Latest news with #ClaireCastro


GMA Network
7 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
NFA rice stocks good for 12 days —Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday said the rice buffer stocks at warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) are adequate for the government's response and relief efforts amid the adverse weather conditions. "Sabi ng NFA administration, super secure in terms of buffer stock ang NFA at meron po tayong enough stocks to last for 12 days. Buong Pilipinas po ay makakakain," Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing. (The NFA administration assured that we are secured in terms of buffer stock and the NFA has enough stocks to last for 12 days. The entire Philippines could be fed.) Castro said the NFA's rice stocks are available for release to requesting local government units (LGUs) and relief agencies. "Nationwide, wala pong nadanyos na stocks at ang NFA ay ready anytime to release stocks to requesting LGUs (local government units) and relief agencies," she said. (Rice stocks nationwide did not sustain any damage; the NFA is ready anytime to release stocks to requesting LGUs and relief agencies.) The Palace official made the clarification since Occidental Mindoro and Valenzuela City, sites of NFA warehouses, were affected by flooding due to heavy rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, intensified by severe tropical storm Crising. Habagat is currently being monitored as it is being enhanced again by Tropical Storm "Dante" and tropical depression "Emong." —LDF, GMA Integrated News


Filipino Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Palace cites gov't programs for elderly amid push to penalize neglectful children
Malacañang urged the public to take note of existing government programs for senior citizens amid renewed discussions on the welfare of the elderly and a proposed Senate measure seeking to penalize children who abandon their aging parents. In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to prioritize elderly Filipinos as part of the country's vulnerable sectors. 'Marami tayong mga programa para sa kanila. May discount sila sa MRT at LRT, at tinuturing silang priority sa tulong,' Castro said. The statement comes after Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson refiled the 'Parents Welfare Act of 2025,' which aims to impose penalties on individuals who fail to provide support to their elderly, sick, or incapacitated parents. If passed into law, children who abandon their parents may face imprisonment of six to ten years and a fine of not less than P300,000. Asked about the Palace's position on the measure, Castro said the Family Code already mandates mutual support between children and parents, citing Article 194. 'May obligasyon ang anak na suportahan ang magulang, at ang magulang sa anak. Nasa batas na 'yan,' she explained. Castro added that a thorough review of the bill is necessary to determine the validity of criminalizing children who neglect their parents.


Filipino Times
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Palace downplays China's study abroad alert
Malacañang sought to allay concerns over the Philippines' security situation after China issued a study abroad alert, warning its citizens of alleged rising crimes targeting Chinese nationals in the country. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Marcos administration remains committed to maintaining peace and order. 'As far as the government is concerned, we know that crime rates in the Philippines are improving and declining. This is due to the directive of the President,' Castro said on Friday. The statement came after China's Ministry of Education cautioned Chinese students planning to study in the Philippines, claiming the country has been in a 'state of insecurity' with reported crimes involving Chinese nationals. The ministry urged students to assess risks carefully and remain vigilant. While the Palace respects China's prerogative to issue travel advisories, Castro said the Philippines continues to be a safe destination for foreigners. She also cited the country's improved ranking in the 2025 Global Peace Index, where the Philippines moved up six notches to 105th out of 163 countries. Castro emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of all nationals in the country, regardless of citizenship. She also clarified that the Chinese nationals who were recently deported had been involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs). 'Whether Filipino or foreigner, regardless of nationality, everyone is guaranteed protection,' she said, adding that recent deportations of Chinese nationals involved individuals engaged in illegal offshore gaming activities. In April, the Palace also denied claims of harassment against foreigners in the Philippines, following a similar travel warning from Beijing.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China issues safety warning for its nationals studying in the Philippines
BEIJING (AP) — China's Education Ministry issued a safety warning for Chinese students in the Philippines after what it said were a series of criminal incidents targeting them. The brief warning Friday did not identify any specific incidents but told students to increase their safety awareness should they choose to study in the Philippines. The number of Chinese students in the country was not given but enrolments have fallen to just a few hundred in recent years, according to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post. Relations between the governments of China and the Philippines are particularly tense due to disputes over maritime claims in the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety. China has used water cannons and other non-lethal shipboard deterrents to drive off Philippine fishing boats. Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communications Office said on Friday that China has the right to issue such an advisory but underscored that the crime rate in the Philippines has been falling and 'safety and security in the Philippines, we can say, have been improving as far as we are concerned.' Police response to public concerns over crime has been fast. Crimes sparked by Chinese online gambling have declined or have been eradicated and many Chinese suspects have been deported by the Philippines, Castro told a daily news briefing. In February a 14-year-old Chinese student was kidnapped in Manila by a Chinese-led gang, which killed his driver and cut off the student's finger in a bid to force his parents to pay a huge ransom. The Philippine interior secretary said the student's family and the Chinese leader of the kidnappers were allegedly former operators of lucrative online gambling outfits. Politically, China has dismissed a U.N.-backed court decision in The Hague that ruled out most of China's claims in the South China Sea and has expressed resentment over close ties between the U.S. and Manila. China often disrupts cultural and economic ties to register their discontent over actions by foreign governments. In April, China issued a similar warning about the risk to Chinese students in the United States. Solve the daily Crossword

18-07-2025
- Politics
China issues safety warning for its nationals studying in the Philippines
BEIJING -- China's Education Ministry issued a safety warning for Chinese students in the Philippines after what it said were a series of criminal incidents targeting them. The brief warning Friday did not identify any specific incidents but told students to increase their safety awareness should they choose to study in the Philippines. The number of Chinese students in the country was not given but enrolments have fallen to just a few hundred in recent years, according to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post. Relations between the governments of China and the Philippines are particularly tense due to disputes over maritime claims in the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety. China has used water cannons and other non-lethal shipboard deterrents to drive off Philippine fishing boats. Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communications Office said on Friday that China has the right to issue such an advisory but underscored that the crime rate in the Philippines has been falling and 'safety and security in the Philippines, we can say, have been improving as far as we are concerned.' Police response to public concerns over crime has been fast. Crimes sparked by Chinese online gambling have declined or have been eradicated and many Chinese suspects have been deported by the Philippines, Castro told a daily news briefing. In February a 14-year-old Chinese student was kidnapped in Manila by a Chinese-led gang, which killed his driver and cut off the student's finger in a bid to force his parents to pay a huge ransom. The Philippine interior secretary said the student's family and the Chinese leader of the kidnappers were allegedly former operators of lucrative online gambling outfits. Politically, China has dismissed a U.N.-backed court decision in The Hague that ruled out most of China's claims in the South China Sea and has expressed resentment over close ties between the U.S. and Manila. China often disrupts cultural and economic ties to register their discontent over actions by foreign governments. In April, China issued a similar warning about the risk to Chinese students in the United States.