Philippines

Marcos Orders 13 More Pumping Stations for Metro Manila—But Will They Finally Keep the Floodwaters Back?

MANILA, Philippines — The government is moving to strengthen Metro Manila’s flood defenses with 13 additional pumping stations, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned that increasingly intense rainfall is putting greater pressure on the capital’s already strained drainage and flood-control systems. Marcos announced the plan on Thursday, August 20, after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City, the largest of the 73 pumping stations operated by the Metropolitan Manila

August 20, 2026

Philippines

₱4-Billion Clark Food Hub Moves Into Construction—But the Bigger Impact Could Be on Farmers and Food Prices

CLARK, PAMPANGA — The Philippines is taking a major step toward reshaping how food moves from farms to consumers, as the government fast-tracks the development of the ₱4-billion Clark National Food Hub in Pampanga. The project is now moving from years of planning toward construction after the Department of Agriculture (DA), through Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) signed a lease agreement covering about 40 hectares at the Clark Aviation Capital. The governm

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Is Adding 13 Metro Manila Pumping-Station Projects—But He Says One Problem Could Still Keep the Capital Flooded

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says Metro Manila is getting a major boost to its flood-control system, with 13 pumping-station projects expected to be completed or put in place by the end of 2026 or early 2027 as the capital grapples with increasingly intense rainfall, aging drainage infrastructure and waterways repeatedly clogged by garbage. Marcos made the announcement Thursday, August 20, after inspecting the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station in Pasay City, the largest o

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Max Verstappen Just Signed With Red Bull Until 2030—But the Biggest Question Is Why He Chose to Stay Now

Max Verstappen has committed his Formula 1 future to Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2030 season, ending months of speculation that one of the sport’s biggest stars could walk away from the team that turned him into a four-time world champion. Red Bull confirmed the blockbuster contract extension on Thursday, August 20, just before Verstappen's home Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort — a particularly symbolic setting because 2026 will mark the final Formula 1 race at the Dutch circuit under its

August 20, 2026

Philippines

308 TUPAD Workers Received ₱2.3 Million for Just 15 Days of Work—But What Some Did With Their Wages Could Be the Bigger Story

A government program designed to provide short-term work to struggling Filipinos is taking on a potentially bigger role in Nueva Vizcaya, where several beneficiaries are choosing not to spend all of their wages immediately—but to put part of the money back into businesses they hope can keep earning long after their TUPAD jobs end. A total of 308 farmers, ambulant vendors, and parents or guardians of child laborers received around ₱2.3 million in wages after completing 15 days of work under the

August 20, 2026

Philippines

ICC Prosecutors Hand Duterte’s Lawyers 6,909 Evidence Items—But 57 Could Actually Help His Defense

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers are facing a massive new batch of material ahead of his crimes-against-humanity trial at the International Criminal Court, with prosecutors disclosing 6,909 evidence items to the defense between January 7 and July 31, 2026. But buried inside the thousands of records is a detail that could become just as important as the evidence prosecutors intend to use against him: 57 items have reportedly been classified as potentially exonerating or otherw

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

A 17-Year-Old Was Bitten by a Rat, Then Swam in Navotas Floodwater—What Happened Next Is a Warning for Every Parent

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines — What began with a rat bite and was followed weeks later by a swim in floodwater ended in tragedy for a 17-year-old student in Navotas, underscoring the potentially deadly threat of leptospirosis during the rainy season. Justin Espinosa died just four days before his 18th birthday after developing symptoms associated with leptospirosis, according to a GMA News report published on August 20. His parents, Leilani and Allan Espinosa, said their son had earlier been bitt

August 20, 2026

Philippines

BIR Hits Hongsheng Gaming With ₱2.2-Billion Tax Evasion Complaint—But Its Name Is Already Tied to a Much Bigger POGO Scandal

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a ₱2.228-billion tax evasion complaint against Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. before the Department of Justice, adding a massive tax case to the long list of controversies surrounding the offshore gaming company previously linked to the notorious Bamban, Tarlac POGO compound. According to the BIR, Hongsheng allegedly committed several tax violations covering taxable years 2021 to 2023, including the underdeclaration of income, inc

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Fake Accounts Linked to Ateneo de Zamboanga Shooter Are Spreading Online—But Police Spotted a Major Red Flag

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — As investigators continue piecing together what led to the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, police are confronting another problem unfolding online: social media accounts and posts claiming to belong to—or contain information from—the student involved and members of his family. Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) warned the public on Thursday, August 20, not to immediately believe or circulate accounts, videos and posts whose authenticity has not been

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Romualdez Camp Denies Pressuring ‘Maleta Boys’ to Recant—But the Ombudsman Says 28 More Witnesses Are Ready

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding the Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood-control controversy has taken another dramatic turn, with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp firmly denying allegations that it pressured former security aides of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co into withdrawing testimony that had linked Romualdez to alleged cash-filled suitcase deliveries. But even as witnesses reverse their stories, the Office of the Ombudsman says its investigation is far from co

August 20, 2026