National News

QUEZON CITY, 16 November (PIA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is making early preparations to ensure the safety of Pope Francis during his much-awaited apostolic visit to the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015.

MANILA, Nov. 17 -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad announced that starting this week, government employees and officers will get the remaining half of their 13th month pay and cash gift before the coming Christmas.

MANILA, 13 Nov. (PIA)--The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will make the process of clearing and delivery of parcels and other mail matters faster and simpler

MANILA, Nov 15 -- President Benigno S. Aquino III highlighted the results of his participation in the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing, China, and the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

MANILA, Nov 16 -- The Monetary Board (MB) has approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10641. The new law provides for the further entry of foreign banks into the Philippines and thus amends R.A. No. 7721, which was passed into law in May 1994, according to a press statement released Friday by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

MANILA, Nov 16 -- Malacanang extended on Saturday its condolences to the families of soldiers killed in a series of encounters in Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar, Nov 14 -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on fellow Asean leaders to continue negotiations with China on the forging of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, amid tensions over territorial claims in the region.

MANILA, Nov. 11 -- President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday thanked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Canada's assistance for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda last year. "The President thanked Canada for the support that it had provided, overwhelming support for the victims of Yolanda," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a press briefing at the Philippine Embassy in China.

CEBU CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) --- The Economic and Trade Mission of the Embassy of Israel in Manila, in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), will host business-to-business activities on Nov. 17 in Manila and Nov. 18 in Cebu City. In Cebu City, the event will be opened by Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau and CCCI president Tess Chan.

BEIJING, China, Nov 11 -- Achieving competitiveness means changes in the country's policies and guidelines, especially as Southeast Asian countries begin to integrate economically, President Benigno S. Aquino III said during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chief Executive Officers’ Summit here Sunday.