AGP Executive Report

Mindanao Quake Response: The DOH said the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) will deploy to Glan, Sarangani on June 14, bringing specialized doctors and water filtration gear as recovery continues after the 7.8 quake. Infrastructure Damage: A ₱590-million assessment covers damaged buildings and facilities in Koronadal City and 10 towns in South Cotabato, with aftershocks still being monitored. Public Health & Safety: Barangay responders contained a chemical scare at Pier 18 in Manila involving sucralose, urging vulnerable residents to take precautions. Food & Trade: PhilExport Negros warned that the U.S. suspension of Philippine blue crab imports could hit thousands of workers and fisherfolk, calling for urgent government-industry action to restore market access. Digital Disruption: Thousands of Facebook users reported log-in and feed issues during a global Meta outage affecting Messenger and Instagram. Defense Cooperation: The Philippines and Canada signed a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement to expand logistics, cybersecurity, information sharing, and maritime cooperation. Agriculture Innovation: UPLB researchers are developing improved purple yam (ube) varieties to boost yields and nutritional quality for farmers. Jobs: DOLE-7 reported 266 hires on the spot during Independence Day job fairs in Cebu and Bohol, with 8,000 positions offered.

Mindanao Quake Response: Disaster drills helped limit damage from the 7.8 quake, but officials revised the death toll to 46, with 680 injured and 45,000 displaced as some 31 people remained missing; concerns also linger over building collapses tied to construction standards. Independence Day Focus: Communities across the country marked the 128th anniversary with renewed calls for unity, economic resilience, energy security, and social justice, including events in Baguio, Bulacan, Iloilo, and Santa Barbara. Water Security Push: DENR is rolling out low-cost community water refilling stations, with six already operating and 18 more being installed, aiming to cut household water costs and strengthen local supply. Crypto Clampdown: BSP issued tighter rules for virtual asset service providers, including delisting/suspension triggers and a ban on privacy-enhancing tokens. Digital Disruption: A major Facebook/Meta outage hit thousands of users in the Philippines and abroad, disrupting logins and feeds before services gradually returned. Education Reform via AI: A consumer group says AI can help reform public education if proven models are scaled through DepEd, local governments, and private partners. Defense Cooperation: Canada and the Philippines signed defense agreements to boost logistics support, interoperability, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. Energy & Power: DOE moves to streamline own-use solar installations as the country continues pushing a broader sustainable energy agenda.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: The 7.8 quake’s toll in southern Mindanao inched up to 47 dead, with 688 injured and 31 missing, as access to hard-hit areas improves and more bodies may be recovered. Disaster Preparedness: Officials credited years of drills for limiting casualties, with thousands still displaced and roads/landslides slowing rescue. Rice Price Watch: The DA is set to recommend extending the P50-per-kilo rice price cap beyond June 30, pending the National Price Coordinating Council and presidential approval. Anti-Online Child Exploitation: PNP arrested two women and rescued seven minors in separate operations in Zamboanga City and Norzagaray, Bulacan. Water Access: DENR is expanding low-cost community water refilling stations, aiming for 49 operational sites by year-end. Oil Spill Monitoring: BFAR and responders are assessing fisheries impact after a small oil leak from a grounded Ilocos Norte cargo vessel, with containment already in place. Digital Payments Security: GCash will shift from SMS OTPs to in-app push-notification OTPs starting June 22 to curb phishing and fraud. Renewables Investment: BOI certified 13 renewable projects under the Green Lane, totaling PHP 346B in approved investments.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: The PNP is helping LGUs set up tent cities for 75,324 affected families after the 7.8 quake, while DENR mobilized air and sea assets to deliver water, medical evacuation support, and relief to isolated Glan, Sarangani communities. Education Infrastructure Push: DepEd says P36.227B for 10,488 new classrooms across 2,437 school sites is already moving through procurement and construction, with DBM-approved funding for part of the rollout. Renewables in the Regions: Bago Negros Energy Corp broke ground on a 150MW wind project in Negros Occidental to strengthen the Visayas grid. Housing Approvals Bottleneck: A real estate group urged DHSUD to speed up license-to-sell approvals and publish recent LTS figures, warning delays worsen the housing shortage. Consumer Safety Crackdown: CIDG arrested two sellers of P2.27M worth of electric appliances allegedly missing required import clearance marks. Energy Market Pressure: The CAB cut fuel surcharges for June 16–30, signaling easing air travel costs as jet fuel prices cool. Crypto Compliance: BSP said Binance and its local partner lack the needed VASP license to operate in the Philippines. Trade & Agriculture: The US may expand fresh pineapple access to more ports, potentially boosting Philippine exports to up to 19,200 MT/year.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: DENR is ramping up air-and-sea support to reach isolated quake-hit communities in Glan, Sarangani, including potable water, medical evacuation help, and relief goods, with coordination via the Office of Civil Defense and added search-and-rescue support from Apex Mining. Power Costs & Grid Strain: Meralco raised June electricity rates by ₱0.1488/kWh after tight Luzon supply pushed WESM prices up and drove higher generation charges; a typical 200 kWh household faces about ₱30 more. Business Recovery in Quake Zones: General Santos business groups urged faster power restoration and reopening of roads to restart operations after the 7.8 quake disrupted utilities and damaged infrastructure. Education Infrastructure Risk: Teachers’ group ACT called for a nationwide audit of school buildings and urgent demolition of unsafe structures, citing large numbers of aging classrooms and disaster-damaged facilities. AI for Skills & Retail: UA&P will launch a BS in Artificial Intelligence amid job displacement risks from generative AI, while Packworks reports AI inventory planning is boosting sari-sari store sales by 79% on top products. Renewables & EV Charging: Solar adoption is rising as households seek protection from rising power costs, and Graphion is rolling out modular solar EV charging hubs in Pampanga with grid-independent power support.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: President Marcos and Education Sec. Sonny Angara inspected quake-damaged schools in General Santos City as DepEd estimated an initial ₱245.8M for cleanup and repairs, while many residents stayed outdoors amid aftershock fears. Disaster-Ready Infrastructure: Lawmakers renewed calls for a new Philippine Building Act after the 7.8 quake damaged schools and other structures, and Davao City’s OCBO ordered strict compliance for red- and yellow-tagged buildings before re-occupancy. Transport Continuity: DOTr rerouted ships from General Santos’ Makar Wharf to Malalag Port in Davao del Sur to keep passenger and cargo flows moving. Local Industry & Jobs: CC-BPM added 60K jobs in 2025 as AI adoption grew, with employment rising to 1.68M workers. Trade & Food Security: DA checked rice retailers for compliance with the imported rice price cap, while BOC found abandoned red onion shipments from China worth ₱86.7M. Retail Expansion: UK retailer Marks & Spencer signed a new franchise deal with MAP for a Glorietta store opening later in 2026.

Disaster Response & Education: The Department of Education estimates an initial P245.8M for cleanup, debris removal, and repairs in Mindanao quake-affected schools, covering 1,022 public schools and 4,622 classrooms (with costs expected to rise after full assessments). Infrastructure & Resilience: Lawmakers renewed calls for faster passage of a new Philippine Building Act after the 7.8 quake damaged or collapsed schools and other structures, while critics also pushed for funding for permanent evacuation centers under R.A. 12076. Local Impact: In General Santos City, residents and patients stayed outdoors amid aftershocks and safety checks, as search-and-rescue continued for missing people. Maritime & Security: The Philippines protested China over a floating structure at Scarborough Shoal, warning against turning the atoll into a man-made installation. SME & Finance: Billease injected ₱500M into its rural bank unit to expand into broader digital banking products. Retail & Consumer Markets: Ayala Land expands the Visayas retail scene with Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Cebu, anchored by IKEA. Digital Payments: A Saber whitepaper says Asia’s domestic payments lead, but cross-border corridors remain inefficient, with stablecoins pitched as a settlement layer.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: President Marcos orders hospital safety checks and stable power as DepEd mobilizes emergency classrooms and learning packets for 267 quake-hit schools; DPWH estimates about ₱1B in damage and prioritizes roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools; SC suspends court operations in parts of Mindanao while engineers assess courthouses; Red Cross deploys satellite phones, generators, and food packs to isolated communities. Power & Regulation: A consumer group urges the Ombudsman to probe the ERC over alleged failure to enforce a Supreme Court power-rate ruling, after claims Meralco’s return on equity exceeded the 12% cap. Aviation & Infrastructure: General Santos Airport reopens for limited flights while a one-week terminal inspection targets structural and electrical repairs; San Miguel says the first runway of the ₱735B New Manila International Airport could be finished by 2Q 2028 despite Manila Bay supply bottlenecks. Digital & Industry: DICT seeks $30B for an AI+ infrastructure masterplan; PLDT plans a data center REIT listing to raise funds and cut debt. Maritime Workforce: Seatrade’s Crew Connect Global returns to Manila Oct. 20–22, focusing on crewing tech, training, and seafarer welfare.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: President Marcos will visit quake-hit areas in Mindanao and ordered DOH and DPWH to prioritize hospital inspections and safe patient areas; DOE says power restoration is ongoing and some facilities may resume operations Wednesday, while the Visayas grid will receive reduced Mindanao power imports. Infrastructure & Services: DPWH estimates earthquake damage at around P1 billion and is assessing roads, bridges, hospitals and schools; Supreme Court keeps court operations suspended in parts of Mindanao; DepEd deploys engineers as the number of affected schools rises to 8,642. Energy & Costs: DOE allows another round of fuel price adjustments starting Tuesday, with diesel and kerosene set to rise within ranges. Maritime & Trade: CU Lines opens a Turkey office to expand its trunk-and-feeder shipping network across Europe, Asia and Africa; ECS Group expands Asia air cargo with tech and sustainability focus. Security & Governance: Philippines lodges a diplomatic protest over a floating structure at Scarborough Shoal; PNP says it has leads on remaining fugitives in a Bulacan flood-control scam. Workforce & Compliance: DMW plans cases vs recruitment agencies accused of holding 206 OFW applicants in illegal, substandard accommodations. Cybersecurity: PhilSec 2026 returns June 30–July 1 with DICT, CICC, PNP-ACG, AFP and PCG backing.

Disaster Response & Education: A 7.8-magnitude quake off Sarangani, Mindanao killed at least 35 and injured 200+ as tsunami waves were reported; DepEd says 8,642 schools and 4.09M learners were affected, with engineers deployed and classes suspended in quake-hit areas. Public Safety & Infrastructure: The PNP mobilized 2,000+ personnel and opened 545 evacuation centers; malls in General Santos temporarily shut for safety checks. Energy & Cost Pressures: DOE said diesel and kerosene pump prices will rise again Tuesday under eased adjustment rules, while fuel volatility continues to worry Cebu’s growth plans amid limited local reserves. Industrial Policy & Investment: Marcos approved expansion of West Cebu Industrial Park ecozone by 64.7 hectares to bring total to about 629.35 ha, reinforcing PEZA-linked manufacturing pull. Trade & Enforcement: BOC Port of Clark seized P64.9M worth of shabu in three shipments. Retail & Power Markets: Retail electricity aggregation is gaining traction, with Cathay Land consolidating multiple sites under the DOE’s RAP to manage power costs more strategically. Workforce Development: DOLE will run “Trabaho Agad” job fairs nationwide from June 10–12, offering 95,000+ vacancies. Governance & Media: The House panel ordered agencies to submit positions after it flagged ABS-CBN blocktime deals for possible legal and competition issues.

Mindanao Earthquake Response: A powerful offshore 7.8 quake struck Sarangani at 7:37 a.m., triggering tsunami warnings and leaving at least 19 dead and 200+ injured, with General Santos among the hardest hit as buildings collapsed and infrastructure was damaged. Education Disruption: DepEd said about 6,224 schools across five Mindanao regions were affected, impacting 3.2M learners; classes were suspended nationwide in quake-hit areas while structural checks and engineers were deployed. Aftershocks & Safety Updates: Phivolcs reported multiple aftershocks and updated intensities; malls in General Santos temporarily closed for inspections. Customs Revenue Drive: Malacañang praised the Bureau of Customs for collecting P406.365B in Jan–May, exceeding its target and supporting priority programs amid energy and price shocks. Industrial Expansion: Marcos ordered the expansion of the West Cebu Industrial Park ecozone to 629.35 hectares via Proclamation 1288, boosting Cebu’s manufacturing and shipbuilding hub. Anti-Corruption Case: Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya was arrested at the Senate over a Bulacan flood-control malversation case, with additional suspects facing warrants. Energy & Grid Recovery: DOE and NGCP worked to restore power in parts of Mindanao, with General Santos/Sarangani still hardest hit.

PEZA Investment Surge: PEZA approved P124.84B in investments in Jan–May, up 88% year-on-year, with 135 new and expansion projects expected to drive exports and 20,012 jobs. Inflation & Rates Watch: May inflation eased to 6.8% but stayed above target, keeping pressure on the BSP to keep rates higher; markets still face Middle East-driven uncertainty. Bank Lending Picks Up: BSP data showed bank lending grew 11.4% in April, the fastest in nine months, signaling steadier credit demand. Customs Crackdown on Smuggling: DA and BOC seized over P7M in smuggled carrots at the Port of Manila, hidden in noodle shipments, with cases filed for violations. Energy Transition Funding: AIIB is set to co-finance a $1B World Bank-backed program for PH energy transition, grid reforms, and water improvements. Automotive Demand Shift: Motorcycle sales rose 8.8% to 811,397 units in Jan–May as fuel prices stayed high. Agri Exports Expand: Mindanao MD2 pineapples shipped to the UAE, and the first commercial Philippine mango shipment reached Toronto, opening new export pathways. Local Environment Urgency: Cebu faced renewed calls to overhaul waste management as landfill strain and pollution risks mount. Trade & Compliance Modernization: BOC rolled out AEDS PLUS for exports from ecozones/free ports, tightening departure rules and requiring stakeholder registration.

Clean Energy Deal: Acwa Power Philippines and Emerging Power (EPI) of Nickel Asia signed a joint development agreement to pursue up to 5,000MW of renewable and gas-fired capacity, with a near-term push to join the government’s Green Energy Auction Program. Industrial Expansion: Acwa also advanced a 500-hectare New Clark City project with BCDA for a utility-scale solar PV plus battery energy storage facility, targeting up to 500MW. Aviation Costs: Airline chiefs at the IATA summit in Rio face a tougher recovery as Iran-linked fuel shocks and airspace disruptions collide with aircraft delivery delays, forcing carriers to keep older planes longer. Property & Malls: Cebu Landmasters named Franco Soberano as its new president and CEO as it navigates tighter approvals and higher costs; Megaworld Lifestyle Malls won multiple Retail Asia Awards, led by Lucky Chinatown as Mall of the Year in the Philippines. Agribusiness Exports: Davao fresh MD2 pineapples were shipped to the UAE, adding another export pathway for local growers. Banking & Trade Support: Hana Bank opened a Subic office to serve Korean firms tied to the shipbuilding push and expand services toward Clark. Power Reliability: Senate pro tempore Sherwin Gatchalian filed an inquiry into repeated NGCP red/yellow alerts and Luzon-Visayas power interruptions amid El Niño concerns. Consumer Watch: DTI said school supply prices are largely stable for the upcoming school year, with more items seeing cuts than increases. Public Safety: Angeles City building collapse death toll rose to 28 as authorities probe possible permit and construction compliance issues. Policy for Oil Shocks: The House approved the KALINGA bill, proposing a 15% windfall tax on oil firms during national emergencies and giving the President temporary VAT/excise suspension powers. Digital Finance Note: A new analysis highlights how the Philippines scaled digital payments without a super-app or CBDC, relying on interoperable rails.

Power Grid Oversight: Senate pro tempore Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for an inquiry into NGCP’s frequent red/yellow alerts and recent Luzon-Visayas power interruptions, warning El Niño could worsen the power-supply gap. Energy Regulation: The DOE intensified actions vs fuel retailers overpricing beyond allowable ranges, issuing show-cause orders in Visayas while saying supplies remain sufficient. Renewables Pipeline: PetroGreen’s Panitan 98.2MW solar farm in Capiz cleared an ECC, with agrivoltaics planned to support both power and farming; separate DTI moves seek stricter PS safety/quality certification for solar components. Food & Exports: DA eyes a jump in ube R&D budget to P93M and seeks geographic indication protection; meanwhile the first commercial batch of fresh Philippine carabao mangoes reached Canada, opening a new export pathway. Agriland Protection: Central Luzon groups launched the Save the Rice Granary Movement, calling for a two-year moratorium on land conversion permits to protect food security. Banking & Compliance: Chinabank named a new chief compliance and governance officer; EastWest expanded wealth management for affluent clients. Public Health & Youth: Youth groups marked World No Tobacco Day, calling for an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes. Environment & Disaster: EMB condemned illegal dumping tied to Davao’s landfill shutdown; UNESCO added Sablayan’s Matibay na Bayan biosphere reserve to its World Network.

Waste & Local Governance: Cebu City opened the “Ecostation” at SRP to cut landfill-bound waste by up to 15 tons daily, using shredding and composting to turn refuse into resources like ecobricks. Public Health & Consumer Access: A Cebu City ordinance proposal would require pharmacies to provide real-time, branch-to-branch medicine inventory checks via public computer terminals. Food Security & Land Use: Central Luzon groups launched the Save the Rice Granary Movement, urging a two-year moratorium on land conversion permits to protect agricultural lands and ease the food security squeeze. Infrastructure & Disaster-Resilience: Northern Samar signed a Local Infrastructure Learning Hub with DILG and agencies to strengthen infrastructure auditing and disaster-ready project monitoring. Justice & Anti-Graft: A Bulacan court ordered the arrest of contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and 10 others in a ₱53.9M flood-control malversation case; Senate coordination for turnover to PNP is set for Monday. Energy & Transport: President Marcos inspected Maharlika Highway rehabilitation in Samar, targeting faster travel between Tacloban and Catbalogan. Sports & Tourism: Subic Bay’s IRONMAN weekend kicks off with international fields and the 10th anniversary of the 70.3 distance. Digital Safety: A new scam report says Filipinos are getting targeted nearly every two days, with fraud increasingly moving to social media and AI-enabled tactics.

Inflation Watch: Malacañang said May’s inflation easing to 6.8% from 7.2% shows early gains from the UPLIFT strategy, while warning El Niño and oil risks could still push prices up. Energy & Power Costs: The BIR exempted the Lifeline Subsidy and GEA-All fees from VAT to prevent double taxation and help lower electricity-bill pressure. Renewables Push: Ateneo researchers flagged three Visayas straits—San Bernardino, San Juanico, and Cebu—as top tidal power sites, adding to the country’s drive to cut fossil-fuel dependence. Climate Readiness for Industry: House Speaker Bojie Dy urged faster El Niño preparations as agriculture and food face high risk, with an 80% chance of development by Aug. Infrastructure for Logistics: Marcos inspected Maharlika Highway rehab in Samar, targeting travel time cuts that could boost farm and business delivery. Trade & Customs: BOC blocked P7.7M misdeclared agri shipments at Manila port, citing violations of customs and anti-agricultural smuggling rules. Business Climate: DTI reported business name registrations rose 19.69% in May, signaling continued enterprise activity. Governance & Justice: Acting Senate President Gatchalian said contractor Curlee Discaya will be turned over to DILG/PNP on Monday after a court arrest order tied to Bulacan flood control malversation allegations.