Philippine News

MANILA, December 24 ------ The Philippines is ready to mediate between Cambodia and Thailand should both parties seek Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) help once Manila assumes the bloc’s chairship next year. "Following the discussions today, the Philippines said that it is prepared to assume the role of facilitator/mediator between Cambodia and Thailand should both parties decide to make use of the good offices of the Chair once the Philippines assumes the ASEA

December 24 ------ All hospitals nationwide have been placed under Code White until Jan. 6, 2025, as the Department of Health (DOH) braces for a possible increase in medical emergencies during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The directive was announced by DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa on Monday, Dec. 22, following inspections at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and the Philippine Heart Center (PHC). The two hospitals said they remain ready to accommodate a

MANILA, Philippines, December 23 ------ December offers some respite from rising fuel costs, with oil firms set to roll back prices by up to P1.60 per liter starting today — just in time for the holiday break. After climbing by a cumulative P1.60 over three weeks, gasoline prices will be cut by P0.80 per liter, reversing half of the earlier hike. Diesel and kerosene, meanwhile, have been on a downward trend over the same period following steep increases in November. Kerosene

MANILA, December 23 ------ The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that one of its offshore patrol vessels, BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), conducted a maritime patrol off Los Frailes Island, Zambales, where it also successfully test-fired its 76mm main gun. BRP Emilio Jacinto is assigned to the PN's Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC) based in Naval Station Ernesto Ogbinar, Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union. "During the patrol, PS-35 maintained heightened maritime domain awaren

MANILA, Philippines, December 23 ------ The Philippine National Police (PNP) has shifted its focus toward investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and securing potential evidence related to a multi-billion-peso flood control controversy. In a statement, PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. said the case is now a matter of "national interest" due to Cabral's alleged involvement in the ongoin

MANILA, December 23 ------ One of the two alleged Bondi Beach shooters visited a gun store during their stay in the Philippines, police said as they attempted to retrace the pair's movements. An Australian counter-terrorism team is investigating whether Sajid Akram and his son Naveed met with Islamist extremists during a nearly month-long visit to the southern island of Mindanao before the mass shooting that killed 15 people in Sydney six days ago. The staff of Davao City's G

MANILA, Philippines, December 22 ------ The United States Congress has approved $2.5 billion (roughly P146 billion) in new security assistance for the Philippines, locking in Washington's multi-year military funding for Manila at a time of flaring tensions in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The funding was approved this week as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a $900-billion annual Pentagon policy bill passed by the Senate on Wedne

MANILA, December 22 ------ The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said more than 500 overseas Filipino workers in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand are currently receiving government assistance after they were affected by natural disasters, border tensions, and those victimized by human trafficking. In a press briefing on Thursday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the government is responding to various crises involving Filipinos overseas, as directed by Presi

MANILA, Philippines, December 22 ------ The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) received a significant boost in its budget for 2026 after members of the bicameral conference committee approved a P16.5 billion-worth adjustment to its funding. At a bicam meeting, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed the budget adjustment made to PhilHealth. He particularly noted that the increase by P16.5 billion is meant to cover the deficiency in the appropriated earmarked reven

MANILA, Philippines, December 22 ------ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its growth forecast for the Philippines amid an ongoing corruption scandal that has weighed on the economy and magnified the impact of lingering global headwinds. In its latest country report, the IMF said it expected the Philippine economy to grow by an average of 5.1 percent this year, down from its 5.4 percent projection in October, after third-quarter growth fell to a four-year low of 4

MANILA, December 21 ------ Cash remittances reached $3.17 billion in October, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. From January to October, remittances reached $29.20 billion. The BSP said most of the remittances during the period came from the United States, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. Personal remittances also hit $3.52 billion in October, and $32.49 billion in the first three quarters. The Philippines is one of the largest recipients of remittances. Money sent home

MANILA, Philippines, December 21 ------ The Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Mental Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) is offering free medications for selected mental health conditions. According to the DOH-MMCHD, Valproic Acid (250mg/5ml, 120ml bottle) medicines are available at their unit as of December 2025. “To take care of your mind, we have free mental health medicine na Valproic Acid 250mg/5ml, 120 ml bottle sa MMCHD,” it said in a Facebook post. DOH-MMCHD s

December 20 ------ President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr announced that qualified members of the Social Security Systems could avail emergency loan starting this December, with six months moratorium.  This as the country was placed under state of national calamity after the Philippines was hit by destructive typhoons. “Simula itong Disyembre na ito ay makakapagbigay na ang SSS ng tinatawag na emergency loan dahil habang nasa ilalim, halimbawa, ng national emergency ay magb

MANILA, December 20 ------ The growing security ties between the Philippines and Japan were highlighted in a high-level virtual meeting between ranking military leaders of the two nations last Dec. 17. In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) chief of staff, joint staff, Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation during their dialog

MANILA, December 19 ------ Former Department of Public Works (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral has died after allegedly falling from a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, according to police. Her remains have been brought to a local funeral parlor, according to ABS-CBN News stringer Rhen De Guzman According to a report from the Benguet Provincial Police Office, the incident was reported by Cabral’s driver. According to the driver, he and Cabral were travelling along

MANILA, December 19 ------ The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated its commitment to protect Filipinos and uphold the country’s maritime rights following the December 12 incident near Escoda or Sabina Shoal, where Chinese maritime forces used water cannon and conducted coercive actions against local fishermen. Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military is carrying out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

MANILA, Philippines, December 19 ------ The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday night, December 18, served a warrant of arrest on super contractor Sarah Discaya in connection with the alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental. Discaya is now under NBI custody and is undergoing standard arrest procedures, including the reading of her Miranda rights and a mandatory physical examination, according to One News. It was President Ferdinand

December 19 ------ Malacanang announced that government work will be suspended on December 29, 2025 and January 2, 2026 to allow government employees to celebrate New Year's Day activities in their respective provinces. "In order to provide government employees full opportunity to celebrate New Year's Day activities and allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country, work day in all government offices is hereby suspended on 29 December 2025 (Monday) and 2 J

MANILA, November 18 ------ The Senate and the House of Representatives early Thursday concluded the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), capping six days of discussions aimed at producing a transparent and responsive national budget. The bicam wrapped up its work at around 2:22 a.m., reconciling the disagreeing provisions of the PHP6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill.   The Senate panel was led by Committee

November 18 ------ AN anti-corruption civil group filed a P1-billion class suit against former speaker Martin Romualdez, resigned congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, demanding that they compensate flood victims, especially in Novaliches.   The United People Against Corruption (UPAC) filed the civil case before a Quezon City regional trial court. “We filed a class suit for damages of P1 billion against these officials for abuse of righ