Category: Philippine Star

The southwest monsoon will bring scattered rains in Luzon and the Visayas today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Batanes and Babuyan Islands while Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan will have occasional rains.

Meanwhile, Caraga, Davao Region and Southern Leyte will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers amid the localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA is not monitoring any low-pressure area after Francisco and Gardo left the Philippine area of responsibility.

More than a thousand Moro and non-Moro residents in two tremor-stricken areas received relief provisions this week from the Bangsamoro regional government, local executives announced on Saturday, June 27.

Radio reports on Saturday quoted local executives in General Santos City in Region 12 and in Balut Island in Sarangani town in Davao Occidental in Region 11 as saying that teams from the Ministry of Social Services and Development-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao delivered to them this week more than 10 tons of food supplies for their constituents affected by the 7.8 Magnitude earthquake last June 8.

Subordinates of BARMM’s chief minister, Abdulrauf Macacua, and the autonomous region’s social services minister, Raissa Jajurie, together facilitated the relief missions in General Santos City and in Balut Island in Sarangani town, both badly devastated by the June 8 tremor that jolted the Soccsksargen area, parts of Region 11, or the Davao region, the Zamboanga peninsula in Region 9 and the Bangsamoro region.

The Soccsksargen area encompasses the neighboring provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and General Santos City, where 23,229 families, or 95,502 individuals were displaced by the June 8 powerful tremor.

Radio reports had pointed out that the earthquake displaced hundreds of Muslim and Christian families in Davao Occidental’s Sarangani municipality, whose territory covers 17 barangays, some of which are in Balut Island.

Sarangani Mayor Adelan De Arce had told reporters that he is grateful to the BARMM government for having provided his constituents in Balut Island with relief supplies despite its distance from the autonomous region’s capitol in Cotabato City, which is more than 600 kilometers away.

Local executives in General Santos City were quoted in radio reports on Saturday as saying that a thousand families in different barangays under their jurisdiction benefited from the MSSD-BARMM’s humanitarian mission this week.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., speaking as chairperson of the multi-sector Regional Peace and Order Council 12, said on Saturday that he and members of the RPOC 12, among them local executives in the Soccsksargen area, appreciate the MSSD-BARMM’s outreach activity in General Santos City.

‘We in the Regional Peace and Order Council 12 are thankful to the Bangsamoro government for that,’ Tamayo told reporters.

Local executives in General Santos City had separately said the MSSD-BARMM channeled through officials of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos in Region 12 the relief supplies earmarked for their constituents.

The Office of Civil Defense 12 had reported that, as of Saturday, a total of 60 individuals in the Soccsksargen area were confirmed to have died from injuries caused by the June 8 earthquake.

The OCD had also stated in its report released on Saturday that the cost of large buildings, houses and other infrastructures in Soccsksargen the earthquake destroyed is now P2.3 billion, based on compiled assessments by government engineers and local government units in the area.

During my recent participation in Geneva Science Diplomacy Week, organized by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), I was reminded that one of the greatest challenges facing governments today is not responding to change, but anticipating it. Scientific discovery is advancing at a pace that is transforming societies faster than our institutions can adapt. Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, biotechnology is redefining medicine, autonomous systems are changing warfare and breakthroughs in robotics, neurotechnology and quantum computing promise to alter every aspect of human life. Yet while innovation accelerates exponentially, public policy often moves incrementally.

This growing gap is precisely why science diplomacy has become one of the defining responsibilities of modern government.

Science diplomacy recognizes that many of today’s greatest opportunities and risks extend beyond national borders. Artificial intelligence, pandemics, cybersecurity, biotechnology, climate science and autonomous weapons cannot be governed by any one country acting alone. Scientific breakthroughs developed in one laboratory may affect billions of people around the world. As technology becomes increasingly global, policymaking must become more collaborative, bringing together scientists, legislators, diplomats, industry and civil society to ensure that innovation advances the common good.

Equally important is the principle of anticipatory policymaking. Throughout history, governments have largely legislated after technologies had already transformed society. The automobile came before traffic laws. The internet preceded privacy legislation. Social media reached billions before governments began addressing online misinformation and digital safety. While reactive governance may have worked in the past, it is no longer sufficient for technologies that evolve at unprecedented speed.

Artificial intelligence already assists doctors in diagnosing disease, accelerates scientific research and automates complex decision-making. Advances in biotechnology and gene editing hold extraordinary promise for curing inherited illnesses while raising profound ethical questions about the limits of human intervention. Neurotechnology is creating brain-computer interfaces capable of restoring mobility and communication, but also introducing new concerns over mental privacy and cognitive liberty. Robotics is reshaping manufacturing and health care, while autonomous weapons challenge long-standing principles of international humanitarian law. Quantum computing may eventually redefine cybersecurity by rendering today’s encryption methods obsolete.

None of these developments are inherently good or bad. Their impact will ultimately depend on the rules, institutions and values that govern them.

Anticipatory policymaking asks governments to prepare for emerging technologies before they become sources of crisis. Rather than attempting to predict the future with certainty, it identifies plausible scientific trajectories and begins building ethical standards, legal frameworks and international cooperation while these technologies are still taking shape. It is a philosophy of governance that seeks to reduce surprise rather than merely respond to it.

This was the central lesson of GESDA’s Science Breakthrough Radar, which examines scientific developments over five-, 10- and 25-year horizons. The objective is not to forecast a single future, but to help policymakers understand what may be coming so decisions made today remain relevant tomorrow. Good governance should not merely solve today’s problems; it should anticipate tomorrow’s realities.

For the Philippines, this approach is not an academic exercise. It is a national imperative.

The Philippines should not view itself merely as a consumer of technology. We must become an active participant in shaping the global norms that will govern its development and use. Science diplomacy gives developing countries a voice in conversations that will define the future of health care, agriculture, cybersecurity, education, national defense and economic competitiveness. If we are absent from those discussions, the rules will be written by others, reflecting priorities that may not always align with our own national interests or values.

This conviction has guided many of the legislative initiatives I have pursued in Congress. Recognizing the growing influence of artificial intelligence, I have advocated for a comprehensive national framework on AI governance that promotes innovation while ensuring transparency, accountability, human oversight and ethical safeguards. I have likewise filed legislation promoting blockchain technology in government, recognizing its potential to strengthen transparency, improve public trust and modernize the delivery of public services.

Yet legislation alone will never be enough.

The challenges posed by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing and autonomous weapons demand a new generation of policymakers who are as comfortable discussing ethics and scientific evidence as they are debating law. Legislators can no longer afford to become experts only in legislation. We must also become students of science. Likewise, scientists must engage more actively with public policy so that innovation is guided not only by technical possibility but also by democratic values and the public interest.

Science diplomacy creates the bridge between these worlds. It enables scientific knowledge to inform policy, allows diplomacy to foster international scientific cooperation and helps nations develop common rules for technologies whose consequences do not stop at national borders. In an increasingly interconnected world, it has become an essential instrument of both foreign policy and national development.

The question before us is no longer whether transformative technologies will change our lives. They already have. The real question is whether we will have the foresight to govern them wisely. Science diplomacy and anticipatory policymaking offer us that opportunity. We should seize it not as observers of the future, but as active participants in shaping it.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) announced that the implementation of the second phase of toll rate increases for both the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) will begin on July 1.

In an announcement on Friday, June 26, the TRB said the second tranche of toll rate increases will be implemented following the first tranche in January.

For SLEX motorists, those traveling end-to-end from Alabang to Sto. Tomas will see a total increase of P14 for Class 1, P27 for Class 2, and P41 for Class 3 vehicles.

The following rate adjustments will be implemented for SLEX:

Alabang to Calamba

Class 1 – P137

Class 2 – P274

Class 3 – P411

Calamba to Sto. Tomas

Class 1 – P37

Class 2 – P74

Class 3 – P111

For STAR Tollway motorists, the total toll will increase by P8 for Class 1, P17 for Class 2 and P26 for Class 3 vehicles.

The following rate adjustments will be implemented for STAR Tollway:

Sto. Tomas to Lipa (Section 1)

Class 1 – P64

Class 2 – P128

Class 3 – P192

Lipa to Batangas City (Section 2)

Class 1 – P57

Class 2 – P114

Class 3 – P171

Sto. Tomas to Batangas City (end-to-end)

Class 1 – P121

Class 2 – P242

Class 3 – P363

The SLEX is a 36-kilometer expressway running between Muntinlupa City and Santo Tomas, Batangas, serving as a primary link from Metro Manila to Laguna and Batangas.

Meanwhile, the STAR Tollway is a 42-kilometer route connecting Santo Tomas and Batangas City, helping shorten travel times to southern Batangas and its major port areas.

Sean Ramos lost steam when it mattered most, closing with a 74 to finish in a tie for 26th at the Bangkok Classic won by local favorite Sarit Suwannarut in wire-to-wire fashion at the Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok course in Thailand on Sunday.

Ramos, a Philippine Golf Tour standout, had surged into a tie for ninth after a stellar third-round 68. He was hunting for another strong finish to replicate his recent success on the Asian Development Tour, including a joint-second finish at the ADT Players Championship in Malaysia and a tie for fifth at last week’s inaugural Philippine ADT Open at Luisita.

Starting his final round on the par-5 No. 10, Ramos delivered a birdie. However, instead of sparking a charge toward the Top 5, his momentum sputtered. He bogeyed the 13th after struggling with his long game and iron play, missing crucial birdie opportunities on the two other long holes (Nos. 15 and 18) before dropping another stroke on the first hole.

Unable to arrest the slide, Ramos fought to set up solid birdie looks. He carded five consecutive pars before failing to save par on the seventh, ultimately finishing the day with a 38-36 card.

It was his worst score of the week, following a steady opening 70 and brilliant rounds of 66 and 68 that had put him in contention.

With a 10-under-par 278 total, Ramos dropped to a share of 26th. It is a developmental setback likely to further steel the rising Filipino star as he prepares to resume his campaign at the Ever Glory ADT Open in Taiwan from July 8-11.

At the top of the leaderboard, Suwannarut secured his commanding victory in style. He holed out for an eagle-2 on the first hole en route to a final-round 68, finishing with a stunning 24-under 264 total.

The Thai star cruised to a six-stroke victory over England’s Matt Killen and Hong Kong’s Shunyat Hak, who matched 270s after a 66 and 68, respectively.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has intensified reforms in the private express and messengerial delivery service (PEMEDES) sector.

In January, the DICT launched Oplan Bantay Padala alongside the rollout of the PEMEDES Licensing Portal, establishing a centralized system for complaints monitoring, rider registration and compliance tracking.

These initiatives strengthened oversight, improved transparency and reinforced accountability across the delivery ecosystem.

Since their rollout, courier complaints have steadily declined.

Data from the DICT show a sustained drop in PEMEDES-related complaints: from 1,210 in January to 692 in February, 350 in March, 182 in April, 167 in May and 151 as of June 23, a decline of nearly 88 percent in six months.

The downward trend highlights the impact of Oplan Bantay Padala and PEMEDES digital reforms in making complaint handling more accessible, improving regulatory visibility and strengthening accountability among delivery service providers.

To further sustain these gains, the DICT launched Phase 2 of the PEMEDES Licensing Portal on June 23, 2026, enhancing digital identity verification, automation and regulatory monitoring for riders and operators.

‘Because of our digitization efforts, we make it easy for our couriers to comply with legal requirements. This in turn enhances the trust of the people in the industry as we promote a reliable and effective ecosystem,’ DICT Undersecretary Faye Condez-de Sagon said.

Consumers now benefit from faster resolution of complaints involving delayed, lost, or mishandled parcels, along with stronger protection in everyday digital transactions.

Veteran singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan issued a clarification regarding his viral comments that he does not receive royalties anymore for his music spanning decades.

Chan made the remarks during the press conference of his upcoming “Afterglow: Seasons of the Heart” concert next month, leading people to believe he no longer gets paid through royalties.

The artist later made it clear he doesn’t receive royalties from physical music formats like CDs, cassette and vinyl record sales, but still does for other royalty forms.

Universal Records Managing Director Kathleen Dy-Go echoed Chan’s explanation, noting how it highlights the growing decline of physical album sales as people are shifting to consuming music digitally.

“As physical music formats have gradually declined over the years, so have the royalties associated with those sales,” the executive continued. “His statement should not be construed to mean that he no longer receives royalties from his music altogether.”

Dy-Go assured that artists still earn royalties through digital streaming platforms, music publishing, synchronization licenses, public performances, and other authorized uses of their recordings, reiterating that physical media aren’t the primary source of music consumption now.

“The music industry has evolved significantly over the years. Today, artists have various revenue streams beyond physical album sales, including streaming services, publishing rights, licensing and other royalty collection mechanisms,” she added.

Some hits by Chan include “Beautiful Girl,” “Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile,” and “Christmas in Our Hearts,” the latter of which is no doubt repeatedly streamed on digital platforms whenever September rolls in.

Ateneo de Manila University said it respects the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (PNP-CIDG) recommendation to file anti-hazing charges against former men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others, as it assured support for students and personnel affected by the case.

In separate statements released on Friday, June 26, Ateneo spokesperson Fr. RB Hizon SJ said the university recognizes the CIDG’s work in investigating the Aurora team-building activity that resulted in the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

“We acknowledge the CIDG’s recommendation and respect the work it has undertaken in the course of its investigation,” Hizon said.

The CIDG recommended the conduct of evaluation, case build-up and preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice for alleged violations of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act against the respondents.

Aside from Baldwin, those included in the recommendation were members of the coaching staff, student managers Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud, physical therapist John Eric Quiambao Rueca, and utility/ball boys Aris Ramos Pronce and Joel Palmiano Rapa.

Ateneo said other investigations remain ongoing and that it will continue cooperating with authorities as they complete their respective inquiries.

The university added that the CIDG recommendation will undergo review by the Department of Justice.

“We are confident that the facts will be fully and fairly evaluated through the proper process,” Hizon said.

Support amid legal process

In a separate statement, Ateneo addressed concerns involving the students and staff members named in the CIDG recommendation, saying it has reached out to them and their families to provide support throughout the legal process.

“We share the concerns and anxiety that this situation has caused our students, including our student managers, Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud and utility ball boys, Aris Ramos Pronce and Joel Palmiano Rapa,” Hizon said.

The university said it recognizes the unique circumstances and needs of those affected, while ensuring that each respondent’s rights and interests are represented independently.

“The University has reached out to them and their families to offer appropriate support and accompaniment throughout the legal process, while respecting that each respondent’s rights and interests must be represented independently,” the statement read.

“Our foremost concern is the welfare of our students and staff, and the assurance that each of them receives the support, fairness, and due process they deserve,” it added.

Why hazing?

The Anti-Hazing Act was considered in the investigation after authorities said hazing is no longer limited to traditional initiation rites involving paddling, humiliation, or other forms of violence.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said the revised law defines hazing as any act that results in physical or psychological suffering, harm, or injury inflicted on a recruit, neophyte, applicant, or member, including forced calisthenics and exposure to weather.

Authorities said the Aurora team-building activity was conducted to determine the final roster of 17 athletes who would be submitted by Baldwin to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) board. Twenty athletes participated, meaning three would be eliminated.

Baterbonia was laid to rest on Wednesday in his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, while Adili’s remains were returned to his family in Nigeria.

After recent rollbacks, motorists could face an increase of more than P1 per liter at the pump next week amid waning optimism over the US-Iran peace deal.

An industry source estimated a potential price hike of up to P1.20 per liter for diesel and P1.50 per liter for gasoline on June 30.

The projections were based on the four-day average of the Mean of Platts Singapore, the pricing benchmark used for refined petroleum products across Asia-Pacific markets.

With one trading day still remaining, next week’s price adjustments could climb further or even reverse into a rollback.

Although world oil prices have eased, shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has yet to fully normalize.

‘The recent incident of a suspected attack on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz has reignited fears that the preliminary deal would not hold.’

Following the signing of an interim agreement to end the Middle East war, US and Iranian officials began negotiations aimed at reaching a final deal within 60 days.

The Cebu City Council recently approved a resolution honoring a homeless woman who was known for feeding stray animals but who was killed in a vehicular accident in Barangay Labangon earlier this month.

Those who are familiar with Cebu City’s streets may have seen an old woman always walking steadily despite her back bent with age, always dragging a trolley behind her with a sack full of cat or dog kibble to feed any stray animal she comes across.

She was Ana Garcia, 94, known by her acquaintances as ‘Nanay Ana’. And while she was homeless, she wasn’t helpless or idle; she was always up and about to carry out what she considered her work.

That ended after she was struck by a driver in Sitio Lower Bonbonan, Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, around 1:20 A.M. last June 12. She was hit by the vehicle and dragged several meters.

The driver said he mistook her for a cat; something which can be considered ironic, tragic, yet somehow fitting all at the same time.

Now the tributes are pouring in, including this resolution from Councilor Pablo Labra.

“Her life stands as a powerful reminder that compassion knows no social status and that even those with the least resources can make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of others, whether human or animal,’ part of the resolution read.

However, some netizens also said she should have been honored while she was still alive and doing her work.

Yes, they are right. We should have recognized her work while she was still alive. But we are all human and prone to mistakes, and one mistake that too many of us make too often is not valuing or recognizing those who deserve it until they are gone.

Indeed, not all heroes wear capes, or rush into burning buildings to pull people out, or make sure those involved in accidents get to the hospital immediately, or fight against the worst criminals society has to offer. Some heroes quietly walk around the city, feeding animals that have been abandoned, lost, or have never known how it feels to be taken care of.