Author: user user

We are within the Pacific Ring of Fire, this we know.

So earthquakes, volcanic eruptions are not new to us, yes.

So much DRRM budget, education, and preparation have been conducted throughout the country, we have been told, yes.

However, were these enough to prepare our people for the recent round of earthquakes, eruptions and typhoons?

You be the judge. What do you think?

This is the first time, though, we are witnessing and experiencing simultaneous quakes, eruptions and typhoons.

No matter how much past DRRM preparation has been done, nothing really prepared us all for the calamities and disasters to hit various places within and outside the Philippines SIMULATANEOUSLY!

Before the Cebu quakes affected various cities, municipalities especially in the North, we remember typhoons that came one after another or almost at the same time in Northern Luzon.

Recently, however, we are witnessing simultaneous quakes in Cebu, in the Visayas, in Luzon, in Mindanao and other parts of the world as well!

Then, there was a typhoon as well.

Then the Mt. Kanlaon eruption.

And more continuing strong aftershocks in already previous strong quake-affected areas!

One precious lesson.

Local, regional, national and international UPDATED, REORIENTED DRRM education, training, preparation, funds, responses are urgently needed to cope with simultaneous natural events, calamities and disasters affecting people, communities, structures, properties, resources.

Wider SIMULTANEOUS COORDINATION among local, regional, national, international private and public responders is now called for.

Another inspiring lesson.

The heartwarming bright light in the midst of destructive calamities is the ever-present BOTTOMLESS WELL OF LOVE AND CONCERN from countless individuals and groups and from all over, for the affected.

To facilitate faster, more effective, more far-reaching response network of support and assistance, one lesson learned is to COLLECTIVELY plan, decide and implement a MORE COORDINATED SYSTEM of data collection, resource/assistance sharing, transport, distribution, monitoring, evaluation of private and public, local, national, global DRRM initiatives.

Another lesson to guide future response.

So many in need, so many were eager to help and reach out. Heavy traffic could have been avoided, faster response and assistance for victims facilitated had there been a prior template for regulating, coordinating multilevel, multisectoral DRRM response and initiatives.

A must from now on as well.

COMMUNITY DATA should already be available showing population number, profile, location to ensure no one is left behind, that all are accounted for and responded to SOONEST and EFFECTIVELY after every calamity.

DRRM initiatives should also prepare for immediate-short-medium-long term-TIME-AREA-BASED responses for all residents of various types of communities – farms, forest, coastal, urban, towns.

One glaring reality was the lack of defined, designated and well-equipped EVACUATION AREAS for different types of community residents.

And URGENT/APPROPRIATE ITEMS/FACILITIES (RED CROSS TENTS) to ensure the immediate-long-term safety, protection and welfare of all affected residents and communities.

‘We need food, water, safe places to sleep and stay in’ immediately after and while the calamities continue.

EMERGENCY/HEALTH NEEDS require immediate attention, medical providers/practitioners, facilities, especially STEADY ELECTRIC/WATER supply!

Please mainstream proper/dedicated DISASTER WASTE SEGREGATION/ MANAGEMENT!

A very important lesson – COMMUNICATION is INDISPENSABLE.

From here on, every community, LGU, resident should be part of a communication network to ensure that everyone is accounted for during calamities and everyone’s immediate, urgent need responded to.

Within communities, residents should have a communication system, a communication brigade or tree where Person number 1 contacts Person number 2 and so on and the last person on the list contacts Person number 1 to confirm that everyone included in the communication network responded and their needs communicated to each other.

The community communication network should link to the LGUs in towns/cities and provinces.

Informal/personal communication networks are just as vital as working communication devices and facilities please.

GENDER/AGE/DISABILITY-specific responses should also be mainstreamed so the appropriate assistance is extended to the victims.

Frequent class suspensions have led to a 12 to 14-percent decline in Math and Science grades among Grade 4 students, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed yesterday.

Aside from the decline, the commission said the suspensions resulted in learning losses equivalent to half to a full school year, with 30 percent of school days in 2023-2024 lost.

‘The school closures have a big effect on the grades of a student. Majority of these (class suspensions) were due to typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities,’ EDCOM 2 noted, adding that 32 days were due to calamities and 12 due to non-teaching tasks.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) warned that prolonged suspension of face-to-face classes could disrupt students’ learning and development, following Gov. Sol Aragones’ order to suspend in-person classes in all levels in Laguna, citing the need for heightened disaster preparedness.

Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) legal counsel Joseph Noel Estrada questioned this decision, saying: ‘Laguna governor should publicize what the provincial government will do during the two-week suspension of classes as part of disaster preparedness and what it seeks to accomplish after.’

To address the learning crisis, DepEd, for its part, has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to ensure class suspension decisions are guided by scientific data, localized risk assessments and safety standards.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, meanwhile, urged schools to strengthen academic recovery strategies.

‘Schools are encouraged to strengthen their. flexible learning options, lesson compression and continuity plans to minimize learning loss. Let us work together to keep learning going, rain or shine, and ensure every learner’s progress despite disruptions,’ the association said.

Health break

Aside from Laguna, several local government units have also suspended classes due to rising flu and respiratory illness cases.

Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, on Oct. 16 and 17 to serve as a ‘health break’ amid a surge in influenza-like illness, severe respiratory infection and pneumonia in the province.

Meanwhile, Cavite Gov. Abeng Remulla yesterday suspended face-to-face classes in all levels, both public and private, from Oct. 15 to 18 ‘to give way to influenza-like illness surveillance and preparation for The Big One.’

‘During the suspension of face-to-face classes, the alternative delivery mode will be implemented like online classes and modular learning to ensure the uninterrupted learning of the learners,’ Remulla announced.

‘This move is a proactive effort to protect the health and safety of each Caviteño,’ he added.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) yesterday likewise urged DepEd to postpone the upcoming In-Service Training (INSET) and instead allow a total health break for educators amid the rise in flu and other illnesses affecting schools nationwide.

TDC chairman Benjo Basas said DepEd should suspend the conduct of the INSET scheduled from Oct. 27 to 31 and allow teachers to fully enjoy their health and wellness break, as provided under DepEd Order 12, Series of 2025.

‘However, the same order also recommends the holding of INSET during this period, placing school and division leaders in a dilemma, many of whom opt to conduct INSET for compliance,’ he said.

As a result, he noted, many schools still plan to hold mandatory INSET sessions, effectively defeating the purpose of giving teachers time to rest and recover.

‘Teachers, just like their students, deserve this break. After months of continuous work, from lesson preparation and actual classroom teaching to paperwork and assessments, our teachers need time to rest and recharge,’ he added.

While the INSET is meant to improve teachers’ professional competencies, Basas said it may not be practical to conduct it during a supposed wellness period.

‘In fact, teachers will still spend the week completing school-related tasks such as finalizing learners’ performance outputs and grades for the second quarter, leaving them with no real break at all,’ he said.

He urged the DepEd to review how the INSET is being implemented, noting that the program is funded by public money and should genuinely serve its purpose of developing teachers, not adding to their workload and fatigue.

Basas also acknowledged that INSET can be an opportunity for meaningful discussions on teachers’ welfare, advocacies and issues in the education sector, but only if school heads are supportive and faculty organizations are empowered to assert their rights.

President Marcos met with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grli? Radman as well as the new ambassadors of Belgium and the United Kingdom on Tuesday, reaffirming his commitment to deepen ties with the three nations.

This was the first official visit to the country of Radman, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

Marcos underscored the importance of Radman’s visit as a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and Croatia.

Radman cited Croatia and the Philippines’ shared values and mutual respect for international law.

He was in the Philippines from Oct. 12 to 14. He met with government officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac as well as leaders of Congress.

In separate ceremonies at Malacañang on Tuesday, Marcos received the credentials of Ambassadors Vladislava Iordanova of Belgium and Sarah Hulton of the UK and Northern Ireland.

Facebook and YouTube remain the most popular social media platforms in the Philippines, with Filipinos emerging as the most frequent users of these sites globally, a report released yesterday showed.

The Digital 2026 report – released by media, social and consumer intelligence company Meltwater and creative agency We Are Social – found that 83.3 percent of the Philippine population are using the internet.

While this is far from almost universal access already achieved by some countries, the report showed that adoption of internet in the Philippines is above the global average of 73.2 percent.

At least 99.5 percent of internet users in the Philippines said they used at least one social media or messenger platform in the past month.

Based on the report, an average Filipino user spends 13 hours and two minutes per week browsing social media (excluding videos), second to Kenya that reported an average of 14 hours and 18 seconds.

The average for Filipino users increased to 33 hours and 50 minutes per week if social media use included online video content such as TikTok, Reels and vlogs, among others. It also ranked second to Kenya, with 36 hours and 16 seconds.

Filipinos ranked highest globally among those who use YouTube, with 85 percent of internet users saying they accessed the platform at least once in the past month. The global average is 55.4 percent.

Facebook remains the most popular platform in the country, with 94.9 percent of Filipino online users saying they used the platform at least once in the past month. The global average for Facebook use is 56.9 percent.

Messenger also remains the most popular messaging application in the Philippines, with 90.6 percent saying they used it at least once in the past month.

Short-form video platform TikTok is also emerging as a popular platform, with 82.2 percent of Filipino online users saying they accessed it in the past month. The country ranked fourth in terms of TikTok use, after Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam.

Less popular platform but still with sizeable usage in the Philippines included Instagram (71.2 percent), X (41.2 percent), Telegram (55.7 percent), Pinterest (40.5 percent), WhatsApp (37.6 percent), Reddit (32.4. percent), LinkedIn (25 percent) and Threads (24.3 percent).

The data were based on the broad survey of internet users aged 16 and above conducted by London-based GWI in the second quarter of 2025.

Globally, the report found over six billion individuals already using the internet, representing 73.2 percent of the total population.

Farmers yesterday appealed to senators to restore higher tariffs on imported rice and strengthen domestic production as a more sustainable solution to help them recover their losses.

During the Senate hearing of the committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said there is a need to revert the rice tariff from the current 15 percent back to the previous 35 percent to mitigate the income losses suffered by farmers due to increased rice importation.

The Senate earlier adopted a resolution urging President Marcos to reinstate the ‘most favored nation’ tariff rate of 35 percent.

Pangilinan flagged the drop of P8 per kilo in the farmgate price of palay amid the influx of cheaper imported rice under the lower tariff regime.

‘If the agricultural sector’s land is a policy, it is clear that the Rice Tariffication Law has had a poisonous effect rather than a fertilizing one,’ Pangilinan said.

During the hearing, Rodolfo Unan of a Nueva Ecija farmers’ group and Gemma Tabian of an Occidental Mindoro farmers’ group blamed rice importation and the reduced tariff rate for undermining the local rice industry.

Raul Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers said the lower tariff on imported rice has failed to significantly reduce retail prices, resulting in only about a P6 decrease.

Pangilinan said the hearings aim to explore restoring the graft-tainted National Food Authority’s regulatory and import licensing functions.

Cash remittances from overseas Filipinos climbed by 3.2 percent to $2.98 billion in August, reflecting sustained inflows from both land- and sea-based workers despite global economic headwinds, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday. The latest figure was higher than the $2.89 billion posted in August 2024, as remittances from land-based workers rose by three percent to $2.35 billion, while those from sea-based workers grew by 3.8 percent to $626 million.

On a cumulative basis, cash remittances amounted to $22.91 billion from January to August, up by 3.1 percent from $22.22 billion in the same period last year.

The United States remained the top source of remittances, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The BSP noted, however, that inflows attributed to the US also reflect funds coursed through correspondent banks located there.

Meanwhile, personal remittances, which include cash sent through banks, informal channels and remittances in kind, likewise increased by 3.2 percent to $3.31 billion in August from $3.2 billion a year earlier.

Year-to-date, personal remittances grew by 3.1 percent to $25.51 billion from $24.74 billion in the same period of 2024.

SM Investments Corp. chief economist Robert Dan Roces said the modest increase indicates continued resilience in remittance flows despite external challenges.

‘The 3.2 percent year-on-year increase in cash remittances in August indicates a modest pick-up relative to July’s three percent growth,’ Roces said.

‘This suggests that remittance flows have some resilience despite global headwinds and reflects, in part, a lower comparative base or mild fluctuations in monthly flows,’ he said.

According to Roces, the peso’s depreciation may have encouraged higher inflows, as overseas Filipinos take advantage of the exchange rate to maximize peso value for their families.

‘The weaker peso (and expectation thereof) tends to encourage higher remittances in dollar terms, as recipients gain more local-currency value,’ Roces noted. ‘Evidence from BSP studies have highlighted the positive role of exchange rate depreciation as a driver of remittances.’

Looking ahead, Roces said remittance growth may further strengthen toward year-end, when overseas Filipinos typically send more money for holiday spending.

‘The (September to December) months, when remittances traditionally rise, may buoy the remainder of the year,’ he added.

Remittances remain a vital source of household income and foreign exchange for the country, supporting domestic consumption and helping cushion the peso against external shocks.

The steady inflows also continue to underpin the Philippines’ external payments position amid fluctuating global demand and interest rate movements.

The BSP expects cash remittances to grow by three percent to $35.5 billion this year and by three percent to $36.6 billion next year.

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will investigate the alleged connections between the Discaya couple and CLTG Builders, a construction firm associated with close allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ombudsman Boying Remulla said in a dzBB interview that couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya refused to explain their joint venture with CLTG Builders, which has been reported to have business ties with the family of a Duterte ally in the Senate.

‘Today, uumpisahan na namin ang pag-iimbistiga sa CLTG Corporation at ‘yung links nito sa Discaya Company simula 2016,’ Dizon told reporters. (Today, we will start investigating the CLTG Corporation and their links to the Discaya Company starting 2016.)

The probe comes as the Discaya couple declared they will no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is conducting a separate inquiry into irregular public works contracts.

Charges vs Discayas. Dizon said the first set of charges against the Discayas is already being prepared for filing before the Sandiganbayan in the coming weeks.

The couple allegedly controlled nine companies involved in rigged biddings and ghost projects tied to public infrastructure spending.

Go distances self

Bong Go, a senator closely associated with Duterte has denied any involvement in his relatives’ businesses or any dealings with the Discayas, saying he is willing to cooperate with investigators.

He lamented, however, that the probe seems to be going backward.

‘Huwag niyo po ipahid sa ‘kin ang dumi para kayo ang pumuti. Huwag naman ganun,’ Go said in a statement. (Do not wipe dirt on me so you can look whiter. Do not do that.)

The senator also acknowledged the possibility that his name may have been used for influence without his knowledge during his time as Duterte’s special assistant.

Should his relatives be found guilty of such, the senator said he was willing to be the complainant if any cases were to be filed.

When Filipinos talk about politics, one word is often heard-corruption. For many people, young or old, it has become a common issue connected to government projects and public funds. On September 21, 2025, many people gathered to protest against corruption in the flood control project in Cebu. Flooding on the streets has become common, even during light rain. Behind these floods are allegations that the funds meant for protection were misused.

The people of Cebu, together with other Filipinos, expressed their anger over the misuse of taxpayers’ money. They demanded transparency, accountability, and justice. Many believe that corruption has taken away services that should have improved people’s lives. For years, communities have suffered from poor roads, crowded schools, and underfunded hospitals. What was once seen as a natural problem-flooding-has now become a symbol of frustration and betrayal.

Protesters carried signs that said: ‘Stolen Money, Stolen Future’ and ‘Corruption Kills.’ They reminded the public that corruption is not only about money. It also affects lives, basic needs, and opportunities of ordinary citizens. Many are now calling for stronger anti-corruption laws and strict punishment for guilty officials and contractors.

Civil society groups also joined the movement. They warned that the misuse of public money slows down the nation’s progress and destroys trust in the government. They said every peso lost to corruption could have been spent on education, healthcare, or safe infrastructure for communities.

Commentators also shared their views. They warned that unless corruption is solved, the Philippines will continue to struggle. Corruption not only steals money but also steals the future of Filipinos. As protests continue, citizens remain united in their call for accountability. They believe that fighting corruption is not only for today but also for the future of the next generation. But the question remains: Will the voices of the people be heard, or will the government continue to ignore corruption?

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) is seeking a P1-billion budget to procure an all-in-one tool to scan the dark web and scrub social media for potential risks to national security.

CICC has received support from lawmakers to increase its budget by almost P200 million to hire more personnel for its threat monitoring efforts through Hotline 1326.

This places the CICC’s proposed budget for 2026 close to P658 million, with P458 million allocated under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress.

However, CICC deputy executive director Renato Paraiso said the agency is still hoping to have congressional support for a last hike of P1 billion. The amount will be used to acquire a detection tool that the CICC can rely on to scan both the surface and underworld of the web.

The tool can scrub social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to find potential threats and resolve them before they can even harm anyone. Paraiso said most risks right now emanate from social media – from fraud attempts to manipulated videos.

Further, Paraiso said the tool can also monitor the dark web where bad actors – from data thieves to terrorist financiers – often transact.

Cybersecurity giant Norton said the dark web is the ‘home to the internet’s hidden sites, services and products – some innocent, while others downright dangerous.’

Moreover, Norton said the dark web is a place where cybercriminals communicate anonymously, bypass censorship, access restricted information and pass around files securely.

For Paraiso, the CICC has to be equipped with the capacity to dive into the dark web to prevent threat actors from compromising national security. He said cybercrimes are always evolving, and the CICC will be a step ahead if it has the tool to track the dark web.

Apart from this, the tool will fill in the personnel shortage hounding the CICC. He said the tool would automate the scanning of all layers of the internet, from surface web to the dark web.

Based on the staffing summary listed on the NEP, the CICC is allowed to employ up to 79 people in its plantilla, but currently only 52 of those are filled.

Recently, the CICC has found itself busy combatting online threats, especially on Sept. 21 during the twin anti-corruption protests in Luneta and EDSA organized by various sectors.

On that day, the CICC responded to a coordinated attack on the websites of government agencies that are, notably, entangled in the flood control mess.

The attacks targeted the Department of Public Works and Highways, which implements the flood control projects, and the Department of Budget and Management, which issues funding for such infrastructure. Other state agencies were also attacked.

The CICC was quick to act on retrieving the websites of the agencies. The websites were defaced for less than a minute, but ended at that, with the CICC intervening in the attacks.

According to IBM Security’s 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, Asia and the Pacific saw a 13-percent rise in cyberattacks in 2024, leading all regions in the world.

The Philippines was among the most attacked countries, tied with Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea at second, next to Japan.

Banks supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also recorded a two-percent jump in losses arising from cyberattacks, amounting to P5.82 billion in 2024.

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed from their posts Mayor Ma. Jofel Soldevilla and Vice Mayor Michael Omar Lacson of Zarraga, Iloilo in connection with an allegedly anomalous land purchase deal.

State prosecutors said there was sufficient proof that Soldevilla and Lacson conspired and used their positions to advance their personal interest when they entered into a contract for the purchase of an P11-million property in 2023.

Aside from dismissal, Soldevilla and Lacson were disqualified from holding public office and their retirement benefits were forfeited.

The ombudsman also canceled the respondents’ civil service eligibility.

In a separate resolution dated July 13, the ombudsman found probable cause to indict Soldevilla and Lacson for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Meanwhile, Zarraga Councilor Jose Jeffren Millan along with municipal accountant Era Lerdon, budget officer Glezil Lozañes and treasurer Leonora Pauya as well as former councilors Rolando Papa, Nelida Octaviano and Mark Andrian Sulolayon were suspended for six months for simple misconduct.

The ombudsman said the penalty of those who are no longer in office would be converted into a fine equivalent to their salaries for six months.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed last year by former councilor Andre Bon Sumagaysay, who alleged that a resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan authorizing Soldevilla to enter into a contract for the purchase of a 6,585-square-meter property was railroaded and lacked the required number of signatures.

The property, owned by Lacson’s late father, was intended for the local shelter plan of the municipal government.

The ombudsman said there was conflict of interest when Lacson, councilor and chairman of the committee on housing and land at the time, sponsored a resolution supporting the land purchase deal.