Latest news with #Ferdinand'Bongbong'MarcosJr.
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
EGov PH App to Roll Out New Services for NBI, Transit Cards, and BIR eTIN
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. announced that the eGov PH Super App will soon include new features designed to make government services more accessible and convenient Among the upcoming additions are services for applying for and renewing NBI clearances, integration with Beep Cards for MRT and LRT commuters, and direct access to the Bureau of Internal Revenue's electronic Taxpayer Identification Number (eTIN) system Launched in 2023, the eGov PH app already provides users with the ability to renew driver's licenses, access PhilHealth, Pag‑IBIG, and GSIS services, manage OFW-related documents, retrieve digital national IDs, and receive official government announcements—all from a single mobile platform To date, the app has registered over 14 million unique users and facilitated more than 200 million digital transactions, garnering international recognition including a United Nations E‑Government Award and honors like the GovMedia Digital Transformation of the Year and E‑Governance Project of the Year in Singapore President Marcos reaffirmed the app's role in eliminating inefficient bureaucratic processes plagued by long lines and fixers, offering well‑deserved credit to DICT Undersecretary David Almirol—who personally helped develop the app's code—and the Department of Information and Communications Technology
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DTI seeks higher budget for MSMEs support
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeking a higher budget for its programs aimed at supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in line with President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s vow to continue providing low-interest loans for the sector. 'Actually, napakaimportante po ang puhunan sa isang MSME or isang micro enterprises kasi iyon ang pinakaimportante na kailangan nila. Most of them, mayroon na po silang mga produkto pero hindi nila maisulong ito dahil kulang po sila ng puhunan,' Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in San Juan City on Tuesday. (Actually, funding is very important for an MSME or a microenterprise because that is the most important thing they need. Most of them already have products, but they cannot promote them because they lack capital.) In his fourth SONA, Marcos declared: 'Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbibigay puhunan sa mas marami pang negosyante.' (Let's continue to support more entrepreneurs.) 'Para makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo o micro-enterprise sa mababang interest at walang kolateral.' (To start a small business or micro-enterprise at low interest and without collateral.) At the sidelines of the forum, Roque told reporters that the DTI will ask Congress for about P10 billion. However, she said the Trade Department is still finalizing its funding proposal for MSMEs' support. 'But we can go higher because first, our President mentioned that there's really a push for the capital. Definitely, he can provide more funding,' Roque said. 'There's really a push for the MSMEs, especially micro [enterprises]. We're really trying to make sure that we give funding for micro because they need to grow. They cannot remain as micro,' she added. The Trade chief emphasized that MSMEs comprise 99.5% of businesses in the country and employ about 62% of the labor force. –VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
EGov PH app to add new features
The government's flagship super app, eGov PH, is set to have new features to further boost ease of access to bureaucratic services. This was announced by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). In particular, the eGov PH app will soon have additional features such as application and renewal of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances, Beep Card integration for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) commuters, and access to the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) electronic Taxpayer Identification Number (eTIN) system. The eGov app was developed to eliminate long-standing inefficiencies in public service—such as long lines, fixers, and repeat visits to multiple agencies—by delivering key government services through a single digital platform. Currently, the app allows users to renew driver's licenses, access PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and GSIS services, process immigration and customs documents for overseas Filipino workers, retrieve digital copies of the PhilSys National ID, create biodata for job applications and many more. The app also provides official government news and advisories to help Filipinos stay informed and avoid misinformation. Marcos has described the flagship app as a central pillar of his administration's efforts to bring government services closer to the people via digital transformation. Launched in 2023, the eGov PH app has so far recorded over 14 million registered users and facilitated over 200 million digital transactions nationwide. In his SONA, the President cited the app's growing global recognition, citing its receipt of the United Nations E-Government Award from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the 2025 GovMedia Digital Transformation of Year and E-Governance Project of the Year awards in Singapore—accolades that he said reinforce the Philippines' emergence as a regional leader in digital public service innovation. — RF, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos reaffirms PH foreign policy: ‘Friend to all, enemy to none'
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. reiterated his administration's independent foreign policy, declaring that the Philippines is 'a friend to all, an enemy to none.' Speaking before lawmakers during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos said this principle will guide the country's diplomacy as it prepares to host the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits next year. The President made the statement as the Philippines continues to face maritime threats, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. He vowed to intensify efforts to defend the country's territorial rights while exercising restraint. 'Sa harap ng mga bagong banta sa ating kapayapaan at soberanya, mas maigting ngayon ang ating paghahanda, pagmamatyag, at pagtatanggol sa ating sarili. Gayunpaman, tayo pa rin ay nagtitimpi at nananatiling mapagpasensya, lalo na sa pagtanod sa ating buong kapuluan at sa pangangalaga sa ating interes,' Marcos said. Tensions remain high in the South China Sea, parts of which fall within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and are referred to by the government as the West Philippine Sea. China continues to assert sweeping claims over the waters, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that rejected its claims and upheld the Philippines' rights. China has refused to recognize the ruling. Marcos has consistently said the Philippines will not give up 'a single inch' of its territory to any foreign aggressor.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bersamin: PH friendly to China but Beijing must compensate
The Philippine government's stance in issues in the West Philippine Sea remains constant as President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. will still not welcome China's aggressions in the region. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the assurance after Marcos, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025), said the government would remain 'patient' when it comes to protecting the country's rights. 'No, our position in the West Philippine Sea has remained very constant. Hindi siya naghesitate, hindi siya nagbago (It did not become hesitant, it did not change),' Bersamin said. 'We are still friendly to China but China must also compensate. If China continues to be aggressive to many things there against our sovereignty, definitely the President will not welcome that,' he added. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." However, China has refused to recognize the ruling and continues its hostile actions in the region. Marcos has been consistent in saying that the Philippines would never give up a single inch of its territory to foreign aggressors. Aside from that, the Philippine President has always pushed for a rules-based order and the adoption of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea to ease tensions in the region. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
