Manila Times

Quezon City Converts Major Public Parks Into Floodwater Retention Areas

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the Quezon Memorial Circle and City Hall lagoon to be used as large rainwater retention basins as the city expands efforts to reduce flooding during periods of extreme rainfall.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Remits ₱98 Billion to Government for Healthcare and Social Programs

The state gaming agency says it has contributed nearly ₱98 billion in taxes and mandatory dividends since 2022, helping finance the government's expansion of universal healthcare and social protection programs.

Health Department Investigates Reported Child Deaths Following Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign

The Department of Health has ordered an epidemiological investigation into reports of child deaths following the third phase of a national supplemental immunization campaign, seeking to establish the cause and prevent a wider loss of con...

Bohol Declares Province-Wide Dengue Outbreak as Cases Surge

Bohol health authorities have activated emergency measures and requested national assistance after a sharp rise in dengue infections strained hospital capacity and raised concerns for the province's tourism-dependent economy.

Land Authorities Probe Alleged Illegal Titles Covering 39 Hectares of Laguna Lake Reclamation

The Land Registration Authority is investigating property titles covering nearly 39 hectares of allegedly unauthorized reclamation along Laguna de Bay in Taguig City following congressional inquiries led by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Mayon Volcano Remains at Alert Level Two After Renewed Ash Explosions

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded new phreatic eruptions producing ash plumes up to 150 metres, prompting authorities in Albay to restrict access to the permanent danger zone and prepare for possible evacuat...

Occidental Mindoro Reports ₱2 Billion in Agricultural Damage From Monsoon Rains

Persistent southwest monsoon rainfall has severely disrupted farming and rural infrastructure in Occidental Mindoro, prompting local authorities to consider a province-wide state of calamity as damage threatens food supplies and could ad...

Ombudsman Prepares Plunder and Graft Cases Against Senators Loren Legarda and Leandro Leviste

Anti-graft investigators say they are preparing criminal indictments against Senator Loren Legarda and renewable energy executive Leandro Leviste over alleged financial irregularities involving legislative figures and private-sector cont...

Philippine Congress Speeds Up Review of Marcos Administration's ₱7.2 Trillion 2027 Budget

Lawmakers are accelerating deliberations on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s proposed national budget, with spending priorities including infrastructure, human capital and agricultural modernization as the government seeks to sustain eco...

Police File Homicide Charges Over Ateneo de Zamboanga School Shooting

The Philippine National Police has charged the father of the student shooter and a campus security guard with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide following the August 18 attack that killed two people and injured 23 others.

Supreme Court Reviews Metro Manila Minimum Wage Dispute After ₱85 Increase Is Halted

The Supreme Court has ordered the parties to submit comments on a temporary restraining order blocking an ₱85 increase in the minimum wage across Metro Manila, bringing the contentious labour dispute before the country's highest court.

Justice Department Opens Investigation Into May Senate Shooting

The Department of Justice has begun a preliminary investigation into gunfire inside the Senate complex in May, when government agents attempted to serve an International Criminal Court arrest warrant on Senator Ronald dela Rosa.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority Approves ₱216 Billion in Investments as Manufacturing Expands

The investment promotion agency had reached 72 percent of its annual target by August, with approved investments more than doubling from a year earlier on strong foreign capital inflows into manufacturing, digital services and logistics.

Ombudsman Charges Zaldy Co Over Alleged ₱77 Million Ghost Flood Projects

Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials face malversation and graft charges over alleged kickbacks linked to non-existent flood-control projects inserted into the national budget.

Senate Tightens Sub Judice Rules as Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Enters 19th Day

Senate President Francis Escudero warned prosecution and defence lawyers that public comments on the proceedings could draw sanctions including fines and suspension as the trial over alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of ...

Philippine Authorities Search for Missing Tourist After Nepal-Tibet Glacial Floods

The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with regional officials and the Nepal Tourism Board to locate a Filipino tourist reported missing after catastrophic glacial floods destroyed trekking routes and villages in the Himalayas.

Philippine Justice Department Tightens Rules on Police Inspections of Licensed Gun Owners’ Homes

The Department of Justice issued operational guidelines stressing judicial warrants and constitutional protections amid a proposal allowing police to inspect the residences of registered firearm owners.

Philippine Commission on Women Backs Bill to Remove Spousal Forgiveness Provision From Anti-Rape Law

The commission endorsed legislation seeking to repeal provisions that can extinguish criminal liability for rape following subsequent marriage or spousal forgiveness, supporting a major change to the country’s legal treatment of sexual v...

Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Cancellation of Sultan Kudarat Gubernatorial Candidacy

The Supreme Court rejected a final motion for reconsideration and upheld the cancellation of Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu’s candidacy, affirming the Commission on Elections’ decision over residency and eligibility requirements.

Dinagat Islands and Occidental Mindoro Declare States of Calamity After Severe Flooding

Provincial authorities declared states of calamity after monsoon flooding caused more than two billion pesos in infrastructure and agricultural damage, unlocking emergency assistance and other measures for affected communities.

Four Philippine Senators Lose Salaries Over Prolonged Absences From Legislative Sessions

The Senate suspended monthly compensation for four incumbent senators who failed to attend sessions, marking an enforcement of parliamentary attendance rules amid increased scrutiny of legislative productivity.

Anti-Money Laundering Council Receives 163 Million Peso Funding Increase to Expand Financial Crime Investigations

The Philippine financial intelligence unit will use the additional funding to strengthen digital forensics and expand its investigative workforce as authorities pursue sophisticated money laundering and terrorism financing networks.

Philippine Education Department Expands Learning Recovery Programme to Address Post-Pandemic Losses

The Department of Education is expanding targeted remedial programmes and specialized resources to tackle learning poverty and help millions of basic education students recover from pandemic-era academic setbacks.

Ayala Corporation and Philippine Tax Agency Develop Artificial Intelligence Tool for Revenue Collection

Ayala Corporation is partnering with the Bureau of Internal Revenue on an artificial intelligence-powered tax assistant intended to modernize tax administration, reduce evasion and improve government collections.

Philippine Government Replenishes Three Billion Peso Disaster Fund as Severe Weather Displaces Families

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is restoring its quick response fund to sustain relief operations as successive typhoons and monsoon rains affect communities across Luzon and the Visayas.

Philippines Records Southeast Asia’s Highest Estimated Adolescent HIV Incidence, Health Officials Warn

New epidemiological data cited by the Department of Health and international monitoring agencies indicate that adolescent HIV infections are rising faster in the Philippines than elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Philippine Police Tighten School Security After Shooting and Bomb Threats

Authorities deployed additional security personnel at schools in Metro Manila and Zamboanga after an on-campus shooting and subsequent bomb threats prompted lockdowns and online classes at several private institutions.

Philippines Finds Nearly 13 Percent of Population Faces Multidimensional Poverty

A new socioeconomic study shows millions of Filipinos face serious deprivation in education, healthcare and living standards, underscoring inequalities that are not captured by income-based measures alone.

Ombudsman Begins Lifestyle Checks on More Than 100 Government Officials

The Philippine anti-graft agency has launched financial audits and lifestyle investigations of more than 100 senior public officials amid growing pressure for greater transparency and accountability across government.

Anti-Money Laundering Council Investigates Bank Accounts Linked to Alleged Ghost Flood Control Projects

Financial intelligence authorities are examining accounts connected to politicians and contractors implicated in suspected flood control anomalies, including 10 projects identified by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Bulaca...

Philippine Impeachment Prosecutors Consider Calling Sara Duterte Security Aide as Hostile Witness

The House prosecution panel is examining ways to compel the vice president’s security officer to testify about alleged misuse of millions of pesos in confidential intelligence funds, potentially intensifying the impeachment proceedings.

Romualdez District Replaces Paolo Duterte District as Top Recipient of Infrastructure Funds

Congressional budget documents show the House Speaker’s district receiving the largest Department of Public Works and Highways allocation, highlighting shifting political alignments and infrastructure spending priorities ahead of midterm...

Philippine Military Warns of Foreign Influence Campaigns Amid West Philippine Sea Tensions

Armed Forces intelligence officials say covert disinformation and malign influence operations are increasingly targeting Philippine public opinion as maritime tensions with China continue.

Philippines Opens Talks With UK on Visiting Forces Agreement

The Department of National Defense has begun negotiations with Britain on a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, expanding Philippine defense cooperation beyond its longstanding security partnership with the United States.

ASEAN Plus Three Economists Cut Philippine Growth Forecasts for 2026 and 2027

The regional economic research body lowered its projections for Philippine gross domestic product growth, citing persistent inflation, delays in infrastructure implementation and weaker external demand for electronic exports.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Raises Interest Rates in Preemptive Move Against Inflation

The Philippine central bank unexpectedly increased benchmark interest rates, saying the move was intended to anchor inflation expectations and stabilize domestic prices amid volatile global commodity markets.

Philippine Peso Falls to Record Low of 62.25 Per Dollar Amid Growing Market Concerns

The peso weakened to 62.25 against the US dollar in early trading as capital outflows, a widening trade deficit and uncertainty over monetary policy weighed on investor sentiment.

Malacañang Suspends Work and Classes Across Metro Manila and 16 Provinces as Monsoon Rains Intensify

The presidential office ordered immediate suspensions across the National Capital Region and 16 provinces as the southwest monsoon and a low-pressure area continued to cause widespread flooding and infrastructure disruptions.

Philippines Deploys Anti-Vote-Buying Teams Ahead of Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

The Commission on Elections has activated specialized enforcement teams across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to monitor vote buying and potential violence ahead of parliamentary elections viewed as an important mile...

Philippine Airlines to Operate Daily Nonstop Melbourne Flights From November

Philippine Airlines will increase its Melbourne service to daily nonstop flights beginning in November, responding to stronger tourist and expatriate travel demand while expanding Manila’s regional aviation connections.

Sumitomo Mitsui Takes Thirty Percent Stake in RCBC Leasing

Japanese financial group Sumitomo Mitsui has acquired a thirty percent strategic stake in the leasing arm of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, expanding its presence in Philippine corporate finance and equipment lending.

Philippine AI Startups Clouted and OneLot Named to Forbes Asia Watch List

Manila-based marketing automation platform Clouted and used-car financing fintech OneLot have been recognized by Forbes Asia after securing combined seed funding of more than ten million US dollars, highlighting continued investor intere...