MANILA, Philippines — A station of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) in Clark, Pampanga, is now 73.29 percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said. The progress of its underground Clark Station is at 73.29 percent, as of Sept. 2026, the DOTr said in a press release issued on Wednesday. “Ang sabi po ng ating

MANILA, Philippines — Observing tradition and parliamentary courtesy accorded to a coequal branch of government, the Senate committee on finance swiftly approved on Wednesday the proposed P10.15-billion budget for the Office of the President (OP) for 2027, marking it “deemed submitted” for plenary consideration. The committee also approved the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) budget in

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday emphasized the need to strengthen preparation and development in teachers’ careers, as some educators remain assigned outside their specialized subjects and training sometimes does not reflect classroom realities. In his speech at the 2026 Teachers Awards at the Manila Hotel in Manila, Marcos said his administration

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel said it intends to finally present Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank records before the Senate impeachment court within the week. House trial spokesperson Ace Barbers disclosed the timetable as prosecutors prepare to move deeper into the financial evidence under Article II. Article II covers Vice President Sara Duterte’s

China will charge an extra 55 per cent tariff on Brazilian beef from Thursday after Brazil filled its import quota for the year and has not agreed to let Brazilian exporters use the unfilled quota of neighbouring Uruguay, industry sources said. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the surtax on Wednesday, a day after China’s customs administration confirmed that Brazil had used all of its 1.106 million-tonne allowance for 2026, and under the rules the extra tariff applies from the third...

In China’s push for self-reliance in artificial intelligence, DeepSeek and Huawei have teamed up to develop software tools for advanced chips.

COTABATO CITY — An 11-year-old boy was killed while a man was wounded after they were hit by stray bullets during an armed encounter between two rival groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, early Wednesday, a police official said. Major Joel Lebrilla, Shariff Aguak police chief, identified

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other concerned agencies are continuously preparing to ease the effects of the looming super El Niño, including the maintenance of irrigation systems and clearing operations on irrigation canals, Malacañang said Wednesday. Palace press officer Claire Castro made the assurance after the NIA outlined its mitigation action

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Mimaropa is studying the reproductive biology of the octopus Octopus cyanea, locally known as “pugita,” to generate scientific data that could support sustainable fisheries management in the region, according to a social media post on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The assessment, which

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court’s swift dismissal of the petitions seeking to nullify the impeachment court’s Sept. 23 ruling on the 2/3 vote requirement needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte proves that its interpretations and proceedings are “constitutionally bullet-proof.” That’s according to Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol. In a statement, Tongol said the impeachment court acknowledges

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Wednesday hailed the dismissal by the Supreme Court of the petitions challenging the Senate Impeachment Court’s ruling on the voting threshold to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. Ridon emphasized that their work on impeachment proceedings will continue.  The SC has junked separate

BACOLOD CITY—A government armed auxiliary member was killed, and two soldiers were wounded after an armed group attacked military personnel in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday afternoon, the Army reported Wednesday. Members of the 79th Infantry Battalion’s Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Program (MCSSP) were conducting a security patrol in Sitio Bautista, Barangay Malasibog,

MANILA, Philippines — APO Production Unit Inc., the printing agency for Philippine passports, clarified on Wednesday that it did not request an increase in passport fees. Instead, its president, Atty. Gil Carlos Puyat, told the Senate finance subcommittee that the agency had asked for a government subsidy to offset passport printing costs without passing the

MANILA, Philippines — The reported shooting incident at Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province on Wednesday was a “false alarm,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed. Earlier, Governor Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu said in a social media post that there was an alleged shooting incident at the school, but no confirmed reports of injuries or

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading three bills seeking to provide further legal and financial protection to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). During Wednesday’s session, lawmakers in a voice vote approved House Bill (HB) 9462, HB 9805, and HB 9806, all sponsored by Agimat party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla, chairperson

BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya — Bagabag town showcased a giant ‘buko’ (coconut) pie display made up of 480 standard-sized pies during the 23rd Pabbalat Festival and its 285th Founding Anniversary on Tuesday. Bagabag Mayor Benigno Calauad told reporters that the giant display of buko pies, which had a 15-meter diameter, was given free to residents who

MANILA, Philippines — The National Unity Party (NUP) on Wednesday called for an end to withholding district funding as political punishment for lawmakers who break ranks and do not toe the line, saying the practice is a form of retribution that ultimately harms their constituencies. “The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions

Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines / YouTube Dole: P25 NCR wage hike still possible if Wage Order 27 upheld in court MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday said the additional P25 daily wage increase for Metro Manila workers can still be implemented if the courts will ultimately uphold

MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the 18 “maleta boys,” said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag is the one who needs to take a lie detector test. Baligod made this statement when asked about the NBI chief’s remark that the bureau also asked the “maleta boys”—who implicated various government

The bond-market deterioration reflects several forces acting simultaneously: higher inflation expectations, heavy government borrowing and issuance, concerns over public finances and elevated energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

KORONADAL CITY — The principal of Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province on Wednesday vehemently denied reports of a shooting or hostage-taking on campus, saying all students were safe following a security scare that prompted a lockdown. “There was no shooting incident, and there was no hostage-taking,” school principal Lorna Lee Ann Valencia

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday expressed concern over Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s claim that he was unaware of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte’s, financial interest in Gencorp Industries Inc. The Palace made the statement after Mayor Duterte said during the resumption of the impeachment trial on Tuesday that he had no

Screengrab Senate of the Philippines / YouTube MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday grilled the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which is under the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), over regional directors who have remained in their posts for years, with some allegedly staying for decades. During the Senate finance committee’s 2027 DOLE

ILIGAN CITY — A total road closure will be implemented along a section of the Mariano Lluch Badelles Sr. Road in Barangay Tambacan, Iligan City, starting Thursday, October 1, to pave the way for the rehabilitation of the Tambacan Bridge. Pursuant to Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 26-670, vehicles are not allowed on the affected road

FILIPINO boxer Carlo Paalam advanced to the 20th Asian Games men’s 55-kilogram (kg) class gold medal round after earning a close semifinal split decision win against Kazakh Makhmud Sabyrkhan at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan on Wednesday afternoon. Three judges favored Paalam, 29-27, 29-28, 29-27, while two deemed Sabyrkhan the winner, 29-27, 30-26, in the slugfest. Throwing solid punches including a right straight that shook Sabyrkhan in the second round, Paalam secured a silver medal and his highest finish in the continental meet. The Olympic silver medalist snared a bronze at the 2018 Asiad edition in Indonesia. Coached by Elmer Pamisa, Paalam said the bout turned out to be a battle of tactical counters. “He’ll come forward, and I’ll just stick to my game. We’ll just make sure we’re the first to counter,” said Paalam. Paalam overcame a point deduction from the referee in the physical third round which he lost, 26-30. Digging deep into his endurance, Paalam said he showcased the immense Filipino fighting spirit to sway the judges in the last two rounds which he won, 29-28, 29-27. “I’m showing the referee that we’re Filipinos, that this is our blood. Even if we have to fight to the death, we’ll give it everything in the last round,” shared Paalam. As the last man standing among the Filipino contingent, Paalam gets himself a shot at ending the Philippines’ 16-year gold medal drought in Asiad boxing. Rey Saludar was the last Filipino boxer to win a gold in the Asian Games after ruling the 2010 flyweight division (52 kg) in Guangzhou, China. Paalam faces home bet Rui Yamaguchi in the final, looking to add to the Philippines’ three-gold haul in the ongoing meet after gymnast Carlos Yulo’s two and pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s one. Yamaguchi defeated Mongolian Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu via unanimous decision in their semifinal encounter. The gold medal match is set for Oct. 2 at 12:45 p.m. in Manila. Receiving a first-round bye, Paalam started his campaign with a majority decision win over Indian Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the second round (round of 16). Paalam then took down Chinese Zhang Jiamao in the quarterfinal via split decision before earning another one against Sabyrkhan in the semis.

UNDER wet conditions due to a drizzly Tuesday evening, Ernest John “EJ” Obiena still claimed his second straight men’s pole vault title in the 20th Asian Games in Japan. The Filipino pole vault ace did it in a record-setting fashion at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. Obiena secured the gold medal after Chinese Yao Jie and Li Chenyang struck out at 5.75 m which the Philippine bet cleared in just one try. The 30-year-old decided to post a new meet record and successfully did so with a 5.91-meter (m) clearance, surpassing the 5.90-m height he aced in the previous edition in Hangzhou, China, back in 2023. Obiena thus gave the Philippines its third overall gold in the ongoing meet following gymnast Carlos Yulo’s floor exercise and vault titles. “A gold and a GR (games record) here in Nagoya,” wrote Obiena in his social media pages on Wednesday morning. “As athletes, we live in these moments. Moments that make us overthink, stress us, adrenaline pumping pressure on our backs and sometimes ... just sometimes pure joy. I take these moments as a blessing. This is what keeps me going back for more.” Obiena expressed gratitude to his team as well as the Filipinos for supporting him. “To all of the 110 million Filipinos, maraming salamat po (thank you so much) for making these moments possible. Competing is one thing, but competing for something greater, for the Philippines, is a privilege that I do not take lightly. For the country.” Obiena surpassed the 5.90-m height thrice this season, which he ended with this Asiad gold. Bouncing back from a lackluster 2025, the 6-foot-2 pole vaulter from Tondo collected 10 golds this year as he continued his resurgence. “What I felt today, it’s been a while, and to be honest I missed it,” Obiena said to POC Media. “With that, I think it’s bit of a reborn that I see the sport in a much different perspective than it was, a little bit of fun and reality”

THE drive to develop the next generation of taekwondo champions continues as the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) stages the 2026 Milo National Taekwondo Championships this October. The two-part national tournament is expected to draw around 3,500 young athletes from all affiliated chapters and branches across the country, including representatives from 20 regions and the National Capital Region. The Kyorugi (Free Sparring) competition will be held on Oct. 3 and 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while the Poomsae (Forms) competition is set for Oct. 11 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Milo and the Philippine Taekwondo Association, under the leadership of Grandmaster Hong, have joined forces in supporting the development of Filipino youth. Through this partnership, the event has provided valuable support to its grassroots program, helping create opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, discipline and passion for taekwondo. Grandmaster Hong, who has been at the forefront of PTA’s programs the past five decades, is excited to see taekwondo jins from different parts of the country vie for honors in their respective divisions. Kyorugi will feature Toddler, Grade School, Cadet and Junior categories for both boys and girls, with each age group divided into Novice and Advanced divisions. The Poomsae competition, meanwhile, will showcase Recognized Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae in the Toddler, Grade School, Cadet and Junior age groups. Competition begins at 9 a.m. on both events, with the official opening ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 and highlighted by a special performance from the Philippine Demonstration Team.

NAGOYA, Japan — Alexandra “Alex” Eala is prioritizing representing the Philippines at the Asian Games over the WTA Tour for the moment — even if that means risking a fine from the women’s tour. Eala had to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing — a mandatory WTA 1000 event — to compete at the Asian Games. She could be fined $10,000. “It was a decision I didn’t take lightly,” Eala told SNTV after winning her second-round match at the Asian Games. “Of course, it’s difficult to miss out on a 1000, especially Beijing, where I’ve heard so many great things about the tournament and I have yet to go. But I know there will be many chances to go back, and I’m really excited to be here, to represent my country and to compete.” The 18th-ranked Eala beat Patcharin Cheapchandej of Thailand, 6-1, 6-0, on Monday. Eala took bronze medals in singles and mixed doubles (with partner Francis Alcantara) at the 2023 Asian Games and is a favorite for gold this time. “I’m as eager as anybody and maybe even a little more,” she said. “I have a lot of will to compete, a lot of will to win.” Eala upset defending champion Iga Swiatek on Center Court in the third round of Wimbledon this year and then earned her first WTA Tour title in Washington. She reached the third round of the US Open. Eala next faces Joanna Garland of Taiwan in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Nagoya mayor sayssorry for Asian Gamesinconveniences’ Nagoya’s mayor apologized to athletes on Wednesday for “inconveniences” at the Asian Games in the Japanese city following a string of complaints. The continent’s biggest sporting event has been dogged by problems including a shortage of beds and issues with transport. There are over 17,000 athletes and officials, more than the Olympics, and countries have accused local organizers of mismanagement. “We must offer our apologies to the athletes and others affected by these inconveniences,” said Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, who is also acting chairman of the local organizing committee. “We must sincerely reflect on the mishandling that occurred,” he added. “There were human errors and a lack of communication with the national teams. “We are responding based on what has happened.” Unlike past Games, there is no athletes’ village in a bid to save money, with participants instead sleeping in temporary wooden units, on a cruise ship and in hotels. Some teams have complained about the temporary cabins, even saying the beds are too short. Early in the Games, local organizers apologized to South Korea after the North Korean national anthem was played by mistake. There have been issues with buses for athletes not running when they should, not turning up at all or going to the wrong venues. Some athletes were also stranded for hours at the airport when they landed in Nagoya for the start of the Games on Sept. 19. The Games, which are taking place in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture, end on Sunday.

MANILA, Philippines — The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday committed to investigate a plastic surgeon and his clinic. This comes after Sen. Raffy Tulfo raised alleged malpractice cases involving reported deaths of patients. During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing for the 2027 spending plan of

CAMDEN, New Jersey — The answers Anfernee Simons gamely tried to offer about the first day of 76ers training camp were suddenly drowned out by the furious whirring overhead of a helicopter leaving the team’s complex. LeBron James’ helicopter. James indeed used the rotorcraft for the rich to take him after practice from New Jersey to presumably close to wherever he decided to live in New York. The helicopter noises are usually reserved for when billionaire team owner Josh Harris lands at the complex for the NBA Draft or a major news conference. Not anymore. The Sixers were quickly caught in the whirlwind of the first days of the LeBron Effect, even as a pair of players and coach Nick Nurse professed all was good on the court. Off the court, make room. Sixers staff moved the news conference backdrop from a corner where a few dozen reporters are usually stuffed to shout questions at Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey to a spot closer toward midcourt for a roomier feel for the more than 50 credentialed reporters, bloggers, TV camera operators and more that came to get an early report card on James’ official first day as a Sixer. James was gone on Tuesday by the time the media was allowed on the court to watch practice. Embiid, Maxey, former Boston star Jaylen Brown, they were all absent, too, a day after holding court on media day. Nurse is starting his fourth season as coach of the Sixers. He’s used to handling the demands that come with working in a major market and dealing with star players in Philly such as with Embiid and his daily injury report or the high drama that surrounded former Sixer James Harden. Nurse did say he had conversations with the team about looking out for each other and staying connected while navigating a spotlight season — especially early — that already has a postseason-type of aura around the franchise before the Sixers even played a game. “It is going to be different,” Nurse said. “More people, more eyes, more stories, more national TV. All that kind of stuff. It’s the same, just a little more. I’m just trying to get to the practice floor and to the game floor. If we can do those two things, all that other stuff, we’ll just kind of handle it as smoothly as we can.”