RAWIS, Legazpi City (Dec 6, 2013) —The public works agency has temporarily deferred the recruitment of carpenters and other skilled construction workers who are to be sent to typhoon-ravaged provinces of Samar and Leyte to construct bunkers and other temporary living quarters for thousands of homeless victims.

IRIGA CITY (Dec 6, 2013) – After eight day of darkness, power supply was restored today in this lone city in the 5th district (Rinconada district) of Camarines Sur province ahead of other towns after the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative III (CASURECO III) management made partial payment of its indebtedness to its power provider.

The decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on Nov. 19 declaring as unconstitutional the pork barrel system singularly reaffirmed the public clamor for its abolition. It is, however, a premature conjecture made by some sectors that the high court ruling spelled the end of political patronage. It does not.

The big foreign financial loans and Congress’ supplementary $2.28bn budget meant to bankroll reconstruction efforts in Visayas and other provinces battered by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and a supertyphoon are not enough to bring lives back to normal.

Of late, PNoy has been looking at his supposed legacy before he steps down in 2016. How time flies. When we catapulted PNoy to the presidency back in 2010, we had such very high hopes. But now, we could only hope he doesn't cause much further damage by his utter incompetence.

MANILA, Dec. 2, 2013—Palo Archbishop John Du declared December 8, Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, as the “Archdiocese Day of Prayer and Remembrance” for all the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda that hit the region last November 8.

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED) Embattled Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ruffy Biazon is stepping down from his post after being slapped with charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. In a televised speech on Monday afternoon, Biazon announced that he is irrevocably resigning from his position.

MANILA, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon yesterday made no comment on calls for him to go on leave or resign from his post pending preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman on the charges of graft and corruption over the misuse of his pork barrel funds during his term as representative of Muntinlupa City. Biazon said he would first discuss the matter with President Aquino before issuing further statements.

A century and a half ago this Saturday, Andres Bonifacio was born in Tondo. Born to a simple family, murdered by men he considered as brothers, Andres lived a short life. But he left behind a legacy of love of country and uprightness that Filipinos still idealize 150 years later.

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s economic growth prospects remain on solid ground despite the massive devastation caused by the recent supertyphoon, top global investment banks said in separate reports.