TODAY IS A SPECIAL NON-WORKING DAY. CHECK THE PAY RULES BEFORE ASSUMING

August 21 is Ninoy Aquino Day. Under the Department of Labor and Employment's rules for a special non-working day, the usual rule for employees who do not work is "no work, no pay," unless a company policy, established practice, or collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.

Employees who work during the first eight hours should receive 130 percent of their basic wage. If the day also falls on the employee's rest day, the rate rises to 150 percent. Employers and workers should still check the full computation for overtime and any more favorable company policy.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has suspended number coding for the day. Rail passengers should also check the adjusted schedules announced by individual train lines before leaving home.

For workers, the practical question is not simply whether today is called a holiday. It is whether they worked, whether it was also their rest day, and whether their employer grants a benefit beyond the legal minimum.

TAAL RECORDED 46 VOLCANIC EARTHQUAKES, BUT IT REMAINS AT ALERT LEVEL 1

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded 46 volcanic earthquakes around Taal Volcano during the latest 24-hour monitoring period, more than three times the previous count of 14. It also recorded two volcanic tremor episodes lasting from two to 245 minutes.

Sulfur dioxide emissions rose to 271 metric tons on Thursday from the 107 metric tons recorded daily from August 16 to 19. PHIVOLCS still classified the emission as weak. It reported no volcanic smog and no observed upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake.

Taal remains at Alert Level 1, which means low-level unrest. That is not the same as normal conditions, and entry into Taal Volcano Island remains prohibited.

The higher earthquake count is a reason to follow official bulletins closely. It is not, by itself, proof that a major eruption is imminent.

DENR HAS ORDERED 155 FIRMS TO EXPLAIN POSSIBLE FAILURES UNDER THE PLASTIC-RECOVERY LAW

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued show-cause letters to 155 companies that may have failed to meet obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility law. The companies have not yet been publicly identified, and a show-cause letter is a demand for an explanation, not a final finding of guilt.

The law requires covered companies to recover an increasing share of the plastic packaging they place in the market. The target is 60 percent in 2026, rising to 70 percent in 2027 and 80 percent from 2028 onward.

Penalties can reach millions of pesos. A third offense may also result in automatic suspension of a business permit until the company complies.

This enforcement action follows renewed attention to plastic waste clogging waterways and interfering with pumping stations during heavy rain. Consumers are often told to dispose of waste properly, but the law also places measurable duties on large producers.

METRO MANILA IS GETTING FOUR NEW PUMPING STATIONS AND NINE UPGRADES

The government plans to add 13 pumping-station projects to the 73 stations currently managed by the MMDA. Four will be new facilities in Doña Imelda, Tatalon, Roxas I, and Roxas II in Quezon City. Nine existing facilities will be upgraded.

The new stations are targeted for completion within the year, with the broader set expected to become operational by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The Department of Public Works and Highways is implementing the work under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project before turning the new facilities over to the MMDA.

Additional pumping capacity can help drain floodwater, but pumps cannot compensate for waterways blocked by garbage, undersized drainage, construction delays, or poor maintenance. Recent flooding exposed how these failures compound one another.

DUTERTE'S ICC DEFENSE HAS RECEIVED 6,909 EVIDENCE ITEMS DISCLOSED IN 2026

International Criminal Court prosecutors disclosed 6,909 evidence items to former President Rodrigo Duterte's defense team from January 7 to July 31, according to a prosecution notification reported this week.

The reported total includes 2,279 items classified as incriminating, 57 described as potentially exonerating, and 4,573 materials available for defense inspection under Rule 77. Those categories should not be read as a final score of the case. Evidence can be challenged for relevance, reliability, authenticity, and context, and the defense is entitled to review material that may help Duterte.

Disclosure is part of the process that allows the defense to prepare and respond. The volume tells us the case has an extensive record. It does not tell us, without examining the material, how much of that record will ultimately be admitted or how judges will assess it.