Day: December 15, 2025

Manila: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday convened its final hearing of the year to address allegations of irregularities in flood control projects. Attendees included AGAP Party-list Representative Nicanor Briones, Acting Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo, and other personnel from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). According to Philippines News Agency, Representative Briones was granted an executive session and opted not to engage with the media following the hearing. His lawyer, Winston Ginez, dismissed the allegations against Briones in a chance interview, labeling them as “all unfair and unfounded accusations.” Ginez asserted that Briones had no involvement with

Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday expressed support for a Senate amendment to the proposed 2026 national budget that provides funding for the expansion of the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program to hospitals owned by local government units (LGU). “This will allow Filipinos to avail of zero balance billing not just at DOH hospitals, but even in level 3 (large) LGU-owned hospitals,” the DOH said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, the agency emphasized that the move would widen access to affordable health services, particularly for indigent and financially vulnerable patients seeking care in major provincial

Osaka: Philippine exporters recorded USD1.72 million (PHP101.34 million) in sales during the FABEX Kansai 2025 trade fair in Japan, showcasing commercial food ingredients, equipment, and containers. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) highlighted the increasing demand for local coconut products, emphasizing the country’s growing presence in the high-value industry. The event saw participation from 25 Philippine exporters who presented a range of plant-based beverages, natural sweeteners, specialty oils, and other coconut-based ingredients that align with Japan’s preference for plant-based options. The DTI noted that the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Osaka, along

Manila: Anticipation for further cuts in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates propelled the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) to surpass the 6,000-mark on Monday, while the Philippine peso ended the day trading sideways against the U.S. dollar. According to Philippines News Agency, the local bourse’s main index increased by 0.35 percent, reaching 6,058.02 points, with the broader All Shares index climbing 0.61 percent to 3,455.83 points. Gains were recorded in most sectoral indices, with the Mining and Oil index leading the way after a rise of 2.26 percent. This was followed by the Property index at 2

Manila: A deluge of gold medals in a sport staged in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time fueled the Philippines’ best day in a sport so far. The Philippines won four golds in practical shooting, courtesy of Rolly Nathaniel Tecson, Edcel John Gino, Genesis Pible, and Erin Mattea Micor as the three-day competition wrapped up at the THPSA Shooting Range here on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, Tecson and Micor lived up to their billing as medalists in the 2025 International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun World Shoots after topping the men’s standard individual and women’s open