Category: Politics

Philippines

NLEX Motorists Get Toll Relief After Nightmare Flood Gridlock—But Marcos Orders a Bigger Fix

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists traveling between Pulilan, Bulacan and San Fernando, Pampanga have been granted toll relief after severe flooding triggered a traffic nightmare along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), prompting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to order urgent action. Beginning September 2, all vehicles traveling between Pulilan and San Fernando, and vice versa, were allowed toll-free passage under the government-backed relief measure. The arrangement was ordered in response to

September 6, 2026

Philippines

A Distressed Yacht Entered Subic for Repairs — Then Mechanics Found ₱366M in Kush Hidden Across the Vessel

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — A sailing yacht that reportedly entered Subic only because it needed emergency shelter and repairs has now become the center of a potentially international drug-trafficking investigation after authorities discovered more than ₱366 million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana hidden aboard the vessel. The latest breakthrough came when authorities conducting a deeper stripping and inspection found 109 additional packages weighing approximately 123.91 kilograms

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Senate Moves to Ban Officials’ Relatives From Government Contracts — But First Cousins Are Only the Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — Government contracts could soon become legally off-limits to a much wider circle of politicians’ and public officials’ relatives after the Philippine Senate unanimously approved a sweeping anti-nepotism procurement bill. By a 15-0 vote with no abstentions, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1962, or the proposed Government Contracting and Procurement Integrity Act, on third and final reading on September 2. The measure would prohibit relatives of covered government offic

September 6, 2026

Philippines

BARMM Polls at a Turning Point: Peace Adviser Issues Urgent Appeal to Candidates and Parties

COTABATO CITY, BARMM — With the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) preparing for its first regular parliamentary elections on September 14, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento is urging candidates, political parties and other stakeholders to put peace, democratic participation and electoral integrity above political rivalry. Sarmiento, who heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), has emphasized that the success of

September 6, 2026

Politics

The Taliban Is Offering America Access to Afghanistan’s $1 Trillion Mineral Wealth — But the Biggest Risk May Be Who Controls It

KABUL — Five years after retaking Afghanistan as the United States ended its longest war, the Taliban is making Washington an extraordinary new proposition: Come back — not with soldiers, but with mining companies. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has publicly welcomed American investment in Afghanistan's mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade sectors, arguing that relations between Kabul and Washington should no longer be judged exclusively through the 20 years they spent fig

September 6, 2026

Philippines

COA Flags P279 Million in Child Care Funds — But Can Agencies Explain Where the Money Went?

MANILA, Philippines — State auditors have flagged approximately P279 million in child care-related funds, raising fresh concerns over the monitoring, liquidation and accountability of government money intended to support early childhood care and development. The Commission on Audit's findings, reported by BusinessWorld on September 3, put renewed attention on how funds transferred to implementing agencies and local government units are tracked and eventually accounted for. The audit observation

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Philippine Coast Guard Turns to Spain and Airbus for Its Next Fleet Upgrade — But No Purchase Has Been Announced Yet

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard's modernization drive is opening another door in Europe. The PCG has explored possible cooperation with the Spanish government and Airbus Defence and Space as it seeks to strengthen the aircraft, ships and technology available for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and other Coast Guard missions, according to a Sept. 6 report by Manila Bulletin. The development comes as the Philippines rapidly expands one of the most consequential Coast Guard moderniza

September 6, 2026

Philippines

‘Marcos’ Office Budget Is Being Slashed 64% to ₱10.15 Billion — But One ₱4.5-Billion Allocation Barely Changes”

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office is preparing to operate next year with nearly two-thirds less money than it received in 2026. But there is a striking detail buried inside the dramatically smaller budget: the President’s confidential and intelligence funds are barely changing. The Office of the President is proposing a ₱10.156-billion budget for 2027, compared with approximately ₱28.029 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. That translates to a reduct

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Just Put 4Ps Students First for College Subsidies — But Free Tuition Was Never the Biggest Cost

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines already made tuition free for millions of students in public colleges. Now the government is confronting a harder problem: what happens when a student can enter college for free—but still cannot afford to stay there? President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12325, a major expansion of the country's Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education framework that redirects government subsidies toward financially disadvantaged students and ext

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Palace Budget Slashed by 64% for 2027—Recto Says Operations Won’t Be Affected, But One Issue Is Drawing Fire

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President (OP) is seeking a significantly smaller budget for 2027, but Executive Secretary Ralph Recto insists the sharp reduction will not hamper Malacañang’s ability to run government operations. Recto said the Palace can continue overseeing government agencies, responding to emergencies, supporting public services, monitoring economic programs and protecting national interests despite the proposed ₱10.156-billion budget, which is about 64% lower than t

September 6, 2026