2027 budget: Congress’ spending plan should be scrutinized – watchdog

Inquirer.net - Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Budget watchdog People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) on Thursday said Congress’ spending plan should have faced greater scrutiny after budget discussions for the legislature were terminated without any questions on the floor. “Scrutiny should be even higher when Congress is deliberating its own budget,” PBC co-coordinator Gybel Agregado told the Inquirer in a

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Marcoleta’s press conference inside Sandiganbayan is allowed – BJMP

Sep 17, 2026

Marcoleta’s press conference inside Sandiganbayan is allowed – BJMP

[Updated Sept. 17, 2026, 8:04 p.m.] MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s press conference on Thursday was well within what is being allowed by the Sandiganbayan. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said the forum between the senator and reporters today inside the premises of the anti-graft court was alright with the justices.

WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

Sep 17, 2026

WATCH: Romualdez’s co-accused in plunder case, out of country | INQToday

MANILA, Philippines – Here are INQToday’s top stories this evening: A former staff member of ex-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is also a co-accused in the P7.4-billion plunder case, is out of the country; a witness says Sen. Rodante Marcoleta allegedly solicited money from a donor linked to his P75-million plunder case; and a House

Yuchengco urges SEC to withdraw broker-director term limits

Sep 17, 2026

Yuchengco urges SEC to withdraw broker-director term limits

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Stock Exchange director Ma. Vivian Yuchengco urged the Securities and Exchange Commisison (SEC) to revoke term-limit rules for broker-directors, asserting that shareholders should determine the tenure of their elected representatives on the board. In a statement, Yuchengco reiterated her opposition to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 17, Series of 2026, which caps broker-directors’

NGCP boosts grid capacity with P23.5-B transmission project

Sep 17, 2026

NGCP boosts grid capacity with P23.5-B transmission project

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is on track to activate P23.5 billion worth of transmission projects this year as it works to strengthen the country’s grid network further. Breaking it down, NGCP assistant vice president Leonor Felipa Cynthia Alabanza said the grid operator is spending around P11 billion to finish

AFC Champions League 2: Hong Kong champions Kitchee survive red card to make point

Sep 17, 2026

AFC Champions League 2: Hong Kong champions Kitchee survive red card to make point

Kitchee survived playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men, after a debatable red card for captain Ruslan Mingazov, to draw 0-0 with Gangwon FC on Thursday night in their opening AFC Champions League 2 match. Although a point against the strongest team in the group represented a sound return, it could have been even better for the Hong Kong club on their return to Asian competition after three years away, Mingazov and Victor Camarasa, the former Cardiff City midfielder, were both inches wide with...

Debt ratio seen rising to 70.7% by 2027 in severe conditions

Sep 17, 2026

Debt ratio seen rising to 70.7% by 2027 in severe conditions

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine debt could climb to as much as 70.7 percent of gross domestic product by 2027 under a severe downside economic scenario, according to a sensitivity test that flagged the government’s growth assumptions as still too optimistic. The estimate is not a forecast but forms part of the alternative growth scenarios developed by

Moira Dela Torre, ex-husband Jason Hernandez have ‘moved forward,’ now ‘civil’

Sep 17, 2026

Moira Dela Torre, ex-husband Jason Hernandez have ‘moved forward,’ now ‘civil’

Moira Dela Torre said she and her former husband, Jason Hernandez, have moved forward from their past and are now on civil terms. “Yes, we are civil. And actually, we have been civil. I’m happy that the relationships that I have and that we all have, I’m happy that people have moved forward,” Dela Torre

PH to unveil integrated trade-climate strategy by November

Sep 17, 2026

PH to unveil integrated trade-climate strategy by November

GENEVA, Switzerland — The Philippines will unveil an integrated Trade-Climate Strategy by November, outlining a framework to align domestic policies, boost trade competitiveness, and ensure key sectors are regulatory-ready. The Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) told the Inquirer that it will launch the integrated Trade-Climate Strategy at the United Nations Climate Change Conference

Army: Civilian tips thwart NPA bid to establish foothold in Agusan

Sep 17, 2026

Army: Civilian tips thwart NPA bid to establish foothold in Agusan

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said information from residents helped government forces respond to the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA), leading to encounters in Barangay Bakingking, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, last Sept. 10. The Joint Task Force Diamond and the 4ID said the incident highlighted

PBA: Yeng Guiao signs new contract extension with Rain or Shine

Sep 17, 2026

PBA: Yeng Guiao signs new contract extension with Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines–Coach Yeng Guiao signed a contract extension to remain with Rain or Shine until 2030, the PBA team announced on Thursday. The Elasto Painters posted a photo of the veteran mentor being flanked by team executives led by co-owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que. His new deal, however, won’t take effect until 2028 as

Overcast skies, rains to prevail over PH due to LPA

Sep 17, 2026

Overcast skies, rains to prevail over PH due to LPA

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area (LPA) off Palawan is forecast to continue bringing rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao until Friday, Sept. 18, the state weather bureau said. In its weather advisory issued at 4 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that gloomy skies with scattered rains and

DOE aims to install 7,000 EV charging points nationwide before 2028

Sep 17, 2026

DOE aims to install 7,000 EV charging points nationwide before 2028

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) targets installing 7,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points before 2028, a DOE official told the Senate finance subcommittee on Thursday. The agency’s goal is in line with its commitment to expand and promote the adoption of EVs in the Philippines, reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, and

‘Balutin mo ako’: Pangilinan lightens up DAR budget talk with Sharon hit

Sep 17, 2026

‘Balutin mo ako’: Pangilinan lightens up DAR budget talk with Sharon hit

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Kiko Pangilinan brought some levity to the Senate committee on finance’s budget deliberations for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday, breaking into a song with a line from his wife Sharon Cuneta’s hit “Bituing Walang Ningning.” After discussing how better-organized farmers could help boost food supply and reduce hunger,

PH backs careful recalibration of global trade rules—official

Sep 17, 2026

PH backs careful recalibration of global trade rules—official

GENEVA, Switzerland — Many developing countries, including the Philippines, are open to a careful recalibration of the global trading system that protects its foundation while ensuring fairness, according to a Philippine government official here. Speaking at the launch of the World Trade Organization (WTO) World Trade Report 2026, Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative

Alex Eala projected as No. 3 seed in Singapore Open

Sep 17, 2026

Alex Eala projected as No. 3 seed in Singapore Open

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is projected to be the No. 3 seed in the 2026 Singapore Tennis Open, which starts September 21 at OCBC Arena. Eala is currently the third-highest-ranked player in the WTA 500 tournament player list at No. 18 in the world. READ: Alex Eala mania heads to Singapore Tennis Open next

PSEi rebounds on bargain hunting but stays below 6,000

Sep 17, 2026

PSEi rebounds on bargain hunting but stays below 6,000

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine stocks bounced back on Thursday as investors hunted for bargains following two straight sessions of losses, although the benchmark index remained below the 6,000 level. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed 0.70 percent, or 41.70 points, to close at 5,958.64. READ: PSEi drops below 6,000 on slower growth, geopolitical woes Philstocks

Pansipit River siltation among factors in Taal Lake water rise

Sep 17, 2026

Pansipit River siltation among factors in Taal Lake water rise

LUCENA CITY — Siltation at the Pansipit River is among the top factors behind the continuing rise in Taal Lake’s water level, according to a multi-agency consultation organized by the Batangas government on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Accumulated soil and sand have slowed waterway discharges. The consultation aimed to establish a unified government response and develop

DOF, IMF to refine economic forecasting

Sep 17, 2026

DOF, IMF to refine economic forecasting

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US sanctions boost China’s science-driven innovation by over 70%, study finds

Sep 17, 2026

US sanctions boost China’s science-driven innovation by over 70%, study finds

US-sanctioned Chinese companies are increasingly turning to open-source research to innovate and reverse-engineer restricted foreign technology, with a 72 per cent surge in scientific literature citations in their patent applications, according to a new study. While the United States said it expanded its Entity List to safeguard national security and preserve its technological edge, an analysis of Chinese patent filings over the 12 years until 2022 showed that US restrictions on access to...

DOE seeks rules on boarding EVs on ships after MV June Aster tragedy

Sep 17, 2026

DOE seeks rules on boarding EVs on ships after MV June Aster tragedy

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Butuan City acquires 4 new tankers to boost water rationing operations

Sep 17, 2026

Butuan City acquires 4 new tankers to boost water rationing operations

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Gilas Pilipinas women rout Kazakhstan in Asian Games basketball opener

Sep 17, 2026

Gilas Pilipinas women rout Kazakhstan in Asian Games basketball opener

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas women at Asian Games 2026 5×5 basketball MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas blew out Kazakhstan, 86-58, on Thursday for a blazing start to its campaign in the women’s basketball 5-on-5 competitions of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Naturalized player Beth Means fired 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting to lead Gilas to a lopsided victory

Who may continue receiving 4Ps aid beyond 7 years?

Sep 17, 2026

Who may continue receiving 4Ps aid beyond 7 years?

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that the extension of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program"s (4Ps) maximum seven-year period will apply only to beneficiary families classified under Level 1 (Survival) and Level 2 (Subsistence).

Ridon still among co-lead prosecs in Duterte trial despite show-cause order

Sep 17, 2026

Ridon still among co-lead prosecs in Duterte trial despite show-cause order

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon will remain one of the co-lead prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with her alleged unexplained wealth. He gave this statement amid the impeachment court’s issuance to him of a show-cause order over a possible violation of the sub judice

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake jolts Leyte, Samar

Sep 17, 2026

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake jolts Leyte, Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was felt in parts of Leyte and Samar provinces on Sept. 17, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reporting no expected damage or aftershocks. Phivolcs said the tectonic earthquake struck at 3:59 p.m., with its epicenter traced to Leyte, Leyte. READ: Magnitude 7 earthquake hits

Palace: Half-day work in gov’t offices on Sept. 28 (Monday) for Family Week

Sep 17, 2026

Palace: Half-day work in gov’t offices on Sept. 28 (Monday) for Family Week

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has ordered the suspension of work in government offices starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 28 (Monday) to give government employees and their families an opportunity to observe the 34th National Family Week. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) made the announcement on Thursday. Included are all government agencies and instrumentalities under the

North-South Commuter Railway full operations moved to Q3 of 2033

Sep 17, 2026

North-South Commuter Railway full operations moved to Q3 of 2033

MANILA, Philippines — The scheduled full operation of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) has been moved from 2032 to 2033 due to cost-cutting measures of the government, Palace press officer Claire Castro announced on Thursday. She said the adjustment was approved by the Economy and Development Council (EDC), chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during Wednesday

Man stabbed to death for singing loudly in Quezon

Sep 17, 2026

Man stabbed to death for singing loudly in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – A man was stabbed to death by a neighbor following an argument over his loud singing in San Francisco, Quezon, on Wednesday night. The victim, who was allegedly drunk, was singing loudly as he walked home in Barangay Mabunga at around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect confronted him as he wandered near

Marcos cites benefits, need for food production technologies upgrade

Sep 17, 2026

Marcos cites benefits, need for food production technologies upgrade

MANILA, Philippines — There is a need to further study and improve technologies that can accelerate the production of common food products with added nutritional value, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. He made the remarks after inspecting the Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. READ: DOH aims to reduce stunting to

Naga City Hospital gets P25.1M in medical equipment from PCSO

Sep 17, 2026

Naga City Hospital gets P25.1M in medical equipment from PCSO

NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur — Patients at Naga City General Hospital will get faster and more accessible diagnostic services after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over P25.1 million worth of medical equipment to the facility on Thursday. The donation included a digital stationary X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, and a 2D echocardiogram machine.

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