Category: Philippine Star

No water crisis is expected amid the threat of El Niño even as the water level of Angat Dam remains below its normal high level, a study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute-Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or RI-NOAH showed.

‘Current evidence does not indicate an imminent domestic water supply crisis for Metro Manila, although irrigation and hydroelectric power generation may experience greater operational constraints, if dry conditions persist,’ the report of UP RI-NOAH stated, which was shared by UP Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, Angat’s water level was at 158.13 meters, or 51.87 meters below its normal high water level of 210 meters.

Among the key findings of the UP RI-NOAH is that the Angat Reservoir reached one of its lowest dry-season water levels during 2025-2026, which is comparable to the 2018-2019 drought.

The report noted that the La Mesa Reservoir remained within its historical operating range, unlike during the 2018-2019 Metro Manila water supply crisis.

‘UP RI-NOAH has been monitoring the water levels of Angat Dam and La Mesa Dam for about 10 years, providing a sufficient record to prepare a report presenting our assessment of the current El Niño and its likely impacts on Metro Manila’s domestic water supply,’ Lagmay said on social media.

The study said that the strongest El Niño, which was in 2015-2016, did not produce the most severe water supply impacts, indicating that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation or ENSO intensity alone is not a reliable predictor of municipal water security.

‘For now, Metro Manila’s domestic supply appears stable. Persistently low storage at Angat could nevertheless narrow the room available for other uses, particularly irrigation in Central Luzon and hydropower generation, if rainfall remains below normal. This assessment falls near the upcoming seasonal turn from the dry months to the southwest monsoon,’ the UP RI-NOAH report said.

It noted that monitoring remains important because a strong El Niño later this year could limit recharge and reduce the water carried into the next dry season.

Expect another massive crowd as Filipina tennis star Alex Eala clashes with fellow giant-slayer Caty McNally of the United States in the third round of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open.

The match is set at 8:10 a.m. today (Saturday, August 8 Philippine time) at the Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Canada.

Eala, fresh from making history as the first Filipina to win a WTA title at the Mubadala DC Open last week, ousted American Alycia Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to punch a ticket to the Round of 32.

The 21-year-old Eala, ranked No.20 in the world, received a first-round bye as the 25th seed in the tournament.

On the other hand, the world No.70 McNally advanced after knocking out reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/5), 6-1

The Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police (IAS-PNP) has started summary dismissal proceedings against the two policemen arrested in Caloocan on Thursday for allegedly selling loose firearms.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said a thorough background check on S/Sgt. Nino Paguirigan and M/Sgt. Arjay Terrado is also being conducted to determine if they are involved in other illegal activities.

‘Our internal cleansing program will continue without fear or favor, and we will hold every erring police officer fully accountable. In this particular case, we are checking if these arrested personnel are part of a larger criminal group,’ Nartatez said in a statement.

The policemen, who are assigned with the Caloocan police station, were arrested in a sting in Barangay 5 at 5:30 a.m., after a civilian posed as a buyer of loose firearms. One of the officers was in uniform during the arrest.

The suspects were caught with a .38-caliber handgun, a 9mm handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun.

They were charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

IAS inspector general Brigido Dulay said Paguirigan and Terrado face dismissal for moonlighting as gunrunners, a grave offense based on PNP regulations.

‘When a police officer sells his service firearm, he does not merely violate a regulation. He arms the very threat he swore to protect the public from,’ Dulay said in a statement.

Nartatez vowed to dismiss the police officers from service for tainting the reputation of the police force.

‘There is no place in the PNP for personnel who abuse their authority or violate the law. If you choose to engage in criminal acts, you will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted,’ he said.

The tennis world is still getting used to having consistently loud capacity crowds thronging venues for Mubadala DC Open champion Alex Eala. They’ve never experienced a player who brings the home court with her. The socio-economic impact is not only palpable, it is substantial. Schedules are changed, tickets sell out like concert, menu items like adobo added, and yet, somehow, everybody wins.

The Filipino diaspora started after the first two world wars, when American soldiers would come home to wives who had been working in factories, running businesses and being bosses. They didn’t want to go back to being homemakers, nurses or secretaries. The solution lay thousands of miles away. Filipinos saw an opportunity, first in America, which opened their eyes to the rest of the world. Then came Martial Law and the political upheaval of the mid-1980’s, which spurred even bigger waves of migration. It has since ebbed and flowed, but never waned. To date there are anywhere from 10 million to 30 million legal and illegal Filipinos overseas.

One other thing changed. Succeeding generations of Filipinos had access to more money than before. They were getting compensated for work that could not earn them anywhere near that much back home, in dollars, Euro and other currencies more powerful than the Philippine peso. But there was one thing missing. What Filipino thing was there to spend their money on? In 2005, Manny Pacquiao came along when the economy was low and desperation high. He gave the country a hero, every so often lifting spirits and lowering crime in the country and abroad.

This is the distinct advantage of tennis. You can play every day. And as we have seen, pros play weekly in the WTA. Filipinos, who have been weaned from their impatience by football’s Azkals and rugby’s Volcanoes, now have a rallying point. It is a weekly event, like Sundays at Lola’s. They can take the day off, make a week of it, even. For many, the only challenge is getting permission to take off from work.

Significantly, Filipinos are very visible when they watch sporting events. We’re loud, raised on basketball and boxing. We’ve even learned to cheer during billiards matches (sharking). We buy the merchandise, the food, and bring flags. Now, every Alex Eala match is a party, like the Brazilians invaded tennis. Nobody is used to it. The staid, stiff tradition of obedient silence during serves and points is being challenged and strained, everywhere.

There is no written rule against cheering. It’s tradition that was imposed on other classes by the Europeans, like wearing all white, which Andre Agassi and his cohorts forced to change with their electric, luminous colors. Maybe it’s time to change that tradition, too. In fact, we already see it in how raucously they introduce the young Filipina every time, as if it were the walk-on to a boxing world title fight. In a way, we can say that they started it.

At the end of the day, as Eala continues to succeed, we will wear down the stiff upper-lipped traditionalists who try to quiet us down. We are not just fans, we are an economic force that tennis has never seen, and wants to harness. Let the other players complain. Let the officials reprimand. They will tire, and we will win that point, too. We have the numbers to force change. And we’re not going anywhere, because we’re already everywhere. You can’t shush Pinoy pride.

Rianne Malixi’s bid for a second US Women’s Amateur crown ended in heartbreaking fashion Friday (Saturday Manila time) as China’s Yujie Liu held her nerve on the extra hole to eliminate the Filipina ace and advance to the Last 16 of the prestigious championship at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Malixi appeared headed for another stirring comeback after erasing a two-hole deficit late in their Round-of-32 match, but Liu kept her composure when it mattered most, making a gutsy par on the 19th hole to deny the former champion.

The two returned to the par-4 No. 1 for the playoff after Malixi forced the match to extra holes by matching Liu’s par with a clutch chip for a four-foot par putt on No. 18.

Both players had previously parred the opening hole, but Liu produced another steady finish in the playoff, while Malixi failed to get up-and-down, allowing the 26th-seeded Chinese to escape with the victory and a place in the third round.

It was a particularly tough setback for Malixi, who had fought her way into the match-play stage by barely making the cut in the stroke-play elims at No. 58. She then announced her presence in emphatic fashion by routing seventh-seeded Jasmine Koo, 6and5, in the opening round of head-to-head play.

Against Liu, however, Malixi was forced to chase from the outset.

The Chinese won holes No. 4 and 5 to seize an early advantage, but Malixi quickly settled down and answered with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to pull the match back to all square.

Liu refused to buckle.

She reclaimed the lead on the eighth hole despite making bogey, taking advantage of Malixi’s costly double bogey on the par-3. Liu then moved two holes ahead again with a par on No. 10 after Malixi dropped another shot with a double bogey.

Malixi continued to fight, though, producing a birdie on No. 13 to cut into the deficit. Liu responded immediately with a clutch birdie of her own on the par-3 14th to restore her two-hole cushion.

The match then turned into a tense exchange down the stretch.

After the two traded birdies on No. 15, Malixi finally made her move, winning the 16th with a par before birdieing the par-5 next to pull level for the first time since the early stages of the match.

With momentum firmly on her side, Malixi reached the 18th needing another solid finish to complete the comeback. Liu matched her with par, but Malixi’s clutch chip set up the par-saving effort that sent the match into an extra hole.

The drama continued on the return to No. 1, where Liu delivered the decisive blow with another composed par.

Malixi’s failure to convert her up-and-down opportunity ended a spirited fightback and sent her out of the championship, while Liu advanced to a Last 16 meeting with No. 23 seed Bailey Shoemaker.

Shoemaker also produced an upset Friday, edging 10th-seeded Korean Soomin Oh, 1-up.

Top seed Anna Iwanaga of Japan likewise survived a close contest, defeating Natalie Blonien, 1-up, to set up a Last 16 clash with Canada’s Michelle Xing, who held off Molly Smith, 2and1.

For Malixi, the defeat brings an end to another run at the championship she conquered in 2024, when the Duke University freshman capped a remarkable season by winning the US Women’s Amateur and earlier capturing the US Girls’ Junior title.

Her latest campaign ends earlier than she had hoped, but not without another display of the resilience and fighting spirit that have marked her rise on the international amateur golf stage.

This time, though, Liu had the final answer.

Inflation is expected to remain elevated in the coming months despite easing for a third straight month in July, keeping pressure on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to further raise interest rates, economists said.

Nomura economists Euben Paracuelles and Nabila Amani said the latest inflation reading is unlikely to change the BSP’s tightening stance, although it supports a gradual approach to further rate increases.

‘We reiterate our forecast for BSP to hike by another 50 basis points this year, delivered in 25-basis-point clips over each of the next two meetings, August and October,’ they said in a report.

Nomura said the central bank would likely remain concerned about underlying price pressures and upside risks arising from volatile crude oil prices, higher-than-expected wage increases and the prospect of a strong El Niño.

Headline inflation eased to 6.2 percent in July from 6.4 percent in June, marking the third consecutive month of slower price increases after inflation peaked at 7.2 percent in April.

The July print brought the seven-month average to five percent, still above the BSP’s two to four percent target range.

While Nomura believes headline inflation has already peaked, it said underlying price pressures could continue to rise as the effects of earlier energy price increases spread to other goods and services.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, slowed to 4.2 percent in July from 4.4 percent in June. However, Nomura said the decline was largely driven by lower education fees, which could prove temporary.

Other components sensitive to energy costs, including food services, recreation and accommodation, continued to record faster price increases.

BPI lead economist Jun Neri said inflation would likely stay elevated for the rest of 2026, with a gradual moderation possible only in the first half of next year.

The outlook remains vulnerable to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could keep global energy prices high, as well as adverse weather conditions that could disrupt agricultural production and food supply chains.

Rice prices are particularly exposed to El Niño, while recent wage increases could generate second-round effects if companies pass higher labor costs on to consumers.

External developments could also prolong the BSP’s tightening cycle, according to Neri. He said a potential rate increase by the US Federal Reserve could weaken the peso and add to imported inflation, prompting the BSP to respond with another rate hike.

Chinabank Research, meanwhile, offered a less hawkish view, saying the BSP could end its rate-hiking cycle after another adjustment this month.

Chinabank chief economist Domini Velasquez said it was still premature to conclude that inflation was on a sustained downward trend, with price growth expected to accelerate again in the fourth quarter due partly to base effects.

‘Despite this extended rebound, we believe the BSP is likely to end its rate-hiking cycle this month, as second-round inflation effects appear to have largely run their course,’ she said.

However, Velasquez warned that higher-than-expected minimum wage adjustments and increases in public transport fares could prolong inflationary pressures.

Transport inflation eased to 11.9 percent from 12.8 percent, but renewed tensions between the United States and Iran increased oil price volatility. Pending petitions from transport groups seeking jeepney fare increases of P2 to P10 also pose upside risks.

Electricity inflation accelerated to a three-year high of 16.9 percent. Chinabank said power bills could face additional pressure from a higher feed-in tariff allowance, possible supply constraints during a prolonged El Niño and the recent increase in liquefied petroleum gas prices.

Food inflation was steady at 5.3 percent. Rice inflation climbed to a two-year high of 17.1 percent due to unfavorable base effects, even as rice prices declined on a month-on-month basis.

The increase was offset by a sharper decline in meat prices and slower inflation for vegetables. Still, Chinabank said rice would remain a key risk because of its large weight in the consumer price basket and its vulnerability to weather-related supply disruptions.

The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) on Thursday reopened the Foodland flyover to motorcycles following mounting complaints from motorists and commuters over heavy traffic during the first day of strict enforcement of the Banilad-Talamban (Ban-Tal) Discipline Zone.

The decision came a day after the city fully implemented the new traffic scheme, which drew criticism from motorists who blamed it for worsening congestion along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue.

CCTO chief Raquel Arce said reopening the flyover for motorcycles is part of the agency’s continuing adjustments as it evaluates the implementation of Oplan Ban-Tal.

‘Nadungog nato ang clamor sa publiko. Ikaduha, we are on the process nga mu-succeed ning Oplan Discipline Zone, so naa tay mga pwedeng usbon, naa tay pwedeng dili usbon, i-strict na siya until we finalize everything,’ Arce said.

Arce said that motorcycles must still use the outermost lane. While riders are now allowed to pass through the flyover, they are required to return to the rightmost lane immediately after descending, and overtaking on the flyover remains strictly prohibited.

The CCTO also reminded motorists to stay within their designated lanes, obey traffic signs, follow the instructions of traffic enforcers, and observe safe driving speeds.

Arce emphasized that reopening the flyover should not be viewed as a failure of the new traffic scheme but as a necessary adjustment to improve its implementation.

‘Mobasa ug mo-execute lang kon unsa’y naa sa signage. Kun ‘No Entry,’ ‘No Entry.’ Kun walay ‘No Entry,’ pwede ra kasulod. I-observe ug i-respeto lang nato kon unsa ang naa nga traffic laws ug enforcers,’ she said.

On the first day of full enforcement on August 5, CCTO personnel issued 115 citation tickets within the Discipline Zone, which covers the stretch from Mambaling to Talamban.

Among the recorded violations were motorcycles crossing solid lane markings, public utility vehicles (PUVs) loading and unloading outside designated lay-bys, and pedestrians jaywalking despite the presence of skywalks and marked crosswalks.

Arce said she did not have the exact number of violations committed on the Foodland flyover but noted that traffic enforcers had apprehended and warned several motorists there.

The Ban-Tal Discipline Zone is Cebu City’s second major traffic management initiative following the pilot implementation of motorcycle lanes at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Mayor Nestor Archival has described the program as part of the city’s broader traffic modernization efforts, which include the installation of artificial intelligence-enabled traffic cameras, stricter enforcement of anti-drunk driving laws, and intensified traffic education campaigns at the community level.

The Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue corridor has long been one of Cebu City’s most congested and accident-prone roads, particularly for motorcycle riders, who account for a significant share of daily traffic violations.

City officials said they will continue monitoring the Ban-Tal Discipline Zone and make further adjustments as needed in an effort to improve traffic flow and road safety along one of Cebu City’s busiest corridors

The battle for the women’s professional crown at the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld on Sunday in Cebu City is shaping up to be every bit as compelling as the stellar men’s race, with Olympian Natalie Van Coevorden spearheading a formidable Australian challenge in what promises to be one of the deepest elite fields in the event’s history.

From decorated Olympians and established IRONMAN campaigners to rising young stars eager for a breakthrough, the women’s competition features an impressive blend of experience, speed and endurance. But with every contender eyeing the coveted title over the grueling 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run, only the athlete capable of mastering Lapu-Lapu’s demanding championship course will emerge victorious.

Van Coevorden headlines the stellar cast. Ranked No. 1 in Oceania and No. 24 in the World Triathlon Series, the 33-year-old from Campbelltown, New South Wales brings elite credentials that include a stint at the Paris Olympic Games. And she is no stranger to Philippine racing either.

Malaysia and the Philippines continue to enjoy strong and expanding economic relations. Last year, according to the Embassy of Malaysia, total bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately $8.32 billion, reaffirming the Philippines as one of Malaysia’s important trading partners in ASEAN.

Malaysia’s major exports to the Philippines are electrical and electronic products, petroleum and palm-oil and palm-oil based products. The Philippines, in turn, exports to Malaysia semiconductors, electrical and electronic products, as well as agricultural and machinery products.

The 2025 bilateral trade figure was about the same level recorded in 2024 at $8.325 billion. Malaysia is the Philippines ninth largest trading partner and its eight largest source of approved foreign investments.

Malaysia has been consistent in promoting trade with us, and just this Wednesday, the Embassy of Malaysia hosted an investment briefing for the Malaysia Digital Economy Corp. (MDEC) in conjunction with DEX Connex 2026, bringing together senior representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Malaysian technology companies, government agencies and industry stakeholders to explore strategic investment opportunities within the Philippines’ rapidly growing digital economy.

The program highlighted the investment potential of the Luzon Economic Corridor and BCDA’s flagship economic zones, particularly Clark and New Clark City, while showcasing opportunities for Malaysian technology companies to establish a long-term presence in the Philippines through innovation, digital transformation and strategic partnerships.

The event featured presentations by BCDA and BDB Law on the Philippine investment landscape, available fiscal incentives and business establishment opportunities, followed by a networking session and a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Safe Truck and IoT Philippines.

The event was graced by Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, ambassador of Malaysia, and Attorney Gisela Kalalo, executive vice president of BCDA, underscoring the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in digital innovation and investment.

In her remarks, Attorney Kalalo welcomed the Malaysian delegation and reaffirmed BCDA’s commitment to fostering partnerships with innovative Malaysian companies seeking to establish a presence in the Philippines.

Ambassador Abdul Malik, in response, emphasized that the digital economy has become one of the defining pillars of ASEAN’s future growth and competitiveness which offers unprecedented opportunities for Malaysia and the Philippines to strengthen collaboration in emerging technologies, innovation and digital investment.

According to the Malaysian envoy, ‘Malaysia does not view the Philippines simply as another export market. We see the Philippines as a strategic partner in building ASEAN’s digital future. By combining Malaysia’s technological capabilities with the Philippines’ dynamic market, highly skilled workforce and ambitious digital transformation agenda, we can create partnerships that generate lasting economic value, strengthen regional competitiveness and contribute toward a more resilient and digitally connected ASEAN.’

He noted that the Philippines has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising digital economies, driven by a young and digitally connected population, a globally competitive English-speaking workforce and strong government support for digitalization. He also highlighted that initiatives such as the LEC represent a new generation of economic development that integrates world-class logistics, smart infrastructure, innovation districts and digital connectivity, creating attractive platforms for technology-driven investments.

The Malaysian delegation, spearheaded by MDEC, included representatives from leading Malaysian technology companies IDmeta Sdn. Bhd., WAHDAH Technologies Sdn. Bhd., Snappymob Sdn. Bhd., Theta Service Partner Sdn. Bhd., Eco Community Sdn. Bhd. and Safe Truck.

The companies represent a diverse range of expertise, including digital identity, software engineering, cybersecurity, enterprise digitalization, smart mobility, sustainability technologies and digital platforms, reflecting Malaysia’s growing capabilities as one of ASEAN’s leading digital economies.

Malaysia remains committed to supporting the internationalization of Malaysian companies and strengthening economic diplomacy with the Philippines.

Through close collaboration with MDEC, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. and Philippine partners, Malaysia continues to facilitate business engagements that lead to deeper bilateral economic ties, increased digital investment and enhanced cooperation in emerging technology sectors.

The investment briefing is part of Malaysia’s continuing effort to strengthen Malaysia-Philippines economic relations and reinforces both countries’ shared aspiration to build a more innovative, digitally connected and resilient ASEAN. By fostering closer collaboration between governments, industry and technology innovators, the initiative is expected to create new opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange and sustainable economic growth in both countries.

Last year, the Philippines and Malaysia signed an MOU between the Philippine Guarantee Corp. (PHILGUARANTEE) and the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries that laid the groundwork for more small and medium Malaysian businesses to do business in the Philippines in the export sector, housing and real estate, infrastructure and even in the financial and renewable energy sectors.

By tapping PHILGUARANTEE, a government-owned corporation under the Department of Finance that extends credit guarantees to businesses, Malaysian companies were allowed to access local financing and reduce their investment risks. Filipino companies that do business in Malaysia can tap the Credit Guarantee Corp. Malaysia Berhad.

Among the Malaysian companies that have invested and already do business in the Philippines are Malaysia’s biggest conglomerate, Berjaya Corp. BHD and Malaysian banks Maybank and CIMB.

Berjaya has been in the Philippines for more than 20 years with a total investment of more than P10 billion. It has investments in hotels, sanitary landfill and in the lottery business – specifically supplying the technology for lottery operations.

The Berjaya Group, through its hotel chain Berjaya Hotels and Resorts, owns and operates the Berjaya Makati Hotel along Makati Avenue. It also invested more than P1 billion in the Floridablanca Enviro Corp. sanitary landfill in Pampanga, and had indicated that it would invest in putting up sanitary landfills.

Berjaya also has an investment in Pinoy Lotto Technology Corp. which provides technical support to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Corp. or PCSO’s lotto operations.

Bureau of Customs officials and personnel caught stealing confiscated cigarettes will be dealt with under the BOC’s one-strike policy.

Erring personnel will be relieved from service and face administrative, civil and criminal proceedings, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.

Seized cigarettes cannot be transferred, relocated or disposed of without his prior written approval.

Nepomuceno received reports of attempts to steal seized goods in the BOC’s custody.

He directed the Internal Administration Group to submit recommendations to safeguard confiscated illicit cigarettes in all ports.

‘Every confiscated cigarette… is part of the evidence in our continuing campaign to protect the government’s revenue and the public. We will not allow anyone to steal these items while these are in the government’s custody,’ Nepomuceno said