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DPWH aims to fill thousands of vacancies by 2026

February 12, 2026 9:07 PM
PST

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon is hoping to fill thousands of vacant positions in the agency within this year.

The agency is actively seeking young professionals to join its reform plan by conducting a nationwide campus job fair.

There are nearly 2,000 vacant positions offered across the country.

DPWH is looking forward to occupying the positions in the engineering and accountancy sectors.

The positions available for engineering are the following:

  • Engineer II 
  • Project Evaluation Officer

Sec. Dizon hopes to recruit principled accountants to fill the vacancies.

“Alam mo naman, ‘yung mga kalokohan, di pwedeng walang mga finance na kasabwat. So, kailangan talaga matitino ‘yung mga accountant natin.” he said

[“You know, the misconduct, it’s impossible if they have no accomplice in finance. So, we need principled accountants.”]

“At tsaka ang problema, marami ding nawawala. Marami tayong vacancies for accountants eh,” he added

[“Also, the problem is that many are also leaving. We have more vacancies for accountants.”]

Positions offered for accountancy are:

  • Accountant I
  • Accountant II
  • Administrative Officer I
  • Administrative Officer II
  • Administrative Officer V

Aside from the external applicants, the available positions are also open for existing employees.

“Marami din don within.. ipo-promote natin from contractual to permanent. Pero marami din naman ngayon na pwede silang maging Project Evaluation Officers na contractual muna. Kasi typically naman sa DPWH, contractual muna hangga’t di pa pumapasa ng board.” Sed. Dizon said

[“Many from them within… we will promote them from contractual to permanent. But mostly, we can appoint them as Project Evaluation Officers for a while. Because typically in DPWH, it should begin on a contractual basis until they pass the board.”]

With reports from Jed Nerecina

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Crime & Investigation

PNP issues warning against love scams ahead of February 14

February 12, 2026 6:10 PM
PST

Valentine's Day is approaching, and the Philippine National Police is reminding the public that scammers often exploit this season to carry out love scams.

The PNP reported six cases of love scams from January 1 to February 5, 2026. 

In fact, this year’s figure is lower than in 2025, which recorded 54 cases.

Despite the decline, the PNP stresses that this incident is ‘persistent and real’.

Love scams involve fraudsters who take advantage of someone's emotions to extract money.

“Love or romance scams typically begin with online connections where scammers pretend to be foreigners or overseas Filipino workers. They invest time in building emotional attachment, often avoiding video calls, professing love too quickly, and eventually asking for money, travel funds for a supposed meet-up, or sensitive personal details such as bank information, one-time passwords (OTP), or identification cards,” the PNP explains

The red flags that an individual must take as a sign to walk away are: avoiding video calls, asking for money and personal or sensitive information.

The PNP warns to disengage from suspicious individuals to prevent becoming a victim of a scam.

“Authorities are reminding the public never to send money, intimate photos or videos, or personal information to people they have not personally met and fully verified,” according to PNP

Additionally, PNP mentioned that the common targets of scammers are those who are ‘single, widowed, or emotionally vulnerable’.

Scammers want to take advantage of that vulnerability by building an emotional connection. Making you feel that you’re not alone, but the hidden agenda is to deceive you so that they can gain advantage from you.

Crime & Investigation

CICC wants to enforce “technology and policy solution” in fortifying consumer protection

February 12, 2026 10:28 AM
PST

Due to unceasing incidents of cyber fraud and scams in the Philippines, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) wants to build a stronger layer of protection for consumers against online fraud, lending app institutions, and online banking scams.

In light of this plan, the CICC wants to establish a partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas through signing a Memorandum of Agreement.

CICC Usec. Aboy Paraiso stated that the bank typically assumes to be absolved when an individual falls victim to a deceptive scheme.

“Ngayon, isang participation mo lang, sabi ng mga banko, “wala na kaming kasalanan diyan”. Pag kinlick mo lang yung link kahit wala ka pang binibigay na details, naa-absuwleto si bangko diyan,” he said

[“Now, in just one participation, the bank says, “we no longer have any fault there”. Once you click the link, even though you didn’t give any details, the bank absolves itself from that.”]

He further explained to implement stricter rules to protect consumers. Consumer protection would be an important step to secure and maintain individuals’ trust in the banking and financial institutions. 

However, if the clients lose their trust, both sides will be negatively affected.

He also recommends that private associations must join to the plan and work with them to craft regulations. 

“It’s a combination of technology-solution and a policy-solution,” he said

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group revealed the smarter move of the scammers. 

Scammers previously used the SMS blaster to send messages to deceive people. 

Now, they utilize an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catcher. According to PNP-ACG, an IMSI catcher is a fake mobile tower between mobile phones and towers of original network provider to send SMS spoofing scams. This type of scam contains phishing link that brings you to fake website, then a scammer will ask your OTP (One-Time Password) to access your account.

PNP-ACG Spokesperson PLt. Wallen Arancillo revealed that scammers can still deceive people through IMSI catcher.

“So, kung nagtataka tayo na nakakatanggap tayo ng mga unwanted messages dahil po don sa mismong machine na yon,”

[“So, if you we are wondering why we receive unwanted messages, it’s because of that machine.”]

PLt. Arancillo further explained that it was huge earlier but now portable. 

She also mentioned that the PNP had earlier found scammers in Mandaluyong and Makati using IMSI catchers.

With reports from Mia Alonzo

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Lifestyle

Libreng sakay in MRT-3 for PhilHealth members on February 14, 2026

February 11, 2026 9:03 PM
PST

The MRT-3 fare will be free on February 14, 2026 for PhilHealth members. 

The free train rides will be available during peak hours, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

To avail a zero-fare benefit, members are strongly advised to present their PhilHealth ID at the counter to get a Single Journey Ticket.

This initiative is organized as part of celebrating the 31st anniversary of PhilHealth and National Health Insurance Month.

Crime & Investigation

PNP to check 2 security guards' license validity following the Esplanade incident

February 12, 2026 10:36 AM
PST

Security guards are not the same as policemen. 

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno clarifies that the distinction following the viral incident where two security guards punched the 17-year-old boy in Pasig River Esplanade. 

“Guards should be guarding property. They’re not policing the state. They’re not allowed,” he said

The incident began when the security guards confronted a minor for cycling in a crowded area, which is prohibited.

The minor reportedly refused to comply. 

The situation became physical when the minor resisted the guards, eventually leading the guards to punch the minor.

According to Lea Ylagan’s report, PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. believes the problem can be fixed through effective communication rather than physical injury.

The PNP chief has ordered a check on the validity of the guards' licenses and their security agency's credentials.

The security guards will face charges for violating RA 7610, also known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act."

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