Philippines

50 FAMILIES EVACUATED IN ILOCOS NORTE AS HABAGAT UNLEASHES HEAVY RAINS — BUT THE BIGGER THREAT MAY NOT BE OVER

ILOCOS NORTE — Fifty families have been evacuated to designated shelters in Ilocos Norte as persistent heavy rains triggered flooding concerns in several communities, prompting local authorities to intensify disaster-response operations. The latest situation report from the Ilocos Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that nearly 3,600 families, or more than 12,000 individuals, across 118 barangays had been affected by the prevailing weather disturbance.

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Tulfo Grills New FDA OIC Over Teston Ties: “Bakit Ikaw ang Na-appoint?

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate budget hearing turned tense on Friday after Sen. Raffy Tulfo questioned newly appointed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Officer-in-Charge Director General Franklin Anthony Tabaquin IV over his appointment and alleged close association with former FDA chief Paolo Teston. Tulfo raised questions about why Tabaquin was chosen to lead the country’s drug and food regulator despite the senator’s assertion that other long-serving FDA officials may have had greater inst

September 4, 2026

Philippines

NBI Set to File Qualified Human Trafficking Charges vs. Leviste, 6 Others Over Alleged ‘Honey Trap’ Plot

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation is preparing to file qualified human trafficking complaints against Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, former Negros Oriental lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras, and five others in connection with an alleged “honey trap” operation targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Friday that the complaints would be filed before the Department of Justice, following the bureau’s investigation into allegations

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo Sees Haze but No Reported Illnesses—Then Air Quality Readings Raise Fresh Concern

ILOILO — No residents in Iloilo province have been reported ill or affected by the haze being monitored across several municipalities, even as smoke linked to forest fires in Indonesia continues to affect parts of Western Visayas. The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said in its 10:30 a.m. monitoring report on Friday, Sept. 4, that none of the province's five congressional districts had reported individuals affected by the haze. The latest development of

September 4, 2026

Philippines

DOH-7 Issues New Haze Warning: This Common Face Covering May Not Be Enough—Here’s What Cebu Residents Should Wear Instead

CEBU CITY, Philippines — With air pollution worsening across Metro Cebu, health authorities are urging residents to take stronger precautions outdoors—and to think twice before relying on a wet towel or cloth as protection from the haze. The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) is recommending N95 masks as the preferred protection for people who need to go outside, while discouraging the use of wet towels or cloths as face coverings. The warning comes as Metro Cebu's air quality rea

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Cebu School Threats Spark Alarm—But Tumulak Says Class Suspensions May Not Be the Answer

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A wave of security threats involving schools in Cebu is putting parents, students and school officials on heightened alert, but Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) head and City Councilor Dave Tumulak is urging authorities to avoid automatically suspending classes every time a threat surfaces. Tumulak's position comes as Cebu continues to deal with a series of online threats against schools, some of which have triggered precautionary class

September 4, 2026

Business

SMC Fires Back at Bulacan Airport Flood Claims—But What Do the Project’s Own Studies Say?

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is pushing back against claims that its massive New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan worsened the province’s recent flooding, saying the allegations are not supported by hydrological data or technical analysis. The controversy intensified after weeks of heavy rains left large parts of Bulacan and other areas of Central Luzon dealing with serious flooding. At an Aug. 31 rally, the group Kilos Bulacan called for stronger governmen

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Mindoro Was Once Struggling With Poverty and Insurgency—Now One Province Is Posting the Philippines’ Fastest Economic Growth

For years, Mindoro has faced a difficult combination of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, persistent power problems and security challenges. But a striking change is now taking shape. Occidental Mindoro emerged as the fastest-growing provincial economy in the Philippines in 2025, posting an 11.2% year-on-year growth rate—the only province or highly urbanized city in the country to record double-digit growth that year. The figure was reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in it

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Pacific Leaders Raise Alarm Over China Missile Test as Nauru Breaks Ranks at High-Stakes Summit

KOROR, PALAU — Pacific Island leaders have expressed collective concern over China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test in the Pacific, exposing fresh divisions within one of the world's most strategically important regions as geopolitical competition between Beijing and Western allies intensifies. At the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau, leaders called for greater transparency and advance warning for future missile tests after China's July launch passed over or near parts of

September 4, 2026

Philippines

₱56.8 Million in Aid Released as Storm-Hit Cordillera Families Face Continuing Recovery

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released about ₱56.83 million worth of humanitarian assistance to families affected by recent storms and severe weather in the Cordillera Administrative Region, as government agencies continue to respond to communities hit by heavy rains, flooding and other hazards. The latest assistance underscores the scale of the disaster response in the mountainous region, where several provinces and Baguio City have face

September 4, 2026