Nation
Politics, governance and communities across the Philippines.
Nation Page 37 of 60
EXPLAINER | The Peso just hit ₱60 against the US Dollar: Who wins, who loses?
The Philippine Peso has slipped to ₱60.1 against the US dollar, its weakest level on record, raising a question many Filipinos are now asking: is this good or bad for the economy? The short answer, according to former Finance Secretary Gary Teves, is that it depends—but for most Filipinos, the…
DOH under Herbosa plunged into cycle of corruption allegations as public health risks grow
How can President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ensure the health and safety of Filipinos if his own Department of Health (DOH) under Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa is now plunged into a cycle of corruption allegations, at a time when Filipinos are already grappling with rising fuel costs driven by…
How long can Asia run on its fuel reserves?
As tensions around Iran disrupt global oil flows and threaten key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, Asian countries are taking stock of how long their fuel reserves can last. The numbers vary sharply across the region, highlighting uneven levels of preparedness in the face of a potential…
Inside Isko Moreno’s dream and vision of dignified housing for every Manileño
In Manila, where space is scarce and land is expensive, securing a livable home has often meant leaving the city behind. Under Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, that narrative is being challenged by a steady build-up of in-city housing projects that aim to keep families where their lives…
Airfares set to soar in April as fuel surcharge more than double, CAB says
Passengers can expect higher airfares in April after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 8, the highest in two years. The new level is more than double the current Level 4 rates. On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the CAB has shortened its…
Filipinas seek abortions online in largely Catholic nation
Jane had been bleeding heavily for days before finally seeking help, not from a hospital but from the man who sold her the pills meant to end her six-week pregnancy. Abortions are strictly outlawed in the mainly Catholic Philippines, forcing women to turn to a patchwork of providers operating in…
Isko Moreno rolls out ₱1.76 billion stimulus to pump-prime Manila economy amid global oil shock
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Monday morning, March 16, announced the release of ₱1.76 billion in financial assistance, incentives, and revenue shares to pump-prime the local economy as global oil prices surge amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East. Domagoso…
Transport group, think tank accuse DOE of acting as oil firms’ mouthpiece
A transport group and an economic think tank on Saturday accused the Department of Energy (DOE) of acting as a mouthpiece for oil companies as fuel prices continue to rise amid global market tensions. Orlando Marquez Sr., president of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP)…
Media groups slam ‘retaliatory’ charges vs DZRH reporter over report on Manila councilor’s lascivious case involving minor
Media organizations on Thursday, March 12, condemned the filing of charges and arrest of DZRH reporter Misael “Boy” Gonzales Jr., with one group describing the move as retaliatory and another warning of its chilling effect on press freedom. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines…
MBC warns of ‘chilling effect’ on media coverage of justice system after arrest of DZRH reporter Boy Gonzales
The arrest of DZRH justice beat reporter Misael “Boy” Gonzales could create a “chilling effect” on journalists covering courts and public officials, after he was taken into custody over a data privacy complaint tied to his report on a Manila City councilor accused of lascivious conduct involving a…
Lacson files bill to modernize PH anti-espionage law, impose life imprisonment for spies
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed a measure seeking to strengthen and modernize the Philippines’ anti-espionage laws, including provisions dating back to 1941. Lacson’s Senate Bill No. 33, or the “New Anti-Espionage Act,” seeks to increase penalties for espionage and…
Isko Moreno inspects Manila gas station, warns vs fuel price abuse
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso conducted a surprise inspection at a gasoline station in Santa Cruz, Manila on Thursday morning, March 12, to ensure fuel retailers comply with government price directives amid rising oil costs. Domagoso said the inspection was part of the city…
Marcos to certify as urgent bill granting him emergency powers to address oil price hikes
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he would certify as urgent a bill granting him emergency powers to lower excise taxes on fuel amid rising oil prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday (Manila time), the President said the…
The Philippines’ richest: Enrique Razon tops Forbes’ 2026 billionaires list
Ports and casino magnate Enrique Razon Jr. is the richest Filipino on the 40th annual Forbes World’s Billionaires List. The list released by Forbes showed that there are 15 billionaires in the Philippines, led by Razon. Razon’s net worth surged by more than 50% to $16.5 billion, equivalent to…
Oil shocks could ‘further erode’ Filipinos’ purchasing power — think tank
The escalating conflict in the Middle East could further weaken Filipinos’ purchasing power, think tank and research group IBON Foundation said. IBON noted that the Philippines is “extremely vulnerable to global price shocks,” as the country imports around 95% of its petroleum requirements. “Of…