Manila Times

Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson Finishes in Top 12 at Miss World 2026

Philippine representative Asia Rose Simpson reached the Top 12 at the Miss World 2026 pageant, continuing the country’s strong public engagement with international beauty competitions.

Gilas Pilipinas Builds Next Generation Around Kai Sotto

The Philippine men’s national basketball team is increasingly building around younger players led by centre Kai Sotto as it prepares for upcoming Asian regional competitions.

Alex Eala Becomes First Philippine Player to Reach Global Tennis Top 20

Nineteen-year-old Alex Eala became the first player representing the Philippines to enter the global top 20 rankings and reached the third round of the U.S. Open in New York.

Philippines Seeks Permanent Funding Mechanism for Presidential STEM Scholarship Programme

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto urged lawmakers to establish dedicated long-term funding for the presidential scholarship programme to support high-achieving students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Philippine Authorities Investigate Yacht Seized With 366 Million Pesos of Marijuana

The Coast Guard and anti-narcotics agencies opened a forensic investigation into the ownership and maritime routes of a yacht intercepted in Subic Bay carrying more than 366 million pesos worth of high-grade marijuana.

Philippine Tax Agency Launches Risk-Based Corporate Audit Programme

The Bureau of Internal Revenue introduced a data-driven corporate audit framework intended to identify tax evasion more efficiently and strengthen revenue collection for government programmes and infrastructure spending.

Prime Infrastructure Plans Renewable Power Expansion Across Philippine Industrial Zones

Prime Infrastructure Capital, led by Enrique Razon Jr., is planning to integrate renewable generation directly into industrial economic zones as part of efforts to attract foreign manufacturers seeking cleaner electricity supplies.

North Luzon Expressway Traffic Normalizes After Eight-Hour Flooding Gridlock

Traffic and freight movements recovered along the North Luzon Expressway after flooding and infrastructure failures caused an eight-hour standstill affecting thousands of motorists and commercial vehicles.

PhilHealth Targets Lower Out-of-Pocket Medical Costs by 2028

PhilHealth outlined a plan to reduce the share of healthcare expenses paid directly by Filipino households to 37.8% within four years by expanding coverage for serious illnesses and routine medical consultations.

SteelAsia Mill Wins High-Value Enterprise Status to Support Domestic Steel Production

The Board of Investments granted strategic investment incentives to a SteelAsia manufacturing facility, supporting efforts to expand local steel production and reduce reliance on imported construction materials.

ACEN Approves 9 Billion Peso Financing for Solar and Battery Projects

Ayala Group renewable energy company ACEN approved a 9 billion peso financing facility to support additional solar farms and utility-scale battery storage projects in the Philippines.

Cebu Extends Remote Learning as Regional Haze Worsens Air Quality

Cebu City prolonged remote-learning measures and placed hospitals on heightened alert as transboundary haze from regional wildfires continued to affect air quality and respiratory health in the central Philippines.

Philippines Suspends Livestock Imports From 23 Countries on Biosecurity Concerns

The Department of Agriculture halted imports of livestock and related poultry products from 23 countries as part of efforts to prevent transnational animal diseases from entering the domestic market.

Sugarcane Pest Outbreak Triggers State of Calamity in Passi City

Authorities in Iloilo declared a state of calamity as a fast-spreading agricultural pest damaged sugarcane areas, with Negros Occidental identified as the worst-affected province and national sugar production facing potential disruption.

Philippines Begins Work on Science-Based National Flood Management Master Plan

The Department of Public Works and Highways has started developing a national flood-control strategy using advanced hydrological modelling to protect Metro Manila and key provincial supply chains from increasingly severe storms.

Philippine Oil Companies Warn of Fuel Price Increases of Up to 4.50 Pesos Per Litre

Domestic petroleum distributors said diesel and gasoline prices could rise by as much as 4.50 pesos per litre, adding fresh cost pressure for transport operators, businesses and consumers.

Philippine Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte Over Alleged Grave Threats

Vice President Sara Duterte posted 360,000 pesos in bail after a Quezon City court ordered her arrest on three counts of grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., deepening the political rupture between the country’s leading ...

Philippines Updates National Scouting Guidelines With Focus on Disaster Preparedness

The Department of Education has introduced revised scouting policies for public schools emphasizing practical survival skills, disaster resilience and broader participation across basic education.

Philippine Customs Seizes Smuggled Tobacco in Zamboanga Maritime Operations

Customs and naval teams have intercepted unregistered vessels in the Zamboanga Peninsula carrying millions of pesos worth of illicit tobacco products.

Passi City Declares State of Calamity After Pest Infestation Damages Crops

Authorities in Passi City, Iloilo, have declared a state of calamity after agricultural pests damaged large areas of food crops, allowing emergency funds to be released to affected farmers.

Philippine Households Face Higher LPG and Utility Prices

The Department of Energy says consumers should prepare for moderate increases in cooking gas and utility costs as international contract prices and regional freight expenses rise.

Philippines Launches Digital Business Registration Kiosk to Reduce Administrative Delays

The Board of Investments and National Development Company have introduced a self-service registration platform designed to simplify business procedures and reduce delays for investors and companies.

Manila Water Starts 5,000-Kilometer Pipeline Expansion in Eastern Metro Manila

Manila Water has begun a major expansion of its distribution network involving more than 5,000 kilometers of new pipelines to support growing residential and commercial demand in the capital’s eastern zone.

Court Convicts Defendants in Negros Oriental Governor Murder Case

A regional trial court has handed down lengthy prison terms to several defendants linked to the armed attack that killed a provincial governor in Negros Oriental.

Marcos Administration Seeks Additional ₱300 Million to Complete Bukidnon Airport

The Philippine government is requesting another ₱300 million in the national budget to accelerate construction of Bukidnon Airport and keep the project on track for completion in 2027.

Philippines Launches Risk-Based Corporate Tax Audit Program

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has introduced a standardized data-driven audit system targeting corporate compliance across major business districts as the government seeks to strengthen tax collection.

Philippine Agriculture Department Monitors Food Prices After Weather Disruptions

Agriculture officials are tracking vegetable and fish prices after prolonged rain and flooding disrupted supply chains, with authorities seeking to prevent unjustified retail price increases.

Metro Manila Deploys More Than 11,000 Emergency Workers After Flooding

Local governments and social welfare agencies have mobilized more than 11,000 emergency workers to clear debris, restore drainage and support recovery in flood-hit communities across Metro Manila.

Philippine Authorities Seize ₱366 Million in Smuggled Narcotics at Subic Bay

Customs and anti-narcotics officers have intercepted contraband valued at ₱366 million aboard a vessel at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in a major maritime drug seizure.

Meralco PowerGen Connects First Phase of 600 MW Solar Project to Philippine Grid

Meralco PowerGen has connected the initial phase of a 600-megawatt solar facility to the national grid, adding new renewable generation capacity to the country’s power system.

Philippines Accelerates Long-Term Flood Management Plans After Severe Monsoon Flooding

The Department of Public Works and Highways is accelerating science-based flood-control planning after recent monsoon rains and typhoons caused widespread inundation across vulnerable communities.

Indonesian Wildfire Haze Worsens Air Quality Across Visayas and Mindanao

Philippine environmental authorities have issued health advisories after smoke from fires in Kalimantan pushed air quality to unhealthy levels in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

GCash Parent Mynt Moves Closer to Approval for ₱92.3 Billion IPO

Philippine regulators are advancing their review of a proposed ₱92.3 billion initial public offering by Mynt, the parent company of digital wallet GCash.

Marcos Signs Law Expanding Financial Aid for Low-Income College Students

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 12325, expanding support for disadvantaged tertiary students by covering additional costs including books, transport and living expenses.

Philippine Business Confidence Falls Into Negative Territory

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas says business sentiment has deteriorated sharply, with executives citing high borrowing costs, currency volatility and domestic political tensions among the main pressures on operations.

NBI Recommends Human Trafficking Charges Against Lawmaker Leandro Leviste and Six Others

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation has recommended qualified human trafficking charges against Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste and six others, forwarding the case to the Department of Justice for preliminary investig...

Philippines Warns of Sharp Fuel Price Increases Next Week

Energy and oil industry officials expect diesel prices to rise by as much as ₱5 per liter and gasoline by up to ₱4.50 per liter next week amid continued instability in Middle Eastern energy markets.

Bangsamoro Region Completes Preparations for First Parliamentary Elections

The Philippine Commission on Elections says technical, security and logistical preparations are complete for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region’s inaugural parliamentary elections on September 14.

Philippine Lawmakers Streamline Impeachment Case Against Vice President Sara Duterte

The House prosecution panel is narrowing its documentary presentation in impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of ₱612 million in confidential government funds.

Visayas Power Grid Placed on Red Alert as Mindanao Faces Yellow Alert

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has placed the Visayas grid under red alert and Mindanao under yellow alert after unexpected power-plant outages reduced reserve margins across central and southern regions.