Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Heavy rainfall will prevail over the western portion of Luzon on Friday, August 28, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In the agency’s weather forecast on Friday morning, Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said heavy rains were expected over the regions of Metro Manila, Ilocos, Central Luzon-particularly Bataan and Zambales-and Calabarzon as well as the province of Occidental Mindoro.

‘Ang nalalabing bahagi ng Luzon ay makararanas naman ng maulap na kalangitan na may mga kalat-kalat na mga pag-ulan, pagkidlat at pagkulog, lalong-lalo na itong silangang bahagi ng Luzon,’ Badrina explained.

(The rest of Luzon will experience cloudy weather conditions with scattered rain showers, especially in the eastern section of Luzon.)

Palawan province and Visayas will likewise experience cloudy weather conditions with chances of scattered rain showers.

Meanwhile, according to the Pagasa weather specialist, Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions with chances of isolated rain showers.

‘Kung mapapansin natin, sa Mindanao, walang masyadong namamataan tayong tuloy-tuloy na mga pag-ulan. Medyo mainit nga yung panahon dito sa may bahagi ng Mindanao,’ Badrina added.

(If you notice, we don’t see much rain in Mindanao. The weather now is rather hot in Mindanao.)

The state weather bureau also monitored a low pressure area (LPA) located 720 kilometers (km) east of Itbayat, Batanes as of 3 a.m. on Friday.

Badrina, however, noted that the LPA will not have a direct effect on the Philippines and will instead head in the direction of Taiwan.

Despite this development, the Pagasa weather specialist said the agency did not issue a gale warning over the Philippines’ seaboards.

‘Gayunpaman, mag-ingat pa rin kung may thunderstorms. Kung minsan, nagpapalakas yan ng alon ng karagatan. Kaya mag-ingat, lalong-lalo yung mga maliliit na bangka,’ he noted.

(Nonetheless, take caution when there are thunderstorms. Those can sometimes strengthen the waves in the seas. Be cautious, especially for the small vessels.)

Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co. Ltd. (SMFL) has completed its acquisition of a 30-percent stake in the leasing arm of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., giving the Japanese firm a bigger foothold in the Philippines.

On Thursday, the Yuchengco-led bank said SMFL had secured the necessary regulatory approvals and permits to complete the transaction.

Following the acquisition, RCBC Leasing and Finance Corp. (RLFC) is now an equity method affiliate company of SMFL. The leasing firm was previously wholly owned by RCBC.

RLFC president and CEO Jayson Mendoza said the investment would support the company’s expansion over the next three to five years.

The company is targeting growth in priority sectors such as manufacturing, construction, information technology, renewable energy-including electric vehicles and solar panels-healthcare, logistics and auto leasing.

‘This investment positions us well for the opportunities ahead and strengthens our capabilities that will drive our business forward,’ Mendoza said.

For SMFL, the investment expands its business base in the Philippines, where it expects strong economic growth and increasing demand for financial services.

The Japanese firm plans to combine its sales and management expertise with RCBC’s customer base and RLFC’s team structure as it grows its local operations.

The transaction also deepens RCBC’s ties with Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui group.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), another member of the group, currently owns a 24.46-percent stake in RCBC and serves as its partner bank in the Philippines.

SMFL said it remained committed to expanding its global business through collaboration with SMBC Group and other partners.

RLFC, which was incorporated in 1987, is engaged in financial leasing and operating leases through its wholly owned subsidiary.

It maintains a nationwide presence with five offices in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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

Motorists will save on expensive fuel costs as local oil companies plan to cut prices by as much as P4 per liter next week.

In an advisory, Jetti Petroleum Leo Bellas said the per-liter price of diesel may go down by P3.50 to P4.

On one hand, gasoline prices may also dip by 25 centavos to 75 centavos.

‘Prices declined this week as threatened US sanctions fell short of the market’s expectations and viewed the economic pressure as a lower-risk path for physical supply than a military escalation, reducing the oil market’s anxiety and easing immediate supply concerns,’ Bellas said.

Bellas’ estimates were based on the first four days of trading at the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), and foreign exchange movements. MOPS is the basis for the pricing of refined petroleum products in Southeast Asia.

Travelers must brace for pricier airfares again in early September as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowable fuel surcharge, which airlines add to the base fare to account for volatility in jet fuel prices.

In an advisory dated Aug. 27, the regulator said the fuel surcharge will revert to Level 13 from Sept. 1 to 15 after dropping to Level 12 in the earlier cycle from Aug. 16 to 31, as global jet fuel prices drifted higher.

Under Level 13, airlines may collect an additional P423 to P1,237 for domestic trips, up from the P389 to P1,137 in allowable surcharges under Level 12.

That same increase will apply to international flights, with allowable fuel surcharges rising to between P1,396.74 to P10,385.42 from P1,284.40 and P9,550.13 in the previous cycle.

CAB said these charges will be implemented at a conversion rate of P61.39 per US dollar.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. is pushing for further network buildout in New Clark City, with its board approving investments in a P15-billion joint venture with a Korean firm.

In a regulatory filing on Thursday, the Pangilinan-led group said its board of directors gave the green light for new investments in a public-private partnership project with Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Earlier this year, BCDA said it was gearing up for a deal with Maynilad and K-Water, following both parties’ unsolicited offer submitted in October 2025.

According to BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang, the deal could be valued at about P15 billion and may run for 50 years.

The project is expected to boost New Clark City’s water capacity to about 150 million liters per day from the current 20 to 30 million liters per day.

However, Maynilad said in the disclosure the project ‘contemplates a 25-year term.’

No other details on the proposed deal were disclosed.

Bingcang said in February the investment would help boost infrastructure in the area, subsequently supporting water-intensive sectors such as data centers.

In March, Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez also reiterated the group’s plan to inject more capital to improve water supply services inside New Clark City. Currently, Maynilad is operating deep wells in the area.

The group is the water and wastewater services provider for the West Zone concession area of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, which covers 17 cities and towns in Metro Manila and Cavite.

Fernandez said that while the firm remains focused on serving commercial and industrial consumers in the West Zone, Maynilad is also looking at emerging hubs for expansion.

In the first six months of 2026, Maynilad saw its profit climb 14 percent to P8.51 billion on stronger water sales and customer growth.

The firm’s revenues in the period also increased by 4.1 percent to P19.11 billion against the previous P18.35 billion.

The Department of Energy (DOE) hopes major power players will invest in the country’s first coal blending terminal to maximize domestic coal supply and reduce the Philippines’ vulnerability to foreign policy changes.

On Thursday, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin told reporters that the DOE is mulling building a centralized blending facility to reduce local coal power plants’ imports from Indonesia.

The ideal location is Mindanao due to its coal sites and port terminals, with Garin expressing optimism that private sector development will occur with minimal government oversight.

The blending terminal will source both domestic and foreign coal, combining high- and low-grade varieties for industrial needs.

The Philippines relies on Indonesia for over 90 percent of its coal needs. However, Indonesia will revise its export guidelines in January, potentially impacting the Philippines.

‘We don’t have energy security as far as coal is concerned, because 95 percent of our coal is imported from Indonesia. Anything can happen,’ she said on the sidelines of the 15th Energy Smart Forum in Makati City.

‘So what we need is to have a diversification of our risk. So we need to source it from different countries if there’s an option, or the best option is to source it in our country. Most of our coal, they say, is not good enough for our coal power plants. But there’s a way to do that: we can mix our coal with something that can be useful for our coal power plants,’ Garin added.

Garin said the government is negotiating with Australia, Russia, and others for new supplies since the blending facility won’t be operational soon.

At the same time, the DOE is preparing for a coal mine auction, including the Semirara site, before the year ends

Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) is teaming up with a new investor: Japanese financial services provider SMFL Mirai Partners Company Ltd. will gain a 35 percent stake in its wind assets for P1.7 billion.

In a disclosure on Thursday, PERC said its board of directors had approved the sale of 6.84 million common shares out of the outstanding capital stock of PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI).

To formalize the deal, both groups would still need to ink a term sheet, share purchase agreement, and shareholders’ agreement.

‘The closing of the proposed transaction will be subject to the execution of the definitive agreements, the satisfaction of conditions precedents, and the receipt of the necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission, if required,’ the firm said.

After closing the transaction, PERC will retain a 25 percent stake, while its subsidiary PetroGreen Energy Corp. will hold 40 percent.

Also just this month, the group got a hold of Thailand’s BCPG Public Co. Ltd in PWEI for P1.9 billion, representing a 40 percent stake.

In an earlier filing, PERC explained that it aims to simplify its ownership structure and increase its direct economic participation in its renewable energy portfolio.

Additionally, PWEI is the owner and developer of a 49.2-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Nabas and Malay, Aklan. The first phase of the project, involving 36 MW of capacity, has been injecting power into the grid since June 2015. In May, the Nabas-2 expansion also achieved commercial operation.

Previously, it obtained a permit to connect the added capacity to the grid network. PWEI still needs to get a certificate of compliance from the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Meanwhile, PERC has interests in upstream oil exploration and development, renewable energy assets, and power generation.

In the January to June period, the company booked a 7.8-percent improvement in its consolidated net income, reaching P498 million from 464 million a year ago, boosted by its clean power assets and oil operations.

OPM icon Celeste Legaspi sparked discussions among netizens after she praised P-pop boy group SB19 while seemingly expressing less enthusiasm for BINI.

The veteran singer-actress shared her thoughts on the two groups when asked about her take on the state of the music industry, during an interview vlog for ‘Senior Moments with Louie Montalbo’ last May.

‘I like the SB19 a lot. They are really, really good. I’m not so crazy about the BINI kasi parang… Hindi sila masyadong… Anyway…,’ Legaspi said, opting not to continue her statement. ‘SB19-they’re really, really good. I’m so proud of them when I see them next to the Koreans.’

Legaspi also singled out SB19 member Stell whom she praised for his performance at the 70th birthday concert of OPM icon and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab in 2024. She also noted that she and the group’s leader, Pablo, are both Caviteños.

‘Ang galing galing nila (SB19). I love watching them,’ she said.

Clips from the YouTube vlog recently resurfaced on X, with fans drawing attention to the veteran actress-singer’s remark about the girl group. While some netizens acknowledged Legaspi’s personal preference, others expressed disappointment over the OPM veteran’s statement.

‘I still have respect for her as one of the pillars of OPM. So I don’t take it against her, and I disagree with the current negative sentiment against her. Iba-iba naman talaga ang preferences ng mga tao eh,’ one netizen said. ‘But for me, what her statement shows is that BINI is really the current standard for OPM. They become part of the conversation (in that case, as a point of comparison) even if they were not even initially mentioned.’

We’ve all seen the old video of Ms. Celeste Legaspi talking about BINI. Understandably, some Blooms are upset with her comments. But for me at least, I don’t mind them. I still have respect for her as one of the pillars of OPM. So I don’t take it against her, and I disagree with…

‘So ayaw niya sa Bini, period. Baka hindi talaga para sa kanya ang music ng Bini. Hindi naman talaga need na iplease lahat. Music is a personal taste,’ an X user wrote.

Okay? So ayaw niya sa Bini, period. Baka hindi talaga para sa kanya ang music ng Bini. Hindi naman talaga need na iplease lahat. Music is a personal taste. Kung fan siya ng SB19, then good for her. Di na para gamitin yang statement niya to hate on Bini. Kasi clearly she said…

‘With all due respect to Ms. Celeste Legaspi, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But comparing BINI to SB19 was so unnecessary. You didn’t have to drag them into this interview. This is so disappointing, coming from a well-respected icon in Philippine music industry,’ one netizen lamented.

With all due respect to Ms. Celeste Legaspi, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But comparing BINI to SB19 was so unnecessary. You didn’t have to drag them into this interview. This is so disappointing, coming from a well-respected icon in Philippine music industry. https://t.co/pbniiKCiCj

‘To Madam Celeste Legaspi, as an OPM fan, I have huge respect for you as one of the pillars of OPM. I also want to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with not being into BINI’s music,’ another BINI fan wrote. ‘Yes, we are all entitled to our own choices and preferences, but being entitled to your opinion doesn’t mean you’re exempt from being respectful when expressing it.’

‘What bothered many people wasn’t simply the fact that you mentioned BINI, but the tone and expressions that came with it. It came across as though you were speaking about them with disdain, as if you were disgusted by their music or didn’t even want to acknowledge them,’ the netizen pointed out. ‘You don’t have to love BINI. You just have to respect them as fellow artists.’

To Madam Celeste Legaspi, as an OPM fan, I have huge respect for you as one of the pillars of OPM. I also want to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with not being into BINI’s music. We, as Blooms, can respect that. It’s also completely fine for you to mention BINI in… pic.twitter.com/r4xkpdJpxP

Legaspi as well as BINI has yet to publicly address the fans’ sentiments as of this writing.

Police Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. formally assumed leadership of the Northern Mindanao regional police during turnover rites on Thursday at Camp 1Lt. Vicente Alagar here.

Babagay, who served as Bicol regional police director, is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy ‘Patnubay’ Class of 1995.

He succeeded Brig. Gen. Aaron Mandia, who was designated acting regional police director after Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano was named as officer-in-charge director of the National Capital Region Police Office.