Category: Politics

Philippines

HABAGAT FORCES PRE-EMPTIVE EVACUATION IN AGNO, PANGASINAN — 25 RESIDENTS MOVED TO SAFETY AS FLOOD THREAT RISES

AGNO, PANGASINAN — Authorities carried out a pre-emptive evacuation in parts of Agno, Pangasinan as persistent rains from the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, continued to raise concerns over flooding and other weather-related hazards. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted the evacuation operation on August 29, moving nine families or 25 individuals from vulnerable areas to safer locations, according to a report by Bombo Radyo. Among those evacuated were residents of Purok Pag-asa in Barang

August 30, 2026

Politics

Thailand’s 229-Person Senate Election Case Reaches Critical Stage as Pressure Mounts on Election Commission

BANGKOK — Pressure is intensifying on Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) as political groups, reserve senators, civic activists and opposition figures demand action over allegations of collusion in the 2024 Senate election. The controversy centres on a long-running case involving 229 people, including 138 sitting senators and 91 politicians, party figures and associates, who were previously accused of involvement in an alleged scheme to manipulate the Senate selection process. The case has no

August 30, 2026

Philippines

No Number Coding on Monday—But Here’s What Metro Manila Motorists Should Know Before Heading Out

METRO MANILA, Philippines — Motorists can take a break from Metro Manila's number coding restrictions on Monday, August 31, 2026, as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) suspends the implementation of the Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program in observance of National Heroes Day. National Heroes Day, celebrated every last Monday of August, falls on August 31 this year and is listed as a regular holiday in the Philippines. The suspension means vehicles covered by t

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Marikina River Reaches 3rd Alarm, Forcing Residents to Flee—But What Happened Next Will Bring Relief

MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — Residents in flood-prone communities in Marikina and Quezon City were forced to evacuate after the Marikina River reached the third and highest alarm level amid relentless rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, authorities and news reports said Sunday, August 30. The river breached the critical 18-meter threshold late Saturday night, triggering the third alarm and mandatory evacuation measures for residents in vulnerable and low-lying areas. GMA News re

August 30, 2026

Politics

ASEAN PUSHES CLEAN ENERGY AND DIGITALIZATION TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENTS — BUT THE BIGGEST TEST IS CONNECTIVITY

MANILA, Philippines — ASEAN is stepping up efforts to make clean energy, digitalization and regional connectivity central to its next phase of economic growth, as Southeast Asian countries compete for investments in emerging industries and seek to build a more resilient regional economy. The push comes as ASEAN positions itself not simply as a collection of individual markets, but as a more integrated investment destination where energy, digital infrastructure, technology and cross-border conne

August 30, 2026

Philippines

NON-MORO IPs MAKE HISTORY: 2 REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN FOR BARMM PARLIAMENT—BUT THEIR SELECTION PROCESS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER

COTABATO CITY — Two representatives of the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) have already been selected for the incoming Bangsamoro Parliament, making them among the first members of the region’s regular legislature to be determined ahead of the September 14 parliamentary elections. The representatives are Jo Genna M. Jover of the Teduray tribe, who will occupy the female NMIP slot, and Timuay Leticio L. Datuwata of the Lambangian tribe, who will occupy the male slot. Their selection took pl

August 30, 2026

Philippines

BAGONG SILANGAN FLOODED AS MARIKINA RIVER SURGES — BUT THE WATER LEVEL’S NEXT MOVE COULD DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS TO RESIDENTS

QUEZON CITY — Floodwaters inundated parts of Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City as heavy rains from the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, pushed the Marikina River to critical levels late Saturday night. The situation prompted authorities to raise the third alarm on the Marikina River, with the water level reaching 18.4 meters at around 11:35 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, according to the latest reports from GMA News and local authorities. Under Marikina City's warning system, the third alarm

August 30, 2026

Philippines

BAHAY GUMUHO SA LUBAO: Ilog Unti-Unting Kumakain sa Pampang—At Hindi Ito ang Unang Bahay na Tinangay

LUBAO, PAMPANGA — Tuluyang gumuho ang isang bahay sa Barangay Santo Cristo, Lubao, Pampanga, matapos unti-unting eroded ng rumaragasang tubig ang gilid ng ilog sa gitna ng patuloy na masamang panahon. Ayon sa ulat ng GMA News noong Agosto 30, gumuho ang bahay pasado alas-6 ng gabi. Mabuti na lamang at walang tao sa loob ng bahay nang tuluyan itong bumigay. Ngunit hindi ito isolated incident. Iniulat ng GMA na ito na ang pang-anim na bahay na natangay o nawasak sa lugar dahil sa malakas na ago

August 30, 2026

Philippines

32 DEAD, 8 MILLION AFFECTED BY HABAGAT AND STORMS — BUT THE DAMAGE COULD STILL RISE

MANILA, Philippines — The combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng have left at least 32 people dead and around 8 million others affected across the Philippines, according to the latest situation report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). The figures highlight the growing scale of the weather crisis, with flooding, landslides, rockslides, drowning incidents and electrocution reported in several provinces and cities. According to the

August 30, 2026

Philippines

Second Bridge Collapses in Tarlac City as Habagat Rains Rage — 4 People Missing After Vehicle Falls Into River

TARLAC CITY — Disaster struck Tarlac City for the second time in less than 24 hours after the Agana Bridge in Barangay Tibag collapsed Saturday night, as relentless Southwest Monsoon or Habagat rains sent powerful currents surging through the Tarlac River. The Agana Bridge gave way at around 8:32 p.m. on August 29, according to the Tarlac City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The collapse became even more alarming when a gray Toyota Avanza carrying five people plunged into the Ta

August 30, 2026