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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has called on Universal Robina Corporation (URC) to compensate fisherfolk affected by the recent molasses wastewater spill in Negros Oriental. In a television interview, DENR-EMB Assistant Director Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe confirmed that approximately 255,000 cubic meters of molasses wastewater leaked into Bais Bay and Manjuyo…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, held a strategic meeting with South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanwha Ocean Co. to explore a landmark defense collaboration aimed at modernizing the Philippine Navy. The proposed partnership includes the construction of a state-of-the-art submarine base, the establishment of a…
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In a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, top defense officials from four key Indo-Pacific nations gathered to discuss regional security cooperation and strategic alignment. Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently met with executives from DL Group, a top South Korean conglomerate, to discuss a strategic partnership aimed at boosting the Philippines’ energy security. The focus: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—a new generation of compact nuclear power plants. DL E&C, the engineering arm of DL Group, is collaborating with Meralco, the…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a strong pitch to American business leaders during his address to the U.S. APEC Business Coalition, unveiling sweeping economic reforms designed to attract strategic investments and boost the country’s competitiveness. “The Philippines stands ready to engage constructively amid global trade uncertainties,” the President declared. “Our priorities are clear: to…
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is accelerating efforts to finalize amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), aiming to address persistently high rice prices and restore fairness to Filipino farmers. Following a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DA has conducted a series of regional consultations—culminating in final meetings in Cagayan de Oro…
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to regional cooperation and inclusive economic growth during his keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit 2025, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. In front of global business leaders and policymakers, President Marcos declared, “The Philippines is open, ready, and eager to do business with all of you,”…
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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright declared that the United States is fully capable of replacing Russia as China’s primary oil and gas supplier, should Beijing choose to cut ties with Moscow. Speaking to Bloomberg, Wright said, “Absolutely. Today the US produces 50 percent more oil than Russia or Saudi Arabia. That puts not only the…
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Senator Camille Villar has sounded the alarm on the country’s deepening mental health crisis, filing Proposed Senate Resolution No. 99 to prompt a Senate inquiry aimed at strengthening mental health programs and expanding access to care for millions of Filipinos. Villar, the youngest member of the 20th Congress, emphasized the urgency of a whole-of-society response,…
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The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has called for definitive legal guidance on the implementation and funding of 23 national education laws within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), following a high-level coordination meeting held this week. The meeting, convened by EDCOM 2, highlighted persistent ambiguities in the interpretation of the…
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The Bench Files 