Stricter screening of school project contractors urgedThe PSIP allows private firms to build, furnish and maintain public school classrooms, with the government paying them over 10 years or more before ownership is transferred to the state. Tulfo criticized what he described as the department’s inadequate assessment of private firms that participated in and were awarded contracts under the program. He said the shortcomings may explain the continued complaints his office receives from parents and teachers about substandard public school facilities, including deteriorating ceilings, poor ventilation and insulation and unsanitary restrooms. The PSIP allows private firms to build, furnish and maintain public school classrooms, with the government paying them over 10 years or more before ownership is transferred to the state. The pilot involves leasing a private school that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and repurposing its facilities for public school use.

How a Philippines-based ops tried to bury Jeffrey Epstein's bad pressMANILA, Philippines — Long before his 2019 arrest, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was already working to erase his criminal past from the internet. By 2010, Jeffrey Epstein was already a convicted sex offender and on probation after a year in jail. US DOJ Epstein Library Screenshot of a email from Al Seckel to Jeffrey Epstein from the "Epstein Files" released in February 2026. "Our group in the Philippines is building links and links to our sites, pseudo sites, and the other Jeffrey Epsteins of the world," Seckel wrote. He argued that once automated web crawlers revisited search results, Epstein’s critics would instead see favorable or unrelated content created by his team.

Palace to review ICI accomplishment reportIn this photo taken in September 2025, former Independent Commission for Infrastructure adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte inspect a pumping station in Sto. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is set to review the accomplishment report of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), whose operations have been affected due to a lack of quorum following the resignation of two of its members. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the report of the ICI has been transmitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary and will be studied. Castro added that she has not received any information on whether President Marcos has spoken to ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr., the commission’s sole remaining member. Earlier this month, Castro said the ICI may communicate directly with President Marcos to discuss what it needs to carry out its functions.

House panel adopts ruling scrapping 2 Marcos Jr. impeach rapsPresident Marcos unveils the logo for the 80th anniversary of Philippines-United States diplomatic relations during a ceremony at Malacañang yesterday. Among those who attended the event were First Lady Liza Marcos, US-Philippines Society executive director Hank Hendrickson, US-Philippines Society co-chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, acting DFA Secretary Leo Herrera- Lim, co-chairman of the US-Philippines Society John Negroponte, US embassy Charge d’Affaires Robert Ewing, US-Philippines Society president emeritus John Maisto and Ambassador Thomas Hubbard. MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ committee on justice has voted to adopt its Feb. 4 report declaring the impeachment complaints against President Marcos insufficient in substance. It was forwarded to the House committee on rules, chaired by Majority Leader Sandro Marcos. His committee will set a schedule for a plenary discussion on the justice panel report.

Palace pushes faster corruption probes, asset freezeMANILA, Philippines — Malacañang cited the need to promptly investigate alleged anomalies and freeze assets linked to corruption after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) admitted that the country faces the risk of returning to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “gray list” due to corruption issues. The policy reforms allowed the Philippines to deliver on the commitments in its action plan addressing the deficiencies enumerated in June 2021 when it was placed on the gray list. However, BSP Governor Eli Remolona said last week that the Philippines is at risk of going back to the gray list because of recent corruption controversies involving multibillion-peso flood control scams. “We know that we have been removed from the gray list of the FATF. I think the country, under the leadership of President Marcos Jr., is sincere and the administration is serious in fighting corruption,” the Palace press officer said.

Meralco rates likely up in February“Although we have yet to receive the final billings from our suppliers, initial indications point to upward pressure on several pass-through charges,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Higher pass-through charges are expected to push up Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)’s power rates this month. “Although we have yet to receive the final billings from our suppliers, initial indications point to upward pressure on several pass-through charges,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said yesterday. “There is also a possible increase in transmission charges due to higher market prices for regulating and contingency reserves,” Zaldarriaga said. Another factor contributing to the potential Meralco rate hike is the implementation of new adjustments to the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification, a non-bypassable fee that supports electrification in remote areas.

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake

Diesel, gas prices going up anew todayIn separate advisories, Jetti, Seaoil, Petron, Caltex and PTT Philippines announced upward price movements of P1 per liter for diesel and P0.60 per liter for gasoline and kerosene. MANILA, Philippines — Major oil firms are set to raise fuel prices again today, with diesel and kerosene hitting their seventh straight week of increases. Diesel and kerosene prices have been climbing weekly since Dec. 30, 2025, while gasoline has been on an upward trend since mid-January. With the latest adjustments, the year-to-date net increase for gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices stands at P3, P6.40 and P4.40 per liter, respectively. Last week, gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices went up by P0.80, P1.60 and P1.10 per liter, respectively.

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake

John Size goes with the Flow but BMW Hong Kong Derby will come too soon for Flow Water Flow

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Snake

Malacañang rejects surrender of territoryIn this undated handout photo received from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on April 25, 2021, coast guard personnel conduct maritime exercise near Pag-asa island in the West Philippine Sea. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela, without naming Marcoleta, said it would be treasonous for a Filipino to suggest surrendering any part of the country's territory. The Senate was also allowed to debate on such matters on its own, as they had the freedom to express themselves. (The president wants every Filipino to know what our territorial rights are, and what our interests in the West Philippine Sea are. The President's position remains the same, no part of our territory or our interests will be surrendered to any foreign power.)

Only a miracle could reverse Marcos impeach dismissal at plenaryComposite photo shows President Bongbong Marcos at the turnover of Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plants in Kalayaan, Laguna on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 and the House Committee on Justice dismissing the two impeachment complaints against him on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment complaints against President Bongbong Marcos are now headed for plenary action after the House justice committee recommended ending the proceedings. Last week, the justice panel rejected the first complaint 42-1-3 for being insufficient in substance and dismissed the second complaint in a 39-7 vote. In the second stage, Marcos would have responded to the claims, witnesses could have been heard, and additional evidence would have been reviewed to determine whether the allegations had merit. However, even complainants view this as nothing short of a miracle, considering the strong support Marcos continues to enjoy from the lower chamber.