AGP Executive Report

Weather & Class Disruptions: Tropical Storm Pilandok exited the Philippine area of responsibility early Thursday, but habagat rains continue, keeping parts of Luzon under warnings and prompting renewed face-to-face class suspensions in Zambales towns and Baguio/Benguet. Flood Control & Education Recovery: Marcos said a decades-old flood control master plan is finally being executed after bridge failures, while DepEd reported over 11,000 classrooms damaged nationwide and sought P7.783B for repairs. Impeachment Watch: Day 21 of VP Sara Duterte’s trial featured Michael Poa as a hostile witness, with the court pushing for faster proceedings and talks of whole-day sessions in October. Health Budget Pressure: DOH and PhilHealth budget cuts for 2027 could delay hospital expansion and strain coverage, lawmakers warned. Procurement Integrity: The Senate passed a bill barring relatives of public officials from government contracts to curb corruption risks. Economy & Energy Costs: The peso hit a new record low near P62.565/$ amid Middle East tensions; BIR moves to remove VAT on electricity system loss charges. Agriculture & Livestock: House approved loan interest condonation for farmers, while BAI cleared the first commercial ASF vaccine to help restart hog recovery.

Impeachment Trial Watch: In Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, former DepEd chief of staff Michael Poa told the Senate court he relied on other officials’ reports when preparing DepEd’s COA response on confidential funds, while also admitting he never saw a DepEd vault required under the joint circular—raising fresh questions on compliance and firsthand knowledge. OP Secret Funds Debate: Palace says President Marcos is “very transparent” on the Office of the President’s confidential and intelligence funds, after House scrutiny flagged the size of the OP allocation for 2027. Budget Process Shift: The Senate approved a plan to run budget hearings alongside plenary sessions to speed up national budget work while impeachment proceedings continue. Flood Control & Infrastructure: Marcos said the decades-old flood control master plan is finally being executed, as bridge inspections and repairs move forward amid Luzon flooding impacts. Education Safety & Disaster Prep: DepEd urged schools to use its new LIGTAS+ hazard tool and is considering stakeholder input on transparent bags to improve campus security after recent shootings. Power Bills Relief: ERC and BIR steps could remove VAT on the system loss charge in electricity bills as early as October or November. Governance & Integrity: A Senate bill barring relatives of public officials from government contracts cleared final reading.

Impeachment Watch: Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel Michael Poa is set to testify Sept. 2 as the House prosecution presses its case on DepEd’s confidential funds, while Army witnesses told the Senate impeachment court that no AFP funding came from Duterte’s offices for the youth programs DepEd cited. Floods & Accountability: Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos urged officials to answer why flood tragedies keep recurring, as reports tied NLEx gridlock to debris left after past bridge repairs and residents shared hours-long detours during habagat rains. Budget & Checks: A watchdog warned the House’s “courtesy” move to end scrutiny of the Office of the President’s 2027 budget may violate constitutional checks and balances. Cyber & Telecom: The PNP-ACG pushed for amendments to the SIM registration law, saying cybercrimes still start with SIM cards, as the NBI arrested a foreign national over an alleged rogue cellular site used for phishing scams. Economy & Money: The BSP was urged to stay firm on inflation control as the peso slid to fresh lows, while lawmakers and analysts debated tax relief and growth measures. Energy & Food Security: DA and DOE discussed cheaper bioethanol feedstocks to cut pump prices, and the government signaled possible rice imports up to 5 million metric tons amid storms and El Niño risks.

Impeachment Trial: Senate presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero ordered tighter rules in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment court, banning earpieces and other communication devices after a viral “earpiece” photo of witness Lemuel Ortonio was ruled AI-generated. Impeachment Trial: AFP officers told the court their certifications only confirmed the Youth Leadership Summit and IEC activities were conducted, not how DepEd confidential funds were liquidated—while prosecutors trimmed witnesses and signaled only a few remain before they rest. Flood Response: Malacañang urged stricter enforcement of “no-build zone” and better LGU maintenance of waterways and garbage disposal as monsoon flooding continues, with Laguna de Bay still above critical levels. Disaster Watch: PAGASA said Tropical Storm Pilandok (Krovanh) remains inside PAR and may exit around Sept. 3, while haze from Indonesia fires pushed Metro Manila into “acutely unhealthy” air in several cities. Budget & Economy: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian backed a Senate ad hoc committee to tackle economic slowdown and oil-price pressures; Sen. Mark Villar pushed raising the income tax exemption ceiling to boost household spending. Agriculture: DA said the country needs 10–12 “mega food hubs,” with five targeted to start in 2026, and is still assessing farmer impacts of the Pax Silica project in Capas, Tarlac. Governance & Courts: JBC invited five senior SC associate justices to apply for the next chief justice post. Tax Enforcement: BIR destroyed over 240,000 illicit vape products worth about P1.54B in tax liability.

Impeachment Watch: Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial heads into its ninth week as the House prosecution plans to put AFP Col. Manaros Boransing II on the stand over DepEd’s alleged use of P112.5M in confidential funds for the Youth Leadership Summit during Duterte’s stint as education chief. Flood Control & Accountability: Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson says P3.713B in public funds may have been wasted on DPWH flood control and multipurpose projects tied to “illegal” Laguna Lake reclamation areas in Taguig, as DPWH orders a halt and reviews next steps. Budget Scrutiny: Budget watchdogs warn the 2027 national budget could be politicized ahead of 2028 elections, flagging discretionary and hyper-local projects for patronage risk. Disaster Response: Habagat-linked flooding continues to disrupt Central Luzon, with Pampanga still reporting hundreds of flooded villages and Quezon City suspending face-to-face classes in areas hit by poor air quality. Local Governance: Quezon City moves to penalize infrastructure projects that leave construction debris, requiring a site restoration cleanup compliance certificate. Economy & Markets: BSP data shows foreign “hot money” inflows plunged 91% in July, while fuel prices roll back on Sept. 1 after two weeks of hikes.

Flood Response & Public Safety: Malacañang suspended in-person work and face-to-face classes in 15 Luzon provinces on Sept. 1 as habagat rains continue, while President Marcos met agencies for a Central Luzon and Metro Manila response briefing and the PNP ordered tighter coordination to secure vulnerable roads and bridges after the Agana and Aquino bridge collapses in Tarlac. Accountability in Flood Control: Palace warned against stealing pumping-station parts, saying sabotage could worsen flooding, as Quezon City moved to penalize projects that leave debris behind. Local Protest vs Reclamation: Bulacan residents staged “Kilos Bulacan” rallies demanding action on flood-control corruption and an end to reclamation projects blamed for worsening inundation. Impeachment Watch: The House prosecution panel said it won’t rush Edward Fajarda’s testimony in VP Sara Duterte’s trial after a medical setback, while lawmakers flagged Michael Poa as a “central figure” for the confidential-funds case. National Heroes Day: Marcos, Sen. Loren Legarda, and other officials highlighted modern-day heroes and called for better protection and compensation for workers and disaster responders. Peace & Security: NPA members in Sultan Kudarat formally surrendered to government forces. Economy & Governance: BIR chief Charlito Mendoza pushed for fairer, simpler, more predictable tax enforcement via the BIR DARES agenda.

National Heroes’ Day: President Marcos urged Filipinos to honor heroes by serving, caring, and contributing to the common good, saying patriotism must be lived, not just remembered. Flood-control accountability: DPWH relieved Las Piñas-Muntinlupa maintenance chief Loreto Balena Jr. for “delayed response to calamities,” while Sen. JV Ejercito pushed for finishing unfinished flood control works before starting new projects. Laguna Lake reclamation probe: DPWH issued cease-and-desist orders on alleged illegal reclamation in Taguig, after Sen. Panfilo Lacson flagged at least 85 hectares and warned of ecosystem harm. Press freedom safeguards: CHR and the media security task force called for stronger protection for journalists as the Philippines ranked 114th in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. Economy pressure points: The peso slid past ₱62 per dollar, with manufacturers warning of cost-push inflation from weaker currency, while DTI said exports may beat targets on electronics and services demand. Energy planning: DOE is drafting rules to force stalled coal projects to build or surrender permits to unlock up to 5 GW of delayed capacity. Local governance & resilience: World Bank said the Philippines is “policy-rich but implementation-poor” in disaster-risk planning, and LWUA reported nearly 30% of water districts curbing leaks and losses.

Monsoon Disaster Response: Luzon’s habagat continues to wreak havoc, with Tarlac placed under a state of calamity after bridge damage and flooding, while the OCD reports 32 deaths and 8.1 million affected nationwide, pushing thousands into evacuation centers. Flood-Control & Preparedness: DepEd says 9,869 classrooms are damaged and 348 schools are being used as evacuation centers; the Coast Guard and PAGASA issue heightened alerts across Northern Luzon, as Laguna de Bay also stays above critical levels. Accountability in Courts: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla says courts are “too forgiving” of graft convicts who get bail after conviction, urging the Supreme Court to police the judiciary. Press Freedom: CHR and Sen. Loren Legarda mark National Press Freedom Day by calling for stronger safeguards for journalists amid ongoing attacks and impunity. Governance & Land Use: DPWH issues cease-and-desist orders over alleged illegal reclamation linked to Laguna de Bay in Taguig, with stakeholders set to meet. Health Policy: Groups push for a P80+ tax on vapes, warning weak proposals won’t stop youth addiction. Maritime Security: Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro tells youth to protect PH waters beyond the West Philippine Sea. Local Sports Development: San Juan launches a futsal program with PSC and PFF to train coaches and roll out clinics nationwide.

Disaster Response: Quezon City ordered forced evacuations in multiple high-risk barangays as La Mesa Dam hit spilling level and PAGASA kept Metro Manila and Luzon under red rainfall warning, with flooding already reported in several areas. Flood Toll: Monsoon rains and multiple weather disturbances have killed more than 30 people across Luzon, including Aeta fatalities in Zambales and Pampanga, while a lahar warning was issued for Pampanga due to “noneruption lahar” risk. Local Governance: Pampanga’s Lubao flooding and a Porac landslide death highlight how weak drainage and slope protection keep turning storms into tragedies. Judicial Oversight: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla urged the Supreme Court to “police the judiciary” over graft cases where convicted officials allegedly get bail, as the JBC opens applications for the next chief justice. Impeachment Politics: The House prosecution team warned the public against fake news in the VP Sara Duterte impeachment, stressing the sub judice rule should apply equally to all parties. Press Freedom: NUJP said it has logged about 260 attacks on the press under Marcos Jr., with most targeting workers at local and smaller outlets. Environment & Coastal Protection: Groups pressed DENR to suspend mangrove earth-balling/relocation guidelines, arguing it undermines nature-based flood defenses. Defense & Maritime Security: Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro called for protecting Philippine waters beyond the West Philippine Sea, urging youth-led stewardship as regional tensions rise. Health Policy: Health advocates urged lawmakers to tax vapes at P80 or higher, warning of early chronic disease risks for youth. Elections & Dynasties: Dasmariñas Mayor Jenny Barzaga was proclaimed Cavite’s 4th district representative in a special election that keeps the Barzaga political hold.

Impeachment Court Watch: House impeachment team adviser Ace Barbers said Col. Raymund Dante Lachica’s testimony is “unnecessary” to prove VP Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, arguing prior testimony already shows Duterte’s approving authority. Local Disaster Response: Metro Manila stays under red rainfall warning as Quezon City orders forced evacuations in multiple barangays and La Mesa Dam hits spilling/overflow level, while Manila hospitals shift to Code White and Pasay keeps major roads passable with standby rescue gear. National Alert: DSWD raised its status to red alert for habagat impacts, with field offices and relief resources on heightened readiness. Public Safety & Governance: Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla said over 200 Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, including regional directors, are under investigation over alleged “slots-for-sale” in recruitment. Anti-Online Harm: Meta committed to share user data with Philippine authorities over child-safety threats and to remove harmful deepfakes, following government talks in Singapore. Environment & Accountability: DENR faces calls to suspend mangrove earth-balling and relocation after groups warned it could kill most trees removed, amid a congressional review of DENR guidelines. Health Update: Bohol declared a province-wide dengue outbreak after surging cases and deaths. Judicial Appointments: JBC opened applications for the next Supreme Court chief justice after Gesmundo’s Nov. 6 retirement.

Monsoon Watch: DSWD raised its national alert to red as habagat effects linger across parts of Luzon and the Visayas, keeping relief teams on standby. Online Safety & Governance: In Singapore, Meta pledged to remove harmful AI deepfakes and cooperate with PH probes, while Roblox agreed to integrate stricter child-safety and age verification using PhilSys-linked checks. Impeachment Updates: House prosecutors said there’s no final decision yet on whether VP Sara Duterte’s trial will call Col. Lachica, and they also signaled they won’t rush witnesses like Ramil Madriaga. Ombudsman Scrutiny: Ombudsman officials pressed doubts over Sen. Loren Legarda’s extended medical leave amid an investigation tied to her son’s alleged unfinished solar projects, while complaints were filed over an alleged “paper-complete” P80M road project in Surigao del Norte. Public Order & Corruption: DILG chief Jonvic Remulla said over 200 BFP personnel, including regional directors, are under investigation for alleged “slot-selling” in the fire bureau. Economy & Costs: The peso hit a new record low above 62 per dollar, inflation risks stayed above target range, and CAB raised fuel surcharges from Sept. 1—meaning pricier airfares. Disaster & Health: Searches continued for missing Filipinos in Nepal’s flash floods, and Bohol declared a province-wide dengue outbreak after 1,883 cases and 21 deaths.

Impeachment Watch: The House prosecution in VP Sara Duterte’s trial said it won’t rush to call Col. Raymund Dante Lachica yet, arguing earlier confidential-fund testimony already covers misuse and liquidation issues, while prosecutors also signaled they’ll focus next on witnesses tied to request, release, handling and liquidation of confidential funds. Public Safety & Police Reform: DILG chief Jonvic Remulla floated a plan for PNP to inspect gun owners’ homes via signed waivers (not search warrants) after school shootings, as the PNP prepares AI-enabled body-worn cameras for clearer police records. School Security: Cebu mayors back transparent bags but want costs shouldered by LGUs, while DILG/PNP also flagged “international groomers” on Roblox amid concerns over online threats. Weather & Disruptions: Malacañang suspended government work and classes in Metro Manila and 16 provinces due to habagat enhanced by low-pressure areas; PAGASA warned of heavy rainfall and possible flooding. Economy & Policy: BSP kept the policy rate at 5% (with more hikes possible if inflation risks persist), while CAB raised fuel surcharges from Sept. 1–15, and oil firms signaled possible fuel price cuts. Environment & Governance: DENR pushed longer-term fixes for recurring waterways pollution, citing Extended Producer Responsibility and PENCAS, as lawmakers renewed calls to protect watersheds and forests to curb flooding. Health & Food Security: SWS showed hunger easing but still high (20.3% of families), and DOH reported 5,486 leptospirosis cases this year, warning more cases may follow rains. Energy & Agriculture: ACEN and Yanara secured ₱2.3B financing for a 75MW solar farm in Pangasinan, while DA soft-launched livestock data systems to improve disease response and monitoring. International: Nepal-Tibet flash floods left hundreds dead and over 1,500 missing, with many foreigners among those unaccounted for.

Budget & Governance: Business groups and lawmakers are pressing for cleaner rules as Congress reviews the ₱7.2-trillion 2027 budget, with MAP warning against “opacity” and dubious line items after the flood-control corruption fallout. Infrastructure Watch: DBM data shows infrastructure spending still slumped in early 2026, falling 40.8% in the first half, as safeguards tightened fund releases. Public Safety & Police Powers: DILG chief Jonvic Remulla wants police access to homes of licensed gun owners to check safekeeping after school shootings, while also pushing amendments to unify waste management by region. Education & Threats: La Salle Green Hills shifted to online classes after a student post raised “shooter” concerns; in Benguet, several towns suspended face-to-face classes due to PAGASA’s orange rainfall warning. Justice & Rights: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention backed calls to free Tacloban journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and two others, calling their detention arbitrary. Disaster & Climate: Nepal-Tibet flash floods and landslides left hundreds dead and many missing, with a Filipino reported among the missing; locally, monsoon-driven agricultural damage hit ₱2.32B. Politics & Accountability: Malacañang and Sen. Robinhood Padilla traded barbs over “aliases” tied to confidential funds during VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Budget Watch: The national budget deficit widened to ₱106.3B in July, with the year-to-date gap hitting ₱893.1B, as spending ramped up faster than revenue growth. Local Governance & Public Safety: DILG said it’s moving ahead with a government-to-government deal for 1,500 fire trucks for BFP over four years, while also pushing for AI-enabled body cameras for police and proposing home inspections for gun safekeeping. Education & Youth Protection: Lawmakers debated school safety after recent shootings, with DILG linking perpetrators to “rabbit hole” effects from violent online content and backing restrictions for social media users aged 14 and below. Politics & Accountability: In the VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial, Senate President Gatchalian warned about sub judice compliance, while the Sandiganbayan denied a graft defendant’s bid to consolidate cases. Media & Information Integrity: House panels questioned PCO funding and PTV-4’s needs, as MTRCB flagged a fake film permit ahead of a political movie screening. Disaster & Health: Malacañang said the flood control master plan is still being studied; meanwhile, Quezon opened its first human milk bank at QMC.

Impeachment Court: Senate presiding officer Francis Escudero reiterated that the sub judice rule covers VP Sara Duterte too, warning of sanctions for public comments on the case; the trial also tightened enforcement as prosecutors and defense weigh spokesperson changes. Confidential Funds Probe: OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio testified that only Duterte and former VPSPG commander Raymund Lachica knew how OVP confidential funds were implemented, while Ortonio said he couldn’t verify acknowledgement receipts because they were sealed—sparking fresh questions on accountability and liquidation. Budget Oversight: COA warned lawmakers it still lacks nearly 400 field auditors, while DPWH said it purged “duplicate projects” in its 2027 plan, cutting proposed infrastructure items to just over 11,000 amid flood-control corruption scrutiny. Digital Safety & Regulation: Scam Watch Pilipinas urged an ASEAN “Big Tech Accountability Framework” to force platforms to act on scams and harmful content; meanwhile, the Senate advanced a bill setting 16 as the minimum age for social media use. Public Health: DOH activated leptospirosis fast lanes in 33 government hospitals across flood-hit areas. Transport & Trade: Domestic trade fell 21.9% as sea freight declined. Defense & Security: AFP said it is heightening monitoring in BARMM ahead of the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections.

Impeachment Watch: Senate presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero reiterated the sub judice rule in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, warning that senator-judges and both sides’ lawyers must not comment on the merits of the case; defense counsel Michael Poa also said Duterte has no plan to resign. OVP Confidential Funds: In court, OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio said he received confidential fund acknowledgement receipts in a sealed box and couldn’t verify them, while Palace officials pushed back on inflammatory labels like “mastermind” without final findings. Environment & Infrastructure: DENR returned DPWH’s tree-cutting permit application for the Metro Manila Bridges Project in Marikina, after concerns over hundreds of trees; DENR also said Pax Silica’s AI hub lacks a clear project description and has no environmental impact assessment yet. Public Safety & Governance: Malacañang ordered the NCSC to immediately release the P10,000 cash gift to qualified seniors after complaints of delays. Education & Online Safety: The Senate advanced a bill setting 16 as the minimum age for social media use, requiring platforms to use age-assurance systems to protect minors. Health: DOH activated fast lanes for leptospirosis patients as flooding drives cases.