Day: November 1, 2025

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. moved a step closer to realizing the Philippines’ long-envisioned submarine capability, holding high-level talks with South Korean defense giant Hanwha Ocean on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here. The meeting centered on Hanwha’s comprehensive proposal to support the Philippine Navy’s submarine acquisition and operations, a key component of Marcos’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) agenda amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea. According to Philippines News Agency, under the plan, Hanwha Ocean offered to assist in the construction of a dedicated submarine base, the establishment of a local maintenance,

Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has mobilized a team with partner government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to contain and assess the impact of a massive wastewater spill in Bais City, Negros Oriental. Some 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater that leaked into Bais Bay from the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) ethanol distillery plant are posing a serious threat to marine life within the Ta±on Strait Protected Seascape. Bais has declared a state of calamity. According to Philippines News Agency, initial water quality assessments conducted by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) indicate low levels of

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is advancing his industrial and energy modernization agenda by securing new high-technology and clean energy projects from leading South Korean conglomerates during the 2025 APEC Summit. According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos participated in a high-level meeting with Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO) where he witnessed the signing of a Supplemental Agreement between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp. (SEMPHIL). This agreement will enable a PHP50.7 billion expansion of Samsung’s manufacturing operations in Calamba, Laguna, anticipated to create over 3,000 jobs for Filipino engineers and technicians in the

Manila: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) continues to provide free legal aid and public assistance to workers and employers, reinforcing its role as a trusted mediator for labor-related concerns and workplace disputes. DOLE’s Public Assistance and Complaints Unit (PACU) reported on Saturday that it assisted 191 walk-in clients in the past month, 117 men and 74 women, including 16 persons with disabilities (PWD) and 23 senior citizens. According to Philippines News Agency, most of those who sought help came from the National Capital Region, while others were from Calabarzon and Central Luzon. Of the cases received, 132 were

Kuala lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday defended the creation of a new Philippines-United States task force for the South China Sea, emphasizing that the initiative is designed to enhance coordination and reduce tensions amid maritime disputes with China. Speaking to the Philippine media during his participation in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, Marcos stated that the task force aims to improve operational coordination between the two allies and uphold freedom of navigation in the contested waters. According to Philippines News Agency, the task force, jointly announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense