All coverage of Philippines, ranked by recency.
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) shifted to a work-from-home arrangement at noon on Monday amid continuous heavy rains and flooding in the Subic Bay Freeport. The SBMA said the arrangement was pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 127 issued by the Office of the President. SBMA units providing emergency and disaster
MANILA, Philippines—Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo lost his cool with a hostile witness who appeared to struggle to speak Filipino during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday. Tulfo sought to be recognized while private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan was conducting direct examination of witness Gina Acosta, Duterte’s former special disbursing officer and current
MANILA, Philippines – Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questions Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta over what he described as her seemingly limited understanding of Tagalog during Monday’s impeachment trial, compared with her testimony during an earlier House of Representatives hearing./ dp
MANILA, Philippines — Several phones in the session hall simultaneously sounded off weather alarm on Monday, prompting laughter in the crowd as the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, conducted the 16th day of trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) sent an alert at 11:08 a.m. warning against heavy rains,
MANILA, Philippines — As the House prosecution panel presented on Monday Gina Acosta, its sixth witness on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, the Senate impeachment court readied nurses on standby. It also accommodated the request of Acosta for warm water and tackled the matter on the presence of an interpreter. Acosta
MANILA, Philippines — Impeachment court Presiding Officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero has teased counsel for the prosecution Amando Virgil Ligutan about his now-controversial social media post, saying that the latter is “well aware” that misleading questions are not allowed even against a hostile witness. During the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday,
MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Lorna Kapunan of the prosecution panel and Atty. Kristine Ferrer of the defense team greeted each other with smiles and a warm hug ahead of the impeachment trial on Monday. The veteran lawyer went to the area of the defense to talk with Ferrer, a gesture warmly welcomed by the other
MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution’s eighth witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, House Archives Director Marivic Pareja, was excused by the Senate impeachment court on Monday, just 20 minutes after taking her oath. Pareja was allowed to leave the witness stand after the defense agreed to the authenticity and regularity of the documents
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has directed government offices in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon and Occidental Mindoro to shift to alternative work arrangements starting at 12 noon on Monday. The order comes due to the heavy rains brought by the southwest
MANILA, Philippines — Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta took the stand as the House prosecution’s first hostile witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. A hostile witness refers to a person called to testify by a party despite being against them. In these cases where a hostile
MANILA, Philippines – Prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan reaches across the aisle to hug defense counsel Kristine Ferrer as Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial enters its seventh week and 16th day on Monday, Aug. 17. /dp
MANILA, Philippines — “Baka last na interview na namin ‘to.” (This may be our last interview.) This is what prosecution lawyers Atty. Lorna Kapunan and Rep. Joel Chua told reporters on Monday ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This Monday, presiding officer Sen. Chiz Escudero is expected to clarify the subjudice
MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters Week seven and Day 16 on Monday, Aug. 17, with the prosecution continues its presentation of evidence related to Article 1 or the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education. /dp
LUCENA CITY —About 28 local governments in the provinces of Cavite and Batangas have suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools on Monday due to continuing monsoon rains. The Cavite Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) posted on Facebook at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday (August 16) that class
COTABATO CITY – Despite their political fallout, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called for a deeper investigation into the ambush against interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua as it appealed for calm to avoid things from spiraling out of control. Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, MILF chair, condemned the ambush on Macacua, whom the
[Updated Aug. 17, 2026, 10:16 a.m.] MANILA, Philippines — Some roads in Metro Manila were submerged in floodwaters on Monday morning, August 17, due to rains caused by the southwest monsoon or habagat, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). READ: WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 17, 2026 As of 8:39 a.m.,
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The city government here has installed three electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the City Hall grounds for free public use. City Administrator Percival Ramos, who supervised the installation work, said in a statement on Thursday that two of the three EV charging stations were installed in front of the City Hall for
MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rains are expected to pour over six provinces in Luzon on Monday due to the continued effect of the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” the state weather bureau reported. Based on its 5 a.m. heavy rainfall outlook on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)
MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area (LPA) east of Luzon entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday but has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, according to the state weather bureau. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last located 1,040 kilometers east
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero is set to rule on Monday on the defense and prosecution’s use of social media in relation to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Monday marks the 16th day and the start of the seventh week of Duterte’s trial. On Aug. 12, Escudero
MANILA, Philippines — The government should set clear rules for the allocation of special funds distributed to local government units (LGUs), amounting to almost P60 billion in next year’s proposed budget, to prevent their use as political patronage tools ahead of the 2028 general elections. This was according to economist Cielo Magno, former undersecretary of
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should be subject to the same sub judice rule as everyone involved in her impeachment trial, a House prosecution spokesperson said on Sunday, as the Senate prepares to rule on possible violations of the rule. Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the rule should apply equally
MANILA, Philippines — It will be better for President Marcos to avoid announcing his preferred candidate for the 2028 presidential elections, as doing so may lead to questions about his administration’s priorities, according to a political science professor. In an interview with the Inquirer, University of the Philippines (UP) professor Jean Franco said it would
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a 20-percent discount on mobile prepaid load, mobile postpaid plans and mobile internet packages for all enrolled Filipino students amid severe weather conditions in the past weeks that prompted a shift to online classes numerous times. Senate Bill No. 2275, known as the “Student Load Discount
MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is undertaking a P7.1-billion project to address limited and unreliable irrigation systems in Nueva Ecija. The NIA said it plans to develop the Lower Cabu Irrigation Project in Palayan City to establish a sustainable irrigation system aimed at boosting agricultural output and reducing dependence on rainfall. “The
MANILA, Philippines – The weather bureau now expects up to intense rain from the southwest monsoon or habagat in the coming hours and days, based on its rainfall outlook released at 11 am on Monday, August 17. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also expanded the list of areas seeing significant rainfall due to the southwest monsoon in the ...
CITY OF MALOLOS, BULACAN, Philippines — The Bulacan government spends up to P100 million annually on relief assistance for residents affected by floods and other disasters, with about P50 million earmarked for food packs alone, according to the provincial disaster response office. Manuel Lukban Jr., head of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — A nationally recognized Boholano innovator and information technology educator has developed a web-based application designed to help government agencies, gasoline stations, and consumers monitor and compare fuel prices across the province. Epifelward Niño Olaivar Amora, 48, an IT consultant for the Municipality of Candijay and faculty member of Bohol Island
CEBU, Philippines – What do misleading questions, Christmas parties, and Superman have in common? Sara Duterte charged them against her offices’ confidential funds. The latest findings from the Vice President’s impeachment trial from August 11 to 12 revealed a number of apparent irregularities in the liquidation and financial records of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Educati...
By Mon Abrea , CPA, MBA, MPA (Harvard) Global Tax Policy Expert | Chief Tax Advisor, Asian Consulting Group (ACGlobal) The Philippines is competing for global capital at a time when investors are rethinking supply chains, tax structures, energy security and geopolitical risk. Our response cannot simply be to offer more incentives. We must offer something more valuable: credible institutions, co...
Simula sa linggong ito, sa usapin ng posibleng paglulustay ng buwis na ibinabayad natin sa gobyerno, hindi na lang sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte tayo magtu-tune in. Magsisimula na rin ang committee hearings para sa panukalang national budget para sa 2027 . Ibig sabihin, sa magkabilang kamara ng Kongreso, uulan ng mga numero sa mga susunod na linggo hanggang bago mag-Pasko....
MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman is training investigators to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated corruption schemes, as wrongdoing becomes harder to detect and evidence is increasingly buried in paperwork, financial transactions and government procedures. For six weeks, 60 Ombudsman personnel underwent an intensive Field Investigation Course to strengthen their skills in...
MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Friday, August 14, said they see potential in Pax Silica as a way for the Philippines to move into higher-value manufacturing and the artificial intelligence economy. During the Senate environment committee’s first hearing on Pax Silica , they warned government agencies involved against getting ahead of the infrastructure, safeguards, and communities that will ...
LUCENA CITY — The local governments of General Trias City, Cavite, and Nasugbu, Batangas, suspended in-person classes at all levels in public and private schools on Monday, Aug. 17, due to persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon. READ: Rain to persist over Luzon Aug. 17 due to southwest monsoon School authorities were advised to implement
MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration will continue distributing free rice to poor Filipino families every two months, with nearly 8 million households targeted to receive the assistance nationwide, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said on Sunday. The free rice distribution program was part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that no Filipino family
BAGUIO CITY — The city recorded more than 1,400 millimeters of rainfall in just 10 days from Aug. 1 to 10, equivalent to about a month’s worth of rain, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Pagasa Baguio chief Engr. Larry Esperanza said the city recorded more than 1,400 mm of
MANILA — FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe has been recognized by Gawad Pilipino as one of its Ten Outstanding Legislators – Congressmen in the Philippines, adding another distinction to his first year of service in the 20th Congress. Poe was included among a group of 10 members of the House of Representatives recognized
MANILA, Philippines — The government should set clear rules for allocating its special funds to local governments to prevent them from becoming tools for political patronage ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, according to economist Cielo Magno. Magno, a former undersecretary of the Department of Finance, said the growing Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) should
MANILA, Philippines — Political coalition 1Sambayan has threatened to file a new petition before the Supreme Court if the Marcos administration fails to secure definite funding to return P107 billion to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC). The government remitted the funds to the national treasury under a special provision in the 2024 national budget
MANILA, Philippines — The sub judice rule must apply equally to everyone involved in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including the respondent herself, former Rep. Robert Ace Barter, House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday. The sub judice rule, or Rule 18, must bind everyone involved in
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The municipal government of San Francisco has shortened face-to-face classes in all public and private schools amid scorching heat, shifting afternoon learning to alternative delivery modes. Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo directed schools in the municipality to hold in-person classes only from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Under Executive Order
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) can rely on courtesy and respect during the 2027 budget deliberations despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong gave the assurance on Sunday in an interview over AM radio DZBB’s “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” with
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should also be covered by the Senate Impeachment Court’s sub judice rule, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Sunday, as the chamber weighs potential violations over comments touching on the merits of her impeachment case. Alonto Adiong, a prosecution spokesman, said the Senate should apply
MANILA, Philippines — Despite prosecuting Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, the House of Representatives will extend courtesy and respect to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during upcoming budget talks, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Sunday. But that respect will not shield the Office of the Vice President
By Sheldeen Joy Talavera, Reporter HYDROPOWER DEVELOPERS are already feeling the effects of El Niño as prolonged dry spells lower reservoir levels, disrupting operations and critical mainte nance activities. Eric Y. Roxas, president of Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC), said El Niño reduces the company’s hydropower plant ef f iciency to about 35% to 40%. “During this period, the company t...
MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Sunday called for an investigation into the attack on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua and his companions. The lawmaker made the call a day after Macacua and his companions survived a shooting when their convoy
Globe supports national policy on conduit systems The Manila Times
RATES of the Treasury bills (T- bills) and Treasury bonds (T-bonds) to be offered this week could end mixed as the market digests the latest policy signals from the Philippine central bank chief. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will auction off up to P60 billion in T-bills on Monday, or P20-25 billion in 91-day papers, P15-20 billion in 182-day securities, and P7-15 billion in 364-day debt. On...
RAZON-LED Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc.’s (Prime Infra) $2.57-billion Wawa Pumped Storage Power Project is 18% complete and remains on track to begin operations by 2030, its top official said. Prime Infra President and Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Lucci said the project’s integrated bulk water component has already been completed and has been operating for some time. “Our goal is very...
By Marron Joshua F. Mendoza THE National Federation of Dairy Farmers and Stakeholders Association said expanded government support for the dairy industry helped increase milk production, the size of the dairy herd, the value of production, and farmgate prices in the first half. Federation President Danilo V. Fausto said the industry has consistently outperformed the rest of the livestock sector...
The SONA maps out our mobility future and more LAST MONTH, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) made his report to the Filipino people at his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA). It is that time of the year when there is no lack of differing opinions on the gains or the ails of the country. To be frank, I have yet to experience a SONA that resulted to a hands-down unifying...
By Isa Jane D. Acabal, Researcher YIELDS on government securities (GS) traded in the secondary market mostly fell last week as expectations for rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) eased following slower US July inflation and weak Philippine second-quarter domestic growth data. GS yields, which move opposite to prices, declined by an average of 7.22 bas...
GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. is backing a unified national policy on underground conduit infrastructure to help reduce fiber cuts and theft and improve network resilience. The proposal, submitted under the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure sector, calls for a coordinated national framework for the planning, construction, and governance of underground conduit systems. “A commo...
DBP undertakes deposit generation campaign The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is tracking down the perpetrators behind the attack on the convoy of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua. Macacua and his companions were unhurt after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their convoy at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug.
PATIKUL, Sulu — In a bid to dismantle geographical barriers and strengthen peace in one of Mindanao’s historically underserved provinces, the national government held its Information–Serbisyo Caravan 2026 on Aug. 15 at the Sulu Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Barangay Bangkal here. The one-stop public service caravan brought dozens of national agencies under one roof to
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a 20 percent discount on mobile prepaid load, mobile postpaid plans, and mobile internet packages for all enrolled Filipino students amid repeated shifts to online classes due to severe weather conditions. Senate Bill No. 2275, known as the “Student Load Discount Act,” aims to alleviate the
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to work with the military and other agencies to identify those behind the ambush on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua. Macacua and his companions escaped unharmed after their convoy was fired upon at 4:45 p.m. on Aug.
BAGUIO CITY — Calamity-affected residents in this city received about P3.1 million worth of assistance following heavy rains brought by recent storms and the enhanced southwest monsoon over the past two weeks, according to the city government. City social welfare and development officer Liza Bulayungan said the assistance consisted of food, non-food items and cash
TACLOBAN CITY — The immunization campaign being held by health authorities in Eastern Visayas against measles and rubella has covered 90,110 children, or about 31 percent of the eligible population. The Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas said the figure was recorded as of Aug. 14, four days after the campaign began on Aug. 10.
