Day: August 13, 2025

Manila: Education, public works, and health remain the top sectors to receive the biggest allocations under the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026. According to Philippines News Agency, the top three sectors have the same ranking as in the 2025 NEP. The proposed national budget for next year amounts to PHP 6.793 trillion, 7.4 percent higher than the enacted 2025 budget. The education sector will get PHP928.5 billion allocation, public works will receive PHP881.3 billion while the health sector gets PHP320.5 billion in allocation. Defense moved up to fourth place with PHP299.3 billion, overtaking the interior and local government

Manila: The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands is awaiting the hearing date for the case involving 11 Filipino workers who reportedly suffered labor exploitation at the hands of their Dutch employer in Amsterdam, as stated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalano mentioned that the government stands ready to provide assistance while the 11 workers remain in a shelter. Escalano stated, “Patuloy pa rin ang pagtulong sa kanila ng embahada sa The Hague sa The Netherlands at kakausapin ulit sila ng mga opisyal ng embahada ngayong linggong ito. Patuloy rin

Seoul: Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested on charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election meddling, and bribery, making her and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, the first former presidential couple to be detained simultaneously. The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant against her late Tuesday, citing concerns she could destroy evidence, after special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team requested it last week on charges of violating the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act, and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation. According to Philippines News Agency, during Tuesday’s

Taipei: Typhoon Gorio is about to make landfall over Southern Taiwan, the state weather bureau announced in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday. The typhoon was positioned 160 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes as of 10 a.m. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Gorio has intensified, with maximum sustained winds reaching 155 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts up to 215 kilometers per hour. Signal No. 2 remains in effect for Itbayat, where gale-force winds are expected. Batanes is anticipated to continue experiencing heavy rains, as stated by

Ilocos norte: A 17-year-old student from Sarrat National High School in Ilocos Norte has accepted a full scholarship offered by the Chinese University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen after winning gold in the World International Mathematical Olympiad (WIMO) finals in Shenzhen, China in January. Ma. Cassandra Reich Duque, who triumphed in the senior secondary category at WIMO, becomes the first Filipino student to receive a full-tuition scholarship at the prestigious Chinese University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen for her tertiary education. According to Philippines News Agency, the university is recognized for its academic excellence, ranking 9th in the Asia University