Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Local stocks slipped below 6,200 on Tuesday as investors remained cautious amid renewed concerns over the US-Iran situation.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) fell 0.98 percent, or 61.15 points, to close at 6,190.23.

Philstocks Financial Inc. said investors sold shares amid a lack of positive catalysts, while growing tensions between the US and Iran continued to dampen sentiment.

Concerns have shifted to the economic fallout from the conflict, especially the potential impact on Iran’s trading partners due to the United States’ latest campaign.

Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp., said the local bourse ended lower amid broad-based selling pressure, as heightened uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment.

‘Moreover, investors are expected to remain defensive ahead of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy meeting and await signals on its next move,’ Limlingan said.

Wait-and-see stance

Investors largely stayed on the sidelines, with net value turnover reaching only P4.01 billion.

Foreign investors also continued to pull funds out of the market, recording net outflows of P542.12 million.

All sectoral indices finished in negative territory due to broad-based selling pressure. Services suffered the steepest decline, shedding 1.65 percent.

Only five members of the PSEi managed to end the session higher.

Ayala Land Inc. bucked the downturn and emerged as the top index gainer, climbing 3.95 percent to P15.80.

RL Commercial REIT Inc., meanwhile, led the laggards after falling 4 percent to P7.20.

Analysts said the latest decline extended the market’s cautious trading as investors weighed geopolitical risks and waited for fresh catalysts that could provide direction.

Thin turnover also reflected subdued participation, with many investors opting to remain on the sidelines amid uncertainty over the external environment. /

Without the prolific Justin Brownlee to rely on, Gilas Pilipinas hopes to draw a big lift from its young guns like Carl Tamayo in the second round of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Tamayo, of course, will look to step up in the absence of the injured Brownlee. He is also fully aware that he can only do so much, and it will take a village to fill the void left by Brownlee.

‘I think it really is a challenge for us because we all know how big of a part JB (Brownlee) plays in our national team and coach Tim’s (Cone) system,’ said Tamayo.

‘That’s the challenge in front of us so everyone needs to help out. We need to work together to fill that space for this window and we’ve been practicing hard. Hopefully, we get the two wins so we have a bigger chance to play in the World Cup.’

Brownlee has long been the Philippines’ offensive anchor and best clutch performer. He averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the five games. Brownlee was already dealing with injuries in Gilas’ double overtime loss to New Zealand before sitting out the Nationals’ final game of the third window against Australia.

There was, however, a silver lining amid Brownlee’s woes against the Kiwis, with Tamayo and fellow youngblood Kevin Quiambao picking up the slack.

Tamayo turned in 17 points, four assists and two rebounds against New Zealand, while Quiambao fired 23.

‘This team is different. There’s a lot of talent in this team. We have to stick to our role to help the team win the next two games. It’s going to be crucial for us, especially for KQ (Kevin Quiambao) now that Justin is not here.’

‘I don’t think we can do what Justin is doing. No one in our team can be like Justin but we’ll do whatever we can to help our country.’

Gilas’ second-round campaign tips off Friday against Jordan before clashing with Iran on Sunday, with both games taking place at Mall of Asia Arena

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila has offered to accommodate patients from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City as the latter reaches full bed capacity amid a surge in leptospirosis cases.

Palace press officer Claire Castro on Tuesday said the PGH, which is operated by the University of the Philippines (UP), to receive non-leptospirosis patients from NKTI.

This would allow NKTI as a government-run speciality center to focus its capacity on leptospirosis patients requiring specialized renal care.

‘This reflects our institutions’ longstanding partnership and shared commitment to timely, appropriate care for every patient-regardless of which facility they first approach,’ the PGH said in a statement.

On Sunday, the NKTI announced that walk-in admissions will be subject to limitations ‘until further notice’ to prioritize patients requiring emergency care and admission due to the surge in leptospirosis cases and high patient volume in its emergency room.

The NKTI’s emergency room can only accommodate up to 64 patients at a time.

Patients requiring urgent and critical medical interventions will be prioritized.

It also advised patients seeking elective or non-emergency admission to coordinate with their attending physician and consider other healthcare facilities with available bed capacity to avoid prolonged waiting times.

To prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by a surge of leptospirosis cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said all hospitals facing bed capacity concerns can coordinate with the Health Emergency Management Bureau’s Operation Center for patient navigation.

At least 33 DOH hospitals in the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region have also established express lanes to specifically handle cases of leptospirosis.

As of Aug. 22, the DOH has recorded a total of 4,285 cases of leptospirosis across the country, up from the 3,440 cases recorded as of Aug. 8.

‘Further increase in leptospirosis cases is expected, especially given that leptospirosis has an incubation period of five to 15 days,’ the agency warned.

The DOH urged the public to observe key health precautions against leptospirosis, urging individuals to avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, especially if they have open wounds.

If flood exposure is unavoidable, the hospital advised taking doxycycline prophylaxis as recommended by a primary care physician.

Free doxycycline capsules are provided by local government units through barangays, Rural Health Units, or through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program

Authorities also urged the public to seek immediate medical consultation should symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, or headache develop following exposure to floodwaters.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday unveiled a hybrid security model for public schools that will deploy security guards alongside village watchmen, police patrols, and upgraded surveillance systems to address manpower shortages.

In a statement, the Department of Education (DepEd) said the framework seeks to address security guard shortages by allocating guards according to a school’s enrollment and security requirements.

Earlier, DepEd Undersecretary for Governance and Operations Malcolm Garma shared the data before the Senate basic education committee, saying only three in 10 schools have security guards.

‘We are aware of the limitations of our funds, so we cannot rely solely on a few security personnel for the security of the entire campus,’ Angara said in Filipino.

‘Through our hybrid security model, we are partnering with our communities and other stakeholders to ensure a safe and orderly environment for every school,’ he added.

Under the proposed framework, DepEd will prioritize assigning security guards to campuses with larger student populations while relying on community support mechanisms for smaller schools.

DepEd said schools with fewer than 500 learners and those with 501 to 1,000 learners would each be assigned one security guard, with village watchmen providing support during arrival and dismissal periods.

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) volunteers may also assist with gate duties.

Campuses with 1,001 to 3,300 learners would receive two security guards, supplemented by the local government and village watchmen for perimeter security and PTA teams for crowd and traffic management.

Large schools with 3,301 to 8,500 learners and larger campuses with at least 8,501 learners would be assigned four security guards, with support from Philippine National Police mobile patrols and LGU security officers.

DepEd plans to implement the framework in two phases, beginning with large campuses before expanding the program to small and medium schools.

The department will also boost physical security through investments in surveillance and access-control systems, including CCTV cameras, improved lighting, access control equipment, and scanners.

On Monday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government may need at least P20 billion to equip schools nationwide with world-class closed-circuit television systems.

A 20-year-old man went missing after he was reportedly swept away by a strong current while crossing a river in Barangay Burgos here on Tuesday.

According to an initial report from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Jasper Rosales, a resident of Sitio Dinuron in Barangay Burgos, waded through the Pamatawan River in Sitio Maligaya at around 11 a.m. with his 32-year-old cousin, Darwin Milo, to gather vegetables when they were caught in the strong river current.

Milo survived, while Rosales remains missing, the report said.

The Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) San Antonio and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of San Antonio are conducting search-and-rescue operations for Rosales as of Tuesday afternoon

The southwest monsoon or habagat will affect parts of Luzon on Tuesday and is expected to continue prevailing over these areas in the next few days, according to the state weather bureau.

In the 5 a.m. weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), weather specialist Veronica Torres said that many areas in Luzon will still experience cloudy skies with scattered rains.

‘Inaasahan natin sa may Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, sa may Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, kabilang na ang Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, makakaranas tayo ng makulimlim na panahon, posibleng may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, pagkidlat, at pagkulog,’ Veronica said.

(We expect that Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal will experience overcast skies with chances of scattered rains and thunderstorms.)

She also said that partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of localized thunderstorms will affect the rest of Luzon. She then noted that La Union, Benguet, and Pangasinan will experience 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall on Monday where flooding and landslides are possible.

‘Asahan na sa mga susunod na araw, patuloy pa rin ang southwest monsoon sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon and by around August 29, mas humina na yung epekto ng habagat sa ating bansa pero since 3-5 days pa yan, maaari pa itong magbago,’ she added.

(Expect that the southwest monsoon will continue to prevail over a huge part of Luzon and by around August 29, its effects will weaken but since it’s around 3-5 days, it may still change.)

Meanwhile, the Visayas and Mindanao remain unaffected by the southwest monsoon and are likely to see partly cloudy to cloudy skies conditions with chances of thunderstorms. Torres also said that hot and humid weather conditions are possible in the morning until noon, and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

No gale warning is still hoisted in any seaboards of the country.

Temperature forecast of the following areas:

Metro Manila: 26°C to 31°C

Laoag: 25°C to 29°C

Baguio: 17°C to 20°C

Tagaytay: 23°C to 29°C

Tuguegarao: 25°C to 32°C

Legazpi: 26°C to 33°C

Puerto Princesa: 25°C to 32°C

Kalayaan Islands: 25°C to 32°C

Cebu: 26°C to 34°C

Tacloban: 26°C to 34°C

Cagayan de Oro: 25°C to 34°C

Zamboanga: 25°C to 34°C

Davao: 26°C to 34°C

Weather disturbances outside the PAR

Torres said that Typhoon Saudel (formerly Obet) was last located 1,180 kilometers east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m. It exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday, 9:30 p.m.

Torres added that as it moved northward, it may enhance the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, she noted that Tropical Depression Atsani was last estimated 1,760 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. As it was seen near the boundary of the PAR, its possibility of entering the PAR is not ruled out.

Korean actors Jang Dong-yoon and Kim Seung-yoon delighted fans after the couple revealed their upcoming wedding in October.

The couple’s wedding plans were confirmed by Jang through a handwritten statement he shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

‘I’m writing this because I have some news that I wanted to share with you personally today. This coming October, I will be marrying someone I have been with for a long time,’ he said in Korean, as per an English translation by Korean media outlet Soompi.

The actor said he and Kim will hold a ‘quiet wedding ceremony in the form of a worship service’ along with their families.

‘There were many thoughts and considerations that went into making the decision to get married. As we spent a long time together and came to know each other in many different ways, we came to understand and cherish each other even more,’ he continued.

‘Now, we have decided to be there for each other as our closest confidants and to build a fun and happy life together,’ he added.

Jang addressed fans and thanked them for their support throughout his career.

‘I know this news may come as a surprise, but I would be grateful if you could look upon us with warm hearts and continue to support us,’ he said. ‘I will continue to do my best to impress as an actor while also striving to live more maturely as a person.’

The pair’s wedding was also confirmed by Jang’s talent agency BH Entertainment.

‘Jang Dong-yoon and Kim Seung-yoon will get married in October,’ it said.

Jang and Kim first worked together in the 2019 South Korean series ‘The Tale of Nokdu,’ which marked the latter’s acting debut. The two reportedly began dating privately after the series ended

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla proposed making charges related to unregistered firearms punishable by jail terms of up to 20 years long in a bid to combat gun-related violence.

‘Now, when you catch someone with loose firearms, it’s bailable. Lalabas ka lang. You have a record pero bailable, then you go to a hearing,’ Remulla said in a statement on Tuesday.

(Now, when you catch someone with loose firearms, it’s bailable. You can just post bail. You have a record, but it’s bailable, then you go to a hearing.)

‘I’m asking Congress to take steps to make it non-bailable and to make it [punishable by a jail term of] 20 years,’ he added.

Remulla previously called on lawmakers to make charges related to loose firearms a nonbailable offense by amending Republic Act No. 8294, colloquially known as the ‘Robin Padilla Law.’

The secretary’s proposal was in response to the fatal school shootings in Tacloban City on June 22 and Zamboanga City on August 18, both involving government-issued firearms wielded by their owners’ minor relatives.

The DILG chief earlier explained that, in both incidents, the gun owners themselves may only face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, which is punishable by prison correccional or up to six years of imprisonment.

According to Remulla, he was expecting his push for tougher gun laws to be addressed by Congress by next January.

‘Gun ownership also carries with it gun responsibility. The government should have the right to inspect their homes at any time and to see if the guns are in safekeeping at any time,’ he said.

‘It is a privilege granted in the Philippines. It is a privilege, not a right,’ he added.

The DILG chief particularly highlighted that, in the wake of both the Tacloban and Zamboanga incidents, law enforcement agencies must review their firearm policies.

‘We have to be strict with all our policies with uniformed personnel and let them realize the gravity of the situation that’s happening,’ Remulla said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified a group of ‘groomers’ who allegedly recruit minors to carry out acts of violence, Director Melvin Matibag said Tuesday.

The development comes as the NBI investigates the recent school shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) Junior High School, where the shooter-a 14-year-old Grade 8 male student-also documented the incident through Facebook Live.

In a press conference, Matibag said that based on their initial investigation, the supposed groomers, who he said have a group chat, target minors aged 12 to 19.

‘There is a group, the groomers, who were friends with – they will profile you. Initially, they’ll be very friendly, look at your profile, your family, your capability. Then there it is, they teach you [to commit violence],’ Matibag said.

‘We entered this group chat. But that group collapsed for some reason,’ he said.

Matibag also mentioned that he – along with officials from the Office of the President, Office of the Speaker, Department of Information and Communications Technology and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center – will meet with Meta in Singapore on Thursday to seek help in probing the incident.

In an ambush interview, Matibag said the ‘groomers’ in the group chat number approximately 1,000 individuals.

‘There are members from other countries but mostly Filipinos,’ he added.

‘Initiation’

According to Matibag, the group allegedly has what he described as an ‘initiation’ that directs members to carry out violent acts, such as bomb-making, and engage in other illegal activities.

‘It’s like initiation. You will be promoted. You’re taught – there’s this like Bible that if you do it, you’ll be promoted,’ he said.

‘You have a group that you’re taking care of. The thinking is … after you do that task and then kill yourself, you’ll be elevated to sainthood. Something like that,’ he added.

Matibag said the NBI is verifying whether the supposed group of groomers is connected to the AdZU school shooting and other school-related incidents in the country.

He also said the NBI will profile the individuals who shared the AdZU student’s video of the incident.

‘That’s why it was broadcast live; people were watching. He wanted an audience. Who was there? It could be the groomer or the head…That’s why we will profile everyone,’ he explained.

Based on the authorities’ initial investigation, the AdZU student entered the school on Aug. 18 armed with a 9mm Glock pistol.

He shot a 15-year-old Grade 10 male student inside Room 404 of the university’s high school building, killing him instantly.

Afterward, the shooter ran to another floor while yelling and then turned the gun on himself.

Before the incident, several cases of school-related violence – such as stabbing and shooting – had been reported in the country over the past three months, starting June 16. /mcm

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has signed an airport use agreement (AUA) with the Philippine Airlines (PAL), governing the flag carrier’s operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The agreement sets key performance indicators aimed at improving operational efficiency and aligning airline operations with the service levels NNIC itself is required to meet under its concession agreement with the government, the airport operator said in a news release Tuesday.

‘This agreement gives us a clearer framework for setting expectations, measuring performance and working together to maintain consistent service standards,’ NNIC President Ramon Ang said.

The consortium intends to use the AUA with PAL as the template for similar arrangements with other airlines operating at the country’s primary gateway.

By establishing common performance requirements and clearer accountability, the NNIC could better monitor service levels, and identify where operational problems occur and require corrective action when necessary.

The AUA governs PAL’s use of airport facilities and infrastructure and sets out the respective responsibilities of the airline and airport operator.

Its framework was designed to support more consistent performance across airport operations and improve coordination among the different parties involved in moving passengers, baggage and aircraft.

‘This is a positive development for both PAL and NNIC, and ultimately for our passengers. It supports the continuing modernization of NAIA and our collective goal of delivering a better airport experience,’ PAL Holdings President Lucio Tan III was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the NNIC said it is taking similar approach in its agreements with ground handling and other service providers, setting operating requirements for companies performing critical functions on behalf of airlines within the airport.