Latest news with #P150
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- GMA Network
2 men arrested in Las Piñas for selling fake money online
Two suspects were arrested in Las Piñas City for selling fake money online, the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police said Friday. In a statement, the ACG said the suspects, identified as 18-year-old 'Usa' and 30-year-old 'Agila,' were arrested in an entrapment operation on Wednesday. This was in response to the report from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regarding the online sale of counterfeit banknotes. The Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team conducted cyber patrolling and caught a social media post by one of the suspects offering a counterfeit P1,000 bill for only P150. Seized from the suspects were 150 fake P1,000 bills sold for P22,500 during the operation. The suspects are facing charges for illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit under Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. 'The sale of counterfeit currency online undermines our financial system and exploits the trust of unsuspecting citizens. Let this serve as a warning to those attempting to use the internet to circulate fake money,' ACG chief Police Brigadier General Bernard Yang said. 'The PNP ACG is actively monitoring these platforms and will act decisively to bring offenders to justice as we remain committed to protecting the public and preserving the integrity of our currency,' he added. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Senators push for another wage hike in 20th Congress
Several senators have again filed legislative measures for the 20th Congress seeking to increase the minimum wage of Filipino workers. Among the 10 priority bills of Senator Joel Villanueva, which he filed on Monday, was the Living Wage Act, which aims to fairly adjust the minimum wage set by each regional wage board to provide a decent life for workers. 'At the end of the day, we wanted to make sure na 'yung batayan ay living wage. Ang batayan ay hindi lang basta itaas ang sweldo, kundi doon sa batayan na magkakaroon naman ng disenteng buhay 'yung ating mga manggagawa,' Villanueva said. (At the end of the day, we wanted to ensure that the basis is a living wage. The goal is not just to increase the salary but to base it on a standard that would provide our workers a decent life.) Seasoned senator Loren Legarda also included the Living Wage Act as one of her top 10 bills. Meanwhile, Senator Bong Go filed a bill seeking a P100 across-the-board daily wage hike. He said that the P50 wage increase recently approved for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) may be 'insufficient' considering the current economic conditions. 'Kulang 'yung singkwenta sa NCR sa totoo lang. Habang tumataas 'yung bilihin ay kulang po 'yung singkwenta. Kaya sana po'y maipasa itong isang daan [piso],' Go said. (That P50 increase in the NCR is not enough, honestly, considering that the price of goods increases. So I hope that the P100 wage increase will be passed.) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday announced that the NCR Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued Wage Order No. 26, which grants a P50 wage hike. This means that at least 1.2 million minimum wage earners in the NCR are set to receive higher salaries next month. Senator Robin Padilla, on the other hand, filed a bill that aims to provide a P150 minimum wage increase for employees and workers in the private sector. Senator Imee Marcos also filed the National Minimum Wage Act on Tuesday. To recall, in the 19th Congress, the proposed legislated minimum wage hike, which was pegged at P200 at the House of Representatives and P100 in the Senate, did not pass into law because the two chambers failed to reconcile them on time. President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will study if a legislated wage hike would result in layoffs, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Tuesday. ''Muli, pag-aaralan ito kung kakayanin ba talaga, kasi kung magdudulot naman ito ng lay-off dahil hindi kakayanin nung karamihan maliliit na mga negosyante, mas marami pong mahihirapang mga manggagawa dahil baka mawalan sila ng trabaho,'' Castro said at a briefing. (Again, he will study if this will result in layoffs. If this can't be enforced by small businessmen, many workers might suffer as they may lose their jobs.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
First batch of Filipinos affected by Middle East conflict to return to PH
The first group of Filipino workers affected by the rising conflict in the Middle East is set to return to the Philippines tonight, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced. Thirty-one individuals, including 26 from Israel, 3 from Jordan, 1 from Palestine, and 1 from Qatar, are on board Qatar Airways Flight QR 934, along with Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. Earlier this morning, Secretary Cacdac said their flight was delayed due to the temporary closure of Qatar's airspace caused by regional tensions. 'We were asked to deplane and stay safely inside the terminal at Doha Hamad International Airport,' he said in a Facebook post. The Qatari Ministry of Interior helped resolve the airspace issue, ensuring the safety of the passengers, the Department of Migrant Workers reported. Each individual will receive financial aid amounting to P150,000, along with airport assistance such as temporary shelter and transportation to their home provinces. Other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health are ready to provide counseling and medical help. Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry will support retraining and livelihood programs.
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DOE: Fuel subsidy not needed ‘for now' as crude prices drop
"Mind you, because of the lowering of the prices internationally, it might go lower also… baka hindi na kailangan ng ayuda (there might be no need for subsidy)," Garin told Palace reporters. The government's fuel subsidy program for the public transport and agriculture sectors might not be activated after the price of crude oil in the international market went down, Department of Energy officer-in-charge Sharon Garin said on Tuesday. Garin said that as of Tuesday morning, June 24, the average price of crude oil stood at about $69 per barrel after US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was already in place. He also asked both sides not to violate it. "Mind you, because of the lowering of the prices internationally, it might go lower also… baka hindi na kailangan ng ayuda (there might be no need for subsidy)," Garin told Palace reporters. Under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the P2.5 billion budget allocated for the public transport sector's fuel subsidy will be released once the average price of crude oil breaches the $80 per barrel threshold. Garin said Trump's announcement calmed the industry. "There's less speculation, so it went down to $69 as of this morning,' Garin said. She said that 'technically,' the fuel subsidy is not needed at this time since the price of crude oil has yet to breach $80. Still, Garin said the government was ready to 'distribute anytime.' 'All agencies are bracing for impact, even parang wala namang impact pero we're still preparing for it,' Garin said. To ease the burden on motorists, fuel retailers have agreed to implement the big-time hike in petroleum prices in two tranches. Major petroleum firms hiked the prices per liter of gasoline by P1.75, diesel by P2.60, and kerosene by P2.40, effective 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The same price hikes will be implemented at 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, reflecting the second tranche of adjustments. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), meanwhile, said it was looking to immediately release the fuel subsidy for operators and drivers of public utility vehicles when a sizable oil price hike takes effect in the country. The fuel subsidy will be released through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), with guidelines now being finalized. Apart from the P2.5 billion fuel subsidy for the public transport sector, the 2025 national budget also allocated P150 million in fuel subsidy for the farm and fisheries sectors at P75 million each once the crude oil price breaches the threshold. –NB, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
First batch of Filipinos from Middle East to return to PH amid conflict
The first group of Filipino workers affected by the rising conflict in the Middle East is set to return to the Philippines tonight. Thirty-one individuals, including 26 from Israel, 3 from Jordan, 1 from Palestine, and 1 from Qatar, are on board Qatar Airways Flight QR 934, along with Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. Earlier this morning, Secretary Cacdac said their flight was delayed due to the temporary closure of Qatar's airspace caused by regional tensions. 'We were asked to deplane and stay safely inside the terminal at Doha Hamad International Airport,' he said in a Facebook post. The Qatari Ministry of Interior helped resolve the airspace issue, ensuring the safety of the passengers, the Department of Migrant Workers reported. Each individual will receive financial aid amounting to P150,000, along with airport assistance such as temporary shelter and transportation to their home provinces. Other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health are ready to provide counseling and medical help. Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry will support retraining and livelihood programs.
