Manila Times

Philippine Labor Department Issues Holiday Pay Reminder Amid Transport Strike

The Department of Labor and Employment reminded Metro Manila employers of holiday pay requirements as nationwide transport protests continued and a 78-year-old transport worker suffered a heart attack during the strike.

Civic Groups Launch Campaign for Philippine Anti-Political Dynasty Law

A coalition of civil society groups, academics and governance advocates launched an online signature drive urging Congress to pass legislation restricting political dynasties.

Bureau of Corrections Proposes Compassionate Release for Elderly and Terminally Ill Inmates

The Bureau of Corrections recommended allowing the compassionate release of seriously ill and elderly prisoners as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and improve conditions in national penitentiaries.

Sandiganbayan Suspends Tarlac Lawmaker Over Alleged Construction Contract Scheme

The Philippine anti-graft court ordered the preventive suspension of a Tarlac representative facing corruption charges over allegations that proxy companies were used to secure government infrastructure contracts.

Agusan del Sur Declares Dengue Outbreak

Health authorities in Agusan del Sur declared a dengue outbreak after a sharp rise in severe infections, triggering emergency medical and mosquito-control measures.

Philippine Provinces Prepare for Severe Drought and Agricultural Losses

Local governments across several provinces are implementing water conservation and agricultural emergency measures ahead of expected drought conditions that could damage crop yields and strain local food supplies.

Grab Takes Full Control of Atome Financial

Grab consolidated control of Atome Financial in a move that expands the Southeast Asian technology group’s exposure to digital lending and consumer finance in the Philippine market.

Malacañang Urges Former Speaker Velasco to Cooperate With Cash Delivery Probe

The presidential palace called on former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to cooperate with a National Bureau of Investigation inquiry into allegations involving illicit cash deliveries.

India Signals Readiness to Broaden Trade Agreement Talks With the Philippines

Indian officials said New Delhi is prepared to expand planned preferential trade negotiations with the Philippines beyond goods to include technology, pharmaceuticals and services.

Metro Manila Faces Unhealthy Air Quality as Pollution Levels Rise

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued public health advisories after monitoring detected highly unhealthy particulate pollution across Metro Manila.

Meralco Opens Bidding for 900 MW Baseload Power Supply Contract

Manila Electric Company launched a competitive tender for 900 megawatts of baseload power beginning in 2031 as it seeks to secure long-term electricity supply for rising industrial demand.

Globe Telecom Reports 1.2 Billion Pesos in Benefits From Internal AI Deployment

Globe Telecom said its in-house artificial intelligence initiatives generated 1.2 billion pesos in combined new revenue and operational savings, underscoring the commercial impact of AI adoption within the company.

National Unity Party Demands Release of Withheld Infrastructure and Social Aid Funds

The National Unity Party criticized the alleged withholding of budgeted infrastructure and social assistance funds, exposing growing tensions over government spending within the House of Representatives.

Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte Testifies in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte testified under oath in the Senate impeachment proceedings, denying involvement in illicit business discussions with his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Truth Commission Builds National Registry of Drug War Killings

An independent Truth Commission is developing a unified national registry of alleged extrajudicial killings from the previous administration’s drug war to support domestic and international accountability efforts.

Marcos Institutionalizes Blockchain-Based Platform for Government Spending

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order formalizing the Department of Budget and Management’s Compass platform, which uses blockchain technology to strengthen transparency across public expenditure programs.

Philippines Prepares to Revise Economic Targets as Peso Weakness Risks Grow

The Marcos administration’s economic team is preparing to reassess national growth targets as the World Bank calls for deeper fiscal reforms and United Overseas Bank analysts project the peso could weaken to 66 per U.S. dollar.

Philippine Military Investigates Possible Leak After Blocked South China Sea Resupply Mission

The Armed Forces of the Philippines opened an internal investigation into a potential operational information leak after Chinese maritime forces blocked a Philippine rotation and resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine Central Bank Warns September Inflation Could Reach 7.4%

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said inflation could accelerate to as high as 7.4% in September, adding pressure on household purchasing power and complicating monetary policy decisions.

Philippine Supreme Court Clears Key Legal Hurdle in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the voting threshold required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing the Senate impeachment trial to proceed without that legal obstacle.

SM Investments Urges Philippine Companies to Make Greater Use of RCEP

SM Investments Corporation called on Philippine businesses to expand their use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to increase intra-Asian exports and attract additional supply-chain investment.

Philippine Outsourcing Industry Maintains Positive Growth Outlook

The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines said it remains optimistic about growth in the outsourcing sector despite weaker global economic conditions.

Senate President Gatchalian Opposes Proposed Sandiganbayan Budget Cut

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he would oppose a proposed ₱551 million reduction in funding for the Sandiganbayan, arguing that the anti-graft court needs sufficient resources to handle corruption cases.

Severe El Niño Could Delay Philippine Infrastructure Projects, Budget Chief Warns

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman warned that worsening El Niño conditions could disrupt construction schedules and slow infrastructure spending under the Build Better More programme into early 2027.

Alternergy Raises ₱2 Billion in Debut Corporate Debt Issuance

Renewable energy developer Alternergy Holdings raised ₱2 billion in its first corporate debt offering to support expansion of its wind and solar power portfolio.

Philippine Energy Regulator Tightens Rules on Duplicate Power Charges

The Energy Regulatory Commission introduced new rules preventing distribution utilities from passing unclear or duplicate generation charges to consumers as regulators seek greater transparency in electricity billing.

Meralco Seeks Bids for 900 Megawatts of Baseload Power Supply

Manila Electric Company invited power producers to compete for a 900-megawatt baseload supply contract aimed at securing reliable long-term electricity for the Greater Manila Area.

Philippine Airlines Plans Direct Flights to New Delhi and Mumbai

Philippine Airlines aims to launch services to New Delhi and Mumbai by December as the flag carrier targets growing tourism and business travel between the Philippines and India.

Air France to Resume Nonstop Manila-Paris Flights in October

Air France plans to restart direct flights between Manila and Paris in October, improving long-haul connectivity between the Philippines and Europe for tourism and business travel.

Asian Development Bank Plans $3 Billion Tourism Infrastructure Programme

The Asian Development Bank announced a $3 billion regional initiative over three years to support tourism infrastructure, digital connectivity and sustainable hospitality projects across the Philippines and wider Southeast Asia.

Globe Telecom Expects ₱1.2 Billion Revenue Lift From AI and Data Centre Investments

Globe Telecom expects investments in data centres and enterprise artificial intelligence services to generate an additional ₱1.2 billion in revenue as demand for digital business services expands.

Philippine Telecom Regulator Fines Globe, Smart and DITO Over Broadband Standards

The National Telecommunications Commission imposed penalties on Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and DITO Telecommunity for failing to meet required broadband performance standards.

Philippines Plans ₱892 Billion in Domestic Borrowing for Fourth Quarter

The government plans to borrow ₱892 billion from domestic markets in the final quarter of the year to help finance the budget deficit and sustain public infrastructure spending.

Philippines Approves Public Transport Fare Increases as Fuel Costs Climb

Transport regulators approved higher fares for public utility vehicles and the EDSA busway as operators contend with rising fuel costs and transport groups continue protests over the vehicle modernisation programme.

Metro Manila Minimum Wage Rises by ₱60 a Day

A ₱60 daily minimum wage increase has taken effect for private-sector workers across Metro Manila, providing additional income as households continue to face higher costs for basic goods.

Sebastian Duterte Testifies as Hostile Witness in Vice Presidential Impeachment Trial

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte appeared before the Senate impeachment court as a hostile witness and denied prior knowledge of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged interests in GenCorp Industries.

Philippines Raises ₱84.9 Billion in Initial Retail Treasury Bond Auction

The Bureau of the Treasury raised ₱84.9 billion in the initial rate-setting auction for retail treasury bonds, reflecting strong domestic demand for government debt.

Former Philippine House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco Leaves Country Amid Corruption Investigations

The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that former House speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife left the Philippines while corruption investigations were intensifying, with no active hold-departure order preventing their exit.

Canada-Philippines Free Trade Talks Reach 90% Completion

Canada and the Philippines have completed about 90% of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement, with both governments targeting a potential signing by November to deepen trade and supply-chain links.

Marcos Suspends Excise Taxes on LPG and Kerosene as Energy Costs Rise

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the suspension of excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene as the government seeks to cushion households from rising global energy prices.

Philippines Secures Up to £5 Billion in UK Financing for Infrastructure Projects

The Philippine government finalised a financing framework giving Manila access to as much as £5 billion in UK-backed support for transport, logistics and climate-resilience projects under the Build Better More programme.

IMF Cuts Philippine Economic Growth Forecasts Through 2027

The International Monetary Fund lowered its growth projections for the Philippines, citing pressure from elevated interest rates, persistent inflation and weaker global export demand.

Philippine Coast Guard Repels Chinese Research Vessel Near Batanes

Philippine maritime authorities turned away a Chinese research vessel operating near Batanes as defence officials investigate whether it was conducting surveillance around critical subsea telecommunications infrastructure.