ASEAN: Cease hostilitiesForeign ministers and senior official leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary and ASEAN chair Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she convened a virtual Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the situation in the Middle East, to exchange views on the evolving situation in the region and to address its implications for ASEAN. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Senior Official Leaders (SOM) of Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste. We also agreed to continue monitoring the situation in the Middle East,” she said.

Photo by STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP This photo taken on March 11, 2026 shows a scene at a sewage construction site in Osaka City, where a steel pipe has been pushed upward, protruding more than 10 meters above ground level.

Trump claimed in G7 call that Iran is "about to surrender," Axios reportsU.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo

House OKs travel tax abolition on 2nd reading“The proposed abolition of travel tax is but a timely initiative that will not only reduce travel costs, but will also stimulate tourism-dependent sectors and encourage our countrymen to travel, thereby fostering economic opportunities and cultural exchange,” Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, chairman of the House committee on tourism, said as the plenary approved House Bill 8464 or the Travel Tax Abolition Act of 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The proposal to abolish the travel tax for outbound Filipino travelers was approved by the House of Representatives on second reading, paving the way for easing travel costs and a boost to tourism and economic activity. “The proposed abolition of travel tax is but a timely initiative that will not only reduce travel costs, but will also stimulate tourism-dependent sectors and encourage our countrymen to travel, thereby fostering economic opportunities and cultural exchange,” Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, chairman of the House committee on tourism, said as the plenary approved House Bill 8464 or the Travel Tax Abolition Act of 2026. Prior to this, HB 8464 cleared the House committee on ways and means as well as the appropriations panel. The consolidated bill seeks to repeal Presidential Decree 1183 and parts of Republic Act 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009), thereby ending the collection of P1,620 for economy class travelers and P2,700 for first class passengers.

DOTr orders reduced charges as jet fuel prices surgeA commercial plane takes off after sunset from Geneva Airport on September 29, 2018 in Geneva. Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday, March 13, said that it ordered a reduction in Passenger Service Charges (PSC) at airport navigation charges in airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). This is in response to the high jet fuel costs driven up by the Middle East tensions. The DOTr said that the cost of jet fuel has doubled. Filipinos across the country are already reeling from the effects of rising fuel costs, with analysts fearing higher inflation rates and power insufficiency.

ICI seeks closure after 9 referrals covering 65 peopleICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. (right) hands over evidence and findings to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla (left) on March 13, 2026. Reyes said the commission had made nine referrals covering 65 individuals purportedly involved in the massive flood control scheme. Created after flood control scandal. The ICI was among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s anti-corruption measures after the flood control scandal came to light. In February, the ICI turned over its 125-day accomplishment report to Marcos.

Alcaraz battles past Norrie into Indian Wells semifinalsCameron Norrie of Great Britain (left) congratulates Carlos Alcaraz of Spain after their match in the quarterfinals on Day 9 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 12, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. INDIAN WELLS, United States — Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz held off 29th-ranked Cameron Norrie, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday (Friday Manila time) to book an Indian Wells semifinal clash against Russian Daniil Medvedev. 1 from Spain improved his unbeaten 2026 record to 16-0 as he reached the Indian Wells Final Four for the fifth straight year. He arrived in Indian Wells seeking a third title in the elite ATP and WTA Masters 1000 having followed up his Australian Open triumph with a title in Qatar. Next up is Medvedev, a two-time Indian Wells finalist who beat defending champion Jack Draper, 6-1, 7-5, to reach the semifinals for a fourth straight year.

Land conversion ban lifted for government housing, RE projectsIn a March 3 circular, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. authorized the processing and issuance of land-use reclassification certificates for these projects, provided they are certified by the appropriate authorities. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has exempted government-backed housing and renewable energy (RE) projects from the farmlands conversion moratorium, which remains in effect until June. The exemption applies to RE developments endorsed by the Department of Energy or other authorized agencies as well as socialized housing projects implemented or certified by the National Housing Authority. This comes after the DA imposed a six-month moratorium in January on new land reclassification applications amid concerns over the rapid conversion of farmlands. The move was meant to reassess regulatory framework, ensure policy consistency and strengthen oversight against excessive conversion driven by urban development and infrastructure projects.

Visa extension granted to foreigners affected by Middle East tensionsSmoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs Haret Hreik neighborhood on March 5, 2026. Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday, March 13, announced visa relief for foreign nationals whose flights were affected by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. After the United States and Israel struck Iran, violence in the Middle East has escalated, prompting mass cancellations of flights in the region. BI chief Frederick Vida issued a department order allowing foreigners whose visas expired last February 28 to legally stay in the Philippines until April 1, 2026. Analysts fear that the war may be prolonged, as neither side has shown signs of backing down.

Excise tax suspension seen as oil shock bufferFrom AB Capital's The Opening Bell: Three MovesEventPresident Marcos certified as urgent a bill allowing temporary suspension or reduction of fuel excise taxes amid surging oil prices linked to Middle East tensions. The measure aims to stabilize domestic pump prices and mitigate inflationary pressure from global crude volatility. ViewIn our view, the proposal reflects policymakers’ concern that rising fuel costs could quickly feed through to transport, logistics, and food distribution. As a net oil importer, the Philippines remains highly sensitive to global crude swings and second-round inflation effects. CatalystIf enacted, excise tax suspension could moderate near-term pump prices and reduce headline inflation pressures.

Ride-hailing platforms in Philippines push toward 'superapp' modelGas station attendants refuel vehicles in Quezon City on March 2, 2026, a day ahead of the expected oil price hike. MANILA, Philippines — Newer ride-hailing platforms such as inDrive are expanding beyond passenger transport, adding services like deliveries, digital payments and AI-powered tools as they move toward becoming broader "mobility superapps." Ride-hailing companies are similarly testing AI-powered customer service systems and automated support tools to help manage bookings, driver schedules and emergency responses. The rapid growth of digital payments in the Philippines is also encouraging mobility platforms to integrate cashless payment and online banking directly into their apps. Other ride-hailing companies are now trying to replicate the model to remain competitive.

Nearly 3 million Filipinos jobless at start of 2026This photo taken on August 22, 2024 shows employees entering data on traffic movement gathered manually in Metro Manila, at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office in Pasig City. MANILA, Philippines — Almost 3 million Filipinos were unemployed as of January this year ahead of global surge in oil prices that would hit business hard. In a report released on March 13, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the unemployment rate in the country was 5.8%. This means 2.96 million of 80.89 Filipinos qualified for work were jobless at the start of the year, while 2.17 million Filipinos were unemployed at the same period in 2025. The services sector remained the highest source of employment for Filipinos, providing 63.6% of jobs.

Iloilo model boosts Grade 3 reading skills from 28% to 90% in a yearA student of Barasalon Integrated School in Iloilo receives books donated by the Iloilo Provincial Library and Archives, which were provided by the Department of Education Library Hub, Oct. 6, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — A congressional body is pushing to replicate a literacy program in Iloilo that raised reading levels among Grade 3 students from 28% to 90% in just one year — results that come as the commission looks for scalable solutions to the nationwide reading crisis. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) highlighted the Iloilo literacy program's reported wins during a hearing by the Senate basic education committee on March 3. The Iloilo program, a partnership between the provincial government, the Synergeia Foundation, and the DepEd, ran across 11 municipalities starting in 2024. Mayors were given access to real-time reading proficiency data, which Guevara said allowed them to track whether their spending was working.

Frasco out as tourism chiefNamed presidential adviser on climate changeMANILA, Philippines — Weeks after rumors circulated that President Marcos was looking for a new tourism chief, Malacañang announced yesterday that Secretary Christina Frasco has been named presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities. Frasco, who stirred controversy over the use of her photos on the covers of tourism promotion materials, will be replaced by Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso as officer-in-charge. “Secretary Frasco will transition from her role as secretary of tourism, where she led efforts to support tourism enterprises and livelihoods and to deepen partnerships with local governments nationwide,” Castro added. There had been speculations since January that Frasco, who was appointed in 2022, was on her way out of the tourism department supposedly because of weak visitor arrivals. The former tourism secretary also drew flak for allowing the publication of tourism promotional materials prominently showing her face.

4 nabbed over bodies in burning vehicleThe suspects were collared in a follow-up operation in Mallig, Isabela on Wednesday afternoon, according to Nueva Ecija police director Col. Ritchie Claravall. MANILA, Philippines — Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man and a woman whose charred bodies were found in a burning car in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija on Monday. The suspects were collared in a follow-up operation in Mallig, Isabela on Wednesday afternoon, according to Nueva Ecija police director Col. Ritchie Claravall. Video footage from a closed-circuit television camera showed the victims were killed inside the vehicle. Taylor said Espinosa managed to take a selfie with her companion and the suspects while they were in the car.