MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has asked his colleagues in the House to approve a measure that would grant health insurance to workers in the informal economy, to ensure that they will have a financial safety net during unanticipated health crises. In a statement on Tuesday, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas said he has

The increase comes after the lower chamber revised the President's proposal contained in the 2027 National Expenditure Program

Forty Thai companies are recognized in Fortune's 2026 Southeast Asia Best Companies to Work For, based on responses from 1.3 million employees.

It may be the policy, but implementation is less straightforward.

MANILA, Philippines — Advocacy and transport groups on Tuesday called for motorcycle taxi platform Move It to be held accountable for exceeding its authorized rider allocation, while urging regulators to protect the livelihoods of rider-partners affected by the company’s violations. The calls came after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) imposed a P555.75-million

MANILA, Philippines — At least 159 foreign nationals, including 128 Indonesians, were rounded up at an alleged “parcel scam hub” in Pasay City on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the new scheme that has been operating for three months targeted Vietnamese, Chinese,

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines — A 36-year-old security guard was found dead inside a guardhouse at a construction site in Barangay Lourdes, Panglao, Bohol, on Tuesday morning, Nov. 3. The victim was identified as Eulalio Abandingo Jr., a resident of Barangay Looc, Panglao. Barangay Lourdes chairperson Eva Lorete received a call at around 7 a.m. informing

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — Police in the Bicol region have accounted for 765 firearms with expired registrations, including 535 voluntarily deposited by their owners and 230 surrendered during police operations, the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) said. The figures were reported on Tuesday (Nov. 2) during the launch of Project Kasurog: Bantay Baril

SAN ILDEFONSO, ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — The La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO) asserted on Monday (Nov. 2) that it does not tolerate corruption or the involvement of its personnel in illegal activities, adding that it takes seriously allegations that its officer-in-charge was protecting illegal gambling operations, including “peryahan” activities in some municipalities. In a

COTABATO CITY – Three persons were killed in separate incidents of shooting in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Tuesday morning, police said. In Marawi City, according to Capt. Steffi Salanguit, police spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), a long standing land dispute led to a shooting incident involving four

MANILA, Philippines—No bettor won the ₱478.3 million Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) draw on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The winning combination for Ultra Lotto 6/58 was 16-55-01-06-27-14, which carried a jackpot prize of ₱478.3 million. No ticket matched all six numbers. The Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot also had no

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said that it is working quietly and only gives information when necessary after Sen. Panfilo Lacson reminded authorities to keep high-profile cases discreet. “There is always secrecy in our police operations. If there is a need for us to talk and or give the details,

MANILA, Philippines — As Filipino families return home after traveling to their respective provinces and visiting cemeteries to honor departed loved ones during Undas, Manila Water is encouraging customers to attend to household sanitation by availing themselves of the company’s scheduled desludging services this November. With families settling back into their regular routines, customers are

BAGUIO CITY—Police seized more than P110 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested six suspected drug personalities during a week-long anti-illegal drug campaign across the Cordillera region from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. In a statement, the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-CAR) said their operating units conducted 14 operations during the period, consisting of seven marijuana eradication operations,

BACOLOD CITY – The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), chaired by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, has approved the P40 to P45 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers in Western Visayas region and Negros Occidental province set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 6. RTWPB-6 chairman Sixto Rodriguez Jr. confirmed the

BACOLOD CITY — Thousands of students in Negros Occidental province just stayed home on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with the cancellation of face-to face classes due to expected elevated heat levels. On Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau forecast the heat index in the province to reach 41 degrees Celsius.  The Provincial Disaster  Risk Reduction Management Office said  such heat

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called for stronger protection of digital systems and online services amid growing cybersecurity threats, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said. He made the call during his 11th meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Sector Group at Malacañan Palace. READ: DICT: Low salary discourages

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — An approximately 80-kilogram female green sea turtle, locally known as pawikan, was released into its natural habitat by the city government of Candon in this province as part of its Pawikan Development Project. In a statement on Tuesday (Nov. 3), the city government, led by Mayor Eric Dario Singson, said

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region (NCR) Chief Prosecutors Association Inc., has endorsed Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda to be the next chief justice. Zalameda began his career as a public prosecutor in Mandaluyong City in 1995 and rose through the ranks to become city prosecutor in 2002 before his 11 year stint

MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected members of an alleged organized robbery group were killed in a shootout with police following a chase near the Molino 4 flyover in Bacoor City, Cavite on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 3, authorities said. According to initial reports, the suspects were planning to rob an exclusive subdivision along Molino Boulevard when

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office (ISPPO) reported no untoward incidents during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, as police personnel maintained security and assisted cemetery-goers across the province. In a statement on Tuesday, the ISPPO said its personnel conducted patrols and security checks, managed crowds,

MANILA, Philippines — For years, Balanga City’s degraded coastlines exposed its communities to flooding, and fish catches declined, especially during storms. Among those who witnessed those times was Jaime Buenaventura, chair of the City Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC). “Before, many people would cut down and gather wood from our mangroves. Because of

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday said budget transparency had been denied not only to the public but also to members of the House of Representatives, many of whom were allegedly unaware of the details of the allocations approved by the chamber.  “Transparency has not only been denied by the House leadership

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday clarified that the Edsa busway will remain exclusive to passenger buses, even as some lanes between Quezon City and Mandaluyong City will be temporarily opened to private vehicles. The DPWH said that private vehicles will only be allowed to pass through Lane

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court is unlikely to grant Vice President Sara Duterte’s broad objections to the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said on Tuesday Ridon, an impeachment prosecutor, said Duterte’s lawyers virtually objected to all evidence presented by the prosecution concerning the unexplained wealth charge, including her

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — Anti-drug authorities arrested an active police officer and seized more than 812 grams of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P5.5 million during a raid on his residence in Barangay Aserda, Mapandan town in this province. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 1 identified the suspect as a chief master sergeant. READ:

MANILA, Philippines — Here are INQToday’s top stories for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, as of 6 p.m. WALANG PASOK: Schools may suspend, resume classes Schools may independently suspend in-person classes based on safety risks within their premises and seek to resume face-to-face learning even while a local government-ordered suspension remains in effect, under a new

MANILA, Philippines – Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said on Tuesday the National Unity Party (NUP) is upbeat on meeting with the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) to discuss issues tied to the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for next year. On Monday, the PBC said several lawmakers have invited them to meet and review the House approved

MANILA, Philippines — Weaker gaming revenues and softer macroeconomic conditions have reduced DigiPlus Interactive Corp.’s nine-month net income to about 12 percent to P8.9 billion from P10.11 billion last year. The Eusebio Tanco-led company said its earnings included noncash fair value gains from its investment in International Entertainment Corp.’s (IEC) convertible bonds. READ: DigiPlus Q1 earnings

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The construction of the proposed P100 million sports facility in Dinagat Islands province has gained traction as Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio led Monday the inspection of the proposed site. Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. and local officials welcomed Gregorio and accompanied him for the survey