Manila Times

Swimmer Ernie Gawilan Wins First Gold Medal for the Philippines at the Asian Para Games

Veteran Paralympian Ernie Gawilan delivered a historic performance in the pool, securing the nation's first gold medal of the regional competition and bringing widespread attention to Philippine para-sports programs.

Philippine Tennis Player Alex Eala Defeats Diane Parry to Advance at the Ningbo Open

The top-ranked tennis player in the Philippines continued her impressive international run by dominating her French opponent in straight sets, further elevating the country's presence in elite global women's tennis.

Bacolod City's MassKara Festival Draws Record Crowds to Boost Regional Tourism and Retail

The annual street dancing and cultural festival in Negros Occidental attracted hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors, providing a massive economic stimulus to local hospitality and retail businesses.

Ombudsman Clears Santa Maria Mayor of Election-Related Administrative and Criminal Charges

The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared the mayor of Santa Maria, Laguna, of all administrative and criminal liabilities stemming from previous elections, concluding a high-profile local governance dispute.

Disability Advocacy Group Asks National Bureau of Investigation to Probe Discriminatory Broadcast Hosts

A national coalition representing persons with disabilities has formally requested the National Bureau of Investigation to look into television hosts accused of using derogatory language, sparking a nationwide debate on media sensitivity.

National Union of Journalists Demands Investigation After Alleged Police Harassment of Local Reporter

Media advocacy groups are calling for a formal inquiry after state security forces reportedly harassed a local journalist, renewing national concerns over press freedom and the safety of media workers in the Philippines.

Police Arrest Three Suspects for Stealing Vital Components from Metro Manila Pumping Station

Law enforcement authorities have apprehended three individuals responsible for dismantling parts of the Diokno pumping station, highlighting the ongoing threat of infrastructure theft to urban flood control and disaster resilience.

Congressional Hearing Hears Testimony of Bulk Cash Deliveries to Lawmaker's Office

A congressional hearing investigating alleged political corruption took a dramatic turn after a witness claimed to have seen suitcases of cash delivered to a prominent representative prior to assuming national office.

Manila Water Maximizes Cardona Treatment Plant to Secure Metro Manila Supply During Dry Spell

The East Zone water concessionaire is ramping up output at its Laguna Lake facility to reduce reliance on the Angat Dam, a strategic infrastructure move designed to prevent water rationing in Metro Manila during the El Niño phenomenon.

Metro Manila Dengue Cases Cross Four Thousand as Local Governments Ramp Up Urban Fogging

Health authorities in the National Capital Region are recording a significant spike in mosquito-borne dengue infections, prompting coordinated urban sanitation and fogging drives to prevent a broader epidemic during the erratic rainy sea...

Social Welfare Department Disburses Financial Aid to Tens of Thousands of Negros Sugar Workers

The national government has released targeted cash assistance to fifty-three thousand vulnerable farmers and agricultural workers in the sugar-producing province of Negros, providing critical economic relief amid rising living costs.

Malampaya Onshore Gas Plant in Batangas Records Twenty-Five Years Without a Major Accident

The critical Malampaya natural gas facility, which supplies a significant portion of Luzon's power requirements, has celebrated a quarter-century of operations without a lost-time incident, highlighting stringent safety standards in the ...

National Police Commission Revises Entrance Exams to Screen Out Diploma-Mill Graduates

Authorities have overhauled the standard qualifying examinations for the Philippine National Police, implementing stricter educational verification and critical thinking assessments to professionalize the national police force.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte Declares the Municipality Completely Debt-Free After Revenue Reforms

The local government of the Philippines' most populous city has fully paid off its outstanding financial obligations, with Mayor Joy Belmonte attributing the milestone to aggressive tax collection efficiency and stringent fiscal management.

Bukidnon Sugar Planters Protest Proposed Raw Sugar Imports Citing Threat to Domestic Industry

Agricultural stakeholders in the southern Philippines are protesting potential government plans to import raw sugar, warning that an influx of foreign supply could collapse farmgate prices and devastate the livelihoods of local sugar pla...

Philippine Health Department Targets Two Million Young Women in Massive HPV Vaccination Drive

Health officials are rolling out a nationwide preventive healthcare campaign aimed at administering the human papillomavirus vaccine to over two million girls, significantly scaling up national efforts to combat cervical cancer.

Anti-Money Laundering Council Seizes Bank Deposits Linked to Suspected Islamic State Operative

Philippine financial regulators have successfully seized funds connected to a suspected member of the Islamic State, demonstrating the increasing effectiveness of national authorities in tracking and neutralizing terrorism financing netw...

Manila Court Hands Down Twelve-Year Sentence to Businessman for Smuggling Canadian Hazardous Waste

A Manila Regional Trial Court has convicted a local business owner for his role in the highly controversial illegal importation of hazardous waste from Canada, setting a landmark environmental precedent for enforcing international dumpin...

Davao Public Works Officials Sacked Following Probe into Failed Flood Control Projects

The Department of Public Works and Highways has dismissed three regional officials in Davao as part of a widening investigation into anomalous flood control projects that failed to prevent severe inundation during recent typhoons.

National Government Refuses to Intervene in Bangsamoro Parliament Leadership Selection

The Marcos administration has confirmed it will not interfere in the leadership vote of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliament, ensuring regional political autonomy ahead of historic local elections.

Lawmakers Push Energy Department to Speed Up Electric Vehicle Rollout and Cut Fossil Fuel Reliance

Members of Congress are urging the Department of Energy to accelerate the nationwide deployment of electric vehicles and charging networks, citing the urgent need to insulate the Philippine economy from volatile global oil prices.

Sandiganbayan Orders Preventive Suspension of Senator Rodante Marcoleta Pending Plunder Trial

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has suspended Senator Rodante Marcoleta in connection with an ongoing plunder case, marking a significant legal and political development within the Philippine Senate.

Department of Agriculture Requests Sixty-Two Billion Pesos to Shield Farmers from Severe El Niño

Agricultural officials have proposed a massive funding package to support farmers and upgrade national irrigation infrastructure, seeking to protect domestic food security ahead of a projected prolonged dry spell across the Philippine ar...

Philippine Foreign Affairs Department Summons Chinese Ambassador Over South China Sea Comments

The Philippine government has formally summoned the Chinese ambassador regarding remarks suggesting Beijing could easily win a conflict, prompting Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro to state the comments highlight China's broader aggress...

Technical Colleges Form Nationwide Consortium to Train Skilled Workers for Philippine Factories

Vocational educators across the Philippines have established a national polytechnic consortium to coordinate technical training programs and help supply qualified technicians to expanding local electronics and industrial plants.

Paranaque Bus Terminal Prepares for Two Million Travelers Ahead of Undas Memorial Holidays

Operations teams at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange are rolling out crowd-control measures across Metro Manila's main southern bus hub, which expects nearly two million provincial passengers during the annual Undas holiday per...

Angat Reservoir Level Ticks Up but Water Agencies Maintain Emergency Drought Precautions

A slight rise in water levels at Angat Dam following isolated rains has offered temporary relief, but national utilities warned reserves remain critically low ahead of anticipated rainfall shortages linked to the upcoming El Nino event.

Philippine Coast Guard Links Digital Databases with Statistics Authority to Speed Clearments

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Statistics Authority signed an agreement connecting their digital identity systems to accelerate administrative verification and security vetting for domestic maritime personnel.

Health Officials and Child Advocates Seek Stricter Vape Laws After Cadmium Detected in Products

Philippine health regulators reported toxic levels of cadmium in retail e-cigarette liquids, prompting pediatric medical groups and child welfare organizations to petition lawmakers for tighter statutory curbs on vape sales and marketing.

Aboitiz Conglomerate Steps Up Artificial Intelligence Investments and Employee Upskilling

The Aboitiz Group has expanded funding for enterprise artificial intelligence deployment and staff retraining, joining major Philippine conglomerates turning to automation and digital tools to defend operational efficiency.

Department of Agriculture Investigates Smuggling of Temperate Vegetables Hitting Highland Farmers

Following complaints from farming groups in northern Luzon, the Department of Agriculture has launched an investigation into the illegal importation of carrots and broccoli that has undercut local wholesale prices in domestic markets.

Corporate Regulator Directs Listed Firms to Deepen Environmental Disclosures in Financial Filings

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has instructed publicly listed corporations to embed environmental, social, and climate risk disclosures directly into core financial reports to give investors clearer visibility on long-...

Public Works Resumes Paving and Repairs on Congested Northern Stretch of EDSA Highway

Crews from the Department of Public Works and Highways have restarted asphalt resurfacing on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue between Monumento and Balintawak, tackling chronic surface wear on Metro Manila's main transport artery.

Jollibee Shifts Nearly Two Hundred Philippine Restaurants to Clean Power with First Gen

Fast-food operator Jollibee Foods Corporation has expanded its renewable energy supply agreement with First Gen Corporation, contracting green electricity to power one hundred and eighty-nine company-owned outlets across the country.

Ombudsman and Customs Finalize Real-Time Data Deal to Target Agricultural Smuggling

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Customs will implement an intelligence-sharing agreement in November, giving anti-corruption investigators real-time access to shipping manifests and tariff filings to track down organized ag...

Asian Development Bank Keeps Five Hundred Million Dollar Emergency Climate Loan Ready for Philippines

Financiers at the Asian Development Bank confirmed that a five hundred million dollar emergency financing line remains available to help the Philippine government fund farm relief and water security projects ahead of expected drought fro...

Bases Conversion Authority to Auction Long-Term Leases for Camp John Hay Hotels and Golf Course

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority plans to open bidding for long-term private operating contracts covering hospitality and golf assets inside Baguio City's Camp John Hay economic zone to boost public revenues from the northe...

Department of Transportation Considers Merging Operations Contracts for LRT-2 and MRT-3 Rail Lines

Philippine transport officials are evaluating a plan to combine the operations and maintenance concessions for Light Rail Transit Line Two and Metro Rail Transit Line Three, seeking to attract international rail operators and improve ser...

World Bank Urges Economic and Tech Reforms for Philippines to Secure Upper Middle-Income Status

The World Bank advised the Marcos administration to accelerate productivity reforms and technological modernization, warning that the Philippines risks falling short of its goal to reach upper middle-income status amid sticky global infl...

Meralco Shares Rise After Philippine Energy Regulator Approves First Rate Reset in Fifteen Years

Shares of the Manila Electric Company climbed on the Philippine Stock Exchange after the Energy Regulatory Commission approved the utility's first rate reset in fifteen years, clearing the way for updated distribution tariffs across Metr...

Philippine and Japan Coast Guards Plan Joint Anti-Piracy Drills in Manila Bay

Coast guard units from the Philippines and Japan will stage coordinated anti-piracy exercises in Manila Bay, demonstrating closer maritime security cooperation between Manila and Tokyo along major commercial shipping corridors in Southea...

Makati Business Club Urges Rapid Close to Vice Presidential Impeachment to Protect Budget Timetable

The Makati Business Club has called on the Philippine Senate to conclude impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte before the end of the year, warning that an extended political trial could stall vital deliberations on ...

Philippine Exporters Warn Escalating Maritime Standoff Could Trigger Chinese Trade Retaliation

Local export and manufacturing groups have cautioned the national government that mounting confrontations in the West Philippine Sea risk prompting punitive commercial measures from China, urging authorities to protect trade channels and...

Super Typhoon Champi Threatens Eastern Philippines as Disaster Agencies Preposition Emergency Supplies

National disaster management authorities and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have deployed emergency supplies and logistics across eastern coastal provinces as Super Typhoon Champi tracks toward the Philippine Area of Re...

United States Proposes Assisting Manila in Building Strategic Philippine Petroleum Reserve

American officials have approached the Philippine government with plans to help construct a national strategic petroleum reserve, marking a significant expansion of bilateral energy cooperation intended to buffer the country against glob...

World Bank Cuts Philippine Capital Investment Outlook Over Infrastructure Delays and High Power Costs

Economists at the World Bank have downgraded their forecast for Philippine gross fixed capital investment, predicting a two point seven percent contraction this year as project bottlenecks, elevated electricity rates, and softer business...

House Prosecutors Send Withdrawn Duterte Impeachment Files to Ombudsman for Criminal Investigation

After dropping three impeachment counts against Vice President Sara Duterte, prosecutors from the Philippine House of Representatives confirmed they are transferring documentary and testimonial evidence on confidential fund spending to t...

Philippine Peso Falls to Record Low of Sixty-Three Per US Dollar as Rate Hike Looms

The Philippine peso weakened to an all-time low of sixty-three pesos and twenty-three centavos against the United States dollar on expectations of tighter American monetary policy, stepping up pressure on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ...