Category: Philippine Star

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.6 percent this year, but trimmed its projection for 2026 amid heightened uncertainties from global trade policy changes.

In a report, the ADB said it expects the Philippine economy to grow by 5.6 percent this year, unchanged from its July forecast.

If realized, Philippine economic growth would fall within the government’s 5.5 to 6.5 percent growth target for the year.

The ADB also expects the Philippines to remain a bright spot in Southeast Asia this year, posting the second-fastest growth in the region, next to Vietnam’s 6.7 percent.

In the first semester, the Philippine economy posted an average growth of 5.4 percent.

For 2026, the ADB’s new growth projection is 5.7 percent, slightly lower than the previous forecast of 5.8 percent.

The forecast is also below the government’s target of six to seven percent growth for 2026.

The ADB adjusted the 2026 forecast due to a more challenging external environment, heightened uncertainty, shifting trade and investment policies, as well as a lower growth forecast in major advanced economies, which could weigh on trade and investment prospects.

Despite the risks, ADB country director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries said the country’s growth outlook remains resilient.

‘Though these uncertainties pose increased risk, we see strong domestic demand anchoring growth, with sustained investments and an accommodative monetary policy supporting the economy’s expansion,’ he said.

The report also showed that the ADB expects inflation to ease further this year to 1.8 percent, slower than the 2.2 percent forecast it provided in July.

Inflation averaged 1.7 percent from January to August.

For next year, the ADB expects inflation to rise to three percent and return to the government’s target range of two to four percent.

Inflation is expected to remain low due to slower global commodity prices and muted food prices, as well as improvements in the local rice supply.

The ADB noted, however, that adverse weather conditions and climate shocks could put pressure on commodity prices.

Corruption issues in the government’s flood control projects also pose risks to the economic projections.

‘Corruption has broad impacts on economic growth in general and investment sentiment. So we’re monitoring that and how that may be affected going forward,’ Jeffries said.

With the economy driven mainly by domestic consumption, he said the ADB did not reduce the GDP forecasts due to the recently exposed corruption issues.

‘But it’s certainly a heightened risk. Between now and our December update, there may be more quantifiable data available that may alter our projections,’ he said.

Despite the corruption issues, he reiterated the ADB’s continued support for projects in the country.

‘We don’t anticipate backing off if the government requests more of our assistance,’ he said.

He emphasized that the ADB has strict oversight measures in place to ensure that loan disbursements are used for their intended purpose.

The ADB also has strict technical and financial qualifications in the procurement of projects.

While the government has flagged contractors that cornered a significant amount of flood control projects, the ADB said an officially sanctioned government blacklist would be needed to debar firms from its projects.

The 50th season of the PBA will be kicking off with a bang.

Manila Clasico will come early, as Barangay Ginebra takes on the Magnolia Hotshots in the season opener this Sunday, September 5.

Magnolia, now coached by former Ginebra point guard LA Tenorio, will take on his former team at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Their matchup will follow the Leo Awards, wherein last season’s awardees will be crowned. It will be the lone game on opening day.

Tenorio, who played 12 seasons with the Gin Kings, is listed as a playing coach for the Hotshots. Now, he will be facing off against his longtime mentor Tim Cone.

Magnolia will be led by Zav Lucero, Mark Barroca and Paul Lee, while Ginebra will continue to be spearheaded by Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar.

Eyes will also be on Ginebra rookie Sonny Estil, an unheralded player who boosted his draft stock after stellar showings in the PBA Draft combine.

According to the league, 27 game days will be played outside Metro Manila, including one in Dubai and two in Bahrain.

The season will also have almost a few weeks off, from November 17 to December 4, to make way for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers window.

The opening week of the season will also see the debut of the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, which were formerly the NorthPort Batang Pier. The Giant Risers will take on the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday, October 8, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The same day, defending All-Filipino champions San Miguel Beermen will face off against the NLEX Road Warriors.

In the All-Filipino conference, the 12 participating teams will play a single elimination round, with each team having 11 games.

The eliminations are set to run until December 19, followed by the playoffs.

Abra Solid North extended its winning streak to a record 26, while Caloocan clinched the last outright playoff berth on Tuesday at the close of the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season round-robin elimination phase at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan.

The Weavers battered undermanned Mindoro, 104-82, in the opener to surpass the 25 straight victories it shared with Nueva Ecija and rise to 28-1 – also an all-time league best – in the North Division of the 30-team tournament.

Caloocan banked on Jeff Manday to nip Pangasinan, 77-74, in the second game and improve to 21-8, good for the sixth spot in the North and a best-of-three playoff tussle with No. 3 San Juan.

Pangasinan skidded to 20-9 and the seventh spot, relegating the Heatwaves to a play-in encounter with No. 8 Ilagan Isabela at the same venue on Thursday.

Manday scored six of Caloocan’s last 8 points as the Batang Kankaloo overturned a 69-71 deficit following a triple by Pangasinan’s JP Maguliano.

The Batang Kankaloo got 12 points plus three rebounds from Rommel Calahat; 11 points, six rebounds and three assists from Cris Bitoon; and 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals from Manday.

The Pangasinan Heatwaves drew 11 points from Allyn Bulanadi, whose buzzer-beating triple attempt went short, and 10 points plus eight rebounds from Maguliano.

Encho Serrano, John Uduba and Dave Ildefonso delivered the most as the Weavers gifted their head coach, Yong Garcia, with another easy victory.

Serrano posted 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists; Uduba 21 points and 10 rebounds; and Ildefonso 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Weavers, who clustered 15 points to seal the outcome, 96-71.

The Tamaraws fell to 15-14, but kept the eighth spot in the South Division.

Mindoro got 17 points from RJ Ramirez; 15 from Ethan Galang; 14 from Marion Magat; and 12 from homegrown Hanz Philip Maycong.

Opting to conserve its strength for the play-in against Zamboanga Sikat on October 4., Mindoro did not field starters Ino Comboy, Bam Gamalinda and Joseph Sedurifa, role player Jeco Bancale and veteran Ken Bono.

The league returns to the Estrella Gymnasium on Thursday, October 2, with play-in games pitting Pasig against Bataan at 4 p.m. and Pangasinan against Ilagan, Isabela, at 6 p.m.

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 MPBL 2025 Season at the Marikina Sports Center.

The San Juan Knights trounced the Marikina Shoemasters, 78-61, 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.

The first batch of criminal and administrative charges was finally filed against resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 17 others over a reported anomalous flood control project found in Oriental Mindoro. Less than three weeks after it was organized, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) initiated the filing of these cases before the Office of the Ombudsman last Monday.

The three-man ICI headed by retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. acted on the findings of the team led by Department of Public Works and Highways acting Secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon, accompanied by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who was then the ‘special adviser’ to the ICI, that conducted the ocular inspection of the project site pointed out to them by Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor.

After Malacañang spokesperson Claire Castro seemingly cast doubt on his impartiality, Magalong resigned. He was replaced by retired police chief Rodolfo Azurin as ICI investigator and ‘special adviser.’

The ICI’s first ever interim report was personally delivered by Reyes to the Office of the Ombudsman. The criminal charges included violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents by a public officer (Article 217 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code) and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184). Co’s co-accused included DPWH district engineers and the private contractor of the project.

According to the ICI report, Co has been recommended to be charged for receiving ‘unwarranted benefits’ in relation to the construction projects of Sunwest Inc., one of the 15 contractors that have cornered P545 billion worth of flood control projects of the DPWH budget for the past three years.

‘While Cong. Co claims to have divested his interests, reports suggest he may potentially retain beneficial ownership. The Commission underscores that additional evidence is needed to establish any definitive connection,’ the ICI noted.

After submission of the ICI interim report, Reyes immediately left the Office of the Ombudsman and declined media interviews. But speaking for the ICI, its executive director Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters the ICI chairman is merely trying to ‘prudently’ and ‘carefully’ work quietly to ferret out the truth on the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. Hosaka further sought to assuage public concern over the ICI proceedings being conducted behind closed doors. He stressed the Commission is striving to shield itself from political interference, saying: ‘We cannot allow the ICI to be used by any political agenda or leverage.’

In Executive Order (EO) No. 94 signed on Sept.11, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM) created the ICI as a fact-finding body. Among other things, PBBM empowered the ICI to investigate the alleged ‘ghost’ flood control and other infra projects for the past 10 years. The President subsequently named Reyes to chair the ICI after he earlier appointed former DPWH secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson and SGV and Co. country managing partner Rossana A. Fajardo as Commission members.

Yesterday, Reyes signed in behalf of the ICI a memorandum of agreement with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in its effort to facilitate freezing of bank deposits and other assets of Co and other individuals implicated in various alleged ‘ghost’ flood control and substandard infra projects.

The current ICI is well-intentioned but is not good enough. It lacks subpoena and prosecutorial powers. As stated in EO 94, the ICI can be assisted by the ombudsman, Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and some other government agencies that it may call upon for assistance.

While the ICI doing its own work, the Senate decided to continue with its on-going ‘inquiry in aid of legislation’ into the alleged ‘ghost’ flood control projects of the DPWH. However, its parallel congressional investigation being done by the House infra committee headed by Bicol Saro party-list Rep.Terry Ridon has been called off upon the imprimatur of newly installed Speaker, Isabela Rep. Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III.

Before it closed down its public hearings, dismissed DPWH district engineers of Bulacan Brice Hernandez tagged former Senate Senate pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada and majority leader Joel Villanueva. At the last House hearing, Hernandez pointed to Estrada and Villanueva as ‘proponents’ who downloaded their flood control projects in the province in the 2025 budget. On the other hand, one of the 15 DPWH contractors admitted he was an election campaign donor of ex-Senate president Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.

Conducting its own motu proprio investigation, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, currently headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, has conducted six public hearings so far as of last Monday. On that day, a ‘surprise witness,’ retired Marine Sgt. Orly Guteza, testified under oath that the alleged kickbacks from these DPWH projects were delivered to the Valle Verde residence of Co and that of former speaker Martin Romualdez. Earlier that day, retired DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that a businessman-friend of Escudero acted as the alleged go-between of the ex-Senate chief in securing funds for projects in the DPWH budget.

With these very serious accusations, how can we expect an impartial conduct of congressional investigations when ‘almost all senators’ – as Lacson admitted – are involved in the budget mess? In the same way, as Lacson cited, there were many House members who got the bulk of budget ‘insertions.’ So how can the House investigate itself when many of their 316 or so colleagues in the present 20th Congress were re-elected from the 19th Congress that was behind the mangled 2025 budget?

Summing up, the first-best solution is to have a strong, unbiased, fearless ombudsman in the mold of the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, whose ninth death anniversary was observed last Monday. There are 17 candidates being vetted by the Judicial and Bar Council in the search for the new ombudsman.

The solution is to prosecute corrupt politicians, government executives and corrupt contractors; jail them – and make them pay.

Jake Figueroa showed why he is the top dog of National University.

Figueroa scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to tow the Bulldogs past the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 76-69, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament matchup Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

The small forward shot 6-of-12 from the floor, including the dagger triple, while hauling down nine rebounds and dishing out two assists.

NU thus remained spotless through three games, joining the Ateneo Blue Eagles on top of the standings.

After Gelo Crisostomo’s short stab gave UST a 65-62 lead with 7:22 remaining, NU’s Gelo Santiago and Figueroa teamed up and scored four straight points to push the Bulldogs 66-65.

Mark Llemit then put UST up front anew, 67-66, before the two squads went on a dry spell.

Santiago and Figueroa broke the drought with back-to-back shots to give NU a 70-67 lead.

Nic Cabanero hit a jumper to inch the Tigers, playing in their own stomping grounds, closer.

But on the other end, Figueroa sized up Collins Akowe and hit the dagger 3-pointer to push NU ahead for good, 73-69.

In the next possession, UST point guard Forthsky Padrigao hoisted up an off-balanced triple that missed everything.

Free throws by Paul Francisco and Steve Nash Enriquez iced the game.

Omar John and PJ Palacielo chipped in 10 markers for the Bulldogs.

Cabanero paced UST with 19 points, six rebounds and an assist, but shot 8-of-19 from the floor. Amiel Acido backstopped with 18 points while Mark Llemit had 12.

Collins Akowe, a product of the NU Bullpups program where he won the UAAP Most Valuable Player and Best Foreign Student-Athlete awards, was held to just five points and eight rebounds after dominating in his first two collegiate games.

Before the contest, Akowe averaged 24.5 points and 18 rebounds per game.

UST now dropped to 2-1 this season. It will try to bounce back as it takes on still-winless University of the East Red, while NU will aim to keep its streak against defending champion University of the Philippines.

Both games will be held this Saturday, October 4, at the same venue.

Host-actor Edu Manzano reminded politicians that they are sworn to serve the Filipino people, who are growing tired of widespread corruption and needless politicking.

Edu has been filling his social media pages with posts taking digs at flood control project contractors and their families supposedly flaunting their wealth following outrage over flood control anomalies.

The public anger has only risen after several politicians were tagged in the controversies, allegedly even receiving kickbacks from these projects.

Among the host-actor’s latest Facebook posts was a letter he said was making the rounds on Ateneo groups addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of the 20th Congress.

It should be noted that Edu is a graduate of De La Salle University and also dabbled in politics, serving one term as Makati vice mayor.

“Enough of the polite lies. This letter is not wrapped in diplomacy, because you no longer deserve it. This is anger in ink, disgust in words, a mirror of the nation’s fury you pretend not to see,” the letter began.

“Each of you swore an oath – not to yourselves, not to your dynasties, but to the people. Yet what have you delivered? Endless committee hearings that go nowhere, speeches bloated with hot air, budgets swallowed whole by ghost projects and cronies. You strut like statesmen but you crawl like parasites. You treat government not as a sacred duty, but as your personal ATM.”

The letter brought up the recent protests in Nepal and Indonesia, where people rose up against their respective governments who thought themselves “untouchable.”

“But rage, once ignored, becomes revolution. Hindi ninyo kayang takasan ang galit ng taong bayan,” the letter pointed out.

The topic pivoted to issues in the Philippines, including flooding, hospitals and classrooms lacking supplies, farmers in debt, and workers dealing with inflation, all while politicians “bicker over pork, positions, and contracts.”

“Every motorcade of black SUVs you ride in is a slap in the face of the millions forced to commute like sardines. Every peso stolen is food stolen from the mouths of children,” it continued.

The letter said legislators and the president were “sitting on a volcano” and the fire beneath was being fed every day that the issues are stalled, every peso pocketed, and every law twisted for personal gain.

“Do not mistake Filipino patience for weakness. Hindi kami hangal. The day will come when no convoy, no palace walls, no title before your name will save you from the wrath of those you betrayed.”

“Do your mandated work – and do it now. Not for applause, not for legacy, but because you have bled this nation long enough. Restore decency, protect the treasury, legislate for the people or step aside before you are swept aside.”

The letter reminded again of the Nepal and Indonesia protests and how Filipinos could relate.

“Learn from Nepal. Learn from Indonesia. Or prepare to be remembered not as leaders, but as the carcasses of a corrupt empire finally torn down,” it ended, signed off by “The Filipino People You Mock, Rob, and Underestimate.”

As Tropical Depression ‘Paolo’ strengthens and approaches the Philippine land, PAGASA raised Wind Signal No. 1 over four areas in Catanduanes on Wednesday, October 1.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau last located Paolo about 665 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 70 kph.

The tropical depression is moving west-northwest at 25 kph and is expected to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora by Friday, October 3.

PAGASA hoisted Wind Signal No. 1 over Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, and Viga in Catanduanes, signaling winds of 39 to 61 kph and intermittent rains anticipated within the next 36 hours.

Under the lowest wind signal, little to no infrastructure damage is expected. However, the state weather bureau urged residents to immediately inspect their homes for necessary repairs and clean up drainage systems to prevent possible flooding.

In its latest weather advisory, PAGASA also said that the tropical cyclone is predicted to bring heavy rain across several provinces in Northern Luzon from October 2 to October 3.

Rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters:

Cagayan

Isabela

Quirino

Aurora

Apayao

Abra

Benguet

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Nueva Vizcaya

Rainfall of 50 to 100 millimeters

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Pangasinan

Nueva Ecija

Tarlac

Zambales

Bataan

Paolo is expected to gain strength as it moves across the Philippine Sea, potentially intensifying into a severe tropical storm by early Friday, with Wind Signal No. 3 as the highest possible alert.

Producer prices posted growth in August, reversing a contraction in the previous month, driven by a slower decline in prices of computer and electronic products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Preliminary data released by the PSA yesterday showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for manufacturing returned to positive territory, registering a 0.6 percent growth in August after the 0.1 percent drop in July.

It was also an improvement from the 1.3 percent dip posted in August last year.

The PPI measures the average change in factory gate prices relative to a base period.

Average PPI growth from January to August stood at 0.4 percent.

‘The upturn in the annual growth rate of the PPI for the manufacturing section in August 2025 was primarily due to the slower decrement in the annual growth rate of the PPI for manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products industry division,’ the PSA said.

In particular, the computer, electronics and optical products industry division posted a 0.1 percent decline in August from a one percent drop in July.

Also driving the upturn in PPI growth was the faster increase in basic metals at two percent in August from 0.4 percent in the previous month.

The PSA said the slower decline in the growth of transport equipment at 0.2 percent in August from the previous month’s 1.3 percent also contributed to the PPI growth performance.

Of the remaining 19 industry divisions, 11 exhibited annual increases, while eight industry divisions registered annual decreases in August.

Those which posted increases in August are coke and refined petroleum products; food products; beverages; chemical and chemical products; tobacco products; rubber and plastic products; furniture; leather and related products including footwear; wearing apparel; textiles; and printing and reproduction of recorded media.

On the other hand, those which registered declines are other non-metallic mineral products; electrical equipment; machinery and equipment except electrical; fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment; basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products; other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment; and paper and paper products.

Even the houses of God were not spared by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu late night on September 30, including a century-old church.

Videos and photos of church facades and interiors collapsing or partially damaged surfaced on social media in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, Cebu posted a series of photos that showed the damages it has incurred due to the tremors, including photos of a ceiling partially damaged and rubbles off its century-old walls.

The Daanbantayan church said that while there were damages to structures, its tabernacle and some religious images, such as the Image of Santa Rosa de Lima, Virgen del Carmen and the Immaculate Conception, were unscathed.

‘The image is wrapped around some unused plastic Bags for protection from heavy rains and dust,’ the church said about its Image of Santa Rosa de Lima in its Facebook post.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima was built in 1886. The 139-year-old church is declared the first archdiocesan shrine in the Philippines dedicated to St. Rose of Lima in 2022.

The Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol in Bantayan, meanwhile, was captured in videos with its outer lights exploding and its facade with a cross breaking and falling apart. The church was completed in 1863. It was built with coral stones found on the island.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has posted a seven-point guidance on how to safely move historic objects, which includes a reminder to check the safety and stability of the premises from the aftershocks and wearing protective gear.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) said the earthquake’s epicenter was located at sea about 21 kilometers (10.5 miles) northeast of Bogo City.

The Cebu government has put the entire province under a state of calamity, with the death toll at 31 as of press time.