Jasha Gamao

MANILA—President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the Anti-Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Anti-POGO) Act of 2025 (Republic Act No. 12312) into law on October 23, 2025, marking a definitive end to all offshore gaming activities and related support services within the Philippines. 

The new law formally bans and criminalizes a wide range of activities, including operating or managing offshore gaming platforms, acting as a service provider, possessing POGO-related equipment, and aiding operations through fraudulent means. 

This decisive shift in national policy is anchored on upholding public order, human dignity, and national welfare, directly addressing the social, economic, and security implications linked to POGO operations. 

The new Act also immediately and permanently revokes all licenses and permits issued by agencies like PAGCOR, ecotones, and TIEZA.

The Anti-POGO Act establishes severe, graduated penalties to deter violations. A first offense carries 6 to 8 years imprisonment and a fine of ₱300K to ₱15M, escalating up to 10 to 12 years imprisonment and a ₱30M to ₱50M fine for a third offense. 

Public officials who violate the law face the maximum applicable penalties, along with dismissal from service and forfeiture of retirement benefits. 

Crucially, foreign nationals involved are subject to imprisonment, immediate deportation, and a permanent re-entry ban. 

Furthermore, all POGO-related assets—including buildings, equipment, and proceeds—are subject to government forfeiture and destruction, and civil forfeiture proceedings can be initiated based on probable cause, independent of a criminal conviction.

To ensure strict compliance, an Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) is established, chaired by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and composed of the DOJ, DICT, and DILG, tasked with coordinating enforcement and conducting agency audits. 

The law also integrates POGO-related violations as predicate crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and as human trafficking offenses under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, boosting the government’s legal arsenal. 

Recognizing the impact on local employment, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is mandated to implement a Labor Transition Program, assisting displaced Filipino workers through upskilling, re-skilling, and employment facilitation in coordination with other agencies.

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The Philippine Jiu-Jitsu Team has dramatically intensified the country's campaign for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, parading an impressive medal haul from the recently concluded JJIF 2025 World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Just one week before the SEA Games officially commence, the national squad, comprising youth and masters athletes, showcased their world-level success. This performance injects significant momentum and confidence into the delegation as they prepare to compete on the regional stage, setting a high bar for their contribution to the overall Philippine medal count.

The national team's strength was officially recognized during a courtesy visit to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), where PSC Chairman Gregorio, Commissioner Olivia Coo, and Commissioner Matthew Gaston warmly welcomed the athletes. 

The highlight of the presentation was the exceptional performance of Annie Ramirez, who secured a historic double-gold finish, including her first-ever world championship title. This achievement stands out as a clear testament to the team's elite training and competitive readiness, offering a powerful forecast of potential success in the upcoming SEA Games.

With this renewed international success under their belt, the Philippine Jiu-Jitsu Team is now laser-focused on surpassing its previous SEA Games record. In the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, the team earned a total of 12 medals—three golds, one silver, and eight bronzes. 

The momentum gained from the JJIF World Championships provides a strong platform for the athletes to elevate their game and deliver an even more dominant performance, positioning them as key contenders expected to significantly contribute to the Philippines' gold medal aspirations in the 33rd SEA Games.

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The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has dramatically increased its coverage for millions of Filipinos, officially rolling out its updated benefits package for 2025. Aiming to solidify the country's Universal Health Care goals, the agency announced a 50% increase in case rate packages for over 9,000 services for specific illnesses.

This decisive move immediately translates to lower out-of-pocket expenses for members, as PhilHealth will now shoulder a significantly larger portion of hospital bills for accredited inpatient procedures. This enhancement applies to both Direct Contributors—such as formal economy workers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)—and Indirect Contributors, including Senior Citizens and indigents.

Beyond hospital confinement, the new program expands crucial outpatient and specialized services. For the first time, PhilHealth will cover patients brought to the Emergency Room for immediate care but are not subsequently admitted.

Furthermore, the agency is now offering a new Primary Care Dental Health Care Package, which includes essential services like oral examinations, prophylaxis, and emergency tooth extraction. 

In a major win for pediatric health, PhilHealth will also begin providing coverage for prescription glasses, with plans already underway to expand this benefit to adult patients in the near future.

The updated plan reinforces support for critical and catastrophic illnesses through expanded Z Benefits coverage for conditions like cancer, kidney transplants, and orthopedic implants.

Complementing this, the SDG-Related Benefits continue to offer aid for members diagnosed with malaria, HIV/AIDS, animal bites, and for voluntary contraception procedures.

For routine care, all Filipinos are urged to register for the Konsulta Package—a comprehensive outpatient program covering consultation, health risk screening, selected laboratory tests, and necessary medicines, ensuring primary care access is affordable and immediate. Members can register for the Konsulta package online via the PhilHealth member portal or by visiting accredited facilities and Local Health Insurance Offices. 

This wave of enhanced benefits, which also includes improved maternity and newborn care packages, underscores PhilHealth's mandate to serve as a financial shield during medical emergencies. 

Filipinos are advised to verify their membership status and explore the full list of enhanced benefits by visiting the official PhilHealth website to ensure they maximize the available assistance.

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The Philippine Youth Athletics Team concluded a spectacular campaign at the SEA U18 & U20 Athletics Championships in Medan, Indonesia, securing an impressive third-place finish overall. The 12-man national delegation showcased exceptional skill and tenacity, collectively earning a significant haul of 11 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medals. 

This remarkable performance underscored the team’s growing dominance in the regional youth sports arena and highlights a fierce new generation of track and field stars ready to take on bigger challenges.

Every athlete in the small but powerful national contingent contributed to the medal tally, a rare achievement that speaks volumes about the team's depth and consistent high-level performance across both the U18 and U20 categories. 

The relentless pursuit of excellence and the sheer drive displayed by the young athletes ensured that the Philippine flag was raised repeatedly on the podium. This 100% medal rate per athlete is a powerful testament to the effective training and the innate resilience of the squad.

The achievement has been hailed as a major uplift for Philippine sports, demonstrating that the country’s future in track and field is bright.

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MANILA—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the Accelerated and Reformed Right-Of-Way (ARROW) Act (Republic Act No. 12289) into law on September 12, 2025, marking a critical step toward eliminating the right-of-way (ROW) bottlenecks that have long delayed key national infrastructure projects. 

Sponsored by Senator Mark Villar, the law amends the previous Right-of-Way Act and introduces sweeping reforms to both fast-track property acquisition and guarantee just compensation for affected landowners. This landmark legislation is a top priority of the administration, aimed at accelerating the construction of roads, railways, energy and water systems, and other vital infrastructure across the country.

The ARROW Act implements several key provisions to streamline the acquisition process. It standardizes the government's initial price offer for negotiated sales by basing it on the Schedule of Market Values (SMV) under R.A. No. 12001, ensuring a consistent and fair valuation system. 

Furthermore, the act enhances transparency and accountability. Implementing agencies and private entities are now required to publish key information about ROW acquisition on their official websites, ensuring public disclosure of the status of claims in compliance with the Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173).

A significant part of the reform is the expanded accountability for all parties involved. Since the ARROW Act covers both government and private entity projects, officers of private entities providing public services can now be held accountable and may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of the Act. 

This stricter compliance mechanism is designed to enforce fair ROW acquisition procedures uniformly. The law is expected to boost investor confidence in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and ultimately hasten the delivery of essential services, leading to safer roads, shorter commutes, and more reliable utilities for the Filipino people.

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