New law on barangay, SK polls, terms under fire

Inquirer.net - Sep 27, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Several groups have come together to raise red flags over a new law extending the term of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to November 2028, saying this was done to consolidate political networks ahead of the national elections scheduled that same year. The law is set to be challenged

Read full article

More News

Sep 27, 2026

DA backs ‘phased’ pork tariff hikes

MANILA, Philippines — To support Filipino hog raisers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it is seeking to restore pre-African swine fever tariff levels for imported pork through staggered increases. The proposal follows the agency’s discussions on Sept. 24 with industry stakeholders, who called for the move as farmgate pork prices continue to

Sep 27, 2026

Riding Pulangi’s wild rapids in Bukidnon

KIBAWE, Bukidnon — For decades, outdoor water adventure seekers chasing the ultimate river rush in Mindanao have often looked north toward Cagayan de Oro City, long celebrated as the country’s undisputed “whitewater rafting capital.” But down in the southern reaches of Bukidnon—a landlocked province known for its cool mountain breeze and vast agricultural plantations—a new

Sep 27, 2026

This week’s milestones: Sept. 27 to Oct. 3

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a historical marker at the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet. In its early years, the university began as a farm school in 1916 and pioneered secondary education and agricultural education among indigenous students from the provinces that comprised what is now known as the Cordillera

Sep 27, 2026

Local Influences and Return Chasing: Entering a New Era in Emerging Equity Markets

This paper examines a shift in global equity flows, highlighting that local factors now dominate over global ones in emerging markets, driven by investor sensitivity to local returns post-COVID. Structural Shifts in Global Financial Flows The question of whether the global financial cycle still predominantly influences capital flows to emerging markets is explored in this […]

Sep 27, 2026

Forgotten no more: Filipino folklore finds footing on global stage

Stories of the manananggal, a creature said to split its body in two, and the tiyanak, which takes the form of an infant, are part of the folklore many children grow up hearing in the Philippines. Now, they are among the mythological creatures featured in DreamWorks’ animated Forgotten Island, which opened in the Philippines on Wednesday and is due to be released in the United States on Friday. The film, described as the first major Hollywood production to showcase Filipino culture and...

Sep 27, 2026

How Kenya’s sacred Mrima Hill became new front in US-China minerals rivalry

Mrima Hill, a sacred site about 65km (40 miles) southwest of Mombasa on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, is emerging as a new front in the US-China rivalry for critical minerals. US-led and Chinese bidders are competing for rights to develop the site, which is rich in rare earths and niobium, a metal used to make steel stronger and lighter. American officials have offered to support Kenya’s development of its domestic critical minerals processing industry as Washington seeks to challenge Beijing’s...