THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of an additional P5 billion to fund the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) for the benefit of some 411,188 needy Filipinos for the remainder of the year. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the allocation, requested by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to address the deficiency under the Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances component of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) budget. The approved allotment and corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation are chargeable against the 2025 General Appropriations Act. “This latest fund release underscores the importance of unprogrammed appropriations as fiscal buffers that enable the government to respond swiftly to social and humanitarian emergencies,” Pangandaman said in a statement. The official said unprogrammed funds matter most for rapid disaster response, serving as the government’s financial lifeline in times of devastating calamities. “Unprogrammed appropriations are not discretionary or secret funds, but standby allocations duly authorized and approved by Congress. These funds can only be accessed when there are excess or windfall revenues, new revenue measures, or valid loan agreements for foreign-assisted projects,” the DBM chief said. Pangandaman was scheduled to appear before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Tuesday to provide expert insights into the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and General Appropriations Act (GAA) processes. The ICI invited Pangandaman to shed light on how unprogrammed funds are released, and to clarify the nature of requests and proposals submitted to the DBM by the Department of Public Works and Highways for inclusion in the NEP. Pangandaman said in normal circumstances, unprogrammed funds support key programs such as assistance to rice farmers, social protection initiatives like DSWD’s AICS and Food Stamp Program, higher education subsidies, health infrastructure, personnel benefits, renewable energy, and national defense modernization. “But unprogrammed funds matter most in times of catastrophes when tapping UAs become the government’s financial lifeline for quick relief and recovery response,” she said. Pangandaman cited the government’s rapid mobilization of unprogrammed appropriations during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as in 2024, when these funds supported crucial projects in agriculture, social protection, education, health, and infrastructure — all authorized under the GAA. “The DBM does not have the authority to introduce insertions into the national budget. Referred to as Congress-Introduced Changes and Adjustments, such insertions occur not during NEP preparation, but during the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations between the two Houses of Congress,” she said. She reiterated that under the Constitution, Congress retains the “power of the purse.” “Once the president submits the proposed NEP to Congress, the executive’s role — through the DBM — is limited to explaining, clarifying, and defending the proposed allocations. The authority to introduce, realign, or amend items rests solely with the legislative branch,” Pangandaman said.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 43 dakika

​THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has plans laid out in the event Chinese maritime forces push further into Philippine territory. ​“We have contingency plans for almost any eventuality. So, we don’t go into the details of these plans but everything has been factored in and we could respond appropriately,” AFP spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing. ​This comes after Chinese forces consisting of five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) ship, and a helicopter fired water cannons at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel conducting a humanitarian mission. ​The incident occurred 1.6 to 1.8 nautical miles from Pag-asa (Thitu) Island over the weekend, said Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela.​ Trinidad described the CCG’s act as “unacceptable.” ​On Monday, suspected man-made structures made of wood were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal during a maritime domain awareness flight of the PCG. ​Floating barriers were seen installed at the entrance of the lagoon, denying access to Filipino fisherfolk. ​The United States said China’s sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea undermine regional stability as it slammed recent harassment of a Philippine vessel by the CCG. ​Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Tuesday informed the Senate that the Philippines has filed 245 diplomatic protests against China since 2022, 46 of which were lodged in 2025. Lazaro said the DFA has yet to file a diplomatic protest against CCG’s harassment of a BFAR vessel on Oct. 12. ​The US said China’s increasingly coercive actions against its neighbors continue to undermine regional stability and fly in the face of its prior commitments to resolve disputes peacefully. ​In a statement on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), the US State Department condemned China’s aggression. ​“We stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China’s dangerous actions which undermine regional stability,” said Thomas Pigott, principal deputy spokesman. ​In a post on X, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said on Monday that Japan “upholds the rule of law and opposes any actions which increase tensions.” ​Australian Ambassador to Manila Marc Innes-Brown said he was “deeply concerned by dangerous actions of the CCG.” ​“Disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law,” Innes-Brown wrote on X on Monday.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 44 dakika

​MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. said former president Rodrigo Duterte was not arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) but was "abducted by Filipinos and handed over to foreigners." ​Duterte is currently detained at The Hague, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his bloody drug war. ​Locsin was Duterte's former Foreign Affairs secretary. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him to head the country's mission to the UK. ​"If he is guilty of crimes, we thereby confessed our country's and our state's inability to hold him to account. The idea that foreigners, especially Westerners, can judge us is beyond disgusting; it is treason," Locsin wrote on Facebook. ​"It is a confession begging for foreign domination in purely national affairs; and by willing and complicit admission," he added. ​Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in a chance interview that she has yet to talk to Locsin concerning the matter. ​"I cannot confirm if that is [him]. There must be a reason for that. Let me give a phone call first to Ambassador Locsin," said Lazaro. ​Sen. Imee Marcos agreed with Locsin's view. "I agree with what Ambassador Locsin said that president Duterte was not arrested by the ICC, but was surrendered by the Republic of the Philippines," she said in Filipino. ​Pressed whether Locsin made the right move being part of the Philippine government and as a diplomat, Marcos said, "I don't know, because I'm not a diplomat." ​"Teddy Boy (Locsin) started as a writer, a media personality, just like you. He became a politician, and not a diplomat so to speak," Marcos added.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 45 dakika

... Keep on reading: Crazy Jhenny, October 15, 2025

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 45 dakika

​MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. said former president Rodrigo Duterte was not arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) but was "abducted by Filipinos and handed over to foreigners." ​Duterte is currently detained at The Hague, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his bloody drug war. ​Locsin was Duterte's former Foreign Affairs secretary. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him to head the country's mission to the UK. ​"If he is guilty of crimes, we thereby confessed our country's and our state's inability to hold him to account. The idea that foreigners, especially Westerners, can judge us is beyond disgusting; it is treason," Locsin wrote on Facebook. ​"It is a confession begging for foreign domination in purely national affairs; and by willing and complicit admission," he added. ​Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in a chance interview that she has yet to talk to Locsin concerning the matter. ​"I cannot confirm if that is [him]. There must be a reason for that. Let me give a phone call first to Ambassador Locsin," said Lazaro. ​Sen. Imee Marcos agreed with Locsin's view. "I agree with what Ambassador Locsin said that president Duterte was not arrested by the ICC, but was surrendered by the Republic of the Philippines," she said in Filipino. ​Pressed whether Locsin made the right move being part of the Philippine government and as a diplomat, Marcos said, "I don't know, because I'm not a diplomat." ​"Teddy Boy (Locsin) started as a writer, a media personality, just like you. He became a politician, and not a diplomat so to speak," Marcos added.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 45 dakika

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday laid down its disaster preparedness plans to ensure the continuity of health care services in the event of “The Big One.” In a press conference held at the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Hospital in Caloocan, the DOH said Metro Manila will be divided into four quadrants based on geography. The north quadrant consists of Caloocan City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, San Juan City and Mandaluyong City. Pasig City and Marikina City will comprise the east quadrant; the west quadrant with Manila City, Malabon City and Navotas City; and the south quadrant will have Las Piñas City, Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Taguig City, Pateros and Pasay City. Each quadrant has allocated DOH hospitals to accommodate patients in need of medical care with its own readiness plans. “We are increasing our state of readiness,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Herbosa said that based on their structural engineering assessment, hospitals can withstand a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. He said that hospitals have a “higher requirement” in terms of their structural assessment compared to other structures. “Newer buildings are compliant with the 7.2 structural integrity requirements, and older ones have been retrofitted,” he added. However, he noted that even with these precautions, hospitals would still conduct rapid structural assessments before reoccupying facilities after a major earthquake. Patients would be temporarily housed in tents or alternative spaces if needed. “If the worst happens, we could see total blackouts, collapsed infrastructure and a breakdown in public order. Our contingency plans are designed to address even these catastrophic outcomes,” said Dr. Bernadette Velasco, director IV of the Health Emergency Management Bureau. According to the National Harmonized Contingency Plan, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake could result in 52,000 deaths, 679,000 injuries and 145,000 missing persons in Metro Manila alone. Additional fatalities are also feared due to fire and secondary disasters. The DOH’s Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams, validated by the World Health Organization, are also ready to deploy mobile field hospitals equipped for outpatient, emergency and minor surgical care. Herbosa confirmed that the DOH coordinates closely with private and local government hospitals to expand emergency surge capacity. “By law, private hospitals must allocate 10 percent of their beds for charity cases,” he said. To strengthen coordination, Herbosa said that the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Hospital will serve as an alternate emergency operations center in case the DOH’s main command center in Tayuman, Manila, is affected. The facility’s proximity to Clark, Pampanga, the designated government backup site, makes it a strategic choice.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 46 dakika

(UPDATE) NEARLY all Filipinos supported President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to expose corruption in flood control projects even if there were political consequences for him, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed. In its latest Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from Sept. 25 to 30, 2025, 83 percent or eight out of 10 Filipinos said that they supported the move of Marcos, with only three percent disagreeing and 13 percent ambivalent. Broken down by region, the National Capital Region had the highest agreement at 91 percent, followed by Balanced Luzon at 90 percent. It was lower in Visayas at 64 percent and Mindanao at 78 percent. Ambivalence, however, was high in Visayas and Mindanao, with 24 percent and 16 percent saying they neither agree or disagree. OCTA said the results indicate a “strong reservoir of public goodwill and trust for the president’s decision to confront corruption head-on.” “The findings suggest that sustained transparency and follow-through on reforms could further strengthen public confidence in government integrity and leadership,” it added. Six out of 10 Filipinos, or 60 percent, said they are “angry” or “outraged” when they think about corruption in the government, particularly in flood control initiatives, while 30 percent expressed “fear” or “anxiety” and nine percent reported “sadness” or “disappointment.” Meanwhile, nearly one in two Filipinos, or 46 percent, believe that an independent commission from the private sector, such as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, is seen as the most suited to lead the investigation in the flood control mess, while only 23 percent said the Senate is the most appropriate institution and 13 percent said the House of Representatives should take the lead. The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus three percent nationwide and six percent by major area.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 47 dakika

LONDON — An ambitious plan by the UN’s shipping agency to cut maritime emissions could be scuttled at the last minute after the United States threatened to impose sanctions on those supporting it. Already approved in April, members of the London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO) are set to formally adopt the Net Zero Framework (NZF) on Friday as part of talks opening Tuesday. The framework requires ships to progressively reduce their carbon emissions starting in 2028, and achieve complete decarbonization by 2050. But the United States on Friday threatened sanctions and other punitive actions against those who support it, potentially derailing the plans. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement the administration of President Donald Trump “unequivocally rejects” the NZF proposal. They threatened a range of punishing actions against countries that vote in favor of the framework, from visa restrictions to blocking vessels registered in those countries from US ports and imposing commercial penalties. The NZF would require all ships to use a less carbon-intensive fuel mix or face financial penalties. In April a majority of members — 63 states — voted in favor, including the European Union, Brazil, China, India and Japan. Sixteen states voted against the measure, including major oil producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Pacific Island states abstained from the vote, deeming the proposals insufficient to meet decarbonization goals. The United States had withdrawn from negotiations, not commenting on the proposal until last week. Brussels reaffirmed on Monday the full support of European Union states for the proposal, as did Britain, when contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP). But US threats may affect “other countries more sensitive to US influence and vulnerable to these retaliations,” a European source said. “We remain optimistic about the outcome, but it will probably be tighter than before, with a higher risk of abstention,” the source added. The Philippines, which has the world’s largest contingent of maritime workers and supported the NZF in April, would be particularly impacted by visa restrictions. Caribbean islands, economically dependent on US cruises, could also be affected by sanctions. Contacted by AFP, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez declined to respond directly to the US statement, maintaining he was “very confident” about the NZF vote. The NZF would charge ships a tax on emissions exceeding a certain threshold, creating a fund to reward low-emission vessels and support countries vulnerable to climate change.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 48 dakika

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Addressing fears over artificial intelligence (AI) while ensuring inclusive growth would have to entail educating the entire population regardless of age, an official from an Emirati tech company said on Tuesday. At the second day of GITEX Global 2025 here at the Dubai World Trade Center, G42 chief executive officer Peng Xiao said this is the approach taken by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as they currently have a seven to 70 program — indicative of what age bracket should be educated in AI. According to Xiao, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is […]... Keep on reading: 7 to 70: UAE strategy for AI awareness is to teach everyone

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 16 saat, 59 dakika

Aired (October 14, 2025): What's up, madlang pipol! Tara na't sabay-sabay kiligin sa sweetness sa muling pagbisita nina Brent Manalo at Mika Salamanca! Samantala, mga magigiting na securuty guard ang maglalaro ngayon sa "Laro-laro Pick". Sino kaya sa kanila ang papalarin na maglaro sa jackpot round? Panoorin ang video. #GMANetwork Madlang Kapuso, join the FUNanghalian with #ItsShowtime family. Watch the latest episode of 'It's Showtime' hosted by Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Karylle, Jhong Hilario, Amy Perez, Kim Chui, Jugs & Teddy, MC & Lassy, Ogie Alcasid, Darren, Jackie, Cianne, Ryan Bang, and Ion Perez. Monday to Saturday, 12NN on GMA Network. #ItsShowtime #MadlangKapuso For more It's Showtime Full Episodes, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGRhcC_vtOrZ9gCKGhm0ry4vZzXuf6_Q0

• GMA Network
• 3 gün, 17 saat, 10 dakika

Today’s headlines: Martin Romualdez, Boying Remulla, war on Gaza

• Rappler
• 3 gün, 17 saat, 35 dakika

MANILA, Philippines—Carl Tamayo and the defending champions Changwon LG Sakers pushed their winning streak to three in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) over the weekend. Tamayo continued his stellar play as Changwon swept its weekend games against the Goyang Sono Skygunners and Suwon KT Sonicboom. READ: KBL: Arvin Tolentino, SK Knights now 2-0; Carl Tamayo drops 25 Tamayo recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Kevin Quiambao and the Skygunners to power the LG Sakers to an 80-74 win on Friday. He followed that up with an all-around game of 14 points, four rebounds and four assists […]... Keep on reading: KBL: Carl Tamayo, Changwon LG Sakers post 3rd straight win

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 17 saat, 36 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza won’t be playing for Creamline at least for the entirety of the Cool Smashers’ title defense in the PVL Reinforced Conference. Galanza has been ruled out of the conference as she continues her recovery from a left foot injury that she’s been dealing with since the Invitationals in August. READ: PVL: Creamline outshines Petro Gazz in marquee duel Jema Galanza gives an update bout her left foot injury. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/5ROWZzkoey — Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 14, 2025 “Actually, we don’t really know when it started. It’s been hurting for about a year already, but […]... Keep on reading: PVL: Creamline's Jema Galanza out of Reinforced Conference

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 17 saat, 42 dakika

Health takes precedence over all as Creamline superstar Jema Galanza chooses to sit out the entire 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference over what she deems a potential career-ending left foot injury

• Rappler
• 3 gün, 18 saat, 1 dakika

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles leaned on a strong fourth-quarter rally to defeat the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 74-59, in the CESAFI Season 25 high school basketball tournament on Tuesday, October 14, at the Cebu Coliseum. The win was a solid bounce-back for the Magis Eagles, who suffered a 64-71 upset loss to the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Webmasters last Sunday. SHS-AdC improved to 3-1, while UC dropped to 2-2. Lian Kent Basa once again led the defending champions with a game-high 19 points, eight rebounds, four […]... Keep on reading: CESAFI: SHS-AdC Magis Eagles overpower UC with late surge

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 18 saat, 3 dakika

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission–National Capital Region (CSC-NCR) has ruled in favor of Leonardo A. Rivera Jr., City Treasurer of Toledo City, ordering his reinstatement to his original post after declaring his extended assignment to Cebu City invalid. In a decision promulgated on October 8, 2025, the Commission granted Rivera’s appeal against Department Personnel Order (DPO) No. 082-2025, which extended his detail to the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Regional Office VII until January 2026. READ: ‘Blackmail’ move tried to force ‘very bad’ city treasurer on Archival Rivera had initially been detailed to BLGF RO VII […]... Keep on reading: CSC orders return of Toledo City treasurer after invalid detail extension

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 18 saat, 10 dakika