Category: Philippine Star

Cigarettes infused with synthetic marijuana compounds are banned, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of cannabinoids in tuklaw cigarettes or Vietnam’s Thuc lào, in the Philippines and Singapore, PDEA chief Isagani Nerez said.

‘When the result was positive both domestically and in Singapore, we informed the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) about it,’ he said.

At yesterday’s PDEA budget hearing at the Senate, Nerez confirmed that possessing tuklaw is a criminal offense.

While some cannabinoids have legitimate medical uses, the cannabinoid ‘pinaca’ has negative effects, DDB executive director Earl Saavedra said.

The PDEA and DDB have cited reports of teenagers exhibiting seizure-like symptoms characterized by brief shock-like body jerks and twitches after using the cigarette.

Alex Eala ground out a gutsy 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Katarzyna Kawa of Poland in their rain-interrupted Round 1 duel in the WTA125 Suzhou Open yesterday at the Sungent International Tennis Center in China.

The fourth-seeded Eala kept her patience, cool and composure amidst the interruptions and outfought Kawa in their back-and-forth match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.

It was payback time for Eala, who bowed to Kawa at the W60 Templeton event in California three years ago.

Eala, WTA No. 58, will face No. 106 Greet Minnen of Belgium in the Round of 16 for a shot at her fourth straight quarterfinals appearance.

With Eala and Kawa, WTA No. 124, locked at 2 in the first frame, officials suspended the match for a few hours before resuming in the afternoon.

Eala went on to win four of the last five games to take the first set before the match was halted anew momentarily down the stretch of the second with Kawa holding a 5-3 lead en route to a 6-3 win.

It became an explosive battle with Eala and Kawa taking turns in breaking at 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 in the extended decider. Eala finally snapped the exchange with a 2-0 closeout.

President Marcos and Congress leaders agreed yesterday to prioritize 44 key bills aimed at uplifting farmers and fisherfolk, expanding social services, modernizing governance, ensure energy security and strengthen the country’s readiness for future challenges.

At the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting, Marcos and the congressional leaders agreed to prioritize amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law and Fisheries Code to protect producers and consumers, empower coconut farmers and strengthen fisheries management.

In social protection, health, and education, priority bills include amendments to the 4Ps and Universal Health Care Act, creation of a National Center for Geriatric Health and passage of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act.

Other key education and nutrition-related bills include amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, expanded aid to students and teachers in private schools and reforms in teachers’ professionalization.

The agenda also included critical environment and infrastructure-related bills: the Department of Water Resources Bill, Waste-to-Energy Bill, amendments to the EPIRA Law, National Land Use Act, excise tax on single-use plastics, Blue Economy Act and biofuels reforms.

Governance and accountability measures include the Progressive Budgeting Act, Right to Information Act, amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, a review of the Local Government Code, proposed tax amnesties, bank secrecy waivers for civil servants and the Magna Carta for Barangays.

To boost economic growth, priority measures include amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law, pending further study on foreign currency deposits, and reforms supporting micro, small and medium enterprises.

Additional economic drivers include the National Reintegration Bill, a Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development and the strengthening of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

The President and Congress also agreed to prioritize bills on cybersecurity, digital payments, the regulation of online gambling and fair use of social media, artificial intelligence and internet technology in elections to ensure the safe and responsible use of digital platforms in governance and public life.

On disaster resilience, the proposed amendments to the National Building Code and the proposed Disaster Risk Financing Insurance Act will enhance safety standards and provide financial safeguards for communities vulnerable to calamities.

The government also pushed for the modernization of the Bureau of Immigration to enhance frontline services, strengthen national security and improve cross-border mobility.

‘With these 44 measures, both the executive and legislative branches reaffirm their shared commitment to enact reforms that not only address immediate needs but also lay the groundwork for long-term national development,’ Marcos said in a Presidential Communications Office statement.

‘The House of Representatives adheres to the call of the people through the creation of laws that have direct effect on their lives,’ House Speaker Faustino Dy III said in a separate statement. ‘With the President’s leadership and the collective will of this Council, we are confident that we can achieve these legislative goals.’

‘Prioritize education, too’

At the same meeting, Education Secretary Sonny Angara urged Congress to prioritize key amendments that directly address access, equity and accountability in education programs, aside from the 44 key bills.

Among the education bills endorsed to Congress are amendments that include provisions to incorporate marginalized groups such as indigenous learners and adolescent mothers; allow milk-based substitutes in the milk feeding program; provide weekly micronutrient supplementation for female learners and establish central kitchens in every School Division Office.

He also proposed amendments to the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education coverage, reform teacher licensure, increase the Special Education Fund levy and fast-track classroom construction through the Classroom Building Acceleration Bill.

The Social Security System (SSS) has teamed up with a major commercial bank to launch an ‘all-in-one’ debit card that lets SSS members access its services while enjoying a range of digital banking features.

Powered by RCBC DiskarTech, the MySSS Card also aims to make managing money easier for users, from settling bills and government contributions to making bank transfers and every day payments.

To get a MySSS Card, follow these six steps:

Log-in to the MySSS Portal: Start by logging into your MySSS portal and selecting RCBC DiskarTech as your preferred ‘Participating Financial Institution.’ This is where you’ll initiate your card application.

Agree to the Terms and Conditions: Next, approve the request for data sharing between SSS and RCBC DiskarTech. Once you agree, you’ll get a transaction number. Save it – this will be your ticket for the next steps.

Download the RCBC Diskartech App: Head over to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and download the RCBC DiskarTech app. This is where you’ll manage your MySSS Card, from activation to accessing all the banking features that come with it.

Register as an ‘SSS Member’: When registering on the DiskarTech app, select ‘SSS Member.’ This ensures the system tailors the experience and unlocks the suite of services just for you.

Enter Your Details and Complete the Process: Provide your transaction number from the MySSS portal, mobile number, OTP, and eKYC-recognized government IDs. Once you finish your registration, log back in to confirm.

Avail the MySSS Card through Diskartech App: Once logged in Diskartech, request for the MySSS card to avail of your physical card.

While waiting for the card, users can already explore DiskarTech’s features:

A rewarding regular savings product

Quick cardless or carded withdrawals

Shop with QR-powered and Card-powered payments

Affordable and accessible insurance products

Convenient LRT1 , LRT2 and MRT3 Payments with your Card!

Daily Rewards for Log-ins, mobile load transactions and bills payments

Loan applications (coming soon)

P8 Instapay transfer fee to other banks

Qualified for the promo? Check the following requirements:

Registered with PhilSys and has a PhilSys Number (PSN)

Updated your contact details in SSS records

Have no existing UMID ATM/Pay Card enrolled in SSS

Have no active Diskartech account

Must be 18 years old and above

Must be a Filipino citizen and a non-US person (no US citizenship or residency)

Many decades ago, the Central Bank (before BSP) launched a campaign to ‘Respect the centavo.’ The centavo was a coin that people chose to ignore.

The coin was often simply thrown away. Some prefer the hard candies supermarket cashiers give. I remember paying a jeepney driver 10 one-centavo coins for my 10-centavo fare and the driver just threw the coins away.

As a kid just learning about money, I was confused by the driver’s reaction to my coins. Apparently, the Central Bank was also perplexed by this lack of respect. It is costing them more than one centavo to mint the coin.

So, they launched a campaign to urge the public to ‘respect the centavo.’ But they soon gave up and stopped circulating the one-centavo coin. It was beyond respect.

These days, we need a serious campaign to urge our officials to respect the peso. our tax peso. It really hurts deeply to learn that they are calling the hard-earned pesos we pay in taxes as basura.

In any case, those pesos won’t stay pesos for long. Those ill-gotten pesos are quickly exchanged for dollars. They don’t trust the peso to store value. Since they have private jets and high government positions, transporting oodles of cash to Hong Kong shouldn’t be a problem.

The lower-level crooks at the district engineer level also have no desire to keep those bundles of peso bills too long. They quickly gamble away hundreds of millions worth of our tax pesos at casinos. Or splurge on high-end cars from their friendly neighborhood smuggler.

Congressmen are the most disrespectful of our tax pesos. When they have private meetings, wines costing a thousand US dollars and up are said to flow freely.

Catered food must be costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of pesos every day.

The senators, on the other hand, are also quite disrespectful. They sought to tickle their bloated egos with a new building whose costs cannot be justified by a government already saddled with heavy borrowings.

From an initial cost of P8.9 billion, the cost has ballooned to P24 billion or about a billion per senator. But it couldn’t be completed at that cost.

Based on the latest report of the DPWH, the estimated building cost has reached P31.6 billion, excluding the payment for the parcel of land and furniture. This is equivalent to more than P240,000 per square meter.

GMA News noted that if based on the Construction Cost Handbook Philippines 2024 of Arcadis Philippines, the per-square-meter cost of a quality high-rise office could reach P183,000.

What happens if a Constitutional revision abolishes the Senate? Public sentiment today favors such an abolition. The Senate has been a heavy expense that contributes more to corruption than the national good.

Then there is the BSP which under then governor Ben Diokno signed contracts to construct a new building at Clark. There is no reliable estimate for total project cost but Diokno is saying it will be less than P50 billion. Given past experiences with government projects, it will probably exceed that.

Does the BSP need a billion-dollar facility at Clark? And the Governor and Monetary Board members won’t even move there although they will likely be given offices there. As if they need two offices!

So, the Clark office will not contribute to decongesting Metro Manila as Diokno claimed. Is it a legacy monument to remind everyone he was once BSP governor?

Diokno said the new building would not be funded by the National Budget but by BSP reserves set aside from BSP’s net income from past years.

A former NEDA chief who was once a Monetary Board member was unimpressed. He said the project is still a wasteful and extravagant use of funds.

‘Better declare them as dividends to NG for building new classrooms and school feeding. It is a socially irresponsible project.’

The former official has a point. DepEd estimates a current backlog of 165,000 classrooms. But Sen. Bam Aquino thinks this number is understated given a good number of classrooms are dilapidated and unusable.

Is a new luxurious BSP building a national priority compared to these classrooms and yes, hospital buildings to provide badly needed health care to our people?

The money for the BSP building may not be coming from the national budget but it betrays the distorted sense of priorities our high officials have in the light of our third world country’s basic needs. Total lack of respect for the peso in government hands that should be spent properly.

Speaking of the BSP, it was shocking to learn that the scale of corruption and the sheer volume of cash involved in the DPWH ghost projects shocked monetary regulators.

That’s because the country’s most highly paid government employees are content being stuck in their plush offices rather than being curious enough to find out what is going on in the real world.

BSP officials were oblivious to the fact that the banks they are regulating are complicit in this mess. Worse, it is the LandBank that seems the guiltiest of rolling out the red carpet to facilitate the huge cash transfers behind ghost DPWH projects.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which the BSP governor chairs, also only started acting after the mess hit the headlines. Natutulog sila sa pansitan!

The AMLC most likely acted too late in freezing over 700 accounts linked to the DPWH mess. Given the ease of transferring money to overseas banks, the legislators and contractors involved most probably moved their stash before the sleepy AMLC folks took notice.

All these shows lack of respect for the peso by our officials tasked with running our government. Elected, appointed, highly paid or not, they all seem to be the same. Sad for all of us paying our hard-earned pesos in taxes to sustain them.

Skin concerns are getting on you lately? Whether you have a specific skin dilemma or in need of expert advice, Watsons brings back the DermSkin mall activation at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium from October 1 to 5 to help you achieve your healthy skin era.

The most-loved health and beauty retailer in the Philippines is taking its DermSkin category up a notch with a week-long spotlight on skin health awareness and help cater to different types of skin needs, from quenching skin hydration, combating acne and oiliness, or just wanting to simply ensure a tried and tested skincare routine.

In pursuit of making skin health more accessible, Watsons also joined forces with the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), the only specialty society recognized by the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine College of Physicians that specializes in skin, hair and nails, to provide free skin consultations during the event and to share the latest insights on common skincare myths and misconceptions.

Head over to the DermSkin activation and look for the PDS booth to avail of the free consultation services from PDS doctors at the PDS booth in the mall animation. Drop by on October 1 and tune in to the panel discussion featuring skin experts to learn more about proper care for your skin.

The road to healthier skin doesn’t end there-Watsons also began offering free derma consultations every weekend from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in select stores in the metro. Be sure to visit SM MOA 7, Robinsons Place Manila, SM North Edsa Grand, SM Grand Central, SM Megamall or SM City Tanza to get direct and accessible skin consultation with an expert.

The DermSkin Activation will also feature a wide range of derma-approved products from brands such as Cetaphil, Celeteque, Aveeno, Neutrogena, Cerave, Target Pro by Watsons, Avene, Physiogel, Bioderma, Uriage, Suu Balm and Dermaction Plus.

Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong are getting a salary increase, the Department of Migrant Workers reported yesterday.

The DMW said domestic workers, including those who signed their employment contracts yesterday, would receive a 2.22-percent wage hike.

The monthly salary of domestic helpers increased from HK$4,990 to HK$5,100 or $655. The food allowance remains at HK$1,236 for those who are not provided meals by their employers.

Over 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong will benefit from the wage adjustment, according to Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.

The DMW reminded recruitment agencies, employers and Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong to ensure that contracts signed from today reflect the updated wage provisions.

Synology Inc., a global leader in network-attached storage (NAS), data protection and hybrid cloud solutions, today announced the appointment of VST-ECS Phils., Inc. as its official distribution partner in the Philippines.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Synology’s commitment to expanding its local presence and accelerating access to secure, scalable and high-performance data infrastructure across the country.

As digital transformation accelerates across industries in the Philippines, organizations face increasing challenges in securing, managing and scaling their data infrastructure.

Modern organizations require more than just basic storage-they need an end-to-end infrastructure that combines centralized data storage, automated backup, hybrid cloud integration and built-in cybersecurity features.

VST ECS will distribute Synology’s complete portfolio of solutions, including its network-attached storage (NAS), comprehensive data backup and recovery solutions, surveillance systems, as well as business productivity solutions.

These solutions empower organizations to streamline IT operations, enhance data protection and improve overall productivity.

‘We’re excited to strengthen Synology’s footprint in the Philippines through this partnership with VST ECS. With their extensive distribution network and deep local expertise, we expect connections with more organizations, accelerated market growth and increased delivery of enterprise-grade data solutions to the vast market,” Claire Huang, Synology’s country manager for the Philippines, said.

‘Our collaboration with VST ECS reinforces our long-term commitment to supporting the Philippines’ digital growth. Together, we aim to empower organizations of all sizes with reliable, innovative and future-ready IT solutions that strengthen the country’s technological capabilities and accelerate its digital transformation,’ Thachawan Chinchanakarn, ASEAN regional sales manager at Synology, said.

With its extensive nationwide reach and in-depth understanding of local market needs, VST ECS is well-positioned to bring Synology’s solutions to a broad range of business users, helping them build secure, scalable and intelligent IT environments.

‘As the country’s leading ICT distributor, VST ECS plays a pivotal role in empowering organizations with the right technologies to modernize infrastructure and future-proof operations. Our partnership with Synology allows us to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions that simplify data management, enhance protection and support seamless hybrid cloud adoption,’ Jimmy Go, president and CEO of VST ECS Phils., Inc., said.

‘Backed by our nationwide channel network and deep technical expertise, we are committed to expanding Synology’s presence and enabling more organizations to build agile, secure and scalable IT environments’ he added.

This collaboration is part of Synology’s broader initiative to deepen its footprint in Southeast Asia by strengthening its local partner ecosystem and ensuring easier access to enterprise-grade data solutions.

A year after claiming its first championship in more than three decades, Mapua sets its sights on another one as it clashes with Lyceum of the Philippines University in today’s start of the 101st NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara admitted the road back to the top would be harder this season after losing Chris Hubilla and Laurence Mangubat, vital cogs in their magnificent title run last campaign.

Hubilla and Mangubat have moved over to Jose Rizal U where Nani Epondulan, who was also part of Alcantara’s coaching staff, took over as head coach from Louie Gonzales early this year.

‘It would be tougher this year because we lost some key players,’ said Alcantara. ‘But we’re hoping our new guys will fill those gaps.’

New recruits are Cyrus Nitura from Perpetual Help, Cyril Gonzales from University of the Philippines, and Drex delos Reyes from National U.

Game time is at 2:30 p.m., which will be followed by the duel between last year’s runner-up College of St. Benilde and San Beda at 5 p.m.

The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the 10th consecutive year, according to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

A country is granted Tier 1 status if it fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking based on the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2002.

The report cited the Philippines’ efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers, enact new legislation to regulate fishing recruitment agencies and protect fishers and the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

The Philippines is one of only 33 countries to have achieved and maintained the top ranking out of the 188 countries assessed globally.

The Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to combat trafficking, which it said is not just a legal mandate but a shared moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation.

‘There is no place for complacency in our justice system. This Tier 1 ranking is a beacon of light, an impetus for our sustained efforts,’ Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who also chairs the IACAT, said.

‘This fight is not only for our fellow Filipino nationals whose vulnerabilities have been taken advantage of, abused and exploited, this fight is for all of humanity,’ he added.

However, despite the Tier 1 ranking, the report flagged some alleged lapses by the Philippine government.

‘Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not identify the vast majority of potential trafficking victims among individuals exploited in online scam operations despite widespread reporting indicating these individuals faced conditions indicative of trafficking,’ it said.

It also noted that the government did not report any foreign victims. Furthermore, the report said the government did not adequately and consistently screen potential trafficking victims of online scam operations.

‘Due to insufficient screening for trafficking, especially among individuals exploited in online scam operations, authorities did not take effective measures to prevent the inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked,’ it said.

‘The government identified fewer victims, and some officials did not use trauma-informed practices in victim identification,’ it said.

‘Corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year,’ it added.

The report cited the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who is being prosecuted for violation of anti-trafficking law, particularly her alleged complicity in human trafficking through an online scam operation in her jurisdiction. Guo also faces money laundering charges.

The report said authorities arrested thousands of Filipino and foreign nationals involved in online scam operations under the guise of POGOs.

Authorities also initiated an administrative investigation of a mayor, vice mayor and seven municipal council members for alleged complicity in human trafficking within an online scam operation in Porac, Pampanga.

‘The mayor reportedly received an administrative sanction and the government did not report updates on any of the other cases,’ the report said.