Category: Business Mirror

AT least P1 billion in election funds have gone to waste following the Supreme Court’s decision striking down two Bangsamoro redistricting laws, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

The SC recently voided Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, and BAA No. 58, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, declaring both unconstitutional.

With no governing law in place, the Court said the poll body has no legal basis to proceed with the region’s parliamentary elections this month.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said all election materials deployed in the field will have to be returned to warehouses, while automated counting machines must be reconfigured.

Ballots, he added, will be destroyed because they no longer match any new redistricting law.

‘It is P1 billion and above because that already includes, of course, the printing of that many ballots. For the rentals, maybe we have not fully paid yet, but there are milestones.with partial payments. We have also procured other materials,’ Garcia said in a press conference.

Garcia stressed that the commission cannot prepare again until the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) enacts a new redistricting law.

‘All preparations have to start if there’s already a law. Maybe there are a few preparations we can do not related to the law, but most of Comelec’s activities are only when there is a statute because that’s where it is stated how the districts are divided,’ he said.

He also said the Comelec is willing to assist the BTA in drafting the new measure, but emphasized it will not influence parliament’s decision since it is under the latter’s ‘pure, absolute discretion.’

BTA to draft new law

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua vowed that parliament will immediately pass a new law so the elections can push through next year.

‘In full compliance with the Court’s directive, the Bangsamoro Government will immediately work to enact a new redistricting law-one that ensures meaningful representation, advances equitable development, and stands firmly on constitutional grounds,’ Macacua said in a statement.

He added that the BTA is ‘saddened by the delay’ but acknowledged that the buffer period could help ‘strengthen the integrity of our democratic process.’

‘We call on our partners, stakeholders, and the entire Bangsamoro community to remain united and steadfast as we navigate this challenge. Together, we will ensure that our first parliamentary elections are built on the strongest possible legal foundation-an enduring step towards peace, stability, and a stronger Bangsamoro,’ he said.

If the new redistricting law is enacted and survives constitutional scrutiny, the region’s first parliamentary elections are set to push through on March 31, 2026.

THE Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division has affirmed its decision, denying Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s motion to immediately dismiss the 11 graft charges filed against him in connection with alleged irregularities in the disbursement of his P231.5 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2008 to 2010.

In a 22-page resolution, signed by Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, the Sandiganbayan held that Estrada failed to raise arguments that would warrant the reversal of its ruling issued last March 26, 2025 denying the senator’s demurrer to evidence.

A demurrer to evidence is a motion filed by an accused after the prosecution rests its case, asserting that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a conviction.

If the demurrer to evidence is granted, the accused is acquitted.

‘After a careful perusal of the arguments raised by accused Estrada in his motion for reconsideration, the Court finds no cogent reason to disturb its findings in the assailed resolution denying his demurrer to evidence,’ the anti-graft court declared.

With the denial of his demurrer to evidence, the Sandiganbayan said Estrada’s lawyers may present their evidence during the continuation of the trial on October 2, 2025.

The Sandiganbayan did not give credence to Estrada’s claim that the graft cases should be dismissed as the acts alleged in these cases were the same acts cited in the plunder case filed against him which had already been dismissed.

‘The Court must stress that even granting hypothetically that the present charges for violation of Section 3 [ e ] of R.A. 3019 are indeed the same predicate acts for which accused was charged in the plunder case, the same does not, by itself, warrant the dismissal of the present cases,’ the Sandiganbayan said.

It added that the Rules of Court or jurisprudence does not mandate the dismissal of a separate graft case on account of the charge being a predicate act in a prior case for plunder.

‘The only reason to sustain such an argument would be if the same places the accused in double jeopardy, which is not the case herein.,’ it added. But, the Sandiganbayan said the double jeopardy rule does not apply to Estrada’s graft case, noting the difference in the elements of graft and plunder.

It noted that in the plunder case, Estrada was accused of ‘unjust enrichment’ and amassing ‘ill-gotten wealth’ while the graft cases rest on the issue of ‘causing undue injury to the government’ and ‘giving unwarranted benefits and advantage to private persons.’

Furthermore, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Estrada to support a verdict of guilt in the graft cases, thus, warranting the defense presentation of evidence.

‘With the denial of his demurrer to evidence and the instant motion for reconsideration, accused Estrada is now given the chance to rebut the pieces of evidence and the prima facie case built by the prosecution against him,’ the anti-graft court stressed.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman accusing Estrada of receiving kickbacks by endorsing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) owned and controlled by pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to the appropriate government agencies as partners-implementers of his PDAF-funded projects which turned out to be fictitious.

It can be recalled that last year the Sandiganbayan acquitted Estrada of plunder in the P183 million PDAF but was convicted of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery.

He was sentenced to eight to nine years imprisonment for direct bribery and meted out a special temporary disqualification from holding public office and perpetual disqualification to vote.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of P3 million.

However, the anti-graft court eventually reversed its decision and cleared Estrada of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery due to lack of evidence.

Motorcycle taxi platform MOVE IT is elevating industry standards with a Driver-Led, Tech-Reinforced Safety Commitment – a comprehensive program that pairs professionalized rider training with live safety technologies at scale.

The company reported a 99.999% incident-free completion rate across thousands of daily rides, and says its priorities are now squarely on the remaining ~0.001% trips.

‘Near-perfect isn’t the finish line,’ said MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto. ‘Leadership in safety means raising the bar every day – professional riders, real-time protection, and transparent accountability on every single trip.’

At the MOVE IT Moto-Taxi Road Safety Dialogue, 31 MOVE IT rider-partner communities signed the Katuwang sa Kaligtasan sa Kalsada, a pledge that anchors a community-led safety culture across the motorcycle taxi sector.

Driver-Led Safety: Professional Standards by Design

MOVE IT’s Pasado Bago Pasada framework subjects every rider to rigorous onboarding, continuous upskilling, and bi-annual retraining.

Highlights of the Pasado Bago Pasada Framework:

Every rider undergoes full government clearance verification. MOVE IT reports 100% compliance with document requirements.

Almost 60% of motorcycles pass inspection on the first attempt, underscoring the strict compliance standards for roadworthiness before deployment.

More than 80% of applicants clear the initial skills test, with the remainder retrained until they meet safety benchmarks.

All riders are mandated to retrain every six months, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.

MOVE IT also collaborated with Ateneo’s Bulatao Center for Psychological Services to produce a first-of-its-kind Behavioral Assessment Tool for the motorcycle taxi industry, set to roll out this quarter. Unlike conventional tests that focus solely on technical skills, the tool is designed to measure how riders make decisions, manage stress, and respond to high-pressure or unexpected situations on the road. By grounding assessments in behavioral science, MOVE IT raises the bar on rider professionalism, ensuring that safety is defined not just by ability, but by judgment and conduct in real-world conditions.

Tech-Reinforced: Progressive Safety Innovations

While professional standards are central, MOVE IT said technology is equally critical in keeping roads safe. Through its strategic partnership with Grab, the platform has strengthened its safety infrastructure to support thousands of rides in real time.

In its relaunch in 2023, MOVE IT rolled out first-of-its-kind safety tools in the industry – from live location sharing and in-app SOS integration, to passenger and driver verification selfies and AI-driven trip monitoring.

The platform has since expanded its safety stack with additional tools designed to address some of the most common risks on Philippine roads:

Overspeeding Alerts provide real-time reminders when riders exceed safe limits, reinforcing responsible driving behavior and reducing accident risk.

Fatigue Nudges monitor trip patterns to detect signs of overwork, prompting riders to take breaks and ensuring they are alert before going on the road.

AudioProtect records trip audio in the background, giving both riders and passengers added security by providing clear context for investigations and ensuring fairness in resolving disputes or safety-related reports. Audio Protect will be live on MOVE IT in Q4 2025.

Together, these features aim to prevent accidents before they happen, protect riders and passengers during trips, and deliver greater transparency when incidents occur.

Fair Accountability: Shared Protection and Rapid Response

MOVE IT said professional riders and advanced technology must be backed by transparent accountability.

Reports filed through the app prompt swift investigation, with high-risk cases leading to preventive suspension pending due process. The same standards apply to complaints from riders against passengers.

An Emergency Response Unit of volunteer riders serves as first responders, reaching incidents within 30 minutes to provide aid and coordinate with hospitals and authorities.

All trips are insured, covering both passengers and riders, through partnerships with providers including AIG and Cocolife.

The Coalition for Filipino Commuters, an advocacy group for passenger rights and interests, commended MOVE IT’s progress, calling it ‘inspiring to see how MOVE IT, together with other platforms, is proactively transforming and growing our industry for the better through their respective pioneering efforts.’ At the same time, the group stressed that ‘platforms can only go so far on their own. It is time to standardize these safety measures through the official legalization of motorcycle taxis.’

Jacinto closed with a call for collective action: ‘Safety is not a milestone but a daily mission. We will continue to raise the standards – through professional riders, progressive technology, and fair accountability – until every commuter embraces motorcycle taxis as a truly reliable and viable transport option for our nation.’

THE adverse trio of tepid capital formation growth, weakness of the manufacturing sector, and governance risks could become a ‘persistent drag’ on the country’s growth and development, according to a think tank.

In its latest brief, Global Source Partners Country Analyst Diwa Guinigundo said while the Philippine economy has been resilient, given these challenges, the country needs to be more proactive in addressing its development constraints.

‘The Philippine economy has demonstrated resilience through past shocks, but resilience alone will not suffice in the face of slowing capital formation, manufacturing weakness, external imbalances, and governance risks,’ Guinigundo said.

‘Without timely and credible policy action, the ‘dark clouds ahead’ may settle into a more persistent drag on the country’s development trajectory,’ he added.

Guinigundo said data supported assessments that gross domestic capital formation (GDCF) has kept the country’s economic performance lackluster.

The latest data supported this concern, which showed that the GCDF growth slowed to only 2.4 percent in the first six months of 2025, compared to 6.6 percent in same period last year.

He added that while the recent downgrade in the country’s economic growth outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may be marginal, these are projected before the ‘full weight of global and domestic risks is felt.’

IMF projection

In a briefing in Manila on Wednesday, IMF Mission Chief for the Philippines Elif Arbatli Saxegaard told reporters that the Washington-based lender projects GDP to average 5.4 percent in 2025 and 5.7 percent in 2026.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) GDP target is at 5.5 to 6.5 percent in 2025 and 6 to 7 percent in the 2026 to 2028 period.

‘Although the Philippine economy remains broadly resilient, its performance in the first half of 2025 fell short of expectations. The IMF stresses that sustained policy discipline and structural reforms are essential to bolster competitiveness, attract investment, and support growth over the medium term,’ Guinigundo said.

Apart from this, he noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that the country’s Balance of Payment (BOP) and Current Account (CA) deficits could widen further.

The BOP is projected to post a steeper decline of 1.4 percent of GDP to a deficit of $6.9 billion for 2025 and post -0.6 percent of GDP to a deficit of $3.4 billion in 2026.

With this, the current account shortfall is expected to stay at 3.3 percent of GDP in 2025 and 2.9 percent of GDP in 2026.

‘In combination with political uncertainty linked to corruption revelations in major infrastructure projects, particularly flood control, this could undermine investor confidence and sustain depreciation pressures on the peso,’ Guinigundo said. ‘Such pressures risk amplifying imported inflation and complicating monetary policy management.’

Guinigundo said domestic price issues have also surfaced. Rice and fish prices remain elevated along with expensive pump prices, straining household budgets nationwide.

Flood, crop damage

Earlier, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said La Niña conditions, which may develop from September to December, could lead to flooding and crop damage in high-risk areas.

‘Given this backdrop, the BSP may find it prudent to hold its policy rate steady in the upcoming Monetary Board meeting, prioritizing financial stability over short-term growth support,’ Guinigundo said.

Earlier, local economists believe that faster inflation in September is not enough reason to exit its easing cycle when the Monetary Board meets next week.

On Wednesday, the BSP said it projects that September 2025 inflation will settle within the range of 1.5 to 2.3 percent. If the high end of the outlook is reached, this will be the second fastest inflation on record this year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release the latest inflation print on October 7, ahead of the October 9 policy meeting at the BSP.

Ateneo de Manila University economist Luis F. Dumlao told BusinessMirror on Wednesday that the inflation projection was still within the 2 to 4 percent inflation target of the BSP.

This means, Dumlao said, the BSP has ‘space to be dovish.’ He said any reduction in policy rates will help support the country’s GDP growth.

Dumlao said the country’s GDP growth is growing slower than its natural growth of around 6.2 percent. Reducing policy rates can help boost the country’s economic performance this year.

The House of Representatives on Friday wrapped up plenary deliberations on the proposed ?6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, hailing it as the ‘best and cleanest’ national budget that prioritizes programs aimed at directly uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing assured the public that the chamber is committed to ensuring that the 2026 national budget remains people-centered, transparent, and accountable.

‘We will make sure-in the House of Representatives-that the 2026 budget will be responsive to the needs of the Filipino people, transparent, and clean,’ Suansing said.

The House concluded plenary deliberations on the 2026 budgets of government agencies just past midnight on Friday.

The House Minority Leader is expected to deliver the traditional turno en contra on the proposed 2026 national budget this Monday.

She stressed that the budget priorities reflect the urgent needs of the population, highlighting investments in education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood programs.

‘Our goal is to make it a human-centered budget. That is why our priority is education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood. We want to improve the quality of life of every Filipino. That is what we pray will be the result of the budget we will pass,’ she added.

Suansing also expressed confidence that the measure will gain full support from the chamber.

‘With the help of the whole House and the collective wisdom of all its members, I am confident that we will be able to pass the best budget for 2026-one that truly responds to the needs of our people,’ she said.

Suansing stressed that the budget is not merely a policy document but a ‘backbone of fiscal policy’ and a reflection of government priorities.

Despite these challenges, she said the 2026 spending plan is anchored on a sound macroeconomic framework crafted by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), projecting 6.0 to 7.0 percent GDP growth, inflation of 2.0 to 4.0 percent, a fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent of GDP, and a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio of 61.8 percent by end-2026.

Suansing highlighted the redirection of ?255 billion initially earmarked for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to essential services such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare. The DPWH’s allocation was reduced from ?881.3 billion to ?625.7 billion, while education received ?1.17 trillion, the largest in Philippine history. Healthcare will get ?409.8 billion plus an additional ?89.3 billion from realignments, and social welfare programs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), will receive ?59.1 billion to help about 5.9 million Filipinos.

Agriculture is allocated ?284.13 billion, including ?41.09 billion for farm-to-market roads, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, and crop insurance. Under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk program, one million beneficiaries will receive ?7,000 each. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program will be doubled to ?26.96 billion to assist 4.9 million displaced or disadvantaged workers.

The period of amendments and second reading approval will be on October 10.

In pushing for amendments, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, wants the DPWH to cancel or re-price ?1.6 trillion worth of ongoing and planned projects. Leviste said this could save the government ?400 billion, which could be redirected to health and education programs next year. He cited the recent termination of a ?95.99-million flood control project in Lemery, Batangas, as an example of how DPWH can enforce cost efficiency under existing procurement laws.

Under the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) and DPWH contract rules, projects can be terminated ‘for convenience’ if they become economically, financially, or technically impractical-or unnecessary-due to changes in law or government policy, without penalty to the government. Contracts may also be terminated for unlawful acts, such as corruption, fraud, use of substandard materials, or collusive practices.

Leviste noted that the Lemery case demonstrates how DPWH can use these provisions.

‘After all the hearings and protests against corruption in DPWH, there are still over P1 trillion in ongoing projects and another P600 billion in upcoming projects that DPWH can act on,’ Leviste said.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to approve the 2026 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading by Monday, October 13. Once passed, it will be transmitted to the Senate, after which a bicameral conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

Sunasing said bicameral sessions will be public.

The 2026 national budget is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted FY 2025 budget of ?6.326 trillion and carries the theme ‘Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation.’ Anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, it aims to prioritize education, healthcare, social protection, and food security.

Speaking just past midnight on Friday, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III lauded the collective effort that ensured the budget deliberations were both open and comprehensive.

‘Our people can be assured that our process will remain open and transparent,’ Dy assured. ‘When I was elected Speaker, I said we would ensure that every centavo allocated in the budget to every agency would match the needs of our people. We will continue to work together to pass an open, orderly, and clean budget.’

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday formally proclaimed the first nominees of Abono, Ang Probinsyano, and Murang Kuryente to take over the three party-list seats in the House of Representatives once reserved for Duterte Youth.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the proclamation capped the poll body’s monthslong deliberations after Duterte Youth lost its bid to stop the cancellation of its registration.

On September 30, the clerk of the commission issued a Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment, affirming that the August en banc decision voiding the group’s registration was final and executory.

‘They will fulfill the three seats supposedly to be awarded to the Duterte Youth after the en banc decision disqualifying them became final and executory,’ Garcia said in a press conference.

Abono’s Robert Raymond Estrella, Ang Probinsyano’s Alfred delos Santos, and Murang Kuryente’s Arthur Yap received their certificates of proclamation after their groups each secured one seat in the May 2025 polls.

Abono garnered 254,474 votes, Ang Probinsyano 250,886 votes, and Murang Kuryente 247,754 votes.

Chairman Garcia said the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) followed the same formula applied in the disqualification of An Waray, where the next party-list in line was proclaimed to fill the vacancy.

‘The decision of the NBOC is based on the recommendation of the Commission’s Law Department and Supervisory Group.At the same time, we also applied Banat vs. Comelec. The Supreme Court said an integer cannot be treated as a person. That’s why we went down to three, consistent with what we did in the An Waray case,’ he explained.

Duterte Youth had won 2.33 million votes, the second-highest tally among party-list groups in the May elections, which would have entitled it to three seats.

But the Comelec en banc declared its registration void ab initio for failure to comply with mandatory requirements of publication and hearing when it first sought accreditation in 2019.

The Supreme Court did not act on its petition for a temporary restraining order within the 30-day period, effectively sealing its disqualification.

Estrella, delos Santos, and Yap will now join the House as party-list representatives for a full three-year term ending June 30, 2028.

THE number of casualties following the 6.9 magnitude Offshore Northern Cebu Earthquake that struck Central Visayas on September 30 continued to rise, with 72 confirmed dead and 294 injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

In its situation report, the agency said 30 of the 72 fatalities were from Bogo City, 22 from San Remigio, 12 from Madellin, five in Tabogon, two in Sogod, and one in Tabuelan.

As rescuers race against time, a magnitude 5 aftershock occurred on the eve of October 1, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs said as of 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025, it has recorded a total of 2,929 aftershocks, 14 of which were strong enough to be felt.

The earthquake, which generated a few seconds of an Intensity VII strong earth-shaking event near the epicenter in Bogo City and nearby cities and towns in Cebu, was traced to an offshore local fault line. Intensity VII is categorized as ‘Destructive’ on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) scale and ‘brutally devastating’ on Japan’s JMA scale, which is the highest level.

Other areas, as far as Luzon and Mindanao, experienced Intensity III to VI.

NDRRMC said a total of 47,221 families, or 170,959 persons, were affected in 53 barangays in the Central Visayas region.

Damage

DESTRUCTION caused by the earthquake includes damage to 87 infrastructure, 96 houses totally damaged, and 501 partially damaged.

A total of 85 cities and municipalities were affected, mostly in Central Visayas and 10 in Western Visayas.

Classes and work were suspended in affected areas in Regions 6 and 7 and Negros Island Region, the NDRRMC reported, with a total of 53 cities and towns in Region 7 having been declared under a state of calamity.

The NDRRMC said an earthquake-induced landslide occurred in Tabuelan, and Tobogon, Cebu, while a structural fire was reported in Consolacion, also in Cebu.

In Asturias, a collapsed structure was recorded. In Mandaue, Cebu, an Ammonia Leak was reported to authorities, reportedly originating from San Miguel Corporation’s facility in barangay Tipolo.

On Tuesday, President Marcos inspected the SM Cares Village in barangay Polambato, Bogo City. Built for Typhoon Yolanda survivors, the village built in 2013 with 200 free housing units was among the hardest hit by the earthquake.

A total of eight persons were killed when housing units collapsed, the NDRRMC reported.

The President also inspected the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer, which sustained heavy damage.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and various local governments in the province have started providing relief goods to affected families.

Navy prepares

THE Navy (PN) on Thursday said it is now preparing the transport ship, BRP Dagupan City (LS-551), as part of its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts.

‘This preparatory action highlights the Navy’s high level of operational readiness and its continuing support to national disaster response operations. BRP Dagupan City is being prepared for deployment,’ the Navy Public Affairs Office chief, Capt. Benjo Negranza, said in a statement.

To further beef up its HADR efforts, Negranza said Naval Forces Central’s medical team is on standby to assist.

Davao sends rescue team

DAVAO City disaster and rescue officials sent off early Thursday a convoy of 13 trucks, personnel and urban search and rescue vehicles for rescue and relief operations in northern Cebu.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said it dispatched government trucks to Cebu to distribute 5,000 food packs, along with a team of 50 personnel including doctors and psychosocial workers, and seasoned personnel in urban search and rescue.

Among them were personnel of the Urban Search and Rescue (Usar), the Fire Brigade Unit, Emergency Medical Services at Central 911, including the K9 team.

Rudy Encabo, assistant head of CDRRMO, the convoy left at 6:00 am Thursday for a land trip across five Mindanao provinces and the island provinces in the Visayas to reach Bogo City in northern Cebu, where rescue personnel were still entangled in the search for the casualties in the rubbles.

South Cotabato has earlier sent relief goods and Zamboanga City has announced it would also send a convoy of relief and rescue personnel.

President Ferdinand Marcos said he will ask Congress to replenish the fast dwindling Quick Response Fund (QRF) of some government agencies.

During a situation briefing in Bogo City in Cebu after it was hit by a magnitude-6.9 quake earlier this week, the chief executive said the additional QRF will ensure the government will be ready for disasters this year.

He said the quake, which struck Cebu, as well as tropical cyclones Nando and Opong(international name: Bualoi) has led to government agencies to use a considerable portion of their QRFs.

Aside from Cebu, the President also visited Masbate, which also suffered heavy damage from Opong to also lead in government relief operations in the island province.

‘I will be going to Congress because after the – coming from Masbate, coming from Cebu, I will be going to the Congress, the House and the Senate, I will ask-so they can give more emergency funds,’ Marcos said in Filipino.

He said he already instructed Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman to make the necessary preparations for the fund request to Congress.

‘I spoke to Sec. Menah already yesterday and this morning and she’s making all of those arrangements,’ the President said.

He has yet to disclose how much funding DBM will request from Congress for the QRF replenishment.

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

The QRF was distributed to the following agencies: Department of Agriculture (P1 billion); Department of Education (P3 billion); Department of Health (P500 million); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bureau of Fire Protection (P50 million); DILG-Philippine National Police (P50 million); Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense (P500 million); Department of Public Works and Highways (P1 billion); Department of Social Welfare and Development (P1.25 billion); and Department of Transportation (P75 million).

The QRF for Budgetary Support for Government Corporations was pegged at P300 million.

Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the country is expected to be hit by 5 to 9 more tropical cyclones before the end of the year.

A steady pouring of rain flooded several towns in Zambales, rendering parts of the national highway impassable to light vehicles and causing some residents to evacuate, as Typhoon ‘Paolo’ (‘Matmo’) drenched Northern and Western Luzon on Friday, Oct. 3.

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said heavy floodings occurred in the central towns of San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, and Iba, as well as parts of Palauig and Masinloc towns up north.

PDRRMO head Rolex Estella said that as of 6:00 p.m. on Friday, a total of 128 families composed of 388 individuals have evacuated to safety because of the floods. Most of these are in Masinloc with 84 families, and Iba with 33 families having relocated to barangay halls, schools, and health centers.

Traffic build-up was also reported along the highway at Barangay Sindol in San Felipe, Barangay Binoclutan in Botolan, Barangay Mabanglit in Cabangan, and Barangays San Lorenzo and Bamban in Masinloc, where severe flooding made the roads impassable to light vehicles, Estella said.

Northern Zambales was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on Friday, according to the 2:00 p.m. bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The Zambales provincial government ordered the day before the suspension of classes in all levels in the province on Friday, as well as the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Typhoon Paolo, Estella said.

The Philippine Coast Guard office in Zambales likewise cancelled all marine activities in the province and urged residents and visitors to stay away from beach areas after PAGASA warned of moderate to high risks of storm surge in coastal communities.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) kicks off its golden 50th season this weekend, headlined by a marquee matchup between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The clash follows Saturday’s fellowship night at the Meralco Theater.

Ginebra, with two-time Grand Slam coach Tim Cone calling the shots, will face off against his former player LA Tenorio, who is now Magnolia head coach.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., following the opening ceremonies and the annual Leo Awards at Novotel Manila, where Season 49’s Most Valuable Players will be honored.

Cone made minimal adjustments to his roster, adding 6-foot-7 Norbert Torres via free agency from Meralco and signing 6-foot-3 rookie Sonny Estil, the 11th overall pick.

The Gin Kings core of Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Troy Rosario, Jeremiah Gray and Maverick Ahanmisi aim to end a two-year championship drought.

Tenorio, who played under Cone at Alaska and Ginebra, shared his excitement about the matchup, saying it’s a privilege to coach against one of the country’s finest basketball minds-even as his team focuses on execution.

‘We will rely more on our defense. I believe our players have what it takes to win the game,’ Tenorio told BusinessMirror on Friday.

‘It is really an honor to play or coach against Tim Cone, but I do not worry about it. We just must treat this as a normal game for us. We must get better each game.’

Magnolia’s new additions include Javi Gomez de Liaño, Rafi Verano, Paolo Taha, and Gab Gomez.

Rookie 6-foot-5 center Yutien Andrada will join the team after fulfilling his commitments with the San Beda Red Lions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

This season also marks the debut of Jason Webb as Magnolia’s new team governor.

The festivities begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the green gate of Araneta Coliseum, where players will engage with fans for four hours.

The celebration then moves to the Meralco Theater in the evening, honoring the league’s past and present members from the press, teams and staff.