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Just curious. If you hold a CDL, can you get a job driving a truck in the Philippines? And does anyone know if there are American companies in the Philippines?

Calabarzon minimum wage to increase by up to 45 pesos per day — Takes effect on October 26

📌 On Saturday, October 10, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB 4A) in the Calabarzon region issued Wage Order No. IVA-23, raising the minimum wage in the private sector by up to 45 pesos per day. Taking effect on Monday, October 26, the measure applies to approximately 1.56 million minimum wage workers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

■ What is changing
· The maximum daily increase is 45 pesos, which translates to a maximum of 1,170 pesos per month (based on 26 working days).
· The actual increase varies depending on the industry and the city or municipality classification of the workplace, with the exact amounts detailed in the official copy of the wage order.
· Currently, the daily minimum wage in Calabarzon ranges from 508 to 600 pesos, depending on the industry and regional classification.
· The increase was finalized during a meeting of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), chaired by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Business owners employing staff in Calabarzon must implement the new wages starting October 26. Check the official wage order for the exact amounts by industry and region.
· This order applies only to Calabarzon (Region 4A) and does not apply to Central Luzon, where Pampanga is located, or to Metro Manila.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/10), Inquirer (10/10)

Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Erupts — 5–6 km Ash Plume, Alert Level 2 Maintained

📌 On the afternoon of Saturday, October 10, a moderate explosive eruption occurred at the Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island, sending an ash plume 5 to 6 km above the summit crater. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) maintained Alert Level 2, with ashfall and sulfur odors reported in some villages.

■ What Changed
· The eruption ended at around 12:48 PM. Start times vary by report (12:46 PM according to GMA, and shortly before 12:30 PM according to Inquirer).
· The ash plume drifted north-northeast following the eruption.
· Prior to the eruption, PHIVOLCS recorded 16 volcanic earthquakes, sulfur dioxide emissions of 2,138 tonnes, a 900-meter-high plume drifting south, and volcanic edifice inflation.
· Alert Level 2 indicates an increase in unrest and remains in effect following this eruption.

■ Areas Reporting Ashfall
· The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stated that ashfall and sulfur odors were reported in Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City, and ashfall was reported in Barangays Igmayaan and Kumaliskis in Don Salvador Benedicto.
· The highlands of Barangay Codcod in San Carlos City reported only sulfur odors, while Bago City reported only a volcanic cloud, rumbling sounds, and ground shaking. The OCD is verifying these reports with local government units.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Anyone traveling to or staying on Negros Island should check PHIVOLCS volcanic advisories and local government guidelines.
· If ashfall occurs, wear a well-fitting mask and protective eyewear, stay indoors as much as possible, and keep doors and windows closed.
· Do not enter the danger zones around the volcano.

■ Sources
GMA News (10/10), Inquirer (10/10) — Ashfall areas verified by Inquirer (1 location)

4 arrested in Pampanga, Magalang gas station for selling illegal fuel — around 879,000 pesos worth seized

📌 On the afternoon of Friday, October 9, three pump attendants and one cashier were arrested by police at a gas station in Magalang, Pampanga for selling fuel without a Department of Energy (DOE) permit. According to the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, around 879,000 pesos worth of petroleum products—totaling about 10,000 liters—were seized at the scene, and the absent gas station owner is also under investigation.

■ Incident Details
· The operation was conducted from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM on October 9 at a gas station along Ninoy Aquino Road in Barangay San Roque, Magalang.
· The Regional Special Operations Group of the Regional Intelligence Division, Police Regional Office 3 (RSOG-RID3), together with the Magalang Police Station and the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, carried out the bust following a test buy using a 1,000-peso bill.
· Police stated that they were caught selling petroleum products without the required Department of Energy permits.

■ Investigation & Current Status
· Police reported seizing approximately 10,000 liters of petroleum products from two fuel dispensers (valued at around 879,000 pesos), sales receipts, the 1,000-peso bill used in the test buy, and 25,507 pesos in cash believed to be proceeds from the sales.
· The four arrested individuals are currently in police custody and will face legal proceedings for violations of petroleum product-related laws, while the absent owner is also being investigated. The charges are based on police announcements and are pending court judgment.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Keeping your receipt after refueling serves as proof if any issues arise.
· During times when fuel prices are rising, it is safer to check and use officially licensed gas stations.

■ Source
Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Official Facebook, 10/10)

I'm a 39-year-old US Air Force veteran with an honorable discharge and 100% P&T (permanent and total disability rating). When I turn 40, would I qualify for the SRRV Courtesy program as 'Retired Military Personnel,' even though I separated from the military rather than retiring after 20 years of service?

Anyone with type 2 diabetes, where did you get suitable health insurance?

I'm on Ozempic and looking for coverage that will cover me without having to go to a US territory.

Update: let me school you all! Type 2 diabetes doesn't go away, so it's not a matter of stopping the meds once you lose weight. Those of you telling me to 'clean up my life' are jerks. My weight got away from me a few years ago, and T2D runs in my family. I was diagnosed, treated, lost over 40 pounds, and my blood sugar went from 438 at diagnosis to 90 to 120 now.

I'm 5 foot 8 and weigh 175 pounds. I've already 'cleaned up' my life, so if you don't have anything useful to say, don't reply. There are some nasty attitudes floating around in here. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Hi everyone, my father is elderly and has always wanted to live in the Philippines. He's in assisted living now and needs help with meals, cleaning and medication reminders, so this dream will probably never happen. But I'd still like to make it come true in some way. I'm wondering if there's a place with this level of care where he could stay for a short while. Probably 1 to 2 months, to escape some of the winter. Thanks in advance for any info.

EDIT. Thanks everyone. I'm looking for a place already set up for this kind of care, so I don't have to manage too much from far away. Not a big budget.

Has anyone here used Popcorn for phone service while living in the Philippines?

I'm moving to the Philippines next month and trying to work out the best phone setup. I want to keep my US number for banking, verification texts and anything else I still need to handle back home, and I'll also get a local Philippine SIM/eSIM for everyday use.

I came across Popcorn and it looks like it could be a good option, but I'd love to hear from people actually using it overseas.

How has it been for receiving calls and verification texts from the US? Any problems with banks or 2FA codes? And does it work reliably over Wi-Fi/data in the Philippines? The Tagaytay area in particular.

Also open to other suggestions if there's a better way to keep a US number while living abroad.

Hi everyone, has anyone here used House of Bookkeepers for an ITIN application? Almost 6 months ago we paid for their ITIN processing service for a family member (needed for a Fidelity / US stock claim). We called the IRS ITIN Operation to check, and they said they have no record of any application received under our name.

Has anyone here actually gotten their ITIN through them? How long did it take? Is it normal for the IRS to have no record after 6 months?
We're worried because we've already paid and we really need the ITIN to get the funds released. Any advice would be appreciated.

2 arrested in Mabalacat, Dau drug buy-bust — P374,000 worth of shabu, handgun seized

📌 At around 9:43 PM on Friday, October 9, two suspects were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga. According to the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, the operation yielded approximately 55 grams of suspected shabu (methamphetamine) with an estimated street value of P374,000, along with a .38 caliber revolver and two live rounds of ammunition.

■ Incident Details
· The operation was jointly conducted by the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Pampanga PPO) and the PDEA Regional Office III (Central Luzon).
· The location was in the area of Biglang Sibul, Balaba Phase 2, Barangay Dau, Mabalacat.
· According to police reports, the seized items include approximately 55 grams of suspected shabu (standard street value of P374,000), one .38 caliber revolver, and two live rounds of the same caliber.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The two arrested suspects and the confiscated items were brought to the Pampanga Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) for documentation and processing.
· The police stated that the suspects will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) and the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition (RA 10591) pending the results of the investigation. The names, ages, and nationalities of the suspects were not released.
· Police Colonel Ricardo M. David stated that crackdowns on illegal drugs and activities will continue to be intensified throughout the province.

■ Note for Residents and Travelers
· The Dau area is close to Clark and Angeles, where police and PDEA drug operations have been ongoing recently.
· The Philippines strictly penalizes drug possession and trafficking under the dangerous drugs law. Foreigners are no exception, so do not accept items or packages entrusted to you by strangers.
· Avoid taking photos or approaching the vicinity of enforcement operations and follow police instructions.

■ Source
Pampanga Police Provincial Office (Official Facebook, 10/10)

Do I have to buy a return ticket out of the Philippines?
If I buy a one-way ticket, what should I do? Any advice is welcome.

What health insurance do you use after moving to the Philippines?

Wise launches an eSIM: a must-have for travelers! ✈️

Just curious: has any foreigner here set up a USUFRUCT agreement so you can keep using your home for life if something happens to your spouse?

Re-uploaded because the owner of the YouTube video I posted before deleted it.

We're going with the whole family: three kids, a 4-year-old and 1-year-old twins. We're looking into relocating.
We're looking for a safe neighborhood with a good hospital no more than 30 minutes away, because my 4-year-old needs to see a hematologist and an immunologist. We plan to check out Cebu, Mactan Newtown, Siargao and Boracay. We'd like somewhere with a beach vibe: a walkable area with restaurants and a beach, and a nice villa with a pool. Any areas you'd recommend?

Peanut cola is all the rage in the US.

Literally. You put peanuts inside a cola and drink it.

It is said to have originated from farmers in the American South who used to have it after work, and it spread to become a huge craze.

I tried it myself.

Not recommended. It is not necessarily tasteless or bizarre, but it just doesn't go well together and is very inconvenient to drink. Plus, it's not particularly delicious or anything. Two stars.

Pampanga Arayat flood control dikes collapse consecutively — Vice Governor demands sheet piles to be pulled out for inspection

📌 On Friday, October 9, Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to pull out and inspect the sheet piles embedded in the Pampanga River flood control dikes that collapsed consecutively in Arayat earlier this month, demanding that the causes and accountability be determined. The collapsed sections are in Barangays San Mateo and Lacquios, and a joint provincial government-DPWH task force is scheduled to extract sheet pile samples starting next week to check their quality.

■ What Happened
· On Friday, October 2, about 50 meters of the San Mateo dike collapsed, and a few days later, an additional 20-meter crack developed in the same area.
· The Lacquios dike also collapsed by about 30 meters. The date varies by report — the same day as San Mateo on the 2nd (The Manila Times 10/4), or the 3rd (The Manila Times 10/10).
· Multiple cracks also appeared starting October 1 on the Mandasig dike in neighboring Candaba, prompting 12 families living along the river to evacuate.
· Residents reported that there was no heavy rain or noticeable strong current when the collapse occurred. However, the initial report on October 4 stated that river water swollen by monsoon rains in recent weeks eroded the dike foundations, so the exact cause must be determined through a technical investigation.
· The project cost for the San Mateo dike is 291 million pesos, and around 200 households nearby are worried about potential overflow if the river swells again.

■ Next Steps
· Vice Governor Pineda stated that as similar collapses continue, responsibility must be determined, and called for an inspection of sheet pile quality and construction status.
· The nearby Candating dike collapsed three times: in August 2024, September 2025, and January 2026. At that time, there were also demands for a public inspection of the sheet piles, but the inspection did not take place as the contractor offered to repair them at no additional cost.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· If you live near the Pampanga River in Arayat or Candaba, regularly check evacuation notices from the city hall or barangay.
· It is safest to stay away from collapsed or cracked dike sections and the roads on top of them.
· If you live near the dikes, keep valuables and documents in a high place in advance and plan your evacuation routes.

■ Sources
CLTV36 News (Official Facebook, 10/9), The Manila Times (10/4, 10/10) — Dike length, project cost, and number of households verified from a single source

Estimated 121.8 Billion Pesos Lost to Scams in the Philippines Over the Past Year — 73% of Victims Sent Money via E-Wallets

📌 International survey results reported on October 9–10 estimate that Filipino adults lost approximately 121.8 billion pesos to scams over the past year. Released by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) in partnership with Mastercard and Gogolook, the "2026 State of Scams in the Philippines" report shows that the vast majority of those who lost money transferred funds to scammers via e-wallets.

■ Survey Details
· Estimates are based on a survey conducted from March 16 to April 13, 2026, and do not represent the total number of cases reported to authorities.
· 15% of respondents lost money, with an average loss of 10,427 pesos per victim.
· The number of adults who fell victim is estimated at approximately 11.7 million.
· 84% of adults experienced at least one scam attempt over the past year, up from 77% in 2025.
· The most common types of scams were shopping scams (24%), investment scams (22%), and job scams (22%).

■ Channels Where Money Was Lost
· 73% of victims who lost money sent funds via e-wallets. The comparison figure of 34% varies by report — Asian average (Philstar), 2025 Philippines figure (The Manila Times).
· Bank account transfers dropped to 12%, down from 36% in 2025.
· Scammers primarily reached out through messenger apps (39%) and social media posts (36%).
· Only 4% of all respondents reported the incident to authorities, and only 29% among those who actually lost money.

■ Notice for Residents and Travelers
· If online shopping, investment, or job offers require you to send money via e-wallets like GCash first, be suspicious.
· For unfamiliar transaction offers initiated via messenger or social media, always verify the other party's identity before proceeding.
· If you have been victimized, immediately report it to your bank or e-wallet provider and the police to minimize further damage.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/10), The Manila Times (10/9) — Number of adult victims, 84% figure, and scam type percentages are from Philstar; bank transfers, access channels, and reporting rates are from The Manila Times (verified by 1 outlet)

Gasoline prices are expected to rise by 2.00 to 2.20 pesos and diesel to drop by 1.80 to 2.00 pesos next week

📌 On Friday, October 9, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the oil industry projected that gasoline prices will increase by 2.00 to 2.20 pesos per liter and diesel prices will decrease by 1.80 to 2.00 pesos per liter next week. This follows a trend where gasoline goes up for the second consecutive week and diesel goes down for the second consecutive week, with Philstar reporting the implementation for Tuesday, October 13.

■ What's changing
· Gasoline: Projected increase of 2.00 to 2.20 pesos per liter
· Diesel: Projected decrease of 1.80 to 2.00 pesos per liter
· Kerosene outlook was not mentioned in the reports.
· Effective date: Tuesday, October 13 (Philstar), "next week" (The Manila Times)
· During this week's adjustment, diesel dropped by up to 1.30 pesos and gasoline rose by up to 1.93 pesos.

■ Why prices are moving
· Gasoline: Supply pressures continue due to China's temporary suspension of refined oil exports, alongside strong regional demand and low inventory.
· Diesel: This is driven by the G7's decision to release 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel from emergency reserves. Rino Abad, Director of the DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau, stated that the market is closely watching this announcement.
· These figures are estimates based on four days of Singapore international market prices, so actual adjustment amounts may vary by oil company.

■ Tips for residents and travelers
· Gasoline vehicle and motorcycle owners can save a little by fueling up before the adjustment on Monday (Oct 12).
· Conversely, diesel vehicle owners are better off fueling up after the adjustment.
· Jeepney and tricycle fares are separate from this outlook, so please check the on-site fare matrix.

■ Sources
Philstar (10/10), The Manila Times (10/10)