Philippine News

November 19 ------ ​CHINESE coast guard and maritime militia vessels have been increasingly observed near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea, ship-tracking data showed. ​Data gathered over the past three days showed Chinese ships have moved toward Pag-Asa Island from multiple locations, including mainland China, the Paracel Islands, Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), and other areas in the Spratly archipelago. Retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director o

MANILA, November 19 ------ The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is expecting some positive development in the efforts to extract the Filipino seafarers being held by the Houthis in Yemen, Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said. She said partner countries in the Middle East are helping the Philippines appeal for the release of the Filipinos. “We are hopeful that we have had very good relations with many of these countries. I cannot just divulge the negotiations or the discussion

MANILA, November 19 ------ Majority of Philippine agricultural exports now enjoy zero tariff in the United States, of which value was over a billion US dollars in 2024. Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Sec. Frederick Go said US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that agricultural products that are not grown or produced in the US are exempted from the reciprocal tariff. And many of the Philippines' exports are not grown i

MANILA, November 19 ------ Pag-IBIG Fund is offering a one-month payment moratorium and reminding borrowers of their Housing Loan insurance coverage to help members recover from the devastation caused by recent typhoons and earthquakes, officials announced. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Chairman Jose Ramon Aliling said the measures reflect Pag-IBIG Fund’s continuing commitment to provide responsive support to Filipino

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ Major oil companies are set to hike gasoline and diesel prices by P1.20 per liter today, triggered by tightening supply and growing regional demand. The adjustment, implemented by Jetti, Petron, Seaoil, Caltex and PTT Philippines, marks the seventh straight week of increase for gasoline and the fourth for diesel. A price freeze, meanwhile, continues to be in effect for kerosene following the declaration of a national state of calamity d

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ Philippines-based church Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) concluded its planned three-day “anti-corruption” rally a day early, ending the protest on Monday, November 17. INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said the group achieved what it aimed for with the mass action ahead of schedule. The rally began on Sunday, November 16, and was initially expected to run until November 18. “It did not need three days to achieve the goal of sending the message tha

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ Cash remittances grew by 3.7 percent in September, its fastest pace in five months, as overseas hiring remained steady, Middle East deployments continued to normalize and households began preparing for school and holiday expenses. Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that cash remittances rose to $3.12 billion in September from $3.01 billion a year earlier. This brought the nine-month total to $26.03 billion, up

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ With their names dragged into the controversy over corruption in flood control projects, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman have resigned to give way to an investigation. President Marcos accepted the resignation of the two officials, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing yesterday. “Both officials respectfully offered and tendered their resignations out

MANILA, Philippines, November 17 ------ Despite intermittent rains, attendees continued to stream into the Quirino Grandstand grounds and surrounding areas as the three-day Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally started yesterday in Manila. On its first day, the crowd, calling for transparency and accountability in government, swelled to an estimated 650,000 as of 6 p.m., according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. During the opening program, Bienvenido Sant

MANILA, Philippines, November 17 ------ The Philippines, the United States and Japan conducted another round of maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea, demonstrating a growing regional unity and cooperation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. The AFP said the exercises featured a series of coordinated maritime and aerial operations, including rendezvous time, communication check, maritime domain awareness contact reporting, resupply at sea approach, anti-submarine

MANILA, Philippines, November 17 ------ The City of Manila declared the suspension of classes today through until Tuesday, November 18, due to three-day gatherings of religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo. In a video released by the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) on Sunday, November 16, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso announced that in-person classes are suspended at all levels for public and private schools. Domagoso also said he ordered the shift to alternative delive

MANILA, Philippines, November 17 ------ Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co claimed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez threatened to kill him if he “talked” about his involvement in the flood control scam or even returned to the country. Co made the allegation in the third part of his video statement, saying Romualdez threatened him as early as March 2025 during a supposed meeting. “As early as March 2025, the speaker hinted to me in our meeting that he will shoot me if I

MANILA, November 16 ------ The Government of Japan is extending a ¥370 million (approximately PHP140 million) grant to strengthen the Philippines’ tuberculosis (TB) response, particularly in remote and underserved areas. In a news release, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Geneva Office Director Andrew Kirkwood signed a deal for “The Project for Enhancing Tuberculosis Screening i

MANILA, Philippines, November 16 ------ The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. now covers 343 medical services provided in emergency rooms under the PhilHealth outpatient emergency care benefit or OECB package. “There is a substantial need to support the delivery of acute care for cases not requiring admission, or outpatient services provided in emergency settings,” PhilHealth said. Included in the coverage are nebulization, oxygen, vital signs monitor, CT Scan, X-ray, ultraso

MANILA, Philippines, November 15 ------ Southeast Asian nations signed their first region-wide extradition treaty on Friday, November 14, closing a decades-old legal gap that allowed criminals in the region to escape arrest by fleeing to neighboring countries. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the signing of the treaty at the opening of the two-day 13th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting, an event held in the Philippines as part of the country's chairmanship of the ASEAN in 20

MANILA, November 15 ------ Former congressman Elizaldy Co on Friday broke his silence on the flood control scandal and claimed that he was used as a scapegoat. Co said that he left the country for a medical checkup in July and had planned to go home after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address. But Co said then House Speaker Martin Romualdez supposedly told him in a phone call, “Stay out of the country. You will be well taken care of as instructed by the

MANILA, Philippines, November 14 ------ Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, a former Senate president and implementor of Martial Law during the Ferdinand Marcos regime, died on Thursday, November 13. He was 101 years old. “It is with profound love and gratitude that my father, Juan Ponce Enrile, peacefully returned to his Creator on November 13, 2025, at 4:21 p.m., surrounded by our family in the comfort of our home,” Enrile’s daughter, Katrina, said in a stat

MANILA, November 14 ------ The Philippines and Japan are working to align their marine conservation initiatives with the United Nations High Seas Treaty, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA said both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on protecting the marine environment and ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources during the 8th Philippines–Japan Maritime Dialogue held in Tokyo on Nov. 6 to 7. In a statement, the DFA noted that the dialogue

November 14 ------ PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr said many of those linked to the flood control bribery scandal would be in jail by December — but his cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, would not be one of them. “I know that before Christmas, many of those named here will have their cases concluded. They will be in jail,” he said, referring to former officials, lawmakers and contractors that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended to the Offi

MANILA, November 14 ------ The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday assured the public that its newly launched Kaagapay donations portal will provide a secure and transparent platform for sending cash assistance to families and communities affected by recent calamities. In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the online portal was designed to make donating simpler, safer, and more direct for individuals and org