Category: Philippine Star

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the importation of animal and meat products from seven countries amid concern over the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the local animal industry.

The DA said that live animal and meat products from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait and Palestine are no longer allowed to enter the country due to the outbreak of FMD in animals there.

‘There is a need to prevent the entry of the FMD virus to protect the health of the FMD-susceptible animal population,’ the agency said in Department Circular 39.

Shipments of skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves and horns are not allowed to enter the Philippines. Also banned are the importation of live swine, bovines and water buffaloes.

The agency ordered the immediate stoppage and confiscation of all product shipments intercepted by veterinary quarantine officers or inspectors at major ports of entry.

The DA said that an outbreak of the FMD virus serotype SAT1 was detected in the seven countries, based on an official report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

The FAO noted that laboratories had confirmed the outbreak, in coordination with the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reference laboratory network.

On the other hand, certain processed goods such as ultra-high temperature milk and its derivatives, heat-treated meat products, protein meal (gelatine) and lime hides and pelts are permitted to enter.

Meanwhile, the DA has allowed the entry of FMD-susceptible animal meat products from Greece, following the containment of its outbreak.

In Department Circular 38, the agency announced that WOAH had reinstated the European country’s FMD?free status after it complied with the organization’s requirements under the Terrestrial Code.

Imports of Greek animal products were banned by the Philippine authorities after an outbreak affected domestic sheep in Levos.

Though it does not pose any risk to humans, an outbreak of the FMD virus can severely disrupt the local livestock industry. It affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and buffaloes.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the country’s critical infrastructure as NGCP president and CEO Anthony Almeda was formally inducted as commodore of the PCG Auxiliary on July 29.

The donning and oath-taking ceremony, led by PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, marks a strengthened partnership between NGCP and the PCG in securing vital national infrastructure and supporting broader national security efforts.

Accepting the honorary rank, Almeda said the recognition carries with it a greater responsibility to serve.

As the country’s power transmission operator, NGCP works closely with government agencies and key stakeholders to secure the transmission network and ensure the reliable delivery of electricity nationwide.

The severe weather conditions in Metro Manila has forced the PBA to postpone last night’s Governors’ Cup games while relocating the succeeding playdate set for tomorrow to another venue.

Putting premium on the safety of fans, players, officials and staff, the pro league shelved its scheduled Sunday double header at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium pitting Phoenix against Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra versus Blackwater.

No date or venue has been scheduled for the affected matches at presstime.

However, the PBA announced moving Tuesday’s twinbill featuring Converge against Terrafirma and NLEX versus TNT out of the NAS and into the Ynares Center-Antipolo, Rizal.

The league didn’t cite a reason for the venue change but it can be recalled that the Magnolia-Meralco duel in the Malate arena last Friday was marred by a 40-minute delay due to leak on the NAS’ ceiling.

Meanwhile, the PBA assured refund for ticketholders of the Aug. 9 and 11 games.

‘Tickets purchased online will be automatically refunded,’ it said. ‘For box office and outlet purchases, please present your physical tickets at the TicketNet Box office at Smart Araneta Coliseum from Aug. 23 to Sept. 20.’

In spite of differences and political issues, I believe that we must give credit, where credit is due. I refer specifically to the unexpected but pro-consumer, pro-solar power actions of the Department of Energy as well as House Speaker Bojie Dy and Congressman Sandro Marcos.

This suggestion may surprise our readers and the pro-solar community, considering the fact that the DOE was the one that stirred a hornet’s nest of protest by suggesting and hinting on plans to regulate installers as well as solar power set-ups.

As they say, ‘If you are not the solution, you are part of the problem.’ Evidently the DOE secretary and two congressmen have taken notice of serious negative public sentiment and are effectively redeeming themselves or, in Tagalog, nag babangon puri.

The first to catch my attention was House Bill 10431 or the (proposed) Sariling Kuryente Act to remove unnecessary barriers to rooftop solar panels, battery storage and similar behind-the-meter energy systems.

The measure that seeks to draw the distinction between a power generation company versus personal use was announced last week.

The proposed bill would prohibit unauthorized procedures, technical requirements, equipment specifications and charges. This specific section correctly addresses the reality that not all solar set-ups are the same.

While urban users generally pay for the typical whole house set-up, many people in farms or off grid areas apply the modular set-up where solar power is design specific for water pumps, some for their freezer, others for lights and appliances only.

In the bill, ‘the Department of Energy would be directed to promote the wider adoption of behind-the-meter systems, remove national and local barriers and improve access to financing, qualified installers and reliable equipment.’

The proposed bill seems so inclusive that ‘homeowners’ associations, subdivision developers and property managers would be barred from prohibiting installations on property owned or exclusively controlled by the end-user, subject only to reasonable conditions involving structural safety and common property.’

Sandro Marcos and Bojie Dy should have specifically included condominium unit owners who are prevented from placing anything in their balconies, not even plants. In Germany, balcony designed solar panels and collectors are already commercially available.

In their closing statement, Dy and Marcos stated: ‘Ang mensahe nito ay malinaw: families should be free to invest in their own power supply under fair and uniform rules.’ The DOE and ERC will have 15 + 90 days to comply upon effectivity of the bill.

But it seems that the DOE decided to act posthaste, right after the 2026 SONA of PBBM. The DOE quickly issued a circular aligned or very similar in content and intent to House Bill 10431 or the Sariling Kuryente Act. The circular is a quick fix while the house bill, once made into law, becomes a long-term legal fix.

The DOE circular effectively removes red tape for the installation of solar power for own use. Pre-installation clearances and permits will no longer be required by the DOE or the ERC. No need for ERC compliance certificate for small solar and zero export set-ups.

A key feature of the DOE circular is that micro or small solar systems are freed from building permits and compliance certificate rules. As I suggested for Congressmen Dy and Marcos to specifically include condominium units, they should also encourage the DILG to follow the ‘No building permits required’ guidance of the DOE.

Several LGUs have reportedly started charging anywhere from P20,000 to P25,000 for a ‘building permit’ for solar panels. Can someone please clarify, is the solar set-up being classified as a ‘building’ or is it the installation?

If this ‘generic – bill all’ behavior based on the term ‘building permit’ is allowed, what is to stop city hall from collecting money for water tanks, satellite dishes, roof gardens, sunshades, etc.

It takes less than a day to bolt on solar power to a pre-existing roof on a house that is presumably cleared for occupancy. Should Filipinos be further slapped with a P20,000 to P25,000 permit but don’t get anything in return?

If the President, the Speaker of the house, the Majority Leader and the Department of Energy are all on the same page, local governments should not run counter to the goal of enabling Filipinos to generate solar power for personal use.

Perhaps the next move should be for the DOE, DOST and DILG to help small businesses as well as local government offices to fully adopt solar power generation.

One complaint that small business owners repeat is that high electricity bills eat up much of their profit, prevent them from adopting modern technology or expanding business. In a country where employment and job generation is badly needed, solar power would certainly help.

Even provinces and local governments have benefitted in terms of safety, road visibility by adopting solar power. Many local water utilities in provinces could greatly cut costs of running water pumps and facilities by shifting to solar pumps.

Many cities and municipalities can and have reduced maintenance or operating expenses for offices such as town hall and city halls, police precincts and hopefully entire schools.

It would certainly be interesting to hear after a year if the DILG-PNP, DepEd and DOH have managed to adopt solar power technology and how much money they saved.

The country’s debt service bill reached P1.23 trillion in the first semester, largely on amortization payments, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported.

Data from the Treasury showed that the government jacked up its debt payments by nearly 60 percent to P1.23 trillion in January to June, from the P768.11 billion it paid in the same period last year.

The end-June figure was 61 percent of the P2.01-trillion debt service program, as set in the latest Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing document.

Treasury data showed that debt service was driven by an increase in amortization or the settlement of principal, which more than doubled to P743 billion from P353.29 billion in the same period in 2025.

About 85 percent of the total amortization at P630.91 billion was paid to domestic sources while the remaining P112.1 billion in principal payments was made to external creditors.

On the other hand, interest payments surged by 16.6 percent to P483.69 billion as of end-June from P414.82 billion the year prior.

Roughly 75 percent of the interest payments at P360.72 billion were paid to domestic creditors.

Broken down, the government paid interest for P242.16 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds, P87.5 billion in retail T-bonds and P25.15 billion in Treasury bills.

The government settled P122.97 billion in interest owed to foreign financiers in the first half.

Spending on amortization goes to returning the loan principal, while interest payments go to complying with interest obligations.

In June alone, the government settled P77.22 billion in debt service, up by 18.5 percent from P65.14 billion in the same month last year.

The Philippine government’s outstanding debt is at a record P19.07 trillion as of end-June, surpassing its year-end projection of P19.06 trillion.

President Marcos has appointed lawyer Christian Lel Saquilabon as undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH), following the courtesy resignation of Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong.

Saquilabon previously served as DOH assistant secretary and head of the Health Regulation and Facility Development Cluster, a post he assumed in July 2025.

Perez-Chiong confirmed her resignation yesterday in an interview over radio dzBB, saying she submitted her courtesy resignation to Marcos after newly appointed Health Secretary Jose Pujalte Jr. asked members of the DOH executive committee to step down to give way to the new leadership.

Pujalte assumed the health secretary post in July following the courtesy resignation of Teodoro Herbosa.

She said the move would allow Pujalte to set his direction for the department and choose the officials he wants to work with.

Reviving the P90-billion Parañaque spillway project could ease recurring floods and turn Laguna de Bay into a productive fisheries hub and dependable freshwater reservoir, according to the Department of Agriculture and Laguna Lake Development Authority.

The DA and LLDA will work with public works and environment officials, local governments and private stakeholders to address affected communities’ concerns, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

Residents of Muntinlupa and Bacoor have raised concerns about the project, such as community displacement and possibly shifting flood risks from one area to another.

Building the spillway is urgent as the Japanese-funded Manggahan control gate structure is expected to raise Laguna de Bay’s water levels, LLDA general manager Leopoldo Parumog said.

The Manggahan project will divert floodwaters, with an Olympic-size swimming pool’s volume, from Marikina River to Laguna de Bay.

Tiu Laurel said the spillway will ease recurring floods in lakeshore communities across Laguna, Rizal and Metro Manila.

Proposed in the 1970s, the 10.5-kilometer spillway would link Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay.

Construction is expected to last at least a decade.

‘Laguna de Bay is one of Metro Manila’s most important food baskets and our most affordable source of bangus,’ Tiu Laurel said.

‘If we restore the lake’s health by improving water circulation and managing floods better, we can raise fish production, increase fisherfolk incomes and improve raw water quality, which could eventually help lower water treatment costs for consumers,’ he said.

Whether you live in a condo, apartment or your own house, one thing is certain: you will need to clean up even if you’re fortunate to have help. It’s a chore few are exempt from but it doesn’t have to be such a drudge.

Start out by putting items in their place once you’re done using them. For example, once you get home, put your shoes back on the rack and your purse or bag back on the shelf. We want to avoid the piling up of clutter that can make a space look messy.

Mop up spills immediately and take that extra minute to wipe down the walls of your shower stall with a squeegee.

Businessman Mike Gamez of Cleeneco, which provides cleaning services to residential and corporate clients, shares some cleaning tips people can use in their own homes.

‘Some mold is naturally occurring like that found in bread but to avoid mold that appears on walls and furniture, open your windows and doors to let the wind and sun in,’ he said.

When it’s sunny out, air your beddings and mattresses. If your bathroom is equipped with an exhaust fan, leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes after you bathe to reduce moisture build-up,’ Gamez added.

He also suggested keeping indoor humidity below 60% by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner in damp areas, and checking for and fixing leaks immediately as moisture can lead to mold growth.

Cleeneco has a bio-based mold and mildew remover that comes in a spray bottle for easy use as well as a water mark remover that can be used on windshields, shower stalls and faucets.

One of the newer players in the cleaning supplies category is Cleen and Green. It recently launched four plant-based cleaning products: an all-purpose cleaner, a disinfectant/odor eliminator, a dishwashing liquid, and a glass cleaner.

The product range was developed by a cleaning company in response to requests from mothers looking for non-toxic, effective and eco-friendly solutions. The proudly Filipino products are sulfate-, toxin- and cruelty-free, and made with coconut-derived ingredients, among others.

The dishwashing liquid that comes in a pump bottle is tough on grease but kind to hands. It has a pleasant fresh apple scent that is not cloying and fades away after a few minutes.

Technology and industry leaders highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is driving innovation and business impact while also putting cybersecurity at the forefront of daily operations at the fifth edition of iGnite: The GCash Innovation Summit. The event also celebrated the global impact of Philippine-grown innovation, with keynote speaker Sen. Bam Aquino recognizing GCash is for Filipinos, a company “made here, hatched here, [and] nurtured here” before expanding its reach around the world.

The full-day summit brought together the biggest industry names, leaders, and experts from GCash, the Ayala Group, key policymakers and stakeholders from the tech sector to explore how organizations can responsibly harness emerging technologies to create value for customers and businesses.

The event came at a time when many businesses, particularly MSMEs, were still struggling to transition to an AI-enabled landscape. A Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) research, in fact, found that only 14.9% of Philippine firms were using AI tools. In response, the event brought together experts and innovators to strengthen public-private collaboration in making AI-driven digital financial services more responsible, inclusive, and secure.

“Innovation is not just about adopting the latest technology. It is about bringing the right people together to solve real problems. Through iGnite Innovation Summit, we are creating a platform where top global industry leaders, regulators and innovators can share ideas, build partnerships, and develop practical solutions that strengthen digital trust and create value for Filipinos,” said Pebbles Sy, Mynt Chief Technology and Operations Officer.

Leveraging tech for policy-making Serving as the keynote speaker, Sen. Bam Aquino underscored the importance of harnessing digital tools and technology in place to accelerate the country’s digital economy, emphasizing that innovation must also inform policymaking.

“My position is, you cannot be a competent leader, a competent business, or a competent government if you don’t utilize the tools that are already available right now,” he said.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said that data-driven insights are essential to understanding the realities faced by Filipinos and crafting policies that address their needs.

“That data is so important in policy making. That data is so important in crafting a policy framework that can truly uplift Filipinos’ lives,” he said, highlighting the value of fintech platforms such as GCash in providing customer insights that can help shape more responsive policies.

“It’s already there. If we turn our backs on it, it won’t just be stupid. It will become criminal,” he added.

Aquino also commended GCash for promoting financial literacy through digital innovation.

“All of the success GCash and the partners here, wag nyong kakalimutan na GCash was made here, hatched here, was nurtured here, and even though I know it is already transnational and all over the world, yung puso ho ng [GCash] ay Pilipinas. Nasa puso ko rin ang GCash,” he added.

Reimagining the future with AI

The event featured four content tracks that guided participants through the evolving role of AI in finance and business.

In The AI Business Engine, audiences learned how AI and automation are driving innovation and transforming financial services. Intelligent Trust, meanwhile, highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity, resilience, and customer trust in an increasingly digital world.

Through The Agentic Enterprise, participants explored how AI is reshaping the workplace, business processes, and workforce capabilities. Rounding out the program, Regulatory Tech Revolution showcased how AI is strengthening fraud prevention, promoting responsible governance, and enabling safer digital financial services.

iGnite 2026 also featured a hackathon, regulatory discussions, Ayala CIOs (Chief Information Officers) roundtables and experiential activities.

Building trust through cybersecurity At the heart of every digital innovation is cybersecurity, providing the trust and protection that allow businesses and consumers to embrace new technologies with confidence.

As such, the program included the very first GCash-organized cybersecurity and anti-fraud summit, GSafe: The Vanguards of Trust. Aligned with the #GSafeTayo efforts of GCash, the GSafe Vanguards of Trust summit led the charge toward a safer digital future. It looked at who the whole tech industry is up against in the digital ecosystem, how to confront emerging threats, how technology can help address AI-driven attacks, and how public and private sector collaborations can help build a safer digital ecosystem for all.

“Cybersecurity is the foundation of digital trust. As more Filipinos embrace digital financial services, protecting their accounts, transactions, and personal information remains our highest priority. At GCash, we continue to invest in technology, strengthen our security measures, and empower users with the knowledge they need to stay safe online,” said Miguel Geronilla, GCash Chief Information Security Officer.

Through the iGnite Innovation Summit 2026, GCash aims to turn conversations about the future into practical ideas and partnerships, helping build safer, smarter and more inclusive digital experiences for Filipinos. As digital technologies continue to evolve, cybersecurity remains essential to protecting consumers, strengthening trust and ensuring that innovation benefits everyone securely and responsibly.

There was no super typhoon, but many areas of Metro Manila were inundated with floodwaters over the weekend as heavy rain poured, induced by the monsoon interacting with two other weather disturbances.

Amid the heavy rainfall on Saturday, a perimeter wall of Forbes Park subdivision in Makati collapsed, blocking two northbound lanes of EDSA.

Inspecting the collapsed wall, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said substandard materials were apparently used in the construction. He said the wall was made of Hardiflex or fiber cement board, but was designed to look like a more expensive concrete wall. Hardiflex is a fire-resistant, pest-proof, lightweight board that is typically used for ceilings and wall dividers.

As vehicles crawled through flooded streets and homes were once again submerged in several inches of water, people were inevitably reminded of the still unresolved anomalies in flood control projects.

Following the eruption of the flood control corruption scandal last year, many government infrastructure works were suspended, including flood mitigation projects. As residents in several areas complained, some flood control projects such as the concreting of creek or river beds actually aggravated flooding in their communities.

Disaster response and mitigation experts had pushed for speedy assessments and corrective interventions to prepare for the next flooding season several months away. But with people spooked by the flood control scandal and multiple high-profile investigations, construction activities have yet to fully recover.

Between July 2022 and May 2025, about P545 billion was allocated for 9,855 flood control projects. Flooding across the country from recent weather disturbances, including the latest over the weekend in Metro Manila, indicates how the public funds were spent.

The heavy rainfall at least finally lifted the water in Angat Dam above its critical level, with several other dams recording spilling levels.

But the weekend’s flooding – with more expected as the country is in the middle of the monsoon and tropical cyclone season – is a reminder of the urgency of holding accountable those who pocketed public funds meant for flood control, or used their discretionary powers over such projects to collect billions in kickbacks.

The nation is waiting for those responsible for the suffering of millions to face the stiffest punishment.