Category: Philippine Star

A barangay captain was killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Wednesday.

The victim was on his way home on a motorcycle when he was shot in a mountainous area in Barangay Kansumandig, according to the Negros Island Region (NIR) police.

Residents said they heard several gunshots before the victim was found dead.

Responding police officers recovered three bullet shells for a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

NIR police director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales has activated a special investigation task group to look deeper into the case.

Mindanao may face a repeat of the 2012 energy crisis as the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) projects power reserves to be depleted in the next two years.

‘I hope NGCP’s projection is wrong. We are seeing that by 2028, there will be no excess (capacity),’ NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday.

Alabanza said the looming crisis is not a recent development, noting that warning signs have been evident for several years.

The NGCP, in particular, has recorded one to two days of yellow alert in the region each year in the past three years.

Mindanao has also experienced occasional red alerts every year, indicating increasingly tight power supply margins.

‘Now, demand has caught up again. It is starting. We are feeling the demand catching up with supply,’ Alabanza said.

In 2012, the region experienced a power crisis largely due to insufficient baseload capacity and an imbalanced power generation mix.

The supply situation improved after several coal-fired plants began operations, helping ease the region’s power shortage.

Coal facilities are regarded as reliable sources of baseload power because they can operate continuously and provide a steady supply of electricity.

‘But after the plants came online, additional capacity was no longer added,’ Alabanza said.

During supply-demand imbalances, the NGCP deploys ancillary services to maintain the reliability and stability of the country’s electrical superhighway.

These include contingency reserves, which protect the grid from sudden disruptions, and dispatchable reserves or backup capacities that are ready to be activated when demand rises unexpectedly.

For months, grid alerts have been hoisted over Mindanao amid simultaneous shutdowns of major coal-fired facilities.

So far this year, 17 yellow and four red alerts have been logged in the region, latest NGCP data showed.

A yellow alert is issued when power reserves fall to low levels, while a red alert is hoisted when supply is no longer sufficient to meet consumers’ demand.

The power supply problem in Mindanao is spilling over into the Visayas, which imports some of its electricity from the southern region.

The NGCP admitted that the Visayas has not kept pace in baseload power development, which has led to the region’s current electricity woes.

The Visayas grid was placed under yellow alert yesterday, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Alabanza said power demand had not been declining.

The power problem in the Visayas is happening as the region’s economy rises.

‘When there are more people, you need economic activity for the population to grow,’ Alabanza said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Western Visayas, which includes Iloilo and Aklan, posted the fastest growth rate among all administrative regions in 2025, at 6.4 percent.

The Negros Island Region exceeded the national rate at 5.69 percent.

The Department of Energy is currently crafting a master power plan for the Visayas, but DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said this would take time to accomplish due to the complexity of the region’s power woes. ­

The Philippines is planning to raise a smaller amount from its planned retail treasury bond (RTB) sale as it weighs other funding options for the rest of the year, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

The government is not targeting the usual volume for the planned RTB sale this year, with the size expected to be cut by more than half from last year’s issuance, National Treasurer Sharon Almanza told reporters.

‘We are not going to raise the usual volume that we’ve been raising in the past for this RTB. Definitely lower, more than half reduction from last year,’ she said on the sidelines of a budget hearing.

‘We still have many auctions for the rest of the year. With our position right now, we don’t need a bigger volume,’ Almanza added.

The government raised P507.16 billion from its previous RTB offering in August 2025.

Almanza did not disclose the exact size and rate of the RTB issuance.

‘It’s the 25th year of RTB. Since it’s a milestone year for RTB, we want our investors to remember that this is an instrument that retail investors, Filipinos like us, can invest in. You don’t need a big amount,’ Almanza said.

The proceeds from the issuance will be used for general government support.

She noted the upside risks to rates, citing expectations of higher inflation in September due to the impact of the southwest monsoon and El Niño, as well as the recent increase in oil prices.

Higher inflation could prompt a rate hike and push yields higher.

Almanza added that the Treasury is also considering other funding options, including a retail dollar bond, the previous issuance of which will mature in October.

The government has yet to complete its domestic borrowing requirements for the year, although it is nearing its target. It plans to borrow P2.73 trillion this year, with P1.92 trillion to be raised from the domestic market and P815.51 billion from external sources.

The House of Representatives terminated plenary deliberations yesterday on the proposed P10.16-billion budget for the Office of the President (OP) for 2027, along with those of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Rep. Albert Garcia, senior vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, described the proposed OP budget as largely an operating budget, with P7.46 billion allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses.

Garcia said that the proposed funding comprises only 0.14 percent of the total P7.2 trillion national budget.

He also noted that the proposed budget is 64.02 percent lower than OP’s P28.03-billion allocation for this year, mainly due to the completion of locally funded projects, particularly those related to the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026.

Even excluding the ASEAN-related expenses, Garcia said the OP’s regular programs were trimmed by P392.52 million, or 3.75 percent from the previous year.

The House also terminated plenary deliberations on the proposed P2.62-billion budget of the PCO and its attached agencies for 2027.

The budget will support the government’s timely provision of accessible information about government policies, programs and services, even as the agency strengthens its presence across traditional and digital platforms.

The House also approved the proposed P851.39-million budget of the PMS for 2027.

At the same time, the chamber also terminated on Tuesday plenary deliberations on the proposed P5.47-billion budget of the DOT.

‘Tourism is an investment that multiplies; the government may provide the first peso but tourism allows that peso to move through our economy,’ appropriations vice chairperson Rep. Bernadette Escudero said.

Under the proposed P5.47-billion budget, one billion is allocated for DOT’s global branding campaign while P1.37 billion has been provided for the tourism promotion’s board.

Budget ‘railroad’ hit

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan denounced what it described as the railroading by the House of Representatives of the budget of the Office of the President.

Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino criticized the ‘collusion’ of Malacañang and Congress in embedding pork barrel and other items in the P7.2-trillion 2027 General Appropriations Bill.

He said nearly half of President Marcos’ budget is allotted for confidential and intelligence funds which should have warranted scrutiny from lawmakers.

‘The hasty approval of the President’s budget is reminiscent of the Marcos dictatorship which reduced Congress into a mere rubber stamp institution,’ Palatino said in a statement.

Palatino added more than P107 billion were designated for flood control projects despite irregularities involving infrastructure projects that remain unresolved.

He lamented the inadequate subsidies given to the agriculture, health and education sectors.

‘We should make sure that Marcos and his allies are not given new opportunities to legitimize the kickbacks they are getting from pork barrel projects,’ he said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has terminated the 2026 coal bid round to reassess the parameters for awarding coal operating contracts. Through the move, the agency aims to ensure that future agreements provide clear and measurable benefits to the country.

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin, in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, said the bidding process would be re-announced within the next two weeks, covering the same mine sites but under revised rules.

‘The Department of Energy has terminated the 2026 coal bid round in order to reassess the parameters of awarding coal operating contracts to ensure that any future award will bring real and clear benefit to our country and to the Filipino people,’ Garin said.

Garin said the coal reserves are state-owned assets, giving the government the authority to reassess or terminate a bidding process when existing parameters are deemed insufficient to protect state resources and maximize the benefits the country receives from them.

She said the DOE also considered concerns raised by stakeholders and recent developments on Semirara Island, which could affect the country’s coal reserves.

Semirara Island hosts the country’s largest coal mining operation and supplies coal for power generation and other energy needs.

Garin said the government wants to optimize not only the extraction of coal but also its utilization, particularly by ensuring that domestically produced coal is used primarily to meet the country’s energy requirements.

‘Kailangan po unang-una po kailangan i-address po ang fuel needs ng Pilipinas bago po tayo mag-export,’ she said.

The revised framework, she said, would give greater weight to clear and measurable benefits to the country, appropriate government revenues and commitments to domestic coal utilization.

Garin said these measures are intended to maximize the benefits from the country’s indigenous coal resources while strengthening domestic energy security.

She also cited the long duration of some existing contracts, including the contract involving Semirara, which she said has been in place for 50 years.

The DOE chief said the cancellation does not mean the government is abandoning the coal bid round.

Instead, the agency is revising its policies before reopening the bidding process.

‘So bakit kami nag-cancel? Kasi marami tayong binago sa mga policies. Kasi gusto natin cancel muna, may bago tayong policies, and then we do the bid round again with the new policies,’ Garin said.

Art Arbole absorbed Jhonnel Ababa’s early charge, endured a costly back-to-back bogey stretch, then produced the biggest swing of the day on No. 15 to seize back the lead and move within 18 holes of a long-awaited Philippine Golf Tour breakthrough.

Arbole delivered a gutsy 68 for a 10-under 200 total yestersday, overcoming bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 with a clutch birdie on the 15th, where Ababa stumbled to a bogey after struggling with his approach. That two-shot swing turned what had been a one-shot deficit into a one-stroke lead, restoring Arbole’s momentum and putting him tantalizingly close to the title that has eluded him for 14 years in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on the scorching Marapara course.

‘Medyo pressured talaga kasi first time kong mag-lead. ‘Pero focus lang talaga sa laro. Kahit nag-bogey sa Nos. 12 and 13, sinunod ko lang ang game plan ko,’ said Arbole, heaving a sigh of relief after surviving the toughest stretch of his round.

Ababa stayed firmly in contention at 201 after matching Arbole’s 68.

Drawing from the world around them and their own experiences, the 2026 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) grand awardees transformed themes of power, perseverance and human connection into compelling works that invite audiences to reflect, see familiar realities from different perspectives and consider new possibilities.

‘This year, MADE received over 600 submissions from artists across the country, reflecting the diversity, talent and vitality of the Philippine art community. Their works remind us that Filipino artists continue to engage deeply with the world around them and contribute fresh perspectives to the conversations shaping our society,’ said Metrobank Foundation president Philip Francisco Dy.

Through painting, mixed media and sculpture, artists charted their own creative paths, translating their observations and questions into works that speak to the world around them.

Awardees were recognized at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila on Sept. 17, marking the opening of the 2026 MADE exhibition.

Open to the public for free from Sept. 18 to Oct. 18, the exhibition features nearly 100 works from different parts of the country that advanced to the semifinals of the competition, including those of the grand awardees.

The 2026 MADE grand awardees each received P500,000 worth of prizes, comprised of P350,000 in cash and a scholarship of P150,000 to the Eskinita Art Residency Program in 2027, as well as the coveted ‘More’ trophy sculpted this year in copper by renowned artist and 2007 MADE awardee Juan Sajid.

A panel of art practitioners, curators, writers and creative industry leaders chaired by sculptor Reginald Yuson selected the 2026 MADE winners.

Joining Yuson were painter and former MADE awardee Mark Andy Garcia, mixed media artist Ling Quisumbing Ramilo, MADE 2026 exhibition curator and University of the Philippines Diliman Department of Theory associate professor May Lyn Cruz, art writer and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Creative Industries Program officer-in-charge Lara Acuin, Vinyl Gallery co-founder and co-director Gaby dela Merced and Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual Arts and Museum Division officer-in-charge Rica Estrada.

Bataan and Pasig dispute the seventh playoff seat in the North Division play-in stage at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Camaya Events Place Center in Mariveles, Bataan.

The Pasiguenos crawled out of a 15-point hole to beat the Bataan Risers, 97-96, in overtime on May 12, and are looking for a repeat to advance to the quarterfinal round with the six outright qualifiers and whoever will become the eighth and last survivor.

If Bataan – ranked No. 7 after the round-robin elimination phase – exacts revenge, the Risers will advance to the playoff, leaving eighth-ranked Pasig to tackle the winner between No. 9 Quezon City and No. 10 Valenzuela City in the 5 p.m. opener.

The loser between the Quezon City Black Bulls and the Valenzuela Darkhorse ends their stint in this year’s 26-team tournament.

Pasig will be led by MPBL All-Star Warlo Batac, Jacob Galicia, Jerome Garcia, Michael Lambino, Jhapz Bautista and Ahron Estacio, who forced overtime and delivered the lethal points against Bataan in their first encounter.

Speedsters Alfred Flores and Robbie Darang, Chris Javier, homegrown Yves Sazon, Hubert Cani, Migs Corteza, Mitchelle Maynes and Joshua Gallano will power Bataan.

Valenzuela beat Quezon City, 90-83, on May 14, but the Black Bulls eventually emerged as No. 9 with an 11-4 record, surpassing the Darkhorses’ 10-15.

The Darkhorses will bank on veterans Jay Collado and Ian Melencio, along with Shaq Alanes, CJ Alattica, Geremy Robinson, JR Olegario, JR Ongteco and Angelo Obuyes.

Quezon City draws firepower from All-Star MJ Joson, Kobe Monje, Jake Agoncillo, Val Chauca, Ryan Costelo, Pat Buena and Rey Publico.

What’s better than two Taylor Lautners? Three of them, officially.

Actor Taylor Lautner and his wife, also named Taylor but goes by Tay to avoid confusion, are now parents to a baby girl they have named Lennon Taylor.

The baby was born last September 16 but Tay only revealed she had given birth a week later, posting a picture on her Instagram account.

“One week loving our sweet little Lenny,” Tay wrote in the caption of a photo of her daughter, her face hidden but laying behind an embroidery of her name.

Among those who congratulated the couple were Alex Cooper, Mackenzie Foy, Christina Perri, Daniella Monet, Chandler Kinney, and the official account of the “Twilight” franchise.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SandP Global Ratings slashed the economic growth forecasts for the Philippines due to the prolonged impact of the Middle East crisis and weaker investments. The multilateral lender’s Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2026 report released yesterday showed that it now expects the Philippines to grow by 3.3 percent this year, down from 3.8 percent provided last July.

If realized, this year’s economic growth would fall below the government’s revised 3.5 to 4.5 percent growth target for the year and last year’s 4.4 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

While the ADB expects Philippine economic growth to rebound next year, it also trimmed its growth forecast to 5.1 percent for 2027 from 5.3 percent, previously.

ADB’s revised 2027 growth forecast is within the government’s revised five to six percent growth goal.

ADB Philippines senior economics officer Teresa Mendoza said in a press briefing that the lowered growth forecasts are due to persistent external and domestic headwinds.

In particular, escalating geopolitical tensions have heightened inflation pressures and uncertainty, weighing more heavily on 2026 growth than expected.

ADB also cited weaker investments in the first half and soaring prices of imported fuel and other vital commodities such as fertilizers.

Likewise, SandP has sharply cut its Philippine growth forecast for this year to 2.9 percent, the steepest downgrade among the Asia-Pacific economies it covers, as weak government investment, high energy costs and elevated food prices weigh on domestic demand.

SandP lowered its 2026 GDP growth projection from its previous forecast of 4.1 percent. GDP measures the value of goods and services produced by the economy after adjusting for inflation.

It also trimmed its 2027 growth forecast to 5.4 percent from 5.8 percent and its 2028 projection to six percent from 6.2 percent. It expects growth at 5.8 percent in 2029.

‘Growth for the first half was below expectations at 2.5 percent year over year, amid a series of headwinds for the economy,’ SandP economist Vishrut Rana said.

‘The economy is facing a sharp pullback in public capital expenditure, a steep energy price shock and elevated food prices, partly due to El Niño conditions,’ Rana added.

The economy expanded by just 2.3 percent year on year in the second quarter, bringing the growth in the first half to 2.6 percent, with SandP identifying the Philippines as the ‘most notable exception’ to the resilience in regional domestic demand as investments plunged.

Rana said the weaker first-half performance and expectations of a more gradual recovery prompted the downgrade.

‘It will take some time for the economy to recover its footing. We expect public capital expenditure to normalize gradually as various public infrastructure works are initiated,’ he said.

‘Given strong reforms in the space to increase transparency and efficiency, it will take time for disbursements to ramp up. Elevated energy and food prices, together with the resulting tighter monetary policy, will continue to weigh on domestic demand.’

SandP nevertheless expects medium-term growth drivers to remain intact, supported by the competitive business process outsourcing sector, private investment in special economic zones and expansion in energy, electronics and other industries.

Despite inflation pressures, ADB kept its Philippine inflation forecast at 5.9 percent this year.

However, the multilateral lender hiked its 2027 inflation forecast to 4.4 percent from the 3.9 percent provided in July due to the anticipated impact of the El Niño phenomenon on agricultural output.

SandP expects inflation to average 5.5 percent this year, up sharply from 1.7 percent in 2025, before easing to 3.6 percent in 2027, 3.2 percent in 2028 and 2.9 percent in 2029.

With inflation remaining high, SandP expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to deliver another 25-basis-point rate increase before yearend, bringing the policy rate to 5.25 percent. It then sees the rate declining to 4.5 percent in 2027 and four percent in 2028.

‘The BSP is likely to remain focused on the inflation mandate and, as such, we expect modest further monetary policy tightening this year,’ Rana said. ‘We expect interest rates to be lowered in 2027 as inflation eases following dissipation of the energy and food price shocks.’

Inflation slowed to 6.1 percent in August from the previous month’s 6.2 percent. This brought the average in the eight-month period to 5.2 percent, above the government’s two to four percent target band for the year.

When it comes to monetary policy, Mendoza said that ADB expects the BSP to continue its tightening at a gradual pace as inflation remains above target.

‘The economy continues to feel the impact of the Middle East conflict, but business indicators point to expected improvements in economic activity, with the industry sector still looking to expand next year,’ ADB Philippines country director Andrew Jeffries said.

‘For the Philippines to ride through the effects of external and domestic shocks in the near term, timely government spending on planned investments especially in the social sector and critical infrastructure projects will be important,’ he said.

Mendoza said that the ADB expects gradual investment recovery in the latter part of this year, which would support the country’s growth.

‘We’re expecting it gradually to improve starting fourth quarter of 2026. This is in line with the government’s move to accelerate ongoing flagship infrastructure projects, particularly railway projects,’ she said.

As the government has been pursuing programs to mitigate the effects of the Middle East conflict and El Niño phenomenon, the ADB is preparing assistance through a countercyclical support facility.

‘What it hopes to accomplish is it fills a budget gap that was created because of the Middle East crisis and because of the government’s UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport) Program,’ Jeffries said.

He said the government had about a $7 billion increase in spending because of the fuel subsidies and assistance to help those affected by the impact of the crisis.