
The CRS Mobile Outlet brings essential civil registration services directly to communities, enabling residents to conveniently request and secure copies of vital documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR). This also a part of PSA broader effort to enhance service delivery and reach more Filipinos, particularly those in geographically hard-to-reach areas in Bauan.
By bringing these services closer to the people, the PSA ensures that civil registration remains efficient, accessible and responsive to the public’s needs.
The Provincial Government of Cavite, through the Office of the Provincial Governor, continues to restore confident smiles among its constituents through the sustained implementation of its Libreng Pustiso Program, one of the flagship healthcare initiatives of the current provincial administration.
In the municipality of Magallanes, the program began with the fitting of beneficiaries on March 4, followed by trial fittings later in March, and culminated in the awarding of dentures on April 13. A total of 100 beneficiaries successfully received their complete dentures. Municipal Mayor Janessa Ann M. Maligaya-De Ramayo personally graced the awarding ceremony and led the distribution, highlighting the strong partnership between the provincial and local government in delivering essential health services.
In Kawit, beneficiaries underwent initial fitting on March 11, with trial fittings conducted on March 26, and the awarding of dentures held on April 16. A total of 111 residents benefited from the program.
During the denture fitting on March 11, First District Board Member Romel Enriquez and Jygs Gandia, along with Mayor Cynthia Aguinaldo, and other local officials, graced and expressed their full support for the program, underscoring a unified commitment to bringing healthcare services closer to the community.
All identified beneficiaries in both municipalities were successfully served, reflecting the Provincial Government’s unwavering commitment to accessible and inclusive healthcare for every Caviteño.— OPIO
The government has rolled out relief measures for truck drivers and shipping operators of agricultural products to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Citing information from the Office of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that among the measures are cutting key regulatory and terminal fees for truckers who deliver agricultural goods.
“Ang sabi niya (Recto) ay naiintindihan niya talaga ang bigat na dinadala ng ating mga truck drivers at shipping operators sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis kaya agarang gumawa ng hakbang sa utos na rin ni Pangulo,” said Castro.
On the orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., various government agencies have separately begun providing financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.
At the same time, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) approved a 75-percent reduction on key regulatory fees covering permits, safety certificates, vessel registration, and accreditation, said Castro.
The Palace Press Officer noted that the reduction in regulatory fees is in addition to slashing the annual tonnage fee to just P1 per gross tonnage for Philippine-registered vessels above 15 gross tonnage for 2025, payable in 2026, while fully exempting vessels with 15 gross tonnage and below.
MARINA also suspended the implementation of its January-issued schedule of fees and charges for the period starting April 20, and it will remain in effect for one year or for the duration of the State of National Energy Emergency, unless earlier lifted or revised.
On the part of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Palace official said roll-on roll-off (RoRo) terminal fees were slashed to just PhP1 for vehicles transporting agricultural goods, a drastic cut from the current charges ranging from PhP258 to PhP516 depending on the vehicle type.
In addition, she said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) tollway operators have waived toll fees for DA-accredited cargo trucks, with the DA expecting to generate over PhP100 million in savings for haulers as a result of the measure. The policy will be implemented for a period of one month starting April 20, 2026.
The MMDA and LGUs, on the other hand, are also exempted from the truck ban on vehicles transporting essential and perishable goods, as well as oil tankers, which may operate at any time. | PND
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region IV-A, actively participated in the Civil Registration System (CRS) Mobile Outlet Service conducted in Biñan City, Laguna on 17 April 2026.
The initiative aimed to bring PSA civil registry services closer to the residents of Biñan City, Laguna by providing convenient access to the issuance of civil registry documents such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, and Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMAR).
The mobile outlet service activity was conducted from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and successfuly served a total of one hundred seventy-seven (177) clients consisting of seventy-two (72) males and one hundred five (105) females. Through the CRS Mobile Outlet Service, clients were able to request and secure their civil registry documents without the need to travel to regular PSA outlets. The activity particularly benefited senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and individuals from remote areas who may encounter difficulty accessing PSA services.
In addition to the mobile outlet services, the PSA distributed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on Republic Act (RA) No. 9048 and RA No. 10172, RA No. 9255, the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) National ID, and the requirements for legitimation, adoption, and annulment of marriage. IEC materials on Gender and Development (GAD) principles were also disseminated. A total of forty (40) individuals were given IEC materials.
The CRS Mobile Outlet Service is among the PSA’s initiatives to make civil registration services more accessible, efficient, and inclusive, in line with its mandate to strengthen the Civil Registration andVital Statistics (CRVS) system and promote the legal identity of every Filipino.
Tagalog News
Ang mga nagwagi ng 2026 NAST Environmental Science Award at Dr. Geminiano T. De Ocampo Visionary Award para sa Pananaliksik Medikal at ang mga finalist ng 2026 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS) ay pinarangalan sa Admiral Hotel, Malate Manila.
Sa kanyang pambungad na pananalita, sinabi ni Akademikong Jaime C. Montoya, Pangulo ng National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), “sa ngalan ng NAST Philippines, ikinagagalak kong tanggapin ang lahat sa 2026 NAST Environmental Science Award at Dr. Geminiano T. De Ocampo Visionary Award para sa Pananaliksik Medikal.”
Binanggit ni Montoya ang pananaw ng Pambansang Siyentipiko na si Angel Alcala, na dating Kalihim din ng DENR. “Bilang bahagi ng mandato ng NAST, nagbibigay kami ng kaalaman at kasanayan para sa mga siyentipiko,” sabi ni Montoya. Kinilala ni Montoya ang suporta at tulong ng mga mananaliksik pati na rin ng mga miyembro ng media.
Congrats sa mga nanalo. Salamat!” Tinapos ni Montoya. Si Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST), na kinakatawan ni Usec. Iniharap nina Maridon O. Sahagun, at Montoya ang Award sa 2026 NESA Winner at sa 2025 GTO Award Winner.
Si Dr. Rachel June Ravago-Gotanco, mula sa Marine Science Institute ng University of the Philippines Diliman, ay ginawaran ng 2026 NESA para sa kanyang “Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: Implications for aquaculture and fishery management”.
Si Dr. Ravago-Gotanco ay tumanggap ng plake ng pagkilala at P150,000 mula sa NAST PHL. Karapatan din niya ang P2 milyong pondo para sa pananaliksik mula sa DOST Secretary’s Grant for Environment, na ilalabas kapag pormal na naaprubahan ang kanyang panukala.
Si Dr. Melecia Antonio-Velmonte ang nagwagi ng 2025 GTO Award, mula sa UP Manila, College of Medicine, PGH, para sa kanyang “National Infection Prevention Control Program: Noon at Ngayon”.
Binanggit din niya ang mga species ng sea cucumber na may mataas na halaga sa Indonesia at Malaysia. Ipinakita ni Dr. Antonio-Velmonte ang kanyang papel na may pamagat na “National Infection Prevention Control Program: Then and Now.”
Sa mensahe ni Solidum na binasa ni Usec. Sahagun, ipinahayag ni Solidum ang kanyang pagbati para sa dobleng pagkilala sa mga nagwagi ng 2026 NAST Environmental Science Award at Dr. Geminiano T. De Ocampo Visionary Award para sa Pananaliksik Medikal.
Si John Vincent R. Pleto mula sa UPLB Pagsusuri ng kalusugan ng ekosistema ng Pitong Maar na Lawa ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Pilipinas gamit ang phytoplankton index ng biotic integrity (Phyto-IBI).
Ang mga nagwagi ng NTSYS ay bibigyan ng mga plake ng pagkilala sa ika-48 Taunang Pagsasagupa na Pang-Agham ng NAST PHL sa Hulyo 9, 2026.
Ang mananalo sa unang gantimpala ay makakatanggap ng P100,000 at may karapatan sa isang pananaliksik na grant na P50,000 mula sa DOST para sa isang aprubadong panukalang pananaliksik.
ISANG Most Wanted Person ang naaresto sa matagumpay na operasyong isinagawa ng mga tauhan ng Naic Municipal Police Station kamakailan sa Maragondon, Cavite.
Ang akusadong si alyas Nena, Municipal MWP, at residente ng Maragondon, ay naaresto dakong alas-5:04 ng hapon nitong Abril 21.
Inaresto ang akusado sa bisa ng warrant of arrest na may kaugnayan sa kasong qualified theft.
Inisyu ang naturang warrant ng Regional Trial Court, Branch 15, Fourth Judicial Region, Naic, Cavite, na may inirekomendang piyansa na ₱40,000.00.
NASA P680,000.00 ang halaga ng shabu ang nasamsam sa isang drug suspect matapos ang matagumpay na ikinasang operasyon ng kapulisan kamakailan sa Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Isinagawa ang joint buy-bust operation ng Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit ng Cavite Police Provincial Office at Dasmariñas City Police Station sa Barangay Sta. Lucia, Dasmariñas City, dakong alas-9:30 ng umaga nitong Abril 22, na nagresulta sa pagkakaaresto sa suspek na si alyas Amo.
Narekober ng mga awtoridad sa pag-iingat ng suspek ang dalawang maliit at isang malalaking heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet na naglalaman ng puting crystalline substance na pinaniniwalaang shabu, na may kabuuang timbang na humigit-kumulang 100 gramo at street value na P680,000.00.
Bukod dito ay nasamsam din ang isang pirasong Five Hundred Peso bill na may serial number na BW891557 na ginamit bilang buy-bust money.
Ang buong operasyon ay ganap na naidokumento at wastong naipaalam sa suspek ang kanyang mga karapatan sa konstitusyon sa wikang naiintindihan niya.
NAISILBI ang warrant of arrest sa isang Provincial Level Most Wanted Person sa loob ng piitan kamakailan sa Tanza, Cavite.
Inihain ang warrant laban sa akusadong si alyas Simon, residente ng Tanza, sa loob ng Custodial Facility ng Tanza Municipal Police Station sa Barangay Daang Amaya 1, Tanza, dakong alas-4:10 ng hapon nitong Abril 21.
Inilabas ng Family Court, Regional Trial Court, Fourth Judicial Region, Branch 5, Trece Martires City, Cavite, ang naturang warrant na may inirekomendang piyansa na ₱200,000.00.
Ito ay para sa kasong Sexual Assault sa ilalim ng Article 266-A ng Revised Penal Code laban sa akusado.
Pinangunahan ng mga tauhan ng Tanza MPS ang pagsisilbi ng warrant katuwang ang Cavite MARPSTA.
Gagawaran si Dionisio Soliven Bulong ng KWF Dangal ng Panitikan 2026 sa Kategoryang Indibidwal ngayong pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Panitikan 2026.
Sa loob ng ilang dekada, si Dionisio Soliven Bulong, manunulát, nobelísta, at editor ay naging haligi ng panitikang Ilokano sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga nobela at akda na sumasalamin sa búhay, kaisipan, at damdamin ng mga Ilokano.
Kabilang sa kaniyang mga kinikilalang akda ang Fighting Pogi 1 at 2 at Matayakon Rosing, na patuloy na minamahal ng mga mambabasa sa loob at labas ng bansa.
Naging mahalaga ang kaniyang papel sa larangan ng publikasyon bilang Punong Patnugot ng Bannawag Magazine mulâ 1978 hanggang 2005, kung saan hinubog at itinaguyod niya ang maraming manunulat. Nagsilbi rin siya bilang Tagapangulo ng Patnugutan ng Liwayway Publishing, Inc., at naging Pangulo ng GUMIL Filipinas.
Ang Gawad Dangal ng Panitikan ay ang pinakamataas na pagkilala sa naiambag sa panitikang Pilipino o lifetime achievement award. Binibigyang-pagpupugay nito ang natatanging manunulat na nagpakita ng pagpapahalaga sa kultura, kaakuhan, at kayamanang pamana, bukod sa pambihirang pagkasangkapan sa Filipino at iba pang katutubong wika. Ang gagawaran ay makatatanggap ng busto ni Balagtas, plake, at medalya.
Ang KWF Araw ng Parangal 2026 ay gaganapin sa 29 Abril 2026.
Hinimok ni Senadora Loren Legarda ngayong Miyerkules ang Malacañang na maglabas ng malinaw na tindig hinggil sa suspensyon ng value-added tax (VAT) sa produktong petrolyo, matapos ang pahayag na kinakailangan umano ng batas mula sa Kongreso para maisakatuparan ito.
“Hindi puwedeng sabihin ng Malacañang na walang batas. Nag-file na ako noon at nag-refile pa ako ulit ngayon, para wala nang dahilan. Ang tanong ngayon: susuportahan nyo ba? I-cecertify nyo ba na urgent? Kung hindi, malinaw na hindi ito prayoridad at ang gusto ng gobyerno ay tuloy-tuloy na buwisan ang krisis,” ani Legarda.
Noong Abril 15, 2026, muling naghain si Legarda ng Senate Bill No. 2043, isang pansamantalang panukala na nagbibigay kapangyarihan na suspendihin o bawasan ang VAT sa petrolyo.
Binigyang-diin niya na dati na niyang inihain ang Senate Bill No. 1942, na naglalayong suspendihin o bawasan ang parehong excise tax at VAT sa petrolyo. Gayunman, isinama na ito sa pagpasa ng Republic Act No. 12316 na tumuon lamang sa excise tax. Giit ni Legarda, hindi na maaaring ipasa ng Malacañang sa Kongreso ang responsibilidad matapos nitong hubugin ang direksyong lehislatibo noon.
“Huwag ninyo ipasa sa Kongreso ang problema. Noong deliberasyon, malinaw na may mga panukala na sa VAT, pero ang itinulak ninyo ay excise dahil una, mas madali daw ito iimplement at pangalawa, agad din daw itong ipapatupad. Nirespeto namin ang hiling ng Ehekutibo dahil sila ang nakakakita ng datos. Eh hanggang ngayon puro pa din usap, kumbaga sa libro, death-by-meeting, tapos ngayon sasabihin ninyo na walang batas? This administration has an ‘urgency’ and crisis-communication problem,” dagdag ng senadora.
Sa ikalawang pagdinig ng PROTECT sa Senado, mismong mga kinatawan ng industriya ng langis ang nagsabing posible at maisasakatuparan ang suspensyon ng VAT. Binalaan ni Legarda na ang pagpapanatili ng VAT sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ay nagreresulta sa mas malaking kita ng gobyerno habang lalong nahihirapan ang mamamayan.
“Kung ibababa mo ang buwis, diretso ang epekto sa presyo. Kung ayuda, dadaan pa sa buong proseso, verification, distribution, matagal. Hindi dapat pinapadaan sa mabagal na sistema ang agarang tulong na puwedeng direkta sa presyo ng petrolyo,” aniya.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Legarda ang polisiya ng pagpapanatili ng VAT upang makalikom ng dagdag na pondo para sa subsidy programs. Giit niya, ang tinatawag na windfall collections ay galing mismo sa dagdag na gastos na pasan na ng publiko.
“Hindi ito usapin kung may pondo o wala. May windfall gains na nga, at sinabi na rin ng pamahalaan na may humigit-kumulang ₱230 bilyong fiscal space. Kung kinakailangan, maaari ring magdeklara ng savings ang mga ahensya mula sa mga proyektong hindi na maipapatupad ngayong taon o yung hindi naman emergency, gaya ng travel, capacity-building activities, events, at iba pang gastusing puwedeng ipagpaliban sa pamamagitan ng mas matalinong paggastos. May kakayahan ang gobyerno na rumesponde sa krisis. Ang tunay na tanong: gagamitin ba ito para agad mabawasan ang pasanin ng mamamayan, o patuloy bang bubuwisan ang krisis bago ibalik bilang ayuda? Para sa akin, hindi dapat binubuwisan ang hirap ng tao,” diin ni Legarda.
Ipinunto ng senadora na hindi na ito usapin ng fiscal capacity kundi malinaw na polisiya kung agad bang babawasan ang gastos sa pinagmumulan o patuloy na kokolektahin mula sa krisis na pinapasan ng sambayanan.
