Manila Times

Angelo Que Joins Negros Occidental Classic as Philippine Golf Tour Season Continues

Three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que will compete at the Marapara course in Negros Occidental as the Philippine Golf Tour enters the second half of its season.

Philippines Declares Special Local Holidays for Regional Festivals and Anniversaries

Malacañang has approved special non-working holidays across seven localities in September and October to accommodate local founding anniversaries, festivals and community celebrations.

Ilocos Nursing Graduate Tops Philippine Licensure Examination

A nursing candidate from northern Luzon achieved the highest national ranking in the latest board examinations, highlighting the continuing contribution of provincial universities to the Philippine healthcare workforce.

Philippine House to Hold Memorial Service for Late Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua

Lawmakers and provincial officials are preparing a formal necrological service for Dakila Carlo Cua, recognising the late Quirino governor’s 25 years in public service and leadership in local government organisations.

More Than One Million Devotees Attend Naga City’s Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession

More than one million Catholic devotees and visitors attended the concluding fluvial procession of the Peñafrancia Festival in the Bicol region, with authorities reporting no major security incidents.

Philippines Plans Business Forum to Connect Smaller Companies With Global Supply Chains

Government economic officials and industry leaders are preparing a forum focused on improving finance and market access for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises seeking greater participation in international supply chains.

Manila Water Expands Sewerage Network to 500 Kilometres

Manila Water says its wastewater and sewerage system in the eastern concession area has reached 500 kilometres, expanding sanitation infrastructure intended to reduce pollution across Metro Manila.

Marcos Administration Orders Faster Processing of Medical Assistance Claims

Malacañang has directed health authorities to streamline the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients programme to reduce delays in financial support for vulnerable patients.

Philippine Police Consider School Safety Task Force After Campus Violence

The Philippine National Police is considering tighter campus security measures, restrictions on student gadgets and a joint school-safety task force with the Department of Education following recent violent incidents.

Metro Manila Police Step Up Security Ahead of Martial Law Anniversary Protests

More than 15,000 personnel are being prepared for demonstrations marking the 54th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, with police saying security operations will seek to maintain order while allowing peaceful protests.

Philippine Senate Inspects Major Metro Manila Rail and Transit Projects

Senators conducted oversight inspections of ongoing mass-transit and railway projects in Metro Manila as the government seeks to accelerate transport upgrades and reduce congestion in the capital.

Philippine Authorities Investigate Passenger Ferry Fire in Palawan

Police and maritime regulators have opened a joint investigation into a major passenger-vessel fire in Palawan, focusing attention on safety standards and enforcement across domestic ferry operations.

Philippine Police Seize 204 Million Pesos of Suspected Methamphetamine in Las Piñas

Police arrested a high-value suspect and recovered about 30 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine worth an estimated 204 million pesos during an anti-drug operation in southern Metro Manila.

European Union Provides Nearly 11 Million Pesos for Luzon Flood Relief

The European Union has allocated about 10.9 million pesos in humanitarian assistance for communities affected by severe monsoon flooding across Luzon, supporting emergency relief for thousands of residents.

Ombudsman Opens Probe Into Alleged ‘Ghost Internet’ Government Projects

The Philippine Ombudsman is investigating suspected irregularities in publicly funded information-technology and connectivity projects, while the Department of Information and Communications Technology has pledged full cooperation with t...

Government and MILF Activate Peace Mechanisms After Armed Clashes in Bangsamoro

Philippine security forces and Moro Islamic Liberation Front representatives activated local de-escalation arrangements following deadly clashes in the Bangsamoro region, seeking to prevent retaliatory violence and preserve the peace pro...

Philippines Reaffirms One-China Policy While Defending Unofficial Ties With Taiwan

Philippine authorities say Manila’s One-China policy remains unchanged while maintaining unofficial economic and cultural relations with Taiwan, as Beijing objects to plans for an additional Taiwanese representative office in Cebu.

Philippine Navy Backs Proposal to Develop Expeditionary Capability for Merchant Shipping Protection

The Philippine Navy endorsed Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s proposal for forces capable of operating farther from home waters to protect Filipino merchant vessels and seafarers while remaining within the military’s defensive ma...

ASEAN Economic Ministers Meet in Manila on Trade, Investment and Digital Transformation

Economic ministers from Southeast Asia gathered in Pasay City for the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, focusing on regional competitiveness, trade, digital transformation, small businesses and sustainable growth.

House Prosecutors Expand Scrutiny of Sara Duterte’s Financial and Corporate Records

Philippine lawmakers are examining bank, tax, corporate and procurement records linked to Vice President Sara Duterte as impeachment proceedings intensify scrutiny of alleged financial irregularities.

Rodrigo Duterte Appears Before ICC as Lawyers Raise Concerns Over His Memory

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before the International Criminal Court as proceedings over alleged crimes committed during his anti-drug campaign continued, with his defence arguing that memory problems affect his a...

Philippines Says China Coast Guard Vessel Rammed Fisheries Ship Off Palawan

The BRP Datu Magat Salamat was damaged while delivering fuel to Filipino fishermen off Palawan, with Manila accusing a China Coast Guard vessel of ramming the fisheries ship as maritime tensions in the South China Sea persist.

Ilocos Nursing Graduate Tops Philippine Licensure Examination

A nursing graduate from the Ilocos region achieved the highest score in the latest Philippine nursing board examination as the country continues to produce healthcare professionals sought by employers at home and overseas.

Makati Tax Office Launches Digital Assistance Service for Small Businesses

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Makati office has introduced a digital taxpayer-support platform designed to simplify compliance for micro and small enterprises.

Rare Philippine Plant Rediscovered in Masungi Georeserve After 130 Years

Conservationists have documented an endemic plant species in Rizal’s Masungi Georeserve for the first time in more than a century, adding new scientific significance to the protected karst landscape.

Senator Robin Padilla Says He Will Not Seek Another Term

Philippine Senator Robin Padilla said he no longer plans to run for public office and named several political figures he would favor as potential running mates for Vice President Sara Duterte in a future presidential bid.

GSIS Expands Emergency Loan Support for Members Hit by Recent Disasters

The Government Service Insurance System is increasing emergency financial assistance for eligible government employees and pensioners affected by typhoons, flooding and other recent calamities.

Emergency Supports Installed to Stabilize Damaged Tarlac City Bridge

Public works crews have installed heavy structural supports at the damaged Agana Bridge in Tarlac City as authorities work to prevent further disruption along a major Central Luzon transport route.

Manila Water Completes 500 Kilometres of Wastewater Pipelines in Metro Manila

Manila Water says its sewerage network in the capital’s eastern service area has reached 500 kilometres, expanding wastewater infrastructure intended to reduce untreated sewage entering major waterways.

ADB-Backed $100 Million Project Targets Philippine Vocational Training Upgrade

Philippine authorities are advancing a $100 million Asian Development Bank-backed project to modernize technical and vocational education and better align workforce skills with changing industry demand.

Malacañang Says President Marcos Has No Plans to Resign

The Philippine presidential palace rejected speculation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. might step down after allies of Vice President Sara Duterte said she was prepared to assume the presidency.

Bangsamoro Indigenous Leaders Seek Guaranteed Representation in Regional Parliament

Indigenous and tribal leaders are pressing for protected representation in the Bangsamoro parliament as the autonomous region establishes its new elected political institutions.

Philippine Interior Department Seeks Restrictions on Children’s Social Media Access

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking talks with lawmakers and technology regulators on possible limits to minors’ access to the internet and social media amid concerns about online exploitation and harmful content.

Philippine Immigration Bureau Accelerates Body-Camera Rollout at Airports

The Bureau of Immigration is fast-tracking voice-recording body cameras for airport officers as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and prevent abuses linked to trafficking and border-control operations.

Philippine Coast Guard Warns Fleet Shortage Could Weaken Maritime Patrols

The Philippine Coast Guard has warned lawmakers that funding and maintenance constraints could leave the service short of operational vessels as maritime patrol demands continue to grow.

Philippines Expands Walang Gutom Food Program Toward 750,000 Households

The government plans to extend its electronic food-support program to 750,000 vulnerable households by 2027 as it scales up efforts to address hunger and malnutrition.

Philippines Cancels Auction for Three Coal Areas and Reviews Contract Framework

The Department of Energy canceled bidding for three coal concession areas and said it would reassess how future operating contracts are valued and awarded.

Philippines Targets ₱4.5 Trillion in Strategic Investment for AI and Emerging Technologies

The Board of Investments is promoting its 2026 investment priorities across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, critical minerals and other advanced industries as the government seeks larger flows of high-value capital.

Philippines Pushes ASEAN to Reduce Digital Trade Barriers

The Department of Trade and Industry is urging Southeast Asian governments to harmonize digital trade rules and improve access to regional supply chains for smaller businesses as the Philippines chairs key ASEAN economic meetings.

Philippine Forces Kill Four Suspected Dawlah Islamiya-Linked Militants in Cotabato

Philippine security forces killed four suspected militants linked to Dawlah Islamiya during fighting in Cotabato, while residents fled affected communities as operations continued.

Indonesian Haze Pushes Metro Cebu Air Quality to Acutely Unhealthy Levels

Smoke from forest and land fires in Indonesia has again driven Metro Cebu’s air pollution into the acutely unhealthy range, prompting health warnings as transboundary haze spreads across parts of the central and southern Philippines.

South Cotabato School Shooting Kills Three and Injures Six

Three students, including the gunman, were killed and six others wounded in a shooting at Banga National High School, prompting an investigation and renewed calls for stronger campus security measures.

Philippines Revises Major Railway and Cebu Airport Public-Private Partnerships

Economic authorities approved changes to the ₱229 billion North-South Commuter Railway operations contract and extended the Mactan-Cebu International Airport concession as the government seeks stronger bidding interest and additional air...

GCash Parent Mynt Prepares ₱92 Billion Philippine IPO for October

Mynt, the parent company of mobile wallet GCash, is preparing an initial public offering worth about ₱92 billion, potentially creating one of the largest listings in Philippine market history.

Philippine Remittance Growth Forecast to Slow to 25-Year Low

Cash remittances from overseas Filipino workers are forecast to grow about 2% to $36 billion this year, with Middle East instability weighing on overseas deployment and one of the Philippine economy’s major sources of foreign currency.