Category: Philippine Star

The drivers and operators’ group Manibela has expressed support to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) public transport modernization program.

According to Manibela president Mar Valbuena, the LTFRB has shown openness and accountability when it consulted operators and transport cooperatives as part of efforts to make the modernization program more inclusive.

Valbuena criticized some groups for asking LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III to resign over alleged ‘irregularities’ in the agency.

‘The reason some groups are asking Guadiz to resign is because some of their demands were not granted,’ Valbuena said.

Earlier, the LTFRB reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the program, assuring stakeholders that reforms in the sector remain a top priority.

Guadiz said the LTFRB continues to exert all efforts to ensure that the transition to a modernized transport system proceeds without interruption.

He added that the agency has been working closely with government financing institutions to aid operators of modernized jeepney fleets meet their loan obligations under the program.

On Aug. 8, 2025, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert, announcing it will no longer use the ‘Dates for Filing’ chart in calculating a child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA-age). Instead, it will return to its previous practice and use the ‘Dates for Filing’ chart for all Adjustment of Status applications filed on or after Aug. 15, 2025.

Applicants may still use the Dates for Filing chart when determining when an adjustment application can be filed with USCIS. This new policy only affects the CSPA age calculation.

By way of background, a child’s CSPA age is calculated by subtracting the number of days a petition was ‘pending’ from the applicant’s age on the date a visa becomes available. A visa is considered available on the latter of (1) petition approval or (2) the date a visa became available in the Visa Bulletin.

However, the monthly visa bulletin has two charts concerning visa availability: the dates for filing chart and the final action dates chart. Since 2023, USCIS has calculated a child’s age based on whether a visa was available (or the priority date was current) on the dates for filing chart, which was more advantageous to children, as a priority date became current much sooner than on the final action dates chart. Under this new policy change, the date a visa becomes available will be based on the Final Action Dates.

This could also create a problem or dilemma because a child in the US could file for adjustment of status based on the dates for filing chart, but that is no guarantee they would eventually be CSPA eligible, as they must then wait for the priority date to become current in the final action dates chart in order to determine if they can benefit from the CSPA. If they do, everything is fine. But if they filed for adjustment of status using the date for filing chart, and it is later determined that they aged out under the final action dates chart, their adjustment will be denied. With a denial, it’s possible that under the Trump administration, a notice to appear (NTA) could be issued.

In all honesty, this new policy (which is actually a return to the policy that had been in effect since 2002) will now treat children within the US (seeking the adjustment) and children outside the US (who are consular processing) the same way. This is because since 2023, USCIS had been using the date for filing chart, whereas the embassy had always relied on the final action dates chart. As a result, a child could be refused a visa if consular processing, but that very same child would be CSPA eligible if adjusting status. Therefore, a child’s CSPA eligibility depended on whether they were within or outside the US. In fact, I have had some consultations dealing with children who aged out in the US embassy in Manila. However, had they been in the US adjusting status (and using the date for filing chart), their green card would have been approved.

Also, be aware there is the additional CSPA requirement that the child must ‘seek to acquire’ a visa within one year of visa availability. This could be accomplished by submitting their adjustment of status or DS-260 within one year of visa availability. In other words, even with the child’s age calculated to be under 21 using the final action dates chart, the child has a one-year deadline to apply for their visa, or they lose CSPA benefits.

If you have any questions or issues about CSPA eligibility, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation and assist in determining if your child qualifies.

Malacañang has declared special non-working days in four towns, two cities and a province to allow residents to participate in local celebrations such as founding anniversaries, festivals and historic events.

Proclamation 1045 declared Oct. 9 a special non-working day in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte,which will celebrate its 66th founding anniversary.

Proclamation 1046 declared Oct. 16 a holiday in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur for the celebration of the town’s 68th Foundation Day.

Oct. 20 will be a special non-working day in Batac City in Ilocos Norte as provided under Proclamation 1047 to mark the 159th birth anniversary of Gen. Artemio Ricarte.

Proclamation 1048 declared Oct. 28 a special non-working day in Dingle, Iloilo for the commemoration of the Cry of Lincud, the first declaration of revolution against Spain in Iloilo and Panay Island.

Proclamation 1049 declared Oct. 29 a special non-working day in Mati City in Davao Oriental for the Sambuokan Festival.

Oct. 30 will be a special non-working holiday in San Isidro, Davao del Norte as provided under Proclamation 1050 for the celebration of the Sikwate Festival.

Proclamation 1051 declared Nov. 4 a special non-working day in Quezon province to commemorate the death anniversary of national hero Apolinario dela Cruz, also known as Hermano Puli.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on the faithful to join a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance in light of the calamities and corruption that continue to plague the nation.

In a letter to dioceses, CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David announced that the observance will be launched on Tuesday, Oct. 7, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

‘In the spirit of the prophetic exhortation of Baruch, which is a prayer of national confession and contrition, and in the context of the calamities that continue to afflict our land, we call for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance to be launched on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,’ David said.

Prayers will be held in all parish churches, chapels and homes starting Tuesday and every succeeding Sunday leading up to the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 23, as part of a sustained supplication for mercy and renewal.

‘This act of national contrition is also a step in our journey of synodality – walking together as God’s people, listening to the Spirit and to one another, in humility and hope,’ he said. ‘As we mark this pilgrimage year of hope, we cling to the promise of the Apostle Paul: ‘Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

David urged the faithful to pray ‘with contrite hearts and steadfast trust, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,’ for national healing and renewal.

The CBCP also released the official prayer titled ‘A National Cry for Mercy and Renewal,’ which implores God to hear the voices of the people ‘as we walk in the valley of darkness.’

It likens the Filipino people to ‘a stray sheep that has fallen from the cliff, clinging desperately to a brittle branch, crying out for rescue.’

LA Tenorio’s head coaching era has started off triumphantly.

The Magnolia Hotshots welcomed Tenorio and the 50th season of the PBA with a bang after fending off Barangay Ginebra in a wire-to-wire affair, 80-73, in the Philippine Cup opener Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Zavier Lucero powered the Hotshots with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jerom Lastimosa and the comebacking Javi Gomez-de Liano chipped in 14 markers apiece.

‘It was really hard, first of all, emotionally. I have to battle and really challenge my mind that it’s not about me and Coach Tim [Cone], it’s about Magnolia versus Ginebra. But, I just want to thank the players and my coaching staff. I really want to credit them, because they really guided me,’ Tenorio told reporters after the game.

‘Alam nila na mahirap especially in this kind of atmosphere. For the players, they were really ready going to this game, I really appreciate their effort, their fight, their focus coming to this game,’ he added.

The Hotshots erected a 15-point advantage, 63-48, with 10:10 remaining after a James Laput jumper.

But a 9-0 run, built by a layup by Japeth Aguilar, a 4-pointer by Jeremiah Gray and a 3-pointer by newly crowned Rookie of the Year RJ Abarrientos, sliced the deficit to six, 57-63, with 8:38 left.

However, huge shots by Lucero, Gomez-de Liano, Mark Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa kept the Gin Kings at bay.

The game was still within reach after a jumper by Stephen Holt that put them within striking distance, 69-78. Misses and turnovers by Ginebra, however, made it difficult for them as the clock melted.

Magnolia started the game waxing hot with 10 unanswered points, pumping the advantage to 14, 21-7, after a layup by Lucero.

But Ginebra was able to tow itself to within two points, 24-26, but could not tie or take the lead.

Rome dela Rosa chipped in 12 points for the Hotshots.

Holt had an all-around game for Ginebra, finishing with 16 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and a steal. Gray added 13 markers, while Troy Rosario and Abarrientos tallied 12 and 11, respectively.

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.

The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) issued an apology to Rosa Rosal and her family after falsely claiming the veteran actress had passed away.

FAMAS had initially posted an obituary card of Rosal, who turns 97 years old later this month, on its social media platforms.

The organization has since deleted the post and released a statement admitting that information fed to them was false.

“Ms. Rosal remains with us, and we deeply regret any confusion or distress this may have caused her family, friends, and admirers,” FAMAS said.

The organization added that it values truth and integrity, and going forward will be more vigilant in verifying information before releasing any statements, reiterating its apologies to Rosal, her loved ones and the public.

Entertainment journalist Mell Navarro confirmed with Rosal’s grandnephew, William Thio, that the retired actress was indeed still alive.

Navarro later shared a video from Thio of Rosal introducing herself and greeting everyone, “Merry Christmas.”

Prior to her retirement, Rosal – born Florence Lansang Danon – debuted during the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, appearing in classic films like “Anak Dalita,” “Badjao” and “Biyaya ng Lupa.”

Later movies include “Sakada” and “Esperanza: The Movie” having appeared in the original series from 1998.

She also starred in television shows such as “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw,” “Narito Ang Puso Ko,” and “Vietnam Rose,” and hosted “Damayan” and “Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko.”

The country’s agricultural trade continued to grow in August, but at a significantly slower pace than the previous month, with both exports and imports registering weaker gains.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that total agricultural trade reached $2.33 billion in August, reflecting an annual increase of 0.9 percent.

In contrast, July saw a 14.5-percent gain at $2.53 billion, while August 2024 total trade reached $2.3 billion, marking a 5.1-percent increase.

Agricultural exports in August rose to $723.47 million, up by 12.3 percent from $644.14 million in the same month last year, and accounted for roughly 10 percent of the country’s total exports.

‘The top 10 commodity groups in terms of value of agricultural exports contributed $707.53 million or 97.8 percent to the total agricultural export revenue in August,’ the PSA said, noting that the combined agricultural export value of these top commodities posted an annual increase of 16.3 percent during the month.

‘Among the commodity groups, edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons which was valued at $243.23 million comprised the largest share of 33.6 percent to the total agricultural exports in August,’ it added.

The Philippines exported $70.88 million worth of agricultural products to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in August, accounting for 7.5 percent of total exports to the region.

Malaysia emerged as the top buyer, taking in $38.26 million or more than half of the country’s agricultural exports to ASEAN during the month.

As for Philippine imports, the value of farm goods brought in reached $1.61 billion, representing a 15.2-percent share of the country’s total imports in August.

It registered a decrease of 3.5 percent from the $1.67 billion worth of agricultural imports in August 2024.

‘Among the major commodity groups, cereals accounted for the largest share worth $311.09 million or 19.4 percent of the total value of agricultural imports in August,’ the PSA said.

The country’s agricultural imports from ASEAN member countries in August amounted to $672.15 million, accounting for 23 percent of total imports from the region.

Vietnam was the top supplier, providing $189.39 million or 28.2 percent of the Philippines’ total agricultural imports from the regional bloc during the month.

The Quezon City government will provide P1 million each in financial assistance to 10 Cebu local government units that were affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last Tuesday.

The assistance will be provided to the local governments of Bogo City and the towns of Medellin, San Remigio, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Carmen and San Fernando – all identified as among those severely affected by the quake.

Aside from financial assistance, Quezon City also deployed 26 personnel to assist in disaster response.

Engineers and other disaster risk reduction technical crew provided expertise in damage assessment and auditing of affected infrastructure, while emergency medical services and psychosocial teams were deployed to provide immediate medical assistance to affected residents.

‘Quezon City extends its heartfelt prayers, support and solidarity to all the victims of the earthquake,’ city hall said in Filipino. ‘We are ready to provide additional assistance to the best of our ability.’

DSWD relief goods not for sale

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development warned the public that DSWD relief goods are not for sale, after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided a warehouse and arrested a businesswoman along Juan Luna Street in Tondo, Manila on Thursday.

The CIDG operatives caught the businesswoman, identified only as Janice, selling P15.52 million worth of relief kits bearing the DSWD logo.

Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting Philippine National Police chief, said Janice negotiated with CIDG operatives for the sale of relief goods that are intended for victims of natural calamities.

‘Relief goods and government assistance are sacred lifelines meant to protect our most vulnerable citizens during times of crisis. Selling or misusing them is illegal,’ Nartatez said in a statement.

Lt. Col. John Guiagui, who heads the CIDG-National Capital Region field unit, said Janice agreed to sell around 6,000 boxes of family kits for P2,588 per piece.

Each family kit contains towels, slippers, t-shirts and underwear for adults and children. Once the boxes were loaded into a truck, police moved in and arrested Janice.

Guiagui said they received information that Janice had been a supplier of relief goods since 2020 but her contract had ended.

‘We are determining whether these items came from the DSWD or were part of over-production,’ Guiagui said.

He noted that Janice would still be liable, no matter the outcome of the investigation, for the illegal use of the DSWD logo – a violation under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, advised the public that the agency’s food and non-food items are not for sale.

‘The (DSWD) strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our logo and warns unscrupulous individuals that appropriate legal punishment awaits their actions,’ Dumlao said.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is vital to nation-building. It empowers Filipinos to make informed decisions by fostering critical thinking, strengthening media awareness and encouraging responsible digital use.

This call was echoed last Oct. 1 when United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and MediaQuest’s THINKaMuna campaign representatives came together for a small but meaningful gathering. The event underscored their shared commitment, with discussions centering on projects to push MIL forward in the Philippines.

‘Most young people today turn to social media as their first source of news,’ said UNESCO Jakarta director Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa. ‘With AI making it harder to tell what’s fake from what’s true, it’s even more important for all generations to think critically and share information responsibly.’

They are making this happen in several ways.

Explainer videos

The UNESCO-THINKaMuna partnership has rolled out three of six digital episodes so far: Cognitive Biases in July, Critical Thinking in August and Tech Addiction in September. Each is short, visually appealing and easy to understand, perfect for audiences with short attention spans.

‘Most MIL materials are very academic because they were made for schools,’ shared MediaQuest corporate communications consultant Ramon Isberto.

‘We want ours to be different – playful and something people can casually talk about in their neighborhoods.’

This approach has brought the digital episodes closer to audiences, helping them reach nearly five million views.

‘In the Philippines, MediaQuest is our first media partner piloting media literacy in different ways and integrating it,’ added UNESCO Jakarta program specialist Ana Lomtadze. ‘Our mission is really about reaching out in new, innovative ways and showing audiences how and why they should discern information and check their sources.’

Taking MIL to classrooms

While UNESCO provides guidance, Katsuno-Hayashikawa noted that implementation depends on local, on-the-ground initiatives.

THINKaMuna recognizes this, which is why they are distributing 1,000 MIL journals to schools across the country.

‘A substantial percentage of grade school and high school students are not functional readers – they can read, but don’t fully understand what they’re reading,’ explained Isberto.

To address this, the journals are filled with visuals to ensure the message comes across. Workshops for senior journalists and the MILCON 2025 are also in the works to complete the offline component of the collaboration.

‘Society exists because we communicate and learn from each other,’ Isberto concluded. ‘Today, media and information literacy is our way of continuing that conversation.’