Manila Times

Mary Jane Veloso Returns to the Philippines After 17 Years

Overseer Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso has returned to her home in Nueva Ecija following an executive pardon, ending a nearly two-decade legal and diplomatic ordeal.

COMELEC Halts Election Preparations Amid Legislative Push to Postpone Local Polls

The Commission on Elections has ordered a halt to all preparatory activities for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections as lawmakers continue to contest the postponement of the local polls.

CHN Orders Closure of 26 Substandard Teacher Education Programs

The Commission on Higher Education has shut down 26 teacher education programs across 11 institutions as part of a national effort to eliminate "diploma mills" and raise professional standards.

Residential Real Estate Growth Hits Seven-Year Low in the Philippines

New economic data shows that Philippine home prices are growing at their slowest rate in seven years as high interest rates and cooling consumer confidence impact the urban development market.

New 60-Peso Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect in Metro Manila

The Department of Labor and Employment has confirmed the implementation of a 60-peso wage hike across the National Capital Region to provide relief to workers facing high inflation.

Private Sector Council Urges Four-Year Delay on Property Valuation Reforms

The Private Sector Advisory Council has lobbied the government to postpone the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act for four-four years, warning that immediate implementation could disrupt real estate planning.

President Marcos Junior Pledges Increased Support for Robotics and Industry 4.0

During a visit to an advanced robotics facility, President Ferdinand Marcos Junior committed to expanding state incentives for automation technology to modernize manufacturing and attract foreign investment.

House Concludes Debates on Proposed 2027 National Budget

The House of Representatives has finished plenary discussions on a massive 2027 fiscal plan under President Ferdinand Marcos Junior, which prioritizes defense modernization, social services, and infrastructure.

BSP Mandates One Billion Peso Capital Floor for Transitioning Digital Banks

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has introduced new regulatory requirements forcing traditional banks to maintain a minimum capital floor of one billion pesos when converting to fully digital operating models.

IFC Approves 4.4 Billion Peso Investment in GCash IPO

The International Finance Corporation has greenlit a 4.4 billion peso investment in the upcoming initial public offering of mobile wallet giant GCash, signaling strong international confidence in the Philippine digital economy.

DICT Investigates Potential Data Breach Affecting 48 Accredited Tech Firms

The Department of Information and Communications Technology has launched an urgent cybersecurity investigation into a widespread data exposure that could impact the privacy and security of 48 accredited companies.

NBI Launches Probe into Suspected 'Ghost' Flood Control Projects in Davao

The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating six flood control initiatives in the Davao region suspected of being fabricated "ghost" projects designed to misappropriate public infrastructure funds.

Philippine Senate Flags 251 Billion Pesos in DPWH Infrastructure Project Anomalies

Lawmakers have issued warnings after discovering data anomalies in over 7,000 Department of Public Works and Highways projects, prompting calls for greater accountability in the execution of national public works.

Defense Secretary Teodoro Says West Philippine Sea Sovereignty Will Define 2028 Elections

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teress Teodoro stated that defending maritime territory against Chinese incursions will be a central and unavoidable issue in the upcoming 2028 national elections.

IMF Downgrades Philippine 2026 Economic Growth Forecast to 3.4 Percent

The International Monetary Fund has significantly lowered its 2026 growth projection for the Philippines, citing sluggish government infrastructure spending and weak household consumption that may extend the economic slowdown into 2027.

Philippine Senate Prepares for Vice President Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Philippine Senate is moving forward with impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte as the Supreme Court considers legal challenges to a lowered voting threshold that could shift the national balance of power.

Philippines Unveils Strategic Roadmap to Reduce Plastic Pollution by 85 Percent by 2040

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has launched a long-term framework to curb plastic waste through improved recycling infrastructure and stricter corporate accountability for marine pollution.

President Marcos Grants Absolute Pardon to Mary Jane Veloso

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has signed an absolute pardon for overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso, restoring her civil and political rights following her long-term detention in Indonesia.

Philippine Creative Sector Revenue Surpasses 2-Trillion-Peso Milestone

The Department of Trade and Industry reported that the nation's creative economy generated 2.12 trillion pesos, prompting new government strategies to boost digital arts and media as primary export drivers.

Environmental Study Warns 80 Percent of Upper Marikina Watershed Vulnerable to Landslides

A new risk assessment reveals that deforestation and unregulated land use have left much of the Upper Marikina Watershed highly susceptible to catastrophic landslides during extreme monsoon rainfall.

Department of Agriculture Confirms African Swine Fever Outbreak in Palawan

Authorities have activated emergency containment protocols in Agutaya, Palawan, following an outbreak of African Swine Fever that threatens regional pork supply chains ahead of the holiday season.

Metro Manila Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect Amid Sustained Inflation

A 60-peso daily minimum wage hike for workers in the National Capital Region has officially begun, offering limited relief to low-income households while increasing operational costs for local retailers and manufacturers.

Severe Tropical Storm Queenie Threatens Visayas and Luzon, Triggering Emergency Alerts

The Department of Health and the National Grid Corporation have issued emergency alerts as Severe Tropical Storm Queenie approaches typhoon strength, threatening agricultural supply chains already damaged by El Niño.

Philippine Residential Property Prices Record Slowest Growth in Seven Years

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that domestic home prices saw their weakest growth since before the pandemic, driven by high borrowing costs and rising vacancy rates across the real estate market.

Proposed Pax Silica AI and Semiconductor Hub Faces Opposition Over Ancestral Land Rights

The administration’s plan to develop a 4,000-acre technology hub in New Clark City is facing backlash from indigenous groups and civil society over threats to Aeta ancestral domains and potential regional water and energy depletion.

New 1-Billion-Peso Capital Requirement for Philippine Digital Banks to Ensure Stability

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has mandated that thrift, rural, and cooperative banks transitioning to digital models must maintain at least 1 billion pesos in minimum capitalization to manage cybersecurity risks and financial stability.

Vice President Sara Duterte Denies Allegations of Receiving 2-Billion-Peso Illicit Cash

Vice President Sara Duterte has refuted claims that she received 2 billion pesos in cash from a former security aide, dismissing the corruption allegations as a political smear campaign ahead of her Senate impeachment proceedings.

Senate to Proceed with Vice President Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Next Week

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed the Senate will move forward with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte unless the Supreme Court intervenes, as legal challenges mount against the recently lowered conviction threshold.

IMF Downgrades Philippine Growth Forecast Amid Infrastructure Scandals and Oil Shocks

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its economic growth projection for the Philippines to 3.4 percent, citing a slump in public construction linked to government scandals, a slowing real estate sector, and inflationary pressures ...

Philippine Senate Halts 251-Billion-Peso Infrastructure Budget Over Massive Data Anomalies

Senators have suspended the Department of Public Works and Highways budget after identifying over 7,000 projects totaling 251 billion pesos riddled with duplication and data errors, triggering an investigation into potential ghost projects.

Philippines Suspends Ayungin Shoal Resupply Mission After Chinese Naval Interference

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has aborted a rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre after a convoy was aggressively blocked by three Chinese warships and five coast guard vessels, prompting officials to halt operation...

Canadian Firm Sun Life Provides 4 Million Pesos in Relief for Mindanao Earthquake Survivors

The multinational firm extended emergency shelter and food supplies to over 1,500 displaced residents following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, highlighting the role of private sector support in disaster recovery.

Echelon Philippines Summit Focuses on Practical AI Implementation for Startups

Technology entrepreneurs in Manila convened to transition the local digital economy away from theoretical hype and toward using artificial intelligence to solve concrete business and infrastructure challenges.

National Food Authority Partners in 2.5 Million Peso Capacity Building Program

The state grains agency has signed an agreement to upskill personnel nationwide, aiming to modernize operational efficiency and emergency response amidst global food supply chain volatility.

Iligan City Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Suspects in Maguindanao Attack

Regional judicial authorities have ordered the arrest of twelve individuals linked to a violent grenade attack on a local mayor, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle political violence in the Bangsamoro region.

Severe Weather and Tropical Storm Surigae Threaten Mindanao with Flooding

The Philippine atmospheric agency issued extensive flood and landslide warnings for southern provinces as advancing storm systems threaten critical agricultural and logistics infrastructure.

Department of Agriculture Rules Out Rice Import Suspensions Amid El Niño Threats

National agricultural planners confirmed that rice shipments will continue uninterrupted, rejecting calls for import bans to ensure domestic food security and price stability during expected climate disruptions.

ACEN Corporation Completes Strategic Solar Energy Stake Sale in India

The renewable energy arm of the Ayala conglomerate successfully divested a portion of its Indian solar portfolio to recycle capital for its expanding clean energy pipeline in the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific.