Category: Philippine Star

The government is expected to impose a temporary halt on onion imports by February next year to prioritize the local harvest and safeguard farmers’ incomes without disrupting market supply or burdening consumers.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the suspension would take effect about a month before the peak harvest period to prevent oversupply in the market.

‘For onions, definitely we will stop importation one month before harvest, which is around February,’ Tiu Laurel told reporters on the sidelines of the 47th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF).

Tiu Laurel explained that imports of white onions began as early as last month, which helped bring down retail prices to about P100 to P120 per kilo from a high of P160 before importation.

He added that shipments of red onions are also expected to enter the country starting Oct. 15 in time to stabilize supply ahead of the holiday season.

The secretary said that prices of red onions spiked to as high as P140 to P160 per kilo in the past week.

This, he said, prompted him to quietly authorize the early entry of shipments to temper the increase.

Tiu Laurel also gave an initial estimate of the red onion imports, saying the volume could range between 3,000 and 5,000 metric tons (MT).

According to the government’s onion industry roadmap 2021 to 2025, efforts are aimed at raising national onion production to 279,270 MT from 229,539 MT by expanding cultivated areas and improving crop yields.

The roadmap said that most of the country’s roughly 35,000 onion farmers grow their crops on small plots averaging 0.5 hectare (ha) per household across select regions.

With such limited land, these farmers primarily rely on family labor, earning around P5,100 per man-day for bulb onions and P2,100 for shallots.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for 2020 shows the major onion-growing regions in the country are Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan region.

Bulb onions occupy 79 percent of the total area at 14,453 ha while shallots cover 21 percent at 3,938 ha.

From 2011 to 2020, PSA data shows that production increased at an average annual rate of 10.72 percent, to 229,539 MT from 128,837 MT, while area planted grew by an average of 4.91 percent annually, to 18,391 ha from 14,641 ha.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero to explain the P30-million campaign donation he received from a contractor during his 2022 senatorial campaign.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed on Saturday, October 4, that a show cause order (SCO) was sent to Escudero on Friday.

The senator has been directed to appear before the poll body’s Political Finance and Affairs Department on October 13.

The order follows a similar directive issued earlier against Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., who admitted during a House hearing that he donated P30 million to Escudero’s campaign. Lubiano claimed the funds came from his personal account, not from the company.

Garcia said the Comelec is determining whether the donation violated Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits contractors or entities with government projects from contributing to political campaigns.

”Yan ang pinaka-puno’t dulo ng magiging desisyon ng Comelec,’ Garcia said in an interview on Dobol B TV, referring to whether the donation was made in a personal or official capacity.

Escudero acknowledged receiving the donation but denied any involvement in flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon or other areas.

Centerways Construction is among 15 contractors previously identified by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. as having cornered about 20% of the government’s flood control project contracts.

Garcia clarified that Escudero was not being singled out, saying the poll body is also looking into alleged illegal donations received by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte during their 2022 campaign, as well as other names mentioned in the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report.

Malacañang has said Marcos is open to being investigated over the reported campaign donations.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal previously said that soliciting or receiving donations from individuals or entities with government contracts is an election offense punishable by imprisonment and disqualification from public office.

The ongoing investigations also coincide with congressional inquiries into flood control projects after Marcos revealed that contractors linked to several lawmakers had cornered massive government flood control contracts.

Jewelmer, the country’s pride in golden South Sea pearls, recently welcomed the Top 6 finalists of Miss Universe Philippines 2025 to Palawan for an inspiring immersion into the artistry and science of pearl cultivation.

Now in its fourth year as the official pearl sponsor of the prestigious pageant, the multi-awarded Maison showcased its world-renowned pearl farm where the queens, led by reigning Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo, witnessed the intricate, years-long process behind every rare gem. The visit, highlighted by cultural performances from the local community, left the finalists in awe of the dedication, passion, and craftsmanship that make the South Sea pearl truly the country’s treasure.

A night of friendship and flavor

The ever-gracious Nene Leonor hosted a delightful dinner at the famous Shang Palace restaurant in Makati Shangri-La, Manila to celebrate the birthday of the beloved Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier. Surrounded by his loved ones led by his ever-supportive wife Edna Lhuillier, along with esteemed friends and diplomats, the evening brimmed with fun, laughter, and warm camaraderie.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous Chinese lauriat, making the gathering even more memorable. Thoughtfully organized by Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Alice Samson, it was truly an enchanting night that celebrated friendship and togetherness.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered the immediate mobilization of city enforcement and engineering teams to crack down on illegal structures and fast-track reforestation efforts inside the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

The directive came during a joint site visit and coordination meeting held the other day at the CCPL Cantipla office, where city officials, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CCPL, and the KEEP Forest Foundation mapped out urgent protection measures for the watershed.

The visit focused on strengthening riparian zone protection, accelerating forest rehabilitation, and initiating legal action against unauthorized developments within the protected area. A riparian zone is the stretch of land that borders rivers, streams, and other bodies of water that plays a vital role in maintaining the health of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Technical teams from the city and DENR conducted on-site inspections of priority zones and received a briefing on ongoing restoration activities.

A roundtable discussion followed according to the city’s PIO, aligning the roles and schedules of partner agencies and community stakeholders.

KEEP Forest Foundation, a local conservation group active in Central Cebu, presented long-term volunteer maintenance plans and proposals for sustained site care that integrates reforestation, environmental law enforcement, and community education to foster collective stewardship and sustainable development.

A central technical priority identified during the meeting was the issuance of notices of violation and expedited inspections of alleged illegal structures.

Archival directed city teams to coordinate closely with DENR-CCPL to ensure swift legal and administrative action, while upholding due process.

Officials emphasized that enforcement will be paired with community-based restoration and livelihood support to ensure both protection and inclusive stewardship of the watershed.

The collaboration signals a renewed commitment to safeguarding Central Cebu’s ecological integrity through coordinated governance, civic participation, and science-based restoration.

City going after illegal structures in watersheds.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has teamed up with the University of the Philippines (UP) to equip computer and engineering students with digital skills for the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

Converge yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with UP for the development of AI talents, as the Philippines gears up for a future dominated by automated systems.

The agreement, which runs for three years, sets up a collaboration framework between Converge and UP with the goal of putting up a dedicated space for innovation in the long term.

The partnership aims to raise the level of education in UP on cloud computing, machine learning, smart manufacturing and digital business.

The program will benefit students taking up computer engineering, computer science, electronics engineering and business administration.

Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said the company has decided to work with UP to ensure students are well prepared for the future.

Likewise, the agreement seeks to build the country’s pipeline of tech leaders and talents.

‘This collaboration represents more than skills development, as it is about creating a sustainable pipeline of Filipino technology leaders,’ Uy said.

The partnership is designed for rollout in three phases, with Converge and UP kicking it off with exploratory initiatives and expanding further into integration efforts by 2026.

The first leg of the program will launch a nine-month pilot aimed at graduating students, giving them the opportunity to specialize in AI systems, digital technology and product development.

Uy said the partnership would try to address the knowledge gap between classroom learning and industry application. Students included in the program will be given access to global benchmarks on AI, with Converge supplying educators who can share industry practices.

Later on, the agreement would evolve into an internship model where students can participate in competitions, forums, hackathons and mentoring.

If feasible, Converge also plans to establish an innovation lab in UP devoted to AI prototyping and research.

UP vice president for digital transformation Peter Sy said the tie-up with Converge could become a model of how academe-industry alliances could be shaped in the future.

The Department of Trade and Industry sees AI contributing $92 billion to the economy, making up 12 percent of the gross domestic product by 2030.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and the Makabayan bloc sought a substantial cut in the P903-million proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2026 after Vice President Sara Duterte snubbed the House plenary budget deliberations.

On Thursday, Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, who was assigned to sponsor the OVP’s proposed budget, informed the plenary that not a single official of the OVP was present to defend its proposed budget.

Duterte is reportedly in Cebu attending to earthquake victims.

Alvarez told the plenary that Duterte forwarded to him a letter addressed to Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, where the Vice President listed two conditions for her to attend the budget deliberations.

‘I am seeking the following: 1. The House of Representatives demand the attendance of President Marcos for the P27.3-billion budget deliberations of the Office of the President,’ Duterte said.

She added that she will attend ‘if the committee on good government and public accountability will produce before the plenary schedule, a Department of Justice document confirming that the immigration lookout bulletin order for OVP personnel, namely Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Lemuel Ortonio, Atty. Rosalynne Sanchez, Atty. Sunshine Charry Fajarda, Gina Acosta, Julieta Villadelrey and Edward Farjarda, is lifted.’

In response, De Lima said Duterte’s precondition is a disrespect and an insult to the House.

‘Enough is enough, I rise today to express my displeasure, and in due time I will move for the decrease of the budget of the OVP,’ she added.

De Lima said that initially she thought of moving to give the OVP zero budget, but in consideration and out of respect to the OVP’s personnel and staff, she will just propose a substantial cut.

‘Why can she not spare a few moments of her time attending to her official functions as Vice President, to defend the budget of her office? Enough is enough of her brattiness,’ De Lima said.

Act Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also expressed his dismay over Duterte’s attitude toward the House.

‘I condemn the disrespect of the Vice President to the people, while she expects to get the big budget of the OVP for 2026,’ he said.

Tinio vowed to push for a significant reduction in the OVP’s 2026 budget, cutting it from P902 million to P198 million.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co also said she will move for the reduction of the OVP’s proposed budget at the proper time.

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in an interview with One PH that employees of the OVP may be affected if Duterte continues to refuse to defend the OVP 2026 budget.

‘If she doesn’t want to show up in the plenary debate, that’s up to her… That’s her responsibility because it’s the Office of the Vice President and many people, staff rely on her,’ she said.

Sam Bruce cooled off with an even-par 70 after an impressive opening 68 but safely secured her place in the weekend rounds of the Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells in California, where American Anne Chen surged into the solo lead on Friday (Saturday Manila time).

Bruce, who dazzled in the first round with a four-under-par start, carded four birdies but dropped two bogeys for a 35-35 split in the second round. Her two-day total of 138 put her at six-under, tied for 23rd and six shots behind the pacesetting Chen.

Despite losing momentum in the second round, Bruce, winner of the opening leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, remains very much in the mix heading into moving day. A strong weekend could vault the rising talent into serious contention, especially with her proven ability to go low. A breakout win is not out of the question if she can rediscover her first-round form and handle the pressure of a packed leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Clariss Guce rebounded superbly from a rocky opening 73, firing a sizzling six-under 66, highlighted by a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 17th. The US-based Filipina and two-time Epson Tour winner climbed to joint 31st at five-under 139, putting herself back in striking distance for a solid finish.

Dottie Ardina, backed by ICTSI, stumbled to an even-par 72 following her first-round 69, slipping to a share of 50th at three-under 141 – just making the cutline.

She started brightly with two early birdies, moving to five-under overall. However, a pair of bogeys from No. 12 halted her charge, and she had to grind out pars to secure her weekend berth in the $250,000 event.

At the top of the leaderboard, Chen produced a scorching 64 – powered by a six-under 30 on her opening nine – to post a 12-under 132 total. She grabbed a one-shot lead over in-form Yana Wilson.

Chen’s round featured three straight birdies from No. 3, and though a lone bogey on the sixth marred her otherwise clean card, her consistent play under near-ideal conditions set the tone for the field.

Wilson, a two-time Epson Tour winner in her rookie season, stayed hot with a 65 and shares second place at 134 with Alice Hodge (68) and Sophia Schubert (69).

Yeng Guiao has been a basketball coach for 33 years, starting with the defunct Philippine Amateur Basketball League. He has always been known as a firebrand, a maverick, a catalyst for change. Over the years, the seven-time PBA champion mentor has nurtured his values in doing things the long way, the right way, some would say the hard way. He’s outspoken, blunt, down to earth, transparent. What’s right is right; what’s wrong is wrong. Period.

‘It’s probably the way I was brought up by my parents,’ he told The STAR and Basketball Universe PHL. ‘My father (10-year Pampanga governor Bren Guiao) said that if you’re doing what is right, even if other people are doing things differently, you should stick to your beliefs.’

Entering the PBA’s 50th season, the Rain or Shine head coach picked eight players in the annual PBA Rookie Draft. The four who survived are still fulfilling their collegiate and MPBL commitments, and will only be able to join the Elasto Painters in January. It will take even more time for them to blend in with the team, and learn from their elders Gabe Norwood and Beau Belga. Still, the retired politician is confident that RoS will be able to surpass the semifinals this season.

‘We were in the semis four consecutive conferences,’ Guiao explains. ‘That’s enough experience. This team is ripe. We hope to break through the ceiling of the semifinals.’

The 66-year-old tactician also shared that he does not see himself retiring. He’s been a player, Philippine Basketball League commissioner, and coach in the PBL, PBA and at the national team level. He says that he still tries to learn something every day. The game has evolved so much from when he started, from the emergence of dominant big men and athletic one-on-one players to the era where everyone can shoot from the outside and spacing is everything. Yeng doesn’t see himself retiring himself ever.

‘You can’t retire from life,’ he declares. ‘This is what I do. Retiring means starting from scratch again, and finding something to do. I don’t think about that. There’s still so much to learn.’

So Guiao will do what he does best, developing players who would otherwise never achieve greatness, speak out against what he feels is unfair, and build champion teams the long way, the hard way, the right way. He savors the progress his players make, which he counts as wins that give him lasting fulfillment. No quick fixes. He knows that, sooner than later, he will bring Rain or Shine to their first championship since 2016. For him, that will be worth 10 championship trophies won the easy way.

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) expressed its support to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for pursuing a sweeping tight governance measure to avoid corruption inside and outside the agency.

The BOC has implemented the ‘Anti-Conflict of Interest’ policy, a strict ‘No Take’ Policy, and tighter disclosure rules for customs personnel in its bid to protect legitimate businesses and ensure fair trade.

According to BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, the initiatives are reinforced by the agency’s digitalization program aimed at streamlining the processes, reducing the red tape, and curbing opportunities.

Nepomuceno said the ongoing reforms – anchored on integrity, accountability and modernization – paid off handsomely following the reported seizures of smuggled goods valued at P2.39 billion.

Such accomplishments, according to Nepomuceno, reflect the agency’s firm resolve to uphold transparency and strengthen public trust in Customs operations, and at the same time, enable the agency to win the support of no less than the FFCCCII.

He thanked the business community for their valuable support.

‘We value the trust and confidence extended to us by the business community. The BOC’s reform agenda is not only about institutional integrity but also about creating an environment where legitimate trade can thrive,’ Nepomuceno said.

‘By working hand in hand with our partners in the private sector, we can ensure that the Philippines becomes a more competitive, transparent, and predictable destination for investment,’ the BOC chief concluded.

Recognizing these efforts, FFCCCII President Victor Lim said the business community welcomes the BOC’s reforms and the Commissioner’s strong stance on integrity and good governance.

‘It is good that there are leaders such as Commissioner Nepomuceno, who uphold integrity in good governance,’ Lim said.

‘In light of the recent issues affecting the Philippine government, it is good that there are leaders such as Commissioner Nepomuceno, who uphold integrity in good governance and create a very competitive and business-friendly environment for businesspeople such as the FFCCCII,’ he said.

‘We are very supportive of such leadership.’

The FFCCCII said the business sector is ready to work closely with the BOC in sustaining reforms, noting that such partnership will not only strengthen the campaign against smuggling but also contribute to national economic growth.

The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia facing a sustained deterioration in its current account, setting it apart from regional peers whose external balances remain broadly stable, according to Bank of America (BofA).

In a report, BofA said it assessed the state of external balances across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), focusing on trade and its subsequent impact on growth.

‘We find that despite the growing headwinds from external trade, current account balances across the region have remained in a manageable state, with only Philippines showing a steady trend of wider deficits, while other economies in the region remain rangebound,’ it said.

According to the report, the Philippines has consistently posted current account deficits over the past year, while Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore have strengthened their external positions.

‘On a long-term basis, current account trends in the region appear to show mild but consistent shifts, with Malaysia and Philippines showing a persistent trend of steady deterioration,’ BofA noted.

The Philippines’ current account deficit eased to $5 billion (four percent of gross domestic product) in the second quarter, down by 15.8 percent from $5.9 billion (5.2 percent of GDP) a year ago, as stronger exports helped trim the trade gap.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has recorded improvements due to stronger processing of mineral and resource exports, while Vietnam has swung from a persistent deficit to a sizable surplus.

Thailand remains volatile, shifting between deficits and surpluses depending on tourism inflows. Singapore continues to post large and stable surpluses.

BofA identified weak trade in goods as the key drag on the Philippine current account. While most of ASEAN saw frontloaded export gains in the first half, the Philippines underperformed, keeping its trade deficit wide.

The country’s reliance on remittances and information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) services has partially cushioned the gap, but these inflows are not growing fast enough to close it.

‘Remittances growth, especially in the Philippines, has consistently run behind nominal GDP growth,’ the bank observed, adding that their importance to the external account has gradually diminished.

Tourism receipts, which are helping neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia recover their services surpluses, have also been slower to rebound in the Philippines.

The Philippines is also grappling with fiscal and monetary pressures. BofA highlighted that the fiscal deficit in August ballooned to P84 billion, up by 56 percent year-on-year, bringing the shortfall to P869 billion from January to August, or 25 percent higher than the same period last year.

On the monetary front, the peso weakened by nearly two percent in September as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled it was nearing the end of its policy easing cycle.

The BSP has already lowered interest rates by 150 basis points since August 2024, bringing the key rate down to five percent.

BofA said it expects the central bank to reiterate that ‘the terminal rate is within sight’ at its Oct. 9 policy meeting.

The widening current account gap underscores a structural weakness that could weigh on investor sentiment and external stability.

‘Medium-term challenges remain,’ BofA cautioned, stressing that the Philippines’ heavy dependence on remittances and IT services, coupled with persistent goods trade deficits, makes it more vulnerable than its ASEAN peers.

Despite the challenging external picture, BofA said ongoing government support and a focus on improving fiscal spending quality could prevent a sharper slowdown in economic activity.