Category: Business Mirror

DESPITE attempts by the Land Bank of the Philippines to rule out any irregularity in its handling of nearly half a billion pesos in cash that was released to a government contractor from DPWH funds, Senator Francis Pancratius ‘Kiko’ N. Pangilinan said the government-owned bank fell short of its duties in helping enforce policies to prevent money laundering.

At the plenary session last Tuesday, the senator highlighted the irregularity in Landbank’s release of P457 million in cash within two days.

‘These are all very legalese,’ Pangilinan said in response to a question posed by Senator Ana Theresia ‘Risa’ N. Hontiveros. ‘And if we’re going to use legalese language in order to gloss over the fact that, no matter how you look at it: two days, cash transactions, P457 million-how can that, in any way, be unsuspicious or regular?’

The senator expressed alarm over LandBank’s statement that it faithfully and strictly adhered to existing Philippine banking laws and regulations.

‘Ang tanong: Ibig sabihin ba dahil walang mali sa paglabas ng P457 million cash sa dalawang araw ay mauulit ito? Pwedeng gawin ito dahil to quote, sumunod sila ‘faithfully and strictly’ sa lahat ng existing PH banking laws and regulations?’

[Does this mean that, because they claim there’s nothing wrong in the release of P457 million in cash over two days, this can be repeated? That this can be done again because, to quote, they ‘faithfully and strictly followed’ all existing PH banking laws and regulations?]

Pangilinan added: ‘We beg to disagree. Dapat sana sinabi nila sa kanilang statement ‘maghahanap kami ng paraan para hindi na mangyari ulit ito.” [They should have said in their statement, we will find a way to ensure this does not happen again.]

The senator reminded government banking institutions of their responsibilities given that they’re managing taxpayers’ money being squandered away instead of being used for food, education, health, and livelihood.

‘The only thing I ask of LandBank and whoever drafted their statement, and all of us whose salaries are paid for by the people, is for us to have a mindset of, ‘for the people, we offer every working day, every peso that comes in and out of government banks, is for the Filipino, ouir countrymen,’ Pangilinan continued, partly in Filipino. ‘It is not enough to not do bad but we must not stand idly by while bad is happening, or while bad is already being exposed to everyone. Pakiusap po ito: Please, Landbank, let us do better for our people.’

The senator, in response to a question about possible amendments to existing laws, said that there must be ‘a different set of rules and regulations’ for government banks such as the Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Pangilinan also pushed for looking into amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) after he flagged both the LandBank and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for neglecting the suspicious transaction report generated for the P457-million transaction.

‘Shouldn’t they [AMLC] have called LandBank to seek the details? And if AMLC didn’t call, then Landbank should have called AMLC to ask, ‘What should be done with this? P457 million in cash is being withdrawn from the funds of [the] DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways]?,” the senator said.

Pangilinan was referring to the cash withdrawn by Syms Construction Trading Inc. owner Sally N. Santos, one of the DPWH contractors involved in the multi-billion infrastructure corruption issue. The money was meant for former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, who had admitted to Senate probers that their engineering district was deeply involved in the systematic diversion of huge chunks of funds for flood-control projects, for kickbacks of officials, including lawmakers.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved House Resolution 320, formally requesting the Senate’s consent to extend its plenary session until October 13, 2025, to pass the 2026 P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The move seeks to provide lawmakers additional time to deliberate on and approve the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading.

‘The leadership of the House of Representatives, representing both the majority and minority, have agreed to request the consent of the Senate for the extension of its session beyond the date indicated in the adopted Concurrent Resolution on the Legislative Calendar. There is a need to conduct one additional session day on October 13, 2025, to vote on the third and final reading of the General Appropriations Bill,’ the resolution said.

‘Following the expected approval of the GAB on second reading on October 10, 2025, members of the House of Representatives will require the constitutionally mandated period of three days to study and review the final version of the bill prior to nominal voting on the third and final reading, in accordance with the legislative process and to ensure informed and deliberate decision-making,’ it added.

Under Section 26(2) of Article VI of the Constitution, ‘No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three readings on separate days and printed copies thereof in its final form had been distributed to its Members three days before its passage, except when the President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment.’

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III explained that the chamber needs more session days to ensure the passage of a ‘clean’ budget before transmitting it to the Senate. He emphasized that budget legislation remains Congress’ top priority despite ongoing controversies surrounding alleged irregular projects and insertions.

Originally, the House planned to conclude plenary deliberations this week, with October 10 earmarked for the period of amendments to House Bill (HB) 4058, or the proposed 2026 GAB.

The extension will allow the chamber to complete its work on agency budgets and finalize the measure before adjournment. The GAB will then be transmitted to the Senate, with a bicameral conference committee later convened to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

Under the 1987 Constitution, failure by Congress to pass the budget before year-end would result in the automatic reenactment of the previous year’s appropriations.

With the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) expected to issue multiple complaints and recommendations, a lawmaker has called on the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track the appointment of the next Ombudsman, a post left vacant since the retirement of Samuel Martires in July.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila M. De Lima issued the call following the recommendation of the ICI to the Ombudsman for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and 17 others over the alleged P290-million flood control project anomaly in Oriental Mindoro.

‘In light of massive issues of corruption our country faces today, there is an urgent need for the appointment of the regular Ombudsman, as the agency will certainly receive many complaints and recommendations from the ICI,’ De Lima said.

‘Given the widespread collusion and the number of lawmakers and government officials implicated in these anomalous flood control projects, the Office of the Ombudsman needs a regular appointee who can fully focus on the growing number of cases,’ she added.

During the House plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Ombudsman on September 24, De Lima stressed the need for the agency to act promptly, be more transparent, and be more receptive to complaints of graft and corruption.

‘As the ICI investigation progresses, it is expected to recommend additional complaints to the Office of the Ombudsman. With other corruption cases, this will certainly keep their office busy-underscoring the urgent need for an ombudsman to lead the process,’ the lawmaker reiterated.

De Lima also pressed the Office of the Ombudsman to address the unnecessary and unfortunate dismissal of cases due to inordinate delays in fulfilling its mandate under the Constitution.

‘As the country’s Tanodbayan, the Ombudsman should champion the government’s anti-corruption efforts. It must be swift, serious, and fair in filing solid cases against erring public officials who plunder the nation’s wealth,’ De Lima said.

‘The appointment of a new Ombudsman should no longer be delayed. It is crucial to ensure accountability, advance pending cases, and deliver long-overdue justice to the Filipino people,’ she said.

During a sit-down with Lav, he tossed out the Vice Ganda line almost casually, like a joke half-formed. But Lav doesn’t do jokes. His films teach you that the camera lingers until you squirm, the stories loop back until you recognize you’ve been here before. So when he said Vice on the ballot, I heard it as another long take, a provocation, not a punchline.

Because this isn’t really about Vice. It’s about the country’s obsession with spectacle, the way politics already runs like a theater. Lav has been circling this for decades. Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan, his take on Dostoevsky, follows a brilliant law student who murders while an innocent man rots in prison, a brutal reminder of how justice bends toward power. Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis, his eight-hour meditation on the Revolution, stretched the march for independence into betrayal after betrayal, showing freedom as unfinished business. Batang West Side, set in New Jersey, tracked the Filipino diaspora through a young man’s death and the detective who unravels it, a story of exile and alienation. Different films, different frames, but the same diagnosis, cycles of suffering replayed, spectacle masking decay.

So yes, Vice Ganda, the most visible entertainer of the moment, makes perfect sense in his mouth. Not as a campaign slogan, but as proof. If politics has long been about charisma, image, and showmanship, then who better than the performer who already commands the crowd? The remark is less an endorsement than an X-ray; here is what politics has become.

Lav told me during dinner that trolls had started circling him online. He said it with a shrug, like he’s seen the script before. And he has. His films are full of that noise, gossip, rumor, and fear, turning into background music. From What Is Before, which won the Golden Leopard at Locarno, captured the creeping atmosphere before Martial Law, villagers sensing terror through whispers before it descended full force. Melancholia, his three-part study of grief, showed characters swapping roles, a nun, a prostitute, a pimp, yet never escaping their despair, a metaphor for a country trapped in cycles no matter the costume. Florentina Hubaldo, CTE, followed a woman suffering memory loss, her abuse and pain replayed endlessly, a portrait of a nation addicted to forgetting. Every one of these films tells you the same thing: rumor, repetition, amnesia, the mechanics of power.

So the chatter online about his Vice Ganda remark, some laughing, some thrilled, others unsettled, only proves the point. Lav has always staged dissonance. Season of the Devil, his sung-through anti-musical, gave us dictatorship through flat, tuneless chants, propaganda delivered without melody, a deliberate discomfort. His Vice Ganda provocation works in the same register, jagged, unmelodic, daring you to sit with the discord.

Three words still hang in my head: mapanlikha, mapangahas, mapanukso. Inventive, daring, provocative. They’re his signatures. He stretches time until it breaks. He stages history without compromise. He unsettles surfaces until deeper truths spill out.

So no, this isn’t prophecy. It’s a parable. Lav leaves the camera running, long after the line is spoken. He doesn’t cut. He never does. And the audience, the electorate, are left in the frame, forced to decide whether they’ll keep applauding the performance or finally demand something else, something real, something not yet rehearsed.

THE government could earn at least P200 million by auctioning the 13 smuggled luxury vehicles owned by contractors Sarah C. Discaya and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ F. Discaya, seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The vehicles, which were issued Warrants of Seizure and Detention (WSDs), are now in the custody of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

They were transported to the BOC compound in South Harbor, Port Area, early Wednesday morning, after establishing sufficient grounds for seizure due to irregularities in their importation and documentation.

In a media viewing on Wednesday afternoon, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno explained that if the Discayas fail to prove that the vehicles have valid documents and that proper duties and taxes were paid, the vehicles will be forfeited and will go to the government.

Once forfeited, Nepomuceno said the government could auction, destroy or donate the vehicles.

However, he said that the BOC will not destroy the vehicles since it will just be a waste of what the government could earn. Donating them to government agencies would be inappropriate, he added. We will make sure that if an auction is conducted, it will be transparent and competitive so that the collection of the government from those vehicles will be used for the government’s programs, Nepomuceno said in Filipino.

The 13 seized vehicles have a combined market value of P290 million. The costs would be based on current appraisals and depreciation of the vehicles, which should not exceed 10 percent.

The government could raise a minimum of P200 million to P220 million from selling the smuggled vehicles, Nepomuceno said.

Aside from losing their high-end cars, the Discayas also have tax liabilities due to the illegal entry of the vehicles into the country’s ports.

Nepomuceno said the rule of thumb in taxing luxury vehicles is to multiply the cost by one and a half.

For example, if a luxury car is priced at P30 million, then the Discayas would have to pay another P45 million by ways of taxes and duties, Nepomuceno said. If the vehicles were auctioned, the taxes would not be included, he added.

On how soon the auction will be, he said the BOC will do it as soon as possible. Nepomuceno added that the process will still go through checks and balances and will have to be approved by the Secretary of Finance before proceeding with the auction.

The Discaya family will still be given an opportunity to prove that their documents and payments are correct, he said.

The vehicles under the BOC’s custody are: Toyota Tundra; Toyota Sequoia; Rolls-Royce Cullinan; Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 AMG SUV; Mercedes-Benz G 500; Lincoln Navigator 2021; and, Bentley Bentayga. According to the BOC, these vehicles do not have import entries, lack Certificates of Payment (CPs) or have fraudulent CPs.

The Lincoln Navigator 2024, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade 2021, Maserati Levante Modena, GMC Yukon XL Denali and Cadillac Escalade ESV all have import entries. However, these vehicles guarded by the BOC, also lack or have fraudulent CPs.

The remaining 17 vehicles also in BOC custody are subject to transaction audit by the Post-Clearance Audit Group.

Earlier in September, the BOC conducted a search operation at the premises of the Saint Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp. in Pasig City, owned by the Discaya family, which led to the discovery of 30 vehicles now under BOC custody.

LIVING a more mindful life opens the path toward greater overall happiness.

Wellness coach and health educator Elizabeth Scott, PhD, stated that directing all attention and awareness to the present may bring many benefits to relationships, emotional and physical health.

‘Practicing everyday mindfulness can pull you out of the negative downward spiral caused by too much daily stress, too many bad moods, or the habit of rumination,’ she explained.

Scott, who specializes in stress management, positive psychology, and family counseling, noted that it can likewise assist to put stressful events into perspective.

This builds resilience so you are less overwhelmed in the future.

‘Learning to be present in the moment is a way of life,’ expounded the author of self-help book 8 Keys to Stress Management.

‘With practice, you can learn to live a more mindful life that allows you to become more conscious of everything you are doing,’ she added.

To guide the general public, experts from the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) shared Scott’s insights as published on the award-winning platform Verywell Mind.

Here are her key points:

Mindfulness in eating. Mindless eating-whether you eat as you scroll through your phone or look to food for emotional comfort-can contribute to problems, such as overeating and consuming too much sugar.

Her tip: Resist the urge to multitask. Be present with your food. Pay attention to each bite Chew slowly.

Savor the taste. Notice how you fuel your body.

Mindfulness in interactions Communication is important. Mindfulness in a relationship is to observe and interact without judgment.

When you are with someone, give them your undivided attention. Listen carefully. Focus on what they are saying, instead of your own response. Learn to reply with purpose.

Mindfulness in daily activities. Trouble recalling whether you washed your hair when in the shower or forgetting why you walked into a room are signs that your mind is full.

Focus on what you are doing as you are doing it-and nothing else. Tune into physical sensations. Let go of anxiety over the past and thoughts of the future. When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the current moment. Simple activities to focus on may include walking, gardening, or even just eating chocolate.

Pause to be mindful throughout the day. It may be a challenge to stay mindful as you move from one activity to the next.

Get back on track by focusing on your breathing when you’re upset or anxious. It can have a calming effect and help you stay grounded.

Progressive muscle relaxation is another exercise. Tense and relax your muscles-one muscle group at a time. You will learn to recognize when you tense up certain body parts.

All of the 12 Filipino crew of the Dutch-flagged cargo ship, MV Minervagracht, which was damaged by an unidentified explosive device, are safe, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

In a brief social media post last Wednesday, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac confirmed the status of the Filipino sailors after coordinating with their ship operator, employer, manning agency, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

‘Two were injured and are undergoing medical treatment,’ he said.

In a separate statement, he said one of the injured sailor has minor injuries and another with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

He clarified that only the 10 crew members, including those with minor injuries, are expected to return home soon.

The DMW, in close coordination with the DFA and the shipowners, are now working for the safe transfer and repatriation of the 10 sailors.

‘So far, the families, of course, want them home,’ Cacdac said.

Last Tuesday, it was reported that the Minervagracht was set on fire after it was attacked with an explosive by suspected Houthi rebels.

The European Union maritime mission Aspides rescued the crew of the Dutch-flagged ship before they were transported to Djibouti.

Aside from Filipinos, the multinational crew of MV Minervagracht, includes Russian, Ukrainian, and Sri Lankan nationals, were moved to secure location after their rescue.

DMW earlier assured it will provide medical aid, repatriation, counseling, and legal aid to the affected Filipino sailors.

It also said it will enhance the protection and welfare of Filipino seafarers on board ships, which are passing through dangerous waters such as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The agency also imposed stricter measures for shipowners and manning agencies, which have sea vessels with Filipino sailors passing through said area.

This after Houthi rebels attacked the ships Magic Seas and Eternity C, which have Filipino crew members.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has intensified relief efforts to provide quick assistance to the victims of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu and nearby provinces Tuesday night.

Acting on orders of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., PCSO General Manager Mel Robles has directed their branch offices and authorized agent corporations (AACs) to rapidly deliver essential help and aid to affected communities.

AACs Piona Trading and Supply Corp., and King Dragon Gaming and Amusement Corporation were among the first to respond, delivering donations such as food and other essential items to the Cebu Provincial Government on Wednesday.

Additional AAC donations were already en route to Cebu, with more in the pipeline from other partners.

Charitimba food packs are part of the initial relief efforts.

Evaluation supply kits, including mosquito nets, plastic mats, blankets, slippers, flashlights, pillows, towels, and other necessities, have been airlifted via C-130 aircraft Wednesday afternoon to support survivors.

GM Mel Robles stated: ‘Our thoughts are with our kababayans in Cebu and the surrounding areas. PCSO is closely monitoring the situation and will extend further assistance to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected’.

He continued: ‘We are working tirelessly to bring comfort during these challenging times.’

He added the spirit of bayanihan is alive in their efforts.

He also encouraged everyone to remain resilient and united, knowing that help is on the way.

PCSO remains committed to a holistic response that goes beyond medical assistance, encompassing comprehensive relief efforts to support disaster-stricken communities.

According to the latest reports from the Office of Civil Defense, the earthquake has resulted in 63 fatalities and over 150 injuries.

GM Robles vowed the PCSO will continue to coordinate with relevant authorities to support ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Globe Telecom Inc. said on Wednesday it is strengthening its presence in Quezon Province with a series of network expansions and technology upgrades in Lucena City.

In a statement, Globe said it has upgraded and optimized 48 cell sites across Lucena, covering around 275,000 city residents.

The company is also building new facilities to ensure the city’s households, schools, and businesses can seamlessly adapt to the demands of a digital economy.

‘These improvements enable seamless video learning, efficient business transactions, and other digital activities, ensuring Lucenahins remain ahead in today’s fast-paced digital economy,’ Globe said.

To complement the stronger network, Globe is also offering flexible data promos for every type of user-from Go+ packages for prepaid subscribers, Sulit Surf bundles for TM customers, to GPlan options for postpaid households and professionals who require dependable internet all day.

‘Globe’s efforts in Lucena are part of its network expansion program nationwide. By expanding cell sites and boosting capacity, the company is preparing communities for the future.’

The company reported a net income of P12.4 billion in the first half of 2025, down 14 percent from the same period last year, with gains from its digital ventures and cost-efficiency measures partially offset lower service revenues and higher depreciation and financing charges.

Consolidated service revenues stood at P80.2 billion, 2.4 percent lower than the P82.2 billion posted in the first six months of 2024. This was due to softer contributions from traditional services and a contraction in fixed wireless demand, although revenues from mobile data and fiber broadband segments showed resilience.

A new law will speed up crucial infrastructure projects and ensure fair compensation for landowners. I, thus, welcome President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signing of Republic Act No. 10752, or the Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act, into law.

Another game-changer after the North-South Commuter Railway, the legislation is designed to streamline the government’s acquisition of private land for public use. This process has historically been fraught with delays, disputes and legal challenges. We need a comprehensive law to reform existing regulations.

The ARROW Act represents a significant overhaul of right-of-way (ROW) acquisition policies. For years, infrastructure projects, from highways to power lines, have been stalled by complex land negotiations, litigation and disputes over property valuation.

With the new law in place, we have a clearer, more efficient framework that balances the public’s need for infrastructure development with the private property rights of citizens. It applies to a wide range of national government projects and public service facilities, including electricity, water, telecommunications and transportation.

It also introduces key reforms to prevent project delays and ensure a more transparent and equitable process.

Before any land acquisition can begin, the new law requires implementing agencies to create a Right-of-Way Action Plan (RAP). The plan serves as a proactive measure, ensuring agencies have a comprehensive understanding of a project’s impact and are prepared to provide fair compensation and relocation. The plan must include a detailed census of affected people, an inventory of their assets, estimated costs and a clear implementation schedule.

The law also addresses the long-standing issue of property valuation in which land compensation is based on the standardized system established by the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RA 12001).

This ensures landowners receive a fair price for their property through a transparent valuation system. If an approved schedule of market values is not yet available, the offer will be based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) zonal valuation and the assessed value of improvements. The law outlines specific documentation requirements to ensure legitimate claims for untitled lands are recognized.

The ARROW Act amends the process for eminent domain, which is the government’s right to take private property for public use with just compensation. To prevent delays in expropriation proceedings, implementing agencies should deposit 15 percent of the land’s market value with the court when filing a complaint.

The deposit includes 100 percent of the replacement cost for improvements and 15 percent of the market value of crops and trees, providing immediate and substantial compensation to affected landowners.

The law takes a firm stance against legal obstacles designed to halt progress. It prohibits lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders (TROs) on government infrastructure projects, a measure that directly addresses one of the most common causes of project delays. The prohibition ensures that critical public works can proceed without being held up by protracted legal battles.

For informal settlers, the law mandates better coordination between the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) and local government units (LGUs) in establishing and developing resettlement sites. This ensures that displaced residents have a structured and dignified path to relocation.

The new law extends its reach to private entities and holds them accountable for violations, with their officers potentially facing civil or criminal penalties. For public-private partnership (PPP) projects, ROW acquisition will be in accordance with the PPP Code of the Philippines of 2023 and its implementing rules and regulations.

The ARROW Act represents a significant step forward in modernizing and streamlining the process of infrastructure development. By expanding the number of government agencies involved in preparing the implementing rules and regulations, the law ensures a more coordinated approach to land acquisition.

The inclusion of key agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will lead to a more holistic framework. It institutionalizes reforms that will prevent legal disputes and cost overruns while protecting the rights of landowners.

The law provides a clearer and more transparent process for balancing the government’s need to build essential public infrastructure with the protection of private property rights. This, in turn, will help facilitate crucial economic and social progress for the nation.