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BIR releases P23.6 billion in tax refunds

Tax refunds to taxpayers and businesses almost doubled to P23.67 billion from January to September, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

The amount recorded during the nine-month period was 90.6 percent higher than the P12.42 billion in tax refunds released in the same period last year.

‘These are lawful refunds due to our taxpayers. Once a refund has been properly evaluated and approved for release, we see no reason to unnecessarily delay it,’ BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said in a statement.

Mendoza said the agency seeks to return the money to businesses so they could use it for operating expenses, preserve cash flow and keep their operations moving, particularly amid the ongoing energy crisis.

The tax agency said the faster processing of refunds is part of efforts to streamline transactions for businesses, in line with President Marcos Jr.’s directive and Finance Secretary Frederick Go’s push to make government transactions easier, faster and less costly for businesses.

‘Tax administration is not only about collecting what is properly due to the government. We must also return what is properly due to the taxpayer once the claim has been evaluated and approved,’ Mendoza said.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the BIR collected P2.24 trillion from January to August, up by 4.6 percent from P2.14 trillion a year earlier.

Ramos rises to the occasion, sets up fierce duel vs Rook for ADT crown

Sean Ramos kept bucking the odds and put himself within one round of a career-defining breakthrough, matching Sam Rook’s 66 to remain joint leader after three rounds of the Egypt Golf Series 13 at the Madinaty Golf Club in Egypt on Friday (Saturday Manila time).

Ramos and Rook stayed locked at 13-under 197, setting up a mouthwatering final-round duel for the Asian Development Tour title. The pair head into the decisive round with a two-stroke cushion over Korea’s Minhyeok Yang and Nathan Han of the United States, who carded 64 and 67, respectively, to move to 11-under 199.

For Ramos, however, the stakes are even higher.

The Filipino is chasing his first victory outside the Philippines, having already shown that he has the game to win when he captured his career breakthrough at Lakewood in 2024. Now, with just 18 holes separating him from an overseas title, Ramos has another chance to take the next significant step in his young career.

And he showed plenty of composure Friday as the lead changed hands several times.

Ramos seized the initiative early after Rook opened with a bogey on No. 1. The Filipino settled into his rhythm and reached the turn with four birdies against a lone bogey, while Rook responded with three birdies to keep the pressure on.

The Englishman eventually wrested control with a birdie on No. 10, and Ramos surrendered another shot with a miscue on the 11th. But rather than allow the momentum to slip away, Ramos stayed within striking distance and waited for his opportunity.

That opening came late.

Rook failed to get up-and-down from the par-3 No. 14, allowing Ramos, who trains under respected swing coach Bong Lopez, to claw his way back into contention. The Filipino then produced a crucial birdie on the 16th to move one stroke ahead at 12-under, only for Rook to answer immediately with a birdie of his own on the 17th.

The two leaders refused to blink.

Both birdied the par-4 18th, finishing the day exactly where they had started it – side by side at the top of the leaderboard and two shots clear of the chasing pair.

The closing stretch provided a fitting preview of what could be an intense final round.

With Yang and Han lurking just two strokes behind, Ramos and Rook will have little room for error. But Ramos has already demonstrated the resilience needed to stay in the fight, repeatedly answering Rook’s surges and maintaining his position through a day of shifting momentum.

For Ramos, who has posted several strong finishes on the Asian Tour and the ADT, the opportunity is tantalizing: 18 more holes stand between him and his first international triumph.

After breaking through at home in 2024, he now has a chance to prove himself on foreign soil – and he will begin the final round sharing the lead with a formidable challenger, with two more players close enough to pounce should either leader falter.

The stage is set for a tense finish in Egypt, with Ramos chasing not only the title but another important milestone in his rise as a professional.

Brotherhood, Lightsout set up final clash

Team Brotherhood and the Lightsout squad knocked out their rivals in convincing fashion to arrange a title showdown in the D’Generals Basketball Club Season 4:Camaraderie Cup at the Aulga Citi Sports in Barangay Lawaan II, Talisay City.

Ronan Briones fired 24 points laced with seven rebounds and five assists as the Brotherhood blasted the Gunners, 86-67, to advance to the championship.

Kent Lim added 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for Brotherhood, which will take on the Lightsout in the sudden-death final match this Sunday, September 27.

Lightsout moved a win away from the coveted crown after finishing off the Venom Vipers via a 90-49 demolition.

Bal Zaspa showed the way for Lightsout with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

He was backed up by Gene Bayonita with 17 points, three rebounds, and five assists.

Nigeria calls for equity in global pandemic preparedness

Nigeria has called for greater equity in global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, urging the international community to ensure fair access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as sustainable financing for developing countries.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

Salako said Nigeria welcomed the adoption of the political declaration from the meeting, describing it as an opportunity to renew global commitment to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

He said Nigeria’s position was that effective preparedness must be built around strong public health systems capable of preventing, detecting and controlling infectious threats before they escalate into emergencies.

‘Our national position is clear: preparedness is strongest when it is built on systems that prevent, detect and control infectious threats every day,’ he said.

‘Prevention is preparedness, and the strength of everyday public health systems determines how effectively nations detect threats early, respond rapidly, and maintain essential services during crises.’

According to him, Nigeria has, over the past decade, strengthened its legal and institutional framework for health security through expanded nationwide digital surveillance, institutionalisation of the 7-1-7 approach, enhanced genomic sequencing capacity and improved multi-hazard preparedness.

He said the country’s public health laboratory network now covers all 36 states, while Public Health Emergency Operations Centres were supporting coordinated responses to outbreaks, including Lassa fever, cholera, diphtheria and meningitis.

Salako said Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation score for health security had also improved from 39 per cent in 2017 to 54 per cent in 2023.

He added that the country was advancing implementation of the One Health approach, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) governance and infection prevention and control programmes across the states, while strengthening the emergency workforce at national and sub-national levels.

The Minister said the World Bank’s $250 million Health Security Programme was also supporting the development of health security capacities at federal and state levels under the One Health framework.

Looking ahead, Salako said Nigeria had identified five national priorities for strengthening pandemic preparedness.

They include strengthening national ownership, governance and legal preparedness; putting prevention at the centre of preparedness; building integrated, resilient and One Health systems; advancing equitable access, financing and African manufacturing; and deepening regional and global solidarity and accountability.

He urged the international community to place equity at the centre of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

‘Pathogen access must be matched by fair, timely and predictable benefit sharing, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics,’ he said.

‘Financing must be sustainable and rapidly accessible, especially for low and middle-income countries. Global resilience must be built on technology transfer and strengthened domestic manufacturing capacity, especially for Africa.’

Salako also called for a broader pandemic preparedness and response agenda that incorporates tuberculosis, malaria and HIV, alongside emerging infectious disease threats.

He said Nigeria considered antimicrobial resistance a critical component of global pandemic preparedness, describing AMR as both a current public health threat and a multiplier of pandemic risks.

The Minister announced that Nigeria would host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in December, marking the first time the conference would be held in Africa.

He said the meeting would provide an opportunity to accelerate measurable One Health action and advance the priorities of low- and middle-income countries.

Salako further stressed the importance of communities in pandemic preparedness, saying public trust and community engagement could not be developed only after an emergency had begun.

‘Communities are partners in preparedness. Trust cannot be built after an emergency begins,’ he said.

He called for sustained risk communication and community engagement, social listening, community hygiene and infodemic management between emergencies.

Salako reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening national and regional capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats, while advocating a global health security architecture that is equitable, sustainable and accountable.

‘National ownership and global solidarity must advance together,’ he said.

Cholera outbreak claims two at Kano custodial centre

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that the cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State has been contained.

The Service, however, said two inmates died from the outbreak, with one death recorded at the custodial centre and the other at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital.

The NCoS Public Relations Officer, Jane Osuji, said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigation on September 23 by the Service’s medical team and Kano State public health authorities.

She said the incident was first detected on September 17 when an inmate presented with vomiting and diarrhoea and was immediately admitted and treated at the centre’s medical facility.

According to her, the medical team activated emergency protocols the following morning while intensifying treatment, monitoring and other interventions.

Osuji said the measures brought the outbreak under control, adding that no further deaths had been recorded since the diagnosis.

She said the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, directed that all necessary measures be sustained to protect the health and welfare of inmates and personnel.

The NCoS spokesperson expressed regret over the deaths and said the Controller-General had extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

She said the Service had introduced additional preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano State Government to prevent future occurrences.

‘The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to reassure the public that healthcare services remain available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel, while continuous disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical response are being strengthened in collaboration with relevant public health authorities,’ Osuji said.

She added that Nwakuche had directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring.

The Controller-General, according to Osuji, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to treating persons in custody humanely and protecting their health, dignity and welfare in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and established correctional standards.

FPH to continue repurchasing shares

First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) will continue repurchasing its shares as the management believes the company remains significantly undervalued.

Francis Giles Puno, president and chief operating officer of FPH, said the Lopez-led conglomerate had bought back 185 million shares since launching the program in 2010.

This represented 31 percent of its outstanding shares before the repurchases began. FPH has paid a total of P13.1 billion to shareholders under the program.

‘Given the undervaluation of FPH shares, we believe that the best way forward is to continue the buyback program,’ Puno said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting on Friday.

In 2025 alone, FPH spent P3.4 billion under its share buyback program.

Puno said the program benefits shareholders who retain their investments because they gain a larger ownership stake as the number of outstanding shares declines.

Meanwhile, investors who want to exit are provided with a ready buyer and an opportunity to sell their holdings at the prevailing market price.

Puno added that the program also allows FPH to distribute cash to shareholders.

FPH management did not announce a new buyback budget or timetable.

The company plans to continue the program while funding the expansion of its power, property, manufacturing and other businesses.

FPH posted a record consolidated net income of P31.7 billion in 2025, up 28 percent, as revenues reached P84.7 billion.

Net income attributable to FPH climbed 38 percent to P19.8 billion, partly due to a gain from First Gen Corp.’s sale of a 60-percent interest in its natural gas business.

Attributable recurring net income rose 10 percent to P15.1 billion, led by its power and property businesses.

Growth continued this year. Consolidated net income increased by 22 percent to P20.2 billion in the seven months through July. Attributable net income grew 7 percent to P11 billion.

FPH chair Federico ‘Piki’ Lopez said the group would continue taking a long-term approach to its investments.

Don Asks FG To Invest In Reliable Database

A Professor of Information Management, Prof. Mustapha Momoh, has called on the federal government and organisation leaders to invest robustly in the creation of reliable database for the country.

He also stressed that developments in digital technologies should be incorporated into education, adding that organisation’s managers should engage in continuous updates of their information.

The university don stated this at the headquarters of National Open Union of Nigeria (NOUN) when delivering 43rd inaugural lecture of the university titled: ‘Managing Information Sources, Utilisation and the Need to know’.

Weekend Trust reports Nigeria has made different efforts including mandatory National Identity Number (NIN) to capture all Nigerians on its database but such efforts have yielded little or no success. Prof. Momoh said it is imperative to understand that having a well-established information system does not automatically guarantee effective information management.

He said, ‘Organisations may have sophisticated software and still make poor decisions if management lacks goodwill and employees lack the requisite skills, motivation or a good organizations culture for effective information utilisation.

‘Government or organisation leaders should endeavour to invest in reliable networks, databases, digital repositories and information systems to facilitate sound platforms for information utilisation and good information governance in the country.’

He lamented that it is discouraging to have data captured, prepared and processed by whatever means, incur costs and in the end, the information does not produce value.

Imo govt blames opposition parties for suspension of LG poll

Imo State Government has blamed some opposition political parties for the suspension of the local government election scheduled to hold in the state on Saturday, September 26.

The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, said this in a statement issued on Saturday, explaining that some political parties had approached the court to stop the election.

According to him, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) specifically instituted legal actions against the State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), seeking to halt the conduct of the poll on various grounds.

Emelumba said the substantive suits had been adjourned until October 30 for hearing, adding that it would have been irresponsible for the state government to proceed with the election while the legal challenges remained pending before the court.

He said, ‘No law-abiding government will proceed with such an election when two political parties are in court against its conduct.’

The commissioner said the state government was looking forward to a speedy resolution of the court proceedings to enable it to fix a new date for the local government election.

He added that the government remained committed to conducting the election once the legal impediments were resolved.

Miners Shot Dead In Plateau

At least 5 miners have been gunned down and two others left with injuries after gunmen attacked them at a site in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Saturday.

This attack happened amid high tension in some parts of the state.

Spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying it happened around 1pm.

He said, ‘Five persons were killed while two others sustained injuries in the attack. It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence. ‘We condemn this attack and call on the security agencies to urgently take steps to protect our communities and prevent further attacks.’

Also confirming the incident, a member of the community, Simon Mundat, said the loss of lives was devastating.

Mundat said, ‘We are deeply saddened by this attack. Five people have been killed and two others injured.

‘This is a very painful situation for the community. We appeal to the authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear.’

Spokespersons of the Operation Enduring Peace and State Police Command, Captain Polycarp Oteh, and SP Alabo Alfred, did not respond to inquiries from our correspondent as of press time.

Daily Trust reports that state government had on Monday imposed dusk to down curfew in three LGAs, including Barikin Ladi, to restore law and order following attacks and killings.

State government in a statement by commissioner for Information and communication, Joyce Ramnap on Friday condemned the incessant attacks and in the affected communities. She called on residents to remain calm and law abiding.

Meanwhile, security operatives, in collaboration with local hunters, have repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on Latok community in Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A member of the community, Mr Danat Noel, told our correspondent that security operatives, supported by local hunters, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw in disarray

Kenyan President Ruto tours Dangote refinery

Ahead of the expected groundbreaking of Kenya’s proposed East Africa Refinery in Lamu, President William Ruto has visited Lagos for a tour of billionaire Aliko Dangote’s mega oil refinery.

ýRuto arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport yesterday and was received by Dangote and other senior Nigerian officials.

ýRuto’s visit together with First Lady Rachel Ruto and senior government officials of East Africa Refinery came five days before the planned groundbreaking ceremony on September 30.

ýThe planned Lamu facility, with a projected capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is expected to become a major component of Kenya’s strategy to expand refining capacity and strengthen petroleum supply in the region.

ýThe Lagos visit came after Ruto met Dangote and Africa Finance Corporation chief executive Samaila Zubairu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York earlier in the week.

ýThe discussions focused on financing and final preparations for the Lamu project.

ý’We are ready to break ground on the East Africa refinery in Lamu, a transformative project that will enhance the region’s energy security, deepen local value addition, create jobs and advance our industrialization agenda,’ Ruto said after the New York meeting.

ýThe proposed refinery is expected to process crude from Kenya’s oilfields in Lokichar, Turkana County, and supply refined petroleum products to markets in East and Central Africa.

ýThe project is being developed with Dangote’s involvement and support from the Africa Finance Corporation.

Current reports have placed its investment value at between $15 billion and $17 billion, equivalent to roughly Sh2 trillion at prevailing exchange rates.

ýThe September 30 groundbreaking is expected to bring together regional leaders and other key stakeholders, with preparations already under way in Lamu.

ýThe Lagos refinery tour gives Ruto an opportunity to inspect Dangote’s existing refining operation before the Kenyan project moves into its construction phase.

ýUpon arrival at the refinery, Ruto was taken on a guided tour of the sprawling facility by Dangote and other senior company officials.

ýThe tour covered key sections of the refinery and the adjoining petrochemicals complex, giving the President an overview of the plant’s operations, processing capacity and infrastructure.