Budget can withstand legal scrutiny – Palace
Budget can withstand legal scrutiny – PalacePRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 during a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Monday, Jan. 5. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that this year’s P6.793-trillion national budget would withstand legal scrutiny, after a lawmaker vowed to challenge the constitutionality of its unprogrammed appropriations. SafeguardsResponding to criticisms that the 2026 budget still contains “soft pork” funds, Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian said adequate safeguards were put in place to deter corruption. We made sure this budget is corruption-free,” Gatchalian said at a press briefing in the Senate yesterday. Meanwhile, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos thanked President Marcos for the inclusion of nearly P255 million in the 2026 budget, which will support the city’s socialized housing program.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 16:04 UTC
Kristen Stewart open to directing a 'Twilight' remake
Kristen Stewart has expressed interest in returning to the Twilight universe, but this time, she wants to be in the director's chair. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, the actress said that she is open to the idea of directing a remake of the hit vampire romance film series for a new audience. "I love what Catherine [Hardwicke] did, I love what Chris [Weitz] did, I love what all of the directors did with the movies," she said. "They were so themselves and weird and kind of like, squirrelly, and just so present in that time when they didn’t really know what they were yet, like before they blew up," she continued. She expressed interest in the possibility that the franchise would have a bigger budget than before.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 15:07 UTC
Mayon Volcano now at Alert Level 3 amid rising lava, rockfall events
Mayon Volcano now at Alert Level 3 amid rising lava, rockfall eventsMANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano’s heightened activity prompted state seismologists to raise its status to Alert Level 3 on Tuesday, January 6, Phivolcs reported. On Monday, Mayon Volcano released pyroclastic density currents down the Bonga Gully at 12:26 p.m. after newly extruded lava collapsed at the summit. The latest escalation follows Phivolcs' decision to raise Mayon’s alert from Level 1 to Level 2 on January 1, after monitoring a growing number and volume of rockfall events. This compares with 599 rockfall events recorded over two months, from November to December 2025. The rockfall events reportedly lasted one to five minutes, transporting lava debris within a kilometer of the volcano’s southern upper slopes.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 14:26 UTC
Vetoed items meant to pay back Mitsubishi, Toyota
Vetoed items meant to pay back Mitsubishi, ToyotaComposite: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian takes answers from the media on January 6, 2026; Logos of carmarkers Mitsubishi and Toyota on buldings. MANILA, Philippines — Senate Finance panel chair Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns over three items vetoed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2026 national budget, particularly two programs intended to cover government obligations to international car manufacturers Toyota and Mitsubishi. RELATED: Vow of transparency: Which items did Marcos veto from the 2026 budget? Tax incentives, unpaid obligationsAt a press briefing on Tuesday, January 6, Gatchalian said Toyota and Mitsubishi were promised tax incentives under the CARS program to encourage investment in the Philippines. He said the administration may again have to rely on the contingent fund if existing line items prove insufficient to cover incoming projects.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 14:06 UTC
Angara sets expectations: Not all 24,000 classrooms will be built in 2026
Angara sets expectations: Not all 24,000 classrooms will be built in 2026MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara tempered expectations on Tuesday, January 6, over the government's classroom construction target for 2026, saying not all 24,964 classrooms with allocations in the national budget will be completed within the year. "We don't expect all of those 24,000 to be constructed in 365 days," Angara told reporters at a Malacañang press briefing. Perennial delays in classroom construction have made budget carryovers a regular feature of DepEd’s infrastructure program. But DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has told DepEd he wants to be conservative, eyeing just 2,000 classrooms instead, the DepEd secretary explained. "We still have to settle with Secretary Vince and DPWH how many of the 24,000 they can actually construct," Angara said.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 10:05 UTC
Government cuts growth targets through 2028
Government cuts growth targets through 2028MANILA, Philippines — The government has revised its economic growth targets from 2026 through the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028, citing slower momentum following last year’s corruption scandal. The government had previously targeted gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6% to 8% annually from 2026 to 2028. Speaking at a press briefing shortly after the signing of the 2026 national budget, Balisacan said the budget could support GDP growth of 5% to 6% this year. He said growth is projected at 5.5% to 6% in 2027, with the government aiming for 6% to 7% growth in 2028. Focus on inclusive growthBalisacan also said the 2026 budget places greater emphasis on inclusive growth, rather than benefits concentrated among a limited segment of the population.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 08:40 UTC
DOJ includes plunder case vs Zaldy Co in probe
DOJ includes plunder case vs Zaldy Co in probeFormer congressman Zaldy Co breaks his silence in a video sent to media yesterday, alleging a presidential directive to insert P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget. MANILA, Philippines — A plunder complaint has been filed against fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, a case now among those under preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said. Speaking to reporters on Monday, January 5, Martinez said one of the seven cases before the DOJ includes a plunder complaint against Co.“One pertains to plunder, which is against Ako-Bicol Representative Zaldy Co,” Martinez said. As a result, the prosecution panel gave Co until January 15 to submit his counter-affidavit. The anti-graft court also ordered the cancellation of Co’s passport, along with those of three other individuals linked to the flood control scandal.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 08:35 UTC
DFA welcomes Australia confirmation that Bondi suspects didn't train in Philippines
DFA welcomes Australia confirmation that Bondi suspects didn't train in PhilippinesThis screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Australian authorities have found no evidence that the suspects in the December 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting incident received military-style training during their month-long stay in the Philippines. The latter shared mid-December that they found no indications that the father-and-son suspects received any training or prepared for the attack during their month-long stay in Davao City. Philippines rejects 'ISIS training hotspot' labelThis confirmation by Australia comes after the Philippine government strongly rejected foreign media reports characterizing the country as an "ISIS training hotspot" following the Bondi Beach attack. Año had pointed out that there have been "no recorded terrorist training activities" by ISIS-affiliated groups in recent years in the Philippines.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 07:35 UTC
DPWH still gets second highest budget at P530.9 billion
DPWH still gets second highest budget at P530.9 billionLaborers are seen working in a construction site along Road 10 in Navotas City on June 22, 2024. The DPWH budget, now to be overseen by 2024 midyear appointee Vince Dizon as secretary, is second only to the Department of Education, which was allocated P1.015 trillion, its largest budget to date. Data released by the Department of Budget and Management show the following agencies received the highest allocations for 2026:Department of Education — P1.015 trillion Department of Public Works and Highways — P530.9 billion Department of Health — P448.1 billion Department of the Interior and Local Government — P310.5 billion Department of National Defense — P310.0 billion Department of Agriculture — P297.1 billion Department of Social Welfare and Development — P270.2 billion Department of Transportation — P141.0 billion Department of Labor and Employment — P73.6 billion Judiciary — P70.6 billionUnder the executive branch's original proposal, DPWH sought P850 billion for 2026. The request was submitted before the exposure of the corruption scheme involving its flood control projects. Rolando Toledo, however, said some allocations for foreign-assisted flood control projects remain under DPWH, although the amounts have yet to be disclosed.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 07:17 UTC
'Emily in Paris' renewed for sixth season
Emily Cooper will continue her journey, navigating life and romance in Paris. Netflix announced on Jan. 6 that the comedy-romance series is returning to Paris for another season. Plot details are still under wraps, but it will take off from Emily's (Lily Collins) trip back to Paris from Venice after her split from Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini) from the previous season. After choosing her life back in Paris over a quiet life with Marcello in Italy, Emily is seemingly set to reunite with her ex Gabriel, who has invited her to join him on his boss' yacht. Meanwhile, Emily's best friend Mindy and Nicolas (Paul Forman) are officially engaged, yet Mindy is left reeling after Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), who has feelings for her, called her upcoming marriage a mistake.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 07:08 UTC
With P150-B in unprogrammed funds intact, Supreme Court challenge looms
With P150-B in unprogrammed funds intact, Supreme Court challenge loomsMANILA, Philippines — The controversial use of unprogrammed appropriations has been questioned for years, with critics likening it to discretionary funds or the government’s pork. He said such a petition would be filed if Marcos did not veto the entire P243-billion unprogrammed appropriations budget that was ratified by Congress. “We're actually preparing the petition before the Supreme Court,” Erice said over DZBB 594. That is what we will file with the Supreme Court,” he added in Filipino. President Bongbong Marcos, however, kept over P150.9 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, only vetoing P92.5 billion worth of line items.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 06:35 UTC
Military remains loyal after Maduro ouster, Venezuelan exiles say
Military remains loyal after Maduro ouster, Venezuelan exiles sayA Venezuelan journalist carries a national flag next to a military vehicle in Cucuta, Colombia, near the border with Venezuela.
Source:The Standard
January 06, 2026 05:50 UTC
‘GDP growth slows, misses 2025 target’
‘GDP growth slows, misses 2025 target’Fair weather is seen at the Ortigas Business Center in Pasig City on November 5, 2025. While the country is likely to miss its 5.5 to 6.5 percent growth target for 2025, the Philippines remains one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, Balisacan said. If realized, a 4.8 to five percent growth for 2025 would also be lower than the 5.7 percent full-year growth posted in 2024. For 2027, he said the new growth target is from 5.5 to 6.5 percent, also lower than the previous six to seven percent growth goal. He said consumption, a key driver of economic growth, is expected to rebound this year supported by employment growth, remittances, low inflation and interest rates.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 05:42 UTC
Road crashes overtook fireworks as top New Year risk, reaching 1,384 cases
Road crashes overtook fireworks as top New Year risk, reaching 1,384 casesA multiple-vehicular accident happened at the intersection of United Nations Avenue and Taft Avenue on Dec. 9, 2024, leaving six people injured. MANILA, Philippines — Road crash injuries more than doubled during the recent New Year celebrations compared to 2025, reaching 1,384 cases as of Monday, January 5. Since December 21, 2025, the agency noted that 85% of cases involved motorists and passengers who did not wear helmets or seatbelts. Roughly 171 of the road crash injuries also involved riders who were under the influence of alcohol. The DOH reported that most road crash injuries occurred on New Year’s Eve, followed by December 22 and Christmas Day.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 04:35 UTC
DepEd gets record P65B to build 25,000 classrooms. Is it enough?
DepEd gets record P65B to build 25,000 classrooms. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education is getting a P65 billion budget this year for the construction of nearly 25,000 new classrooms, the most ambitious school building target the government has had since 2020. Broken down, P65 billion will be for new classrooms and P7.7 billion will go to repairs of existing school buildings, among others. DepEd estimates the backlog at 148,000 classrooms, a deficit that grows each year as student enrollment outpaces construction. Last year, the government aimed to build just 1,600 classrooms but managed to complete only 22 by October.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2026 04:16 UTC