PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCASAPPROVED building permits fell 3.4% in 2023, reversing the 4.2% growth recorded in 2022, though the value of overall projects rose, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday.Building permits totaled 163,663, covering 39.54 million square meters of floor area.Projects covered by

BUREAU OF CUSTOMSTHE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said that the Philippines and Indonesia have adopted an electronic Phytosanitary (e-Phyto) certificate system to ensure the security of the trade in agricultural goods within the region.“This initiative not only enhances trade efficiency but also strengthens economic ties

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMORBy John Victor D. Ordoñez, ReporterPRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines must do more beyond filing diplomatic protests against China, which he accused of deliberately and illegally blocking a resupply mission in the

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMANPHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said he won’t change his mind about not cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation of his predecessor’s deadly drug war.Former Senator Leila M. de Lima’s acquittal in her last drug

NATALIYA VAITKEVICH-PEXELSBy Kenneth Christiane L. BasilioSENATORS and congressmen in a bicameral conference committee on Thursday approved a bill that seeks to levy a 12% value-added tax (VAT) on digital services provided by companies outside the Philippines.In a statement, Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S.

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTOPRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said he would probably name Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s replacement as Education secretary by the end of this week.“Well, you know we have to carry on, and the Department of Education (DepEd) is quite possibly, arguably the

COTABATO CITY — Three boys drowned while trying to catch fish in a deep fishpond in the village of Dalapitan, Matalam town in Cotabato on Tuesday.Officials of the Matalam Municipal Police Station and Roel L. Vargas, who is managing the Matalam Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction

GOVERNMENT troops killed at least seven Maoist rebels during clashes in the village of Malbang, Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija province on Wednesday afternoon.The encounters followed aerial operations in the hinterlands of sitio Marikit in the village of Abuyo, Alfonso Castaneda, June 20, 2024.The New People’s

BW FILE PHOTOCOTABATO CITY — Policemen on Wednesday night intercepted a boat in the waters of Zamboanga City loaded with P19.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes bound for a seaside town in Lanao del Norte.Police seized the contraband from the seven boatmen who were about

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCASA BILL that seeks to set up guidelines on government data use has been filed at the House of Representatives.House Bill (HB) No. 10417 by Party-list Rep. Virgilio S. Lacson seeks to address potential data compromises by defining state policies in data management.This