Category: Business Mirror

MORE expensive rice and fuel may have increased the country’s inflation rate in September and could prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to hit the brakes on its monetary policy easing this week.

This was according to ANZ Research, which said the country’s September inflation print could increase to 2.1 percent. While this is still within the BSP’s 2 to 4 percent inflation target, this is significantly higher than the 1.5 percent posted in August and 1.9 percent recorded in September 2024.

Given this, ANZ Research said this could prevent the Monetary Board from reducing policy rates further. This means the country’s key interest rates could stay at 5 percent.

‘The BSP has so far lowered rates by a cumulative 150 bp [basis point] in the current cutting cycle. At its last meeting, the central bank characterized the current policy rate as appropriate given manageable inflation and output near potential,’ ANZ Research said.

‘However, real rates remain restrictive amid subdued inflation. We think that the BSP will wait for the Q3 [third quarter] GDP data, out in November, before cutting rates by another 25 bp in December,’ it added.

ANZ Research said, however, noted that while key policy rates have been reduced by 150 bps, it has not translated into lower interest rates for local Filipinos.

Citing BSP data, ANZ Research said, non-performing loans remained above prepandemic levels. Consumer loans in Asian countries like the Philippines still account for 22-29 percent of total loans.

‘In these economies, sustained stress in this segment is likely dampening monetary policy transmission, particularly through the lending channel,’ ANZ Research said.

The think tank said lending standards in the Philippines have become more stringent. ANZ Research said ‘banks in both economies [India and the Philippines] are surprisingly cautiously optimistic about a recovery in demand for loans.’

Earlier, the BSP reported that loans extended by Universal and Commercial Banks (UKBs) posted their slowest growth in nine months.

BSP data showed loans from UKBs grew 11.2 percent in August 2025, the slowest since the 11.1 percent posted in November 2024. In April 2025, these loans also grew 11.2 percent.

The data showed that after adjusting for seasonal fluctuations, outstanding UKB loans increased by 0.4 percent month-on-month in August.

THE government’s debt service bill reached its peak in August, as it more than tripled year-on-year to P664.720 billion, bloated by higher amortization.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the government’s debt payments soared by 256.96 percent to P664.720 billion in August this year from P186.218 billion in the same month last year.

Amortization, or principal payments, rose by three and a half times to P601.615 billion in August from P133.437 billion a year ago.

About P597.885 billion of the amortization was settled with domestic creditors, a 389.93-percent surge from a year earlier, while payments to foreign financiers fell by 67.29 percent to P3.730 billion.

Meanwhile, interest payments jumped by 19.56 percent to P63.105 billion in August from P52.781 billion a year ago.

Of the total, P46.377 billion went to local lenders, up by 17.82 percent from P39.361 billion. The remaining P16.728 billion was paid to external backers, a 24.65-percent increase from P13.420 billion.

According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, the higher debt service in August is due to the large maturity of retail treasury bonds (RTBs) worth P516 billion.

Sept bill even bigger

Ricafort said August’s debt payments would be the peak, but the government could still see its debt service bill become relatively larger next month, as P288 billion of treasury bonds will mature on September 9.

‘After that, no more large government securities maturities for the rest of 2025,’ Ricafort said.

Next year, bond maturing in February and April, amounting to P200 billion each, are expected to push up the government’s debt servicing, Ricafort added.

9-month debt service

From January to September this year, the debt service bill posted a marginal decrease of 0.64 percent to P1.541 trillion from P1.550 trillion recorded in the same period a year ago.

This is equivalent to 75.02 percent of the P2.054 trillion programmed for debt servicing this year.

Of the nine-month period’s debt payments, P956.739 billion was shelled out for amortization, which dipped by 8.09 percent to P956.739 billion from P1.041 trillion in the previous year.

Amortization payments reached P768.520 billion for domestic debt, down by 12.63 percent from P879.652 billion a year ago.

Payments to external creditors rose by 16.84 percent to P188.219 billion from P161.086 billion.

On the other hand, interest payments grew by 14.66 percent to P584.145 billion during the nine-month period from P509.441 billion last year.

The government settled P429.120 billion worth of interest to onshore lenders, up by 18.30 percent year-on-year from P362.721 billion.

Meanwhile, interest owed to foreign creditors inched up by 5.66 percent to P155.025 billion from P146.720 billion.

BTr data showed the outstanding debt of the government reached P17.468 trillion as of the end of August.

While this slightly dipped by 0.5 percent from P17.563 trillion from end-July, this is seen to increase in the coming months due to more borrowings.

The government has raised a total of P2.266 trillion in borrowings as of end-August, out of its P2.6-trillion program for the year.

DESPITE the rapid growth of ride-hailing and delivery platforms in the country, its gig economy continues to fall short of even the most basic standards of decent work, according to a new Fairwork Philippines report.

Now in its third year, the study found that none of the nine major platforms operating locally-Angkas, GrabCar, GrabFood/Express, Foodpanda, JoyRide, JoyRide Car, Lalamove, Maxim, and Move It-fully met the five principles of fair work covering pay, conditions, contracts, management, and representation.

GrabCar topped this year’s ranking but earned only 3 out of 10 points, followed by GrabFood/Express with two.

Angkas, Lalamove, and Move It received one point each, while Foodpanda, JoyRide Car, JoyRide MC Taxi, and Maxim scored zero.

‘The results show very minimal evidence of basic standards in fairness of working conditions, contracts, and management,’ the report said, noting there has been ‘little to no substantive improvement in pro-worker policies since 2022.’

The report noted that most platform workers still fail to earn the minimum wage after deducting daily expenses such as fuel, mobile data, and maintenance costs.

‘Some workers reach the minimum wage threshold in terms of gross income, but fall short when work-related costs are taken into account. Thus, workers tend to strategize usually by putting in long hours of work,’ it said.

Because they are treated as independent contractors, riders and drivers shoulder all operating costs and social contributions, often working up to 16 hours a day just to break even.

Only GrabCar was credited for providing adequate safety training and free accident insurance.

‘The app also provides overspeeding alerts and fatigue reminders when workers exceed safe driving hours. In addition, the AudioProtect feature allows for in-app audio recording of trips, which can serve as evidence in dispute resolution,’ Fairwork said.

However, for the two-wheel platforms, the study noted that it could not find any evidence that companies give free protective gear or hazard pay, even as riders face harsher weather and traffic conditions.

Lack of protection, representation

Fairwork also noted the absence of social safety nets for illness or sudden income loss.

While some companies have started facilitating access to government social protection programs like Social Security System and PhilHealth, these efforts remain limited.

‘None of the nine platforms could evidence that all provisions of the sub-principle are met.Critical social protections.should be incorporated as baseline entitlements of workers rather than optional perks. The failure to address these not only undermines the dignity of platform work but also deepens systemic inequalities in an already climate-vulnerable country.’ the study said.

Under fair contracts, five platforms have readable and accessible terms, but none could show contracts free from clauses that exempt them from liability.

‘Under ‘independent contractor’ classifications, workers carry a disproportionate amount of risk for engaging in a contract with the service user. They may be liable for any damage arising in the course of their work, and they may be prevented by unfair clauses from seeking legal redress for grievances,’ Fairwork noted.

Meanwhile, only GrabCar and GrabFood/Express met minimum standards for fair management, offering human support channels and appeals for account deactivation.

Still, the researchers found ‘no documented policy from any platform that assures freedom of association and collective worker voice.’

DOLE eyes possible interventions

MEANWHILE, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the agency-particularly its Occupational Safety and Health Center-will conduct a study on how to provide assistance to platform workers.

He acknowledged that the gig economy has introduced new employment setups that existing regulations may not fully address.

‘There are many emerging new arrangements.in general you can apply the existing ones but they have uniqueness or peculiarity. You can’t do one size fits all,’ he told reporters in an ambush interview on Monday.

Laguesma said the government continues to review existing labor policies to ensure they remain relevant.

‘The President always reminds us to keep looking at what changes, what we should do,’ Laguesma also said. ‘I hope we are not just reactive, like firefighters that only act when there is a problem. We must anticipate.’

More than 700 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Davao Oriental are now debt-free after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the Davao Region distributed Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs).

DAR awarded 1,001 COCROMs to 721 ARBs, effectively condoning P9.93 million in amortization and interests pursuant to Republic Act No. 11953, which provides significant financial relief and secures the beneficiaries’ ownership of their awarded lands.

Aside from COCROMS, the DAR also distributed and turned over farm machineries and equipment (FMEs) under the ‘Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat’ program.

DAR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Research Office Lani C. De Leon and Regional Director Joseph H. Orilla, along with local government officials and partner agencies, led the ceremonial turn-over of the condonation certificates and package of support to the farmers during a simple ceremony held recently.

‘This milestone is more than just debt relief. It empowers our farmers by granting them land security and equipping them with the tools to improve productivity and transform their lives,’ Orilla said in a statement.

In addition to the debt relief certificates, DAR turned over a mobile corn mill and a corn sheller worth P1.29 million to the Talisay CARP Beneficiaries and Farmers Water Service Cooperative under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project. The FMEs aim to boost crop production and raise farmers’ incomes.

The activity highlights the government’s commitment to supporting ARBs not only through land distribution but also through sustained support services to ensure their productivity and livelihood improvement, the DAR said.

Following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu and surrounding provinces on September 30, 2025, DigiPlus Interactive Corp., through its social development arm, BingoPlus Foundation, mobilized immediate assistance to the hardest-hit families residing in the island’s northern region.

On October 5, 2025, the Foundation delivered 1,000 family relief packs to the municipalities of Daanbantayan and Medellin, enabled by employee volunteers from Cebu-based BingoPlus branches.

Each pack was designed to support the immediate needs of a family of five and included 10 liters of potable water in reusable containers, 5 kilograms of rice, a hygiene kit, and basic medicine. Collectively, the effort reached 1,000 families or about 5,000 individuals across both municipalities.

‘These are communities that need swift, reliable help,’ said Paul Henczen Tamayo, BingoPlus Foundation Program Manager for Resilience and Healthcare. ‘Through our BayanihanPlus initiative, we work hand in hand with local officials and community leaders to reach the hardest-hit areas, prioritize those most in need, and get essential goods to families without delay.’ Dan Kemuel Mabano, BingoPlus Area Manager for Cebu adds, ‘While we had initially targeted the towns of Bogo and San Remigio, information on-ground advised us to go farther up into Medellin and Daanbantayan because relief goods still needed to reach those areas too.’

This deployment underscores DigiPlus and BingoPlus Foundation’s ongoing commitment to stand with Filipinos in times of crisis – leveraging the reach of its retail network to deliver immediate relief and hope to communities in need.

Don Adviento, BingoPlus Regional Manager for Visayas and Mindanao shared, ‘Following BingoPlus Foundation team’s quick deployment of relief packs from our DigiPlus warehouse in Parañaque, our employees from Cebu City, Mandaue, and Talisay volunteered to oversee the final distribution in northern Cebu.’

‘It was a challenge transporting our stocks and navigating through the congestion and aftershocks, but it is rewarding to be able to deliver much-needed help to our fellow Cebuanos. Daghang salamat (many thanks) for the teamwork – from our head office, to our branches and our LGUs (local government units),’ adds Judaline Geraldez, Branch Manager of BingoPlus Park Mall and team lead of employee volunteers deployed.

The Foundation continues to assess the evolving needs of affected communities in coordination with local government units and partner agencies as recovery progresses. For coordination, assistance, or partnership opportunities.

Despite challenges in transporting and distributing relief packs to the northernmost towns affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu, BingoPlus employee volunteers remain all smiles throughout the initiative, reflecting their commitment to ‘multiply the fun’ and ‘multiply the good’ for communities they serve.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) signed a registration agreement with a manufacturing firm which will produce jigs and fixtures within the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ).

Peza said Acuvex Corp. registered as a new ecozone export enterprise that will specialize in manufacturing jigs and fixtures in CEZ.

The investment promotion agency noted that the firm’s project, with an initial investment of about P3 million, is set to begin by the end of the year.

Peza Director General Tereso O. Panga welcomed the new registration as part of the agency’s bid to attract investors.

‘Acuvex’s entry is another step forward in reinforcing CEZ as a hub for high-value and precision manufacturing,’ Panga said in a statement.

‘Each new locator strengthens the ecozone ecosystem and contributes to our vision of a competitive, sustainable, and resilient industrial base for the country.’

By targeting the precision manufacturing sector, Peza said Acuvex complements existing CEZ locators in electronics, automotive, and robotics-related supply chains, while also engaging local businesses and service providers within the ecozone.

‘This latest partnership not only strengthens CEZ’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing but also underscores Peza’s role in driving inclusive growth and sustaining the Philippines’s global competitiveness.’

Recently, two Chinese manufacturing firms inked registration agreements with the Peza to manufacture transformers, batteries, electric vehicle parts and produce heatsink products in the CEZ.

Peza said the two Chinese manufacturing firms have registered as new ecozone export enterprises set to operate at CEZ in Rosario, Cavite.

It added that CIXIN Precision is investing in the production of heatsink products, CNC products, electroplating, and surface treatment.

‘The project will start commercial operations in March 2026 with a committed investment in new machinery and equipment worth around P40 million within its first year, with a commitment to employ nearly a hundred Filipino workers, mostly in direct production roles.’

Meanwhile, Philippine Newly Ever Rise Technology Corp. will manufacture and assembleof transformers, power supplies, batteries, robotics products, solar systems, and electric vehicle parts, reflecting the growing demand for renewable energy and advanced electronics.

Data obtained by the BusinessMirror from Panga showed that as of August, CEZ has a total of 310 Registered Business Enterprises.

THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday submitted to the Office of the President the shortlist of its nominees for the position of Ombudsman, which was left vacant following the retirement of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires on July 27.

Under the JBC Rules, the President has 90 days or until October 24 to appoint the new Ombudsman from the occurrence of vacancy on July 27.

Included on its shortlist were former Commission on Audit chairman and incumbent Philippine Competition Commission Chairman Michael Aguinaldo; retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice and incumbent chairman of the Philippine Postal Corporation Stephen Cruz; incumbent Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan; incumbent deputy Executive Secretary Anna Liza Gonzalez Logan; retired SC Associate Justice Mario Lopez; incumbent Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick de Leon Musngi; and incumbent Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

The JBC came up with the shortlist during its final deliberation on the 17 individuals who applied and qualified for the position.

The shortlist serves as President Marcos’ basis for the exercise of the presidential power of appointment.

The JBC is a constitutional body mandated to accept, screen and nominate appointments to the judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman and the Legal Education Board.

Remulla was included on the short after securing a clearance from the Ombudsman.

However, it was not clear whether the Ombudsman has already junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Sen. Imee Marcos in connection with the dismissal of her complaint against Remulla for graft, arbitrary detention, grave threats, false testimony, perjury, usurpation of authority or official functions and for violation of RA 7438 or An Act Defining Certain Rights of Person Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation As Well as the Duties of the Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers.

The complaint stemmed from the investigation in aid of legislation conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations headed by Marcos in connection with the alleged ‘kidnapping’ and subsequent turn-over of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands last March.

The Office of the Ombudsman is also silent on its action in relation to the complaint filed last September 15 by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte for eight counts of kidnapping under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); eight counts of arbitrary detention under Article 124 of the RPC; qualified direct assault under Article 148 of the RPC; two count of expulsion under Article 127 of the RPC; and usurpation of judicial functions under Article 241 of the RPC; and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Remulla and several other government officials also in connection with the former President’s arrest and turn-over to the ICC.

A separate graft and detention charges were also filed against Remulla by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio for the alleged warrantless arrest of his client Cassandra Li Ong, a representative of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) suspected of involvement in illegal activities, last August 2024.

Remulla claimed that the filing of these charges were part of a concerted effort to derail his bid for the Ombudsman post.

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas has ordered a Cebu-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company to stop operations after labor inspectors found multiple safety lapses that exposed workers to imminent danger.

The move comes several days after a BPO workers’ group decried alleged occupational safety violations in Cebu during a magnitude 6.9 earthquake last week.

The workers submitted to DOLE a list of companies that reportedly failed to follow emergency protocols and sought a formal dialogue with the agency to address their concerns.

In a statement, DOLE Region VII said they found that one BPO firm had no emergency and disaster preparedness and response plan as required under Section 14 of Department Order (DO) No. 252, Series of 2025.

Its hazard identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC) also failed to include risks related to natural calamities such as earthquakes.

Inspectors noted inconsistencies in the composition and operation of the company’s safety and health committee, as well as the absence of a construction safety and health program for ongoing fit-out works in one of the floors it occupies.

‘The noted deficiencies taken together are indicative of the respondent’s laxity in implementing safety and health rules within the worksite which clearly exposed the workers to imminent danger,’ DOLE VII said.

The company was ordered to cease and desist operations until all unsafe conditions and violations have been corrected.

It was also told to submit proof of compliance to DOLE before reopening.

Failure to comply could lead to daily penalties of up to P100,000, as provided under Section 42 of DO 252, until the violations are rectified.

The regional office also reminded employers that under Section 38 of the same order, if a work stoppage results from the employer’s fault, workers must still be paid their wages during the suspension of operations.

DOLE VII also urged the building administrator where the company operates to secure clearance from authorities certifying the facility’s safety.

The agency also warned employers and building administrators that this is just the ‘initial shot.’

‘More and more vigorous inspections will happen onward,’ it added.

‘A problem within BPO itself’

Meanwhile, while the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu acknowledged DOLE’s issuance of a work stoppage order, the group said the problem runs deeper than individual violations.

‘More than just identifying companies involved in potential occupational safety and health (OSH) violations, we assert that it is not just a matter of a few bad apples but a problem within the BPO industry itself,’ BIEN-Cebu Spokesperson Kyle Enero said.

Enero said this development was made possible through collective worker action, noting that employees have become more vocal about safety and welfare concerns.

‘BPO workers uniting to assert their rights and welfare is what made this possible. We urge fellow BPO employees to continue speaking up and organize themselves to forward their interests both in and out of workplaces,’ he added.

He said game-changing reforms remain necessary to address long-standing issues in the sector such as livable wages, job security, non-discrimination, and safe working environments.

For the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW), the recent earthquake underscored the need for all BPO firms to establish active safety committees with worker representatives.

‘Workers must have voice and participation in the workplace, especially with regard to safety and health concerns,’ ICCAW Gilbert Romo said.

Dialogue over sanction

For his part, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the agency is prioritizing dialogue and due process over immediate sanctions in handling labor complaints against BPO, saying that punitive action must be backed by a strong legal basis.

‘We don’t prioritize punishment. We will listen because we live in a free country. If workers have grievances or complaints, we should also hear the side of employers,’ he said in an interview on Monday.

Laguesma noted BPO’s large contribution to the country’s economy, citing the 1.8 to 1.9 million workers comprising the sector nationwide.

The figures, he added, benefits several programs of the labor department.

Last year, the BPO industry generated about $38 billion in revenue, a 7-percent growth from the previous year.

‘We also benefit from that. That’s why we need to be cautious and not act rashly in our decisions.’

The situation calls for a strong legal basis of punishment, as sanctions may being either benefit or harm, said Laguesma.

‘That’s why I encourage voluntary compliance. Employers are supposed to be our social partners,’ he said. ‘Everyone is given the chance to comply-they just need to meet the requirements of the law and DOLE issuances.’

The labor department has also began profiling affected workers two days after the earthquake, along with the implementation of temporary emergency and temporary employment assistance, Laguesma said.

He added that the period would last between 10 to 90 days, depending on the gravity of the recent disaster.

The reported death toll of the September 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu has gone up to 71, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

However, the agency said in its Sunday morning situation report that the count is still up for validation.

In the same report, the NDRRMC said 559 were reported injured, but the number is also still up validation.

NDRRMC added that 128,464 families or 455,631 individuals were affected by the earthquake.

A total of 405 families of 1,251 individuals are now housed in four evacuation centers.

The agency said eight road sections and 15 bridges were affected, with four roads and seven bridges remaining still unpassable on Sunday morning.

Power, NDRRMC said, has been restored in 43 localities but 48 towns and cities remain without electricity also as of Sunday morning.

The tremblor, NDRRMC said also affected communication facilities in 17 towns and cities and service has been restored in seven.

Of the three seaports affected, one has already become operational, it added.

Navy brings in materials

THE Navy (PN) on Sunday announced that one of its transport vessels, the BRP Agta (LC-290) successfully conducted a humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) and brought 44.66 tons of construction materials were transported to th similarly devastated Masbate City, Masbate on October. 4.

The Navy Public Affairs Office chief, Capt. Benjo Negranza, said the hip departed Ouano Wharf, Mandaue City, Cebu on October 3, carrying essential construction materials intended to support the recovery and rehabilitation of communities severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

This mission was made possible through the support of the Tanging Yaman Foundation, Incorporated, which coordinated with the PN to deliver much-needed aid to the disaster-stricken areas, Negranza added.

Meanwhile, Negranza said another PN vessel, the BRP Dagupan City (LS-551), departed Cavite on October 4, carrying 18,000 kilograms of relief goods bound for communities affected by the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu and nearby provinces.

Onboard are food packs, bottled water, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, and other essential relief items consolidated by the Civil Military Operations Group of the Navy (CMOG-PN) through the generous donations of private stakeholders and partner organizations.

This effort forms part of the Navy’s HADR mission to support earthquake-stricken areas.

BRP Dagupan City also transported one chemical truck, two mobile showers, one disaster response truck, two ambulances, and one special rescue vehicle provided by the Valenzuela City DRMMO, along with additional donations from Manila Water, Civil Military Operations Regiment of the Army (PA) and the Naval Reserve Center.

Transparent relief, rehab through tech

THE provincial government of Cebu has tapped University of Cebu (UC) students to help them develop an app that logs and pins requests for relief following the massive arthquake that struck the province last Sept. 30.

Dr. Nikki Catalan, health consultant of the provincial government, this app will be linked with the relief tracker of the local government.

The public, she added, will now ‘see what’s needed, where help is going, and in the long run, track rehabilitation together.’

‘Stay tuned as we continue building a more transparent and united way to bring aid where it’s needed most,’ she added.

UC students, who are taking up a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, developed the ‘Cebu Relief App’ (https://cebu-calamity-response.vercel.app) three days ago in an aim to connect those in need with those who can help.

This app, developed by Clint Alonzo, Ralph Adriane Dilao, and Vince Clave, is a platform that connects victims of calamities.

Victims of calamities may use their app to pin their location to request urgent relief. Here, they could input their needs, such as food, water, medicine, shelter, and other essentials.

Volunteers and responders can also use the app to requests and view details by clicking the pinned locations in real-time on the map.

‘This isn’t just any app-it’s Bayanihan made digital. Every pin represents a family. Every pin represents a life,’ Alonzo said in a post on his Facebook account.

The availability of the app comes in handy especially at a time when the major roads in northern Cebu suffer a gridlock as more and more private individuals and groups travel there to bring relief causing a massive traffic jam.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro appealed to the public to have donations centralized as she admits delivery of relief has slowed down due to the traffic gridlock.

More cops sent to help

THE National Police (PNP) on Sunday announced that it has sent more personnel and assets to ensure that the distribution of relief goods and items to quake-battered communities in Cebu are done as expedtiously as possible.

In a statement, the acting PNP Chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., said focus will be on northern areas badly battered by the earthquake.

‘The quick response and continuous hard work of our personnel on the ground not only paved the way for government assistance reaching more affected communities, especially in the northern part of Cebu, but also resulted in the gradual restoration of normalcy in the entire province,’ he said.

Nartatez said the PNP is coordinating closely with the Cebu provincial government and local disaster response teams to streamline relief distribution to remote communities.

He added that PNP officers are assisting in logistics, road clearing, security and traffic management to prioritize the transport of relief items.

Nartatez added that several mobility assets, including high-speed watercraft from the Maritime Group, have been dispatched to isolated areas.

Govt team eyes safe zones

A GOVERNMENT housing team has been deployed to northern Cebu to survey areas devastated by last week’s earthquake and locate safe ground for residents displaced by landslides and damaged homes.

Officials from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) met with local disaster councils in Bogo City on Saturday to map out possible relocation sites for affected families.

The city is among the worst hit by the magnitude 6.8 tremor that struck on Tuesday.

The team visited Purok Joseph in Barangay Dakit, where several houses had collapsed near what geologists believed was part of the fault line that triggered the quake. Residents in the area remain in makeshift tents as local officials search for safer ground.

One of the proposed sites, a vacant lot within the city, is being considered for a temporary ‘tent city’ to house families who have yet to return home.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling earlier directed the agency’s regional office to conduct field surveys and identify the kind of shelter support the government can provide.

The quake killed more than 70 people and injured hundreds, according to disaster officials.

More than 47,000 families were affected across Cebu, with widespread damage reported in northern towns following intense ground shaking and secondary landslides.

Dole allocates P11-M Tupad aid

AN initial P11 million in emergency employment aid has been allocated for workers affected by last week’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said.

In a statement over the weekend, Dole said the amount will fund the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) program for 1,513 beneficiaries whose jobs or livelihoods were disrupted by the quake.

Tupad is a short-term employment program that provides temporary income to workers affected by disasters, economic shocks, or displacement.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries are hired for community-based work such as clearing debris, cleaning roads, or helping restore damaged public facilities in their localities.

They are also paid based on the highest prevailing minimum wage in the region.

According to Dole-Central Visayas, the initial batch of beneficiaries includes 862 workers from Cebu, 163 from San Remigio, 163 from Medellin, 81 from Sogod, 81 from Daan-Bantayan, and 163 from Bogo City.

Another 400 workers from the towns of Medellin and Tabogon are also set to receive their Tupad wages amounting to P2.004 million.

Dole said it is prioritizing aid for workers whose employment was displaced or interrupted by the calamity, includinng those from the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector.

The agency’s Cebu Provincial Office has already deployed personnel to profile affected individuals and continuously assess the situation in coordination with local government units.

The department has yet to release the total number of affected workers across the region.

Workers’ safety

LABOR Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma reminded employers in Cebu that workers’ safety and health should come first ‘more than anything else.’

‘Safety should always be considered, and the measures to ensure it should be the one undertaken-not simply to prohibit them [from leaving],’ Laguesma said in a recent interview.

His reminder came after the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu denounced alleged violations of occupational safety and labor standards by BPO firms during the September 30 earthquake. (Related: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/10/02/cebu-bpo-workers-file-complaint-against-unsafe-post-quake-policies/).

Among the reported incidents were claims that one company required agents to continue taking calls while the quake was ongoing, while another allegedly blocked exits on one floor to prevent workers from leaving.

Employees who refused to report for work were reportedly issued notices to explain, stripped of attendance incentives, and subjected to administrative sanctions.

Laguesma also clarified that BIEN-Cebu did not file a formal complaint, contrary to earlier claims in the workers’ statement.

He said the group only filed a letter requesting a dialogue, which is set to take place on Monday.

‘We also need to see which companies are involved so that our actions will be fair and impartial. This will help us determine the appropriate measures to take if it is proven that there were erring employers,’ Laguesma said.

I continue my series of articles on the various government agencies and private organizations that are engaged in the investigation or oversight of the flood control anomalies. In the last two articles, I dwelled on the Office of the President, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the Congressional oversight and investigation committees, and the Financial Watchdogs, to include, among others, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the Securities Exchange Commission.

In this column, I continue my discussion on the Enforcement and Investigative Units, which include, among others, the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other offices. Where oversight agencies and financial watchdogs identify red flags, enforcement arms are expected to investigate, prosecute and recommend the filing of civil or criminal charges in court or administrative bodies that will impose sanctions on perpetrators who are charged with criminal and civil offenses.

Several Philippine laws provide the legal arsenal for sanctioning both public officials and private individuals involved in the flood control corruption scandal. Chief among these is Republic Act No. 7080 (Plunder Law), which penalizes with life imprisonment and forfeiture of assets any public officer who amasses P50 million or more in ill-gotten wealth. There is also Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), which criminalizes bribery, kickbacks, and undue advantage in public contracts.

The Forfeiture Law of Unlawfully Acquired Properties by Any Public Officer or Republic Act No. 1379 allows the State to recover properties unlawfully acquired by officials or their dummies, even without a criminal conviction.RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) provides administrative sanctions for disciplinary misactions by government officials and employees. Articles 210-212 of the Revised Penal Code on direct and indirect bribery. Together, these laws form a comprehensive legal framework that enables the government to prosecute, imprison, disqualify, and strip the perpetrators-both in government and the private sector-of their ill-gotten wealth. I will discuss in my forthcoming articles what are the best approaches for tapping the Plunder Law and the Forfeiture Law in proceeding against these flood control criminals to effect swift and severe sanctions.

The Office of the Ombudsman serves as the primary prosecuting agency for corruption and malfeasance involving public officials, empowered to investigate, file, and prosecute criminal and administrative cases before the Sandiganbayan and to initiate forfeiture actions under RA 1379. Working alongside it, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) represents the State in civil forfeiture and recovery proceedings to reclaim unlawfully acquired properties.

Complementing these prosecution fronts are the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). The NBI and CIDG, together with the financial watchdogs that I discussed last week, provide the technical backbone of the inquiry. These offices conduct lifestyle checks, digital forensics, data analytics, surveillance, and evidence-gathering to trace money trails and secure documentary proof of collusion between government officials, professional consultants, bank conspirators, and contractors. Moving forward, these law enforcement agencies, together with the Philippine National Police, shall be tapped to enforce the warrants of arrest for those who will be sanctioned with imprisonment judgements.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Commission (IC) plays a vital but often overlooked role in the enforcement of performance bonds, guarantees, and surety insurance policies that cover defective or incomplete public works. Through its regulatory authority over insurers and bonding companies, the IC can compel these entities to pay valid warranty and performance claims, ensuring that the government recovers financial compensation for substandard flood control projects.

Together, these agencies form a complete accountability chain: the NBI and CIDG investigate together with the various financial watchdogs, the Ombudsman and OSG prosecute and recover, and the IC enforces contractual guarantees-closing the loop of prosecution, restitution, and reform, for defective or substandard flood control works and proceed with the filing of criminal and civil cases for the imposition by the judiciary of sanctions on all erring and conniving individuals.