Coronavirus Lockdown: Graft Trial, Pandemic Prepardness, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

During the pandemic two young men decided to pick up Akido. Now they are competing internationally. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/cebu/from-pandemic-hobby-to-intl-competitions

ARNOLD John Lasdoce and Jimboy Esma Tabotabo took up aikido in the midst of the pandemic lockdown just to beat the boredom when people were restricted due to COVID-19.

What started as boredom-busting now became a serious sport and a major achievement for the 23-year-old Lasdoce and 25-year-old Tabotabo, who both hail from Moalboal town in Cebu.

Lasdoce bagged a gold medal in Jiyu-waza men’s 19-Above Ninindori category. Then he teamed up with Tabotabo for the Jiyu Waza double category, where they ended up in second place.

The duo placed second overall in the ranking of the Aikido International Competition Euro-Asian competition held in Moscow, Russia, from May 29 to June 1, 2026.

“I was not expecting to win the competition since our Sensei told us to just seize the opportunity with the goal of just participating in it. So when we won, and it was announced, I was happy and proud that we brought pride and honor to our nation,” Tabotabo said in Cebuano during an online interview with SunStar Cebu.

“After the awarding ceremony, the Philippine National Anthem was played, and the Philippine flag was shown on the two monitors. That was the exact moment we felt so proud of ourselves because our national anthem was being played in front of everyone and in front of different nations. The Philippines was truly recognized,” Lasdoce stated.

While they started Aikido for fun, the duo quickly realized that the sport gave them the chance to travel internationally. Promised by their sensei or coach, Micheal Mccavish, the founder of the Philippine Aikido Association. Their international trips and competitions will be all-expense-paid trips. This became their motivation to train hard, as it is also their dream to travel without any financial hassle.

“We just started training during the lockdown when we were high school students to fill our free time, then our sensei told us about the opportunity to travel internationally without worrying about the expenses,” the champions shared in Cebuano.

Tabotabo is an upcoming fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics at the CTU-Consolacion campus, and Lasdoce is an upcoming third-year student in the Bachelor of Industrial Technology major in Automotive at CTU-Moalboal.

Looking ahead, Lasdoce and Tabotabo plan to keep training hard for upcoming competitions. Encouraged by their sensei their biggest ultimate goal is to fly to Japan and earn their very first black belts.

It'a another pandemic success story. From hobby to full-time success. 

The Philippines and the World Bank have officially signed an $18.85-million grant agreement funded by the Pandemic Fund to boost the nation’s surveillance, laboratory networks, and early-warning defense systems against emerging human and animal diseases.

mb.com.ph/2026/06/05/philippines-signs-world-bank-grant-for-pandemic-preparedness-as-farm-project-earns-satisfactory-rating

The Philippines and the World Bank have signed an $18.85-million grant agreement to strengthen the country’s defenses against future pandemics, while the Washington-based multilateral lender also commended the satisfactory implementation of an ongoing agriculture modernization project.

Documents showed that Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick D. Go signed last Thursday, June 4, the agreement for the Pandemic Fund-Resilient Philippines Project on behalf of the Philippine government. The agreement was earlier signed last May 14 by World Bank division director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoğlu, acting on behalf of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) as implementing entities of the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Trust Fund, also known as the Pandemic Fund.

Unlike a loan, a grant does not need to be repaid.

The $18.85-million financing will come from the Pandemic Fund, which was established in 2022 to help countries strengthen their preparedness against future disease outbreaks.

The project will be jointly implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), as well as the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The grant-funded project is scheduled to run until end-March 2028.

The project aims to improve the Philippines’ capacity to detect, report, as well as respond to existing and emerging pathogens with epidemic potential among humans, animals, as well as wildlife.

Under the human health component, the project will strengthen disease surveillance and early-warning systems, establish a digital One Health dashboard, upgrade surveillance data systems, improve laboratory networks, expand access to diagnostic testing, support genomic surveillance, as well as enhance the pandemic-response workforce through training and database development.

The animal health component, meanwhile, will improve disease monitoring and digital surveillance infrastructure, upgrade animal diagnostic laboratories, strengthen genomic surveillance capabilities, as well as enhance testing and outbreak-response systems.

The project also includes funding for management, monitoring, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, as well as public-awareness activities to support implementation by both the DOH and the DA.

Manila Bulletin earlier reported that the World Bank approved the Pandemic Fund-Resilient Philippines Project last April 29 amid concerns that the country remains a global hotspot for emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases due to factors such as biodiversity loss, urbanization, wildlife trade, as well as recurring outbreaks including avian influenza and African swine fever (ASF).

The World Bank had noted that despite improvements in disease surveillance and emergency response systems, gaps remain in laboratory capacity, workforce readiness, diagnostics access, as well as the integration of surveillance systems needed to respond effectively to future health threats.

Meanwhile, the World Bank said in a separate June 4 implementation status and results report that the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-up (PRDP-SU) continues to make satisfactory progress.

PRDP-SU aims to improve farmers’ and fisherfolk’s access to markets and increase incomes from selected agricultural and fisheries value chains through investments in infrastructure, enterprise development, as well as rural planning.

According to the World Bank, implementation momentum has strengthened following a recent midterm review, with continued progress in planning systems, infrastructure development, enterprise investments, and monitoring mechanisms.

The World Bank said implementation remains broadly on track despite challenges such as lengthy review and approval processes, procurement bottlenecks, varying capacities among local government units (LGUs) and farmer groups, as well as administrative delays.

The report noted that fund disbursements have accelerated, particularly for infrastructure investments, while project managers continue to focus on streamlining processes, strengthening coordination, and ensuring the timely completion of investments.

PRDP-SU is a $600-million investment project financing (IPF) approved by the World Bank back in 2023 and scheduled to run until end-June 2029.

To date, a total of $223.27 million, equivalent to 37.2 percent of the IPF, had already been disbursed.

By applying the hard-learned lessons of COVID-19, the funding will be used to build a more resilient defense network through the "Philippines Pandemic Preparedness and Response Trust Fund" or the "Pandemic Fund."

The graft trial of Duque and Lao over irregular purchases during the pandemic is about to begin. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/08/duque-lao-graft-trial-begins-over-alleged-irregular-transfer-of-41-b-doh-funds-for-covid-19-supplies

The Sandiganbayan First Division on Monday, June 8, began the trial of former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Christopher Lao over graft charges stemming from the alleged irregular transfer of ₱41.46 billion in Department of Health (DOH) funds for the procurement of Covid-19 supplies and equipment.

The case involves the 2020 transfer of DOH funds to the Procurement Service of the DBM (PS-DBM) for the purchase of pandemic-related supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPEs) and Covid-19 test kits.

During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that it would proceed with signing the pre-trial order (PTO), but with reservations due to unresolved issues.

The prosecution said it intended to file a second motion for reconsideration before signing the PTO, arguing that issues involving the delayed delivery and non-delivery of the procured items were excluded from the court's June 3 resolution despite being central to its case.

Sandiganbayan First Division Chairperson Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega allowed the prosecution to submit its motion in writing and said the defense may file its comment in response.

With the procedural matter addressed, the prosecution presented its witness, Assumption Ingrid Reyes, Director III of the Senate Legislative Records and Archives, who brought boxes of documents submitted by various government agencies to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Secretariat.

The prosecution said it has at least 60 witnesses lined up for the trial.

In May 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Duque and Lao with graft over the alleged illegal transfer of ₱41.46 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 supplies and equipment in 2020.

The complaint stemmed from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into findings contained in the Commission on Audit's (COA) 2020 annual audit report.

Records showed that from March to December 2020, the DOH transferred a total of ₱41.46 billion to PS-DBM for the procurement of Covid-19-related supplies and equipment, including PPEs, RT-PCR test kits, automated nucleic acid extraction machines, mechanical ventilators, face shields, surgical masks, and cadaver bags.

However, COA noted that the fund transfers were made without the required memoranda of agreement and certificates of previous liquidation.

The Ombudsman also noted that the DOH paid PS-DBM a four-percent service fee amounting to ₱1.66 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 supplies despite having its own procurement organization capable of undertaking the purchases.

Finally!  Justice is slow in the Philippines. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Decathlon Philippines, New China Flights, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

The contribution of tourism to the Philippines' GDP shrank by 8.1% in 2025.

https://business.inquirer.net/592610/tourism-share-in-ph-gdp-shrank-to-8-1-in-2025/amp

The Philippine tourism industry’s contribution to the economy shrank in 2025 as weaker foreign visitor spending weighed on a still-fragile postpandemic recovery.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that tourism direct gross value added—the measure of economic output directly generated by tourism-related industries—fell to 8.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 from the revised 8.7 percent in the previous year.

In value terms, the industry directly generated P2.27 trillion in 2025, down 1.4 percent from the P2.30 trillion recorded in 2024.

The latest figure marked the lowest tourism share to GDP in three years or since 2022 when the industry had just started recovering from the pandemic.

As it is, tourism’s contribution to the economy has yet to return to prepandemic double-digit growth levels.

The decline came largely from weaker inbound tourism expenditure, or spending by foreign visitors in the country, which dropped 6.4 percent to P698.46 billion from P745.99 billion a year earlier.

Separate data from the Bureau of Immigration, as cited by the Department of Tourism, showed that total foreign visitor arrivals—including returning overseas Filipinos—reached 6.48 million in 2025.

In an earlier discussion paper, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said the recovery in inbound tourism expenditures had been gradual.

“When measured in current prices, inbound tourism expenditures appear higher in 2023 to 2024 due to price adjustments, reaching levels close to or above prepandemic nominal values,” the state-run think tank said.

“However, this increase is largely attributed to inflationary effects rather than equivalent growth in real output or tourist arrivals,” it added.

The PIDS paper further explained that full recovery in the industry has yet to be realized as growth in visitor spending, value added and sectoral investments remained tempered.

Domestic tourism expenditure, however, continued to grow and partly cushioned the decline in foreign visitor spending. Spending by local travelers rose 3 percent to P3.26 trillion in 2025 from P3.16 trillion in the previous year.

Combining both inbound and domestic tourism expenditures, internal tourism expenditure grew at a much slower pace of 1.2 percent to P3.96 trillion from P3.91 trillion. In 2024, the growth rate stood at 13.7 percent.

In contrast, outbound tourism expenditure, or spending by Filipinos traveling abroad, increased by 3.5 percent to P357.93 billion.

Meanwhile, employment in tourism industries reached 7.7 million persons in 2025, up 2.5 percent from 7.5 million in the previous year. This brought the share of tourism-related employment to total employment in the country to 15.7 percent.

For John Paolo Rivera, senior research fellow at PIDS, the weaker tourism contribution likely reflected a combination of softer domestic spending, elevated travel costs and slower external demand recovery.

“Tourism remains vulnerable to external shocks, such as geopolitical tensions, fuel prices and global economic uncertainty,” Rivera told the Inquirer in a message.

“This highlights the need to strengthen tourism resilience through better connectivity, diversified tourism products, digitalization and higher-value tourism strategies rather than relying purely on volume growth,” he added.

The PIDS report, which Rivera co-authored, acknowledged that the Philippine tourism industry had made advancements over the years, but said these were still insufficient to erase the country’s standing as a regional laggard.

“Despite these advancements, the Philippines continues to face key constraints that hinder its ability to be at par with tourism powerhouses in the Asean region such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam,” the report said.

“Persistent issues, such as inadequate infrastructure, weak interconnectivity between tourism circuits, environmental sustainability concerns and policy fragmentation must be addressed to unlock tourism’s full potential,” it added.

Still, the think tank said the country’s tourism industry remained “well-positioned to move from recovery to reinvention” as more regions work toward reforms aligned with the National Tourism Development Plan 2023–2028.

“By accelerating digital transformation, nurturing community-centered and sustainability-focused tourism and investing in the strengths of people and places across all island groups, the country can build a tourism future that is confident, competitive and opportunity-rich,” PIDS said.

The tourism industry is continuing to struggle to recover. 

But that is not to say there has been no recovery. 

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/05/28/dot-says-new-china-flights-fueling-tourism-recovery

The Department of Tourism welcomed the resumption of the Hangzhou-Manila route by XiamenAir, saying the renewed direct connection would help the Philippines recover its share of the Chinese tourism market.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the continued expansion of direct international flights reflects the government’s broader strategy to strengthen tourism growth and improve accessibility.

“Visitor arrivals from China have already posted the strongest growth among our major source markets this year, supported by expanded direct services and measures that have made travel more accessible,” Angara-Mathay said.

Chinese tourist arrivals reached 150,708 from January to April 2026, significantly higher than the 93,186 recorded during the same period in 2025.

Despite the increase, the tourism chief noted that recovery remains below pre-pandemic levels, with current air seat capacity from China only about half of 2019 levels.

“This tells us that the challenge is no longer demand alone — it is our ability to convert that returning interest into actual travel through sufficient, reliable, and commercially sustainable access,” she added.

XiamenAir resumed its Hangzhou-Manila service on 20 May, with flights operating four times weekly every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday until 31 October 2026.

The inaugural flight from Hangzhou arrived in Manila carrying 76 passengers, while the outbound Manila-Hangzhou flight departed with 122 passengers onboard.

The DOT said the route not only supports tourism exchanges but could also strengthen business and investment ties between the Philippines and China.

The Hangzhou route forms part of a broader expansion of air connectivity from China.

Earlier this month, Qingdao Airlines launched the Changsha-Manila route, while XiamenAir also introduced direct Chongqing-Manila flights.

The DOT said the Chongqing service marked the 33rd direct international route launched to the Philippines since the start of 2025, highlighting continued growth in global connectivity.

From 1 January to 19 May, the Philippines recorded 7.78 million international air seats for direct inbound flights, an 8.31 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

A new flight route from China to Manila will help the Philippines "recover its share of the Chinese tourism market." 

OFWs who were forced to return during the pandemic now have local jobs due to the construction of steel plants. 

https://business.inquirer.net/592952/ofws-no-more-steelasia-enlists-construction-veterans

There’s often little certainty for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) about where the next contract will come from.

Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic—and more recently, the conflict in the Middle East—could trigger mass layoffs, thus forcing thousands of Filipinos to return home with few job prospects waiting for them.

For a growing number of repatriated OFWs, that uncertainty has led them to an unlikely second career: helping build what SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. hopes will become the country’s first integrated steel mill

SteelAsia currently employs 106 repatriated OFWs across its four plants in Calaca, Batangas; Meycauayan, Bulacan; Compostela, Cebu; and Davao City.

Many returned to the Philippines during the pandemic, when economic disruptions and lockdowns wiped out jobs across the globe.

“Some of the returning workers initially considered retirement after years overseas, especially older employees who were let go due to age,” the company says. “But many said the opportunity to work in a Philippine steel mill convinced them to return to the industry.”

This arrangement is particularly relevant today as the conflict in the Middle East continues to displace Filipino workers. According to the Department of Migrant Workers, more than 10,000 OFWs have already been repatriated from the region.

SteelAsia says the OFWs it has tapped for its Lemery plant in Batangas came mainly from Saudi Arabia, the top destination for Filipino workers abroad, which accounts for 74.5 percent of the country’s total overseas workforce. Many had also worked in Bahrain and other parts of the Middle East.

What SteelAsia is entrusting these former OFWs with is the operation of its steel sections mill in Lemery.

A steel sections mill is an industrial rolling facility that transforms semifinished steel billets or blooms into finished structural steel products such as I-beams, H-sections, channel steel and angle bars—key materials used in buildings, heavy infrastructure and industrial projects.

Once operational later this year, the Lemery plant is expected to produce heavy steel sections that the Philippines currently imports entirely from abroad.

For the former OFWs, however, the opportunity is more than just another job.

“We’re like soldiers who used to fight for other countries and now are being asked to fight for our own nation,” says Romeo Serna, a stacker operator at SteelAsia.

For Cenen Reyes, another repatriated OFW, working at SteelAsia allows him to continue practicing a craft he spent years mastering overseas.

“My body is still craving for work that involves steel,” Reyes says.

SteelAsia expects its expansion plans to create at least 30,000 jobs in the coming years, either through direct employment or related industries.

This is part of the company’s broader expansion strategy, which includes four new manufacturing facilities by 2028 backed by a multiyear P75 billion investment. Once completed, these projects are expected to raise SteelAsia’s annual production capacity to 4.8 million tons from 2.5 million tons.

As SteelAsia pushes ahead with its expansion plans, the repatriated OFWs it has hired say they are also fulfilling a mission of their own.

“We feel like veteran soldiers being called to active duty for one last mission for SteelAsia,” says acting production head Antonio Rivera.

The more repatriated OFWs the better but of course there should be a salary match or its pointless. 

Decathlon Philippines continues to expand its brand.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/05/30/sports/decathlon-philippines-continues-to-expand-in-2026/2354794

Decathlon, the French sports retail giant, continues its mission to move people through the wonders of sport with the grand opening of more outlets in the Philippines this year, including its latest "Connect" store at SM Grand Central.

This opening marks its second major milestone in an aggressive growth strategy that aims to bring sport and well being closer to Filipinos everywhere. 

From 17 stores in 2025, Decathlon Philippines plans to expand to 27 stores in 2026, beginning with major expansions in Cebu, SM Grand Central and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. 

With the addition of the SM Grand Central branch, the brand now operates 19 stores nationwide, moving closer to its long-term vision of 50 stores by 2030.

Hathaipat Theintangpiriya, CEO of Decathlon Philippines, highlights the vision behind this rapid growth.

"Our mission is simple: to make the lives of Filipinos healthier and happier by making sport and well-being accessible. This opening at SM Grand Central is part of our commitment to be closer to our customers nationwide. We look forward to our continued growth and hope that more people can discover their love for sport with Decathlon."

The "Connect" store format is designed for the urban pace, offering a curated selection of high-quality, affordable gear tailored to the local community.

Annarica Pineda, Store Manager of Decathlon SM Grand Central, shares the excitement of the local team.

"We are thrilled to bring the Decathlon experience to the heart of Caloocan. Whether you are a dedicated athlete or just starting your fitness journey, our team is ready to help you find the right gear. We want to be the go-to partner for every sport enthusiast in the city."

Decathlon views the Philippine sporting goods market as a prime sector, with a projected 7% compound annual growth rate through 2031. 

This surge is fueled by a growing middle class and a post-pandemic shift toward health consciousness as urban youth and professionals continue to propel the demand for premium yet affordable apparel and equipment.

By integrating digital convenience with physical touch points, Decathlon Philippines is positioned to capture a significant market share while fulfilling its pledge to make more sports available to all.

The pandemic was a wake-up call for everyone to get healthy so they need these stores to sell them sports goods. A pair of running shoes and shorts is apparently not enough. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Impeachment Trial, Lea Salonga, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

What does the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte have to do with the pandemic? Let's read this article to find out.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2232081/erwin-tulfo-says-sara-dutertes-impeachment-trial-may-start-on-july-6

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is expected to start in July, according to Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

“There was already a schedule given yesterday (when) SP (Senate President Alan Peter) Cayetano called a caucus of all members. The impeachment trial will begin on July 6,” Tulfo said in a television interview on Thursday.

“Every Monday, we’ll have a session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then from 2 o’clock to sawa [continuously] on Mondays, that’s the impeachment trial. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, the same thing–starting at 3 o’clock in the afternoon until evening. And then Thursdays, we will have hearings, committee hearings,” he added.

Tulfo also said that many senators in the minority bloc do not agree to the proposal of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta to allow Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to participate in the impeachment trial virtually or through teleconferencing for now.

“Many of us, we in the minority, will not agree to that. He has to be physically present,” he said.

“That was allowed during the pandemic. The rules were allowed because … there were lockdowns. Now, everything is okay, so his presence is needed in the Senate,” Tulfo added.

Marcoleta earlier moved to amend the Senate rules to “allow a senator for justifiable reasons to attend and participate in the session through teleconference, video conference, or other reliable forms of remote or electronic means, using appropriate information and communications technology.”

His manifestation remains pending before the Senate committee on rules where it was referred.

Some Senators want to bring back pandemic rules to allow fugitive-from-justice Senator Bato to participate in the trial. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/manila/cbcp-to-dioceses-hold-pandemic-like-bayanihan-activities

AS THE Middle East conflict continues to rage, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on religious institutions on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to consider holding activities to manifest their solidarity with those in need, the poor, and vulnerable sectors.

In a pastoral statement, CBCP president Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said such "bayanihan" acts were already seen during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic some years back.

"Show concrete expressions of Christian solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable sectors of society, who suffer most from the economic hardships brought about by this global conflict, especially to families whose loved ones live or work in areas affected by conflict and instability," said Garcera. 

"Let us strengthen parish-based feeding programs, community pantries, emergency relief efforts, and charitable initiatives for individuals and families burdened by inflation, economic uncertainty, and hardships, following the spirit of compassion and generosity witnessed during the pandemic," he added.

Similarly, the CBCP chief said all dioceses and parishes in the country are being asked to offer prayers for peace.

Garcera appealed to all religious and lay communities to pray for peace not only in the Middle East but also in other conflict-hit areas.

"Pray for peace, celebrate the Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, pray the Holy Rosary, and gather in family and community prayer for the gift of peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine, across Africa, and in all parts of the world wounded by war, violence, division, injustice, and human suffering," said Garcera. 

"In this time of crisis, we call upon all dioceses, parishes, religious communities, schools, and lay organizations to offer spiritual accompaniment, counseling, practical assistance, and spaces where fear and anxiety can encounter hope, solidarity, and prayer," he added.

The archbishop said such actions are necessary as Filipinos are also affected directly by the Middle East conflict through the overseas Filipino workers there.

"Although distant from our shores, the Middle East crisis is not remote from Filipino lives. Many of our brothers and sisters work in the region as overseas Filipino workers. Their safety, livelihoods, and futures now weigh heavily on their families at home," he said.

In the same way, Garcera said Filipinos at home are also indirectly affected via rising fuel costs, higher prices for goods, transportation burdens.

"Those who suffer first are the vulnerable: daily wage earners, farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers, the elderly, and families with little savings. Thus, what happens overseas affects the Filipino home, the Filipino table, and the Filipino heart," added Garcera.

It's a wonder these programs were not preserved and strengthened but vanished once the pandemic ended. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines implemented the BFIRST Project under the 4Ps program to support low-income households and modernize social protection systems, disbursing nearly all of its $600 million loan while achieving strong performance and digital reforms. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/21/philippines-seeks-partial-cancellation-of-nearly-235-million-world-bank-4ps-loan-amid-lower-poverty-rate

The Philippine government has asked the World Bank to restructure and partially cancel over $2.34 million in unused proceeds from a Duterte-era loan supporting the country’s flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), even as the Washington-based multilateral lender cited the project’s “strong performance” and satisfactory implementation.

According to a World Bank restructuring paper disclosed last May 20, the Department of Finance (DOF) requested the cancellation of unwithdrawn funds from the $600-million Beneficiary FIRST Social Protection (BFIRST) Project after determining that the remaining balance—stemming from foreign exchange (forex) differentials—would no longer be needed.

The acronym “FIRST” stands for “fast, innovative, and responsive service transformation” of the originally targeted 4.4 million 4Ps household beneficiaries.

The World Bank noted that the BFIRST Project, approved in September 2020 and implemented since January 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic during the Duterte administration, was designed to cushion the impact of the health crisis on low-income households while modernizing the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social protection systems.

The loan, which closes on June 30, 2026, following an earlier one-year extension, has been almost fully utilized, with $597.66 million or 99.61 percent already disbursed to date.

To recall, Manila Bulletin reported in 2024 that the World Bank, in November that year, extended the validity of this 4Ps loan beyond the original end-June 2025 deadline after the DOF, under then finance secretary Ralph G. Recto, requested more time to implement the poverty-alleviation project.

Unlike other World Bank restructuring exercises tied to delayed or troubled projects in the Philippines, the lender said the BFIRST Project “demonstrated strong performance in its implementation,” with most performance-based conditions and result indicators fully achieved.

The latest implementation report last March rated both the project’s progress toward achieving its development objective and its overall implementation as “satisfactory.”

The World Bank described 4Ps as the “backbone of safety nets” serving poor and vulnerable households nationwide. As of March this year, 4Ps covered 2.86 million active household beneficiaries with 6.74 million eligible children across 82 provinces, 149 cities, 1,493 municipalities, and 41,582 barangays.

Of the total active 4Ps beneficiaries, 86 percent or 2.46 million were female grantees, while indigenous households accounted for 354,385 beneficiaries or 12 percent of total active 4Ps households.

The lender also pointed to the near-universal adoption of digital payment systems under 4Ps, with almost all beneficiaries now receiving transfers through transaction accounts.

Under the restructuring request, the DSWD likewise asked the World Bank to revise the BFIRST Project’s results framework to reflect the government’s decision to reduce the target number of 4Ps beneficiaries following the decline in poverty incidence across the country.

The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) poverty data estimated 3.86 million poor families nationwide, prompting the DSWD to recalibrate the annual target coverage for 4Ps beneficiaries to 3.5 million households beginning this year from the previous target of 4.4 million households.

Between 2008 and 2025, the government said 4Ps helped 1.61 million households achieve self-sufficiency, excluding those that exited the program through natural attrition, according to the World Bank.

The restructuring paper noted that 4Ps exceeded its annual targets in both 2021 and 2022.

According to the World Bank, the BFIRST Project also financed several digital reforms within the DSWD, including the integration of the national ID system or PhilSys into 4Ps verification processes, development of an integrated grievance information system, expansion of digital payment mechanisms, as well as creation of a dynamic social registry with a unified database.

The World Bank likewise noted that BFIRST remained fully compliant with legal, environmental, and social safeguard requirements despite some procurement delays affecting a number of remaining contracts.

Once the restructuring is approved, the project is expected to fully disburse the remaining loan amount before its scheduled closing in mid-2026.

The government has now requested the World Bank to restructure the project and cancel unused funds due to reduced poverty and lower beneficiary targets, reflecting a recalibration of social assistance in the post-pandemic context.

Lea Salonga says BTS saved her mental health during the pandemic. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/5/22/lea-salonga-recalls-how-bts-saved-her-mental-health-during-the-pandemic-1120

Broadway star Lea Salonga shared how South Korean boy group BTS helped her navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent podcast interview, the actress recalled how she got to know the K-Pop group back in 2020 when they released their hit song, "Dynamite."

Lea has been a proud member of ARMY as she continues to share BTS content on her social media accounts.

“2020. COVID, and everybody’s stuck at home. I don’t know, I was just going through quite a bit in my life. The isolation and even though my friends and I were making an effort to stay in touch with each other and watching my kid navigate that kind of isolation from friends. That’s a big ask of somebody that young and impressionable and vulnerable,” she recalled.

She shared how there was just “a lot” going on in her life at the point of the pandemic and in August of 2020, "Dynamite" just appeared out of nowhere for her–– marking the start of her being a fan of the seven-member Korean boy group. 

“I’m watching YouTube, as most everybody does to try and get through the day, and I’m like what is this? What is this on my social media? I watched the video and the minute I saw V in that bottle green Gucci waistcoat and flared trousers, like pushing his hair back, I’m like–– and I’m done, this is it,” she expressed.

Lea recalled how she would go down the “rabbit hole” of videos, concerts, and all other BTS-related content during the pandemic. She credited BTS for helping her “pull out” from the things that she was going through at the time. 

“It just pulled me out of this sad, not quite hopeless, but this sad state of affairs that my brain found itself in. I’m like, I’m gonna live here in a minute because I don’t know when this pandemic is gonna end, but I’m gonna open YouTube or open the internet every day, and I’m gonna watch what these guys are doing,” she added.

As an artist herself, the singer-actress expressed how much respect she has for BTS as she could see the sincerity in all of them.

“I have such great respect for them as songwriters, as performers, as musicians, just as artists, and discovering who writes so much of their material. Just how they relate to one another and how they are with their fans,” she said.

“I’m like there is something very genuine. K-Pop has this reputation of being so manufactured, but there is something sincere and real and it seems that these guys have such integrity,” she ended.

Lea admitted that she only follows BTS in K-Pop.

“They had me in a chokehold and I’m still here,” she ended. 

Well, the do say music is good for the soul. 

A Chinese steel factory is set to being building in June. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/25/chinese-steel-giant-panhua-to-launch-1-billion-sarangani-facility-in-june

China-based steel manufacturing giant Panhua Group Co. Ltd. will begin operations at its $1-billion facility in Sarangani province next month as part of its multi-billion investment commitment to the Philippines, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters that the Chinese firm’s long-awaited integrated steel facility is now ready to begin commercial operations in June through the project’s first phase.

For phase one, Panhua Group will manufacture metal sheets at its facility, generating more than 4,000 direct jobs in the process.

The $1-billion manufacturing plant covers only a third of the company’s plan to invest as much as $3.5 billion in the Philippines’ steel industry.

“They’re very bullish in the Philippines,” Roque said.

Panhua Group first announced plans to invest in the country in 2018, but development lagged largely due to delays during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roque said the company’s confidence in the country is so strong that Panhua Group, one of China’s largest thin steel producers, is also interested in exploring tea manufacturing in the Philippines.

This plan was conveyed to Roque during her recent visit to Suzhou, China, where she also held meetings with other Chinese companies that have expressed interest in expanding in the Philippines.

Among these companies are NWOW Technology and Shanghai Launch, which are involved in the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs).

Roque said she also met with snack food maker Liwayway China, which sells products in the country under the Oishi brand, as the company plans to develop a coconut manufacturing plant that would produce goods for export to China and other markets.

The DTI chief added that she held talks with premium tea beverage brand Chagee, which already has an extensive presence in international markets, including the Philippines.

While there are no planned investment deals yet, Roque said these companies are serious about their expansion plans to meet growing demand for their products, positioning the Philippines as a key manufacturing hub.

This plant was announced back in 2018 but the pandemic caused delays. Now it's ready to start. 

Coronavirus Lockdown: Philippine Eagle, Ebolavirus, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

The tourism industry is still recovering form the pandemic. To that end the DOT recently sent a large contingent to attract more Chinese tourists. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1274906

The Philippines has sent its largest tourism business mission to China since pandemic as it doubles down on efforts to attract more Chinese travelers into the country.

The Philippine Tourism Industry Business Mission 2026, led by the Department of Tourism (DOT), brought together 35 Philippine travel-related companies and around 280 Chinese travel agencies.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday said the delegation will be holding business-to-business meetings with Chinese stakeholders in Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.

At the mission’s stop in Beijing on May 12, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz said the event’s strong turnout sends a signal that “despite the challenges and uncertainties of recent years, there remains tremendous interest, confidence, and goodwill between the Philippine and Chinese tourism industries.”

“We are already seeing encouraging momentum. Chinese tourist arrivals to the Philippines have been rising significantly, helped in part by the Philippines’ visa-free policy for Chinese tourists introduced last January,” he said, adding that the Philippines is well-positioned to meet the changing preferences of the Chinese market.

Beyond leisure, the envoy said tourism could serve as bridge to build goodwill and familiarity between Filipino and Chinese people.

“The more our peoples see each other’s sights and sounds, the more they meet each other face-to-face, the more opportunities we create for understanding. And mutual understanding matters especially in times of uncertainty,” he said.

DOT Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala-Batin, who is part of the mission, confirmed that this is the DOT's largest tourism business mission to China in terms of the participating stakeholders and coverage since the pandemic broke out in 2019.

Beijing-based Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes, who also spoke at the meeting, told Chinese travel firms that the Philippines is ready to welcome more Chinese visitors.

The business mission featured presentations on the Philippines’ diverse tourism offerings, including Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, and Manila, as well as tourism products such as diving; culture and heritage; English language learning; Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE); sun-and-sea tourism; nature-based travel; and cruise tourism.

Business matching sessions and networking activities also provided a platform for Philippine and Chinese stakeholders to discuss cooperation opportunities, market strategies, service improvements, and tourism product development.

New direct routes between China and the Philippines were launched this year, including Chongqing-Manila and Quanzhou-Cebu, with more additional and charter flights in the pipeline, according to the envoy.

Latest DOT data show that arrivals from China reached 150,708 in January to April 2026 from 93,186 recorded in the same period last year.

China currently ranks as the Philippines’ fourth largest source of foreign visitors.

Surely there are other reasons than lack of knowledge about Boracay, et al which are preventing more Chinese tourists to visit. Reasons which are out of the DOT's control. 

During the pandemic Mom's began side hustles which eventually turned into full-time income streams. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/16/from-side-hustle-to-lifeline-how-moms-are-rewriting-the-family-economy

This month, modern Filipino moms are proving that motherhood and entrepreneurship can thrive hand in hand. Across the country, more mothers are stepping beyond traditional roles and embracing life as “mompreneurs,” building businesses from home, pursuing their passions, and reshaping the future of their families through digital innovation.

Through communities like PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), the modern “side hustle” has evolved into something far more powerful: a tech-enabled lifeline helping families navigate an increasingly unpredictable world.

For many mompreneurs, the journey began with either necessity or a spark of inspiration, a homemade chili garlic recipe, curated thrift finds, bespoke footwear, or personalized digital art. Some were driven by the economic uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after losing jobs or sources of income. What started as small ventures eventually became sustainable businesses that now support entire households and communities.

“I had just resigned from my corporate job, and I had an 8-month-old baby to take care of. It was challenging at first because running a business means thinking about marketing strategies, finances, and product development 24/7. That’s on top of my responsibilities as a mom. It was daunting at first, but I was able to press on,” says Ayn Stephanie Buyco Angeles, founder of Marikina-based bespoke footwear brand Hers by Godfather.

“My husband and I got laid off in Dubai, so we decided to return to the Philippines to start anew. When I started Momsatwork, all I could think of was that I had to succeed for my family. I wanted other moms who had the same struggles as me to find a support system through MomsatWork. I wanted to make an empowering and educational platform that will provide opportunities for moms like me,” echoes May Martin-Pimentel, founder of consultation firm Momsatwork.

Faced with changing realities, mothers like Angeles and Pimentel chose to adapt, rebuild, and take charge of their futures. With the support of their loved ones and the sisterhood they found through PLDT Home’s MMPH community, they learned how to scale their businesses and to transform homegrown ideas into thriving enterprises.

Apparently this is an advertisement disguised as a news article but it remains true. 

Ebola is making a comeback in Africa. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/manila/doh-on-alert-vs-bundibugyo-ebolavirus

THE Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, May 18, 2026, that it is currently on alert over the threat of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus after a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement, the DOH said it is prepared to face the threat of the virus and is already in close coordination with the WHO.

"The DOH is always ready and on alert. We have been notified through the International Health Regulations (IHR) channels, and are in active coordination with the WHO," said the DOH.

Nevertheless, the health department said there is nothing to worry about the Bundibugyo ebolavirus since the threat is in countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

"The PHEIC declaration is most important for countries sharing land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where the event is occurring," said the DOH.

"The WHO advice is clear for countries like the Philippines, where there is no Bundibugyo and that does not share a land border with countries that have Bundibugyo," it added.

For countries like the Philippines, the department said the WHO is merely calling for adequate information dissemination regarding the virus.

"The general public should be provided with accurate and reliable information on the Bundibugyo outbreak and ongoing measures to reduce risk," said the DOH.

Over the weekend, the WHO declared a PHEIC over the Bundibugyo ebolavirus spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

However, the WHO said the PHEIC does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. 

Will that be the next pandemic?

The Philippine Eagle is facing threats to its population. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/114133/ph-eagle-faces-genetic-threat-amid-declining-population/story/

The Philippine eagle, the country’s national bird and one of the world’s rarest raptors, faces not only diminishing population but also genetic threat that could endanger its survival.

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Philippine Genome Center, and University of the Philippines (UP), the species has extremely low genetic variation, based on analysis of 35 eagles.

Because their population is dropping, they have no other available mates. As a result, eagles are forced to mate with their own relatives within the forest, which is called inbreeding.

Authorities said inbreeding produces chicks that are weaker and more prone to illness, so they have a lower chance of survival.

They also reproduce slowly as they lay only one egg every two years, making it like a race against their own species’ survival.

"One reason why the Philippine Eagle is genetically or less healthy is that there is not much exchange or gene flow in the subpopulation so what is happening is that many Philippine eagles are being shot that have thrived and migrated or gone to other mountains and this is usually immature and young eagles meaning we are losing our young eagles that supposedly would have carried the genetic diversity of their bloodline," PEF Director for Operations, Dr. Jayson Ibañez, said.At present, only around 392 pairs or 784 mature eagles remain in the wild.

Authorities said humans remain the primary cause of their continued decline as juvenile or young eagles are often trapped or become victims of illegal hunting.

“We have scientific evidence na super taas ng juvenile and sub-adult mortality rate. During the pandemic alone, we rescued a total 20 Philippine Eagles from 2019-2022 that’s the highest rescue rate ever these eagles were shot, were trapped some of them fell to the sea, 18 out of 20 eagles were immature,” Ibañez added.

But during the pandmiec more eagles were rescued than at any other time!