No more overpriced farm-to-market roads, says DAMANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday, January 9, said that there will no longer be overpriced farm-to-market (FMR) roads now that the establishment of these highways will be left to the agency. Lawmakers flagged the overpriced roads, with one project even costing more than 20 times the standard price. In a briefing, Tiu Laurel said there is a new costing under the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA secretary said the proper costing will be established so that the contractor will still make a fair profit without inordinate excesses. Based on their current figures, Tiu Laurel said that they will offer P14.5 million per kilometer to companies, with value-added tax included.

New lava dome forms as Mayon Volcano ejects pyroclastic flowsMANILA, Philippines — A new dark lava dome emerged at Mayon Volcano Thursday morning, January 8, as the volcano released lava and pyroclastic density currents that demonstrated the volcano’s rising unrest. Phivolcs’ bulletin showed that over 24 hours on January 7, Mayon Volcano generated 162 rockfalls, 50 pyroclastic density currents and one volcanic earthquake. The first escalation of Mayon Volcano’s alert level, from 1 to 2 on January 1, came in response to heightened magmatic activity and rockfalls. Phivolcs warned of potential hazards during Mayon's increasing unrest, including rockfalls, landslides, ballistic fragments, lava flows, lava fountaining, pyroclastic density currents, moderate-sized explosions and lahars amid heavy and prolonged rainfall. He also said authorities are prepared should Phivolcs raise Mayon Volcano's alert level to Alert Level 4.

BIR slaps tax raps on Wawao Builders over Bulacan ghost flood projectTax Commissioner Charlito Mendoza holds the complaint-affidavit against Wawao Builders’ sole proprietor, Mark Arevalo, at the Department of Justice on Jan. 8, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed tax evasion complaints against Mark Arevalo, sole proprietor of Wawao Builders, over a multi-million peso tax deficiency linked to a "ghost" infrastructure project. So, it's a ghost project, and then when he filed his returns, he declared costs for the alleged construction of the project,” Mendoza said in an interview with reporters. According to the BIR, Wawao Builders violated Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code, accused of tax evasion and failing to provide accurate information in its income tax and value-added tax (VAT) returns for the first two quarters of 2024. Previous tax complaints were filed by the bureau against contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya in October 2025, and in November 2025, against contractor Sally Santos.

First free trade pact with Middle East. A main highlight of Marcos' visit next week is the Philippines' first-ever free trade pact with a Middle Eastern nation, ending tariff barriers that have long limited Filipino exporters' access to the oil-rich Gulf. The deal — named the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) — aims to expand market access for Philippine products across the Middle East, Castro said. (The CEPA is the first free trade agreement of the Philippines with a country in the Middle East that that aims to expand the Philippines’ market access). Alongside the trade pact, a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation will formalize military technology sharing between Manila and Abu Dhabi, Castro said.

According to her, preparation for the bar should start on the very first day of law school. "I was overwhelmed and deeply humbled, as I was not really expecting to be among the topnotchers for this year’s Bar exams. "My tip for aspiring lawyers is that your review for the bar exams starts on the very first day you step into law school. Another important thing to do is to "reinforce your knowledge during your fourth-year review classes, and fine-tune all the things you have learned in law school during your Bar review proper." "I enrolled with Legal Edge Review Center, Dean Ralph Sarmiento’s Mentoring Program, and earnestly participated Bukidnon State University - College of Law Bar Drills," she shared.

Unprogrammed appropriations ‘constitutionally valid’ — DBMFacade of the Department of Budget and Management's building. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) defended the existence of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2026 budget, saying it abided by the Constitution. In a statement on Thursday, January 8, the DBM said it respected the right to seek judicial remedies but maintained that the UA in the 2026 budget is legal. “The DBM maintains its position that the UAs under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act are constitutionally valid. The UA for the 2026 budget currently stands at P150.9 billion—the lowest since the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

5 BuCor personnel pass 2025 Bar ExaminationsNew Bilibid Prisons Reservation Area, Poblacion or Bagong Bilangguang Bilibid, constructed 1936-1940, is the main insular penitentiary in the PhilippinesMANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:50 p.m.) — Five officers of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) cleared the 2025 Bar Examinations. In a statement on Thursday, January 8, BuCor Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. congratulated the officers who passed the Bar Exams. “With their newfound knowledge, they will contribute to a more robust understanding of the legal intricacies surrounding corrections and rehabilitation. The results of the 2025 Bar Examinations were released on January 7. Out of the 11,420 who finished the exams, only 5,594 passed, yielding a passing rate of 48.98%.

Marcos: Philhealth to grant general amnesty for non-payersMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Philhealth has been ordered to grant a general amnesty for companies that have failed to pay their contributions to the state health insurer, giving them one year to catch up on missed payments. In a video statement posted on Thursday, January 8, Marcos said that he was aware of the impact that the 3% contribution to Philhealth has on citizens. “Inutusan ko po ang PhilHealth na magpatupad ng general amnesty para sa mga negosyante, private employer, mga self-employed na ating mga kababayan na hindi nabayarang kontribusyon sa PhilHealth,” Marcos said. (I have directed Philhealth to grant a general amnesty to the business heads, private employers, and self-employed citizens who have not paid their contributions to Philhealth.) Philhealth reported a large surge in contributions in 2025 compared to the year before, saying that benefit payments reached P289.26 billion— a 76% increase.

According to Variety , Teagan Croft will be portraying Rapunzel while Milo Manheim is set to bring Flynn Rider's character to life. The upcoming live-action adaptation of Tangled has found its Rapunzel and and Flynn Rider. The live-action adaptation of Tangled will be helmed by Michael Gracey, who is known for directing The Greatest Showman. Longing to explore the world beyond her confines, she crosses paths with charming thief Flynn Rider, and together they embark on an adventure filled with self-discovery, danger, and romance. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi lent their voices as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, respectively.

US says to dictate Venezuela decisions, oil salesWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 7.

5 Bar Exam finishers 'disqualified' due to lack of documentsBar Chair Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier speaks to the press during the announcement of the 2025 Bar Examination results on Jan. 7, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Five Bar exam takers who finished the examinations last year have been disqualified after failing to submit the necessary documents, 2025 Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier said. The five individuals, according to the Bar chair, were “not able to comply with the requirements,” trimming the previously recorded 11,425 aspirants to 11,420. The 2025 Bar Examinations were held on September 7, 10 and 14. RELATED: 2025 Bar chair turns over chairmanship to GaerlanHowever, during the release of the Bar exam results, Lazaro-Javier stated that only 11,420 individuals took the examinations.

Not related to 'crab'? CUHK finds unique allergen in king crab for first time

Rice tariff collection plunges 60% in 2025Workers load sacks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice on a truck inside a warehouse at the NFA compound in Balagtas, Bulacan. MANILA, Philippines — The government’s rice tariff collection in 2025 fell by more than half on an annual basis to P13.7 billion as import volume skid to its lowest level in four years, coupled with a historic low tariff rate. The plunge in tariff collection has been widely expected by rice industry stakeholders and government officials since the tariff rate on the commodity has been reduced to 15 percent from 35 percent. Rice tariff collections have been critical since the government liberalized the country’s rice trade regime in 2019, because they are earmarked into a fund that aims to modernize the local rice sector. The government will begin the implementation of a flexible rice tariff scheme this year wherein the tariff rate may increase or decrease depending on the movement of global rice prices.

Marcos Jr. to new generals: Protect public resourcesPresident Marcos poses with newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a graduate of the Foreign Pre-Commissioned Training Institutions at Malacañang yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos reminded newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday to lead with integrity and be among the guardians of the country’s resources. In addition to their duty as the nation’s protectors, the military also has the responsibility of safeguarding public resources, Marcos said. Marcos emphasized his administration’s commitment to uphold the welfare of the country’s uniformed personnel with the recent signing of the P6.793-trillion national budget for this year. He cited his order in December updating the base pay schedule and increasing the subsistence allowance for military and uniformed personnel.

All hail ‘player for the future’ Bethell after Ashes centuryJacob Bethell is unbeaten on 142 at stumps, steering England to 302 for eight.