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Lokal, Laiya (2026)

10/09/2026

“WHY WOULD I SPEAK TO THEM?” GIBO TEODORO STANDS FIRM AGAINST CHINA

Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. is making one thing clear: the Philippines will not be intimidated into backing down when it comes to defending its rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Asked today if he has already spoken to his Chinese counterparts, Teodoro gave a blunt response:

“Why would I speak to them? We have no mil-to-mil relations with them.”

His remarks come amid heightened tensions following a dramatic incident at the Seoul Defense Dialogue in South Korea.

While Teodoro was speaking onstage, a Chinese official handed him a handwritten note reiterating Beijing’s position on the South China Sea and rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling.

Teodoro did not let the moment pass quietly.

He called the act a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and described the conduct as “actual coercion, bullying, and aggression.”

He also delivered a blunt response to China’s rejection of the arbitration ruling:

“Because you lost.”

The episode underscored Teodoro’s increasingly firm approach to defending Philippine interests in the disputed waters.

For Filipinos, the West Philippine Sea is not merely a matter of diplomatic statements.

It is about Filipino fishermen trying to make a living. It is about Philippine vessels operating in the country’s maritime zones. And it is about the nation’s right to stand up for its interests under international law.

Teodoro has repeatedly made clear that the Philippines should not be expected to remain silent when its rights are challenged.

Today, he put that position even more bluntly:

“Why would I speak to them?”

For many Filipinos, the message behind those words is simple: the Philippines has every right to defend what is ours.

And Gibo Teodoro appears determined to make sure that voice is heard.

10/09/2026

PACQUIAO’S ANTI-POVERTY CZAR ROLE UNDER SCRUTINY OVER BUSINESS INTERESTS

Manny Pacquiao is now tasked with fighting poverty, but questions about his own business interests are already putting his new government role under the microscope.

For millions of Filipinos struggling to make ends meet, Pacquiao’s appointment as the country’s anti-poverty czar carries a powerful promise: that someone will fight for those who have the least.

But it also raises a difficult question- can the person tasked with protecting the poor put their interests ahead of his own business ties?

Pacquiao took his oath before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday as lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), a Cabinet-level position tasked with helping shape policies for vulnerable communities and address the country’s persistent poverty problem.

Now, concerns are being raised over his interests in Ignite Power, particularly in connection with the company’s proposed joint venture with the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II).

Attorney Israelito Torreon questioned whether Pacquiao’s private interests can be reconciled with his responsibility to protect communities that depend on essential economic institutions.

“Before Secretary Pacquiao tells the nation how poverty should be defeated, he must explain how transferring greater control over essential economic institutions to powerful private interests in SOCCSKSARGEN is consistent with empowering the very people his new office is supposed to protect,” Torreon said.

Torreon also pointed to the proposed redevelopment of the General Santos City Central Public Market, saying Pacquiao should clarify how his business and political interests would fit within his new government mandate.

Notre Dame of Dadiangas University President Bro. Manuel de Leon likewise raised questions over whether Pacquiao intends to divest his investments in Ignite Power and whether he will continue pursuing his interest in the SOCOTECO II venture.

For families living paycheck to paycheck, these questions are about more than corporate ownership or government appointments.

They are about trust.

Because when the person tasked with fighting poverty faces questions over private business interests, the poorest Filipinos are left with a question of their own: whose interests will come first?

09/09/2026

PHILIPPINE UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 6%, HIGHEST SINCE PANDEMIC YEARS

For millions of Filipinos, finding a job is once again becoming an uphill battle.

The Philippines’ unemployment rate climbed to 6% in July, its highest level since the pandemic years, with 3.14 million Filipinos without jobs as more people entered the workforce but employment failed to keep pace.

The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) labor force survey showed that the number of unemployed Filipinos jumped from 2.59 million in June to 3.14 million in July.

It was also significantly higher than the 2.59 million recorded a year earlier.

The figure was the highest since December 2021, when unemployment reached 3.28 million.

Behind the numbers are fresh graduates looking for their first jobs, workers searching for better opportunities, and families waiting for a paycheck.

PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the increase was partly driven by more Filipinos entering the labor force, particularly fresh graduates moving from school into the job market.

The labor force participation rate rose to 63.6% in July from 60.7% a year earlier, putting the number of Filipinos either working or looking for work at 52.36 million.

But while more Filipinos were looking for jobs, fewer were employed.

Employment fell to 49.21 million in July from 50.66 million in June, bringing the employment rate down to 94% from 95.1%.

Even among those who had jobs, many were still struggling to earn enough.

Some 6.33 million workers were underemployed, meaning they wanted additional hours, another job, or work with longer hours.

Economists said the figures point to a deeper concern: the economy is not creating enough quality jobs to keep up with the growing workforce.

“The benefits are not translating into enough quality jobs for all those entering the workforce,” said Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co.

He called for more productive, higher-value jobs that can provide sustainable incomes and support consumer spending.

RCBC chief economist Michael L. Ricafort also pointed to external pressures, including higher oil prices, inflation and interest rates amid the continuing Middle East conflict.

For the government, the numbers underscore the need to attract more investments and create better jobs.

“These figures show both progress and challenge. More Filipinos are participating in the labor market, which means that we need to intensify efforts to attract investments, especially those that create quality jobs,” Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

But behind every percentage point is a Filipino waiting for a chance- a fresh graduate hoping for a first job, a parent trying to keep food on the table, or a worker sending out one more application.

At 6%, unemployment is more than a statistic.

Years after the pandemic disrupted millions of lives, the fight for a decent and stable job remains painfully real.

07/09/2026

GASOLINE, DIESEL PRICES UP

Motorists will face another steep fuel price hike starting September 8, with diesel increasing by P5.18 per liter and gasoline by P4.69 per liter, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Kerosene prices will also increase by P5.58 per liter.

The latest hike comes just a week after fuel prices were rolled back, with the DOE attributing the increase to higher global oil prices amid renewed US-Iran tensions and the weakening peso.

The adjustments will take effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

06/09/2026

ALEX EALA AND IVA JOVIC’S FRIENDSHIP SHINES AHEAD OF US OPEN CLASH

Alex Eala and Iva Jovic may be preparing to face each other on one of tennis’ biggest stages, but their friendship appears to be stronger than their rivalry.

Ahead of their third-round clash at the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday morning, the two friends gave fans a glimpse of their close bond.

“I think we would be friends if we met each other on the street, honestly,” Jovic said.

“I can’t live without you,” Eala jokingly replied.

The two recently shared the court in the “Stars of the Open” exhibition match, but their Sunday showdown will be anything but an exhibition.

Once the match begins, Eala and Jovic will put their friendship aside and battle for a spot in the fourth round.

But win or lose, one thing is clear: their friendship goes beyond the court.

Sometimes, the person across the net can also be the friend you can’t imagine living without.

05/09/2026

PEOPLE POWER SCORED A VICTORY AGAINST IGNITE POWER

People marched. Church leaders spoke. A member-consumer-owner went to court.

On September 4, their opposition secured its first concrete victory after a South Cotabato court temporarily stopped SOCOTECO II from conducting the plebiscite for its proposed joint venture with Ignite Power.

The temporary restraining order did not emerge from an isolated complaint. It came after months of growing resistance from member-consumer-owners, religious communities and civic groups questioning how the agreement was approved and presented to the public.

Bishop Cerilo Casicas of the Diocese of Marbel raised the alarm as early as June. He accused the SOCOTECO II board of conditionally approving the agreement “without consultation, without transparency, and without regard for the common good.” The bishop called for public discussions where members could examine the agreement, ask questions and participate in deciding the future of their cooperative.

That call moved from the Church to the streets on August 29.

Thousands joined the “Kahayag sa Tanan” prayer rally along Pioneer Avenue and at Plaza Heneral Santos. Organized by the Diocese of Marbel and the Coalition for the Protection of SOCOTECO II MCOs, the gathering brought together religious communities, students, consumer advocates, civic organizations and concerned residents.

Under the call “Our Cooperative. Our Future. Our Voice,” participants demanded truth, transparency and accountability in the proposed joint venture. Organizers made clear that they were not opposing modernization or private investment. They were opposing a process that they believed did not give member-consumer-owners enough information or a meaningful voice in a decision involving their own cooperative.

Eugene Mangilaya then carried those concerns into court. The TRO was granted because the process was flawed.

In his complaint, Mangilaya alleged that SOCOTECO II members were never furnished copies of Board Resolution No. 104 or the joint venture agreement before being asked to ratify it. He also claimed that motions during the cooperative’s July 25 general assembly were declared approved without the voting required under its bylaws.

Mangilaya further questioned the plebiscite guidelines, alleging that they violated the law, SOCOTECO II’s bylaws and regulations of the National Electrification Administration.

The court found the situation extremely urgent because the first round of voting was scheduled to begin on September 5. It reasoned that once members voted under the questioned guidelines and the joint venture took effect, a later judgment might no longer restore them to their original position.

The court therefore issued an ex parte TRO stopping SOCOTECO II from proceeding with the plebiscite.

The people’s opposition has made the central issue impossible to ignore. The TRO was granted directly because of Mangilaya’s complaint. But it came after the Church spoke, communities organized and thousands gathered to demand answers.

It is only an initial victory against Ignite Power, but it establishes something important: before the future of SOCOTECO II can be decided, the people who own it must first be heard.

05/09/2026

COURT-ISSUED TRO HALTS SOCOTECO II–IGNITE PLEBISCITE AMID MOUNTING OPPOSITION

A victory for a people’s movement and a setback for Ignite Power.

The proposed South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II)–Ignite Power joint venture suffered a setback after a local court issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) halting the scheduled plebiscite on the agreement.

Executive Judge Allan Edwin P. Boncavil of the 11th Judicial Region issued the TRO on Friday, September 4, just a day before the plebiscite was set to begin.

The vote was supposed to run for four Saturdays and four Sundays.

The court action came amid mounting opposition to the proposed joint venture, with cooperative members and other stakeholders demanding greater transparency, accountability, and disclosure of the agreement’s terms.

The opposition gained momentum during a prayer rally on August 29, where an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people gathered to call for transparency and accountability over the proposed JVA between SOCOTECO II and Ignite Power and Energy Corp.

The TRO was granted because the court found that the process was flawed, and that the imminent start of voting created extreme urgency and a risk of irreparable injury.

SOCOTECO II member-consumer-owner Eugene Mangilaya filed a case challenging the validity of the plebiscite and its guidelines. Mangilaya alleges that members were never given copies of the board resolution or joint venture agreement before being asked to ratify it.

He also alleges that the motions during the July 25 general assembly were declared approved without the voting required by the cooperative’s bylaws, and that the plebiscite guidelines violate the law, SOCOTECO II’s bylaws and NEA regulations.

For members and stakeholders questioning the agreement, the TRO marks a significant victory for the growing people’s movement, effectively putting the planned vote on pause as calls for greater scrutiny continue.

04/09/2026

VISAYAS POWER SUPPLY GETS BOOST AS 250-MW BATTERY STORAGE, DIESEL BARGES EYED BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The Visayas power grid could get a much-needed boost before Christmas as the government looks to deploy around 250 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage systems and floating diesel power barges.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin said the measures are being considered to strengthen the region’s power reserves amid recurring yellow and red alerts.

“I will work on it so that it is really well before Christmas,” Garin said, underscoring efforts to put the additional power resources in place ahead of the holiday season.

The battery storage systems could provide additional power during periods of tight supply, while diesel barges could serve as backup generation when demand rises or available supply falls.

The move comes as authorities prepare for higher electricity demand during the holidays and seek to prevent power shortages from disrupting consumers across the Visayas.

03/09/2026

SANLAKAS RAISES RED FLAGS OVER SOCOTECO II-IGNITE DEAL AS PLEBISCITE NEARS

Consumer group Sanlakas is urging member-consumer-owners of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) to closely scrutinize the proposed partnership with Ignite Power as the plebiscite on the deal draws near.

Sanlakas has raised concerns over the proposed arrangement, particularly its potential implications for the ownership and control of SOCOTECO II’s distribution assets.

Under the proposed deal, SOCOTECO II’s distribution assets would be transferred to a new distribution company, with Ignite Power set to hold a majority stake.

For Sanlakas, the issue goes beyond the immediate terms of the agreement.

The group warns that the arrangement could have long-term consequences for the cooperative and the member-consumer-owners who are its stakeholders.

Sanlakas is therefore calling on members to examine the agreement carefully, particularly provisions that could affect the cooperative’s ownership, control and decision-making over its distribution system.

The concerns come as SOCOTECO II continues to face financial difficulties, with the cooperative reporting accumulated losses of around P2.1 billion as of December 2025.

But Sanlakas argues that the cooperative’s financial problems should not be viewed in isolation from the question of ownership and control.

The proposed agreement will be decided through a plebiscite among qualified SOCOTECO II member-consumer-owners over four weekends—September 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27.

With voting set to begin this weekend, Sanlakas is urging members to carefully weigh the long-term implications of the deal before casting their votes.

For the group, the upcoming plebiscite is ultimately about protecting the interests and ownership rights of the consumers who collectively own the electric cooperative.

03/09/2026

METRO MANILA HAZE RAISES HEALTH CONCERNS AS AIR QUALITY TURNS ‘ACUTELY UNHEALTHY’

Metro Manila is breathing hazy air as smoke from forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, reaches the Philippines, carried by prevailing southwest monsoon winds.

As of Tuesday morning, 11 Metro Manila cities recorded “acutely unhealthy” air quality, with Parañaque registering the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) at 296. Quezon City, Las Piñas, Manila, Malabon, Taguig, Valenzuela, Marikina, Muntinlupa, San Juan and Mandaluyong also recorded readings above 200.

The main concern is PM2.5, tiny particles that can pe*****te deep into the lungs and pose greater risks to people with respiratory and heart conditions.

“At this point, the haze situation is largely beyond our control because it depends on several factors outside the Philippines, including the intensity of the forest fires in Kalimantan, prevailing wind patterns, and rainfall across the region,” said Jundy del Socorro of the DENR-EMB.

Authorities are urging residents to limit prolonged outdoor activities and wear an N95 mask when going outside. Children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to take extra precautions.

The haze may persist through Thursday, with rainfall potentially helping clear smoke particles from the atmosphere.

Lokal

10/09/2026

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