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The city’s economy expanded by 6.8% in 2024, fueled largely by the services sector, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), measured at constant 2018 prices, reached P295.57 billion, up from P276.80 billion in 2023. At current prices, GDP totaled P353.45 billion, reflecting a nominal growth of 10.4% year-on-year.

The services sector continued to dominate the city’s economy, accounting for 76.5% of total output in 2024. It grew by 7.3%, led by strong gains in accommodation and food services (up 9.4%), human health and social work (12.1%), and professional and business services (12.5%).

‘The sustained rebound in tourism and business activity after the pandemic has strengthened Cagayan de Oro’s role as Northern Mindanao’s service hub,’ the PSA report reads in part.

Wholesale and retail trade – the single largest industry – also expanded by 6.2%, contributing nearly 41% of total GDP. Financial and insurance activities climbed by 8.8%, reflecting continued growth in banking and digital financial services.

The industry sector grew by 5.3%, driven by a 14.2% surge in construction and steady gains in manufacturing and utilities. Industry accounted for 22.9% of the city’s GDP in 2024, totaling P67.6 billion at constant prices.

‘Private investments in housing and commercial infrastructure helped sustain construction momentum,’ PSA officials said.

Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry, and fishing – the smallest contributor at 0.7% – posted a 0.9% growth rate, down slightly from one percent during the previous year.

‘The agricultural sector remains relatively stable but limited in scale, reflecting Cagayan de Oro’s urbanized economy,’ the report noted.

Overall, the PSA said Cagayan de Oro’s 2024 performance reflects steady post-pandemic recovery and resilience in consumer-driven sectors.

‘The 6.8% growth demonstrates the city’s strong service economy and improving investment climate,’ said PSA Regional Director Myrna Perez.

She added: ‘We expect continued expansion as infrastructure and commercial activities intensify across the metropolitan areaCagayan de Oro maintained its position as Northern Mindanao’s leading urban economy, with total output surpassing P350 billion in 2024.

Several House of Representatives lawmakers have expressed disappointment over the acquittal of key figures in one of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam cases, saying that this should not happen again in the flood control mess.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña on Friday said that they are challenging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration to push for the conviction of individuals involved in the flood control issue. ‘The acquittal of those involved in the PDAF scam is a travesty that must not be repeated. We challenge the Marcos admin to swiftly convict those behind the flood control corruption, recover stolen funds, and pass the Open Bicam and Open Infra Bill,’ Cendaña said.

‘The people are watching.’

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on the other hand admitted feeling frustrated as she was part of the team that build the cases, being the then-Justice secretary who helped then- Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in investigating the pork barrel scam.

‘For us in the DOJ (Department of Justice) and also those in the Ombudsman, as you know the DOJ and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) were the first to investigate the matter. And our findings were elevated to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman then did case build up, and when the case became strong and after finding probable cause, it was referred to the Sandiganbayan.’ she said. ‘So for us, the DOJ and Ombudsman especially the Ombudsman during the time of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, we are somewhat frustrated when we hear that cases flowing from the PDAF-Napoles scam are dismissed, because we worked hard for it [.] and during that time we’d like to think that these were fresh and strong cases,’ she added.

According to de Lima, this may be the danger with cases being heard for a long time – because the public might lose interest by the time that the case is up for promulgation.

‘That is also the pitfall of having cases heard for a long time because there seems to be lesser scrutiny especially from the public when it takes years before an issue gets decided, and then we will be surprised that cases have been dismissed,’ she explained.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, meanwhile, said that there is no difference between the PDAF scam and the flood control mess – which is why Filipinos should not remain silent regarding corruption issues.

‘There is no difference in the PDAF scam before and the flood control scam now – they are similar systems of corruption and same forms of plunder. What’s infuriating is that after several years, the guilty are free. That is how slow and rotten the justice system in the Philippines is.’ she said.

‘If we stay silent, this will be a repetitive cycle. This judgment is a message to those who would steal from the public coffers – wait for a few years, you will be released,’ Elago added.

Earlier, Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division acquitted former Senate President and current Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, along with his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, of the remaining graft charges in the pork barrel scam.

According to the anti-graft court, ‘the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’

In the decision penned by Special Third Division Chairperson Justice Ronald Moreno, the Sandiganbayan ordered businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and several co-accused to jointly pay the government amounts ranging from P8 million to P40 million, with six percent annual interest from the finality of the decision until full payment, for each count of graft.

No civil liability would be imposed on Enrile, Reyes, the senator’s former deputy chief of staff, Jose Antonio Evangelista II, and other co-accused.

The charges against Enrile and his co-accused stemmed from allegations that part of his PDAF – worth P172.8 million – was channelled to a network of bogus non-government organizations owned by Napoles.

Enrile is one of the three senators charged during the term of President Benigno C. Aquino III for alleged involvement in the PDAF scam – the other two being former senators Bong Revilla and Senator Jinggoy Estrada. A little over a year ago, Sandiganbayan also acquitted Enrile of plunder, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove he received at least P50 million in kickbacks-the threshold for plunder.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday stressed the importance of supporting communities in addressing their health needs, noting that these directly affect the quality of education children receive.

Speaking at the turnover ceremony of patient transport vehicles (PTVs) in Butuan City, Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritizing education in the final half of his term.

‘Children need proper nutrition and training. When they get to school and lack food, we have feeding programs. We have to continue taking care of our children so they remain healthy,’ he said in Filipino.

‘The biggest reason why some children cannot attend or succeed in school is illness. Toothaches, for example, so we provide toothbrushes as part of education. You wouldn’t think it’s part of education, but it is,’ he added.

Marcos also noted that funds will now be downloaded directly to local government units (LGUs) for classroom construction, unlike before, when the budget was first routed through the Department of Public Works and Highways.

‘I have confidence in LGU executives because they cannot implement ghost projects. You will all be monitored. You cannot do substandard work, and if you do, your constituents will call you out daily,’ he said in Filipino.

He also urged LGUs to take the initiative in addressing community needs rather than waiting for directives from the national government.

During the ceremony, Marcos led the turnover of 71 PTVs for Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao, Dinagat Islands, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.

The ambulances are equipped with basic medical emergency supplies, including stretchers, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, first aid kits, blood pressure monitors, and medicines./mcm

A coalition of mayors is linking arms with the Catholic Church and other religious and civil society groups to initiate a citizen-led probe into the massive corruption in public infrastructure projects that is seen to lead to the filing of more cases against those behind the irregularities.

Mayors for Good Governance, led by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, along with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Caritas Philippines and the Taongbayan’s Action for Participatory, Accountable and Transparent Governance (Tapat), launched the initiative on Friday through a memorandum of understanding.

The group said that this would be another oversight system that could complement the efforts of the government’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) by flagging anomalous projects through data-sharing and visualization as well as community-mobilized inspections and monitoring. In a press conference on Friday, Bishop Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan City, Cotabato said that the Catholic Church would tap its social action arm to offer manpower of volunteers from various dioceses to serve as eyes and ears to questionable infrastructure projects in various areas of the country.

‘Through our social ministry, we will help in monitoring the projects found to be ghost or substandard,’ said Bagaforo, who is also president of Caritas Philippines. He added that CBCP and Caritas Pangatlo are ready to ‘rally volunteers who would go around and check on projects.

The efforts of the church people would then be reported to other members of the initiative, said Bagaforo.

Victorio Lorenzo of Tapat said that the idea behind the partnership is ‘for the citizens to also own the audit procedure and establish conversations with parishes’ about purported anomalies in their areas.

This, he added, is a ‘venue and opportunity for people to channel their anger [on corruption] into a productive, sustainable audit and demand accountability.’

The civic group plans to form a data-gathering team that can collate information from the DPWH and the General Appropriations Act, said Lorenzo, adding that it would ‘triangulate the priority areas.’

Tapat also plans to partner with more organizations that can help it visualize and ‘make sense’ of the data it would gather.

According to Magalong, who would take the lead among the mayors in the initiative, the findings of the probe could result in more complaints to be filed against conniving government officials and private firms.

‘But should they develop a case, it would be better if they refer it first to the ICI,’ he told the Inquirer on the sidelines of the event. Other city mayors present in the launch were Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Vico Sotto of Pasig City and Sitti Hataman of Isabela City.

Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon on Thursday denounced the murder of radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar, who still unidentified gunmen attacked Monday in Guinobatan, Albay.

The bishop called for ‘justice and accountability in the face of this senseless act of violence.’ ‘Nothing can ever justify murder-not personal disputes, not political differences, not even appeals to public order or national security,’ Baylon said.

Samar, 54, a blocktime commentator of dwIZ and manager of Kadunong ITV, died in a hospital in Legazpi City on Tuesday.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines urged authorities to carry out a ‘thorough investigation’ and check whether the attack on Samar was work-related. GILLIAN VILLANUEVA AND KATHLEEN DE VILLA

More administrative and criminal cases have been filed against the police major who allegedly sexually harassed a Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadet, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said on Friday.

The development came after two more cadets allegedly sexually harassed by the police major – a tactical officer in the academy whom both the PNP and Napolcom did not name – came forward.

‘They reported it to us last Sept. 16. I talked to them myself,’ Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said in Filipino in an interview with reporters at their Quezon City office on Friday.

‘We investigated it and the cases here in the National Police Commission, the admin cases, those were filed Oct. 15, if I’m not mistaken,’ he added. As for the criminal cases, only one of the two new victims filed a complaint for sexual harassment before the Silang, Cavite court against the police major, according to PNPA Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon in an interview Thursday night on DZMM.

While Dizon did not say when the supposed incidents of the two new cases took place, he said the police major allegedly took each of the three victims to his personal quarters and sexually harassed them there. ‘All of his victims had pending case before the PNPA. He offered to help them and those he approached really hoped for his assistance. That’s how he was able to do it.’

The first victim was allegedly sexually harassed early morning last July 31. He filed a complaint for acts of lasciviousness against the police major before the Silang-Amadeo Municipal Circuit Trial Court on Aug. 7.

The Napolcom formally charged the police major for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer last Aug. 22.

‘This incident is really isolated because we truly did not expect an officer to act this way,’ Dizon said. ‘All of those assigned here undergo vetting or a complete background investigation. This time, we tightened it in such a way that even their personal activities are being monitored,’ he added.

Harlyn Serneche knows that there are no shortcuts to the top-not in a tournament of this level.

‘There’s a long road ahead,’ the Alas Pilipinas U18 co-captain said. ‘It really feels like we’re going through the eye of a needle, so we need to double our effort in training when we’re not playing.’

Serneche, who also served as co-flag bearer alongside boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido during the opening ceremony at Exhibition World Bahrain, leads a young but hungry Filipino squad that has now advanced to the classification round for places 1 through 8 at the Asian Youth Games here.

Alas punched its ticket after finishing second in Pool D with a 1-1 slate-starting strong with a five-set escape over South Korea before absorbing a straight-set defeat to an unbeaten Thailand side.

There’s no time to dwell on the loss, not with two pivotal games ahead in Pool F: a clash with Pool B leader China on Thursday, followed by a matchup with Hong Kong on Friday. The results will determine the Philippines’ seeding in the quarterfinals.

‘Our goal is to win the championship, of course,’ said Serneche in Filipino. ‘But we’re staying focused on each game. We need to finish every match strong so we don’t get blinded by the idea of having to be at the top right away.’

The team is built around a solid core of National University Lady Bullpups, with Ysabella Cruz, Rihanna Cris Navarro, Diza Marie Berayo and Atasha Anne Doroja providing consistency and chemistry.

With potential quarterfinal opponents looming from Pool E-namely Iran, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Qatar-the road won’t get any easier.

But Serneche, the UAAP Season 87 girls’ MVP, says the team is ready.

‘We’re all mentally prepared,’ she said. ‘My teammates and I have already talked about what needs to be done.’ INQ

‘It’s very decent. Compared to other city jails.’

This was the feedback of Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rogerlio ‘Babes’ Singson on the facility in Quezon City designated for individuals who may be indicted in connection with the anomalous flood control projects.

Singson, along with CI Chair Andres Reyes, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla inspected the newly completed detention facility in the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, this Friday. ‘You see, it’s well-ventilated, lighted, and stable. I think, it’s a bit-it shouldn’t be very comfortable. But it is very decent,’ Singson said partly in Filipino in a press conference after the inspection.

The ICI commissioner, who once served as Public Works secretary, noted that each cell has five double deck beds with mattresses, four electric fans, and has its own sink, shower room, and toilet.

‘So, I think as far as I’m concerned, as an engineer, it’s a very decent facility. And really compared to other city jails, this is much better.’ The facility has 108 cells, with each room able to accommodate up to 10 individuals.

According to Singson, the more than 1,000 overall capacity of the 108 cells could not be enough for the number of individuals who could be indicted in flood-control anomalies. ‘Looking alone at the ghost projects, just the ghost projects, 421 identified, now there are still many.’ he said.

Singson, meanwhile, clarified that the ICI has no mandate to arrest or jail individuals but only to investigate anomalies.

The ICI is currently conducting a probe into the alleged multi-billion corruption in flood control anomalies across the country.

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III has clarified that his attendance at a Liberal Party (LP) event is only about supporting anti-corruption calls, which the said political group is espousing.

Torre, in an ambush interview before the start of LP’s ‘Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap’ fellowship event on Friday, said that he was invited by a friend from Masbate whom he helped during the recent typhoon season to attend the program.

However, the ex-PNP head noted that as an active police officer, he cannot join partisan political groups.

‘First of all, I cannot be a member of any political party because I am an active police officer. So we’re clear on that. I was invited by friends [.] I was able to help them when cyclones struck Masbate, their barangay was one of the hard-hit areas,’ he said.

‘So we still have proceeds from our foundation, they staged a fund-raising event, I went to help them there in Masbate, and she invited me, she said ‘hey we have an event about having no poor Filipinos if there is no corruption. No poverty if there’s no corruption, an anti-corruption event, I said I will attend and watch,’ he added.

Torre stressed that the fight against corruption is not exclusive to a political group, but is something that all Filipinos must share.

‘I think the fight against corruption should transcend political lines, that fight should not be mixed with or defined by politics because every Filipino is affected. First of all, corruption is against the law [.] so whatever your color, whatever your belief is, we should have one goal,’ he noted.

Last August 26, documents signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin showed that Torre was relieved upon the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘You are hereby relieved as Chief, PNP, effective immediately,’ the document said. ‘For the continuous and efficient delivery of public services in the PNP, you are hereby directed to ensure proper turnover of all matters, documents, and information relative to the office.’

No reason was initially cited, but Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a press briefing on the same day that President Marcos ‘made the difficult but necessary decision to relieve [Torre] of his duties’, adding that the Chief Executive ‘saw it necessary that the institution of the PNP and the Napolcom (National Police Commission) be upheld as according to the spirit of the law as it was created.’

Torre recently clashed with both Napolcom and Remulla regarding the reassignments of the PNP’s officials. Last August 22, Torre said that the PNP will convene its Senior Officers’ Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB) to discuss the Napolcom directive to reassign several third-level officers.

The Napolcom order directed the PNP to reassign 13 of its third-level officers, which would effectively reinstate Area Police Command (APC) Western Mindanao chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as the PNP’s deputy chief for administration.

In response, the directors of the PNP’s 18 regional offices signed a manifesto in support of Torre and the chain of command, albeit without mentioning the Napolcom directive.

Despite his relief as PNP chief, Torre remains an active police officer, as there is no administrative case that would lead to his dismissal from service. Instead, Torre filed a leave of absence to await further developments that may arise from Marcos’ decision.

This is not the first time though, that Torre was seen with a personality involved with LP. His first public appearance after that August 26 relief was in an interview outside Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima’s office at the House of Representatives.

Torre even joked during the August 27 interview that he has found a new job – as a food delivery rider – while his status at the PNP hangs in limbo. According to the former top cop, his first task was to deliver a cake for de Lima, who was celebrating her birthday that day.

Regarding his plans for 2028 elections, Torre remained mum, promoting instead a ‘running’ event against bullies.

‘Not in 2028. But I will run. On November 16, Greenfield City, Sta. Rosa, run against bullying,’ he added.

During the LP program, party president Erin Tañada said that the fellowship is an ode to Aquino’s campaign slogan – hence the event’s theme, ‘Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap (No poor Filipinos if there’s no corruption).’

Tañada said that the recent scandals on the infrastructure program, particularly flood control, only signal the need for liberals to show that the LP is ready for nation-building and the pursuit of transparency. According to Tañada, the fellowship, which coincides with the oath-taking of over 200 new LP members, is a chance to ‘renew’ the discipline that Aquino’s words and vision for governance instilled.