Category: Politics

Philippines

DOE Warns Visayas LGUs: Energy Efficiency Could Hold the Key as Power Supply Pressures Persist

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — The Department of Energy (DOE) is stepping up its push for energy efficiency across local governments in the Visayas, urging LGUs to make smarter energy use a permanent part of public-sector operations as the region continues to face power-supply challenges. The DOE held its 3rd Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) Summit–Visayas Leg in Bacolod City, bringing together more than 100 energy-efficiency personnel and representatives from LGUs in Western, Cen

August 19, 2026

Philippines

Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road Remains Closed as Clearing Operations Continue in Benguet

TUBLAY, BENGUET — Motorists traveling through Benguet are being urged to take extra precautions as the Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road remains closed to all traffic following a major landslide that damaged a slope protection structure in Tublay. The closure affects the section in Bangho, Daclan, Tublay, where a slope protection structure collapsed after prolonged heavy rainfall triggered a massive soil movement on August 13, 2026. According to the Philippine Information Agency, authorities anno

August 19, 2026

Philippines

22,583 Kidapawan Residents Already Got Rice Aid — But 10 Barangays Are Still Waiting

KIDAPAWAN CITY, COTABATO — More than 22,000 residents of Kidapawan City have already received government rice assistance under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, as authorities continue the distribution across the city’s remaining barangays. As of August 17, 2026, a total of 22,583 beneficiaries had received 10 kilograms of rice each, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). The distribution had reached 30 of Kidapawan’s 40 barangays, meaning the assistance rollout is still ongoing

August 19, 2026

Business

P194-M Cigarette Smuggling Bust Rocks Sulu: Navy Intercepts Massive Shipment—But Who Was Behind It?

The Philippine Navy has intensified its crackdown on maritime smuggling in Western Mindanao after intercepting a vessel carrying more than P170 million worth of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes off Parang, Sulu—bringing the total value of suspected smuggled cigarettes seized in the province to roughly P194 million in less than a month. The latest operation took place on August 14, 2026, in the waters off Buton Mahablo in Parang, Sulu, where personnel of the Naval Task Force 61 conducted a

August 19, 2026

Philippines

₱101 Million Released to Basilan Barangays—But the Real Impact Could Be Felt by Students and Communities

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan — Financial assistance amounting to ₱200,000 per barangay is now being distributed across Basilan under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF)–Bawat Barangay Makikinabang (BBM) Program, with 255 barangays expected to benefit. The first batch of 102 barangay officials from Isabela City, Lamitan City, and Ungkaya Pukan received their checks on August 17 during a distribution ceremony at Raayat Hall inside the Basilan Provincial Capitol in Lamitan C

August 19, 2026

Business

Fishermen Become PDEA’s Eyes at Sea—But What They’re Finding in Quezon’s Waters Has Authorities Worried

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Fishermen in Quezon are being encouraged to become the government’s frontline partners in detecting possible illegal drug activity at sea, as authorities warn that drug syndicates may be using coastal waters to move or recover narcotics. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) made the call during an Empathy Dialogue with Fisherfolk of Lucena City held on Aug. 11 at the Lucena Convention Center. PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez said fisherfolk need to understa

August 19, 2026

Politics

Trump Pauses 50% Canada Tariffs at the Last Minute—But the Real Trade Test Starts Now

WASHINGTON — A looming U.S.-Canada trade confrontation has been temporarily pushed back after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-day pause on new 50% tariffs targeting certain Canadian imports, saying Washington and Ottawa had reached a preliminary agreement. The announcement came just hours before the tariffs were scheduled to take effect on August 19, 2026, giving both countries additional time to finalize the terms of the emerging trade arrangement. Trump said the temporary repri

August 19, 2026

Philippines

The Philippines Wants to Turn 9,000 Tons of Daily Garbage Into Power—But the Biggest Test Comes This October

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is moving closer to turning mountains of residual garbage into electricity as the Department of Energy accelerates its waste-to-energy program following a renewed push from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. But while the government sees waste-to-energy, or WTE, as a potential answer to two persistent national problems—growing garbage volumes and rising electricity demand—the plan is entering a much more difficult phase: proving that the technology can work com

August 19, 2026

Politics

Peter Seah Is Stepping Down After 11 Years Leading Singapore’s Wage Council—Now a Corporate Heavyweight Is Taking His Place

SINGAPORE — A major leadership change has taken place at the body responsible for shaping Singapore’s annual wage guidelines, with veteran banker Peter Seah stepping down as chairman of the National Wages Council (NWC) after more than a decade in the role. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Wednesday, August 19, that Seah had asked to relinquish his appointment for “personal reasons”. According to MOM, the ministry agreed to his request “after deliberation”. Taking over immediately i

August 19, 2026

Philippines

₱125 Million Was Withdrawn in Cash and Handed to Sara Duterte’s Security Chief—Now Prosecutors Say the Money Trail Is Coming Together

MANILA, Philippines — The mystery surrounding how millions of pesos in confidential funds moved through the Office of the Vice President is coming under sharper scrutiny after a former disbursing officer testified that Vice President Sara Duterte personally instructed her to turn over ₱125 million in cash to the official then heading her security detail. The testimony of former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta has become a critical part of the House prosecution's effort to establish w

August 19, 2026