Palace sacks DICT undersecretary [The Philippine Star, April 14, 2025]
Following the reported reshuffling of Cabinet officials, Jeffrey Ian Dy has been sacked from his post as undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
It’s final: No more capital hike for existing HMOs [The Philippine Star, April 14, 2025]
The government has formally scrapped the increase in the minimum paid-up capital of existing health maintenance organizations (HMOs) as they will instead undergo tiering based on net worth.
Specialized exams for teacher education programs [The Manila Times, April 14, 2025]
The circular introduces distinct teacher licensing examinations for each teacher specialization, as outlined in the 2017 CHED Policies, Standards, and Guidelines (PSGs). This is seen as a revolutionary approach to assessing the competence and readiness of teacher education graduates in the country, as extensively emphasized in recent reports by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).
SEC opens strategic sandbox for crypto service providers [The Philippine Star, April 14, 2025]
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is introducing a regulatory sandbox for crypto-asset service providers (CASP) to facilitate responsible innovation and ensure investor protection given the continued growth and development of new crypto-asset services.
DTI opens exporters’ certification for CREATE MORE incentives [The Philippine Star, April 13, 2025]
The government is extending incentives under the CREATE MORE Act to export-oriented enterprises (EOE), according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Nordeco vows to pursue legal remedies, contests Davao Light expansion [Manila Standard, April 13, 2025]
RA 12144 is an act which includes Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro and Talaingod in Davao del Norte and the municipalities of Compostela, Laak, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Mawab, Monkayo, Montevista, Nabunturan, New Bataan and Pantukan in Davao de Oro to the franchise area of the Davao Light and Power Co. Inc.
Ban on induction furnace in steel manufacturing sought [The Philippine Star, April 13, 2025]
Amid the threat of the “Big One,” the Marcos administration should ban the induction furnace (IF) process in steel manufacturing as this results in substandard products that compromise public safety, according to experts.
French businesses exploring expanded Philippine footprint ahead of EU-PHL free trade deal [BusinessWorld, April 13, 2025]
MORE French businesses are looking to invest in the Philippines amid the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) and the launch of direct flights between the Philippines and France, according to the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCI France Philippines).
Palace declares special holidays in several localities [Manila Bulletin, April 12, 2025]
Malacañang has declared multiple special nonworking days in May 2025 in various parts of the country through a series of proclamations signed to honor local festivals, anniversaries, and historic figures.
US exempts smartphones, computers from global Trump tariffs [ABS-CBN News, April 12, 2025]
The Trump administration has exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its punishing "reciprocal" tariffs -- lessening the cost impact on American consumers for a host of popular high-tech products.
DOTr's Dizon: Catch-up plan in place to fast-track PNR Malolos-Clark railway [GMA News Online, April 12, 2025]
Once finished, the Malolos-Clark Railway Project is expected to cut the travel time from Metro Manila to the Clark International Airport to less than an hour, compared with current two to three hours by car or bus.
Government allows new investment schemes for insurers [The Philippine Star, April 11, 2025]
In its latest circular letter, the Insurance Commission (IC) released new omnibus guidelines on investments among insurance companies, reinsurers and mutual benefit associations.
CSC urged to recall memo on social media use of gov't personnel [GMA News Online, April 10, 2025]
"This CSC memorandum is a clear violation of government employees' constitutional rights to free expression and political participation. By prohibiting even the most basic social media interactions like 'liking' or 'sharing,' the CSC is effectively silencing nearly two million government workers and stripping them of their fundamental right to engage in democratic discourse,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said.
NAIA Terminal 5 to rise as Philippine Village Hotel’s demolition begins [GMA News Online, April 10, 2025]
Alvarez emphasized the need for a passenger terminal to decongest NAIA since its designed carrying capacity is only at about 32 million to 34 million passengers yearly.
Sprout Solutions eyeing to raise $20M to fund expansion [BusinessWorld, April 10, 2025]
Sprout Solutions, a homegrown company, specializes in artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced human resource and business solutions software. It is used by over 240,000 companies in the Philippines and Thailand, according to the company.
UP-Manila to offer medical imaging certificate courses [Inquirer.Net, April 9, 2025]
“Faculty members from Thailand’s Mahidol University will lead the courses for the three levels of the Fujifilm Asia-Pacific Healthcare Learning Academy beginning in May 2025,” it added.
MPIC starts work on Iloilo waste management plant [The Philippine Star, April 9, 2025]
The Iloilo City Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF), which broke ground last week, is slated to begin operations in December 2026.
SEC shifts to online, paperless company registration process [Manila Standard, April 8, 2025]
The SEC ZERO system, integrated with eSECURE for user credentialing and eSAP for document authentication, allows applicants to complete the entire registration process online. The system uses one-time passwords (OTPs) to electronically verify documents, replacing traditional paper-based signatures.
Kawasaki Heavy hit with 1-B yen in back taxes over MSDF scandal [Inquirer.Net, April 8, 2025]
The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau found 1.3 billion yen in unreported income over the six years through the fiscal year to March 2023, as Kawasaki Heavy pooled funds through fictitious transactions related to repair contracts for MSDF submarines, according to the sources.
