Category: Philippine Star

Up to 200 millimeters of rain may drench Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro on Friday as the southwest monsoon keeps waterways and low-lying communities in Metro Manila, Rizal and Laguna at risk of flooding.

State weather bureau PAGASA identified several rivers and tributaries in the Marikina-Laguna de Bay basin that may be affected by continued rainfall.

Light to moderate rain fell over the basin during the 12 hours ending at 6 a.m., while light to moderate rain and thunderstorms were forecast through 6 p.m.

Waterways that may be affected include the upper and lower Marikina River, Pasig River, San Juan River, the main Laguna de Bay basin and tributaries in Metro Manila, Rizal and Laguna.

The bulletin also identified the Pagsanjan, Tanay, Morong, San Isidro, Biñan and San Juan rivers, as well as tributaries in Rodriguez, Marikina, San Mateo, Antipolo, Quezon City, Pasig, Cainta and Taytay.

Road and street flooding may occur because of accumulated rainwater, poor or clogged drainage systems and higher tide levels, PAGASA said.

People living near mountain slopes and in low-lying areas were advised to remain alert for possible flash floods.

Up to 200 mm of rain

Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro may receive 100 to 200 mm of rain on Friday due to the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA forecast 50 to 100 mm over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas and Antique.

The heavy rain may persist through the weekend.

On Saturday, 100 to 200 mm may fall over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.

Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite and Batangas may receive 50 to 100 mm.

By Sunday, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet and Zambales may still receive 100 to 200 mm. Rainfall of 50 to 100 mm may affect Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pampanga and Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA warned that rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. Flood and landslide impacts may also be worsened by rain that has already saturated the ground.

Habagat rains persist after Maymay

Maymay had weakened into a low-pressure area and was located 565 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, as of 3 a.m. Friday.

Despite Maymay’s weakening, the southwest monsoon continued to affect Central and Southern Luzon and the western portion of the Visayas.

Monsoon rain may affect Occidental Mindoro, where moderate to heavy and at times intense rainfall could trigger flash floods or landslides.

Occasional rain was forecast over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Antique.

The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas may experience scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.

Dolphin remains outside PAR

Typhoon Dolphin remained outside the Philippine area of responsibility, about 1,095 kilometers northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m.

It had maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center, gusts of up to 170 kph and was moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

Its trough may bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, with possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rain.

The rest of the country may experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, which could trigger localized flooding or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Over P773.77 million worth of flood control projects in La Union are being questioned after Typhoon Luis inundated parts of San Fernando.

In Mexico, Pampanga, two flood control projects worth P359.37 million are facing scrutiny before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Groups are urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Commission on Audit and other oversight agencies to investigate at least 19 flood control, drainage, slope protection, seawall and creek rehabilitation projects implemented between 2018 and 2025 in La Union.

Projects with the biggest allocations were awarded to several contractors, including St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp., owned by the detained Discaya couple.

Another contractor, linked to anomalous flood control projects in La Union, is Silverwolves Construction Corp., reportedly owned by Reps. Eric and Edvic Yap.

Among projects with the biggest allocations are a P144.75-million flood control structure in Barangay Pagdaraoan, a P144.6-million slope protection project from Barangay Sagayad to Sevilla and a P98.99-million slope protection project along Bato Creek.

St. Gerrard handled the Bato Creek project in 2024.

Cong-tractor?

In Pampanga, criminal and administrative charges have been filed by a barangay official against former congressman Aurelio Gonzales Jr., members of his family and four Central Luzon public works officials.

A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction and Trading Co. Inc. reportedly won contracts in 2023 for a P94.55-million flood control project in Barangay Suclaban and a P264.82-million project in Barangay Culubasa.

Due to substandard infrastructure, respondents are accused of plunder, graft and corruption, malversation and grave misconduct, among others.

Video footage in 2023 and geotagged photographs dated July 30 are attached in the complaint filed by Terence Napao, chairman of Barangay Sto. Cristo and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Mexico.

Evidence shows erosion, damaged concrete and other defects in portions of the projects that could indicate poor workmanship or the use of substandard materials, Napao alleged.

In 2023, Napao filed a complaint involving three flood control projects worth over P611 million.

Gonzales has said the ombudsman dismissed the complaint for lack of merit.

Respondents in Napao’s recent complaint are Gonzales, San Fernando Vice Mayor Brenz Gonzales, Pampanga Rep. Mica Gonzales, Michelin Gonzales, Zenaida Quiambao, former DPWH Central Luzon director Roseller Tolentino, Ignacio Evangelista, Anna Marie Tayag, Arthur Santos and unidentified John Does.

President Marcos has allowed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to delegate the authority to approve foreign travel requests of local government units officials.

Administrative Order (AO) 47, signed on July 30 by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by the authority of Marcos, aims to expedite the processing of travel applications.

AO 47 amended AO 267, which delegated the President’s authority to approve travel requests to the DILG chief.

The new order permits Remulla to pass on the authority to his designated representatives, to facilitate faster processing.

‘Considering the volume of travel requests and the increasing demands of regional coordination, there is a need to refine the approval processes, to ensure responsiveness amid contemporary government realities,’ AO 47 read.

In a message to The STAR, Remulla said local officials can go directly to the offices of DILG regional and provincial directors for the approval of their travel requests.

The Local Government Code mandates local government officials traveling abroad to secure permission from the Office of the President if the period of travel is more than three months, if it falls during periods of emergency or crisis, or when the travel involves the use of public funds.

Smuggled cigarettes valued at P15 million were seized during a police operation in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental on Wednesday.

The contraband was found in a truck that arrived on board a roll-on roll-off vessel at a port in Barangay Looc.

Negros Island Region police director Brig. Gen. Roman Cardiño said three men – identified as Jear Masayon, Joanie Meria and Alfad Asari – were arrested during the operation.

The suspects are residents of Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, from where the contraband reportedly originated.

Cardiño said the suspects failed to show documents for the transport of the cigarettes, which were concealed under boxes of dried fish.

Among the items found in the truck were 263 master cases of cigarettes bearing the brands Walter Premium and Busqu.

The packs of cigarettes reportedly bore no graphic health warnings.

The hardships of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is a sustained issue even in elite nations like Switzerland as depicted in Dominik Locher’s “Enjoy Your Stay.”

Mercedes Cabral plays Luz, a migrant worker who with other undocumented Filipinas cleans luxury chalets in the Swiss mountain village of Verbier, earning meager salaries while avoiding the attention of authorities at the risk of deportment.

Luz is one of the more senior Filipino workers for the cleaning company of Alexis Manenti’s Thibault, and any money she earns goes back home to her daughter currently under the care of ex-husband Tonio (Nico Antonio).

Issues arise when Tonio brings the family’s custody battle to live television where their child must choose which parent to live with when she turns seven in a matter of months, and the hapless Luz hasn’t been home in years trying to find jobs outside the Philippines.

Pressed for time, Luz tries to recruit more cleaners and find more ways to earn cash, pushing her moral boundaries to its limits.

OFW stories are familiar source materials for local movies, popular examples being “Anak,” “Milan,” “Dubai,” “Sunday Beauty Queen,” “Caregiver,” “Hello, Love, Goodbye” and its record-breaking sequel.

But screenwriter Honeylyn Joy Alipio put it best during the Philippine premiere of “Enjoy Your Stay” to open this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, that as long as Filipinos need to resort to working abroad, such stories continue needing to be told.

Switzerland is viewed by many to be a first-class country with an exceptionally high cost of living and yet major cities in the famously neutral nation are populated with Filipinos, some of them undocumented immigrants or TNTs (“tago nang tago”).

The film, which premiered at Berlinale 2026, isn’t coy about this culture. Luz and her companions have their passports stored away, live in close quarters, dodge any sightings by polices, and are even asked by Thibault to as much as possible “use the back door.”

Juxtaposed with that by cinematographer Jeanne Lapoire are shots of extravagant Verbier chalets, the stunning Swiss Alps, and Europeans mindlessly preparing for another downhill ski – all while Filipino workers tidy up the messes they leave behind.

“Enjoy Your Stay” does dangle the threat of being caught as plot thrills but Swiss authorities hardly pay attention to the helpers, almost as if aware that without them, literal and figurative expensive structures would fall apart.

All of this hinges on Mercedes’ exceptional performance as Luz, capable of expressing professionalism while doing the mundane as well as vulnerability when her personal life is at stake.

Early on it’s subtly hinted that Luz would err on the side of caution even it meant going against fellow Filipinas, because upending the status quo would through away everything all have worked for.

Mercedes pushes the boundaries of Luz’s moral foundations to the edge, often dragging the involvement of her companions, played by Anna Luna, Irma Adlawan, Donna Cariaga, Hasmine Kilip and Ruby Ruiz, in a cameo appearance.

For struggling migrant workers, money often comes first. Literal cash even makes the film’s first few clips set during Christmastime, a period considered by Filipinos to be sacred and ideally devoted to family.

But from thousands of miles away, the lengths OFWs would go to sustain their families can be agonizing to witness, even in places as beautiful as the Alps.

As residents and tourists enjoy their stays in high-class spaces, it’s the low-income workers from far-flung areas burdened to pick up the pieces.

The government’s eGovPH superapp requires at least P2.7 billion next year for crucial upgrades on cloud and cybersecurity, ensuring the platform can handle the surge of transaction volumes.

Information Secretary Henry Aguda yesterday said his agency is seeking P2.7 billion to fund the technical upgrade of eGovPH, with the app attracting tens of millions of downloads.

In particular, the amount will make up 15 percent of the P18-billion budget request of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2027.

Aguda said the funding would be used to expand the cloud hosting of eGovPH. Likewise, it will finance cybersecurity upgrades to protect it from bad actors, especially as it is attracting attention for its growing user base.

To date, eGovPH has logged around 61 million downloads, showing promise as a one-stop shop for everyday transactions of Filipinos. Users can access the platform to store digital IDs, send job applications, request medical assistance, among others.

Aguda said eGovPH has completed more than 900 million transactions through its reach of over 1,300 services in one place.

Given this, Aguda hopes the DICT would face little to no challenge from lawmakers in passing the proposed budget for eGovPH.

‘We are ready for the congressional deliberations, and we don’t expect any trouble in getting this budget executed next year,’ Aguda said.

After building up eGovPH, the DICT is looking to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) layer for government documentation. The eGovAI will automate document processing for state agencies, minimizing red tape and speeding up approval systems.

The DICT is pulling all the stops to attain its mandate from President Marcos to reach universal connectivity before the end of his term in 2028. The DICT is also working with private partners in trying to cut internet costs by up to 80 percent.

Last week, Aguda said the country’s largest connectivity players PLDT Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. are drawing up a $500-million plan to connect all islands through a subsea cable.

The proposed underwater cable aims to bring fiber-grade internet even to the farthest islands, as only half of Filipinos have broadband access as of 2024.

Christel Fuentespina ensured the Philippines will have a homegrown contender to cheer for this weekend after advancing to the quarterfinals of the girls’ under-19 singles in the inaugural Philippine Junior International Series, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, with a 21-10, 17-21, 21-10 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Ning Tu yesterday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

The national junior team standout recovered from a second-set setback to regain control in the decider, completing her Round of 16 triumph in just over 44 minutes.

Fuentespina will next face top-seeded Indian Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye, who defeated Ma. Nicole Notorio, 21-14, 21-14.

Joining her in the quarterfinals is fellow national junior team member Eve Bejasa, who defeated Canada’s Althia Bedi, 21-16, 21-18.

The victory served as a strong response for the young Cebuana after she and Roaquine Ramos were eliminated from the mixed under-19 doubles earlier in the day, falling to Malaysians Yusuf M. Iqbal and Hwee Ling Leong, 10-21, 17-21.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is proposing to require banks, digital lenders and other regulated financial institutions to connect their customer verification systems to the government’s National ID database.

Under a draft memorandum, nearly all BSP-supervised institutions (BSI) would have to onboard with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)’s National ID Authentication Services (NIDAS) for customer due diligence, including account opening and identity verification.

The proposal is intended to expand the use of the National ID as the country’s ‘primary and official proof of identity,’ subject to proper authentication, while strengthening know-your-customer procedures across the financial system.

‘NIDAS enables BSIs to adopt risk-appropriate NIDAS Online Authentication Tiers and leverage biometric and demographic verification capabilities to support secure, efficient and reliable digital customer identification and verification,’ the BSP said.

Under the proposed phased rollout, universal and commercial banks with retail banking services, digital banks, electronic money issuers and virtual asset service providers will be required to submit their complete NIDAS applications within three months from the memorandum’s issuance.

All other universal and commercial banks, thrift banks, rural and cooperative banks, covered payment system operators and other remaining BSIs would have six months to comply.

An institution will initially be considered compliant once it has submitted a complete application and all documentary or regulatory onboarding requirements to the PSA.

Financial institutions registered with the BSP after the memorandum takes effect will need to comply within the corresponding three-month or six-month period, counted from their registration date.

Institutions seeking to move from the first phase to the second phase will need the approval of the relevant BSP supervising sector.

The BSP clarified that the requirement would not prevent financial institutions from accepting other valid identification documents or using alternative verification methods, particularly when customers do not present a National ID or when NIDAS is unavailable.

Once customer due diligence is completed through NIDAS, the resulting authentication confirmation may satisfy identification submission requirements for first-time customers, removing the need to present a physical or printed National ID.

Financial institutions may retain these confirmation records, subject to data privacy and information security rules.

They would also have to maintain adequate governance arrangements, anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing controls, cybersecurity safeguards, data protection measures and customer consent mechanisms.

The BSP said the proposed integration would support financial inclusion and digitalization while helping protect the integrity of the financial system.

The central bank will monitor institutions’ application and onboarding status through the PSA. It may impose appropriate supervisory enforcement measures against institutions that fail to comply or take corrective action within the required period.

Sen. Ping Lacson urged authorities to investigate who may be behind the four former bodyguards of Zaldy Co, saying their conflicting accounts and later recantations have further muddied allegations of cash deliveries linked to the flood control scandal.

Four men who claimed to be part of Co’s former security detail had told GMA News that allegations they previously made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House speaker Martin Romualdez and other politicians were false.

In a statement Friday, August 7, Lacson said authorities should determine whether anyone orchestrated the reversals and hold those responsible accountable.

“Those behind the chaos and confusion they created should also be pursued and held accountable under the law. I hope the authorities will track them and make them answerable as well,” Lacson said, speaking in both English and Filipino.

Lacson also questioned whether the four were among the witnesses who had given individual sworn statements to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“With their numerous flip-flopping statements in different forums and venues, we no longer know which of their claims are true and which are not, or who among them is telling the truth.,” Lacson said.

Four withdraw earlier claims

The four men told GMA News that their earlier claims of delivering cash-filled suitcases to politicians were untrue.

They alleged that they had been promised two years of financial assistance in exchange for giving false testimony and claimed they did not personally prepare the affidavits containing the allegations.

Among those earlier implicated was Sen. Erwin Tulfo, whom some of the former bodyguards had accused of receiving two suitcases containing cash.

Tulfo has repeatedly denied the allegations and filed defamation complaints against several of the men and their lawyer, Levi Baligod.

Following the recantations, Tulfo said he had expected some of the witnesses to eventually withdraw their statements.

“Perhaps they felt racked by their conscience… because if what they were saying were really true, perhaps they would not be facing so many complaints,” Tulfo said in Filipino.

Romualdez tagged

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, accused Romualdez’s camp of being behind the recantations, although he did not publicly present evidence for the claim.

“The camp of the accused… The camp of former Speaker Romualdez, his lawyers, his strategists, his advisers, ‘yung mga tumutulong sa kanya,” Remulla said Friday when asked who he believed was behind the reversals.

Romualdez denied the accusation and accused the Ombudsman of prejudging him.

“The Ombudsman’s accusations that I am behind the recantations of the former Marines is absolutely not true. This shows how extremely prejudiced he is against me,” Romualdez said.

The conflicting statements come as the Ombudsman conducts a preliminary investigation into complaints against Romualdez, Co and other respondents over alleged flood control corruption.

The Ombudsman has ordered Romualdez and his co-respondents to submit counter-affidavits. The proceedings remain at the preliminary investigation stage and no finding of criminal liability has been made.

The sold-out BINI concert at SM Seaside Cebu Arena marked another milestone in Cebu’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class live entertainment, drawing thousands of fans from across the Visayas and beyond.

The successful staging of the highly anticipated show showcased the venue’s capability to host large-scale productions while reinforcing Cebu’s emergence as a thriving regional entertainment hub.

Complementing this, the continued success of events at SM Seaside Cebu Arena is creating new opportunities for tourism, local businesses, and future large-scale events, further strengthening Cebu’s position as one of the country’s leading destinations for premier live entertainment.

The successful event highlighted the growing confidence of artists, promoters, and production companies in bringing major concerts to Cebu.

Beyond delivering an unforgettable experience for fans, the concert generated economic activity across the tourism, hospitality, retail, transportation, and food sectors, creating new opportunities for local businesses and showcasing the region’s capability to support productions of international standards.

Located beside one of SM Supermalls’ most-loved malls, SM Seaside Cebu Arena once again proved to be more than just a concert venue.

Concertgoers were able to max out experiences by enjoying shopping, dining, and leisure at SM Seaside City Cebu before and after the show, demonstrating how the integrated destination enhances every visit while contributing to the city’s growing appeal as a lifestyle and entertainment center.

The overwhelming response to the Bini concert further affirmed Cebu’s growing role in the country’s live entertainment scene. As more artists and organizers include the city in their concert tours, Cebu is attracting greater investments, increasing visitor arrivals, generating employment, and strengthening its creative and tourism industries.

These developments position the city as a key entertainment gateway for the Visayas and Mindanao.

Through SM Seaside Cebu Arena, SM remains true to its promise of bringing world-class entertainment closer to Filipino communities while helping drive regional growth.

By continuously developing destinations that blend retail, leisure, and live entertainment, SM Supermalls is creating more opportunities for people to connect, celebrate and max out experiences, while contributing to Cebu’s continued rise as one of the country’s premier entertainment destinations.