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DSWD resumes guarantee letters But direct cash aid under AICS temporarily suspended By Maricel V. Cruz and Charles Dantes
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HE Department of Social Welfare and Development has resumed the issuance of Guarantee Letters (GLs) for medical and burial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program starting January 5 (Monday) after being suspended temporarily for over a month.
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 327 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026
“As we have committed, we immediately resumed the issuance of GLs on January 5 to ensure that we can continue giving medical and burial assistance to qualified beneficiaries, especially those
affected by a crisis. We know the GL is a big help to ease the burden suffered by our vulnerable kababayan in a crisis situation,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Next page
LAHAR FLOW. A lava stream glows in the dark as it flows down Mayon Volcano. Phivolcs
‘Lahar,’ more evacuees likely amid Mayon unrest By Rio N. Araja, Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez and Maricel Cruz THE state weather bureau warned residents near the Mayon Volcano of possible lahar flows as the Bicol region may experience three to four days of rain as the Office of the Civil Defense forecast the number of displaced individuals is expected to increase as the volcano continues to show heightened activity. PHIVOLCS also reported an ongoing dome collapse pyroclastic density current
SUCCESS. Bar exam passers rejoice after the Supreme Court announces
the names of the successful candidates yesterday in Manila. Inset shows bar topnotcher Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez from the University of the Philippines. Norman Cruz, UP Law Center
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DOH allays fears of ‘super flu’, only 17 cases detected in 2025 By Charles Dantes THE Department of Health (DOH) allayed fears of the so-called ‘super flu’, pointing out that all the 17 patients of the new influenza subclass detected last
year have since recovered, and no sustained local outbreak has been recorded. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the cases were identified through a review of the Epidemiology Bureau’s Next page
UP tops 2025 bar exams; 5.5k pass out of 11.4k JHENRONIEL Rhey Timola Sanchez, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, topped the 2025 Bar Examinations, achieving an overall rating of 92.70%. The country’s top state university once again demonstrated its academic strength after securing six positions in the Top 20. The University of Santo Tomas (UST)-Manila, which served as the Bar
examinations headquarters, also made a significant impact with four candidates in the Top 20, while an examinee from its sister school, UST-Legazpi, placed 16th. Other candidates from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Arellano University, the University of the East (UE), and De La Salle–Lipa, among others, also placed in the top list.
A total of 5,594 examinees passed the 2025 Bar Examinations, representing a 48.98% passing rate, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday. “The court approved the passing grade of 75% for the 2025 Bar Examinations. It means we did not adjust the passing grade… A total of 5,594 are Next page
NGCP hails Terra Solar new capacity
PROMOTED. President Ferdinand Marcos joins a groupie with the newly-promoted armed forces generals and flag officers, and the sole graduate of the Foreign Pre-Commissioned Training Institutions (FPCTI), during a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on January 7, 2026. Revoli Cortez
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Herbosa dismisses rumors as Castro says no talk of revamp By Charles Dantes HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday dismissed reports that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was mulling replacing him amid issues fac-
Melanie Marquez claims abuse by former spouse
ing the Department of Health (DOH). Malacañang also belied rumors on alleged Cabinet shakeup fanned by reports about the President eyeing a possible replacement of some members of
TRUMP MULLS MILITARY OPS FOR GREENLAND WORLD / A6
THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines welcomes Terra Solar Power Project as a significant addition to the country’s growing renewable energy capacity, supporting national efforts toward a cleaner energy mix. Terra Solar has a total capacity of 2,500 Megawatts (MW), supported by a 1,125MW battery energy storage system (BESS) capable of sustaining output for around four (4) hours.
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By Angelica Villanueva
‘PAHALIK’. A devotee with child wipes with a white cloth the wooden cross of the
Poong Hesus Nazareno at the Quirino Grandstand during the traditional ‘Pahalik’ that marks the start of the annual feast in Manila. Screen grab News5
FORMER beauty queen and actress Melanie Marquez has claimed she was “abducted” on her birthday and confined in a mental hospital for 10 days. Speaking on television show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Marquez Next page