MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. listens to public concerns and considers the needs of different sectors when planning and implementing government programs, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Thursday Her statement came after Pulse Asia Research’s September 2026 Ulat ng Bayan survey found that 49 percent of respondents disapproved of Marcos’ performance, while

ASEAN countries adopted a Joint Declaration in Bali to protect journalistic works from unauthorized use by digital platforms and AI.

MANILA, Philippines — Bank balances in Vice President Sara Duterte’s accounts that were later withdrawn would not show whether she correctly declared the money she allegedly held in previous years, private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said on Tuesday in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.” Kapunan challenged a hypothetical defense explanation that money could have passed through an

MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to raise the mandatory bioethanol blend in gasoline to 15 percent (E15) to help curb high fuel prices and boost domestic production, an energy official said. According to Department of Energy (DOE) undersecretary Alessandro Sales, the National Biofuels Board (NBB) has begun studying the possibility of increasing the blend to

BACOLOD CITY — House Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Benitez on Thursday strongly condemned the discriminatory and insulting remarks directed at Josh Aquino in a viral podcast. He warned that freedom of expression is not a license to demean persons with special needs. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page,

COTABATO CITY — The government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday, Oct. 15, marked the 14th anniversary of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), with the government’s top peace official saying the peace process will now focus on normalization. The shift follows the election of the region’s first Parliament last

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque on Thursday said supplies and prices for basic and prime commodities, including bottled water, remain stable despite the looming effects of Super El Niño. In a chance interview in Pampanga, Roque said there was no need to panic as supplies remained sufficient to meet demand. READ: DSWD to

TACLOBAN CITY— Some 31 of the 55 barangays of Catarman in Northern Samar are already experiencing reduced water supply as the dry conditions brought by the El Niño phenomenon begins to prevail. This situation prompted local authorities to explore additional water sources. They also urged residents to conserve water. The Catarman Water District has begun

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday urged the Senate to make “necessary corrections” to the House-approved P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 as senators prepare to review the spending plan. In a statement, Tinio said he hopes the Senate will strip “pork” from the budget bill instead of adding its own discretionary

MANILA, Philippines — Allowing the proposal to let the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte give a limited rebuttal on the three withdrawn impeachment articles would be “a complete waste of time and resources of the court and everyone involved.” Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr., House private prosecutor and legal spokesperson, stressed that point in