Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The onslaught of monsoon rains and persistently high oil prices likely kept Philippine inflation above the central bank’s target in August, reinforcing the need for policymakers to maintain a hawkish stance as they seek to rein in price hikes.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas estimated on Friday that inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, likely ranged from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent this month.

The upper end of the range would mark an acceleration from the 6.2 percent inflation rate in July, while the lower end would suggest that price gains continued to ease for the fourth straight month.

The Philippine Statistics Authority is scheduled to release the official August figures on Sept. 4.

‘Upward price pressures for the month are likely to be driven by higher rice, vegetable, fruit, and fish prices, partly due to unfavorable weather conditions, and elevated domestic fuel costs,’ the BSP said.

Those pressures are expected to be partly offset by lower meat prices, electricity rates and the peso’s appreciation, the central bank said.

It added that it would remain vigilant against emerging risks and calibrate its response based on incoming data.

‘It will continue to assess the impact of latest developments in the Middle East and recent weather disturbances on the country’s inflation and economic outlook,’ the central bank continued.

As widely expected, the BSP delivered another quarter-point rate hike at its Aug. 27 policy meeting, raising the key rate to 5 percent.

The move brought the cumulative increases since the start of the tightening cycle in April to 75 basis points, with the BSP calling the latest monetary action a ‘preemptive’ response to looming risks from a severe El Niño episode and potential wage increases.

Looking ahead, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said policymakers were ‘hoping that we won’t need another rate hike,’ though he noted that the central bank is nevertheless prepared to ‘tighten as much as we need to bring the inflation rate down to its target.’

The BSP now expects inflation to average 6.1 percent this year-down from the prior estimate of 6.4 percent-though the 2027 outlook was sharply raised to 5.4 percent from 4.5 percent.

‘We think BSP’s tone has remained decisively hawkish, in line with our expectation,’ economists at Nomura Global Markets Research said. ‘We maintain our forecast that BSP will hike by another 25 basis points to 5.25 percent at its next monetary board meeting in October.’

For economists at Citi, the BSP may opt for a ‘hawkish hold’ in October, before delivering another quarter-point rate hike in December.

‘An October hike is possible if August and September inflation readings do surprise significantly to the upside,’ they added.

Bullying incidents in Baguio public schools, including violent episodes recorded and circulated on social media, have raised concern as the Department of Education (DepEd) works to address eight reported cases since June.

Four of the incidents were violent episodes recorded on video and shared online, according to Jerry Ymson, focal person of the DepEd Baguio Learners’ Rights and Protection Office.

One video showed teenage boys assaulting another boy as bystanders laughed. Schools have appealed to the public to stop sharing the videos, which involve minors.

The eight cases are part of 20 bullying incidents documented by the Baguio City Schools Division from June 2024 to March 2026, Ymson said.

The latest case involving students of Pinget National High School is still being validated under DepEd Order No. 006, series of 2026, which sets procedures and sanctions for learner protection cases.

Probe under way

Ymson said the incident could be classified as Level 3, the most serious category, because it involved physical assault. However, he stressed that the school must complete its investigation and observe due process before imposing sanctions.

‘We have to wait for the school to finish its investigation before we can move forward,’ Ymson said.

A Level 3 case could warrant exclusion from school, but the authority to impose such a sanction rests with the DepEd secretary.

The students could also face criminal charges under Baguio’s antibullying ordinance if the victim’s parents pursue a case.

According to Ymson, the incidents also exposed the shortage of guidance personnel in Baguio public schools.

The city schools division oversees 45 elementary and 22 junior and senior high schools but has only 10 guidance counselors, Ymson said. It also lacks psychologists for specialized mental health support.

Schools share available counselors, while DepEd partners with higher education institutions for additional support. Cases needing specialized intervention may be referred to the Philippine Mental Health Association, although referrals can take time because of its long queue.

Police are also investigating the Pinget incident, which reportedly occurred outside the school at around 3 p.m. on Aug. 26. A separate bullying case involving Grade 7 and Grade 9 students was reported to Police Station 5 after an alleged incident inside a classroom on Aug. 24.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said violence, bullying, harassment and abuse have no place in Baguio. The National Union of Students of the Philippines-Cordillera called for more counselors and mental health professionals

In the forests of Calanasan, Apayao, scientists may have uncovered new clues to the province’s still largely undocumented biodiversity.

A herpetofaunal survey conducted from Aug. 13 to 19 recorded at least 15 species of amphibians and reptiles, including three Platymantis specimens that may belong to species not yet described by science, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR).

The finding remains preliminary.

DENR-CAR said the specimens must undergo further taxonomic examination before specialists can confirm their identities.

The survey was conducted by the University of Santo Tomas-Herpetological Research Collection and Kyoto University in partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Calanasan.

Herpetology experts Dr. Arvin Diesmos and Emerson Sy also joined the fieldwork.

Researchers explored selected forest habitats in Calanasan and documented snakes, geckos, skinks, frogs and other amphibians and reptiles.

Among the records, the three Platymantis specimens stood out because of physical characteristics that may distinguish them from known species.

RELATED STORY: Philippine duck, golden-crowned flying fox spotted in Masbate

If further studies confirm that they are distinct, the specimens could eventually be recognized as species previously unknown to science.

Dorothy Joy C. Cayaba, officer in charge of CENRO Calanasan, said the findings underscored the need to pair scientific research with habitat protection.

‘The documentation of at least 15 herpetofaunal species, including specimens that may potentially be new to science, demonstrates how much more there is to discover in our forests,’ Cayaba said.

‘More importantly, these findings remind us that biodiversity research must go hand in hand with habitat protection,’ she added.

DENR-CAR said biodiversity surveys provide baseline information on the species present in an ecosystem and how they are distributed, helping guide conservation planning and habitat management.

The activity forms part of continuing biodiversity documentation in the Apayao Lowland Forest Key Biodiversity Area and the wider yApayaos Biosphere Reserve.

Succeeding surveys are expected to expand Apayao’s species inventory and strengthen the scientific basis for long-term conservation efforts

For now, the three Platymantis specimens remain unconfirmed. But their discovery suggests that Apayao’s forests may still hold species science has yet to name.

The Film Academy of the Philippines announced that eight films have been shortlisted as contenders to become the Philippines’ official entry to the 2027 Oscars Best International Feature Film category.

The agency revealed on Friday, Aug. 28, the list of films, which includes Carl Joseph E. Papa’s ’58th,’ Jade Castro’s ‘All the Things I Leave You (Patawid),’ Rafael Manuel’s ‘Filipiñana,’ Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo’s ‘I’mPerfect,’ Raymond Red’s ‘Manila’s Finest,’ Jerrold Tarog’s ‘Quezon,’ Lawrence Fajardo’s ‘Silenced Nights’ and Jun Robles Lana’s ‘Sisa.’

‘The films this year offer a spectrum of views of the Filipino experience. They look at our history, the issues we continue to face, and the ways Filipinos deal with questions of power, identity, love, freedom, and survival,’ said Film Academy of the Philippines Director-General Paolo Villaluna.

‘Each one has its own voice and approach, showcasing our cinematic merit and any of them has the potential to connect with audiences beyond the Philippines. Whichever film we send to the Oscars will carry a Filipino story that we can be proud of,’ he added.

The selection process will be headed by a National Selection Committee composed of Filipino film industry experts.

The chosen film will be announced during the opening ceremony of the Philippine Film Industry Month on Sept. 4.

Tycoon Lance Gokongwei has taken the helm of PhilWeb Corp. after investing P2.02 billion in the the listed gaming technology firm, which is ramping up its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure for the regulated digital gaming sector.

In a disclosure on Friday, PhilWeb said Gokongwei had acquired 159.53 million common shares at P8 each on Aug. 27 under a previously executed share purchase agreement.

The transaction was worth about P1.28 billion and brought Gokongwei’s direct holdings to 159.53 million shares. Including preferred shares, the tycoon’s stake in PhilWeb stood at 15 percent.

PhilWeb said Gokongwei’s recent strategic equity investment totaled P2.02 billion.

The purchase comes as Gokongwei assumes the chairmanship of PhilWeb, completing a governance restructuring that followed his appointment to the board in July.

His entry also comes as PhilWeb accelerates the rollout of its enterprise AI layer, part of its push to become an institutional-grade digital gaming solutions provider.

The company said its immediate priorities include real-time operational monitoring, algorithmic risk management, regulatory compliance automation, anti-fraud detection and data-driven customer lifecycle optimization.

‘This transition marks a critical inflection point for our capitalization and operational scale,’ Gokongwei said.

He added that PhilWeb aims to deploy institutional-grade, AI-powered infrastructure to set a new operational standard for security and compliance across the regulated digital ecosystem.

PhilWeb president Brian Ng said Gokongwei’s leadership would provide the governance needed for the company’s next phase of expansion, particularly as it develops infrastructure for integrated casino resorts and global platform providers.

PhilWeb said its AI-driven technology currently supports an ecosystem that includes Okada Manila, Hann Casino, Newport World Resorts, Nustar Resort and Casino, FBM Philippines and PT Gaming.

Several ferry trips were canceled on Saturday, Aug. 29, due to rough sea conditions brought by the effects of the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced.

In an advisory, the PPA provided the following Port Management Office (PMO) with cancelled ferry trips, as of 8 a.m.:

Bicol PMO

TMO Camarines: Starhorse Shipping Lines, Inc., San Pascual, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur (vice versa)

Masbate PMO

Montenegro Shipping lines Inc. (all fast craft): Masbate City – Pilar, Sorsogon

Island Shipping Corp: Cawayan, Masbate – Hagnaya, Cebu

MB Maribel: Claveria, Masbate – Pio Duran, Albay

Mindoro PMO

Port of Puerto Galera: MV City of Bacolod (12:30 p.m.), Puerto Galera to Batangas

Port of Abra De Ilog: MV Isla Simara, Abra De Ilog to Batangas

Port of San Jose: MV Bunso Ferry 2, San Jose to Coron

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that moderate to rough sea conditions may affect Luzon due to the southwest monsoon.

More areas in Luzon were placed under red warning on Saturday morning, Aug. 29, due to torrential rains expected from the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the state weather bureau said.

In a weather advisory issued at 5 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga and portions of Bulacan were placed under red warning, indicating that more than 30 millimeters (mm) of rainfall could prevail within the next few hours.

Meanwhile, an orange warning, which means 15 to 30 mm of rain could prevail, has been hoisted over Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and portions of Tarlac, Bulacan, Batangas and Laguna.

A yellow warning has been issued for some areas in Tarlac, Laguna and Batangas due to expected rainfall of 7.5 to 15 mm within the next few hours.

Light to moderate rain, with occasional heavy rain, may affect Nueva Ecija and portions of Batangas and Quezon, as well as nearby areas, according to Pagasa.

Pagasa weather specialist Veronica Torres said that 100 to 200 mm of rain may affect Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet and Ilocos Sur on Saturday, brought by the enhanced habagat.

Meanwhile, the following areas in the western portion of Luzon may also experience up to 100 mm of rain:

Ilocos Norte

Abra

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Nueva Vizcaya

Bulacan

Rizal

Metro Manila

Cavite

Laguna

Batangas

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

‘Expect heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, mostly in the western sections of Luzon,’ Torres said.

Several areas in Metro Manila were submerged in flood after heavy rains on Saturday morning, Aug. 29, due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

In an advisory, the MMDA listed the following flooded areas as of 8:44 a.m.:

Las Piñas City

Knee deep

Barangay Zapote – Zapote Junction (not passable to light vehicles)

Valenzuela City

Below gutter deep

MacArthur Highway fronting Goodyear/Toyota (passable to all types of vehicle)

Mandaluyong City

Gutter to half-knee deep

Boni. Avenue cor. F. Ortigas St. (passable to all types of vehicle)

Parañaque City

Gutter to half-knee deep

Dr. A.Santos Ave. corner Canaynay Avenue (passable to all types of vehicle)

Dr.A.Santos Ave. Near Olivarez School (8-10 Inches) (passable to all types of vehicle)

Quezon City

Quezon Avenue Araneta tunnel WB (passable to all types of vehicle)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said heavy rains will prevail over Metro Manila and the western portions of Luzon due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Coach Tim Cone is holding out hope that Carl Tamayo would be fine after suffering a sprained ankle in Gilas Pilipinas’ 82-81 overtime victory over Jordan in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

Tamayo left with 7:58 left in the third quarter after rolling his left ankle while driving to the hoop and spent the rest of the thrilling encounter at Mall of Asia Arena playing the role of cheerleader.

While Tamayo was able to walk on his own, Cone said his status and availability for Sunday’s crucial tiff with Iran at the same venue will depend on his recovery.

‘Right now, he can walk. But beyond that, it’s swollen. It’s a sprained ankle,’ Cone said. ‘We’ll give him the treatment tonight, and tomorrow and we’ll see how he is at that point.’

That also puts Cone to ponder whether he’ll make a slight change to his 12-man roster, with RJ Abarrientos and Justin Arana part of the pool.

Abarrientos and Arana were the last two cuts for the window, but Fiba rules allow changes during the window, provided the players are in the official pool.

Cone, however, would rather stick with the status quo.

‘In the meantime, we still have RJ and Justin on the list,’ he said. ‘Those two guys could fill in for Carl, if necessary. Hopefully, it won’t be necessary.’

Before going down, Tamayo was one of the bright spots for Gilas with eight points, including a three-pointer to end the half, cutting Jordan’s lead to 44-39, a shot Cone described as uplifting.

The Philippine women’s football team believes it will be up for a daunting task of just getting out of the group stage in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will also serve as a preparation leg for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Coach Mark Torcaso’s side is in Group G with China and two familiar opponents in Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, with the top two teams and possibly the third placer advancing to the quarterfinals.

‘I think all the groups are tough groups in their own individual ways. I think our group is a tough group,’ Torcaso said after the Philippine Football Federation recently released the team composition for the quadrennial meet set Sept. 14 to Oct. 2.

The Filipinas have not faced China since losing 3-0 the 2018 Asian Cup, while it was Uzbekistan that they defeated 2-0 in a play-in match in this year’s Asian Cup to secure qualification to the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Philippines nipped Hong Kong, 1-0, in 2025 at the Asian Cup Qualifiers.

‘We’ve got Hong Kong-(who) we narrowly beat to qualify for the Asian Cup as well-who are also a very good team, and we also know how good China is,’ Torcaso said. ‘We haven’t played China ever since I’ve been here. China is a great team and it gives us a chance to play against a very, very good team.

‘But again, this Asian Games is also about preparing us for the World Cup,’ he added.

The Philippines faces Uzbekistan to open its Asian Games campaign on Sept. 14, before facing Hong Kong on Sept. 17 and China on Sept. 21.

Veterans Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long, Angela Beard, Katrina Guillou and Jaclyn Sawicki, plus Mallie Ramirez and Isabella Pasion headline the Filipinas’ roster.

In 2023, the Filipinas reached the quarterfinals of the Hangzhou Asiad led by striker Sarina Bolden, before being battered by eventual champion Japan.