Philippines

DOH Budget Faces Massive Cut in 2027—Now Lawmakers Want Congress to Put Billions Back

MANILA, Philippines — A proposed 21-percent reduction in the Department of Health’s (DOH) 2027 budget is drawing growing concern from lawmakers and health officials, with calls mounting for Congress to restore funding for hospitals, health facilities and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The proposed health-sector allocation currently stands at about ₱353.8 billion, significantly lower than the ₱448.1 billion appropriated for 2026. The reduction comes even as the government co

5d

China

5 Chinese Warships Spotted Near Eastern Samar and Ilocos Norte—What Were They Watching?

MANILA, Philippines — The presence of Chinese naval vessels near two strategically important maritime approaches of the Philippines is drawing renewed attention after five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were reportedly monitored off Eastern Samar and northern Luzon in recent days. The sightings, first reported by The Manila Times, involved four Chinese warships observed off Hilabaan, Eastern Samar, on August 31, followed the next day by another PLAN vessel monitored near Ilocos No

5d

Philippines

BIR Turns Up Heat on Tax Audits—But This Time, the System Decides Who Gets Flagged

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is tightening the way it conducts tax audits, shifting further toward a system-assisted, risk-based approach designed to identify taxpayers who show potential compliance red flags while reducing unnecessary discretion among revenue officers. The latest development comes with the implementation of the BIR's consolidated Audit Program under Revenue Memorandum Order No. 22-2026, issued on August 24. The order brings together earlier audit

5d

Philippines

National Artist Resil Mojares Dies at 83—He Had Just Celebrated His Birthday the Day Before

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has lost one of its most influential literary scholars and cultural historians. National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares died early Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the age of 83, according to his family. His death came only a day after he celebrated his 83rd birthday on September 4. His daughter, Leigh Go Mojares, announced the news, describing her father as a pillar of their family and expressing gratitude that they were able to celebrate his final

5d

Philippines

Bonoan Walks Free After Flood-Control Case Exit—But the Bigger Battle May Just Be Starting

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has been released from police custody after the Sandiganbayan ordered his discharge from detention, marking a major turn in the sprawling investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood-control projects. Bonoan left the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City, at around 10:35 a.m. on Friday, September 4, after the Criminal Investigation and Det

5d

Philippines

₱366M Kush Found on Yacht—Now the Coast Guard Wants to Know Where It Came From

OLONGAPO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now digging deeper into the movements of a sailing yacht after authorities uncovered an estimated ₱366.65 million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana, or “kush,” hidden aboard the vessel at the Subic Bay Yacht Club. The latest development shifts the investigation beyond the drugs themselves, with the Coast Guard seeking access to the yacht's navigation systems and voyage records to determine where the vessel traveled before reaching Subic

5d

Philippines

Metro Manila’s Air Is Finally ‘Good’—But Another Part of the Philippines Is Now Breathing Dangerous Haze

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila residents may finally have some breathing room. After days of haze linked to forest and peat fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, the air quality across monitored areas of Metro Manila was classified as “good” on Friday, September 5, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). But the improvement in the capital comes as a warning elsewhere: several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were still recordi

5d

China

Zavier Lucero Ready for Gilas’ Biggest Defensive Test—But Can He Help Stop China in the Asian Games?

MANILA, Philippines — Zavier Lucero is ready to embrace a bigger role as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for a difficult Asian Games title defense, with the Magnolia forward expected to bring his physical defense, rebounding and versatility to a revamped Philippine lineup. Lucero is among the 12 players selected for Gilas Pilipinas’ men’s basketball team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, putting the Magnolia Hotshots forward in line for his first major appearance with the national team. The 6-fo

5d

Philippines

Marcos Signs New Free College Law—But the Biggest Change Could Be Who Gets Priority

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law expanding government assistance for financially disadvantaged Filipinos pursuing college and technical-vocational education, with qualified students from poor households set to receive stronger priority for education subsidies. Republic Act No. 12325, or the Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was signed by Marcos at Malacañang on September 4. The measure amends Republic Act No. 10931, th

5d

Philippines

9-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Abra Mountains—But His Younger Brother Is Still Missing

TINEG, Abra — A three-day search for two young brothers in the mountainous areas of Tineg, Abra, has ended in tragedy after rescuers found the body of 9-year-old Octavious—while the search for his younger brother, Markcliff, continues. Octavious was found at around 11 a.m. in the Mt. Mabitog area of Sitio Asilip, Barangay Caganayan, during an ongoing search-and-rescue operation involving local responders, authorities, relatives and community volunteers. His remains were subsequently brought to

5d