Philippine News

December 7 ------ The Philippine Navy has further strengthened its alliance with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as part of the measures to enhance professional expertise and operational interoperability between the two countries. Read Admiral Joe Anthony C. Orbe, commander of the Navy’s Philippine Fleet, said the four-day visit of the JMSDF destroyer Harusame (DD102) also reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to supporting the shared goal of a secure and stabl

MANILA, Philippines, December 7 ------ The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has postponed to January next year the scheduled impounding of electric bicycles and e-tricycles along national roads. Multiple public complaints led to the deferment of the ban’s enforcement today, LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said yesterday. An information drive about the prohibition will instead take place today, Lacanilao said. “President Marcos and acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez are

MANILA, Philippines, December 6 ------ Nineteen warships of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were monitored roaming the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea last month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported. At a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the PLAN warships were among the 14,972 different vessels monitored in the country’s territorial waters in November. “Of

December 6 ------ The Philippines will sign at least three free-trade agreements (FTAs) next year, including a historic deal with the European Union (EU), as part of the government’s bid to boost the country’s exports, which remain robust despite global headwinds. Speaking at the National Exporters’ Week 2025, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque confirmed that the country will seal FTAs with the EU, Chile, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next ye

MANILA, Philippines, December 5 ------ The low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility developed into a tropical depression. It was given the local name Wilma, as the country’s 23rd tropical cyclone for 2025. It is also the first tropical cyclone for December. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wilma was located 625 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. The tropical depression is moving wes

MANILA, Philippines, December 5 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) has once again warned the public against fake medicines and vaccines sold online or by unauthorized sellers. This DOH reminder is in line with Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicines, which is an annual observance held during the third week of November, as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 2082. “Report immediately to the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] if you notice any suspicious medic

MANILA, December 5 ------ Lacson said that the initial figure of P180-B was an “extrapolation.” Lacson said this was based on an updated report submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs. "The DPWH submitted to the Blue Ribbon Committee an updated report. Combined with the new data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police inspection teams, it appears the number of ghost pr

December 5 ------ President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced the increase in the base pay of military and uniformed personnel (MUPs), to be given in three tranches. In a video message, Marcos acknowledged the dedication and service of MUPs, especially in terms of national security. “Bilang pagkilala sa inyong walang sawang pag-lilingkod, dedikasyon, at husay, ating itataas ang base pay ng MUP,” the President said. He said the increase shall cover MUPs in the Departme

MANILA, December 4 ------ Just 50 nautical miles from Zambales, a warship of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy with bow number 553 issued a radio challenge to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Cessna Caravan. ABS-CBN News was among those who joined the maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight where the incident occurred on Wednesday, December 3. Throughout the PCG aircraft’s approach to Bajo de Masinloc, the Chinese warship repeatedly issued radio challenges. PCG pilots

MANILA, Philippines, December 4 ------ Local stocks tumbled as investors took profits on the absence of positive catalysts. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index plunged by 1.48 percent or 88.56 points to cap off the session at 5,905.84. The broader All Shares index likewise declined by 0.31 percent or 10.71 points to finish at 3,464.79. Luis Limlingan of Regina Capital said the local bourse closed lower as profit taking and selling pressure emerged during the session

MANILA, December 4 ------ The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for selected pork cuts will be enforced starting Dec 5. The move comes as the DA prepares to impose a temporary import ban on live hogs and pork products from Spain, currently the country’s second-largest source of pork, following reports of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak. In an ambush interview, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the a

MANILA, December 4 ------ The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has formally recommended the filing of charges against former Sen. Bong Revilla and other officials tagged in the flood control scandal, citing possible cases of direct and indirect bribery, corruption, plunder and administrative sanctions. ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. announced the commission's endorsement on Tuesday, after mentioning that former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson h

MANILA, Philippines, December 3 ------ The national government’s debt load climbed to P17.56 trillion in October, propelled by the peso’s weakening against the US dollar, latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) show. The debt stock was P106.78 billion more than the previous month, or 0.61 percent higher. This comes with the peso’s continued depreciation, which hit one of its lowest levels last Oct. 28, closing at 59.13 to the dollar amid the flood control corruption

MANILA, Philippines, December 3 ------ Ninety-two Filipinos in the high-rise buildings hit by fire in Tai Po are safe and accounted for, the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong said. “One is injured and remains hospitalized,” the consulate noted. Authorities said the last two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) listed for verification were in the Philippines when the fire broke out. On Sunday, the consulate confirmed that Maryann Pascual Esteban of Cainta, Rizal, died in t

MANILA, Philippines, December 3 ------ In response to the rising cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the country, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has increased its benefit package for the treatment of the disease by up to 95 percent. In a statement, in time for World Aids Day, PhilHealth announced that its Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) Package now offers annual coverage of P58,500, up from P30,000. This hike comes after the Department of H

MANILA, Philippines, December 3 ------ Stolen flood control funds may have been converted into cryptocurrency in order to move the money offshore, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center said. Renato Paraiso, CICC deputy executive director and newly appointed head of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)’s technical working group on asset recovery, said intelligence reports and recent recoveries suggest that individuals tied to the scheme are channe

MANILA, Philippines, December 2 ------ Oil firms are having a major rollback in diesel and kerosene today, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers should brace for a price hike this December. In separate advisories, Jetti, Seaoil, Petron, Caltex and PTT Philippines announced a price cut of P2.90 and P3.20 per liter for diesel and kerosene, respectively. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, are set to increase by P0.20 per liter. The Department of Energy (DOE) has attributed the

December 2 ------ The Philippine and Japanese militaries conducted a joint activity in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. In a statement, the AFP said the Philippine military and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) held their third bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on Saturday, reflecting the steady growth of their defense cooperation. The AFP deployed the BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), a PN AW159 (NH441) helicopter

MANILA, Philippines, December 2 ------ A Filipina worker who saved a baby during the massive fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Nov. 26 is now in stable condition, according to the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong. Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. broke the news during an interview on dzMM yesterday, on the condition of overseas Filipino worker Rhodora Alcaraz Tuñacao who saved a three-month-old baby – by embracing the infant and protecting him from heavy smoke fo

LEGAZPI CITY, December 2 ------ Minimum wage earners in the Bicol region will see a P20 increase in their daily take-home pay. With the implementation of the second tranche, the new daily minimum wage in the Bicol region will now be P435. Imelda Gatinao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and chairperson of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB V), said the salary adjustment is part of Wage Order No. RBV-22, which was appr