Key real estate sectors urged to recalibrate entering into 2026MANILA, Philippines — Key sectors in the real estate market are encouraged to recalibrate to address widening pricing gaps, infrastructure bottlenecks and intensifying global competition, as the industry enters 2026. Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said that the residential market remains structurally sound and among the least susceptible to artificial intelligence disruption. The real estate brokerage firm said that a more actively traded secondary market, along with a tapering of primary price increases, is recommended to narrow the disconnect and bring primary–secondary pricing premiums closer to global norms. In terms of retail, LPC said that while traditional mall formats remain effective, evolving consumer behavior calls for more innovative approaches. The country must shift from fragmented sector-specific growth to a unified and sustainable growth pathway,” LPC director of investment sales Tam Angel said.

EDSA rehabilitationCritics also say that DPWH will likely rip-up EDSA pavements that are still very much usable. They made him say that the EDSA rehab will just take advantage of the holiday season’s lower-than-usual traffic volume to get the work started. The EDSA rehab will not really improve traffic flow. We have worked to find a better way for the (EDSA rehabilitation) project. Even without the rehab, EDSA is already a major disruption.

Investors’ Lease Act guidelines to boost foreign investmentsIn a statement yesterday, the DTI said Trade Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) chair Cristina Roque and LRA administrator Gerardo Panga Sirios signed the IRR for Republic Act 12252 or the Investors’ Lease Act at a ceremony hosted by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in New Clark City on Dec. 19. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) have signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Investors’ Lease Act, paving the way for longer lease periods of up to 99 years for foreign investors. The IRR operationalizes the extension of lease periods for private lands by foreign investors to an aggregate of 99 years from 75 years under the amended Investors’ Lease Act. By offering longer leasehold terms for foreign investors, the government aims is to attract a steady flow of long-term capital, advanced technology and global expertise. Roque said the Investors’ Lease Act and its IRR provide a boost to investor confidence through a stable and transparent regulatory environment.

Pope: Denying help to poor is rejecting GodPope Leo XIV carrying the statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the first Christmas mass of his pontificate at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. VATICAN CITY – The story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself, Pope Leo XIV said in a Christmas Eve sermon. “On Earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. Leo, the first US-born pope, is celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world’s cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis. Meanwhile, in his first Christmas message on Thursday, Pope Leo condemned the “senselessness” of war and the “open wounds” it leaves behind.

Trade gap likely up in NovemberThis photo shows crates carried by a forklift in the port of Manila. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines likely posted a bigger trade gap in November due to slower exports growth and the continued decline in imports, according to UK-based think tank Pantheon Macroeconomics. In a report, Pantheon Macroeconomics chief emerging Asia economist Miguel Chanco and Asia economist Meekita Gupta said that they expect the trade gap to widen to $3.95 billion in November from $3.83 billion in October. Philippine exports rose by 19.4 percent to $7.39 billion in October from $6.19 billion in the same month last year. Exports have posted growth for 10 straight months despite the US imposition of tariffs on its trade partners.

Global rail giants, SMC to vie for NSCR dealThe Department of Transportation (DOTr) is growing more confident that the private turnover of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will attract multiple bids. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is growing more confident that the private turnover of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will attract multiple bids. Alstom SA, the developer of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension, also participated. From the Philippines, SMC appears ready to vie for a new concession after winning last year the P170.6-billion deal to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. SMC is also the PPP partner of the government in building the Metro Rail Transit Line 7, which has been slumped with multiple delays and is now close to a decade under construction.

Light rains expectedMANILA, Philippines — The northeast monsoon and the easterlies continue to influence weather conditions across the country, bringing light rains, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday. The northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies and light rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela and Apayao, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. The easterlies, on the other hand, will cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan, with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will affect the rest of the country. PAGASA added that no significant impacts are expected in areas affected by the northeast monsoon, but advised the public to remain cautious during thunderstorms in areas under easterlies.

What is the Christmas spirit? The Christmas spirit is about hope and how much we can be rest assured that it does not disappoint, even when we undergo very dark days. The Christmas spirit is the connections we make with those we love and those who cross our paths even in the midst of chaos – the ones that change our lives in the most profound ways. But the spirit of Christmas is something we can celebrate everyday, even in the very small ways that people tend to ignore. The Christmas spirit is more than decorations or gifts – it is the way we live, with kindness and compassion, especially for those who need it most.

DOH logs 28 fireworks-related injuriesThe DOH said that from Dec. 21 to early morning yesterday, its 62 sentinel hospitals recorded 28 cases, or 50 percent lower than the 56 cases posted during the same period last year. MANILA, Philippines — As of Christmas Day, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 28 fireworks-related injuries. In its latest FWRI Surveillance Report, the DOH said eight new cases were reported as of 4 a.m. of Dec. 25. The DOH said that from Dec. 21 to early morning yesterday, its 62 sentinel hospitals recorded 28 cases, or 50 percent lower than the 56 cases posted during the same period last year. Of the total cases, 19 (68 percent) of the 28 victims are 19 years old and below while nine or 32 percent are 20 years old and above.

COA calls out DOH over delayed, idle infrastructure projectsThe photo of the Commission on Audit's office in Quezon CIty. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Department of Health over delayed, idle and unimplemented infrastructure projects under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the DOH for 2024, with a total contract cost of P14.52 billion. The audit breakdown showed that a total of P11.539 billion in HFEP projects were delayed or were not completed within the contract time. The bulk of the delayed projects were under the DOH Central Office (CO), involving nine contracts with an aggregate cost of P8.61 billion. Meanwhile, the audit report showed that HFEP projects with an aggregate contract cost of P2.362 billion, were unimplemented or have to not even started as of end of 2024.

LoiNie as parents: Loisa Andalio expecting 1st baby with Ronnie AlonteCelebrity couple Ronnie Alonte and Loisa Andalio are expecting their first child. MANILA, Philippines — Recently wed celebrity couple Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte are going to be parents to their first baby. Ronnie and Loisa in their joint Instagram post shared the overwhelming sentiments they feel for their unborn child, calling their baby as their greatest blessing. “Ngayon lang kami nakaramdam ng ganitong klaseng pagmamahal, isang pagmamahal na napakalalim para sa isang taong hindi pa namin nakikilala,” the couple said. RELATED: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte now married

Search underway for missing Palo priest Edwin 'Cutz' CaintoyPhoto shows the missing person's report on Father Edwin 'Cutz' Caintoy of the Archdiocese of Palo. MANILA, Philippines — A priest of the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte, has been missing since December 23, with his whereabouts still unknown. In a statement on Wednesday, December 24, the Archdiocese of Palo said Reverend Father Edwin "Kutz" Caintoy was last seen on the morning of December 23 at the bus terminal near Robinsons North in Tacloban City. Reverend Father Gwen Lovelino Padagdag, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Palo, said they are closely coordinating with authorities in search of Caintoy. Those with information that may assist in locating Caintoy have been urged to contact Padagdag through 09282193275.

Arrests ahead of Christmas fail to catch ‘big fish’ in flood control scandalPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a report on the government's response to the flood control corruption mess on Nov. 13, 2025. Minority lawmakers are now asking: where are the arrests President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised before Christmas, and when will high-ranking officials implicated in the case be held to account? (So much for “someone will spend Christmas in jail.” He only gave false hope to the Filipino people.) “Hindi sapat na mga DPWH officials o mga contractor lang ang makulong,” he said in a statement on December 24. (It’s not enough that DPWH officials or contractors are the only ones jailed.)

A Christmas taleSince the first Christmas, there have always been two Christmases – one for the poor and the other for the elite or the rich. Christmas for the poor is the tale of Jesus being born in a manger, a box or trough where animals are fed, in Bethlehem. “Wait a moment, my son is king, the king of kings.” So you have the optics of three kings visiting the King of Kings. The standard narrative is that the three kings reached Jesus two weeks after Christmas, or Jan. 6. This brings me to a third kind of Christmas – one for those behind bars, and the other, for those who are in hiding, fugitives from justice.

UN, BARMM support community-based Moro entrepreneursRepresentatives of the eight newly-organized groups of Moro entrepreneurs in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur presented to reporters on Dec. 23, 2025 while in Cotabato City, the food products that they produce and sell in the markets and in stores along thoroughfares in both provinces. COTABATO CITY — An agency of the United Nations and the Bangsamoro government jointly provided eight groups of neophyte Moro entrepreneurs with P50,000 each in grants on Tuesday, December 23, to serve as additional capital and help boost their productivity in producing preserved native delicacies. Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin Sema said on Thursday, December 25, that many of the entrepreneurs in the eight groups are from families associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front, which have separate peace agreements with the government. These groups are based in barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Talitay in Maguindanao del Norte, as well as in Guindulungan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and South Upi in Maguindanao del Sur. The MILF and the MNLF are cooperating in overseeing the operations of several BARMM agencies and have representatives too in the 80-seat regional parliament.