Philippines

PNP to Add 2,000 New Patrolmen, Patrolwomen in 2027 — Here’s What Applicants Need to Know

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of Filipinos looking to join the Philippine National Police could get another opportunity in 2027, with the government setting aside nearly P700 million for the hiring of 2,000 additional patrolmen and patrolwomen nationwide. The proposed allocation is included in the government's 2027 national budget, which also provides substantially higher funding for the PNP's personnel costs, welfare programs and operational capabilities. The Department of Budget and Manage

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Business

Robinsons Land Lands Major KMC Solutions Deal—Why This 9,800-Sqm Expansion Matters for Philippine Offices

MANILA, Philippines — Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) is strengthening its position in the Philippine office market after securing a major lease deal with flexible-workspace and business-services provider KMC Solutions. KMC Solutions is set to occupy 9,800 square meters across four floors at GBF Center 1, further expanding its presence within Robinsons Land's office portfolio. Business Inquirer reported the agreement as a significant addition to KMC's footprint in the developer's properties. But th

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Philippines

25 Minors Listed as OVP, DepEd Confidential Fund Payees — Then PSA Found Something Even More Troubling

MANILA, Philippines — Questions surrounding the controversial confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte deepened Monday after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) told the Senate impeachment court that 25 names appearing in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) payee records corresponded to minors in civil registry records. The revelation came on the 22nd day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, where PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grand

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Business

Fuel Shock Returns: Pump Prices Could Jump by Nearly ₱6/L as Middle East War Threatens Oil Supply

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino motorists are bracing for another painful trip to the gas station as domestic fuel prices are expected to surge this week, just days after a brief rollback offered consumers some relief. Industry estimates indicate that diesel could increase by around ₱4.50 to ₱5.50 per liter, while gasoline may rise by ₱4 to ₱4.50 per liter for the fuel adjustment taking effect Tuesday, September 8. The final figures were expected to be announced by oil companies on Monday after

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Philippines

Romualdez Faces Plunder Case Over P56-B Flood Control Allegations—What Happens Next Could Be Crucial

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has formally brought its case against former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan, escalating the government's investigation into alleged corruption surrounding multibillion-peso flood control projects. The anti-graft agency filed the plunder case on Monday, September 7, against Romualdez and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co. Investigators allege that the two were invol

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Business

LBC Makes CTPL Insurance Easier for Filipino Motorists—Here’s How Much You’ll Pay

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino motorists now have another option for securing the insurance required for vehicle registration, as LBC Express has opened its nationwide branch network as walk-in access points for ProtekSure Compulsory Third-Party Liability (CTPL) insurance. The initiative allows owners of private cars and motorcycles to apply for CTPL coverage at participating LBC branches, potentially making a traditionally administrative part of vehicle registration more convenient for motoris

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Philippines

37 Names Linked to Sara Duterte’s Confidential Funds Are Reported Dead—But the PSA Findings Raise an Even Bigger Question

MANILA, Philippines — The scrutiny surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte’s controversial confidential funds intensified after a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) official testified that government records show 37 people listed as alleged recipients of confidential funds were already deceased. PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande told the Senate impeachment court on Monday that the agency’s re-verification found death records corresponding to names appearing in documents subm

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Philippines

PNP Chief Orders Verification of Sara Duterte’s Security Concerns as Vice President Says She Fears for Her Safety

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has assured Vice President Sara Duterte that authorities will examine and verify the security concerns she raised after saying she feared for her safety. Nartatez said the Philippine National Police would take Duterte's concerns seriously and assess any information that could indicate a potential threat to the vice president or her family. The assurance came after Duterte publicly expressed fears for her

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Philippines

Floods, Garbage, Haze and Blackouts: Cebu City Faces a Growing List of Crises

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Recurring floods. Mounting garbage problems. Dangerous haze. Rotational power outages. For Cebu City residents, the past week has highlighted a troubling reality: several major problems are hitting the city at the same time, testing the ability of local authorities to respond while leaving communities frustrated over issues that many say have remained unresolved for years. In his weekly column, veteran Cebu journalist and lawyer Pachico A. Seares described the situatio

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Business

Sugarcane Pest Infestation Hits 32% of Davao del Sur Plantations as Farmers Face Growing Losses

DAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines — A destructive sugarcane pest has spread across more than 32 percent of Davao del Sur's sugarcane plantations, raising concerns over falling harvests, reduced farmer incomes and potential disruptions to one of the province's key agricultural industries. Provincial officials have convened an emergency response involving agricultural agencies, sugarcane cooperatives and other stakeholders after the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) affected 1,731.73 hectares of the

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