Philippine News

MANILA, Philippines, September 5 ------ Inflation in the country fell within the government’s target as it slightly declined to 6.1% in August from 6.2% in July, according to the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The figure was within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast range of 5.5% to 6.5%. This is also the fourth time in 2026 that the headline inflation rate has gone down since May. “‘Yung ating inflation rate na 6.1%, mataas pa rin talaga y

MANILA, September 5 ------ Domestic fuel prices are projected to increase next week following the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran over mining in the Strait of Hormuz. Citing price developments in the international market, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said Friday that diesel prices may go up by PHP4.50 to PHP5 per liter, and gasoline by PHP4 to PHP4.50 per liter. “Oil prices rose as the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran over mining in

MANILA, September 4 ------ Malacañang suspended face-to-face classes in several areas in Luzon today, September 4, 2026, citing heavy rains and the haze from forest fires in Indonesia. Under Memorandum Circular No. 134, the following areas "alternative learning modes and learning continuity measures shall be implemented at all levels in public and private educational institutions" in the following areas: - National Capital Region - Ilocos Norte - llocos Sur - La Union - Panga

MANILA, Philippines, September 4 ------ Leptospirosis cases in the country have reached 6,253 from Jan. 4 to Aug. 29, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday, warning that infections may surge as another wave of cases could be experienced in two weeks due to the disease’s incubation period. Of the cases logged so far, 378 deaths were recorded with a case fatality rate of 6.05 percent. DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa said that the recent figure is lower by 12 percent co

MANILA, September 4 ------ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies to provide immediate assistance, including applicable benefits, compensation, and insurance proceeds, to the families of two Filipino seafarers who died in a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier confirmed that two Filipino seafarers were killed after the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker SIDR was attacked while transiting the Strait of

MANILA, Philippines, September 4 ------ The prosecution team of the House of Representatives is now in possession of bank documents and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, as allegations of unexplained wealth against her will take centerstage in the next phase of her impeachment trial. Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro party-list), also a member of the team, confirmed receipt Wednesday afternoon of the financial records from several banks as

MANILA, Philippines, September 3 ------ Tropical Storm Pilandok (international name: Krovanh) slightly accelerated northwestward over the Philippine Sea and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday, PAGASA said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, September 3, the state weather bureau said Pilandok was located 1,030 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 4 a.m. Pilandok was carrying peak winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the

MANILA, Philippines, September 3 ------ The impeachment court heard from its latest hostile witness, defense counsel and former DepEd spokesperson and chief of staff Michael Poa. Poa, who is also part of Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team, was DepEd's chief of staff and later concurrently officer-in-charge undersecretary for finance under then-Secretary Duterte. He signed the department's official reply to a Commission on Audit inquiry into the department's P112.5 mil

MANILA, Philippines, September 3 ------ Nearly 118,000 dengue cases have been recorded nationwide, according to the Department of Health. The DOH said 117,952 dengue cases have been registered from January to August this year. Health Undersecretary Gloria Balboa said the figure is 41 percent lower than the 201,533 cases logged last year. The three regions with the highest number of dengue cases are Central Luzon, Calabarzon and the National Capital Region. With the rainy seas

MANILA, Philippines, September 3 ------ Amid heavy traffic due to floods on the North Luzon Expressway, NLEX tolls were waived for all vehicles traveling between Pulilan, Bulacan and San Fernando, Pampanga, the Department of Transportation announced. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez personally coordinated with NLEX Corp. president Luis Reñon to implement the toll relief in response to President Marcos’ directive to assist motorists and passengers affected by the gridlock. Food a

MANILA, September 2 ------ The Philippine peso weakened further against the US dollar yesterday, closing at its new record low of P62.40 against $1, according to the data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor earlier said the central bank was monitoring the foreign exchange market, after the currency breached the P62 barrier last Friday. The peso sank to P62.265 versus the US dollar on August 28. "The BSP intervenes to address d

MANILA, September 2 ------ Tropical Storm Pilandok (international name Krovanh) slightly decelerated as it moved over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau said. Pilandok was located 1,205 km. east northeast of extreme northern Luzon as of 4 a.m. It is moving east northeastward at 10 km per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts of up t

MANILA, Philippines, September 2 ------ The impeachment court yesterday heard the testimonies of two military officials whose signatures are on documents the Department of Education, under then-Secretary Sara Duterte, used to liquidate its confidential funds in 2023. Duterte's trial entered its ninth week today with the prosecution's relatively brief presentation of witnesses Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. Magtangol Panopio, as the defense chose not to cross-examine both

MANILA, September 2 ------ The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) urged residents in haze-affected areas to stay indoors as much as possible and take precautions against possible health effects from deteriorating air quality. OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the agency, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), was closely monitoring the haze affecting parts

MANILA, September 1 ------ Oil prices are falling on the first day of September. The Department of Energy (DOE) said oil prices are dropping by the following amounts: - Diesel - P3.83/L - Gasoline - P0.32/L - Kerosene - P3.84/L In the Philippines, fuel prices have gone up for 2 straight weeks. The hike has reached a total of P6.20/L for diesel, P3.60 for gasoline, and P6.00 for kerosene. Source: news.abs-cbn.com

MANILA, September 1 ------ Tropical Depression Pilandok is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours, the weather bureau said in its 5 a.m. bulletin today. Pilandok packs maximum sustained winds of 55 km. ph (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was last located 1,050 km. east of extreme Northern Luzon, moving west northwestward at 10 kph. No wind signal is hoisted on any part of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical an

September 1 ------ Parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa are affected by haze, possibly tied to the ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said. "The observed haze is possibly associated with smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, which may have been transported towards the Philippines by prevailing winds," the DENR-EMB said. The EMB in

MANILA, Philippines, September 1 ------ Malacañang has directed government offices and classes in 15 provinces across Northern and Central Luzon to implement online classes and alternative work arrangements today, September 1, due to anticipated heavy rains from the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, locally known as “habagat.” In a memorandum released on Monday, August 31, the palace said that it issued the order upon the recommendation of the disaster risk reduction council, aimin

August 31 ------ The Department of National Defense (DND) announced the entry into force of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between the Philippines and Japan, a framework that allows the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to exchange supplies and services during joint activities. DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong said the agreement, signed in January, will enhance operational cooperation

August 31 ------ The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will crack down on motorists who use improvised or replica license plates on their vehicles without due authorization starting September 1. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao warned that the agency will not tolerate such violations on the road. The crackdown will also include some manufacturers of improvised plates, the LTO chief said, as the agency seeks to put an end to the