Philippines

The Philippines government has proposed a P5.768 trillion budget for 2024, which includes a P500-billion cash assistance program for 48 million poor families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program, called the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), aims to provide monthly cash transfers of P2,000 to P4,000 per household, depending on the region and the level of lockdown. The SAP is …

The Philippines and Japan have signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will allow their troops to visit each other’s countries for joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida witnessed the signing of the RAA on Friday, during the latter’s official visit to Manila. The RAA is similar to a …

The Philippines has deported 180 Chinese nationals who were arrested for engaging in online scams targeting their compatriots in mainland China and Taiwan. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday that the deportees boarded a chartered flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Thursday night. They were escorted by immigration agents and Chinese police officers. The …

The Philippines has summoned China’s ambassador to Manila and filed a series of diplomatic protests over the “illegal and dangerous” presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. The Philippine foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it had met with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and demanded that China withdraw all its ships from the disputed areas, especially …

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denounced China’s “dangerous” and “unlawful” actions in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been asserting its claims over disputed waters and islands. Speaking at a security forum in Hawaii on Sunday, Marcos said China’s coast guard and maritime militia vessels have been harassing Philippine ships and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, the part …

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has strongly condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” that killed four people and wounded dozens more in the southern Philippines on Sunday. The bomb exploded during a Mass at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Jolo, Sulu province, where hundreds of people were gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The blast …

A passenger bus carrying more than 50 people fell off a winding road and crashed into a ravine in the northern Philippines, killing at least 28 people and injuring 24 others, police said on Wednesday. The bus was bound for Culasi town, Antique, from Iloilo City and had 50 passengers onboard. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, …

In a shocking turn of events on a peaceful Sunday morning, a devastating explosion shattered the tranquility of Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in the southern Philippines. Striking around 8:30 a.m. local time, the incident targeted the Mount Carmel Cathedral and an adjacent gymnasium, coinciding with a Sunday mass and a fitness class, turning moments of community and serenity …

In response to escalating apprehensions regarding TikTok‘s potential security risks and ties to China, the Philippines has initiated a comprehensive security assessment of the popular video-sharing app. The National Privacy Commission (NPC) officially announced the inquiry on Friday, expressing the need to investigate TikTok’s data processing practices and evaluate its compliance with the country’s data protection laws. As one of …

In a remarkable twist of fate, the Philippines is embarking on a journey towards peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). The echo of decades-long conflict, resonating since 1969, may find a resolution through renewed talks facilitated by Norwegian mediators in Oslo, Norway. This newfound commitment to peace marks …