Manila Times

Metro Manila Prepares for Major International Trade Exhibitions to Boost Business Links

The World Trade Center in Pasay City is finalising preparations for a series of international exhibitions covering agriculture, maritime defence and construction as Manila seeks to strengthen regional business and investment connections.

Sultan Kudarat Resumes In-Person Classes After Post-Earthquake Safety Inspections

Provincial authorities in Sultan Kudarat have lifted class suspensions after engineers confirmed the structural safety of public facilities, allowing schools to resume normal operations.

Government Accelerates Reconstruction of Fire-Damaged School in Quezon City

The Department of Public Works and Highways has expedited the rebuilding of a major public school destroyed by fire in Quezon City as part of broader efforts to strengthen education infrastructure resilience.

Fuel Aid Delivered to Fisherfolk Affected by Rising Costs and Maritime Restrictions

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has distributed fuel subsidies to hundreds of registered fishers in Mindoro whose livelihoods have been disrupted by volatile fuel prices and restrictions in traditional fishing grounds.

Rice Assistance Programme Reaches 16,000 Vulnerable Families in Puerto Princesa

The Marcos administration expanded its Bagong Pilipinas Rice Programme in Palawan, providing premium rice assistance to thousands of low-income households affected by food inflation.

Government Rolls Out Fuel Subsidies to Shield Public Transport Operators From High Energy Costs

Transport authorities have begun distributing targeted fuel assistance to tricycle drivers and public utility vehicle operators to ease the impact of elevated fuel prices and help prevent fare increases.

Government Expands Protection Services for Overseas Filipino Workers in Northern Philippines

The Department of Migrant Workers signed an agreement with provincial authorities in Abra to combat illegal recruitment and improve welfare services for overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Anti-Drug Authorities Seize More Than 100 Million Pesos Worth of Narcotics in Nationwide Operations

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said it confiscated more than 107 million pesos in illegal drugs and arrested 120 suspects during coordinated operations conducted over seven days.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr Calls for Unity During Independence Day Commemorations

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr led ceremonies marking the Philippines' 128th Independence Day and urged national unity amid rising geopolitical pressures and domestic challenges.

Election Commission Begins Destroying 2.4 Million Unused Bangsamoro Ballots

The Commission on Elections has started disposing of millions of ballots printed for the postponed Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, reflecting the political and logistical consequences of delaying the regional vote.

Analysts Warn Artificial Intelligence Could Threaten Philippine Outsourcing Industry

Regional economic analysts said generative artificial intelligence poses a significant challenge to the Philippines' business process outsourcing sector and warned that workforce upskilling is becoming increasingly urgent.

Central Bank Orders Banks to Replace Text Passwords for High-Risk Transactions by End of June

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has directed supervised financial institutions to phase out text-message and email authentication for high-value transactions and adopt device-based passkeys and biometric verification.

Police Call for Nationwide Cybersecurity Audit After Philippine Congress Websites Hacked

The Philippine National Police urged immediate cybersecurity reviews across government agencies after cyberattacks defaced the websites of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Health Department Deploys Emergency Medical Teams to Overwhelmed Southern Mindanao Hospitals

The Department of Health dispatched specialised emergency teams to support hospitals in southern Mindanao as they struggle to treat more than 1,400 people injured in the earthquake.

Environmental Authorities Report Major Seabed Uplift and Coral Damage After Mindanao Quake

Government environmental agencies said the earthquake raised parts of the seabed by up to two metres, exposing coral reefs, damaging marine ecosystems and permanently altering sections of Sarangani's coastline.

Philippine External Debt Indicators Improve in First Quarter

Financial authorities said key measures of the country's external debt profile strengthened during the first quarter, providing additional fiscal room to support the government's Build Better More infrastructure programme.

Philippine Foreign Exchange Reserves Hold at $104 Billion, Strengthening External Buffers

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said gross international reserves stood at $104 billion at the end of May, providing the country with substantial liquidity to withstand currency volatility and external economic shocks.

Foreign Direct Investment Reaches $1.7 Billion Despite Global Economic Headwinds

The central bank reported year-to-date foreign direct investment of $1.7 billion, indicating continued international confidence in the Philippine economy despite high global interest rates and shifting regional supply chains.

Central Bank Raises Benchmark Interest Rate to 4.5 Percent as Inflation Remains Elevated

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas increased its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent, seeking to anchor inflation expectations after consumer prices remained elevated at 6.8 percent in May.

Philippine Stocks Rally as US-Iran Peace Deal Eases Energy and Inflation Concerns

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose alongside other Asian markets while oil prices fell after a peace agreement between the United States and Iran raised hopes of a reopening of key global energy routes.

Philippine Forces Monitor Suspected Chinese Structure Near Scarborough Shoal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and maritime agencies are closely watching an unidentified floating structure near Bajo de Masinloc, raising concerns in Manila about possible territorial encroachment and future militarisation within ...

Philippine Economy Slows Sharply to 2.8 Percent Growth as Construction, Industry and Agriculture Weaken

The Philippine economy expanded by just 2.8 percent in the first quarter as government infrastructure spending declined amid corruption scrutiny and both industrial and agricultural output contracted.

More Than 8,600 Schools Damaged as Mindanao Earthquake Disrupts Education Across Southern Philippines

The Department of Education said thousands of public schools suffered varying levels of structural damage following the Sarangani earthquake, requiring extensive emergency funding and threatening learning continuity in affected areas.

Powerful Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Devastates Mindanao, Killing More Than 60 and Injuring Thousands

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani and southern Mindanao, killing at least 61 people, injuring more than 1,400 and destroying critical infrastructure, prompting the Philippine government to declare a state of calamity across 13 ...

Canva Philippines Launches Nationwide Digital Education Initiative

The Philippine arm of the global design software company has introduced training programs and digital tools for teachers and students in an effort to narrow technology gaps and modernize classroom learning nationwide.

Nickel Asia Expands Zambales Operations to Meet Rising Demand for Battery Minerals

A subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation has secured a new operating mandate in Zambales as the country's largest lateritic nickel producer moves to capitalize on growing global demand for minerals used in electric vehicle batteries.

Marcos Administration Recognizes Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as New Senate Leader

The government formally acknowledged Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as leader of the Senate following a majority bloc realignment, strengthening legislative support for the president's remaining economic priorities.

Philippine Government and Norway Partner to Accelerate Offshore Wind Development

The Department of Energy has formalized new cooperation with Norwegian partners to advance offshore wind projects and support the country's electric vehicle ecosystem as Manila seeks to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Major Earthquake in Mindanao Triggers Power Grid Alerts Across Southern Philippines

A powerful earthquake disrupted electricity generation and prompted red and yellow alerts across the Visayas and Mindanao grids, exposing continuing vulnerabilities in the country's energy infrastructure.

Foreign Direct Investment Into the Philippines Rebounds 26 Percent in March

Net foreign direct investment inflows reached $611 million in March, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas attributing the recovery to improved investor sentiment despite broader global economic uncertainty.

International Criminal Court Orders New Medical Examination for Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

The International Criminal Court has directed a comprehensive medical assessment of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte ahead of his trial on alleged crimes against humanity and has eased certain restrictions on his communications.

Philippine Lawmakers Cite New Wealth Evidence Ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial

Congressional prosecutors said they have uncovered new evidence allegedly linking Vice President Sara Duterte to unexplained wealth, intensifying political tensions between the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp ahead of key elec...

President Marcos Reaffirms Defense of West Philippine Sea After New Chinese Barriers Appear at Scarborough Shoal

Speaking during an Independence Day diplomatic reception at Malacañan Palace, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated the Philippines' commitment to a rules-based international order following the deployment of new Chinese floating str...

Catholic Bishops Prepare for National Plenary Assembly in Manila in July

Senior Catholic leaders across the Philippines are preparing for a national assembly in Manila to discuss key social and economic issues, reflecting the Church’s continued role in public and civic affairs.

Philippine Space Agency Uses Satellite Imagery to Guide Earthquake Response in Mindanao

National space authorities are using Earth observation data to map power outages and structural damage in Sarangani, helping disaster agencies coordinate logistics and emergency response operations.

Court of Appeals Dismisses Corporate Petition Filed by Construction Executive Curlee Discaya

The Court of Appeals rejected a petition filed by businessman Curlee Discaya, citing defective documentation and reinforcing strict procedural standards in complex corporate litigation.

Philippine Government Warns of Higher Electricity Rates as Generation Costs Rise

Manila Electric Company has warned consumers of potential tariff increases this month due to tight power supply and forced outages at major baseload plants affecting the national grid.

Aftershocks and Equipment Delays Slow Earthquake Response in Sarangani Province

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported more than 1,000 aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.7 tremor, continuing to hinder rescue operations and the stabilization of damaged infrastructure.

Manila Cathedral Launches Six-Month National Pilgrimage of Religious Icon Across the Philippines

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has begun a nationwide pilgrimage featuring the replica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, drawing large gatherings in a months-long religious observance aimed at promoting unity and devotion.

Philippines Promotes Critical Mineral Resources at International Investment Forum in Jakarta

The Board of Investments highlighted opportunities in nickel, copper, and cobalt production to attract global investors, positioning the Philippines within Southeast Asia’s expanding electric vehicle supply chain.

Fuel Surcharges to Drop as Philippine Aviation Regulator Eases Airline Cost Pressures

The Civil Aeronautics Board confirmed reductions in passenger fuel surcharges due to lower global oil prices, a move expected to support domestic travel and tourism demand in the coming months.

Philippines and Japan Sign Agreement to Deepen Space Technology Cooperation

Manila and Tokyo signed a new aerospace cooperation framework covering Earth observation, disaster response, and satellite development, strengthening bilateral ties across space technology and regional security.

Philippine Government Moves to Expand Maritime Safety Protocols After Chinese Rocket Launch Activity

The Philippine Space Agency issued safety advisories to shipping operators following Chinese Long March rocket launches, warning of potential hazards from reentering space debris within Philippine maritime zones.

Political Tensions Rise in Philippines as Vice President Sara Duterte Faces New Asset Allegations

Political friction has escalated after allegations emerged claiming Vice President Sara Duterte failed to declare certain real estate holdings in her official asset disclosures, adding pressure ahead of upcoming midterm political campaigns.

International Aid Accelerates Response as Earthquake Devastates Parts of Mindanao

The United Arab Emirates and multiple international organizations have sent humanitarian relief supplies and emergency teams to southern Philippines following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, supporting local authorities managing widespread...