Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

Navotas Expands Foster Care With NACC — But the Partnership Is Also Targeting a Darker Problem: Illegal Adoption

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines — A new agreement between the National Authority for Child Care and the Navotas City government is designed to put more vulnerable children into safe, licensed family environments—but behind the foster-care push is another increasingly urgent concern: illegal adoption and child-selling schemes that authorities say continue to exploit children and desperate families. NACC and Navotas signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Friday, August 28, to strengthen foster care and do

September 1, 2026

Business

Punggol East Container Park to Close Earlier Than Expected — More Than 50 Tenants Told to Leave by October

SINGAPORE — A familiar Punggol hangout is heading for an unexpected goodbye. More than 50 tenants at Punggol East Container Park are preparing to leave the site by the end of October, with the container park set to be handed back to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) as the government reclaims the land. The development has left business owners, workers and regular customers disappointed, particularly because some tenants had expected to remain at the site until the end of their existing agreem

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Lake Lanao, Pulangi Dam Water Levels Fall as Rain Fades—Then Mindanao’s Power Grid Raises Another Warning

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines — Water levels at Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi Dam in Bukidnon have fallen below their normal levels as rainfall remains limited, raising fresh concerns for Mindanao’s hydroelectric power supply. As of noon on Tuesday, September 1, Lake Lanao stood at 700.7 meters, while the water level at Pulangi Dam was 283.9 meters, according to officials of the National Power Corporation’s Mindanao Generation Group cited by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The decline is b

September 1, 2026

Business

Davao Sends 25 Tons of Durian to Metro Manila — But the Real Reason Behind the Kadiwa Caravan Is Bigger Than Cheap Fruit

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The unmistakable scent of Davao durian has reached Metro Manila as the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa on Wheels rolled into Quezon City on Tuesday, September 1, carrying tropical fruits directly from Mindanao farmers to consumers—and opening another outlet for growers facing the pressure of a heavy harvest season. The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) opened its fruit-selling activity at the DA Central Office in Quezon City, showcasing durian, mang

September 1, 2026

Entertainment

Pakistan Cricket Erupts After Shock England Test Shake-Up — But the PCB’s Biggest Decision May Still Be Coming

Pakistan cricket has descended into another storm of controversy after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes to its Test squad and coaching staff following two heavy defeats against England. With the three-match Test series already lost, the PCB has released seven players and two coaches ahead of the final Test at Edgbaston, a move that former Pakistan captains and coaches have described as panic-driven and lacking stability. The dramatic overhaul comes after Pakistan were bea

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Samar Fisherman Saves 2 Green Sea Turtles Caught in Net — But the Rescue Highlights a Bigger Threat in Philippine Waters

Two green sea turtles accidentally caught near Basey, Samar were examined, tagged and returned alive to the sea after a fisherman chose to surrender them to authorities rather than keep them. The successful rescue comes amid continuing concern over fishing-gear entanglement and other threats facing marine turtles across the Philippines. TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — What could have ended as another fatal encounter between endangered wildlife and fishing gear instead became a successful rescue af

September 1, 2026

Entertainment

They Were Told to Postpone the Wedding—Then the Bride Walked Into a Flooded Church

HAGONOY, BULACAN, Philippines — Floodwaters may have swallowed the streets of Hagonoy, Bulacan, but they did not stop one couple from saying “I do.” Leian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico went ahead with their wedding on Tuesday, September 1, at St. John the Baptist Parish in Hagonoy despite floodwater reaching roughly hip level inside the church. Images and videos of the unusual ceremony quickly spread online, showing the bride, groom and a small group of guests navigating murky floodwater on t

September 1, 2026

Business

₱16B for Farm-to-Market Roads vs. a 55,000-Km Need — But the Budget Gap Is Only Part of the Problem

MANILA, Philippines — The government is proposing ₱16 billion for farm-to-market roads in 2027, but the Department of Agriculture says the amount is nowhere near enough to close a road network gap that still stretches roughly 55,000 kilometers nationwide. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. raised the warning during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberations on the DA's proposed 2027 budget on September 1. As of August 31, the agriculture chief said around 55,000 kilometer

September 1, 2026

Thailand

Thailand Just Cut Visa-Free Stays in Half — And Singapore Tourists Are Among Those Affected

Thailand has tightened its visa-exemption rules, cutting the maximum visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 60 countries and territories, including Singapore, the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Australia and much of the European Union. The change marks a significant rollback of Thailand’s expanded 60-day visa-exemption policy, which was introduced in 2024 as part of efforts to encourage international tourism. The latest rules were published by Thailand’s

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Mayon SO₂ Surges to 7,115 Tons a Day — But the Warning Signs Aren’t Coming From Gas Alone

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — Mayon Volcano is showing another combination of warning signals just weeks after authorities lowered its alert status, with sulfur dioxide emissions surging to 7,115 tonnes per day and instruments detecting renewed signs of pressure beneath parts of the volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the Aug. 31 measurement was the second-highest sulfur dioxide emission recorded since Mayon’s volcanic gas concentrations began declining on July 16. It w

September 1, 2026