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The government is proposing a ₱74.45-billion allocation for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in 2027, including ₱19 billion to enhance benefit packages and fund other priority health interventions. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the proposed funding will strengthen health benefits, particularly for mental health and severe malnutrition, while supporting hospitals operated by local government units (LGUs). …

Malacañang said former president Rodrigo Duterte appeared to be in “good condition” during his first in-person appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte also appeared to have accepted the continuation of proceedings on crimes against humanity charges linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign. “Unang-una sa mga kababayan natin, nakita naman …

Online gaming giant Roblox is open to appointing a local representative in the Philippines who can directly receive subpoenas and other lawful government orders, a move that could speed up authorities’ response to cases involving child grooming and online sexual abuse. Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Roblox representatives expressed willingness during a meeting to designate a qualified third party as its …

The death toll from the MV June Aster fire off Coron, Palawan has climbed to 77 after a crew member who initially survived the disaster died in a hospital, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the crew member was declared dead at 11:34 a.m. Tuesday by the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital. With the …

Malacañang challenged former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and face the allegations against him instead of seeking asylum abroad. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the call last week after Roque disputed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claim that his asylum application in Austria had been denied. Roque has maintained that his application remains pending and that …

By Tracy Cabrera The Philippine maritime industry is set to gain additional repair capacity as the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) moves to support the expansion of a key ship repair facility at Subic Bay in Zambales and Bataan. Leading the initiative, the Subic Drydock Corporation (SDC) vowed it’s commitment to expand operations through the upgrade of its …

After former House Speaker Martin Romualdez gets detained over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, it would be one of the most consequential developments in the administration’s anti-corruption drive. The Ombudsman has said it is preparing multiple cases against him, while government authorities continue efforts to bring former Rep. Zaldy Co back to the Philippines to face charges related to alleged …

The return of siblings Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano to the Vice President’s impeachment proceedings adds another layer of political theater to an already extraordinary spectacle. Their participation is significant because the Senate impeachment court must ultimately confront a fundamental constitutional question: conviction requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members. The debate over how that threshold should operate …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Government agencies are often judged by promises. The Bureau of Customs, however, can also be judged by numbers. Under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, the BOC has reported substantial gains in revenue collection, enforcement, modernization, and trade facilitation since he assumed office in July 2025. The figures are difficult to overlook. From July 2025 to June …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) should serve as a wake‑up call. Net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) fell by 17.8 percent in the first half of the year, dropping from over $4 billion last year to just $3.38 billion today.  FDI is not abstract money—it represents real businesses: factories, infrastructure projects, …