Category: Philippine Star

Sen. Mark Villar will remain with the minority bloc despite his recent vote to alter the conviction threshold denominator in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday.

Clarifying the dynamics within the chamber, Cayetano emphasized that political alignments do not dictate how senator-judges vote in the ongoing trial.

Villar recently broke ranks with his minority colleagues who decided to sit out Wednesday’s vote on the threshold.

‘He’s staying with the minority,’ Cayetano told reporters. ‘There is no minority-minority when it comes to the impeachment court. So, if there will be consultations, it would be more of gauging each other, rather than wondering how we will vote as one.’

Cayetano noted that while senators frequently share meals, discuss legislation and consult each other on legal nuances, they maintain their independence as judges.

Despite Villar’s differing vote, Cayetano gave assurance that the bloc remains unified and operational.

However, he lamented the ongoing absence of several members due to legal and medical issues.

‘(The minority is) working. There is no animosity here in the minority. Of course, we long for the 11 to be complete, but then again, four of our colleagues are facing different challenges,’ Cayetano said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P9.7 billion to fund additional response measures ahead of the ‘very strong’ El Niño episode next month.

The agency will allocate P6.2 billion in fuel and fertilizer intervention to farmers and fisherfolk, while an additional P3.5 billion has been requested to fund several solar irrigation projects throughout the country.

The support will be funded under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, which provides support to vulnerable sectors affected by the fuel crisis.

In a press briefing, DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the agency has already received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from the Department of Budget and Management to begin the implementation of the fuel and fertilizer assistance.

‘This is fertilizer support and fuel assistance to those who are affected by the fuel crisis and in preparation for the upcoming El Niño,’ he said.

Broken down, about P2.2 billion will be issued to fund biofertilizers, P1 billion each as fuel assistance for both farmers and fisherfolk, another P1 billion under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) and P1 billion in fuel subsidy for agri-transport.

De Mesa said an additional P3.5 billion has been requested to put up solar irrigation projects in provinces that will be less affected by the weather event.

‘We have identified the areas already. We want to maximize the areas that are not affected by El Niño, but irrigation is lacking, so we will increase solar irrigation there,’ he said.

He added the DA is now waiting for the issuance of the SARO from the DBM before it could move forward with the project implementation.

De Mesa said the agency hopes the funding would be cleared within the fourth quarter, in time for the onset of the El Niño.

The state weather bureau PAGASA said earlier that the very strong El Niño would begin by October and could intensify by the first half of next year.

The weather event was last experienced in 2024, with total damage to agriculture reaching P15.3 billion and causing a 3.3-percent decline in the country’s agriculture and fisheries production.

In the face of unspeakable loss, we are allowed – entitled, even – to grieve. We go through the five stages of the experience: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It is an understandable, very human thing. But when does it become too much? When does expressing sorrow become forum shopping, attention grabbing, commercialism? Two sports personalities have reacted to the recent behavior of Rovelyn Baterbonia, mother of Rene Baterbonia, the Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie who drowned in Aurora on June 8. They feel that it has been a little too much.

‘We still sympathize with Mrs. Baterbonia. It’s a tragedy, and her pain will not go away,’ explains Chris King dela Cruz, a teacher at UST for roughly 20 years, and head coach of the school’s men’s senior high school basketball team. ‘But she has been sharing fake narratives that have been shared by other content creators, conspiracy theories that have no basis, which goes against the motto of the University of Santo Tomas, veritas in caritate, truth in love.’

The multi-awarded coach also says he doubts the narrative that the Baterbonias attended UAAP games last week to watch UST, not Ateneo. They were in the audience along with the parents of Divine Adili, who also drowned in the tragic training incident. After the game, the family went to the dugout to take photos and video with the Growling Tigers.

‘Even just entertaining Mrs. Baterbonia is already a red flag,’ adds Dela Cruz, a multi-awarded coach and servant of the church. ‘First of all, we do not have business with her. She went there to see Koji (Buenaflor), which rides on a fake narrative. In the online environment that we have on social media, Thomasians are speaking out on Threads, on FB, on X; they are expressing disapproval of the university being associated – through the men’s basketball team – with Mrs. Baterbonia. Let’s distance ourselves. We can sympathize, but not to the extreme of dedicating the season to them. What is the right way to ask for justice? To file cases against those who deserve it.’

Meanwhile, Bare-Knuckle Boxing (BKB) super welterweight world champion Rolando Dy posted a joke on Facebook in the vernacular that said, should he pass away, he forbids anyone from selling refrigerator magnets and photo albums of him online. He added that he would haunt whoever did so. Baterbonia suporters construed this as a criticism of Mrs. Baterbonia’s social media commerce for her son. Dy’s post reaped criticism, mostly from Baterbonians from the southern part of the Philippines. In response, he said he was joking, then quipped that he didn’t realize that they were a religion.

These are just two incidents that raise questions about how we handle personal loss, how much leeway we should be given, and what the limits of societal tolerance should be, when grief evolves into something else.

Takewondo Olympic bronze medalist Stephen Fernandez will be featured on ‘Masters of the Game’, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15 pm over IBC 13 and DWAN 1206 AM.

From whipping boys to legitimate contenders.

That was how Arellano U coach Chico Manabat transformed the Chiefs since he took over the team three years ago and it was evident in their 88-65 thrashing of the Perpetual Help Altas yesterday in NCAA Season 102 at the PhilSports Arena.

That victory was AU’s third straight.

It also snared the Chiefs a share of the Group B lead with the Letran Knights.

In Group A, Ian Torres canned four triples in the fourth as St. Benilde outlasted Mapua, 82-77, for 3-1.

Bulacan has long been recognized as the province of heroes. Its historians, universities and local officials have worked together to ensure that the province remains a leader in historical research, publication and heritage preservation.

Through the Bulacan Cultural Material Laboratory (BCML) at the Bulacan State University (BulSU), the province has also emerged as a leader in archaeological research and the recovery of material culture, underscoring its significance in the study of Philippine prehistory.

Significant findings in Bulacan date back more than a century, beginning with Otley Beyer’s Rizal-Bulacan Archaeological Survey. Robert Fox later initiated projects in Angat and Norzagaray to identify Philippine cultural practices related to iron ore smelting. However, academic institutions and local governments have neither supported nor sustained these initiatives.

This prompted the establishment of the BCML in 2021 at the BulSU Center for Bulacan Studies under the SHINE Bulacan Project. During my term, the SHINE Bulacan Project was among the first Education Tourism (EduTourism) projects funded by CHED.

The logic behind the CHED EduTourism initiative was simple: higher education institutions, drawing on their instructional, research and public service expertise, must partner with local governments to promote local history, culture and heritage conservation and to position their campuses and the province as destinations for local tourism.

Under the leadership of the late CHED International Affairs Service Director Lily Milla, the commission funded EduTourism projects at several institutions, including Kalinga State University (heritage museum), CLSU (eFarm Academy), ISUFST (fish museum), Tarlac Agricultural University (smart agriculture), Capiz State University (riverine improvement for eco-tourism), President Ramon Magsaysay State University (coastal tourism) and the University of Antique and Iloilo Science and Technology University.

The CHED funding for BCML covered the establishment of the facility, drones for remote sensing and aerial mapping and computers for processing Ground Penetrating Radar data.

At the project’s launch, I witnessed the strong support of Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and then-BSU president Cecile Gascon. I am pleased that the current president, Teody San Andres, continues to give BCML his full support.

The BCML serves as a facility for cleaning, cataloging, photographing, illustrating, analyzing and storing specimens from ongoing field projects or surveys, as well as surface finds. Specimens recovered from any archaeological or historical site, including stone, pottery, bone, shell and textiles, are subject to laboratory analysis, processing and examination.

BCML also offers consultation sessions for students, educators, professionals and researchers interested in exploring topics related to archaeology, history, cultural studies and paleoenvironmental research in Bulacan.

Under the expert guidance of archaeologist Edilberto Larin Jr., the BCML has established standardized procedures for the receipt, handling, documentation, conservation, analysis and storage of archaeological materials processed in the laboratory.

With support from the National Museum and Dr. Armand Mijares of the UP Archaeological Studies Program, archaeological excavations in Bulacan began in 2016. These efforts proved fruitful, as the radiocarbon dating of a monkey bone from Tanggapan Cave provided the first scientific date for Bulacan, 7800 BP. This archaeological date established Bulacan’s maximum scientific age range within the Philippines’ archaeological time period.

Equally important is the guidance of Dr. Jimmy Veneracion, the most prolific historical writer in Bulacan, who has been assisting the Bulacan Studies Center for decades.

Beyond Bulacan, BCML has participated in projects in nearby provinces, such as Quezon and Nueva Ecija, involving cave mapping, assessment and classification.

Although not an original component of the CHED EduTourism project, the BCML initiative’s success led to the establishment of the Biak-na-Bato Museum, which BCML officials now curate.

The province of Bulacan has a diverse and dynamic landscape consisting of upland, inland and coastal areas. Its long, winding river systems also make it highly active in soil deposition and water movement. These geographical characteristics underscore the need for continuous monitoring of potential archaeological sites in the province, which remain vulnerable to changes caused by natural and human-made processes. In addition, anthropogenic factors, such as land conversion and industrialization, pose further risks to archaeological and cultural heritage.

Given these conditions, the BCML plays an important role as a dedicated facility that supports the study, documentation, conservation and preservation of heritage materials spanning the distant past to more recent periods. These materials provide important evidence for understanding the province’s past and help define what it means to be Bulakenyo and Filipino.

Interested students, faculty, researchers and archaeological advocates can contact Edilberto Larin Jr. (cbs.dio.rde@bulsdu.edu.ph) to visit the BCML and get expert advice.

Attention: students, faculty, education stakeholders and art enthusiasts.

Experience the best of Philippine visual arts as ManilART returns for its landmark 18th edition! Since 2009, ManilART has been the country’s premier national art fair. This flagship event of National Museums and Galleries Month brings established masters, emerging talents, vetted galleries and passionate art lovers together under one roof.

Hosted at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig City, ManilART presents an unparalleled celebration of creative expression, regional perspectives and vibrant cultural exchange. Whether you are a seasoned collector, an aspiring artist or simply looking for inspiration, immerse yourself in the dynamic world of Filipino art.

Join us at SMX Aura on Oct. 14 for the gala and Oct. 15-18 for the general public, as we celebrate nearly two decades of artistic excellence!

Questioning the lapsed legal mandate of acting Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, the Senate flagged 7,107 Department of Public Works and Highways infrastructure projects worth P251 billion for data anomalies yesterday.

During the DPWH budget deliberations, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the projects required rigorous data cleanup by regional and district engineers before the Senate could finalize its committee report.

He warned that the DPWH central office could be overwhelmed if local engineers passed on messy or incomplete data involving nearly 12,000 projects overall.

‘Our district engineers and regional directors should be the ones to clean up your data because of the sheer number of projects. There are almost 12,000 projects, and if they all reach the central office, it will be very difficult for them to clean up,’ Gatchalian said. ‘Hopefully, I’m assuming this is not intentional. I hope.’

Gatchalian said his office identified eight red flags, including duplicated projects, misplaced or missing station numbers, missing coordinates, lump-sum appropriations, overlapping projects, unspecified work scope and conflicting types of work.

He also flagged projects that were already funded in 2026 but reappeared in the proposed 2027 budget.

Expired mandate

Sen. Imee Marcos, meanwhile, questioned Dizon over his lapsed legal mandate to lead the DPWH, noting that Dizon was appointed in an acting capacity in September last year.

Citing the Administrative Code of 1987, she said temporary designations cannot exceed one year.

‘Today is what, Sept. 25, 2026? Overdue na po kayo ng ilang araw, 24 days. What is the present status, therefore, of your appointment?’ Marcos told Dizon yesterday.

Dizon said he was informed by his staff that the Office of the President considers his appointment as ‘continuing.’

Marcos rejected the ‘holdover’ justification, arguing that the principle cannot override an explicit prohibition in the law.

Dizon said he would gladly step down if he were legally required to do so.

‘To be quite frank, it would be very welcome if what you’re saying is that I am no longer the DPWH secretary. I will be more than happy to accept that,’ he said.

Marcos ended the exchange by demanding a formal legal explanation from the DPWH regarding Dizon’s exact status.

The House of Representatives, for its part, concluded plenary deliberations on the proposed P643.95-billion DPWH budget for 2027, with stricter safeguards for infrastructure projects.

As part of its reforms to curb corruption, Dizon said more than 11,000 infrastructure projects would be posted on a transparency portal for public review and scrutiny.

Romualdez to take witness stand

In a related development on the flood control scandal, former Speaker Martin Romualdez will ‘most likely’ take the witness stand to defend himself in the P7.4 billion plunder case against him over his alleged involvement in the controversial kickback scheme from flood control projects, according to his lawyer.

‘He wants his day to defend himself in court, and he will most likely testify,’ lawyer Ade Fajardo said.

He said the alleged bagmen of co-defendant Zaldy Co could also be called to testify.

Yvon Bisera made good on her vow to fight back, closing with a solid five-under 67 to storm into the Top 10 while local ace Yu Chiang Hou held her nerve through a dramatic three-way playoff to capture the Kenda Tires TLPGA Open at the Taichung International Golf Club on Friday.

Bisera saved her best for last.

After a costly 73 in the second round had seemingly derailed her title hopes following an impressive 67 opening round, the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour star returned to the course with renewed purpose and produced her second five-under card in the tournament – to vault from joint 16th into ninth at nine-under 207.

She wasted little time announcing her intentions, rattling off three straight birdies from No. 4 to ignite her final-round charge. More birdies at Nos. 13 and 17 completed a gutsy comeback that restored the momentum she had lost a day earlier.

Bisera was just one stroke off the lead after the opening round but slipped seven shots behind the pace following a costly second-round stumble.

Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will get a P60 daily wage increase starting Saturday, September 26, under a new wage order issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE said all employers in the National Capital Region are required to comply with Wage Order No. NCR-28, which takes effect Saturday.

The order raises the daily minimum wage for nonagricultural workers from P695 to P755.

For agricultural workers, the minimum wage increases from P658 to P718 per day.

The P60 increase also covers workers in service and retail establishments with 15 or fewer workers and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers.

Wage Order No. NCR-28 was issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region after consultations among labor, employers and the government.

The new wage order comes as the previous NCR wage hike remains tied up in court.

Wage Order No. NCR-27 provided for a P85 increase in the NCR minimum wage in two tranches. The first P60 increase was supposed to take effect in July, followed by a P25 increase in January 2027.

Its implementation was halted after contractors Readycon Training and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Corp. challenged the wage order in court.

A Pasig City court later issued an injunction blocking the implementation of NCR-27.

With NCR-28 now in effect, the NCR minimum wage for nonagricultural workers stands at P755 per day, while agricultural workers will receive P718.

DOLE said it will monitor compliance with the new wage rates.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) yesterday defended its relief operation discrepancies after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the agency over inconsistencies, deviations from orders and missing or incomplete documents in relation to its P168 million worth of activities in 2025.

‘The Office of the Vice President (OVP) clarifies that the matter cited in the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Funds Audit Report pertains to deficiencies in certain pre-operation documentary requirements set by the OVP itself as part of its internal procedures, and not requirements imposed by any law or Commission on Audit regulation,’ it said.

In a 273-page report on the 2025 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, the COA said it found discrepancies in the situation reports prepared by the OVP and the validation prepared by local government units for relief operations involving P19.67 million worth of welfare goods.

Discrepancies were found in the reported number of affected families while some local government units did not indicate a beneficiary count.

‘The discrepancies arose from changes in circumstances and field conditions that became apparent as the operations were carried out. No funds were lost and all funds are accounted for,’ the OVP added.

The OVP maintained that the relief operations were actually carried out, and the beneficiaries were recorded and validated based on the available supporting documents and field records submitted to the COA Audit Team.

A new survey by the OCTA Research group showed that more Filipinos prefer the hypothetical tandem of Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla, than Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Sen. Bam Aquino, in the upcoming 2028 national elections.

The survey, conducted from July 4 to 11, found that 48 percent of the respondents would vote for Duterte and Padilla if they run against Robredo and Aquino for president and vice president, respectively.

Thirty-six percent said they would vote for the Robredo-Aquino tandem, while 16 percent were undecided.

Although the Duterte-Padilla tandem is ahead by 12 points, OCTA said this is the ‘narrowest gap recorded between the two tandems to date.’

‘In previous commissioned surveys conducted in 2025, the gap between the tandem of VP Sara Duterte-Sen. Robin Padilla and the tandem of VP Leni Robredo-Sen. Bam Aquino had ranged from approximately 20 to 25 points, indicating a narrowing trend heading into 2028,’ the polling firm said.

Only Duterte had declared her intention to run for a national post in 2028.

Padilla, who was frontrunner in the 2022 Senate race, already said he is not inclined to run as Duterte’s vice president.

Robredo said she prefers to run for a second term as Naga mayor, while Aquino – who ranked second in 2025 – already ruled out running for vice president in 2028.

The OCTA poll had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.