President Marcos has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify internal reforms, respond swiftly to security threats, and ensure police visibility in the streets as he installed Police General Nicolas Torre III as the new chief of the 230,000-strong force. President Ferdinand ...
Lopez-led First Gen Corporation, via its subsidiary First Gas Power Corporation, is seeking approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the extension of its power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) covering its 1,000-megawatt Santa Rita gas-fired plant,...
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent directive for 158 heads of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to submit courtesy resignations is a bold move that signals a potential recalibration of public sector governance. Far from being a mere administrative reshuffle, this...
SPEAKING OUT The arrest of former congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. in Timor-Leste last Tuesday was a breakthrough in his long-running legal troubles. For almost two years, Teves had been out of reach, despite serious charges—including alleged involvement in the 2023 assassination of...
PEACE BY PEACE One year ago, I began my exciting journey with the Manila Bulletin as I launched my column “Peace by Peace.” The foremost thought on my mind at that time was, will our readers be receptive to an opinion column that will do a deep dive on the comprehensive Philippine peace...
The Marcos administration’s ongoing campaign to privatize regional airports in the country is supported by Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific, which emphasized that airport improvements would further strengthen the airline’s initiative to expand capacity. Cebu Pacific aims to grow its passenger volume...
The national government lowered its borrowings to ₱1.14 trillion from January to April 2025, down by ₱28 billion from last year’s ₱1.16 trillion, mainly due to the massive decline in borrowings from local lenders. According to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), the January-to-April figure...
The government is looking to include 4,240 priority programs and projects (PAPs), with an investment requirement totaling about ₱4.71 trillion, in the 2026 national budget proposal to sustain public investments—especially in infrastructure and regional development. According to the Department...
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla’s exit may be drawing cheers from the camp he’s headed to, but back in the energy sector, the real prayer is this: bring in a new Secretary who comprehensively knows the policy playbook—and one who isn’t afraid to run it fairly and objectively across every...
Following the decision of President Marcos to cancel the rehabilitation of EDSA, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday, June 1, that it will also be scrapping the implementation of the odd-even scheme in Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare. MMDA chairperson Don Artes...
House Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed optimism with the potential institutionalization of the Marcos administration’s P20-per-kilo rice program. “Kung kaya sa ilang lugar, dapat kayanin sa buong bansa (If its doable is select areas, then it should be done in the entire country),"...
The House of Representatives intends to finish the 19th Congress strong when it resumes sessions on Monday, June 2 after a lengthy legislative recess. “We started strong, and we will end strong,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement Sunday, June 1. The final session day of the...
