Palace dismisses plan to impeach President MarcosMANILA, Philippines — The supposed plan to file an impeachment complaint against President Marcos is mere “political maneuvering,” Malacañang said yesterday even as it gave assurance that the Chief Executive would respect constitutional processes. Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice disclosed during a radio interview yesterday the alleged plan of some congressmen to file an impeachment case against Marcos next month, with betrayal of public trust as one of the grounds. Castro said the President remains committed to leading and producing results for the Filipino people. Erice said discussions among members of the House of Representatives, whom he did not name, are not limited to the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, Marcos’ former ally. The one-year bar rule for filing an impeachment complaint against Duterte will lapse on Feb. 6.

‘Growth at risk from slump in public construction works’MANILA, Philippines — Private construction growth in the Philippines is being driven largely by residential projects and concentrated among big developers, while credit is increasingly flowing to consumption rather than productive investment, prompting economists to warn about the weakening quality and sustainability of growth. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed private construction expanding by 13.9 percent even as public construction collapsed by 26.2 percent. While private construction can continue in the near term due to existing pipelines, Asuncion warned that “sustaining growth will be difficult if public construction continues to contract,” noting that “public infrastructure tends to crowd in private investment by improving connectivity and boosting demand.”“A prolonged slump raises downside risks for the sector,” he said. Over the longer term, he said private construction cannot thrive without public infrastructure. “Investment is weak, public construction has contracted sharply, and consumption is increasingly credit-driven.”

Illegal logs seized at former Sayyaf campHandout photo provided by the provincial government of Basilan shows members of the military and police loading a log onto a truck. ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A joint team of the police and the military seized a pile of illegally cut logs at a former camp of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sumisip, Basilan on Saturday. “Sagip Kalikasan” intends to save and protect the forest around the Sampinit Complex against illegal loggers. The area served as a camp of Abu Sayyaf bandits, but is now a haven for trekkers and mountaineers. Mujiv Hataman ordered the implementation of “Sagip Kalikasan” to protect the province’s forests, rivers and coastlines, while also creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

More BSP rate cuts seen as price pressures curbedMANILA, Philippines — Inflation may have surprised on the upside in December, but economists said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) still has room to continue easing this year, with some even seeing deeper rate cuts ahead as growth risks mount and price pressures remain largely contained. If realized, this could bring the country’s key policy rate down to four percent from 4.50 percent currently and raise the total easing since August 2024 to 250 basis points from 200 bps. “Our forecast is underpinned by our more cautious view on the growth outlook, which is the overriding policy consideration for BSP. “We see the scope for additional rate cuts from the BSP in the coming months given the favorable inflation outlook, with two cuts in the first half of 2026,” Neri said. Taken together, economists said December’s inflation bump does little to change the broader picture: price pressures remain manageable, growth risks are rising and monetary policy is still likely to stay supportive in the months ahead.

Philippines, South Korea reaffirm naval defense cooperationMANILA, Philippines — South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has reaffirmed the strong and growing naval defense cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. Discussions also touched on prospective areas of collaboration, including shipbuilding and maintenance, workforce development, training and the strengthening of local supply chains in the Philippines. Fernandez emphasized that beyond platform acquisition, opportunities exist to advance workforce development, supply-chain localization and ODA-supported industrial cooperation, noting that these elements are essential to building a resilient and sustainable Philippine defense and maritime industry. Both sides underscored the importance of sustained government and industry engagement in advancing naval defense cooperation and contributing to the long-term development of the Philippine maritime and shipbuilding sector. The embassy reiterated its commitment to supporting initiatives that deepen the Philippines-Korea strategic partnership and promote mutually beneficial defense and industrial cooperation.

ICI effectively a dead body – DrilonMANILA, Philippines — Former Senate president Franklin Drilon has declared the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) effectively a “dead body,” asserting that it has ceased to exist for all practical purposes following the resignation of its members. It’s a dead body, it cannot function,” he said. Beyond the leadership vacuum, Drilon questioned the necessity of maintaining the ICI, arguing that its functions are merely duplicative of existing constitutional bodies that possess actual prosecutorial powers. Talks of the ICI’s disbandment surfaced following the resignation of its commissioners and other members last year. Last week, Sen. Imee Marcos said the ICI will be dissolved by Feb. 1, but this was not confirmed by the body nor by Malacañang.

MANILA, Philippines — To make the jeepney modernization program work, local manufacturer Sarao Motors views retrofitting traditional jeepneys as a more cost-effective option for drivers than buying a brand-new unit. However, a modern jeepney built from the ground up costs P2.8 million per unit. It retained the design of a traditional jeepney after its first modern jeepney prototype, launched in 2017, prompted mixed reactions for looking more like a bus. Meanwhile, the new modern jeepney is a collaboration between Sarao Motors and Netherlands-based firm Tembo. In comparison, drivers only spend up to P120,000 for a second-hand engine used in traditional jeepneys.

FDA urged: Probe recall of Nestlé milk productsIn a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian urged the FDA to look into the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, noting that several parents had trusted these milk products. MANILA, Philippines — Amid concerns over child health and consumer safety, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should investigate Nestlé Philippines’ recall of batches of infant and growing up milk formula products, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. In a statement on Saturday, Gatchalian urged the FDA to look into the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, noting that several parents had trusted these milk products. “I am urging the FDA to probe the recall of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro, which are part of its line of infant and growing up milk formulas,” Gatchalian said. Nestlé Philippines had announced a voluntary recall of limited batches of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro products due to a possible contamination risk.

Reject donations from gambling firms, Sinulog organizers toldColorful buntings adorn the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño as Cebu City gears up for the Fiesta Señor, set for the third Sunday of January. In a post on social media, Uy reminded Sinulog organizers that accepting donations from gambling companies would send conflicting messages. “For this reason, I hope that organizers of the Sinulog Festival will refrain from accepting sponsorships from gambling establishments. Receiving donations from gambling sources is contradictory to the values taught by the Santo Niño, who symbolizes innocence, purity and trust in God, Uy said. He said that accepting donations from such companies would create a moral inconsistency as gambling is a destructive habit.

Guidelines issued to prevent overpricing in infrastructure projectsConstruction workers are seen at a site in Manila on April 28, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — To bust the alleged “built-in” overprice of infrastructure works and deter ghost and substandard projects, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has issued guidelines to ensure the recomputation of all infrastructure project costs and budget estimates based on lowered construction materials price data (CMPD). The public works chief also ordered a recalculation of unit costs in the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) of all affected pay items, especially those with material cost components. The recalculation of the unit costs should cover the material component, the material price, labor and equipment component, labor and equipment unit cost, the application of indirect cost mark-up and the application of value added tax. “Upon updating all unit costs in the DUPA using the latest CMPD and other prevailing cost references, the revised unit costs shall be duly consolidated in an updated POW,” Dizon ordered.

‘Verify Madriaga’s claims vs VP Sara’Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberation on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP's) proposed 2026 budget on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Can the sworn affidavit of Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged bagman be used as a ground to impeach her a second time? The one-year bar on filing impeachment cases against Duterte will be lifted on Feb. 6. A formal House inquiry, according to the lawmaker, is thus necessary for verification of the contents of the Madriaga affidavit. According to Ridon, impeachment proceedings are currently in a holding pattern as Congress awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling on the motion for reconsideration it earlier filed.

Senate flood control probe resumes January 19Pedestrians cross on a makeshift pathway along P. Burgos Street in Manila as gutter-deep floodwaters cover the road following a heavy downpour on September 6, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will resume its flood control hearings next week to address alleged witness retractions, enforce attendance through subpoenas and begin scrutinizing public works documents known as the “Cabral files,” its chairman Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Saturday. “I already informed colleagues in the majority through our chat group and I already asked Senate President (Tito) Sotto for permission to have a quorum on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.,” Lacson told radio dzBB. “We will issue them a subpoena, and if they still refuse to appear, we will recommend to the Senate President that they be issued warrants of arrest,” he said. On the so-called Cabral files, Lacson said the committee is preparing to verify documents allegedly detailing allocations for flood control and other infrastructure projects.

On-the-ground monitoring of government projects soughtMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for on-the-ground monitoring of government projects to prevent the misuse of public funds, backing the creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to track the implementation of programs funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. “We probably really need a person on the ground to conduct random checks,” said Tulfo, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on finance. President Marcos signed the 2026 national budget into law earlier this week, vetoing P92.5 billion worth of projects under unprogrammed appropriations. Win Gatchalian, chairperson of the committee on finance, to include all committee vice chairpersons in the oversight body. Big projects, small projects, farm-to-market roads, irrigation projects.

Remain apolitical, Army personnel told“We are a professional organization and we don’t get involved in these political issues because we are non-partisan. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army (PA) yesterday reminded its personnel to leave political issues to politicians following the relief of an Army officer for allegedly withdrawing his support from President Marcos. “We are a professional organization and we don’t get involved in these political issues because we are non-partisan. We are facing greater challenges, particularly with our regional security… we assure (the public) that the Philippine Army is intact,” he added. Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete relieved Mongao from his post as commander of the Training Support Group under the Army’s Training Command on Friday.

President Marcos leaves for UAE todayMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos will leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today as the Philippines and the Middle Eastern nation are set to enter into trade and defense cooperation agreements. Marcos is going to the UAE, his second visit as Chief Executive, to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro, at a recent Palace briefing, said the President’s visit is upon the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The President is expected to witness the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA and the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation between the Philippines and UAE. Meanwhile, the MOU on defense cooperation will serve as a solid foundation for cooperation with the UAE to develop the Philippines’ defense technologies, she said.