Category: Philippine Star

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) is considering relaxing its disclosure rules this year to enhance the attractiveness of the country’s initial public offering (IPO) market, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon told The STAR the exchange is currently studying potential amendments to its disclosure rules, with the hope of encouraging more SMEs to list on the local bourse by next year.

‘The feedback we’re getting is that a lot of companies are intimidated by listing because there are a lot of rules-you have a lot of disclosure rules, you have to have very strong compliance because if you violate disclosure rules, you will be penalized immediately, since that is investor protection. So I told my IRD (issuer regulation division), let’s study and they’re doing that right now,’ Monzon said.

‘I gave them until the end of the year to revise our disclosure rules. We will get comments by November,’ he said.

To alleviate SMEs’ fear of listing on the local bourse, Monzon said the PSE aims to be more lenient on certain disclosure requirements, as long as the stock price of the listed company is not affected.

‘The problem is SMEs, of course, these are small companies, so it’s really going to be a problem for them to hire a top-rate compliance officer,’ he said.

Monzon, however, said that the aim is to ease up on disclosure rules ‘without losing sight of the investor protection.’

‘If a certain company has a violation, but it has no impact on the stock price.then maybe they would just get a slap on the wrist. But if you do that three or five times, then that’s a different story,’ he said.

Monzon said the move to relax disclosure rules is one of the bright spots that is expected to help boost the number of IPOs in the country by next year.

He said this would be further complemented by the planned issuance of enhanced rules on real estate investment trust (REIT) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC is currently working on revised rules for Republic Act 9856, also known as the REIT Act of 2009, to expand the list of eligible assets, lengthen the reinvestment period, and attract broader participation.

‘According to (SEC chairperson) Francis (Lim), he wants it studied very well, and he wants the amendment to the REIT rules out by the end of the year. So that should open up a lot of potential REIT listing applicants,’ Monzon said.

‘These are the two things that we hope will help the IPO market by next year,’ he said.

The PSE was previously looking to double last year’s IPO number, with a total of six IPOs planned for 2025.

However, the country’s IPO landscape has been tepid so far, with only one public listing this year, courtesy of Top Line Business Development Corp., which raised P732.6 million from its IPO last April.

Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s P45.77-billion IPO is expected to be the second and final IPO for the country this year.

Maynilad targets a listing on the main board of the PSE on Nov. 7, with an offer period running from Oct. 23 to 29.

Monzon said that Maynilad is a welcome addition to PSE’s roster of listed companies.

He said the prospects of the IPO, which is one of the biggest maiden offerings in PSE history, have been bolstered by the numerous cornerstone investors that have agreed to support the capital-raising activity.

‘We hope this brisk demand from institutional investors will spark renewed interest and confidence in other companies to likewise tap the stock market for fundraising,’ Monzon said.

The TNT Tropang 5G and the PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrated their successful runs on the hardcourt and the taraflex with thousands of supporters in the recent ‘Champions Together’ event at One Ayala.

The joint grand fans day gig gave PBA Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup kingpin TNT and PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference queen PLDT a special venue to give back to their fans in a special celebration of loyalty, resilience and shared victories.

‘Para sa TNT, pumunta talaga ako dito. Kahit umuulan, kahit malayo. Yung puso, nandito,’ said Hendrix Manaoat from Valenzuela, one of the Tropang 5G diehards from across Metro Manila and nearby provinces who trooped to the venue to meet their idols.

‘Dream ko talaga makita sila,’ shared Robin Delgaco from Caloocan, a ka-Tropa since 2011. ‘Kahit SIM card ko, TNT pa rin.’

The champions enjoyed the interactions in the event, which featured interactive booths, games, and exclusive merchandise, as much as the fans did.

‘Sobrang excited kami makita ‘yung fans kasi sila talaga ang nagbibigay buhay sa amin bilang players,’ said TNT’s Kim Aurin, considering the event as a ‘reminder of the team’s purpose.’ ‘Maraming salamat sa malupitang suporta ninyo. Gagawin namin ang best namin sa 50th season ng PBA.’

PLDT’s Kim Kianna Dy was thankful to the fans for inspiring her comeback from injury.

‘It was a long wait, and I’m super grateful the fans kept cheering even when I wasn’t playing. They’re one of the reasons I kept going,’ said Dy.

It works both ways, said Yul Solajes, a fan and volleyball player from Taguig.

‘She’s a natural. As a player myself, I relate to her journey. She’s an inspiration inside and outside the court.’

Dy and the High Speed Hitters scored their breakthrough in the PVL recently and won not one but two titles.

‘Hard work always works. It wasn’t easy to get a back-to-back championship. We just worked hard, stayed together, and trusted the process,’ said ‘KKD.’

Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart, said ‘Champions Together’ was held to further strengthen the connection between athletes and fans.

‘We don’t just build teams – we build communities. Today showed us that the heart of sports isn’t just in the game, but in the people who believe in it,’ he said.

With ‘Champions Together,’ the company reiterated its commitment to the fans who continue to support, celebrate, and stand by their teams through every season.

At the same time, PLDT and Smart remain committed to supporting Filipino athletes by creating platforms that connect teams with their communities.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Water is looking to play a role in securing Cebu’s water future through sustainable medium-and long-term projects, including desalination and surface water solutions.

According to the company, Metro Cebu faces an estimated 350 million-liter daily water supply deficit as of 2025 in Metro Cebu.

In an interview with the media yesterday following the Cebu Water Summit 2025, Aboitiz InfraCapital vice president and head of Water Business, Eduardo Aboitiz, emphasized the company’s strong commitment to Cebu.

‘Cebu is my home and it holds a very special place in my heart, and in the hearts of the Aboitiz family as well. We are deeply invested here and we want to continue investing in Cebu’s future,’ Aboitiz said.

He explained that part of his speech during the Summit was to introduce Aboitiz InfraCapital Water and share its success in Davao, where its bulk water supply project has positively impacted the community.

‘It was really about sharing our story and also a call to action for all relevant stakeholders to work together and approach this collectively,’ he added.

Aboitiz said the company is currently conducting market studies and is eyeing two major solutions: a desalination plant as a medium-term option and a large-scale surface water project as a long-term solution.

‘These things don’t happen overnight. It takes time and careful planning,’ he noted, adding that the company already has a presence in the province, with three existing water operations.

These are the industrial water distribution in Balamban, the West Cebu Industrial Park in Toledo, and the 5-million liters-per-day (MLD) bulk water supply mini-desalination project at the Mactan Economic Zone 2 in Lapu-Lapu City, which began operations two months ago.

‘This facility currently supplies all the water requirements of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport,’ Aboitiz said.

Looking ahead, Aboitiz InfraCapital Water aims to scale up through partnerships.

‘Over the next two years, we’d like to explore public-private partnerships. As I mentioned earlier, we’re looking at both medium-term and long-term proposals that we want to push forward in partnership with government and other stakeholders,’ Aboitiz shared.

The company’s move comes amid Cebu’s continuing water supply challenges, with increasing demand driven by rapid urban development and population growth.

In the same interview, Engr. Maria Nenita Jumao-as, executive director of the University of San Carlos Water Resources Center Foundation, Inc. (USCWRCFI), said: ‘Water is a very big issue. There are different phases, water supply, usage, and disposal. And wastewater treatment is one of the biggest concerns in Cebu today.’

According to Engr. Jon Paulo Siglos, president of the Federation of Accredited Professional Organizations of Region VII, said the lack of a centralized sewage system in Cebu remains a critical gap in the region’s water management framework.

‘We do have septage treatment, but it’s not enough. What’s the point of producing so much clean water if, in the end, it ends up polluting our rivers and seas? That’s why this is one of the priority for the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE),’ Siglos said.

Jumao-as said that if at least three large dams are being built, then that gap (water supply deficit) can be significantly reduced, and although it’s a big challenge, it’s not impossible.

However, Siglos added that the problem is not that there is no water at all, but rather insufficient infrastructure to treat, store, and distribute water efficiently including proper wastewater treatment.

The Cebu Water Summit 2025, themed ‘Taking the Challenge, Firming Up Actions NOW!’, brought together government, industry, academe, and civil society leaders to consolidate actions for Cebu’s water security through the IWRM-DEAP framework – Integrated Water Resources Management through Data Sharing, Education and Awareness, and Policy Advocacy.

IWRM-DEAP outlines the following key actions:

I – Institutionalize IWRM: Promote inter-LGU coordination and collaboration, create an IWRM Council, and identify water champions to drive local action;

D – Data Sharing: Establish an IWRM Knowledge Center and online portal for evidence-based decisions, integrating climate change data and research outputs;

E – Education and Awareness: Strengthen knowledge sharing, conduct trainings, workshops, and campaigns to build capacity and public understanding of water issues;

A – Advocacy: Pursue policies supporting unified water governance, including the proposed Department of Water to address fragmented mandates;

P – Partnership: Deepen collaboration among LGUs, NGAs, academe, private sector, and CSOs to ensure shared responsibility and long-term sustainability.

Supported by the Department of Science and Technology-7 (DOST-7) and partner institutions, the Summit reaffirmed Cebu’s collective commitment to ‘secure every drop’ through science-based and inclusive solutions.

Seeking to resolve questions over former president Rodrigo Duterte’s fitness for trial, International Criminal Court prosecutors have asked the pre-trial chamber to tap three independent specialists to evaluate Duterte’s health, including whether he may be feigning illness.

In a nine-page filing dated September 18 but made public October 9, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang pushed for the creation of a ‘multidisciplinary panel’ composed of at least three experts – a forensic psychiatrist, a neuropsychologist and a behavioural neurologist – to assess Duterte’s capacity to stand trial.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor said the experts’ mandate should explicitly include ‘an evaluation of any evidence of malingering,’ or the fabrication of symptoms.

Recap. The medical fitness issue has somewhat slowed the pace of proceedings against Duterte, who was arrested and transferred to ICC custody earlier this year. During his initial appearance before the chamber via video link, ICC Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc remarked that Duterte had been medically examined and found to be “fully mentally aware and fit.”

The confirmation of charges hearing – a crucial stage where judges determine if there’s enough evidence to proceed to a full trial – was initially scheduled for September 23.

But in mid-August, Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman filed a request for indefinite adjournment, claiming he was “not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains.”

In his filing, Kaufman said Duterte suffers from impaired memory and an inability to retain new information or to recall events, places, timing or even members of his close family and defense team. He argued that Duterte “lacks the capacity to apply the cognitive skills essential for the proper conduct of his defense.”

The defense cited medical examinations from two of their own experts and a neuropsychologist who examined Duterte inside the ICC detention center and who reportedly found “significant cognitive deficiencies” affecting memory, reasoning, spatial awareness, and orientation.

The pre-trial chamber eventually voted to postpone the September 23 hearing to allow time to resolve the fitness question.

What the independent experts should assess, according to prosecution

According to the prosecution’s October 9 filing, the appointed specialists should determine “whether and, if so, at what level Mr. Duterte suffers from any medical condition which might have an effect on his ability to follow and take part in the ongoing pre-trial proceedings, including the confirmation of charges hearing.”

The prosecution wants the panel to evaluate five specific capacities: whether Duterte can understand the purpose and consequences of the proceedings; grasp the course of proceedings, including “the nature and significance of pleading to the charges”; understand the evidence presented; testify or give an unsworn statement if he chooses; and instruct his lawyers “in the preparation and conduct of his defence.”

If the experts find any mental impairment, they must specify which areas of mental capacity are affected and “assess whether these are due to reversible or irreversible causes.”

“The panel’s assessment should also expressly include an evaluation of any evidence of malingering, particularly in light of [REDACTED],” the redacted filing states.

The filing lays out extensive materials the experts should review, including Duterte’s complete medical record, all reports from defense experts, test results from MRI and CT scans conducted in May and July, and his detention record since surrendering to the court.

Prosecutors also want the panel to access “objective information” from detention centre personnel “who have interacted with Mr. Duterte since his surrender, in particular, before his fitness was raised as an issue in this case.”

The experts should also review public recordings of Duterte’s speeches “made shortly prior to his arrest,” including a March 9 speech in Hong Kong – two days before he was taken into custody, according to the filing’s footnotes.

Prosecution skeptical of defense claims

In an earlier filing responding to the defense’s indefinite adjournment request, the prosecution called the defense expert reports “premature and speculative,” arguing “it is unclear how familiar, if at all, the Defense Experts are with judicial proceedings at this Court, or even at other international courts or tribunals.”

The October 9 filing also reveals the prosecution opposed appointing one expert recommended by the defense, saying the specialist was suggested by one of Duterte’s own medical team. “Given the possibility that [REDACTED] may be part of the appointed experts’ assessment, the Prosecution respectfully submits that it would be advisable to appoint experts who have [REDACTED] in order to mitigate any potential bias,” the redacted filing states.

Prosecutors asked judges to bar any further suggestions of experts from either side, arguing that additional proposals would “delay the process of appointing experts” despite “the urgency of this matter.”

Pressure to speed up

There is also, according to the filing, somewhat of a need to prod the ICC Registry to speed up the turnaround time for translated documents, which currently take up to five weeks. The ICC prosecution requested that “the Chamber encourage the Registry to accelerate” this timeline, stating that “an accelerated timeline for translations will help to ensure that the issue of Mr. Duterte’s fitness is resolved swiftly.”

In an earlier filing, Niang said that “it is likely that this case will still proceed to the hearing on the confirmation of charges sooner than previous cases before this Court,” and pushed for the hearing to be completed “before the end of 2025.”

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with thousands of killings during his administration’s war on drugs. His case one of the ICC’s most closely watched prosecutions involving a former head of state.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has urged government and private partners to come up with a Unified National Airport Masterplan to increase the country’s chances of keeping up with peers on visitor arrivals.

At the 2025 Philippine Aviation Summit, PAL chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez said public and private stakeholders have to immediately craft a masterplan for airport development.

The masterplan has to outline the role of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the future, as gateways in Clark and Bulacan are competing for air traffic in Mega Manila.

Fernandez said the government also has to invest in upgrading secondary airports so they would be able to handle domestic and overseas flights. Without such an investment, he warned that the Philippines would stay behind Southeast Asian neighbors on visitor arrivals.

Last year, the country handled 60 million passengers through primary and secondary hubs. This is far from the air passenger traffic of regional peers, including Indonesia’s 156 million, Thailand’s 119 million, Vietnam’s 109 million, Malaysia’s 94 million and Singapore’s 68 million.

Singapore recorded more traffic through its single international airport in Changi Airport, when the Philippines operates nine gateways capable of handling foreign flights.

‘We need a masterplan standardizing secondary airports through night-rating, runway extensions and upgraded air navigational aides so they can serve as reliable mini-hubs,’ Fernandez said.

He also underscored that peers are building up their network of international airports, as Indonesia now manages 14; Vietnam, 12; and Thailand, nine.

The country is also struggling to boost cargo volume in spite of its favorable location in the heart of Asia and the Pacific. The Hong Kong International Airport is able to airlift five million tons of cargo, but all Philippine gateways can only combine 700,000 tons.

‘Every hour of delay threatens the freshness of tuna, bamboo and vegetable products and it adds cost to electronics and garment exports. By expanding cargo facilities in main hubs and enabling secondary airports to handle cargo efficiently, we can give micro, small and medium enterprises a fighting chance to reach their markets worldwide,’ Fernandez said.

By consolidating airport plans, Fernandez said the country can capture a larger share in Southeast Asia’s international arrivals, estimated to reach at least 187 million by 2030.

PAL, for its part, has committed to launch new flights and more frequency in its hubs across the Philippines in support of efforts to improve the country’s air travel.

This is the ideal condition for us to be in as we go about our temporal affairs, especially in business and politics, and in the more complicated and challenging sector of the new technologies. We should be as technically competent as possible in these areas, but what is even more important than that is for us to be spiritually healthy.

Otherwise, there is no way but for us to be misusing and abusing the elements involved in these temporal affairs. And as a consequence, it would just be a matter of time before some disaster, especially in the moral and spiritual aspects, would befall us.

We should see to it that all our temporal affairs, especially those that have very significant impact on the lives of many people, should be guided by the laws God has given to all the things of our life, foremost of which is for us to do all for the glory of God. (Deo omnes gloria!)

Let us always remember that we are notorious for simply following our own ideas, our own estimation of what is right and wrong according to some worldly standards that in the end would just lead us to self-indulgence, and thus goes against the common good and our innate duty of love toward God.

We need to do things always with God and for God, since Christ said it very clearly: ‘He who is not with me, is against me; and he who gathers not with me, scatters.’ (Lk 11,23) To do things with God and for God is not an optional thing. It is a necessity for us, considering who we really are. Of course, to do things with God and for God should be done freely, and not forcibly.

To be technically competent means having the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to perform tasks or work in a specific field or area effectively. An example would be a software engineer needed to be proficient in coding languages, a mechanic who knows how to do engine repair.

Those in business, for example, should be knowledgeable about data analysis and tech literacy, financial management, strategic planning, communication and leadership tools, etc. While those in politics should be conversant in policy analysis and development, public communication and media literacy, data-informed decision making, legislative and regulatory knowledge, etc.

Spiritual health is a matter of knowing how to discern the abiding promptings of the Holy Spirit. In this regard, we cannot overemphasize the need to make use of certain helpful acts of piety, like regular mental prayer, presence of God all throughout the day, continuing study and formation regarding our spiritual life.

We need to be more wary of our duty to take care of our spiritual powers. Our spiritual powers are mainly our intelligence and will, our thinking, judging, reasoning, and loving. These need to be managed and supervised well, seeing to it that they are rooted properly and are oriented toward their proper objects and not simply allowed to drift and flow wherever they are blown by our bodily and worldly conditionings.

St. Paul talks about the distinction between the carnal man and the spiritual man, and we should make the right choice and develop it to its maturity. St. Augustine warns us not to allow our soul, our spiritual powers, to become carnal by consenting to the affections of the flesh.

Caring for our spiritual powers means exerting realistic effort to always find reasons, motivations, and ways to relate all our thinking and loving to God and all souls.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Markus Lacanilao as the new chair of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), replacing Vigor Mendoza in a reshuffle that affected two other transportation agencies.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the appointments on Friday, October 10, saying Mendoza will now be the chair of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, replacing Teofilo Guadiz III.

Guadiz, meanwhile, has been designated chair of the Office of Transport Coop.

Role in Duterte’s handover. Prior to his appointment as new LTO chief, Lacanilao was the government’s special envoy on transnational crime. He was among the officials who accompanied former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Hague, Netherlands, when Duterte was handed over to the International Criminal Court to face charges of crimes against humanity.

Lacanilao was questioned in the Senate over his role in the handover, and was briefly detained during the hearings.

Leadership shuffle

The reshuffle comes amid mounting pressure from Magnificent 7 transport groups for faster implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP). They called for Guadiz’s resignation over the delays as LTFRB chair. Other members of the Magnificent 7, however, did not back the calls for his dismissal.

The Palace has yet to explain the reason behind the shakeup in three transportation agencies.

The modernization, which was first introduced during the Duterte administration, aims to replace traditional jeepneys for modern, environmentally compliant models.While the plan has been widely supported in its main goals, many operators and drivers have lamented the lack of aid during the transition to the newer, pricier models in what is supposed to be an improvement in public transportation.

Officials have repeatedly assured that the modernization program will proceed gradually to prevent disruption of public transport services.

The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu caused not only structural damage to public buildings and private establishments, but also significantly impacted the livestock and veterinary sectors, with total damage hitting P17.8 million.

According to the report from the Provincial Veterinary Office submitted to the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CPDRRMO), preliminary field assessments in northern Cebu indicate moderate to significant damage to animal facilities and operations.

The CPDRRMO, through its situational report at 10 a.m. on October 8, disclosed that several animals and poultry were killed or injured after backyard pens and feed storage areas got damaged.

The quake also disrupted access to feed, clean water, and veterinary services, largely due to damaged facilities, power outages, and restricted access to affected barangays.

At least 470,387 livestock and poultry were affected, itemized as follows: 41,195 swine, 13,598 cattle, 3,304 carabaos, 30,410 goats, and 381,880 poultry.

The estimated damage to livestock and veterinary facilities stands at ?17.8 million. This figure covers losses to livestock, poultry, farm housing, slaughterhouses, and poultry housing.

Bogo city incurred P6.2 million damage to livestock and slaughterhouse, P5.2 million in San Remigio, P560, 000 in Medellin, P1.5 million in Daanbantayan, P2.2 million in Tabogon, P1.2 million in Borbon, P39, 000 in Tabuelan, and P107, 870 in Sogod.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Government will deploy mobile ‘smart offices’ to northern Cebu municipalities whose municipal halls and city government buildings were severely damaged by the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro, in a press conference on Wednesday, said the Capitol will initially provide at least two 20-foot container vans per affected local government unit (LGU) – this includes the City of Bogo and the towns of Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Borbon, and Tabogon.

Each unit is fully equipped with air conditioning, comfort rooms, and essential office facilities to allow uninterrupted public service while municipal buildings are being repaired and rehabilitated.

According to Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces, the container vans are expected to arrive later this week or early next week.

As to the recovery and rehabilitation initiatives of the Cebu Provincial Government under its Kumbati Cebu program, Empaces said the Capitol is prioritizing the road and bridges repair in northern Cebu.

The completion of these structural works is expected by mid-2026.

“Since the Province is under a state of calamity we can actually fast track rehabilitation works. The span of state of calamity, one year man na siya so we would be maximizing the funds for emergency and recovery to make sure, per instruction of the Governor, let’s just prioritize first the bridges and the roads …” Empaces said.

Mandaue Market Damage

The Mandaue City Government has reported that, aside from the collapsed canopy, another section of the City Public Market was found to have sustained minor damage caused by the 6.9-magnitude Cebu earthquake.

City Administrator Gonzalo Malig-on told reporters yesterday, October 9, that the additional damage was discovered after third-party engineers conducted a structural assessment of the entire market over the weekend.

The follow-up inspection was made upon order of Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito ‘Jonkie’ Ouano to further assess the integrity of the public market following the strong quake.

Malig-on said that during the initial inspection, only the visible damage-specifically the collapsed canopy-was noted.

However, after private engineers gave their second opinion, they also found another damaged portion on the Zamora Street side of the second floor. Three columns were affected-not to the point of collapse-but they already have visible cracks.

Malig-on said Mayor Ouano wanted a thorough evaluation to ensure public safety, and wanted to make sure everything is secure. This prompted a more comprehensive inspection of the entire building.

Following the inspection, Mayor Ouano met with engineers and consultants on Wednesday, October 8, to finalize the next steps and strategy for the market.

Malig-on said that the initial plan to remove the collapsed canopy will not proceed immediately. Instead, the priority is to shore up the opposite side of the building, located along Zamora Street.

Malig-on explained that the engineers’ view is to reinforce that side first so that when the collapsed canopy is removed, the building’s stability won’t be compromised.

According to the engineers, the shoring-up process could take up to two weeks, but City Hall requested to complete it within a week if possible. Once the reinforcement is done, the removal of the canopy will follow.

For the canopy, it won’t be removed all at once. It will be dismantled in sections with the help of a crane. The entire process is estimated to take one to two weeks.

‘It’s important to follow the proper steps,’ Malig-on emphasized. ‘Kung mag tay-og ta diri kay naa man gyu’y work nga buhaton syempre mu-vibrate ang building di’ man ‘ta ka-calculate unsa’y extent sa pikas niya naa na pa gyu’y gamay nga problema,’ he added.

Malig-on said that the engineering group has recommended proceeding cautiously to prevent further damage.

‘It’s good that the city is being properly advised on what actions to take,’ he said.

The city has yet to determine the total cost of the shoring and removal works, but Malig-on said that the methodologies for the canopy removal have already been planned.

Malig-on said that, for now, the area where the canopy collapsed remains off-limits for everyone’s safety, especially since aftershocks may still occur.

He said that they will maintain the current setup, where vendors are temporarily relocated outside. ‘Status quo lang sa set up nga naa’y naa pa sa gawas,’ said Malig-on.

He assured that within two weeks, operations at the public market will return to normal, particularly for vendors affected by the damaged area.

Malig-on clarified that the current work only covers the removal phase-which involves clearing the damaged canopy and shoring up the affected columns.

He said the retrofitting or full restoration will come later since that will require a larger budget. ‘Kani ang urgent nga ma-normalize lang bitaw dili na mahadlok ang mga tao nga i-occupy na ang area,’ said Malig-on.

The second floor of the market, where the damage was found, remains vacated. Once the shoring and removal are completed, normal operations are expected to resume, especially for rice retailers and other vendors in that section.

The city administrator said funding for the works will come from emergency procurement, which the city government will shoulder.

TNT feels the itch as it launches a renewed bid for the PBA Philippine Cup title that eluded them in their near-grand slam run the previous season.

‘If you look back at last season, I thought we performed pretty well. So, it’s a matter of continuing that,’ said coach Chot Reyes, whose Tropang 5G won the Season 49 Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup then valiantly fought San Miguel Beer with a hobbling crew before settling for runner-up honors in the All-Filipino.

‘We are by no means satisfied with how we finished the season and we hope to be able to improve on our last all Filipino placing,’ he added.

Rey Nambatac returns to action after missing the Philippine Cup playoffs due to injury while Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy and Jordan Heading are back in full strength after playing hurt in the finale.

TNT also loaded up with veteran Kevin Ferrer, athletic wing Tyrus Hill and defense-oriented guard Jio Jalalon ahead of its Season 50 Philippine Cup debut tonight against Phoenix at the Ynares Center-Montalban.

‘Our goal really for this season is to be the best at the things that take no talent. And that’s what for us TNT stands for. We might not be the biggest, most talented team in the league, but we strive to be the best in the things that take no talent – hard work, effort, team-manship, doing the extra mile, caring for each other,’ said Reyes.

US talent management A-Nexus Inc. announced that global unit Quadlips has added another member, Mashiro, a talented rising star from KLP48.

This marks a milestone in Quadlips’ journey as they continue to expand their diverse lineup of exceptionally talented Asian artists.

Formed in 2023, Quadlips serves as the global unit of the AKB48 Group, bringing together select members from various countries as they continue making waves in the Asian pop music scene.

The lineup currently features FENI (JKT48), COLE (MNL48) from the Philippines, FAME (BNK48), and now Mashiro, who adds a fresh dynamic to further create a diverse ensemble poised for global appeal.

Mashiro, hailing from Japan’s Nara Prefecture, is a proud representative of the second generation of KLP48 (Kuala Lumpur) and was announced as Quadlips’ new member at Japan’s Oshi Tera Idol Matsuri event last month.

“Mashiro’s arrival will not only enrich the group’s performance repertoire but also infuse her exceptional talent and stage presence into our collective work, the Quadlips,” said A-Nexus management.

The singer herself expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity

“I can’t wait to share my passion for music and performance with fans around the world,” Mashiro said. “I look forward to collaborating with FENI, COLE, and FAME to create unforgettable experiences together.”

Quadlips is actively promoting its latest single, “IDGA,” which debuted in the Philippines last August.

In the coming months, Filipino fans will also have the chance to connect with the group through select mall shows, along with opportunities to meet and greet their favorite members.