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Electricity consumers may soon see some relief in their power bills as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) moves to remove value-added tax (VAT) on allowable system loss charges without the need for a new law from Congress. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the planned BIR issuance is already supported by Republic Act No. 11976, or the Ease of Paying …

Malacañang said last week that the proposed increase in the motor vehicle user charge (MVUC) remains under review, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yet to make a final decision on the measure. The Department of Finance (DOF) proposal forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the government’s excise tax system and stabilize state revenues, but the Palace said its potential …

The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) has suspended monthly housing loan payments for one month to ease the financial burden on communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.” The temporary payment moratorium covers qualified member-beneficiaries from Aug. 29 to Sept. 28, 2026, providing more than ₱23.4 million in housing assistance, the SHFC said last week. The payment relief …

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up intelligence gathering and enforcement operations against online sellers and networks distributing counterfeit and unregulated products that could put consumers at risk. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force will strengthen coordination with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other …

Vietnamese investments in the Philippines are expected to surpass US$100 million by the end of 2026, as Manila and Hanoi move to deepen economic ties under their newly elevated Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Vietnamese Ambassador Lai Thai Binh said last week that Vietnamese companies have already invested more than US$90 million in the Philippines, representing nearly 70% of the cumulative Vietnamese …

Agricultural damage from the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng has reached ₱3.62 billion, affecting nearly 75,000 hectares of farmland and more than 86,000 farmers and fishers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said last week. The latest field validation covered 74,809 hectares of agricultural areas and 87,745 metric tons (MT) in production losses across eight regions, …

The Philippines is targeting a major expansion of its semiconductor and electronics industry, seeking to more than double annual exports to US$110 billion by 2030 while moving into higher-value activities such as chip design, engineering, research and innovation. The Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap aims to increase the country’s share of global semiconductor assembly, test and packaging from 4 …

The Commission on Audit (COA) clarified that an acknowledgment receipt alone cannot justify reward payments made from confidential funds, stressing that agencies must provide evidence showing that information from informants resulted in a successful intelligence or confidential operation. During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on COA’s 2027 budget, COA Commissioner Douglas Mallillin said payment for information is different from …

The country’s continuing flooding is being sidetracked by the legally complex impeachment trial, Alex Eala’s historic run at the US Open, and the arrival of the much-awaited “ber” months. Yet, while national attention shifts from one spectacle to another, millions of Filipinos remain trapped in a vicious cycle of floods that seems to have no end. This cycle begins with “ayuda”—cash …

Beyond the Vice President’s impeachment trial and the massive flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, another political drama is unfolding quietly at the Office of the Ombudsman. Its next moves could have consequences far beyond the corruption investigations earlier making headlines. The Ombudsman said that more senators are facing criminal investigations following the arrests of Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada. Yet there has been little …