Philippines

More Than 700 Flee as Floodwaters Swamp Cabangan, Zambales—And Heavy Rains Are Far From Over

CABANGAN, ZAMBALES — More than 700 residents were forced to leave their homes after nonstop heavy rains triggered significant flooding across low-lying communities in Cabangan, Zambales, authorities said Friday, August 28. As of 4 p.m., 245 families or 719 individuals were staying in 10 evacuation centers, according to the Cabangan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). Barangay Mabanglit recorded the largest number of evacuees, with 180 families or 518 people displac

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Sablayan’s Flood-Control Walls Collapsed and ₱1.4 Billion in Damage Followed — But Residents Want DPWH to Answer One Bigger Question

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro — Residents in flood-hit communities are pressing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for urgent repairs and accountability after flood-control structures in Sablayan failed during weeks of heavy rain, leaving homes and farmland exposed to another round of flooding. The renewed appeal comes as Sablayan struggles to recover from a disaster that has affected all 22 barangays, damaged critical infrastructure and pushed losses in the municipality to rough

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Philippine Peso Crashes Past ₱62 for the First Time — But the Number Economists Are Watching Next Is Even More Important

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine peso has entered territory it has never seen before, breaking through the ₱62-per-dollar barrier for the first time and raising fresh concerns over imported fuel costs, inflation and how much further the currency could weaken. The peso closed at a historic low of ₱62.265 against the US dollar on Friday, August 28, losing 37.7 centavos from its previous record-low close of ₱61.888 just one day earlier. During trading, the currency opened at ₱62.05, briefly s

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Social Media Ban for Kids 14 and Below Gains Ground—But What Are Criminals Doing Online?

MANILA, Philippines — Calls to restrict social media access for Filipino children aged 14 and below are gaining momentum, with lawmakers and government officials warning that the online world could expose young people to drug syndicates, harmful content and other digital threats. The growing debate comes as the Philippines considers tougher protections for minors online, including proposals that would set a minimum age for social media use and require technology companies to strengthen age veri

August 29, 2026

Philippines

It Was Supposed to Be His Birthday—Then Police Allegedly Caught Him With Stolen Electrical Wires

CEBU, Philippines — What was supposed to be a day of celebration took an unexpected turn for a laborer who was arrested on his birthday over allegations that he stole electrical wires, according to a report by Cebu Daily News. The suspect was taken into custody following an alleged theft involving electrical wiring, adding another case to growing concerns over crimes targeting power infrastructure and electrical facilities. Authorities have not established guilt, and the allegations remain sub

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Roblox Is Bringing PhilSys Age Checks to Filipino Users — But the Biggest Change Could Be What Happens After Verification

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Roblox users could soon encounter a new layer of identity and age verification as the global gaming platform moves to integrate the Philippine Identification System, or PhilSys, into its safety systems — part of a broader government push to tighten protections for children online. Roblox has agreed to work with Philippine authorities on incorporating the National ID system into its age and identity checks following high-level talks between company executives and P

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Ombudsman Now Has 42 Witnesses vs. Romualdez—But the Flood Control Case Is Taking an Unexpected Turn

MANILA, Philippines — The high-stakes investigation into alleged irregularities involving multibillion-peso flood control projects has taken another dramatic turn, with the Office of the Ombudsman saying it now has 42 witnesses connected to its complaints against Leyte Rep. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. But as the number of witnesses cited by investigators grows, so does the fierce dispute over who is telling the truth—and whether the recantations that have rocked the case should c

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Floodwaters Shut Down Key Roads in San Fernando, Pampanga—Motorists Warned to Stay Away

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Motorists in the City of San Fernando were urged to avoid several flooded roads on Friday as persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, inundated key thoroughfares and disrupted traffic across parts of the city. Authorities warned that several areas had become impassable to light vehicles, underscoring the risks facing drivers as floodwaters continue to affect Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon. According to the City Public Order and Safety C

August 28, 2026

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