AGP Executive Report

Online Safety Oversight: The House suspended DICT’s 2027 budget talks after lawmakers flagged unresolved concerns over Meta’s youth-safety record, including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, scams, and cyberbullying—pushing DICT to show results before funds move. Power Reliability: Lapu-Lapu City asked NGCP, ERC, and MECO to explain rotational brownouts after residents reported afternoon outages disrupting homes and businesses, with MECO saying it follows NGCP advisories. Climate & Energy Security: A MAS official argued climate adaptation needs its own investment “language” so private capital can scale resilience projects, since adaptation lacks a common measurement like carbon for mitigation. Tech & Industry Expo: Taiwan Expo 2026 opened in Manila, showcasing energy, smart medical, biotech, agriculture tech, and decentralized power solutions aimed at Philippine needs. Food Tech Scaling: Marcos inspected Nutridense and urged better research on scaling nutritious food production from lab to manufacturing, citing DOST support. Public Health After Rains: A study in Emerging Infectious Diseases says leptospirosis admissions often peak about two weeks after heavy rains and flooding, with past outbreaks tied to major storms. Agriculture & Aquaculture: BFAR Ilocos distributed 100,000 tilapia fry to boost fish production and livelihoods, alongside market and technology discussions. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Lawmaker Jose Alvarez backed Pax Silica as “advanced planning” to secure chip supply if Taiwan’s production is disrupted. Digital Child Protection Law: The proposed SAGIP BATA Act would expand online child sexual abuse protections to cover grooming, sadistic extortion, and technology-facilitated recruitment into violence.

Food & Nutrition Tech: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected Nutridense in Pangasinan and urged more work on scaling up nutritious food production from lab to manufacturing, citing DOST support via SETUP and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. AI & Public Trust: A Pew Research Center survey across 36 countries finds global concern about AI is widespread, with many expecting job loss rather than growth, and attitudes varying by age and income. Cyber & Governance: The House deferred DICT’s 2027 budget deliberations after lawmakers flagged gaps in online safety efforts, including scams and child protection, asking for clearer outcomes before funding moves forward. Regional Health Policy: APEC endorsed a roadmap to tackle cardiovascular disease burden, led by Thailand with Peru and the Philippines, covering prevention through long-term rehabilitation. Philippines–China Trade: China and Davao pushed deeper cooperation in infrastructure, investment, tourism, technology and trade, citing rising bilateral trade and pointing to the China-funded Davao River Bucana Bridge. Aviation Connectivity: India’s IndiGo seeks direct flights to the Philippines, with proposed Mumbai–Manila and Mumbai/Delhi–Cebu routes to boost trade and tourism. Public Safety: PRO 6 reported P14.224M in seized illegal drugs and 62 arrests in anti-drug operations across Western Visayas. Agrifood Support: BFAR Ilocos distributed 100,000 tilapia fry to fisherfolk during the 70th Fishery Industry Forum, alongside talks on aquaculture registration and market linkages.

AI Governance & Child Safety: The House put DICT’s 2027 budget on hold and called Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a hearing over concerns that Facebook/Instagram are not doing enough to protect children from harmful content and scams. Local Tech Policy: Roblox said it is open to appointing a Philippines-based representative to receive subpoenas and lawful orders under the Senate’s strengthened anti-online child abuse bill. Philippine AI Strategy: Sen. Bam Aquino urged DOST to build a Filipino-made AI model, warning foreign systems could shape local culture and language; DOST said it’s already working on a locally-made large language model. STEM & Education: DepEd partnered with 170+ institutions to provide about 31,000 senior high school work immersion slots under a revamped TechPro track. Agritech Breakthrough: DA-PCC will inaugurate the country’s first multi-species semen sex-sorting lab in Nueva Ecija to produce female buffalo semen locally. Open Data for Tourism: DOT launched a public dashboard with tourism arrivals, outbound travel, economic contribution, and tourism jobs, with downloadable datasets. Disaster Resilience: Asean adopted the Manila Declaration to speed up disaster resilience implementation through 2030 and beyond. Infrastructure & Connectivity: DPWH completed a Bailey bridge in Ilocos Sur after the Calungbuyan Bridge was closed due to rain damage.

Infrastructure & Safety: The Philippine Coast Guard reported the Palawan ferry fire death toll has risen to 77, with 8 still missing, after revising figures to include a crew member who later died in hospital. Transport & Megaprojects: President Marcos said right-of-way for the Metro Manila Subway’s NAIA Terminal 3 station is fully secured, clearing the way for construction of the underground station and connecting tunnels. Education & Workforce Skills: DepEd is partnering with 170+ institutions to place SHS students in work immersion, with 31,000 slots pledged and a shift to a two-track SHS framework (Academic and TechPro) tied to industry assessments and national skills certification. Public Data for Tourism: The DOT launched a Philippine Tourism Data Dashboard with arrival, outbound travel, economic contribution, and tourism employment figures, plus downloadable datasets for researchers. Policy & Governance: The Palace said Marcos doesn’t weigh political affiliation when appointing officials, after naming former “Thinking Pinoy” blogger RJ Nieto as assistant secretary. Tech, Science & Society: UNFPA and UP Diliman formalized a partnership to strengthen use of population data for planning amid demographic change. Markets: The PSEi slid to the 5,900 range on growth worries and geopolitical concerns. STEM Recognition: UP Diliman graduates won the James Dyson Award 2026 national title for BiDaKidney, a home dialysis aid. Weather & Aviation: A lawmaker questioned whether PAGASA’s real-time forecasting is sufficient after reports of abrupt NAIA flight cancellations during heavy rain. Regional Connectivity: USTDA backed a feasibility study for a Thailand–US trans-Pacific submarine cable with branches that include the Philippines. Local Engineering Response: DPWH Ilocos Sur completed a Bailey bridge in Santa, Ilocos Sur, as a temporary crossing after the Calungbuyan Bridge was closed due to rain damage.

Education & Digital Public Services: DICT-7 connected DA-7 in Cebu to GovNet, hitting 823 Mbps download and 946 Mbps upload in a live test—aimed at faster delivery of agricultural services. Infrastructure for Resilience: DPWH started a Bailey bridge in Santa, Ilocos Sur after the Calungbuyan Bridge was damaged by continuous rains, restoring access for residents and farm-to-market transport. Learning Recovery: DepEd urged lawmakers to restore funding for the ARAL Program after PISA 2025 gains, warning many students still sit below baseline proficiency. Health Tech: A 10-year study of 6,000+ adults found coronary artery calcium scans only slightly improve most risk estimates, but better clarify statin decisions for people in borderline/intermediate ranges. Healthcare Innovation: CGBioMedTech and Solendos unveiled a joint spine portfolio for minimally invasive procedures, endoscopic surgery, and fixation/fusion systems. Cyber & Consumer Protection: Malayang Konsyumer asked the NBI to investigate online counterfeit sellers despite platform takedowns, citing large-scale seizures. Omnichannel Retail Tech: Cellboy partnered with Anchanto to unify warehouse, stores, and online operations for real-time visibility across 200+ outlets. Governance & Flood Risk: Cebu City Council sent the Monterrazas de Cebu TIC report back for more review after questions on detention-pond capacity and flood-risk links. Policy & Diplomacy: Philippines pushed ASEAN to strengthen disaster preparedness and early warning systems as climate-driven extremes intensify.

Education & Learning Continuity: DepEd is urged to keep funding the ARAL academic recovery push after PISA 2025 showed the Philippines’ strongest reading, math, and science gains since 2018, but many learners are still below baseline—so targeted support must continue. Disaster Resilience: President Marcos called for ASEAN to strengthen people-centered, end-to-end multi-hazard early warning and anticipatory action, not just post-disaster response, as climate-driven extremes intensify. Energy Transition: DPWH and power-sector updates highlight infrastructure momentum: MTerra’s large solar-plus-battery operations are energizing at scale, while the BIR removes VAT on electricity system loss charges to cut bills. Food & Agriculture Tech: The DA suspended fresh ube exports to protect planting material supply as global demand surges, and it signed a five-year deal with PhilSA to use satellite Earth observation for crop, flood, drought, and fisheries monitoring. Local Innovation & Nature: Masungi Georeserve rediscovered the endemic Exacum loheri after 130 years, underscoring how field research and conservation can revive “lost” species. Connectivity & Trade: DTI said IndiGo applied for direct Manila routes, and Indian firms are weighing P4.2B in PH IT-BPM and electronics manufacturing expansions. Market Watch: PSEi slid to a two-week low amid oil-price and peso pressures.

Smart City Push: Muntinlupa formally accepted a Smart City Roadmap from DAP and DOST-NCR, moving to Smart City Readiness Level 2 and planning to turn the plan into department-ready programs. Energy & Power Costs: The BIR removed 12% VAT on electricity “system loss charges,” with consumers expected to see lower bills as utilities update billing formats. Digital Skills & Jobs: DICT launched the Digital Workforce Hub to connect Filipinos to skills assessment, training, and job matching in one platform. Supply Chain Tech: Philippine Seven adopted RELEX Solutions to automate forecasting and replenishment across its 27 distribution centers, replacing spreadsheet-based planning. Education Outcomes: DepEd said the Philippines improved in PISA 2025, posting gains in Reading, Math, and Science versus prior cycles. Cybersecurity Readiness: An ASEAN PQC readiness assessment ranked the Philippines at Tier 3, highlighting the need to accelerate post-quantum migration planning. Natural Science Discovery: Masungi Georeserve rediscovered the rare, chlorophyll-lacking Exacum loheri in Rizal, after field validation of a species last collected in 1895. Aviation Connectivity: Southern Leyte is exploring direct flights between Maasin and Clark to boost tourism and reduce travel friction. Policy & Governance: A dispute over the right to protest vs. Pax Silica flared after paralegals were arrested during a Luzon Economic Corridor forum protest.

Prison & Courts: BJMP said it’s ready to transfer former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas after Sandiganbayan ordered custody from PGH, with further medical assessment before cell placement. Anti-graft: Sen. Jinggoy Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its move allowing the dropping of graft/plunder cases against former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan, calling it unfair and tied to “state witness” timing. AI in Education: Business groups warned that Filipino students need more than AI tool use—schools must teach critical thinking, verification, and problem-solving so AI supports judgment, not replaces it. Digital Safety & Identity: CICC is reviewing privacy safeguards for a proposed online age assurance system for social media and gaming, stressing data minimization and the difference between age assurance and identity checks. Agritech & Supply Chains: DA indefinitely suspended fresh ube exports to build planting-material scale for commercial cultivation, while also pushing tissue culture inputs and mapping varieties for authenticity and resilience. Infrastructure Oversight: Cebu’s provincial legal office is investigating 15 2024 infrastructure projects over missing or incomplete procurement records, with possible referral to the NBI/Ombudsman. Water & Climate Resilience: Catarman, Northern Samar is preparing water rationing amid drought, with planned deliveries to barangays lacking connections. Payments & Remittances: Wells Fargo launched ExpressSend 1 Mobile inside its app for international transfers to 12 countries. Aviation PPPs: The PPP Center said airport upgrades may shift toward more solicited private-sector projects, following prior rejection of an unsolicited Iloilo airport proposal. Tech Hardware Partnerships: Precise Biometrics signed deals to expand fingerprint sensor distribution in India/Vietnam and to integrate its fingerprint approval flow with an AI-focused Linux device.

AI & Markets: Tech firms slid after AI leaders backed calls to “pace the frontier,” while oil prices jumped and Fed rate-hike expectations returned. AI Governance & Cybersecurity: Stratbase urged faster rollout of the government’s AI governance framework alongside stronger cyber defenses and incident-response testing. AI Workforce: The Philippines’ AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan targets reskilling 1.3M IT-BPM workers for AI-enabled services under a US$34.4B plan. Digital Trust: SEON won a CybersecAsia Readers’ Choice award for identity and fraud management, highlighting fraud/AML tooling demand in PH and the region. Energy Tech & LNG: CB&I and AG&P commissioned all-steel full containment LNG tanks at Ilijan, a first-of-its-kind milestone for the Philippines. Energy Security: Bloomberg reports Asia’s emerging LNG buyers spent US$7.4B on costly spot cargoes after Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Philippine Tech Diplomacy: Marcos’ BRICS outreach included iSON’s US$75M investment plan spanning agri-tech, digital healthcare, BPO, and infrastructure. LEC Logistics: SBMA said ~50 US firms are exploring Luzon Economic Corridor opportunities, with Subic positioned as a western gateway for logistics, maritime services, and tech. Climate & Resilience: Indonesia’s wildfire emissions are threatening climate targets, with haze reaching the Philippines. Education Disruption: Youth group SPARK criticized inconsistent class suspensions during monsoon rains, calling for science-based long-term climate education plans.

AI Governance & Cybersecurity: Stratbase Institute urged stronger cybersecurity coordination as the government prepares its first AI governance framework, stressing rights protection, human oversight, and accountability. Digital Investment & Jobs: President Marcos met Indian firm iSON Group in New Delhi as it pledged $75M for agro-solar, 24/7 teleconsultation, BPO expansion, and digital infrastructure—aiming to create about 2,000 jobs. Philippines-India Tech Push: Marcos sought India’s help for railway projects (Mindanao rail, Cebu mass transit, and PNR extension) and ISRO-linked space technology cooperation. BRICS Diplomacy for Tech & Resilience: Modi and Marcos agreed to deepen ties under the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership, including defence, fintech, science and technology, and Marcos welcomed joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Education Outcomes: The Philippines’ PISA gains improved science, math, and reading scores, but experts warned the learning crisis still needs fixes like teacher and classroom shortages. Market Watch: PSEi slid amid Middle East war-driven oil risks and peso weakness. Disaster Response: Search-and-recovery continued after the MV June Aster fire off Coron, Palawan, as families awaited confirmations of missing passengers.

Education & Skills: The Philippines posted its best PISA 2025 results since 2018, with science, math, and reading scores rising—yet officials warn the learning crisis is still not solved, as teacher and classroom gaps remain. Governance & Peace Process: BARMM holds its first regular parliamentary elections on Sept. 14, with 80 seats at stake and expectations for a more credible vote after years of postponements. Space & Rail Tech: President Marcos met Indian groups at BRICS in New Delhi, exploring cooperation with RITES on Mindanao rail, Cebu mass transit, and PNR extension, and with ISRO on Philippine satellite goals. Disaster-Ready Infrastructure: The Philippines officially joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, aiming to bring global know-how into safer roads, bridges, and public buildings. Agri Tech Exchange: The DA is studying China’s smart farming systems and sending local agri-startups to Taiwan Expo 2026 to find tech and market partnerships. Digital Policy & Funding: DICT is urged to collect P3.9B in telco charges and penalties to support digital programs, citing collection gaps. Maritime Security: A study says China’s coast guard questioned nearly 200 commercial ships in the Philippine Sea, tied to rising pressure around EEZ talks. Health & Tech: DepEd urges families to talk more with children about school, citing PISA 2025 data showing fewer students discuss school activities and problems weekly. Industry & Payments: Visa expands its Philippine footprint at SM Mall of Asia Complex, adding a larger solution center for admin, finance, and technology operations.

Disaster-Ready Infrastructure: President Marcos Jr. announced the Philippines has joined India-launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, aiming to embed resilience into roads, bridges, communications, and public buildings. Marine Tech Shift: BFAR says it’s moving from commodity-by-commodity fisheries programs to technology-driven, sector-wide governance after discussions at the SAFET 2026 conference in Cebu. Biodiversity Watch: Rangers in Leyte’s Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park recorded a leucistic Philippine duck—rare reduced pigmentation—adding new data to the park’s biodiversity monitoring. Education for Foreign Students: Marcos signed the EduPhil program via Executive Order No. 124 to market the Philippines for international higher education, research, and training, with CHEd leading implementation. Clean Mobility Prototype to Market: Cagayan State University showcased electric tricycle prototypes at Sustainability Expo 2026, including a seven-seater design and a trike conversion system with battery-swapping. Forest Carbon Trading Push: DENR, via the CarbonPH Coalition, outlined plans for a national carbon registry and satellite tracking to turn restoration into verified, tradeable credits. Cybersecurity Alert: Kaspersky reported mobile cyberthreat detections in the Philippines rose 28% year-on-year in Q1 2026. Agriculture Supply Protection: The Bureau of Plant Industry temporarily banned fresh ube exports and related planting materials to protect local planting supply. Health Tech in Care: St. Luke’s Medical Center performed the country’s first Anti-Reflux Mucoplasty for refractory GERD patients.

Education Policy: President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 124 creating the EduPhil program to attract foreign students, with CHEd leading and agencies like BI, DICT, and PRC in an EduPhil Task Force. School Safety & Well-Being: DepEd is tightening enforcement on cyberbullying under consolidated guidelines, citing PISA 2025 well-being signals alongside improved learning outcomes. Family Engagement in Learning: DepEd urged parents to talk more with children after PISA 2025 found only 54% discuss school activities weekly and 38% discuss problems weekly. Digital Trust & Scams: GSMA reports nearly half of reported scam cases across ASEAN—including the Philippines—remain unresolved, with many victims losing money. Cyber & Payments Tech: Ant International rolled out an AI-powered payment protocol for eWallets, while TP Philippines added AI literacy to its STEP training track. Business & AI Hardware: ASUS launched the ExpertBook Ultra in Davao, pushing AI-powered commercial PCs. Water Security: SMC agreed to let Dinagat Islands tap the Sabang Dam reservoir to ease chronic water shortages. Space for Daily Life: DOST highlighted how satellites support typhoon tracking, disaster monitoring, agriculture, and communications. Biodiversity: A rare leucistic Philippine duck was recorded at Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park in Leyte, adding to local biodiversity data.

AI Infrastructure Push: The Philippines unveiled a $34.4B AI+ infrastructure masterplan aiming to scale AI data center capacity to 1.5 GW by 2033 (from 50 MW today), with major focus on energy, water, talent, and regulatory reforms. Digital Payments & Agentic Commerce: Ant International rolled out its Agentic Mobile Protocol globally, integrating with eWallets including GCash, and launched a Know-Your-Agent interoperability effort with Mastercard and Visa. Education & Student Safety: DepEd is tightening enforcement against online harassment and cyberbullying under consolidated guidelines, citing PISA 2025 gains alongside learner well-being signals. Halal Discovery on Delivery Apps: Grab Philippines partnered with NCMF Region XI to improve halal-certified and Muslim-owned restaurant search and filtering on GrabFood in Davao. Water Security: Manila Water said it maintained potable water quality for 7.9M+ customers during habagat by using multi-barrier treatment and intensified monitoring for turbid raw water. Water Access Deal: San Miguel Corp. agreed to grant Dinagat Islands access to the Sabang Dam reservoir to address persistent water shortages. Policy & Mobility: Marcos left for the BRICS Summit to carry Asean priorities on peace, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment. Sports Tech Angle: Gilas opens its Asian Games 5×5 title defense vs Bahrain, with coach Tim Cone stressing preparation despite concerns from recent friendlies.

Legal Proceedings: Vice President Sara Duterte said her camp will pursue all legal remedies as her grave threats arraignment was deferred, with her spokesperson confirming she will attend the next hearing after she posted P360,000 bail; the case traces back to her Nov. 2024 remarks about allegedly contacting someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others. Public Service & Food Waste: Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong is reviving the city’s Half-Cup Rice policy with PhilRice to cut food waste via a “Be RICEponsible Every Day” campaign. STI for Communities: DOST kicked off the 2026 Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week in Tuguegarao, pushing science beyond labs and into local problem-solving. Cybersecurity: A report warns of Android banking malware using Google Work Profile to hide from fraud checks, with Indonesia seeing near-$1M in estimated losses. Human Rights & Industry Pushback: Groups condemned the Luzon Economic Corridor as a “massive sellout,” while paralegals were arrested and injured during a protest tied to the Pax Silica AI data hub plan. Port Modernization: DP World and ATI commissioned six hybrid RTG cranes for Manila South Harbour to boost capacity and cut emissions. Science: A new DNA study in Science suggests modern humans inherited genetic material from two extinct populations with no sequenced genomes.

AI Infrastructure Push: The Philippines released its Philippine AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan 2026–2033, targeting a jump from ~50MW to 1.5GW of AI data-center capacity by 2033, with $34.4B total funding and a big public-private compute hub. Green Telecom Power: NTT Docomo, PLDT and Smart demonstrated weather-forecast–driven solar-plus-battery optimization at PH base stations, boosting solar use efficiency by 23 points (38% to 61%). Energy & Climate Risk: Copernicus said August was the hottest month on record globally, with ocean temperatures also hitting new highs—raising the stakes for heat and extreme weather planning. Disaster & Resilience: Heavy late-August flooding in Central Luzon and Metro Manila showed how prolonged habagat and climate variability are overwhelming drainage and disrupting agriculture. Maritime Safety: The Coast Guard continues searching for 86 missing after a ferry fire off Coron, Palawan, with 43 survivors and five confirmed dead. Ports & Logistics: SBMA is pitching Subic port expansion and modernization to strengthen the Luzon Economic Corridor as a logistics and trade hub. Education Access: PUP opened its first Bulacan campus extension in Pandi, starting classes for 127 students. Marine Conservation: Zambales added two coral reef marine protected areas to its province-wide network to restore fish populations and protect coastal communities.