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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

10:45 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE OCTOBER WATER-RATE INCREASES

Metro Manila households served by Maynilad and Manila Water will see slightly higher water charges beginning October 1. The announced increases are small for many residential customers, but the figures vary by concessionaire and consumption level. That makes it easy to misunderstand a notice expressed only in centavos per cubic meter.

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7:21 AM6-minute read

ABOUT THE NOTE HANDED TO GIBO TEODORO IN SEOUL

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. was answering questions at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 8 when a man handed him a note. He read it aloud, challenged its rejection of the 2016 South China Sea ruling and objected to being interrupted that way.

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9:55 AM8-minute read

ABOUT EL NIÑO AND PREPARING FOR LESS RAIN

It can be raining outside while PAGASA warns about El Niño. That can sound confusing when the immediate problem is a wet road or a flooded field. The two warnings describe different periods: the weather happening now and the rainfall conditions that may develop over the coming months.

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5:30 AM8-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST ZALDY CO, MARTIN ROMUALDEZ AND TWO OTHERS

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Zaldy Co, Martin Romualdez and two other accused in the plunder case filed on September 7. By Monday evening, authorities had served Romualdez's warrant and carried out booking procedures at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan. His arrest is a confirmed development; it does not establish that his three co-accused are also in custody.

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3:15 PM8-minute read

ABOUT THE PLUNDER CASE AGAINST MARTIN ROMUALDEZ

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan on September 7 over his alleged involvement in flood-control kickbacks. The accusations have now reached the court that will handle the criminal case. Romualdez denies wrongdoing and remains presumed innocent.

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1:18 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW SWS POVERTY NUMBERS

Self-rated poverty and food poverty declined in June, but the figures also show how many Filipino families remain under pressure and why lower household budgets do not necessarily mean life became cheaper.

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2:02 PM11-minute read

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY ACT

House Bill No. 9965 would bar children below 13 from having social media accounts, require parental consent for users aged 13 to 17, regulate platform algorithms, and impose fines reaching P50 million. It is still being deliberated in the House.

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12:02 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE SEALED BIR BOX

Marcos authorized the BIR to comply with the Senate subpoena. That did not open the records to the public or prove the unexplained-wealth allegation.

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September 29, 2026 · 9:00 AM4-minute read

ABOUT THE HIGHER AIRLINE FUEL SURCHARGE AND WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE BOOKING

If you are planning a flight home or a family trip, check the full ticket price before paying. The Civil Aeronautics Board has approved a higher fuel-surcharge ceiling for October 1 to 15. The increase can add to your travel costs even when the advertised base fare looks affordable.

Travelers in an airport departure lounge looking toward a passenger aircraft.

Here are five things to know.

1

THE FUEL SURCHARGE IS SEPARATE FROM THE BASE FARE

A fuel surcharge is an additional amount an airline may collect to help cover changes in fuel costs. The base fare is only one part of what you pay for a ticket.

For October 1 to 15, CAB raised the allowable surcharge from Level 14 to Level 17. These levels determine the permitted charges for different flight distances. Level 17 does not mean a 17-percent increase in your ticket price.

Airlines that intend to collect the surcharge must apply to CAB and stay within the approved ceiling. They do not automatically have to charge the maximum.

WHAT TO WATCH

Look for the fuel surcharge in the price breakdown and check the total before confirming payment.

2

THE AMOUNT DEPENDS ON YOUR ROUTE

Under Level 17, the permitted fuel surcharge ranges from ₱559 to ₱1,635 per passenger for a one-way domestic flight.

For international flights originating in the Philippines, the range is ₱1,846.10 to ₱13,726.58 per passenger, one way, depending on the destination.

Those figures are the surcharge itself. They are not the increase over the previous rate. Compared with Level 14, the domestic ceilings rise by ₱102 to ₱299, while the international ceilings rise by ₱337.02 to ₱2,505.87.

That difference becomes more noticeable when several family members are travelling.

WHAT TO WATCH

Check the charge for your actual route. The highest amount in a headline does not apply to every destination.

3

CHECK WHEN YOUR TICKET IS ISSUED

For Philippine Airlines, the surcharge depends on when the ticket is issued. An October departure does not by itself mean the new surcharge applies. Rebooking can change the applicable amount.

If you have reserved through an agent or are still waiting to pay, confirm whether your ticket has actually been issued.

PAL says it adjusts the fuel surcharge to the prevailing rate when a ticket is rebooked. Check your own airline’s rules before changing your plans.

WHAT TO WATCH

Keep your ticket receipt and ask for a written breakdown of any additional payment requested.

4

COUNT EVERY PASSENGER AND FLIGHT SEGMENT

A surcharge quoted for one passenger on one flight is not your whole family’s travel cost. PAL, for example, collects it per passenger and per flight segment. Its policy includes children occupying seats, while infants without seats are exempt from the fuel surcharge.

For connecting flights, check each leg of the journey. For international return trips, do not simply double a Philippine departure rate and assume it is correct; confirm the charges shown for both directions.

WHAT TO WATCH

Review the complete itinerary, including connections and the return journey, before deciding whether a fare fits your budget.

5

COMPARE THE FINAL PRICE, INCLUDING WHAT YOU NEED

A seat-sale headline cannot tell you the full cost of travelling. Compare the final amount with the baggage allowance, taxes, fees and any extras you actually need.

A lower base fare can become less attractive once those costs are included. Rebooking conditions also deserve a look if your dates might change.

CAB is using a 15-day monitoring and implementation cycle for fuel surcharges. The October 1–15 announcement does not establish the rate for the rest of October, and waiting does not guarantee a cheaper total ticket.

WHAT TO WATCH

Compare complete prices for the same route, dates and baggage needs. Save the breakdown before paying.

BOTTOM LINE

The higher surcharge can make flying more expensive, particularly for families buying several tickets. Check the amount for your route, confirm when your ticket is issued, and compare the complete cost of the journey before committing your money.

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