MANILA, Philippines — More than 10,500 passengers were recorded to have passed through Batangas port on Saturday, Nov. 14, amid the long weekend due to the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously declared Nov. 16 to 18, as special (non-working) days in

MANILA, Philippines — Could stronger cooperation among Asean countries mean more affordable food, reliable electricity, better jobs, and greater opportunities for Filipino consumers? These were among the issues explored during the first day of the Asean Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 on Saturday, November 14, as business leaders, policymakers, and industry representatives discussed how Southeast

MANILA, Philippines — Protesters burned an effigy of US President Donald Trump on Saturday ahead of his expected arrival in the country for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit to show their opposition for the US-led Pax Silica initiative. The protest took place at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman in Quezon

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) will adjust the evaluation criteria for the IDX Composite Index (IHSG), effective Monday, 2 November 2026. The adjustment refers to IDX Announcement No. Peng-00148/BEI.POP/05-2021 dated 31 May 2021 on the Implementation of Free Float in Index Calculation, as well as the Joint Decree of the Boards of Directors of IDX […]

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Police have filed a murder complaint against three suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Joseph Wee Sit in Zamboanga City on Thursday. Lt. Col. Shellamie Chang, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9), said the criminal complaint was lodged before the

TACLOBAN CITY — A small machine that can turn seawater into about a gallon of freshwater every hour could offer hope to island communities struggling with limited access to safe drinking water. Developed by engineering researchers from the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) based here, the working desalination prototype uses technology designed to remove salt

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A 39-year-old utility driver survived a brazen daylight ambush while his passenger suffered injuries after a motorcycle-riding gunman opened fire along a village road in Barangay North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon on Friday afternoon, November 13. Police have since put up a containment ring as part of a manhunt against the still

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Four fishermen turned over 30.15 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of P159 million, to police in Aparri, Cagayan, on Saturday, Nov. 14, the Cagayan provincial police reported. The packages were spotted floating off the coast of Barangay Sanja, Aparri West, at around 10:30 a.m., about 40 nautical miles

MANILA, Philippines — Nine areas across the country are forecast to experience dangerous levels of heat on Sunday, Nov. 15, the state weather bureau reported. In its latest heat index forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) monitored that the heat index in Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato City

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Police seized some 93,000 liters of fuel in an operation against suspected illegal trading in Tarlac on Thursday, Nov. 12. In a statement, the Central Luzon police said nine persons were arrested in the operation conducted at Barangay San Rafael in Tarlac City. “The operation, conducted through a court-issued search warrant,

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will intensify the lifestyle checks being conducted on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid reports of excessive fees being collected from businesses. Speaking during a town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Councilor Racquel “Kay” Pineda of this capital city, along with officers and representatives of her Kay-Land Real Estate Development Corp., is facing estafa and syndicate estafa complaints. That is after she and two others were entrapped by authorities last Friday (Nov. 13) for alleged fraudulent sale and collection related

COTABATO CITY – A joint law enforcement operation involving anti-narcotics agents and soldiers on Saturday, Nov. 14, resulted in the arrest of three persons, confiscation of firearms, explosives-related materials and illegal drugs in Barangay Gumaga, Libungan town, Cotabato. Soldiers led by Lt. Col. Germen T. Legada, commanding officer of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, and

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate is demanding the immediate prosecution of “opportunistic” oil companies for allegedly shortchanging consumers by withholding more than P4 from this week’s massive fuel price rollback. The demand came after the Department of Energy (DOE) caught several fuel stations staggering the double-digit price cuts

LEGAZPI CITY — The Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) in Naga City, Camarines Sur, suspended in-person classes and halted office operations following an unverified bomb threat reportedly received by its administration on Saturday, Nov. 14. In an advisory, the college said the measures were implemented upon the recommendation and guidance of

Global oil prices dropped significantly after the Democrats defeated the Republicans in the recent US midterm elections, and are poised to take control of both chambers of Congress in the next two years.

MANILA< Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo on Saturday defended the House of Representatives’ realignment of P9 billion from the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed 2027 budget, citing the agency’s slow utilization of existing funds. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Garin, a former health secretary,

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Saturday defended the realignment of health funds toward patient assistance under the proposed 2027 national budget, citing unspent vaccine allocations and a sluggish 11-percent utilization rate for the government’s health facility program. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, the former health secretary welcomed

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Saturday said that the House of Representatives is ready to address and discuss concerns raised by budget watchdogs on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for fiscal year 2027.   Garin made the response as the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget is under Senate review.

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito is enforcing a strict line-by-line review of 6,271 newly introduced infrastructure projects in the proposed 2027 national budget, warning that proposals lacking complete documentation and proof of readiness will be stripped of funding. A dedicated team from Ejercito’s office is currently auditing the 6,271 infrastructure

MANILA, Philippines — Lead House prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro on Friday urged Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team to present only “competent” witnesses when the impeachment trial resumes on Nov. 19 following next week’s holiday break. Luistro made the call in response to lead defense counsel Sheila Sison’s earlier statement that the defense panel

MANILA, Philippines — House lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Friday expressed disappointment over the defense strategy of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying her lawyers have so far focused on minor expenditures rather than directly addressing the core allegations of unexplained wealth. Speaking after the first week of the defense’s presentation

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday said that the Senate Finance Committee asked for more time to ensure agencies complete its documentation before the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is sponsored on the Senate floor. According to Gatchalian, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, chair of the Senate finance panel, requested for an

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 131, adopting the artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework and creating the National AI Council, Palace press officer Claire Castro announced on Saturday. Signed on Nov. 12, the order seeks to establish a unified direction and clear governance framework for the use and development of

Malay unity wave propelling BN-PN still going strong.

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Janette L. Garin of Iloilo said on Saturday that defense witnesses in the proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have inadvertently strengthened the prosecution’s case. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Garin argued that testimonies presented during the first week of the defense’s

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have discussed strengthening agricultural cooperation to protect local farms and support food security, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Saturday.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in the Philippines on Saturday evening to attend the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito on Saturday said he would not allow projects without a program of works and other required documents to be included in the proposed national budget.

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — More than 5,800 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the Caraga region gained full individual ownership of the lands they till on Thursday, Nov. 12, as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed titles covering 10,777.9566 hectares (ha) in a massive rollout. Farmers from Agusan del Sur comprised the bulk