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Volleyball federation reboots-POC’s Tolentino

VOLLEYBALL officials have hit reboot, hoping to restore stability and credibility to the sport’s national federation after months of turmoil.

With the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) presiding over more than 35 volleyball stakeholders on Monday at the Southlinks Boardroom of Solaire Resort in Parañaque, all members of the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) board have agreed to resign to pave the way for a new one.

The new leadership structure will mirror other sports federations, with no chairman of the board and the secretary-general to be appointed and not elected.

POC president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino was pleased as Philippine volleyball, which is gearing up for important international stints such as the Asian Games, can move forward as one.

‘That’s the first step and they all agreed to resign,’ Tolentino said.

Another assembly will be called on August 10 to tackle the next steps toward fresh elections of the federation.

The assembly also approved a restructured 13-member board to include athlete representatives from both indoor volleyball (male) and beach volleyball (female), plus one each from the major collegiate leagues National Collegiate Athletic Association and University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

The POC will also have a seat in the board.

‘This is to introduce inclusivity and, more importantly, that the stakeholders prioritize the call of the national team,’ added Tolentino who presided over the assembly with POC secretary-general Wharton Chan.

The PNVF under president Tony Boy Liao, elected in November last year, was suspended by the FIVB in May due to governance concerns and alleged violations of the international federation’s Code of Ethics.

An ad hoc committee was formed to oversee Philippine volleyball to ensure that the teams would be able to continue international obligations.

The crisis further deepened as, while Alas Pilipinas competed in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Cup in Candon, a letter signed by PNVF board members withdrawing support for Liao surfaced online. The letter was signed by chairman Arnel Hajan, vice president Yul Benosa, secretary general Otie Camangian, auditor Roger Banzuela, Sherwin Magada, Fr. Victor Calvo, Danilo Cong-o, Socorro Calleja-Uy and Edward Lee.

Days later PNVF declared Frank Lao of Strong Group Athletics as president, but that was declared null by the POC because of the suspension. Lao attended the general assembly on Monday.

Labor group says Marcos’ Sona skipped key labor reforms

Labor coalition Sentro criticized President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) for focusing on financial assistance while leaving out key labor reforms such as ending contractualization and legislating a nationwide wage increase.

In a statement following Marcos’ Sona on Monday, July 27, Sentro said job fairs and short-term employment programs could provide immediate assistance but were not substitutes for secure employment.

‘President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2026 State of the Nation Address was long on ayuda but short on the structural reforms that working Filipinos have long demanded,’ Sentro said.

‘The President said nothing about ending contractualization, legislating a meaningful nationwide wage increase, establishing a robust public employment program, or pursuing a genuine industrial policy that can generate quality jobs and rebuild domestic industries,’ it added.

Sentro said programs such as job fairs and TUPAD ‘may provide temporary relief, but they cannot substitute for stable, secure, and productive employment.’

The coalition nevertheless welcomed the proposed expansion of income tax exemptions for the middle class but called for a wealth tax and other progressive fiscal measures.

It also welcomed plans to expand PhilHealth benefits and coverage, while saying these should be accompanied by sustained public funding for PhilHealth and the public health system.

‘Expanding benefits must be matched by a firm commitment to fully fund PhilHealth and strengthen the public health system,’ Sentro said.

On energy, the coalition backed Marcos’ commitment to renewable energy and proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) aimed at stopping system losses from being passed on to consumers.

Sentro however, opposed the administration’s renewed push for nuclear power, citing concerns over dependence on imported technology, fuel and expertise, as well as radioactive waste management.

‘Ultimately, the President’s speech offered relief but not transformation. It expanded assistance but avoided the hard reforms needed to address the roots of poverty, inequality, and economic insecurity,’ the coalition said.

NSCDC arrests two suspected railway vandals in Kano

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has arrested two suspected vandals for allegedly vandalising railway and electrical infrastructure in different parts of Kano State.

The State Commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, disclosed this on Monday in Kano, saying the suspects were apprehended during separate intelligence-led operations conducted at Panshekara in Kumbotso Local Government Area and Yankaba in Nassarawa Local Government Area.

He identified the suspects as 22-year-old Gath Gamaliel from Zango in Kaduna State and Salisu Jibrin, 31, a resident of Kurna in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to the commandant, Gamaliel was arrested at Panshekara in possession of 17 vandalised railway clips, while Jibrin, who is suspected to be a receiver of stolen property, was apprehended at Yankaba when he allegedly arrived to collect 60 kilograms of vandalised copper wire.

Hassan-Agalama said the recovered items were believed to have been illegally removed from critical public infrastructure.

He noted that the arrests reflected the command’s determination to combat vandalism and other economic crimes that threaten national development and public assets.

The commandant said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the suspected criminal syndicate, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He warned individuals engaged in the vandalism of public infrastructure to desist from such acts, stressing that the NSCDC would continue to pursue and prosecute offenders.

Hassan-Agalama also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure.

Government borrowings swell on global bond issue

The Marcos administration’s gross borrowings more than doubled in June, driven by higher domestic debt and a global bond sale, bringing the first-half total to P1.82 trillion, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.

Total gross borrowings skyrocketed by 119.5 percent to P579.57 billion in June from P263.99 billion in the same month last year and by more than five times from May’s P108.03 billion.

Domestic gross borrowings surged by 104.7 percent to P342.98 billion in June, making up 59.2 percent of the overall gross borrowings for the month.

This was composed of P182.54 billion in short-dated Treasury bills and P160.44 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds.

External borrowings, meanwhile, more than doubled to P236.59 billion in June, lifted by the $2.5-billion (P153.9 billion) global bond sale for 2026.

Apart from the global bonds, the government secured P61.28 billion in program loans and P22.22 billion in project loans.

For the first half of the year, total gross borrowings rose by 14.4 percent to P1.82 trillion from P1.59 trillion a year ago.

Likewise, foreign debt jumped by 35.4 percent to P544.80 billion, while domestic borrowings inched up by 7.4 percent to P1.28 trillion as of end-June.

Two global bond issuances, a $2.75-billion sale in January and a $2.5-billion sale in June, accounted for the bulk of external financing in the first semester.

Meanwhile, fixed-rate T-bonds made up nearly 80 percent of the total domestic borrowings, amounting to P1.02 trillion as of end-June.

Under the 2026 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing, the government has a P2.68-trillion borrowings target – P2.05 trillion from domestic sources and P627.1 billion from external financing.

A revised BESF document reflecting the updated borrowing program is being prepared.

Just in: Oko Polytechnic students trapped as three-storey hostel collapses

Emergency responders were on Monday racing to rescue students trapped beneath the rubble of a three-storey hostel near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed at about 11pm on Sunday in the Amokpala area of Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area.

The privately operated lodge was reportedly occupied mainly by students of the polytechnic.

Some students reportedly escaped shortly before the building came down, while rescuers pulled out several injured occupants and rushed them to a hospital in Oko.

Others were still believed to be trapped beneath the debris as rescue operations continued on Monday.

Videos circulating on social media showed the collapsed structure surrounded by residents, students, security personnel and emergency workers searching through the rubble.

An eyewitness said residents rushed to the scene after hearing a loud noise from the building.

‘The occupants inside started shouting for help as the building fell,’ the witness said.

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying a police-led joint security team had secured the area and was coordinating rescue operations.

Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said personnel of the Anambra State Fire Service, the State Emergency Management Agency and other emergency agencies were also at the scene.

No death had been confirmed as of the time of filing this report, while authorities had yet to establish the number of people inside the hostel when it collapsed.

The polytechnic was reportedly not in full academic session at the time of the incident.

The cause of the collapse was also not immediately known.

Police urged residents to stay away from the affected area to allow emergency workers to carry out rescue operations without obstruction.

More details later.

N-HYPPADEC distributes cash, relief materials to Kwara farmers affected by dry-season disaster

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) on Monday presented farm inputs and cash to 5,000 rural farmers in Kwara State as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the dry-season farming disaster suffered by residents.

Speaking during the distribution in Ilorin, the Managing Director of the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said the farmers were assisted with power tillers, planters and other farm equipment, adding that the state government complemented the intervention with improved maize seedlings, fertilisers and agrochemicals.

Yelwa, who said the commission had also earmarked ?10 million for 100 indigent farmers recently affected by natural disasters in some agrarian communities in the state, said the distribution of the relief materials was aimed at fulfilling the commission’s earlier promise to assist farmers whose farmlands and crops were destroyed during the dry season.

He recalled that HYPPADEC had sympathised with the affected communities at the time of the incident and assured them of support to cushion the impact of their losses.

‘We are here today to distribute relief items to communities affected during the dry season, where many farmers lost their farmlands and crops. We promised them, and today we are fulfilling that promise,’ Yelwa said.

He also applauded the state government for providing hybrid maize seeds for distribution to farmers across the five local government areas covered by the programme.

He described the initiative as a significant step towards improving agricultural productivity and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.

According to him, the government’s intervention would encourage improved productivity among farmers, create wealth and contribute to food security in the state.

‘We felt it was important to appreciate the state government for this initiative and encourage it to continue supporting farmers. This is not only beneficial to the state but also to the farmers and their families,’ he said.

On the cost of the intervention, Yelwa said the commission had committed about ?100 million to the relief exercise, adding that ?10 million was earmarked for distribution among 100 farmers whose farmlands were affected, while the relief materials were valued at about ?90 million at the time of purchase.

‘What is important is that the government is thinking about its people and supporting farmers. That is the real investment,’ he said.

Also speaking, the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture in Kwara, Mrs Toyosi Thomas, said the partnership between HYPPADEC and the state government would boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ yields.

The commissioner described the initiative as a demonstration of effective collaboration between the commission, the state government and local government councils in supporting farmers.

She added that the beneficiaries would benefit from extension services to ensure proper utilisation of the inputs and adoption of improved farming practices.

‘It is not common for farmers to receive mechanisation support, production inputs and extension services together. This collaboration is expected to deliver meaningful results,’ she said.

The commissioner also said the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture was supporting 7,500 farmers with fertilisers, while 2,000 farmers would benefit from the state’s Special Maize Programme.

She explained that the programme was designed as a holistic intervention, providing mechanisation support, technical extension services, production inputs and an off-take arrangement with flour mills.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abubakar Abdullai, advised the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the intervention by adopting improved farming practices and maximising the use of the hybrid seeds.

He said Kwara had enormous agricultural potential, noting that maize could be cultivated twice annually, while rice could be grown up to three times a year because of the state’s favourable conditions.

‘There are buyers waiting for the harvest. The opportunity is there, and it is now up to the farmers to make the most of it and become successful commercial farmers,’ he said.

Troops foil plot to abduct 21 students, terrorists attacks

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have foiled an attempted terrorist infiltration on a military base and evacuated 21 female students to safety following intelligence on a planned attack in Borno.

The information was contained in latest operational reports made available on Monday.

According to the reports, the troops also apprehended a suspected cross-border kidnapper operating between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The report said troops of 3 Battalion at Forward Operating Base Logomani detected ISWAP/JAS terrorists attempting to encircle their position through CCTV surveillance.

It said the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw before executing the planned infiltration.

The report also said that troops of Sector 3 responded to intelligence indicating that seven suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists carrying improvised explosive devices were sighted near the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno.

It said the troops immediately evacuated 21 female students lodging nearby to Kinnasara Barracks.

‘Three students who suffered seizures during the evacuation were stabilised at a hospital, while security around the area was reinforced,’ the report said.

In another operation, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and local hunters engaged terrorists at Surajo village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state.

According to the report, the terrorists fled, abandoning three bicycles and two coolers.

It also disclosed that troops of 247 Reconnaissance Battalion and hunters arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gaya in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa.

The suspect reportedly confessed to belonging to a kidnapping syndicate operating from the Solere Forest in Cameroon and crossing into Nigeria after carrying out abductions.

In other theatres, the report said troops of Operation MESA, working with police and vigilantes, rescued a kidnap victim along the Koton Karfe-Okparake Road in Kogi, adding that three suspected terrorists were apprehended during the operation.

‘Troops recovered one Dane gun, one motorcycle, three mobile phones and ?23,000 from the suspects.

‘The rescued victim has been reunited with his family,’ the report said.

In Kebbi, the report said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded to terrorist activities along the Wasagu-Ayu Road in Wasagu Local Government Area.

It added that troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee and abandon two motorcycles.

Why I established Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub – Aregbe

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, has unveiled the Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub, describing it as a strategic platform designed to equip young Nigerians with the skills, mentorship, entrepreneurial support and digital opportunities needed to succeed in today’s knowledge-driven economy.

Aregbe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the initiative was conceived to translate the ideals of youth empowerment into tangible opportunities, stressing that Nigeria’s greatest resource remains its youthful, creative and innovative population.

Speaking with journalists on the inspiration behind the project, Aregbe said the Hub was established to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by providing young people with the skills required to compete and excel in the 21st-century economy.

‘There are defining moments in the life of every nation-moments when vision meets action, when hope becomes opportunity and when young people are equipped with the tools to unlock their full potential,’ he said.

According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and complements the Lagos State Government’s youth development and economic empowerment programmes.

Aregbe commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for consistently creating opportunities that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive development among young people. He also praised Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for his commitment to good governance and youth advancement.

Announcing the readiness of the Hub, Aregbe said it would serve as a centre where talent is discovered, nurtured and transformed into sustainable economic value through structured training, mentorship and innovation.

‘This Hub is built for the young and the ambitious-for dreamers, innovators and doers. Talent is abundant, but opportunities must be intentionally created. Our goal is to provide the platform that enables young people to turn their ideas into reality,’ he said.

He explained that participants would receive training in digital innovation, entrepreneurship, creative enterprise and leadership development, while gaining access to experienced mentors, industry leaders, investors and policymakers.

According to him, the vision of the Hub goes beyond skills acquisition.

‘We want to raise a generation of self-reliant young Nigerians who can build sustainable businesses, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of Lagos State and the nation.’

Aregbe said the initiative would focus on developing future-ready talents, supporting innovative startups, expanding employment opportunities and promoting collaboration across the creative, technology and business sectors.

He added that the Hub would also encourage leadership development, civic participation and networking among young professionals and APC members committed to national development.

Describing the project as a long-term investment in human capital, Aregbe said the Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub is not merely a training centre but a platform for producing the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and transformational leaders.

‘This is more than a hub; it is a movement to inspire excellence, nurture innovation and build the leaders who will shape the future of Lagos and Nigeria. We are investing in people because they are the country’s greatest asset.’

He urged young Nigerians to seize the opportunity offered by the initiative, assuring them that the Hub would provide the support, resources and environment needed for creativity, innovation and leadership to flourish.

‘To every young person waiting for an opportunity, this is your moment. The Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub is your platform to learn, grow, innovate and succeed. Together, we will build not only successful careers but also a stronger Lagos and a greater Nigeria.’

MUSIC FOR A REGENERATIVE FUTURE | Orchestra of the Filipino Youth’s fundraising concert

Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) proudly announces its major fundraising concert, ‘Music for a Regenerative Future.’

The special performance will take place on Aug. 16, 2026, at The Proscenium Theater at Rockwell. More than an evening of exceptional music, the concert is a celebration of nature, sustainability, and our shared responsibility to protect and regenerate the world we live in.

Under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga, the concert pays tribute to the environment and our shared connection with nature. Audiences will be treated to a masterfully curated repertoire of orchestral music inspired by the natural world, breathtaking landscapes, and the urgent call for ecological harmony.

The concert opens with Antonino Buenaventura’s By the Hillside, a nostalgic portrait of the Philippine countryside, followed by Takashi Yoshimatsu’s And Birds Are Still…, a contemplative work inspired by birdsong and the resilience of nature.

Featured soloist Daniel Asis, a 16-year-old Filipino pianist, will perform George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, bringing youthful brilliance to one of the most celebrated works in the piano repertoire.

The evening culminates in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major, ‘Pastoral,’ a timeless tribute to the beauty, serenity, and restorative power of the countryside.

Orchestra Center – PHP2000

Orchestra Sides – PHP1000

Dress Circle – PHP500

Transforming Lives Through Music, Inspiring a Regenerative Future

Since its founding in 2012 by Ang Misyon, Inc. (AMI), the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) has nurtured exceptionally talented yet underprivileged young Filipino musicians through intensive orchestral training, mentorship, and meaningful performance opportunities.

To date, the organization has transformed the lives of more than 1,100 scholars, empowering them not only to achieve artistic excellence but also to develop discipline, resilience, teamwork, and a deep sense of cultural pride.

Music for a Regenerative Future reflects OFY’s belief that music has the power to inspire positive change. By investing in the next generation of Filipino artists, the concert demonstrates how arts education and cultural development can strengthen communities and contribute to a more regenerative and sustainable future.

As a fundraising concert, this event invites corporations, foundations, organizations, and music lovers to become partners in transforming lives through the power of music. Proceeds from the concert will directly support OFY scholars by funding their weekly music lessons, professional orchestral training, meals during rehearsals, and transportation allowance.

Restaurants urge govt: Restore tax credit for seniors, PWD discounts

‘Generosity is easy when someone else pays the bill.’

This was the comment of Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPH) President David P. Sison in a post on his Facebook page over the weekend, in reaction to government benefits granted to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), and lately, laborers. As of press time, the post has garnered over 2,200 likes from Facebook users and was shared by 3,000 individuals, a number of them fellow restaurateurs and chefs.

He said the restaurant industry, for instance, supports the recently announced P85 wage increase in the National Capital Region. ‘Our people deserve it, and they know how much we value them. But when the announcement was made, no support came with it. Just the mandate. The applause goes to the government. The payroll comes from us.’

Of the total wage increase, the first tranche of P60 per day was made effective on July 25, 2026, while the second tranche, at P25 per day, will be rolled out on January 20, 2027. The wage increase supposedly covers over 1.1 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) recently called for the suspension of Wage Order No. 27, which contained the wage increase, as it will likely trigger a ‘compounding wage-spiral,’ leading to higher prices of consumer goods and services, and the erosion of the purchasing power of the poor.

FEF, a group of former Finance Secretaries, economists previously with the government, along with those in the academe and banking industry, also said micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will suffer the greatest from the new mandated wage increase. Government estimates that MSMEs account for 99 percent of the country’s total industry.

Meanwhile, Sison also stressed: ‘In 1992, Republic Act 7432 promised [that] the State would shoulder it. Businesses could claim every peso back as a tax credit,’ said Sison. ‘In 2004, Republic Act 9257 quietly changed that. The credit became a mere deduction. Today, for every P100 of discount we [restaurants] grant, we recover only P20. The other 80 comes from the business.’

The discounts granted to PWDs under RA 9994 in 2010 and RA 10754 follow the similar provisions under RA 9257.

Sison, who is also general manager of a local food chain, Mama Lou’s Italian Kitchen, complained that, ‘Every time the government announces a new benefit, people celebrate. And they should. Seniors get their discount. PWDs get theirs. Workers get a raise. Beautiful announcements. Press conferences. Applause. But do you know who pays for it? Not the government. We do.’

The RestoPH official underscored that the industry is not opposed to such benefits. ‘Give them. Our lolos and lolas [and PWDs] deserve them. Our workers deserve them. But why is it that every promise the government makes, [it’s] business [that] pays for [these]? Generosity is easy when someone else pays the bill,’ he concluded.

The stakeholders group urged the return to the rules under RA 7432, where the government allowed businesses to claim senior discounts as a tax credit, with the same applied to other similar government-mandated discounts.

Earlier, RestoPH sounded the alarm on the major struggles currently being faced by the restaurant industry, including the high cost of LPG along with rising rent and utilities, which have frozen the hiring of new staff and reduced the operating hours of many establishments. (See, ‘Rising fuel costs drain PHL restos, hurt sales,’ in the BusinessMirror, April 22, 2026.)

There are 230 RestoPH members across Metro Manila, 49 percent of which are small restaurant operators with one to five branches.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Annual Business Survey of Philippine Business and Industry released in 2023, there were close to 30,000 registered restaurants/mobile food services and beverage service outlets in the country, which accounted for almost 89 percent of the accommodation and food service activities. Independent research put the number of restaurants closer to 50,000.