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THE Supreme Court (SC) has denied the plea of the Duterte Youth Party-List for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from cancelling the group’s accreditation.

In a two page resolution dated September 30, the Court en banc also would not issue a status quo ante order that could have restored its previous status prior to the cancellation of its registration.

The Court also denied its motion for a special raffle, which was supposed to address the urgency of its petition.

However, the SC ordered the respondents Comelec, Reeya Beatrice Magtalas, Abigail Aleli Tan, Raainah Punzalan, and Aunell Ross Angcos to comment on the Duterte Youth’s main petition within 10 days from notice.

The four private respondents were the ones who petitioned the Comelec to stop the Duterte Youth’s proclamation last May and questioned their registration as a party-list group.

The Court’s order stemmed from the party-list group’s petition filed last September seeking to nullify the June 18 resolution issued by the poll body’s Second Division which cancelled its registration and the August 29 resolution of the Comelec en banc which affirmed the division’s resolution.

The Duterte Youth landed second in the party-list race with a total of 2,338,564 in the national and local elections held last May, entitling them to three seats in the House.

In its petition, the group accused the Comelec of committing ‘grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction’ in upholding the cancellation of their registration.

The party-list group argued that the assailed resolutions barring them from taking a seat in the 20th Congress were ‘contrary to law and jurisprudence’ and effectively disenfranchised more than 2.3 million Filipinos who voted for them in the last elections.

The petition also invoked the doctrine of laches, contending that the challenges raised against the group’s registration were filed too late and should have been barred.

The Comelec has proclaimed Abono, Ang Probinsyano, and Murang Kuryente party-lists to replace the Duterte Youth’s three seats in the House of Representatives.

THE PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 will be held from February 17 to 20 next year, the International Cycling Union-the sport’s international federation known by its acronym UCI, announced on its website recently.

The national road championships will again be staged in and around a technical course with Tagaytay City as the main hub and the municipalities of the Eighth District of Cavite and First District in Batangas Province as the other major routes.

PhilCycling president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, also the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said the 2026 nationals will also showcase the brand new Tagaytay CT Velodrome, which will host the 2026 Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)-headed by Malaysian Dato’ Amarjit Singh Gill-Track Championships from March 25 to 31.

This marks the first time in 31 years that the Philippines is hosting the Asian track championships-the last time was in 1995 when the country hosted both the Asian Road and Track Championships at the Amoranto Velodrome-which was demolished to give way to a football pitch-in Quezon City and Subic.

The 2026 nationals will actually begin with the Criterium races on February 16, followed by the Individual Time Trial on February 17 and the Road Races from February 18 to 20.

Categories will be in the Elite, Under 23, Juniors and Youth both for men and women.

A Masters category will be incorporated in the nationals’ program to determine the country’s representatives to the Asian Road Championships in Saudi Arabia-the ACC has yet to announce the dates.

And as usual, the top performers in the Juniors races will be included on the national team to the Asian championships as incentive.

VARIOUS government agencies are stepping up efforts to provide food, shelter, and other relief to the victims of the successive earthquakes that struck Cebu and parts of Mindanao amid threats of more earthquakes and aftershocks.

Still reeling from the devastating earthquake last September 30, a series of earthquakes struck Bogo City, Cebu, anew at dawn on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The strongest of the latest wave of earthquakes that hit this coastal city in Cebu struck at exactly 1:06 a.m. Phivolcs said the 5.8 magnitude earthquake generated Intensity V tremors in Bogo, Daanbantayan, Madellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, and Tabuelan, all in Cebu. The same intensity was recorded in Villaba, Leyte, and Escalanta City in Negros Occidental.

It also shook the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Danao, Talisay, Toledo, and the towns of Asurias, Balamban, Bantayan, Carmen, Catmon, Compostela, Consolacion, Liloan, Pinamugalajan, Sogod, and Tuburan in Cebu; Iloilo City, Roxas, and Pontovedra in Capiz; Ormoc City, Albuera, Capoocan, Calubian, Isabela, Kananga, Lete, Merida, Palompon, and San Isidro in Leyte Province.

Damage, aftershocks expected

A SECOND earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 was recorded at 1:24 a.m., followed by a 3.9 magnitude earthquake at 1:31 a.m. A fourth earthquake was recorded at 2:24 a.m. with a magnitude of 3.4.

As of 11 a.m., Phivolcs said the Magnitude 6.9 Northern Cebu Earthquake recorded 11,835 aftershocks, of which 2,068 were plotted and 46 felt in the immediate vicinity of Bogo City.

The 6.9 Northern Cebu Earthquake has resulted in the death of 74 people and the injury to 559 others. It also affected 201,245 families or 722,919 persons.

The NDRRMC said that a total of 774 public and private infrastructure were damaged, while a total of 79,959 houses were damaged as a result of the earthquake and successive aftershocks that continue to grip Cebu.

Modular shelters

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it has sent modular shelter units (MSUs) for the quake victims in the three hardest-hit areas in Cebu.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said that the MSUs will serve as temporary shelters for families who were displaced by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Cebu last September 30, or ‘those who are still frightened to return to their homes due to aftershocks.’

According to DHSUD, the MSUs were allocated for the towns of Daanbantayan, San Remigio, and Medellin, which are among the areas hardest hit by the powerful quake.

The MSUs will be set up at the ‘Bayanihan Villages’ that were ordered to be established by President Marcos to provide shelter for the earthquake victims.

As of Sunday, several MSUs have been installed in the locl government-identified area for the Bayanihan Village in San Remigio town, DHSUD noted.

The delivery of the MSUs was made after the DHSUD conducted a ground assessment, in close coordination with other government agencies and LGUs.

‘Alinsunod po sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos ay agarang nagpadala ang DHSUD ng mga MSUs para sa mga biktima ng lindol na nawalan ng tahanan o kaya naman ay patuloy na nangangambang bumalik sa kani-kanilang tirahan,’ said Aliling.

‘We hope that these MSUs will somehow ease the burden of the quake victims. Kahit papaano ay komportable at ligtas sila dito,’ he added.

Days after the earthquake, Aliling sent Housing Undersecretaries Ed Robles and Ramon Quintin Allado and Assistant Secretary Hernando Caraig Jr. to Cebu to inspect the ground situation to determine what immediate response is needed from DHSUD.

‘Based on their assessment, ang agarang tulong na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ay ligtas at maayos na masisilungan. Kaya mabilis natin dineploy ang mga MSUs,’ Aliling said.

‘Asahan po ninyo na patuloy na ang DHSUD ay aktibong lalahok sa whole-of-nation response na iniutos ni Pangulong Marcos upang mabilis na makabangon ang ating mga kababayan mula sa epekto ng lindol,’ he added.

Housing loan amortization

APART from sending MSUs, the DHSUD chief ordered the Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corporation, the National Housing Authority, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation to suspend housing amortization in Cebu and in the Bicol Region that was battered by typhoons Nando and Opong.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) distributed P12.37 million worth of cash aid to 1,085 families in San Remigio, Cebu, who were affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the province recently.

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 76 families whose houses were totally damaged received P30,000 each, which amounted to P2.28 million; while 1,009 families whose houses were partially damaged received P10,000, which amounted to P10.09 million, respectively.

In a statement issued over the weekend, NHA said the cash aid was distributed under NHA’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (Ehap), which provides financial assistance to families affected by disasters such as typhoons, fires, earthquakes, and floods, intending to help beneficiaries start anew.

Another set of Ehap distribution will be conducted in the following weeks for other victims of recent earthquakes and typhoons, NHA also noted.

In addition to the Ehap distribution, the NHA said it is also currently implementing a one-month moratorium on the amortization of housing loans and lease payments this October for the provinces of Cebu and Masbate, to alleviate the financial burden caused by recent calamities.

Under the guidance of NHA General Manager Joeben A. Tai, NHA Assistant General Manager Alvin S. Feliciano led the distribution ceremony, accompanied by Region 7 Regional Manager Hermes Jude D. Juntilo.

Speaking on behalf of GM Tai, Feliciano expressed hope that the financial assistance would help improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries.

Quick assessment

IN response to the 7.4 and 6.8 magnitude doublet earthquakes near Manay, Davao Oriental, concerned government agencies are moving to conduct a quick assessment of all government infrastructures, school buildings, and medical facilities.

The assessment aims to ensure the integrity of the infrastructure facilities in preparation for the smooth return to normal operation.

Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon said the initial assessment of bridges found minor issues and were cleared for use.

The main roads have been cleared in Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte while clearing was going on in provincial, town, and barangay roads.

The Manay District Hospital, though, has been declared condemned, as Dizon said the assessment found that ‘none of the seven buildings were cleared for use.’

‘In all likelihood, the hospital needs complete reconstruction.’

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said funds would be allocated for the repair of minor damages to the regional offices and heads of school divisions. This would be taken from the quick response fund of the department.

‘For the major repairs, we will coordinate it with Secretary Vince Dizon and ensure a faster coordination process so the works will be done immediately,’ he said.

Social Welfare Sec. Rexor Gatchalian assured that food packs have already been prepositioned nationwide ‘even before this earthquake happened’. The regional DSWD here said 103,614 food packs and non-food items were already prepositioned, and by Friday morning, some 1,050 food packs were already distributed to the earliest local governments that communicated their exact number of families who needed assistance.

The regional office also said more food assistance was being sent to the other areas for the rest of the day.

Eight people were confirmed dead, including the person with a medical condition at the district hospital in Montevista, who succumbed to a likely cardiac arrest in reaction to the earthquake.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Arguelles, the chief of the Davao Regional Police Command, said police have secured the evacuation camps across the three provinces, including those in the coastal village of the town of Taragona, the next town south of Manay. Taragona coastal residents quickly rushed out of their homes on Thursday night, immediately after a tsunami alert was raised when the second magnitude 6.8 quake occurred at 7:12 pm. The first quake occurred at 9:45 am.

Regular earthquake drills

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged all workplaces nationwide to conduct regular earthquake drills, stressing that preparedness must become a permanent part of the country’s work culture.

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza of TUCP said companies should hold drills at least twice a month to ensure workers instinctively know what to do when disaster strikes.

He warned that treating drills as mere compliance puts lives at risk, especially in a country constantly threatened by earthquakes.

‘Beyond seemingly token and ceremonial compliance, we should make preparedness a habit and earthquake readiness a work culture.More and more practice saves lives so that readiness will rightfully be second nature in a country that sits on the Ring of Fire,’ Mendoza said.

The labor group said regular drills would also serve as a venue to revisit emergency response plans and remind workers of their right to refuse unsafe work.

TUCP urged employers to include safety discussions in labor-management meetings to strengthen workplace readiness.

Mendoza added that no employee should be forced to continue working when conditions pose an immediate threat to life or safety.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma welcomed the labor group’s appeal, saying it complements the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) compliance in all establishments.

‘The concern and advocacy for [OSH] is a shared responsibility among the tripartite partners: workers, employers and government. Thus, DOLE welcomes the TUCP call for more drills to make the workers and employers aware of the safety protocols during earthquake and other calamities,’ Laguesma said.

The TUCP’s call follows recent incidents in Cebu’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, where workers complained of alleged OSH violations in Cebu during a magnitude 6.9 earthquake last September 30.

According to BPO Industry Employees Network-Cebu, emergency exits of some firms were purposely blocked, preventing workers from leaving the building.

The removal of foreign ownership restrictions on renewable energy (RE) projects in the Philippines has attracted 75 projects with 20 gigawatts (GW) of capacity since 2022.

As of August, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded to foreign firms 13 solar power contracts with a total capacity of 1,297.52 megawatts (MW), nine offshore wind (OSW) contracts with 5,510 MW, and 53 onshore wind contracts with 13,183.95 MW.

‘We recognize that private sector investment is central in achieving our targets. Hence, we are creating an enabling business environment to make RE more appealing to investors.

In 2022, liberalized foreign ownership rule is a clear signal to the world that the Philippines is open for clean energy business. To date, it has already attracted 75 projects, totaling 20 GW capacity, awarded to fully foreign entities,’ said DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara during the 2nd Philippines Future Energy and Grid Summit.

The policy, backed by a legal opinion from the Justice department, allows up to 100-percent foreign ownership in the exploration, development, and utilization of indigenous RE sources.

The 100-percent foreign ownership in RE projects, which facilitated faster entry of RE investments, is among the renewable policies that accelerated RE development in the country.

Other efforts include the simplified RE service contracts under the revised omnibus guidelines, energy virtual one-stop shop (EVOSS) system, expanded roof-mounted solar program (ERSP), net-metering program, green energy option program, renewable energy portfolio standards, and green energy auctions.

Overall, there are 1,371 RE contracts, with an installed capacity of 7.7 GW, awarded as of August this year. The potential capacity of these projects stands at 145.8GW.

Of which, 561 are solar contracts, 414 are hydro, 286 are wind, 72 are biomass, and 29 are geothermal.

The DOE is targeting a 35-percent RE share in the power generation mix by 2030, 50 percent by 2040, and over 50 percent by 2050.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, there are six energy transition strategies cried by the DOE. The list include acceleration of RE development, with focus on OSW; smart and green transmission system to accommodate more RE capacity that will come online from 2024 to 2040; build port infrastructure to support OSW; voluntary early decommissioning or repurposing of existing coal power plants; decarbonize the transport sector through electric vehicles; and energy efficiency and conservation.

‘The challenges we face in meeting our nation’s energy demands are significant, but so is our resolve. The Philippines has long depended on imported fossil fuels, exposing us to volatile costs and climate risks.

That is our commitment to the Filipino people, and it is the driving force behind the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2023-2050-our updated roadmap for transition,’ said Guevara.

The transition roadmap, she added, presents three scenarios. Reference (REF) Scenario, which targets a 35-percent RE share by 2030 and 50 percent from 2040 to 2050; Clean Energy Scenario (CES) 1 which has high RE with low OSW + nuclear + coal repurposing; and CES 2 which has high RE with high OSW + nuclear + coal repurposing.

‘These targets are not just numbers; they represent a fundamental shift in our national policy and a decisive step toward a sustainable future. This is a whole-of-government commitment. Our six energy transition strategies begin with the most urgent: accelerating renewable energy development,’ said the DOE official.

She noted, however, that the country’s energy mix paints a different story. In 2008, renewables made up 35 percent. Today, it is only at 22 percent.

‘This is not failure-it is a call to action. Our goals are clear: 35 percent by 2030, 50 percent by 2040, and beyond 50 percent by 2050. So, how have we begun this journey?

Our approach has been multi-pronged, with the landmark Renewable Energy Act of 2008 which truly catalyzed the RE sectors: biomass, geothermal, solar, hydropower, ocean, and wind-collectively: BIG SHOW,’ said Guevara.

Malacañang said the two-day ‘health break’ declared by the Department of Education (DepEd) for public schools aims to help prevent the spread of influenza-like diseases in Metro Manila.

‘They (DepEd officials) decided to prevent it from spreading by having a health break in schools so that students would not be infected and this would allow the cleaning of the schools in two days so that when the children return, they can be sure that their classrooms will be safe and clean,’ Palace Press Office Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing last Monday.

During the weekend, DepEd announced that fact-to-face classes in public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be suspended from October 13 to 14.

The affected schools were required to implement Alternative Delivery Modalities during the two-day suspension to prevent any disruption on the education of their students.

DepEd made the decision after the Department of Health (DOH) said flu-like cases nationwide reached 121,716 from January to September-eight percent lower compared to the 132,538 cases in the same period last year.

DOH defines influenza-like illnesses as a condition with sudden onset of fever of more than or equal to 38 Celsius and cough or sore throat in the absence of other diagnoses.

Citing DOH, Castro said the uptick in flu-like diseases was expected as the weather becomes cooler with the upcoming Christmas season.

She allayed public concerns on the disease and said the government is implementing the necessary measures to minimize the risk of the flu-like diseases from infecting more people.

OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla is set to release today (Tuesday) the rules that would give the public access to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of public officials subject to certain conditions.

President Ferdinand Marcos is ready to release his SALN to the public if it will be allowed by the Ombudsman, according to Malacañang.

This, after newly installed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ C. Remulla said he will allow the ‘conditional’ release of the SALNs to the media.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President will comply with the decision of the Ombudsman, which has the authority over SALN releases.

The said compliance to the Ombudsman, she said, will not only extend to the President, but also other officials of the Executive branch.

‘Whatever is appropriate, whatever the law says, and whatever is best for fighting corruption, everyone in the executive department will obey,’ said in Filipino in a press briefing last Monday.

Remulla also said he would ask the Senate and the House of Representatives to also provide the Ombudsman copies of the SALNs of their members to be included in its files.

Remulla said copies of SALNs will be made available to requesting parties provided that they would sign an undertaking to prevent it from being weaponized.

‘As far as the rules of the SALNs are concerned, we will come up with it by tomorrow. By tomorrow you will get a handle on these rules and we will really make it available, that’s the best and we will start from the President down,’ Remulla said.

‘Our only request is for requesting parties to have an undertaking so all will be responsible from the information we get,’ the Ombudsman said.

During the term of his predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, public’s access to SALNs of elected officials was restricted through his Memorandum Circular No. 1.

Under the memo, SALNs were only to be released if the request was made by the government official concerned, or his or her representative; if it was legally ordered by the court in relation to a pending case; and if it was made through the Office of the Ombudsman’s field investigation office for the purpose of a fact-finding probe.

Earlier, former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Remulla should allow the public to have access to government officials’ SALN.

He suggested that private information like residence, the name of children and other details that do not pertain to assets or liabilities be redacted.

Carpio said this move would restore the public’s trust in government in light of various anomalies involving flood control projects.

Remulla, the former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, said he may allow the release of the SALNs to media entities, which conduct investigative reports and enter into data sharing arrangements with the Office of the Ombudsman.

When asked if a new DOJ chief was already appointed, Castro said she still has no information on the matter.

Currently, DOJ Undersecretary Frederick A. Vida was designated as the officer-in-charge of the agency.

She assured the President will pick a person of integrity, who is reliable, impartial and fair as his new DOJ chief.

Rice arrivals through September declined slightly to 3.26 million metric tons (MMT) despite the temporary ban slapped on shipments of the staple grain.

Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice imports slid by 0.94 percent in the January to September period from the 3.3 MMT recorded last year.

President Marcos had earlier issued an Executive Order (EO) suspending the imports of regular and well-milled rice from September 1 to October 30, 2025.

However, BPI data indicated that 330,826.10 metric tons (MT) of rice shipments entered the country in September.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa earlier clarified that imports of the staple grain could still arrive in the country until September 15, provided that these left their respective countries of origin by the end of August.

‘Shipments that left the country beyond August 31 wouldn’t be allowed entry and therefore returned to the country of origin.’ De Mesa said.

Under the EO, the BPI would no longer issue sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) starting September 1.

Specialty rice varieties, such as Japonica, glutinous, and basmati rice, are exempt from the ban, according to agriculture officials.

The import freeze was imposed to prop up farmgate prices of palay, with industry sources citing the unabated entry of cheaper rice shipments as the reason behind the slump in prices of unmilled rice to as low as P8 per kilo.

Meanwhile, BPI data showed that as of October 9, 2.65 MMT of rice arrivals came from Vietnam, which maintains its spot as the country’s top supplier. Myanmar followed at 343,910.33 MT.

The Philippines also purchased rice stocks from other countries, such as Thailand (176,270.26 MT), Pakistan (76,394.02 MT), and India (20,170.22 MT).

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel announced that the government will extend the import ban until the end of 2025.

He said this move aims to protect shield farmers from further losses, as farmgate prices of paddy rice remain under pressure due to oversupply and poor grain quality from successive rains.

Tiu Laurel also revealed that Marcos is considering restoring the 35 percent rice tariff, which was slashed to 15 percent in July 2024 to bring down retail prices.

According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the tariff cut resulted in an estimated P20 billion in foregone revenues over 12 months.

‘If the tariff hike is approved, well and good,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘But if not, our fallback plan-already supported by the President-is to allow importation only in January, and suspend it again from February to April to protect the next harvest.’

MALACAÑANG said President Ferdinand Marcos is open to imposing shorter prison sentences to government officials, who will return all or some of their kickbacks from flood control and other public works projects.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement, saying that the said measure was proposed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson to boost the chances of the administration from collecting government funds, which were lost from kickbacks.

‘But for now, the President and the administration are open to all good suggestions so that we can recover the allegedly stolen public funds and hold those who should be held accountable,’ she said in Filipino in a press briefing on Monday.

She said the President has the power to grant clemency and pardon to those who are qualified.

Under the Constitution, the President may grant reprieves, commutations, pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, to those convicted by final judgement except those who were impeached.

The Chief Eexecutive may also grant amnesty with the concurrence of the majority of the members of Congress.

Lacson said his proposed ‘retribution and restitution’ formula, which will be implemented through plea bargaining with the accused officials, will help the government to recover at least 80 percent of the said kickbacks.

Expanded investigations

SINCE Marcos announced the government will crack down on anomalous flood control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), concerned government agencies as well as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, initiated investigations on problematic public works.

Several lawmakers as well as government officials and personnel were linked to said irregularities and are now facing charges.

Castro said Marcos backed the said probes as long as it will lead to airtight cases against the accused.

‘The directive [from the President] still continues that a thorough investigation must be conducted and there must be a lot of evidence to be presented so that it will not be wasted if a case is filed [against the accused],’ she added.

UNFAZED by possible threats from supporters of the Dutertes, President Ferdinand Marcos led the distribution of almost P300 million financial aid in localities devastated by ‘doublet earthquake’ in Caraga and Davao Oriental last week.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assured the Executive branch of the government that it still has a sufficient budget to replenish the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of concerned government agencies, which is used for their disaster response, for now.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the chief executive is confident he will face no security risk from Davaoeños since he was bringing them disaster relief.

‘Our President will not be afraid to go to any region of our country because he is the President and he will help all our countrymen in need,’ she said.

Marcos is currently at odds with the Dutertes after the government turned over former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in March.

The former chief executive is currently detained at the Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the deaths of at least 6,000 suspects from the Duterte administration’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes.

In a recent statement, Congressman Paolo ‘Pulong’ Z. Duterte, the son of the former President, said he will make those responsible for the arrest of his father ‘pay for their crimes.’

Castro decried the threat, which she said has no place in a ‘civilized society,’ which is governed by the rule of law.

Financial support

On Monday, Marcos went to the municipalities of Manay and Tarragona in Davao Oriental, where he announced the allocation of P298 million in financial aid from the Office of the President to the quake-hit areas.

‘It’s up to the LGU [local government units] how they will use it,’ President Marcos said during the situation briefing he presided over outside the Tarragona Municipal Hall in Davao Oriental.

Davao Oriental and Caraga were rocked by separate earthquakes with magnitudes 7.4 and 6.8 on 10 October 2025.

In its latest report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the earthquakes killed at least 8 people and injured 403 others. Both natural disasters have affected 520,185 people and damaged 2,102 houses and 548 infrastructures as of 6 am of 13 October 2025.

The Office of the President (OP) has allocated financial assistance to the following affected LGUs: P50 million to Davao Oriental; P15 million each to the municipalities of Manay, Banaybanay and Lupon; P10 million each to Mati City and the municipalities of Tarragona, Baganga, Boston, and Cateel; P5 million each to the municipalities of Caraga and San Isidro; and P3 million to the municipality of Governor Generoso.

For the Caraga region, the government distributed cash aid to the following areas: P20 million to Agusan del Sur province; P15 million to the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands, and Davao City.

DBM also released the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) of the quake-affected provinces.

Sufficient fund

Castro said DBM also clarified that it has a contingent fund, which it can tap to replenish the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund this year.

‘We spoke directly with the DBM leadership and according to DBM, even if the NDRRM funds are depleted, we still have 12.005 billion [pesos] in the contingent fund; and even if the contingent fund is depleted because of the calamities happening one after another in our country, we can expect that if there is excess revenue, we will get it from unprogrammed appropriations from SAGIP (Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs),’ Castro explained.

During a hearing in the House of Representatives last week, DBM explained that SAGIP, which was used to finance infrastructure projects, will no longer be used for such public works upon the proposal of lawmakers.

Infrastructure projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways, particularly flood control projects, are currently facing investigation from Congress and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) due to possible irregularities.

Last week, Marcos said he will ask Congress for assistance in replenishing the Quick Response Funds (QRF) of concerned government agencies, which he said is now nearing depletion due to the series of typhoons and earthquakes, which hit the country in previous weeks.

‘So far, we have not heard anything about the President’s talks with Congress. I have not been given an update on that,’ Castro said.

Under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the government has allocated P7.73 billion for the QRF, which is included in the NDRRM Fund or also known as Calamity Fund.

THE House Committee on Ethics and Privileges has created a reconciliation subcommittee that will mediate all cases filed before it, but House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno made it clear on Monday that reconciliation is not an option in the ethics complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga.

In an interview, Puno said the complaint he and 28 other members of the National Unity Party (NUP) filed against Barzaga was not a personal grievance but a matter that strikes at the integrity of the House of Representatives as an institution.

‘We filed this complaint because we want standards of behavior to be established in Congress,’ he said. ‘Is it acceptable to post obscene photos on our website? To insult women? To tell young people to become congressmen to get rich? If that’s considered acceptable, then the Ethics committee should say so. But I believe such behavior must be prohibited.’

Puno added that Barzaga’s conduct has caused ‘significant damage’ to the image of the House and that members of Congress should be held to higher ethical standards, particularly during plenary sessions.

Barzaga, for his part, welcomed the opportunity for a hearing before the Ethics panel, saying it would allow both sides to express their views.

He acknowledged the possible outcomes of the case-including suspension, removal, or even imprisonment-but maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

Puno, however, insisted that Barzaga’s statements and behavior reflected lower standards than the average person, adding that the Ethics Committee must take decisive action to set a clear precedent for acceptable conduct among legislators.

The Ethics committee, which held a closed-door hearing on Monday morning, is expected to deliberate on whether the case will proceed to formal hearings following the creation of its new reconciliation subcommittee.