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The Philippines has emerged as one of the ‘front-runners’ in the nuclear deployment across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region, according to a unit of Fitch Solutions.

In its report, BMI said that while there was a growing interest from Asean countries in the potential integration of nuclear energy into the electricity power mix, the Philippines and Vietnam ‘stand out’ in terms of rollout readiness.

It noted that the country was a ‘leader’ in the region, given the government’s target to fire up an initial 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power by 2032.

‘We believe there could be opportunities for an accelerated deployment given the Philippines’ capabilities and experience, as the Bataan province houses Southeast Asia’s only existing nuclear power plant, though it never became operational,’ BMI said.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was hounded by controversies under the leadership of deceased former President Ferdinand Marcos due to safety fears.

The current administration, led by another Marcos, previously sought South Korea’s expertise to weigh on the possibility of reviving the mothballed 620-MW nuclear facility.

Aside from this, BMI also cited the administration’s commitment to addressing regulatory uncertainty.

Marcos provided his go signal for the establishment of the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, a move that the government considered crucial to allaying investors’ worries on policy covering the new technology.

Attractive region

‘Critically, we highlight that the Philippines is a signatory to all major safety, security, safeguards and liability instruments, demonstrating its comprehensive engagement with the international nuclear governance framework,’ BMI said.

‘This regulatory maturity, combined with concrete policy support and established institutional capacity, positions the Philippines as the frontrunner in Asean’s nuclear race,’ it added.

Zooming out, BMI said the soaring electricity demand in Asia, fueled by economic growth as well as data center market growth, makes it ‘one of the most attractive regions for nuclear power development in the coming decades.’

While renewables capacity continues to grow across the region, BMI said it remains insufficient to meet the power needs.

‘The unique context in Asia positions nuclear as a long-term solution to deliver clean power while ensuring baseload generation and energy security,’ it said.

Romantic beach strolls, fresh seafood, and exceptional sunsets-what’s not to love about living next to the ocean? Offering many health benefits, coastal communities are the epitome of living in paradise.

Today, let us explore recent developments, which allow many coastal communities to thrive even in the face of climate change. Here are some of the modern approaches people have done to make coastal communities a better and safer place to call home.

Disaster education and preparedness

In the Philippines, automatic flood warning devices are now placed along the banks of vulnerable communities. Early warning systems, in particular, are prioritized to serve as a preventive measure.

Our country takes into account several factors in developing these warning systems. Disaster risk knowledge takes precedence and is based on the systematic collection of data.

Detection, monitoring and assessment of possible hazards are then identified. Once the risks are confirmed, warnings are disseminated by local officials.

Lastly, preparations are done at all levels of the community. These various steps ensure that the whole community adequately protects itself even before the calamity strikes.

Coastal greenbelts

Another way coastal communities mitigate the threat of damage from natural calamities is by establishing coastal greenbelts. Either natural or manmade, coastal greenbelts are strips of vegetation that are created along coastlines.

In the Philippines, these often refer to mangroves and beach forests. They serve as an effective barrier in protecting communities from water-related catastrophes. They also help maintain natural ecosystems by serving as habitats to migratory birds and fish. Sustainability and safety

Lastly, one of the best ways coastal communities protect themselves from natural disasters is by practicing sustainable habits.

From taking care of mangroves to keeping the ocean clean, community efforts to protect the environment help ensure safety in times of trouble.

Other sustainable initiatives help protect the natural landscape. Developers that take into consideration environment-friendly design help ensure the safety of their planned communities. To exemplify, Rockwell Land uses sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems to reduce energy consumption, minimize trash and reduce water consumption in their coastal project Aruga Resort and Residences-Mactan.

The creation of green spaces, like landscaped gardens and outdoor recreational spaces, can also help. Besides promoting health and wellness, they serve as buffers to protect the residences from the worst of the weather.

Bliss by the beach

Overall, coastal communities are some of the best places to live in. While natural calamities are sometimes unpredictable, the development of early warning systems, disaster resilience measures and natural buffers help ensure the safety of these neighborhoods.

Don’t be afraid to chase your happiness in a beachside home. Check out a coastal community and enjoy life by the beach today.

Over 4,300 passengers and truck drivers were stranded at 21 ports in Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Eastern Visayas, and Northeastern Luzon on Saturday after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea trips due to Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen).

Based on its 12 noon to 4 p.m. monitoring, the PCG said 4,388 passengers, drivers, and helpers, along with 1,207 rolling cargoes and five vessels, and one motorbanca were stranded.

Meanwhile, 26 vessels and 10 motorbancas took shelter across ports.

According to the maritime safety advisory, Bicol recorded the highest number of stranded individuals at 2,326.

The advisory also reported 1,022 rolling cargoes and five vessels and one motorbanca are stuck at the ports of Tobaco, Pioduran, Pasacao, Virac, Cataingan, Aroroy, Mobo, San Pascual, Claveria, Cawayan, Castilla, Matnog, Pilar, and Bacacay. Twenty-two vessels and two motorbancas were also taking shelter in the region.

In Southern Tagalog, 107 passengers and 20 rolling cargoes were stranded at the ports of Real, Atimonan, and Alabat.

The PCG also reported 655 stranded passengers and 165 rolling cargoes at Sta. Clara, Dapdap, and Looc ports in Eastern Visayas. Three vessels were taking shelter in the area.

In Northeastern Luzon, one vessel and seven motorbancas were forced to take shelter at San Vicente Port and Linao Wharf.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 11 a.m. advisory that Tropical Storm Ramil is forecast to track west-northwest or northwest after a short west-southwest movement.

The storm was last located over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph. It was moving west-southwest at 20 kph

National University ended the first round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament elimination round on top, but not after surviving a furious Ateneo fightback.

The Bulldogs needed five extra minutes to outlast the Blue Eagles, 71-66, on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum. Paul Francisco heated up at the right time for NU, which hiked its record to 6-1.

‘My coaches and teammates kept telling me to shoot the ball despite struggling throughout the course game. I credit them for believing in me and telling me to keep shooting it,’ he said.

‘This is good for us because we have some momentum heading into the second round and that’s always good to look at.’

The Bulldogs led by as many as 18 points late in the second quarter before the Blue Eagles battled back and forced overtime thanks to Shawn Tuano’s game-tying 3-pointer, 61-all, with 8.3 seconds to go.

With NU trailing by one in OT, Francisco provided the late heroics, burying back-to-back triples that sealed the game with 42 ticks left.

Francisco fired 10 of his 13 points in extra time, while Jake Figueroa also tallied 13 that went with 10 rebounds. Steve Nash Enriquez added 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Jadem Lazo led all scorers with 17 but the Blue Eagles dropped to their third consecutive loss after opening the season at 4-0. Dom Escobar notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday said she believes that the government formed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to ‘legitimize’ its narratives on corruption through reports made by the commission.

This is what Duterte answered when she was asked to assess the investigations done by the ICI so far.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through Executive Order No. 94, created the ICI to investigate corruption in all infrastructure works of the government, including flood control projects, over the past years.

Duterte said she wondered why the probe body was formed in the first place, emphasizing that the Office of the President could do a ‘case buildup’ on the corruption issues surrounding infrastructure works in the country.

‘I don’t know why the ICI conducts investigations because it’s easy. The Office of the President has billions of confidential funds. The office can do case buildup using the resources of the Office of the President,’ she said in Filipino during an interview in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

The three-member probe, composed of a chairperson and two members, has invited personalities and politicians implicated in the corruption of infrastructure projects in the country. Several government agencies have also attended meetings with the commission.

‘I believe, and based on what I read, on what he does, he wanted to form ICI and of course, we won’t know what the commission will talk about inside,’ she said.

In a previous statement, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said that while the hearings of the ICI are currently not being livestreamed, the commission is aware of public demands to make them available online.

Hosaka stressed that the ‘ICI is avoiding trial by publicity, and will not allow it to be used for any political leverage or agenda by any individual or group.’

‘They opened ICI so whatever its investigation report is, that will be the official narrative on the corruption that happened,’ Duterte noted, adding that whatever the reports from the ICI will be fed to the public for them to know what will be done.

She added: ‘That way, you as a citizen will not be able to dispute and oppose the results because he will say, ‘No, that’s legitimate. I formed the commission, the commission is investigating, there’s a commission report.’

Hosaka last Wednesday said that contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya will no longer cooperate in the investigation into the alleged anomalies in government flood control projects.

Hosaka explained that the Discayas expected to get a ‘favorable recommendation from the commission as state witnesses’ if they cooperated. However, the couple pointed out a recent interview by ICI member and former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson that influenced their decision.

Hosaka noted Singson’s personal opinion that the latter sees no witness who may be recommended by the probe body as a state witness.

Meanwhile, Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, who appeared for the first time before the commission last October 14, denied allegations that he had kickbacks from government infrastructure projects.

The ICI on Saturday then asked to postpone the hearing originally set on October 22, as he will undergo a medical procedure.

In an era of LED walls, laser beams, and viral concert clips, it’s easy to forget that the heart of live performance isn’t in the visuals but in the connection.

For Per Sørensen, the voice of Norwegian new wave band Fra Lippo Lippi, that’s the secret to staying relevant in today’s hyper-digital music scene. ‘Whether you’re an old geezer like me or a young artist,’ Sørensen told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent virtual interview, ‘it’s about being real, connecting with people. That’s much more important than trying to be some perfect artist. I’m not K-pop – but I love music, and I love new stuff. I love that they’re real.’

That authenticity is exactly what he plans to bring back to Manila during ‘The Voice of Fra Lippo Lippi’ concert on Oct. 24 at The Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque.

Sørensen hints that this year’s concert will be a little different – visually, at least. ‘I won’t give everything away,’ he teased, ‘but there will be more visuals. And some surprises.’

This time, he’s bringing his full Norwegian band – a first in his Philippine shows. ‘Since 2012, I’ve always brought my son with me on tour,’ he said. ‘But this time around, it’s my Norwegian band. They know the material really well. Of course, I’ve loved playing with local musicians here – but it just worked out this way. So yes, that’s something to look forward to.’

While he jokes that his Tagalog might not yet be concert-ready, he’s open to singing something local ‘if it’s a nice song.’

Filipino fans have always had a special relationship with Fra Lippo Lippi’s music – one that’s as enduring as the ’80s synth sound the band helped define. When asked which song resonates most with his audience here, Sørensen said: ‘It’s ‘Stitches and Burns.’ During the Cebu show, everyone stood up, waving their phones – that happens wherever we play. But of course, they also love ‘Beauty and Madness.”

Fans can expect all the hits, plus something new: ‘This Day This Time,’ a recent release that carries a touch of Christmas warmth. ‘It’s sort of a Christmas song, really,’ he said. ‘So that’s fine to add.’

Words for the next generation

Despite belonging to the same era as cassette tapes and power ballads, Sørensen’s advice to young songwriters still rings true. ‘Create something classic,’ he said. ‘Be honest. Don’t try to write a hit or adjust your work to please the fans. Write from your heart. If it connects with people, they will like it.’

If there’s one thing Sørensen never gets tired of, it’s performing for Filipino audiences. ‘It’s always about the people,’ he said. ‘You welcome us very warmly. You all sing – I love that. My drummer said last time, ‘This is fantastic. It’s unbelievable.”

Even offstage, he feels that warmth. ‘When I walk the streets, people come up to me and start singing the songs. You have karaoke everywhere here! I love it. I love the food, too.’

He recalled writing ‘Stay This Time’ with overseas Filipino workers in mind – ‘those who don’t see their families for years.’ It’s a song he hopes listeners take to heart.

Still playing, still connecting

After decades of touring, Sørensen remains eager to see more of the country. ‘I’ve been to Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Ormoc, Tacloban, Cebu, Laguna, Manila and Baguio,’ he said. ‘But I want to go to more places. Maybe Boracay next. Wouldn’t it be great to have a show on the beach?’

Sørensen will also bring his show, produced by Live Artists Production Inc., to the Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro on Oct. 25.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea travel on Friday across Luzon and the Visayas while at least three Bicol provinces suspended classes due to Tropical Depression ‘Ramil,’ which brought strong winds and rough seas, halting all passenger and cargo vessel operations in Bicol and the provinces of Quezon and Northern Samar.

The local governments of Catanduanes and Albay ordered suspension of work and classes on Friday while Catanduanes Gov. Patrick Alain Azanza said all work and school activities in public and private schools would be suspended on Saturday to ensure public safety.

Albay Gov. Noel Rosal suspended classes at all levels beginning 12 noon on Friday and advised the public and private schools to shift to alternative mode.

In Bicol, the PCG suspended all sea trips from major ports including Legazpi City, Tabaco City and Pioduran in Albay; Pasacao in Camarines Sur; Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Virac, Catanduanes; and in Masbate.

Monitoring

Commodore Ivan Roldan, district commander of PCG Bicol, said 618 passengers and 129 rolling cargoes and 80 other vehicles were stranded across the region.

In Quezon, the PCG-Southern Quezon also suspended sea travel in the easternmost portion of the province, including Tagkawayan. The suspension followed the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over the area.

The PCG reminded all vessel operators to exercise extra caution and monitor the tropical cyclone’s movement, said Ensign Mario Rey Vics, commander of PCG-Southern Quezon in an advisory.

The PCG-Northern Quezon station in Real town also suspended voyages for all vessels bound for the Polillo Islands due to rough sea conditions.

The PCG in Northern Samar, which has also been placed under TCWS No. 1, announced a temporary suspension of all sea voyages on Friday, affecting the eastern towns of Laoang, Catubig, Palapag, and other areas in the region.

Lt. Junior Grade Joshua Gabon, commander of PCG Northern Samar, urged vessel operators, particularly those with small boats, to take extra precautionary measures.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, Ramil was 640 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, moving west southwestward at 25 km per hour (kph), with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa warned that Ramil may intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall, potentially near Catanduanes or Aurora by Saturday

Global pageant observers named Emma Tiglao as a major contender for the 2025 Miss Grand International crown, placing the Philippine bet on the top spots of their frontrunners lists.

Missosology, an established beauty pageant platform that analyzes contestants, named Tiglao as its Top 2 hot pick, as per the list released on its social media pages on Saturday, Oct. 18. Tiglao follows Spain’s Aitana Jimenez who got the first spot.

Venezuela’s Nariman Battikha, Czech Republic’s Markéta Mörwicková, and Ghana’s Faith Maria Porter respectively placed third, fourth and fifth on the lineup.

Also included are delegates from Mexico, Thailand, Guatemala, Tanzania, France, Indonesia, Kosovo, Ecuador, United Kingdom, Martinique, Canada, Belgium, Japan, Zambia and Australia

Aside from its Top 20 list, Missosology named Sweden, Brazil, Laos, Italy, Denmark and South Africa bets as the ‘bubbling up’ contenders.

‘It all comes down to the essential 6 B’s: Beauty, Brains, Body, Business, Behaviour, and Big Performance. These qualities collide as we unveil our top contenders for the crown!’ the platform said.

Meanwhile, Tiglao secured the top spot of the leaderboard of another pageant platform, Sash Factor.

Rounding up the ‘Alpha Five’ were Venezuela’s Battikha, Indonesia’s Vina Sitorus, Guatemala’s Ana Lendl, and Ghana’s Faith Maria Porter.

Other delegates who made it to to Sash Factor’s Top 30 picks are from Czech Republic, Mexico, United Kingdom, Thailand, Brazil, France, Tanzania, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Spain, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Martinique, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Australia, Paraguay, USA, Panama, Japan, Guyana and Jamaica.

Tiglao is set to compete against 75 candidates for the title at the coronation night that will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The Philippines, represented by Emma Tiglao, made it to the final round of voting for this year’s Miss Grand International Country’s Power of the Year award.

The Philippines, which has never won the accolade in the history of Miss Grand International, is joined by Myanmar, Paraguay and Thailand as finalists, as per the announcement on the pageant’s official Instagram page on Friday, Oct. 17.

The voting mechanics are also included in the post.

The four contenders emerged after three rounds of elimination. The first round determined the Top 20 candidates with the most votes, who were then separated into four groups for the second round. The third round saw 8 finalists, composed of the top two delegates from each group.

The candidate who will win the Country’s Power of the Year award will automatically secure a spot in the pageant’s overall Top 20 finalists.

Tiglao is among the 76 candidates vying to inherit the crown from Filipino beauty queen Christine Juliane ‘CJ’ Opiaza, who assumed the position of the 2024 titleholder after India’s Rachel Gupta stepped down.

The 2025 Miss Grand International finals night will be held at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday night, Oct. 18.

The Marcos administration expressed confidence it could still meet the lower end of its 5.5- to 6.5-percent growth target for the year, even as it braces for a slowdown in the third quarter amid a widening corruption investigation and the aftermath of a series of destructive typhoons.

That means no imminent revisions to the government’s current growth goal, Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

‘The growth that we are expecting for 2025 is now 5.5 to 6.5 percent. All those numbers that I showed are pretty close to the lower end,’ Balisacan told reporters on the sidelines of the 2025 European-Philippine Business Dialogue.

‘So, the low end of the range is still very much achievable,’ he added.

But Balisacan said weather disturbances that disrupted economic activities and the deepening probe into anomalous infrastructure spending may have created a ‘bit of a slowdown’ in the third quarter. Even so, he cited developments that could offset the weakness.

‘There are also good developments, like inflation has continued to fall, interest rates have continued to slow down,’ he said.

‘The effects of falling interest rates months earlier are of course beginning to be felt now because there are usually lagged effects of interest rate changes and investment and consumption decisions,’ he added.

The government aims to keep infrastructure investment at 5 to 6 percent of gross domestic product-spending seen as crucial to meeting the Marcos administration’s growth targets until the end of its term.

But corruption in flood control projects drained the economy of an estimated P42.3 billion to P118.4 billion from 2023 to 2025, according to a Department of Finance study. The losses could have otherwise generated 95,000 to 266,000 jobs over the same period.

Tighter controls

Amid the probe, the Department of Public Works and Highways recently tightened the verification of completed projects and enforced stricter checks on billings and payment claims amid the deepening investigations. The Department of Budget and Management said a ‘temporary slowdown’ in infrastructure spending was expected as the cleanup continues.

Already, institutions like the Asian Development Bank had flagged the ongoing corruption inquiry as a risk to economic projections going forward. The Manila-based lender pegged its growth forecast for the country at 5.6 percent for this year.

In the same interview, Balisacan also flagged external headwinds like higher US tariffs that could weigh on investments. ‘There are positive forces and negative forces, hopefully the positive forces will dominate,’ he said. ‘Of course, these corruption scandals could also impact on sentiments-investment sentiments and consumer sentiments.’ INQ