Manila Times

SM Prime Opens Major Arena in Cebu to Expand Regional Tourism and Events

SM Prime Holdings inaugurated a new arena in Cebu, giving the Visayas a venue capable of hosting international entertainment and large-scale events that previously centered on Metro Manila, strengthening the region's tourism and hospital...

Ayala Corporation Expands Education and Social Infrastructure Programs

Ayala Corporation said it will continue investing in public-private initiatives that support teachers and education, describing stronger learning outcomes as an essential foundation for the country's long-term economic development.

Philippine Banks Reduce Digital Transfer Costs Following Central Bank Fee Reforms

Chinabank and at least nine other major lenders have waived InstaPay and PESONet transfer fees following regulatory changes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, while digital bank Maya reduced its InstaPay fee from 15 pesos to 10 pesos to...

Topline Equity and Aesen Form Offshore Venture to Support Renewable Energy Projects

Topline Offshore Incorporated and Singapore-based Aesen Pte. Limited established Aesen Topline Offshore Corporation to provide marine logistics, vessel leasing and offshore support services for renewable energy and infrastructure project...

Visayas Power Grid Remains on Yellow Alert as Supply Reserves Stay Tight

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines kept the Visayas grid under Yellow Alert on July 10, signaling continued pressure on electricity reserves and the need for close monitoring of regional power supply.

Philippines Earns High Debt Transparency Rating Despite Lower Economic Growth Outlook

The Institute of International Finance awarded the Philippines a near-perfect score of 49.3 out of 50 for debt transparency, even as the government lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to between 3.5 percent and 4.5 percent in respo...

Philippines Strengthens Infrastructure Partnership With United States Through Luzon Economic Corridor

The United States Trade and Development Agency confirmed expanded support for major Philippine infrastructure projects, including the Luzon Economic Corridor and the Subic-Clark-Batangas Railway, as the two countries deepen economic coop...

Typhoon Bavi and Monsoon Rains Leave Dead and Trigger Widespread Flooding Across the Philippines

Heavy rainfall intensified by Typhoon Bavi and the seasonal southwest monsoon caused at least five deaths and left several people missing after a landslide in Mindanao, while flooding across parts of Metro Manila disrupted transport and ...

Philippines Marks Tenth Anniversary of Landmark South China Sea Arbitration Ruling

The Philippine government and its international partners commemorated the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected China's sweeping South China Sea claims, reaffirming Manila's commitment to the d...

Severe Heatwave Drives Dangerous Ground-Level Ozone Pollution Across Two Thirds of European Union

Record-breaking June temperatures catalyzed chemical reactions that exposed nearly three hundred million people to toxic smog levels, intensifying public health strains.

Philippine Government Promotes Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Growth as Economic Priorities

The Philippines continues to focus on expanding infrastructure connectivity, improving energy access, and supporting regional development as key drivers of long-term economic growth.

Health Researchers Warn Filipino Youth Face Rising Risks From Sedentary Lifestyles

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute warned that increasing sedentary behavior among young Filipinos is raising risks linked to obesity and high blood pressure, prompting calls for stronger health awareness efforts.

Bureau of Corrections Urges New Officers to Maintain Integrity in Public Service

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. advised three hundred thirty-eight newly appointed prison officers to maintain high ethical standards and avoid illegal activities.

Philippine Police Hospital Keeps Senator Rodante Marcoleta Under Medical Care

Officials from the Philippine National Police General Hospital confirmed that Senator Rodante Marcoleta remains under custody at the facility while receiving treatment because his medical condition remains unstable.

Government Says State Dividends Could Fund Nearly Forty Thousand Classrooms or One Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Housing Units

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said dividend payments from government-owned corporations could support large-scale public investments, including nearly forty thousand classrooms or one hundred sixty-five thousand housing units.

Metrobank Removes InstaPay and PESONet Transfer Fees Through Mobile Banking App

Metrobank has waived transfer fees for InstaPay and PESONet transactions through its mobile application, aiming to improve digital payment access for customers.

Wellness Businesses Expand Commercial Demand Outside Metro Manila

Real estate consultants reported growing demand from fitness studios, medical clinics, and other wellness-focused tenants as Filipino consumers increasingly prioritize health and lifestyle services.

President Marcos Approval Ratings Decline Amid Public Concerns Over Economy and Corruption

A PUBLiCUS Asia survey showed lower approval and trust ratings for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June, with economic concerns, inflation, and calls for stronger accountability influencing public sentiment.

Philippines Strengthens Public Transparency Efforts Through Justice and Budget Departments Agreement

The Department of Justice and Department of Budget and Management have signed an agreement to improve fiscal transparency and support the Philippine Open Government Partnership agenda for two thousand twenty-six.

Philippine Energy Department Orders Power Plants to Explain Unscheduled Shutdowns

The Department of Energy has issued show-cause orders to several power plants after unscheduled outages contributed to red and yellow alerts on the national electricity grid.

Philippine Infrastructure Expansion Redirects Investment Toward Regional Cities

Analysts said national expressway and transport projects are helping move business activity beyond Metro Manila by improving connectivity and making provincial cities more attractive destinations for future investment.

Philippine Government Expands Learning Facilities to Address Classroom Shortages Nationwide

The Department of Education is accelerating the rollout of learning continuity spaces across the country, while the Marcos administration has completed a new four-story school building in Quezon City with thirty-six classrooms to end dou...

Energy Regulator Develops Renewable Energy Rules for Off-Grid Philippine Communities

The Energy Regulatory Commission is preparing new guidelines to increase renewable energy use in off-grid areas, aiming to reduce electricity costs and support the country’s transition toward cleaner energy sources.

Supreme Court Dismisses Challenges to Metro Manila No Contact Apprehension Program

The Supreme Court has dismissed petitions questioning the validity of Metro Manila’s No Contact Apprehension Program, ruling that the legal issues became moot after authorities introduced an updated traffic enforcement policy framework.

Philippine BPO Industry Plans Seventy Thousand New Jobs Despite Hybrid Work Shift

Business process outsourcing leaders expect the sector to hire seventy thousand full-time employees this year, showing continued expansion despite the wider adoption of hybrid work arrangements.

Philippine BPO Sector Becomes Largest Foreign Exchange Earner and Drives Office Market Growth

Industry analysts said the Philippine business process outsourcing sector has surpassed overseas remittances as the country’s largest foreign exchange earner, supporting demand for around two hundred thousand square meters of office spac...

Philippines Faces Inflation Pressure as Middle East Conflict Raises Energy and Commodity Risks

Economic analysts said the continuing Middle East conflict remains a major factor behind elevated Philippine inflation expectations, with imported energy costs and commodity price pressures affecting the broader economy.

Marcos Administration Highlights One Hundred Forty Billion Pesos in State Dividend Payments for Public Projects

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said dividend contributions from government-owned and controlled corporations will help finance essential services, including classroom construction and housing projects, while supporting fiscal discipline ...

Philippine Foreign Reserves Reach One Hundred Four Point Eight Billion Dollars as Economic Buffer Strengthens

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that the country’s gross international reserves climbed to one hundred four point eight billion dollars, providing additional protection against global inflation risks and commodity price volatility.

Philippine Military Chief Urges Troops to Remain Firm Amid West Philippine Sea Tensions

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. has called on soldiers to remain professional and resolute in protecting national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea while continuing to uphold the two thousand sixteen ...

United States Reaffirms Maritime Security Cooperation With Philippines in South China Sea

The United States has pledged to continue working with the Philippines to strengthen maritime security in the South China Sea, ahead of the tenth anniversary of the two thousand sixteen arbitral ruling that rejected expansive Chinese mar...

Philippines Defends Batanes Sovereignty After Chinese Claims Draw Government Rebuke

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has rejected claims from Chinese scholars suggesting Batanes belongs to China, calling the assertions baseless and warning that such narratives could undermine Philippine sovereignty.

Asian Development Bank and World Bank Lower Philippine Growth Forecasts Amid Inflation and Global Uncertainty

The Asian Development Bank and World Bank have reduced their Philippine economic growth projections to three point eight percent and three point nine percent, respectively, citing delayed investments, weaker household consumption, and th...

Flight Instructor Jumped to His Death — Student Landed the Plane: "You Know What You Need to Do"

An experienced flight instructor in Argentina died after jumping from a training aircraft during a lesson, leaving his twenty-two-year-old student to land the plane alone. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of th...

The Physical and Electronic Barriers Disrupting Domestic Wireless Networks

Armed Forces Partner With Makati Medical Center to Modernize Military Healthcare

The Armed Forces of the Philippines signed an agreement with Makati Medical Center to upgrade military healthcare facilities and accelerate the digital transformation of medical services for personnel and their families.

Education Department Reports Security Guard Shortage in Public Schools

An internal assessment found that only three out of every ten public schools have security guards, highlighting a significant gap in efforts to improve campus safety nationwide.

Government Mobilizes Village Watchmen to Strengthen School Safety

The Department of the Interior and Local Government directed local governments to deploy more than two hundred seventy-seven thousand village watchmen to help safeguard students from crime, traffic hazards, and violence around schools.

Philippine Army Investigates How Student Obtained Military-Issued Firearm

The Philippine Army opened an internal investigation after a sixteen-year-old student was caught carrying an Army-issued Glock seventeen pistol into a public school in South Cotabato, raising questions about firearm accountability.

Philippine National Police Reaffirms Commitment to Accountability at Jee Ick Joo Commemoration

The Philippine National Police marked the anniversary of the killing of businessman Jee Ick Joo at Camp Crame, using the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to institutional integrity and accountability.

Magat Dam Nears Critical Water Level After Heavy Rainfall

Water management authorities warned downstream communities that controlled releases from Magat Dam may become necessary if rainfall associated with Typhoon Inday continues to raise reservoir levels.

Disaster Officials Prepare Luzon Communities for Heavy Rain and Possible Flooding

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council activated preemptive evacuation and monitoring measures across parts of Luzon as Typhoon Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon are forecast to bring moderate to heavy rainfall.

Philippine Coast Guard Strengthens Port Safety Measures Ahead of Typhoon Inday

The Philippine Coast Guard increased maritime patrols and inspections across the Visayas while advising fishermen to remain ashore as deteriorating sea conditions threaten coastal communities.

Metrobank Joins Major Banks in Waiving Digital Transfer Fees

Metrobank removed InstaPay and PESONet transfer fees, joining other major lenders in responding to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas measures designed to lower the cost of digital financial transactions for consumers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Restructures Cabinet Secretary Role to Improve Public Services

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reassigned Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to focus on strengthening coordination between national agencies and local governments as part of efforts to improve public service delivery.

Philippine Department of Energy Suspends Fifth Offshore Wind Auction

The Department of Energy has halted the fifth Green Energy Auction to reassess transmission readiness, port infrastructure, and international supply chain considerations before proceeding with the bidding process.