More than 17,000 troops from the Philippines and six other countries are set to take part in the 41st iteration of the annual Exercise Balikatan, scheduled from April 20 to May 8. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, April 14, confirmed the participation of its counterparts from...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson pressed the government on Tuesday, April 14 to explore more "targeted" interventions—including a potential fuel subsidy mechanism—to shield Filipinos from the cooling effects of the Middle East conflict on global oil prices. In an interview,...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, April 14, noted a decline in repatriation requests from non-overseas Filipino workers (non-OFWs) following the recent ceasefire between the United States and Iran, signaling a temporary easing of tensions in the Middle East. In its latest update,...
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced that the local government will acquire more electric vehicles (EVs) to strengthen sustainable transport initiatives as the country grapples with the oil crisis. Biazon earlier inspected eight EV patrol cars that were given by the city government to the...
President Marcos remains not keen on suspending the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, citing the "windfall" revenue it generates as a source of funding for response efforts amid the Middle East crisis. In a Palace briefing on Monday, April 13, Marcos finally elaborated on the reasoning...
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday, April 13, urged sustained diplomacy and restraint following recent developments in the Middle East, while welcoming a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)...
Whether it was "early politicking" or "early campaigning," President Marcos will not pay any attention to the newly-formed political coalition 's intention, Malacañang said. "Kung anuman po ang ninanais nila sa gitna ng krisis sa Middle East, iyong maaga nilang pamumulitika, iyong maaga...
The collapse of peace talks between the United States (US) and Iran over the weekend could hurt semiconductor manufacturers in Asia, including the Philippines, according to British banking giant Barclays. “A prolonged energy disruption could lead to a tail-risk scenario that hits semiconductor...
Saying that President Marcos has failed to deliver substantial relief to the people amid the impacts of the Middle East crisis on the country is a huge lie, Malacañang said. Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said seen or not seen, Marcos continue to work and...
Local manufacturers are expected to see immediate relief from high operating costs as diesel prices are projected to drop by nearly ₱21 per liter following consecutive weeks of price hikes, according to the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI). In a statement on Monday, April 13, FPI said...
Malacañang said the reported breakdown of talks between the United States and Iran is “not good news,” warning that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further drive up global oil prices. In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said...
The local banking system faces a more severe threat from escalating Middle East tensions than in previous economic shocks, as a pivot toward lending to small businesses and consumers creates new pockets of vulnerability, according to Fitch Ratings. Jonathan Cornish, Fitch Ratings managing director...
