Manila Times

Manila University Students Protest Honorary Degree for President Ferdinand Marcos

Student groups at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila protested the decision to award President Ferdinand Marcos an honorary degree, citing the university’s historical connection to martial law victim Liliosa Hilao.

Philippine Disability Agency Calls for Due Process After Quezon City Mall Incident

The National Council on Disability Affairs intervened after a widely shared confrontation between a disabled person and a private security guard, urging compliance with anti-discrimination laws and proper legal process.

Jennifer Barzaga Wins Dasmariñas Congressional Seat After Son’s Expulsion

Cavite political figure Jennifer Barzaga secured the Fourth District congressional seat of Dasmariñas following the expulsion of her son, Kiko Barzaga, from the House of Representatives.

Marcos Promotes Batangas Egg Processing as Philippines Seeks Higher-Value Farm Exports

President Ferdinand Marcos highlighted egg-processing facilities in Batangas as part of government efforts to improve agricultural processing and raise local products to international export standards.

Malacañang Defends Marcos Over Private Birthday Celebration During Flood Crisis

The Philippine presidential palace defended President Ferdinand Marcos after videos showed him singing at a private birthday event, saying he had completed flood-infrastructure inspections beforehand.

Philippine Sports Regulators Tighten Anti-Fixing Rules After Basketball Scandal

The Games and Amusements Board and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League introduced stronger monitoring measures following allegations of game-fixing in Bacolod.

Philippine Police Remove Seven Officers in Negros Oriental Illegal Gambling Crackdown

Seven police officers were relieved from duty and six civilians arrested during an operation targeting illegal gambling networks suspected of receiving protection from law-enforcement personnel.

Infant and Two Suspects Killed in Lanao del Sur Anti-Narcotics Operation

Two targeted suspects and an infant were killed during an armed police operation in Lanao del Sur after a grenade detonated during the confrontation, prompting calls for scrutiny of the operation.

Philippines Seeks Information on Missing Filipino Doctor After Nepal-China Flood Disaster

The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with authorities in Kathmandu over a Filipino medical professional who remains missing following deadly glacier floods and landslides across Nepal and China.

Philippine Oil Retailers Signal Diesel Price Cut as Global Crude Prices Ease

Domestic oil companies and energy analysts expect a significant diesel price reduction next week, offering some relief to transport, agriculture and logistics businesses facing elevated operating costs.

Labor Department Upholds ₱11.49 Million Liability Over Angeles City Building Collapse

Philippine labor authorities upheld a ₱11.49 million penalty against a construction company held responsible for a commercial building collapse in Angeles City.

Philippine Energy Regulator Faces Backlash Over Sharp Electricity Bill Increases

Consumers have reported steep and unexplained increases in electricity bills, adding political pressure on utilities and the Energy Regulatory Commission to explain volatile generation charges.

Philippine Social Security System Issues Violation Notices to More Than 400 Employers

The Social Security System served legal notices on more than 400 private employers accused of failing to remit mandatory pension and welfare contributions withheld from workers.

Philippine Ombudsman Criticizes Courts for Leniency Toward Convicted Graft Offenders

The Office of the Ombudsman publicly criticized the judiciary for what it described as excessive leniency toward officials convicted of corruption, warning that softer treatment weakens deterrence.

Ayala and Philippine Tax Bureau Develop AI Tool for Compliance and Fraud Detection

Ayala Corporation partnered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue to develop an artificial intelligence platform intended to improve tax collection, detect fraud and streamline digital government services.

Japanese Rating Agency Maintains Philippines at Investment-Grade A- Despite Economic Pressures

A Japanese sovereign credit rating agency maintained the Philippines’ A- investment-grade outlook despite pressure from a weaker currency and elevated inflation.

Zaldy Co and Former Public Works Officials Charged Over ₱77 Million Ghost Flood Project

Anti-corruption prosecutors filed graft and malversation charges against Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways officials over ₱77 million allegedly allocated to an unbuilt flood-control project in Bulacan.

Visayas Power Grid Placed Under Red and Yellow Alerts After Plant Outages

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines issued emergency alerts across the Visayas after several power plants went offline, creating generation shortages and raising the risk of economic disruption.

Philippines Deploys Emergency Medical Facilities as Leptospirosis Cases Exceed 5,000

Health authorities established dedicated treatment lanes and emergency triage tents at major hospitals as flood-related leptospirosis infections rose above 5,000 nationwide.

Southwest Monsoon Flooding Forces Evacuations and Collapses Bridge in Central Luzon

Heavy monsoon rains forced evacuations in Pampanga and Rizal and caused the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City to collapse, disrupting transport and emergency logistics across affected areas.

Philippines and US Reaffirm Defense Alliance on Treaty’s 75th Anniversary

Philippine and US defense officials marked the 75th anniversary of their Mutual Defense Treaty by reiterating commitments to deter aggression and preserve freedom of navigation in the contested South China Sea.

Philippines Investigates Suspected Chinese Financial Support for Local Officials

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said there are credible grounds to suspect several elected local officials of receiving clandestine political and financial support from China, raising concerns over foreign interference.

Philippine Analysts Warn China Is Laying Groundwork for Greater Control of Scarborough Shoal

Defense and maritime security analysts say China is expanding radar, aircraft and militia surveillance in the South China Sea in ways that could support a future attempt to take full control of Scarborough Shoal.

Philippine Central Bank Sees August Inflation at 5.5%-6.5% After Recent Rate Increases

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation to remain between 5.5% and 6.5% in August, keeping cost-of-living pressures elevated after recent increases in benchmark interest rates.

Philippines Launches Tourism Campaign Targeting Affluent European and Middle Eastern Travelers

The Department of Tourism has launched a digital marketing campaign in London, Dubai and Frankfurt promoting luxury islands, food tourism and sustainable destinations to attract higher-spending international visitors.

Philippine Police Report Double-Digit Decline in Major Crimes Across Key Cities

Police data show a year-on-year decline in major index crimes across Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, which authorities attribute to stronger police visibility and targeted local enforcement.

Philippines Tightens Roadworthiness Inspections for Public Utility Vehicles

The Land Transportation Office has begun unannounced safety and emissions inspections at transport terminals and among jeepney fleets as authorities seek to reduce accidents linked to mechanical failures during the rainy season.

Philippine Think Tanks Challenge Government Poverty Thresholds

Independent economic research groups are criticizing official poverty measures as outdated, arguing that current thresholds do not adequately reflect urban inflation, nutritional needs and the cost of living in Metro Manila.

ABS-CBN Narrows Losses as International Content Distribution Expands

ABS-CBN reported continued revenue growth and smaller net losses as the Philippine media company increased global distribution and licensing of digital content across streaming platforms.

Bureau of Customs Posts Record Monthly Revenue as Digital Inspections Expand

The Philippine Bureau of Customs exceeded its monthly collection target by nearly 4 billion pesos, supported by wider use of x-ray scanning and automated digital clearance systems at major ports.

Philippines Orders Stricter Waterway Maintenance After Severe Flooding

Environmental authorities have told local governments across Luzon to intensify garbage collection and drainage maintenance after flash floods exposed failures to keep waterways clear.

Philippine Agriculture Department Expands El Niño Measures to Protect Mindanao Crops

Authorities are deploying emergency irrigation systems and cloud-seeding operations in drought-affected parts of Mindanao to protect rice and corn production from an expected prolonged dry spell.

Philippines Accelerates National Broadband Expansion in Remote Island Provinces

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is speeding up the second phase of the National Broadband Program, deploying satellite terminals and fiber links to improve connectivity across isolated areas of the Visayas and...

Cebu Pacific Plans Major Fleet Expansion With 20 New Widebody Aircraft

Cebu Pacific has finalized a multibillion-dollar aircraft purchase aimed at expanding international routes across North Asia, the Middle East and Australia over the next five years.

Philippine Stocks Turn Volatile as Weak Peso Tests Foreign Investor Sentiment

Trading on the Philippine Stock Exchange has been choppy as the peso weakens toward multi-month lows against the US dollar, reflecting broader emerging-market pressure and shifting global interest-rate expectations.

Enrique Razon Becomes Philippines’ First Trillion-Peso Billionaire After Wealth Surge

Ports and infrastructure tycoon Enrique Razon added about $10 billion to his net worth over the past year, driven by strong performance in global ports and logistics and reinforcing his position as the Philippines’ richest individual.

Philippines Calls for Peaceful Elections in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

The presidential peace office has urged orderly and non-violent elections across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, emphasizing political stability as important to the region’s longer-term development.

Philippine Ombudsman Questions Bail for Convicted Officials in Corruption Cases

The Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns over recent court decisions granting bail to convicted public officials, warning that such rulings could weaken anti-corruption enforcement and public confidence.

Palace Defends Marcos as Government Continues Flood and Disaster Response

Malacañang has defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against criticism over a viral video, saying relief and disaster operations remain active for communities affected by severe monsoon rains across Luzon and Metro Manila.

Philippines Adds 4 Billion Pesos to Funds Supporting Overseas Workers

Malacañang has allocated an additional 3 billion pesos to the Department of Migrant Workers’ AKSYON Fund and 1 billion pesos to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to strengthen emergency assistance and repatriation capacity.

Philippine Lawmakers Flag Suspected Public Works Insertions in 2027 Budget

Members of the House Appropriations Committee have raised concerns over unprogrammed items in proposed Department of Public Works and Highways spending for 2027 and pledged tighter scrutiny of infrastructure allocations.

Philippines Reviews US Extradition Request for Apollo Quiboloy

The Department of Justice is conducting a legal review of a formal US request to extradite detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, according to Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan.

Visayas and Mindanao Power Grids Face Red and Yellow Alerts as Supply Tightens

Philippine energy authorities have placed the Visayas and Mindanao grids under alternating red and yellow alerts as generation shortages raise the risk of supply disruptions and higher electricity costs.