Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 135

State of national emergency pushed

A stall sells assorted varieties of rice inside a market in Quezon City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A SENATOR on Monday called on the government to declare a state of national emergency, amid threats of surging consumer prices triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

“It is important that government declares a state of national emergency because the state of many Filipino families is already at a crisis level,” Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV said in a video statement in Filipino.

The declaration is made at times of national emergencies, lawless violence, or natural disasters, enabling immediate government action and resource mobilization.

He added that this would allow authorities to implement a price ceiling on essential goods.

Mr. Aquino also called on government agencies to release the aid meant for transport workers and micro, small, and medium enterprises.

“It is important that no business closes during this crisis,” he added.

The senator added that the government should ensure that measures passed in the Senate would directly benefit the public.

“We will watch over what we did in the Senate, giving the President powers to suspend the excise tax and this aid, we will watch over it to make sure it actually goes to the people,” Mr. Aquino said.

The Senate last week passed a measure that would allow the chief executive to suspend or reduce the excise tax on petroleum products. This was later adopted in the House.

This came as a response to surging oil prices amid the escalating war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which caused a ripple effect on global oil supply. — Adrian H. Halili

Rights group backs jeepney strike

DRIVERS of traditional jeepneys who are not joining the weeklong strike continue to ply their routes in Manila on March 7, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) has expressed support for Filipino jeepney drivers taking part in transport strikes following increases in fuel costs.

“No worker should be asked to survive on less than $1 per hour, but that is what is happening to these public utility vehicles in the Philippines,” ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy said in a statement on Sunday.

Citing estimates by Transport leader Mody T. Floranda, the ICHRP said public utility vehicle (PUV) driver’s earnings may be cut to P300 per day should diesel prices hit P120 per liter.

Mr. Floranda on Monday announced another nationwide transport strike from March 26 to 27 as the No To Oil Price Hike Coalition pushes back against oil price hikes and calls for the removal of excise tax and rollback of crude cost to P55.

“If the price of crude increases every week, expect that the No To Oil Price Hike Coalition will also take actions weekly,” the coalition said in a statement.

Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel on Monday also backed protesters, pushing for a P52.8-billion fuel subsidy package for PUV, delivery, and transport network vehicle drivers, under Senate Bill No. 1986. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

‘Ex-marines’ face more complaints

BW FILE PHOTO

FORMER Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV filed additional cyberlibel complaints on Monday before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against 18 alleged former marines and other personalities over what he called malicious claims tied to an alleged money delivery scheme.

Mr. Trillanes told reporters that the new charges stem from the group’s media interviews and public statements following their initial appearances, which he said contain “evolving” false allegations against him.

“This is the result of their interviews after their press conference, a few weeks ago,” Mr. Trillanes told reporters in Filipino. “In every interview they give, they can expect a case against them.”

Mr. Trillanes said that the group’s narrative shifted from their original statements to include new, inconsistent claims that money was delivered directly to his residence. Among the respondents, the complaint also includes four media personalities, whom Mr. Trillanes accuses of “inducing and provoking the malicious claims” during their broadcasts.

This filing follows a March 5 complaint in which Mr. Trillanes accused the same group of perjury and incriminating against an innocent person, stemming from a joint affidavit they submitted with the Office of the Ombudsman and a Feb. 23 press conference. During that event, the group alleged that Mr. Trillanes received $2 million from former Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co to bribe International Criminal Court investigators, a claim he denied.

Mr. Trillanes said he will not hesitate to file further cases if the group persists in what he describes as spreading falsehoods. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

DICT: eGovPH app hits 40M downloads

BW FILE PHOTO

THE eGovPH Super App has reached 40 million downloads, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Monday, meeting the government’s 2026 target and putting it on track to hit its 60-million user goal by 2028.

The eGovPH app, which serves as a one-stop-shop for public services, is also being complemented with physical hubs, with the latest Bagong Pilipinas eGovPH Serbisyo Hub launching in Mandaue City, the DICT said in a statement.

“Whether through the eGovPH super app or the eGov Serbisyo Hub, we are bringing services closer to our kababayans,” David L. Almirol, Jr. was quoted as saying.

The newly opened hub gives Cebuanos access to services from agencies such as the Social Security System, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The DICT said the government’s dual approach is designed to eliminate congestion in government offices and reduce opportunities for fixers, while improving transparency and efficiency. — CAT

Roblox, online gaming platforms probe sought in Senate

BW FILE PHOTO

A SENATOR on Monday filed a resolution seeking to investigate Roblox and other online gaming platforms amid reports of games being utilized for planning acts of violence.

Under Senate Resolution No. 357, Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, sought to conduct an inquiry on online multiplayer games such as Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Free Fire, and others with similar gaming environments.

Ms. Hontiveros suggested imposing mandatory age verification measures in online games to protect children from exposure to violence, sexual abuse, and grooming in cyber space.

“These developments demonstrate that stronger age verification and child safety technologies are technically feasible, scalable, and increasingly recognized as part of the emerging global standard for online child protection,” the resolution read, citing Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands’ age verification measures for platforms used by minors.

Ms. Hontiveros pointed out that the country’s age verification mechanisms have been limited to self-declaration of age, putting minors at the risks of online predators, impersonation, and harmful content.

The resolution came amid reports of minors plotting a school attack in the Calabarzon region after exposure to violent content.

The Philippine National Police on Sunday also directed its Anti-Cybercrime Group to strengthen its campaign to promote child safety in online spaces after Information and Communications Technology Chief Henry R. Aguda flagged Roblox for allegedly allowing illegal activities in the gaming platform. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

Bill seeks free academic records for fresh grads

Graduates attend the commencement ceremony in this photo taken on Aug. 1, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

A BILL requiring universities and colleges to provide free academic records to fresh graduates was filed in the House of Representatives last week, a measure aimed at removing constraints and barriers for job applicants.

In a statement, Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III said House Bill No. 8701 would help ease the job‑hunting process for graduates and strengthen the country’s workforce.

“For many graduates, the journey towards employment begins with completing documentary requirements for job applications,” Mr. Marcos, who authored the bill that was filed on March 18, said. “Yet obtaining multiple copies of these documents can involve additional costs and time-consuming procedures.”

All higher education institutions should provide fresh graduates with five copies of their transcript of records, or certificates of graduation and certified true copies of their diplomas, free of charge, under the bill.

Graduates would also be entitled to another five copies of their academic transcripts and certified true copies of their diplomas within a year of finishing school, it added.

“By making essential academic records more accessible and improving the efficiency of records processing systems in higher education institutions, this measure helps ensure that Filipino graduates are better equipped to pursue employment opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s workforce,” Mr. Marcos said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Calabarzon posts highest unemployment rate in 2025

Applicants attend a job fair in Antipolo City, March 4, 2026. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

MORE than two million Filipinos were out of work in 2025, with Calabarzon recording the highest unemployment rate among all regions due to the global geopolitical tensions and the flood control scandal, preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

Calabarzon posted an unemployment rate of 5.8% in 2025, the highest in the Philippines. In absolute terms, the region had 457,000 unemployed individuals, a 0.2% increase from 2024.

Likewise, the region recorded the lowest employment rate among all regions at 94.2%, below the national estimate of 95.8%.

Benjamin B. Velasco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations, said that the region was hit by the “double whammy” of a sluggish global economy and the flood control scandal.

“This led to job losses in manufacturing which particularly impacted Calabarzon due to the concentration of ecozone (economic zone) factories supplying to global supply chains,” Mr. Velasco said in a Messenger chat.

There are 64 economic zones in Calabarzon and Mimaropa as of June 30, 2024, according to data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

The National Capital Region (NCR), Mimaropa, and Bicol Region also recorded unemployment rates above the national average at 5.2%, 4.8%, and 4.7%, respectively. These four regions exceeded the national unemployment figure in 2025.

In 2025, the Philippines’ unemployment rate climbed to 4.2%, its highest in two years or since the 4.4% posted in 2023, with 2.14 million people out of work.

Mr. Velasco said that while NCR and Calabarzon were more affected by downturns in the global economy, Mimaropa and Bicol regions were impacted by job losses in agriculture driven by climate change.

“Rains and flooding due to a lot of typhoons forced people out of farming and fishing.”

Around 10.05 million individuals were employed in the agriculture industry in 2025, the lowest in five years or since the 9.75 million in 2020, according to data from the PSA.

Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the lowest jobless rate at 2.7%, representing only 23,000 jobless individuals in the region. This was followed by Davao Region at 2.9%, and Cagayan Valley at 3.1%.

Among provinces, Basilan in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) posted the highest jobless rate at 9.1%. Camarines Norte in Bicol Region followed at 8.1%, and Lanao Del Sur, also in BARMM, at 8%.

Mr. Velasco said that rapid climate change and a sluggish global economy remain pressing challenges today.

“Moreover, the war by the US and Israel on Iran is creating an inflationary crisis. Thus, the labor market is going to get worse still.” — Pierce Oel A. Montalvo

DA opens P500-M Bicol cold storage facility to boost food security

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the ceremonial switching-on of the Bicol Mega Cold Storage Warehouse, a flagship project of the Department of Agriculture, in Brgy. San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, March 23, 2026.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the government has officially opened the Bicol Mega Cold Storage Warehouse, the agency’s first completed project under its cold storage expansion program.

In a statement on Monday, the DA said the P500-million facility will boost food security and farmers’ income in the region.

“It directly addresses a chronic gap in agriculture, the lack of reliable and energy-efficient storage and transport systems,” the agency said.

The DA said the warehouse features temperature-controlled rooms for pork, beef, poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables, with a combined annual capacity exceeding 200,000 metric tons.

The facility also has preparation rooms for blast freezing, processing, and packaging, allowing farmers and producers to extend shelf life, meet market standards, and secure better prices, the agency said.

“This facility underscores the commitment of the Marcos administration to cut post-harvest losses, raise farmers’ incomes, stabilize food supply, and ensure lasting rural development,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was quoted as saying in the statement.

The DA said the timing of the Bicol warehouse’s opening is timely, particularly as transport and production costs have been rising.

“The timing is critical, especially at this time when geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has sent fuel prices soaring. Without cold storage, many [farmers] are forced to sell quickly at low prices or risk losing their harvest,” the DA said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel

Marcos wants to scale solar-powered irrigation

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the inspection of the solar-powered irrigation project at Barangay Viejo, Minalabac, Camarines Sur, March 23, 2026.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is scaling up solar-powered irrigation as part of a broader push to shield Philippine agriculture from rising input costs and climate volatility.

While inspecting agricultural projects in Camarines Sur on Monday, Mr. Marcos reaffirmed continued state support for farmers as he inspected two P332-million solar-powered irrigation systems implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

NIA Administrator Eduardo G. Guillen said the agency plans to expand similar systems, signaling a pipeline of projects that could accelerate adoption across irrigated areas.

“With the introduction of solar-powered irrigation systems in Camarines Sur, the government could strengthen food security and modernize the country’s agricultural sector through innovative, climate-resilient technologies,” a statement from the Presidential Communications Office read.

“With the adoption of solar energy, farmer cooperatives in the province drastically cut their power consumption, allowing them to save money and increase their income,” it added.

The projects cover the P126.7-million solar pump irrigation system of the San Agustin-San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative in Bula and the P205.46-million New MASSBA Solar Pump Irrigation Project (Phase I) in Minalabac. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Isabela under state of calamity over prolonged dry spell

BAGUIO CITY — The provincial government of Isabela has placed the entire province under a state of calamity amid a prolonged dry spell that has battered farm output and threatened livelihoods.

The state of calamity declaration, approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its 7th Special Session at the Provincial Capitol in Ilagan City, came after reports of widespread crop damage and mounting losses among farmers due to persistent lack of rainfall.

The state weather bureau defines a dry spell as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall, or two months of way-below-normal rainfall, conditions now being experienced across the province.

The resolution, sponsored by Board Member Evyn Jay C. Diaz, cited data from the Provincial Agriculture Office showing that about 49,468.87 hectares of standing corn crops — currently in critical vegetative and reproductive stages — have been severely affected by the dry conditions.

Provincial agriculturists warned that corn farmers could suffer up to 80% harvest losses, equivalent to at least P2.3 billion in damages this cropping season, with losses expected to rise without urgent intervention.

The declaration was backed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council after its assessment confirmed the widespread impact on agriculture and livelihoods. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Lawmaker wants reclassification of Benguet lands

BAGUIO CITY — Benguet lawmaker Eric Go Yap is pushing to reclassify large tracts of land in Benguet, saying outdated forest land tags no longer reflect how these areas are actually used.

Mr. Yap filed a House bill proposing to convert parts of the province’s forest lands into alienable and disposable areas, allowing residents — especially Indigenous communities — to secure land titles.

Much of Benguet remains legally classified as forest land, even as these areas have long been used for farming, housing, businesses and public facilities, creating hurdles for residents seeking ownership and government support, he said.

The lack of legal status has also limited access to credit and basic services, while complicating land-use planning for local governments, Mr. Yap said.

“We are seeking to align land classification with actual use, update local land plans and uphold rights under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, giving Indigenous communities legal footing over lands they have long occupied,” Mr. Yap explained. — Artemio A. Dumlao

PSEi plunges to 5,800 level as war roils markets

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE STOCKS plunged on Monday, with the benchmark index sinking to the 5,800 level for the first time since December last year, as the worsening conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global oil prices continued to rattle markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid by 1.98% or 119.44 points to close at 5,899.18, while the broader all shares index went down by 2.04% or 68.28 points to end at 3,276.59.

This was the PSEi’s worst close so far this year as this was its lowest finish in nearly four months or since it ended at 5,887.58 on Dec. 4. Mining and oil companies posted the biggest losses, with the sector’s counter down by nearly 9%.

“Philippine equities kicked off the week with a massive sell-off as Middle East tensions further deepened concerns about the inflationary effects of oil shocks on the global economy, while the Federal Reserve’s hawkish pause added to investors’ worries,” AP Securities, Inc. said in a market note.

“The local market plunged as the further escalation of tensions between the US and Iran weighed on investors’ sentiment,” Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial, Inc., said in a Viber message. “This comes as the two countries exchanged threats amid the US’ demand for the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Share markets slid in Asia on Monday as the United States and Iran traded escalating threats and Israel planned for “weeks” more fighting, sending oil prices on another roller-coaster ride, Reuters reported.

Oil prices rose again, with US crude futures up 3% to over $100 a barrel, reviving inflation fears and putting central banks in a tough spot with regard to monetary policy. International Energy Agency boss Fatih Birol warned the crisis was “very severe” and worse than the two oil shocks of the 1970s put together.

All sectoral indices ended in the red on Monday. Mining and oil was the worst performer, plummeting by 8.71% or 1,393.02 points to 14,591.81. Holding firms also sank by 2.99% or 138.78 points to 4,496.53; property plunged by 2.98% or 59.24 points to 1,928.11; financials dropped by 2.49% or 47.6 points to 1,858.80; industrials fell by 1.16% or 102.14 points to 8,690.39; and services decreased by 0.95% or 26.19 points to 2,726.18.

“Only two index members closed the day with gains, namely the Manila Electric Co. up 1.16% and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. up 0.68%. Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. was the worst index performer for the day, sliding 8.61% to P12.10,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Decliners overwhelmed advancers, 167 to 46, while 58 names closed unchanged.

Value turnover declined to P8.17 billion on Monday with 1.36 billion shares traded from the P10.11 billion with 1.88 billion issues that changed hands on Thursday.

Net foreign selling ballooned to P1.34 billion from P460.37 million in the previous session. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno with Reuters

1...134135136...14,250Page 135 of 14,250
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube