US Navy Denies Warning Near Panatag Shoal
The United States Navy firmly denied Chinese claims that it issued warnings or expelled the guided missile destroyer USS Higgins during its recent mission near Panatag Shoal. Officials reported that the operation proceeded without incident, emphasizing the routine nature of the patrol in these contested waters.
Commander Megan Greene, spokesperson for the U.S. 7th Fleet, confirmed that nothing unusual occurred during the mission on Wednesday, just two days after a collision involving Chinese vessels in the area. Community members said this clarification aims to ease rising tensions amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
President Marcos Signs Law Postponing Barangay Elections
In a decisive move, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed legislation postponing this year’s barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (BSKE). Sources said this postponement allows the government to prioritize the first-ever parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This shift marks a significant adjustment in the electoral calendar, reflecting the administration’s focus on strengthening regional autonomy and ensuring smooth governance transitions in BARMM, local leaders noted.
PhilHealth Funding Restored in 2026 Budget Proposal
The state insurance agency, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), will experience a notable reversal in funding fortunes under the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP). Officials reported the agency, which received no government subsidy last year, is now allocated P53.3 billion to support the National Health Insurance Program.
This budget increase comes as the executive branch seeks to restore funding to critical agencies while trimming less urgent initiatives within the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget. Community members highlighted this as a vital step toward strengthening public health services nationwide.
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