Philippines

The 5.767 trillion Philippine government budget for the 2018 year has sparked worries about a possible rise in national debt. According to Ralph Recto, the deputy speaker of the House, this budget might cause the government to accrue more debt, amounting to an estimated 4 billion every day. Only 11.7 billion of the country’s daily spending goal 15.8 billion can …

Recent developments have once again brought attention to how tense the South China Sea still is. On August 6, 2023, the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon at Philippine ships delivering supplies to the Spratly Islands’ Second Thomas Shoal. In retaliation, the Philippines denounced China’s actions as “illegal” and “dangerous,” accusing it of putting lives in danger and breaking international …

Inflation in the Philippines was at 4.7% last month, compared to the 5.4% recorded in June, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported in a briefing on Friday. The figure is also within the 4.1% to 4.9% range the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas forecasted for the month. July’s Inflation The Slowest Since March 2022 The Southeast Asian country has been recording …

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has blocked Arnolfo Teves’ assets as the opening action under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in response to the beleaguered politician’s identification as a terrorist. According to Mico Clavano, a spokesman for the DOJ, this asset freeze is merely a preventative measure for future actions the agency may take against the named person. Resolution No. …

The European Union (EU), a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states, is set to boost cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said on Monday that the EU was ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region. She highlighted the importance …

At least 25 people, including children, died in the Laguna Lake tragedy, while 40 others were injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Those 25 people drowned after their boat on Laguna Lake was overturned by strong winds and big waves whipped up by Typhoon “Egay” and the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’ The Rizal provincial …

Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the current president of the Philippines, has accepted the resignations of 18 officials of the Philippine National Police, including three generals, for their alleged links to illegal drug activities. This came a day after the president of the Philippines called for the rise of “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines). He ended his second State of the Nation address …

Gilbert Teodoro, the incumbent Secretary of National Defense of Philippines, has said that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent visit to the People’s Republic of China is not a “cause of concern.” In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday, Gilbert Teodoro said that Duterte’s recent visit to China did not mean anything serious. He further said that Duterte’s trip …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) is trying to grow its pool of customers and lure in rich offshore gamblers by becoming a part of the lucrative online gaming world by launching its own e-gambling operations next year. Gambling activities are legal in the Southeast Asian country. The gaming regulator earned a whopping $293 million in 2022 from its …

Rodrigo Roa Duterte KGCR, who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, dismissed the move of the International Criminal Court (ICC), an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated in The Hague, to resume an investigation into his “war on drugs.” Recently, the ICC rejected the Philippine government’s appeal to stop an investigation into Duterte’s deadly …