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Metro Manila, Philippines – Tropical Depression Ester maintained its strength as it moved northwest of Batanes, the weather bureau said on Friday, June 5.   In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes.  Ester was last located 230 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes.   The tropical depression showed signs of deceleration over the last few hours, dropping to 15 kilometers per hour (kph) from its previous 20 kph. It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.   While Ester traverses the northern boundary of the country, PAGASA warned that the southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to bring heavy rainfall across parts of Luzon over the weekend:   Friday, June 5: Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora , Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro, and…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Inflation slowed down to 6.8% in May, driven by a decelerating rise in transportation, food, and energy prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on Friday, June 5. May’s inflation reading is 0.4 percentage points lower than the 7.2% recorded in April, which marked a three-year high since the 7.6% rate logged in March 2023. However, it remains significantly higher than the 1.3% rate observed in May 2025. The latest figure fell below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) earlier forecast range of 7.1% to 7.9%. National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted that a major driver of the downturn was transport inflation, which dropped to 16.2% in May from 21.4% in April. In particular, diesel price inflation saw a massive drop, slowing to 58.5% in May from 122.7% the previous month. Food, beverages, housing, water, electricity, and liquid fuels also registered slower inflation rates, contributing to the…

Metro Manila, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian stood by the postponement of the blue ribbon committee hearing even as Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies pushed ahead with their own meeting with witnesses in the flood control controversy. Gatchalian said there was no official blue ribbon hearing on Thursday, June 4, after new committee chairman Erwin Tulfo moved the inquiry to Monday, June 8. “Walang hearing ngayon. There’s no hearing today,” Gatchalian told reporters on Thursday, June 4. He said resource persons would not be allowed entry into the Senate for a hearing that had not been officially convened. “Since walang hearing, walang resource persons,” Gatchalian said. [Translation: Since there is no hearing, there are no resource persons.] “Yung resource persons hindi pwedeng makapasok dahil walang hearing,” he said. [Translation: The resource persons cannot enter because there is no hearing.] Despite this, Cayetano insisted the witnesses should…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged lawmakers to move past the leadership dispute and refocus on pending legislation and pressing national issues, a day after senators elected a new Senate leadership following a dramatic session at the chamber. “Ang gusto natin eh makabalik na tayo sa trabaho,” Gatchalian told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday, June 4.  [Translation: What we want is to get back to work.] Gatchalian said several measures remain pending, including anti-hospital detention bills and the confirmation of five military generals. “Talagang maraming nabinbin na mga batas tulad ng mga anti-hospital detention laws, yung confirmation ng limang generals at iba pang mga batas,” he said.  [Translation: Many measures remain pending, including anti-hospital detention laws, the confirmation of five generals, and other legislation.] He also cited inflation and global developments including the Middle East crisis as issues requiring immediate attention from lawmakers. The…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian on Thursday, June 4, said he would preside over Vice President Sara Duterte’s looming impeachment trial.  “Well under the rules, since ang Senate president pro tempore is the acting Senate president, tayo ang mag preside ng impeachment,” Gatchalian said in a briefing. The lawmaker said senator-judges would also have to retake their oath after the leadership shuffle. This time, he would be the new presiding officer of the impeachment court. “I would have to consult with the clerk of court kung ano ang mga procedures. But definitely pagbukas, kailangan mag-take ng oath,” he said. Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said he – and not Gatchalian – will preside over the trial since he is the legitimate Senate president.  “I am the Senate president and if you look at the Constitution, it is the Senate president (who will preside),” he said. The…