QC Governance: Quezon City approved an ordinance institutionalizing participatory budgeting, giving residents and accredited CSOs a formal say in identifying needs, reviewing programs, monitoring projects, and feeding back results, with digital channels to submit recommendations. Impeachment & Senate Work: The Senate set a revised schedule for VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and budget hearings for September and October, with impeachment sessions clustered on set dates and budget hearings running on other days. Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was arrested on Monday over a plunder case tied to alleged flood-control kickbacks, after earlier charges were filed at the Sandiganbayan. Health & Consumer Protection: The Senate approved on third reading a bill that toughens penalties on hospitals and clinics that detain patients or families over unpaid medical bills. Education Support: Marcos signed a law strengthening universal access to quality tertiary education, with added focus on subsidies for the poorest students. Power Crisis: Visayas lawmakers pushed for a congressional probe after rotational brownouts reportedly stretched to as long as nine hours. Economy & Jobs: Unemployment rose to 6% in July 2026, the highest in over four years, as more young Filipinos entered the labor market but found too few jobs. Maritime/Environment: The Supreme Court upheld a ruling that struck down a rule requiring electronic monitoring for commercial fishing vessels, saying it went beyond what was needed to fight illegal fishing.