Manila Standard - 2026 August 24 - Monday

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I AN 8-PAGE N S REPORT 2026 I D PH LEVELS UP TO UMIC: E NEW TARGETS AND CHALLENGES

VOL. XL • NO. 191 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

‘SC final arbiter of 16-vote rule’ Ridon: Legal challenge ‘likely’ from either side of impeach trial

By Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable and Katrina Manubay

House prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said either side could bring the matter before the high court, whether the impeachment court maintains the requirement of 16 votes or adopts a lower threshold.

“Actually, no. Our expectation is that

T

HE Supreme Court will ultimately settle the disputed number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte in her impeachment trial, with a House prosecutor saying a legal challenge is likely regardless of how the Senate Impeachment Court rules on the issue.

Firms can’t pay P10-billion bond for wage hike TRO

By Jimbo Gulle, Vito Barcelo and Othel V. Campos A WORKER’S coalition on Sunday urged the lifting of the wage hike freeze in Metro Manila after the petitioner-firms said they could not pay the

required P10-billion injunction bond ordered by the Pasig court.

Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. informed the court late last week that they could not post the bond either in cash or through surety for the preliminary in-

junction suspending the wage increase.

Labor coalition NAGKAISA then urged the court to lift the injunction rather than reduce the bond, saying workers should not continue bearing the cost of a legal challenge they did not initiate.

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De Lima wants criminal raps for inducers

By Rio Araja

TRACKING STORMS. The weather bureau keeps close watch on three storms affecting the country. As of 5 pm yesterday, PAGASA was eyeing a developing super typhoon that is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) today. PAGASA

PAGASA warns of heavy rains as it eyes coming supertyphoon

By Rio N. Araja and Rex Espiritu PAGASA has predicted heavy rainfall due to habagat today until Wednesday, even as a new weather disturbance is

likely to enter the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Disaster Response Command Center announced a blue alert Next page

MAMAMAYANG Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima on Sunday called for the criminalization of subornation of perjury, following former Marine Orly Guteza’s recantation of testimony implicating former House member Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the flood control corruption scandal.

“As a former justice secretary who was detained over made-up cases based on fabricated accusations, it is clear that lying before a court destroys the integrity of our justice system,” De Lima said.

Four of the 18 ‘Maleta boys’, who backed up Guteza’s testimony, earlier recanted their testimonies against Co and the former speaker, saying they were paid to do so.

whatever the decision may be, someone will probably go to the Supreme Court, whether we are talking about 16 (votes to convict) or we are talking about a lower number,” Ridon said.

“I think someone will always go to the SuNext page

CLEAR SKIES. Parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church in Tabaco, Albay step out into clear skies Sunday after days of heavy rain. Caroline Camarillo Cortez

Solon calls out OP for having P4.55b in confi, intel funds

By Rio N. Araja ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Sunday called out the Office of the President (OP) for maintaining the single largest allocation of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 National Expenditure Program, describing it as a glaring contradiction to any claim of good governance.

Tinio pointed out that a staggering

44.9 percent of the OP’s proposed budget for 2027 is composed of secret funds, underscoring the extent to which the highest office in the land relies on what he called vague allocations.

Under the proposed budget, the OP gets P4.55 billion in secret funds — P2.25 billion in confidential funds and P2.30 billion in intelligence funds, unchanged from 2026 levels.

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2 students linked to Taguig threats surrender fake gun

By Vince Lopez TWO students who admitted to issuing online threats against two schools in Taguig City surrendered and turned in

a fake gun, police disclosed yesterday.

“They went to the office and surrendered the fake gun,” Police Captain Melvin Garcia, the Investigation and Detection Management Section chief

and spokesperson of Taguig City Police Station, said in a text message to Manila Standard.

However, Garcia declined to give Next page

REAL ESTATE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR. Megaworld president and CEO Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso receives the Real Estate Personality of the Year Award from Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand and Marketing Services at PropertyGuru Group, at the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards for her contributions to the Philippine real estate industry and her leadership in sustaining Megaworld’s growth and expansion.

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is maintained.

Duterte’s defense team said it was prepared to comply with whatever schedule the impeachment court adopts.

“Defense will comply with whatever schedule the Impeachment Court may decide upon. We are prepared to proceed in accordance with the Court’s directives,” defense trial spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Senate will rule this week on adjusting the impeachment court’s schedule, by moving its session from mornings to afternoons, to give the prosecution and defense additional

time to present their arguments.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday that the Senate would finalize the proposed schedule this week.

Under the proposal, regular legislative sessions would be held in the morning, with impeachment proceedings moved to the afternoon.

“We will finalize this proposal this week. We need to give the parties ample time to adjust accordingly,” Gatchalian said.

Impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol confirmed that the trial would proceed as scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday.

The adjustment was initially proposed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to address calendar conflicts between regular legislative duties and the six- to seven-hour impeachment sessions.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson earlier said the trial was likely to be moved to the afternoon starting in September, with the Senate majority bloc supporting the change to maximize time for both legislative work and the impeachment proceedings.

Under the proposed arrangement, regular Senate sessions could run from Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by impeachment proceedings beginning at 2:30 p.m. and continuing until at least 7:30 p.m.

The impeachment court hopes to finish the trial by December, although continuing delays could push the proceedings into 2027 if the current pace

De Lima...

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Solon...

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Under current law, false testimony is punishable by *prisión mayor*— six years and one day to eight years— and a P1 million fine.

However, the Revised Penal Code does not specifically penalize subornation of perjury, or inducing someone to lie under oath She was detained for nearly seven years on drug charges that were later dismissed. Several witnesses in her cases later recanted, claiming they were pressured.

“This has to end. Those responsible for this travesty of justice should be held accountable,” she added.

In 2024, De Lima filed House Bill No. 1435, or the “Criminalizing Subornation of Perjury Act.” The bill seeks stiffer penalties for public officials and employees, including perpetual disqualification from government service. It remains pending in the House justice committee.

De Lima’s move follows that of Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson who said he will file a bill aimed at imposingl strict penalties against those coercing individuals into committing perjury.

Lacson said this would penalize a ‘profitable enterprise’ of testimonies and recantations, particularly those aimed at political figures.

“Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor.’ Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement,” he said.

“I will file a bill imposing heavier penalty and fine for ‘subornation of perjury’ or, if a person induces or forces another to commit perjury,” the senator added.

Lacson said the person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file such a complaint against those who induced someone else to commit perjury.

“The person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file.

In Guteza’s case ex-Speaker Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law,” he said.

The single allocation accounts for 42 percent of the aggregate P10.773 billion in CIF across the entire government.

“Why is almost half of the entire confidential and intelligence funds of the entire country in the hands of the Office of the President? Is this in line with transparency and good governance?” Tinio asked.

He noted the glaring double standard in the current political landscape, where Vice President Sara Duterte is facing impeachment and intense public scrutiny over the misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as the Department of Education secretary.

“Now, the public’s attention is focused on the impeachment of VP Sara and the investigation into her confidential funds,” he said.

“It is only right that she be held accountable for the anomalies,” he added.

“But there can be no double standards.

If we scrutinized the P612.5 million CIF of the OVP and DepEd this closely, will the Office of the President pass that kind of scrutiny if its secret funds are P4.55 billion with no clear expenditure to show the public?” he inquired.

“It’s not just the OVP that should be subjected to strict scrutiny. The standards should be equal. If P612.5 million was investigated and became the basis for impeachment, what about the P4.55 billion that enters the OP every year without sufficient transparency?” he asked.

He reiterated his long-standing call for the total abolition of confidential and intelligence funds in the national budget, stressing that public funds must be fully transparent and subject to scrutiny.

Tinio dismissed claims by the Department of Budget and Management that the funds remain subject to auditing and accountability rules, noting that the sheer scale and opacity of the OP’s secret funds make genuine public accountability impossible.

“The DBM can claim all it wants that these funds are subject to liquidation and auditing rules, but the reality is that the Filipino people are kept in the dark. P4.55 billion in the hands of one office, with no meaningful public scrutiny, is a recipe for corruption and abuse,” he argued.

Court may dissolve and lift the order

27, pending its determination of the petition filed by Readycon and R-II Builders.

The court issued the TRO on July 30, which remained in effect until August 13.

Wage Order No. NCR-27 provides for a P85 daily minimum wage increase in two tranches. The first tranche of P60 was supposed to take effect on July 25, while the remaining P25 is scheduled for implementation on Jan. 20, 2027.

‘SC...

From A1 preme Court, whichever party,” he added.

Ridon was responding to a hypothetical question on the legal recourse available if the impeachment court changes its interpretation of the two-thirds requirement and convicts Duterte with fewer than 16 votes.

The Constitution provides that no person shall be convicted in an impeachment trial “without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.”

The impeachment court has previously taken the position that 16 votes are required to convict Duterte.

Ridon said the prosecution was not seeking a particular interpretation of the threshold and would leave the matter to the senator-judges.

“There are already statements from those mentioned. I think the presiding officer has a position, the court spokesperson also has some clarification,” he said.

He added that the issue could still be revisited.

“But we will see. Because that matter is, I think, not yet over,” Ridon said.

Gatchalian: Court to finalize schedule

Two...

From A1 more details about the case.

The two students allegedly posted in a group chat warning of bloodshed to students of Taguig National High School and Maria Asunción Rodriguez Tinga High School.

In a statement, the Taguig City government said it immediately coordinat-

PSA testimony to establish fund recipients

Ridon also said the prosecution plans to present Philippine Statistics Authority testimony to establish whether individuals named in acknowledgment receipts used to account for Duterte’s confidential fund expenditures exist in Philippine civil registry records.

He said the PSA testimony would help the Senate Impeachment Court assess the reliability of documents submitted to account for the confidential funds and determine where the paper trail ends.

“It was mentioned during the House Justice Committee proceedings that, according to a PSA study, individuals such as Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya and others were neither born, married nor recorded as having died in the Philippines,” Ridon said during an online press conference.

During House justice proceedings in April, PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande testified that searches yielded no matching birth, marriage or death records for Piattos, Secuya and Kokoy Villamin. Searches

for Irene Tan produced multiple matches because it is a common name.

The PSA has previously explained that further verification may be possible if additional identifying information, such as the names of parents and the date or place of a vital event, is provided.

The prosecution, however, maintains that the negative search results become significant when considered alongside the acknowledgment receipts, signatures, dates and other liquidation records submitted for audit.

Names to appear on receipts

The disputed names appeared on acknowledgment receipts used to liquidate confidential fund expenditures, Ridon noted.

The prosecution said identifying the recipients is necessary to determine whether the money was received by the intended recipients and spent for purposes allowed under existing rules.

“That is where we see the trail of these confidential funds coming to a halt—at the acknowledgment receipts,” Ridon said.

The PSA evidence is expected to complement testimony from Office of the Vice President personnel, Commission on Audit officials and National Bureau of Investigation forensic experts.

Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified last Monday that Duterte instructed her to turn over P125 million to then-security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica after the money was withdrawn in December 2022.

PAGASA...

From A1 status as it monitors a new tropical cyclone (international name Saudel).

In its 5:00 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau warned of “widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides” in areas receiving 200 mm of rain.

In areas where 100-200 mm of rain could fall, PAGASA said “numerous flooding events are likely, especially in urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslides are likely in moderately to highly susceptible areas.”

However, PAGASA did not identify which areas could be affected by the heavy rainfall, except for Batanes, which it said could have 50-100 mm of rainfall today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, “Saudel” is forecast to continue moving generally west-northwest for the next three days before moving generally westward for the rest of the forecast period.

PAGASA expects “Saudel” to reach super typhoon category today before entering the country.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a tropical depression located east of Southern Luzon (outside PAR) entering the PAR is still not ruled out.

As of Sunday 2 p.m., the tropical depression with international name “Gaenari” (formerly “Neneng”) is being monitored outside the PAR. Its center is likely to enter the northeastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“Saudel” will be given the domestic name either “Obet” or “Pilandok,” depending on the order of entry.

Based on the forecast track, “Saudel” will remain over the Philippine Sea and will exit the PAR by Tuesday.

However, a more westward track beyond 48 hours may result in “Saudel” remaining within the PAR beyond Tuesday.

DSWD-Disaster Response and Management Group head assistant secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release that the alert status was lowered after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council downgraded from red (highest) to blue (standby) on Thursday night.

The DSWD blue alert means watching weather tracks and local conditions closely; relief goods and family food packs (FFPs) are ready in warehouses; and teams talk with local leaders to plan quick aid if needed.

Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino said over the weekend that both the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 and the corporate petitioners should explain to the public their positions that led to the pausing of pay raises for minimum income earners.

Interviewed on dzBB, Tolentino said DOLE has been repeatedly asked about its efforts to help workers amid the wage hike standoff, but not the two petitioners who sought an injunction.

R-II Builders Inc. is primarily owned and controlled by the Romero family, led by its patriarch and construction mogul, Reghis M. Romero II. Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. is an independent, non-family-owned enterprise led by Jesus F. Ignacio.

The same could be said, Tolentino added, about Pasig RTC Branch 152 and its Presiding Judge Marie Joyce P. Manongsong who granted their plea.

“What I notice here is that we are always the ones being questioned about what we are doing. No one is asking the two companies, ‘Why are you doing this? Why did you file that?’ No one asks them... It seems those parties haven’t even been interviewed,” he said.

A previous Supreme Court ruling stated that if a petitioner cannot pay or post a required court injunction bond, the court will refuse to issue the preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order (TRO), or it will dissolve and lift the order if it was already granted conditionally.

If the TRO was already granted conditionally, as in this case, but the petitioners fail to pay the required bond, the TRO becomes unenforceable and the defendant can ask the court to dissolve it immediately, the High Court added in its ruling.

“Two employers sought the injunction, but many workers are paying the price,” NAGKAISA, which includes the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), and components of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), said.

“We understand that P10 billion is a huge amount. But P60 is also significant for a minimum-wage worker. It can pay for transportation, rice, a meal, or a child’s school allowance,” it added.

“Corporations can go to court. Workers still have to go to the market,” the group said.

As of press time, it was still unclear how soon the Pasig court could lift the TRO. On August 13, the Pasig RTC issued a writ of preliminary injunction extending the suspension of NCR Wage Order No.

NAGKAISA, the largest and broadest alliance of labor centers, federations, and workers’ organizations in the country, said a more fundamental issue before the Supreme Court was whether the Pasig RTC had jurisdiction to enjoin Wage Order No. 27 in the first place.

“Reducing the bond cannot answer that. P10 billion, P1 billion, or P1 cannot manufacture jurisdiction where the law gives none,” the group said.

NAGKAISA cited Article 126 of the Labor Code, which it said could not be overridden by Rule 58 of the Rules of Court.

“Article 126 of the Labor Code is the red light. Rule 58 cannot turn it green,” the group said.

The coalition urged the Pasig RTC to lift the injunction and allow the P60 first tranche to take effect while the Supreme Court resolves the jurisdictional issue.

The construction companies that challenged the wage order questioned

whether employers’ capacity to pay had been properly considered.

In granting the preliminary injunction, the Pasig court acknowledged the burden on workers but said the case raised the need to balance their interests with businesses’ constitutional right to reasonable returns on investment and capacity for growth.

The court also cited a “novel issue regarding the binding nature of Article 124 of the Labor Code,” which sets standards for minimum wage determination.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) had reaffirmed its support for the regional wage board system and tripartite process as the proper mechanism for setting wages based on local economic conditions.

ECOP said it respected the regional wage board’s decision but maintained its opposition to the P85 increase, which it formally opposed during the wage board’s deliberations.

ECOP and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. also urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reaffirm support for regional wage-setting and oppose legislated nationwide wage increases.

Ortiz-Luis said regional wage boards already account for differences in living costs, productivity and employers’ capacity to pay, warning against automatically using the NCR wage increase as a benchmark for other regions.

ed with the Taguig City Police and the schools concerned after the posts went viral to determine the source of the threat and ensure the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel.

According to the initial police investigation, the first student said his classmate allegedly used his account to create and post the threat.

Authorities also reviewed a circulating video showing a gun allegedly used in connection with the threat.

Based on the initial investigation, the video was not taken by the two students; it was only downloaded from Facebook, according to the Taguig City statement.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident, including the true origin of the posts and who may be responsible, it said.

The City emphasized that it takes any threat against schools seriously.

“The City Government continues to co-

ordinate with the police, school officials, and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible threats are immediately reviewed and acted upon. Anyone found responsible will be held accountable according to the law, while authorities will ensure that the investigation is conducted properly especially when minors are involved,” the statement said Furthermore, the local government, police, school officials, and barangays continue to coordinate closely to maintain

safety and security in schools, it added.

The LGU also encourages parents and guardians to continue to monitor the online and offline activities of their children and caretakers and immediately report any suspicious or threatening activities to the school, police, or other authorities.

The public is also requested not to spread dangerous or unverified posts and information that may cause unnecessary fear and anxiety.

Firms...

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Fundamental issue before Supreme Court

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Recto calls for discipline in public waste disposal

By Katrina Manubay EXECUTIVE Secretary Ralph Recto called on the public to embrace a “culture of discipline” in waste disposal as the government steps up efforts to combat garbage and flooding problems.

During a meeting with Cabinet officials and city mayors on Thursday, Recto emphasized that communities and local government units play a vital role in preventing waste from clogging canals, streets, and waterways.

He stressed the importance of proper segregation, collection, and disposal.

“We need to widely promote a culture of discipline. As we have said before, improperly disposed trash will eventually find its way back to you,” he said in a news release on Sunday.

“The message of the President is clear: this is a problem that requires a whole-of-society approach, including our citizens,” he added.

Recto also highlighted the role of communities and local government units as the “first line of defense” against flooding and waste, underscoring the importance of collaboration with the national government.

He said the meeting addressed faster clearing operations and longterm solutions for waste management.

Recto further noted that while there is no garbage crisis in Metro Manila, improper waste disposal remains a concern.

“Our meeting revealed that there is no garbage crisis in Metro Manila, but there is a crisis regarding improper waste disposal,” he said.

The Palace official urged Filipinos to adopt better waste disposal practices, including proper segregation.

“This is not difficult to do, because when Filipinos are abroad, we know how to follow the rules—regarding garbage collection schedules, waste segregation, and proper disposal. We do possess discipline; hopefully, we demonstrate it as well here in our own country,” he said.

In November 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the launch of ‘Oplan Kontra Baha,’ a metrowide flood control campaign aimed at clearing waterways and drainage systems of debris and garbage.

ROAD REPAIR. Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City undergoes massive repair and rehabilitation following days of heavy rains over the past days. Edd Castro

DPWH prioritizes rehabilitation of Bulacan flood control projects

By Vito Barcelo

P

UBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the immediate repair of damaged and poorly built flood control structures in Bulacan, saying the province has been placed among the top priorities to reduce recurring flooding that has affected communities for decades.

Dizon, together with Secretary Benhur Abalos, inspected flood-prone areas in the municipalities of Paombong and Hagonoy on Sunday following

instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track the rehabilitation of defective flood control projects.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief said damaged dikes and f lood control structures with breaches will be sealed immediately to prevent f loodwaters from entering nearby communities, adding that engineers and f lood management experts will also conduct technical studies to identify long-term solutions to the province’s persistent f looding.

Dizon said some of the damaged flood control structures inspected in Bulacan were among projects previously linked to contractors associated with the Discaya family, which have come under government review following reports of substandard construction and unfinished works.

He said the DPWH is also evaluating other

flood control projects in the province to determine whether additional repairs or reconstruction are needed.

Bulacan remains one of the country’s most floodprone provinces because of its low-lying terrain, overflowing rivers, coastal communities, and tidal influence from Manila Bay. Dizon said the government will combine emergency repairs with science-based, long-term flood mitigation measures, including improved engineering designs and closer coordination with experts and local government units to strengthen the province’s flood protection system.

He assured residents that the administration is committed to restoring damaged flood control infrastructure as quickly as possible, saying the immediate repairs and planned long-term interventions aim to reduce flooding and provide lasting relief to thousands of families in Bulacan.

UPSIDE OF THE RAINS.

Multiple waterfalls come back to life in glorious splendor at Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet in the aftermath of the heavy rains spawned by a series of tropical storms that recently swept the country.

Dave Leprozo

the patient is in stable condition and is undergoing routine monitoring and diagnostic procedures under the care of a nephrology specialist.

The shipowner immediately provided assistance to the affected crew, including USD 300 in cash and mobile phones for each of the 17 crew members of M/V Anna S to help them communicate with their families. They also received clothing, footwear, toiletries, medicines, and other essential supplies.

The shipowner is coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Turkey, Turkish authorities, and the DMW to process the crew’s travel documents and immigration clearances. The seafarers are expected to disembark safely from M/V Elina B, which is anchored in the Bosphorus Strait, before being repatriated to the Philippines. Vito Barcelo

BI agents nab American wanted for sexual abuse BUREAU of Immigration agents arrested in separate operations an American wanted in the United States and a Chinese national facing identity theft case in the Philippines.

The search for the American fugitive identified as William Joseph Sullivan was carried out in collaboration with the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service– Overseas Criminal Investigations and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Child Protection Force Unit.

Sullivan, who was cornered in Tanza, Cavite, is wanted for violating the conditions of his conditional release, with underlying charges involving criminal sexual conduct.

In a separate operation, BI operatives nabbed the Chinese national identified as only as Lin, 33, upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Aug. 7 aboard a Xiamen Airlines flight from China. Vito Barcelo

LTFRB probes PUJ’s fatal traffic accident

DMW says no Pinoy seaman hurt in Black Sea drone attack ALL 39 Filipino seafarers aboard two vessels involved in separate drone attacks near Novorossiysk in the Black Sea are safe, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday.

The DMW made the assurance as it continued to monitor the seamen’s condition and coordinate efforts for their safe return to the Philippines.

The DMW said it received confirmation from the shipowner, through its licensed manning agency, that all 17 Filipino crew members of M/V Anna S are safe.

The agency also confirmed that the 22 Filipino crew members of M/V Elina B, which came under attack after rescuing the crew of M/V Anna S on Aug. 17, were likewise safe and unharmed.

One Filipino seafarer from M/V Anna S was admitted to a hospital in Turkey for treatment of a kidney ailment, saying

IN BRIEF

TOSSBACK TO HISTORY. Quezon City marks the 130th anniversary of Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin (also known as Cry of Balintawak), a significant milestone in the country’s struggle toward independence from Spanish colonial rule, with the unveiling of a shrine crafted by architect Gerard Lico in simple ceremony graced by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co. QC gov’t photo

Total of 13,441 law graduates to take ‘26 Bar examinations

By Pot Chavez THE Supreme Court (SC), through the Office of the Bar Confidant, has cleared 13,441 aspiring lawyers to take the 2026 Bar Examinations.

On Friday, the SC made public the list of applicants qualified to take the three-day digitalized and regionalized examinations.

The exams will be held on Sept. 6, 9, and 13 at 15 local testing centers (LTCs) across the country.

Earlier this month, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan urged the examinees to keep their dreams alive as they enter the final stretch of their preparations.

“You have shown up, day after day, through every subject, every mock

exam, every doubt you refused to let win. You have proven more than you may realize. You just need to see this through,” he said.

The SC previously disclosed that a total of 14,291 applicants had registered for the examinations, making it the highest number of registrants in the history of the Bar. This surpassed the 2025 Bar Examinations, which recorded 13,193 admitted applicants.

Of the total admitted applicants, 11,437 Bar candidates, or 86.7 percent, showed up on the first day of last year’s examinations.

Meanwhile, 11,425 of the 11,437 examinees completed the examinations, setting a new milestone for the largest number of finishers in Philippine Bar history.

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has launched an inquiry into a fatal road crash involving a passenger utility jeepney (PUJ) that hit a female motorcycle rider in San Mateo, Rizal last Thursday, Aug. 20.

The LTFRB also issued a show cause order against the passenger jeepney owner who was directed to surrender of his license plate on or before Sept. 4.

LTFRB chairman Greg Pua said the passenger jeepney was temporarily grounded for 30 days pending the result of the investigation.

Witnesses told police probers that the driver of the PUJ passenger jeepney (TWS 560) was driving recklessly until he hit the motorcycle being ridden by the 43-year-old victim. Rio N. Araja

NHA rolls out 51st People’s Caravan THE National Housing Authority (NHA) recently conducted its 51st People’s Caravan, benefiting over 3,000 residents of Pagadian City.

The initiative was spearheaded

by NHA Region 9 manager AlKhawarizmi Indanan last August 20.

Speaking on behalf of NHA general manager Joeben Tai, Indanan highlighted the program’s goal of bringing essential goods and services closer to the agency’s resettlement sites, providing beneficiaries comfort and convenience.

For this caravan, the NHA secured the support of 35 partnerinstitutions from both the public and private sectors,, including the Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Migrant Workers, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Red Cross, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Department of Health. Rio N. Araja

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NEW NCRPO CHIEF. Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano (left) receives the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) flag of command from PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. (right) following the compulsory retirement of Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin (background), who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, in Taguig City on Saturday. PNP NCRPO

Abrahano new Metro Manila police chief

By Vince Lopez THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday designated former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Police Regional Office-10 (Northern Mindanao) director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano as officer-in-charge of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

In a document obtained by Manila Standard, Abrahano was designated NCRPO OIC following the compulsory retirement of Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. led the change-ofcommand ceremony at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

In his inaugural speech as the new NCRPO chief, Abrahano said the police have a simple duty: to respond properly and earn the public’s trust and confidence.

“Our duty is simple, to be ready to respond properly and to earn the public’s trust,” he said.

Abrahano thanked Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla for the opportunity to lead the NCR police and pledged to ensure a secure, peaceful and progressive Metro Manila.

“Today, I accepted the responsibility of leading the National Capital Region Police Office. To the DILG Secretary, Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, thank you for this grateful opportunity to lead these great men and women of the NCRPO. Rest assured that the NCRPO under my leadership will be your active partner in ensuring a secure, peaceful and progressive Metro Manila,” he said.

Cops told to build stronger cases vs. electricity thieves THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized its nationwide commanders to build stronger cases against electricity thieves and those who steal or vandalize power infrastructure, aiming to improve conviction rates.

Violators will face charges under Republic Act No. 7832, or the AntiElectricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the campaign would adopt strategies used against focus crimes, with police working closely with the Department of Justice to build cases that can withstand court proceedings and result in convictions.

“The certainty of arrest and punishment is also a strong crime prevention measure because it sends a strong message that the rule of law always prevails. This is what we in the PNP are also focusing on matters pertaining to theft and pilferage of electricity,” he said in a news release.

Nartatez said protecting power distribution systems is critical to national security and economic activity, noting that disruptions can severely affect households, schools and small businesses.

The intensified campaign follows an agreement between the PNP and a major electric company to strengthen coordination, information sharing and joint law enforcement efforts.

Vince Lopez

Gov’t to set aside P802m for 2k school counselors

By Rio Araja

T

HE national government plans to allocate ₱802 million next year to hire 2,021 new guidance counselors for public elementary and high schools, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said Sunday.

The move seeks to strengthen the Department of Education’s (DepEd) mental health services amid growing concerns over student well-being, bullying and school violence.

“We are all for increased government spending to bolster the support

system around every learner. A child who is struggling should have ready access to a trained school professional who can listen and help,” Libanan said.

He said the additional funding was timely as schools face growing concerns over bullying, student mental health and threats of violence.

“Early intervention is critical. We should be able to recognize warning signs and provide help before a problem becomes a tragedy,” Libanan said.

The proposed 2027 national budget provides ₱802 million for 1,800 new School Counselor Associate I positions and 221 new School Division Counselor positions in DepEd, according to Libanan.

He said guidance counselors play an important role in helping teachers, parents and school administrators understand and respond to students experiencing emotional, behavioral

or psychological difficulties.

“Guidance counselors are part of our first line of defense. They help our schools become safer and more supportive communities for children,” Libanan said.

Libanan also urged private elementary and high schools to increase their investments in professional guidance and counseling services.

“We are counting on private elementary and high schools to also do their share. The well-being of our children is a shared responsibility,” he said.

The proposed increase in guidance personnel comes as the country reels from two fatal school shooting incidents in less than two months.

On June 22, two students, aged 14 and 15, armed with a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver, opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing three fellow students and injuring 20 others.

IN BRIEF CSC unveils activities for 126th anniversary THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) will unveil major activities for the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) on Monday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. at the CSC Executive Lounge in its central office in Quezon City.

The PCSA is observed every September to commemorate the establishment of the Philippine Civil Service on Sept. 19, 1900.

The monthlong celebration is anchored on Presidential Proclamation No. 1050, s. 1997, which declares September as Civil Service Month and encourages activities that promote the ideals and achievements of public service.

This year’s celebration will feature flagship events and initiatives, including a nationwide fun run, a government fair offering employment opportunities and frontline government services in a single venue, the Gawad Lingkod Bayani Awards, and special discounts and privileges for government workers. Jimbo Gulle

Cavite Press Corps gets new 3-year term A NEW set of officers of the Cavite Press Corps (CPC) for 20262028 was formally sworn in Aug. 21, ushering in a new leadership committed to upholding press freedom, responsible journalism and public service.

Gene Adsuara of Abante Tonite was sworn in as president, with Sid Samaniego of Pilipino Mirror as vice president, Margie Bautista of Remate as secretary, Irine Gascon of Police Files as treasurer and Jon Cagande of Cavite News Today as auditor.

Janice Baricuatro of Bulgar was sworn in as chairman of the board, while Dennis Abrina of Manila Standard, Jimmy Barrientos of Sparkle News, Ma. Cristina Go Timbang of Pilipino Star Ngayon and Rex Molines of Diyaryo Pinoy were named members of the board of directors.

Dennis Abrina

Mariveles honors Ninoy’s legacy EARLY MORNING EXERCISE. Quezon City residents take part in an early-morning workout along Tomas

Morato Avenue during the city’s Car-free, Carefree Sundays on Aug. 23. The Quezon City General Services Department organized a Unity Walk, traditional Filipino games, interactive activities, a fresh market, and song-and-dance performances for the day. QC Government

Cop chief: No drug dens within Taguig

By Vince Lopez

NEW CPC OFFICERS. The Cavite Press Corps (CPC) swears in its 2026-2028 officers on August 21, led by President Gene Adsuara of Abante Tonite, at the National Press Club. NPC President Mina Navarro witnessed the oathtaking ceremony as the new officers, including Manila Standard’s Dennis Abrina, pledged to uphold press freedom, responsible journalism and public service. CPC

THE Taguig City Police Station said on Sunday that, based on available information and records, they currently have no verified, recorded, or established drug dens within the city.

According to Taguig City Police Chief Colonel Julius Añonuevo, reports or allegations about drug dens in Taguig City should not be considered factual unless duly verified and supported by evidence.

“The Taguig City Police Station continues to monitor and validate information regarding alleged illegal drug activities within the city,” he said.

“Any actionable information re-

ceived will be thoroughly assessed and, when warranted, subjected to appropriate police operations in accordance with existing laws, PNP policies, and operational procedures,” Añonuevo added.

He also said their efforts are consistent with the Taguig City Police Station’s continuing campaign against illegal drugs through ‘lawful, intelligence-driven, and evidence-based’ police operations.

Añonuevo also said they remain committed to close coordination and information-sharing with other concerned law enforcement agencies in addressing illegal drug activities and ensuring community safety and security.

MARIVELES Mayor AJ Concepcion and Vice Mayor Jesse Concepcion joined the nation in commemorating Ninoy Aquino Day, honoring the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. for his courage and sacrifice for freedom and democracy.

Mayor AJ Concepcion called on Filipinos to remember Ninoy’s patriotism and courage in standing up for what he believed was right.

He said Ninoy’s life should inspire people to care for others, stand up for what is right, and work for the good of the country.

Vice Mayor Jesse Concepcion likewise urged the public to draw inspiration from Ninoy’s love for the Philippines by standing up for what is right, caring for fellow Filipinos, and serving the country wholeheartedly.

Both local officials said Ninoy Aquino’s legacy remains an inspiration for Filipinos to stand up for the nation and contribute to positive change. Butch Gunio

OPINION

A5

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Whom to believe In these interesting times when social media is awash with everybody’s opinions —informed, uninformed, misinformed, or even disinformed—knowing whom and what to believe has become more and more difficult.

There was a time when ordinary folks would believe what the newspapers or broadcast media reported. After all, professional media practitioners normally go through four years of philosophy and letters or formal mass communications study. There are eagle-eyed editors to whom they submit their stories.

Still, when price controls were in place, and ordinary folks would complain to the market “tindera” why her price is higher than what the newspapers said it should be, they get a retort: “E di dun kayo bumili sa peryodiko.”

Government announces a small reduction in the inflation rate, 6.2 percent versus the previous month’s 6.4 percent, but the consumer hardly sees the reduction in the prices.

The same government tells us that poverty incidence has gone down, a record it prides as a major feat, an accomplishment even.

—“—

It’s a case of ‘Send in the Clowns.’

One wonders if this is accurate, when the research organizations just recently told us that self-rated poverty has breached more than half the population surveyed.

Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when it was yet in the apogee of economic power, is famously quoted for this line: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”.

When the government releases statistical data, it is listened to by policy makers, academe and media. Still, for the rest of the population, who the hell cares?

What matters is how they rate their lives: rich, middle-class, or poor; much improved, same-same, or worse off.

When the President declares “Mahiya naman kayo,” people take notice. They even applaud along with the legislators in the audience, believing that the President has finally found resolve to punish the corrupt, and the uber-greedy in government who feast on the misery of the people.

But after a year with little action being done, with the “walang hiya” still free and feasting, the same people who applauded their President are beginning to think it was all for show. “Words, words, words”, as Eliza Doolittle sang in My Fair Lady, exasperated at the difficulty of learning how to speak proper King’s English.

And then these days we learn that the ex-soldiers who months ago enthralled

us with their stories of innumerable “maletas” packed with millions in kickbacks, are now recanting their testimonies, claiming they were “pressured” to sign invented affidavits, even offered fantastic sums to do so. The tale of the “maletas” has now truly turned into “basura.”

So what are we to believe? Whom are we to believe?

The Ombudsman says that despite these recantations, it’s all systems go as far as prosecuting and detaining the corrupt are concerned.

Question is, how will the Sandiganbayan react to the recantations?

Which testimony will the justices believe: the sworn original or the sworn recantation?

Or, as many observers of the ongoing charade over the flood control ghosts now suspect: is this just an intricately planned step by step cover-up sanctioned by the most powerful, buying time to cool the passions of public rage?

And then there is the impeachment trial in the Senate.

Since everyone concedes that this is a political trial, shifts in public opinion matter.

The prosecutors have a coven of spokespersons who interpret the episodes in the trial for the general public to understand “better.” This group of legislators even try to outdo their designated official spokesman because they have neither the gravitas nor the elementary skills to act as prosecutors, leaving it to their hired private lawyers to ask the pressing questions in the trial.

Against their repeated prevarications or simplistic arguments, the Vice President has but one legal counsel who doubles as spokesman, and he is acknowledged to speak more sensibly in cool and composed demeanor.

This is where the research firms become useful. Then again, it depends on whom to believe.

Those who are truly scientific in their research design and field methodology have been coming up with data that show the Vice President’s public support remaining stable despite the ongoing demolition campaign.

So the administration and its convenient allies among the “pinks” trot out a survey that shows her numbers slipping while their dream team for 2028 gains much ground.

The survey pits a hypothetical LeniTulfo tandem against an even more strangely hypothetical Sara-Imee and expectedly comes out with the unusual finding that they are now statistically tied.

It’s a case of “Send in the Clowns.”

“Without (truthful) data, you’re just … an opinion”, economist and statistician W. Edwards Deming once postulated.

Who was it who said you can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time?

South Korean survivor fights for workplace harassment ‘justice’

By Claire Lee SEOUL—Kept in the dark after reporting her boss for harassment, South Korean advocate Baek Song-yi is now campaigning for survivors’ right to know how their bullies were disciplined.

Baek, 40, experienced first-hand a troubling paradigm in South Korea’s workplace harassment response, with victims often expected to keep silent while employers have no clear legal duty to tell them how their cases ended.

At her former company, a US firm with offices overseas, Baek said she was verbally harassed by her boss, an older man.

When she reported him, the company asked her to accept a confidentiality agreement warning she could be fired for disclosing information discussed during the process.

“I was just so stunned,” Baek told AFP, adding she had believed her employer encouraged victims to come forward.

Baek refused to accept the agreement and the investigation went ahead anyway, ultimately upholding her complaint.

The company still declined to disclose what disciplinary action had been taken, citing the need to “align with a privacy protection law” in South Korea, Baek said.

An investigator told her only that the harasser would be “monitored.”

Baek, who has since left the company, never learned whether her request to bar him from the firm’s South Korean office had been granted.

“I just felt like victims are left with no closure, no sense of justice and no way of knowing,” she said.

She is now campaigning for legislation similar to California’s Silenced No More Act, which restricts non-disclosure agreements in workplace harassment cases, and for a clear legal right for victims to be informed of disciplinary measures.

‘Pointless’ South Korea introduced a workplace anti-bullying law seven years ago, but critics say it fails to guarantee adequate protections.

A study last year by workplace abuse support group Gapjil 119 found that just 15.3 percent of victims reported harassment.

Nearly half of respondents said they believed action would change nothing, and about one-third feared career repercussions.

Experts say the law requires employers to act against confirmed harassers, but stops there, often leaving victims in the dark while shielding perpetrators and their reputation.

“Employers have full discretion over whether to disclose disciplinary action, as there is no provision requiring them to inform the victim,” labor attorney Kim Yu-kyung told AFP. A woman identified only by her surname Yoo spent about 10 months pursuing a complaint, only to face a Kafkaesque process to learn how it ended.

M

ILLIONS of Filipinos experienced much grief these past three weeks as relentless rain resulted in flooding and landslides in Luzon and some parts of the Visayas. Consecutive days of rain caused damage and disruption.

While the sun has mercifully peeked in recent days, people remain on edge.

The weather bureau says Saudel, a supertyphoon, may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility today.

Science has solid explanations on why such disturbances are becoming more frequent and more intense.

Certainly, this is part of the forecast that says this year’s El Niño will be unforgiving. Generally warmer ocean temperatures breed more menacing weather systems.

But the Philippines is not new to typhoons and flooding. It is thus puzzling why we seem to act in extremes: that this is something we have not had time to prepare for, or that there is nothing we can do.

Suspension of onsite classes has been a sore point. Because announcements were not made early enough on some days, many conscientious students still trekked to their campuses despite the hazards. Videos circulating online showed how roads and campuses were flooded – and how

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The best time to prepare for rainy days is when the sun is shining. students waded in the water trying to get home. Another sore point is that students who lived in one local government unit did not necessarily attend schools in the same LGU. With the availability of information through technology, there must be a sound way to determine whether classes, even government work, should be suspended in a timely fashion.

Of course, the flooding was a stark and painful reminder of how flood control projects went awry. Despite the public outrage and the handful of arrests late last year, the flooding experienced in many places showed just

FOR many Filipinos, climate change is no longer something explained through projections of rising temperatures or sea levels. It is experienced in flooded streets, cancelled work, suspended classes, damaged crops, interrupted transport and the anxious wait for electricity or clean water to return. Each episode may be described as a weather disturbance, but its consequences reach directly into household safety and economic security.

In recent weeks, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has issued continuing situation reports on the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng. Meanwhile, PAGASA’s outlook for August 23 to 25 forecast scattered rains and thunderstorms across Metro Manila and large parts of Luzon. These are timely reminders that climate-related disruption is not a distant possibility. It is already shaping how Filipinos live, work, travel and provide for their families.

For ordinary citizens, security begins with the ability to reach work safely, keep food on the table, send children to school, access healthcare and maintain a stable livelihood. When floods prevent a daily wage earner from reporting for work, that household immediately loses income. When farms, roads and ports are affected, supply disruptions can push up food prices. When electricity, water and telecommunications fail, consumers lose services on which work and daily life depend while shouldering additional costs just to get through the disruption.

This is why climate resilience must also be understood as consumer protection.

Climate shocks do not fall evenly across society. Families with savings, insurance, private vehicles, backup power or alternative accommodation have more capacity to adjust. Lowincome households, informal workers, farmers, fisherfolk, commuters and small businesses have fewer buffers. They are

often hit first, lose proportionately more and take longer to recover.

Citizens must certainly prepare for emergencies, heed warnings and avoid hazardous areas.

Yet the burden of preparing for climate risks cannot rest on citizens alone. People cannot clear entire waterways, redesign drainage networks, reinforce transmission lines or determine where subdivisions and commercial developments are built.

These are responsibilities of institutions whose decisions and performance shape the risks communities face.

Government must therefore integrate climate risk into infrastructure, landuse planning, housing, public health, transportation and social protection.

Local governments must enforce zoning and building regulations even when doing so is politically difficult. Utilities and telecommunications providers must strengthen their systems against extreme weather and establish credible plans for rapid service restoration. Climate adaptation and disaster-response funds must be spent transparently, with results that communities can see before the next emergency arrives.

Resilience should also become a standard for evaluating development. A road that repeatedly becomes impassable, a drainage project that fails during heavy rain or a housing project built in a hazardous area cannot be defended simply because it was completed. Public investments should reduce citizens’ exposure to danger, not create new

vulnerabilities or transfer the cost of poor planning to households.

Today, the Stratbase Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Philippines, convenes the forum, “Towards a Peaceful and Sustainable Future: Addressing the Climate-Conflict Nexus in ASEAN.” It brings together representatives from government, the diplomatic community, business, academe and civil society to examine how climate pressures affect food, water and energy security, public health, biodiversity, displacement and regional stability.

The Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship this year provides an opportunity to move climate security higher on the regional agenda. Floods, droughts, extreme heat, damaged ecosystems and disrupted supply chains do not respect national borders.

ASEAN members can strengthen the exchange of risk information, coordinate disaster response, protect regional food and energy systems, mobilize climate financing and expand cooperation on resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

These regional efforts, however, must ultimately improve people’s lives.

Climate diplomacy will mean little to a family that repeatedly loses its belongings to floods or to a worker who must choose between personal safety and earning a day’s wage. Policies must be judged by whether they prevent avoidable losses, keep essential services functioning, protect livelihoods and help affected communities recover faster.

Economic progress and climate safety are not competing objectives.

Development that leaves citizens more exposed to disasters is neither inclusive nor sustainable. The most meaningful measure of climate security is not the language of our declarations, but whether Filipino households are safer, more resilient and better protected when the next severe weather event comes.

—“—

or making notes.

Yoo discovered that the rules contained no provisions on workplace harassment, she told AFP. She was then told that her harasser had merely been asked to submit a written account of what happened.

Yoo, who quit over the harassment and waited until leaving to report it for fear of retaliation, said she suffered insomnia and panic attacks.

“I wondered what I had put myself through more than 10 months of stress and fighting for,” she said.

“It all felt a bit pointless.”

Right to know In Baek’s case, she turned to Seoul’s regional labor office, hoping to find out what action had been taken.

Instead, she was told the company had complied with the law.

“There is no provision in the law requiring disclosure of what measures

the perpetrator received,” a labor official said in a recorded call reviewed by AFP. The company was required only to ask Baek what measures she wanted before deciding what action to take, the official said.

Withholding the outcome to protect a perpetrator’s privacy is a “distorted interpretation,” labor attorney Kim said, arguing that seeking victims’ views should also mean informing them of the decision.

Baek said that her former employer was “just using ambiguous law” to protect victims “in the most minimal way possible.”

“Victims should not be silenced, victims should be able to speak about their experiences” for their own safety and that of others, she said.

The labor ministry told AFP it revised its workplace harassment guidelines in July, “recommending” employers share with victims the outcome of investigations and the basis for their conclusions. AFP

South Korea introduced a workplace antibullying law seven years ago, but critics say it fails to guarantee adequate protections.

Her former employer, a South Korean firm, cited “privacy concerns,” saying only that action had been taken under “company rules.”

The labor ministry, which upheld her complaint, later intervened, allowing Yoo to inspect the company rules—but only in person, without taking any photos

—“—

The burden of preparation cannot rest on citizens alone.

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser

Emil P. Jurado+ Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher

can be accessed at:

ONLINE manilastandard.net

—“—

how shamelessly our leaders have failed us. Infrastructure-building is a long-term exercise, and years from now we will still be paying for the transgressions of some officials committed years before.

Often, the people are left to fend for themselves every time there is a disaster. Households and communities devise their own ways of keeping themselves afloat during these trying times. Some take great risks, for example those who venture outside to still go earn a living. Some build routines around the constant flooding, bringing their possessions to higher ground— that is, if they have the space to do it.

Those who cannot do anything are led to believe this is something they must accept on a yearly basis, including the sight of politicians handing out cash and relief styling themselves as kindhearted benefactors. When the needs are immediate, one’s capacity to examine motive dims.

The best time to prepare for rainy days is when the sun is shining, when disaster risk reduction plans can be laid out and strategies can be crafted, when perspectives are clear and when decisions can be made from a careful evaluation of options. Not when everyone is busy taking shelter or plugging leaks, trapped by the consequences of their bad decisions.

When climate risks hit home

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

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Rainy days

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WORLD

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

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Trump rejects Canada’s tit-for-tat tariffs W FIRE DANCE. Hindu devotees demonstrate their skills as they take part in a religious procession during the sacred month of Shravan dedicated to Hindu God Shiva in Ajmer on August 23, 2026. AFP

IN BRIEF Macron hosts Saudi’s MBS for wide-ranging visit Attacks in Thailand’s south leave 2 injured BANGKOK—Dozens of coordinated arson and incendiary attacks across Thailand’s insurgency-hit south late Saturday left two people injured and damaged government property, the military said.

A local government office building, a 7-Eleven convenience store and a stolen vehicle were burned in the 51 attacks, according to the military’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and local media reports.

“Multiple coordinated aincidents aimed at creating unrest occurred in various locations across the southern border provinces” from around 8:00 pm to midnight on Saturday, ISOC said in a statement.

Most were in Narathiwat province, where two civilians were reported injured and an overnight curfew was imposed, while other attacks occurred in neighbouring Yala and Pattani provinces, ISOC said.

Since 2004, a low-level conflict has simmered in the southernmost provinces of Buddhist-majority Thailand, killing more than 7,000 people, as rebels in the Muslim-majority region battle for greater autonomy.

No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attacks. AFP

Court overturns nun’s acquittal in abuse case MENDOZA, Argentina—An Argentinian court has overturned the acquittal of a former nun in a notorious sex abuse case involving deaf children, authorizing a lower court to determine her punishment, according to a ruling obtained by AFP. Kumiko Kosaka, a Japanese national, had been acquitted in 2023 of abusing students at the Provolo Institute of Mendoza, a free boarding school for underprivileged children with hearing and speech difficulties.

The 51-year-old former nun could now face up to 50 years in prison following the reversal by the Supreme Court of Justice of Mendoza province, plaintiff’s attorney Sergio Salinas told AFP of the ruling issued on Friday.

The court decision was “historic,” he said.

“It means the children told the truth and the court acted very arbitrarily when it acquitted her.” AFP

PARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday for a two-day visit set to range from esports to the war in the Middle East.

Several agreements on health, transport and energy will be signed on the second day of the visit on Monday, according to a French presidential official, underlining the strength of the Paris-Riyadh relationship.

But the visit will kick off in a different style on Sunday evening from 1800 GMT with Macron hosting the Saudi strongman -known as MBS -- at the closing

ceremony of the Esports World Cup hosted by Paris.

The event, which brings together the leading performers in esports ranging from computer games to chess and has been eagerly backed

by MBS, is being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time.

The French presidential official declined to comment on whether the agreements could touch on a vast theme park known as Dragons Ball, backed by a Saudi fund, which is mooted for the Val-d’Oise region outside Paris.

Saudi Arabia is also set to host a string of key global events, notably the Expo 2030 and above all the

“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!”

“They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!” he said.

Carney said Saturday that the tariffs would take effect on September 8 and notably target US steel and dairy after Canada walked away from what he called a “bad deal.”

The move followed new 50-percent US tariffs affecting about $20 billion worth of goods, or 5.5 percent of Canadian exports to the United States. Impacted products range from hockey sticks to cement.

“You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked,” Carney said.p Trump had said Washington “should be able to have a deal with Canada,” citing his “good relationship” with Carney. But Carney said the United States ultimately proposed terms Canada could not accept.

“In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair and undermined the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal,” Carney said in Ottawa. “We cannot accept what they’ve offered, and we will not give what they’ve asked.”

Carney said one reason the deal collapsed was that US negotiators introduced restrictions on Canadian trade deals with other countries at the last minute. He also said US negotiators made unacceptable “threats” to the French language and “Quebec culture.”

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Fox News that Washington was “moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation” and said no new talks were planned.

The dispute has battered Canada’s economy, forced job losses and strained a once close trade relationship.

Canada had sought relief from Trump’s tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, while the White House alleged “discriminatory treatment” by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products.

The escalating trade war drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and governors in border states. “Needlessly picking fights with our allies and raising prices here at home. That’s Trump’s economic policy in a nutshell,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on X. AFP

Prince Harry’s return to Britain marks new chapter in colorful life LONDON— Prince Harry, who relocates back to Britain shortly with his family, will open a new chapter in his ever-eventful life which once seemed improbable amid royal feuds, battles over security and lawsuits against UK tabloids.

The 41-year-old royal misfit has long struggled with the monarchy’s strictures, shaking off the angry young man and “playboy prince” tags only to find himself at loggerheads with his closest relatives.

He and wife Meghan Markle -- who together swapped Britain for California six years ago -- return still estranged from Harry’s heir-to-the-throne brother William and wife Princess Catherine.

Whether their ties can be repaired -- as appears to have occurred with Harry and his cancer-battling father, King Charles III -- was just one of many questions swirling as their self-imposed United States exile ends.

“I think one of the motivating factors for this return ... is reconciliation with the king and with the wider family,” royal historian Ed Owens told AFP. “If those wounds are not healed it can have a really detrimental impact, not only on the people concerned but also on the reputation of the institution.”

‘Lack of trust’ The feud has tarnished the family’s image.

The monarchy has faced allegations of racism and bullying, among others, potentially alienating a younger, more diverse generation of Britons.

The image of Harry and mixed-raced Meghan are highly divisive in Britain. According to polls, they attract more negative opinions than any other royals, barring his scandal-plagued uncle, ex-prince Andrew. AFP

GRIM REMINDER. Empty coffins accumulate at a makeshift morgue in La Guaira, Venezuela on August 22. Venezuela has recorded 6,438 deaths nearly two months after the consecutive 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, 2026, while the search for bodies continues amid the rubble and the demolition of damaged buildings. AFP

10,000 Swedes to protest climate one week before general elections

Kazakhstan set to elect pro-president parliament ALMATY—Kazakhstan will on Sunday elect a new unicameral parliament following changes to its constitution that authorities say will democratise Central Asia’s largest economy, but critics slam the move as cementing the president’s power.

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan is an ally of Russia and maintains close ties with China, but its vast natural resources and strategic location between Europe and Asia mean it is also an important partner for the European Union.

Around 12.6 million of the country’s 20-million population are eligible to vote.

The country adopted a new constitution in March which abolished the upper house Senate in favour of a onebody parliament -- known as the kurultai, a reference to medieval councils of the nomadic people that lived across Central Asia. AFP

football World Cup in 2034.

Rights on agenda?

Saudi Arabia, a close US ally which has a history of tensions with Iran, is also closely watching developments in the Islamic republic in the wake of the US-Israeli war.

On Monday afternoon, MBS and Macron are to chair the first meeting of the Saudi-French strategic partnership council.

Macron and MBS “will discuss key regional issues, in a context calling for close coordination between France and its Gulf partners to foster stability and peace” in the Middle East, according to Macron’s office. AFP

ASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump hit back at Canada on Sunday after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on the United States following the collapse of trade negotiations between the longtime allies.

BIODEGRADABLE RUBBER BALLOON. Co-inventor of Bioloon and PhD researcher Juliana Cumming demonstrates inflating a piece of fully biodegradable rubber at Imperial College in London on August 19. Researchers claim to have developed the first fully biodegradable model, which they plan to bring to market within two years. AFP

STOCKHOLM—Around 10,000 people are expected to turn out for a climate demonstration in Stockholm on Sunday, according to Swedish police and organisers, just weeks ahead of a general election where the issue is among voters’ top concerns.

Since taking power in 2022, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing government, backed by the populist Sweden Democrats party, has cut petrol taxes and reduced requirements for petrol suppliers to add low-carbon alternatives to their mix.

Experts both in Sweden and abroad have repeatedly warned that the government’s climate policy jeopardises the country’s emissions-cutting goals -- to reduce CO2 from transport by 70 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and

to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.

Kristersson’s administration has notably rejected a government-appointed commission’s recommendations on ways to meet the 2030 target, which included phasing out fossil fuels by hiking taxes on petrol and diesel.

“The climate crisis is very real, and it is here,” said Beatrice Rindevall, head of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, which is co-organising Sunday’s demonstration.

“It is time to put in place a climate policy that reduces emissions right now,” she added in a statement, pointing to this summer’s devastating heatwaves in Europe.

Swedes go to the polls to elect a new parliament on September 13, with the right-wing bloc trailing in opinion polls. AFP

SPORTS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Green Spikers snap skid, hand new coaching staff 1st V-L win DE La Salle University broke through into the win column, taking down Mapua University in four sets, 21–25, 25–23, 25–18, 25–20, in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

After losing in straight sets to the National University Bulldogs last week, the Green Spikers finally gifted their new coaching staff its first victory after nearly a month of working together.

“We have been with the team for almost a month, and we have been making adjustments with the system of play. We’re also introducing some combinations and taking out some,” said first assistant coach Godfrey Okumu.

“Also, we didn’t have much time playing together as a team, just scrimmages. So, these (games) gave us a training ground,” added the 2018 PVL Collegiate Challenge champion coach with the University of the Philippines.

After absorbing the first-set loss, La Salle used its second-set escape as fuel and never looked back, with captain and converted outside hitter Issa Ousseini making an impact on both ends of the court.

The skipper finished with 23 points on 17 attacks, five blocks, and one service ace, while also tallying 14 excellent receptions.

Rui Ventura added 16 markers, most of which came in crucial moments whenever the Cardinals threatened to make a run. Meanwhile, Eugene Gloria delivered a steady two-way performance with seven points, four digs, and 12 excellent receptions.

The Green Spikers, now 1–1, will rekindle their rivalry with the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers (0–2) on Sunday, August 30, at 5 p.m.

Patrick Reyes once again carried the fight for Mapua, finishing with 17 points on 15 attacks and two blocks, while captain Ar-Jay Ramos shook off an injury scare in the second set and returned to finish with 12 markers.

PH taekwondo celebrates 50th anniversary NO less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s 50th year as a “significant milestone” for the sport that has brought pride and glory to the country on the international stage.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio delivered the message on behalf of the President as the PTA celebrated the milestone with a Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila on Saturday.

“It is a time to look back with gratitude at what has been accomplished, and to look ahead with renewed determination to what more can still be achieved.

“Since its founding in 1976, the PTA has remained steadfast in its mission of developing taekwondo in the Philippines. More than a sport, taekwondo has become a means of cultivating discipline, pursuing excellence and building character among generations of Filipinos,” the President’s message said.

Gregorio, who has thrown his full support to taekwondo, shared the President’s sentiment that the PTA, for five decades, has helped young Filipinos develop the values of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

The PTA has made sure grassroots development is on a high level, including talent identification and, with the help of the PSC, developing elite athletes for major international competitions.

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio

The De La Salle University Green Spikers celebrate their first win in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday at Gameville Central Park — a 21–25, 25–23, 25–18, 25–20 thriller over Mapua.

De Imus, Placido break national half marathon race walk marks

By Jeremiah Sevilla

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ARLOS De Imus and Sep Blesse Placido continued to make strides in Philippine athletics after both established new national records in the half marathon race walk.

Philippine Athletics, Inc. (PATAFA) confirmed over the weekend that De Imus and Placido now hold the Philippine marks in the 21.0975-kilometer event.

De Imus, 25, set the new men’s record with a time of 1:33:43 in the 2026 Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan last March 15.

The Filipino race walker finished eighth overall against a strong international field, adding another national mark to his list of achievements.

De Imus also owns the Philippine record in the 20km race walk, clocking 1:30:03 in the same competition last year.

Chog Moral of the Gilas Pilipinas Boys FIBA

Sep Blesse Placido (left) and Carlos De Imus (right) with national head coach Saturnino Salazar are shown after their campaign in the 2026 Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan. PH Athletics

The former Far Eastern University standout has a UAAP record under his belt as well, setting the mark in

the 5,000-meter race walk event of the collegiate league last Season 88 back in November 2025.

Placido, likewise, made history in the women’s event, posting 1:57:05 to establish both the Philippine national record and under-20 national mark. The 18-year-old finished eighth overall in a competitive field similar to De Imus.

It was another record-breaking performance for Placido, who recently rewrote a decades-old national junior mark.

The University of the East stalwart clocked 25:31.19 in the 5,000m race walk tilt of the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2026 last June at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac to shatter Rosalie Quinto-Demigo’s 42-year-old junior record of 26:48.3 set in 1984.

Both Placido and De Imus are under the guidance of national head coach Saturnino Salazar.

The half marathon race walk is a relatively new addition to the international circuit, replacing the traditional 20km race walk following World Athletics’ announcement in December 2024.

Gilas PH Youth falls to Taipei, drops to 8th spot THE Gilas Pilipinas Youth Men’s squad finished eighth in the 2026 FIBA U18 Asia Cup after falling to the vengeful Chinese Taipei, 78-89, on Sunday at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.

The Gilas Boys failed to capitalize on their double-digit lead in the second quarter as they lost steam against the Taiwanese team that came up with an improved showing to avenge its 88-89 defeat to the Filipinos in the group stage.

Chog Moral spearheaded the Philippines’ early charge for a

38-26 advantage midway through the second frame.

Chinese Taipei, however, went on a searing 23-3 run behind Carter Matthew Coleman to take a 49-41 buffer at the break.

Coleman and his squad never looked behind as they led by as high as 14 points, 81-67, to complete its revenge win and secure seventh place.

Rising star guard Moral produced another impressive performance, firing a team-high 22 points on top of nine rebounds, three steals, and two assists to pace the Gilas Boys.

Ethan Aguas contributed 15

points and seven boards while Lino Tubongbanua Jr. added 10 markers for the Juno Saulermentored team, which still improved the 11th-place finish from the previous edition held in Jordan.

Coleman stepped up big time for Chinese Taipei as he finished with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds, even as YuSheng Xing, Ting-Kuan Liu, and Tz-Jie Weng had 17, 13, and 11 markers, respectively.

Chinese Taipei also marked a better placement in the biennial tourney after ending up 11th in the last event. Jeremiah Sevilla

SMART/MVPSF PH women’s team vies at World Championships FOUR elite members of the SMART/ MVPSF Philippine women’s team will be put to the test when they compete in the World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships from Aug. 28 to 30 in Taiyuan, China.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association, led by Grandmaster SungChon Hong, firmly believes its battle-tested players can now go toeto-toe against their world-class rivals after undergoing intensive training in Korea.

The members of the team who are fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO are Tachiana Keiza Mangin, Clarence Sarza, Baby Jessica Canabaland Czarina Mae Danganan. They will be up against world-class rivals in an event that will gather 59 other countries, including Korea, China, Iran and Thailand.

After becoming the first Filipino world junior champion two years ago, Mangin, 18, made a triumphant debut at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games,

Members of the SMART/MVPSF Philippine women’s team are shown with their coaches before a training session. They are (from left) Czarina Mae Danganan, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, Kirstie Elaine Alora (coach), Stephen Fernandez (head of delegation), Paul Romero (coach), Clarence Sarza, and Baby Jessica Canabal.

and she is now regarded as the face of PH taekwondo.

Sarza is coming off a bronze

medal finish at the 27th Asian Taekwondo Championships, while Canabal and Danganan also made

their marks in their previous international stints – the latest of them was during the SEA Games last year.

Grandmaster Hong said the event is part of the association’s massive preparation for two important events – the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, next month and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December.

The country is looking to win its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Games after winning 4 silver and 24 bronze medals since Korean martial arts was introduced during the Seoul edition in 1986.

The latest was a bronze medal achieved by Patrick King Perez in poomsae during the Hangzhou Asian Games three years ago.

Olympian Stephen Fernandez will head the delegation, while former champions Paul Romero and Kirstie Elaine Alora have been designated as coaches.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

REPORT 2026

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PH levels up to UMIC status on steady growth

HE Philippines has crossed a major economic threshold, earning the upper-middle income country (UMIC) status from the World Bank after nearly four decades in the lower-middle income bracket. The reclassification, following five years of steady GDP growth and a sharp rise in gross national income per capita, marks one of the clearest signals of the country’s economic transformation.

The UMIC status caps 39 years of steady Philippine progress with sustained economic growth and sound macroeconomic management, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

The World Bank confirmed the upgrade, saying the Philippines’ gross national income (GNI) per capita reached $4,850, above the $4,636 UMIC threshold, after an 8.5-percent jump in 2025.

The Philippines joined Jordan, Micronesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam in moving from lower-middle to upper-middle income status, while Togo advanced from low to lowermiddle income. Other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia have outpaced the Philippines in the journey to UMIC status, while Malaysia is now at the threshold of becoming a highincome country. Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world.

World Bank economists said in a blog post that the Philippines earned its reclassification through broadbased expansion, with GDP growing

Gemini-generated image

an average 5.8 percent annually over five years across all major industries rather than a single sector.

Economic reforms President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the new classification reflects years of economic reform and efforts to make the country more

attractive to investors, crediting the government’s push to recognize the private sector as a key development partner alongside efforts to secure more free trade agreements and modernize key sectors. He pledged to sustain reforms to propel growth and boost investor confidence.

DEPDev Secretar y Arsenio Balisacan said the reclassification underscores the resilience of the Philippine economy, as the country achieved inclusive growth and strengthened its fundamentals despite global and domestic shocks.

The new classification will

strengthen the country’s credit profile, boost investor confidence and open access to financing and higherquality investments that generate better jobs for Filipinos, Balisacan said. While some concessional official development assistance may decline Turn to B2

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

REPORT 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

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PH faces new challenges, opportunities

S THE Philippines reached the upper-middle income country (UMIC) status after its gross national income (GNI) per capita hit $4,850 in 2025, it faces new challenges and opportunities in the years ahead.

The milestone, effective July 1, 2026, reflects two decades of sustained growth and reform, but it will mean gradual phaseout of concessional financing typically reserved for developing economies over a three-year transition window.

Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the country will retain access to concessional loans in the near term and expects development partners to continue supporting high-impact projects even as broader terms shift.

He said the transition gives the Philippines time to strengthen its capacity to tap emerging financing sources, including climate-related funds, for both the government and private sector, as he framed the reclassification as unlocking greater access to financing overall.

Balisacan said the Marcos Jr. administration remains focused on sustaining the reform momentum that drove the upgrade, and a reversion to lowermiddle-income status is unlikely barring a major economic setback.

DepDev Undersecretar y Joseph Capuno said the government will use the transition period to prioritize ongoing projects while sequencing new infrastructure financing toward 2028, when fiscal space is expected to widen.

Capuno said loans make up the bulk of multilateral and bilateral financing compared with grants, and that the three-year window gives the country room to take advantage of grant-linked opportunities already in the pipeline.

Malacañang said the reclassification will have minimal near-term impact. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, citing Finance Secretary Frederick Go, said any adjustment to multilateral loan rates would take years to materialize and affect only a small share of financing, with no impact expected on the 2026 or 2027 budgets.

Broad-based growth The World Bank attributed the reclassification to broad-based economic expansion, with gross domestic product growing an average 5.8 percent annually over five years across major industries rather than a single sector.

DepDev credited sound macroeconomic management, structural reforms including the CREATE MORE Act and sustained efforts to position the Philippines as a competitive investment destination under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Investment growth The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said the milestone

validates its work attracting investment and generating jobs. The agency approved P932.17 billion in ecozone investments from 2022 to 2025, growing 22.9 percent annually and already exceeding the P877.8 billion approved over the full previous administration.

PEZA said its 4,388 locator companies across 436 economic zones generate more than 1.8 million direct jobs, contribute about 13.53 percent of GDP and account for roughly 60 percent of the country’s exports of goods and services.

The agency said the new status strengthens its ability to attract higher-value investment in semiconductors, electronics, green industries, logistics and DepDev AI-enabled services, Secretary Arsenio and to support the Balisacan government’s push to speed up permitting and strengthen infrastructure to match investor expectations.

Inclusive growth The World Bank’s latest Philippines Economic Update said continued reform can help the country sustain the upgrade and broaden its benefits.

World Bank director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoglu credited the achievement to the Filipino people and said the bank remains committed to supporting reforms that lower business costs, strengthen investor confidence and create better jobs.

The World Bank projects growth will ease to 3.7 percent in 2026 amid softer investment and higher inflation, averaging 4.8 percent in the first half of the year, before recovering to 5.2 percent in 2027 with the right policy support.

It recommended expanding social assistance, including the 4Ps cash transfer program, to protect vulnerable households, alongside continued efforts to manage inflation and boost investor confidence.

The bank highlighted lower electricity costs as a key growth lever, noting that reaching the government’s 2030 target of 35 percent renewable energy, combined with grid investment and market reforms, could cut residential power prices by as much as 28 percent, create about 161,000 jobs and lift around 730,000 Filipinos out of poverty.

The Philippines’ new status marks a turning point. The remaining task, as officials themselves frame it, is execution of faster permitting, more reliable infrastructure and lower business costs to ensure the classification translates into lasting gains for Filipino households instead of just a one-time statistical milestone. RDC

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over time, he said the gains from stronger fundamentals and improved market access will outweigh those adjustments.

Balisacan credited overseas Filipino workers for their contribution to the milestone through remittances that helped lift the country’s GNI, adding that the government’s long-term goal is to create more high-quality jobs at home so overseas employment becomes a choice rather than a necessity.

He said the government remains committed to making growth more inclusive so its benefits reach all Filipinos.

Investment appeal The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) said the upgrade will strengthen the country’s investment appeal.

AmCham said the World Bank ’s recognition sends a strong signal to global investors as multinational companies reconfigure supply chains and seek new growth markets across the IndoPacific, pointing to the Philippines’ young, skilled and English-proficient workforce, expanding consumer market and long-

standing ties with the United States as key draws for advanced manufacturing, digital services, infrastructure and healthcare investment.

The ECCP said the upgrade reflects the country’s sustained growth and reform efforts and strengthens the case for concluding an ambitious EU-Philippines free trade agreement, building on strong Philippine exporter use of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus.

The milestone comes as the Philippines chairs ASEAN for 2026, giving the country a platform to showcase its economic progress and attract further investment.

The country’s rise to UMIC status is a milestone built on sustained growth, broad-based industrial expansion and consistent economic reform.

While officials acknowledge that income disparities persist and some concessional financing may taper off, the consensus is that the gains outweigh the trade-offs.

The nex t challenge lies ahead: translating the macroeconomic milestone into broader, more inclusive prosperity for all Filipinos. RDC

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REPORT 2026

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extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH begins charting path to high-income bracket

HE Philippines is positioning itself for its next stage of development after achieving uppermiddle-income country (UMIC) status, with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) laying out a four-point growth agenda for the second half of 2026, even as a senior economist urged continued reforms to secure highincome status within two decades.

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said UMIC status marks another stage in the c o u n t r y ’s d e v e l o p m e n t journey rather than a final destination, adding that true progress means creating quality jobs, raising produc tivit y, expanding oppor tunities, reducing p ove r t y a n d i m p ro v i n g Filipinos’ quality of life.

The first half of 2026 brought a mix of domestic and external pressures, including lagged effects from late 2025 and higher global oil prices tied to the conflict in the Middle East. Despite these headwinds, DEPDev noted that employment remained relatively stable, underscoring the resilience of the labor market even as households and businesses navigated higher costs and heightened uncertainty.

Four priorities DEPDev outlined four priorities to strengthen the economy through the rest of the year. The agency plans to accelerate strategic infrastructure and other highimpact public investments while encouraging greater private investment to boost connectivity, productivity and job creation.

DEPDev also aims to shield Filipino households from inflation and external shocks by preserving price stability and strengthening food and energy security, alongside continued investment in water resources, irrigation, flood control and disaster preparedness.

To r a i s e l o n g - t e r m competitiveness, the government will pursue sustained investment in education, health, digital

transformation, innovation and workforce development, it said.

DEPDev said the government is committed to strengthening institutions through transparent governance, sound public financial management, efficient regulation and a predictable business environment, steps it said will help sustain investment and keep growth inclusive.

The agency said it will continue working closely with partner agencies, local governments, the private sector, development partners, civil society and Congress to keep policies evidence-based and responsive to a changing global environment.

Avoiding middle-income trap Economist Bernardo Villegas said in a newspaper column that the Philippines can avoid the so-called middle-income trap that has slowed several Latin American economies, provided leaders sustain reforms on corruption, governance and the investment climate.

Villegas said reaching a gross national income (GNI) per capita of $15,000 to $20,000 within 20 years would help lift poverty incidence toward single digits which is well within reach given the country’s demonstrated growth capacity.

He said that economies typically progress through three stages: an early phase led by low-cost labor and basic manufacturing, a middle-income phase marked by rising wages and industrial expansion and a high-income phase powered by innovation and advanced technology.

The Philippines has reached the middleincome phase decades ago, he said, and now has the opportunity to build the productivity and innovation capacity needed to advance further.

Villegas pointed to underinvestment in education, research and infrastructure as key areas for improvement, adding the Philippines has historically spent 3 percent or less of gross domestic product (GDP) on infrastructure, compared with 6 percent or more among East Asian peers. He said that strengthening competition and broadening economic participation would help unlock the country’s full potential.

He cited Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, along with Israel, Ireland, Spain and Chile, as examples of economies that successfully transitioned to high-income status, demonstrating that the trajectory is achievable with sustained reform.

To s u p p o r t t h e t r a n s i t i o n , Vi l l e g a s recommended raising agricultural productivity to 3 percent to 4 percent annual growth, lifting total investment to around 30 percent of GDP through $15 billion to $20 billion in annual foreign direct investment (FDI), improving education and workforce skills, addressing child nutrition in the first 1,000 days, sustaining infrastructure spending at 5 percent to 6 percent of GDP and advancing innovation through initiatives such as the Pax Silica plan.

Villegas expressed confidence that the Philippines, like other economies that have made the shift from labor-driven to innovationdriven growth, is fully capable of reaching highincome status.

The Philippines has already cleared a significant development hurdle, and the tools to reach high-income status are within its control.

With sustained investment in infrastructure, human capital and institutions and continued discipline on governance and competitiveness, officials and economists see a credible path toward broad-based, innovation-driven growth that has lifted other East Asian and emerging economies into the high-income bracket. RDC

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

REPORT 2026

Gov’t pursues broader growth drivers

By Thony Rose Lesaca

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HE government aims to broaden its growth drivers beyond household consumption and services to build on its new upper-middleincome country (UMIC) status and speed up its transition to high-income status, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the country’s economic progress over the past two decades rested on prudent macroeconomic management and hard-won structural reforms that helped it rebound from successive global and domestic shocks.

Balisacan said household consumption and services have driven growth so far, and a more diversified strategy would help sustain and accelerate that momentum.

He pointed to productivity gains through innovation, technology adoption, capital deepening and human capital investment as key levers, along with equipping Filipino workers with skills for artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to strengthen competitiveness.

He said that growth should be inclusive and resilient to shocks, with continued attention to social protection, food security, and access to education and health.

GDP growth averaged 2.6 percent in the first half of 2026, with expansion easing to 2.3 percent in the second quarter amid contractions in gross capital formation and industry. The economy needs to grow at least 4.4 percent in

the second half to meet the government’s fullyear target of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent.

Inflation has shown signs of easing after peaking at 7.2 percent in April, slowing to 6.2 percent in July on softer price growth in transport and education services, though it remains above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 3.0-percent target.

The BSP’s Monetary Board raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent on June

18, its second consecutive hike, to help anchor inflation expectations.

The national government’s outstanding debt reached P19.07 trillion as of end-June, while the budget deficit widened to P264.3 billion.

Balisacan said the country has performed well on consumption but has lagged on investment and exports, noting the economy increasingly resembles that of a rich country as services gain importance relative to industry.

He said the Philippines has not lost its capacity for industrialization and could still revitalize both industry and agriculture to reinforce growth, adding that productivity gains driven by innovation would ultimately be the key driver of GDP growth over the long term.

He said the country has generated strong capital accumulation but has seen shallow capital deepening, meaning labor productivity and overall productivity have not grown as quickly as in economies such as Vietnam.

On workforce readiness, Balisacan said the Philippines has shown a strong ability to adapt to AI and other emerging technologies, and that fears the IT-BPM sec tor would shrink because of AI appear overstated, since the sector continues to grow.

He said the government’s priorities for the final two years of the administration include social protection, food security, and access to education and health, along with priority legislation to strengthen governance, curb corruption and boost economic growth

and resilience.

Balisacan said the focus going forward is on accelerating the implementation and completion of strategic programs and projects, keeping inflation in check, investing in people, improving spending efficiency, strengthening fiscal space and building the foundation for productivity-driven growth.

Grab, ITC team up to help MSMEs adopt digital tools GRAB Philippines has partnered with the International Trade Centre, the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, to strengthen the technology and artificial intelligence capabilities of Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises and track how digital adoption translates into business growth.

The collaboration brings together Grab’s flagship public-private partnership program, Grab Asenso: Digital Diskarte, and the Inclusive, Competitive and Responsible Digital Philippines program, or Digital PINAS. The pilot phase will bring ITC’s m i c ro - b u s i n e s s d e ve l o p m e n t expertise to Grab Asenso Learning Caravans in regional cities nationwide through the end of 2026, including Davao City, Cebu City, the City of San Fernando, and Puerto Princesa.

Th e p a r t n e r s h i p w i l l fo c u s on two workstreams: expert-led masterclasses for participating MSMEs and a merchant monitoring framework that will track how the training translates into measurable business results.

“Our vision is to build an even more expansive digital road network that reaches more MSMEs across cities and communities nationwide,” said Grab Philippines Chief Corporate Officer Sherielysse Bonifacio. “That means going beyond market access and equipping entrepreneurs with

the foundational skills, tools, and capabilities they need to participate confidently in the digital economy, expand their opportunities, and pursue sustainable growth. We are proud to par tner with the International Trade Centre in building a more competitive, thriving, and resilient MSME sector.”

The sessions will follow Digital PINAS’ hands-on, practice-driven format, guiding entrepreneurs through the fundamentals of bringing their businesses online.

Core modules will include setting up and optimizing Digital Business Profiles and online presence, developing brand and marketing content and strategy with creative platforms, and leveraging artificial intelligence tools for operations optimization.

Depending on the needs of MSMEs in each city, the masterclasses may also include e -commerce, financial management, responsible te c h n o l o g y a d o p t i o n , e x p o r t readiness, and other digital business fundamentals.

Grab trainers are also doing refresher courses on tools such as the Merchant AI Assistant, a 24/7 digital copilot designed to help merchants navigate day-to-day business tasks, and Tap and Scan to Pay, which enables them to accept convenient cashless payments through QR codes and cards.

ITC-Digital PINAS Digitalization Business Advisor Kim Sinchioco leads a session at the Grab Asenso Learning Caravan in Davao City, guiding women farmerentrepreneurs from the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) Davao City Federation Inc. on branding, content strategy, and digital content planning.

Measuring real business impact Grab and ITC will jointly track changes in merchants’ business practices, technology use, and performance through assessments, check-ins, surveys, and adoption data. The findings will guide future program improvements and support wider learning on MSME digitalization in the Philippines.

“As the United Nations agency dedicated to small businesses, ITC believes digital transformation is no longer optional — it’s how small businesses expand into new markets, create livelihoods, and build resilience

Women farmer-entrepreneurs from the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) Davao City Federation Inc. took part in learning modules on AI 101 for small businesses, branding strategy, product photography, and digital business profile optimization facilitated by Digitalization Business Advisor from ITC-Digital PINAS

against shocks, from typhoons to market swings. Digital PINAS was built on the commitment to reduce digital barriers and equip MSMEs, particularly those in underserved and underconnected communities, with the skills and support they need to become more competitive and sustainable. Partnering with Grab means we can reach entrepreneurs exactly where they already do business, combining Grab’s platform and tools with our hands- on, community-based digital training.

This is what strong partnerships should do: meet small businesses where they are, and help them grow stronger for whatever comes next,”

said Camille Roy, Country Program Manager at the International Trade Centre.

Digital-PINAS is a Joint Programme funded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) Fund with generous contributions from the European Union, to help expand digital inclusion opportunities for Filipino MSMEs. It is implemented by ITC, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside key government agencies led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Grab and the ITC-Digital PINAS team will jointly monitor the entrepreneurs’ application of the tools, technologies, and AI skills gained through the Grab Asenso Learning Sessions, as well as their impact on business performance and growth.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

REPORT 2026

UMIC status expected to lift stock market, raise more capital

By Jenniffer B. Austria

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he Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) sees record capital raising this year as the country’s new uppermiddle-income status pushes local companies to lean more heavily on public markets for growth funding.

Backed by a recovering benchmark index and narrowing foreign selling, the exchange is also rolling out new products and infrastructure investments to position itself as a deeper source of long-term capital for Philippine businesses.

The PSE expects capital raising to reach about P203.1 billion this year, roughly 20 percent above its initial target of P170 billion, as the country’s new upper-middle-income status pushes companies to rely more on capital markets to fund expansion.

The projection includes P69.43 billion raised in the first half, only 2 percent lower than the same period last year, plus an expected P133.7 billion from the

planned initial public offerings of PLDT’s Vitro REIT and Mynt Inc., the parent of e-wallet giant GCash.

The stronger capital-raising outlook comes as the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 3.07 percent year-to-date to 6,238.46 points as of Aug. 21, supported by renewed buying interest and stronger secondquarter earnings from select listed firms.

“The recent recovery was supported by renewed buying interests and stronger second quarter earnings from select listed firms,” PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said.

Total market capitalization rose 9.8 percent year-to-date to P20.56 trillion while average daily trading value increased 3.3 percent to P7.57 billion.

Net foreign selling narrowed to P8.89 billion from P40.2 billion in the same period last year.

The improved market backdrop coincides with the Philippines’ move into upper-middle-income status, which raises the need for stronger investment, productivity and competitiveness to sustain economic growth. For the stock market, this means becoming a deeper source of long-term capital as companies require more funding to expand, adopt technology and compete globally.

Other transactions in the pipeline include a follow-on offering by Arthaland Corp., private placements

by SteelAsia and EEI Corp. and a stock rights offering by LFM Properties Corp.

Monzon said the planned listing by introduction of PNB Holdings Corp. is expected to add about P56 billion to total market capitalization.

The exchange is also developing new products to deepen the local capital market, including global Philippine depository receipts, index futures and structured warrants.

The PSE is awaiting approval of revised rules for global Philippine depository receipts, which would let investors gain exposure to foreignlisted securities through pesodenominated instruments.

It has budgeted about P2.85 billion in capital and operating expenditures over 10 years for a new trading engine, an XBRL-enabled disclosure platform, back-office upgrades, artificial intelligence initiatives, a new central depository system and a new surveillance system.

The investments are intended to improve market efficiency, resilience and transparency while preparing the exchange for new products and a broader investor base.

As the Philippines settles into upper-middle-income status, the stock market’s ability to channel savings into productive investment will likely play a growing role in shaping the next stage of the country’s growth.

C2

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

REPORT 2026

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UMIC status to boost connectivity

By Darwin G. Amojelar

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HE Philippines’ new status as an upper-middle-income country is expected to lift the telecommunications industry, as rising household incomes create opportunities for telecom companies to deepen customer spending, expand broadband adoption and improve access to financing for network investments.

The World Bank reclassified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income country (UMIC), with its gross national income per capita rising to $4,850, above the $4,636 UMIC threshold.

Executives from Globe Telecom Inc., PLDT Inc. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. said the upgrade could create opportunities across the telecommunications sector, although they stressed that the benefits will depend on sustained and inclusive economic growth.

Globe Telecom chief commercial officer Darius Delgado said the company is building an ecosystem around connectivity, customer data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure rather than relying solely on traditional telecom services.

“Globe is not just selling connectivity or the network,” Delgado said, adding that the company is developing household and enterprise ecosystems in which products and services reinforce one another.

Premium 5G services are driving higher-value usage, while fiber and multi-product offers are strengthening household relationships, he said.

Globe is also investing in AI and digital trust to improve personalization and developing data center, cloud and cybersecurity capabilities for business customers.

Customer spending Globe posted an all-time high in consolidated gross service revenues for the first six months of 2026, growing 6 percent year-on-year despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, Delgado said.

He said the improvement partly stemmed from efforts to stimulate customer spending through targeted products and better network

experiences, with the country’s UMIC recognition providing an additional supportive backdrop.

Better 5G experiences are encouraging greater usage, while targeted offers are helping stimulate spending, Delgado said.

Globe is also encouraging its roughly 1.1 million fiber customers to move to higher-speed plans. The company is targeting mobile-only households in areas where fiber is available, which Delgado said can generate as much as seven times higher average revenue per user and significantly higher customer lifetime value.

PLDT Inc. vice-president and head of investor relations Jinggay Nograles cautioned that the Philippines’ transition toward upper-middleincome status should not automatically be expected to translate into higher average revenue per user.

“The Philippines’ move toward upper-middleincome status is positive for the long-term

digital consumption story, but we do not assume it automatically translates into higher ARPU,” Nograles said.

Consumers remain value - conscious, particularly amid the current economic environment, she said. “Our focus is on giving customers more value through better quality of service and more personalized offers, so that higher spend is supported by better customer experience,” Nograles added.

Digital infrastructure Globe Telecom chief financial officer Carlo Puno said the company invested P26.3 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2026, with 91 percent allocated to data-related initiatives.

The spending included 878 new 5G sites and more than 80,000 fiber-to-the-home lines.

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines is also on track to exceed 30 megawatts of capacity by year-end, providing infrastructure

Filinvest Land beats industry headwinds for second straight quarter, posts P12.57b in first-half revenue

Power demand seen rising 277% by 2040

By Alena Mae S. Flores

BUILDING SUCCESS. FLI key executives celebrate with the Mindanao sales team following a stellar first-half performance, gearing up for an even stronger finish.

PUSHING past tough market challenges for the second consecutive quarter, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) delivered a powerful performance in the first half of 2026. Backed by solid gains across both property sales and rental operations, total consolidated revenues rose 2.9 percent to Php 12.57 billion compared to the same period last year. Net income climbed 4.0 percent to Php 2.21 billion, highlighting the enduring strength of the company’s diversified portfolio, disciplined execution, and expanding recurring income streams.

The standout highlight of the period was a remarkable rebound in sales activity. Total reservation sales surged 50 percent year-on-year, reaching Php 12.5 billion from January to June 2026.

Momentum culminated in June, which recorded an impressive Php 3.7 billion—the company’s highest monthly reservation level since 2018. This phenomenal growth was largely spearheaded by ready-for-occupancy (RFO) sales, which totaled Php 6.8 billion in the first half alone. Real estate revenues increased 3.3 percent to Php 7.72 billion, supported by the company’s strategic focus on monetizing RFO inventory and successfully answering buyers’ preferences for immediately available properties.

“Our first-half results demonstrate Filinvest Land’s ability to translate demand into earnings through a disciplined, diversified business model,” said Tristan Las Marias, President and CEO of

Filinvest Land. “The strong pickup in reservation sales, particularly in RFO, reflects both improving buyer activity and the strength of our product offering across key markets.”

Las Marias added, “At the same time, our leasing and recurring income businesses continue to provide stability and resilience, giving us a balanced platform for growth. As market conditions evolve, we remain focused on execution, capital efficiency, and capturing demand across our residential, commercial, and industrial segments.”

The company’s commercial and industrial leasing businesses continued to serve as powerful pillars of stability. The retail mall business sustained its robust momentum, with leasing revenues rising 12 percent to Php 1.47 billion as targeted asset enhancement initiatives and healthy tenant engagement successfully lifted mall occupancy to 81 percent. Meanwhile, office leasing revenues grew 2.4 percent to Php 2.54 billion, supported by an exceptional 100 percent renewal rate for all secondquarter lease expiries, underscoring the enduring reliability of FLI’s office portfolio. Complementing these gains, the industrial segment continues to capture robust demand, particularly through the 33-hectare mega lots at the Filinvest Innovation Park–New Clark City (FIP-NCC), as corporate occupiers aggressively secure strategic logistics and manufacturing hubs.

for the country’s growing digital economy and AI workloads, Puno said.

He said the company’s capital spending plans are not simply a response to the UMIC upgrade.

“While UMIC is a supportive backdrop, our CapEx [capital expenditure] posture is definitely value-driven,” Puno said, citing Globe’s existing priorities in 5G, fiber, data centers, cloudadjacent services and digital trust.

Wider broadband market Converge ICT Solutions Inc. expects the UMIC classification to potentially expand the number of households able to afford broadband, provided economic growth translates into higher and more inclusive incomes.

Converge ICT chief operating officer Benjamin Azada said a growing middle class could create demand for new broadband products and services while the company continues to cater to lower-income consumers.

“If we have continued growth in the economy, and that translates to household income growth, and making sure that that is inclusive, that will mean for us good news because that means more and more households in the Philippines will be able to afford broadband,” Azada said.

He said Converge will maintain a segmented approach because customers will continue to have different needs and price points.

The company is also looking beyond residential broadband, with Azada identifying small and medium enterprises as another potential beneficiary of economic expansion.

As SMEs grow, demand could increase for connectivity bundled with AI, software-as-aservice and other digital tools. Converge recently partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry for an AI and Scale Up Center aimed at helping SMEs adopt digital technologies.

Financing benefits For PLDT Inc., the UMIC upgrade could have a positive impact on the company’s financing strategy.

PLDT senior vice-president and treasurer Leo Posadas said the company intends to take advantage of potentially greater availability of capital and improved investor confidence to reduce debt and refinance existing obligations at lower costs.

“Our strategy is to lower our debt,” Posadas said, emphasizing that the objective is not to increase borrowing but to take advantage of improved market conditions to reduce financing costs.

PLDT has already been pursuing refinancing initiatives since last year, helping bring down its interest expenses.

Under the proposed rules, a first offense for failing to report, omitting required documentation or submitting misleading THE Department of Energy is tightening records triggers a formal warning. A oversight of power generation companies second offense leads to a referral to the under a draft circular that would establish Energy Regulatory Commission, potential an accountability policy covering a plant’s suspension of DOE-issued certificates of entire operating life cycle, with a threeendorsement and temporary suspension step penalty structure for operators from government energy programs. A who fail to report outages or submit third offense results in full revocation misleading records. of endorsements, blacklisting T h e d r a f t c i r c u l a r, from government energy discussed during public initiatives and a consultations, requires recommendation to generation companies the ERC to revoke the to regularly submit facility’s certificate operational records, of compliance. including annual T h e self-assessments, department said preventive the draft circular maintenance aims to enforce schedules, forced t r a n s parent outage tracking, r e p o r t i n g , u n ex p e c te d promote regulatory s h u t d o w n re p o r t s consistency and uphold and corrective action the security and resilience documentation. The of the electric power grid. department would be able T h e push for Energy Secretary to independently initiate accountability comes as Sharon Garin administrative action against the department forecasts noncompliant operators installed capacity will grow to 121.3 through show-cause orders. gigawatts by 2040 from 32.2 gigawatts “ Fo r to o l o n g, p ro l o n g e d a n d in 2026, a 277 percent increase. Reaching unscheduled outages have put pressure that target will require more than 24 on the power system,” Energy Secretary gigawatts of ground-mounted solar, Sharon Garin said.

20 gigawatts of natural gas, nearly 10 “Building more capacity will mean gigawatts of onshore wind and 1.4 little if the plants already connected gigawatts of nuclear capacity. to our system cannot deliver when The depar tment also ordered they are needed. We are therefore a comprehensive internal review to strengthening accountability across ensure current power infrastructure the entire life cycle of a power plant,” supports that growth.

The Electric Power she said.

Industry Management Bureau and the “When government grants a company Renewable Energy Management Bureau the privilege to participate in our energy will audit actual plant output and update sector, we expect that company to deliver engineering standards, while the agency’s on its commitments and comply with the legal services office reviews active standards and conditions that come with contracts and endorsements. that privilege,” Garin said.

C3 MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

REPORT 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Investment, trade gains propel PH

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Philippines has joined the ranks of upper middle-income economies, crossing a World Bank threshold that reflects years of economic expansion and gives the country a new marker in its push to attract investment and create better-paying jobs.

The milestone comes as government agencies pursue wider market access and policies to improve the business environment under the Marcos administration, amid stronger trade and investment activity.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) chairman Cristina Roque said the milestone highlights the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s competitiveness, expand market access and attract more investment.

“This significant milestone is proof of the strong leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in pushing for economic reforms that enhance the country’s global competitiveness and resilience,” Roque said.

Finance Secretary Frederick Go described the country’s move to upper middle-income status as an affirmation of government reforms and policies to strengthen economic fundamentals and create more opportunities.

Go said the challenge now is to build on the gains and ensure the benefits of economic development reach more Filipinos.

Investment approvals provided one measure of the country’s economic momentum in 2025.

The BOI approved P1.56 trillion in investments last year, marking the agency’s second-highest annual approvals in its 58-year history.

The BOI is targeting at least P1 trillion in new foreign and domestic investments from BOIregistered firms in 2026, after recalibrating its investment

outlook amid global economic uncertainties and a more cautious assessment of its project pipeline.

Despite the lower target from P1.75 trillion in 2025, BOIapproved investments reached P461.84 billion in the first half of 2026, up 21 percent from P382.24 billion in the same period last year.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) also exceeded its 2025 investment target, approving P260.89 billion in 314 new and expansion projects, up 21.91 percent from 2024.

For 2026, PEZA has set a P300 billion investment target and reported P151.9 billion in approved investments in the first seven months of the year.

Trade has also remained a key driver of momentum, with Philippine exports growing 15.2 percent in 2025 and continuing to post year-on-year growth during

the first five months of 2026, the DTI said.

The government has expanded the country’s trade network alongside the growth in exports, with 23 free trade agreements in force or under negotiation, opening wider market access for Philippine exporters and businesses.

These include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the PhilippinesS o u t h K o r e a Fr e e Tr a d e Agreement, as well as ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union, Canada and Chile. The Philippines is also pursuing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates. “ U n d e r t h e M a r c o s J r. administration, our focus on our 23 FTAs and improving the ease of doing business has unlocked

record investment inflows and trade volumes,” Roque said.

She said the Philippines’ chair manship of ASEAN in 2026 also gives the country an opportunity to showcase its economic progress and attract more high-value investments.

“Serving as the ASEAN Chair for 2026 gives the Philippines a premier stage to showcase this economic progress, attract highvalue capital, and ensure that our economic growth translates into sustainable, high-quality jobs for all Filipinos,” Roque said.

The World Bank said the new classification brings a broader challenge for the Philippines to pursue further reforms to sustain growth, raise productivity and ensure economic progress translates into more inclusive development, better jobs and lower poverty.

Through Innovative and Sustained Investments

Meralco Powers the Next Chapter of the Country’s Energy Transition

COMMITTED TO ENHANCING SYSTEM CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY. Meralco remains committed to expanding and upgrading its distribution network to support economic growth, strengthen system redundancy, and deliver high-quality service across its franchise area. In the photo is the upgraded North Port substation which boosted system capacity and reliability for customers in Manila.

T H E global energy landscape continues to evolve, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, rapid technological advancements, and the growing urgency for climate action.

These shifts have been reshaping the way electricity is generated, delivered, and consumed.

For countries like the Philippines that remain exposed to external market dynamics, these developments underscore the importance of ensuring that the power industry remains not only reliable and affordable, but also more resilient and sustainable.

As one of the country’s key energy players, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has been steadfast in investing in the country’s energy future. While global fuel prices and other external factors continue to influence electricity costs, the company remains focused on modernizing and expanding its distribution network, strengthening system reliability, accelerating the integration of cleaner energy sources, and delivering greater value to its more than 8.3 million customers.

Meralco’s investments across i t s v a r i o u s b u s i n e s s e s — f ro m power distribution and generation to retail electricity supply and sustainability initiatives—reflect its long-term strategy of building a more resilient energy ecosystem that can withstand evolving market conditions, support the country’s growing electricity demand, and enable the transition toward a cleaner and more decentralized energy future.

“Meralco recognizes that the persistent conflict in the Middle East continues to exert pressure on global fuel supply and on prices and, consequently, electricity rates. While many of these are beyond our control, we remained focused on what we could manage—working closely with our fuel suppliers and exercising p r u d e n t s o u rc i n g s t r a t e g i e s, strengthening our network, and pursuing efficiencies to contain costs,” Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

In the first half of 2026, Meralco maintained a stable operational and financial performance – owing largely to its diversified business portfolio that enables it to continue delivering value to its stakeholders.

“While the distribution utility remained a significant earnings contributor, the sustained growth of our power generation and retail electricity supply businesses helped provide greater stability across our business. Our diverse earnings mix strengthens our resilience and allows us to continue investing

in our distribution network and clean energy capacity while creating sustainable value over the long-term,” Chairman Pangilinan added.

Building a Smarter, More Resilient Grid Th e ro l e o f M e ra l co’s co re distribution utility business has been continuously transforming amid growing electricity demand, rapid urbanization, digital technologies, and the increasing adoption of distributed energy resources.

That is why Meralco believes in pouring in capital for strategic investments that modernizes, s t re n g t h e n s a n d e x p a n d s i t s distribution network, while making it more resilient, intelligent, and adaptable. In the first half alone, Meralco spent P12.9 billion to fund network modernization, new connections, asset renewals, and other infrastructure projects.

From April to June 2026, the company completed five critical capital expenditure projects which added a total of 133 megavoltamperes (MVA), reinforcing the reliability and capacity of its distribution system. These included the commissioning of new substations in Trece Martires, Cavite and Bustos, Bulacan; the upgrading of the North Port Substation in Tondo, Manila; the construction of a new 115-kV sub-transmission line in Parang, Marikina; and the completion of a new control house at its Malabon substation.

These investments translated into improved operational performance and enabled its millions of customers to experience fewer and shorter power interruptions, recording a Sys te m Ave ra g e I nte r r u p t i o n Frequency Index (SAIFI) -- or the number of power interruptions each customer experiences -- of only 0.426 time; and a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) -- or average duration of outages per customer -- of only 46.575 minutes by end-June.

M e r a l c o’s c o m m i t m e n t t o operational excellence was reaffirmed this year as the Networks Group maintained its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification, underscoring Meralco’s adherence to internationally recognized standards in managing its electric distribution system.

ISO 9001:2015 is the internationally recognized standard for quality management systems. It provides organizations with a framework to consistently deliver products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements while promoting continual improvement

and operational efficiency.

Beyond strengthening its own network, Meralco also supported the country’s infrastructure development by relocating 601 poles for major government road widening and public works projects to ensure uninterrupted electricity service while enabling the timely completion of critical national infrastructure.

Further, Meralco continued with its proactive initiatives to minimize both technical losses that are inherent in electricity distribution, as well as non-technical losses through network modernization, operational efficiencies, and anti-pilferage initiatives – helping the company keep its system loss level well below the cap set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“Meralco continued with its modernization initiatives and adherence to international quality standards, enabling our Networks group to maintain its ISO Quality Management System certification this year—an affirmation of our commitment to operational excellence and reliable service. We will carry on with our strategic efforts to harden critical infrastructure, enhance network preparedness, and strengthen emergency response and restoration capabilities to fulfill our mandate of delivering safe, stable, and dependable electricity service to our customers under all operating conditions,” Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said.

Further, Meralco continued with its proactive initiatives to minimize both technical losses that are inherent in electricity distribution, as well as non-technical losses through network modernization, operational efficiencies, and anti-pilferage initiatives – helping the company keep its system loss level well below the cap set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Driving the Country’s Clean Energy Transition As the Philippines accelerates its transition toward a cleaner and more diversified energy mix, Meralco— through its power generation arm Meralco Powergen Corporation (MGEN)—continues to mark progress in the development of renewable energy and emerging technologies that strengthen energy security while supporting the country’s decarbonization goals.

Central to these efforts is MTerra Solar, MGEN’s flagship renewable energy project. In July, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated MTerra Solar Phase 1, just 600 days after groundbreaking—a milestone

A MILESTONE IN STRENGTHENING THE COUNTRY’S RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated MTerra Solar Phase 1 in July, marking another major milestone in MGEN’s flagship renewable energy project and reinforcing its commitment to advancing the country’s clean energy transition.

that reflects the scale and speed at which the project has been delivered.

With 1,373 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV ) capacity and 825 MW of battery energy storage already energized, MTerra Solar is now the world’s largest operational integrated solar PV and battery energy storage system facility on a single site. Since its co m m i s s i o n i n g i n M a rc h , t h e p ro j e c t h a s b e g u n s u p p l y i n g clean energy to the Luzon Grid, contr ibuting to the countr y ’s growing renewable energy capacity.

As MGEN continues to expand its renewable energy footprint, it energized the first phase of its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Toledo, Cebu last May, enhancing grid reliability and energy security in the Visayas.

The company is also exploring renewable energy solutions with Vietnam-based VinEnergo Energy Joint Stock Company that could deliver up to 5 GW of baseloadequivalent capacity, reinforcing its commitment to developing cleaner, more reliable energy solutions for the country.

“For us at MGEN, resilience is measured not only by how we respond to challenges, but by how we continue creating value despite them. The first half of 2026 underscored our commitment, from restoring stability following the Mindanao ear thquake and supporting the Visayas grid through periods of supply tightness, to advancing landmark projects like MTerra Solar and strengthening our partnerships with communities across the country,” MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio said.

“Alongside these milestones, the achievement of internationally recognized ISO cer tifications reinforces the culture of excellence, safety, and sustainability that underpins everything we do. As the country’s energy needs continue to evolve, MGEN remains steadfast in delivering reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy that powers economic growth and improves the lives of Filipinos,” he added.

Creating Shared Value Beyond the Grid Beyond delivering electricity, M e r a l c o c o n t i n u e s t o c re a t e meaningful and lasting impact through programs that advance s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, s t re n g t h e n communities, and improve the lives of the people it serves.

The company continues to make significant strides in environmental stewardship through initiatives that promote circularity and responsible resource management. In the first half of the year, Meralco’s Race to Zero Waste program achieved a record 98.7% waste diversion rate—the highest since the initiative began in 2019 with only 17%.

Building on this drive to minimize environmental impact, Meralco also expanded its PowerPlants Urban Farm program to 20 farms across its headquarters, sector offices, and business centers – with seven (7) more scheduled to open within the year. By turning open spaces into productive farms, and with the support of nearly 200 employee volunteers and local government partners, the program provides regular harvests of fresh vegetables benefitting more than 700 employees and community members.

Through One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the company energized 761 low-income households in the first half of 2026 under its Household Electrification Program, bringing safe and reliable electricity to underserved communities across Bulacan, Laguna, Pampanga, Pasig City, and Valenzuela City.

OMF likewise continued to harness solar energy to improve access to essential services by energizing four public schools benefiting 426 students and 26 teachers, a rural health station in Negros Occidental serving more than 2,500 residents, an e-tricycle charging station supporting 117 drivers and operators in Valenzuela City, and a solar-powered irrigation system that helps improve the livelihoods of 412 farmers in Nueva Ecija. It also donated multimedia learning equipment to two island schools in Camarines Norte previously electrified through solar power.

Meralco also remained committed t o p ro m o t i n g e nv i ro n m e n t a l sustainability and community resilience. Through OMF’s One for Trees program, the company partnered with Aklan State University to rehabilitate abandoned fishponds and restore mangrove ecosystems in the Batan Estuary by planting 50,000 mangroves.

At the same time, OMF distributed 3 4 0 s o l a r l a m p s t o f a m i l i e s, fisherfolk, and students in off-grid and underserved communities, while implementing 66 community development projects that included donations of computers, books, medicines, wooden poles, hygiene kits, and other essential resources to schools, government agencies, and local communities.

Investing in education also remained a priority. OMF launched its Balik Eskwela 2026 campaign to provide more than 10,000 school kits to public school students through the generosity of corporate partners and employeevolunteers, while supporting the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela program through the donation of cleaning and painting materials to 36 public schools.

MGEN likewise extended Brigada Eskwela assistance to 51 schools, b e n e f i t i n g m o re t h a n 2 9 , 0 0 0 students, teachers, and school personnel in its host communities.

When disasters struck , One Meralco continued to stand with affected communities. OMF distributed nearly 8,000 relief packs and 440 solar lamps to families affected by fires, Tropical Storm B a s y a n g, t h e M ayo n Vo l c a n o eruption, and the magnitude 7 . 8 e a r t h q u a k e i n M i n d a n a o.

Complementing these effor ts, MGEN extended financial assistance to more than 3,000 earthquakeaffected residents in Sarangani and continued supporting community health initiatives through its Adopta-Health-Center program in Cebu, Iloilo, and Aklan.

Together, these initiatives reflect One Meralco’s commitment to creating value that extends beyond powering homes and businesses— empowering communities, advancing sustainability, and helping build a more resilient future for Filipinos. “ We expect that the energy industr y will continue to face uncertainty caused by geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Consequently, global fuel markets are extremely fragile and volatile.

We are encouraged by the efforts of the Department of Energy and the ERC, and the Government as a whole to manage the impact on our economy. Meralco will continue supporting programs and initiatives that will be beneficial to consumers both in the near-term and in the long run. MTerra Solar, which we inaugurated earlier this month, serves as a tangible demonstration of our commitment to be part o f t h e s o l u t i o n , a d v a n ce t h e country’s clean energy transition, and contribute to energy security,” Pangilinan concluded.

SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY. Meralco continues to grow greener communities through its PowerPlants Urban Farm program, transforming open spaces into productive gardens that provide fresh harvests for employees and nearby communities.

BUSINESS

D1

BSP rate hike seen this week

By Thony Rose Lesaca

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to raise its key interest rate by 25 basis points on Aug. 27 to help bring inflation back to its target range, economists said over the weekend.

The BSP raised its benchmark policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent on June 18 to anchor inflation expectations and mitigate secondround effects. Inflation remained elevated at 6.2 percent in July, while economic growth slowed to 2.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort expects a 25-basis-point rate hike, saying the move would bring the policy rate closer to the central bank’s inflation estimates and keep monetary policy ahead of price pressures.

“BSP policy would still go up

further closer to the average inflation estimates [from the current 4.75 percent vs. the latest inflation estimate of 6.4 percent for 2026] to be ahead of the curve, as well as to help stabilize the peso exchange rate versus the US dollar and importation costs,” said Ricafort.

Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion estimates a 25-basis-point increase before proceeding with a pause, as inflation remains above target and upside risks persist despite weak growth.

“Following the [second-quarter]

GDP slowdown, the BSP may opt for greater policy flexibility while maintaining its anti-inflation stance, balancing price stability objectives with emerging growth concerns,” he said.

Security Bank chief economist Angelo Taningco also forecast a 25-basis-point hike, which he said could be the BSP’s final rate increase this year.

“This we assess is a less aggressive monetary tightening that we feel is needed to help bring down inflation to BSP’s 3-percent target while not hampering GDP growth, which has been sluggish,” said Taningco.

Reyes Tacandong & Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas projects a 25-basis-point hike, saying rate hikes may be necessary as inflation remains above the BSP’s upper target of 4 percent.

Metrobank chief economist Nicholas Mapa also pencilled in a 25-basis-point rate increase in August, followed by another 25-basis-point hike in October.

25 bps

NGCP cites Expected rate hike need for more this week power plants to cut system loss 4.75% Overnight borrowing rate

6.2% Inflation rate in July

Regasco set to complete Bicol LPG plant REPUBLIC Gas Corp. (Regasco) said over the weekend it expects to complete its first liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refilling plant in Polangui, Albay in the first week of October.

The plant has an annual capacity of 72 million kilograms and will serve Regasco customers across the Bicol region, including Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

Regasco president Arnel Ty recently visited the P75-million facility to check equipment status and overall readiness for commercial operations.

“Such visits are important to ensure that operations are smooth and the plant is ready to provide reliable and safe LPG service to our countrymen in Bicol,” Ty said.

Regasco has supplied LPG products to households since 1998.

The company is 100-percent Filipinoowned and was brought to Luzon by South Pacific Inc., which operates one of the largest LPG storage facilities in the Philippines with a capacity of more than 22,000 metric tons.

South Pacific Inc. held a 14.3-percent market share as of the end of 2025, making it the country’s third-largest LPG supplier, according to the latest data from the Department of Energy. Alena Mae S. Flores

Green Light column will resume Wednesday, August 26, 2026

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

BUSINESS COOPERATION. Department of Finance Undersecretary and Government Corporations and Investments Group (GCIG) head Ma. Angela Ignacio leads discussions with representatives of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) to strengthen the business and investment environment in the Philippines. During the roundtable discussion, Ignacio engaged with business representatives on their experiences and priorities in operating in the Philippines, as well as potential government interventions that could further support business growth and encourage greater foreign investment. Source: US-ASEAN Business Council

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said technologies exist to reduce system loss but called for the construction of more power plants, as the Visayas grid was placed on yellow alert Sunday evening amid tight electricity supply.

NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Perez-Alabanza told a Senate hearing there are several ways to address voltage and system loss issues.

“So, many ways to make a solution to prevent voltage and system loss, among them is building more power plants in areas that can provide voltage support and lessen system loss as well as answer for increased demand for electricity,” Alabanza said.

She said the company will continuously build higher-voltage transmission lines.

“In fact, NGCP does have several technological strategies to minimize technical system loss on our part.

Of course, the most important part is expanding the lines,” Alabanza said.

Alabanza said system loss is largest at lower voltages such as 69 kilovolts.

“Technically, it should be classified as subtransmission assets, but in many cases, NGCP still manages the 69 kV because the co-ops still do not have the capacity for various reasons.

For our bigger voltage lines, delivery is more efficient,” she said.

She said that system loss increases with line length.

“We have technologies, including capacitor banks and STATCOM. We are doing STATCOM now because we can see that the generators are moving away from certain load centers,” she said.

NGCP placed the Visayas grid on yellow alert from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday as available capacity stood at 2,516 megawatts against peak demand of 2,292 MW.

Mining chamber throws support behind EO 122 on critical minerals policy

By Othel V. Campos THE Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) threw its full support behind Executive Order No. 122, which sets a national policy framework for critical minerals and strengthens the Mining Industry Coordinating Council.

COMP, which represents the country’s leading large-scale metallic mining and exploration companies and allied industries, said the order’s focus on policy stability, regulatory consistency and transparency is essential to attracting long-term investments in exploration, mine development and mineral processing.

The EO also pushes the country’s mineral strategy beyond extraction by promoting value-added processing, refining and downstream manufacturing, the chamber said.

SteelAsia plans P9-b preferred share sale

STEELASIA Manufacturing Corp. is planning to raise up to P9 billion through a preferred share offering that could make it the first unlisted company to use the Philippine Stock Exchange’s newly expanded preferred-share listing rules.

The transaction forms part of the PSE’s capital-raising pipeline for 2026 and is slated for the second half of the year, PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said.

The exchange expects total capital raising this year to reach P203.13 billion, about 20 percent above its original P170-billion target, following the planned maiden share offerings of Vitro REIT Inc. and Mynt, the parent company of e-wallet operator GCash, Monzon said.

The SteelAsia deal comes shortly after the PSE introduced rules allowing companies to list preferred shares without first listing their common shares.

Under the rules, unlisted companies can list preferred shares through qualifying private placements without conducting an initial public offering of their common equity, giving businesses an alternative route to the stock market.

To ensure wider investor participation, companies using the directlisting route must distribute at least P50 million worth of the same class or series of preferred shares to at least 100 investors within one year of the listing. Jenniffer B. Austria

NLEX Corp. posts 2% income growth

NLEX Corp. said over the weekend its net income grew 2 percent in the first half of 2026 as higher toll revenues offset weaker traffic and rising operating and maintenance costs amid a fuel price crisis.

Net profit amounted to P7.46 billion in the January-June period, up from P7.33 billion in the same period last year, the company said.

Toll revenues rose 7 percent to P15.77 billion in the first half following toll adjustments implemented on NLEX in January 2026.

The company said it also generated other income from fees collected from toll service facilities along NLEX and rental income from ad-

The policy could help the Philippines capture more value from its mineral resources, attract new investments, create quality jobs and strengthen local supply chains, according to COMP. The chamber also backed the EO’s emphasis on responsible and sustainable development, saying industry growth must come with sound environmental stewardship, respect for the rights and welfare of host communities and Indigenous Peoples, rigorous environmental management and meaningful community partnerships.

COMP welcomed efforts to strengthen inter-agency coordination and digitalize regulatory processes, saying streamlined requirements can cut unnecessary delays and improve the ease of doing business while preserving environmental and social safeguards.

IN BRIEF vertising structures.

Traffic remained a drag on the business as higher fuel prices affected travel demand.

NLEX recorded average daily traffic of 352,067 vehicle entries as of June 30, down 1 percent from the same period last year. SCTEX traffic fell 4 percent to 81,111 vehicle entries per day.

The NLEX Connector was the exception, with average daily traffic increasing 7 percent to 21,885 vehicle entries.

The company attributed the decline in travel demand to the impact of the fuel price crisis during the first half of 2026. Darwin G. Amojelar

Stocks seen moving sideways this week

PHILIPPINE share prices are expected to move sideways with a downward bias this week as escalating tensions in the Middle East and an upcoming Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas policy meeting keep investors on the sidelines.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research head Japhet Tantiangco said worries over the situation in the Middle East caused the local bourse to pull back last week.

“With no end in sight, tensions between the US and Iran are expected to remain hanging above market sentiment, especially as global oil prices continue their climb, in turn setting up higher inflation expectations at home,” Tantiangco said.

The BSP is also scheduled to hold its policy meeting this week, with a 25-basis-point rate hike widely expected.

“The BSP is seen to be at a critical juncture as they balance elevated inflation against slowing economic growth in their policy decision. The uncertainties in their policy direction may also weigh on the market,” Tantiangco said.

The continued weakening of the peso against the dollar could also affect trading this week. The peso hit a record low against the dollar last week amid global uncertainties. Jenniffer B. Austria

MAKRO EXPANSION. Ayala Land Inc. signs land lease agreements with Makro Philippines for the development of new stores in four of its mixed-use estates. Signing the agreement are (seated from the left) May Rodriguez, project development regional group head, Ayala Land Estates; Christopher Maglanoc, regional estates head, Ayala Land Estates; Shaun Wong, deputy chief executive, Makro International; and Mark Uy, head of corporate strategy and business development group, Ayala Corp.

PhilCare, Hi-Precision team up to launch new health plans PHILCARE and Hi-Precision Diagnostics have teamed up to launch Precision Care, a new line of health plans combining emergency coverage with diagnostic services, the companies said.

The Precision Care series targets individuals aged six months to 65 years and comes in three variants — Basic, Plus and Premium — each offering a different mix of benefits.

“This partnership strengthens our commitment to making healthcare smarter,” PhilCare president and chief executive Jaeger Tanco said.

“By integrating Hi-Precision’s diagnostic excellence with our comprehensive emergency coverage, we are providing Filipinos with a holistic health solution that is both accessible and efficient,” said Tanco.

Hi-Precision Diagnostics is ISO 9001-certified leading provider of

diagnostic healthcare services in the Philippines.

Each plan provides single-use coverage of up to P60,000 for emergency care and hospitalization arising from viral illnesses, bacterial infections and accidental injuries, with access to more than 600 accredited hospitals nationwide.

Members also receive unlimited outpatient consultations with general physicians and family medicine specialists at Hi-Precision clinics nationwide, along with an annual laboratory test allowance ranging from P5,000 to P15,000 depending on the chosen variant.

Registration for Precision Care is fully digital, and availment at Hi-Precision branches is processed through PhilCare Xpress, which allows real-time validation of coverage and remaining benefit limits, the companies said.

REAL ESTATE

D2

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com Jenniffer B. Austria, Issue Editor

The 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2026, supported by gold sponsor Boysen Paints, brought together more than 350 industry leaders. This year’s gala ceremony, themed ‘Defined by Excellence,’ recognized outstanding achievements across real estate, architecture, interior design, sustainability, and social impact

S

Regional developers make mark at PropertyGuru awards

IXTEEN real estate developers were recognized across 46 categories at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, highlighting the industry’s resilience amid global headwinds.

Jules Kay, managing director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said the awards brought together established property companies and rising regional developers.

“The calibre of entries across all categories was high, and we are proud to honour developments that are redrawing city skylines, establishing new benchmarks for sustainable design and construction, and elevating the standard of living for Filipino communities nationwide,” Kay said.

The awards covered residential, commercial, hospitality, industrial and mixed-use projects, as well as architecture, interior design, sustainability and social impact.

Top winners Cebu Landmasters Inc. emerged as the biggest winner, securing its second Best Developer title.

The Visayas-based developer also won Best Housing Developer, Best Developer (Visayas) and Best Developer (Mindanao).

Its Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue was named Best Next Gen Hotel Development, while North Grove at Pristina Town and The Wave Towers won Best Mid End Condo Development (Metro Cebu) and Best High End Condo Development (Metro Cebu), respectively.

Casa Mira Homes GenSan was named Best Housing Development (Mindanao), while Astra Lifestyle Centre won Best Retail Architectural Design.

Aboitiz Economic Estates won Best Industrial Developer, Best Sustainable Commercial Developer and Best Developer (Luzon), while Aboitiz Land’s The Villages at LIMA Estate was also recognized.

Landco Pacific Corp. won Best Lifestyle Boutique Developer, Best Sustainable Residential Developer and Best Luxury Developer. Its The Spinnaker was named Best Condo Development (Philippines) and Best Condo Development (Luzon).

Different sectors Filinvest Land Inc. was named Best Large Scale Housing Developer, supported by its winning projects Claremont and Futura Homes Palm Estates.

Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso, president and chief executive officer of Megaworld Corporation, received the Real Estate Personality of the Year; presented by Richard Allan Aquino, head of brand and marketings services, PropertyGuru Group Taylormade Development Corp. won Best Townhouse Developer and was recognized for Aurella Ridge, while Damosa Land Inc. was named Best Boutique Developer and recognized

for TRYP by Wyndham Samal.

PHirst Park Homes Inc. was named Best Community Developer, with PHirst Park Homes GenSan also receiving an award.

Idesia by P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin Inc. won Best Housing Development (Philippines).

Primehomes Real Estate Development Inc. was named Sustainable Residential/Township Developer, while The Reserve also received recognition.

Other winners included Aseana Residential Holdings Corp. for MidPark Towers; Federal Land NRE Global Inc. for Riverpark Gateway District Showroom and The Observatory Sales Pavilion; PH1 World Developers for Avesta Residences; and Wee Community Developers Inc. for Destine Davao and Newtowne Dasmariñas.

Cyndy Tan Jarabata, chairperson of the awards in the Philippines and president of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group Inc., said the winners reflected the property sector’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions.

“This year, we witnessed regional developers competing at par with national players, while projects pursued rigorous sustainability and wellness certifications,” Jarabata said.

Property leaders The awards also recognized individuals who have shaped the Philippine property industry.

Jorge L. Araneta, chief executive officer, chairman and president of Araneta Group, received the Life Achievement Award for his contribution to the country’s retail and mixeduse real estate sector through Araneta City.

Megaworld Corp. president and chief executive Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso was named Real Estate Personality of the Year for her work in developing integrated townships and districts across the country.

Monica Lorenzo, director for leisure and business development at Torre Lorenzo Development Corp., received the Rising Star award.

The awards were judged by an independent panel composed of property, architecture,

Sierra Valley Gardens reaches another construction milestone RLC Residences is advancing the development of the 18-hectare Sierra Valley Destination Estate in Cainta, Rizal, with structural work on Building 4 of Sierra Valley Gardens now completed.

The milestone brings the multibuilding residential community closer to taking shape within the larger mixed-use estate.

Construction will next move to Building 5, as RLC Residences continues to roll out the project and expand the residential component of Sierra Valley.

Sierra Valley is already seeing activity, with food and beverage outlets, retail shops and services such as a salon, gym and laundry shop operating within the estate. A future mall and Shopwise store are also planned, adding to the range of amenities available to residents and visitors.

RLC Residences said the development is positioned as more than a collection of residential buildings. Its strategic location is also offering suburban living while keeping residents within reach of Metro Manila business districts such as Ortigas Center

and Bridgetowne.

The residential community is designed around open spaces and nature-inspired amenities, including swimming pools, fitness and wellness areas, and spaces for recreation and gatherings. Units are also designed to be smart-home ready, with sustainability incorporated into the development.

RLC Residences senior consultant engineer Jose Rovie Cipriano said the

progress on Building 4 reflected the work of the teams behind the project.

“It symbolizes the heights we can reach when we work together,” Cipriano said.

The project also highlights the growing appeal of Cainta as a residential location, offering homeowners access to a less dense environment while remaining connected to major employment, retail and lifestyle centers in Metro Manila.

The Life Achievement Award was presented to Jorge L. Araneta, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the Araneta Group. The award was received on his behalf by Rowell Recinto, senior management consultant of Araneta City, and was presented by Lewis Ng, chief executive officer of PropertyGuru Group design, finance and investment professionals.

The selection process was supervised by Diaz Murillo Dalupan and Company–HLB Philippines.

The Philippine winners will advance to the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, where they will compete for the Best in Asia titles on Dec. 11, 2026, in Bangkok.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Ayala unit BellaVita partners with Naga City for socialized housing AYALA Land Inc.’s socialized housing arm BellaVita has started turning over homes to Naga City government employees under a program covering 1,011 units at BellaVita Naga in Barangay Pacol.

The first 110 qualified employees received their homes on Aug. 18, with the units already connected to water and electricity and supported by completed road infrastructure.

The housing program was established through a memorandum of agreement between BellaVita Land Corp. and the Naga City government. Under the arrangement, BellaVita makes the homes available to qualified city employees, while the local government facilitates employee participation and coordinates with Pag-IBIG Fund. Employees acquire the units individually through PagIBIG housing loans.

The program gives city employees a path to homeownership within the same community where they work, bringing together private-sector housing development, government support and Pag-IBIG financing.

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo said the development was particularly valuable because the village was already fully developed, with houses and community facilities in place.

The 1,011 homes covered by the agreement form part of the BellaVita Naga community, which is designed to provide affordable housing alongside community facilities and livelihood opportunities.

For the first batch of 110 homeowners, the turnover provides a permanent address for families who serve the city.

Ayala Land Group Head of Strategic Growth and New Ventures and Chief Sustainability Officer Robert S. Lao said the program resulted from cooperation among the city government, housing agencies and Pag-IBIG Fund.

The initiative also reflects BellaVita’s focus on socialized housing, combining affordable homeownership with facilities intended to support the day-to-day needs of residents.

SHOWBIZ

D3

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

Sanya Lopez bares vulnerable side in new single ‘Laro’ Sanya Lopez shifts to a softer alternative-pop sound with ‘Laro,’ a track about heartbreak, situationships, and loving someone who cannot return the same feeling

ACTRESS and singer Sanya Lopez explores heartbreak, situationships, and unrequited love in her new alternative pop single “Laro,” released under GMA Playlist.

The track follows her energetic dance-pop single “Hot Maria Clara,” which centered on empowerment and a lively, danceable sound.

“Laro” takes a more melancholic approach, telling the story of loving someone wholeheartedly before realizing that person was not the right one.

“If ‘Hot Maria Clara’ was all about empowerment and a fun, danceable vibe, ‘Laro’ is more emotional. It’s about loving someone wholeheartedly, only to realize that you’re

giving your heart to someone who wasn’t right for you,” Lopez said.

The song began during a recording session for the primetime series Pulang Araw, when Lopez spoke with GMA Playlist executive Rocky Gacho about recording another single.

Lopez said she wanted the song to explore situationships and relationships that listeners could relate to, particularly the experience of giving one’s heart to someone only to realize they were not meant to be together.

Before recording “Laro,” Lopez underwent vocal coaching to prepare for the

song. She also worked on understanding its story and delivering its emotions.

“For me, it’s not just about hitting the notes; it’s about making people feel the message of the song,” she said.

Lopez hopes the song offers comfort to listeners dealing with heartbreak and reminds them that loving openly is never a flaw.

“There’s nothing wrong with loving.

There’s nothing wrong with giving your heart to someone, even if it didn’t work out,” she said.

“Laro” is now available on major digital streaming platforms nationwide under GMA Playlist.

Aljon Mendoza continues to speak up

as hometown struggles under floodwaters A

CTOR Aljon Mendoza turned 25 on July 16 with a renewed commitment to use his platform to speak up on issues affecting his fellow Kapampangans, particularly as severe flooding continues to disrupt communities in Pampanga.

Aljon, who recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing from Philippine Women’s University, said he hopes to document the conditions in his hometown and amplify the voices of residents seeking help.

“I really want to go there with my team. Maybe there are needs that we can help with, and at the same time, I want to get footage to document what

A 2023 interview with Bernadette Sembrano ( rightmost) shows Aljon Mendoza’s long-running concern over the recurring flood problem affecting communities in Pampanga

really happened,” Aljon told Manila Standard Entertainment.

The actor described the flooding near his family’s home as the worst they have experienced.

“When I video call my family, they show me the flood, which is already chest-deep, and the water keeps rising,” he shared.

Aljon said his family has raised their belongings and moved what they could to higher rooms. One room in their house has already been submerged, while floodwaters outside have reached chest level.

“When we go outside, almost the entire Makabebe has no visible road anymore,” he went on.

He also said the flooding has grown worse over the years. In 2020, he recalled, floodwaters remained for about two weeks. Since then, he has noticed floods lasting longer and reaching higher levels.

The situation has also complicated evacuation efforts. Aljon said his family chose to stay because they did not want to leave behind their pets.

“Not everyone has the choice to evacuate. Some people can only raise their belongings,” the actor explained.

As recent monsoon rains and tropical storms have left several cities and provinces struggling with flooding, Aljon questioned whether enough government resources are reaching communities on the ground.

“I hope they do something because many people are asking for help, yet nothing is happening,” he said. “As a

Aljon Mendoza shares how his college journey strengthened his commitment to documenting community issues and using his platform to amplify concerns often overlooked

concerned citizen, I feel relief goods should be the bare minimum.”

Aljon also raised concerns over alleged “ghost projects” and unfinished flood-control projects, while acknowledging that he does not know every detail surrounding the issue.

“I think there is really a problem with funding and corruption. There is always funding for something. If they build a flood-control project and it is not completed, then the following year there is funding again for the same thing. So where does the money go if it is not completed?”he asked.

Aljon stressed that his comments come from the perspective of a concerned citizen, adding that he wants to be careful about making accusations.

“I can express what I feel. I can express my feelings and criticisms. But as much as possible, I should not make accusations,” he said. “For me, it is more important to be careful about what you say.”

Still, Aljon vowed to keep us-

Aljon Mendoza marks his 25th birthday with renewed interest in projects that give him room to tell stories beyond acting

ing social media to amplify concerns that he believes deserve attention.

“As long as I can, I will speak up,” he said. “Many people are already speaking up, but they are still not being heard. We have a platform on social media, so let’s stand together because that is our right.”

His advocacy also ties into a longstanding interest in journalism. Aljon said he still hopes to produce documentaries and is looking for opportunities to study writing so he can make his future projects more polished.

He also stressed the importance of fact-checking, particularly when sharing sensitive information online.

Aljon is part of the upcoming film #Uploading, alongside Dylan Yturalde, Eliza Borromeo, and Zeus Collins, among others. He is also set to join Zaijan Jaranilla, Yukil Takahashi, Monina Lawrence, Sharmaine Suarez, Chikki Magbutang, Pops Fernandez, Renz Verano, The Juans, and dwta in Wish Date: Unchanging Glass - A 12th Wish Anniversary Special.

Flooding in Makabebe pushes Aljon Mendoza to call attention to relief efforts, unfinished flood-control projects, and the need for careful public criticism

Shirley Kuan out, Chris Cahilig in Bea Alonzo gets a new manager

By Angelica Villanueva

Newlyweds Vincent Co (right) and Bea Alonzo enter a new personal chapter as they navigate changes in their relationship and personal lives

FILM producer Chris Cahilig has taken over as Bea Alonzo’s interim manager following the resignation of her longtime manager, Shirley Kuan.

Cahilig confirmed the management change Sunday, Aug. 23, after posting on Facebook, “Life is full of surprises,” prompting congratulations from members of the media and the entertainment industry.

“We’ll start planning pa lang since bago pa lahat and she’s in a new stage of her personal life,” Cahilig told Ma-

nila Standard Entertainment.

In a separate interview, Cahilig said Kuan resigned Aug. 11. Bea and her husband, businessman Vincent Co, then asked him to temporarily handle the actress’ professional affairs.

“There is a need to take care of unfinished businesses. There are inquiries for endorsements,” Cahilig said.

“So the couple approached me if, for the meantime, I can take care of all those things for them.”

Cahilig stressed that he did not take Bea away from her previous management team, saying he only assumed the role after Kuan’s res-

ignation.

“She resigned kaya ako interim kasi somebody has to take care of what she left,” he said.

The management change comes weeks after Bea and Vincent married in a private civil ceremony in Makati on July 13.

Cahilig said Bea is currently prioritizing her family as she adjusts to married life, while they will discuss her long-term career plans.

He added that he plans to respect Bea’s career decisions while helping open new opportunities for the actress.

Chris Cahilig is temporarily handling Bea Alonzo’s pending commitments and endorsement inquiries

LIFE

D4

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

The resort is designed with a circular layout and named sections for easy navigation

By Jasper Valdez

M

UCH of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa’s core looks almost as it did when the Cebu property opened three decades ago. Around it, the lagoon-side resort has continued to change while holding on to its original aim of giving guests a break from the pace of city life.

The resort traces its anniversary to July 17, 1996, when it welcomed a single guest for one night. Owner Manuel “Manny” Gonzalez acknowledged that the date was partly symbolic because the property did not fully open until 1997, only months before the Asian financial crisis.

Plantation Bay began with 188 rooms and now has 250. Its spa opened in 2002 and was enlarged four years later, while its restaurants were extended to accommodate more guests.

“The problem with the breakfast here is people don’t eat and leave.

They eat and talk,” Gonzalez said.

“It’s a good problem to have, but we eventually had to add more and more.”

Newer offerings include pickleball courts, health and wellness programs, and menu options for guests who follow vegan, halal, keto, and carnivore diets. Gonzalez said the kitchen develops recipes around different dietary preferences rather than relying only on standard substitutions.

Despite these additions, the resort has avoided a sweeping redesign. Its low-rise buildings, deep balconies, named sections, and circular plan remain central to the property.

“Most resorts are city hotels that were given a big swimming pool and placed on the beach,” Gonzalez said.

Rather than follow that model, Gonzalez shaped Plantation Bay around memories of the quieter plantation properties he visited during childhood.

He recalled them as peaceful places where life seemed to move at a slower pace.

“I distinctly felt that time was passing more slowly on a plantation, and that’s what I wanted to recreate,” he said Gonzalez also designed the sprawling property to be easier for guests to navigate. Most rooms overlook a lagoon, pool, garden, or another open space.

“In most hotels and resorts, even when the layout is good, you get lost because everything is numbered,” Gonzalez said. “I said we should have a circular

Three decades of change,

one enduring idea at Plantation Bay Plantation Bay celebrates its 30th anniversary with performances that reflect the resort’s continuing mix of leisure and entertainment

The resort’s 30th anniversary program includes live entertainment that adds energy to the evening celebration

Plantation Bay’s anniversary program brings together guests and performers in a celebration of Plantation Bay’s three decades in Cebu The resort in Cebu has grown from 188 to 250 rooms while maintaining its original goal of providing a relaxing escape

plan and give the buildings different names so people could navigate easily. Then, while giving them names, we arranged them alphabetically so people would know which way to go.”

Plantation Bay’s evolution also drew from the people who worked there, whose suggestions became part of its continuing development.

“I am hands-on, but I actually listen to everybody,” Gonzalez said. “We get lots of great ideas and comments from different officers and staff members.”

That openness to staff input is matched by training beyond the usual demands of hotel work. Employees receive lessons in public speaking, table etiquette, wine appreciation, pronunciation, and personal presentation.

“We work much harder to choose and train good staff,” he said. “We teach them many things that no other hotel will teach them.”

The lessons, Gonzalez said, are intended to help employees take on responsibilities beyond their current assignments.

“I do it because I want to help develop these people,” he added.

After three decades, Plantation Bay continues to add services and respond to changing guest habits. The setting Gonzalez wanted from the beginning, however, remains recognizable in the lagoon-side buildings, open views, and unhurried rhythm of the property.

“We are constantly learning new things along the way and somehow incorporating them,” he said. “But the spirit of the hotel is more or less unchanged.”

A taste of royalty in Baguio EVERY time I visit Baguio, whether for leisure or business, I always get acquainted with something new that the city offers, be it food-related or tourism-related, or simply a new section of the city conducive to having fun.

This time, I came face-to-face with and experienced the exemplary service of a boutique hotel, which I thought was new, as I had never heard of it before.

The five-year-old Lafaayette Luxury Suites is located near Baguio’s central business district and is also near Camp John Hay, Session Road, and Burnham Park. It is a full-service accommodation with impressive Old European architecture. In fact, when I walked into its atrium lobby, it immediately gave me the feeling that I was in a luxurious European hotel because of its interior design and facilities.

As I looked up from the lobby, I could see the hotel’s 10 floors, with guestrooms on each floor strategically placed around the atrium. Coming from a long drive, I was pleased to see the hotel staff welcoming me with sincere smiles and breezing through the check-in process seamlessly.

To the left of the lobby is a grand spiral white staircase leading up to the mezzanine, made elegantly attractive by banisters of black and gold.

With something like this, it’s easy to mentally picture some noble royal personalities coming down the stairs, all dressed in their regal finery, to mingle with invited guests, like what I see in movies.

Fronting the lobby is a wide check-in counter with front panels decorated with golden curlicues, exactly like what luxurious medieval establishments in Europe had. I was so preoccupied with appreciating the opulence in the hotel’s interior design that I later found myself transfixed by the beautiful and luxurious surroundings I was in.

Honestly, I never expected that Baguio had this “jewel” of an accommodation. It’s got to be Baguio’s best-kept secret.

Walking into my room was another pleasant shocker. The room’s interiors immediately

made me feel like royalty. It was not just the furnishings, it was the overall design of the living room, how the pieces of furniture were laid out, the bedroom with its nocturnal facilities conveniently set up, and the very spacious bathroom with gold trimmings, convincing me that I was going to live like a king for the next few days.

The preponderance of golden curlicues inside the various sections of my room gave me the impression that I was in one of the palatial rooms at the Palace of Versailles.

Breakfast at the L’Epicure Restaurant on the hotel’s topmost floor was another beautiful experience, not only because of its panoramic views of the city but also because of the elegantly designed furniture. Glass tables are used, and the chairs have the classic Italian Renaissance look.

It felt great to be seated beside the glass walls, giving one an unobstructed aerial view of different parts of the city. The buffet has a massive selection of Filipino and Western dishes, more than enough to satisfy any foodie’s yearnings.

Owned by Rowena and Paul Lalwani, the Lafaayette Luxury Suites Baguio has 55 welldesigned guest rooms. From humble beginnings, Paul, of Indian descent, worked so hard to achieve

his goal, and this boutique hotel is the fruit of his labor. His chosen design for the interiors is part of his dream to enjoy the luxuries of life, and the hotel, with its design and facilities, certainly gives anyone a taste of such. Paul also owns a resort with the same name in La Union, with interiors and furnishings designed the same way as this one in Baguio.

I later learned that the hotel runs at an average occupancy of close to 90 percent throughout the year. No surprise because it offers everything that a “staycationer” looks for in a hotel: accessibility to interesting spots, a sky view of the city, great service, complete facilities, good food, ample parking space, and the feeling of luxury at very affordable rates.

I’m glad I discovered this beautiful hotel and had the opportunity to spend my weekend with a taste of luxury. It feels great to pretend I spent my weekend at the Palace of Versailles. Anybody game for a weekend of make-believe?

-----------O----------YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE: When you are in love, wonders happen. But, when you get married, you wonder what happened?

----------O---------For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

The hotel’s suites combine spacious living areas with Old European-inspired interiors and gold-accented furnishings

L’Epicure Restaurant pairs its breakfast spread with wide views of Baguio from the hotel’s top floor

Lafaayette Luxury Suites rises near Baguio’s central business district

The beautiful table centerpiece greets guests entering the lobby