Philippine News

MANILA, Philippines, October 26 ------ Naval forces of the Philippines, Japan and the United States concluded a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea aimed at strengthening logistics, maritime security, and emergency-response coordination. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) participated in the 22nd Philippines-Japan-United States MCA from Oct. 19

October 26 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) recorded an increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases this week and will begin rolling out influenza vaccines next week, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said. Mercado said the DOH recorded 11,137 ILI cases last week, an 8% increase from the 10,278 cases recorded during the September 3-16 period. “There were 11,137 cases recorded last week, compared with 10,278 cases from September 3 to 16,” Mercado told Super Radyo dzBB. Ho

MANILA, Philippines, October 26 ------ Saying the gloves are off, the government has put up a P50-million bounty for any information that will lead to the capture of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and gave him a week to surrender. In announcing the reward, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the senator, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” has been given all the courtesy to voluntarily surrender following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest issued i

MANILA, Philippines, October 26 ------ The Bureau of Immigration and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines are set to deploy additional personnel from October 30 to November 3 as airports brace for the Undas passenger surge. CAAP expects passenger volume this year to reach 4 million, up from 3.7 million in 2025. Immigration spokesperson Anisha Hadji Hassan said rapid response teams will be on standby at each terminal in case more immigration officers are needed or e

MANILA, October 25 ------ A total of 31 Chinese vessels were monitored across four maritime features in the West Philippine Sea from October 13 to 19, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The vessels included 23 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and eight People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships. Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, recorded the highest number of Chinese vessels with 16—13 CCG ships and three PLAN warships. At Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines, October 25 ------ In anticipation of an influx of patients due to an intensified El Niño, the Department of Health is preparing to temporarily assign hospital personnel from other departments to provide medical attention to patients suffering from heat-related illnesses. DOH Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said the agency has a surge plan that allows hospitals to deploy additional staff when needed. “We have a surge plan for this. There are hospital

MANILA, October 24 ------ Diesel prices may rise while gasoline prices may fall in the last week of October. Based on the first four days of trading on the Mean of Platts Singapore, oil prices may move by the following amounts next week: • Diesel - P2.88/L increase • Gasoline - P1.07/L decrease • Kerosene - P1.50/L increase Oil prices remain elevated because of uncertainty in the Middle East amid attacks on the Strait of Hormuz and other parts of Saudi Arabia. Source: news.ab

MANILA, October 24 ------ The Philippine Embassy in Rome has urged Filipinos in Italy to exercise heightened caution as demonstrations and public disturbances are expected in several Italian cities. In an advisory, the embassy identified Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin, Bologna, Padua, Bari, and Genoa as areas where further demonstrations are expected, with multiple marches and demonstrations also anticipated in parts of Rome. The embassy said recent protests in some Italian cit

MANILA, October 23 ------ The peso slumped to a new record low of P63.52 against the dollar yesterday, October 22. The previous record was at P63.361 versus the greenback on Wednesday, October 21. On Thursday's intraday trade, the peso hit a low of P63.545 to the dollar before clawing back to P63.52 at the close of trade. A weaker peso is expected to make oil purchases even more expensive as the commodity is purchased with dollars. It is also expected to stoke inflation. The

MANILA, Philippines, October 23 ------ Two areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Typhoon Rosal maintained its strength while moving over the sea east of Batanes, the state weather bureau reported. In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Rosal had a sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 190 kph. Batanes and the northeastern portion o

MANILA, October 23 ------ One Filipino was killed in a drone attack targeting the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. Saudi Gazette, an English-language news outlet, reported Wednesday night that the attack on a Saudi Aramco facility at the oil field Wednesday morning resulted in the deaths of one Filipino and one Nepali. Two others, a Pakistani and an Indian, sustained injuries, the report added. The Saudi energy ministry said that falling debris from th

MANILA, October 23 ------ The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal this week was successfully conducted without incident. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, reiterated the mission was part of the military’s regular activities to rotate personnel and provide them with necessary supplies. “Again, it was successfully conducted. It’s not the only one successfully conducted. Marami tay

MANILA, October 22 ------ The peso sank to another record low yesterday, October 21. The peso closed at P63.361 against the dollar at the end of Wednesday's trade. Its previous record low was P63.09 on October 19. The continuous slide of the Philippine peso past 63 against the US dollar has heightened expectations of further monetary tightening by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with rate hikes anticipated next week and in December. The BSP Monetary Board is set to meet on T

MANILA, Philippines, October 22 ------ Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) slightly weakened as it continued its northwestward track over the Philippine Sea east of Batanes, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. As of 4 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, PAGASA said the center of Rosal's eye was estimated to be 495 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes. Rosal now has maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph, with

October 22 ------ THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejected China’s claim that USS Charleston of the United States Navy trespassed into Chinese territory, saying its passage was lawful under international law. ​AFP spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the American ship’s passage was consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). ”USS Charleston did not trespass into ‘Chinese territory,’” Trinidad sai

October 22 ------ Filipinos seeking employment in Croatia could be assured of safe recruitment process after the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) signed an agreement with the Croatian Employment Service (CES) to improve coordination between the two governments to facilitate employment opportunities. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agreement will also pave the way for the protection of existing and would be overseas Filipino workers in Croatia under the government-to

MANILA, Philippines, October 21 ------ Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains in effect over several parts of Luzon as Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) further intensified while moving over the sea east of Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, October 21, PAGASA said Rosal was packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 265 kph. The super typhoon was last

October 21 ------ A Chinese warship and research vessel were spotted in separate occasions by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the waters of the Bajo de Masinloc. In a 24 Oras report from Chino Gaston on Tuesday, the PCG received reports that China was building structures in the Bajo de Masinloc. GMA News joined the Coast Guard in a maritime domain awareness flight to the disputed reef that spotted a Chinese warship. The Chinese ship even posed a radio challenge at the pat

MANILA, Philippines, October 21 ------ President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi discussed various areas of cooperation, including defense, security and preparations for the upcoming 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits – which will be held in Metro Manila from Nov. 15 to 17 – during a phone call. In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the two leaders discussed the 4th Asia Zero Emission Co

MANILA, Philippines, October 21 ------ The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is expanding access to selected first-line anti-tuberculosis (TB) medicines through its Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program. The expanded benefit will take effect on Nov. 1, giving eligible patients additional access to prescribed TB medicines, according to PhilHealth Circular No. 2026-0018. “Eligible patients with confirmed drug-susceptible tub