Ex-DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan returns to PhilippinesFormer DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan at the Immigration gates of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. MANILA, Philippines — Manuel Bonoan, the former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways caught in the flood control scandal, has returned to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration said. Immigration authorities said Bonoan arrived without a travel companion. Bonoan left for the United States on November 11 amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged anomalies. In a DZBB interview on January 16, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Bonoan had requested a one-month extension of his stay in the United States, also citing his wife's medical procedure.

Palace declares special non-working days in several areasPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 commended the Filipino community in the United Arab Emirates for their significant contributions to both their host country and the Philippines. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has proclaimed several special non-working days this year in a province, four cities, and four municipalities to allow residents to participate in local celebrations and commemorative events. The special non-working days were declared through a series of proclamations signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, by authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The following localities will observe special non-working days on the indicated dates:January 15 — San Pablo City, Laguna (Coconut Festival)January 22 — Guiguinto, Bulacan (Halamanan Festival)February 2 — Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte (112th Araw ng Katipunan)February 2 — Mabalacat City, Pampanga (314th founding anniversary)February 3 — Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija (76th founding anniversary)February 6 — Consolacion, Cebu (106th founding anniversary)February 10 — Bacolor, Pampanga (Bacolor Day)February 11 — Candoni, Negros Occidental (Dinagyaw sa Tablas Festival)February 17 — Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay (Araw ng Kabasalan)February 21 — Province of Marinduque (Araw ng Marinduque)May 7 — San Pablo City, Laguna (Charter anniversary)Candoni’s Dinagyaw sa Tablas Festival honors early settlers who transformed forestlands into productive communities. The proclamations were issued to give residents the opportunity to fully participate in local events and celebrations.

Vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy sent back to Russia – BIMANILA, Philippines — Detained Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy has been deported to Russia, the Bureau of Immigration said. In a statement on Sunday, January 18, the bureau said Zdorovetskiy was deported on January 17 after boarding an IrAero flight bound for Irkutsk. During inquest proceedings, immigration authorities said Zdorovetskiy admitted to acts of harassment. While he sought bail during his detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, the bureau denied the request. RELATED: Russian vlogger to face criminal charges, won't be deported yet

Landslide kills two in Sorsogon during 'Ada' rainsImage showing Pajo River in Virac, Catanduanes during Tropical Storm "Ada" on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Two people have been reported dead due to Tropical Storm Ada (international name: Nokaen), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Te deaths were caused by a landslide in Matnog, Sorsogon, triggered by heavy rains brought by the storm, the NDRRMC reported. As of 11 a.m., the state weather bureau PAGASA said Ada was located about 140 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes. RELATED: 2 killed in Sorsogon landslide amid 'Ada' rains

PEAC, DepEd vow tighter controls for voucher programStudents attend their classes after their holiday break at Araullo High School in Manila on January 4, 2024. PEAC executive director Doris Ferrer said necessary safeguards are being implemented in the government’s SHS voucher program. “The integrity of the SHS voucher program is non-negotiable for us,” Ferrer said. Our role is to ensure that the voucher program continues to serve students while safeguarding public trust,” Ferrer said. SHS voucher program is a long-standing and cost-effective initiative that has played a vital role in expanding access to quality senior high school education for at least 6.7 million learners nationwide.

Pope Leo XIV marks Cebu's Fiesta Señor with call to serve the poorPeople carry religious icons of Baby Jesus during the annual Sto. MANILA, Philippines — Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to renew their commitment to serving the marginalized as he marked the feast of the Santo Niño. Leo, a former superior general of the Augustinian order, visited Cebu in 2004 while he was still a priest. Archdiocese of Cebu Pope Leo XIV (middle), when he was more known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, along with Augustinian missionaries when he visited the Philippines in 2004. On Saturday, a 400-vessel flotilla took part in the traditional fluvial procession, returning the image of the Santo Niño from Mactan to Cebu City.

A tuna seiner flying the Ecuadorian flag, identified as Don Igilio and owned by Eurofish, caught fire on the night of January 8 and subsequently sank in international waters off the coast of Peru. Local media and company sources confirmed that all 25 crew members were rescued and survived the incident. Companies and skippers should monitor fleet tracking feeds and company communications to assess short-term shifts in effort or vessel redeployments. Verify company safety bulletins, review shipboard firefighting readiness, and confirm that crew training and equipment maintenance records are current. Salvage operations and pollution response can require coordination among flag states, regional authorities, and private contractors.

Play was halted during an Australian Open first-round match on Sunday when a ball girl fainted as temperatures soared, with players Zeynep Sonmez and Ekaterina Alexandrova rushing to help her. The incident happened as Russian 11th seed Alexandrova was serving during the second set, with the girl falling onto her back while standing at the base of the umpire's chair. Emerging Turkish star Sonmez sprinted over to help while Alexandrova fetched ice bags from a courtside fridge, before she received medical attention. Play was suspended for several minutes with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius. When they resumed, qualifier Sonmez stunned Alexandrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 for the biggest win of her career.

POCO M8 seriesTechnology brand POCO recently introduced its new M8 5G and M8 Pro 5G smartphones, which are designed to deliver exceptional entertainment experiences for everyday users through portability, high-quality audiovisuals, long-lasting battery life, and exceptional durability. The M8 Pro 5G device features a 6,500mAh battery with up to a six-year lifespan for reliable, long-lasting power. HONOR X9d 5GHONOR has also launched its newest smartphone series, X9d 5G, for users looking for a durable yet stylish device built to keep up with everyday demands. Priced at P17,999, the HONOR X9d 5G is available for pre-order until 23 at any of their partner stores or online via leading e-commerce stores. When it comes to its picture-taking capabilities, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G features an all-new 200MP ultimate-clarity main camera, equipped with a brand-new 1/1.4-inch large sensor for unprecedented image detail.

Nestlé Philippines said that it is working with the Food and Drug Administration to address the reported quality concerns regarding several batches of its two infant formula products. Nestlé also addressed the FDA's statement regarding 18 reports involving health concerns observed in those who consumed the infant formula. Only a specific number of batches of the affected products is included in the recall. If parents and caregivers have already purchased the products, they can check this website to see whether their items are included in the affected batches. You may also contact Nestlé Philippines on Facebook, via email at consumer.services@ph.nestle.com, or their hotline (02-8898 0061) if you have a product included in the affected batches.

No more missing in Cebu dumpsite tragedyAerial view of the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, which collapsed and caused a landslide on January 8. MANILA, Philippines — Disaster response officials said all individuals reported missing after the landslide at the Barangay Binaliw dumpsite in Cebu City have been fully accounted for. The Bureau of Fire Protection Region 7 Cebu City Fire Station said the last body was recovered at 5:41 a.m., bringing the confirmed death toll to 36. “As of 0541H, all reported individuals have now been fully accounted for following the dumpsite landslide incident in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City,” the BFP said in a statement. Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chair of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, confirmed the recovery of the last victim in a dzBB report.

More House leaders see no reason to impeach MarcosMANILA, Philippines — More leaders of the House of Representatives have brushed aside talk of an impeachment move against President Marcos, saying there is no complaint yet or a justification for one. There is no basis, to say the least, for the impeachment of the President. “First of all, we don’t really know who wants to file. He said that to his knowledge, no individual or group is really coming forward to file an impeachment complaint against President Marcos and on what grounds. “We do not even know what they can attribute directly to the President that amounts to an impeachable offense,” he pointed out.

Australian Open: Eala feels at homeMANILA, Philippines — A perceived homecourt advantage. This will fuel Alex Eala as she prepares for her debut in the main draw of the Australian Open, which fires off today and boasts the heftiest prize pool in history at Melbourne Park. This year’s Australian Open offers the biggest prize pool ever of $74.9 million. 2 and winner of the Australian Open girls doubles with Indonesian pal Priska Madelyn Nugroho. I’m super excited,” Eala added.

In an announcement, the NLEX Corporation stated that the Toll Regulatory Board has now authorized them to adjust tolls by P6.00 in the open system and P0.26 per kilometer in the closed system, effective Jan. 20, 2026. The North Luzon Expressway will increase its toll fees starting this January. "It represents the second and final tranche of the approved periodic toll rate adjustments originally due in 2023. To mitigate the impact on expressway users, the increase was previously deferred and implemented in two tranches," NLEX Corporation said. This comes as the South Luzon Expressway has also issued a toll rate adjustment effective Jan. 1.

A bill aiming to institutionalize a "Right to Care" system in the country has been filed in the House of Representatives. Under the measure, a person can choose a "health care agent" by submitting a health care proxy. This information will be reflected on their PhilHealth ID and into a Right to Care registry under the Department of Health. She emphasized that they are denied access to information and decision-making involving their loved ones' health care. San Juan City passed its own Right to Care ordinance in June 2025.