Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

KairoTech and Packworks have entered into a strategic partnership to develop what the companies envision as the Philippines’ first Sari-Sari Retail Media Network-a new way for brands to understand, reach and engage Filipino consumers closer to where everyday purchasing decisions take place.

The partnership combines Packworks’ network of more than 300,000 digitized sari-sari stores with KairoTech’s behavior-led digital media and audience intelligence capabilities. Together, the companies aim to connect one of the country’s most important grassroots retail channels more closely with brands, media and the digital economy.

There are an estimated 1.3 million sari-sari stores nationwide. Beyond their scale, these stores are deeply embedded in Filipino communities, providing convenient access to everyday goods while serving as trusted neighborhood businesses built on proximity, familiarity and personal relationships.

‘Retail media should do more than make advertising more precise. In the Philippine context, it can connect brand investment to real economic activity in communities-helping brands build demand while creating more opportunities for sari-sari stores to sell more, strengthen their economics and grow,’ says Ed Sunico, managing partner of KairoTech.

As supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce platforms and other modern retail formats expand, the partnership aims to strengthen the sari-sari channel. For store owners, stronger and more relevant demand can mean faster product movement and higher sales. Better visibility into local demand can support smarter stocking and ordering, reduce inventory inefficiencies, and create opportunities for better purchasing economics and lower cost of goods over time. These gains can help improve margins, support more competitive pricing and strengthen the long-term viability of neighborhood stores.

The model also builds on an advantage unique to neighborhood retail: the traditional suki (close customer) relationship.

‘Sari-sari stores understand their neighborhoods better than anyone. By giving them greater access to technology, data and market opportunities while preserving the trust and suki relationships that define neighborhood retail, we can help the entire channel become stronger, more competitive and more sustainable,’ says Ibba Rasul Bernardo, chief strategy and communications officer of Packworks

A 24-year-old college student was killed while his girlfriend was wounded after a gunman shot them in front of a house in Barangay Uguis, Nueva Era town, Ilocos Norte, on Thursday night.

Police said Jhey Em Abellano was walking near his home with his girlfriend, a resident of Burgos town in Ilocos Norte and also a college student, at 7:30 p.m. when a 19-year-old man, also a resident of Barangay Uguis, allegedly rode up to them on a motorcycle.

The suspect reportedly fired four shots at the two victims and then fled.

Abellano sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body, while his girlfriend was hit in the leg and abdomen, investigators said.

Both victims were rushed to a hospital, but Abellano was declared dead on arrival. His girlfriend is still undergoing treatment.

A separate account from the victim’s family said Abellano had traveled to Badoc to fetch his girlfriend. They were reportedly attacked when they arrived in front of the house.

Abellano’s brother, in a social media post, described him as a kind and caring person who was not known for picking fights or getting into trouble.

He said Abellano had returned to Uguis to recover after being diagnosed with anemia.

The brother appealed for justice, saying the family was not seeking sympathy but wanted those responsible for the shooting to be held accountable.

‘Hustisya para sa kapatid ko ang kailangan namin (We demand justice for my brother),’ he said.

Police immediately launched a hot pursuit and dragnet operation for the suspect, who remained at large as of Friday morning (August 28)

Face-to-face classes from preschool to Grade 12 were suspended in the summer capital on Friday (Aug. 28) after an orange rainfall warning was raised over the city and Benguet province, according to the Baguio City Public Information Office in a 5 a.m. post.

The automatic suspension follows Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 14, series of 2026. The decision on suspending college classes was left to the discretion of individual school administrations.

This mountain resort city has recorded one confirmed death from leptospirosis this year even as cases of the disease declined by 39 percent compared with last year’s tally for the same period, according to the City Health Services Office (CHSO).

In an Aug. 25 statement from the Baguio City Public Information Office, the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) reported 14 leptospirosis cases from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, down from 23 cases in 2025.

The confirmed fatality was a male farmer who died on June 14, with laboratory results later confirming leptospirosis, the CESU said.

Three other deaths were recorded among suspected leptospirosis cases. Two of the victims-a construction worker and a delivery rider-died in June but tested negative for the disease. The third, a student who died this month, was still awaiting laboratory results.

Of the 14 confirmed cases this year, 13 or 93 percent were male. Patients were between 24 and 71 years old.

Cases have been reported in Barangays Irisan, Camp 7, Bakakeng Central, Phil-Am Compound, Quirino-Magsaysay, Middle Quezon Hill, Outlook Drive, Happy Hollow, City Camp Proper and Kias.

The CESU said people whose work exposes them to potentially contaminated water or soil may be at greater risk of contracting leptospirosis. These include farmers, construction workers, delivery riders, painters, animal caretakers, welders and other outdoor or mobile workers.

‘If you have a fever and history of wading, better have your consultation immediately,’ said City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes.

Leptospirosis can be contracted through exposure to water or soil contaminated with the droppings of infected rodents, particularly when contaminated water comes into contact with cuts or wounds on the skin.

Brillantes said symptoms may include sudden fever lasting three to five days, severe headache and reddish eyes. Severe infections may progress to yellowing of the skin.

The CHSO is strengthening preventive measures through health education in barangays, rodent control and the clearing of drainage systems in high-risk areas.

The city also plans to coordinate with delivery hubs and construction companies to promote the use of personal protective equipment and conduct workplace safety briefings.

Brillantes assured residents that the city has sufficient medicines available for leptospirosis treatment.

The Visayas grid continues to suffer from a power supply crunch, prompting the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to place the region under red alert for three hours on Friday.

In an advisory, the red alert would be up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Likewise, a yellow alert would take effect from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

A yellow alert indicates that available power reserves are thinning, meaning any unexpected plant outage could trigger service interruptions. A red alert means that supply cannot meet demand, which increases the likelihood of rotational brownouts unless we manage consumption effectively.

The available capacity remained thin at 2,307 megawatts (MW) as of 8 a.m., while peak demand was 2,402 MW

A 35-year-old nurse died after a concrete slab from a waiting shed collapsed on him while he was waiting for a boat ride home in Sierra Island, Barangay Canhawan Gote, Catbalogan City, Samar, on Thursday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Kelvin Castro, 35, a Department of Health nurse assigned to the Catbalogan City Health Office and a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Canlapwas, Catbalogan City.

Police said Castro and his colleague, also a nurse at the City Health Office, had just completed a measles-rubella supplemental immunization activity in Barangay Canhawan Gote.

After the activity, the two went to the docking area for motorboats to wait for their ride back to Catbalogan City.

While waiting, Castro sat under a waiting shed when the structure suddenly collapsed, causing a concrete slab to fall directly on him.

Castro sustained multiple injuries to different parts of his body, particularly to his head.

Cañete, along with several residents in the area and daycare teachers from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, helped pull Castro from underneath the collapsed structure.

They immediately brought him to Samar Provincial Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Doctors and other medical personnel performed resuscitation procedures upon his arrival, but despite their efforts, Castro was declared dead on arrival.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc.’s sprawling data center in Angeles City, Pampanga, has secured ‘green lane’ status from the government. This makes the nearly P5-billion facility eligible for expedited processing of permits and other regulatory requirements.

This classification also recognizes the Angeles Data Center, which was formally unveiled only in March, as a ‘strategic investment’ under the Board of Investments (BOI), which administers the green lane program.

Converge CEO Dennis Uy said he expects the classification to help ease regulatory hurdles as the company positions itself to capture rising demand for cloud computing, data storage and other digital services.

‘Securing Green Lane status for our Angeles Data Center underscores the vital role digital infrastructure plays in nation-building,’ Uy said in a statement.

‘This facility isn’t just expanding our enterprise portfolio-it is building the core digital foundation required to power the Philippines’ booming digital economy,’ he added.

With such status, the Converge facility becomes eligible for government assistance in expediting permits, licenses and other regulatory requirements, including the renewal of clearances.

The addition of the Angeles facility also bolsters the green lane program’s digital infrastructure pipeline, currently its second-largest investment sector with 10 projects worth a combined P405.12 billion.

These projects are expected to generate 20,393 jobs.

The BOI said it expects the project to support the Marcos administration’s industrial development priorities, particularly those identified under the revised Strategic Investment Priority Plan.

‘Investors are looking for predictability and ease of doing business, which is precisely what this endorsement provides,’ BOI director Ernesto de los Reyes said.

The Angeles facility is Converge’s fourth and largest data center, adding to its existing sites in Caloocan City and Pasig City in Metro Manila and Clark in Pampanga.

While the facility began operations with a 3-megawatt (MW) load, Uy earlier said the site has enough room to scale up to as much as 36 MW.

The facility currently serves private-sector clients in industries such as banking and logistics. Local government units are also exploring its use for disaster recovery, while offices under the executive and judicial branches of government are already using the site.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted the red heavy rainfall warning over parts of Zambales and Bataan on Friday morning, Aug. 28.

The red heavy rainfall warning means at least 30 millimeters (mm) of rain is expected in the affected areas within an hour and it will continue in the next two hours, which may bring severe flooding in low-lying areas.

In an advisory at 8 a.m. on Friday, Pagasa said the following areas were covered by the red heavy rainfall warning:

Zambales (Cabangan, Botolan, Subic, San Antonio, San Marcelino, Castillejos, San Narciso, San Felipe, and Olongapo); and

Bataan (Morong, Dinalupihan, and Hermosa)

The state weather bureau also raised the orange heavy rainfall warning over the following:

Tarlac

Pampanga

Bulacan

The rest of Zambales (Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Santa Cruz, Iba), Bataan(Abucay, Bagac, Balanga, Limay, Mariveles, Orani, Orion, Pilar, Samal); and

Nueva Ecija (San Antonio, Cabiao, San Isidro, Gapan, General Tinio, Penaranda, Jaen, San Leonardo, Guimba, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Zaragoza, Aliaga, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan, Gabaldon, Laur, Palayan, Bongabon, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Llanera, and Talavera)

The orange heavy rainfall warning means between 15 to 30 mm of rain is expected in the affected areas within an hour and it will continue in the next two hours.

Further, Pagasa raised the yellow heavy rainfall warning over the following areas:

Metro Manila

Rizal; and

The rest of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Cuyapo, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, San Jose, Munoz, and Talugtug)

The yellow heavy rainfall warning means between 7.5 to 15 mm of rain is expected in the affected areas within an hour and it will continue in the next two hours.

Meanwhile, according to Pagasa, light to moderate rains were expected over the following areas in the next three hours:

Cavite

Batangas (Balayan, Calatagan, Laurel, Lian, Nasugbu, Talisay, Tuy, Tanauan, Calaca, San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Lemery, Taal, Batangas City, Santo Tomas, Malvar, Balete, Lipa, Mataasnakahoy, Ibaan, San Jose, Cuenca, San Pascual, Alitagtag, Bauan, Santa Teresita, San Luis, and Mabini)

Quezon (General Nakar and Infanta); and

Laguna (Santa Maria)

In the agency’s forecast on Friday morning, Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said the southwest monsoon, locally known as the habagat, continued to affect parts of Luzon

The Ironman 70.3 series goes deep in the north for the first time next year when Laoag City hosts a leg on March 14, underscoring the popularity the sport is gaining in the country.

Ilocos Norte’s capital will put its heritage and legendary Ilocano spirit on full display when the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21.1-kilometer run race is flagged off.

Also known as the Sunshine City, Laoag’s appeal as a race venue extends beyond its roads and coastline as it offers a warm, almost always-summer character that lends itself naturally to a race weekend.

Laoag also brings together heritage and contemporary city life with its historic streets, local markets and long-standing Ilocano traditions coexisting with a growing modernity which will give athletes and their families plenty of reasons to stay longer and explore beyond race day.

Registration is now open. For details, visit www.ironman.com/races/im703-laoag.

For the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., the race represents an opportunity to expand the Philippine Ironman experience into a destination with its own distinct character.

The addition of Laoag as a venue further strengthens the Philippines’ position as a major destination for endurance racing in the region. With Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events having been held in the country since 2009, the arrival of a new host city reflects both the continued growth of the local triathlon community and the enduring appeal of the Philippines to international athletes.

With its oceanfront start, fast northern roads, historic urban setting and easy access to the cultural and culinary attractions of Ilocos Norte, the Laoag stop is poised to offer more than a new race on the calendar. It is also an invitation to experience the north from the saddle, on foot and beyond the finish line.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued and assisted a distressed woman in the Batangas town of Balete on Thursday (Aug. 27).

The PCG Batangas Station said its personnel from the Balete sub-station received a report from the village chief of Barangay San Sebastian about a woman near a cliff along the shoreline of Taal Lake who required immediate assistance to prevent a potential accident, because of the hazardous rocky terrain and rough conditions on the lake.

During the rescue operation, however, the woman evaded the responding Coast Guard personnel, climbed the cliff, and then scampered towards the lake where she dove before the Coast Guard and members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) managed to secure her.

The woman was identified through documents found among her belongings. She had no apparent physical injuries but was unable to communicate coherently.

Photo courtesy of PCG Batangas station

She was temporarily sheltered at the barangay hall while authorities coordinated with the concerned local government offices and her family.

The woman was later turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for appropriate intervention and further assistance