Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus, Author at newswatchplus.ph

38 Filipinos on board hantavirus-hit ship safe – DOH

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Tue, 05 May 2026 11:57:45 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, May 5, said 38 Filipino seafarers are among those on board a cruise ship quarantined off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean due to a hantavirus outbreak. Quoting the World Health Organization (WHO), the DOH said the Filipino crew of the M/V Hondius remains

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LTFRB orders 21 ride-hailing groups to explain TNVS cap violation

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:24:09 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The transport regulator has issued show cause orders to 21 transport network companies (TNCs) for exceeding the limit of number of drivers and vehicles. In a briefing, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Vigor Mendoza said the companies have five days to explain why their authority to operate should

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PISTON files P10 jeepney fare hike petition

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:43:46 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Transport group PISTON on Monday, April 20, filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) seeking a P10 increase in the minimum jeepney fare–from P13 to P23–citing continued financial losses among drivers. The group said recent diesel rollbacks are not enough to offset high operating costs and

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Cardinal Advincula: Clergy mental health concern can no longer be ignored

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:58:03 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Warning of a growing but often unspoken crisis, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula on Maundy Thursday, April 2, urged priests to confront mental and emotional struggles within the clergy. Speaking at the Chrism Mass at Manila Cathedral, Advincula cited a recent study that showed a growing number of priests are experiencing

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Survival mode drivers grapple with making ends meet

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:44:00 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Ride-hailing drivers joined the second week of a nationwide transport strike in a snowballing movement of discontent over what they claimed as slow government aid while grappling with making ends meet as fuel gets expensive by the week. They are part of a growing coalition of public utility drivers protesting the

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Transport groups eye bigger protest ahead of Holy Week

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:50:17 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — Transport group Piston is warning of a larger, multi-sectoral strike just days before Holy Week, as it ramps up pressure on what it calls the government’s lack of response to rising fuel costs. Its two-day nationwide transport strike ended Friday, March 20, but the group said it is coordinating with other

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PISTON brings transport issues at Malacañang’s doorstep

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:17:17 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — Transport group PISTON and its allied sectoral organizations brought to Malacañang on Friday, March 20, their issues to mark the second day of the nationwide transport strike. Jeepney drivers, operators, and supporters gathered at Mabuhay Rotonda – commonly called Welcome Rotonda – in Quezon City before heading to Mendiola in Manila.

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Transport group claims strike paralyzed 90% of NCR major routes

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:15:22 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – A transport group claims its strike disrupted up to 90% of major routes across Metro Manila by Thursday afternoon, March 19. Piston, along with allied sectoral organizations, led the nationwide protest of jeepney drivers and operators over soaring fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Demonstrations kicked off at Welcome

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Four more bodies recovered in Basilan ship tragedy

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:03:58 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities recovered four more bodies on Friday, Jan. 30, as search operations entered the fifth day on the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 off Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan. Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Kahing-Nanoh said the bodies included one female and three males, two of which have been turned over to the Zamboanga

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Darryl Yap faces cyber libel charges over controversial film teaser

Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:13:27 +0000

The poster of the film about late actress Pepsi Paloma (left), Darryl Yap (right).

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