Let me walk you through these mass actions on a Sunday, morning and afternoon, while typhoon Nando threatened to intensify. Literally, walking down T.M. Kalaw, goosebumps slowly creeped my skin as I witnessed the sea of people from all walks of life swelled in defiance of the massive corruption in government. I was teary-eyed at the enthusiasm and passion of …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced it will stop accepting new applications for digital bank licenses starting December 1, 2025, following the Monetary Board’s approval of a fresh moratorium on September 18. Interested firms have until end-November to file complete submissions, which will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis. The BSP stressed that incomplete or non-compliant applications will …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed its support for the Philippines’ economic expansion through policy reforms and infrastructure financing, ADB Country Director Andrew Jerries said Thursday at the Arangkada Philippines Forum in Pasay City. “As a shareholder, our role is to help,” Jerries said, noting ADB’s nearly six decades of partnership with the Philippines. “It doesn’t stop our work, but …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched an investigation into unusually large cash movements in the financial system, which may be linked to alleged anomalies in government flood control projects. “This flood control scandal was as much of a shock to us as it was to you. But we’re working hard to fix things,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona …

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is rolling out its e-Portal project to modernize services and make them more accessible, the state deposit insurer announced last week. Designed as a one-stop, web-based platform, the initiative will integrate PDIC’s data systems and service processes, while also upgrading its website for improved responsiveness. The platform will feature seamless fund transfers, paperless payments …

Legazpi Savings Bank (LSB), a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), has opened three new branch-lite units in northern Luzon to make financial services more accessible to teachers. The new outlets are located in San Fernando, La Union; La Trinidad, Benguet; and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Together, these areas have more than 85,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel and …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday visited the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) and San Agustin Elementary School in San Fernando City, La Union, to extend financial and relief assistance. At ITRMC, the President checked on patients and assessed the implementation of the government’s zero balance billing policy, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. He also …

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has released over ₱195.21 billion in benefit claims from January to August 2025, marking an 84.35 percent increase from the same period last year. Data showed private healthcare institutions received the biggest share at ₱114.63 billion, while government hospitals accounted for ₱80.58 billion. In 2024, PhilHealth disbursed a total of ₱105.89 billion for the …

The World Health Organization (WHO) clarified last week that there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking the use of paracetamol during pregnancy to autism, dismissing a claim made by US President Donald Trump. In a statement, the UN health agency said nearly 62 million people worldwide—about one in 127—live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition that affects brain development. …

A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain or bloating, but health experts warn it may also point to a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In a recent public advisory, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said AAA occurs when the abdominal aorta—the body’s main artery in the abdomen—bulges or enlarges. If it ruptures, it can cause massive …