The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said it found “probable cause to indict” Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Emmanuel Bonoan, and several DPWH engineers before the Sandiganbayan for plunder and graft over alleged illegal insertions in the DPWH’s 2025 infrastructure budget in exchange for kickbacks. Investigators said P573 million in illicit payouts was systematically funneled to Estrada, backed by what the Ombudsman described as “solid, immovable evidence” and testimony from state witnesses. Should the Sandiganbayan affirm probable cause, prosecutors will seek immediate arrest, deny bail, and request travel restrictions. The Ombudsman said other similar indictments involving flood-control projects will be pursued.
Interest in solar energy is accelerating across the Philippines as households grapple with rising electricity prices and an increasingly unreliable power grid, according to a new nationwide survey.
Liwayway Holdings Co., Ltd., the group behind the popular Oishi snack brand, is deepening its investment in the Philippines with plans to establish a coconut processing hub aimed at supplying China’s rapidly expanding demand for coconut-based products.
Global food and beverage ingredients leader ofi has partnered with WNC Capital Holdings Inc., parent firm of Wills International Sales Corp. to launch a new joint venture called ofi Philippines Blends.
VinFast is positioning its seven-seater VinFast Limo Green as a practical income-generating vehicle for Filipino ride-hailing drivers, as rising fuel prices and lower EV operating costs reshape transport economics in the Philippines.
Philippines is moving to expand agricultural exports to Japan while simultaneously importing advanced logistics and post-harvest technologies that officials say could reshape domestic supply chains, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said following meetings in Tokyo.
The Philippines’ tourism sector posted a more nuanced performance in 2025: employment continued to rise, but its overall economic footprint softened, pointing to a recovery that is steady in participation but uneven in value generation.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reactivated its El Niño task force to prepare for a likely moderate-to-strong dry spell hitting in the fourth quarter of 2026 and lasting into early 2027. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized urgent, coordinated steps to shield crops, farmer incomes, food supply, and prices from harm.