Philippines

DENR Taps Private Sector to Fight Philippines’ Garbage Crisis as Waste Continues to Clog Waterways

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is looking beyond traditional cleanup operations in its fight against the country’s growing garbage problem, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) pushing for stronger private sector participation to stop waste before it reaches drainage systems, rivers and waterways. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said businesses could play a bigger role in addressing plastic pollution through existing laws and programs, particul

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Meta Agrees to Help PH Track Online Threats—But What Data Can Authorities Actually Get?

MANILA, Philippines — Meta, the technology company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has pledged closer cooperation with Philippine authorities in investigating serious online threats, cybercrime and harmful AI-generated deepfakes—marking a major step in the government's growing campaign to make social media platforms more accountable. The commitment emerged from a meeting in Singapore between Philippine officials and Meta representatives, where authorities pressed the social media giant

August 29, 2026

Philippines

LTFRB Is Bringing Services Closer to MIMAROPA — But Two Provinces Could See the Biggest Change Yet

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Transport operators in two MIMAROPA provinces could soon spend less time and money traveling to Calapan City for government transactions as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board moves to expand its physical presence across the island region. LTFRB MIMAROPA Regional Director Enrico Moreno Bautista said the agency is working on establishing additional extension offices in Marinduque and Occidental Mindoro, part of a broader effort to make franch

August 29, 2026

Philippines

DSWD Naka-Red Alert Habang Patuloy ang Habagat; Milyun-Milyong Relief Packs Nakaabang sa Posibleng Mas Malawak na Epekto

MANILA, Philippines — Itinaas ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa Red Alert ang disaster response status nito habang patuloy na mino-monitor ang matagal na epekto ng southwest monsoon o Habagat sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas. Ang pinakamataas na antas ng paghahanda ay nangangahulugang naka-heightened alert ang mga field office at response teams ng ahensya, habang ang mga relief supplies ay nakaposisyon upang maipadala agad sa mga komunidad na maaaring tamaan ng tuloy-

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Marikina River Hits Second Alarm as Habagat Unleashes More Rain—How Close Is It to the Next Critical Level?

MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — The Marikina River was placed under second alarm on Saturday afternoon, August 29, after its water level climbed to 16 meters amid persistent heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat. According to the Marikina City Public Information Office, authorities raised the second alarm at 1:50 p.m. when the river reached the critical 16-meter mark. The water level continued to rise to 16.1 meters as of 2:08 p.m., highlighting how quickly conditi

August 29, 2026

Business

Sablayan Freezes Prices of Basic Goods Until October 13 — But the Bigger Test Comes After ₱1.43-B Flood Damage

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro — Families struggling to recover from weeks of destructive rains and flooding are getting at least one layer of protection at the checkout counter: prices of key basic necessities in Sablayan have been frozen for 60 days as the municipality deals with massive storm damage estimated at more than ₱1.4 billion. The Department of Trade and Industry said the automatic price freeze took effect on August 14, 2026, following Sablayan's declaration of a state of calamity aft

August 29, 2026

Philippines

La Mesa Dam Reaches Spilling Level—Residents Along Tullahan River Told to Evacuate

MANILA, Philippines — La Mesa Dam in Quezon City reached its spilling level on Saturday afternoon, August 29, as persistent heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, continued to drench Metro Manila and nearby areas. The Quezon City government urged residents living in low-lying communities along the Tullahan River to take precautionary measures and evacuate when necessary as excess water from the dam could worsen flooding downstream. As of 1:50 p.m. Saturday, the water level a

August 29, 2026

Philippines

10 School Threat Hoaxes Hit Pangasinan in Just 10 Days — What Police Found Behind Them Is Even More Alarming

PANGASINAN, Philippines — What may begin with a few typed words, a social media post or a video intended as a prank can trigger something far bigger: frightened students, worried parents, suspended classes, police deployments and potentially serious legal consequences. That warning has taken on new urgency in Pangasinan after authorities recorded 10 threat incidents involving secondary schools in just 10 days in July 2026, all of which were eventually assessed by police as fake threats or hoaxe

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Uncovers 4 Questionable Land Titles in Taguig—But What Investigators Found Next Raises More Questions

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has flagged four parcels of allegedly illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City whose land titles he said were fraudulently issued, as the investigation into alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and reclamation activities in the city continues to widen. In a statement posted on Saturday, August 29, Lacson said the documents involving the four properties would be turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team f

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Comelec Extends Dasmariñas Special Election Voting Until 5 PM Amid Heavy Rains

DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended voting hours for the special election in Cavite’s 4th Legislative District until 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, as heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, threatened to keep voters away from polling centers. The extension was approved through a unanimous decision of the Comelec en banc, according to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia. Regular voting had originally been scheduled to end at 3 p.m. The move

August 29, 2026