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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will bid out about 50 idle mining assets nationwide starting this year to accelerate the development of the country’s untapped mineral resources.

Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the agency would auction off mineral assets that are ‘not moving’ to ‘eligible’ mining companies.

While he did not reveal the list of mineralized areas to be offered, David said the DENR was finalizing the competitive bidding guidelines, which are targeted to be released in November.

According to David, those dormant mining assets are valued between tens of thousands to tens of millions in pesos.

‘Some assets are for exploration, so the risk level is quite high. Some are proven reserves, so medyo mataas (the value is somewhat high),’ he said.

David explained that the DENR had revised the auction process to offer mineralized areas only to ‘eligible’ entities. He noted that offering them on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’ was ‘not fair.’

‘It’s not fair [that] whoever gets to apply first gets the resource. Now, for all these canceled and expired mineral assets that were not developed, we opened everything, 50 of them initially, for competitive bidding. [It’s] so that we can select not only the best offer for the government, but also the best companies that will operate it,’ he said on the sidelines of the Mining Philippines 2025 on Wednesday.

What’s on the table

David said qualified mining companies may bid for the following: expired and canceled exploration permits, mineral production sharing agreements, financial or technical assistance agreements and pre-identified, nontenured mineralized areas.

Interested parties should prove their technical and financial capability, he said.

‘What we want are companies taking these assets and actually developing them,’ David said, adding that prospective bidders may opt not to pursue mineral resource development if they believe it would result in losses.

The DENR aims to release the bidding policy in time for the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association’s 71st Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference next month.

‘It will spur even more development when we release these mineral assets that are there but not used,’ he said.

Aside from the competitive bidding, David said the government was working on a draft executive order to correct and clarify some provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The goal is to issue the order by the first quarter of 2026.

Through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the agency is working on an alternative registration of small-scale miners, the majority of which are still undocumented or operating outside public mining areas.

David said this would allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to transact with registered small-scale miners.

‘What we are looking at is a tiered registration procedure for, first, as individual groups, the cooperatives and Minahang Bayan (public mining),’ David added.

Guindulman Mayor Albino ‘Ben’ Balo has stepped down from office after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal over alleged irregularities in municipal projects.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Balo confirmed receiving the Ombudsman’s decision and announced that his resignation was effective immediately.

‘With all due respect to the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman, I am officially stepping down as your Municipal Mayor effective today,’ Balo said.

He assured residents that the municipal government would continue to operate smoothly under Vice Mayor Engr. Jimmy Busano, who will assume the mayoralty, while Councilor Abigail Lagura-Gutang will become vice mayor by succession.

Balo urged Guindulman residents to extend their trust and support to the new officials.

‘You will be in good hands under Vice Mayor Engr. Jimmy Busano, who will now serve as your Mayor, and Councilor Abigail Lagura-Gutang, who will assume as Vice Mayor by law of succession. I hope you will give them the same support, respect, and love you have given me,’ he said.

Balo maintained his innocence, insisting there was no corruption under his administration.

‘Let me repeat-Ben Balo did not steal. I did not sit in office to enrich myself but to serve sincerely and honestly. We all pass through this world-what matters most is that we leave behind kindness, goodness, and love for others,’ he said, stressing that his intention had always been to serve Guindulman with integrity.

The Ombudsman’s decision, dated September 12, 2025, found Balo and several municipal officials administratively liable for the questionable construction of a giant Christmas tree in 2022 and a multi-purpose billboard cell in 2023.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed on February 28, 2024, by resident Bernard Banal of Barangay Mayuga, who accused Balo and other officials of violating Section 4(a) of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), Sections 17(b) and 23 of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991), and Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).

On November 28, 2022, the Guindulman municipal government unveiled a 65-foot Christmas tree touted as the tallest in Bohol.

However, records show that in March 2023, the town bid out a ‘multi-purpose billboard’ project that appeared identical to the Christmas tree.

Documents also revealed a payment of over P1 million to a contractor, using a photo of the same tree as proof of completion, suggesting the project was falsified since the structure already existed months earlier.

Also dismissed were Municipal Engineer Rodney Jones Labang, former Municipal Engineer Ariston Beronio, Municipal Treasurer Jean Janiola (also known as Jean dela Peña), Administrative Aide II/TO-designate Dennis Theodore Besinga, and Administrative Aide III/HRMO-designate Evelyn Hinatuan.

The Ombudsman said there was substantial evidence supporting the charges against them.

Meanwhile, the cases against Engineering Aide Jun Andreo Cellacay, Municipal Accountant Consolacion dela Peña, Municipal Budget Officer Aida Mahilum, and Municipal Assessor Christopher Beruan were dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.

Balo ended his statement on a hopeful note, thanking the people of Guindulman for their trust and support.

‘Thank you for your continued trust, love, and unity. Until we meet again, I will see you around,’ he said.

Overcast skies with rain are expected Friday across many parts of the Philippines, the state weather bureau said.

‘Three weather systems are bringing rain to several parts of the country,’ said Loriedin Dela Cruz, weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Dela Cruz explained that the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is affecting parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Easterlies are influencing the eastern part of Luzon, while a shearline prevails in extreme northern Luzon.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Negros Island Region, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Palawan due to the ITCZ.

Similar conditions are forecast for Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte due to easterlies, while Batanes and the Babuyan Islands may experience the same weather due to the shearline.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and other areas of the country are likely to see fair weather, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Dela Cruz said the former Tropical Depression Salome, now a low-pressure area, no longer affects the country. It was last spotted 270 km east of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

‘We expected that, in the coming hours, it would already dissipate,’ she added.

In Caraga Region, stories of new beginnings are unfolding – one child, one family at a time.

Since 2023, at least 212 children across the region have been reached by adoption and foster care programs under the National Authority for Child Care (NACC).

Of these, 55 children are now living with their adoptive parents, 73 are under licensed foster care, and 30 declared legally available for adoption this year.

The numbers make Caraga one of the country’s most active regions in giving abandoned and neglected children a second chance at family life.

To keep that momentum, the Municipality of Sta. Josefa in Agusan del Sur became the latest to formalize its partnership with NACC on October 21. The town is now one of only six local governments in the Philippines to sign such an agreement.

‘This partnership shows our shared commitment to ensure that no child grows up without a family,’ said NACC director for operations and services Imelda Ronda, who represented Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada during the signing.

Under the deal, the Sta. Josefa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) will identify and train foster parents, prepare adoption petitions, and process certifications declaring children legally available for adoption.

The NACC, through its Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) Caraga, will assist in processing these cases and train local personnel through trust-based relational intervention (TBRI) – a trauma-informed approach that helps children recover from abuse, neglect, or early trauma.

RACCO Caraga acting head Emily Sanogal said the initiative aims to build a child-centered mechanism that ensures every child’s right to a permanent and loving home.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) have also included NACC’s programs in the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, a move that recognizes child care as an important measure of local governance

An alleged notorious drug pusher was shot dead Thursday night by an unidentified gunman in Sariaya, Quezon province.

According to the Quezon police, the victim, known by the alias ‘Salie,’ was riding her bicycle on her way home when she was repeatedly shot in various parts of her body by the assailant, who used a handgun. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. in a remote farm area in Barangay Manggalang 1.

The gunman fled the scene, leaving Salie dead on the spot.

Police, citing information from the barangay chairman, stated that Salie was allegedly involved in drug trafficking. Investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the shooting.

A manhunt operation has been launched to apprehend the gunman

At the Asia Global Institute forum in Hong Kong on navigating the tariff war, the consensus was that no one is immune to structural uncertainty where everything is happening all at once, with no one knowing what exactly comes next. Navigation is about planning and executing a journey, but you need maps, compasses, and point of reference to know where you are and where you are going. Journeys across time and space need sound navigation, especially in troubled waters. Sailing is all about teamwork, but in today’s ‘nanospeed’ changes, getting anything done is like repairing an airplane in midflight. Any mistake could end up in a crash.

Some fundamental trends may guide us on the rules to navigate these uncertainties.

First, the United States-China rivalry which prompted the tariff war is a long-term trend that will not disappear soon. We all must be prepared for the weaponization of everything in this rivalry, from trade, money, talent, chips, and technology. Assuming that the big powers are sensible enough to avoid mutually assured destruction from nuclear war, we can assume that all kinds of proxy wars or more conventional warfare will be experimented with in the current march to folly.

Second, consultants use the acronyms PEST (political, economic, social, and technology) to assess the operating context and operating environment. They also use SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to evaluate preparedness for competition. Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously introduced his ‘Unknown Unknowns’ matrix.

The Known Unknowns are risks that can be anticipated. Grandmasters in chess have super memories and remember all games played, but the artificial intelligence computer can beat the grandmaster because it can play games that no one has played before. The AI computer fills in gaps which humans know exists arising from rules that humans framed. If humans themselves do not know such Unknowns, I doubt that AI models can yet explore the Unknown Unknown uncharted territory.

Theory and existing knowledge can only carry you so far. It is only through action and risk-taking that the Unknown Unknown is revealed to humans taking risks in going where no man has gone before, like Captain James Kirk of Starship Enterprise. Chinese reformer Deng Xiaoping famously called it ‘crossing the river by feeling the stones,’ meaning you have to take risks to reveal new information. Since, the future is an unknown unknown, humanity advances through experimentation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and risk-taking. Failure is the precondition of success.

The fourth rule is that technology as the solution to all human and climate change challenges may not add up. Technology is a necessary but not sufficient condition for long-term resilience or survival. It is right to invest in technology, but not all technology will yield results. The unfolding tech or AI bubble is an example of this euphoria that technology will be worth billions for some, but not necessarily for all. Based on a huge boom in AI technology usage across almost all sectors, the AI chip designer Nvidia has reached $4.4 trillion in market valuation, investing $100 billion in OpenAI, the unlisted ChatGPT maker, so that OpenAI can build data centers using Nvidia chips. OpenAI also did a similar deal with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., pushing its own valuation to $500 billion.

Fear of missing out is causing every country to buy into their own data centers, which is why the stock market thinks that the AI phenomenon is not a bubble but has still quite ways to run. The leading AI models are all financed by the tech giants, because it costs a lot to build and test these models. The leading AI players are Grok (Elon Musk), Gemini (Google), Llama (Meta), ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Copilot (Microsoft), Qwen (Alibaba), and DeepSeek, the last two being Chinese platforms. The law of market competition means that not every model will be winners at the consumer level, because ultimately, it will be the mass market rather than the specialist users (such as governments for military/national security reasons) that will determine their success in revenue and market valuation.

The fifth rule therefore is trust that for technology to succeed, you must have a good narrative, execution plan, and ability to deliver what the market wants. There is no doubt that AI itself is a game-changer, but some will be big losers when the game changes with no technology or innovation.

The sixth rule is that in this war of elephants or giants, the smaller players, businesses, or emerging economies must be nimble, adaptive, and able to pivot at speed. Geopolitical conflict means that self-preservation will be the name of the game. The slower player will be the loser in this fast changing game. The new normal is abnormal. Be prepared for all contingencies.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has filed four more fraud audit reports with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), uncovering fresh cases of ghost projects and mismatched sites involving flood control projects in Bulacan.

In a press statement released Friday, COA said the newly flagged projects – worth a combined total of over P309 million – were all under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO), and involved the contractors SYMS Construction Trading, a joint venture between L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. and M3 Konstract Corporation, and Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading.

Same contractor, same pattern

Two of the projects were awarded to SYMS Construction Trading. One was a flood control structure supposedly built along the Balagtas River in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas (P46.35 million). The other was a slope protection project along the Maycapiz-Taliptip River in Barangay Perez, Bulakan (P92.59 million).

In both cases, COA found no structures at the approved sites. Instead, DPWH officials pointed auditors to different locations – with no explanation – and failed to provide critical documents validating the projects.

At one of the mismatched sites, COA found exposed steel bars and unsuitable materials. In the other, there was no trace of any completed structure despite the project being reported as 100 percent accomplished and fully paid.

Those found liable include District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, Planning and Design Section Chief Ernesto C. Galang, and several other DPWH officials and project engineers, as well as SYMS Construction Trading’s Sally N. Santos.

Flawed pinpointing, flawed bridge

The third project was awarded to a joint venture between L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. and M3 Konstract Corporation, amounting to P96.49 million. The contract covered a riverbank protection structure and a concrete bridge in Barangay Piel, Baliuag.

COA noted that satellite imagery from February 29, 2024 – barely three weeks after the contract’s effectivity – already showed a pre-existing structure at the site. Yet during a September 2025 inspection, DPWH officials led auditors to a different location.

COA found that even at this alternate site, the structure ‘utterly failed to meet the project specifications.’ Once again, no key supporting documents were submitted.

Those flagged include Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, and multiple engineers from the Bulacan 1st DEO, as well as the joint venture’s Luisito R. Tiquia and its board members.

No work, no structure

The fourth project – a P74.11-million riverbank protection structure in Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy – was awarded to Darcy and Anna Builders and Trading.

COA said there were no signs of any structure or even construction activity at the approved location, despite the project’s October 2024 completion deadline having long passed.

Among those held liable are Alcantara, Hernandez, Galang, and Darcy Kimel D. Respicio, owner and manager of the contractor.

Criminal, administrative raps to follow

The state auditors stressed that the individuals involved may face criminal charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for malversation and falsification under the Revised Penal Code, and for violations of COA Circular No. 2009-001 and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

COA said these findings will assist the ICI in its ongoing probe into irregularities in public infrastructure spending. ‘More individuals may be held liable as the audit progresses, and new information becomes available,’ the agency added

The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing accountability. ‘COA’s action shows its firm commitment to protect public money and enforce accountability in government spending,’ the statement read.

This latest batch of reports brings the total number of COA’s fraud audit submissions to 25, nine to the Office of the Ombudsman and 12 to the ICI. More are expected in the coming weeks, in line with Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba’s directive last August for a full audit of DPWH flood control projects in Bulacan between July 1, 2022 and May 30, 2025.

As growth continues to expand southward of the metro, the 3,500-hectare Villar City emerges as a promising destination offering scale, strategy and vision.

This integrated megacity, touted as Metro Manila’s new center of gravity, has been masterplanned to have commerce, education, lifestyle, and innovation built into its core, laying the groundwork for long-term growth. For businesses and investors, Villar City thus represents entry into an emerging metropolis poised to become the South’s next business hub.

At the core of this plan are two districts now offering commercial lots to prospective investors: Emporia, the international trade district, and University Town, the knowledge and innovation hub of Villar City. Each district carries distinct advantages, yet both share Villar City’s strong foundation of connectivity and scale.

Comm’l spaces ready for growth

Emporia currently offers prime commercial lots for sale, with sizes ranging from 1,200 sqm to 3,500 sqm, ideal for offices, retail, and large-scale developments. Their value is amplified by being in a district already anchored by Vista Mall SOMO, Vista Hub Daang Hari, SOMO Market, and Teleperformance, with Unihealth Hospital and Medical Center set to open by 2026. These established institutions ensure that every investment here benefits from an environment where business activity and community demand are already in motion.

Strategic access strengthens this advantage. Situated along Daang Hari, Emporia connects directly to Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), ensuring smooth movement across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Upcoming infrastructure projects, like the LRT South extension, MCX West expansion, and Cavite Bus Rapid Transit, will further expand this reach, while within Villar City itself, the eight-lane Emporia Avenue links seamlessly to the 10-lane Villar Avenue, the city’s main artery.

Emporia’s proximity to Evia Lifestyle Center, Brittany Hotel, and Villar City’s golf and sports facilities further adds depth to the district’s appeal, creating a location where business thrives alongside leisure and lifestyle.

For businesses, locating in Emporia thus means securing a foothold in a district designed to deliver commercial visibility and long-term value.

Prime lots in a knowledge hub

Similarly, UTown also offers commercial lots for sale, ranging from 1,200 sqm to 2,200 sqm, and for lease, from 630 sqm to 1,200 sqm. These spaces are ideal for enterprises seeking to tap into a district built on knowledge and innovation. Locating here means access to a thriving academic and professional community anchored by the University of the Philippines-Dasmariñas and surrounded by institutions such as De La Salle University-

Dasmariñas, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Little Apprentice School. This concentration of talent positions the district as a hub where education, research, and enterprise help drive growth.

Beyond academics, UTown is also defined by its vibrancy.

It will house The Stadium at Villar City, a 30,000-sqm sports complex, alongside up and coming residences such as Elara, a horizontal enclave by Brittany, and Novus Prime Residences, a vertical community by Crown Asia. Planned additions-including international schools, a university mall, and a transport terminal-will further cement its role as a center for opportunity.

And since it is well connected to MCX, Daang Hari, and Governor’s Drive and set to gain better access via MRT-7, UTown offers investors a chance to establish their presence in a district built to attract talent, business, and innovation at scale. The Villar City advantage

Both Emporia and University Town clearly embody Villar City’s vision of a megacity where infrastructure, institutions, and industries move in step to drive growth.

With their commercial lots, Emporia and University Town will no doubt give investors and businesses the access, scale, and vision to grow within the South’s next frontier of progress.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a minor explosive eruption occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano from 8:05 p.m. to 8:08 p.m. today, Friday.

Remuel Lajo, La Castellana incident management team commander, said the volcano was spewing ash, but it was not as strong as the volcano’s major eruption on Dec. 9, 2024. This event generated an eruption plume that rose 2,000 meters above the crater before drifting northeast, as recorded by the IP Camera in Lower Masulog, Canlaon City observation station.

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) could be seen descending the southern upper slopes within 1 kilometer of the summit crater. Alert Level 2 is maintained over Kanlaon Volcano, Phivolcs said.

Lajo said it was difficult to visually observe the eruption because it was dark.

La Castellana Mayor Anejo Nicor said the eruption was not felt at the center of the town, and at the moment, it did not appear that an evacuation was necessary.

For Chowking, it is not enough to be a big brand and the best-known Chinese fast-food chain in the country.

Ken Lingan, Chowking president, says they also want the brand to be loved, not just in the Philippines but all over the world.

Chowking has already established a presence in at least seven countries. Its goal now, as it marks its 40th anniversary, is to be the most-loved Chinese quick service restaurant in the world.

They call this vision the ‘Love-olution’, an evolution that starts at home-earning deeper love, one improvement at a time.

Lingan says the chain is not just about giving customers great value for their money but also about providing an experience that will earn their loyal patronage.

The commitment of the brand to consumer values is unwavering. Chowking does not want to be just a one-off experience for diners; it wants a robust repeat business.

Deliverables

‘Chowking may be a food business but it is really a people business,’ Lingan stresses.

To say that Lingan knows a little something about people business will be an understatement. While he got into the food business only in 2022 when he joined Chowking, Lingan does have the background in people business.

As the former CEO of Publicis Groupe Philippines, a French multinational advertising and public relations company, he had a lot of experience promoting products and services, influencing customer tastes and preferences and nurturing brand loyalty.

He has deployed some of the tools employed in his old job, like getting up-to-date customer feedback and keeping Chowking abreast of consumer trends.

For Chowking, the collection of customer comments is not an empty gesture. Lingan says they take note of daily customer feedback and hold regular audits of the chain’s performance.

Lingan constantly talks about evolution. Customer feedback is diligently monitored and regular audit results taken into account to improve products, introduce new items and effect other changes to ensure that Chowking is able to respond and meet customers’ changing and emerging needs and preferences.

Consistency in quality and satisfaction of customers are goals that are always top of mind.

Key challenges

The challenge for Chowking is bigger compared with other fast-food joints, Lingan points out. Chinese food has to always be freshly made. Chowking cannot cook in batches while awaiting customers’ orders. Dishes are prepared only when they are ordered.

‘It is challenging to make Chinese food accessible . and great tasting,’ he says.

What makes the task harder is ensuring that the same consistency in quality is maintained across almost 600 branches, most of them franchises.

The situation has become even more challenging now that the chain has opened drive-thru establishments.

Waiting time has to be reduced to the barest minimum even as every order is freshly made. There cannot be a gridlock as motorists wait for their orders to be cooked.

But Lingan assures customers, ‘We will not compromise taste for speed.’ The chain remains committed to consistency of quality even in drive-thru outlets.

Harnessing technology

Chowking is investing in automation to speed up some of the processes, particularly the physically challenging task of stir-frying. Lingan says local experts have developed for Chowking an automated stir-fry equipment.

This is a very timely development as Lingan says Chowking remains to be a favorite destination for main meals. Its rice meals are still the most favored items among diners.

Digital technology is also being adopted to make it easier and faster for customers to place their orders.

Complementing the technological developments is the continuous training and retraining of staff to retain employees and build a strong sense of purpos

To keep office staff fully aware of and committed to the Chowking business, the chain has launched the pioneering Adopt-a-Store program, which requires employees to work for a full day twice a year in a food outlet, doing tasks done by the service crew, including cooking.

As Chowking begins a new decade, it continues its evolution, expanding on the vision and purpose of founder Robert Kuan who opened the first Chowking store in 1985 at Rotary Arcade in Makati City.

Kuan wanted to create a space where families and friends could bond while enjoying hearty, affordable and authentic Chinese meals.

Chowking marks this latest milestone with the introduction of new products and packaging, based on customer feedback. Items like fried siopao and Milksha specialty beverage have been added to the menu.

There will also be seasonal offerings as well as occasional ‘treats,’ like Choco Pao, in response to consumers’ demand.

Lingan says they are hoping to hit a total of 600 branches by the end of the year. The chain is introducing a fresh look. New branches will have a new appearance while older ones will be gradually transformed.

All the changes, transformation and new products the chain will roll out, Lingan says, are all inspired by Chowking’s commitment to give back to its customers. -Contributed INQ