SSS expands LoanLite access via UnionDigital

Social Security System (SSS) has made its microloan program available through UnionDigital Bank (UD), allowing eligible members to borrow up to P20,000 through its mobile application.

In a statement, SSS president and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro said UD is the first of the four participating financial institutions (PFIs) to make SSS LoanLite available through its digital platform.

‘After months of preparation, SSS LoanLite is finally here. Qualified members can now apply through the UnionDigital Bank mobile application, making access to short-term financial assistance more convenient and secure,’ de Claro said in a statement.

‘We are also working with our other PFIs, which will soon make SSS LoanLite available through their respective digital platforms,’ he added.

SSS LoanLite is a digital microloan facility designed to provide qualified members with accessible, secure and affordable short-term financial assistance for immediate needs.

Unlike conventional SSS loans, LoanLite does not require employed members to secure employer certification when applying through a PFI.

The application and related transactions are facilitated through the UD mobile application, eliminating the need for members to secure and submit the usual employer certification for conventional SSS short-term loans.

Eligible members may apply for loans ranging from P1,000 to P20,000, depending on the average of their 12 latest Monthly Salary Credits.

Available repayment periods are 15, 30, 60 or 90 days, with an interest rate of eight percent per annum, equivalent to about 0.67 percent per month.

To qualify, members must have at least 36 total contributions, including at least six posted monthly contributions within the 12 months immediately preceding the application.

They must also have no past-due Short-Term Member Loans or active SSS Micro Loan, maintain an account with a participating financial institution enrolled in its online facility and meet other requirements involving existing loans, benefit claims and SSS account status.

Walang Pasok: Class suspensions for September 9 due to habagat

Several local government units have announced class suspensions for Wednesday, September 9, due to the continuing effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat.

Classes have been suspended or shifted to alternative learning arrangements in several areas amid heavy rains and flooding.

Below is a running list of class suspensions:

National Capital Region (NCR)

Caloocan City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

City of Manila – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Las Piñas City – No afternoon face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Malabon City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Mandaluyong City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Marikina City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Muntinlupa City – No afternoon face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Navotas – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Parañaque City – No afternoon face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Pasay City – No afternoon face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

San Juan City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Quezon City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Valenzuela City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Region III (Central Luzon)

Bataan

Balanga City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

Hermosa – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

Bulacan

Calumpit – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Hagonoy – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

Obando – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Pampanga

Angeles City – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Candaba – No face-to-face classes at the following schools; shift to Alternative Learning Modes:

Lanang Elementary School

Pasig Elementary School

San Agustin Elementary School

Lanang High School

Pasig High School

Paralaya High School

Pampanga State University

Macabebe – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

Masantol – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private, until Thursday, September 10

Mexico – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

San Fernando City – No face-to-face classes at the following schools:

Camp Olivas Elementary School (San Nicolas)

Pandaras Integrated School

San Nicolas Integrated School

San Simon – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private, until Friday, September 11, except Concepcion Integrated School

Santo Tomas – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Zambales

Botolan – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Subic – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Region I (Ilocos Region)

Pangasinan

Mangaldan – No face-to-face classes in all levels in public schools; shift to Alternative Learning Modes. Suspension of classes in private schools is at the discretion of school management.

Region IV-A (Calabarzon)

Cavite

Tanza – No face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private; shift to Alternative Learning Modes

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Benguet

Kibungan – No face-to-face classes for day care

Metrobank at 64: Growing stronger with Filipinos through changing times

Since Metrobank opened its doors in 1962, it has had a clear purpose: to serve its customers and grow with them.

The Bank has served generations of Filipinos, from families building their savings and entrepreneurs starting and expanding businesses, to Filipinos pursuing opportunities here and abroad and companies growing alongside the Philippine economy.

Those relationships have grown over time, and so has Metrobank’s role as a steadfast financial partner. As customers’ aspirations have become bigger and their financial needs more complex, the Bank has continued to evolve to support them.

Banking itself has changed dramatically. Transactions have moved from the teller counter to the smartphone. Customers have more ways to save, borrow and invest. Businesses are more connected to global markets, while new opportunities have emerged alongside new risks, including increasingly sophisticated financial scams.

Through these changes, Metrobank has remained focused on the people, businesses and communities it serves. It continues to understand where its customers want to go, develop the capabilities to support them, and maintain the financial strength to remain dependable through both opportunities and challenges.

As Metrobank marks its 64th anniversary, this continues to shape the kind of institution it wants to be, not simply a bank customers transact with, but a financial partner that can grow alongside them.

‘Over the past 64 years, we have seen our customers navigate many periods of change and uncertainty. Today is no different. There are challenges ahead that we have to be prepared for, but Metrobank enters this environment with discipline, well-supported by our capital, liquidity, and risk buffers to help us navigate uncertainty and continue supporting our customers,’ said Metrobank President Fabian Dee.

‘Our financial strength allows us to continue lending, investing in our capabilities and supporting our customers through different market conditions. Ultimately, we believe a bank becomes stronger when the people and businesses it serves become stronger, too,’ he added.

Growing with bigger aspirations

As customers progress, their financial needs rarely stay the same.

What begins as a need to save can eventually become a decision about investing. Buying a first home may be followed by building wealth for the next generation. A business that once needed working capital may eventually require more sophisticated financing, cash management, investment solutions or market insights as it expands.

For Metrobank, being ready for these next chapters means continuing to improve how it serves customers’ everyday needs while building capabilities for more complex financial decisions.

The Bank has invested in its digital capabilities to make banking more convenient and secure, while keeping human expertise available when customers need advice and a deeper understanding of their circumstances.

New clients can open an eSavings account digitally, while customers can grow their funds through Online Time Deposit and diversify their portfolios through UITFs and government securities using Metrobank’s digital channels.

But a financial partner’s role goes beyond providing access to products.

Through Metrobank’s Earnest financial mindfulness advocacy and Moneygurado docuseries, the Bank is helping make conversations about saving, investing, debt and financial security more relevant to everyday Filipino experiences. Its anti-fraud initiatives similarly recognize that as customers build more for themselves and their families, helping them protect what they have worked for becomes just as important.

The tools and solutions will continue to change. What endures is the purpose behind them, helping customers make sound financial decisions and move confidently toward what comes next.

Strength behind every next step

Supporting customers through different stages of growth also requires the financial strength to remain dependable through both favorable and challenging conditions.

In the first half of 2026, the Bank posted PHP 24.9 billion in net income and PHP 3.9 trillion in consolidated assets. It continued to maintain healthy capital and asset quality, giving it buffers against potential risks and room to support further growth. The Asian Banker has also named Metrobank the Strongest Bank in the Philippines for five consecutive years since 2021 and was named as the Best Managed Bank in 2025.

These measures matter because banking will always involve navigating uncertainty. A strong balance sheet and sound financial discipline give the Bank the capacity to continue extending credit to businesses, financing important milestones, safeguarding deposits, investing in technology and security, and developing the expertise of its people even as conditions change.

This strength also allows Metrobank to take a longer view. As the ambitions and financial requirements of its customers and businesses grow, the Bank has the breadth, expertise, and capacity to continue supporting what comes next.

Growing stronger together

That longer view extends beyond Metrobank’s customers and into the communities it has been part of through the years.

The Metrobank Foundation, the Metrobank Group’s corporate social responsibility arm, has worked with partners and communities in areas such as education, health, the arts and livelihood. But beyond providing support, the Foundation has also recognized Filipinos and organizations whose work creates a lasting impact on others.

The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos program celebrates teachers, soldiers and police officers who have gone beyond the call of duty in serving their communities and the country. Through the years, their stories have shown how individual acts of leadership and service can strengthen schools, communities, and public institutions.

Through the George S.K. Ty Grants Program, the Metrobank Foundation and GT Foundation partner with development organizations working to empower communities in addressing key societal challenges. The program supports initiatives in areas such as education, health, livelihood and community development, helping create meaningful and lasting impact in the communities they serve.

In the arts, Metrobank Art and Design Excellence has provided a platform for Filipino artists to develop their craft and gain recognition. Many of those who have been part of the program have gone on to contribute to the country’s creative community, reflecting Metrobank’s long-standing belief in investing in Filipino talent and potential.

Together, these efforts reflect a broader view of growth, one measured by progress of the Bank, its clients, and the communities around it.

Within the Bank, generations of Metrobankers have also built their careers with the institution. It continues to develop people with the expertise to understand customers’ increasingly complex needs and help them make decisions for the future.

The coming years will bring another set of changes. Customer needs will evolve, new opportunities will emerge and new challenges will have to be navigated.

Metrobank’s role is to remain ready for them by maintaining the financial strength to remain dependable, investing in the capabilities its customers will need, and staying close enough to understand where their aspirations are headed.

For Metrobank, that is what growing stronger with Filipinos means. As the people, businesses and communities it serves move forward, the Bank continues to evolve and grow with them.

And as Metrobank looks to the years ahead, it intends to keep earning that trust, so that whatever changes may come, Filipinos can continue to know they are in good hands.

Maguindanao del Norte village official nabbed in GenSan drug bust

A village councilor from Maguindanao del Norte and two others were arrested with P1.4 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City, on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog, Police Regional Office (PRO-12) regional director, said Wednesday that the suspects, who were listed as high-value targets in the region, yielded about 200 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P1,365,400.

Manibog said elements of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit-12, along with operatives from the Gen. Santos City Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12, entrapped alias ‘Naro,’ a village official of Barangay Mangay, Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte; alias ‘Jolt’ and alias ‘Kivk,’ both residents of Barangay Labangal, GenSan.

Police also seized the buy-bust money and personal belongings allegedly used to conceal the illegal drugs.

Charges for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspects.

‘Every gram of illegal drugs confiscated during police operations could mean saving several people from the danger of dangerous substances,’ Manibog said

DTI-Bukidnon cracks down on social media promos, flags 5 firms

Five business establishments in the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay have been slapped with show-cause orders by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bukidnon provincial office for allegedly running unauthorized sales promotions on social media.

The DTI-Bukidnon, through its Consumer Protection Division (CPD), intensified its monitoring after noticing a spike in online promotional offers, including contests and discounts advertised digitally.

Junar Merla, DTI-Bukidnon CPD chief, said that digital campaigns must not bypass regulatory frameworks.

Operating a sales promotion without a valid DTI permit violates Article 116 of Republic Act No. 7394. Violators face potential administrative fines ranging from P500 to P300,000 under Article 164, alongside penalties upon conviction under Article 123(b).

While the show cause orders demand formal explanations from the establishments to ensure due process, DTI-Bukidnon emphasized that the enforcement actions aim to uphold fair marketplace transparency and protect consumers from unlawful practices.

It did not name the five business establishments ordered to explain.

The provincial office plans to sustain its monitoring efforts across online and physical platforms

Mimaropa cops plant over 31,000 trees under environmental project

Police planted 31,592 trees across the Mimaropa region since launching an environmental initiative in July, the regional police office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The latest tree-planting activity was held on Sept. 8 in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Pinamalayan town in Oriental Mindoro, where nearly 300 participants planted more than 100 narra seedlings and over 100 fruit-bearing trees.

Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office (ORMIN PPO) led the activity, bringing together police personnel, firefighters, local government representatives, civic organizations, and other community partners.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Dela Cruz, MIMAROPA police director, joined the activity and said environmental protection forms part of the police’s broader responsibility to help build safe and resilient communities.

‘Hindi lamang tayo nagtipon para magtanim ng puno. Nandito tayo upang magtanim ng pag-asa, malasakit, at pananagutan para sa kinabukasan,’ Dela Cruz said.

(We did not just gather to plant trees. We are here to plant hope, compassion, and accountability for the future.)

The police regreening initiative, called Project T.R.E.E. (Take Responsibility for the Enhancement of the Environment), was launched on July 6 as part of Dela Cruz’s F.I.G.H.T. C.R.I.M.E.S. framework

Edu’s Gunma Crane routs Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido in Japan B.League Manila preseason stop

Stanley Johnson waxed hot to tow AJ Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders past Dwight Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido, 98-81, in their Japan B.League’s preseason clash Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gunma rushed to a double-digit lead as early as the first quarter and never looked back as they kept the pressure on for all four quarters.

Johnson tallied 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and an assist. Trey Johnson added 16 markers while Yuma Fujii had 14.

After leading by just three, 17-20, after a jumper by Shuto Ichiba, a 9-2 run capped by a Koh Flippin layup gave the Crane Thunders a 29-19 lead at the end of the first.

This set the tone for the rest of the way, as they kept their distance from their opponents.

Hokkaido trailed by 10, 53-63, at the halfway point of the third following a deuce by John Harrar.

But a 23-7 run capped by a layup by Kenny Asano made it an 86-60 advantage with nine minutes to go after a Jones trey.

And while Levanga tried to rally back, slicing the deficit to 14, 77-91, it was too big a deficit to storm back from.

Takuto Nakamura had 11 points for Gunma. Edu was held to just three points on 1-of-5 shooting, while hauling down seven rebounds and four assists.

Keisei Tominaga paced Hokkaido with 19 points. Ramos backstopped with 13 markers points on 4-of-7 shooting.

The two teams will face each other anew on Thursday.

Wednesday’s game was the first-ever international ‘home’ game of the Japan B.League in Manila.

Impeachment trial: Palace leaves Sara Duterte subpoena call to Senate

Malacañang has left it to the senator-judges to decide whether it will allow the request of the prosecution panel to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte and compel her to testify in her own impeachment trial.

Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark on Wednesday following the announcement of the prosecution that it intends to call Duterte to the witness stand, to affirm and confirm her allegation of innocence.

‘If that is what the prosecution wants and if the Senate allows it, then the matter rests with the Senate,’ Castro said. ‘We don’t know if this is the right timing for them. But again, the decision regarding that is up to the Senate.’

‘The prosecution is likely making this request because the Vice President herself said she wanted a bloodbath. She also previously stated that she was ready to face the allegations and clarify these issues,’ she added.

House prosecutors on Tuesday dropped their remaining 15 witnesses on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and instead, manifested their intention to call Duterte to testify in her own impeachment trial.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said the evidence already presented pointed to Duterte as the person accountable for the alleged irregularities.

But the prosecution did not seek a subpoena for Duterte yet, saying they intended to call her after presenting evidence on all four articles of impeachment.

Kapunan said Duterte’s testimony would be material to all four allegations-grave threats, misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and bribery.

The defense team objected to the prosecution’s manifestation, citing the constitutional protection against self-incrimination.

Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison invoked Article III, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself or herself.

Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol said oral arguments may be conducted if the House prosecution panel requests a subpoena to compel Vice President Sara Duterte to testify in her own impeachment trial.

Tongol admitted that it would be easier if Duterte just voluntarily attended her own trial, just like what former Chief Justice Renato Corona did to his in 2012.

Zamboanga City marks ‘Day of Remembrance’ for bloody 2013 siege

The Zamboanga City government observed a ‘Day of Remembrance’ on Wednesday for the 2013 bloody Zamboanga Siege that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso issued Executive Order KHYM 183- 2026 on Tuesday, declaring Wednesday a ‘Day of Remembrance’ to honor the lives lost and the sacrifices made during the 2013 Zamboanga Siege.

The order recognizes the heroism of the security forces who defended the city and remembers the civilians caught in the crossfire during the three-week conflict 13 years ago.

Olaso highlighted the selflessness of the military, police, and emergency personnel who stood on the frontlines to safeguard the city’s democratic ideals and way of life.

Pursuant to Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 1019, dated Sept. 2, 2014, the declaration formalizes Sept. 9 as an annual day of commemoration.

The mayor urged local businesses-including major department stores, restaurants, public conveyances, entertainment centers, and resorts-to observe the occasion by offering customers a 20% discount every September 9, with special emphasis on active security personnel, as a gesture of solidarity and appreciation.

The September 2013 siege remains one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history.

Sparked by an influx of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters identified with the Nur Misuari faction, the three-week standoff directly affected six barangays and displaced 22,196 families-or 122,226 individuals.

The urban armed conflict claimed the lives of 25 military and police personnel, alongside 13 civilians, while 266 others were wounded. Rebel casualties were reported at 153 killed in action, with 278 individuals arrested.

The physical and economic destruction was massive.

At least 9,722 homes were burned or destroyed, causing an estimated P200.83 million in damages, while the closure of the city’s airport and seaport paralyzed trade links across Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the broader Zamboanga Peninsula, resulting in an estimated P331 million in daily economic losses.

Despite the lingering scars, local officials emphasized the resilience of the city’s constituents. Rebuilding and recovery efforts have relied heavily on support from the national government, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and international partners.

In his declaration, Olaso offered eternal prayers and condolences to the families of the victims, reassuring residents that the memory and heroism of those who served-including prosecutors from the Department of Justice who pursued legal accountability-will remain permanently etched in the hearts of every Zamboangueño.

HMO revenues jumped 20% in the first half of 2026

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in the Philippines recorded stronger revenues in the first half of 2026 despite higher benefit and claims payouts, with increased membership fee collections driving the industry’s growth.

Latest data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed HMO revenues climbed 20 percent to P56.43 billion in the first six months of 2026 from P47.03 billion a year earlier.

Of total revenues, membership fees accounted for P54.82 billion, up 19.7 percent from P45.79 billion in the same period last year.

Total expenses nearly kept pace with the increase in revenues, rising 19.3 percent to P54.34 billion from P45.56 billion.

The increase was driven mainly by higher benefit and claims payouts, which grew 13.6 percent to P41.23 billion from P36.29 billion.

‘Despite the higher payouts, the HMO industry maintained a strong financial position, supported in part by the increase in total revenues driven by higher collections from membership fees,’ the IC said.

‘The Commission recognizes the HMO industry’s positive performance as a testament to its financial resilience and capacity to meet its obligations, and remains committed to supporting its continued development to better respond to the increasing demand for healthcare services,’ it added.

Other financial indicators also showed stronger positions among HMOs during the period.

Invested assets jumped 49 percent to P27.17 billion from P18.23 billion a year earlier, marking the fastest growth among the industry’s major financial indicators.

Total assets increased 18.8 percent to P99.64 billion from P83.91 billion.

Total liabilities rose 15.7 percent to P83.65 billion from P72.25 billion.

Meanwhile, total equity surged 37.2 percent to P15.99 billion from P11.66 billion.

Total capital stock likewise increased 15.5 percent to P7.66 billion from P6.63 billion

As of the end of August, there were 27 HMOs licensed by the regulator