Category: Philippine Star

Metro Pacific Water (MPW) is scaling up its footprint in Iloilo with more than P11 billion in new projects, on top of the P4.2 billion it has already poured into rehabilitating the province’s aging water system.

‘MPW has been a partner of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) for several years, and we recognize that the road to addressing Iloilo’s water challenges has not been easy,’ MPW President and CEO Andrew Pangilinan said.

‘We are not here to offer a quick fix. Quick fixes are what left Iloilo struggling in the first place. We are here to build a system that can stand for decades – one that future generations will not need to question.’

The planned capital program will fund both short- and long-term upgrades, according to Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), the joint venture company serving Iloilo City and seven neighboring municipalities.

‘Short-term projects include pipe replacements and upgrades in HS Jaro, Diversion, Q. Abeto, Iloilo City Proper, Mansaya, Bo. Obrero, and Sinikway,’ said MPIW Commercial Support Services Department head Annie Mae Salonga.

‘For the long-term, we have started developing the 66.5 million liters per day (MLD) Desalination Plant and a 5 MLD modular facility to help secure Iloilo’s water supply.’

Salonga said the utility has also standardized more than 28,000 meters to ensure fair and accurate billing.

‘Old meters degrade over time and no longer provide accurate readings. Standardization ensures that the consumption recorded is exactly what the customer is charged – no more, no less,’ she said.

MPIW Chief Operating Officer David Berba emphasized that customer trust underpins the expansion.

‘Water is not just a commodity – it is life itself. It is the mother cooking rice for her family, the student washing before school, the worker refreshing after a long day. That is why trust is so important in this service. And trust is not built by words – it is built when Ilonggos turn on their taps and water flows, day after day,’ he said.

Despite the heavy investment pipeline, Salonga clarified that any adjustments in water rates would be determined by MIWD and regulated by the Local Water Utilities Administration. She noted that rates have not changed since 2018 despite rising operating costs.

‘With the improvement of water services through service level projects, customers will enjoy 24/7 safe and reliable water supply and will feel that their payments are truly worth it,’ she said.

MPW, through MPIW, entered Iloilo in 2019 to take over what it described as a heavily strained and outdated network.

The company now serves more than 860,000 people across Iloilo City and seven municipalities, stretching over 572 square kilometers and the Tigum-Aganan Watersheds.

Rolling out these projects, the company added, requires coordination with multiple regulators – including MIWD, LWUA, and the National Water Resources Board – as well as the priorities of eight local governments.

Every job has its share of after-work pains, including daily 9 to 5s behind a desk (plus overtime for some).

“Sitting is the new smoking,” quips Ma. Elena Lourdes R. Tan of Makati Medical Center’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “That means the lack of activity increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers – conditions associated with regular tobacco use.”

Beyond those conditions, another risk that could occur from being hunched over a desk is musculoskeletal pain, with Dr. Tan pointing out common issue among office workers is lower back pain.

Because people have curved postures when they’re seated, pain is also felt in the shoulders and neck.

Dr. Tan describes it as “tech neck” or “text neck” as it’s common among those who frequently use gadgets, “It’s stress caused from keeping your shoulders and head slumped forward and your chin practically touching your chest.”

The hands and wrists may also feel pain or weakness, especially when using a computer, and the doctor says that it is likely carpal tunnel syndrome.

“The carpal tunnel is a space in your wrist bone that serves as a passageway for tendons, ligaments, and nerves to reach your hand,” Dr. Tan explained. “When the median nerve in your carpal tunnel is irritated or damaged due to repetitive motions, it sends pain to your hand, wrist, and fingers.”

Speaking of computer use, hours of looking at a screen can affect one’s eyes leading to blurred vision, dryness, and headaches.

As such, Dr. Tan listed down a number of tips to avoid the risks of office-related pains and to work more comfortably.

Sitting right

Dr. Tan advises using a chair that supports the spine, and its height can be adjusted.

“Feet are flat on the floor, knees at the same level as the hips, and head straight, not bent forward,” she reminded.

The doctor added ensure one is at arm’s length from the computer, the wrists are straight and the hands level with the elbows.

Breaks

A five-minute break, not long ones, every 30 minutes can relax and recharge the body and brain, as well as give the eyes a rest.

How one spends their break varies – go for a walk, meditate, stretch, listen to music, read, eat, or chat with an officemate.

Ergonomic products

Standing desks are in these days because, as Dr. Tan points out, one isn’t hunched over when using one so the posture is more aligned.

“Still, you might have to take walking and sitting breaks with this type of desk, as standing for too long can be tough on your joints and the soles of your feet,” she added.

Other ergonomic products could be footrests or laptop risers, all of them designed to make the work environment more comfortable.

Exercise

Dr. Tan said exercise improves posture by strengthening the muscles that support the back, shoulders, and core.

Excercising also releases mood-enhancing endorphins that lift the spirit to relax oneself after a long day.

The doctor advises simple stretches like neck shoulder rolls, chest stretches, and torso twists, as well as quick exercises such as squats and triceps dip using a chair, seated movements like calf raises and knee to chest, and wall push-ups and sits.

Cebu’s resort town Moalboal, famed for its sardine runs and coral reefs, joined the global International Coastal Cleanup Day with a rare public-private initiative that underscores how developers and hoteliers are embedding sustainability into their growth strategies.

For the first time, the coastal town held two coordinated cleanups. Municipal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron led local government workers in clearing debris along the seawall, wharf and reclamation areas near the town proper.

In parallel, Club Serena Resort mobilized a consortium of private companies, safety officers and volunteers for a beach and underwater cleanup in Saavedra, one of Moalboal’s most-visited white sand stretches.

The private-sector initiative, spearheaded by Cebu-based developer AppleOne Properties Inc. (API) and its hospitality arm One Root Hospitality, drew participation from barangay officials, police, coast guard, fire protection units, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as scuba divers from local resorts.

‘The annual ICC Day brought together people from all walks of life to care for the sea and celebrate Moalboal’s love for nature and culture,’ Cabaron said.

He added that the initiative, part of a global campaign themed ‘Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,’ builds on year-round local efforts to preserve the town’s beaches and marine ecosystems.

AppleOne, which has expanded its footprint in property and hospitality across Cebu and the Visayas, positioned its leadership role in the cleanup as part of a broader sustainability agenda.

‘AppleOne’s leadership in this year’s ICC is our public statement on sustainability even as we pursue property and tourism development in the countryside,’ said Samantha Manigsaca, API’s vice-president for hospitality.

She noted that the multi-sector participants signed pledges after the cleanup to support the protection of Tañon Strait, the country’s largest marine protected seascape.

Moalboal, situated on Cebu’s southwestern coast and a finalist in the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Tourism Awards, has seen rising visitor numbers driven by its rich biodiversity, sardine runs and diving sites.

Business leaders in the town said environmental stewardship is vital to maintaining its global reputation as a marine tourism hub.

Gunmen killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman and wounded two others, including a policeman, in an ambush at a busy thoroughfare in this city at noon on Saturday, October 4.

Prince Mohaz Rafsanjanie Matanog, SK chairman of Barangay Poblacion 5 and a third-year engineering student at Cotabato City State University, died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds.

His relative, Muamar Salvador Matanog, was seriously wounded in the attack.

The two were aboard a red Toyota Raize and were reportedly on their way to an undisclosed location when gunmen opened fire at the intersection of Jose Lim Sr. Street and Sinsuat Avenue – just a short distance from Cotabato City Police Precinct 1.

Also injured was Patrolman Norsaiden Laguiali, who was on duty and had responded to the incident when he was shot by the suspects.

The gunmen fled on motorcycles before police reinforcements arrived.

Cotabato City police director Col. Jibin Bongacayao and Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said investigators are coordinating with Matanog’s relatives and barangay officials to identify the assailants.

Police forensic teams recovered 92 empty bullet shells from the scene.

Unquestionably, this year has been marked with unforgiving catastrophes. Just this week, in fact, two unrelated tremors hit the country. First was in the Visayas (epicenter was in Bogo City, Cebu) at 9:59 PM on September 30, 2025 and in just a little over four hours, Taal Volcano erupted.

Though Taal Volcano’s eruption was a bit trivial, Bogo City, Cebu and its surrounding municipalities suffered horribly. At 6.9 magnitude, several structures collapsed and scores of lives never made it. Apart from these sad tales, more than five hundred were reported injured. Dejectedly, both happened while we are still trying to fend off the damages brought about by Typhoon Opong in other parts of the country.

Just like many tragedies in the past, however, the recent one also brought about the best character in most of us, generosity. While some sectors took some religious spins on these catastrophes, the fact remains that scientifically, natural tragedies do happen once in a while and depending on their strengths, may or may not bring about destruction to anyone. If it does happen, however, the weaker structures will suffer the most.

Notably, to some extent, nature has also conspired with well-meaning citizens, to do good as well, in unearthing potential anomalies. For instance, the tremor that hit the Visayas in 2013. To recall, as photos revealed, some kilometers of damaged concrete roads and bridges in Bohol didn’t have or have insufficient steel bars. Apparently, poorly built, these roads, bridges and structures were not able to withstand tremors of such magnitude. Thus, certainly, some unscrupulous people must have siphoned enough money and rendered the projects destruction-bound. The same is also true this week as some roads and bridges are rendered unusable.

With this in mind, as reconstruction begins in these badly hit areas, we have more reasons to worry. It is a known fact that politicians wield so much power especially in the countryside. Most of them are astute businessmen too. They are mostly into construction and other related businesses like hardware and sand and gravel. With the LGUs’ Bids and Awards Committees (BACs) under their total control and co-bidders downright cohorts, they’ll surely win, albeit, under cover of their distant relatives’ or close friends’ names. Consequently, undertaken projects, most likely, will be either overpriced or substandard.

Thus, absorptive capacity theory must come into play. Among others, there are salient points in this theory that we must all learn and, hopefully, adhere to. These are, ability to use funds, budget utilization and program implementation. So self-explanatory, isn’t it. However, there are lots of obstacles that hinder absorptive capacity. Among many, in our country’s situation, poor capacity, structural issues as well as efficiency and accountability stand out the most.

Our DPWH and LGU Engineering Departments have unequivocally shown these deficiencies in capacity and structural issues in their respective organizations. Absolutely, apart from nature’s wrath, the Senate and ICI hearings have also uncovered that. More importantly, even COA wasn’t able to adequately perform their role as guardian of the public funds. Explicitly, it is its mandate as granted by the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Its auditors are supposed to ‘examine, audit, and settle all government accounts and expenditures to ensure that public resources are used legally, efficiently, and for their intended purposes, preventing their misuse or misappropriation.’

On the other hand, a question on absorptive capacity is supposed to be dug deeply when such term was mentioned by Sen. Lacson in one of the hearings of the Senate’s Blue-Ribbon Committee. Remember the P51 billion infrastructure budget of the First District of Davao City in the last three years of Pres. Duterte’s presidency? Yes, it should have been given value. Why? If true, the local economy will be largely affected. Yes, infra development will boost the local economy as industries related to construction will rake in a lot. Sadly, however, there are other industries that might be getting the shorter end of the stick here too.

University of Perpetual Help was in desperate need of a burst of energy that it thoroughly lacked in last year’s NCAA season.

Enter Patrick Sleat.

The former Far Eastern University standout was the shot in the arm the Altas craved for, helping them carve out a 67-54 victory over the San Sebastian Stags Friday that jumpstarted their NCAA Season 101 campaign at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The 6-0 forward debuted with 10 points – including a triple, four rebounds, five assists and a steal without committing a single turnover – before fouling out late in the fourth and final quarter.

It was Sleat’s eight points and superb facilitation in the opening period that sparked the breakaway run and set the tone for the one-sided win.

‘Patrick was big for us,’ said UPHSD coach Olsen Racela, referring to his former player when he was still with the Tams in the UAAP. ‘He is a one player who can create, unselfish and looks for his open teammates and has experience.’

‘We expect a lot of things from him and our players look up to him,’ he added.

Mark Gojo Cruz led the scoring for the Las Pinas-based dribblers with 15 points, including three booming treys, while John Abis and John Boral, the team’s elder statesmen, chipped in 10 points apiece while combining for 13 rebounds while teaming up with Sleat in presiding over their rock-solid interior defense.

‘I like our defensive effort in this game, that was our battle cry before the game,’ said Racela.

It was a result that spoiled the coaching debut of Rob Labagala at SSC-R.

The scores:

UPHSD 67 – Gojo Cruz 15, Sleat 10, Boral 10, Abis 10, Orgo 8, Tulabut 6, Maglupay 2, Casinillo 2, Nunez 2, Duremdes 2, Alcantara 0, Gelsano 0, Pagulayan 0.

SSC-R 54 – Felebrico 12, Dela Rama 8, Gabat 7, Ricio 7, Are 6, Cuajao 6, Dimaunahan 3, Castor 2, Velasco 2, Nepacena 1, Lumanag 0.

Quarterscores: 22-12; 30-19; 43-34; 67-54

In the One Direction song “Don’t Forget Where You Belong,” members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson sing the bridge which culminates in “Don’t matter how far I’ve gone, I’m always free to run home.”

It appears like fate then that Zayn and Louis are reuniting to shoot a roadtrip documentary series for streaming platform Netflix.

The show will offer “a rare look inside the world of two of the most famous – and most private – men on the planet opening up about life, love, loss and fatherhood.”

Filming on the project has already begun as the two singers journey across the United States talking about their lives and possibly even discuss the passing of their colleague Liam Payne.

Nicola Marsh will helm the series with Campfire Studios with producing, and the latter’s Ross Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans board as executive producers.

The other remaining members of One Direction, Harry Styles and Niall Horan, are not expected to make an appearance in three-part series.

Zayn will start a Las Vegas residency in January 2026. That same month Louis will release his third album “How Did I Get Here?” and promote it with a world tour.

One Direction debuted in 2010 after forming on “The X Factor” and to this day remain one of the most popular boy bands with a huge fanbase.

Zayn departed the group in 2015 after One Direction had released its fourth album. The boy band released one more album before going on an hiatus the following year.

Liam died last year after falling from a window in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old. His funeral brought Louis, Zayn, Harry and Niall together for the first time since going their separate ways.

Navy and police officers have foiled attempts to smuggle cigarettes with a combined value of P23.5 million in separate operations in Maguindanao del Norte and in this city.

The Navy on Wednesday night intercepted a motorized boat carrying P14 million worth of cigarettes in the waters off Barangay Talisayan, Zamboanga City.

The boat and its two crewmembers were escorted to the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon for the inventory of 40 master cases of cigarettes.

The crewmembers said the cargo came from Basilan.

Meanwhile, police officers yesterday intercepted a vehicle carrying suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at P9.5 million in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.

The vehicle, which was pulled over at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion, was found to be carrying 266 master cases of cigaretes with no tax stamps.

The driver and his helper were taken to the police station for questioning after they failed to present documents for their cargo.

A. Soriano Corp. (Anscor) is exiting The Bistro Group nearly a year after investing in the operator of full-service restaurants Italianni’s, TGI Fridays and Texas Roadhouse.

Anscor has sold its entire 22 percent stake in TBG Food Holdings Inc. to Inoza Business Holdings Inc. for P1.91 billion.

The listed holding company said the transaction represents value realization of its investment in TBG, getting gross annualized returns greater than 25 percent on its investment through a combination of distributions and capital gains.

Anscor in November last year acquired a minority stake in TBG for P1.61 billion, expanding its portfolio in the consumer sector.

‘Anscor extends its best wishes to the Bistro and Inoza teams. We are confident they will continue delighting Filipino consumers with their quality dining experiences for many years to come, and we look forward to seeing their continued success,’ the company said.

TBG, also known as The Bistro Group, is a premium casual restaurant operator in the Philippines, owning and operating over 200 full-service restaurants across 23 brands, including iconic names such as Italianni’s, TGI Friday’s and Texas Roadhouse.

Inoza recently took a majority stake in TBG, securing the Philippine Competition Commission’s approval in August.

Inoza is a newly formed holding company affiliated with Progeny Global Holdings Inc., which is engaged in agribusiness, food manufacturing and limited-service restaurants.

Progeny operates the Bounty Fresh brand, as well as limited service restaurants Chooks-to-Go and Uling Roasters.

Ayala-led ACEN Corp. has extended a P900-million loan to its subsidiary, which is developing a 553-megawatt (MW) onshore wind farm across Laguna and Quezon.

In a regulatory filing yesterday, ACEN said it executed a short-term loan agreement with its wholly owned unit, Giga Ace 6 Inc. (GA6), the company behind the P70-billion Quezon North Wind Power Project.

GA6 is developing the wind facility in phases, with Phase 1 targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026 and Phase 2 expected to follow by the end of 2027 or early 2028.

Quezon North Wind, straddling Mauban and Real in Quezon and Paete and Kalayaan in Laguna, is expected to generate about 1,730 gigawatt-hours of clean power annually upon completion.

Earlier this year, the ACEN Group signed a P34.41-billion senior green term loan facility with Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank Inc. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. to partially finance the wind project.

ACEN and ACEN Global Development Group acted as sponsors, share security grantors and guarantors, while GA6 served as the borrower, mortgagor and grantor.

Apart from Quezon North Wind, ACEN, through subsidiary Gigawind4 Inc., also plans to develop the 247-MW Banahaw Wind Power Project in Tayabas, Quezon.

With a project area of 4,536 hectares, the wind facility consists of 38 wind turbine generators with a standard rated power of 6.5 MW each.

Currently, ACEN’s portfolio in the Philippines includes close to 1,000 MW of wind capacity, spanning operational and under-construction projects.

As the Ayala Group’s listed energy platform, the company is one of the country’s leading power producers, accounting for 5.2 percent of the market or around 1.48 million kilowatts in capacity.