Category: Philippine Star

The Philippines’ external debt service burden slipped by 6.2 percent to $6.72 billion in the first half from $7.16 billion in the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Of the total, interest payments dipped by 0.7 percent to $3.95 billion, while principal payments fell by 13.1 percent to $2.77 billion from $3.19 billion a year ago.

The debt service burden (DSB) remained within manageable levels relative to the country’s external receipts. It accounted for 21.1 percent of export shipments and 8.7 percent of exports of goods, services and primary income from January to June.

The DSB refers to the combined principal and interest payments made by the country to settle its foreign loans. These include amortizations on medium- to long-term borrowings as well as interest on short-term credit lines obtained from foreign creditors.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the lower debt service burden was due to the lower share of foreign borrowings to better manage foreign exchange risks.

Ricafort explained that most of the government’s external debt is long-term in nature, with the longest possible tenor.

‘Possible inclusion in J.P. Morgan Emerging Market Global Bond Index would help sentiment or demand for Philippine bonds, which could help lower the government’s borrowing costs,’ he said.

The country’s outstanding external debt climbed to a fresh record high of $148.87 billion as of end-June, but the BSP earlier said that foreign debt remains sustainable with key indicators showing manageable levels.

The latest figure was 1.5 percent higher than the previous quarter’s $146.74 billion, mainly due to the weakening of the dollar, which raised the dollar-equivalent of borrowings in other currencies by $1.49 billion.

The Philippines borrows externally to finance public infrastructure, social services and other development programs, as well as to diversify funding sources and take advantage of favorable terms from foreign lenders. Local banks and companies also tap offshore markets to fund expansion and investment needs.

Dismissing the allegations as part of a smear campaign, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has denied any conflict of interest involving his wife’s role in insurance firms linked to contractors under investigation in the flood control scandal.

Marcoleta clarified that his wife Edna serves only as an independent director and audit committee chair at Stronghold Insurance Co. Inc.

‘They didn’t even bother to research what an independent director means. An independent director cannot qualify if you have relatives who own the company. You must be independent. Your role is only to protect the minority shareholders,’ Marcoleta said in Filipino over radio dzRH.

His remarks came after reports surfaced that Stronghold had provided bonds to companies owned by Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who are under investigation for allegedly cornering ghost and substandard flood-control projects.

The senator, who previously chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon committee leading the probe, has drawn attention for his handling of the Discayas’ testimony.

During a suspended hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned Marcoleta’s perceived protectiveness toward the Discayas, which he immediately denied.

According to a Bilyonaryo news report, a notarized acknowledgment in 2022 showed that Sarah, through Alpha and Omega Contractor, personally transacted with Stronghold for a bond obligation.

Records further revealed that Marcoleta’s wife also sat on the 2023 board of Milestone Guaranty and Assurance, which issued a P19.29-million bond for Elite General Contractor, another Discaya-owned firm.

The bond covered a P192.9-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which Senate investigators later flagged as non-existent.

Despite the links, Marcoleta rejected insinuations that his wife’s affiliations compromised his independence as a legislator.

‘That’s what they want to suggest. All they want is to destroy [my reputation] in any way possible,’ he said.

Stronghold Insurance has also denied any link to the alleged corruption scandal, saying recent reports unfairly malign the company and Marcoleta’s wife.

The firm clarified that Edna was elected to the board only in February 2024 and holds no role in management or bond issuance decisions.

Stronghold explained that surety bonds for DPWH projects are a legal requirement and available to all qualified contractors, noting that ‘the Discaya-owned firms were simply just one of their many clients.’

Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT), the real estate investment trust of the Gotianun family’s Filinvest Land Inc., continues to expand and diversify its tenant portfolio as it is poised to welcome the initial foray of Japan’s leading fertility facility in the Philippines.

FILRT said that Conceive IVF Manila, a Japan-based leader in assisted reproductive technology, is set to open its state-of-the-art facility at the Filinvest One Building.

The company said the new lease reinforces its strategy of partnering with diverse industry leaders who bring specialized and high-value services to its properties.

‘We are thrilled to welcome Kato Fertility Center to Filinvest One. This marks a significant step in further expanding and diversifying our tenant portfolio to include the sphere of health and wellness,’ FILRT president and CEO Maricel Brion-Lirio said.

‘This collaboration also reflects our dedication to offering spaces that cater to the evolving needs of various industries. Conceive IVF Manila’s expertise in reproductive health services aligns seamlessly with our vision to create impactful environments that foster growth, enhance quality of life and contribute positively to the communities we serve,’ she said.

Strategically situated along Alabang-Zapote Road, Filinvest One is one of FILRT’s 16 Grade A buildings in Northgate Cyberzone.

Conceive IVF Manila’s decision to establish its first venture in South Luzon at Filinvest One further strengthens the district’s position as a hub for diverse industries, expanding beyond IT-BPM to include health care and wellness.

The opening of Conceive IVF Manila also marks Kato Medical Group Philippines’ commitment to expanding access to world-class reproductive health care services in the country.

‘We are excited to expand in the Philippines and collaborate with Filinvest REIT. Our new facility at Filinvest One will enable us to deliver enhanced fertility care and create a supportive environment for individuals and families in South Metro Manila,’ Conceive IVF Manila managing director Kenki Okumura said.

FILRT is aiming to double its gross leasable area and diversify its assets through asset infusions from Filinvest Land and parent firm Filinvest Development Corp.

The company is also targeting to reach an occupancy of 95 percent before 2026, driven by tenant diversification.

Protesters arrested during the September 21 rallies were beaten, extorted and denied medical care, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said Tuesday, September 30.

The group of lawyers – who last week personally visited the Manila police stations where detainees were held – flatly rejected the Philippine National Police’s assertion that detainees received proper treatment.

“These are all barefaced lies,” the NUPL said in a statement in reaction to the Philippine National Police’s remarks at a press conference yesterday, where it denied that detainees were tortured or maltreated during custody.

Some of the detainees’ open wounds from their arrest were left untreated after “volunteer doctors were barred from entering detention facilities,” the lawyers’ group said.

“Independent reports document detainees being beaten, extorted for money in exchange for ‘protection,’ and coerced into admissions of guilt,” the NUPL added.

Relatives of detainees waiting outside the police station were also turned away and denied information about their detained kin, the NUPL said.

On September 21, at least 216 individuals were arrested by police, including 91 minors, with the youngest being nine years old.

NUPL last week said it conducted visits to various police stations in Manila where the arrested individuals were held. During this visit, the 13 lawyers part of NUPL said they saw “widespread and systematic” abuse of detainees.

Many of the arrested, the group found out, were mere “bystanders” during the demonstrations and denied inflicting violence or damage to property.

On Tuesday, in its statement refuting the PNP’s claim, the NUPL cited the case of Edzel Santos, a person with disability who was reportedly beaten with a truncheon while a sack was placed over his head.

Santos continues to struggle with pain and trauma, breaking down when recounting the incident, and requires ongoing treatment, according to the group.

“To claim that children were treated with comfort and care while their parents stood outside begging for access is not merely implausible, it is insulting,” the statement said.

The PNP has said detainees were placed in air-conditioned rooms and provided with nutritious food, decent clothing, and medical care.

But the NUPL says the current situation of the detainees mirrors past police abuses. “This climate of impunity is grimly familiar and reminiscent of the Tokhang years, when blood ran in the streets even as authorities looked the public in the eye and denied what everyone could see,” it added.

The NUPL also said Manila Mayor Isko Moreno bears responsibility for the alleged abuses, noting that the Manila Police District falls under his operational supervision and control as local chief executive.

“When those functions result in violations of human rights, responsibility reaches his office as well,” the group said.

The NUPL called for the immediate release of all those it said were unlawfully arrested on September 21, urgent medical treatment for the injured, and a full independent inquiry into alleged torture and arbitrary detention.

The group said the police violated the Constitution’s prohibitions on arbitrary detention, torture, and cruel or degrading treatment, as well as domestic laws, including the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and the Anti-Torture Act.

“The police have had every opportunity to prove otherwise: through transparency, open access to lawyers, families, and doctors, and full independent investigation. Instead, they have chosen denial and whitewash,” the statement said.

Minors released

The Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday also said it continues to monitor the welfare of 91 minors arrested during the protests.

Around 68 minors have been turned over to their parents, while non-Manila residents were brought to their respective local government units. The rest are temporarily housed in a youth facility awaiting pickup by their parents, the CHR said.

The CHR said it continues to investigate possible violations related to the protests, including the handling of minors.

The commission said citizens have the right to peaceful assembly and to express grievances, but acts of violence and destruction of property cannot be condoned as they endanger public safety.

The operator of the country’s largest railway project will receive a uniform rate based on performance and may be granted a concession lasting up to 22.5 years, according to the Department of Transportation.

The DOTr has designated availability payments as the bid parameter for the P229-billion contract to manage the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the country’s largest infrastructure investment to date.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the concessionaire may get up to 22.5 years of tenure, including partial operations, in running the NSCR.

‘The approved contract period is for the pre-operations, partial operations, (plus) 15 years of full operations, for a maximum 22.5 years. Extension was not part of the approved parameters, terms and conditions for the project,’ Lopez told The STAR.

In using availability payments as the bid parameter, the DOTr will be assessing what investments bidders can commit based on predetermined fees.

This means the concessionaire will get paid regularly not from fares collected from passengers, but from budget allocated to the DOTr.

Bangkok-based consultancy Mahanakorn Partners Group said public-private partnerships (PPPs) with availability payments compel concessionaires to perform better to receive compensation.

Since PPPs are long-term, Mahanakorn said availability payments also provide the government with a predictable schedule for its budgetary obligations.

This is different from the PPP model for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), the concession of which was awarded to the Light Rail Manila Corp.

LRMC recovers its investment capital for the operations and maintenance of the LRT-1 through passenger fares, which are scheduled to increase every two years.

However, this has caused legal troubles for the government, as it denied fare hikes filed by LRMC multiple times.

Prior to the recent fare adjustment in April, LRMC had piled up a deficit of P2.17 billion dating back to its first petition in 2016. Despite this, the operator has delivered on its commitments, including the ongoing extension works for the LRT-1.

China Bank Capital Corp. managing director Juan Paolo Colet expects foreign multinationals to vie for the operations and maintenance of the NSCR after the DOTr conducted roadshows in Singapore, Paris, Manila and Tokyo.

However, Colet warned that some investors may be discouraged to bid for a project as big as the NSCR in light of corruption scandals hounding public works, particularly flood control.

In August, President Marcos exposed that 15 contractors have bagged almost 20 percent, or P100 billion, of the P545 billion worth of flood control projects since 2022.

‘The long-term nature of this project means potential concessionaires would have to take a long view of our country, including our economic prospects and political dynamics. Hopefully, by the time the government launches its bidding, there would have been a clear resolution to the current corruption scandals,’ Colet told The STAR.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort underscored the importance of fair play in the concession. Given the length of the deal, bidders would prefer that rules are all set in stone and mechanisms are in place for dispute settlement.

‘It is important to not have changing rules in the middle of the game in view of the six-year term of presidents and their administrations,’ Ricafort told The STAR.

The NSCR, costing P873.6 billion and co-funded by Japan, will run for 147 kilometers across 35 stations in three regions, and it is expected to ferry 800,000 passengers daily once completed.

The future concessionaire of the NSCR will be tasked to operate and maintain its trains, stations and depot, including its interoperations with the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Starting 1 October 2025, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) will implement a 12 percent water rate adjustment, following approval from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

For residential consumers using a ½-inch meter, the minimum charge for the first 10 cubic meters will be raised from the current P209.76 to the new ?235.60 rate.

In a statement, MCWD said that the new commodity charges are set at P26.04 per cubic meter for 11-20 cubic meters; P30.64 per cubic meter (for 21-30 cubic meters); and P75.02 per cubic meter (for consumption of 31 cubic meters and up).

Despite the increase, MCWD stressed that its potable water remains the most affordable among utilities.

‘At ?0.023 per liter, or ?0.46 for a 20-liter gallon, MCWD water is still significantly cheaper than bottled water (?25 per container), electricity (?13/kWh), mobile load (~?600/month), and internet (~?1,200/month),’ it said.

This year’s rate adjustment marks the first in 10 years, with the last one implemented in January 2015.

The water district deferred a planned 2020 increase to ease the burden on consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite rising operational costs.

Since 2015, MCWD said that it has invested ?2.1 billion in expansion and rehabilitation projects and allocated ?12 billion for operations.

Major initiatives include the ?1.1-billion Lusaran Bulk Water Project, which began supplying 30,000 cubic meters of water daily in 2022 to underserved areas, such as Busay, Lahug, Apas, Pit-os, and other upland barangays.

MCWD has also started sourcing from desalination plants to mitigate drought impacts and seasonal fluctuations of supply.

In a letter dated 11 September 2025, LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga confirmed the approval of MCWD’s application for a rate adjustment.

Public consultations were earlier conducted in November 2022 as part of the approval process.

Originally slated for 1 July 2023, the adjustment faced delays. LWUA initially granted a provisional 38 percent increase in March 2025 pending review, before finalizing the 12 percent hike.

As a government-owned and controlled corporation, MCWD emphasized that it operates on a non-profit, self-sustaining model, reinvesting revenues into projects to ensure reliable and safe water supply for Metro Cebu.

British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) Executive Vice Chair Chris Nelson said in an interview that the Philippines’ proactive signing of measures focused on e-Governance, further liberalization of land lease and opening up the telecommunications and renewable energy sectors could increase bilateral trade with the United Kingdom.

The third quarter of the year has witnessed the passage of the following legislation: Republic Act No. 12252 Amended Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, Republic Act 12254 E-Governance Act, Republic Act No. 12234 Konektadong Pinoy Act, which were identified as a priority legislation by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to Nelson, this gives a strong signal to investors that the country remains an ideal destination for British and other foreign businesses.

Nelson noted that, ‘We were a supporter of the extension of the 99 year lease, and we would echo what Secretary Go said, and this is obviously helping the Philippines bring in line with other countries and will certainly help with investor interest. We recently had an investor forum in London, June 27, with PEZA, with the Director General Panga. I would just like to highlight that one of our members, AstraZeneca, announced separately that they will be investing significantly in the PEZA zone.’

On Aug. 19, 2025, an agreement between PEZA and AstraZeneca was signed, establishing a local innovation hub to further strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.

At present, the UK-Philippine trade remains at an upward trajectory at £3.0 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025 in total trade in goods and services.

At the beginning of the year, the UK was identified as a leading investor by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), citing more opportunities at the recently held investment forum last 27 June 2025, in partnership with the British Chamber.

Nelson also welcomed the UK Ambassador-designate to the Philippines, Sarah Hulton OBE and look forward to further advancing its continued partnership with the British Embassy Manila with upcoming initiatives such as the Great British Festival and preparations for the 80th year of diplomatic relations of the UK and the Philippines in 2026.

Another area of opportunity will be the Philippines’ interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to which the UK acceded in December 2024.

He added that, ‘We have seen it continue to grow and the momentum is there. We would like to see it accelerate more. We have seen the UK showing an interest particularly in renewable energy, so our aim is to move us much further up the ladder in terms of the trade between the UK and the Philippines.’

Playoff qualifiers San Juan and Rizal Province closed their elimination round campaign with victories over also-ran Marikina and Bacolod on Monday in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Marikina Sports Center.

The San Juan Knights trounced the Marikina Shoemasters, 78-61, in the second game to improve to 26-3 and finish No. 3 in the North Division behind the Abra Weavers (27-1) and the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (27-2) in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament.

The Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers subdued the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 78-72, in the nightcap to climb to 19-10 and retain the third spot in the South Division led by the Quezon Huskers (25-4) and the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters (19-10).

San Juan got 18 points and eight rebounds from former Mapua Cardinal Arvin Gamboa; 10 points and nine assists from Orlan Wamar; nine points from AC Soberano; and eight points from Raul Soyud.

Marikina, which exited with a 4-25 record, drew 12 points and eight rebounds each from Karl Penano and Jay Yutuc.

Rizal was powered by Michael Canete with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals; Alwyn Alday with 11 points; Neil Tolentino with eight points, seven rebounds and four steals; and John Apacible with eight points and seven rebounds.

Bacolod bowed out with a 7-22 slate despite John Lemuel Pastias’ 15 points, Jan Gabriel Sobrenega’s 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists; and Aldave Canoy’s 12 points plus four rebounds.

The Davao Occidental Tigers weathered the Quezon City Galeries Taipans’ final assault and prevailed, 97-91, in the opener.

Ahead, 75-63, in the fourth quarter, the Tigers watched as the Taipans bunched 13 points, capped by Nino Ibanez’s triple, to seize control with 7:05 left.

Wowie Escosio, however, countered with back-to-back baskets to push Davao back on top en route to a 12-17 mark.

The Tigers stayed at No. 9 in the South and will tangle with No. 10 Cebu Classic (11-18) in the play-in for the playoffs.

Joseph Terso shone for the Tigers with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals; followed by Escosio with 17 points and 10 rebounds; Harold Arboleda with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds; and Jeff Comia with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Also-ran Quezon City dropped to 7-22 despite 17 points and seven rebounds from Jeff Javillonar; 13 points from Jayson Puray, 12 points and seven rebounds from Sidney Mosqueda; and 10 points each from Regie Tauto-An and 10 points plus six rebounds from Ibanez.

The league concludes the elimination round at the Robert Estrella Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday, featuring games between Mindoro and Abra at 4 p.m., and host Pangasinan against Caloocan at 6 p.m.

After saying that ‘almost all’ 24 senators of the 19th Congress had insertions in the 2025 national budget amounting to over P100 billion, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson clarified yesterday that members of the House of Representatives had even bigger entries.

As senators began to push back against criticisms on insertions, Lacson clarified that he was not singling out the Senate when he flagged budget changes for public works – the biggest of which was P10 billion for one senator alone.

He noted that insertions are not necessarily unlawful, but expressed suspicion over the P5 billion to P9 billion supposedly received by each lawmaker.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, said House insertions ‘were much bigger and the list of names is much longer’ and ran several pages in alphabetical order, compared to the 24 names in the Senate.

‘It’s like a roll call,’ Lacson told radio dzBB, referring to the list of over 300 lawmakers read by the House Secretary General to check for quorum during sessions.

He confirmed that the amendments involved infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

When asked if the insertions automatically meant lawmakers had profited or conspired to benefit from the projects, he deferred judgment.

‘Let’s just listen to the testimony of (Henry) Alcantara, (Roberto) Bernardo and Brice (Hernandez). Let that be the basis, not me,’ Lacson said, referring to former DPWH officials who linked congressmen to flood control corruption.

During Blue Ribbon hearings, congressmen who were implicated included former speaker Martin Romualdez and former appropriations chair Rep. Zaldy Co.

Contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya had also linked the pair and over a dozen more congressmen, former and current, as having involvement in kickbacks from flood control projects.

‘Introducing insertions is not illegal. It is our mandate as lawmakers to review the National Expenditure Program and introduce amendments. The problem is that many lawmakers abused this mandate,’ Lacson said.

‘I hope that in 2026, we will practice self-restraint. The people are angry so we must reform the way we pass the budget,’ he added.

As Lacson’s revelations on budget insertions continue to stir anger among taxpayers, senators pushed back against criticism, stressing that amendments are part of the legislative process and not inherently illegal or improper.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said amendments introduced during budget deliberations – whether institutional or individual – are ‘part of the regular budget process.’

He noted that it was ‘unfortunate’ that reports on ghost projects and failed flood control works had cast all amendments in a negative light.

‘Some of these amendments are for additional classrooms, farm-to-market roads and bridges that will benefit our people, especially those in the far-flung provinces. Some of which were never funded and were tagged ‘for later release’,’ Sotto said.

He added that the Senate will introduce changes in the 2026 budget to ensure ‘greater transparency, people’s participation and accountability.’

Sen. JV Ejercito echoed Sotto’s position, saying amendments are among the Senate’s duties after budget hearings.

‘Not all amendments are bad, especially those which help agencies and departments. Amendments are not tainted as long as there is no post enactment intervention,’ he added.

Marcos Jr.: 2026 budget to be graft-free

Amid Lacson’s statements on budget insertions, Malacañang vowed that President Marcos would not allow the 2026 budget to be tainted with corruption.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said issues like the one raised by Lacson prompted the investigation into the alleged anomalies surrounding flood control projects.

‘Perhaps what really happened in the 2025 budget is now being revealed,’ Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.

She said Marcos wants to ensure that the budget would go to programs that would benefit the public, noting that the President had already vowed to veto the 2026 budget if it is filled with anomalies.

‘So we can be sure, with all these things happening, the people can be assured that the 2026 budget would be above board and the President will not allow anomalous projects,’ she added.

Marcos has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the country’s flood control projects and has created an independent body that would run after officials and contractors who benefited from kickbacks.

He has also canceled the flood control projects for 2026 and reallocated their P255.5-billion funding to various social welfare, education, agriculture, agrarian reform and livelihood programs.

The Marcos administration is proposing a P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, higher than this year’s P6.326-trillion outlay.

Students stage protests vs graft

At the same time, thousands of students from the Far Eastern University (FEU) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) walked out of their classrooms and held a rally to denounce massive corruption in government.

At noon yesterday, around 1,000 FEU students reportedly gathered at the Nicanor Reyes Street to protest.

At 3 p.m., despite the rains, students from different colleges of UST also conducted a walk-out rally.

They went around their campus and expressed their outrage over the trillions of pesos worth of government funds lost in the DPWH flood control anomaly.

The students were heard chanting ‘Zaldy, Zaldy Magnanakaw, Magnanakaw si Zaldy’ (Zaldy the thief), ‘Mga Kurakot, Ikulong na Yan’ (Jail all thieves), while some students called for President Marcos nd the Dutertes to go to jail.

Honor of Kings has officially launched a Tagalog localization as part of its latest major update. Players can now switch both in-game text and voice-overs to Tagalog, making every match feel closer to home.

Honor of Kings has previously released Filipino-specific voice packs since its global launch last year. Previous voice packs including those for Edgar “ChooxTV” Dumali, for popular esports duo Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario, and vlogger Joel ‘Malupiton’ Ravanera, and the most recent version from esports announcer Mara Aquino.

‘Honor of Kings deeply values the Filipino community, one of our most vibrant and engaged player bases. Tagalog isn’t just a language – it’s a feeling of comfort and belonging. We’re proud to bring this experience to our players and are open to exploring other Philippine languages and dialects in the future,’ said Isabelle Eloriaga, product manager at Honor of Kings Philippines.

The voice pack, which was part of the Honor of Kings: Thrilling update, also introduces new content such as the heroine Umbrosa, Fallen Austren, Spriteling companion, and the Ultimate Awakening game mode.

The local league of Honor of Kings, the Philippines Kings League (PKL) Fall Season, is on its sixth and final week of its regular season. Top contender Blacklist International and defending champions Boom Esports are looking to secure the upper-bracket advantage, while WETRND Esports, ACT Esports Club and Elevate have also booked playoff spots.

The top four teams in the PKL Fall Season will qualify to the Honor of Kings International Championship, which will be held in the country this November. There, the top 16 teams in the world will compete for the title of Honor of Kings World Champion.