MONSOON FLOODING CONTINUES IN METRO MANILA AND NEARBY PROVINCES

Heavy southwest-monsoon rains flooded roads and communities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Monday. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority recorded 201.7 millimeters of rain in the capital region between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on August 17, including 138 millimeters in just two hours.

The San Juan River reached its critical level, while the Marikina River reached the second alarm. Classes were suspended in affected areas, and Malacañang authorized alternative work arrangements for government offices in Metro Manila and 14 provinces on August 18. Private employers decide whether to adopt similar arrangements.

In Bulacan, officials reported flooding in 130 barangays and more than 8,700 people staying in evacuation centers. Initial provincial estimates placed damage to agriculture and fisheries at about ₱96.2 million, with additional losses in livestock and poultry.

For households, the danger does not end when the rain weakens. Rivers can remain high, roads may still be blocked, and floodwater can carry sewage, sharp objects and electrical hazards. Residents should follow current warnings from PAGASA and local authorities rather than old screenshots or forwarded messages.

FUEL PRICES RISE AGAIN AS THE PUV SUBSIDY CONTINUES

Fuel companies are implementing another round of price increases today. The maximum adjustments reported by the Department of Energy are ₱2.49 per liter for gasoline, ₱3.84 for diesel and ₱5.01 for kerosene.

The government raised the public-utility-vehicle fuel subsidy from ₱10 to ₱12 per liter on August 15. Eligible drivers can receive support for up to 150 liters a week, or a maximum of ₱1,800. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the program could continue until the end of the year if funds remain available.

The department reported that ₱491.61 million had been paid to 96,197 unique beneficiaries through 3,312 participating fuel stations. The subsidy is reviewed monthly, so the amount and duration are not guaranteed for the rest of the year.

For commuters, the subsidy can ease pressure on drivers and operators, but it does not automatically prevent fare petitions. Higher fuel costs also affect deliveries, fishing, farming and food prices because the Philippines imports most of its oil.

A LAWMAKER ALLEGES THAT SOME PROPOSED BUDGET ITEMS WERE INFLATED

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio questioned large differences between several amounts proposed in the National Expenditure Program and the amounts eventually approved in the 2026 General Appropriations Act. He described the pattern as possible budget padding intended to create room for other items later in the process.

Tinio cited foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Transportation that went from ₱135.85 billion in the proposed budget to ₱64.07 billion in the enacted law. He also cited a Department of Public Works and Highways item that went from ₱100 billion to ₱17.7 billion.

Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon rejected the suggestion that the proposed amounts were arbitrary. He said the National Expenditure Program is based on evaluated agency requirements and that the amounts proposed by the executive branch can already be lower than what agencies originally requested. He also said later reductions had contributed to project delays.

The figures establish that large reductions occurred. They do not, by themselves, prove that anyone deliberately inflated the original amounts. For taxpayers, the unresolved question is why the estimates changed so much and whether the budget process clearly documents each reduction and the items that replaced it.

A SURVEY FOUND IMPROVEMENT AMONG SAMPLED WALANG GUTOM BENEFICIARIES

A Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by Globe found lower hunger and food insecurity among sampled households enrolled in the government’s Walang Gutom Program between February and July 2026.

The survey covered 2,400 respondents in two rounds. Among program beneficiaries in the sample, hunger declined from 33.6 percent to 26.9 percent. Food insecurity fell from 94 percent to 89.3 percent. The changes among non-beneficiaries were smaller or moved in the opposite direction on some measures.

The program currently serves about 600,000 households and provides food credits that can be used for selected nutritious products. The government plans to add 150,000 households and reach 750,000 beneficiaries.

The survey is evidence that the program may be helping the households studied. It is not proof that every one of the roughly 600,000 enrolled families is eating better. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian made the same qualification when discussing the results.

For families, the important test is whether food support reaches eligible households regularly, improves the quality and quantity of meals, and remains useful as food prices change.

THE SENATE PASSES A BILL TO STRENGTHEN THE BAN ON HOSPITAL DETENTION

The Senate approved Senate Bill 1511, the proposed Enhanced Anti-Hospital Detention Act, by a vote of 18 in favor, none against and one abstention.

Philippine law already prohibits hospitals from detaining patients because they cannot fully pay their bills. The new Senate bill would broaden the protection to all public and private hospitals and clinics, cover patients and the release of deceased persons, and prohibit withholding discharge summaries, prescriptions and medical certificates.

The proposal does not erase unpaid hospital bills. A patient who is medically cleared for discharge may still be asked to sign a secured promissory note or present a guarantee from an authorized institution. The bill includes a different process for indigent senior citizens endorsed by a hospital social-service office.

Hospital directors or managers who establish a detention policy could face penalties of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to ₱1 million. The bill also calls for a grievance system and coordination with agencies that can help patients settle eligible expenses.

The Senate vote does not make the proposal a law. It still needs action in the House of Representatives, agreement on the final text and the President’s approval or the completion of the constitutional process without his signature.