TODAY’S TOP STORIES - Wednesday, 17 June 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

17 June 2026, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.

1.   Gatchalian is new Senate president

-Palace acknowledges Gatchalian election as Senate chief

-House leaders hail Gatchalian's election as Senate President

-Sotto elected as Senate president pro tempore; committee heads named

-Lacson gives up blue ribbon post: Tired of losing friends, creating foes

-Villanueva says joining new Senate majority was 'for work'

-Raffy Tulfo extends hand of reconciliation to Senate minority

-900 policemen deployed around Senate for special session

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2247753/fwd-gatchalian-now-senate-president

 

2. Cayetano concedes Senate leadership after weeks of deadlock

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/06/17/2535852/cayetano-concedes-senate-leadership-after-weeks-deadlock

 

3. Marcos arrives in Kazan for meeting with Putin ahead of ASEAN-Russia Summit; Recto, Estrella, Tolentino named govt caretakers

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/marcos-arrives-in-kazan-for-meeting-with-putin-ahead-of-asean-russia-summit-1339

 

4. ‘All BS’: Rep. Sandro refutes suitcase delivery to Marcos residence

[ABS-CBN News, DZRH, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, News5PH, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://news.tv5.com.ph/breaking/read/all-bs-rep-sandro-refutes-suitcase-delivery-to-marcos-residence

5. Senate majority picks Escudero to preside over Sara Duterte trial

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2247971/senate-majority-picks-escudero-to-preside-over-sara-duterte-trial

6. 20th Congress reorganizes Commission on Appointments; Senate appointments body acts on delayed military, DFA promotions

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://manilastandard.net/news/314754189/20th-congress-reorganizes-commission-on-appointments.html

7. PH says Chinese floating structure removed from Panatag Shoal

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, Panay News, Philstar]

https://www.inquirer.net/477953/ph-says-chinese-floating-structure-removed-from-panatag-shoal/

 

8. Senators back resolution funding Mindanao quake recovery

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2248044/senate-oks-reso-urging-govt-to-ensure-fund-for-mindanao-recovery

9. Mark, Camille Villar deny alleged interference in LRT-1 Cavite extension project

[BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Manila Standard, Rappler]

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/mark-camille-villar-deny-lrt1-cavite-extension-interference/

 

10. ATENEO DROWNING INCIDENT:

-Ateneo basketball players face CIDG, NBI probe on teammates’ drowning

-PNP CIDG to Tab Baldwin: Man up, face Ateneo drowning probe

-Tab Baldwin to appear before NBI in Ateneo players' death probe

-CIDG: Ateneo drowning not an accident

-Immigration Lookout Bulletin issued vs Ateneo basketball coach, asst coaches, team manager

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/ateneo-basketball-players-face-cidg-nbi-probe-on-teammates-drowning-1027

11. Owner, contractor of collapsed Pampanga building face P11M in fines

[ABS-CBN News, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, News5PH, Philstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2247951/owner-contractor-of-collapsed-pampanga-building-faces-p11m-in-fines

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

LGBTQIA++ individuals qualified to adopt a child, says NACC

By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — The National Authority for Child Care (NACC) announced in a recent online press conference that members of the LGBTQIA++ community are welcome to participate in legal adoption, giving deeper meaning to inclusivity and equal opportunity in child care and family building.

Held on June 9 via Google Meet, Attorney Gaby Concepcion, NACC undersecretary, discussed the evolving concept of family and encouraged the public to embrace a broader understanding of what constitutes a family.

“Most of us in the general population have the traditional notion of what a family is supposed to be. There is a mother, a father, a sister, and a brother—a typical family setup,” said Atty. Concepcion.

She emphasized that families come in different forms and should not be confined to traditional structures alone.

“This year’s Adoption and Alternative Child Care (AACC) Week invites us to look at families from a bigger, broader, and different perspective. There is no single face, form, or experience of a family. There are families composed of parents and children, solo-parent households, and families formed through adoption and alternative child care,” she added.

Meanwhile, Imelda Ronda, NACC director for operations and services, underscored the importance of ensuring that every child grows up in a loving, stable, and nurturing environment.

“We proudly carry this year’s theme, ‘Love Makes a Family.’ This theme reminds us that a family is not defined solely by biology or traditional structures. Rather, a family is built through love, care, commitment, and the willingness to provide a safe and nurturing home where children can grow, thrive, and realize their full potential,” said Director Ronda.

She reiterated the agency’s continuing advocacy for legal adoption and alternative child care programs as vital pathways in providing children with permanent families and better opportunities for growth and development.

“We continue to advocate for legal adoption and alternative child care as pathways that provide children with the opportunity to belong to a family. Through legal adoption, children are given permanent protection, stability, and the sense of belonging that every child deserves,” she added.

Dir. Ronda also emphasized that adoption and foster care opportunities are open to all qualified applicants, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, as long as they meet the qualifications set by law and can provide a safe, loving, and supportive environment for a child.

The members of the LGBTQIA++ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community may apply to adopt and undergo the same evaluation process as other applicants. The agency stressed that the primary consideration in adoption proceedings is always the best interest of the child, focusing on the applicant’s capacity to provide care, protection, emotional support, and a stable family environment.

“The LGBTQIA++ are eligible for the solo parent adoption program. Only one of the couples LGBTQIA++ can formally adopt,” said Concepcion.

Meanwhile, the AACC Week aims to raise public awareness about legal adoption, foster care, kinship care, and other alternative child care programs while encouraging more Filipino families to open their homes and hearts to children in need of love, care, and protection.

Through this year’s observance, the NACC continues to promote inclusivity, compassion, and responsible parenthood, reinforcing the message that love, care, commitment, and a child’s well-being—not family structure—are what truly define a family.

As the nation celebrates Adoption and Alternative Child Care Week 2026, the NACC encourages Filipinos to embrace a more inclusive understanding of family and support programs that provide children with permanent, loving homes. By promoting legal adoption and alternative child care, the agency hopes to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing environment where they are valued, protected, and loved. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

DOLE orders inspection on ongoing infra projects to secure workers’ safety

By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga deployed 24 labor inspectors from different parts of the region to conduct a region-wide audit of high-rise construction projects, beginning with Butuan City from June 8 to 12. The move followed the directive of DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino after the collapse of a nine‑storey building in Central Luzon that trapped several workers.

The inspection in Butuan City covered 49 buildings, both under construction and existing, to ensure strict compliance with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards to protect workers from workplace hazards.

“This is all part of the mandate of Secretary Francis Tolentino, to ensure that workers’ safety must be paramount in our considerations as we conduct our labor inspections,” said DOLE Caraga Regional Director Jason P. Balais.

Among the minimum criteria checked by inspectors were worker training on occupational safety, compliance with the wearing of complete safety gear or personal protective equipment (PPE), and the designation and presence of safety officers and first-aiders—all mandated under Republic Act No. 11058. Inspectors also reviewed compliance with labor laws, including minimum wage and mandatory benefits.

The audit comes in the wake of the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, which caused the collapse of several establishments and heightened public concern over workplace safety.

Balais reiterated another provision of RA 11058, which grants workers the right to refuse unsafe work: “An employee can actually refuse work if an imminent danger has been established in the workplace, protecting them from possible repercussions, whether from their employer. Under the same law, the safety officers themselves are even empowered to declare a work stoppage order if, upon their assessment, the workplace is no longer safe for the workers.”

By the end of the audit, and after labor inspectors conducted their respective exit conferences and informed building administrators of the violations found during the audit, instructing them to comply with OSH standards and labor laws to avoid corresponding penalties. These establishments will be subject to another round of inspection to ensure corrective measures have been implemented, reinforcing DOLE Caraga’s commitment to preventing tragedies and safeguarding workers’ welfare.

DOLE Caraga also encouraged affected personnel and concerned citizens to file complaints through its official communication channels:

* Email: caraga@dole.gov.ph

* Hotline: (085) 225 3229, (085) 817-2358

* Facebook Page: DOLE Caraga

* Visit DOLE Caraga’s Regional and Provincial Offices

As inspections continue across the region, DOLE Caraga emphasized that vigilance and cooperation between employers, workers, and authorities remain vital. “The primordial concern of establishments should always be the safety and health of their workers,” Balais stressed, underscoring the agency’s commitment to preventing occupational tragedies and ensuring safe workplaces. (NJGD, PIA Caraga)

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

DOST, PCA explore seawater solution to coco industry rehab through Project ASINSO

By Renelle L. Escuadro

What if one of Dinagat Islands’ most abundant natural resources helps revive its typhoon-ravaged coconut industry? For a province surrounded by vast seawaters, the answer may be closer than expected. 

For the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the future of coconut rehabilitation may not only lie in the land where coconuts grow, but also in the sea that surrounds it.

With coconut rehabilitation seen as a key priority in the province since the widespread devastation Super Typhoon Odette inflicted in 2021, DOST-Dinagat Islands and PCA-Dinagat Islands called a coordination meeting on June 2 to discuss the development of Project ASINSO (Agri-tech Solutions for Innovative Nutrient Systems Optimization), a game changer in the coconut industry.

Led by DOST, Project ASINSO is part of a wider push for localized technological intervention in the Caraga region. The initiative explored the potential of seawater to produce agricultural-grade salt fertilizer (AGSF) through science-based technologies that support rehabilitation of the local coconut industry and reduce coconut farmers’ dependence on expensive, imported fertilizers. 

Supervising Science Research Specialist Roberto Zandro J. Olaguer of DOST-Dinagat Islands highlighted the need for sustainable and locally available nutrient sources to support the province’s coconut rehabilitation efforts. “By harnessing an abundant yet underutilized natural resource, Project ASINSO seeks to transform seawater into a strategic agricultural input that could help reduce dependence on externally sourced fertilizers while supporting the long-term productivity of local coconut farms. “

To support its planning and implementation, PCA-Dinagat Islands Agriculturist II Bobbit Tomarong provided the current status of the coconut industry in the province following STY Odette, including rehabilitation targets, projected AGSF requirements, supply chain considerations, quality standards, and potential areas for technical collaboration and data sharing.

With this strong synergy,  both agencies commit to working together to propel and scale up Project ASINSO. 

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Dinagat Islands, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, also spearheaded planting and replanting 400,000 coco-seednuts in 2025, backed by a P20-million support fund from the PCA. 

The seednuts were distributed strategically to coconut farmers across the province, in keeping with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the coconut industry while supporting coconut farmers’ livelihood. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DOST Dinagat Islands)

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Dinagat Islands LGU releases stipend of 156 Caraga State U students

By Renelle L. Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The provincial government of Dinagat Islands, under the leadership of Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr., fulfilled and sustained its promise on education assistance to 156 Dinagatnon students of Caraga State University (CSU).

On May 25, Governor Demerey personally visited the state university in Butuan City to release educational assistance to student-beneficiaries, who each received P2,500 for the second semester of School Year (SY) 2025-2026. The provincial government allocated P390,000 for the program.

To inspire the Dinagatnon students, Demerey emphasized the significant role of education in the fight against poverty. “Education can lift everybody out of poverty. Rest assured that we are working to eradicate poverty in the province, but it has to start with education.” 

He also shared the provincial government’s efforts to invite investors and other ventures to the Dinagat Islands to invest and create employment opportunities for the province. 

“We are trying to put investments in Dinagat Islands so that when you graduate, the province is ready for your employment,” he said.

Also, Doctor Rissa L. Mercado, vice president for Student Affairs and Auxiliary Services of CSU, thanked the provincial government for its support for the education of the Dinagatnon students. “I appeal to the beneficiaries to continue with your hard work and turn the sacrifices of your parents and the government into inspiration to finish your education.” 

Meanwhile, on May 13, the provincial government released P10, 570, 762 to Don Jose Ecleo Memorial College (DJEMC) for the 537 scholars for SY 2025-2026. On May 19, it also distributed educational assistance to 137 first-year college students of Surigao del Norte University-Dinagat Islands extension classes. 

Anchored in the education agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the provincial government’s educational assistance program aims to build resilient, educated, and progressive communities in the island province. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Island with a report from the Office of Dinagat Islands Governor)