Manila Times

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy

The new Pixel phones start at $899 alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and Google's first Pixel Tag tracker, as Google turns its devices into an increasingly integrated platform for Gemini.

Philippine Authorities Investigate Taguig 911 Center Over Delayed Emergency Responses

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered an investigation into Taguig City’s 911 command center following complaints about unanswered calls and delayed responses, raising concerns about emergency-service capacity i...

Manila Electric Company Steps Up Crackdown on Electricity Theft

Manila Electric Company has intensified efforts against illegal electricity connections, warning that power theft increases system losses, threatens grid stability and shifts additional costs onto legitimate consumers.

African Swine Fever Triggers Lockdowns in Three Camarines Sur Municipalities

Agricultural authorities in Camarines Sur have imposed emergency culling and transport restrictions after detecting new African swine fever infections, raising concerns about pork supplies and prices in surrounding provinces.

Benguet Farmers Discard Vegetables as Monsoon Rains Disrupt Mountain Supply Routes

Vegetable growers in the Cordillera region are suffering heavy losses as low market prices and mountain roads made impassable by weeks of southwest monsoon rains leave farmers unable to move their harvests.

Philippine Education Commission Urges Climate-Resilient Schools Over Immediate Calendar Reversal

The Second Congressional Commission on Education has advised against quickly returning to the traditional June-to-March school calendar, urging the government instead to prioritize school infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme he...

SM Prime Signals Strong Year After Robust First-Half Performance

SM Prime Holdings is projecting strong annual revenue after reporting solid first-half performance, with domestic consumer spending and continued expansion of provincial malls supporting the property group’s growth outlook.

Philippine Energy Department Backs Maharlika Fund Investment in National Grid

The Department of Energy has expressed support for a potential Maharlika Investment Fund acquisition of a stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, viewing new capital as a way to accelerate upgrades to the country’s str...

Justice Secretary Criticizes Philippine Public Works Agency Over Construction Quality

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways over substandard government construction and called for greater use of public-private partnerships to improve accountability and engineeri...

Philippine Justice Department Reviews U.S. Extradition Requests for Apollo Quiboloy

The Department of Justice has begun reviewing extradition documents submitted by the United States for religious leader Apollo Quiboloy and two associates, escalating the legal process involving the fugitive pastor, who faces federal tra...

Self-Rated Poverty in Philippines Eases to 49% Despite Persistent Cost Pressures

Social Weather Stations polling shows that the share of Filipinos who consider themselves poor has declined slightly to 49%, although economic analysts warn that many households remain exposed to volatile food prices and the financial im...

Philippines Plans Faster Waste-to-Energy Rollout to Address Waste and Power Challenges

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the government to accelerate construction of waste-to-energy facilities in major urban areas, with an 18-month timetable aimed at addressing the country’s growing solid-waste problem while addin...

Philippines Releases ₱9.75 Billion for Free Tuition at State Universities and Colleges

The Department of Budget and Management has released ₱9.75 billion to 108 state universities and colleges, funding continued implementation of the country’s free tuition program and supporting access to higher education for hundreds of t...

GMR Group Reaffirms Investment in Multibillion-Peso Sangley Point International Airport Project

India-based infrastructure group GMR has reaffirmed its commitment to the Sangley Point International Airport project, providing continued support for plans to develop an alternative aviation hub aimed at easing pressure on Manila’s main...

PLDT Plans Major Hyperscale Data Center in Southern Philippines

PLDT is planning a large hyperscale data center outside Metro Manila to meet rising international demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure while expanding the country’s digital capacity into the southern prov...

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Expected to Keep Rates Elevated as Inflation Risks Persist

Analysts expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to keep its benchmark policy rate near 5.25% through the end of the year as policymakers prioritize inflation control despite economic growth slowing to 2.3% in the second quarter.

Philippine Senate Demands Detailed Coordinates for Flood-Control Projects Amid ₱1.2 Trillion Budget Concerns

Senators are demanding precise geographic information for more than ₱100 billion in proposed flood-control projects after revelations that the national flood-control budget has grown to ₱1.2 trillion since 2022, amid allegations involvin...

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua Survives Armed Ambush in Maguindanao del Norte

The convoy of Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua came under fire from unidentified gunmen in Datu Odin Sinsuat, prompting national security agencies and the Commission on Elections to investigate the attack ahead of the ...

Philippine Defense Officials Condemn China as Marcos Defends Sovereign Rights in West Philippine Sea

Philippine defense authorities have criticized the Chinese Embassy in Manila over what they called deceptive messaging, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said arrangements for resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal do not c...

Philippines and United States Sign New Defense Framework to Deepen Military Cooperation

The Philippines and the United States have signed a new framework for joint operations and military capacity building, reinforcing their 75-year defense alliance as both countries seek to respond to coercive maritime activity in the Indo...

Marcos Administration Submits Record ₱7.2 Trillion Philippine Budget for 2027

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has submitted a ₱7.2 trillion spending plan for 2027, drawing immediate Senate scrutiny as lawmakers push to remove confidential and intelligence funds from civilian agencies and strengthen transparency in ...

Philippines Faces Severe Flooding as Monsoon Rains Kill Seven and Displace More Than 9,000 Families

Southwest monsoon rains and weather disturbances have killed at least seven people and displaced more than 9,000 families across Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal, with local governments declaring states of calamity and further flooding...

Philippines Expands Mindanao Security and Reintegration Efforts as Former Rebels Seek Police Roles

More than 700 former combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front have applied to join the Philippine National Police, reflecting continued efforts to integrate former separatist fighters into civi...

Filipina Tennis Star Alex Eala Reaches Career-High World Ranking of 18

Nineteen-year-old Alex Eala has climbed to a career-best world ranking of 18 in the live rankings after reaching the third round of the Cincinnati Open, marking the highest ranking achieved by a Filipina tennis player.

Cabinet Secretary Rebukes Norwegian-Backed AI Data Centre Project Over Regulatory Issues

Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Junior has criticized the proponents of a Norwegian-backed artificial intelligence data centre over alleged regulatory breaches, casting uncertainty over the immediate future of the planned digital infra...

Independent Commission Opens Public Hearings on Duterte Administration Drug War

A newly established truth commission has begun public hearings into alleged extrajudicial killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, allowing victims’ families to give testimony as the country examines the leg...

Maritime Authority Allows Aleson Shipping to Resume Operations After Fatal Basilan Ferry Fire

The Maritime Industry Authority has lifted suspension orders against Aleson Shipping, allowing its passenger fleet to resume inter-island services in Mindanao weeks after a fatal ferry fire exposed serious maritime safety concerns.

Philippine Health Department Loses Two Senior Undersecretaries in Sudden Resignations

The Presidential Communications Office has confirmed the abrupt resignation of two senior Department of Health undersecretaries, raising concerns about potential disruption to public health programs and hospital modernization projects.

Philippine Conglomerates Report Mixed First-Half Results as Currency Losses Offset Property and Gaming Gains

First-half corporate results showed divergent performances among major Philippine companies, with San Miguel Corporation reporting significant foreign-exchange losses while Alliance Global Group and Security Bank benefited from stronger ...

Philippine Labor Federation Seeks 200-Peso Nationwide Daily Wage Increase

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is lobbying Congress for a legislated 200-peso increase in the daily wage for private-sector workers, arguing that sustained inflation has significantly reduced workers’ purchasing power.

Cebu Pacific Reports Strong Domestic Passenger Growth Despite Cautious Consumer Spending

Cebu Pacific has recorded a sharp increase in passenger volumes as domestic tourism remains strong, providing support for the Philippine aviation industry even as inflation continues to constrain household discretionary spending.

Philippine Trade Negotiators Aim to Finalize Canada Free Trade Agreement by September

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry is accelerating negotiations with Canada with the goal of completing a comprehensive free trade agreement by September. Manila sees the deal as a way to diversify export markets and strengt...

Philippine Firms Face Rising AI-Driven Cyberattacks as Researchers Urge Stronger Defences

Regional cybersecurity researchers say criminal groups are increasingly using artificial intelligence to target corporate networks across Southeast Asia, prompting calls for Philippine banks and business-process outsourcing companies to ...

Philippine Government Secures Private Partnerships for More Than 7,000 Affordable Housing Units

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has announced partnerships involving Pag-IBIG Fund financing and private developers to build more than 7,000 affordable homes, advancing the government’s mass housing program.

Philippine Government Expands Police Recruitment for Former Moro Separatist Combatants

More than 700 former fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front have applied to join the Philippine National Police as part of the government’s broader Mindanao normalization process.

Philippines Plans Waste-to-Energy Facilities Within 18 Months Despite Environmental Opposition

The Philippine government says comprehensive waste-to-energy facilities will be operational within 18 months to address urban power and waste-management needs. Environmental groups oppose the plans, warning of potential public health and...

European Companies Join Luzon Economic Corridor as Philippines Seeks More Foreign Investment

The Philippine government has secured commitments from European companies to participate in the Luzon Economic Corridor, strengthening investment prospects in digital infrastructure, clean energy and logistics linking Subic, Clark and Me...

Philippines Secures $230 Million French Financing for Blue Economy Development

The Philippine Department of Finance has finalized a $230 million financing agreement with France to support sustainable development of the country’s maritime resources, including coastal resilience, marine biodiversity protection and fi...

Flooding and Monsoon Rains Affect More Than 3.7 Million People Across the Philippines

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said nearly four million people across Luzon and the Visayas have been affected by flooding and heavy monsoon rains. President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has ordered faster disaste...

Radioactive Materials Found at Three Steel Plants in Davao After Coordinated Raids

Philippine authorities have found dangerous radioactive materials at three steel manufacturing facilities in the Davao region, triggering emergency containment measures and raising concerns about industrial safety standards.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Survives Armed Ambush on Convoy in Maguindanao del Norte

Ahod Ebrahim Macacua, interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, escaped unharmed after gunmen ambushed his convoy. The attack has raised fresh security concerns ahead of the region’s inaugural parliam...

Philippines Reviews US Extradition Request for Religious Leader Apollo Quiboloy

The Philippine Department of Justice is reviewing formal extradition documents from the United States seeking the transfer of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who faces federal charges including human trafficking and bulk cash smuggling.

Philippine Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Lump-Sum Allocations in Proposed 7.2 Trillion-Peso Budget

Opposition lawmakers and transparency advocates have questioned large lump-sum appropriations in the administration’s proposed 7.2 trillion-peso national budget, calling for greater public scrutiny and livestreaming of bicameral committe...

Philippine Palace Warns Sara Duterte That No Official Is Above the Law

Malacañang has warned Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team that no public official is above the law after her lawyers sought oral arguments to dismiss a grave threats case. The dispute adds to growing tensions between the country’s t...

Marcos Says He Will Back Presidential Successor Who Continues Anti-Corruption and Economic Reforms

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has begun looking ahead to the next national election cycle, saying he intends to endorse a successor committed to continuing his administration’s economic reforms and anti-corruption efforts.