Manila Times

Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Davao del Sur as Authorities Inspect Infrastructure

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit Davao del Sur and surrounding areas in Mindanao, prompting local disaster officials to begin structural checks of hospitals, public facilities and commercial buildings.

Philippine Investigators Seize 63 Million Pesos in Counterfeit Luxury Clothing

The National Bureau of Investigation confiscated counterfeit apparel worth 63 million pesos during raids in Pasay and Valenzuela as authorities intensify enforcement against intellectual property violations and commercial smuggling.

Philippine Authorities Face Calls to Review Subic Bay Infrastructure Projects

Civil society and environmental groups filed petitions seeking a government investigation into commercial infrastructure developments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone over concerns about regulatory compliance and environmental effects.

Philippine Court Convicts Two Chinese Nationals in Major Methamphetamine Smuggling Case

The Justice Department secured convictions against two Chinese nationals involved in smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine concealed in commercial tea packaging.

Philippines Revises School Safety Drills to Remove Active-Shooter Reenactments

The Education Department dropped active-shooter simulations from nationwide school drills after psychiatric groups warned that realistic reenactments could cause psychological distress among students.

Oriental Mindoro Tourism Faces Disruption From Persistent Power and Water Shortages

Tourism businesses in Oriental Mindoro are pressing for national intervention as recurring electricity outages and water shortages disrupt a local industry worth billions of pesos ahead of the peak travel season.

Undocumented Filipinos in United States Urged to Return Home as Immigration Enforcement Tightens

Philippine diplomatic officials are advising citizens without legal status in the United States to consider voluntary departure as stricter American deportation measures raise concerns over Filipino households and remittance flows.

Philippines Accelerates E-Government Plan Across Health, Education and Transport

The government is expanding digital public services and sustainable data-centre infrastructure as part of a national effort to modernise service delivery and attract more international technology investment.

Philippine Health Department Faces Proposed 95 Billion Peso Budget Cut for 2027

The Department of Health faces a 95 billion peso reduction under the proposed 2027 national budget, prompting concern over funding for hospitals, disease surveillance and healthcare services outside major cities.

Philippine Senate Backs Ban on Government Contracts for Relatives of Public Officials

Senators unanimously approved legislation barring relatives of public officials up to the fourth civil degree from securing government contracts, targeting patronage and conflicts of interest in public procurement.

Philippines Approves 3.4 Billion Peso Purchase of Eight Attack Helicopters

The Defence Department will acquire eight new attack helicopters capable of operating in adverse weather, expanding Philippine Air Force close-support capabilities as the country modernises both internal and territorial defence assets.

Philippine BPO Industry Tops $40 Billion in Revenue as Artificial Intelligence Services Expand

The information technology and business process management sector generated more than $40 billion in export revenue and employed 1.9 million people as global capability centres expand artificial intelligence-enabled services in the Phili...

Philippine Agriculture Suffers 114 Billion Pesos in Disaster Damage Over Three Years

Natural calamities caused 114 billion pesos in agricultural losses from 2024 to 2026, affecting hundreds of thousands of farmers and fisherfolk and increasing pressure for faster government assistance.

Visayas and Mindanao Power Grids Face Red and Yellow Alerts After Plant Outages

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines issued emergency alerts after multiple generating plants went offline, raising the risk of power disruptions for businesses and communities across the central and southern Philippines.

Philippines Projects Rice Imports of Up to Five Million Tons After Severe Weather Damage

The Agriculture Department expects rice imports to reach as much as five million metric tons in 2026 as extreme weather cuts domestic production and increases pressure on national food supplies.

Philippines Launches National Flood Control Master Plan After Severe Monsoon Damage

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate implementation of a nationwide flood-control strategy combining major infrastructure projects with environmental rehabilitation following destructive monsoon rains and growing criticis...

Philippine Central Bank Raises Benchmark Interest Rate to 5% as Inflation Risks Persist

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas increased its policy rate to 5% as officials seek to contain inflation risks from volatile oil prices and possible further increases in agricultural costs.

Philippine Military Warns China Is Exploiting Domestic Political Distractions in West Philippine Sea

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Beijing is taking advantage of political controversies at home while dozens of Chinese vessels remain inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Philippine Central Bank Sees August Inflation Reaching as High as 6.5%

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects August inflation of between 5.5% and 6.5% as severe weather disrupts supplies of rice and vegetables while elevated fuel costs continue to strain household budgets.

Philippine Peso Falls to Record Low Against United States Dollar

The peso weakened beyond 62.56 per dollar in intraday trading, setting a new record low and increasing concern that more expensive imports could add to inflation pressures from food and energy costs.

Philippine Senate Prepares Full-Day Impeachment Hearings for Vice President Sara Duterte

The Senate is preparing intensive October hearings in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, with former Education Department officials testifying over the handling and liquidation of confidential funds during her tenure as edu...

Philippine Researchers Seek Support to Develop Indigenous Sweet Foods for Export

Agricultural scientists and industry groups are calling for government backing to commercialise local sweet food products for overseas health-food markets and diversify agricultural exports.

Philippine Police Arrest Student Over Violent Online Threats Against Schools

Cybercrime authorities and local police arrested a student after tracing violent threats posted online against educational institutions, adding to concerns over digital radicalisation and school safety.

Weak Peso and Higher Technology Costs Drive Demand for Consumer Financing

Electronics companies in the Philippines report growing reliance on installment plans and consumer financing as higher technology prices and a weaker peso constrain household purchasing power.

Philippine Law Firms Expand Use of AI for Property and Foreclosure Research

Major law firms and real-estate analysts are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to accelerate legal research and documentation involving foreclosures and property disputes.

Philippine Army Says Education Youth Summits Used Open-Source Data, Not Confidential Intelligence

A Philippine Army officer told the Senate impeachment court that military-led youth summits funded by the Department of Education relied entirely on publicly available information rather than confidential intelligence.

Laguna Seeks National Support for 1.2 Billion Peso Waste-to-Energy Project

Officials in Calauan, Laguna, asked the national government to help accelerate a proposed 1.2 billion peso waste-to-energy facility intended to address solid-waste problems and add electricity supply to the Luzon grid.

Negros Oriental Police Director and Six Chiefs Removed Amid Illegal Gambling Investigation

The Philippine National Police relieved the Negros Oriental provincial police director and six municipal chiefs while investigating allegations of involvement with illegal gambling operations.

Philippines Imposes Classroom Cellphone Ban to Curb Distraction and Online Gaming

The Department of Education introduced a nationwide ban on mobile-phone use during class hours while expanding physical education programs aimed at reducing excessive online gaming and improving student focus.

Philippines Moves to Hire 10,000 Guidance Personnel for Public Schools

The Department of Education is recruiting 10,000 associate guidance personnel to address a shortage of licensed school counselors and expand mental-health support for students.

Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Strikes Mindanao, Prompting Infrastructure Inspections

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Mindanao at a depth of more than 100 kilometers, leading disaster agencies to inspect major public and commercial infrastructure for damage.

Philippine House Advances Bill Extending Barangay and Youth Council Terms to Five Years

The House of Representatives approved on second reading legislation that would extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from three years to five.

Philippine Supreme Court Recognizes Electronic Notarisation

The Supreme Court formally legalized electronic notarisation, creating a digital framework intended to streamline corporate, property and financial transactions across the Philippines.

Jollibee Plans Hong Kong Listing for International Business

Jollibee Foods Corporation will seek a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing for its overseas operations as the Philippine restaurant group restructures to support further international expansion and raise foreign capital.

Philippines Urges Meta to Require National ID Verification for Social Media Accounts

Philippine authorities asked Meta to integrate the Philippine Identification System into account verification as part of efforts to combat online misinformation and cybercrime.

Visayas Power Grid Placed on Red Alert Amid Supply Shortages

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines issued consecutive red and yellow alerts for the Visayas grid as electricity supply constraints raised concerns over energy reliability across the central Philippines.

Philippine Senate Reshuffles Leadership Ahead of Impeachment and Budget Debates

The Senate reorganized key leadership and committee positions as lawmakers prepare for major budget negotiations and the continuing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Philippine Police Investigate Tacloban School Shooting for Possible Extremist Links

Police and counter-terrorism investigators are examining whether a school shooting in Tacloban City was connected to the international extremist network known as 764 and possible online grooming of young people.

Pampanga Flood Damage Exceeds 1.2 Billion Pesos as One Million Residents Are Displaced

Severe monsoon rains and Tropical Storm Pilandok caused more than 1.2 billion pesos in damage in Central Luzon, displaced about one million Pampanga residents and prompted emergency toll suspensions on the North Luzon Expressway.

Leptospirosis Cases Top 5,000 as Philippines Opens 33 Emergency Treatment Lanes

The Department of Health activated 33 dedicated hospital fast lanes after more than 5,000 leptospirosis infections were recorded following severe monsoon flooding across Luzon and Metro Manila.

Metro Manila Air Quality Reaches Hazardous Levels Amid Transboundary Haze

Philippine authorities issued health advisories after smoke linked to Indonesian forest fires pushed air pollution in Metro Manila into hazardous territory and reduced visibility across the capital.

Philippine Health Department Faces Proposed 95 Billion Peso Budget Cut for 2027

Lawmakers and public-health advocates raised concerns after the government proposed reducing the Department of Health budget by 95 billion pesos, potentially affecting hospital upgrades, medical assistance and pandemic preparedness.

ICC Postpones Hearing on Charges Against Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

The International Criminal Court delayed a hearing on whether to confirm potential crimes against humanity charges against Rodrigo Duterte, temporarily pausing proceedings over his administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Philippine Senate Accelerates Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial as Military Officials Testify

The Senate impeachment court approved full-day hearings for October as military witnesses said they were unaware Department of Education officials had used youth summit certifications to justify confidential-fund spending under Vice Pres...