Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Business

BPI Wealth Taps BlackRock’s Aladdin for Its ₱2-Trillion Wealth Business — But the Biggest Change Could Be What Clients See Next

MANILA, Philippines — One of the Philippines’ biggest wealth managers is making a major technology bet as Filipino investors increasingly look beyond traditional local investments and demand more sophisticated ways to manage their money. BPI Wealth, the asset and wealth management arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands, has selected BlackRock’s Aladdin investment technology to strengthen the way it manages portfolios, measures risk and delivers investment insights to clients. The move brings to

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Four Senators Stop Taking Their Salaries—But What Happens to the Unclaimed Public Funds?

MANILA, Philippines — Four Philippine senators who are currently unable or unavailable to perform their regular Senate duties are voluntarily giving up their salaries, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian—an arrangement that has also renewed questions about whether the Senate should adopt a formal “no work, no pay” policy for lawmakers. Gatchalian said senators who are detained, considered at large, or on extended leave have chosen not to collect their salaries while they remain awa

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Thousands of Filipinos Are Getting National IDs and GCash Accounts in One Stop — But the Bigger Change Comes After Verification

More Filipinos are getting the chance to secure a National ID and enter the country’s rapidly expanding digital financial system without having to travel far from home, as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and GCash deepen their push into barangays and underserved communities. Through PSA co-location activities and GCash Barangay Outposts, more than 2,000 Filipinos in over 25 barangays nationwide have so far been assisted in obtaining National IDs and opening verified GCash accounts, ac

August 28, 2026

Philippines

QC Motorists, Beware: Major Road Repairs Begin Tonight—Here Are the Routes That Could See Heavy Traffic

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists traveling through Quezon City this weekend are being urged to plan ahead as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) begins a series of road repairs and reblocking works on several major thoroughfares starting Friday night, August 28. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) warned that the construction activities could cause traffic congestion in affected areas and advised drivers to consider alternative routes. According to the MMDA, most

August 28, 2026

Philippines

85 Cases, 6 Deaths: The Hidden Danger Rising in Ilocos Floodwaters

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — Floodwaters may disappear when the rains stop, but health officials are warning that another danger could remain behind. The Ilocos Region has recorded 85 cases of leptospirosis and six deaths from January 1 to August 8, as persistent rains and flooding continue to expose communities to potentially contaminated water, according to regional health surveillance data. The Department of Health (DOH) has urged residents to avoid unnecessary contact with floo

August 28, 2026

Entertainment

Claudine Barretto Calls Mon Tulfo’s Son “Bro” 14 Years After Their Infamous NAIA Brawl — But One Big Question Remains

MANILA, Philippines — More than 14 years after one of Philippine showbiz’s most explosive airport controversies, Claudine Barretto has unexpectedly brought the Tulfo name back into the conversation—this time with affection rather than confrontation. The actress exchanged warm messages with Ramon “Bon” Tulfo III, son of veteran broadcaster Ramon “Mon” Tulfo, publicly describing their friendship as deep and referring to Bon as her “bro” and “kapatid.” But there is one important question the soci

August 28, 2026

Business

Philippine Airfares Are Going Up Again in September — But the Biggest Increase Could Hit International Travelers Hardest

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers booking flights in the Philippines face another increase in ticket costs in early September after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowable fuel surcharge by one level, reflecting renewed pressure from expensive jet fuel and volatile global energy markets. CAB’s official advisory dated August 27 sets the passenger and cargo fuel surcharge at Level 13 from September 1 to 15, 2026, up from Level 12 during the second half of August. The regulator has be

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Zambales Floods Shut Down Part of National Highway—And More Heavy Rain Is Still Coming

CABANGAN, Zambales, Philippines — Rising floodwaters cut off a section of the National Highway in Cabangan, Zambales, on Friday, August 28, forcing authorities to declare the affected road impassable to all vehicles as the province braces for more days of heavy rain. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the affected stretch in Barangay Mabanglit was initially closed to light vehicles at around 9:30 a.m. But as floodwaters continued to rise, authorities decla

August 28, 2026

Asia

Hundreds Dead, Thousands Still Unaccounted For: The Himalayan Flood Disaster May Not Be Over Yet

KATHMANDU — What began as a catastrophic flash flood in the Himalayas has rapidly become one of the region’s deadliest disasters in recent years, with the death toll continuing to rise and more than 1,400 people still missing along the Nepal-Tibet border. Latest reports on Friday said at least 469 people have been confirmed dead, a dramatic increase from the earlier toll of more than 350 reported in the first days of the disaster. Rescue teams are still searching through mud, debris and devasta

August 28, 2026

Business

Ayala Is Building an AI Tax Assistant for the BIR — But It Won’t Be Making the Final Decisions

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue is bringing artificial intelligence deeper into Philippine tax administration, teaming up with Ayala Corporation to develop an AI-powered assistant designed to help revenue officers navigate the country's increasingly complex body of tax rules faster and more consistently. The system, called “Terry the Tax AI Assistant,” is being developed to help BIR personnel retrieve, cross-reference and analyze tax regulations, revenue rulings, issuances

August 28, 2026