Philippines

Alex Eala’s US Open Run Ends in Three-Set Thriller Against Iva Jovic

NEW YORK — Alexandra Eala’s historic 2026 US Open campaign came to a dramatic end Sunday morning in the Philippines after the 21-year-old Filipina fell to close friend Iva Jovic in a grueling third-round battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 17th-seeded Eala pushed the 14th-seeded American to the limit before Jovic prevailed 7–5, 3–6, 7–5 in a match that lasted three hours and three minutes. It was a painful ending for Eala, who had reached the US Open third round for the first time in her career

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Philippines

600 Marijuana Plants, 1,400 Seedlings Seized in Ilocos Sur—What Police Found Deep in Sugpon

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — Authorities seized about 600 fully grown marijuana plants and 1,400 seedlings during an eradication operation in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, as law enforcement agencies continue to target marijuana cultivation sites in the province's mountainous areas. The operation was carried out on Sept. 5 in Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, where police and anti-drug personnel discovered three cultivation sites covering an estimated 111 square meters, according to the Ilocos Sur Police Provinci

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Philippines

Teachers Could See Higher Pay and Faster Promotions in 2027 — Here’s What the New Budget Plan Reveals

MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers could receive higher salaries, continued allowances, expanded career opportunities and additional workplace support in 2027 as the government proposes nearly ₱1 trillion for the Department of Education (DepEd). Under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program, DepEd is set to receive ₱975.96 billion, representing a 5.11% increase from its 2026 level. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said ₱61.02 billion of the net increase is intende

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Philippines

Logs and Debris Choke Bataan Waterways as Floods Swallow Communities—What Happens If the Rains Continue?

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Floodwaters in parts of Bataan have left behind a dangerous mix of logs and debris that is clogging waterways, adding another layer of risk to communities already battered by heavy rains and swollen rivers. The situation comes as Dinalupihan remains among the areas hardest hit by flooding associated with the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, with authorities warning residents near rivers and mountainous areas to remain vigilant. Recent flooding in Barangay Pita was particula

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Philippines

GPH, MILF Accelerate Peace and Normalization Efforts as Historic BARMM Elections Near

MANILA, Philippines — With the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) preparing for its first parliamentary elections, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are stepping up efforts to complete key commitments under their landmark peace agreement. The renewed push comes just days before the September 14, 2026 BARMM parliamentary elections, a vote widely seen as a major test of the Bangsamoro peace process and the region's transition from decades

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Philippines

DBM Plans Automatic Release of Salary Deficiency Funds for Government Workers by Q4 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of government employees who have been waiting for salary adjustments tied to promotions, reclassifications or other personnel changes could soon see a faster funding process as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) moves to test an automatic release system for salary deficiencies in the fourth quarter of 2026. The planned reform aims to remove a layer of paperwork that currently requires government agencies to formally request additional Personnel Service

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Business

Four Sacks of Talaba Seized in Iloilo — Vendor Says It Cost Their Families a Day’s Income, But LEEO Has a Different Story

A routine clearing operation near the Iloilo Terminal Public Market has sparked a dispute between oyster vendors and the city office tasked with enforcing market and sidewalk regulations. The incident happened on September 4 along Jalandoni Street, where personnel identified by the vendors as part of the Local Economic and Enterprise Office (LEEO) confiscated four sacks of talaba, according to Bombo Radyo Iloilo. The vendors said they were caught off guard by the operation and questioned why t

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Philippines

Tolosa Defends His Aggressive Style in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial — But the Court Has Already Drawn the Line

Private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. is defending his forceful courtroom style in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying his assertiveness is part of his responsibility to defend the public interest — not an attempt to intimidate witnesses. Tolosa made the clarification after his questioning of former Education Undersecretary Michael Poa triggered one of the more heated exchanges of the impeachment proceedings. The controversy has now turned the spotlight not only on w

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Business

Western Visayas Poor Households Face 9.8% Inflation—But One Province Is Feeling the Squeeze Far Worse

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The cost-of-living squeeze is intensifying for low-income families in Western Visayas, with inflation among the region’s bottom 30 percent of income households jumping to 9.8 percent in July 2026, significantly higher than the 8.2-percent national rate for the same income group. The latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the regional rate climbed from 8.1 percent in June, highlighting the growing pressure on families whose budgets are

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Philippines

Social Watch Warns of Cuts to Philippine Social Services in 2027 Budget — But Government Says There’s More to the Numbers

Social Watch Philippines Senior Budget Specialist Alce Quitalig said programs directly supporting poor and vulnerable Filipinos are among those facing significant reductions in the proposed 2027 spending plan. According to Quitalig, the government is allocating more resources to mandatory expenditures, leaving less fiscal space for programs that directly deliver services to ordinary Filipinos. Social Watch specifically raised concerns over education, health and social welfare, saying their sha

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