Manila Times

Philippines Blocks Entry of Romanian National Convicted of Human Trafficking

Immigration officers at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted and deported a Romanian national previously convicted of procuring women for prostitution.

Puregold Expands Stores and Digital Delivery as Philippine Retail Competition Intensifies

Puregold Price Club is expanding its physical retail network and online delivery operations as the supermarket group seeks a larger share of household spending in the Philippine market.

Philippine Treasury Scales Back Planned Retail Bond Offering

The Bureau of the Treasury reduced the planned size of an upcoming retail treasury bond issue as government debt managers adjusted borrowing plans to changing liquidity and investor demand.

Bangsamoro Election Manual Audit Records 99.9% Accuracy

A random manual audit of the Bangsamoro parliamentary election reported an accuracy rate above 99.9%, closely matching manually counted ballots with results from the automated election system.

Philippine Authorities Arrest Suspects in School Shooting and Metro Manila Bomb Threat Cases

The National Bureau of Investigation arrested several suspects linked to a fatal school shooting in Mindanao and separate bomb threats that triggered evacuations at universities across Metro Manila.

NBI Investigates 7 Billion Pesos in Davao Flood-Control Contracts Awarded to One Contractor

Philippine investigators are examining about 7 billion pesos in Davao flood-control projects awarded to a single contractor, broadening scrutiny of possible procurement irregularities in public infrastructure spending.

Philippine State Auditors Flag Documentation Gaps in Vice President’s Relief Operations

The Commission on Audit identified inconsistent reporting, deviations from approved procedures and incomplete records in disaster relief operations managed by the Office of the Vice President, increasing scrutiny of its use of public funds.

Marcos Administration Considers Presidential Pardon for Mary Jane Veloso

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration is seriously considering executive clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia and later repatriated to the Philippines.

Philippine Trade Deficit Widens to $6 Billion as Electronics Imports Surge

The Philippines’ trade deficit expanded to $6 billion in July as imports rose nearly 20%, driven partly by manufacturers purchasing semiconductors and electronic components for export production.

Analysts See Possible Final Quarter-Point Philippine Rate Increase This Year

Financial analysts expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas could deliver one final 25-basis-point rate increase before year-end as policymakers contend with inflation risks and volatile global oil prices.

Philippine Budget Deficit Widens to 161.3 Billion Pesos in August

The Philippine fiscal deficit expanded to 161.3 billion pesos in August as government spending on infrastructure and social programmes accelerated while revenue collections fell short of targets.

Philippine Manufacturing PMI Rises to 54.9, Strongest Level Since 2016

The S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed to 54.9 in August, marking the strongest factory expansion in nearly eight years as output, employment and business confidence improved.

GCash Secures More Than 20 Cornerstone Investors Ahead of Planned IPO

Philippine digital wallet operator GCash has attracted commitments from more than 20 institutional investors ahead of its planned initial public offering, underscoring investor interest in the country’s expanding digital finance sector.

Metro Manila Subway Reaches Tunnel Breakthrough Between North Avenue and Quezon Avenue

Construction of the 33-kilometre Metro Manila Subway reached a major milestone with a tunnel breakthrough linking the North Avenue and Quezon Avenue stations, advancing a project intended to ease congestion in the capital.

ADB and S&P Global Lower Philippine Growth Forecasts as Inflation and Investment Weigh on Economy

The Asian Development Bank and S&P Global Ratings lowered their Philippine growth forecasts, citing persistent inflation, weaker public investment and tighter financial conditions that are weighing on domestic demand.

Philippines and European Union Reach Substantial Agreement on Free-Trade Deal

Negotiators from Manila and Brussels reached substantial agreement on a comprehensive free-trade pact, moving the Philippines and European Union closer to deeper trade, investment and supply-chain integration.

Philippine Senate Impeachment Court Lowers Current Conviction Threshold in Sara Duterte Trial

The Senate impeachment court changed the voting formula in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, effectively reducing the current number of votes required for conviction from 16 to 14 and prompting legal challenges over the constitutional...

Chinese Coast Guard Vessel Rams Philippine Government Ship Off Palawan

A China Coast Guard vessel struck the BRP Datu Magat Salamat during a fuel-support mission for Filipino fishermen about 54 nautical miles off Palawan, damaging the Philippine vessel and adding to tensions in the disputed waters.

Malaysia Explores Davao Coconut Shell Imports for Biomass Energy

Malaysian energy and trade representatives are discussing purchases of coconut shells from producers in the Davao region for conversion into biomass fuel, potentially creating an additional export market for Philippine agricultural waste.

Philippines Lifts Discord Ban After Platform Agrees to Cybercrime Cooperation

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center lifted its restriction on Discord after talks with the platform over compliance and cooperation with Philippine authorities on online safety and cybercrime concerns.

Philippine Tax Bureau Rolls Out Digital System to Track Official Documents

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has begun piloting an online document-management platform that records the status, location and chain of custody of official files to improve accountability and processing efficiency.

Bill Moving Barangay and Youth Elections to 2028 Sent to Marcos for Signature

Congress has transmitted legislation that would extend barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan terms to five years and move elections scheduled for November 2026 to November 2028, leaving the final decision with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippine Treasury Plans at Least ₱30 Billion Retail Bond Offering

The Bureau of the Treasury plans to raise at least ₱30 billion from domestic investors through a new Retail Treasury Bond issuance as the government finances infrastructure and manages its fiscal requirements.

Philippine Fertility Rate Falls to Record Low as Demographic Pressures Build

New demographic data show fertility has fallen to its lowest recorded level, pointing to a longer-term shift that could affect future labour-force growth and the expansion of the country’s consumer population.

State Auditors Flag ₱168 Million in Deficiencies in Vice President’s Relief Operations

The Commission on Audit identified about ₱167.97 million in control and documentation deficiencies involving 2025 relief operations by the Office of the Vice President, adding another official audit finding involving the agency.

Tropical Storm Queenie Enters Philippine Waters as PAGASA Warns of Heavy Weather

Tropical Storm Surigae entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility under the local name Queenie, with PAGASA warning of strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding as the storm moves northwest over the Philippine Sea.

Metro Manila Subway Reaches First Tunnel-Boring Breakthrough at Quezon Avenue

A tunnel-boring machine completed a 1.13-kilometre excavation between North Avenue and Quezon Avenue, marking a major construction milestone for the Japan-backed Metro Manila Subway project.

IFC Plans ₱4.4 Billion Investment in GCash Parent Mynt’s Record IPO

The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation is set to participate as a cornerstone investor in Mynt’s planned public offering, which is expected to become the largest IPO in Philippine stock-market history.

El Niño Raises Drought and Food-Security Risks Across the Philippines Into 2027

PAGASA says moderate to strong El Niño conditions are expected to continue into the first half of 2027, increasing the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells and drought in parts of the country.

NBI Investigates ₱7 Billion in Davao Flood-Control Contracts Awarded to Single Contractor

The National Bureau of Investigation is examining flood-control projects in Davao City after records showed about ₱7 billion in contracts went to one company, with regional public works officials submitting documents to investigators.

Marcos Sees Progress on Possible Joint Oil and Gas Exploration With China

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said discussions with China over possible joint energy exploration have moved forward, including talks involving Reed Bank, as the Philippines seeks additional domestic energy supplies despite continuing So...

Philippine Senate Lowers Conviction Threshold in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Senate impeachment court ruled that only senator-judges able to participate should count toward the constitutional two-thirds threshold, reducing the votes currently required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte from 16 to 14.

S&P Cuts Philippine 2026 Growth Forecast to 2.9% as ADB Also Downgrades Outlook

S&P Global Ratings lowered its Philippine growth forecast to 2.9%, while the Asian Development Bank separately cut its projection as weaker investment, high energy costs and softer household demand weigh on the economy.

Southern Luzon Township Development Expands Along Major Expressway Corridors

Large property developers are pursuing new residential and commercial communities in Batangas and Quezon as improved road links encourage housing, industrial and logistics growth beyond congested Metro Manila.

PAGASA Expands Weather Monitoring Infrastructure for Typhoon Preparedness

The Philippine weather service is strengthening Doppler radar and automated flood-monitoring capabilities in high-risk areas as authorities improve early-warning systems ahead of severe tropical weather.

Philippines Strengthens Maritime Training and Certification Oversight for Seafarers

The Maritime Industry Authority is updating training, certification and licensing systems as the Philippines works to maintain international standards for its large seafaring workforce. ([Marina][10])

Mindanao Digital Expansion Strengthens Provincial Outsourcing and Public Services

New backbone connectivity across Mindanao is intended to lower barriers to broadband access for government offices, schools, healthcare facilities and emerging business centres outside Metro Manila. ([Philippine Information Agency][8])

Philippines Expands Grid Rules as Energy System Faces Reliability Pressure

Energy regulators are advancing transmission and grid reforms as the country responds to recurring supply constraints and seeks faster connections for new generation and storage capacity. ([Energy Regulatory Commission][9])

Cebu Tourism Push Targets More International Visitors Through Expanded Air Connectivity

Central Visayas tourism authorities and aviation partners are promoting direct international access through Mactan-Cebu International Airport as Cebu seeks higher-spending travelers and continued growth in hotel and tourism activity.

Philippine Data Centre Investment Expands Across Laguna and Batangas

Domestic conglomerates and international infrastructure investors are developing hyperscale data-centre capacity in Southern Luzon as demand rises for cloud computing, business-process outsourcing and enterprise artificial intelligence i...

National Fiber Backbone Expansion Extends High-Speed Government Connectivity Into Mindanao

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is expanding the National Fiber Backbone into major Mindanao cities, connecting government facilities and supporting faster digital services in areas including Davao and Cagayan...