Philippines | Page 2 of 45

Philippines reports smaller trade deficit of $3.5B in Nov

LAWIN.newsDecember 26, 2025071 views

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the Philippines’ trade deficit narrowed to $3.51 billion in November 2025, down 28.8 percent from a year earlier, as exports grew 21.3 percent to $6.91 billion and imports slipped 2.0 percent to $10.423 billion. Total external trade reached $17.33 billion for the month, while year-to-date trade from January to November rose to $199.99 billion. Electronics remained the country’s top export and import product, and Hong Kong and China led as the Philippines’ main export market and import source, respectively.

Bondi shooter spent time at Davao gun shop, investigators reveal

LAWIN.newsDecember 21, 2025073 views

Philippine authorities on Saturday said one of the suspects in the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, visited a gun shop in Davao City during a nearly month-long stay in Mindanao, as investigators examined the men’s movements, contacts, and activities before the attack that killed 15 people.

DOH warns: Hypertension rising among young Filipinos

LAWIN.newsDecember 20, 2025080 views

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines reports a rise in hypertension cases among young Filipinos, linking the trend to higher consumption of ultra-processed, salty, fatty and sugary foods, especially during the holidays. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and National Nutrition Council official Dr. Eileen Blanco cite increasing emergency room cases involving youth with high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The DOH urges the public to prepare healthier meals with more vegetables, fruits and lean proteins, to read nutrition labels and to limit daily salt intake to less than one teaspoon as part of efforts to prevent hypertension and related complications.

PNP nabs ₱143M in illegal cigarettes, 3 arrested for attempted bribe

LAWIN.newsDecember 20, 20250175 views

The Philippine National Police seized an estimated P143 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and intercepted two unregistered trailer trucks along G. Araneta Avenue in Quezon City on December 19, 2024. Police said the shipment, reportedly picked up from Bauan, Batangas and bound for Valenzuela City, led to an entrapment operation at Camp Olivas in Pampanga, where three suspects were arrested after allegedly offering P5 million to secure the release of the cargo. Authorities coordinated with the Bureau of Customs and prepared charges for attempted bribery and possible customs and revenue violations.

Denmark opens doors for Filipino health workers with formal program

LAWIN.newsDecember 12, 2025090 views

Denmark and the Philippines drafted a bilateral health cooperation pact that will create a structured training and recruitment pathway for Filipino health workers bound for Denmark. The proposed agreement details ethical recruitment rules, training and upskilling programs, credential recognition, and welfare safeguards for Filipino nurses and other medical staff. It also establishes joint monitoring and review mechanisms to balance Denmark’s health workforce needs with the Philippines’ domestic health service requirements.

Philippine Coast Guard moves Chinese vessel away from Zambales seas

LAWIN.newsDecember 7, 2025074 views

The Philippine Coast Guard on December 6, 2024, drove a China Coast Guard vessel farther from the Zambales coastline while maintaining patrols over Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, monitored the foreign ship’s movements, and reported no collision or physical confrontation during the operation.

HIV numbers may top 250,000 before year ends, DOH warns

LAWIN.newsDecember 4, 2025062 views

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines projects that around 252,800 people will be living with HIV nationwide by the end of 2024, according to new estimates from its Epidemiology Bureau. The projection, disseminated via official channels and local government partners such as Quezon City, covers both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases and draws on surveillance data, case reports, and modeling. The DOH uses these updated estimates to guide national and local HIV programs, resource allocation, and planning for testing, treatment, and prevention services across the country.

SC reports fewer resolved cases in 2025 as disposition rate falls to 19%

LAWIN.newsDecember 4, 2025074 views

The Supreme Court of the Philippines reported a 19 percent disposition rate for judicial cases and a 27 percent rate for administrative and bar matters in 2025, indicating it resolved fewer cases for the year. The high court released the figures as of September 30, 2025, through its public information channels, citing internal monitoring systems and formal reporting procedures as the basis for the data. The tribunal stated that it includes both newly filed and pending cases in its computation and will issue updated statistics in its official year-end judicial report.

Pinoy seafarers rescued from Houthis arrive safely at Naia

LAWIN.newsDecember 4, 2025076 views

Nine Filipino seafarers held hostage by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, along with the remains of a fellow mariner, arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Manila at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Department of Migrant Workers and other Philippine government agencies received the seafarers, coordinated their release and repatriation, and facilitated medical, psychosocial, and immigration processing upon arrival. Authorities also arranged the dignified transfer of the deceased seafarer’s remains and began documenting the crew’s accounts of the hostage incident.

PH tobacco harm framework comprehensive, DOJ says

LAWIN.newsNovember 24, 20250113 views

The Department of Justice told the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama City that the Philippines has comprehensive laws addressing tobacco-related harm. DOJ Senior State Counsel Charadee Caso-Noble said these laws regulate conventional and novel tobacco products, restrict sales to minors, mandate health warnings, and control advertising and public smoking. She said the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco coordinates enforcement and that Philippine regulations align with WHO FCTC obligations, undergo periodic review, and include penalties for violations.