Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act 12304, a landmark measure designed to modernize the country’s Shari’ah court system and expand legal support services for Filipino Muslims.
Artificial intelligence (AI) may deepen the digital divide in the Philippines unless the government urgently strengthens data systems, expands digital connectivity, and implements safeguards.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has designated Nathaniel S. Arevalo, deputy director general for policy, legal and external relations, as acting director general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), following the resignation of IPOPHL chief Brigitte M. da Costa-Villaluz.
The expanded classification will allow more young innovators to access IPOPHL programs such as the Youth Intellectual Property Incentive (YIPI) Program, which grants fee waivers for intellectual property applications and provides technical assistance and capacity-building opportunities.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has issued a warning to financial institutions and related businesses to avoid transactions linked to online casinos and gambling platforms that are not registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
At the heart of the controversy is the LTO’s handling of online registration through its Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), which was designed to tighten safeguards but has instead become mired in loopholes and disputes with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has raised serious concerns over the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) proposed Online Driver’s License Renewal System (ODLRS), particularly its new online medical clearance feature, calling it unsafe, misleading, and prone to abuse.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to tighten oversight of the country’s data transmission sector, a move seen to impact market dynamics as connectivity demand continues to rise.
The agreement will allow Pag-IBIG Fund to use the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as a trusted tool for verifying member identities in online services such as loan applications and membership registration.
Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri raised alarm over the absence of caps on interest rates for online lending applications as Sen. Erwin Tulfo ordered the issuance of a show-cause order against Meta-Facebook Philippines after its representatives failed to attend the hearing on online gambling.
