Day: August 14, 2025

Pagudpud: Close to 900 hectares of idle lots located in at least eight villages in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte are being considered as sites for economic zone development. In a media interview on Thursday, Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito II said that with government intervention, these underutilized lots could be turned productive by declaring them as economic zones to attract developers and investors. According to Philippines News Agency, the municipal government of Pagudpud sought the help of the Ilocos Norte provincial board to endorse the establishment of five special economic zones in the municipality. These lots include the proposed 122.39-hectare agro-industrial

Pasay city: The Philippine government is actively engaging with the Trump administration to secure an exemption for its semiconductor industry from a proposed 100 percent US tariff on imported chips, as announced by Philippine Ambassador to Washington, Jose Manuel Romualdez. According to Philippines News Agency, Romualdez addressed the issue during a meeting at the US – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Council in Pasay City, labeling the White House’s tariff plan as ‘very disturbing.’ He emphasized the collaborative efforts between the semiconductor sector and key organizations, including the US-ASEAN Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the

Manila: Vehicle sales experienced a 1.4 percent increase on an annual basis in July 2025, with industry officials expressing optimism for continued growth throughout the year despite obstacles such as weather disturbances. According to Philippines News Agency, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) released data indicating that approximately 269,207 units were sold by the end of July, an increase from the 265,610 units sold during the same period in 2024. However, the data also revealed a 2.6 percent decline on a monthly basis, with only 38,295 units sold in July

Manila: The Philippines is urging the United States to consider the country as its potential manufacturer of US warships, as Washington, DC seeks to fortify its fleet over the next 30 years. ‘Subic, obviously the (former) Hanjin Subic Shipyard, is (in) shipbuilding operation and we’re sure it could possibly be part of what the United States is looking at,’ Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Thursday in an interview on the sidelines of the US – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Council meeting. According to Philippines News Agency, the US aims to revive its long-stalled

Manila: The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has disbursed PHP173.68 billion in benefit claims from January 1 to August 2, marking a significant 86.39 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In a public advisory on Thursday, the state insurer noted that the amount was distributed across both public and private healthcare institutions nationwide. According to Philippines News Agency, private facilities received PHP102.04 billion, while public facilities accounted for PHP71.64 billion in reimbursements. This year’s figure exceeded the PHP93.18 billion in total paid claims for the same period in 2024. PhilHealth said that the 86.39 percent increase in