Over 5 million passengers per day expected during Holy WeekPassengers begin to flock to the North Port Passenger Terminal in Manila on March 31, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — More than five million passengers per day are expected to travel during Holy Week, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said yesterday. “We have a large number of passengers because as we all know, it has been a tradition when it is Holy Week, we go to our provinces,” Lopez said at a press briefing. Of the projected daily volume, about three million passengers are expected at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, 2.6 million through seaports and around 150,000 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Additional vessels have been positioned in Marinduque, Batangas and Calapan to assist stranded passengers.

Marcos orders naming of 131 features in KIGA tugboat of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy sails in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal near the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in August 2025. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the giving of local names to 131 features of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The directive is contained in Executive Order 111 signed by Marcos on March 26. 57, wherein the National Maritime Council recommended the adoption of the standard set of Philippine names for the 131 features of the KIG in Kalayaan town in Palawan. Meanwhile, ninety Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were monitored in the vicinity of four key features in the WPS last month.

Herbosa sued over P1.4 billion expired meds, vaccinesMANILA, Philippines — A group of “concerned Department of Health personnel” has filed a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and 16 other officials over the alleged wastage of P1.4 billion worth of medicines and vaccines. They claimed that P68 million worth of medicines had already expired, including 1.2 million cycles of family planning drugs and psychiatric injectables, P1.3 billion worth of undelivered vaccines and 1.6 million tables of HIV antiretrovirals. The medicines ended up as “dead stock” as they remained in the national warehouse and were not distributed to regional health units. Herbosa and two other ranking health officials are also facing graft, as well as administrative cases for alleged conflict of interest in their roles as radio anchors while serving in a government agency. Apart from this, Herbosa, along with three health officials and employees, were accused of graft and violation of the procurement law for allegedly rigging the purchase of mobile primary care facilities worth P1.8 billion.

Teachers, groups seek stronger government support amid Middle East crisisStudents of the Marikina Elementary School in Marikina City attend a two-hour class orientation before the formal school opening on August 23, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Private school teachers and education groups yesterday pressed the government for urgent support and policy flexibility as the ongoing Middle East crisis continues to strain the education sector. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers Private Schools led the call, citing the worsening conditions faced by educators nationwide. Jonathan Geronimo, ACT Private Schools secretary general, said the government’s response to the ongoing crisis is insufficient and disconnected from the realities faced by teachers. Data from ACT Private Schools show that the average salary of private school teachers in the National Capital Region is only P17,500 per month.

ICI shuts down; Palace says flood mess not forgottenThe Bureau of Customs conducts a public auction of 12 luxury vehicles, including units seized from flood control contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, at the Bureau of Customs Port of Manila on Feb. 25. Various groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the fact-finding body’s probe as it failed to hold accountable the big fish behind the flood control scam. Reiterating ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr.’s remarks, Castro said the ICI has fulfilled its mandate and issuing an executive order to abolish the body is unnecessary. No one would be spared in the flood control probe, Castro asserted. The DOJ has handled 24 cases related to the flood control scandal, nine of which were “endorsed to the ombudsman or with final resolution,” Vida said.

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion, is a huge football fan and the Norwegian’s love for both games has played a role in the surprise crossover. On the surface, the contemplative, cerebral nature of chess is a stark contrast to the physicality and aggression of football. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football,” Haaland said. The strategy involved in chess also appeals to football managers looking for a mental edge in their tactical battles on the pitch. For Kane, his true love remains football, leaving chess as the perfect way to relax.

Philippines sets talks with Iran on oil ships’ passageA vessel containing 142,000 barrels or 22.57 liters of diesel procured by the government as seen in a Deparmtent of Energy-released image on Thursday, March 26, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to hold talks with Iran to ensure the safe passage of Philippine-bound oil ships through the Strait of Hormuz, now effectively under Tehran’s control. Earlier this week, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian called on the Marcos administration to hold high-level discussions with Iran to secure the safe passage of oil vessels bound for the Philippines. A shipment of more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines. China oil exports to Philippines continueThe Chinese embassy, meanwhile, has assured Energy Secretary Sharon Garin that China has no ban on oil export to the Philippines.

‘Impeachment no distraction from other concerns’MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives can address the country’s urgent concerns while still carrying out its constitutional duty to hear the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, House assistant majority leader and Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said yesterday. “There are pressing concerns facing the country that can be addressed more effectively by properly compartmentalizing how they are handled,” Adiong said in a statement, rejecting calls to forego the impeachment proceedings. Finished by MayThe House committee on justice may wrap up impeachment proceedings against Duterte by the end of May even as the body continues to tackle questions over probable cause and the fairness of the process. “From the time of the initiation or referral to the committee on justice, it’s 60 session days. So our estimate is, if I’m not mistaken, at the end of May,” justice vice chair and San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said over the weekend.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are having the fewest children ever recorded, with the national fertility rate continuing falling below the level needed to replace the population, according to a new survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Among married women, 57.3% said they wanted no more children. According to the PSA survey, modern contraceptive use among married women rose to 44.5% from 41.8% in 2022. 1 in 10 married women has unmet family planning needsBut access is far from universal. Around one in 10 married women, or 12.5%, said they have an unmet need for family planning, slightly higher than survey's 12.4%.

Palace orders half-day work-from-home for gov't employees on Holy WednesdayMalacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines, as seen from the Pasig River. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has ordered a half-day work-from-home arrangement for government employees on April 1, Holy Wednesday, with work suspended from noon onward. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that government workers will work remotely from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, ahead of the Holy Week break. "12:01 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., work is suspended," Castro told reporters in Filipino. Maundy Thursday on April 2 and Good Friday on April 3 are both regular holidays, while Black Saturday on April 4 is a special non-working holiday.

Philippines' fuel supply extended to nearly 51 daysA vessel containing 142,000 barrels or 22.57 liters of diesel procured by the government as seen in a Deparmtent of Energy-released image on Thursday, March 26, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ fuel supply has been extended by nearly six days, giving the government more buffer to manage global oil disruptions, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Monday, March 30. The breakdown of supply across fuel types:Fuel type Days of supply Gasoline 59.78 days Diesel 46.93 days Kerosene 107.88 days Jet fuel 62.69 days Fuel oil 57.27 days LPG 34.02 daysGarin said these levels give the government time to replenish stocks while consumption continues. Petron Corp. also disclosed that it procured 2.48 million barrels of Russian crude, enough to support its supply until June. Despite improved supply levels, Garin urged the public to use fuel more efficiently as the conflict continues.

Crude oil prices briefly spiked again after the attack on the tanker, which can carry around 2 million barrels of oil worth more than $200 million at current prices. Kuwait Petroleum Corp, the ship's owner, said the attack happened early on Tuesday, causing a fire and hull damage. Authorities in Dubai later said they had brought the fire under control following a drone attack on the tanker. Leavitt said talks with Iran were progressing, and that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells U.S. officials in private. That helped oil prices retreat and lifted stock markets off their lows as investors hoped for some way for hostilities to end swiftly.

House to proceed with Sara impeachment hearingsVice President Sara Duterte’s defense team, which includes lawyers Michael Poa and Shiela Sison, answer questions during a press briefing in Makati on March 25. MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will continue its impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte next month despite a petition filed before the Supreme Court by her supporters. The lawmaker said the House committee on justice, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, will proceed in line with the 1987 Constitution and House impeachment rules. The panel began clarificatory hearings on March 25 after finding two impeachment complaints filed by Fr. He also clarified that he was not consulted by Torreon’s group regarding the petition filed before the SC.

Visa relief implemented for foreign nationals affected by Mideast crisisMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has implemented visa relief for foreign nationals affected by tensions in the Middle East caused by the United States-Iran war. 159, dated March 9, grants relief to foreign nationals who are unable to return to their countries due to the crisis. Under the relief, they may extend their stay in the country despite having expired visas, covering "all affected foreign nationals." The DOJ first implemented the relief on March 9 and it was initially set to be effective until Wednesday, April 1. With the issuance of the new memorandum order, visa relief has been extended until May 1, 2026, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Her team -- 18 German archaeologists, geologists, geophysical experts and students and seven Iraqi archaeologists -- initially stayed, reasoning travelling the 750 kilometres (460 miles) overland to Turkey was more dangerous. Now, said Otto, archaeologists once again face being shut out. "We are always training a lot of Iraqi archaeologists and colleagues," said Otto, of the German institute. Foreign digs must work with Iraqi archaeologists, bringing their international expertise. In 2024, she had to leave Iraq, while in 2011, she left Syria.