Nation
Politics, governance and communities across the Philippines.
Nation Page 12 of 60
Companies legally responsible for their own plastic waste under Extended Producer Responsibility law
Companies that produce plastic products are now legally responsible for managing their own plastic waste under the Extended Producer Responsibility law, ending a decades-long arrangement where local governments bore the sole burden of solid waste management, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said…
Marcos administration now requires mining companies to fund rehabilitation before they are allowed to dig
Mining companies in the Philippines must now set aside a dedicated rehabilitation fund from the very start of their operations—not just submit a plan—before they are granted a permit to begin digging, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said Saturday. Cuna made the statement in an interview on…
New law signed by President Marcos allows government to seek bigger penalties for environmental crimes
A new law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will allow the government to seek significantly bigger penalties for environmental crimes by including the value of ecosystem services—not just the physical resources destroyed—in the computation of damages, DENR Assistant Secretary Norlito Eneran…
For the first time, PH will know exactly what its forests, rivers, and ecosystems are worth—and factor that into planning
For the first time in Philippine history, the Philippine government now has a law that requires the systematic valuation of the country’s natural resources—not to sell them, but to understand their true worth so that economic planning and development decisions are guided by science rather than…
How typhoon-induced class suspensions affect students’ learning, study explains
Two weeks of heavy and persistent rains that triggered severe flooding across parts of Luzon in the Philippines forced local government units to suspend classes to ensure the safety of students. However, a study published in the International Journal of Educational Development highlights the…
Weather mismatch: Mindanao swelters under extreme heat; Luzon battles heavy rains, flooding
As Luzon battles heavy and intense rains with severe flooding for two consecutive weeks, residents in Mindanao pray for rain — as PAGASA forecasts high heat indices in various areas in the region. Netizen Ulysees Baroro Zamora Raval, shared a video of his farm going dry due to lack of rains. “Wala…
Marcos admin’s satisfaction rating improves, but still below average — SWS survey
The net satisfaction rating of the Marcos administration rebounded to +1 in June 2026 from -13 in March, according to a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS). In its latest poll conducted from June 20 to 29 and released on Wednesday, August 12, 42% of Filipinos said they were satisfied with the…
Isko Moreno leads inauguration of Senior Citizens’ Park, Community Pet Park in Pandacan, Manila
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso led the inauguration of the Senior Citizens Park and Community Pet Park in Pandacan on Wednesday morning, August 12, seven months after breaking ground on the project in January. The nearly one-hectare park in Pandacan was first broken ground in…
Fraud crackdown at Customs: ‘We’re going after smugglers, their financiers, and their government allies,’ says commissioner
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed 84 cases for customs fraud under a crackdown that targets high-value misdeclarations, including the infamous example of a Bugatti luxury vehicle declared as a pick-up truck to pay lower import duties, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said Saturday. Nepomuceno…
SSS, GSIS launch micro loan programs at 6% interest yearly, safer than loan sharks charging 10% monthly
The Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have launched micro loan programs offering emergency loans at 6% annual interest, providing a government alternative to informal lenders that charge as much as 10% per month, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said…
BIR launches one-time tax abatement: micro businesses can clear ₱80,000 in liabilities for ₱5,000
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has launched a One-Time Tax Abatement Program that allows micro taxpayers with annual gross sales of up to ₱3 million to clear up to ₱80,000 in pending tax liabilities and penalties per taxable year for a flat payment of just ₱5,000, BIR Commissioner Charlito…
No more VAT on 2,277 essential medicines: BIR, FDA expand list covering major illnesses
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has made 2,277 medicines VAT-exempt, covering treatments for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease, with the list continuing to grow as more drugs are endorsed for exemption, BIR…
Marcos raises income tax exemption to ₱350,000; micro and small businesses freed from minimum corporate income tax
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the income tax exemption threshold will be raised from ₱250,000 to ₱350,000, giving workers a maximum additional take-home pay of ₱17,500, while micro and small businesses that are losing money or…
‘Taxpayer-centric’ BIR recognized as Top 2 Most Improved Agency by ARTA
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has been recognized by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) as the Top 2 Most Improved Government Agency, a milestone BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said Saturday reflects the bureau’s deliberate shift toward a taxpayer-friendly, service-oriented approach.…
SSS Pension Reserve Fund hits ₱1 trillion for the first time in history
The Social Security System’s (SSS) Pension Reserve Fund has reached ₱1 trillion for the first time in the institution’s history, giving millions of Filipino private sector workers confidence that their retirement funds are secure, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said Saturday. Go made the…