Philippines

Philippine Coast Guard Turns to Spain and Airbus for Its Next Fleet Upgrade — But No Purchase Has Been Announced Yet

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard's modernization drive is opening another door in Europe. The PCG has explored possible cooperation with the Spanish government and Airbus Defence and Space as it seeks to strengthen the aircraft, ships and technology available for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and other Coast Guard missions, according to a Sept. 6 report by Manila Bulletin. The development comes as the Philippines rapidly expands one of the most consequential Coast Guard moderniza

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Philippines

‘Marcos’ Office Budget Is Being Slashed 64% to ₱10.15 Billion — But One ₱4.5-Billion Allocation Barely Changes”

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office is preparing to operate next year with nearly two-thirds less money than it received in 2026. But there is a striking detail buried inside the dramatically smaller budget: the President’s confidential and intelligence funds are barely changing. The Office of the President is proposing a ₱10.156-billion budget for 2027, compared with approximately ₱28.029 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. That translates to a reduct

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Philippines

Marcos Just Put 4Ps Students First for College Subsidies — But Free Tuition Was Never the Biggest Cost

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines already made tuition free for millions of students in public colleges. Now the government is confronting a harder problem: what happens when a student can enter college for free—but still cannot afford to stay there? President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12325, a major expansion of the country's Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education framework that redirects government subsidies toward financially disadvantaged students and ext

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Philippines

Palace Budget Slashed by 64% for 2027—Recto Says Operations Won’t Be Affected, But One Issue Is Drawing Fire

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President (OP) is seeking a significantly smaller budget for 2027, but Executive Secretary Ralph Recto insists the sharp reduction will not hamper Malacañang’s ability to run government operations. Recto said the Palace can continue overseeing government agencies, responding to emergencies, supporting public services, monitoring economic programs and protecting national interests despite the proposed ₱10.156-billion budget, which is about 64% lower than t

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Philippines

BARMM Is Days Away From Its First Parliamentary Election — But What Happens After the Votes Could Decide the Future of the Peace Process

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — After decades of armed conflict, negotiations, ceasefires and political transition, the Bangsamoro is approaching a moment its peace process was ultimately designed to produce: an elected regional government chosen at the ballot box. On September 14, 2026, roughly 2.39 million registered voters are expected to participate in the first regular parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM. But with election day only days a

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Entertainment

Elijah Canlas Confirms Miles Ocampo Breakup — But What Really Happened After Their Second Chance?

MANILA, Philippines — Elijah Canlas has finally broken his silence and confirmed that he and longtime partner Miles Ocampo have ended their relationship once again, putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the former couple. But amid persistent rumors online, Elijah made one thing clear: their breakup was mutual, there was no third party, and there was no cheating involved. The actor confirmed the split during an interview with entertainment personality Ogie Diaz, explaining that he

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Entertainment

Patrick Garcia’s 13-Year-Old Daughter Flies to Singapore Every Week for K-Pop Training—And This May Be Just the Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — At just 13 years old, Michelle Celeste Garcia, the daughter of actors Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez, is taking her K-pop dream to an international level. Michelle has been traveling from the Philippines to Singapore every Friday for a 10-week K-pop training program at SM Universe Singapore, an academy established under the training system of South Korean entertainment powerhouse SM Entertainment. But this is more than just a weekend hobby. For 10 consecutive weekends

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Business

Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala Meets Davao Leaders—Is a Major Ayala Partnership Next?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — What could the Ayala Group be planning next in Mindanao? Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, the chief executive officer of ACMobility and one of the younger-generation leaders of the Ayala Group, recently met with local officials in Davao City to explore potential partnerships that could support the city's long-term development priorities. But while the meeting has sparked interest over the possibility of a larger Ayala presence or new initiatives in Davao, officials have

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Business

Razon’s Primelectric Eyes PEZA Ecozones—Could Dedicated Power Networks Finally Solve Investors’ Biggest Worry?

MANILA, Philippines — Enrique Razon-led Primelectric Holdings Inc. is moving to explore a potentially major expansion into Philippine economic zones, partnering with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to study the development of dedicated electricity distribution systems for selected industrial and business hubs. The initiative could reshape how future PEZA ecozones prepare for investors, with reliable power infrastructure being considered even before companies commit to setting up f

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Philippines

Iloilo’s ₱92-Million Water Pipeline Is Coming Two Years Early — But the Bigger Supply Test Begins in 2027

ILOILO CITY — A new water line running more than five kilometers from Iloilo City into Oton may look like a project built primarily for one subdivision. The numbers suggest something much bigger. Metro Pacific Iloilo Water Inc. (MPIW) and Iloilo Southprime Developers Inc., operating as WeeComm, have signed an agreement to build a 5,137-meter transmission pipeline from the Mandurriao area to Emerald Estates in Barangay Cagbang, Oton. Panay News reported that the project will give Emerald Estat

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