Philippines | DD News

November 4, 2025 9:35 AM

One dead as Typhoon Kalmaegi dumps heavy rains over central Philippines

One person was killed when Typhoon Kalmaegi hit the central Philippines on Tuesday, the national disaster agency said, as torrential rains, strong winds and storm surges forced tens of thousands to evacuate from their homes. With sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 205 kph when it made landfall early on Tuesday, Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, is forecast to move across the Visayas islands region and out over the South China Sea by Wednesday. Tens of thousands of residents were evacuat...

October 1, 2025 6:01 PM

PM Modi condoles loss of lives in Philippines earthquake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed condolences following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the Philippines. He reaffirmed India’s solidarity with the people of the Philippines and offered prayers for the bereaved families. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of lives and the widespread damage caused by the earthquake in the Philippines. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, and I wish the injured a speedy reco...

October 1, 2025 9:55 AM

Death toll rises to 27 after powerful quake hits central Philippines

The death toll from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Philippines has risen to 69, a disaster official said on Wednesday as the government mobilised agencies to search for survivors and restore power and water supplies. In Bogo city in the north of Cebu province, which was near the epicentre of the shallow quake that struck off the coast just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, the hospital has been "overwhelmed," Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro told reporters. The death toll of 69...

September 22, 2025 3:28 PM

Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels through northern Philippines, triggers alerts across region

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered the Philippines disaster response agency to go on full alert and mobilise all government agencies as Super Typhoon Ragasa threatened the north of the country and set off storm alerts across East and Southeast Asia. Packing winds of 215 kph (134 mph) and gusts of up to 295 kph (160 mph), Ragasa made landfall in Calayan Island in Cagayan province, raising the risk of storm surges exceeding three metres (nine feet), the state weather agency said. The Babuyan ...

September 22, 2025 10:09 AM

Philippines halts work, classes as super typhoon barrels toward Luzon

The Philippines suspended work and classes across Metro Manila and large parts of the country on Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa moved toward northern Luzon, threatening destructive winds and heavy rain. State weather officials raised the highest typhoon warning over the remote Babuyan Islands, urging residents in low-lying and coastal communities to evacuate ahead of storm surges and possible flooding. Packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kph (127 mph) and gusts of up to 250 kph, Ragasa was ...

September 11, 2025 1:04 PM

Philippines protests China’s plan for nature reserve in disputed shoal

The Philippines said on Thursday it "strongly protests" China's plan to establish a nature reserve at a South China Sea shoal, as Beijing moves to reinforce its territorial claims and maritime rights in the contested region. China has approved the creation of a national nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The designation was an "important guarantee" to preserve the atoll's ecosystem, China's State Council said. The Philippine foreign ministry said China's action "clearly infringe...

August 5, 2025 4:36 PM

Philippines President lauds India’s expanding defence footprint, Brahmos project

Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed his readiness to work with India towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. He commended the rapid progress of the Philippines’ ongoing defence modernisation and praised India’s expanding indigenous defence capabilities, particularly the BrahMos missile project. Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Marcos said the two nations had agreed to strengthen naval and coas...

August 4, 2025 10:25 PM

India, Philippines strengthen scientific ties with new cooperation programme

In a significant step to deepen bilateral scientific collaboration, Philippines Secretary of Science and Technology Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. called on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday in New Delhi. The meeting came in the backdrop of the recently signed Programme of Cooperation (PoC) for 2025–2028, which aims to bolster cooperation between the two countries across multiple areas of science and technology. Discussions centered on translating the broad framework of the PoC into act...

August 4, 2025 7:01 PM

Philippines, India hold first joint sail in South China Sea

The Philippine and Indian navies have sailed together for the first time in the South China Sea, officials said on Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila for New Delhi for a state visit. The Philippines has conducted "maritime cooperative activities" with foreign navies since late 2023 as part of its push to counter China's expansive claims in the waterway, including joint passages with treaty ally the United States, as well as Japan, Australia, France and Canada. Philippine militar...

March 11, 2025 1:01 PM

Philippine ex-leader Duterte long defiant on deadly drug war

Before he was elected president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte already was nicknamed "The Punisher" and "Duterte Harry" for his years-long and often violent campaign against drug offenders as mayor of his hometown of Davao. He promised to take his take-no-prisoners style of law and order to the whole of the Philippines, and his rhetoric resonated. He was swept to power with 40% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election. "Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidentia...