MAKATI Mayor Jejomar Binay has agreed to chair the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Malacañang confirmed on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to reporters that President Aquino welcomes the decision of Binay, who was earlier given five government positions to choose from.

“The President welcomes the Vice President’s acceptance of HUDCC. He had reiterated his offer in view of his desire for a unified administration to serve the...

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is not closed to the use of nuclear energy to provide the country with adequate power, especially in Mindanao, but is no longer keen on reviving the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant (BNPP) because of the high cost this would entail.

The BNPP was completed in 1984 but was never used. Mr. Aquino’s cousin, former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco, had filed House Bill 4631 seeking to rehabilitate the BNPP.

Cojuangco’s wife Kimi, who succeeded him...

MANILA — Typhoon Conson ripped through the Philippines' main island on Wednesday, leaving at least eight people dead, sweeping shanties into the sea and leaving a trail of wreckage in Manila.Nineteen fishermen who were at sea when the typhoon, packing maximum gusts of 120 kilometres (74 miles) an hour, hit the Southeast Asian archiepelago were also missing, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

Police reported two people died and three others were injured when they were hit by a ...

MANILA, Philippines - Weather over Luzon island is expected to improve Wednesday night as Tropical Storm "Basyang" (international name Conson) leaves the Philippines' area of responsibility, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 10 a.m., the tropical storm was located 150 kilometers southwest of Iba, Zambales, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 120 kph.

It...

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang Sunday challenged Ombudsman Merceditas “Merci” Gutierrez to prove her independence in handling cases that may be filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, even as lawmakers warned it would be difficult to impeach Gutierrez because Arroyo would block such a move.

President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, said the proposed truth commission to be headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. would ensure th...