- PhilHealth adds first-line TB medicines to its GAMOT benefit from 1 November
- BSP raises its key rate to 5.5% as inflation reaches 7.2%
- Capitol bus terminals expect more than 20,000 passengers a day over Kalag-Kalag
- Visayas grid back on red alert on Thursday evening
PhilHealth adds first-line TB medicines to its GAMOT benefit from 1 November
Under Circular 2026-0018, PhilHealth will cover selected first-line TB medicines through GAMOT, its outpatient medicine benefit, starting Sunday, 1 November. Members and dependents with confirmed drug-susceptible TB get them at accredited GAMOT facilities on a prescription from a YAKAP doctor issued through the GAMOT app. Each release is up to a month's supply, and the facility must hand over the full amount within two days of the prescription. The medicines do not count against the ₱20,000 yearly GAMOT limit. The TB-DOTS package stays the main TB benefit.
Anyone in Carcar being treated for TB should ask their YAKAP doctor or TB-DOTS clinic which route to use before 1 November. If the medicines come from a GAMOT facility instead of the TB-DOTS clinic, PhilHealth cuts the clinic's package claim by half for that phase. Claim each prescription within two days, or you pay out of pocket or need a new one.
Sources: The Freeman, BusinessMirror
BSP raises its key rate to 5.5% as inflation reaches 7.2%
The Bangko Sentral's Monetary Board raised its benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 5.50% on Thursday, 22 October, its fourth straight hike this year. The overnight deposit rate is now 5% and the lending rate 6%. Inflation rose to 7.2% in September from 6.1% in August, well above the BSP's 2 to 4% target, and core inflation reached 4.7%. The central bank expects prices to keep climbing on oil, transport fares and El Niño's effect on food. The next rate review is on 17 December.
Higher policy rates generally make loans more expensive. If you have a variable-rate loan or plan to borrow from a bank or lending firm, expect higher interest. The 7.2% figure is the national rate, so market prices in Carcar are likely to keep rising for now.
Capitol bus terminals expect more than 20,000 passengers a day over Kalag-Kalag
The provincial government expects more than 20,000 passengers at its bus terminals during the Kalag-Kalag rush, against 7,000 to 11,000 on a normal day. Last year the South Bus Terminal went from 10,684 passengers on 29 October to 18,353 on 30 October and 22,547 on 31 October. Governor Pamela Baricuatro has ordered police at terminals and ports. Terminal administrator Ahmed Cuizon asked passengers to leave early, keep an eye on their bags and animals, and expect crowds and traffic.
Buses and V-hires to and from Carcar run through the South Bus Terminal. All Saints' and All Souls' Day fall on Sunday, 1 November and Monday, 2 November, so the worst crush is likely on Friday, 30 October and Saturday, 31 October. Travel before then or early in the morning if you can.
Sources: SunStar, The Freeman
Visayas grid back on red alert on Thursday evening
NGCP put the Visayas grid on red alert from 5 to 6 p.m. and yellow alert from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, 22 October. It listed 2,608 MW available against a 2,581 MW peak, with 599.1 MW off the grid. The coal units PEDC 3 and KSPC 1 are still down, and Mindanao imports are limited by planned outages at GNPK 4 and TSI 2 and an unplanned outage at Pulangi 4 Unit 2. NGCP counts five plants on forced outage this month and 21 running below capacity.
CEBECO I, which serves most of Carcar, draws from this grid. The early evening is when supply is tightest, so that is when rotating interruptions are most likely if the alerts continue. Charge phones and lights before late afternoon and watch CEBECO I's advisories.
