Key Points
- WPS Update: Philippines urges China to remove monster ship from Philippine waters. Meanwhile, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya condemned any actions that heighten tensions in the West Philippine Sea during a bilateral meeting with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
- The number of Filipino families experiencing hunger or food insecurity has increased over the past three months, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) assured the public that the May 12, 2025 elections would proceed despite delays in ballot printing.
- Approval ratings for the country's top officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, see a notable decline.
