Editorial

In recent years, the relationship between the Philippines and China has been characterized by tension, particularly concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing has accused Manila of fostering Sinophobia, alleging that labeling China as a threat to Philippine security contributes to anti-Chinese sentiments. But recent events in the …

China insisted that its latest actions in the West Philippine Sea cannot be considered harassment due to its false claim that it owns the area of dispute and thus is merely defending it from intruders. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing in …

The added ‘bonus’ of bedbugs and rats roaming around is not helping its case. Whether we like it or not, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport looms as a tarnished crown jewel, bestowed the unenviable titles of “most stressful” in Asia and the world’s worst, where delayed flights, endless lines, power …

Bloating the unprogrammed funds effectively breached the P5.768-trillion ceiling prescribed in the 2024 NEP. Fiscalizers are zeroing in on unprogrammed funds as the source of lump sum appropriations in the “pork-free” 2024 national budget. While the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the Priority Development Assistance Fund and similar discretionary …

Dilly-dallying on alleged corruption, especially one with rice at the center of contention, is not an option for anyone, much less Laurel. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised Filipinos affordable rice, the staple food of the nation, at a pocket-friendly P20 per kilo. Now, his administration finds itself grappling with …

Key to the ruling was that these illegal funds were ‘lump sum allocations to legislators from which they are able to fund specific projects which they themselves determine.’ A tighter scrutiny of the yearly budget by watchdogs, including independent groups, was among the direct results of the 2013 Supreme Court …

What is being demanded is that legislators apply the determination to match their enthusiasm in undertaking cha-cha. Congress must show its sincerity in the ongoing push for Charter change or cha-cha and emphasize the need for the process by cutting short or canceling their long Holy Week break. Congress will …

Are we not encouraging Friday sickness for both teachers and students? If so, that would be a waste of one school day. The haste by which the Department of Education, or DepEd, launched its Catch-up Fridays program can be deduced from the fact that the agency issued the memorandum rolling …

China said it had evidence the government was inciting ‘fisherfolk to carry out a long-term occupation and provocations in the South China Sea.’ China’s propaganda mill is now targeting the Armed Forces of the Philippines, saying it is recruiting fishermen as militias to monitor the activities of Chinese government vessels …

The Philippines can accede to Beijing’s call for friendly negotiations, but this should be based on equal terms and without impositions and impossible conditions. China has recoiled from the outcome of the successful official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Australia where he spoke of the need for unity …