Manila Times

Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy

Britain’s new foreign secretary promises continuity on Ukraine and the American alliance while signalling greater emphasis on climate action, development and legal restraint.

Government Expands Reintegration Program for Returning Overseas Filipino Workers

The Department of Migrant Workers expanded its Kalinga at Kaalaman program to provide returning overseas Filipino workers with financial literacy training, entrepreneurship support, and employment assistance to strengthen long-term reint...

National Bureau of Investigation Arrests Four Suspects in SIM Card Scam Operation

National Bureau of Investigation agents arrested four individuals accused of operating a syndicate that trafficked thousands of pre-registered SIM cards used in large-scale financial fraud and online scams.

National Bureau of Investigation Probes Alleged Ghost Flood Control Projects in Taguig

The National Bureau of Investigation launched formal investigations into suspected ghost flood control projects and questionable infrastructure allocations in Taguig City following testimony presented during Senate proceedings.

Department of Transportation Opens New Passenger Terminal at Lucena Port

The Department of Transportation inaugurated a new passenger terminal at the Port of Lucena in Quezon province, aiming to strengthen domestic maritime connectivity and support regional economic activity.

Consumer Groups Threaten Legal Action Over Philippines' High Electricity Prices

Consumer advocacy groups said they are preparing legal action against the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission after official figures showed Philippine electricity prices were the highest among ASEAN member states in...

Department of Energy Confirms Fresh Diesel and Kerosene Price Increases Nationwide

The Department of Energy and major oil companies implemented another round of double-digit price increases for diesel and kerosene, adding to inflationary pressures on transport operators, businesses, and households.

Bureau of Immigration Blocks Interpol-Flagged Terror Suspect From Entering the Philippines

Immigration authorities prevented an Omani national flagged by Interpol from entering the country through the airport's advance passenger information system, underscoring enhanced border security and passenger screening measures.

Bureau of Customs Seizes Smuggled Food Products Worth 23 Million Pesos at Manila Port

The Bureau of Customs confiscated five shipping containers carrying misdeclared frozen meat and agricultural products from China valued at twenty-three million pesos, intensifying efforts to combat illegal food imports.

Philippine Reclamation Authority Unveils Pasay Island Bridges Project Expected to Create 500,000 Jobs

The Philippine Reclamation Authority announced plans for fifteen bridges linking four artificial islands in Manila Bay, saying the Pasay City development is expected to stimulate economic activity and create at least five hundred thousan...

New Armed Forces Chief Pledges Faster Military Modernization and Stronger Territorial Defense

New Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Antonio Nafarrete said accelerating military modernization and strengthening external territorial defense will be his top priorities amid continuing security challenges in the We...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits Manila for Security and Trade Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Manila for meetings with Philippine officials and regional counterparts attending ASEAN foreign ministers' gatherings, with discussions focused on maritime security, freedom of navigation, a...

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Reports Strong June Balance of Payments Surplus

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said a three point four billion dollar balance of payments surplus in June reduced the country's first-half external deficit to three point eight eight billion dollars, supported by resilient overseas remi...

Asian Development Bank Cuts Philippines 2026 Growth Forecast to 3.8 Percent

The Asian Development Bank lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast for the Philippines to three point eight percent, citing delays in public infrastructure spending, higher energy costs, and weaker household consumption as inflation we...

Philippine Coast Guard Evacuates Injured Troops From Ayungin Shoal Amid China Coast Guard Harassment

The Philippine Coast Guard successfully evacuated two wounded Armed Forces personnel from Ayungin Shoal despite what authorities described as dangerous maneuvers and obstruction by China Coast Guard vessels, prompting renewed condemnatio...

Senate Impeachment Court Grants Prosecutors Access to Vice President Sara Duterte's Financial Records

The Senate impeachment court, led by Senate President Francis Escudero, authorized prosecutors to obtain the bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, covering tr...

EU Imposes Record €550 Million Digital Services Fine on AliExpress

Regulators found that the Alibaba-owned marketplace failed to control systemic risks from illegal, counterfeit and unsafe goods, while AliExpress called the penalty disproportionate and prepared an appeal.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Reports No Grand Lotto Jackpot Winners

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said no players won the latest Grand Lotto 6/55 or Megalotto 6/45 draws, allowing both jackpot prizes to roll over to the next scheduled drawings.

Tax Justice Network Ranks Philippines Sixty-First in Global Financial Secrecy Index

The Philippines ranked sixty-first among one hundred forty-one jurisdictions in the latest Financial Secrecy Index, reflecting a relatively low status as an enabler of concealed financial activity compared with many regional peers.

Retailers Report Stable Consumer Spending Ahead of the Third Quarter

Major shopping mall operators and retailers said consumer traffic and spending remained steady in key commercial districts, providing a stable backdrop as businesses prepare for the holiday shopping season.

Metro Manila Road-Clearing Operations Target Traffic Congestion

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority intensified road-clearing operations in Quezon City and Manila, issuing traffic citations and towing illegally parked vehicles to improve traffic flow.

Lawmakers Review Meat Imports to Safeguard Food Supply

House committees and agriculture officials are examining rising imports of pork, beef, and poultry to assess tariff policies and ensure stable food supplies and affordable prices for consumers.

National Disaster Agency Strengthens Typhoon Preparedness Measures

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has coordinated with local governments to preposition emergency resources and reinforce early warning systems ahead of the peak typhoon and heavy rainfall season.

Police Increase Security Ahead of Bangsamoro Regional Elections

The Philippine National Police has heightened security operations in high-risk areas to safeguard public order and support peaceful elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Bureau of Customs Seizes Illegal Drugs Worth Forty-One Million Pesos

The Bureau of Customs, working with anti-drug agencies and postal authorities, intercepted thirty-nine inbound parcels containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and ecstasy with an estimated value of forty-one million pesos.

Department of Labor Launches New Technical Skills Employment Program

The Department of Labor and Employment introduced a new program to strengthen technical and vocational education, aligning workforce training with the needs of advanced manufacturing and industrial automation.

Commercial Banks Expand Secure Cloud-Based Banking Services

Major Philippine banks and digital financial institutions are upgrading encryption systems and cloud-based platforms across Metro Manila and Cebu to support rising demand for electronic payments and mobile banking.

Philippine Universities Expand Artificial Intelligence Education Partnerships

Leading universities have signed agreements with global technology companies to introduce advanced artificial intelligence courses and cloud computing laboratories, helping prepare graduates for growing demand in digital industries.

Civil Aviation Expands International Flight Network to Support Tourism

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and international airlines are adding new direct routes from Manila and Cebu to overseas destinations, improving connectivity for business and leisure travelers.

WTW Survey Shows Philippine Employers Plan Five Point One Percent Salary Increase in 2027

A compensation survey by advisory firm WTW found that employers in the Philippines are planning median salary increases of five point one percent next year as companies compete to retain skilled workers while managing higher operating co...

Department of Energy Accelerates Renewable Power and Grid Projects

The Department of Energy and private utilities are speeding up solar, wind, and electricity transmission projects to strengthen long-term energy security and expand clean power capacity nationwide.

Government Announces New Cash Assistance for Low-Income Households

The Philippine government will distribute another round of targeted cash assistance to vulnerable families to help offset the effects of imported inflation and higher global energy prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Department of Finance Exceeds Annual Privatization Revenue Target

The Department of Finance said proceeds from state asset sales have already exceeded this year's collection target by one hundred fifty percent following the successful sale of government properties in Makati's central business district.

Analysts Warn Foreign Direct Investment May Stay Under Pressure

Economists and university researchers said foreign direct investment could remain subdued for the rest of the year as elevated borrowing costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and domestic governance concerns continue to weigh on investor sent...

Department of Economy, Planning and Development Says Upper-Middle-Income Status Remains Secure

The Department of Economy, Planning and Development said the Philippines remains firmly within the World Bank's upper-middle-income classification, citing strong economic fundamentals despite external risks.

Philippines Hosts Forty-Fourth ASEANAPOL Conference to Strengthen Regional Policing

Police leaders from across Southeast Asia gathered in Manila for the Forty-Fourth ASEANAPOL Conference to expand intelligence sharing and strengthen joint operations against cybercrime, drug trafficking, and maritime smuggling.

Philippines Hosts ASEAN Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Commission Meeting

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro urged nuclear-weapon states to accede to the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone protocol during a commission meeting in Manila, emphasizing regional unity as global security challenges i...

Philippine Police Prepare Major Security Operation for President Marcos' State of the Nation Address

More than twenty thousand police officers will be deployed to secure the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address, with nationwide security preparations now ente...