Transport & EV Push: LTFRB opened 8,750 TNVS slots, with 7,500 in Metro Manila reserved for EVs (PHEVs/BEVs), signaling a faster shift to cleaner public transport. Budget & Health Care: A proposed 2027 DOH budget cut is flagged as a threat to an already underfunded, bureaucracy-heavy health system, just as lawmakers debate how much support the sector can realistically absorb. Education Funding: Marcos signed RA 12325 expanding subsidies for 4Ps college and trade students, covering internship, licensure, and added allowances like supplies, transport, and disability support. Critical Minerals Policy: A new framework accelerates critical-minerals development across millions of hectares and streamlines permits via a virtual one-stop shop—prompting Indigenous and environmental groups to warn permits could reshape project costs and consent risks. Power Woes in the Visayas: Iloilo City says there’s no quick fix to ongoing outages, pointing to longer-term generation capacity efforts and the expected LNGPH entry. Financial Inclusion Snapshot: BSP data shows device-based digital finance use is rising, but bank access remains limited—only 32% of respondents say banks are reachable despite 79% awareness. Insurance Growth: FWD Philippines reported Q2 2026 NBAPE of $85m (+23.5% YoY) and a 12.2% market share, reinforcing momentum in life insurance. Marcos & Governance: OP budget for 2027 faces a 64% cut, but Recto says operations will continue as activities tied to hosting ASEAN summits wrap up. Agriculture Risk: Passi City declared a state of calamity after red-striped soft scale insect infestation hit over 3,300 hectares of sugarcane, threatening thousands of livelihoods.