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THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) temporarily suspended the bond requirement for petroleum importers and producers, as the rule undergoes review for possible repeal by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

In a revenue regulation signed by Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., importers and manufacturers of petroleum products subject to excise tax will not be required to post a bond.

The suspension will remain in effect while the ARTA reviews and provides recommendation on whether the bond requirement will be retained, amended or repealed. The review will determine whether the rule still provides value or if it only imposes undue burden on businesses.

It will also act as a ‘pilot implementation’ to assess the regulatory impact of removing the bond requirement.

To guard against potential abuses, importers must submit a monthly report to BIR and Bureau of Customs with details of imports, such as quantities, values and tax payments.

Importers must also still secure an ‘Authority to Release Imported Goods’ (Atrig) from BIR via the National Single Window system before the products are released. They must also be registered with the BIR and BOC and must have a record of good compliance with tax and customs rules.

‘Non-compliance with the foregoing conditions shall be subject to appropriate penalties under existing laws and regulations,’ the revenue regulation read.

Under Section 160 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, importers and manufacturers of excisable goods must post a bond, based on how much excise taxes they paid in the previous year, every year after their initial operation.

However, the BIR said representatives from the petroleum industry and other stakeholders argue that posting bonds is no longer relevant or necessary since oil companies are required to pay the excise taxes upfront before their release from customs custody or withdrawal from a refinery.

The bond also adds extra cost for these companies and contradicts the government’s policy of promoting ease of doing business, the BIR noted.

Based on the law, government offices are required to undergo evaluation and improvement of their transaction systems and procedures, as well as reengineer the same if deemed necessary to reduce bureaucratic red tape and processing time.

The ARTA will coordinate with all government offices to review existing laws, executive issuances and local ordinances, and recommend the repeal of the same if deemed outdated, redundant and adding undue regulatory burden to the transacting public.

WHEN the 20th Congress opened, leaders promised a new chapter-one that would not only churn out routine legislation but also push through long-delayed reforms to make the Philippine economy more competitive.

From tight foreign ownership restrictions to steep consumer taxes, strict bank secrecy rules, and sky-high electricity rates-these outdated policies, lawmakers argue, are holding back growth and keeping the country less competitive than its ASEAN peers.

Now, with a ticking clock before the Marcos administration ends in 2028, House leaders are framing economic reforms as the chamber’s potential legacy. The goal: a more competitive, resilient, and investor-friendly economy.

Opening the economy

At the heart of the reform agenda is Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), which seeks to relax the 1987 Constitution’s foreign ownership restrictions.

Former House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairperson Alfredo Garbin Jr. of Ako Bicol calls it a ‘constitutional refinement, not a rewrite,’ meant to give Congress flexibility to adjust equity limits without reopening the charter each time.

The resolution introduces the phrase ‘Unless Otherwise Provided by Law’ into several sections, allowing Congress to adjust foreign equity limits in natural resources, land, utilities, education, and even media and advertising.

For Garbin, the amendments would give the Philippines the flexibility that many ASEAN economies already enjoy. ‘We need reforms that work within the system, not around it,’ he stressed.

Still, doubts persist. Civil society groups fear that economic amendments may lead to political changes later on. Past ‘Cha-cha’ attempts collapsed amid public suspicion that lawmakers sought to extend their terms, not just open markets.

Transparency in finance

DECADES-OLD Philippine banking secrecy laws, among the strictest in the world, have become a shield for corruption. House Bill 7 would give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) access to deposits under probable cause, aligned with global anti-money laundering standards.

‘This bill seeks to allow greater transparency and accountability in the banking and financial sectors,’ said Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

‘It promotes openness and strengthens anti-corruption mechanisms, ensuring that banks are not misused to hide public money or the proceeds of crime,’ he said.

Reforming the law, he added, would also bring the Philippines closer to international standards-making the financial system safer and more attractive for both investors and citizens.

The bill empowers the Bangko Sentral to access deposits upon probable cause, sharing data only with agencies such as the Anti-Money Laundering Council, with penalties for unauthorized disclosures. As of October 2025, HB 7 is listed among the priority bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

By dismantling secrecy barriers, the bill could recover billions from cases like the pork barrel scam and flood control fund anomalies, boosting revenues and aligning with Thailand’s open financial systems that draw $15 billion FDI yearly versus the Philippines’ $9 billion. Enhanced market integrity could add 0.5 percent to GDP, though robust safeguards are critical to protect privacy.

But privacy advocates warn that without clear safeguards, depositor confidence may erode. For a reform pending for decades, the balance between transparency and rights will be critical to its acceptance.

Protecting farmers, stabilizing rice prices

The Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203), passed in 2019, was meant to liberalize rice trade and lower prices. Instead, farmers have complained of low farm-gate prices, even as retail prices remain high.

Reforms to the Rice Tariffication Law through House Bill 48 were filed in the House to restore a calibrated stabilization role for the National Food Authority and ring-fence tariff revenues for direct farmer support. Economic managers and agriculture champions in the chamber have debated modalities-ranging from strategic buffer stocking to tighter import timing rules-to address the farm-gate versus retail price disconnect highlighted by lawmakers.

For Albay Rep. Adrian Salceda, fixing the Rice Tariffication Law is urgent. What was supposed to liberalize the rice trade has instead left farmers struggling, he said.

‘Palay prices have collapsed, yet retail rice prices remain controlled by cartels,’ Salceda warned. His proposed amendments would restore powers to the National Food Authority (NFA), enabling it to use tariff revenues for direct farmer support and market stabilization.

Without these corrections, he argues, the Philippines risks weakening its own agriculture sector and deepening dependence on imports.

The bill could stabilize prices at P20-25 per kilo, benefiting 4 million farmers and reducing imports by 20 percent. Consumers could see lower inflation by 0.5 percent through buffered supplies, enhancing competitiveness in a region where agriculture drives 10-15 percent of GDP.

Tax justice and consumer relief

With inflation straining households, lawmakers are considering cutting the value-added tax (VAT) from 12 percent to 10 percent, alongside exemptions for utilities and fuel. Proponents observe this could give families up to ?7,000 more disposable income per year.

‘The VAT is regressive, hitting the poor and middle class the hardest,’ Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste said in filing House Bill 4302. ‘Lowering it makes our tax system more progressive.’

The House Committee on Ways and Means has called on the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to look into the proposal to lower the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 12 percent to 10 percent, while a lawmaker pushed for the inclusion of a ‘wealth tax’ as an offset measure.

Leviste estimated that lowering the VAT by 2 percent would result in an average of P7,000 of additional disposable income per Filipino family per year.

The bill seeks to amend RA 9337 or the Reformed VAT (R-VAT), which was passed by Congress on May 24, 2005.

Other lawmakers, like Reps. Renee Co and Antonio Tinio want to roll back VAT on fuel, power, water, and tolls-taxes imposed under the TRAIN law of 2018 through House Bill 215.

‘The present VAT law, which corners poor end-users, cannot be said to be fair, just, equitable and progressive,’ they argued.

It exempts petroleum and utilities, caps food VAT at 5 percent, and phases out cuts over two years. As of October 2025, it remains in committee, overshadowed by VAT debates but aligned with inflation concerns.

Fiscal managers warn, however, that tax relief without new revenue sources, such as a wealth tax, risks widening the deficit.

The power puzzle

ELECTRICITY rates remain among the highest in Asia. Critics like Rep. Presley De Jesus say reforms to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) are needed to end ‘sweetheart deals’ and cross-ownership that keep power prices inflated.

‘As long as [this] practice remains, truly competitive electricity rates will continue to elude consumers,’ De Jesus stressed.

For him, revisiting EPIRA is not just about lowering bills for households-it’s about making the Philippines more attractive to businesses and industries that drive jobs and growth.

Rate cuts of 10 to 15 percent could save P50 billion yearly, averting shortages for 10 million consumers. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) projects enhanced competitiveness, but renewable integration is vital for sustainability.

Industry groups counter that the focus should be on accelerating renewable energy and improving transmission lines, not rewriting EPIRA.

For lawmakers, the test is clear: deliver these reforms before 2028 and be remembered as the Congress that modernized the economy. Fail, and the 20th Congress risks being seen as yet another chapter of ambitious promises cut short by political realities.

One thing is certain: the clock is ticking, and the legacy of this Congress will be measured not by the bills it files, but by the boldness-and success-of the reforms it enacts.

Support for MSMEs

IN a bid to bolster the backbone of the Philippine economy, Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. have introduced House Bill 1490, aiming to amend Republic Act No. 6977, known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

This legislative initiative seeks to enhance the support mechanisms for MSMEs, which constitute 99.63 percent of the country’s business establishments, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The bill seeks to amend RA 9501 of 2008.

House Bill 1490 contains several key provisions designed to strengthen support for MSMEs in the Philippines. One of its main measures is the extension of mandatory lending provisions to MSMEs for another 10 years without further extension, ensuring that these enterprises continue to have sustained access to vital financial resources.

The bill also seeks to increase the capitalization of the Small Business (SB) Corporation and bolster its guarantee program, thereby enhancing the financial support available to MSMEs.

Additionally, it introduces preventive measures through the creation of an enterprise rehabilitation fund, which aims to assist businesses affected by disasters and other crises, promoting resilience, and long-term sustainability within the sector.

Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez emphasized the significance of this bill, stating, ‘This proposed legislation is expected to significantly impact the MSME sector, aligning with the economic and societal priorities of the administration.’ He further noted that the amendments address the critical need for improved access to financing and support for MSMEs.

The introduction of House Bill 1490 marks a proactive step towards empowering MSMEs, ensuring their continued growth and contribution to the nation’s economic development.

An art gallery in almost every major commercial space, art fairs drawing long queues, auction hammers pounding left and right. Such were nothing more than a utopian vision for only a handful of stakeholders just twenty years ago, yet, these are realities in today’s thriving Philippine visual art scene.

Jack Teotico, founder and managing director of the Galerie Joaquin Group, had a front-seat view of the remarkable evolution over these past two decades. He established his first art space in San Juan in 2002 following 25 years of government service. It was more or less during that time, he said, that things first shifted for the art industry, as more galleries began to pop up and the market’s preference started to change.

‘I think our entry into the art industry was quite timely,’ Teotico said. Up to that point, collectors mostly favored works of masters such as the Thirteen Moderns, or the venerable group of Filipino modernists led by Victorio C. Edades and comprised of several National Artists like H.R. Ocampo and Vicente Manansala. ‘Then, contemporary art started shaking the world. The market wanted not just a modernist’s take on reality, but a contemporary artist who had his own concept, own vision, and many of those were quite different.’

Galerie Joaquin happened to enter the art scene equipped with what the shifting market wanted. As a result, they achieved their original objective of educating people on what good art is, while becoming one of the country’s premier networks of art spaces. Today, the Galerie Joaquin Group has several art spaces and sister galleries in key locations across the country. They were also the first Filipino gallery to set up shop in Singapore, and was one of the first to have worked with international auction houses Sotheby’s, Borobudur, Masterpiece and Larasati.

Educating the market also helped welcome a new generation of collectors. During this year’s Modern and Contemporary Art Fair (MoCAF), for instance, Teotico, also the founder, noted that ‘maybe 80%’ of the collectors were either millennials or Gen Z.

Susanne Tiausas, owner and managing director of Art Lounge Manila, noticed the same trends. Like Teotico, she opened her gallery during the time of the shift, when there was only a small collection of art spaces. Back then, the more established names were Galleria Duemila in Pasay, Finale Art File in Makati, and West Gallery in Quezon City. There was none yet in the metro south, which was why Tiasuas decided to open her first art space in Festival Mall in Alabang.

Putting up a gallery in a mall was part of the plan as well to ‘make art more available to the general public.’ While not everyone had the resources to buy, at least they let people experience the artworks in the flesh.

‘Art is visual; it has to be seen,’ said Tiasuas, who now leads multiple galleries across the metro. ‘We wanted to tell people that artists are here, that we have this type of art. Then, hopefully, when they see the works, they experience something.’

Everyone wins

Whether it was the maturation of the market that came first or the proliferation of art spaces and artistic talents can be classified as a classic case of the chicken or the egg paradox, according to Amy Loste, owner of Gallery Nine.

Regardless of what triggered what, she noted that at the end of the day, the result is a clear win for the entire industry. ‘More artists turn into more awareness turns into more people collecting, and so on. I think it’s a good synergistic cycle of inspiration going on.’

Loste also serves as the co-founder of ManilART, touted as the longest-running visual arts fair in the Philippines, launched in 2009. During that time, there was little to no movement in terms of collective action between the local art galleries. But through the annual event, the community had the opportunity to work and grow together, all for the shared cause of pushing the industry forward. At the same time, it led to the creation of more art fairs, including regional showcases across the country.

‘I’d like to think that, somehow, we fulfilled our mission, vision, and mandate to stimulate the Philippine visual arts scene,’ Loste said.

The pandemic years

Aside from the rise of galleries and art fairs that led to the democratization of art appreciation in the Philippines, the COVID-19 pandemic was another watershed moment in the local visual art scene in the past 20 years.

According to MPDI’s Global Art Market in the Aftermath of COVID-19, the worldwide industry experienced an initial contraction in 2020, followed by a robust recovery in 2021. Figures even exceeded the pre-pandemic level in 2019 to reach an estimated $65.1 billion.

The global trend extended to the local market, according to Rio Ambrosio, owner of Artes Orientes. Staring at the empty walls during lockdowns prompted people to beautify their spaces by purchasing artworks.

‘Art collecting made things a little bearable to endure the pandemic,’ he said. ‘Plus, more and more people saw the value of art as a form of investment.’

These factors also helped breed a younger generation of art collectors. With public spaces like art galleries closed, artists carried over their businesses on social media and dealt directly with the collectors. The trend also attracted new players, including Rey Castillo, an aggressive entrepreneur in his 30s.

Castillo runs a lifestyle company that distributes global brands of coffee equipment and accessories. Like any other pandemic-born collector, he sought artworks to spruce up his home. His search connected him with people who only made him fall deeper in love with the arts, to the point where he decided to set up his own gallery. Today, Castillo owns two: Rojo Galerie in Pasig City and Rouge Gallery in Cubao.

‘One of the reasons that drew me in was the opportunity to mentor young artists, much like how I enjoy guiding young talents in the coffee industry,’ he said, citing their roster of up-and-coming artists, including Drin, Kino, and Gabo Corpuz.

May colors never fade

In spite of his relatively young career in the industry, Castillo draws enough optimism to declare that the visual art scene will continue to thrive for years to come.

‘The industry will continue to evolve because everyone works to push its boundaries,’ he said. ‘In the next two decades, we might see the rise of different media like digital art, along with the use of different materials like 3D modeling.’

‘People will never lose their interest in art because it’s a reflection of what our society and our people are all about,’ adds Teotico of Galerie Joaquin Group. ‘It will always have that importance. It will always have that interest and desire from collectors to buy an interpretation of an artist of the world around them.’

‘I just hope the artists will all ride that wave of continually innovating themselves,’ Tiausas of Art Lounge Manila said. ‘There’s more to look forward to.’

Meanwhile, Ambrosio of Artes Orientes added that the staying power of art is rooted in its versatility, from being a proven investment asset to even serving as therapeutic property.

‘Art is here to stay, definitely,’ he said. ‘How robust will it become? That remains to be seen, and it all depends on everyone involved.’

A dry spell in Australia is taking the edge off of a bumper wheat harvest, trimming supplies from one of the world’s largest exporters.

Precipitation in September, a key phase for the crop’s development, was lower than normal in the southeastern states of Victoria and South Australia, according to Bureau of Meteorology data. South Australia in particular received less than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches), half the historical average.

The southeastern states account for about a quarter of Australia’s annual harvest, and both are coming out of years of severe drought. Heavy rain in winter months had raised hopes for a strong harvest, and the Department of Agriculture’s latest report in September forecast the country’s wheat harvest at its fourth largest on record. Victoria and South Australia were expected to collect about 8.2 million tons.

However, soil moisture has now worsened, and as temperatures warm up, crops could begin to struggle, said James Maxwell, agribusiness senior insights manager at Bendigo Bank. The Bureau of Meteorology is now forecasting only a minor chance of above-average rainfall in Victoria and South Australia before the end of 2025, with the majority falling in November. However, Maxwell said if the rain comes too late, it could delay the harvest rather than helping the crop.

Australia is a major wheat shipper, and while Victoria and South Australia’s wheat harvest usually caters to domestic demand, any decline in the harvest would tighten availability across the supply chain. Farmers typically begin collecting wheat around October and will finish early next year.

‘I think there will be some cuts to production estimates, if they haven’t already been made, in the next month or so,’ Maxwell said in an interview. ‘Between South Australia and Victoria, I’d say we could see easily half a million tons, up to a million, if it was really bad.’

US chicken prices

As Americans heeded a catchphrase and indeed ate more chicken during a beef spike, poultry producers raked in profits. Now, falling chicken prices may be bringing that rally to an end.

Spot chicken prices in the United States have fallen 18 percent since their summer barbecue-season peak as key production indicators suggest supply is finally catching up with booming consumer demand.

Some of the largest global meat producers including JBS NV, Tyson Foods Inc. and Cargill Inc. have leaned on poultry profits to cushion losses at their beef businesses, which have been impacted by the worst US cattle shortage in decades. A turn in chicken’s fortunes could leave the companies more exposed to the prolonged beef slump, which isn’t expected to improve significantly before 2028.

The US has seen an increase in the number of chick placements, improved egg fertility rates and seasonally strong poultry slaughtering numbers-all pointing to rising meat supply. The US Department of Agriculture has raised its 2025 broiler production estimate for four straight months.

‘We see growing signs that the cycle could be heading down as supply bottlenecks appear to be increasingly solved,’ Banco Bradesco BBI analysts Henrique Brustolin and Pedro Fontana said in a note to clients.

Meat suppliers’ shares have been under pressure, too. JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, has lost 18 percent over the past month and fallen to the lowest since July 23. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. – which is controlled by JBS – Tyson and Marfrig Global Foods SA have also seen declines.

Barclays Plc. on Thursday trimmed profit estimates for JBS, Pilgrim’s and Tyson Foods, citing potential pressure stemming from an earlier-than-expected seasonal decline in chicken prices.

Limiting the downside, chicken producers continue to benefit from low feed costs and resilient demand, as consumers look for cheaper alternatives than pricey beef.

FOR nearly a century, the country’s civil registration system has remained largely unchanged-anchored on a law written in 1930, when births were recorded on paper and death certificates were sent by mail. But in a world now defined by data and digital identity, a party-list group is leading the charge to bring this system into the modern era.

Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre have filed House Bill 5213, or the Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Act, a landmark measure designed to overhaul the nearly century-old Republic Act 3753.

The measure is more than just an administrative update-it’s a push to ensure that every Filipino, from the most remote barangay to those living abroad, is seen, counted, and protected by the State, the explanatory note to the bill said.

‘Legal identity is the first public service and the gateway to all others,’ said Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, underscoring the human side of the reform. ‘When a child’s birth is registered, we unlock a lifetime of rights-healthcare, education, protection from exploitation, and access to opportunity.’

Romualdez emphasized that modernizing the civil registration system is not simply about digital transformation-it’s about dignity.

‘No Filipino should be invisible to the State because of poverty, distance, or displacement,’ she says. ‘This bill transforms paperwork into protection and data into dignity.’

Under the proposed law, all registrations-births, deaths, and marriages-will be free of charge and processed through a fully digital, simplified system, including mobile and barangay-level registration platforms.

For Rep. Andrew Julian Romualdez, technology is key to ensuring efficiency and accuracy.

‘Good data is good governance,’ he stressed ‘By professionalizing civil registration, mandating electronic certification, and linking PSA with frontline agencies, we create a single source of truth for births, deaths, and marriages.’

He added that an improved data system will strengthen the government’s ability to respond to crises, deliver social protection, and plan development more wisely.

Acidre highlights the bill’s rights-based and inclusive approach.

‘Civil registration is both a matter of rights and governance,’ he explained. ‘Through this measure, we’re building a CRVS system that ensures no one-especially children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and those in remote or crisis-affected areas-is left unrecognized before the law.’

The bill also seeks to reorganize the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) by establishing a Civil Registration Office led by a Deputy Civil Registrar General and to roll out a Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS)-a vital step toward bringing government documentation closer to every Filipino household.

For the Tingog lawmakers, this measure is about inclusivity, modernization, and better governance rolled into one.

‘This reform brings our civil registration system into the digital age,’ Acidre says. ‘It’s a vital step toward inclusive governance, better data for planning, and ensuring that every Filipino, wherever they are, is recognized before the law.’

In essence, the proposed Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act aims to give every Filipino a name, a record, and a rightful place in the nation’s story-proving that in the age of digital governance, to be counted is to be seen, and to be seen is to matter.

THE Embassy of Spain, through its Cultural and Education Office along with Instituto Cervantes, kicks off a month-long celebration of the Spanish National Day this October.

Exhibits have been a mainstay of the embassy’s calendar of events. Not to be missed is the exhibition Mezcla: Interwoven Cultures and the Mantón de Manila in collaboration with the Ayala Museum that will run until next year..

Open to the public are two other ongoing exhibits: Four Centuries of Spanish Engineering Overseas-a permanent exposition displayed at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros; while the Ateneo Art Gallery hosts A Synergy of Ventures: The Post War Art Scene in commemoration of Fernando Zobel´s centennial birth until February 2026.

Top Spanish industrial designer Héctor Serrano will take centerstage at leading universities: De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (October 14), University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman (October 15) and University of Santo Tomás (UST, October 16). The world-renowned Spanish National Design Awardee for 2024 will lead the conference: ‘The Journey in Between’ that will let students and enthusiasts of art and design take a glimpse of his creative and design processes that have developed a career spanning 25 years. The public may also catch him at the Manila FAME on October 17 and at the closing of the Manila Design Week on October 18.

Meanwhile, Spain´s pre-eminent expert on the Philippines Lola Elizalde will hold three conferences. ‘Permeable Borders: Interactions between Population Groups in 19th century Philippines (October 14, Casa Azul in Intramuros); Modernizing an Old Empire? Controversies over the Introduction of a Reformist Policy in 19th century Philippines (October 15, Centro de Turismo Intramuros); and Leisurely Legacies: Social Histories of Recreation in the Spanish Philippines (October 16, UP Diliman).

The month would not be complete without the Spanish film festival Pelicula, Pelikula 2025 which will showcase from October 10 to 16 movies made in Spain and Latin America. Making this year´s edition extra special are short feature films created by young Filipino filmmakers-one even in Philippine creole Chabacano, which is an important manifestation of Spanish influence on local languages.

As part of the celebration of the Spanish language along with ‘Pelicula.’ 2025, Jornadas de ELE Manila’s 7th edition will take place on October 24 and 25 in UST, focusing on lesson planning, content sequencing and didactic resources. This yearly event, aimed at teachers of Spanish , is organized by Ateneo de Manila University, UP Diliman and UST, along with the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain and Instituto Cervantes.

LAST week, I shared my reflections in ‘Gratitude in Five Baskets’. As October unfolds, I find myself drawn into a new thread of gratitude-one focused on our everyday heroes as parents. Just this past month, we celebrated Teacher’s Day and Grandparents’ Day. For this column, let me begin this gratitude series by honoring a quiet but crucial group: pharmacists and health professionals who accompany us in our wellness journey.

From teachers and grandparents to health guides

WE teach our children gratitude, respect and care through celebrations like Teacher’s Day and Grandparents’ Day. In the same way, our pharmacists play a kind of silent mentorship-they advise, protect, and empower our family’s health with utmost simplicity and kindness.

The most fearful time for many of us was during Covid. Back then, my daughter Meagan and I spent a lot of time in Ormoc, Leyte, because she was training with the national fencing team in a bubble camp. I recall our multiple trips to Watsons at SM Ormoc, since it was walking distance to our favorite hotel, Pina Suites.

From choosing immunity boosters, to health equipment like thermometers, to Covid tests, I remember the pharmacists in that branch always greeted us with a smile and gave us practical and prompt recommendations. Being away from home for weeks at a time, it became a calming ritual for my 14-year-old Meagan as she explored skin products at Watsons every visit. She even made a jingle for Watson’s and kept singing it for a while. It goes, ‘What’s on your mind.Watsons,’ which she later pushed me to send to the Watsons Marketing group. They were so nice and gave her a surprise gift bag full of goodies for her effort.

Beyond medication: Prevention as parenting

AS I taught Meagan and Marcus since they were toddlers to wash their hands before and after meals, or later on when they started school to be mindful of their surroundings: that if many people are sick in their class, they should be pro-active and take their supplements with zinc or use their Betadine throat spray. I have always hoped they would carry those habits into adulthood. Those small acts were my way of parenting toward prevention. Watsons, through its parent company AS Watson, mirrors that same mission as they elevate pharmacists’ role to guide us in preventive care across life’s stages.

Just this year, Watsons Philippines entered key partnerships that will train their pharmacists in diabetes care (with Diabetes Philippines Inc.) and will offer free obesity screenings (with Novo Nordisk). These are tools for families to act earlier and ask smarter questions. When we bring our children or parents into a pharmacy, I realize that we can turn ordinary visits into conversations about wellness, not just quick purchases.

We often think of pharmacists as dispensers of pills. But many of them are our first point of contact for our whole family. For our young and silver generations in the house, we might ask for flu medicine for our child or have questions on prescriptions for our aged loved ones.

On September 25 was World Pharmacist Day. ‘On this meaningful day, we extend our deepest gratitude to over 3,000 pharmacists and nearly 10,000 health professionals at AS Watson across the globe. Their commitment goes far beyond in-store services-they also provide online consultations in most of our markets, ensuring customers receive trusted health advice anytime, anywhere. Their expertise is essential in helping our customers navigate their health journeys with confidence,’ said Peter Macnab, international commercial director of AS Watson.

In line with the global celebration of World Pharmacist’s Day, Watsons Philippines joins in the global initiative to empower its pharmacists with expanded health services, aiming to build a healthier future for Filipinos and the wider region.

Modeling help-seeking for our children

WE teach our children to ask questions in class. Let us also model humility by seeking help ourselves-whether from doctors, teachers, or pharmacists. In doing so, we show our children that health, like learning, is a shared journey. I want my children to remember not only how I cared for them, but also how I asked for support when I needed it.

As AS Watson notes, younger generations and the silver generation alike are gravitating toward proactive health. This shift encourages us parents to lean into prevention, not reaction. Every pharmacy trip becomes a lesson-supervise label reading, ask the pharmacist for precautions, and talk about the role of preventive care.

Starting a gratitude habit

FOR every parent reading this, I invite you that in your next drug store visit, stop and look the pharmacist in the eyes, and say, ‘Thank you.’ Tell your children what role that person plays in your health Because gratitude is more than an emotion-it is a practice of seeing, acknowledging, and inviting connection. Let us extend it to all who guide our families in health.

THE number of damaged houses in Bogo City and other areas in Cebu has risen to 62,531 as aftershocks of the magnitude 6.9 Offshore Northern Cebu Earthquake on September 30 continue to rock the province.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said as of 12 noon on Wednesday, a total of 9,204 aftershocks, of which 1,682 were plotted and 38 felt were recorded.

The magnitude of these aftershocks ranges between 1.0 to 5.1 on the Richter scale.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its 6:00 a.m. Situation Report issued on October 8, said of the 62,531 affected houses, 4,854 are totally destroyed while 57,677 are partially damaged.

The number of affected families has reached 179,252 or 669,794 people in 245 barangays in 16 cities and towns of Cebu.

The strong earthquake that was traced to the newly-discovered Bogo Bay Fault generated Intensity 7, the highest intensity level. It has so far displaced 6,925 persons, most of whom are now sheltered in six different evacuation centers.

The strong earthquake, a first in Northern Cebu’s history, killed 72 people and injured 559 others. It also triggered two landslides and caused a structural fire. A total of 733 infrastructure facilities were also damaged, including eight road sections and 20 bridge sections, compelling 53 cities and towns to be declared under a state of calamity.

The NDRRMC said P145 million worth of assistance has been provided to affected communities.

Clear homes atop Cebu fault

LOCAL governments in Cebu may need to rework land use plans and relocate residents after experts identified a fault line that triggered last week’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the quick response team of Philvolcs has identified the on-land extension of the fault that caused the September 30 earthquake.

Field inspections revealed fresh ground rupture features, including cracks, pressure mounds and fault scarps, in several areas of Bogo City.

‘If houses are located right on top of the fault, our recommendation is that there should be no structures built over an active fault,’ Bacolcol said in Filipino in a media forum. ‘We recommend a five-meter buffer zone on both sides of the fault.’

In addition, local authorities should incorporate the newly mapped fault into their Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and disaster preparedness strategies, he said.

‘The LGU should use the results of the field mapping in their land use planning and preparedness plans so they can integrate the location of the fault,’ he said.

The fault, referred to as the Bogo Bay Fault, was detected through field surveys conducted by Phivolcs on October 3.

The mapped segment runs through Sitio Looc in Barangay Nailon, extending across Barangay Libertad and Barangay Dakit in Bogo City, according to the Phivolcs chief.

Drone surveys and field validation showed that the visible portion of the fault spans about six kilometers on land, though the full length is projected to reach 40 to 50 kilometers, much of which lies offshore.

‘This means a larger part of the fault is under the sea, and what our team is seeing is only its extension. Field verification is still ongoing, and offshore studies will follow to complete the mapping,’ Bacolcol explained.

THE motion for reconsideration filed by Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation and Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc., which seeks to reverse the cancellation of its 2002 Supplemental Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now under final review and evaluation.

Environment Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Enforcement Norlito Eneran said Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla has received the case file of Blue Star, which includes Loyzaga’s order to cancel the contract, citing numerous violations of the contract itself.

‘Blue Star filed a motion for reconsideration on the cancellation of the 2002 supplemental agreement. It is now under final review and evaluation by the Office of the Secretary along with the other contracts,’ Eneran told the BusinessMirror, explaining why the DENR has not yet made a move to shut down or stop the operation of Masungi Georeserve, an award-winning low-impact ecopark run and managed by Masungi.

The Supplemental Agreement pertains to a contract involving the construction of 5,000 housing units on Lot 10, where the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. built its award-winning Masungi Geopark, a low-impact ecopark in Baras, Rizal. Masungi Georeserve is located within the larger Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL). It also overlaps with parts of the historic Marikina watershed reservation, created in 1904, and the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve.

At least five other agreements between Blue Star and DENR are under review by the DENR chief, who assumed the top DENR post in May this year, replacing former Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Early this week, the DENR, led by the DENR Region 4A office, padlocked three resorts within the UMRBPL for violation of environmental laws, including failure to secure the necessary permits, including the environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Masungi has been criticized by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the UMRBPL for failing to secure necessary environmental permits, including permits for the construction of its tourism facilities.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans J. Cacdac flew to Djibouti with the family of the Filipino crew of the MV Minervagracht, who died, after their ship was attacked while passing through the Gulf of Aden last month.

He made the announcement in a social media account last Wednesday after confirming the death of one of two hospitalized Filipino sailors of the Dutch-flagged cargo ship.

The DMW chief said he is accompanied by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the shipowner for the repatriation of the remains of the said sailor. He did not identify the said sailor.

‘I am with @DMWPHL Asec Jerome Pampolina and the wife and sister of our dearly departed slain seafarer,’ Cacdac said.

In line with President Ferdinand Marcos’s directive, he said they provided the family of the deceased sailor with ‘full support and assistance.’

While in Djibouti, Cacdac said he will also check on the status of the other injured Filipino MV Minervagracht sailor, who is still recovering in a hospital.

On Tuesday, he confirmed the Filipino sailor died after being critically injured when MV Minervagracht was damaged by an explosive device on 29 September 2025. The ship has a multinational crew including a Russian, a Ukrainian, Sri Lankans, and 12 Filipinos.

They were rescued by an European Union maritime mission Aspides and then transported to Djibouti.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two of the 12 Filipino seafarers were hospitalized.

Citing updates from Cacdac, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the 10 other Filipino seafarers of MV Minervagracht already arrived home last Saturday.