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The idea of reducing the tariff on rice from 35 percent to 15 percent did not come from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), an official told a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Presiding over the hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan asked DepDev why it was supposedly against reverting the rice tariff to its previous level at 35 percent.

The panel chairman also wanted to know why DepDev would want to keep the reduced tariff until 2018.

‘So I’d like to know your justification why you want it maintained at 15 percent? And why until 2028? I don’t understand,’ Pangilinan said.

‘I can understand you declared a rice emergency. You mean to say, we will have rice emergency until 2028?’ he further asked.

But DepDev Undersecretary for Legislative Glenda Rumohr clarified the 15 percento proposal did not come from their office.

‘For the body’s information, Mr. chairman, regarding the 15 percent tariff, I think there was a meeting with the President where the Secretary actually suggested between 22 to 25 percent and not really 15 percent,’ DepDev Undersecretary for Legislative Glenda Rumohr said.

‘So it was not DepDev who recommended 15 percent,’ she pointed out.

Who then recommended the tariff reduction to 15 percent? Pangilinan asked.

Rumohr said she was not aware, pointing out the economic team is composed of DepDev, Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget and Management.

But during discussions of the team, DepDev’s recommendation was to slash the rice duties to 20 percent to 2025, she stressed.

‘ I guess during the meeting they came up wit 15 percent,’ Rumohr said.

‘Well, I don’t like: ‘I guess.’ I wanna know and the people deserve to know,’ Pangilinan said.

The senator later directed his queries to the DOF through its representative in the hearing, Assistant Secretary Neil Cabiles, who just repeated Rumohr’s answer.

According to Cabiles, the decision was reached during the discussion of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board, chaired by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1948275/govt-slashes-tariff-on-rice-imports-to-help-cut-local-prices

Neda was DepDev’s old name.

Cabiles promised to check the minutes of the Neda board’s meeting, prompting Pangilinan to request that they be submitted to the committee.

The reduced tariff cut on rice and other select products became official through Executive Order No. 62 issued by Marcos in June 2024. /mr

Almost every Filipino believes that corruption in the government is widespread, while the majority also think it is a ‘normal’ part of the country’s politics, a recent survey by Pulse Asia found.

Pulse Asia’s survey, held from September 27 to 30 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adult Filipinos, found that 97 percent of respondents believe that corruption is widespread.

This survey came almost a week after the massive and simultaneous September 21 anti-corruption protests nationwide, triggered by the multi-billion peso corruption scandal involving flood control projects.

‘Agreement with the view that corruption is widespread in government is essentially universal,’ Pulse Asia said in a statement.

Pulse Asia asked the question: ‘In your opinion, how widespread is corruption in government in the country today?’

Of the 97 percent of respondents who responded that it is ‘widespread,’ a vast majority, or 78 percent, even said it is ‘very widespread,’ while only 20 percent said it is ‘somewhat widespread.’

Only two percent of responders can’t say if it’s widespread or not, while the remaining percentage said it is not widespread.

Corruption ‘normal’

The majority of the respondents believe that corruption in the government is just normal.

Pulse Asia asked respondents if they agree with the statement that: ‘Corruption is a normal part of politics in our country.’

To this statement, 59 percent of respondents said they agree, with 31 percent of them saying they ‘strongly agree,’ while 28 percent ‘somewhat agree.’

On the other hand, 30 percent disagreed, with 17 percent ‘somewhat disagree’ while 13 percent said they ‘strongly disagree.’

Eleven percent cannot say if they agree or disagree with this statement.

Majority believes corruption went up

A vast majority of Filipinos believe that corruption in the government has increased in the past 12 months, at 85 percent.

On the other hand, 12 percent of responders believed it has remained the same, while only three percent said it has actually decreased. /jpv/abc

The serving of an arrest warrant turned bloody as the target and his companions resisted arrest enforced by a combined force of police and Marine troops who carried out the operation at Sitio Lalaog, Semba village of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao del Norte at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR), said that the target of the operation was Samsudin Usman alias Sammy and Krega, who is facing charges for murder, illegal firearms possession, and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.

The police officers and Marine troops approached Usman’s residence to serve the warrant when gunfire erupted, prompting them to retaliate.

Usman was killed on the spot, while one of his companions, identified only as alias Piong, was critically wounded and later died in the hospital.

Another cohort, Barry Usman, was arrested at the scene.

Three law enforcers were injured in the gun battle. They are Police Capt. Sammy Paning, deputy chief of the Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police station, Corporal Marson Quijano, and Private Alex Bajoyo, both from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 5.

The Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14, MLBT 5, and other police and military units provided support to the operations.

Several items were recovered from the suspect, including a Bushmaster rifle, a magazine, a handheld radio, and 10 heat-sealed sachets of suspected meth worth P34,000.

Recovered from Barry Usman were an M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, magazines, an airsoft rifle, and two heat-sealed sachets of suspected meth.

Usman is now detained at Datu Odin Sinsuat police station, while the three wounded are now recuperating at a local hospital

Students from Mapua University – Intramuros held an academic walkout on Wednesday afternoon in protest against corruption.

Following the walkout, students wearing black gathered along Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila, in front of the Yuchengco Innovation Center chanting their demands in relation to the alleged misuse of government funds.

Members of youth and progressive groups, Kabataan Partylist, Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Agham Youth, Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan Mapua, and National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) were also in attendance during the protest.

‘Corruption has no place in our university and the nation we plan to build. We cannot just stand by and watch as corruption takes root within the very institution that molds the builders of this nation,’ the NUSP said in a statement released on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Chair Teodoro ‘Teddy’ Casiño commended the walkout in Mapua through a social media post, highlighting that ‘It’s rare for Mapua students to protest. The youth’s frustration with corruption is truly different.’

Several universities have held snake rallies, lightning rallies, and academic walkouts against corruption.

These universities include University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University – Manila, Philippine Normal University, University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Baguio, UP Mindanao, UP Los Baños, University of the East, De La Salle University – Manila and Laguna, College of St. Benilde, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, Bulacan State University, Cavite State University, and Tarlac State University.

Youth groups are also set to hold a protest action against corruption on October 17, in a march to Mendiola, Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot announced on Monday. /jpv

‘Quezon,’ a historical film based on the life of the former president Manuel L. Quezon, was classified with a PG (Parental Guidance) rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) after a thorough review.

This was announced by the MTRCB in a press statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15, as the film hits cinemas on the same day.

Since ‘Quezon’ is rated PG, it contains scenes that require parental guidance or parental supervision for kids aged 13 years old and below.

‘Films like ‘Quezon’ celebrate our nation’s history and values. Through our age-appropriate rating, we ensure that viewers, especially Filipino children, can engage with these stories under proper parental guidance,’ MTRCB chairperson and CEO Diorella ‘Lala’ Sotto said in a statement.

The government agency also announced that ‘Good Fortune’ and ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ were rated R-13, while ‘Black Phone 2’ and ‘The Mariana’s Web’ got an R-16 rating.

‘Quezon,’ the third and final film of TBA Studios’ Bayaniverse franchise, tells the story of Manuel L. Quezon (Jericho Rosales and Benjamin Alves) and his rise to power. His desire to hold more power is tested by his potential political rival, Sergio Osmeña, whom he eventually invited to be his vice president, and Emilio Aguinaldo.

The film also stars Karylle, Mon Confiado, Romnick Sarmenta, Ana Abad Santos, Bodjie Pascua, Joross Gamboa, Ketchup Eusebio, JC Santos, Angeli Bayani, Jake Macapagal and Iain Glen. /ra

While the nation was gripped by protests against massive corruption surrounding flood control projects and the successive strong earthquakes that hit northern Cebu and Davao Oriental, the House of Representatives approved on Monday the proposed P6.7-trillion spending plan for 2026 that, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired.

The Marcos administration followed through on its commitment at the start of the budget process in August to have civil society representatives present during the deliberations to herald ‘a new era of transparency’ in the wake of explosive testimonies on corruption-ridden flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). But their participation seemed to be a token gesture as the House approved a budget still laden with pork.

According to those opposed to House Bill No. 4058 or the House version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, the chamber ‘missed the call of the times’ when it crafted a bill that retained billions of pesos worth of problematic provisions.

Civil society groups, political, business, and religious leaders have issued statements, citing that ‘at least’ P230 billion in pork barrel and patronage-based projects are in the House version of the 2026 budget.

Patronage politics

Flagged were the aid programs such as the additional P32.06 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and P14.82 billion for the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers that had been criticized for reinforcing patronage politics, especially in the provinces.

Red flags were also raised over the additional allocation for the Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-market roads that are also being investigated for corruption and questionable projects of the DPWH such as multipurpose buildings that could end up being overpriced and of subpar quality.

These are on top of the bloated P250 billion in unprogrammed appropriations-standby funds that can be tapped when new revenues or loans are secured-that are feared to be disguised slush funds of corrupt legislators and officials from the executive branch.

Members of the minority and party list blocs in the House had tried to remove all unprogrammed appropriations that ‘entrench pork barrel politics.’ Unfortunately, these proposals were rejected by the House majority.

Cautiously optimistic

Thus, budget advocates who had been cautiously optimistic that the civil society participation would indeed help rid the national budget of these entrenched pork barrel items have ‘[lost] trust in the integrity of the budget process.’

‘While there was an attempt to bring us in a more formal process, it seems like many of the recommendations still fell on deaf ears,’ says Kenneth Isaiah Abante, co-convenor of the People’s Budget Coalition comprised of church, business, and civic groups monitoring public spending to protect people’s money, adding that ‘.all this points to the fact that the system really hasn’t changed.’

There is still hope, however, that the 2026 budget will be stripped of unprogrammed appropriations with Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate President Vicente Sotto, and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson vowing to exorcise the 2026 budget of these controversial items.

Sullied reputations

‘Our agreement was that there will be no unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, but we will allow funding for foreign-assisted projects that are necessary,’ said Lacson, who would push for this move when the Senate and the House come together in the bicameral conference committee. He expressed confidence that Filipinos outraged by the rampant and persistent corruption would be on their side when they press for the removal of all unprogrammed allocations.

Lacson’s confidence is buoyed by earlier findings that these unprogrammed funds in previous budgets had indeed gone to the either substandard or outright nonexistent flood control projects, thus, the public would not accept a repeat in the 2026 budget.

Indeed, public pressure must be sustained on the legislators to ensure that every line item will be open to scrutiny and monitoring as the first major step toward eliminating debilitating corruption, the effects of which are already being felt through depressed investor interest and weakening economic growth.

The Senate and the bicameral conference committee can redeem their sullied reputations by removing the pork and the unprogrammed allocations from the final version of the national budget. Ultimately, the buck stops with President Marcos, who must realize that the Filipino citizens are angry and will be watching if he will deliver on his promise to clean up the budget and not allow it to be an instrument of patronage and corruption.

Dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan engineer Henry Alcantara briefly left Senate detention on Monday after complaining of ‘chest discomfort.’

Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) Police Major Gen. Mao Aplasca disclosed this to reporters on Wednesday.

‘He complained of chest discomfort. So to check, he was brought to Pasay Medical Center for ECG and other confirmatory tests. But it was ruled only as muscle spasm,’ Aplasca said in a message to reporters.

After about two hours, Alcantara was brought back to the Senate.

‘He is very much normal up to today, and every day the Senate medical team is conducting regular checkups on all our detainees to monitor their status,’ Aplasca added.

Alcantara has been detained in the Senate along with two other former DPWH engineers, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya, in connection with the flood control projects scandal.

Several lawmakers, including former Senate President Francis Escudero and former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, have also been accused of receiving multi-million-peso kickbacks allegedly in exchange for flood control projects. /jpv

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday announced that the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 will be livestreamed.

This is the process in which the Senate and House of Representatives thresh out differences and arrive at a common version of the General Appropriations Act, which the president will sign to become the General Appropriations Bill.

In a brief interview with the media in Malacañang, Marcos said, ‘To further encourage transparency, I intend to livestream the bicam.’

‘There is no more small committee. Dating ginagawa [What is previously being done is] that they have a bicam and then they suspend it as a small committee. Wala nang small committee [There will be no more small committee],’ he also said.

According to Marcos, this decision was a result of his agreement with Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III.

‘I’m going to livestream the entire process so that if there are questionable, shall we say insertions or additions or all that, it will also be clear who made those changes or who proposed those changes so that people know,’ he said.

Approved on Third Reading

On Monday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 10800, or the proposed 2026 national budget.

In Wednesday’s interview, Marcos was asked whether he finds the House version ‘acceptable,’ given his earlier statement that he would veto the budget if it failed to fully align with the government’s National Expenditure Program.

‘I’m hoping and I’m very confident that that’s not going to be necessary simply because we have been involved.I have been involved in detail on the preparation, especially in the House, of the budget,’ he responded.

‘And as far as we have been able to examine, there are no projects that are listed there, there are no items that are listed there that are outside of the socioeconomic development plan of the Philippines,’ Marcos also said.

Marcos’ announcement aligns with the calls of several lawmakers for transparency in bicameral deliberations.

Last July, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima, Akbayan party-list Representtives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendana, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, along with Albay Rep. Krisel Lagman, filed Joint Resolution No. 2, which sought to open the bicam deliberations to the public-either by allowing in-person attendance or by livestreaming the proceedings online. /cb

Schoolchildren in far-flung Pisompongan village spent the night in their classrooms as heavy rain that started at 3 p.m. Tuesday swelled the river they needed to cross to get home.

The village is about 20 km from Midsalip town, the center of Zamboanga del Sur.

Gideon Goc-ong, principal of the Pisompongan Integrated School (PIS), said that teachers decided to keep about 100 of their pupils from kindergarten to Grade 10 safe inside their school buildings, as it was too dangerous for them to cross the river.

Months ago, the viral video of the school children crossing the raging river at the height of flooding caught the attention of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who, in his State of the Nation Address in July, instructed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) to make use of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program to put up a bridge in Barangay Pisompongan.

Although Opapru already turned over P48 million of the P60 million bridge project budget on September 29, it would still take four to six months for the bridge project to be completed, Peace Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said earlier.

Goc-ong said the teachers provided the kids with hot meals and kept them safely inside the classrooms for the night.

Through a handheld radio, the school also contacted purok leaders to inform parents that the students were kept safely at school due to the swollen river

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto once again charmed the internet with his candid humor after leaving a comment on the Pasig City Public Information Office’s Facebook post. The PIO had shared photos from the blessing of the city’s new Mobile Kitchen and 60 Emergency Cabinets-but it wasn’t the trucks or equipment that caught everyone’s attention.

Instead, it was Sotto’s comment: ‘Pano nyo ginagawa yung iba ibang font?’

Netizens, of course, couldn’t resist jumping in. One teased, ‘Palit muna ng phone, Mayor ??,’ while another shared a tutorial, ‘Research niyo lang po sa Google yung ‘copy paste fonts.”

It didn’t help (or maybe it did) that Sotto’s phone has long been a running joke online. His followers have been teasing him for years about his ‘prehistoric’ device, especially after he posted a few blurry videos on social media

It didn’t help (or maybe it did) that Sotto’s phone has long been a running joke online. His followers have been teasing him for years about his ‘prehistoric’ device, especially after he posted a few blurry videos on social media.

Humor aside, the mayor has also been in the headlines for more serious reasons. Recently, Sotto helped spark public outrage over alleged corruption in infrastructure projects after questioning the favorable media coverage of contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

But to satisfy Mayor Vico’s curiosity about fonts (and anyone else wondering the same thing), here’s a quick guide to switching up your font game online.

How to change your fonts online

Changing your font on Facebook isn’t something you can do directly on the app. The trick lies in third-party font generator websites that let you turn ordinary text into stylish fonts.

1. Search for a font generator

Type ‘font generator’ in Google and pick a website. Some popular options include Lingojam, CoolFont, or Fancy text pro. To be safe, check the site’s reviews before using it.

2. Type your text

Enter whatever you want to post-your status, a comment, or even your Facebook bio.

3. Pick a font style

Scroll through the options and pick a style that fits your vibe. There are cursive, bold, italic, and other creative styles.

4. Copy the text

Click the copy button or manually select and copy the text.

5. Paste it on Facebook

Go to your Facebook post, comment, or bio, and paste the text.

6. Check it before posting

Some fonts may look different on mobile vs. desktop, so preview first to make sure it displays correctly.

Now the secret is all out! Fonts don’t have to be boring-take a cue from Mayor Vico Sotto and play around to make your text pop.