LIVE: House Holds Hearing on Implementation of PH State of Energy Emergency (Part 2) | April 13
The House hearing focused on the Philippines’ state of energy emergency and presented a suite of homegrown clean‑technology solutions spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Speakers showcased electric mobility prototypes—including an 18‑seat battery‑electric shuttle, an electric ferry, conversion kits for tricycles, and a fast‑charging platform that can refuel e‑trikes in roughly thirty minutes—alongside renewable energy projects such as micro‑grid labs, solar‑powered water pumps, and concentrated solar‑thermal dishes. Key data points highlighted the low operating costs of electric conversions (4.5 kWh per range) and the potential for biogas from rice hulls, portable solar dryers, and vanadium‑redox flow batteries to serve off‑grid farms and communities. The DOST also outlined a Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program with sub‑billion‑peso funding to finance MSMEs, cooperative purchase schemes, and interest‑free loans via Landbank for electric vehicle adoption. Notable remarks included a request from a regional congressman for technical assistance on biogas prototypes and a call for clearer implementation timelines. Officials emphasized that many of the technologies are already production‑ready but require scaling, automation, and coordinated local‑government partnerships to achieve mass deployment. The hearing underscored the urgency of transitioning from fuel‑based energy to resilient, low‑carbon alternatives amid rising electricity costs and supply constraints. Successful rollout will depend on infrastructure investment, financing mechanisms, and policy certainty to accelerate adoption across transport, agriculture, and rural electrification sectors.
PUV Contract Scheme Pays Operators P30 to P100 per Km
The transport department unveiled a new public utility vehicle (PUV) contract scheme that pays operators a per‑kilometer subsidy ranging from 30 to 100 pesos. The program covers buses, modern jeepneys, traditional jeepneys and UV‑Express vans. Payments are capped at routes no...
Herbosa: Pharma Companies Vow Not to Increase Medicine Prices Until June | INQToday
The Department of Health announced that pharmaceutical companies have agreed not to raise retail prices on a core basket of medicines until June 2024, a decision made amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that could disrupt supply chains....
Philippines Unveils New Coast Guard Command in Spratlys
The Philippines announced the activation of a dedicated Coast Guard district covering the Kalayaan Island Group in the contested Spratly archipelago, marking the first time a flag‑rank officer will command the area. The move upgrades existing substations into full‑scale stations,...
Marcos OKs P10 per Liter Fuel Subsidy for PUVs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved a fuel subsidy of ten pesos per liter for public utility vehicles (PUVs) operating in the National Capital Region, limited to 150 liters per week per vehicle for three months. The program will launch next week,...
Rare Rollback for Diesel, Gasoline Seen Possible Next Week | INQToday
The video reports a rare potential dip in Philippine fuel prices next week, with diesel expected to fall as much as 3.50 pesos per liter and gasoline possibly edging down by a peso, following a tentative truce between the United...
Supreme Court: House Must Explain Sara Duterte’s Impeachment | INQToday
The Supreme Court on April 8 ordered the House of Representatives to explain its ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, setting a strict ten‑day deadline for a response. The high court consolidated several petitions that allege grave abuse of...
PCO Files Complaints Vs. Facebook Users Spreading Energy Misinformation | INQToday
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced it will ask the Department of Justice to file criminal complaints against the operators of a Facebook page accused of spreading false information about the Philippines’ energy situation. The directive, issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., targets...
Marcos to Decide on Fuel Excise Tax After April 7 DBCC Meeting | INQToday
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is expected to announce, as early as April 7, whether to cut or fully suspend excise taxes on petroleum products, following a meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). The DBCC will advise on Republic...
Bangladesh Implements Energy Austerity Measures Amid Iran War
Bangladesh has rolled out emergency energy‑austerity measures as the Iran‑Israel conflict disrupts regional oil flows, leaving the country grappling with acute fuel shortages. Drivers report that only two or three petrol stations receive deliveries each day, forcing queues that...
7 Hurt as Part of Ceiling at Naia Terminal 1 Collapses on Good Friday | INQToday
A section of the ceiling in the arrival extension of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed on Good Friday, striking waiting chairs and injuring seven people. The collapse occurred at approximately 10:43 a.m., and the victims received immediate medical attention and are...
LTFRB Summons Taxi Operator over K-Pop Star ‘Overcharging’ Incident | INQToday
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a show‑cause order against a Cebu taxi operator after a K‑pop idol, Subin of TXT, alleged severe overcharging during his vacation. The board set a hearing for April 21 and warned...
ICC’s Jurisdiction on Duterte to Be Determined on April 22
The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber is slated to deliver its ruling on April 22, determining whether it has jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s case. Duterte’s legal team argues the court lacks authority, citing the Philippines’ 2020 withdrawal from...
Hope in the Ransom Sacrifice—Remembering Jesus' Death, April 2, 2026
Jehovah’s Witnesses held a free, public Memorial of Christ’s death on April 2, 2026, streamed by OFN Media for overseas Filipino workers. The event featured Ms. Susan K. and Metro Manila spokesperson Professor Normito “Jun” Zapata discussing the theological significance...
PH Eyes ‘Deepening Cooperation’ with Iran on Energy | INQToday
The video reports that the Philippines is pursuing deeper energy cooperation with Iran after a meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaros, Iranian Ambassador Ysef Ismael Zade, and Energy Secretary Shahon Green. The discussion focused on securing safe passage...
Herbosa Hit with New Raps over Alleged P1.5B Expired Meds, Vaccines | INQToday
The Office of the Ombudsman received a fresh complaint on March 31 accusing Health Secretary Herbosa and sixteen senior officials of allowing roughly 1.5 billion pesos of medicines and vaccines to become dead stock. The complainants, a group of self‑identified Department of...
PH, China ‘Reset’ Talks on Sea Tensions, Oil | INQToday
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the Philippines and China have begun resetting bilateral talks on maritime tensions and possible oil‑and‑gas exploration in the South China Sea. The 24th foreign‑ministry consultations and the 11th meeting of the bilateral consultation...
Number of Holy Week Travelers Likely to Peak on Wednesday – PITX Spox | INQToday
The Paranyaka Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) expects its highest passenger volume for the Holy Week holiday on Wednesday, April 1, the last working day before the extended break. The terminal’s spokesperson, Jason Salvador, told INQToday that travel spikes on that day as...
Destruction After Israeli Strikes on South Beirut
Israeli forces launched renewed airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday night, claiming they targeted Hezbollah infrastructure after the group reported direct clashes in southern Lebanon. Video footage released by AFP shows extensive damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. The...
PH Navy Ship Avoids Collision After ‘Unsafe’ Move by Chinese Warship | INQToday
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that its tank landing ship BRP Bengette narrowly avoided a collision with a People’s Liberation Army Navy missile frigate near Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea on March 25. The encounter occurred...
Lawyers to SC: Restrain House ‘Fishing Expedition’ vs Sara Duterte | INQToday
Petitioners filed a plea with the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the House Committee on Justice from continuing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, alleging the panel exceeded constitutional bounds by using broad subpoenas to remedy allegedly deficient complaints....
Transport, Sectoral Groups Stage Day 2 of Strike | INQToday
Transport and sectoral groups held a second day of a nationwide transport strike on March 27, led by the No to Oil Price High coalition of jeepney, bus, UV Express and TNVS drivers. Protesters marched from Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola,...
Marcos: Repeal of Oil Deregulation Law Not Off Table | INQToday
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said repealing the 1998 oil deregulation law and removing VAT on fuel imports remain on the table as lawmakers propose restoring government oversight of petroleum pricing. Senate President Tito Sotto filed a bill to repeal...
Peso Sinks to Record Low 60.55:$1 as War Fears Linger | INQToday
The Philippine peso plunged to a record low of 60.55 per US dollar as investors fled to safe-haven assets amid lingering fears over the Middle East conflict, driving local fuel costs to multi-week highs. The slump has intensified domestic pressure...
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Forgotten Island’ Directors on Showcasing Filipino Culture
Directors of the upcoming film Forgotten Island say the project is a long-gestating labor of love inspired by Filipino folklore and personal relationships, and marks one of the largest assemblies of Filipino and Filipino-American talent in a single film. The...
‘Everything’s Unconstitutional’: Chua Says Duterte Team ‘Hallucinating’
In a pointed critique, Chua accused the Duterte team's lawyers of broadly labeling court decisions and constitutional provisions as “unconstitutional,” arguing their objections focus on procedural technicalities rather than the merits. She said the defense has previously claimed willingness to...
Marcos: Repeal of Oil Deregulation Law Not Off Table
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said repealing the oil deregulation law remains a possible option as his administration weighs responses to supply and price risks from the Middle East war. He emphasized the government’s current focus is on immediate relief...
Ombudsman to Comply with House Order for Sara Duterte SALN | INQToday
The Office of the Ombudsman announced it will comply with a House Committee on Justice subpoena demanding a certified true copy of Vice President Sara Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) covering 2007‑2025, underscoring its commitment to...
Philippines Says Strait of Hormuz Must Be Reopened ‘Immediately’ | INQToday
The Philippine government has declared a state of national energy emergency as the ongoing Middle East conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and gas shipments. Defense Secretary Gibbo Chodotos told Johnson Front...
Marcos May Order Fuel Excise Tax Cut, Suspension by April 12 or 13 | INQToday
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is poised to issue an executive order suspending or reducing excise taxes on petroleum products as early as April 12‑13, following the enactment of a new law on March 25 that grants him that authority. The Department...
INQUIRER.net Presents: Love The Food
The video "Love The Food" celebrates the Philippines’ culinary tapestry, traveling from Pampanga’s celebrated kitchens to Davao’s tropical fruit markets. It frames food as a cultural conduit—an expression of love, memory, and regional identity—while highlighting how local eateries, festivals, and...
INQUIRER.net Is Most Visited PH News Site in Jan., Feb. 2026 – Similarweb | INQToday
Inquirer.net retained its position as the Philippines' most visited online news portal for the first two months of 2026, according to SimilarWeb data released today. The site logged 6.62 million visits in January, capturing a 27 % share of the market, and rose...
LIVE: Senate Ad Hoc Committee Hearing on Crisis Contingency Plan | March 24
The Senate convened an organizational and public hearing of the ad hoc "PROTECT" committee to craft a national contingency plan addressing socioeconomic fallout from the ongoing US–Israel–Iran conflict. Chaired by the Finance Committee chair with vice chairs from energy, agriculture,...
Senate Sends Bills on Excise Tax Suspension to Palace | INQToday
The Senate, together with the House of Representatives, has forwarded the final versions of House Bill 8414 and Senate Bill 1982 to President Ferdinand "Bong" Marcos Jr., seeking to suspend excise taxes on fuel products when oil prices surge. The bills...
LIVE: Manibela Holds Press Briefing on Transport Strike, Abolition of Train Law | March 23
A speaker outlined the global shift toward digitization, emphasizing how it reshapes daily life and work by improving access to information and connectivity. They cautioned that this migration also introduces heightened cyber risks — including phishing, malware, and data breaches...
Alcantara, Named in ‘Balato’ Scheme, to Testify in Co Sandiganbayan Case | INQToday
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara is set to appear as a witness in the Sandiganbayan’s sixth division on March 23, testifying in the malversation case against former Akobiko representative Saudi Co. and fifteen co‑accused....
MMDA Suspends Coding Scheme on March 20 for Eid’l Fitr | INQToday
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced it will suspend the expanded number‑coding traffic scheme on Friday, March 20, coinciding with the nation’s observance of Eid al‑Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Under normal conditions, the scheme restricts vehicles...
Marcos on Cutting Excise Tax on Fuel: ‘We’ll See, Depends on Trends’ | INQToday
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signaled that he could invoke emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products, a move aimed at tempering the surge in fuel costs triggered by the Middle East war. The proposal has...
Diesel Price Surge Continues, to Rise by up to P23.90/liter | INQToday
The Philippines’ diesel price is set to climb by as much as P23.90 per liter, marking the latest surge in fuel costs. The hike reflects rising global crude oil prices and domestic tax adjustments. Analysts warn that higher diesel rates...
Peso Weakens Further to 59.87 vs $1 | INQToday
The Philippine peso slipped to a fresh record low of 59.87 per U.S. dollar on March 16, prompting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to step in as the currency neared the psychologically significant 60‑peso barrier. The peso closed 13.5 centavos...
Solon Upbeat on Swift Effects of Fuel Excise Tax Suspension
The Senate floor saw a Solon express optimism that the suspension of fuel excise taxes will quickly translate into lower pump prices for Filipino motorists. By removing the Php10‑per‑liter surcharge, the government aims to cushion households from soaring global oil...