Category: Politics

Philippines

Tarlac Declares State of Calamity After Devastating Floods—But the Crisis May Not Be Over Yet

TARLAC, Philippines — Tarlac Province has been placed under a state of calamity after relentless rains from the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, triggered widespread flooding, damaged infrastructure and disrupted communities across the province. The declaration was approved under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 416-2026 following a recommendation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), according to reports from GMA News and the Philippine

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Maddela Families Get 10 Kilos of Rice Under Marcos Aid — Town Adds Over ₱1 Million After Allocation Falls Short

MADDELA, Quirino — Families in Maddela have begun receiving 10 kilograms of rice each under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s nationwide rice assistance initiative, but the local rollout came with a notable development: the municipality had to put in more than ₱1 million of its own funds after the available allocation was not enough to cover all qualified families. Maddela Mayor Rimel C. Tolentino said the municipal government realigned local funds to augment the assistance and allow more eligib

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Pampanga Still Has Power After Nearly Three Weeks Underwater—But the Next Flood Surge Is What Officials Fear

PAMPANGA, Philippines — Even as floodwaters continue to engulf communities across Pampanga after nearly three weeks of relentless rain, electricity remains available in many affected areas—a lifeline officials are trying to preserve as authorities brace for more possible flooding. Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda said Sunday that the province's power supply remains operational despite some communities being submerged in waist-deep floodwaters for weeks due to persistent rains brought by t

August 30, 2026

Politics

Iceland Says No to EU Talks—But the Battle Over Its Future Is Far From Over

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelanders have narrowly voted against reopening negotiations to join the European Union, delivering a significant setback to the government’s push for closer integration with Europe and reopening a decades-old debate over sovereignty, security and the country’s prized fishing waters. According to results reported by Iceland’s national broadcaster RÚV and confirmed by multiple international news outlets, 52.8% voted against resuming EU accession talks, while 47.2% voted in

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Pampanga Has Been Flooded for Nearly 3 Weeks — So Why Is the Power Still On?

PAMPANGA, Philippines — In communities where floodwater has lingered for nearly three weeks, one essential service has remarkably continued operating: electricity. Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said Sunday, August 30, that power remains available in affected parts of the province despite prolonged flooding that has left some communities under waist-deep water. But keeping the lights on amid widespread flooding comes with a serious warning: electricity and floodwater can be a deadly combinatio

August 30, 2026

Philippines

2.39 Million BARMM Voters Are About to Make History — But One Major Test Could Define the September 14 Election

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — With the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao just days away from a political milestone years in the making, the government’s peace office is urging political parties, security forces and communities to make sure history is written at the ballot box — not through violence. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Sunday, August 30, called for an orderly, credible and peaceful electoral process ahead of the firs

August 30, 2026

Philippines

DPWH Stops Alleged Illegal Taguig Reclamation — But Four Questioned Land Titles Could Be the Bigger Problem

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways has ordered a halt to projects linked to the alleged unauthorized reclamation of portions of Laguna de Bay in Taguig City, escalating a controversy that has now expanded from questionable flood-control works to the origins of land titles covering nearly 39 hectares. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the DPWH issued the cease-and-desist directive on August 20, 2026, following instructions from the Office of the Pre

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Tulfo Wants Oil Firms to Reveal What’s Behind Every Peso at the Pump — But One Major Question Remains

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos see the final number glowing on gasoline-station price boards every week. But how much of every peso actually pays for imported fuel, freight, insurance, operating expenses — and how much becomes profit? Senator Erwin Tulfo wants the government to get clearer answers. Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, is renewing his push to amend the Philippines’ decades-old Oil Deregulation Law to strengthen transparency in the way petroleum companies calculat

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Subic Bay Freeport Landslide Kills 2, Injures 2 as Habagat Rains Pound Zambales; SBMA Probes Collapse

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — Two workers were killed and two others were injured after a landslide struck the Tipo High-Tech Park inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as relentless Habagat rains continued to batter Zambales and other parts of Luzon. The deadly incident happened on Saturday, August 29, at the industrial park along Tipo Road near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, according to reports from ABS-CBN News, GMA News and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Initial information from the

August 30, 2026

Philippines

DPWH Official Axed Over Delayed Disaster Response in Flood-Hit Las Piñas—But What Happens Next?

MANILA, Philippines — A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official assigned to the Las Piñas–Muntinlupa area has been relieved from his post following repeated reports of delayed responses to calamities and what the agency described as unsatisfactory performance. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the immediate relief of Engineer Loreto Balena Jr., maintenance chief of the Las Piñas–Muntinlupa District Engineering Office (LMDEO), in a memorandum dated August 29. The order cited Ba

August 30, 2026