Category: Politics

Philippines

Tulfo Wants a 30-Year Infrastructure Plan Before Government Spends Another ₱1.47 Trillion — But a Masterplan Alone Won’t Stop Bad Projects

MANILA, Philippines — Roads that end before reaching their intended destination. Bridges funded in one phase but left waiting for the next. Projects that change when administrations change. Structures that fail when extreme weather finally tests them. Sen. Erwin Tulfo says the Philippines needs to stop treating those problems as isolated failures and start fixing the system that decides which infrastructure projects get built in the first place. As Congress begins examining the proposed 2027 n

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Business

Trump Wants the Fed to Cut Rates — But His Own Fed Chairman May Be Days Away From Raising Them

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump spent years demanding lower interest rates from Jerome Powell. Now the president faces a potentially more uncomfortable confrontation. The Federal Reserve chairman standing between Trump and cheaper money is Kevin Warsh — the man Trump personally nominated for the job only six months ago. And instead of preparing to cut interest rates, Warsh is overseeing a Federal Reserve that may be preparing to raise them. Financial markets increased their bets on a September rat

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Philippines

PAGASA Says Habagat May Finally Fade by Late September — But September Still Has One Dangerous Wild Card

MANILA, Philippines — After weeks of flooded roads, suspended classes, canceled sea trips and repeated heavy-rain warnings, millions of Filipinos are asking the same question: When will Habagat finally end? The answer from the country's weather bureau is encouraging—but it comes with a major warning. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration expects the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, to persist until roughly the end of September 2026. PAGA

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Philippines

Sara Duterte Has Posted ₱360,000 Bail in Grave Threats Case — But Ortega Says the Hard Part for the VP Starts Now

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has avoided detention after posting bail over three criminal charges arising from her controversial 2024 remarks about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. But one of her most persistent critics in the House says the legal battle has now entered a much harder phase. Answering the allegations in court. House Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V said Dutert

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Philippines

Sara Duterte Says She Doesn’t Trust the Police — Then Remulla Reveals Authorities Already Knew Where She Was

MANILA, Philippines — What began as a routine court appearance to post bail has turned into a far broader confrontation over police trust, surveillance, security and political neutrality at the highest levels of government. Vice President Sara Duterte says she no longer trusts the police tasked with protecting and enforcing the law around her. The Philippine National Police says the institution remains professional, impartial and committed to protecting her like any other Filipino. And now on

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Philippines

Jinggoy Vows to Fight On After Bonoan Is Dropped—What Happens Next in the P573-M Case?

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Estrada has vowed to pursue all legal remedies available to him after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division approved the removal of former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a co-accused in the plunder and graft cases linked to an alleged P573-million flood control kickback scheme. Estrada said he respects the anti-graft court's decision but stressed that the development does not end his own legal battle. “While I respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan,

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Philippines

NFA Says It Has Bought Just 22–23% of Its 2026 Palay Goal — But One Number in the Report Doesn’t Add Up

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The government has money to buy rice from Filipino farmers. It has raised its buying price. It is building new warehouses and mechanical dryers. Yet as the country's crucial wet-season harvest gets underway, the National Food Authority is still far behind its 2026 palay procurement target—and bad weather is exposing one of the weakest links in the Philippine rice system: what happens to freshly harvested grain when farmers cannot dry it. NFA Administrator Larry Lac

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Philippines

Metro Manila Opens 7,500 New Ride-Hailing Slots — But Gas Cars Are Shut Out of the Biggest Batch

MANILA — Thousands of new ride-hailing slots are coming to Luzon. But if you're hoping to enter the biggest market with a conventional gasoline-powered car, there is a problem. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has approved 8,750 additional Transport Network Vehicle Service slots covering Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region and the Bicol Region as the government tries to address growing demand for app-based transportation. Of that number, 7,500 slots are allocated to Metro

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Philippines

Court Stops SOCOTECO II–Ignite Vote as ‘Railroading’ Claims Grow — But a ₱10-Billion Power Deal Is Still on the Table

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — A proposed deal that could fundamentally reshape electricity distribution across General Santos City, Sarangani and parts of South Cotabato has entered a far more explosive phase. Former Bayan Muna lawmaker Carlos Isagani Zarate is backing a congressional investigation into the proposed joint venture between South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOCOTECO II) and Ignite Power and Energy Corp., accusing proponents of trying to rush a decision before membe

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Philippines

A ₱6,500 DSWD Cash-Aid Offer Is Spreading Online — But What Scammers Want First Could Cost You Much More

MANILA, Philippines — A message arrives promising ₱6,500 in government cash assistance. All you supposedly have to do is provide your name, cellphone number, address or other personal details. For Filipinos struggling with food prices, medical bills or everyday expenses, the offer can sound believable. The Department of Social Welfare and Development says it isn't. The DSWD has renewed its warning against online scammers offering ₱6,500 in supposed financial assistance in exchange for person

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