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National gov’t urged to boost funding for hepatitis treatment

A liver disease specialist has urged the national government to expand funding for hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment, warning that thousands of Filipinos die from a largely preventable disease because of inadequate financing.

In a statement marking World Hepatitis Day on July 28, gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist Dr. Janus Ong said the Philippines already has the tools to prevent hepatitis-related liver cancer, but many patients remain undiagnosed or untreated due to gaps in funding.

He called on the government to operationalize a fully-staffed national hepatitis program, where every local government unit (LGU) can draw on a common supply of medicines and systems, instead of depending on their meager local budgets.

Ong also said the Philippine Health Corp. (PhilHealth) should fully shoulder the coverage of hepatitis testing and treatment so that cost never turns a patient away at the clinic door.

Under its case rate packages, PhilHealth provides up to P23,010 for chronic viral hepatitis, up to P20,865 for sequelae of viral hepatitis, and up to P24,765 for congenital viral hepatitis.

Early screening for liver diseases, including liver ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein test, are provided for free under PhilHealth’s Yakap (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program).

‘National funding for hepatitis is not charity, nor is it a bottomless ask. It is its foundation: Put it in place, and the counterpart local governments are already willing to provide, finally adds up to a national result,’ Ong said.

‘If we do not fund it, even the best local programs will never achieve elimination,’ he added.

According to Ong, a health advocate who has worked on primary-care hepatitis testing and treatment programs, national funding would complement, rather than replace, local government initiatives to address hepatitis.

He cited the city governments of Quezon City and Taguig, as well as provincial governments of Bataan, Tarlac, and in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for establishing hepatitis testing and treatment programs using their own personnel and budgets.

However, relying solely on local funding creates disparities, as wealthier LGUs are better equipped to sustain such programs than poorer municipalities.

‘If your chances of surviving hepatitis depend on which barangay you happen to be born in, we will never reach elimination. We will only widen the gap between Filipinos who get saved and Filipinos who get left behind,’ Ong warned.

Experts attributed the high cases of hepatitis B in the country to the disease being ‘hyperendemic’ in the Philippines, meaning any unvaccinated member of the population is highly susceptible to infection.

The primary doses for hepatitis B is included under the National Immunization Program of the DOH.

Vaccine shots for hepatitis A are not provided by the government but may be purchased in private clinics and pharmacies for at least P3,000 a shot.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. However, the virus is highly manageable and can be completely cured in most cases using short courses of antivirals.

Ong estimated that 3.4 million adult Filipinos are living with hepatitis B, most of whom remain unaware of their infection.

However, many who have already been diagnosed have yet to receive treatment.

‘They are not waiting for a treatment to be invented. They are waiting for us to pay for the one we already have,’ he said.

The physician also warned that delaying investment in early detection and treatment ultimately increases healthcare costs, as patients progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer, conditions that are significantly more expensive and difficult to treat.

With only five years remaining before the 2030 global target to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, Ong said the Philippines can still achieve the goal if the national government makes hepatitis a funding priority.

‘Local governments have carried hepatitis this far,’ he said. ‘It is time for the national government to help carry it home

Immigrants and the US Criminal Justice System

When an immigrant is accused of committing a crime in the United States, the matter often extends beyond a single criminal proceeding. The case may begin in the ordinary manner, with an arrest, formal charges, bail determinations, plea negotiations, trial, or sentencing. However, for non-citizens, the consequences may also include immigration enforcement. A criminal conviction can affect lawful status, eligibility for immigration benefits, detention decisions and, in some cases, the ability to remain in the country.

The first relevant framework is the criminal justice system. In that setting, immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, are entitled to important constitutional protections. They may be presumed innocent, informed of the charges against them, permitted to confront evidence, and provided counsel when incarceration is possible and they cannot afford an attorney. Nevertheless, a significant difficulty arises when defendants do not understand that a plea agreement or conviction may carry immigration consequences separate from the criminal sentence itself.

The second framework is immigration law. Although removal proceedings are civil rather than criminal, their consequences can be severe. Following an arrest or conviction, federal immigration authorities may initiate proceedings to determine whether a non-citizen is removable from the United States. Some individuals are transferred from local custody to immigration detention, while others receive a notice to appear before an immigration judge. At that stage, the court considers both removability and possible forms of relief, including asylum, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status.

Due process is therefore essential. The Constitution protects persons within the United States, not only citizens, and non-citizens are entitled to fair procedures. In practice, however, the protection is uneven. Unlike criminal defendants, immigrants in deportation proceedings generally do not receive government-appointed counsel if they cannot pay for representation. This distinction is especially important because immigration law is highly technical. A conviction may be evaluated under complex categories such as crimes involving moral turpitude, controlled-substance offenses, or aggravated felonies, even when the state-law offense appears less serious.

Public discussion should also avoid broad assumptions that equate immigration with criminality. Available research has often found that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born residents. This does not diminish the harm suffered by victims, nor does it suggest that criminal conduct should be excused. Rather, it indicates that law and policy should be guided by evidence, proportionality, and individual assessment. A fair system can impose accountability while also considering rehabilitation, family ties, military service, community contributions, and the risk a person may face if removed.

The most difficult cases occur where criminal punishment and immigration status intersect. A citizen who completes a sentence generally resumes life in the community, subject to the lasting consequences of a criminal record. A non-citizen who completes the same sentence may then face detention, family separation, and deportation to a country with which they may have limited connection. Supporters of strict enforcement argue that continued residence should depend on compliance with the law. Critics contend that automatic removal can operate as an additional punishment without adequate consideration of the individual circumstances.

The central issue is not whether criminal acts should have consequences; they should. The more difficult question is whether the United States can administer those consequences with fairness, accuracy, and proportionality. For immigrants navigating the criminal and immigration systems, the outcome often depends on access to competent counsel, informed decision-making, clear legal standards, and institutions capable of recognizing both public safety and human dignity.

LTFRB mulls fuel discount increase, expansion for PUVs

After a series of oil price hikes, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is studying the possibility of expanding and increasing the fuel discounts given to public utility vehicles or PUV sector.

LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the board is discussing on whether to sustain, expand and increase the discount, as an alternative to cover the sector’s additional operational costs, while the petitions for fare hikes remain pending.

‘We are factoring everything in the conduct of review and re-computation,’ Mendoza said, noting the difficulties in arriving at a conclusion as ‘the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable and unstable.’

Mendoza said that the fuel discount increase and expansion is ‘the most logical and practical measure.’

He noted, though, that this would require higher budgets.

‘We are looking into this proposal as the last option because the discussions on the matter are ongoing, and these discussions include public consultations with stakeholders nationwide,’ Mendoza said.

LTFRB data showed that over 87,000 of 143,000 PUVs in the country, including jeepneys and UV Express, have benefited from the government’s P10-per-liter fuel discount.

Sarah Geronimo reunites with mom Divine, dad Delfin for her 38th birthday

Sarah Geronimo marked her 38th birthday by releasing a duet with her father, Delfin Geronimo, and sharing a behind-the-scenes video with her mother, Divine Geronimo.

Sarah gave a glimpse of the reunion through an Instagram post on Saturday, July 25, describing the collaboration as a gift to herself.

‘This is a gift to myself, to everyone and my father. To celebrate him and our love for music,’ read the post.

The video showed Sarah and her father recording together in the studio. Delfin became emotional as they performed, saying that his daughter gave him the confidence to sing again.

‘Sobrang proud ako sa anak ko kasi siguro, sa kaniya lang ako nakakakuha ng lakas ng loob. Sobrang masaya ko tsaka masyado akong na-touch sa mga kanta. Habang kumakanta kami, para akong maiiyak,’ he said.

The pop star royalty said performing with her father had long been a dream.

‘Sobra akong masayang-masaya dahil I got to do this with the dearest person in my life, siyempre ang tatay at nanay ko. Kasama ko ang tatay ko ngayon, sharing beautiful music. Performing together is such a dream come true,’ she expressed.

The recording session also included a brief interaction between Sarah and her mother. The video captured an embrace and a kiss on the cheek between the mother and daughter.

Sarah and Delfin recorded a cover of Jose Mari Chan’s ‘Refrain,’ a song by one of the artists they both enjoy listening to. The duet has been released on the pop star’s official YouTube channel.

The collaboration comes after years of public reports about Sarah’s strained relationship with her parents following her marriage to Matteo Guidicelli in 2020.

In 2023, Sarah shared a now-deleted letter apologizing to her parents for the pain she said some of her decisions had caused. Although she did not specify what she was referring to at the time.

A year later, Sarah confirmed in an interview that she and her mother had resumed speaking, sharing that Divine had congratulated her on her achievements.

Earlier this year, Sarah was also seen publicly with her father on several occasions, including a Father’s Day outing.

Buhari never created fictitious PFIPC – Media office

Buhari Media Office (BMO) has dismissed reports linking former President Muhammadu Buhari to the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the claims as ‘false’ and ‘without factual basis’.

The office, on Sunday, said Buhari never established any agency known as the PFIPC or allocated ?1.3 billion to such an organisation in the 2026 Appropriation.

It stated that the only body created under the former administration was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which served as an ad hoc advisory committee on economic matters.

The BMO explained that the PEAC initially operated from offices designated for the Chief Economic Adviser to the President at the Federal Secretariat and functioned without a dedicated budget line throughout the Buhari administration.

It stated that the council’s activities were funded through presidential approvals to the Minister of Finance, while office expenses were paid by the State House upon the President’s approval.

‘What he (Buhari) created was the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). At inception, it operated from the second floor of the Ministry of Health offices designated for the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, a position he did not appoint until much later, at the Federal Secretariat.

Under the last administration, the PEAC had no budget line. Its activities were funded through presidential approvals to the Minister of Finance.

The PEAC was an ad-hoc (part-time) body, purely advisory, made up of professional economists and financial experts to offer expert economic advice to the President under the chairmanship of Professor Doyin Salami, CFR ?before he was eventually made the Chief Economic Adviser,’ the office stressed.

Other members, according to the statement, included Professor Mahmuda Sagagi as Vice Chairman, Professor Ode Ojowu, Dr. Shehu Yahaya, Dr. Iyabo Masha, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Bismarck Rewane and Dr. Mohammed Adaya Salisu, who served as secretary.

It added that members of the council received no salaries, with only operational expenses provided to support the council’s work.

The BMO further noted that when the current administration took office in 2023, it neither dissolved the Buhari-appointed PEAC nor reappointed its members, adding that the appointees considered their tenure to have ended with the expiration of the administration that constituted the council.

It also stated that the office jointly branded as the ‘Presidential Economic Advisory Council’ and the ‘Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President’ remained vacant after the change in administration and was only occupied several years later.

Rejecting attempts to associate the current controversy with the Buhari administration, the media office maintained that reports claiming the alleged fictitious agency originated under the former president were ‘false, groundless and lack any factual basis.’

It urged the public to disregard claims linking Buhari to the alleged PFIPC, insisting that the former administration established only the Presidential Economic Advisory Council as an advisory body without a statutory budget line.

Top junior golfers brace for showdown in National Stroke Play

The country’s brightest junior golfers and a former standout are set to square off in a compelling battle of rising talent and experience as the National Stroke Play Championship gets underway Wednesday, July 29, at the Pinatubo course of Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga.

Fresh from dominating the Philippine Junior Golf Tour, Tashana Balangauan, Precious Zaragosa and twins Mona and Lisa Sarines headline a deep women’s field that also features Crista Miñoza, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown for national honors in the 72-hole championship.

For Balangauan, Zaragosa and the Sarines sisters, the tournament also serves as a crucial tune-up for the highly anticipated North vs. South ICTSI Philippine Junior Golf Tour Elite Finals next month in Cagayan de Oro.

Miñoza, meanwhile, returns eager to measure herself against the current generation of junior standouts. One of the country’s most dominant players in the Junior PGT until last year, she now faces the challenge of proving she can still match the tour’s emerging stars.

Also expected to contend is Jules Gaerlan, who has gained valuable experience competing as an amateur in several Ladies Philippine Golf Tour events.

The men’s division is equally loaded, with Jet Hernandez and Rolando Bregente leading the field after sharing fourth place in the recent Singapore Amateur Open.

Adding another layer of intrigue are two second-generation golfers hoping to follow in their fathers’ footsteps as national champions.

Zach Villaroman aims to emulate his father, Carito, who captured the 1984 Philippine Amateur title when the championship featured both stroke play and match play formats. John Robert Bernis likewise seeks his own national breakthrough, following the path blazed by his father, Jun, a former Canlubang standout in the Philippine Interclub who later enjoyed a lengthy stint on the Philippine Golf Tour.

Another player to watch is Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican, one of the country’s fastest-rising young talents. Mentored by golf legend Frankie Miñoza, the teenager heads into the tournament fresh from competing in the Asian Development Tour in Taiwan.

The National Stroke Play Championship is the first of two major events the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will stage over the next two weeks. It will be followed by the National Match Play Championship at the historic Luisita Golf and Country Club, where reigning Singapore Amateur champion Grace Pauline Quintanilla is expected to headline the field after claiming her title in a dramatic five-hole playoff.

Wellness seen as the next frontier in leisure estate dev’t

A sweeping view of Taal Lake has long been enough to sell a weekend home. But for the Michael Tan-backed boutique property developer Havitas Properties Inc., the scenery is only part of the story.

As more buyers seek spaces that promise not just comfort but a healthier way of living, the company is doubling down on wellness real estate-a niche that it believes is no longer a passing trend but an enduring shift in how people choose where to live, rest and invest.

That strategy is taking shape through the P2.1-billion expansion of Aya Hills in Talisay, Batangas, and the upcoming Hinabi Reserve in San Juan, La Union-projects that Havitas says were designed with wellness at their core rather than treating it as an added feature.

The company recently unveiled the second phase of Aya Hills, its resort-style villa community overlooking Taal Lake, while formally introducing Havitas Wellness Living, a collection of leisure communities centered on holistic well-being.

The timing reflects a market that continues to gain momentum. Citing data from the Global Wellness Institute, Havitas says the global wellness real estate market reached $876 billion in 2025 and is projected to approach $1.8 trillion by 2030, making it the fastest-growing segment of the broader wellness economy.

Rather than focusing solely on amenities, Havitas says it builds its projects around eight dimensions of wellness-physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational, financial, environmental and community wellness.

‘Wellness is no longer an amenity. It is the organizing principle of how we design, build and operate,’ says Alejandro Mañalac, cofounder and chair of Havitas Properties.

Mañalac says every Havitas development is planned around those eight dimensions, from the way homes maximize natural light and airflow to their potential to serve as income-generating assets for owners.

That philosophy is reflected in Aya Hills’ newest offerings.

The second phase introduces the Zurich Garden Villas, a collection of premium leisure homes overlooking Taal Lake, each equipped with its own private pool, deck and garden. Joining them are the Geneva Family Villas, an evolution of the earlier Geneva Suites that feature larger floor areas and private pools in every unit.

The expansion will add 31 villas with an estimated sales value of about P527 million, while typical units are priced at around P17 million.

Aya Hills has also earned recognition as a FIABCI Philippines 2026 Gold Winner in the Outstanding Developer, Residential Resort-Style Category, reinforcing Havitas’ focus on the growing wellness residential segment.

Beyond Batangas, the company is also preparing its next chapter along the coast of La Union.

During the launch, Havitas gave licensed real estate brokers and marketing partners an early preview of the P1.6-billion Hinabi Reserve, an upscale seaside leisure community planned for San Juan, La Union, widely known as the country’s surfing capital in the north.

The development aims to weave wellness into everyday living, extending the same philosophy that shaped Aya Hills while taking advantage of a beachfront setting.

Havitas has already opened its search for The Weave, the commercial gateway of the project, inviting café and restaurant concepts to become part of the community from the outset.

The company says architecture for Hinabi Reserve was designed by H1 Architecture, while the interiors were created by Arch. Cathy Saldaña’s PDP Architecture.

Its license to sell is projected to be issued in the fourth quarter of 2026.

‘Hinabi means woven. We are weaving wellness, hospitality and community into a single address by the sea and we are now inviting the country’s most exciting café and restaurant concepts to be part of Hinabi Reserve from day one,’ says Jonathan Caro, Havitas cofounder, president and CEO.

For Havitas, wellness is no longer measured by a spa, a jogging path or a clubhouse. Instead, it begins with how a neighborhood is planned, how homes interact with nature and how communities are designed to encourage healthier and more meaningful lives.

As demand evolves beyond traditional vacation homes, the developer is betting that buyers will increasingly value places that offer not only a change of scenery, but also a different way of living.

Borno: Zulum moves to resettle Konduga IDPs

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the planned closure of Konduga IDP camp, following the successful closure of Bama IDP camp, the largest displacement facility outside the state capital, and the planned shutdown of Gwoza camp.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Babagana Zulum, however, stressed that the relocation is entirely voluntary and no one will be forced to resettle where they are not willing to go.

The Governor has consistently maintained that returning to ancestral homes or other areas of choice must be based on the displaced persons’ expressed willingness.

He said, ‘We are not carrying out the resettlement process immediately; we are here to discuss with the IDPs so that in the next four months they will be resettled in a dignified manner. I believe you heard from the IDPs that they are willing to return home. Return shall be voluntary, not by force.’

During his visit to Konduga, Governor Zulum inspected resettlement houses currently under construction in Amarwa and later proceeded to Maiwa in Mafa LGA. The Amarwa resettlement city, for which the Governor had earlier laid the foundation, is being built to shelter displaced persons living in camps.

In Maiwa, the state government is constructing massive housing units as part of the ongoing resettlement programme. The resettlement houses are equipped with public facilities like a primary healthcare centre, a water facility, and other basic amenities.

Babagana Zulum was accompanied by the member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba; the member of the House of Assembly for Konduga, Hon. Bukar Modu; the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; and other senior government officials.

Survey: Most Filipinos feel gov’t is out of touch with ordinary citizens

As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), a new national survey reveals a deep-seated disconnect between the administration and the public, with more than half of Filipinos feeling that the government simply does not understand the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.

According to the non-commissioned EON-Tangere Pre-SONA Survey 2026, 53.8% of Filipinos believe the government fails to understand the problems ordinary people face.

The survey also revealed that 55% of respondents said the government does not listen to ordinary Filipinos, while 49.4% actively distrust the administration’s ability to solve the nation’s pressing issues.

Meanwhile, 40.8% do not believe the government can fulfill the commitments expected to be presented in this year’s SONA.

Solutions over promises

According to the survey findings, citizens are far more interested in concrete solutions to pressing problems than in hearing about past achievements.

When asked what they most want to hear during the SONA, 48.3% prioritized solutions to current national problems, followed by 35.6% seeking anti-corruption measures and government reform and 34.7% wanting updates on previous promises.

A plan to lower prices also ranked high, with 32.8% of respondents identifying it as a priority.

By contrast, only 22.0% of respondents said they want to hear a report on the administration’s accomplishments.

When asked about the priority issues they want addressed in the 2026 SONA, household economics and essential services dominated the list:

Economy and inflation: 67.1%

Jobs and wages: 56.2%

Education: 53.2%

Agriculture and food security: 47.3%

Health: 44.7%

Cost of living: 43.3%

Crime and public safety: 42.4%

Corruption: 42.2%

The survey used a mobile-based, self-administered questionnaire completed by 1,200 Filipino adults selected through quota-based stratified random sampling across NCR (12%), Northern Luzon (23%), Southern Luzon (22%), Visayas (20%) and Mindanao (23%). The nationwide results have a margin of error of ±2.96 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

Filipinos want Marcos’ Sona to focus on anti-corruption drive – survey

President Marcos will deliver on Monday his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), one of the two remaining orations he will give before he finishes his six-year term in 2026.

While Malacañang hinted of another ‘earthshaking announcements’ this year, the public are anticipating a follow-up on his ‘Mahiya naman kayo!’ (Have some shame!) rebuke from last year’s Sona.

In that speech, he exposed and ordered a sweeping investigation into the multibillion corruption scandal involving anomalous flood control projects.

The latest survey by Pulse Asia released on Saturday echoed this sentiment: While bringing down the cost of food remains the country’s foremost concern, public attention is increasingly shifting toward strengthening the government’s fight against corruption and creating more jobs.

Conducted by Pulse Asia from June 28 to July 3, the Stratbase Group-commissioned survey found that three in 10 Filipinos (30 percent) identified making food more affordable – particularly staples such as rice, meat and fish – as what they want the national government to consider as top priority.

But while food prices remained the leading concern, the figure marked an 11-percentage-point decline from 41 percent in a similar March survey.

At the same time, demand for job creation and anti-corruption measures increased both to 28 percent, which is statistically equal to 30 percent in the survey, with a plus-minus 2-percent margin of error.

The proportion of respondents who said the government should lessen or eliminate corruption to provide better services increased to 28 percent from 26 percent in March (+2 points), while those want creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities as the foremost goals rose to 28 percent from 24 percent (+4 points).

The findings mirror the results of a separate Pulse Asia survey released on Friday, which found that Filipinos want the president to focus on combating corruption in his fifth Sona (29.8 percent) – particularly by holding accountable those involved in the flood control projects controversy – followed closely by ensuring affordable basic goods (18.7 percent).

According to Stratbase Group President Victor ‘Dindo’ Manhit, the two Pulse Asia surveys reflected an evolving set of public expectations as the administration entered its final two years in office.

‘The message from Filipinos is remarkably consistent. They want the government to sustain efforts to keep food affordable, but they are also demanding stronger action against corruption and more opportunities for decent jobs,’ Manhit said.

‘These are no longer separate concerns but interconnected expectations of effective governance,’ he added.

Manhit said the survey results show that the next political test for the remaining two years of the Marcos administration will be to keep inflation under control, and, at the same time, to go on ‘convincing Filipinos that it can translate economic stability into better jobs, cleaner governance, and more responsive public services.’

‘Filipinos want an economy that creates opportunities and a government that is transparent, accountable, and capable of delivering results. Meeting these expectations will be critical in sustaining public trust,’ he pointed out