Category: Philippine Star

Foodies in the Philippines can now savor the taste of Osaka’s award-winning yakitori as Ikoka Japanese Yakitori opening its doors in Metro Manila.

Founded by Chef Masashi Hara and recognized by the Michelin Bib Gourmand for five consecutive years, the restaurant has earned global acclaim for its mastery of yakitori or grilled chicken skewers.

Each skewer enhanced with salt or signature tare sauce reflects years of artisan training, a craft that has placed Ikoka among Japan’s most celebrated dining experiences.

“Yakitori is more than food – it is culture, tradition, and craftsmanship,” Chef Masashi in a statement, adding that chefs in the Philippines have been trained to deliver the same Michelin-recognized quality and authentic flavors as in Japan.

The newly opened restaurant showcases wood-crafted interiors inspired by Japanese design, offering a refined yet inviting atmosphere suitable for dates, family gatherings, or business occasions.

Counter seating provides diners with a front-row view of the live grilling, creating an immersive culinary experience.

The Philippines marks an important milestone in Ikoka’s global expansion vision. With a vibrant, youthful market and strong appreciation for authentic dining, the country is a natural home for Osaka’s renowned yakitori tradition.

The restaurant is now open at Bonifacio Global City’s Two Meridian in Taguig.

Content creator couple Cong TV and Viy Cortez are allowing their son Kidlat to explore his curiosity freely.

Kidlat was recently tapped as an ambassador of Kids Learning Ville, during the launch of which Cong shared he and Viy let Kidlat discover what he wants to be in life.

That includes explosing him to as many activities possible to see what catches the three-year-old’s eye.

“Pa-discover mo lahat. Pakita mo sa kanya yung gitara, piano, soccer, kung anong mga activity. Doon talaga nagsisimula para mahanap mo kung ano yung mga bagay na passion niya paglaki,” Cong added, noting how basketball stayed with him since childhood.

Cong did admit it will take years for Kidlat to become ready to explore more things, “Tina-try naming ipakita sa kanya lahat ng puwedeng ma-experience sa mundong ito kahit ganito pa lang ang edad niya.”

At the moment Cong and Viy are seeing Kidlat try out swimming, however the child always cries in the pool as he doesn’t enjoy being underwater.

On her part, Viy said that they are letting Kidlat choose his own path without any pressure.

“Hindi ko muna iniisip kung magiging doktor ba ‘to o vlogger. Basta ako, mabuti lang siya,” Viy shared. “Kung gusto niya maging Spider-man. Ako, wala akong, ‘Gusto ko paglaki mo.’ Sa akin, wala.”

Viy noted how young their son still is and wants to just enjoy, so she and Cong are there to support him.

She did recall something Cong told her while she was pregnant with Kidlat upon asking what they’d do if their son had different interests.

“Ang sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Alam mo, yung anak mo, hindi mo pagmamay-ari. Nandiyan ka para lang i-guide. Kung ano yung gusto niya maging paglaki niya, nandiyan ka para i-guide, pero hindi para sabihin na hindi yan dapat gawin. Nandiyan ka lang to guide,'” Viy ended.

The business community is becoming highly skeptical about the viability of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Marcos to look into the massive corruption in flood control projects.

In fact, the business sector has expressed the belief that the ICI probe may be doomed from the start, with a nebulous goal, funding, manpower and legal authority to mete punishment on those it is supposed to investigate.

As Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro had previously said, the ICI is merely a fact-finding body that is not supposed to mete punishment on any person who does not attend the hearings of the commission.

Sources in the business community point out that the scope of the investigation by the ICI is a logistical nightmare alone in hiring clerical staff, investigators, lawyers and competent assessors to help collect, check, verify documents and records, and then to compile and safeguard all testimonies, documents and paperwork submitted and gathered by the commission on the numerous flood projects that involves several government agencies.

The investigation, business observers note, could very well cover at least 10 years, and would therefore take even more time to validate and check.

While they are glad that former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson is part of the ICI, sources say that he was only prevailed upon by President Marcos to join the commission, even as he had previously rejected a return to government.

Singson’s corruption-free stint at the DPWH during the term of former president Benigno Aquino III has earned him the respect of international financial and aid organizations.

In fact, in a recent Asian Development Bank infrastructure seminar, just before the ICI was formed to investigate the corruption in flood control projects, Singson had told members of the media who attended the event about his strict and business approach to dealing with legislators and contractors who visited his office.

According to Singson, ‘Unlike others, I never offer my visitors anything to eat or drink when they come, because I do not want them to become comfortable or too friendly and stay longer than needed.’

Singson preferred to keep a formal and arms length approach in all his government dealings.

Perhaps, this approach in the conduct of the ICI hearings is being followed, much to the dislike and suspicion of some observers, since a public hearing allows for some theatrics by some of the legislators and witnesses.

The coverage of the investigation, sources said, is so extensive, and to synthesize all of the findings would itself be a humongous undertaking that may not be credibly completed in just a couple of months.

There is likewise no set timetable for the ICI to complete its work, leaving suspicion and causing frustration that the whole exercise is just a ploy to string the public along until the people get tired and bored, and decide to move on to the next political brouhaha.

The recent resignation of Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong is also being met with dismay by the business sector, which heightens their suspicion about the ability of the ICI to complete its task.

In the meantime, the stock market continues to tank while the economic managers continue to wax optimistic, and the political pot continues to be stirred by talks of military dissatisfaction.

Businessmen admit that the corruption probe has had a ‘chilling effect’ on business and the construction sector, which has a multiplier effect on the economy, has slowed down.

Fortunately, local and international economists remain optimistic that while the Philippine growth scenario will not be as robust as originally projected at the start of this year, it will remain in a slightly lower growth scenario even with the risks it faces.

The ADB, just this week, affirmed a resilient growth outlook for the country while acknowledging some uncertainties from global trade and investment policies and continued and heightened geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and from the Russian-Ukraine war.

In a briefing, ADB country director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries acknowledged that ‘Though these uncertainties pose increased risk, we see strong domestic demand anchoring growth, with sustained investments and an accommodative monetary policy supporting the economy’s expansion.’

The ADB forecasts inflation to ease this year, slowing to 1.8 percent before rising to three percent next year. It notes though that adverse weather conditions and climate shocks could put pressure on commodity prices.

Other downside risks to the growth outlook, the ADB cited, are external headwinds from heightened uncertainty, further shifts in global economic policies, and rising trade barriers that could affect market sentiment and hinder economic growth.

One factor it highlighted could be the fragility of China’s property market ‘that could weaken growth in the rest of the region.’

Sustained government investments, including for social services, are seen boosting domestic demand, the report said. Business sentiment remained positive, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Q2 2025 survey, though softer amid external headwinds.

Consumer outlook stayed optimistic for 2026. This bodes well for private consumption growth, which is partly supported by steady inflow of remittances from overseas Filipinos.

The government, the ADB noted, aims to maintain infrastructure spending at five to six percent of gross domestic product, or GDP, over the medium term.

The recently signed Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way Act is expected to streamline land acquisition process for government and public-private partnership projects, which will help speed up infrastructure investments.

The new law, the ADB said, would benefit the government’s flagship projects, including the ADB-financed Malolos-Clark Railway Project and the South Commuter Railway project that would will link Metro Manila to northern and southern provinces in the Luzon region; and the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project that will connect the province of Cavite to Bataan and shorten travel time between the two provinces.

The trial of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s graft cases on the alleged misuse of his discretionary public funds or pork barrel will proceed as the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan junked his plea to dismiss the cases for lack of merit.

In a 22-page resolution, Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division said there was no cogent reason to reverse its earlier resolution that denied Estrada’s demurrer to evidence, which would effectively dismiss his remaining graft charges involving the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) amounting to over P200 million.

The funds were allegedly diverted to fake livelihood projects that were endorsed to non-government organizations allegedly owned by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who has had numerous convictions over the misuse of the pork barrel funds.

The anti-graft court rejected Estrada’s argument that there should not be any prosecution for graft since there was already a prosecution against him for plunder from the ‘same set of facts and the same set of transactions.’

The court said there was nothing in the Rules of Court or the laws that there was a directive to dismiss a separate case for graft on account of the charge ‘being a predicate act in a prior case for plunder.’

It also maintained that the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case to support a guilty verdict.

‘The only reason to sustain such an argument would be if the same places the accused in double jeopardy, which is not the case herein, as shall be discussed by the court later,’ the resolution read.

The Sandiganbayan also disagreed with Estrada’s argument that the prosecution failed to prove that there was an intent to commit wrongdoing on his part, saying he never knew of the supposed scheme to misuse his PDAF.

The court cited the testimony of Ruby Tuason, who testified she met with Estrada and told him of the scheme of Janet Napoles and that she personally delivered amounts to him at the Senate and at his house.

It also cited the testimony of Benhur Luy, who said he had endorsement letters signed by Estrada through a member of his staff.

‘Estrada’s insistence on the innocuousness of his endorsements is belied by its repetition and deviation from the established procedure,’ the court said.

‘Estrada’s endorsement letters directly implicate him for the crimes charged and there is no basis for his argument that his letters were merely recommendatory,’ it added.

The Sandiganbayan set the presentation of defense evidence on Oct. 2.

The resolution, dated Oct. 1, was signed by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, the division chair; and Associate Justices Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega.

With his medical condition in question, pre-trial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) may tap qualified experts to conduct an independent assessment on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s fitness to participate in court proceedings.

The ICC Registry, which is in charge of administration and operations of the court, formally informed the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 that the medical officer of the tribunal’s detention facility ‘does not possess the requisite expertise of judicial knowledge to provide such an assessment regarding a detained person’s fitness to stand trial.’

Following the defense’s claim that Duterte is unfit to stand trial, the pre-trial chamber directed the ICC Detention Center’s medical officer to submit a report on the former president’s medical condition.

The Registry, however, told judges that the medical officer’s mandate is only limited to the oversight of the physical and mental health of the detained persons.

While the medical officer can provide limited observations on the health of a detainee, matters related to ‘long-term adjustments to hearing arrangements’ and other issues already fall outside its mandate, the Registry said.

But it said that the Registry maintains a roster of qualified experts who may provide services to the court.

‘The Registry stands ready to provide the Chamber with a shortlisted curriculum vitae of suitable experts from this list in line with the Chamber’s requirements, for its consideration, should the Chamber so decide,’ it added.

Duterte’s defense team has moved to adjourn the trial on the basis of supposed cognitive decline of the former president.

The prosecution has disputed this claim and pushed for the resumption of the proceedings.

Groups slam Senate pro-Duterte resolution

Meanwhile, lawyer’s group Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) decried senators who adopted Senate Resolution 144 urging the ICC to place Duterte under house arrest, asking if those who voted in favor also have compassion and mercy for the thousands of Filipinos who were killed in the war on drugs.

‘Calling for his house arrest is not an act of mercy. It is an act of betrayal,’ the IDEALS said in a statement.

The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives denounced the move, saying ‘this is not a humanitarian gesture, but a brazen attempt to obstruct justice and protect a mass murderer responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings.’

‘The senators resolution is not about pity or rights, but a clear cover-up on the crimes of Duterte. This is an example of oppression of justice for the families of the victims of drug war,’ said Act Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co described the measure as ‘nothing more than a political maneuver designed to protect Duterte and his cohorts from facing the full weight of international justice.’

‘The Senators’ resolution is an insult to the families who lost their loved ones due to the endless battering of Duterte’s fake drug war,’ Gabriela women’s party Rep. Sarah Elago said.

No effect

Kristina Conti, a lawyer representing some drug war victims, said the Senate resolution would have no effect on the ongoing proceedings at the international tribunal.

Conti described the passage of the resolution as counterproductive ‘as the Senate is not in any way involved in the ICC process.’

‘It is unclear how the resolution will be communicated to the international court. Unless the Senate has direct knowledge of Duterte’s physical and mental health and their report is transmitted to the ICC through the proper channels, then the resolution will be mere political noise,’ she said.

According to Conti, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 would only consider matters of fact and law as it evaluates various requests filed by Duterte’s lawyers, including the plea for his interim release.

She described Senate Resolution 144 as mere ‘political noise’ that could even ‘backfire’ on efforts to secure Duterte’s release from detention.

The move, she said, can be viewed as political intrusion and a form of undermining the ICC’s independence.

‘The court may also see this as conclusive proof that the Dutertes still exercise significant political clout nationwide. Duterte family members are in positions in Davao, which is why he cannot simply go home there,’ Conti said.

Fifteen senators voted in favor of the resolution calling for the house arrest of Duterte on the basis of humanitarian considerations. At least three opposed it, two abstained and four did not participate in the voting.

For Conti, given that one of the sponsors ‘is probably among the co-perpetrators of crimes against humanity being investigated by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor,’ passing the resolution was ‘patently self-serving.’

Among those who supported the measure was Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who is also reportedly being investigated by the ICC for his role as Duterte’s first police chief.

The activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the senators who adopted the resolution are ‘political opportunists.’

Meanwhile, acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte is seeking the disbarment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty and Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon before the Supreme Court.

The mayor’s lawyer Israelito Torreon refused to divulge details of the complaint but said it was related to the former president’s arrest and transfer to The Hague in March, which they described as ‘illegal’ kidnapping and expulsion. – Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano, Daphne Galvez

Several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, including those who have been fired or suspended, are now undergoing what amounts to lifestyle checks.

Their assets have been frozen by the courts upon the recommendation of the Anti-Money Laundering Council. The Bureau of Internal Revenue is working with the AMLC and state prosecutors to determine if tax returns match declared incomes. The Bureau of Customs and Land Transportation Office are also providing inputs in determining if assets are ill-gotten.

Now we know that it isn’t impossible to carry out this type of inter-agency cooperation in trying to ferret out illegally amassed wealth.

Such multi-agency cooperation need not wait for a law against racketeering, which legislators have refused to craft as much as they have resisted proposals for regulating campaign finance, easing bank secrecy rules and curbing political dynasties.

President Marcos ordered the lifestyle checks in the final week of August, with an initial focus on DPWH officials and employees implicated in the flood control scandal.

Inevitably, he was urged to lead by example. In response, Malacañang said the President is ready to undergo a lifestyle check. The Office of the Vice President issued a similar statement, saying OVP officials and employees are also ready.

Now that the DPWH officials face asset checks, Malacañang can make good on its statement and start expanding the initiative.

A good start will be the release of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of the President since he assumed power. Several SALNs are needed to assess any wealth increase or reduction in the past three years. Malacañang has said scrutiny of SALNs is part of the lifestyle checks.

With the President getting the ball rolling, Cabinet members can follow, since they are tasked to oversee the lifestyle checks in their respective agencies.

There’s no need to wait for an order from the Office of the Ombudsman, which has not prohibited anyone from voluntarily making one’s SALN public.

There’s also no need to wait for a formal request from any entity such as media organizations. The three representatives of the Akbayan party-list plus a former member of the group who is currently sitting in Congress released their SALNs to the public with no one formally requesting it.

Before the previous ombudsman turned the SALN into a top-secret document, it was an annual routine for officials starting with the president and all members of both chambers of Congress to release their SALNs, or at least make public the amounts they declared as assets, liabilities and net worth. It’s time to restore this practice.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has filed multiple bid-rigging and bid manipulation cases against top government contractors and former officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office before the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

Before signing a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) on Friday, October 3, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over case files and documentary evidence for the PCC’s review.

Twelve cases of bid manipulation and rigging were filed against five contractors. The firms include Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., Syms Construction Trading, Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Sunwest Inc. – all of which have been flagged for substandard projects.

DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo P. Bernabe III said that despite being flagged for irregularities by the agency’s internal audit service, some contractors were still awarded projects, which he said was a clear indication of bid-rigging.

Here is the breakdown of the per-contract violation the DPWH filed:

3 – Wawao Builderes

2 – IM Construction Corp.

2 – Syms Construction Trading

2 – St. Timothy Construction Corp.

3 – Sunwest Inc.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said penalties for a first violation could reach P110 million per contract, while subsequent violations may climb to P250 million per contract. If the PCC confirms collusion and bid manipulation, total penalties could amount to P2.3 billion, which would have to be paid and returned to the government.

As an example, Dizon showed the number of flood control projects that Discaya-owned companies secured from 2016 to 2025, finding 1,214 projects worth a total of P77.934 billion, based on contract IDs. With the cases now recommended to the PCC, the Discayas could face estimated penalties of P300 billion to be returned to the government.

“Wala pa diyan ‘yung iba’t ibang kasong ifa-file,” he said, reiterating the president’s call for the misused public funds to be returned to the government. (That does not even include the other cases to be filed.)

Dizon also said that all contracts of the nine Discaya companies have been terminated after their licenses have been revoked. This, he explained, allows the government to seize their surety bonds and warranties to ensure the projects are properly completed.

The DPWH cases also named Bulacan district and project engineers, along with other officials from its engineering office, together with officials and employees of the DPWH Regional Office in Mimaropa over the anomalous Oriental Mindoro flood control project linked to Sunwest Inc.

DPWH previously filed a case before the Ombudsman against around 20 of its former engineers and officers for alleged corruption, falsification, malversation and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Dizon said the 20 engineers will be covered in the cases they referred to the PRC, which will be responsible for reviewing the licenses of professional engineers and contractors and determining if they should be revoked.

“So it’s not just about accountability, but it’s also about safeguarding the institutions and the projects that the DPWH is doing from now moving forward. So 20 kaagad dito sa unang binigay namin sa PRC ngayon macocover ng MOA natin,” he said, noting this is just the first case.

Dizon said the evidence submitted by the DPWH to the PCC included fraud audit reports from the Commission on Audit and the agency’s internal audit service.

While careful not to preempt the PCC’s ruling, the DPWH chief said he expects a faster resolution since the department has already submitted substantial evidence, including the Discayas’ own admission during congressional probes that they took part in bid rigging.

Since the agency just filed the cases, Undersecretary Ricardo P. Bernabe III said there will be a period for preliminary inquiry and case build-up, which may take as long as three months before proceeding to deal with the actual case.

‘I think the vice president is not in a position to make demands to Congress.’

That’s what Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list) said in an ambush interview on Friday, October 3, after Vice President Sara Duterte skipped budget deliberations three times while even setting conditions for her appearance.

He agreed with other minority lawmakers who already manifested their intention to move for the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget cut, saying Congress has all the reason to reduce it when Duterte did not even bother to defend her office’s budget.

‘So I think Congress is justified to just basically cut it to the barest operating levels,’ he said.

Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) was the first to propose cutting the OVP’s budget, even considering a zero allocation, but said that at the very least, funds should remain for its personnel and basic operations.

Minority lawmaker Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers’ Party-list) said during Thursday’s plenary debates that the OVP had used only 34% of its budget by midyear. Duterte had explained at the committee-level hearing that the reason for the low utilization rate was due to procurement delays.

Ridon shared a similar idea to the minority lawmakers, saying perhaps the personnel services and relevant operating expenses should be kept.

‘Basically, anything more than personnel services and operating expenses, I think pwede na pong tapyasin po ito (I think they could be cut),’ he said.

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District) said Duterte could have used the plenary to defend and explain why the budget increase was necessary, but ‘unfortunately, no explanation at all,’ he added.

He echoed De Lima’s criticism, noting how the vice president showed courtesy to the Senate but not to the House. He called it a ‘deliberate way’ of ‘expressing her preference’ for the Senate, which he said was insulting to the House as an institution.

‘That’s why sa amin, my working draft would be on the P700 million,’ Adiong said, clarifying that there’s no collective decision yet.

Tinio’s proposal, however, called for a deeper cut, retaining only the personnel services allocation of roughly P200 million for 2026.

How much the OVP wants in 2026

Under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the OVP was allocated P889.2 million in new appropriations, up by P156 million from the P733.2 million it received in 2025.

Driving the increase in the OVP’s proposed budget are an additional P87 million for supplies and materials, P52 million for professional services, and P39.6 million for financial assistance and subsidies – an item not funded in its 2025 budget.

‘Para sa professional services, 405% increase, para sa mga consultant, hindi natin alam kung para saan ‘yan, gusto sana natin malaman sa kanya,’ Tinio said.

(For professional services, a 405% increase-for consultants, we don’t know what it’s for. We would like to ask her to clarify.)

These allocations fall under the OVP’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for 2026, pegged at P673.75 million or a 35% increase from 2025.

Meanwhile, personnel services were set at P212.54 million, about P24 million higher than this year’s budget.

Combined, the OVP’s operating expenditures will reach P886.29 million, or roughly P198.55 million more than its 2025 budget.

In other words, if lawmakers decide to retain the personnel services budget while trimming down the MOOE increase, the OVP would be left with around P728 million, including P16 million proposed for capital outlay.

This would put it nearly at par with its 2025 budget of P744.15 million, which already factored in automatic appropriations for retirement and life insurance premiums – or a reduction of nearly one-fifth from the proposed 2026 allocation.

Will the House be soft?

During this year’s budget hearings with the appropriations committee, the House took a softer approach to the OVP compared to 2024, when deliberations lasted hours and had to be deferred because lawmakers were not satisfied with the answers over her confidential fund use.

This time, the committee passed her office’s proposed budget quickly with just a few questions from two minority lawmakers, despite the increase.

However, with the OVP absent from the plenary debates, her office’s proposed budget increase could take a rough turn.

Imagine simply paying off your bills or topping up your GCash or Maya to finally check out that item that’s been in your shopping cart-and suddenly getting the chance to win up to P200,000 you can put back into paying bills or even continuing your online shopping spree!

With the ‘Ber’ months finally out in full force, leading self-service payments kiosk provider eTap Solutions is making the exact scenario above come true! Starting last September until to Jan. 19, 2026, eTap users can submit their entries to the eTap Weekly Pamasko campaign for a chance to win up to P200,000!

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-235004 Series of 2025, eTap Weekly Pamasko will be giving out P2,500 to 100 lucky winners every week, P5,000 and P10,000 to 10 and 20 winners respectively each month, and then P20,000 to five winners and P100,000 to one lucky winner during its Grand Draw on January 19!

To join:

Simply make a single transaction worth P500 or more using GCash, Maya, GrabPay or Dragonloans at any eTap kiosk nationwide. eTap Solutions’ 4,000+ kiosks can be found in various store partners nationwide, including DALI, TGP, Julie’s Bakeshop and more.

Submit your entry via eTap’s Monday form at: https://wkf.ms/3XZz4nR , which can be found on the official eTap Facebook page. The form will ask for details such as name, number, address and more.

Aside from contact details, you will also be asked to provide a photo of your transaction receipt, a selfie with a transaction receipt + eTap machine, plus a short story about your experience using eTap machines.

Biggest transactions mean more chances of winning as the number of valid entries will depend on the transaction amount: transactions from P500 to P2,499 will count as one entry, P3,000 to P4,999 will be three entries, P5,000 to P7,999 will be five entries, and transactions worth P8,000+ will amount to 10 entries.

Winners will also be announced via the official eTap Facebook page, with the eTap team going live every Monday at 2 p.m.

For eTap Solutions’ head of marketing Paolo Lorenzo Macaraeg, the eTap Weekly Pamasko campaign is both a chance for the company to continue giving back while also spreading holiday cheer:

‘Our loyal eTap users know we’ve always had raffles going, from eTap Para Sa’yo last year to eTap Weekly Panalo just recently. This holiday season, we figured a continuation of these raffles, with bigger and better prizes for our users, is the best way to say thank you for our users’ continued support!’

With eTap, the holiday spirit meets a good chance to win big rewards, even if it’s just as simple as settling your ordinary financial transactions!

Employees of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Northern Cebu whose livelihood have been disrupted by the recent calamity will receive emergency assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

DOLE-7 regional director Roy Buenafe said the agency has allocated P11 million for the program, which is expected to benefit over a thousand displaced workers in Northern Cebu.

He said several workers lost their daily wages after operations in their workplaces were suspended, with some employers unable to provide compensation due to financial or personal difficulties.

‘To ensure that affected workers will not be left without income, we will provide them with TUPAD. For the first 10 days, they will receive minimum wage of P540 daily or a total of P5,400,’ he said.

Under the scheme, displaced employees will be tasked with clearing debris, cleaning workplaces, and assisting in community rehabilitation to make business operations viable again.

DOLE said it is coordinating with local governments, which have better knowledge of affected enterprises and workers.

‘Our priority is to assist disrupted and displaced workers immediately,’ Buenafe added.

Employers were also reminded that they cannot compel employees to report for work if there is imminent danger to their safety. ‘Absences under such conditions cannot be a ground for suspension or termination,’ DOLE said.

The labor department further urged affected workers to register with DOLE personnel deployed in the field so assistance can be extended as quickly as possible.

‘We need businesses to come back so people can sustain their livelihood, but in the meantime, we will ensure that no worker is left behind,’ Buenafe said.

The TUPAD program provides emergency employment and livelihood opportunities to those who have lost their jobs or sources of income due to crises.