Category: Business Mirror

I have always thought of Metro Manila’s waterways as the veins in my own body. When my veins are clear and flowing, I am healthy, energized, alive. But when they clog-when plaque builds up and the flow stutters-my entire being suffers. The same is true for the city I call home. Our esteros and rivers are Metro Manila’s circulatory system, and right now, they are on the verge of cardiac arrest.

The images from Parañaque still haunt me. On August 12, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stood before what he called a ‘critical’ situation-a ‘sea of trash’ so vast it required clearing operations hauling nearly 400 tons of garbage, the equivalent of over 70 dump trucks. Flashfloods had transformed the Redemptorist Water Channel into a grotesque exhibition of our collective negligence. I imagine the heavy debris-furniture, appliances, the discarded remnants of daily life- choking the pumping stations like blood clots in a dying artery, forcing the water to spill into streets and homes.

What struck me most about the President’s inspection was his observation that this was not merely local refuse. These were large discarded items, the kind that don’t appear by accident but by deliberate choice. Someone made the calculation that it was easier to abandon a broken sofa to the river than to dispose of it properly. Someone else decided that the waterway was a convenient grave for appliances that had outlived their usefulness. This was not poverty speaking; this was a culture of convenience, enabled by the absence of consequences.

I believe the solution requires what so many of our problems demand: strong political will. It is not a matter of ignorance-we all know that dumping trash into rivers is wrong. It is a matter of enforcement, of making the cost of convenience higher than the cost of compliance.

The path forward, I believe, must begin with reclamation. Every local government unit must find their original cadastral surveys and remember where their waterways actually are. Then they must do the difficult work: if structures have been built in these channels, they must be demolished. There is no other way for the water to flow freely, for the veins to pump cleanly again.

But demolition alone will not change behavior. We need immediate, practical solutions that empower citizens rather than merely punish them. I propose what I call a Penalty and Reward Ordinance-a mechanism that is budget-neutral and immediately implementable by any local government unit willing to try.

Here is how it would work: a mandatory fine of P1,000 for anyone caught dumping garbage into waterways. This is not excessive-it is the cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant, a small price to pay for the collective damage caused by choking our city’s veins. But enforcement is the challenge, and this is where the ordinance becomes clever. Citizens who report violations via smartphone, providing photographic or video evidence, would receive a 50 percent reward-P500-for each successful conviction.

This creates a self-sustaining ecosystem of accountability. The fine pays for the reward, with the remaining P500 going toward administrative costs or waterway maintenance. The citizen becomes the eyes of the law, transforming every smartphone into a potential instrument of civic duty. The would-be dumper must now calculate not just the risk of a barangay tanod catching them, but the possibility that any passerby-the jeepney driver waiting for passengers, the vendor selling taho, the student walking home-might document their crime and be financially incentivized to report it.

Some might argue that this turns neighbor against neighbor. I would counter that it turns neighbor toward neighbor-toward the shared interest of a city that functions, that breathes, that does not flood every time the rain falls. We are already paying the price for clogged waterways: the damage to homes, the disruption of commerce, the disease that follows standing water. The P500 fine is not a punishment; it is a repayment of the debt owed to the community.

President Marcos spoke of long-term solutions-waste-to-energy programs, sustainable infrastructure, better waste management facilities. These are necessary dreams. But we cannot wait for infrastructure to solve a behavioral problem. We need immediate action that changes the calculus of convenience. We need to make the veins flow again, not someday, but today.

Our waterways are our veins. When they are clogged, we all suffer. But when they flow freely, the entire city comes alive. The choice-and the will to act-belongs to us.

Dual solutions for Metro Manila: Waste-to-energy and urban relocation

President Marcos is advocating for a waste-to-energy (WtE) program as a long-term solution to Metro Manila’s worsening garbage problem and the flooding that comes with it. He has set an initial implementation target for 2027, and the government has already taken steps to move the plan forward. In particular, the Department of Energy included roughly 400 megawatts of WtE capacity in the Green Energy Auction scheduled for October 13, 2026. If carried out effectively, this approach could help turn waste into usable power while reducing the volume of garbage that ends up in landfills.

While the WtE program may offer lasting benefits, Metro Manila’s local government units can also help address the crisis sooner. In my view, one urgent concern is the continued presence of residents who live along creeks, in violation of the legal easements of waterways. These communities are not only contributing to environmental damage by discarding waste into creeks and canals, but they are also using our waterways as toilets. This behavior can intensify public health risks and worsen existing problems in health and sanitation, especially during rainy seasons when water levels rise and contamination spreads more easily.

Some observers argue that certain politicians may ‘look the other way’ when informal settlers build shelters on creeks, partly because these residents are part of the voting public. However, it is precisely for that reason that local officials should act with seriousness and responsibility. The relocation of families living near waterways should be considered not as punishment, but as a protective measure. When flooding becomes severe, these communities face greater danger to their wellbeing. At the same time, the issue of clogged waterways remains a major driver of flooding, and the repeated cycle of desilting and clearing drains a significant amount of public funds-money that taxpayers ultimately shoulder.

Relocating residents away from waterways can therefore serve two purposes at once: it can reduce the causes of worsening flood conditions and it can ease the long-term costs of continuous cleanup. Just as importantly, it offers these communities a better chance at safer living conditions, especially when flash floods expose the vulnerability of settlements built in prohibited or high-risk areas. For these reasons, local officials should prioritize relocation efforts as a practical and humane step toward protecting both the public and the people most affected by the worsening flooding crisis. All these and other efforts can help President Marcos carry out plans to address Metro Manila’s garbage and flooding problems.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the Chairman Emeritus of the Federation of Philippine Industries and concurrent Chairman of the Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Illicit Trade Committee.

FOUR more higher education institutions (HEIs) can soon offer the Doctor of Medicine program, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced.

In a statement, the agency said this is in line with President Marcos’s directive to expand the country’s medical education and increase the number of physicians and healthcare professionals nationwide.

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis however stressed that quality education must still be ensured amid the granting of permits and compliance certificates.

‘Expanding opportunities to study medicine must go hand in hand with maintaining quality, so that future doctors are equipped with the training and competencies needed to respond to the country’s healthcare needs,’ she said.

In particular, the CHED granted permits to the Tarlac State University (TSU) and the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU).

This allows these institutions to operate the first and second year levels of their Doctor of Medicine programs.

Besides TSU and NEMSU, the CHED also released Certificates of Program Compliance to the Cavite State University (CvSU) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun) for their Doctor of Medicine programs.

These approvals were issued following careful evaluation visits for compliance validation, in adherence to CHED’s minimum requirements for the Doctor of Medicine program under CHED Memorandum Order 18, series of 2016. With PNA

THE fatality count of the combined effects of recent storms and the southwest monsoon has climbed to 31 confirmed dead, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

Three others remain missing.

This, as the weather bureau warned of yet another episode of moderate to heavy rain affecting several provinces, including the National Capital Region (NCR).

At the same time, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), which acts as the NDRRMC secretariat, reported that the affected population has also increased to 2.2 million families, or 7.7 million persons.

As of 6:00 a.m. on August 26, 346 evacuation centers continue to assist a total of 8,446 families or 28,910 persons.

The NDRRMC said that due to flooding and landslides, a total of 2,700 houses were damaged.

The total cost of damage to public and private infrastructure has also ballooned to P5.5 billion, while damage to crops is pegged at P1.9 billion.

The government said some P1.42 billion in assistance was provided to affected families.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said that the number of localities under a state of calamity has increased to 104 from Tuesday’s total of 102 cities and towns owing to severe flooding.

Severely affected were Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales, which all declared province-wide states of calamities.

In its weather advisory for the southwest monsoon issued at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said heavy rains are expected from Friday to Saturday in Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.

The state weather bureau said that numerous flooding events are likely under such weather conditions, especially in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers.

Moreover, Pagasa warned that landslides are also likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas.

Zambales, which has experienced severe flooding over the past days, is still experiencing moderate rainfall, along with La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro until Thursday.

On Friday, moderate rainfall will affect Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Batangas.

The weather bureau said that under the current weather conditions, localized flooding is possible in urbanized, low-lying, or river-adjacent areas, with the possibility of landslides in highly susceptible areas.

Pagsasa further warned that forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, and that impacts in some areas may be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall.

Furthermore, the DA chief also announced that imported rice shipments will not be allowed to unload at ports in Iloilo from mid-September until the end-November to avoid overlapping with the province’s peak harvest season.

The dual measures will enhance farmers’ bargaining position by boosting the NFA’s influence on palay prices while easing competitive pressure from imported shipments.

The NFA announced last April that it purchased 8.4 million 50-kilo bags or 420,012 MT of palay last year, a 5.32 percent drop from the 8.87 million bags or 443,620 MT it bought in 2024.

The 2025 was only 77 percent of its target of purchasing 545,000 MT from local planters.

‘Procurement fell short of the total target attainment due to operational limitations, particularly full warehouse capacity and limited storage space arising from ongoing warehouse repair and rehabilitation activities,’ it said.

Farmers and suppliers belonging to Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) warned that egg retail prices may rise as farmgate prices are higher now due to disease outbreaks.

PEBA President Francis Uyehara said the local layer industry is currently grappling with production issues which catapulted farmgate prices to as much as P7 apiece.

This followed a supply glut in the second quarter when farmgate prices of a medium-sized egg nosedived to P3 per piece.

Uyehara attributed the price increase to disease outbreaks, such as infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).

‘These three diseases are contributing to the deficiency in production that is now causing an artificial shortage and an increase in the farmgate prices of eggs,’ he told reporters on the sidelines of a poultry trade fair in Pasay City on Wednesday.

Should the upward trajectory in farmgate prices persist, Uyehara warned that this would trickle into retail costs ahead of the typical price hike in December due to the surge in demand.

‘If farmgate prices continue to increase, the retail price will also be forced to adjust to perhaps more than P9 per piece.’

Uyehara, however, said the industry is also struggling to address the outbreaks, which was further compounded by issues in licensing of vaccines.

‘We can’t control these diseases, even with highly specialized veterinarian consultants. They don’t have a conviction that they can address these current outbreaks, since these viruses can mutate,’ he said.

‘There are also issues with the licensing of appropriate vaccines. The registration of the vaccines we need against these diseases takes too long.’

Latest government price monitoring report showed the prevailing price of extra small and small eggs stood at P7 per piece, with medium eggs at P8 per piece. Large and extra-large eggs cost P9 per piece, with jumbo eggs sold at P10 per piece.

PEBA said last May that local layer industry players are culling their flock due to a glut in the supply of small-sized eggs to minimize losses as farmgate prices fell despite soaring input costs due to geopolitical tensions.

Uyehara told the BusinessMirror that the global oil crisis has jacked up prices of animal feeds and other products required by raisers for their operations.

Heat stress and lackluster demand created a surplus of smaller-sized eggs or those that belong in the extra small, small, and medium categories, he added.

END of September: That’s the inextendible deadline for the Senate to approve Senate Bill 2387, which proposes to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years instead of the current four-year term.

Sen. Francis Escudero, at the same time, exhorted his colleagues to act forthwith on the measure, which impacts the November barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Delivering his sponsorship speech on the measure under Committee Report 77, Escudero said the Senate must act forthwith on the proposal before the end of September to ensure predictability in the conduct of the upcoming Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) scheduled in November.

He noted that the filing of certificates of candidacy is already set for next month, underscoring the need for Congress to decide promptly whether the elections will proceed or be reset under the new term structure.

‘Mr. President, I ask that the body act on this bill with urgency for or against it, before the end of September, given the fact that the Barangay Elections is scheduled to be conducted this November and the filing of Certificates of Candidacy are slated already in the coming month,’ Escudero said.

‘Although I favor this measure, I hope this body will give priority to this measure so that we can decide on it and so that there will be predictability with respect to the coming elections-whether indeed it will push through or will be postponed in accordance with the new term that will be approved by Congress, should I decide in its wisdom,’ he added.

The Constitution empowers the Congress to determine the term of barangay officials, a policy judgment affirmed by the Supreme Court in Macalintal v. Senate, Escudero added. He noted that the Court recognized the need to balance continuity against accountability, and administrative efficiency against democratic change.

‘That is the policy judgment which the present measure asks us to consider-whether, as a matter of policy, a five-year term provides a better governing window than the four years presently provided by law,’ he also said.

Escudero argued that a five year term provides a better governing window than the current four years, allowing barangay and SK officials sufficient time to organize, implement, and evaluate programs without the disruption of frequent elections.

‘Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, conciliators, and frontline service providers – all at a scale where government knows the family, the street, and often the problem by name,’ he said.

He added that the proposal is not unprecedented, citing past laws, namely Republic Acts 6653 and  8524 that also prescribed five year terms for barangay officials. ‘This bill is a termsetting measure, enacted in the exercise of the power expressly conferred upon Congress by Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution,’ Escudero pointed out.

Committee Report 77, jointly prepared by the Committees on Local Government and of Finance, has recommended the approval of SB 2387 with amendments, taking into consideration SB 2067 filed by Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos.

At Monday’s committee hearing presided over by Escudero, multisectoral representatives expressed strong support for the five-year-term. The Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) all backed the measure, stressing that a longer term would institutionalize stability and break the cycle of frequent postponements.

FOR students starting at a new school, the first day holds many questions: Will they see any familiar faces? Who will they sit with at lunch? Who will they play with at recess? ‘I’m this much nervous,’ said Iman Fair-Seldon, 5, holding her hands about 4 inches (10 centimeters) apart. Iman will start first grade next month at a new school in southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia. Despite the nerves, she said she is excited to make new friends.

Starting at a new school or making a big transition, such as moving from elementary school to middle school, can be challenging. Parents may want to help but aren’t always sure what to say or do. Here’s some advice from both grown-ups and the ultimate experts: kids who have gone through transition themselves.

Schedule playdates and go to birthday parties

PARENTS of young children have significant influence over where their children spend time and with whom, experts say. They can seek out activities that create opportunities for connection, such as parks, playgrounds and birthday parties, and decide when their children are ready for activities like sleepovers.

‘Initially, parents have a huge impact when it comes to the friends that children have,’ said Dr. Asha Barber Sutton, a licensed marriage and family therapist and an associate dean of academic affairs at National University in San Diego.

‘More than we would like to believe, our actions as caregivers make a difference in terms of how children experience the world.’

Amira Fair, Iman’s mother, says she prefers to keep to herself, but she pushes past those feelings to help her daughter develop relationships. ‘I make it my business to exchange numbers and try to schedule monthly playdates,’ she said. ‘One thing I tried to do, especially at her old school, was go to every single birthday function, say hi to the parents, get a present, see the family.’

Let kids navigate their own friendships

PARENTS can’t manage every friendship for their children, experts say. Instead, they can help children develop their own sense of what makes a good friend: Are they kind? Are they honest? Can you be yourself around them? Some difficult interactions can help children learn what they value in a friend and how to handle conflict, Sutton said.

Parents can also ask questions to help their children think about what they value in friendships: What qualities do you like in your friends? Who makes you feel comfortable being yourself? Those conversations can give children a framework for evaluating their own friendships when problems arise, experts say. Jaiden Journet, a 14-year-old starting at a new high school in North Carolina, suggests parents ask their kids: ‘Have you found anything you have in common with anyone?’

Help kids get involved

PARENTS also can support their children through encouragement, especially if they are shy or anxious. Encouraging children to get involved in extracurricular activities or to try something new can help them meet people with similar interests.

Shia Watts, 16, says trying something new led her to some of her friends at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.

‘Last year, I was part of theater production. I’d never done that before, but I met so many amazing people,’ she said.

When Jamir Gonzalez transferred last year to Uncommon Camden Prep High School in New Jersey, he joined the baseball and debate teams.

‘If you have any hobbies, find out if they have that at your school, and if they do, talk to the people that are there,’ said Jamir, now a 16-year-old senior.

Once students find opportunities to connect, starting the conversation is the next step, experts say. Smiling, complimenting others and asking questions can help start a conversation and keep it going.

Iman, the New Jersey 5-year-old, remembers how she met her now ‘B-F-F-F-F-F.’ It started with a compliment. ‘I think I said, ‘I like your shirt,’ and then she said, ‘Thank you.’ And I said, ‘So what’s your name?” she recalled.

Put down the cellphones-sometimes

STUDENTS may find it harder to start conversations when their peers are on their phones, wearing headphones or focused on screens. Experts say parents can encourage children, particularly teens, to put devices away at times so they can be more present and engaged with the people around them. One way to help: Stop texting your child at school, some teachers and experts say.

But being too harsh with older children’s tech limits can isolate them socially, Sutton said. Still, parents should talk with their teens about expectations around technology, social media and gaming, including knowing who kids are interacting with online.

Technology can also help children maintain friendships when circumstances separate them, Sutton said. ‘If you move away, it’s no longer like, ‘Hey, I moved out of state, and I can never see you,’ ‘ she said. ‘We have FaceTime, and we can still stay connected to friends in that way.’

Even one friendship counts

FEELING connected and having a sense of belonging at school can have an important effect on students’ well-being. If a student feels staff and peers at their school care about them, they are less likely to have poor mental health, use substances, or be involved in violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they are more likely to have better grades and attendance.

But a student needn’t have a large friend group to feel connected. Even one relationship can make a meaningful difference, said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit that focuses on gun violence prevention in schools.

‘Even if you only have one really strong friendship or one strong trusted adult, one strong sense of belonging, that can be enough to really positively affect your well-being and your trajectory through school and life,’ she said.

For students who are nervous about starting over, Hockley said, it can help to remember that other students may be looking for connection, too.

‘There’s also someone else just like you in that same space who’s also saying, ‘I would like to meet someone. I’d like to make a friend,’ ‘ she said. ‘It can be intimidating, but it’s not hard once you practice it.’

HEAD coach Tim Cone trusts his team that well that he’s confidence level remains high with an all-Filipino lineup with naturalized player Justin Brownlee recovering from injuries.

‘It’s going to give more opportunity for guys like Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo to step up and get major minutes,’ said Cone two days before Gilas Pilipinas plays with a home court advantage against Jordan on Friday at 7:30pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the fourth window of the FIBA 2027 World Cup Asia Qualifiers.

‘And for Dwight Ramos to be more of a go-to-guy,’ added Cone whose wards face Iran next on Sunday in the same venue.

‘So, you lose someone, but that means other people get opportunities and we are going to try to take advantage of those opportunities,’ he said. ‘We believe that we have the right people capable of filling the slot.’

Besides Quiambao, Tamayo, Ramos and CJ Perez, 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto is back to man the paint with 6-foot-11 AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana.

Ramos was the second leading scorer in the last six World Cup Qualifiers matches with a 13.5-point average highlighted by his 18 points in a 102-106 double overtime loss to New Zealand last July 3 in Auckland.

Quiambao is averaging 9.2 per contest in World Cup qualifiers and delivered a valuable 23 points also against New Zealand, while Tamayo posted 17 points against New Zealand although he averages 5.2 points per game.

Also in Cone’s 14-player pool are Juan Gomez de Liaño, Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos.

The Philippines is 2-4 win-loss in Group E of the qualifiers behind undefeated Australia (6-0), Iran (5-1), Jordan (5-1), New Zealand (4-2) and Syria (2-4).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P600 million in 2027 to bankroll the construction of facilities in Benguet that will address the persistent problem of vegetable supply glut.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told the BusinessMirror that the DA has allocated an initial amount of P600 million under its 2027 National Expenditures Program (NEP) to build a mega cold storage and vegetable processing facilities beside the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center.

‘It’s one complex. Hopefully, it will be operational by 2028,’ the DA chief told this newspaper.

The recent successive typhoons and torrential downpours in Benguet resulted in Chinese cabbage and carrots being discarded along Labey-Lacamen Road in Tublay, Benguet.

For the DA chief, the availability of these facilities are crucial to address the problem of oversupply.

‘What happened in Benguet this year may also be called force majeure, with excessive rain hobbling the supply chain,’ he said. ‘Our long-term solution is mega cold storage and vegetable processing facilities.’

In the meantime, the DA has ramped up its efforts to prevent supply gluts that result in depressed prices, including the enhancement of its market early-warning system.

The initiative aims to solve the long-standing problem for vegetables, where seasonal harvest surges tend to overwhelm markets.

As such, the DA said persistent oversupply has forced farmers to dump unsold vegetables along waysides rather than shoulder transport costs, since these may not fetch enough to cover expenses.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the system would complement regional help desks by providing a clearer picture of what is happening on the ground.

‘We want to move from reacting to problems to anticipating them,’ Guevarra said. ‘The monitoring system will give us alerts on upcoming harvests, weather disturbances, and other developments that could affect the supply chain to help us trigger assistance earlier.’

She added that regular harvest projections would improve planning, while more transparent and timely farmgate price monitoring could help curb market abuses by middlemen.

The system would also trigger alerts for logistics and other assistance, which the DA said would allow the government to respond more quickly to emerging supply and market disruptions.

SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada may need to undergo surgery after twisting his left knee while standing up from a seated position before he was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) to undergo an X-ray for his right knee.

Estrada was seen limping while being assisted by jail personnel in getting out of the ambulance that brought him to CSMC for his scheduled medical procedure.

The senator’s orthopedic surgeon Fernando Syquia said Estrada was supposed to undergo a check for the arthritis of his right knee.

However, the 63-year-old lawmaker suffered a ‘pretty bad’ meniscal tear in his left knee prior to being brought to the hospital

When asked if there was a need for Estrada to stay longer in the hospital, Syquia said it would depend on his pain tolerance.

‘If the pain cannot be controlled adequately with the medications that we gave…he might have to be admitted for the pain medications,’ Syquia said.

‘I explained to the senator that these types of tears usually end up with surgery, because if you have a complete tear at the root of the meniscus, it’s as if the meniscus is not functioning at all,’ he added.

However, Estrada was seen being escorted out of the hospital at 4:25 p.m. for his return to the Quezon City Jail.

The senator is being detained on plunder and graft charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the government’s flood control projects amounting to over P573 million for the period 2024-2025.

Last Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division granted his motion for leave seeking permission to undergo knee X-ray at CSMC after experiencing persistent pain in both knees, which makes it difficult for him to walk.

The Sandiganbayan allowed the senators to leave his detention cell at around 11 a.m. for his scheduled knee x-ray at 1 p.m.

The anti-graft court directed the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to return to him not later than 3 p.m. of the same date.

In his motion for leave, Estrada noted that prior to his detention on June 1, 2026, he had been suffering from joint effusion in his knee joints and intermittent pain in both knees.

He was previously diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that affects his mobility.