Philippine tourism ranks high in ASEAN, adds almost $92B to economy
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday that the report underscores the sector’s role in driving economic growth and resilience.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said Friday that the report underscores the sector’s role in driving economic growth and resilience.
The Department of Health (DOH) reassured the public Monday that the Nipah virus (NiV) is rare and has not been seen in the Philippines since 2014.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday took custody of 15 Filipino survivors and two deceased crew members of the Singapore-flagged MV Devon Bay, which capsized off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
Rep. Brian Poe presented the Philippine House of Representatives’ artificial intelligence and digital policy agenda at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, detailing a proactive, legislative-led approach to AI governance. Speaking at the panel “AI in Youth Education as Development Drivers,” Poe outlined how Congress works to regulate emerging technologies, protect workers, and support long-term economic growth. He highlighted initiatives on digital infrastructure, education, workforce upskilling, and responsible AI use, as well as ongoing consultations with industry, academe, and civil society to shape AI legislation.
A Filipina was among at least 10 people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during operations on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Friday.
Thousands of devotees gathered at Quiapo Church in Manila on Saturday afternoon for the blessing of replicas of the image of the Black Nazarene, church officials said.
Quezon City police report that a bride-to-be who went missing days before her scheduled wedding in Manila has been found and is being brought back to the city. QCPD investigators say they identified her with the help of family members and coordinated with other police units to locate her. Authorities are set to interview the woman, reconstruct the timeline of her disappearance, and determine whether any criminal activity occurred. Police have withheld her identity for privacy and state they will release further details after completing initial investigation steps.
United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson will complete her tour in Manila in January 2026, the US Embassy confirmed, amid reports of wider ambassadorial changes. Carlson, who has served in the Philippines since July 2022 after more than 40 years in the US State Department, will leave at the normal end of her posting. Former Florida businessman Lee Lipton, appointed by President Donald Trump as the next US ambassador to the Philippines, awaits confirmation by the US Senate. Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez welcomed Lipton’s nomination. The transition at the US mission comes as Australia, the European Union, Israel, the United Kingdom, and China also install new ambassadors in Manila following the completion of previous envoys’ tours of duty.
Filipino engineer and Silicon Valley pioneer Diosdado “Dado” Banatao died on Dec. 25, 2024, at age 79 in Stanford, California. Banatao earned recognition for key contributions to microchip and computer technology that helped shape the modern personal computer industry. His work in Silicon Valley and his continued ties to the Philippines highlighted his role as one of the most influential Filipino figures in global technology. Authorities and family confirmed his death, as tributes from technology and academic communities noted his decades-long impact on engineering and innovation.
The Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines announced it will implement another pension increase, launch a micro-loan program, and maintain its emergency loan facility in 2026. SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said the state pension fund will also open new local branches and foreign representative offices in Madrid, San Francisco, and Macau. The agency plans to hire about 1,800 additional personnel to strengthen frontline and digital services and to improve response to member assistance requests and complaints.