Category: Philippine Star

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will be releasing a total of P425 million in financial assistance to the hard-hit local government units (LGUs) in northern Cebu by the Sept. 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake. It will be released through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

The release of funds is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to provide immediate assistance to communities hit by the recent earthquake.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, in a statement, said the allocation included P150 million for the entire Province of Cebu and P75 million each for San Remigio, Bogo City, and Medellin-three of the hardest-hit localities.

Also, an additional P50 million will also be released to the Municipality of Borbon.

The Province of Cebu was placed under a state of calamity after Governor Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 57, allowing faster access to emergency funds and the immediate implementation of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures.

Pangandaman assured the public that the national government has standby funds ready to support recovery and rehabilitation initiatives.

‘Our government is prepared. We have standby funds that can be tapped immediately to deliver assistance to those affected. In moments like this, government aid must never be delayed,’ she said.

In addition to the LGSF allocation, the DBM will also release P1.625 billion to replenish the Quick Response Funds (QRF) of key government agencies, with an aim to speed up aid and recovery efforts for the victims of recent calamities that hit the country.

These are the P625 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to support the prepositioning of relief goods and cash transfers for families in calamity-hit areas and P1 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for infrastructure repair and rehabilitation.

The QRF is a standby fund that ensures immediate government response during disasters and emergencies.

The budget department said that as of October 2, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) still has P5.3 billion available to support broader rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts.

On the other hand, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has also launched the ‘Dungan sa Pagbangon’ donation campaign to support the affected communities.

Funds raised will be used to provide shelter kits, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, toddler kits, and newborn kits during the relief phase, followed by recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, the Cebu’s emergency response capacity received a boost with the turnover of 11 new ambulances from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through the efforts of GM Mel Roble.

The ambulances were distributed to Mandaue City, Naga City, Lapu-Lapu City, Asturias, Alegria, Consolacion, and the Camotes Island municipalities of Poro and San Francisco as well as the municipalities of the island town of Madridejos, Tabogon and Tuburan.

‘This is another big step in strengthening our emergency response system, so we can reach more patients faster and save more lives when every second counts,’ said Cebu Provincial Health Consultant Elisse Nicole Catalan

Inflation is projected to climb in the coming months as supply-side pressures and the extension of rice import restrictions threaten to push prices higher, which could prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep policy rates unchanged today.

Following the slight uptick in inflation to 1.7 percent in September from 1.5 percent in August, analysts said this may mark the start of a gradual pickup after months of subdued readings, with weather-related disruptions and policy measures posing upside risks toward year end.

HSBC ASEAN economist Aris Dacanay said that while September’s below-consensus figure still falls below the BSP’s two to four percent target range, rice prices would be a key factor to watch in the next few months after the government extended its rice import ban until the end of the year.

‘This is a major upside risk to inflation that needs to be monitored,’ he said. ‘But importers have frontloaded their rice orders in anticipation of the ban, leading to ample supply by end-August. If local farmers were able to harvest before Typhoon Nando hit, rice supply may be sufficient to keep prices stable through year end.’

Despite the soft inflation reading in September, HSBC expects the BSP to pause its easing cycle this week before resuming rate cuts in December.

‘We think September inflation sets the stage for a quarter-point rate cut in the fourth quarter to 4.75 percent. But we still expect the BSP to wait for more data on gross domestic product and rice prices before continuing its easing cycle,’ Dacanay said.

He added that the policy rate could fall to 4.50 percent by the first quarter of 2026 if inflation remains stable.

Economists at Citi echoed the view that the BSP would likely stay on hold in October, even as it eyes further rate cuts toward the end of the year.

‘Following tame inflation readings in September, we continue to expect a gradual rebound of the headline into the three-percent handle in 2026,’ Citi said.

‘Growth concerns could eventually resurface, leading to a cut before the end of the year. However, as economic data is so far mixed, BSP will probably pause in the October meeting.’

Citi expects inflation to stay between 1.3 and two percent year-on-year through the first quarter of 2026 before rising to around 3.5 percent by end-2026.

BPI lead economist Jun Neri also flagged that inflation risks remain tilted to the upside, particularly due to weather disturbances and import restrictions.

Neri expects inflation to stay near two percent for the rest of 2025 before climbing to around 3.5 percent by mid-2026 and nearing four percent by the third quarter next year as base effects fade and supply risks persist.

‘With inflation likely to pick up in the coming months, the pace of monetary easing may slow down,’ Neri said. ‘A more conservative approach is justified as cutting rates aggressively could leave the economy vulnerable to inflation shocks that might force a sharp policy reversal later on.’

The BSP has so far cut policy rates by a total of 150 basis points since August 2024, bringing the benchmark rate to five percent.

After today’s policy meeting, the Monetary Board is scheduled to hold its final policy review for the year on Dec. 11.

United States President Donald Trump has nominated Lee Lipton, a Florida restaurateur and longtime friend, as the next United States ambassador to the Philippines, breaking with tradition by selecting a political ally over a career diplomat for one of Washington’s most critical posts in Asia.

The White House sent Lipton’s nomination to the Senate on October 8. The 67-year-old businessman, a member of Trump’s exclusive and lavish Mar-a-Lago club, currently serves as interim US Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States-his first diplomatic role.

Trump’s pick of an ally with little diplomatic experience follows a familiar pattern from both his presidencies: appointing political loyalists to high-level roles, while sidelining the State Department’s career corps.

Business background, diplomatic novice

A political outsider with no prior experience in Asia, Lipton has spent over 25 years building his career in the private sector.

His State Department biography says he spent more than 25 years in apparel licensing and later moved into hospitality. “His landmark restaurants remain among the highest-volume establishments in Palm Beach County, FL,” the profile read.

At the Organization of American States, Lipton oversees staff operations and coordinates US initiatives addressing regional challenges such as the security crisis in Haiti and efforts to counter Chinese Communist Party influence in America.

The US State Department profile describes Lipton as bringing a ‘business-to-business perspective’ to diplomacy and a “results-driven mindset and a strategic approach, shaped by decades of entrepreneurial leadership.”

Key post at pivotal time

If confirmed, Lipton will take over the Manila mission at a moment of deepening U.S.-Philippine defense ties and renewed tensions in the South China Sea, where China has been pressing its territorial claims with increasing force.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chose the Philippines for his first overseas trip in March, where he also pledged to ramp up deterrence against Chinese aggression.

As ambassador, Lipton would be expected to sustain momentum behind the two countries’ more than seven-decade-old mutual defense treaty-one of the cornerstones of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

Lipton’s nomination requires Senate confirmation, a process that includes committee hearings before a full vote. If approved, he will succeed career diplomat MaryKay Carlson, who has served as Washington’s top envoy in Manila since July 2022.

The Bureau of Customs said it has already taken ‘proactive measures’ to clean up its ranks well before the US State Department released a report that cites bribery at the bureau as one of many barriers to courting more foreign investment in the Philippines.

In a statement on Thursday, October 9, the bureau said Customs Chief Ariel Nepomuceno – who took office in July – introduced a series of reforms within his first 100 days in office to curb corruption and conflicts of interest inside the bureau. These included a ban on accepting any form of ‘take’ money and new rules requiring employees to disclose business or family ties to customs brokerage firms.

‘The reforms we introduced within my first 100 days were not reactionary,’ Nepomuceno said. ‘They were proactive measures rooted in our commitment to clean governance.”

“These measures directly respond to the very issues highlighted in the U.S. State Department report, and we will continue pushing forward with both short and long-term solutions,” the customs chief said in the press release.

The bureau said it ‘acknowledges the concerns’ raised in the U.S. State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statements report, which cited complaints from American companies about bribes, inconsistent fees, and intrusive customs inspections in the Philippines.

The report, released September 26, says the US Embassy in Manila received reports of ‘facilitation fees,’ or informal payments allegedly solicited to speed up transactions, as well as complaints of inconsistent customs charges and intrusive inspections.

It Bureau of Customs as ‘still considered to be one of the most corrupt agencies in the country’ and said corruption in the country remained a key factor discouraging foreign investment.

The bureau’s response to the report also included that it “acknowledges the concerns” raised in the report.

Reforms under Nepomuceno

The BOC said its “No Take’ policy strictly prohibits any form of bribery within the agency. Employees caught violating the directive face immediate disciplinary action and referral to law enforcement.

In July, Nepomuceno also banned customs personnel from owning or holding interests in brokerage businesses, saying this was to prevent conflicts of interest in processing import and export transactions.

Staff were ordered to declare any family connections to brokers and to file affidavits detailing previous ties to customs-related firms, according to the BOC statement.

Responding to complaints from traders about their “overly intrusive audits and enforcement activities,” the BOC said it has temporarily suspended unserved Letters of Authority and Mission Orders – documents used to authorize raids and inspections – while the bureau reviews its procedures to make enforcement ‘more targeted and risk-based.”

The BOC also said Nepomuceno intends to increase the bureau’s dialogue with business groups and foreign chambers through the Customs Industry and Advisory Council (CICAC), a body meant to formalize consultations and promote policy transparency.

Long-term reforms, according to the bureau, will focus on digitalization and automation of customs systems to reduce “human discretion” and prevent corruption.

The bureau also encouraged the public to report irregularities via its complaint channels and assured that all reports would be handled confidentially.

One last flight for ‘Mr. President’.

Rain or Shine wing Gabe Norwood will be retiring after the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, he announced Thursday.

The 40-year-old Norwood, who has played for Rain or Shine since 2008, announced the news through an Instagram video posted by the Elasto Painters’ social media team.

Norwood, also a longtime member of Gilas Pilipinas, looked back on his career, which started in his four-year stint with George Mason University in the US NCAA.

‘The journey has been nothing short of incredible. I poured everything I had into this game, and in return it has given me more than I could ever ask for – the unforgettable moments on the court, the battles won and lost, the lifelong friendships, the love of the fans, and above all a family,’ he said in the video.

‘That’s why today I want to share with you all that this upcoming Philippine Cup will be my last. One last conference, one last run, one last flight,’ he added.

The 6-foot-6 Norwood, who has won two PBA championships and is an 11-time All-Star, is known for his basketball IQ, defensive chops and athleticism.

He was a Defensive Player of the Year and a seven-time member of the PBA All-Defensive Team.

He was a fixture in several Gilas teams, which competed in the FIBA Asia Cup, FIBA World Cup and William Jones Cup.

Last season, Norwood averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 49 games played. The Elasto Painters reached the semifinals in all three conferences.

The player’s retirement tour will tip off this weekend, as Rain or Shine takes on the Meralco on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

He is a graft-buster of the entire country and not just of certain groups, Malacañang said yesterday of former justice chief Jesus Crispin Remulla, whose appointment as ombudsman has drawn flak from critics doubting his impartiality.

‘The work of Ombudsman Remulla is for the entire country, not just for one sector or a group of Filipinos,’ Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a Palace briefing. Remulla is set to take his oath today as ombudsman.

Asked whether Remulla has direct orders from President Marcos to investigate the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of former administration ally-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte, Castro replied: ‘The work of the ombudsman is for the whole country. Whatever needs to be investigated should be investigated. It should neither be ignored nor neglected,’ she said, adding, ‘What needs to be known by the public should be investigated by the ombudsman.’

Critics and political foes of the administration have assailed Remulla’s appointment, claiming it was meant to pin down the Vice President and her allies.

Malacañang has brushed aside the allegation and expressed optimism that Remulla would be impartial in his investigations.

Castro also denied reports she was being eyed as the next secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

‘First of all, we don’t know where that report started, so there’s no truth to that,’ Castro told a press briefing in Filipino.

Asked whether she would accept the post should President Marcos offer it to her, Castro answered, ‘Hypothetical question, I cannot answer.’

She said the President has no shortlist yet for the next DOJ chief. ‘As of the moment, we have no details regarding that,’ Castro said.

Malacañang earlier designated DOJ Undersecretary Fredderick Vida as officer-in-charge.

Remulla, who was appointed DOJ chief in June 2022, replaced Samuel Martires, who retired in July.

Sara’s case for review

After Malacañang’s announcement of his appointment late Tuesday, Remulla said his office is set to review the pending complaints against the Vice President regarding her alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

‘Actually, the reports are already there at the ombudsman. We will review them, study them and we will confer with those who are currently handling the cases,’ Remulla said in English and Filipino at a press conference.

Duterte and nine other officials are accused of misuse of P500 million and P112.5 million in confidential funds of the OVP and DepEd, respectively, from 2022 to 2024.

Duterte concurrently served as secretary of DepEd in July 2022 until she resigned in July 2024.

It was revealed during House hearings that P125 million in confidential funds of the OVP in 2022 was spent in just 11 days.

In an interview yesterday, Remulla said he is also seeking a dialogue with the Sandiganbayan to coordinate swifter and ‘continuous’ trial of cases.

Remulla also made it clear he would not tolerate delaying tactics, particularly by those being accused of misdeeds.

He emphasized that the justice system is a dual responsibility, not just of the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice but also of courts.

Remulla also said he intends to adopt a policy on preliminary case evaluation being practiced in the DOJ to ‘weed out nuisance’ complaints. Such policy, he earlier told the Judicial and Bar Council, recognizes the preeminence of ‘reasonable certainty of conviction’ over prima facie evidence.

SALN access

The appointment of Remulla has been widely welcomed with retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio urging him to take this as an opportunity to open the SALN of government officials to the public.

He, however, said private information that do not involve assets or liabilities – such as their residence, the names of their children – should be redacted.

‘The people have lost faith in all institutions of government. They have lost faith in the executive, legislative and even in the judiciary. The Office of the Ombudsman, I call it the second most powerful office of government, could turn the tide,’ Carpio said over radio dzBB.

After a five-day ceasefire, action in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament will resume today (Thursday, October 9) with a double-header on tap at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs will try to extend their hot streak to four games as they take on the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the main game at 6:45 p.m.

The Cheetahs are currently at solo second place in the table with an immaculate 3-0 slate.

On the other hand, the Warriors hope to snap their two-game slide after a rousing start.

In the 5:15 p.m. opener, the five-peat seeking Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles shoot for back-to-back wins as they battle against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers.

The Magis Eagles opened their title defense with a 69-57 drubbing of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars last September 21.

The Baby Panthers, for their part, are coming off a 69-61 whacking of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats that improved their record to 2-1.

Teams from Cabangahan, Tolotolo, and Polog stepped a win away from securing the crown of their respective categories in the 15th Mayor Teresa Alegado Cup Inter-Barangay Fiesta Basketball League in Consolacion, Cebu.

Kervin Garcia fired 28 points with seven rebounds and seven assists as Cabangahan pummeled Casili, 88-68, to draw first blood in the best-of-three SK Category A finals.

Jonel Colubio and Adrian Panangin complemented Garcia with 26 points in between them.

In the battle for third place, Jugan prevailed over Tugbungan, 94-89.

In SK Category B, Tolotolo needed only one more victory to clinch the title after trouncing Polog, 93-78.

Christian Manto paced Tolotolo with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists while Joshua Avila and Gabriel Yap chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively.

On the other hand, Prince Soquino sizzled with 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals while Kymbert Ponce and Adrian Tan connived for 26 points as Panas blasted Panoypoy, 97-86, to settle for third.

In Midget Category B, Polog demolished Tolotolo, 93-61, to move on the doorstep of championship glory.

Gabriel Godinez filled the stat sheet with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, Jared Padayogdog added 17 points while Klent Lato nailed 11 markers for Polog.

Tilhaong emerged as bronze medalists after whipping Panoypoy, 71-57.

John Tulingin led Tilhaong with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists while Jake Fuentes and France Galamiton cashed in 18 and 14 points.

Meanwhile, Emman Villamor unloaded 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Kindrick Alcover scored 16 while Warren Cadampog contributed 13 points as Casili dumped Nangka, 104-86, to advance to the Senior Category A finals against the defending champion Pulpogan.

Despite the overall economic pessimism in the country today due to continuing corruption scandals affecting both the executive and legislative branches, there are glimmers of economic optimism we should look forward to. I am referring to the low inflation and low unemployment rate of the country.

This week, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the inflation figure for September 2025 of only 1.7 percent, then the unemployment figure for August 2025 of 3.9 percent, both low levels and hence, good news.

I computed the average inflation for January-August 2025, in Asia: Japan 3.4 percent, Vietnam 3.3 percent, Cambodia 3.0 percent, India 2.9 percent, Pakistan 2.3 percent, South Korea 2.0 percent, Taiwan 1.8 percent, the Philippines 1.7 percent, Hong Kong and Indonesia 1.5 percent, Malaysia 1.4 percent, Singapore 0.8 percent, Thailand 0.1 percent, China -0.1 percent. China has deflation, Japan is the new ‘inflation capital’ of East Asia, and the Philippines is back to a low-inflation regime.

Inflation over the same period in America: Brazil 5.2 percent, Mexico 3.9 percent, US 2.7 percent, Canada 2.0 percent.

In Europe: Turkey 36.6 percent, Russia 9.6 percent, Romania 6.1 percent, Poland 4.1 percent, Netherlands 3.4 percent, UK and Austria 3.3 percent, Belgium, Czech Republic and Greece 2.6 percent, Spain 2.5 percent, Germany 2.2 percent, Italy 1.7 percent, France 1.0 percent.

So our inflation this year is midway among Asian countries, lower than those in America and Europe except France.

I also computed the average unemployment rate in January-August 2025. Several countries in Asia do not have monthly unemployment, they have quarterly like Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, while Indonesia has March data only. Here is the average for Asia: India 6.1 percent, China 5.2 percent, Indonesia 4.8 percent, the Philippines 4.1 percent, Taiwan and Hong Kong 3.4 percent, Malaysia 3.0 percent, S. Korea 2.7 percent, Japan 2.5 percent, Vietnam 2.2 percent, Singapore 2.0 percent, Thailand 0.9 percent. Australia has 4.2 percent.

Average unemployment rate over the same period in America: Canada 6.8 percent, Brazil 6.3 percent, US 4.2 percent, and Mexico 2.6 percent.

In Europe: Spain 10.9 percent, Sweden 9.2 percent, Turkey 8.3 percent, France 7.5 percent, Germany 6.3 percent, Italy 6.2 percent, Belgium 6.1 percent, Poland 5.3 percent, UK 4.6 percent, Netherlands 3.8 percent, Russia 2.3 percent.

So, our unemployment rate this year is midway among Asia and America and lower than Europe. In addition, our labor force participation rate is 64 percent average this year. LFPR is an indicator of people’s optimism or pessimism about the jobs market. If they think they can find a good job or the business environment is good, they go out to look for jobs or start a new business, and LFPR goes up to 64 percent or higher. If people think there are not enough good paying jobs, they either stay home or pursue other studies and training and LFPR goes down to around 63 percent or lower.

So these are two good things we can console ourselves with. The private sector remains resilient overall in creating more jobs and producing more goods and services that stabilize overall consumer prices.

The economic team – Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Economics Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, along with Bangko Sentral Governor Eli Remolona Jr. – deserve public support for the various policies they laid down minus imposing price control of important commodities.

Our third quarter 2025 GDP performance will be released a month from now. The first country in the world to report its Q3 2025 is Vietnam, another whooping 8.2 percent growth. Their Q1-Q3 2025 average growth is already 7.8 percent.

The average Q1-Q2 2025 growth in East Asia is as follows: Taiwan 6.7 percent, the Philippines 5.5 percent, China 5.3 percent, Indonesia 5.0 percent, Malaysia 4.4 percent, Singapore 4.3 percent, Thailand 3.0 percent, Japan 1.5 percent, South Korea 0.3 percent.

The rest of G7 industrial countries, their Q1-Q2 average growth are as follows: US 2.0 percent, Canada 1.8 percent, UK 1.6 percent, France 0.7 percent, Italy 0.6 percent, Germany 0.2 percent.

I am hoping for a 6.0 percent Philippine growth in Q3 but a more realistic number is between 5.5 and 6.0 percent. Still this is a good achievement compared to many East Asians, all of G7 and the rest of North America and Europe.

About the ongoing corruption scandal at the DPWH and involving many legislators both at the House of Representatives and the Senate, the culprit is a culture of waste, non-accountability and disregard for the overall fiscal condition of the country.

Prior to the lockdown period of 2020-2021, our average budget deficit in 2018-2019 was only around P0.6 trillion a year. During lockdown years it jumped to P1.5 trillion a year. From 2022 to 2024, it still averaged at P1.5 trillion a year despite the absence of any economic or virus crisis.

Many agencies went on a spend-spend-spend culture. New subsidies were created without abolishing old and non-performing subsidies. PhilHealth has returned funds to the National Treasury this year. President Marcos Jr. has recognized that it was a mistake and is incorporating a P53-billion funding allocation for 2026.

The President should prioritize reducing the outstanding public debt which is now approaching P18 trillion from only P8 trillion in 2019. He should do large scale spending cuts, tight fiscal discipline across many agencies and departments.

When agencies feel the tightness in funding, they will be forced to be more responsible, more accountable and less corrupt in spending.

Alfamart Philippines, the minimart chain of the SM Group, has commenced its franchising program to provide micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the opportunity to grow alongside its nationwide expansion.

Alfamart’s pilot started in Laguna with two franchise-owned stores.

Harvey Ong, chief operating officer of Alfamart Philippines, said the decision to open the business for franchising reflects the SM Group’s commitment to inclusive growth and entrepreneurship.

‘By allowing tenants to evolve into franchisees, Alfamart is enabling MSMEs to scale alongside its own expansion, strengthening local communities and livelihoods,’ Ong said.

Alfamart has expanded to 2,337 stores nationwide as of end-September.

The SM Group earlier said it is planning to add at least 200 new Alfamart stores in Luzon this year.

Part of SM’s retail food business, Alfamart blends the convenience of a neighborhood store with the breadth of a supermarket.

SM said such format is gaining strong traction across Southeast Asia, particularly among families and communities that value accessibility and affordability.

Alfamart Philippines is a joint venture between SM and Alfamart, one of the leading retailers with more than 21,000 mini-marts in Indonesia.

Alfamart inaugurated its first store in the country in June 2014.

The minimart chain offers a wide assortment of products catering to daily needs including a selection of basic groceries, SM Bonus products, fresh and frozen goods, snacks and personal care items at reasonable prices.

Alfamart has successfully expanded across 11 provinces, including Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pangasinan and Zambales. It also has presence in 15 cities in Metro Manila.