Manila Times

Cebu Pacific Raises Cabin Baggage Allowance to 10 Kilograms

Cebu Pacific increased its hand-carry baggage limit to 10 kilograms as the airline adjusts its service offering amid recovering domestic and regional travel demand.

Riyadh Air Launches Direct Manila Service to Expand Saudi-Philippine Connectivity

Saudi carrier Riyadh Air has added Ninoy Aquino International Airport to its network, increasing capacity between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia for overseas Filipino workers, tourists and business travelers.

Philippines Accelerates Flood-Control Projects After Severe Monsoon Damage

The Department of Public Works and Highways is advancing new flood-mitigation projects in Metro Manila and agricultural regions following destructive monsoon flooding and growing political scrutiny of existing infrastructure.

Philippines Secures Land to Accelerate Cavite Light Rail Extension

Transport officials reached land-acquisition agreements with property companies, removing key right-of-way obstacles to the Light Rail Transit extension into Cavite.

Metro Manila Minimum Wage Rises by 60 Pesos as Labor Groups Demand More

The National Capital Region wage board approved a 60-peso daily increase for private-sector workers, drawing criticism from unions that say the adjustment falls short of rising food and utility costs.

Philippines Pitches Major Luzon Infrastructure Projects to Global Investors

The Marcos administration presented renewable energy, railway and logistics projects to international investors under the Philippines-U.S.-Japan partnership supporting development of the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Philippine Senate Clarifies Voting Rules Ahead of Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Senate officials said 11 votes from the active 20-member roster of senator-judges will be needed to overturn a preliminary ruling on the conviction threshold, setting the procedural framework for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial.

Marcos Arrives in India to Represent Southeast Asian Interests at BRICS Summit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit as an outreach participant, seeking stronger ties with India while promoting ASEAN economic and security priorities.

Visayas and Mindanao Power Grids Placed on Red and Yellow Alerts

Energy authorities issued emergency supply warnings after unexpected outages at several major power plants reduced electricity reserves in the central and southern Philippines.

Metro Manila Declares Leptospirosis Epidemic After Severe Flooding

Health authorities in Quezon City and Manila reported a sharp rise in leptospirosis cases following major urban flooding, placing heavy pressure on public hospitals and highlighting persistent drainage problems.

Philippine Fuel Prices Could Rise by Up to Six Pesos a Liter

The Department of Energy warned that gasoline and diesel prices could jump by as much as six pesos per liter as Red Sea shipping disruptions and volatile global crude markets raise import costs.

Philippine Central Bank Warns August Inflation Could Reach 6.5%

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said inflation could climb as high as 6.5% after typhoons and monsoon rains damaged agricultural production and disrupted food supply chains.

Bangsamoro Prepares for First Parliamentary Elections Under Heavy Security

Thousands of police and military personnel have deployed across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region ahead of its first parliamentary elections, a major milestone in the peace process in Muslim Mindanao.

Philippine Ferry Fire Death Toll Reaches 76 as Authorities Begin Victim Identification

Recovery teams and the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed 76 deaths from a passenger ferry fire off Coron, intensifying calls for tighter safety standards across the country’s inter-island shipping sector.

Philippines Calls for Stronger Maritime Defence After Chinese Vessel Leaves Exclusive Economic Zone

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged stronger regional security ties after a Chinese drilling and research vessel departed Philippine waters following a month-long unauthorized deployment in the South China Sea.

Philippines and France Advance Visiting Forces Agreement for Joint Military Operations

A Philippine Senate committee approved a military agreement allowing French and Philippine forces to conduct joint training and deployments, broadening Manila’s network of international defence partnerships.

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez Transferred to State Hospital Under Guard

The Sandiganbayan ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez transferred to Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical assessment following his arrest over a 7.4 billion peso flood-control corruption case.

Philippine Supreme Court Acquits Imelda Marcos in Swiss Foundations Graft Case

The Supreme Court overturned seven graft convictions against former first lady Imelda Marcos, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she held illegal financial interests in private Swiss foundations.

Sara Duterte Demands Marcos Resign as Philippine Political Alliance Collapses

Vice President Sara Duterte called for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign, accusing his administration of corruption and political harassment as she prepares for a Senate impeachment trial.

UP Alumni Association Names 67 Honorees for Annual Awards

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association selected 67 graduates and distinguished families for recognition at its 67th annual awards ceremony for contributions spanning public service, business and scientific research.

National Artist Resil Mojares Laid to Rest in Cebu

Writers, cultural institutions and state officials gathered in Cebu for the funeral and burial of National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares, honoring his contributions to Philippine scholarship and historical preservation.

Bacolod Expands MassKara Festival Venues and Program

Bacolod City has unveiled additional entertainment hubs and expanded civic event spaces for the upcoming MassKara Festival as local officials seek to attract more domestic and international visitors.

Grab Philippines Adds Verified Halal Food Listings in Southern Regions

Grab Philippines partnered with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Region XI to add verified halal establishments to its delivery platform, expanding access to halal food information and digital commerce.

Baguio Wins ASEAN Recognition for Smoke-Free Public Health Policies

Baguio City received gold recognition at the ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards for its enforcement of public health ordinances and clean-air measures.

Cebu Reviews Old Subdivisions Over Missing Rainwater Detention Infrastructure

Environmental and disaster-resilience teams in Metro Cebu are inspecting aging residential developments after reports that many lack required rainwater detention ponds, prompting calls for tighter enforcement of building rules.

Siquijor Expands Plastic Bans and Recycling Measures to Protect Coastal Environment

Municipal governments across Siquijor have tightened restrictions on single-use plastics and expanded community recycling programs as authorities seek to reduce waste threatening marine ecosystems and tourism.

Ralph Recto Urges Philippine Cities to Replicate Carmona Landfill Conversion

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto called on local governments to adopt Carmona’s model of converting a former sanitary landfill into a nature park and disaster resilience facility.

Negros Occidental Steps Up Drought Measures as El Niño Threatens Crops

Agricultural authorities in Negros Occidental are accelerating irrigation repairs and distribution of drought-resistant crops to protect sugar and rice production from expected severe dry conditions linked to El Niño.

Philippine Supreme Court Cites Bar Review Coach for False AI Exam Claims

The Supreme Court found a Bar review coach guilty of indirect contempt after he circulated unverified social media claims that artificial intelligence would be used to check Bar examinations.

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez Sent to Philippine General Hospital for Medical Assessment

Sandiganbayan authorities ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez transferred to the Philippine General Hospital under jail security for an independent evaluation that will help determine his confinement status.

Philippines and Villar Group Finalize Deal for LRT-1 Las Piñas Extension Station

Transport authorities and private developers signed agreements for a new southern station on Light Rail Transit Line 1 aimed at expanding commuter capacity and reducing congestion in southern Metro Manila.

Maynilad and Manila Water to Raise Tariffs in Fourth Quarter

Metro Manila water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water announced higher rates for the final quarter of the year following scheduled rebasing and foreign-exchange adjustments approved by regulators.

Luzon Faces Persistent Rain as Low-Pressure Area Combines With Southwest Monsoon

The Philippine weather bureau warned of continued rainfall across Luzon from the interaction of a low-pressure system and the southwest monsoon, with localized flooding and landslides possible.

Philippine Semiconductor Industry Seeks Faster Incentives and Workforce Training

Industry representatives urged the Department of Trade and Industry to accelerate targeted fiscal incentives and skills programs as the Philippines seeks to defend its position in the regional electronics and semiconductor market.

NBI Ordered to Investigate Alleged Irregularities in Candaba Flood Control Projects

Philippine oversight bodies asked the National Bureau of Investigation to examine multi-million-peso flood control projects in Candaba following reports of structural defects and implementation delays.

Philippine Senate Clarifies Voting Threshold in Sara Duterte Impeachment Proceedings

Senate leaders said 10 senator-judges would be enough to overturn an initial procedural ruling requiring 16 votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, setting up a contentious vote over the impeachment court’s rules.

Metro Manila Minimum Wage to Rise by 60 Pesos From September 26

The Department of Labor and Employment said daily minimum wages in the National Capital Region will increase by 60 pesos from September 26 under Wage Order NCR-28, providing additional support for household purchasing power.

Philippines Steps Up Protection Plans for Overseas Workers Amid Middle East Tensions

The Department of Foreign Affairs is maintaining embassy coordination and contingency plans across the Middle East to protect overseas Filipino workers as regional security conditions deteriorate.

Philippines Deploys 108 International Observers for Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

More than 100 foreign monitors have arrived to observe the September 14 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, with authorities seeking to reinforce transparency and confidence in the vote.

Bank of America Forecasts Philippine Growth at 2.5%, Trailing Regional Peers

Bank of America maintained its 2.5% growth forecast for the Philippines, citing inflation and fiscal pressures as Vietnam and Malaysia benefit more strongly from artificial intelligence and electronics exports.

Marcos Arrives in New Delhi for BRICS Summit and Talks With Modi

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in India for the 18th BRICS Summit as ASEAN chair, where he plans to promote regional priorities on peace, security and inclusive growth while discussing defense and economic cooperation with Prime ...

Philippine Senate Panel Approves Visiting Forces Agreement With France

The Senate foreign relations committee cleared a defense agreement with France for plenary ratification, expanding the Philippines’ network of European security partners amid heightened Indo-Pacific tensions.