Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The water level at Laguna de Bay declined slightly to 12.39 meters on Tuesday morning (Aug. 25), after reaching its critical high-water mark of 12.50 meters last week, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) reported in an advisory.

The agency said the 12.39-meter reading was recorded at 10 a.m.

According to the LLDA, the lake reached its critical high-water level of 12.50 meters last week.’Since then, water levels have gradually receded following the cessation of intense rainfall associated with the recent tropical cyclone activity and the enhanced southwest monsoon,’ the agency said.

The LLDA considers 10.50 meters as the lake’s critical low-water level and 12.50 meters as its critical high-water level.

Despite the decline, the agency earlier warned of a continued high risk of algal blooms and possible fish kills in Laguna de Bay.

In its Aug. 21 advisory, the LLDA said prevailing cloudy conditions and the lake’s elevated water level were generally less favorable for immediate algal growth, which typically thrives in warm, sunny and stagnant conditions.

However, the agency warned that changes in weather and water conditions could trigger or intensify algal blooms.

The LLDA explained that warmer water can accelerate algal growth, while intermittent winds and rainfall can stir up nutrient-rich sediments from the lake bottom to the surface, providing additional nutrients that support algal proliferation.

Algal blooms can become harmful when the algae die and decompose, consuming dissolved oxygen in the water. Dissolved oxygen levels below 5 milligrams per liter can already stress fish, while further depletion may lead to fish kills.

‘This sequence of environmental events creates a direct mechanism leading to potential fish mortality,’ the LLDA said.

The agency urged aquaculture operators to closely monitor fish behavior, particularly during early morning hours when dissolved oxygen levels are naturally at their lowest.

Fish swimming near the surface or gasping for air may indicate low dissolved oxygen levels. When such signs are observed, operators are advised to immediately activate mechanical aerators or paddle wheels to improve water circulation and oxygenation.

The LLDA also recommended early harvesting if severe distress persists and the fish have already reached marketable size, to prevent mass mortality or fishkill episodes and minimize financial losses.

The agency also warned the public against buying or consuming fish found floating in Laguna de Bay, as decomposing fish may expose consumers to harmful bacteria.

Laguna de Bay serves as a natural catch basin for watersheds in Laguna and Rizal provinces and parts of Metro Manila. Rising lake levels therefore pose a potential flooding threat to low-lying lakeshore communities.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union- La Union Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega assumed the chairmanship of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Ilocos Region, taking his oath of office on Monday at the provincial Capitol.

Ortega took his oath before Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr., regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

With his designation, Ortega will spearhead and strengthen collaborative efforts among government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders in implementing programs and initiatives aimed at promoting peace and order, public safety, preventing crimes, and addressing security concerns across the Ilocos Region.

‘It is an honor to be appointed to this position. It is not only an honor for me but also for the province because this recognizes our capability. But this is not an easy task because we are looking after the safety not only of our province but of the entire region and the country, especially with what is happening in the West Philippine Sea,’ he said.

Pag-IBIG Fund’s gross housing-related assets breached the P1-trillion mark in the first seven months of the year on the back of higher financing for members and housing developers.

In a statement on Tuesday, Pag-IBIG said its gross housing-related assets reached P1.01 trillion as of end-July.

Furthermore, housing-related loans accounted for the bulk of these assets at P971.39 billion, while the remaining P38.47 billion came from other housing-related assets.

Separately, housing and wholesale loan releases climbed 12 percent to P88.84 billion during the period from P72.61 billion a year earlier.

‘Reaching more than P1 trillion in housing-related assets is an important milestone. It means more financing is reaching Filipino homebuyers, while qualified developers and institutions receive greater support to provide housing,’ Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.

‘As investments in housing grow, they also help stimulate the industry, support construction and related sectors, create jobs and contribute to broader economic growth,’ he added.

Pag-IBIG invests at least 70 percent of its available funds in housing. This approach allows the pooled savings of its members to finance homes and housing development while generating earnings that help protect and grow these funds.

Earlier, the fund reported that its net income in the first half of the year rose 24 percent to P41.35 billion. Earnings from investments in bonds, preferred shares, and time deposits surged 47 percent to P6.85 billion.Pag-IBIG is currently offering a maximum housing loan of P10 million and a 3-percent subsidized housing loan rate for qualified low-income borrowers. Likewise, it offers promotional rates ranging from 4.5 percent to 5.75 percent for other qualified housing loans until the end of the year

Titan Ultra rookie Bryan Sajonia underwent surgery on his left ACL almost two weeks after getting hurt in a PBA Governors’ Cup game against San Miguel Beer.

The Giant Risers posted a photo of Sajonia being flanked by team manager Jessica Arsalon and physical therapist Reez Jacinto following the procedure that took place on Tuesday.

‘The procedure was successful, and Bryan will now begin his recovery and rehabilitation,’ the Giant Risers said. ‘We also wish to clarify that the surgery was specifically for Bryan’s left ACL and lateral meniscus injury.’

Sajonia sustained the injury during the third quarter of Titan Ultra’s 143-113 loss on Aug. 12 at Ynares Center in Antipolo, when his left knee buckled during a fastbreak play.

It was a major setback for Sajonia, who has been one of the bright spots amid the Giant Risers’ struggles throughout the 50th season.

The injury also came a day after NLEX import DeQuan Jones broke his right leg in a game against TNT at the same venue.

Jones has since undergone two surgeries at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Before Sajonia’s injury, Titan Ultra was already shorthanded with an injury suffered by fellow rookie Mark Omega due to a scary fall against Macau

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is proposing a ‘One Business Start Date’ that would allow companies to begin commercial operations once they secure their SEC registration or other primary regulatory license, even while other government permits are still being processed.

On Monday, the SEC said the proposal is among the corporate regulator’s next-wave reforms aimed at cutting the time between company registration and the actual start of operations.

Under the planned system, businesses could complete other government permits in parallel instead of waiting for all requirements before commencing operations.

‘Ease of doing business is still very high in our agenda,’ SEC Chair Francis Lim told reporters on Monday.

Lim said the SEC would continue automating and digitizing its processes as part of its push to reduce regulatory hurdles.

The regulator has already imposed strict internal processing timelines, including a ‘deemed approved’ policy for applications that are not acted upon within prescribed periods.

It also cut fees for corporate document requests. The SEC said cumulative discounts had reached nearly P263 million as of July after fees were reduced by half in 2025 and by another 25 percent this year.

Discounts granted to micro, small and medium enterprises reached P157.31 million as of July.

The SEC recorded 28,724 newly registered corporations as of July, bringing the number of active corporations to 613,553.

Beyond business registration, the regulator is pursuing changes to deepen the capital market.

It is working with the World Bank to separate regulatory requirements for debt and equity public offerings, while also developing market-making rules with the Philippine Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

The SEC is separately reviewing margin trading rules to improve market liquidity.

The regulator is also developing a Philippine Capital Market Master Plan with the Asian Development Bank, part of its push to position the country among Southeast Asia’s leading capital markets by 2030.

Meanwhile, SEC Commissioner McJill Bryant Fernandez said the proposed initial public offerings of GCash parent Mynt and PLDT Inc.’s VITRO data center REIT remain targeted for the fourth quarter.

These companies are still submitting requirements, Fernandez said.

Assistant Secretary and chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio confirmed Tuesday that he provided P150,000 out of his own pocket to cover the excess expenses under the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds (CF).

During the 18th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Ortonio said he paid for the amount due to an urgent request from Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, the security officer who was said to ‘implement’ the OVP’s confidential funds.

‘This was raised to me by Miss Gina Acosta, our [special disbursing officer], and then she mentioned that there was a request,’ Ortonio said.

This statement echoes Acosta’s testimony on Monday saying that it was indeed Ortonio who provided the difference, but Acosta clarified that she has no personal knowledge regarding where Ortonio got the money.

Flagged by COA

The P150,000 discrepancy was the amount flagged in the Commission on Audit (COA)’s Notice of Suspension (NS) on the OVP’s confidential fund utilization.

While the accomplishment report reflected expenses totaling P125 million which is equal to the cash advance of the OVP, the documents evidencing payments submitted to COA showed actual expenses amounting to P125,150,000.

When the NS was issued to the OVP, Ortonio initially told COA that acknowledgement receipts sent to liquidate the confidential funds may have been ‘inadvertently mixed with other documents.’

Nine days later, however, he submitted a supplemental reply clarifying that the P150,000 difference had been covered using his personal funds.

‘The reconciliation shows that an amount of P50,000.00 under Payment of Reward, and an amount of P100,000.00 under Purchase of Supplies, were provided by Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio out of his personal funds, due to the urgency of the expenses,’ his supplemental response read.

Ortonio’s salary

Meanwhile, Divinagracia pointed out that the P150,000 that Ortonio shouldered was just P40,000 shy of the OVP assistant chief of staff’s monthly salary of P180,000 to 190,000 as he worked under the Salary Grade 29.

Asked during trial whether it was common for the OVP to ask employees to shoulder expenses from their own pocket, Ortonio replied, ‘No, it’s not common.’

Divinagracia then questioned why he appeared to have forgotten the personal cash outlay when he replied to the NS.

WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | August 25, 2026

Ortonio said he initially responded because they needed to submit a reply, but later provided a supplemental response after verifying the details to ensure that the information submitted was accurate.

‘At the time, because of the urgency and because Miss Gina asked for help, I provided her with the request,’ Ortonio said.

Divinagracia asked whether the OVP has records for Ortonio paying for the amount himself but Ortonio answered in the negative. He was also asked if it was ever paid back to him.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P1 billion to the University of the Philippines (UP) for Project Noah’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered flood forecasting and real-time hazard monitoring.

The DBM made the announcement as the country prepares for Typhoon Obet (international name: Saudel), although it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility within 12 hours.

‘Obet will remain far from the Philippine landmass,’ the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.

Moving west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), the typhoon is currently packing a maximum wind speed of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

In a statement, the DBM said that funding for Project Noah reinforces government efforts to shift disaster management from response to risk anticipation and hazard prevention.

‘This … is an investment in prevention. We are putting science, AI, and real-time hazard information to work so [the] government can act earlier, communities can prepare better, and more Filipino lives and livelihoods can be protected,’ acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said.

‘The best disaster management is when we are able to prevent disasters from becoming a catastrophe. Every peso we invest in better forecasting and preparedness can help save lives, protect livelihoods, and avoid far greater losses later on,’ he added.

Of the P1 billion, P935 million will be used to support research services while the rest will fund general management and supervision for the implementation of Project Noah, the DBM said.

Implemented by the UP Resilience Institute, Project Noah advances disaster risk reduction and management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation through research, development and extension services.

The program harnesses AI-enhanced modeling, Lidar mapping, data analytics and other digital technologies to generate real-time hazard assessments, predictive flood scenarios and science-based information.

‘The funding will support the procurement and deployment of critical ICT, digital, technical and scientific equipment; the engagement of highly specialized technical personnel; and the establishment of operational support systems needed to strengthen the country’s hazard assessment and forecasting capabilities,’ the DBM said.

The police freed an 18-year-old woman from the clutches of her father, a 55-year-old laborer, who took her hostage at their home in Bugallon, Pangasinan on Monday afternoon, Aug. 24.

The suspect was armed with a bolo, said Police Col. Dennis de Leon, officer in charge of the Pangasinan Police Office.

‘In the course of the negotiation, the suspect eventually threw the bolo outside (of the house), thereby temporarily reducing the immediate threat. However, the suspect subsequently exhibited aggressive behavior and physically hurt his daughter,’ the police reported.

A team composed of de Leon, Police Maj. Rodolfo Labayo Jr., officer in charge of the Bugallon police, and the SWAT team led by Police Capt. John Ramos implemented an operational plan to safely restrain the suspect and rescue the victim.

The father was taken into police custody. His wife told police that he had been experiencing emotional distress following the deaths of their two sons in 2004 and 2018.

‘The suspect reportedly believed that someone had poisoned his sons, which allegedly caused him to become increasingly distressed and suspicious,’ the police said.

The wife said the suspect had also hurt her and her three other children and held them hostage until she found a way to escape with her children. However, the 18-year-old woman was unable to get out, prompting responding police officers to take immediate action to ensure her safety

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest numbers initially look like the best poverty statistics the country has produced in decades.

Poverty incidence among individuals fell to 9.7 percent in 2025, down from 18.1 percent in 2021; among families, it dropped to 6.4 percent, the first time this figure has fallen into single digits.

Officials at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development have framed this as vindication as 8.8 million Filipinos, they say, were lifted out of poverty in four years.

Some of that story is real.

Income among the poorest tenth of the population grew faster than the national average between 2023 and 2025-23.8 percent, against a 22 percent mean-suggesting workers genuinely moved from low-productivity agriculture into better-paying construction and services jobs.

Cash transfers added a steadier layer beneath that. None of this should be dismissed.

But a second story is embedded in these numbers. This refers to the instrument doing the measuring, not the households being measured.

The threshold behind these figures-P14,634 a month for a family of five in 2025-rests on a food bundle whose adequacy PSA’s own leadership has publicly questioned.

At a press briefing on August 15, 2024, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa acknowledged, amid sustained criticism, that the prevailing food threshold-then about P64 a day, or P21 per meal-was ‘really insufficient,’ though he defended it as reflecting minimum basic needs at least cost.

Methodology

PSA committed to revising the methodology, a review that, by Mapa’s own account, had been due since 2021.

Two years on from that admission, and four years past the original deadline, it still has not been implemented.

That commitment has since acquired specifics.

Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee in late August 2025, as reported by business newspapers, Economy Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the revised threshold would account for age, sex, and household size, drawing on new 2024 census data.

The current threshold is fundamentally based on food subsistence, but poverty is simply beyond food expenditures. This explains the need to consider the other factors in the equation.

But this recalibration still awaits PSA Board approval, and until then, the 2023 methodology stays in force.

Under the current methodology, the monthly threshold for a family of five rose from P13,873 in 2023 to P14,634 in 2025, just 5.5 percent over two years, barely ahead of ordinary price movement and nowhere near what correcting an inadequate food basket would produce.

Had Edillon’s revised methodology already taken effect, we would expect a larger jump.

A family newly counted as ‘nonpoor’ in the current setup can be living close to genuine food subsistence but may not be able to meet other basic necessities.

The milestone is thus real relative to the ruler. However, it is less clear if it is real relative to what the ruler is meant to measure.

There is a defense of this delayed adjustment worth taking seriously. The argument is that if the threshold changed every cycle, no one could tell whether poverty moved because conditions changed or the ruler did.

On this reading, officials are treating the threshold the way a scientist treats a control group. Though imperfect, the control allows year-on-year comparisons to evaluate logically the effect of government programs.

Changing it midcycle would be moving the goalposts midcontest, making this a fair and logical government line of defense.

But consistency and accuracy are not the same virtue.

A standard fix for this tension would involve revising the instrument, then rebasing the historical series under the new definition, rather than leaving it in place indefinitely.

PSA used this approach when it periodically updates GDP base years, allowing the record to remain comparable and accurate at once as every prior year gets restated on the corrected basket.

The 2023 methodology now in use is itself the product of an earlier revision.

‘Never change the ruler’ has never really been the operating principle. Mapa’s own team showed this is feasible when it ran a sensitivity simulation raising the threshold 10 percent against 2023 data.

Clearly, what is missing is not method, but political will.

Revison

Timing also compounds the problem. The 2025 survey window largely predates the sharpest phase of this year’s economic deterioration. Since then, inflation has climbed back above 6 percent on Middle East-driven oil and food shocks, and GDP growth slowed to 2.3 percent in the second quarter, the weakest reading in years. None of which shows up in the 9.7 percent figure.

We are celebrating a snapshot of an economy that no longer exists, measured with a calibration that is itself under review.

The government need not abandon the genuine progress here to acknowledge the threshold is overdue for revision.

The revision, whenever it lands, could push the official rate back up for reasons that have nothing to do with households getting poorer.

Hence, this would not be seen as a step backward, but an honest attempt to measure poverty accurately.

The least that DEPDev and PSA can do now is to publish a simulation of the 2025 rate under the proposed threshold, as PSA did for 2023.

Absent that, the milestone risks becoming a number the government has every incentive to protect by delaying a correction it already promised-not through deceit, but because no administration wants its own reform to erase its signature achievement.

Filipinos deserve a poverty statistic that survives contact with an honest yardstick. Right now, we don’t know if this one does. -contributed

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said the anti-graft body is investigating to determine if there is corruption in flood control projects in Davao City, which he tagged as the ‘epicenter’ of budget allocations in the past administration.

Remulla made this remark during the House committee on appropriations deliberating the Office of the Ombudsman’s P7 billion proposed budget.

Act Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio asked Remulla: ‘Is the Ombudsman doing anything to investigate flood control corruption issues during the previous administration?’

‘Yes, but it is not really easy,’ Remulla responded. ‘The epicenter of flood control before the Marcos administration is Davao City.’

Remulla noted it’s hard to penetrate the ‘ecosystem of corruption’ in the city.

‘It’s hard to get information, so many people don’t want to talk, but we don’t stop,’ he further said.

In response, Tinio said, ‘What was said is clear: Davao City is the epicenter of flood control corruption in the past administration.’

However, Remulla quickly clarified: ‘I will not make that conclusion immediately; we are studying this, because what’s important is we see the evidence on the ground.’

After the hearing, he clarified that he tagged Davao City as the ‘epicenter’ because of the large amount of funds allocated to the city.

‘[Epicenter] of flood control, because there was a big budget in the past in Davao City in flood control, that’s what I know,’ Remulla said when asked what he exactly meant by ‘epicenter.’

Pressed once more if the ‘epicenter’ does not refer to corruption per se, he said: ‘Well, we will check out the flood control there.’