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November 5, 2026 · Evening

MCT DAILY BRIEF | NOVEMBER 5, 2026

Power-plant outages are under regulatory examination, while workers in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN have separate wage adjustments to follow. Manila and Beijing have agreed to keep talking despite their differences. In the United States, AP has called Democratic control of Congress, with official certification still to follow.

DepEd has announced a large laptop purchase, while the Agriculture Department is reviewing errors in the locations of proposed roads. A new school-suspension framework gives local conditions a bigger role in safety decisions. The Senate leadership has pledged to remove 295 unsupported public-works projects from the proposed budget. The Palace has also invited watchdogs to send it the budget provisions they want examined.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has until November 3 to submit supporting documents for infrastructure projects added to the House version of the proposed 2027 budget, according to Senate statements and reports of an October 30 meeting.

PDP-Laban issued an open letter on October 31 asking the Supreme Court to promptly decide cases concerning former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. The party said it would accept the Court’s ruling whichever side it favored, and asked the government to do the same. The reported appeal covers Duterte’s habeas corpus petitions, which challenge his detention, and dela Rosa’s pending request for reconsideration.

Two officials in Quezon City are asking the Ombudsman to reconsider their suspension and disputing the audit findings behind the case. Perci Cendaña has submitted his sworn answer to Apollo Quiboloy’s libel complaint. In Bulacan and Davao Occidental, separate investigations concern whether construction records matched the work delivered.

Good morning. New filings in Rodrigo Duterte’s International Criminal Court case concern victim participation and attendance at the next procedural hearing. In Quezon, maritime authorities have stopped a ferry from operating while they investigate an incident that injured three passengers. In the Bangsamoro, elected lawmakers have chosen the region’s chief minister.

Good evening. Mayon’s midday eruption and the higher alert level lead this brief. We also look at a court order forfeiting money linked to an alleged bribery attempt, and a competition regulator’s penalty for late electricity-market reports. The dates and limits matter: the forfeiture decision is not final, while the corporate fine announced today was paid earlier this month.

Good morning. A new witness at Jinggoy Estrada’s bail hearing leads this brief. We also follow NAPOLCOM’s planned complaint over the treatment of journalists, sanctions against two Romblon court employees, the Candijay vote-buying cases, and the submission of shortlists for two upcoming Supreme Court vacancies.

Good evening. Bernardo’s testimony at Martin Romualdez’s bail hearing leads this brief. We also follow Dela Rosa’s renewed Supreme Court request, two separate cases over public criticism, and the search for answers in Maluso’s ballot investigation.

Good morning. Wednesday’s developments include the questioning of Roberto Bernardo at Jinggoy Estrada’s bail hearing, a planned DPWH review of flagged budget projects, and an administrative fine against Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.

Good evening. Prosecutors have finished calling witnesses in Jojo Ang’s conflict-of-interest case. Mao Aplasca has answered a complaint over the Senate shooting, while the PNP has ordered a review of how it handles abuse complaints against its officers.

Good morning. Victims’ lawyers and Rodrigo Duterte’s defense disagree over recorded evidence at the ICC. We also look at gaps in Customs’ seized-asset records and the files handed to the new DPWH chief.

Good evening. The Sandiganbayan allowed disputed testimony from former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan today. The Visayas faces tight power supply this evening, while two quarterly tax deadlines have been moved. We also look at assistance already delivered to Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and the entry rules for Manila North Cemetery ahead of Undas.

Good morning. A senior prosecutor has flagged possible lapses in the case against journalist Philip Lustre. Budget watchdogs are asking for project records, while House leaders defend their amendments. Two court developments concern who may testify and who will hear a case; the DFA is defending its authority to decide visa applications.

Good evening. The Palace has announced new assignments at the transportation and public works departments. Tomorrow's fuel adjustments go in different directions for gasoline and diesel. A newly released Pinatubo assessment documents damage from August's monsoon rains, while a Cagayan irrigation project opens with benefits that still have to be measured in farmers' fields.

Good morning. Alleged fraudulent road right-of-way payments worth ₱491.9 million are the subject of criminal action announced by the Ombudsman. Senate President Win Gatchalian says implementation of two senators' suspension orders is on hold. Immigration officials are warning jobseekers about instructions to pose as tourists, while PhilSA is asking the public to report suspected rocket debris without handling it.

Good evening. Journalist Philip Lustre has been released on bail, while a fire at the Sorsogon City Public Market has left five people dead, according to authorities cited in Sunday reports. In Congress, a proposal would redirect potential budget reductions toward public needs, including El Niño preparations. For travellers, there are taxi enforcement measures ahead of Undas and a limited airport reopening in Riyadh, where Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights remain suspended.

Good evening. An alleged fund offer has put TESDA under scrutiny, while the Air Force has confirmed the deaths of four pilots in yesterday's training accident. The Senate minority is calling for dialogue over Ronald dela Rosa. For those planning the week ahead, there are also ferry-reservation arrangements for Undas and an early indication of another split in fuel prices.

The Agriculture Department has answered questions about proposed roads whose map coordinates point to the sea. The peso ended Friday at another record low, while two new irrigation facilities opened in Leyte. There is also a new online route for authenticating NBI clearances and another Coast Guard operation near Lawak Island.

Paolo Duterte has filed complaints over reports of alleged cash deliveries. ICC prosecutors are seeking permission to use three more recorded witness accounts. A newly released survey offers a look at public opinion on Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, although the interviews took place before the Senate dropped three articles.

Rosal has weakened to a typhoon, but dangerous conditions remain around Batanes. The Bangko Sentral has raised its policy rate again, while the peso ended Thursday at another record low. Government spending is also under scrutiny, from e-government contracts to next year's flood-control budget.

Rosal has weakened but remains a super typhoon east of Batanes. The peso closed at another record low, and CIDG says its case build-up on a suspected shabu shipment from Laos is nearing completion.

Batanes is under Signal No. 2 as Super Typhoon Rosal moves closer to extreme Northern Luzon. Malacañang says it will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its budget ruling. In Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, prosecutors have already filed their formal offer of evidence, ahead of Friday's deadline.

The Senate took only 16 minutes to endorse the Office of the Vice President’s proposed budget for next year. PAGASA has raised Signal No. 1 in parts of Luzon as Super Typhoon Rosal approaches. The Visayas grid is due for a red alert this evening. GCash’s parent company has begun trading on the stock exchange, while more Filipino workers have returned from Saudi Arabia after disrupted flights.

The Philippines recorded a wider balance-of-payments deficit in September. Three Davao public-works officials have been removed during a flood-control investigation. The peso has also set another reported record-low close.

The Sandiganbayan has ordered Senator Rodante Marcoleta suspended for 90 days. Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro summoned China’s ambassador over his remarks about the use of force. Super Typhoon Champi remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, but its trough is already affecting the weather in parts of the country. There are also new figures on school security and confirmed fuel-price changes for tomorrow.

Good morning. Champi remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, while rain is already affecting parts of the country for other reasons. In government, a pandemic procurement complaint faces problems reaching respondents, senators are weighing a response to China's envoy, and arguments over next year's spending continue.

Good afternoon. The dispute over the Chinese ambassador's remarks has grown sharper, with the embassy challenging lawmakers who want him declared unwelcome. There is also an update on lawyer Levi Baligod's arrest, a fresh survey on what families want government to fix, a new SSS chief, and a plan to bring stranded OFWs home from Riyadh.

These stories involve different stages of investigation and court proceedings. Here is what the latest reports establish, what the people involved have said, and what still needs proof.

The peso closes at ₱63.06 per dollar, poor air quality disrupts classes in Cebu, and Senate trial spending faces questions. Tonight’s briefing also covers OFW remittances and the PSA’s palay estimate.

Good morning. The government has launched programs meant to help workers move beyond short-term emergency jobs. Iloilo is seeking more support for farmers facing a costly pest infestation. In Bangsamoro, a newly announced coalition is preparing to form the regional government. We also look at exporters’ concerns over China and the United States, and planned talks about Filipino workers in Israel.

Good evening. NAPOLCOM has ordered the dismissal of the policeman involved in the Taguig incident with an elderly motorist. Today's drought report shows families still waiting to appear in the government's assistance count. Investigators have also sent more records to the Justice Department, a court has acquitted former health officials in a vaccine procurement case, and the Palace has confirmed Donald Trump's visit next month.

Good morning. An electricity refund is coming, but households still face a higher October rate. Overnight, the Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV's cancer diagnosis after surgery. There are also developments in preparations for Rodrigo Duterte's trial, a new warning about the world economy, and rain in today's forecast.

Tonight's news brings a reminder that politics is only part of the country's story. A new poverty survey puts household hardship back in focus. Two court proceedings moved forward, while the government named a new technology chief and faced another warning about electricity supply.

Today’s news brings a major budget vote, another procedural decision in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, and an earlier opening for communities to influence government spending. Agriculture officials are also discussing how smaller producers can reach markets, while PAGASA’s forecast gives households and farmers a reason to keep checking local conditions.

Tonight brings questions about the records used in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, proposals affecting electricity bills, and fuel adjustments that take effect tomorrow. There are also updates on Kanlaon and Alice Guo’s attempt to obtain release from detention. Each story has a different consequence: evidence to examine, a bill to follow, an expense to calculate, a warning to heed, or a court ruling whose scope needs explaining.

A warning about skipping the impeachment trial, a presidential response to the alleged China-linked funding, and changes at two Cabinet offices are setting the political agenda as the week begins. Authorities have also arrested a man they link to two former POGO hubs. Here are five developments to follow, with the questions that still need answers.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good morning. The ICC has made public its ruling that Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial. DOE is seeking investment to bring electricity to remote communities, while Taal's latest activity, the peso's Thursday close, and today's rain forecast also require attention.

The impeachment trial ran into a dispute over which witness should be heard first. Outside the courtroom, prosecutors pressed their allegation that financial assets were concealed, while the defense said its fuller explanation would come when it presents evidence. The Senate also moved legislation and a defense agreement forward, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. began his Singapore working visit.

Yesterday’s impeachment hearing put the movement of money beside the records used to declare wealth. A new court petition challenges the voting rule, while an investigation outside the Senate faces conflicting accounts about contact with a potential witness. Congress is also moving next year’s budget forward. These are developments reported before this morning’s hearing, not a summary of proceedings that have yet to happen.

An unsafe encounter over Bajo de Masinloc, heavier Chinese ship activity and a national-security assessment of reported foreign financial flows are drawing attention tonight. Alongside them are two different forms of security work: disaster-response cooperation with Japan and the unfinished Bangsamoro peace commitments. The dates matter. These are developments in the current news cycle; the aircraft encounter itself happened on October 3.

The impeachment trial is moving from the AMLC’s transaction summaries to records from the banks themselves. The next questions are whose money was involved, how much remained at each year-end, what was declared, and what the documents can establish.

Good evening.

The impeachment court heard the AMLC’s financial presentation yesterday, including a correction that lowered the reported transaction total involving Sara Duterte and her husband. The defense is scheduled to continue questioning the witness today, giving the court another opportunity to test how the figures were put together.

Teachers asking for better pay were dispersed near Malacañang yesterday, just ahead of Teachers’ Day. Their protest puts the government’s response to teachers’ demands under scrutiny as schools mark the occasion.

Questions about alleged China-linked funding are now drawing calls for an investigation. Water authorities are urging conservation, while a newly released survey asks whether Filipinos feel safe speaking against the administration.

Next week’s fuel prices could move in opposite directions, internet providers are working around a damaged international cable, and nearly a thousand Semirara workers face job losses. Tonight’s brief also follows the police update on the Benguet mining deaths and Sara Duterte’s request to move her NBI conference.

Cooking gas is getting more expensive, small businesses are being offered temporary help with wage increases, and lawmakers are proposing more money for hospital assistance. Here are five developments to follow today, including what has been announced, what still needs approval, and what people should expect next.

The impeachment trial is moving toward testimony from banks and financial firms, while a dispute over ride-hailing fares puts drivers and passengers in the middle. Elsewhere, the government is preparing for a stronger El Niño, the Coast Guard is challenging a Chinese research vessel near Batanes, and new fish-import rules raise questions about supply and prices.

October begins with fresh warnings about household costs and government debt. There are also developments involving a fake defense document, flood-related illness, and a proposed center for older patients.

The impeachment court is taking a one-day break, while commuters face another day of transport protests. There are also developments affecting electricity bills, mobile internet service, and government borrowing.

A challenge to the postponement of barangay elections is now before the Supreme Court, while Martin Romualdez is seeking bail and government contracts remain under scrutiny in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. For households, today brings lower pump prices alongside higher fares and a renewed tax break covering only certain fuels.

Good morning. Vince Dizon says DPWH has found no ghost projects in Taguig, while Ping Lacson says the department’s own inspection records challenge that statement. Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team wants the ICC prosecution to reduce its evidence submissions. Also in today’s brief: CHED’s proposed recognition of students’ lived names, the coming voter-registration period, and the Philippines’ Asian Games results.

Mary Jane Veloso is free and has reunited with her family. Commuters face higher jeepney fares starting Monday, while a new executive order suspends excise-tax collection on LPG and kerosene. Sara Duterte has denied a former security officer's cash-delivery allegations. Queenie is strengthening, and Carlos Yulo has won his second Asian Games gold.

Good evening. Queenie is now inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Visayas grid is under red and yellow alerts, a new 4PH housing option is being prepared, COA has flagged documentation problems in OVP relief operations, and the DPWH chief has testified in the Zaldy Co flood-control case.

Good morning. The Senate impeachment court has changed the way it will calculate the votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. The Philippines and the European Union have also moved closer to a free trade agreement, although the deal is not yet final or active. A tropical storm east of the country may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility today. Malacañang says an absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso is under serious consideration. In Quezon City, another tunnel-boring breakthrough marks progress on the Metro Manila Subway, but passenger service remains years away.

Higher fuel costs greet motorists this Tuesday, while the impeachment court returns to corporate records. In the Visayas, a power-plant outage strained electricity reserves yesterday. Manila's Martial Law anniversary protests also renewed demands for accountability over corruption.

Good morning. The Senate impeachment court is due to hear more evidence about Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared business interests this week, including testimony sought from her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. Motorists face another possible fuel-price increase tomorrow, while commuters may have to contend with a transport strike. Today also brings Martial Law anniversary gatherings and class suspensions in parts of Cebu because of unhealthy air. Here are five developments to follow, with the decisions that remain unsettled.

Good morning. A school shooting in South Cotabato has left families grieving and officials facing urgent questions about how a student got hold of a gun. Transport drivers, meanwhile, have been told that a fuel subsidy meant to ease rising costs is on hold during the election spending ban. Police are preparing for Monday's Martial Law commemoration, hospitals are waiting for medical-aid claims to move faster, and Palawan faces another day of rain. Here is what has changed, what remains unsettled, and what to watch.

The day ended with possible relief from high fuel taxes, but not an actual price cut yet. At the Senate, prosecutors placed Vice President Sara Duterte’s wealth declarations on the record and highlighted figures they say require an explanation. The Visayas grid again ran short of comfortable reserves, while health officials warned of a sharp rise in leptospirosis after flooding. The government is also proposing a much wider tax on sugary products. Here is what changed, what the numbers mean and what still has to happen.

Filipinos begin Tuesday with another sharp fuel-price increase, a peso that has fallen to a new reported closing low, and the results of the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election still being completed. There is also a small but real change coming to electric bills: the allowable system-loss charge remains, but the VAT attached to it is being removed. In the Senate, a wider school-nutrition program has moved forward, although it is not yet law. Here is what each development changes and what still needs to happen.

The first Bangsamoro parliamentary election opens under tight security, commuters face a two-day strike, and families in Coron await identification of the dead.

Good morning. Sara Duterte is due in court today to answer the grave-threats charges against her, while families of passengers aboard the MV June Aster are still waiting for news from Coron. Rain warnings also remain in place across parts of Luzon and the Visayas. On household expenses, a regional electricity-price cap could bring relief to consumers in the Visayas and Mindanao, and SSS members now have another way to apply for a short-term loan. Here is where each story stands this morning, including what has changed and what has yet to happen.

Good evening. The Senate impeachment court has named four former Supreme Court justices who will advise it on the disputed voting threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial. Martin Romualdez is now formally under BJMP custody, although he remains in a private hospital. The Philippine Coast Guard says Chinese forces fired flares toward one of its unarmed aircraft over the Kalayaan Island Group. New central-bank figures show foreign direct investment falling during the first half of the year, while a drainage change along EDSA Estrella offers a small but testable response to recurring floods.

Good afternoon. A court has identified the jail where Martin Romualdez should be detained, but his request to remain in a private hospital is still unresolved. Two senators, Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, are also confirmed to be outside the country, raising questions about when they will return for Senate work. Away from those political stories, the Philippines and the United States are due to sign a $60-million energy grant, the proposed 2027 budget contains money for more than 64,000 teaching positions, and BARMM is completing preparations for its first regular parliamentary election.

Good morning. Rescue teams are searching the waters off Coron after the passenger ferry MV June Aster caught fire Wednesday evening. Five people were confirmed dead in the Coast Guard's latest early-morning count. The Supreme Court has also acquitted Imelda Marcos in seven graft cases, overturning her 2018 conviction without changing a separate civil ruling on the Marcos Swiss deposits. Heavy rain has changed work and school arrangements in Metro Manila and 13 provinces. In Manila, some small businesses say higher garbage fees have forced them to borrow money or cut jobs. The country also has ten new National Artists.

Good evening. Power shortages are affecting plans for tonight in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, where NGCP has warned of possible interruptions. Fourteen Filipino seafarers are back home after surviving a tanker attack, while arrangements continue for their two colleagues who died. The Ombudsman is contesting Martin Romualdez's request to remain in hospital, San Roque Dam has closed its spillway gates, and President Marcos is preparing for talks in India. Here is where those developments stand this evening, including what still needs a decision or follow-through.

Good morning. Filipino students have made gains in an international assessment, though most still fall short of its basic proficiency level. Preparations for the Bangsamoro election are entering their final days, while next year's budget hearings are raising questions about cancer treatment and the condition of government care homes. Officials are also looking at how to protect the underwater connections that help keep electricity and internet services running.

Good evening. More Filipinos were working in July, yet more were also without jobs, according to figures released today. Metro Manila workers are awaiting a new wage order that still needs clearance, while lakeshore communities face water levels above Laguna de Bay's critical mark. The House has also approved changes to barangay and SK terms, and the Sandiganbayan has set a hearing on Martin Romualdez's request to remain in hospital. Several decisions moved forward today. Their effects depend on what has actually been approved, what remains pending and what the next official records show.

Good morning. The prosecution changed course at Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial today, dropping its remaining confidential-fund witnesses and saying it wants the Vice President herself to testify later. Lawyers also turned to bank records, with the defense given 15 days to answer requests about their authenticity and ownership. Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo pressed for clarity on the votes needed to decide the case, particularly when some members are absent. This update covers developments reported as of 11:33 a.m., while the hearing was still ongoing.

Good morning. Filling up costs more today, while lawmakers are examining a proposed education budget that could leave children with fewer school meals and less money for learning recovery. Yesterday's impeachment hearing also produced an explanation for the names on confidential-fund receipts, though questions about the spending remain.

Good morning. A new workweek begins with a likely increase in fuel costs, an overnight ash emission at Kanlaon, and another stretch of hearings on Sara Duterte's confidential funds. For families watching their budgets and communities watching public officials, the useful details are the amounts, dates and decisions that can be checked.

Good evening. Before another workweek begins, a few dates and decisions deserve a closer look. Butuan has declared a calamity over its water shortage, while the debate over barangay elections leaves voters needing a clear distinction between a proposal and the date still written into law.

Good morning. Sara Duterte has posted bail, giving us a new court development to follow after Friday's arrest warrant. Rain remains a concern for people travelling today, while transport officials are being asked to make road warnings and alternative routes more useful after the NLEX gridlock. Overseas, attacks on oil tankers bring fresh questions about shipping safety and Filipino crews. At the US Open, Alex Eala has won the second set against Iva Jovic to force a deciding third set, with a place in the fourth round at stake.

Good morning. The floodwater can recede before the health danger passes. Hospitals are making room for leptospirosis patients while health officials warn of further infections. At sea, the Coast Guard has disclosed a Chinese survey operation near Bajo de Masinloc. Newly released business figures and a Senate hearing raise separate questions about jobs and access to healthcare. There is also a Sunday morning appointment for tennis fans: Alex Eala faces Iva Jovic at the US Open, with a place in the fourth round at stake.

Good evening. A Quezon City court has ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte in a criminal case arising from her 2024 remarks, a major legal development that must not be confused with either a conviction or the separate impeachment trial. The day's official figures also show inflation easing only slightly. In the Visayas and Mindanao, thin power reserves triggered red alerts, while Mayon's unusually high gas output kept nearby communities on guard. A nationwide change may also make the government's milestone cash gift easier for qualified senior citizens to claim.

Good morning. Heavy rain and haze are changing school plans across Luzon, while new figures on prices, debt, and the peso will shape how families and government plan the months ahead. A nationwide government job and service fair is also set to open next week.

Good afternoon. Here are five developments worth following today, what they could mean in daily life, and the next facts that will show whether the situation improves.

Good morning. Here are five developments to follow today, with the facts we know, the practical effect on Filipinos, and the next event worth watching.

Good morning. The first concern today is the air: haze has reached parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa, with government monitors reporting unhealthy conditions in several cities. Pilandok remains far from land, but it continues to strengthen the southwest monsoon. At the pump, motorists get a rollback after two weeks of increases. People booking flights face a higher fuel surcharge through September 15. Meanwhile, the country's July foreign portfolio-investment figure shows how quickly short-term capital can move.

This morning’s brief covers Tropical Depression Pilandok and the habagat, the 2027 flood-control budget debate, a new exchange of fire between the United States and Iran, Gilas Pilipinas’ win over Iran, and the Philippines’ first Eurovision Song Contest Asia entry.

This morning’s brief covers two bridge collapses in Tarlac City, the official result of the Dasmariñas special election, Gilas Pilipinas’ qualifier against Iran, Mali’s new home at the National Museum, and a disputed DENR policy on moving mangroves.

Good morning. Rain remains the first practical concern today, especially for families dealing with class suspensions and another wet weekend. Elsewhere, the Visayas power grid is still running with little room for failure, Mayon remains restless, the government says free higher education now reaches 2.62 million students, and economic managers are promising to move delayed public projects without weakening safeguards.

Five developments worth knowing this morning, from the weather and interest rates to disaster planning, farm debt, and a new regional flight.

Five developments worth knowing this morning, from the impeachment trial and the weather to fuel prices, transport, and the economy.

Good morning. Today's brief covers thousands of storm-damaged classrooms, new funding for Project NOAH, stricter Chinese entry rules, a power shortage in the Visayas, and an early-warning system meant to protect farmers from oversupply and collapsing prices.

Good morning. Today's brief covers DepEd's cancelled nationwide school-safety drill, BARMM's first parliamentary election, the rapid growth of digital bank transfers, Bohol's drought preparations, and continuing Habagat rain over parts of Luzon.

Good morning. Here are five developments to follow as a new week begins, from the return of flood-control funding to rules that could make Filipino degrees easier to assess abroad.

Good morning. Quezon City is seeing a sharp rise in leptospirosis after weeks of rain and flooding. New poverty figures show a large national improvement while leaving more than 11 million Filipinos below the official threshold. PLDT and Smart have started blocking websites that carry footage of school attacks and other extreme violence. Researchers in Apayao may have found three frog species new to science. Congress is also being asked to examine billions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds proposed for the Office of the President.

Good morning. Today is Ninoy Aquino Day, a special non-working day. Beyond the holiday schedules, the stories worth following include a sharp rise in earthquakes at Taal Volcano, enforcement action against companies that may have missed plastic-recovery targets, new flood-control works in Metro Manila, and a large new disclosure of evidence in the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Today’s brief covers work and learning arrangements during continuing monsoon rain, the health risk that follows flood exposure, additional funding for the Philippine General Hospital, repairs at the Magallanes Flyover, and an Ombudsman inquiry into reclamation projects along Laguna de Bay.

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The government says inflation slowed in July. Many families will probably ask why groceries, electricity and transportation still feel expensive.

This morning’s brief covers the court fight over the Metro Manila wage increase, scrutiny of China-linked education programs, the Philippine claim to an extended continental shelf west of Palawan, the delayed bail ruling for Bong Revilla, and renewed inquiries into the 2019 SEA Games.

This morning’s brief covers a new development involving Sara Duterte’s tax records, the court order against the Metro Manila wage increase, Jinggoy Estrada’s bid for bail, the cost of Marcos’ proposed tax relief, and a demand for a full accounting of money earned from former military properties.

Tonight’s brief covers Sara Duterte’s latest attack on President Marcos, a proposed marine-protection plan in the West Philippine Sea, two separate problems delaying classroom construction, the public’s leading economic concerns, and a new way to request medical aid.