Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Philippine peso remains Asia’s ‘weakest link’ despite the central bank’s recent interest rate increase, as policymakers confront a delicate balancing act between bringing inflation under control and supporting an economy that has struggled to gain momentum.

For Asian currencies, the key question is increasingly whether inflation will remain persistent enough to warrant further monetary tightening, MUFG Bank Ltd. said in a note on Monday.

The dollar’s recent weakness had provided some support for Asian currencies, but that cushion may be fading, the global bank noted.

Last week’s market reaction to the Federal Reserve’s hawkish message following Chair Kevin Warsh’s speech at Jackson Hole suggests several Asian currencies could face a more difficult backdrop this week if increases in short-term US Treasury yields persist, the bank added.

‘The US dollar-peso has moved to fresh record highs despite hawkish rhetoric from the BSP,’ MUFG said, ‘The Philippine peso remains the region’s weakest link.’

The local currency breached the 62-per-dollar level for the first time last week, closing at 62.265 last Friday.

The decline came a day after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 5 percent at its Aug. 27 meeting, bringing the total increase in the current tightening cycle to 0.75 percentage point.

While the rate hike helped provide some support to the peso by making Philippine assets more attractive to foreign investors, analysts have said markets remained focused on broad US dollar strength, elevated oil prices and lingering uncertainty in global financial markets.

Consumer prices may have risen 6.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 13 economists polled by the Inquirer. If the forecast holds, inflation would slow from 6.2 percent in July and mark its fourth consecutive month of moderation.

In a separate note, economistst at United Overseas Bank said last week’s rate hike could be the last under the current phase of tightening. ‘Overall, forward guidance suggests that policy rates are approaching sufficiently restrictive territory,’ they said.

The Philippine sepak takraw team has been given a simple challenge ahead of the 20th Asian Games: Come home with a medal or give way to the next batch of players.

PSTAI president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero disclosed the agreement she had with members of the national team pending their departure for the Sept. 19 to Oct. 3 showcase.

‘I’d like to share that there is already a courtesy resignation on all athletes if they do not come home with a medal,’ Caballero revealed in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission media room.

‘Ready sila. Handa rin sila because they have to give way din. I mean we have given them all the support they needed for so many years. So it’s only fair for the Filipino taxpayers who pay for their allowances and support. So kumbaga, we only expect the best performance from our athletes and coaches.’

Caballero said she is confident the team can meet the challenge after its recent performance at the ISTAF World Sepaktakraw Championship-39th Thai King’s Cup in Bangkok. The Philippine men’s regu team won a historic silver medal, while the women’s quadrant team took bronze.

The Philippines also ended a 33-year podium drought in sepak takraw at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, winning bronze medals in the men’s regu and men’s quadrant.

With the team having undergone extensive training ahead of the Asian Games, Caballero believes the players are ready to face the top teams in the region.

‘They are ready. They have extensively prepared for this, and I’m confident naman sa preparations ng ating coaching team,’ said the PSTAI chief.

‘It’s the same challenge presented to them by the NSA during the Kings’ Cup. They come home with no medal, no one’s going to the Asian Games. Simply because if you can’t beat anybody in the World Cup, wala rin kayong tatalunin sa Asiad. We are not going to be tourists when we go to Japan. So we mean business.’

Jom Lerry Rafael, who was part of the Philippine teams that won silver in the King’s Cup and bronze in Hangzhou, will lead the men’s campaign alongside Jason Huerte, Reynaldo Asilum, Ronsited Gabayeron and Glindel Phori.

The women’s team includes Mary Ann Lopez, Kristine Lapsit, Rachelle Palomar, Nieva Jane Salon, Heart Makiling and Rhea Mae Dela Cruz, among others.

The men’s regu team is grouped with Thailand and host Japan, while the women’s quadrant team will face Vietnam, Thailand and India.

‘So bugbugan na tayo kaagad,’ Caballero said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) flag officers to lead by example and uphold the highest standards of integrity in their service.

In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of 21 newly promoted officers, including one vice admiral, two rear admirals, and 18 commodores, Marcos commended them for protecting the country’s maritime interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and responding to emergencies and disasters.

‘These are difficult, sometimes dangerous tasks. For these, we are all grateful for your sacrifice,’ he said.

‘So, to our newly promoted flag officers, lead by example. Uphold the highest standards of integrity. Prepare the next generation of Coast Guard leaders. Embrace innovation and modernization. Strengthen the partnerships that allow us to address challenges that no institution can tackle alone,’ the President added.

Marcos said the PCG’s responsibilities are among the most crucial in government, noting its role in patrolling the WPS and escorting and supporting maritime resupply missions.

‘The Coast Guard has also been keeping our ports and travelers safe. They inspect vessels and look after millions of passengers moving through our ports,’ he said.

‘They have protected our seas by conducting environmental inspections nationwide. And when it comes to enforcing our laws, such as going after illegal fishing, smuggling, and other threats, the Philippine Coast Guard is always among the first to respond,’ the President said.

He also highlighted the courage of PCG personnel, which he said is built through ‘training, discipline, preparation, and the readiness to act when service calls for it.’

‘This heroism is shown in the willingness to put the needs of others above your own, even when duty requires great personal risks,’ he said.

Marcos reminded the newly promoted officers to always remember whom they serve.

‘Serve in a way that honors the oath that you took today. Lead with courage and integrity. Always remember whom you serve,’ he said.

‘Ang bawat paglalayag at bawat pagbabantay ay para sa sambayanang Pilipino,’ the President added.

Gilas Pilipinas made sure to stay out of the way and let June Mar Fajardo have the spotlight to himself amid the joyous occasion of sweeping the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Once they presented him with the game ball following Sunday’s 68-56 win, Gilas players and coaches pushed Fajardo toward center court at the Mall of Asia Arena, allowing the fans to give him a warm round of applause followed by chants of ‘MVP!’

‘It feels good. It warms the heart,’ Fajardo said.

In that moment, there was no room for debate over whether Fajardo was just a big man who could dominate on the domestic front but couldn’t translate his success as a nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player to the international level.

And in that moment, too, there was only an expression of appreciation for always showing up and answering the call of national duty amid the rigors of playing nonstop basketball for both club and country.

‘Representing my country has been one of the greatest honors of my life,’ Fajardo said Monday in a social media post. ‘Every time I put on that PILIPINAS jersey, I knew I was playing for something much bigger than myself, for my family, my teammates, the people who believed in me, and everyone who supported us through every win and every loss.’

Fajardo made the homestand the final time he would don the No. 15 jersey for Gilas after 70 games across all Fiba competitions, plus several more in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.

His national career, through thick and thin, spanned 13 years.

He made his debut at the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship, also at MOA, wearing jersey No. 12 and playing a bit part in that historic run that secured Gilas a trip to the 2014 Fiba World Cup.

That World Cup was held in Seville, Spain, and it was there that Fajardo had the first of a handful of great Gilas moments, coming through in overtime to help beat Senegal and avert a winless campaign.

He was lauded when he stepped away from the fracas in a massive brawl against Australia at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, in 2018.

Fajardo won gold at the 2019 SEA Games at home but also had to endure the misery of being part of the Gilas team that fell short at the 2022 SEA Games in Vietnam.

There were also the struggles at the 2019 and 2023 editions of the World Cup, yet he experienced the euphoria of winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, ending the country’s long wait for glory at the continental showcase.

He played well when Gilas beat then-world No. 5 Latvia on its home floor at the 2024 Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but there were also hardships in recent Fiba competitions, coupled with nagging ailments, thus making the Iran game the right time to bid adieu.

And he made sure his goodbye would amount to more than simply waving to everyone. Fajardo had a hand in the second-quarter rally, and his jump hook cut the gap to 29-25 after Gilas trailed 18-7 at the end of the opening period.

It was a move he had done several times for San Miguel Beer. But it felt like more than just a shot in the eyes of many, including coach Tim Cone.

‘That was huge,’ Cone said. ‘When he got the ball and made that turn and landed that jump hook, the crowd went absolutely crazy. And that kind of gave us that lift going into halftime.’

Fajardo wound up with six points and two rebounds in seven minutes, part of the supporting cast in the win that resuscitated Gilas’ hopes of making next year’s World Cup.

And it gave him and everyone else a perfect swansong moment. Apart from getting the game ball, Fajardo had his jersey signed by the entire team, and those mementos will be placed in his cabinet alongside the awards, plaques and medals he has collected throughout his career.

‘This is it. This is really my last game,’ he said. ‘That’s why I had this ball, and I plan to frame it.’

The Philippines may need to import as much as five million metric tons of rice to secure stocks as storms, monsoon rains, and a developing El Niño drought threaten the harvest, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday.

At a congressional briefing on the 2027 budget, Tiu Laurel said the government is looking to shore up rice stocks to withstand severe weather, with imports eyed to cover next year’s first-quarter consumption.

‘It’s better that we are prepared with enough supply rather than fall short,’ he told lawmakers in Filipino.

About four million metric tons of rice have been imported so far, and shipments would likely taper during the wet harvest season before ramping up again afterward, Tiu Laurel said. The country’s rice production target this year was pegged at 19 million metric tons, he added.

‘Towards the end of this year, after our harvest season, we have to carry out additional importation… so that we are ready for the first quarter of next year,’ he said.

‘We are already front-loading what we need for the first quarter of 2027. And we need to maintain more than a 60-day buffer because the climate is different now,’ he added.

The Philippines is the world’s top rice buyer, and monsoon rains alongside a looming record El Niño could trigger a drought that could squeeze supplies of the staple grain and drive up food prices.

Last year, the country imported 3.39 million metric tons.

‘Precautionary’

Tiu Laurel said the record importation is merely a preemptive move to secure supplies after being asked what his agency is doing to boost domestic output.

‘What we are doing this year is all precautionary,’ he said.

He said the government’s thrust remains prioritizing local production and boosting yields, noting that the average output per hectare of farmland ‘is increasing.’

‘Our average yield per hectare is rising. It’s just that we’re really being hit by disasters like typhoons, flooding, and now El Niño,’ Tiu Laurel said.

The Department of Agriculture is continuing its mechanization efforts to make harvesting more efficient, including putting up 380 drying equipment nationwide for unhusked rice and corn, he said.

Expanding irrigation coverage is also a priority for the government, alongside research on inbred and hybrid seeds to develop resilient rice varieties, he added.

We also have a new policy to push: if you want to import, you’ll be required to invest in the local industry, in its infrastructure, and you’ll need to buy palay from our farmers in order to secure an import allocation,’ Tiu Laurel said.

A renovated Burnham Lake welcomed visitors and residents who had missed its traditional boat rides on Tuesday, Sept. 1, after nearly a year behind construction barriers for a P480-million rehabilitation project.

People scampered down new boardwalks surrounding the century-old man-made lake following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) head Mark Lapid, and Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan.

Built alongside Baguio 117 years ago by the American colonial government, the lake had been closed since October 2025 for a rehabilitation and improvement project.

The nearly four-hectare lake forms part of the 33-hectare Burnham Park, which was part of Baguio’s original design drawn up in 1903 by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham.

The rehabilitation included a new wooden boardwalk, reinforced lake embankments, improvements to the view deck, and new boats for returning concessionaires.

The city government said the lake’s reopening does not mean all areas of Burnham Park have reopened, as some facilities remain subject to safety assessments.

The next phase of rehabilitation will cover the Children’s Park, Skating Rink, and Rose Garden

International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (ICTSI) terminal in Mexico can now accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships after securing approval to serve vessels with drafts of up to 15.5 meters.

In a statement on Monday, ICTSI said that Second Specialized Container Terminal (TEC-II) at the Port of Manzanillo can now handle vessels up to 400 meters long, including ultra-large container vessels capable of carrying as many as 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

This makes ICTSI’s Mexican arm, Contecon Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), the first and only terminal operator at the Port of Manzanillo with such capability, strengthening the Philippine port giant’s presence in the Latin American market.

ICTSI is looking to deepen the terminal further, with CMSA ultimately targeting a 17-meter operational draft at its new berths to accommodate even larger vessels and higher cargo volumes.

‘As vessel sizes continue to increase, terminals must ensure they have the infrastructure needed to support them,’ CMSA CEO Jose Antonio Contreras said. ‘This approval expands our ability to serve larger ships and supports the next stage of the terminal’s development.’

Apart from handling larger ships, CMSA is also expanding TEC-II’s cargo-handling capacity under its multiphase expansion program.

Under Phase 3B, CMSA is adding 227 meters of quay, two quay cranes and nine rubber-tired gantries. Once operational, the expansion is expected to lift the terminal’s annual capacity to 2 million TEUs from about 1.8 million TEUs currently.

The terminal presently operates 12 quay cranes and 43 rubber-tired gantries.

Phase 3B builds on the completion of Phase 3A in 2025, which initially increased TEC-II’s annual capacity to more than 1.77 million TEUs. CMSA has invested $900 million to expand TEC-II’s yard and berth capacity.

Manzanillo is as a key gateway for Mexico’s trade with Asia and provides access to major consumer and industrial markets, including Mexico City.

ICTSI secured a 34-year concession to develop and operate TEC-II in 2010. The terminal began commercial operations in 2013 and reached a cumulative throughput of 12 million TEUs in January this year. ICTSI, led by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., operates more than 30 terminals across 19 countries in Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Metro Manila residents were urged to take precautions as haze believed to be linked to fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, affected air quality in several cities.

Based on data as of 6 a.m. from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in the National Capital Region, several areas recorded high levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.

Eleven cities recorded acutely unhealthy levels, with Parañaque having the highest reading at 296; Quezon City (Ateneo), 241; Las Piñas, 237; Manila, 231; Malabon, 229; Taguig and Valenzuela, 224; Marikina, 217; Muntinlupa, 216; San Juan, 213; and Mandaluyong, 207.

Very unhealthy levels were recorded in Pateros and Navotas at 172 and 153, respectively, while Makati’s reading of 111 was considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Air quality was fair in Quezon City (Commonwealth Avenue), with a reading of 98.

With unhealthy air conditions, residents can take the following steps to reduce their exposure:

Wear a mask when going outside

If going outdoors is necessary, wear respiratory protection such as an N95 mask, which can help reduce exposure to fine particles.

Stay indoors as much as possible

When air quality reaches unhealthy levels, limit unnecessary outdoor activities and prolonged exposure.

Under the EMB’s PM2.5 guidelines, people are advised to limit outdoor exertion when conditions become acutely unhealthy, while those with heart or respiratory diseases are advised to stay indoors and rest as much as possible.

Protect vulnerable people

Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with respiratory or heart conditions may be more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

Monitor the air quality in your area

Air quality can vary from one part of Metro Manila to another. Residents should therefore check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before deciding whether to spend time outdoors.

The EMB-NCR provides real-time air quality monitoring data, including PM2.5 measurements, through its monitoring stations across the region.

The DENR-EMB reminded the public to rely on official advisories from the agency or their respective local government units during episodes of haze or deteriorating air quality.

Health hazards

The World Health Organization said PM2.5 can penetrate the lungs and enter the body through the bloodstream, affecting all major organs.

It said exposure to PM2.5 can harm the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and can cause conditions such as stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

New research has also shown an association between prenatal exposure to high levels of air pollution and developmental delays at age 3, as well as psychological and behavioral problems later in life, including symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression.

The Indoor Air Hygiene Institute said studies also suggest that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.

‘People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM2.5,’ the institute said.

Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

‘Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits and deaths,’ the institute’s study said.

IQAir said PM2.5 can be produced by a variety of sources, resulting in different chemical compositions and physical characteristics. Sulfates, nitrates, black carbon and ammonium are among the most common particles that make up PM2.5.

The anthropogenic generation of PM2.5 can largely be attributed to combustion engines, power generation, industrial processes, agricultural processes, wood and coal burning and construction. The most prevalent natural sources of PM2.5 include dust storms, wildfires and sandstorms.

It said ‘small particles pose the greatest risk to human health’ and that ‘while the nose can filter most coarse particles, fine and ultrafine particles are inhaled deeper into the lungs where they can be deposited or even pass into the bloodstream.’

The House of Representatives committee on appropriations’ budget briefing on the proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP) in 2027 was terminated in less than an hour as part of parliamentary courtesy despite objections from some minority lawmakers.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto presented the OP’s proposed budget of P10,156,000,000, which he noted is 64% lower than the budget allocated to the office this year.

‘The substantial reduction reflects the lower operational requirements of our units and completion of our activities related to the hosting of the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] meeting for which no additional funding will be required next year,’ Recto said.

‘In short, we’re asking for less while we’re fully prepared to do more. We believe that this amount is sufficient for the presidency to meet the demands in leading the nation at the time of overlapping domestic and external challenges from geopolitical tensions and disruptions in the Middle East, typhoons, El Niño, and other calamities,’ Recto added.

After Recto’s presentation, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan made a motion to extend parliamentary courtesy to the OP by terminating interpellations, which was seconded by Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez.

Rep. Antonio Tinio, however, objected to the motion, stating that the tradition of parliamentary courtesy should be abolished by Congress in budget briefings to uphold transparency and accountability.

‘Ang gusto ng taumbayan ay transparency. Kailangang patas. Dapat patas ang Kongresong ito sa application ng prinsipyo ng transparency. Lakas makademand ng Kongresong ito ng transparency para sa Office of the Vice President. Dapat ganoon din para sa Office of the President,’ Tinio said.

(The people want transparency. We need to be fair. This Congress needs to be fair in applying the principle of transparency. Congress demands transparency for the Office of the Vice President, so it should be the same for the Office of the President.)

He emphasized the importance of interpellations, noting that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and some Cabinet officials are implicated in the flood control anomalies.

He also pointed out that the OP must explain why almost half of its proposed budget is allocated for confidential and intelligence funds.

‘The people want answers direct from the Office of the President. Yun ang gusto nating marinig at ito ang pagkakataon para direktang marinig ang kanilang mga sagot kung kaya again, tayo po ay tumututol sa motion para mag extend ng parliamentary courtesy,’ Tinio added.

(The people want answers directly from the Office of the President. That’s what we want to hear and this is the opportunity to directly hear their answers. That’s why again, we are objecting to the motion to extend parliamentary courtesy.)

After the matter was put to a vote, 37 members of the committee voted in favor of the extension of parliamentary courtesy while five members from the minority voted in the negative.

Representatives Renee Co, Elijah Fernando, Sarah Elago, Iris Montes, and Tinio each explained their objections, emphasizing that the OP’s budget should be subject to scrutiny.

Rep. Albert Garcia, the committee’s senior vice chairperson, terminated the hearing as he shared that the questions on the OP’s proposed budget and other matters will be answered during or before the plenary session.

Infrastructure projects in Quezon City that leave construction debris, waste or damaged public facilities behind could face penalties and delays in project approval under a new city ordinance.

Quezon City residents and motorists may report such projects that have become obstructions to their convenience and safety via the QCitizen Helpline 122 or by filing a report at quezoncity.gov.ph/program/qc-ireport/.

The city government said all public and private infrastructure projects must secure a Certificate of Site Restoration and Cleanup Compliance (CSRCC) before they can be officially accepted or fully authorized under the Quezon City Construction Site Restoration and Cleanup Compliance Ordinance (SP-3519, S-2026).

The ordinance seeks to prevent construction debris from blocking roads, sidewalks, drainage systems, waterways and other public spaces, which the city government said could worsen flooding and endanger residents.

‘Every infrastructure project must be completed in a safe, orderly, and environmentally responsible manner. No developer or project proponent should be allowed to leave behind debris that threatens our people, communities, and environment,’ Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Regulations

Under the ordinance, project proponents must clear construction and demolition debris, restore affected roads, sidewalks, drainage systems and rights-of-way, and ensure proper backfilling and compaction.

They must also comply with engineering, environmental and waste management regulations and ensure that debris is transported, disposed of, recovered or recycled only through authorized facilities.

The CSRCC will be issued only after a project secures the required clearances, including a Technical Restoration Clearance from the Quezon City Department of Engineering and an Environmental Compliance Inspection Report from the Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works of Quezon City.

‘The Department of Building Official will oversee privately owned or privately funded projects, while the Quezon City Department of Engineering will have jurisdiction over projects owned or funded by the City Government. District Action Offices and barangays will assist in monitoring and reporting noncompliant projects,’ the city government said.