Manila - The death toll in the sinking of a passenger vessel off the northern Philippines has risen to 46 while eight people remained missing, the coast guard and police said Thursday.

Forty-five people survived the accident Sunday off the coast of Ballesteros town in Cagayan province, 420 kilometres north of Manila.

The MB Maejan was already near the dock of nearby Aparri town when it capsized when huge waves battered it and strong currents dragged it away.

The coast guard said search operations for the eight missing were continuing despite bad weather.

Local police said one more body was recovered off the coast of nearby Sanchez Mira town, bringing the death toll to 46.

Manila  - The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday that it had approved a 300-million-dollar loan to help the Philippine government improve the integrity and efficiency of its justice system.

The Manila-based bank said the loan would be used to increase budget resources, improve public expenditure management and introduce new internal controls in the judiciary.

"By supporting more competitive salaries and higher budgets, the loan is expected to reduce vacancies among judges and prosecutors, improve information and case management systems, and help cut delays in the justice system," the bank said in a statement.

Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday signed into law a renewable energy law that seeks to make the country 60-per cent energy sufficient by 2010 and to mitigate problems caused by climate change.

Arroyo said the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 is the "first and most comprehensive renewable energy law in South-East Asia" and would enable the Philippines to capture part of 71-billion-dollar investments in renewable energy development worldwide.

In signing the law, Arroyo said the Philippine was only 45 per cent self-sufficient in energy in 2001. The percentage rose to 57 in 2007, she added.

Manila  - The Philippine government on Tuesday declared a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels in observance of the year-end holidays.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the four-day truce with the communist guerrillas would take effect December 24 and 25 in observance of Christmas Day, and from December 31 to January 1, 2009 to mark the New Year.

But he said government forces would remain on alert against attacks by rebels despite the ceasefire declaration.

Peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist rebels have been stalled since August 2004.

Manila  - Air force helicopters joined Tuesday in the search for at least 28 people missing after an overloaded boat capsized and sank in the northern Philippines, killing at least 27 people.

Lieutenant Commander Ferdinand Panganiban, a local coast guard commander, said 45 people survived the sinking Sunday of the MB Maejan off the coast of Ballesteros town in Cagayan province, 420 kilometres north of Manila.

Panganiban said rescuers were scouring nearby islands and islets in hopes of recovering more survivors who might have been able to swim to safety.

Maejan left Calayan Island for the mainland town of Aparri when it was battered by huge waves and strong winds, causing it to capsize.

Manila  - A boat with more than 100 passengers capsized in the northern Philippines, killing 22 people, the coast guard said Monday.

While 46 people survived, 34 were still missing from the sinking of the MB Maejan on Sunday off Ballesteros town in the province of Cagayan, 420 kilometres north of Manila.

Elena Bautista, chief of the Maritime Industry Authority, said the boat was already near the pier when it was suddenly battered by large waves.