Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Early this month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a plan to cap interest rates and other fees charged by lending and financing companies, particularly online lending apps (OLAs) that have proliferated and are easily accessible on social media, as part of government efforts to help tens of thousands of Filipinos victimized and trapped in debt caused by predatory lending practices.

‘The number of borrowers struggling under excessive interest rates has continued to grow in recent years, as certain entities exploit the accessibility of [OLAs] to trap our fellow kababayans in cycles of debt,’ lamented SEC Chair Francis Lim.

High interest rates are at the root of the harassment problems now plaguing the online lending space. A study by Digido Finance Corp. released last January showed that the local online lending sector expanded by 28 percent yearly from 2013 to 2023, with the growth fueled by Gen Z, the so-called first ‘digital natives’ who grew up with the internet, smartphones and social media. It noted that the total number of OLA downloads soared by 56.4 percent to 73.5 million in 2024, but this growth was accompanied by an increase in online violations by lenders against the borrowers.

Last July, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported that the majority of the 156,000 complaints the police receive a month were from victims who complained of harassment after using OLAs.

Low-income Filipinos

According to PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, victims are often low-income Filipinos who turned to OLAs for emergency cash to meet payments for rent, tuition, and even medical bills. But instead of receiving help, the exorbitant interest rate of as much as 40 percent a month led many borrowers to deal with repeated intimidation and abuse, with online lenders illegally using personal information such as photos, contacts, and online profiles to shame them.

OLAs also resort to messaging coworkers and relatives with obscene or defamatory messages. Artificial intelligence or AI is also being used to put borrowers in lewd videos that are sent to their friends and officemates. Cruz warned that the psychological toll has become alarming, forcing some to resign from their jobs and others ending up with mental illnesses. Authorities also noted that some OLAs have used forged court orders to pressure borrowers into paying.

Addressing the harassment problem will need the participation of several government agencies. The PAOCC, for its part, must intensify its crackdown not only on illegal OLAs, but also on their third-party collectors who do the dirty job. They must be charged for violations of the privacy act and other pertinent laws.

Keyboard warriors

Last September, Cruz reported that about 300 cases were filed in the past two months at the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group as well as the National Bureau of Investigation against OLAs’ abusive keyboard warriors, who get a certain percentage for every collection made.

The SEC must also review further its proposed interest rate cap. Under its proposed rules, the ceiling on interest rates and other fees will apply to unsecured loans with a maximum amount of P20,000 and terms of no more than six months. However, the plan is to limit the nominal interest rate at 6 percent a month and the effective interest rate, including all other costs and fees, at 10 percent a month. These rates remain well above the interest on traditional loans from banks and credit card companies.

For Congress, lawmakers need to act on proposed bills seeking to investigate or regulate OLAs that have remained stuck at the committee on banks and financial intermediaries.

Prospective borrowers, for their part, must first verify a lending company’s legitimacy by checking the SEC’s official list of registered entities before engaging their services.

Cycle of debt

Harassment victims, meanwhile, must bring their cases to the PAOCC’s one-stop shop for complainants. The one-stop shop was launched in June this year at its main office in Pasay City to handle complaints of victims of abusive online lending applications in collaboration with the Department of Justice for free legal assistance, the PNP, SEC, and the National Telecommunications Commission. The National Privacy Commission, meanwhile, will handle complaints related to the misuse of personal data by OLAs, particularly the shaming of borrowers or disclosure of personal information.

There is no stopping people without access to formal credit from tapping these OLAs because wages have long failed to cope with the rise in the prices of essential goods and services. However, they have to be extra careful even before clicking on their mobile phones a lending app with a tempting offer. The government can only do so much to protect and help them. They have to do the heavy lifting if they are to avoid being trapped in a cycle of debt from predatory lenders.

The summer capital and a large swath of Luzon, including the Cordillera provinces of Benguet and Mountain Province and the Ilocos provinces of Pangasinan and La Union, were plunged into darkness since about 10 p.m. Sunday by the country’s grid manager as Supertyphoon Uwan hammered communities with destructive winds and rain.

As of Monday, the entire Baguio City remains without electricity because of repairs to the La Trinidad-Sablan (Benguet) 69 kV line by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which has affected all service areas of the Benguet Electric Cooperative.

Beneco work crews have been inspecting power lines and assisting city workers in removing trees toppled by Uwan since 2 am during calm moments of the storm.

NGCP also conducted repairs on the Bauang-San Fabia 69 kV line that caused the outage in several substations of the La Union Electric Cooperative

Purging inactive renewable energy projects opens fresh opportunities as more investors line up to enter the Philippine market, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin.

The energy chief, who attended the Asia Clean Energy Summit 2025 in Singapore last month, said that many investors had expressed a desire to build clean power assets in the Philippines.

‘We’re telling them we’re purging and trying to clean up, and there will be other areas that are more interesting that are not moving,’ she told reporters recently.

Garin said that the agency continues its crackdown on stagnant projects.

In 2024, the DOE began weeding out idle renewable energy projects, starting with about 105 producers.

Officials, however, could not provide updated figures on the number of developers and the total capacity of terminated contracts.

‘We’ll continue to purge. We’re just giving them the due process, the notice, the show-cause orders and all that. If the projects are not moving, then they should not be holding those contracts,’ Garin said.

Earlier, the DOE said it was studying a new mechanism that could speed up the revival of renewable energy contracts. This would be faster compared to the usual open and competitive selection process.

More power investments from abroad

Meanwhile, Garin said that foreign investors’ appetite in the Philippine power sector remains resilient despite the ongoing corruption issues surrounding government projects.

Her visit to Singapore had proven this, she said.

‘That’s shown by the many meetings we’ve had with many investors from all over the world wanting to invest in the Philippines,’ she said earlier.

‘So I think it’s still very positive, and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about as far as energy is concerned,’ Garin said.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella also noted that there was a growing interest in the country’s upstream petroleum sector. This followed the signing in October of eight new service contracts worth about $207 million. -Lisbet K. Esmael

Twenty-six police stations and headquarters sustained damage due to the onslaught of Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong), the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday, PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the following municipal police stations were affected:

Cagayan Valley Region

Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya

Western Visayas

Libertad, Antique

Eastern Visayas

Saint Bernard, Leyte

Anahawan, Leyte

San Francisco, Leyte

Mercedes, Eastern Samar

Arteche, Eastern Samar

Oras, Eastern Samar

San Policarpio, Eastern Samar

Dolores, Eastern Samar

Balangiga, Eastern Samar

Maslog, Eastern Samar

An 11th municipal police station in Eastern Visayas was also damaged, but the regional police has not yet submitted a full report, according to Tuaño.

Similarly, two regional headquarters and 11 police stations were damaged by the typhoon in Bicol Region, but the regional police office has yet to submit a full report, the PNP public information chief added.

The affected police stations had broken roofs, gutters, and windows, Tuaño further noted.

‘Still, the police there are operational. The damage is rather minor, if we could say so, not that heavy. Even if there was damage, our police are still there,’ PNP community relations deputy director Brig. Gen. Vina Guzman said at the press briefing. ‘

Tuaño also reported that 27 uniformed and one non-uniformed PNP personnel had their homes damaged by Typhoon Uwan but were not injured.He said the affected personnel may seek financial assistance from the national police force.

In a statement earlier on Monday, acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force deployed 25,878 personnel across the affected regions in response to the typhoon.

Uwan was last spotted approximately 135 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Bacnotan, La Union at 10 a.m. on Monday, according to the latest update by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 130 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 160 kph while moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

The 5150 FAB Triathlon that unfolds on Sunday at Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles promises a challenge of a different kind as it will redefine racing for both seasoned triathletes and ambitious first-timers.

Designed to test endurance while showcasing Bataan’s natural beauty, this year’s course is shaping up to become a signature race on the country’s multisport calendar.

Building on the success of the FAB Recon Race, the inaugural edition features a 1.5-kilometer (km) swim in calm, crystal-clear waters, a 40-km bike ride across rolling coastal hills with stunning views of the West Philippine Sea and a 10-km, two-loop run through shaded, scenic roads.

Every leg has been carefully crafted to blend competition, safety and scenery-a rare mix that has athletes calling Bataan a rising destination for endurance racing.

‘It’s ideal for beginners who want a challenge on their first try, especially on the bike leg,’ said seasoned campaigner Mervin Santiago. ‘You’ll feel the thrill of pushing your limits.’

Spicing up the race, organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., is the Sunrise Sprint ran at a distance of 750-meter swim, a 20-km bike ride and a 5-km run. It is designed to be an accessible entry point into triathlon for both beginners and experienced athletes.

Authorities confiscated a total of P27.6 million worth of allegedly illegal cigarettes and arrested two individuals in separate operations in Bulacan and Bataan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized 384 master cases of assorted tobacco products valued at P26.88 million from a warehouse in Barangay Poblacion, Guiguinto, Bulacan, on the night of Nov. 5, the PNP said in a statement.

During the operation, police arrested a 39-year-old Chinese man whom the CIDG identified as ‘Lin.’

The operation stemmed from a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) mission order for alleged violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code; RA No. 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law; and RA No. 8424, or the National Internal Revenue Code.

Later that same night, the CIDG also seized assorted tobacco products valued at P730,100 from another facility in Barangay Panilao, Pilar, Bataan, according to the PNP.

The operation led to the arrest of a 41-year-old woman identified by the CIDG as ‘Mitch.’

She was allegedly selling tobacco products that did not conform to consumer product standards, a violation of RA No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the CIDG said.

The arrested suspects were taken into the custody of their respective CIDG field units.

As Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung Wong) continues to ravage several parts of Luzon after making landfall in Aurora on Sunday night, several areas experienced its impact even before the weather disturbance reached the Philippine landmass.

As of writing, Uwan was last spotted in the vicinity of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya just after making landfall at 9:10 p.m. in Aurora. However, as early as 8 a.m. on Sunday, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) of Dipaculao, Aurora reported that Amper Boulevard was no longer passable due to the effects of Uwan. Consistent strong and high waves also began battering Aurora’s coasts on Sunday morning, with residents in Dingalan, Aurora reporting that waves were intensifying as the typhoon moved closer. In Albay, a Philippine National Railways bridge located between Mapon and San Rafael sustained damage after being struck by a strong current of water brought by Uwan. The Department of Transportation later confirmed this, saying that an assessment will soon be conducted on the bridge ‘once safe to do so.’ By 5 p.m., stronger winds were already tearing through parts of Luzon.

In Barangay Magang, Daet, Camarines Norte, a roof was ripped off by the storm. Just a few minutes before Uwan finally made landfall in Aurora, strong winds and intense rain were also already affecting Isabela.

A multititled cast of former Philippine Open champions and multiple leg winners in the regular men’s PGT will see action in a very different setting as they play in the first Stronghold Insurance Senior Open slated Dec. 8 to Dec. 10 at tree-lined Hallow Ridge in San Pedro, Laguna.

Robert Pactolerin and Mario Manubay, ex-Open champs of different eras, have signed up and will headline different divisions, even as Antonio Lascuña, the only five-time winner of the PGT’s Order of Merit, looms as the man to beat in the premier 50-59 class that will offer a top prize of P150,000.

This is by far the biggest event ever put up for pros over 50, even as a field as big as 10 international players coming from Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia have already expressed interest in competing.

‘It’s certainly a welcome addition to the local professional golf landscape,’ the 54-year-old Lascuña said in Filipino, even welcoming the participation of the foreign aces. ‘That will add color to the tournament. The competition is something we are all looking forward to.’

Stronghold Insurance has held senior tournaments in the past, albeit shorter ones. And this is the company’s first foray in a multiple-round tournament, with its president and general manager, Romulo Delos Reyes Jr., having a soft spot for the country’s senior players.

The 50-59 class, which will be known as the Senior division, and the Super Senior bracket for players who are 60-69, will be played over three rounds with a cut to be made after the first round.

There are as many as 45 players expected in the Senior bracket, not counting the foreign participants, even as a 70-and-above division crown will be disputed over 18 holes on Dec. 10, where a handsome P50,000 paycheck awaits the champion.

Mars Pucay, also a multiple PGT winner who is also the president of the senior players association, and Orlan Sumcad will be Lascuña’s chief threats.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected various drainage, waterway, and flood control projects in Navotas City on Monday as Typhoon Uwan moved away from Luzon.

Dizon inspected the Navotas Coastal Dike, which was affected by a strong storm surge during the height of Typhoon Uwan.

The inspection followed a directive by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on assessing flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.

Dizon was accompanied by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Honey Rose Mercado, Navotas Mayor John Reynald Marcelo Tiangco, and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco.

Flooding along various streets in Navotas was also reported on Monday morning due to rain and strong winds brought by Typhoon Uwan. Floodwaters have risen to almost knee-level in front of the Navotas City Hall.

In a September interview, Rep. Tiangco noted that flooding is a major concern in the city of Navotas, which sits below sea level.

DPWH officials are currently on standby for clearing operations in various areas of the country that have been hit by Uwan.

Various roads and areas were impassable due to landslides and flooding after Super Typhoon ‘Uwan’ (international name: Fung-Wong) pummeled Bicol region on Sunday, November 9.

In Baras town, the roads in the villages of Moning, Batolinao, Bagong Sirang to Paniquihan, Puraran, Agban and Salvacion were rendered not passable due to thick mud that covered the areas.

In Pandan town, local officials braved the strong winds and heavy rains to evacuate the families who were trapped in the villages of Napo, Del Norte and Del Sur.

In Masbate, the local authorities started the clearing operations of the fallen trees and debris along the main road in San Jacinto town.

In Sorsogon, waist-deep floods submerged the village of Burabod in Sorsogon City.

In Naga City in Camarines Sur, many villages were flooded after the Naga River overflowed.

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo advised the public to take precautions due to the expected high tide at around 8 p.m.

Naga City’s Panganiban Drive, Ninoy and Cory Avenue and J. Hernandez Avenue were impassable due to severe flooding and debris from fallen trees.

Some villages in Nabua town and Iriga City were also submerged in floodwaters while up to waist-deep in Baao town.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. ordered mandatory stay of the evacuees in the designated shelters due to widespread flooding