The Philippines climbed one spot in the latest Henley Passport Index, ranking 72nd with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 66 destinations. According to the latest rankings, the Philippines shares the 72nd spot with Uganda, improving from 73rd place in January. Data from the index showed that Philippine passport holders can travel to more than 60 destinations worldwide without securing a visa in…
GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization on Thursday declared an end to the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship which sparked international alarm, after the last person left quarantine. There were 12 confirmed and one probable case stemming from the MV Hondius, including three deaths. But while the outbreak is now over, for scientists and experts, the work is only…
The Philippines ranked second among Southeast Asian countries with the highest share of workers experiencing daily anger, according to a report by Gallup. In its State of the Global Workplace 2026 report, Gallup said 29% of Filipino respondents reported feeling anger daily, trailing only Myanmar at 32%. Laos ranked third with 28%, followed by Cambodia at 23% and Indonesia at 21%. In…
The world has not yet reached the point of no return on climate change, but the window for meaningful action is narrowing with every passing year, Filipino physicist and Manila Observatory Executive Director Fr. Jose Ramon “Jett” Villarin said Saturday, offering a message of cautious hope nearly two decades after his team’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning work on global warming. Villarin, who shared…
With the perceived ouster of career health officials, Malacañang now stands accused of putting institutional stability and expert leadership at risk for political convenience. The uproar follows the exit of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and other veteran DOH officials in what appears to be a politically motivated shake-up. About 55 professional medical groups signed a joint statement expressing concerns of what…
The Laguna Lake is fast deteriorating into the country’s “biggest septic tank,” Biñan City Rep. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. warned on Saturday, August 2. In an interview on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday, Rep. Dimaguila urged the Marcos Jr. administration to take urgent and science-based action to rehabilitate the vital water body affecting millions across Southern Luzon and Metro Manila. “Magkakaroon na…
The Iran war is showing why the Philippines can’t afford to neglect its farmers
A war thousands of kilometers away is beginning to ripple through something as basic as the Filipino dining table. The conflict involving Iran has pushed oil prices higher, disrupted key shipping routes, and strained global supply chains—especially for fertilizer, a critical input for food production. Farmers are already feeling the pressure. Fertilizer prices have surged by as much as 30% to 40%,…