Manila Times

China Ends Philippines’ Asian Games Basketball Title Defense With 105-61 Victory

The Philippine men’s basketball team lost 105-61 to China at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, ending its title defense and prompting renewed scrutiny of the national program’s international performance.

Philippine Job Fairs Place Nearly 2,500 Applicants in Work

Government labor agencies said almost 2,500 jobseekers were hired immediately during nationwide employment fairs aimed at supporting local employment and economic activity.

Siquijor Seeks National Support as Plastic Waste Threatens Marine Environment and Tourism

Local officials and environmental advocates in Siquijor are calling for stronger national waste-management measures as growing plastic pollution puts pressure on marine ecosystems and the island’s tourism economy.

Philippine Authorities Oppose Proposed Transfer of Carlos Francisco Painting to Singapore

Tourism and cultural officials are seeking to prevent the permanent relocation of a 1946 work by National Artist Carlos Francisco, arguing that the painting holds significant importance to the country’s artistic heritage.

Rare Philippine Plant Rediscovered in Masungi Georeserve After 130 Years

Researchers have rediscovered a native plant species in the Masungi Georeserve that had not been recorded in the Philippines for about 130 years, drawing renewed attention to conservation efforts in Rizal province.

Indian Airline Studies Direct Mumbai-Manila Route as Bilateral Travel Demand Grows

A major Indian airline is assessing direct passenger flights between Mumbai and Manila to serve growing corporate, technology and tourism links between India and the Philippines.

Philippines Expands Pre-Disaster Action to Reduce Typhoon and Flood Damage

The Office of Civil Defense is expanding anticipatory disaster protocols that deploy funding and logistical support to vulnerable communities before severe storms and flooding cause major human and economic losses.

Philippines Warns Skills Gap Could Undermine Benefits of Young Workforce

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority urged a major expansion of vocational training aligned with semiconductor and digital industries, warning that the country could lose economic opportunities if worker skills fail t...

New Witnesses Emerge in Investigation of Alleged Taguig Infrastructure Irregularities

Philippine anti-graft investigators have obtained testimony concerning alleged cash deliveries linked to public works contracts in Taguig City, bringing renewed scrutiny to local infrastructure procurement.

Philippine Financial Regulators Flag Geopolitical and Cyber Risks to Banking Stability

The Financial Stability Coordination Council identified international conflict and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks as major risks to the resilience and operations of the Philippine financial system.

Philippine External Debt Servicing Costs Rise 3% in First Half

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported a 3% year-on-year increase in external debt servicing during the first half as high interest rates and a weaker peso increase pressure on government and private-sector foreign obligations.

Philippines Prepares Auction for 3,800 Megawatts of New Natural Gas Capacity

The Department of Energy is finalizing plans to auction 3,800 megawatts of natural gas projects as the government seeks additional baseload capacity and greater stability for the national electricity grid.

Philippines Removes VAT From Electricity System-Loss Charges to Ease Household Bills

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the removal of value-added tax from electricity system-loss charges paid by consumers, with the government saying it will not impose replacement taxes to recover the lost revenue.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Lawyers Tell ICC He Has Significant Memory Impairment

Defense lawyers for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the International Criminal Court that he is suffering from significant memory problems, an assertion that could affect proceedings over allegations linked to his anti-d...

Philippine Justice Department Subpoenas Senator Robin Padilla in Obstruction Investigation

State prosecutors summoned Senator Robin Padilla over allegations that he helped Senator Ronald dela Rosa leave the Senate while authorities were seeking to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

Sandiganbayan Transfers Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to Quezon City Jail

The Philippine anti-graft court ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez transferred from hospital to a Quezon City detention facility after government doctors concluded that he was clinically stable and no longer required inpatient...

Philippines Says Critical Minerals Pact With United States Is Strategically Important but Non-Binding

Malacañang said the Philippines-US critical minerals memorandum is intended to strengthen supply-chain and technology cooperation but does not yet impose binding legal obligations on either government.

Philippines Rejects China’s Claim of Agreement to Remove BRP Sierra Madre From Ayungin Shoal

The Philippine government denied Beijing’s assertion that Manila had promised to remove the grounded BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, maintaining its position on Philippine rights in the disputed South China Sea.

Bangsamoro Holds First Parliamentary Election Despite Deadly Pre-Election Violence

The Philippines’ Bangsamoro autonomous region completed its first parliamentary election with high voter participation despite violence that killed four people, marking a major step in the region’s transition to elected self-government.

Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Turns to Bank Records and Unexplained-Wealth Allegations

The Philippine Senate impeachment court is examining financial records linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband as prosecutors pursue allegations that her declared wealth does not match her financial activity; the couple hav...

Philippine Peso Falls to Record 62.86 Per Dollar as Oil Prices Intensify Economic Pressure

The Philippine peso weakened to an all-time closing low of 62.86 against the US dollar as rising global oil prices added to inflation concerns and increased pressure on the country’s external debt burden.

Philippine Ferry Fire Death Toll Rises to 76 as Search Continues for 12 Missing

Philippine authorities are continuing recovery operations off Coron, Palawan, after the MV June Aster passenger ferry fire killed 76 people, with 12 passengers still unaccounted for.

Puregold Expands Provincial Store Network as Household Spending Holds Up

Puregold Price Club is accelerating expansion outside Metro Manila as the supermarket group targets resilient provincial consumption supported by remittance-driven household spending.

Philippine Senate Approves Five-Year Terms for Barangay and Youth Council Officials

Senators passed legislation extending the terms of barangay and youth council officials to five years, changing the local election cycle to give community leaders longer periods in office.

Philippines Says Harry Roque's Political Asylum Application Was Rejected

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said international authorities rejected former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's asylum bid as investigations continue into his alleged links to illegal offshore gaming operators.

Nickel Asia Invests $30 Million in Kazakhstan Mining Assets

Nickel Asia Corporation agreed to invest $30 million in Central Asian mining interests, expanding overseas as the Philippine resources group seeks to diversify beyond its domestic nickel operations.

Moody's Buys Minority Stake in Philippine Rating Services

Moody's Corporation acquired a minority interest in Philippine Rating Services, expanding its exposure to the country's corporate debt market and demand for domestic credit analysis.

Philippines Seeks Indian Expertise for Railway and Space Technology Projects

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used a state visit to New Delhi to seek cooperation with Indian engineering and aerospace companies on railway development and cost-effective satellite launches.

Philippine Business Groups Warn Weather-Related Shutdowns Are Hurting Economic Activity

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines urged the government to reconsider broad work and school suspensions during typhoons, arguing that repeated closures particularly hurt daily wage earners and businesses dependent on public s...

Metro Manila Deploys 7,000 Police as Transport Strike Disrupts Commuters

Authorities deployed 7,000 police personnel as transport groups protested the public utility vehicle modernization program, disrupting mobility across the capital and underscoring continued opposition to the transit overhaul.

Philippines Unveils 30-Year Metro Manila Urban Modernization Plan

Government planners outlined a long-term strategy to reduce congestion in the capital through integrated mass transit, decentralized business centers and satellite-city development in neighboring provinces including Bulacan and Cavite.

Philippine Senate Advances Social Media Age Verification Using National ID System

Lawmakers proposed requiring technology platforms to use the Philippine Identification System for age verification under online-safety legislation aimed at protecting children from exploitation and cyberbullying.

Philippines Reports Delivery of 600,000 Homes Under National Shelter Program

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said 600,000 housing units have been delivered under the expanded national shelter initiative as the government works to reduce the country's large urban housing backlog.

KKR Exits First Gen in 26 Billion Peso Block Trade

U.S. private equity group KKR sold its stake in First Gen Corporation in a 26 billion peso transaction, marking a major shift in foreign institutional ownership of the Philippine energy company.

GCash IPO Expected to Command Premium Valuation in Major Philippine Fintech Listing

Investment banking reports expect GCash shares to be priced between eight and 10 pesos in a planned offering that could become the largest public-market debut in the Philippine digital economy.

U.S. Defense Technology Company Plans Manufacturing Facility in the Philippines

An American aerospace and security technology company is preparing local production of surveillance and tactical equipment, deepening industrial cooperation alongside closer defense ties between Manila and Washington.

Philippines Leads China-ASEAN Expo With Delegation of More Than 300 Companies

The Trade and Industry Department sent more than 300 Philippine enterprises to the regional expo in Guangxi as Manila seeks Chinese investment in digital infrastructure, green metals and healthcare.

Marcos Calls for ASEAN-Wide Disaster Response and Climate Adaptation Protocol

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Southeast Asian governments to adopt a Manila-led framework for shared early-warning systems and cross-border emergency resources during a regional summit in Pasay City.

ADB Urges Philippines and Other Developing Asian Economies to Strengthen Fiscal Discipline

The Asian Development Bank warned of rising debt and geopolitical risks, calling on governments including the Philippines to broaden tax bases and improve public spending to strengthen resilience against external shocks.

Bank of America Cuts Philippine 2026 Growth Forecast to 2.5%

Bank of America expects Philippine economic growth to lag regional peers, citing weak investment, persistent inflation and softer domestic consumption alongside continued exposure to global economic shocks.

Visayas Grid Returns to Red Alert as Coal Plant Outages Tighten Power Supply

The National Grid Corporation placed the central Philippines on emergency status as prolonged coal-plant outages created severe supply shortages and raised concerns for manufacturing and business-process outsourcing operations.

Philippine Fuel Prices Jump as Weak Peso and Global Oil Volatility Raise Import Costs

Oil companies raised gasoline prices by as much as five pesos a litre and diesel by 2.5 pesos, increasing pressure on transport costs and threatening to feed renewed consumer inflation.

Five ASEAN Nations Back Philippine Proposal for Regional Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Energy ministers from five Southeast Asian countries endorsed Manila's proposal for a shared oil-stockpiling framework intended to protect import-dependent economies from disruptions linked to Middle East instability.

Bangsamoro Holds First Parliamentary Election Despite Localized Violence

The Bangsamoro autonomous region carried out its first parliamentary election as unofficial parallel counts began, marking a major step in the southern Philippines peace process and the development of regional self-government.

Philippines Rejects Chinese Demand for Advance Notice on South China Sea Resupply Missions

The Foreign Affairs Department reaffirmed Manila's right to conduct logistics operations within its exclusive economic zone without prior notification to Beijing, keeping maritime tensions elevated in the contested South China Sea.