Category: Politics

Politics

₱7.2-T Budget Under Watch: Lawmaker Flags ‘Padding’—But Where Could the Money Go Next

MANILA, Philippines — A fresh controversy is emerging over the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, after a House lawmaker questioned whether unusually large allocations in the government’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) could later be reduced to create room for congressional budget insertions. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio raised the issue as the House began scrutinizing the 2027 NEP, warning that a pattern seen in previous budgets may be repeated. Tinio said cert

August 18, 2026

Politics

China Lowers Flags for Zhu Rongji’s Funeral—But the Heavy Security Around Tiananmen Is Raising Questions

BEIJING — August 18, 2026 — China lowered its national flags at key government sites across the country on Tuesday as the nation held a formal day of mourning for former Premier Zhu Rongji, one of the most influential economic reformers of modern China. The Chinese flag was flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People, Xinhua Gate and the Foreign Ministry, while similar measures were observed at government offices across China, in Hong Kong and Macau, and at Chinese dipl

August 18, 2026

Politics

Davao Flood Control Gets Billions in Proposed 2027 Budget—But There’s a Catch

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is moving to put more flood-control projects in the Davao Region under the proposed 2027 national budget, following renewed concerns over flooding and the long-delayed implementation of a comprehensive flood-control plan for Davao City. The DPWH has identified ₱2.024 billion for priority flood-mitigation projects across the Davao Region in the proposed 2027 budget, according to the latest clarification reported by the Philippine Da

August 18, 2026

Lifestyle

Romblon Education Gets a Major Reset: DepEd, CHED and TESDA Forge New Deal—Here’s What Could Change for Learners

ROMBLON, Philippines — A new push to make education pathways more connected is taking shape in Romblon as the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) move to strengthen coordination across basic education, higher education and technical-vocational training. The three agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in Romblon aimed at advancing the implementation of the country’s trifocal education f

August 18, 2026

Politics

Cayetano, Legarda Missing Again From Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial—But What’s Behind Their Absences?

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judges Alan Peter Cayetano and Loren Legarda were again absent from Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, August 17, as the Senate impeachment court continued hearing evidence in the high-stakes proceedings. Cayetano, the Senate minority leader, was marked absent not only from the impeachment trial but also from the Senate plenary session that day. His repeated absence has drawn attention because he has been an outspoken participant in several

August 18, 2026

Politics

MALACAÑANG NAG-UTOS NG WORK-FROM-HOME SA 3 LALAWIGAN—ANO ANG NANGYAYARI?

MANILA, Philippines — Nagpatupad ang Malacañang ng work-from-home (WFH) arrangement sa mga tanggapan ng gobyerno sa Zambales, Bataan at Occidental Mindoro noong Martes, Agosto 11, 2026, habang patuloy na nagdudulot ng malalakas na pag-ulan ang Southwest Monsoon o Habagat. Ang direktiba ay nakapaloob sa Memorandum Circular No. 124, na inilabas noong Agosto 11 sa ilalim ng awtoridad ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at nilagdaan ni Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Ayon sa kautusan, ang work-from

August 18, 2026

Politics

DOJ WALANG URUNGAN: Walang Batas na Makakapigil sa Kaso Laban kay VP Sara—Pero May Isang Hakbang Pa ang Hihintayin ng Korte

MANILA, Philippines — Habang nagpapatuloy ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa Senado, malinaw ang posisyon ng Department of Justice: walang legal na hadlang para sampahan at ituloy ang isang hiwalay na criminal case laban sa nakaupong bise presidente. Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon matapos kuwestiyunin ng kampo ni Duterte kung maaari bang ituloy ang criminal proceedings laban sa isang impeachable officer habang nililitis ito sa Senado.

August 18, 2026

Lifestyle

Lamut’s Roads Just Got a Major Upgrade—But the Real Impact Could Be Bigger Than the Concrete

LAMUT, IFUGAO — A long-running push to improve road access in Lamut is gaining fresh momentum as Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)-backed road projects are completed and turned over to communities, strengthening connectivity in one of Ifugao’s key agricultural municipalities. The road upgrades are more than infrastructure milestones. For residents in remote communities, better roads can mean easier access to markets, schools, health services and government facilities—while giving farmers a m

August 18, 2026

Politics

Trump Nanawagan: ‘Sumuko na ang Iran’—Pero May Isang Hakbang ang Tehran na Maaaring Magpalala ng Digmaan

WASHINGTON — Nanawagan si U.S. President Donald Trump sa Iran na itaas na lamang ang “white flag of surrender” upang matapos ang nagpapatuloy na digmaan, habang nananatiling walang malinaw na kasunduan ang Washington at Tehran para sa tuluyang pagtigil ng labanan. Sa isang panayam sa Fox News, sinabi ni Trump na dapat nang sumuko ang Iran dahil hindi umano nito tinatanggap ang uri ng kasunduang kailangan ng Estados Unidos. Giit ng American president, pangunahing layunin ng Washington na pigila

August 18, 2026

Politics

200 Pamilya sa Bulacan, Nasagip sa Gitna ng Baha—Pero May Mas Malaking Hamon Pang Haharapin

CALUMPIT, BULACAN — Umabot sa 200 pamilyang naapektuhan ng pagbaha sa Barangay Gugo, Calumpit, Bulacan ang nabigyan ng food relief packages ng Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Bulacan Chapter noong Agosto 16, 2026. Ayon sa ulat ng Bombo Radyo, bahagi ito ng patuloy na relief operations ng PRC para sa mga residenteng matinding naapektuhan ng pagbaha na pinalala ng Southwest Monsoon o Habagat. Isinagawa muna ang profiling at pagtatala ng mga residente bago ang pamamahagi ng food assistance. Hindi lama

August 18, 2026