Category: Philippine Star

Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI), an Aboitiz Power Corp. subsidiary, has resumed partial operations at its Cebu power plant following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province earlier this week.

The company confirmed that Unit 2 of its Toledo City coal-fired facility returned online at 3:51 a.m. on October 2 after clearing safety and structural checks, and is now supplying electricity to the grid. Unit 1 is scheduled to restart by October 5 pending final inspection.

Meanwhile, East Asia Utilities Corp. (EAUC), a 37.2-megawatt plant under AboitizPower located in Lapu-Lapu City, reconnected to the Visayas grid at 12:25 p.m. on October 1.

TVI said in a statement that it is coordinating with the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to mitigate the earthquake’s impact on power supply and ensure grid stability.

The company added that it will provide further operational updates as it works to restore full capacity at its facilities.

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala suffered an early exit from the Wuhan Open qualifiers after succumbing to Moyuka Uchijima, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, Saturday evening in Manila.

Eala, who had a quick return to action after the Suzhou Open, ran out of fuel after competing in her fifth straight three-set match.

The three-setter matches started during the Jingshan Open semifinals, where the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate bowed out of the tourney after a 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 defeat against Lulu Sun.

Eala then played three-set thrillers against Katarzyna Kawa and Greet Minnen, before falling against Viktorija Golubic on Friday.

And on Saturday, Uchijima took the first set with ease, before the Filipina equalized things up, breaking the 2-all deadlock with four of the next five games.

However, Eala fell behind 0-3 in the third set, and she could not claw out of the deficit this time around.

The Japanese tennister won 54 service points to Eala’s 49. The latter, though, punched in 39 receiving points to the former’s 33.

Pacific’s top seed and Masters Toronto champion Paper Rex has been eliminated in the Valorant Champions Tour’s culminating event – the Valorant Champions Paris – after suffering a 0-2 sweep from fellow Pacific be South Korea’ DRX in the lower bracket semifinals.

After an undefeated run in the group stages, Paper Rex absorbed its first loss of the tournament, against Europe’s FNATIC, which had enacted its revenge for falling to the Southeast Asian organization back in the grand finals of Masters Toronto.

Relegated to the lower brackets, Paper Rex managed to regroup and dispatch Europe’s Team Heretics to stay alive in the tournament, only to set up a Pacific El Clasico as it went up against fellow Pacific team DRX in the lower bracket semis.

In DRX’s map pick of Ascent, Paper Rex had a strong defensive side, finishing the half with a 9-3 lead, only for DRX to answer with a five-consecutive-round win to even out the series and eventually force an overtime. Though Paper Rex managed to take the opening round, it was DRX that would close out the map at 13-15.

The South Koreans continued to ride their winning momentum in Lotus, dismantling Paper Rex’s offensive side to sweep the Express, 13-8, and eliminate them from the tournament.

Though seeing the end of their 2025 season, the Express remained upbeat with what they were able to achieve after a rocky start in the beginning of the year.

‘If you win a trophy in any year, it’s a good year. We’ve attended the two big events, Toronto and Paris, and we did well in Champs, in my opinion. I think we would have lost to the two teams that are in the top three. So that means that if anything, I think we lost to better teams, and I’m very, very proud of their performance in general, especially their resilience at the start of the year. I think the fact that we still managed to stick together and go through our tough times, I think it’s a huge milestone for the team. As a group, I think I just want them to know I’m very proud of them. I thought that they improved all the way here. And particularly for PatMen, I think as a rookie to come into our team, it’s a hard thing to do, and I know there’s a lot of self-doubt, but I think you should look back and be proud of yourself because I think you played well throughout the year,’ said Paper Rex’ coach Alexandre “alecks” Sallé during the team’s post-match press conference.

Filipino player Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, who joined Paper Rex last March took to social media to share his message to his Filipino fans after the tough defeat.

“Maraming salamat sa mga messages niyo kababayan kahit sobrang malas ko this game against DRX, sumusuporta pa rin kayo! Sana this offseason mabalik ko yung confidence ko tulad ng dati at mas makapag adjust ako nang mabilis sa meta and roles and mas mahandle ko nang maayos yung pressure. I realized na 3 years in tier 2 is not enough experience for me and playing in tier 1 is so much different but I learned a lot of things this year,’ Mendoza said on his Facebook page.

Echoing his coach, Mendoza said he is proud of the achievements he and his team has done for the year, vowing to do better in the next season.

“It’s been a good run this year still and hoping next year will be better for us and sana mas maraming Pinoy ang makapasok at masuportahan natin! It’s not the end of the world despite losing this and 4th place is not a failure. Thank you ulit sa mga suporta niyo! Next year, I will do my best to be a better player,’ he added.

Victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Cebu can now avail themselves of free orthopedic treatment under PhilHealth’s ‘Z benefits’ package, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Saturday, October 4.

DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the expanded benefit was approved by the PhilHealth Board to help survivors who suffered fractures and other bone injuries after being hit or trapped by falling debris.

“‘Yung sa orthopedic Z benefit package kaya importante ‘yan dun sa gawi ng PhilHealth, kasi kunwari nabalian ang isang tao dahil nga dun sa lindol. Ang karaniwang ginagawa po ng mga orthopedic surgeons, naglalagay po ng mga tinatawag na implants. ‘Yan po ay mga bakal na kung tawagin nga po. Mahal po yan kaya nahihirapan ang ating mga kababayan,” Domingo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The orthopedic Z benefit package is important under PhilHealth’s system because, for instance, if a person suffers a bone fracture due to the earthquake, orthopedic surgeons typically insert what are called implants, which are metal components used to stabilize broken bones. These implants are very expensive, which is why many Filipinos struggle to afford them.)

The new orthopedic Z package will allow patients to undergo surgery and receive implants at no cost, under a zero-balance billing policy.

‘Wala na po silang kailangang gastusin (They will no longer have to spend anything),’ Domingo said.

The DOH official clarified that the benefit will cover even patients confined in non-accredited private hospitals, as long as their injuries were caused by the earthquake or its aftershocks.

He also clarified that the benefit is retroactive to the date of the quake.

“Retroactive to the time of the incident kailan nag-lindol, kahit po kayo ay nadischarge at ngayon lang nag-approve, ‘wag kayong magalala sasaklawan ‘yung bill ninyo,” the DOH official said.

(It’s retroactive to the time of the earthquake. Even if you’ve already been discharged and the approval came only now, don’t worry, your hospital bill will still be covered.)

To fast-track implementation, the DOH said it has coordinated with hospitals across Cebu and will issue provisional accreditations where necessary.

The health department continues to operate under Code Blue Alert, the highest emergency status, while aftershocks persist in the province.

Domingo said the DOH maintains round-the-clock monitoring and has so far deployed 163 medical personnel to assist affected communities.

‘Every 24 hours, nagrereport at nag-aassess kung ilan ang nadeploy at kung saan pa kailangan,’ Domingo added.

(Every 24 hours, they report and assess how many personnel have been deployed and where else they are needed.)

In a separate interview on Saturday, Domingo said the DOH will deploy additional mental health and psychosocial support teams to Cebu on a rotational basis.

‘Mayroon tayong Mental Health and Psychosocial Service team na ide-deploy sa Cebu province para iyon ang mag-aasikaso doon sa mental health,’ he said.

(We have a Mental Health and Psychosocial Service team that will be deployed to Cebu province to take care of the mental health needs there.)

The earthquake killed at least 68 people, injured nearly 600 and displaced over 77,000 residents in hard-hit towns like Bogo City and Medellin.

Officials declared a state of calamity in Cebu province to unlock emergency funds and give local governments flexibility to hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Following the suspension of the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Commission on Elections is recalling all poll paraphernalia that the Comelec has deployed in the BARMM.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would undertake reverse logistics to retrieve all poll supplies including automated counting machines (ACMs) and official ballots that were supposed to be used for the BARMM elections on Oct. 13.

‘While we wait for the new districting law, we need to retrieve all the equipment that were earlier deployed in the BARMM,’ Garcia said. ‘We spent money in shipping them. Now we have to spend money again to have them returned.’

Garcia said it is important to take back all deployed election supplies and paraphernalia as there would be changes in the system including allocations.

‘The ACMs must be reconfigured and tested again. Even supplies such as indelible ink, batteries and ballots must be returned to the Comelec,’ he said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court declared the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 58 and BAA 77 as unconstitutional, effectively postponing the BARMM elections from October to March next year.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said it would start this month the printing of ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled in November 2026.

Garcia said the early ballot printing for the barangay and SK elections would prevent conflict in the schedule once the National Printing Office needs to print ballots for the BARMM elections.

Two persons of interest who were caught on video using the credit cards of a Taguig businessman and his wife are under police custody, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said yesterday.

CIDG National Capital Region field unit chief Lt. Col. John Guiagui said the two, a man and a woman, surrendered after seeing their faces in news reports.

Guiagui did not name them, but said that the two were the subjects of a follow-up operation in Manila following the disappearance of the couple and their business partner in July.

He said the two used the credit cards of spouses Henry Angelo and Margie Pantollana at two malls in Quezon City and Cavite. The couple and business associate Richard Cadiz were last seen in a sport utility vehicle on July 6.

According to Guiagui, the two claimed they bought the credit cards from a man in Quezon City. The cards were used in the purchase of over 50 cell phone products from a coffee shop.

He said the CIDG is preparing charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act.

‘I just don’t believe that the credit cards randomly landed in their hands,’ Guiagui said, adding that the CIDG is investigating the extent of their participation in the couple’s disappearance.

Initial investigation showed that the Pantollanas, along with Cadiz, left Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for a business transaction with a man identified only as Jeff.

Guiagui said Jeff had submitted a sworn statement to the CIDG. Jeff allegedly told investigators that he met the victims on July 6 at his condominium in Pasig.

Jeff claimed Henry became agitated when a person called him on his phone and that the couple and Cadiz left after their meeting – an allegation that the CIDG is also investigating.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said over national radio Friday, October 3, that the Department of Health (DOH) is next on the radar of anti-corruption crusaders, after uncovering alleged large-scale corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), particularly in flood control projects.

‘Not only DPWH – what’s happening in the DOH is getting close, too,’ he said, referring to mounting concerns over alleged irregularities in the health department following corruption complaints against Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and five other officials.

They were accused of misusing P44.6 million worth of government-procured psychiatric medicines, which were allegedly turned over to a private group without due process.

‘Si (DOH Secretary Ted) Herbosa, malapit na ‘yan,’ Magalong said.

Lawmakers have also flagged the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), citing unfinished or unusable health centers, with some described as ‘ghost’ facilities.

Others, meanwhile, remain non-operational due to a lack of personnel.

Magalong said the efforts of his group, Mayors for Good Governance, are not limited to infrastructure projects, stressing that public funds are also being wasted in other critical areas, including healthcare – a concern that directly affects ordinary Filipinos.

However, his actions have drawn criticism. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon questioned Magalong’s own record, citing a P110-million tennis and parking facility project in Baguio linked to Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction. Ridon urged Magalong to also explain his involvement in the project.

Magalong, who resigned from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) after questions over a possible conflict of interest, may need to present stronger evidence of alleged corruption in the DOH, similar to what he submitted against DPWH officials.

Before stepping down from his post as ICI adviser and investigator, Magalong had turned over documents and other evidence to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which helped jumpstart ongoing corruption probes.

The DOH has yet to issue a formal response to Magalong’s latest claims.

University of the Philippines fended off a late rally by National University to deal the Bulldogs their first loss, 66-59, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

The Fighting Maroons dropped a 22-2 bomb in the third and fourth quarters to erase a 13-point deficit and take full control of the contest, before NU’s comeback attempt came up short.

Francis Nnoruka paced the Diliman-based squad with 14 points and six rebounds, while Gani Stevens chipped in 10 markers and five boards. Harold Alarcon and Miguel Yniguez contributed eight points apiece.

UP trailed by 13, 34-47, in the third quarter after a deuce by Steve Nash Enriquez.

But the Maroons, off back-to-back 3-pointers by Yniguez, made it a one-point contest, 48-49, heading to the fourth quarter.

UP’s run continued in the final frame, taking a 56-49 lead with five minutes remaining.

A split from the line by PJ Palacielo finally ended the NU drought, but the UP continued as the Maroons took a 12-point lead late, 65-53, following a Reyland Torres jumper.

Jake Figueroa and Palacielo tried to mount a comeback with six straight points, but a Stevens split iced the game.

NU actually held an 11-point advantage in the first quarter, going up 17-6, before UP went ahead, 24-23, in the second frame.

The Bulldogs though regained their touch and erected the double-digit lead.

UP’s Rey Remogat tallied six points while shooting 2-of-9 from the field.

Enriquez paced NU with 16 point and four assists, while Gelo Santiago had 10 markers.

UP is now holding a 2-2 win-loss record, while NU dropped to 3-1.

Currently, Ateneo is the only remaining team without a defeat this season.

A government worker died while more than 500 people were left homeless in separate fire incidents in Samar, Davao and Cagayan de Oro recently.

Reynold Muñez, 30, an employee of the provincial government of Samar, was trapped in the fire that gutted his house in Barangay Canlapwas, Catbalogan City on Wednesday.

Muñez was reportedly trying to rescue his son, not knowing that his family had already evacuated.

The fire was reportedly caused by a faulty power connection.

In Davao City, more that 150 houses were destroyed in a fire that broke out in Barangay 21-C on Thursday.

The fire quickly spread to houses made of light materials.

No one was reported injured or killed in the incident that left more than 200 families homeless.

In Cagayan de Oro City, up to 121 people lost their homes in a fire that broke out in Barangay 17 on Thursday.

Affected families took shelter under a nearby bridge.

Every five minutes, someone in the Philippines loses their sight-not from rare or untreatable illnesses, but from conditions that can often be prevented or managed if detected early.

Cataracts, glaucoma and uncorrected refractive errors affect more than a million Filipinos, yet eye health continues to be underprioritized in the national health agenda.

According to the Philippine Eye Disease Study conducted in 2018, around 1.98% of Filipinos live with visual impairment, defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye.

The percentage may seem small, but it represents lives profoundly affected: careers interrupted, children falling behind in school, older adults losing independence and families under strain.

Among the main causes of visual impairment in the country are retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME), neovascular or ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and its subtype polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). These are complex conditions that require advanced diagnostics and long-term treatment, yet they remain under-recognized and undertreated. Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors still account for a large portion of blindness, while glaucoma contributes significantly.

But the growing burden of retinal diseases highlights a deeper challenge: these conditions cannot simply be resolved through surgery or corrective lenses and they demand sustained access to innovative therapies.

The social and economic impact of vision loss extends well beyond the clinic. A recent Asia-Pacific (APAC) Vision Health Survey offers important insights into the lived experiences of Filipinos facing or fearing visual impairment.

More than half of respondents-50.5%-believe vision loss would cause financial hardship, the highest rate across eight Asian countries surveyed. Nearly three-quarters worry it would compromise their ability to perform daily tasks such as cooking or cleaning.

Caregivers are also heavily affected, with many reporting difficulty taking time off work or income loss due to family responsibilities. And among Filipinos with diabetes, 84.6% report vision-related symptoms-the highest rate in the region.

While these figures are concerning, they also signal an opportunity for action. New research is bringing greater attention to a lesser-known eye disease that disproportionately affects Asians: polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, or PCV.

In simple terms, PCV occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, the part of the eye responsible for clear vision. These vessels can leak or bleed, causing sudden and often permanent vision loss. PCV is often grouped under ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), but it behaves differently, requires specific diagnostic tests and may respond differently to treatment.

This condition is particularly relevant for the Philippines because of its prevalence in Asian populations. Around 60% of global PCV cases are found in Asia, yet most clinical trials and treatment guidelines have historically focused on Western populations. This gap has left many Asian patients underrepresented in evidence and practice.

In the Philippines, a recent local study titled ‘Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy features among Filipino eyes with neovascular AMD based on APOIS criteria’ found that 53.3% of eyes initially diagnosed with nAMD actually showed features consistent with PCV.

In other words, more than half of patients may be living with a subtype of disease that is frequently misdiagnosed, leading to treatment approaches that may not deliver the best results.

This is especially concerning in a country where access to eye care is uneven. Fewer than one in three Filipinos undergo an annual eye exam.

In rural areas, ophthalmologists and diagnostic equipment are limited. Public awareness of retinal diseases like PCV remains low, and advanced tests such as indocyanine green angiography-which are critical to confirm PCV-are often unaffordable.

Without targeted policies and better access, many Filipinos remain at risk of losing their vision unnecessarily.

There are, however, encouraging developments. At the EURETINA 2025 Congress in Paris, one-year results of the SALWEEN Phase IIIb/IV trial were presented, demonstrating sustained improvements for patients with PCV across Asia. Patients in the study achieved an average gain of +8.9 letters in vision, with more than half able to extend dosing intervals to five months.

These findings show that with the right therapies, lasting improvements are possible. On the policy front, progress has also been made.

This year, PhilHealth introduced an optometric benefit package for children aged 0 to 15 years old. Under PhilHealth Circular 2025-0002, vision assessments, refraction and prescription eyeglasses-including lenses and frames-are now covered.

This reform could significantly reduce childhood vision problems, particularly in underserved communities. PhilHealth also increased reimbursement rates for cataract surgery, now ranging from P20,200 to P80,900 depending on lens type. These reforms are meaningful steps toward strengthening the public eye care system.

Yet gaps remain. Addressing cataracts and providing eyeglasses are important, but they cover only part of the vision health landscape.

For conditions like PCV and diabetic eye disease, patients also need earlier detection, access to advanced diagnostic tools, and appropriate long-term treatment-all of which are still out of reach for many. Eye health should be more firmly integrated into national strategies on noncommunicable diseases, aging, and disability.

PhilHealth benefit packages must continue to expand, covering retinal imaging, anti-VEGF therapies, and other necessary interventions to help patients preserve their sight.

Policy reforms must also be supported by investments in infrastructure. Mobile eye clinics, barangay-level screenings and better-equipped rural health units can extend care to more communities. Training additional ophthalmic specialists and ensuring sustainable funding will also be critical.

Public awareness is another piece of the puzzle. Families need information about early warning signs, the importance of routine eye checkups, and where to seek care. Partnerships among government, private sector, and civil society can amplify education, prevention, and access through nationwide campaigns and local initiatives.

The convergence of new science and stronger policies provides a unique chance to make preventable blindness a problem of the past. But research and reforms must translate into real outcomes for real people. Vision is not a privilege; it is a basic need that shapes opportunity, dignity, and independence.

Every day without action is another day when a parent may lose the ability to provide for their family, or a grandparent may slip into dependency. Vision loss takes away not just sight, but quality of life for patients and for the families who support them.

The tools to change this reality already exist. The task now is to act with urgency, coordination, and commitment. So that every Filipino, regardless of age or income, has the chance to live fully with the gift of sight.