Category: Philippine Star

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) aims to file 15 to 20 cases within four weeks against individuals linked to the 421 suspected ghost flood control projects uncovered in the government’s early assessment.

Newly sworn in as special adviser to the ICI, former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the ICI, tasked to probe large-scale irregularities in public spending, is operating on a four-week plan.

He said the commission the timeline begins with the validation of 421 flood control projects that multiple government agencies have reported in their respective audits, including the Department of Public Work and Highways.

By the second week, the ICI will start building cases.

By the fourth week, the ICI should file 15 to 20 cases at the Ombudsman.

‘Between now until the third to fourth week, we are looking to file at least 15 cases,’ Azurin said in a mix of English and Filipino, at a livestreamed press conference right after his oathtaking ceremony.

Azurin said that the filing of cases will come as soon as the documentation is complete. Other agencies like the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation can also assist on documentation, Azurin said.

Scope of suspected projects. The 421 questionable missing or substandard flood control projects were from an initial pool of 8,000 reviewed. Of the 421, 261 are located in Luzon, 109 in Visayas, and 51 in Mindanao.

The DPWH reported a a total of 238,200 infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2025m about 12.5% or 29,800 of these are flood control works.

Azurin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s former top cop, said the commission’s goal is to break the “cycle of negligence and betrayal” in infrastructure development.

‘This commission has been tasked to investigate, prosecute, and bring to justice all those responsible for corruption and malpractice in infrastructure projects-projects that should have protected our people but instead have caused repeated suffering during natural calamities,’ Azurin said.

A joint maritime operation recovered 36 kilos of suspected cocaine in the coastal waters off Puerto Princesa City in Palawan last Saturday.

The cocaine bricks, packed in two sacks and valued at P56 million, were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Palawan office.

According to reports, the contraband was recovered by the crew of BRP Ladislao Diwa, one of the naval assets under the western command, while conducting maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting Philippine National Police chief, said investigators are coordinating with PDEA in tracing both the source and receiver of the illegal drug.

Local fishermen first discovered the cocaine floating off Barangay Bahile and alerted authorities of its presence.

Familiarity with the tight, tree-lined fairways of Del Monte Golf Club may offer some edge, but Clyde Mondilla and Reymon Jaraula know it will take far more than local knowledge to dominate the ICTSI Del Monte Championship once again.

The homegrown aces finished 1-2 the last time the Philippine Golf Tour visited this mountain-top layout in 2023. Yet, heading into the P3.5-million event, which fires off Tuesday, October 14, both are tempering expectations with a blend of caution, confidence and competitive hunger.

‘Comfortable ako sa home course ko kasi madalas ko siyang nilalaro, pero hindi ko siya binabale-wala,’ said Mondilla, who delivered a thrilling comeback two years ago with a pair of eagles on Day 1 and three closing birdies in the final round to edge Jaraula by one.

Now gunning to defend his crown, the former Philippine Open champion knows that course knowledge is only part of the equation.

‘Iba pa rin ang bawat round. May mga bago kang matututunan,’ he added. ‘Kaya lagi kong sinusubukan na mag-focus, laruin lang ang game ko, at i-respeto ang course.’

While Mondilla takes a methodical approach, Jaraula enters with quiet confidence, eager to flip the script.

‘Confident ako kasi familiar na ako sa course and hopefully, magagamit ko ‘yung advantage ko,’ said the three-time PGT winner, whose local roots remain a strong motivational anchor.

Both are eager to put on a show at home, especially after contrasting finishes in the previous PGT leg at Marapara – Mondilla rallying late to tie for second and Jaraula settling for a share of 18th.

But even with their intimate knowledge of Del Monte, the field is anything but predictable.

Veteran Frankie Miñoza, a living legend and Del Monte icon, returns to action after a long layoff. Though well-versed in every inch of the course, he too understands that success now hinges as much on form and mental fortitude as it does on familiarity.

Challenging the homegrown talents is a loaded field that includes red-hot contenders, decorated champions, rising stars and a wave of foreign threats – all with one thing in mind: the title.

Leading the charge is Keanu Jahns, who has strung together an impressive PGT run – winning twice and placing runner-up twice in six starts. Although his three-peat hopes were derailed by Rupert Zaragosa at Marapara, the big-hitting Filipino-German remains a prime threat.

‘Same as always, take it one shot at a time and stick to my routine,’ said Jahns of his game plan. ‘Del Monte’s tighter layout may favor accuracy more than length, so I’ll adapt accordingly during the practice round.’

Zaragosa, the crafty and confident shotmaker who thrives on tree-lined courses, is another player to watch. Fresh off a dominant win at Marapara, he sees similarities in Del Monte’s setup – a scenario he hopes to exploit.

‘Kasi mahilig ako at bagay ang laro ko sa mga course na tree-lined,’ said Zaragosa. ‘To win again, I need to stay committed to my process, trust my instincts and the results will follow.’

Veteran campaigners Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa, both eager to hit their stride before the final two legs of the P10.5-million Mindanao swing in Davao, are poised to strike. Forest Hills winner Guido van der Valk, Zanieboy Gialon, Michael Bibat, Ira Alido and Nilo Salahog round out a formidable local cast.

Young guns Ryan Monsalve, Russell Bautista, Kristoffer Arevalo, Elee Bisera and John Michael Uy are also looking to make a breakthrough – each hungry for a statement performance on a big stage.

The foreign challenge is equally potent. American Collin Wheeler and a formidable Korean contingent – Jisung Cheon, Tae Soo Kim, Jaehyun Jung, Taewon Ha – along with Japanese standout Atsushi Ueda – are all primed to spoil the locals’ homecoming.

Mati Bishop Abel Apigo has ordered all parishes and Catholic schools in Davao Oriental to stop using their churches and buildings until authorities declare these as structurally safe, following the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit the province on Oct. 10.

In a circular issued over the weekend, Apigo said safety must remain the top priority following reports of significant damage to several church and school structures across the diocese.

‘I am directing all the parish priests and parish administrators, especially (in areas) badly hit by the earthquake, not to use the church buildings until we receive clearance from the competent and designated teams from the province, city or municipal office declaring that the buildings are safe,’ Apigo said.

The order also covers all Catholic schools in the diocese, with administrators instructed to ensure that classrooms and other facilities are properly inspected before resuming classes and activities.

Malaysia-based cafe chain OldTown White Coffee is ramping up its presence in the Philippines with a P400 million expansion plan that will see 20 new outlets open across Visayas and Mindanao in the next five years.

The plan, announced by its Philippine licensee Del Mundo Group over the weekend, follows the recent opening of the popular chain’s first branch in Zamboanga City on Oct. 3.

‘We are optimistic about our continued expansion in Visayas and Mindanao especially in Zamboanga which we see as a growing hub for business and tourism,’ said Del Mundo Group chief executive officer Nelson del Mundo.

‘The strong local economy combined with the region’s rich culture and emerging consumer market makes it an ideal location for our brands to thrive. We believe that bringing our trusted restaurant concepts here will not only create jobs and opportunities for local communities but also contribute to the area’s vibrant dining landscape,’ he added.

Located along Pasonanca Road in Tumaga, the new store is the company’s 11th in the country and its first in Western Mindanao.

The company executive said the expansion reflects their optimism about opportunities outside Metro Manila.

OldTown White Coffee, a halal-certified brand that originated in Ipoh, Malaysia is best known for its roasted white coffee and traditional Malaysian comfort dishes.

The brand currently operates more than 200 outlets in Malaysia and has expanded to Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

It first entered the Philippine market in May 2023 with a store in Caloocan City under the Del Mundo Group, which also operates several food and beverage brands including Mesa Filipino Moderne, Ramen Bari Uma, Buchiton, Hayashi Yakiniku and Cravy.

The Zamboanga outlet is owned and managed by local entrepreneurs Pherhan and Jhulie Saiddi who said they hope the cafe will add to the city’s emerging food scene.

‘Our dream is to bring a global brand to Zamboanga that reflects both quality and cultural authenticity. OldTown White Coffee is exactly that,’ they said.

‘We believe Zamboangueños will appreciate not just the coffee but the entire dining experience that pays homage to Malaysian culinary heritage.’

Del Mundo Group chief operating officer Matt Ablis said the company’s next phase of growth will focus on provincial markets where dining options are expanding alongside local economies.

‘We’re thrilled to bring OldTown to the heart of Zamboanga. This expansion represents more than just growth; it’s about sharing a beloved cafe experience that blends heritage, comfort and community,’ Ablis said.

Though Blackie never found a forever home after being rescued in 2017, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said the black cat was ‘never unloved’ – even after his death.

PAWS shared Blackie’s story in a Facebook post this week, hoping his memory will inspire more people to adopt strays, especially older or overlooked animals.

Blackie arrived at the PAWS shelter in 2017 as ‘a frail little kitten with a long deep gash across his back.’ Over the years, he learned to trust humans again and grew into a gentle, affectionate cat, the organization said.

Despite his sweet nature, Blackie was never adopted. Like many senior, scarred, or darker-colored cats, he spent years waiting as others left the shelter for new homes.

‘Behind that scar was a heart that only ever wanted to love and be loved back,’ PAWS wrote. ‘Adoption days came and went, and as he watched his fellow rescues make their way home, no one ever came for him.’

The group said lingering superstitions about black cats, his visible scar, and his age may have worked against him. ‘Whatever the ‘reason,’ the heartbreaking truth remains: many rescued animals like Blackie, especially those with scars, darker coats, or senior years, are too often overlooked,’ PAWS added.

Changing old superstitions, Black cats have long been branded as symbols of bad luck in Filipino folklore, a superstition that continues to affect adoption rates. But PAWS said perceptions are slowly changing as more people embrace animal welfare and challenge myths linking coat color to fate.

The shift was also helped by pop culture. The 2024 animated film ‘Flow’ – which features a black cat as a heroic survivor in a post-apocalyptic world – became a global hit and won Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, marking the first Oscar win for a Latvian film.

‘Worthy of love.’ PAWS ended its post with an appeal to potential adopters: open your homes to rescues like Blackie.

‘This is why we fight so hard to change misconceptions and perceptions about rescues – because every life, no matter the age or appearance, is worthy of love,’ the organization said.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is planning to refurbish its current fleet of long-range jets, a project that could cost as much as $315 million based on initial estimates.

After unveiling the refurbishment plan for its Airbus A321ceos, PAL is pushing ahead with the renovation of widebody planes A330-300s and Boeing 777-300ERs, which are assigned to fly to long-haul routes.

PAL president Richard Nuttall said the airline may have to invest at least $15 million to refurbish each of its A330s and 777s, totaling 11 and 10 in its fleet right now, respectively.

As such, PAL is estimated to spend up to $315 million to improve its existing fleet of long-range aircraft. However, Nuttall said this is still an early forecast given that it would take around three years before the airline pursues the refurbishment plan.

Nuttall said it would be challenging for PAL to refurbish the A330s and 777s because carriers around the world are fighting for parts. PAL is choosing to rehabilitate older jets, as it is still costlier to acquire new aircraft.

‘If we refurbish an A330 or a 777, initial estimates are $14 million to $15 million for the A330s and maybe a couple more for the 777s. Those are early, early estimates. It is still a lot of money, but it is still cheaper than buying a new aircraft,’ Nuttall said.

However, PAL’s long game is to purchase new widebodies, either from Airbus or Boeing, within the next 10 years to expand its fleet for the trans-Pacific market.

Nuttall said he has received approval from PAL’s board of directors for this fleet expansion, and the airline will soon engage aircraft and engine makers to survey the best rates.

PAL is scheduled to receive by December the first of its nine A350-1000s, considered the most fuel-efficient long-range aircraft right now. The aircraft will be assigned in the Manila-New York route, currently PAL’s longest flight.

PAL has no plans right now to enter Europe, where Filipinos are opting for one-stop flights over non-stop connections due to pricing reasons. Nuttall said this is unlike in the US, where Filipinos come from all walks of life, thus can afford the extra cost of flying direct.

‘A lot of (Filipinos in Europe are) doing the kind of jobs that are price-sensitive. They are going to look for what the cheapest connecting route is rather than going non-stop. So flying our brand-new aircraft to Europe is a really, really risky venture,’ Nuttall said.

PAL will close the year with a fleet of 83 aircraft, four more than its 2024 count of 79.

The Department of Energy may soon allow generation companies (gencos) to build associated transmission facilities to ensure the timely delivery of their power projects.

The DOE is proposing a policy that would enable gencos with ongoing or upcoming projects to finance and construct transmission assets required for grid connection in a bid to prevent implementation delays.

Delays in the transmission development plan and the inadequate transmission system have slowed down the commercial operation of committed projects, particularly renewables, the DOE said in a draft circular issued over the weekend.

With this policy, the DOE aims to support the effective grid integration of new generation projects, especially those vital to energy transition and security, and address systemic constraints.

Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, a genco may develop, own or operate dedicated point-to-point (P2P) limited transmission facilities, provided that such assets are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system.

But even if a genco builds its own P2P connection, the surrounding transmission grid may still lack the capacity or have technical constraints that could limit the full dispatch of new generation.

This makes the connection ‘futile’ and delays the committed project’s commercial operation and power delivery, the DOE said.

‘It is imperative to allow (gencos) not only to construct their P2P connections but also to finance and construct the associated transmission projects or upgrades to the main grid that are necessary to accommodate their new capacity,’ it said.

Associated transmission projects, as defined by the DOE, are new or expanded transmission lines, substations or other facilities beyond a genco’s dedicated P2P connection.

Under the proposal, the DOE, together with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), will speed up the approval of P2P facilities and associated transmission projects. Such facilities will also be certified as energy projects of national significance.

‘Any transmission projects completed. and reclassified for competitive purposes shall be turned over and be acquired directly by TransCo or through its successor-in-interest, subject to just compensation as approved by the ERC,’ the draft circular stated.

For this proposed policy, all concerned parties may submit their comments and suggestions until Oct. 15, a week before the scheduled virtual public consultation.

Gold soared to record highs last week as US stocks suffered their worst selloff in six months, reaffirming its role as the ultimate crisis hedge. The S and P 500 tumbled by 2.7 percent Friday, while the Nasdaq sank by 3.5 percent – their steepest drops since April. Gold, by contrast, rose by 1.1 percent. It extended its winning streak to eight weeks, capping a 53 percent rally this year that has outperformed equities, Bitcoin and virtually every other major asset.

Trump’s latest salvo

Trump re-escalated the trade war last Friday, threatening to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on China and export controls on ‘any and all critical software’ beginning Nov. 1. The announcement came just hours after he threatened to cancel an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

‘It has just been learned that China has taken an extraordinarily aggressive position on Trade in sending an extremely hostile letter to the World, stating that they were going to, effective Nov. 1 , 2025, impose large scale Export Controls on virtually every product they make, and some not even made by them,’ Trump said on Truth Social.

The announcement cratered stocks, Bitcoin, oil and industrial metals, while gold surged.

4,000

Gold rose above the $4,000 barrier Wednesday, peaking at $4,059 per ounce before settling at $4,017 Friday. Silver hit $51.24, closing at $50.13 – its best level in over four decades. Fueling the latest leg of the rally is the so-called debasement trade which is a bet that relentless government borrowing and money printing will erode the value of fiat currencies.

A perfect storm of fiscal fears

A US government shutdown sparked by partisan gridlock over spending bills has also rattled the markets and deepened fiscal anxiety. Markets are pricing in two more Fed rate cuts this year despite inflation running stubbornly above the two percent target.

China, meanwhile, has struck a defiant posture against Trump and the US. Among many other measures, it threatened to choke off exports of rare earth minerals that are critical to US technology and defense industries. The escalating standoff, combined with Trump’s retaliatory tariff threats, has created a perfect storm driving investors to gold as the ultimate hedge.

Revered financial experts issue warnings

Two of Wall Street’s most respected investors are flashing red signals. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio warned this week that US debt is ballooning at an unsustainable pace, drawing parallels to the runup to World War II. He called it a ‘deficit/debt bomb’ posing a ‘threat to the monetary order’ and warned that ‘a civil war of some sort’ is brewing, fueled by ‘irreconcilable differences.’

Billionaire trader Paul Tudor Jones warned of a stock market crash reminiscent of the 1999 dot-com bubble, driven by excessive liquidity and stretched valuations. Both are recommending gold as a hedge against the systemic risks they see ahead.

Central banks pile in

Geopolitics has become the accelerant. The West’s 2022 decision to freeze Russian central bank assets following the Ukraine invasion sent shockwaves through emerging markets, triggering a fundamental reassessment of dollar reserves. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have kept those fears alive. Now, political turmoil in France and Japan has pushed gold buying into overdrive.

Hedging by buying other currencies proved futile as all currencies depreciated against gold. Gold has surged by 36 percent in euro terms, 47 percent in yen terms and 54 percent in Philippine peso terms. It offered protection against both local fiscal troubles and global currency debasement.

Gold’s accelerating trend

What began as a stealthy ascent – flagged in our March 18, 2024 article ‘Gold’s stealthy ascent to record highs’ – has accelerated dramatically, catching Wall Street off guard. Gold first hit $1,000 during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. It took 12 years to double to $2,000 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It then surged to $3,000 in March 2025 during President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff announcement. Just seven months later, it hit $4,000 as buyers ranging from retail traders to hedge fund managers and central banks piled into gold as a hedge against eroding fiat currencies.

$5,000 next?

Wall Street is betting the rally has legs. Goldman Sachs raised its end-2026 gold forecast to $4,900 per ounce from $4,300, citing private sector diversification driving sustained ETF demand. The bank expects central bank buying to average 80 metric tons monthly in 2025 and 70 tons in 2026 as public and private institutions continue their structural shift away from dollar reserves.

Whether gold hits $5,000 remains to be seen. But with central banks accumulating, financial experts warning of a stock market bubble and private investors diversifying, the rally appears driven by more than panic – it reflects a deeper distrust of governments and fiat currencies in an age of runaway deficits.

What happened in the city of Bogo and the municipalities of San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Sogod, and even Tabuelan and other nooks and crannies in northern Cebu should be reminding us all over again that we really need to be more prepared, to be better organized, and to be more coordinated in all our efforts to respond, rescue, and extend assistance to the beleaguered people. Not just in Cebu but all over the Philippines.

This same scenario has taken place every time our country and its provinces and cities are hit by calamities and disasters. But we seem to never have learned at all. Super Typhoonn Yolanda hit Leyte, Samar, and all the surrounding eastern Visayan areas in 2013 causing deaths, massive destruction, and too much damage. We never learned. Super Typhoon Pablo also hit the Philippines in 2012 causing so much suffering among our people. We never learned. Super Typhoon Thelma (Uring) devastated our country in 1991 also causing tremendous losses in lives, properties, and livelihoods. We never learned.

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, a global think tank on preparedness for calamities and disasters has made a candid but sad assessment of both the Philippine government and its people The Philippines has been judged as extremely unprepared and the people are perennially poised to suffer every time a calamity or disaster would hit us. Both our government and people have failed to learn from all our tragic experiences. We are very reactive people and ours are a bunch of very sloppy, neglectful government officials. We never learned to plan, strategize, and put our acts together. We seem to have surrendered our fates to calamities and disasters.

Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes are not new phenomena or unprecedented occurrences. We have gone through the worst of times including two world wars and a series of revolutions, rebellions, and national political and social upheavals. We have gone through pandemics and epidemics, pestilence, famines, and extreme tribulations that beleaguered our people. We were subjugated by Spain for 377 years, colonized by the Americans for 45 years, invaded and devastated by Japan for three years and oppressed by martial law for more than 10 years. We never learned.

Both calamities and disasters refer to events beyond the control of man, which often cause death, destruction, and sufferings among the people, most specifically the unprepared, unprotected, and more vulnerable poor and marginalized masses in the peripheries of the socio-economic strata of the country. A disaster may be caused by natural events but the exacerbation of their consequences are driven by the government officials’ carelessness, negligence, and bad judgment, and further complicated by individuals’ lack of foresight and cluelessness on the serious implications and consequences.

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative conducted a scientific research on the Philippines’ degree of preparedness by, among other processes, conducting a survey among a random sampling among targeted and categorized sectors, involving a total of 4,368 individual Filipinos across the geographic, generational, age, gender, as well as socio-economic and political divides. The research yielded some sad and worrisome findings that should forewarn our political and economic leaders. Only 36% among those surveyed feel that they are prepared for 20 or more typhoons every year. Only 17% have life, health, and property insurance coverage.

More than 50% are completely nonchalant and rely only on destiny or the will of God. That means that a great bulk of our people are just waiting for government assistance, aid, and relief emanating from external and domestic sources. Local government units are almost totally incompetent in the handling of disaster preparedness and disaster relief and rescue operations. There is too much reliance on the central government, which in turn, is also not totally ready or sufficiently prepared with enough knowledge, skills, and resources.

There should be a National Disaster Summit where global and national experts should serve as resource persons. In that summit, we should be able to formulate a National Disaster Preparedness Strategy and every province, city, municipality, barangay, village, and household should also prepare their own plans. Politicians should be banned from talking in that summit. They should only listen, plan, and do what is right and what is necessary. We should start learning preparedness. Or perish in the next calamity and disaster.