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A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to strengthen consumer protection against abusive online lending practices by imposing stricter regulations on digital lenders and tougher penalties for violators. House Bill 10366, authored by Akbayan Party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña and Dadah Ismula, together with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, aims to curb widespread abuses by …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday highlighted a series of government interventions aimed at protecting commuters, transport workers and businesses from the impact of soaring global oil prices, saying the measures helped keep the country’s transport sector moving despite the crisis. In his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos described the transport industry as the “piston” of …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday urged Congress to pass a package of tax relief measures aimed at easing the financial burden on workers and small businesses, saying the proposals are designed to strengthen the middle class and promote long-term economic growth. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President called for increasing the income tax …

By Jesse C. Ong The Philippine economy is bracing for a potentially more disruptive El Niño episode as the state weather bureau warned that the climate phenomenon is likely to intensify in the coming months, posing fresh risks to agriculture, energy, water supply, food prices, and other climate-sensitive industries. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there …

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Australian government have launched a ₱1.6-billion education partnership aimed at producing more job-ready Filipino senior high school graduates by aligning classroom learning with industry needs. Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong formally unveiled the Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity (EQUIP) program at Mariano Marcos Memorial High School in …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has directed banks to adopt stricter risk management measures when dealing with customers involved in casino junket operations as part of efforts to prevent the country’s financial system from being used for money laundering and other illicit financial activities. In a guidance paper released this week, the BSP outlined best practices for banks handling …

The government has strengthened its campaign against unfair trade practices by issuing new rules that will allow authorities to investigate and block the entry of imported goods produced wholly or partly through forced labor. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) signed last week a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) …

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up support for farmers in selected regions as it prepares for the expected impact of a looming super El Niño, with intensified assistance aimed at minimizing potential losses in the country’s rice production. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency will concentrate its interventions in rice-growing areas with more reliable water …

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned last week China’s latest water cannon attack against a Philippine government vessel in the Scarborough Shoal, describing the incident as “disturbing” and reaffirming Washington’s commitment to defending freedom of navigation and its treaty obligations to the Philippines. Rubio made the remarks after a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel blasted the BRP Datu …

The public has been urged to conserve water after Angat Dam, the main source of potable water for Metro Manila, fell to its lowest level in more than a decade amid the effects of El Niño and reduced rainfall. Data from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) showed that Angat Dam’s water level dropped to 151.45 meters as of 8 …