Category: Philippine Star

Food and beverage company RFM Corp. is staying ready for acquisition opportunities, keeping deployable cash even as it continues to reward shareholders with large amount of dividends.

RFM said its board approved a P600-million cash dividend, equivalent to approximately P0.17807 per share, which is payable on Dec. 2, 2026 to stockholders of record as of Nov. 5, 2026.

The declaration brings the company’s total cash dividends for 2026 to P1.5 billion, following three P300 million dividend tranches paid earlier in February, May and July.

‘Even as we declare this large amount of dividends, RFM is keeping dry powder for opportunities to buy new businesses,’ RFM president and chief executive officer Joey Concepcion III said.

Over the past years, Concepcion said RFM has invested in capacity expansion in its milk and bread lines and funded these capital expenditures with internal cash.

‘In addition, the ongoing multi-year upgrade and expansion in production capacity in our Selecta ice cream joint venture with The Magnum Ice Cream Co. Inc. will be financed through loans,’ he said.

Concepcion said RFM remains committed to providing shareholders with consistent cash returns while retaining sufficient financial flexibility to invest in its brands, production capabilities and long-term growth.

RFM is one of the country’s leading branded food and beverage companies, with businesses in pasta, milk, flour and ice cream.

Its portfolio includes Fiesta, Royal and Selecta Milk, while its participation in the ice cream segment is through Magnum RFM Ice Cream Inc., which markets Selecta, Magnum and Cornetto in the Philippines.

RFM generated consolidated net revenues of P16.86 billion in the first nine months, 11 percent higher than last year’s P15.23 billion. Net income grew by 10 percent to P1.38 billion.

In the third quarter alone, RFM’s net revenues rose by 17 percent year-on-year to P6.36 billion while net income expanded by 18 percent to P566 million.

RFM said growth was supported by both consumer and institutional groups, with strong sales across its consumer brands, particularly Selecta Milk.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will be including data-driven criteria to determine and prioritize areas with the most severe classroom shortages.

In a statement yesterday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said classroom allocations must be responsive to school needs and directed toward areas facing the most severe shortages.

Angara made this assurance after the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) issued a report on gaps in allocations for local government units (LGUs) with the highest estimated shortages, based on initial 2026 allocations.

DepEd stressed that allocation decisions will continue to weigh the severity of shortages, site readiness, project feasibility and implementation timelines.

Angara explained that in order to accelerate infrastructure delivery, DepEd is deploying a multi-pronged strategy that integrates Department of Public Works and Highways-led construction, LGU partnerships, public-private partnerships, DepEd Learning Continuity Spaces and collaborative initiatives with both government and private sector organizations.

Under the current LGU-led classroom construction initiative, allocations cover 439 LGUs, 1,955 schools and 8,777 classrooms nationwide.

Complementing these efforts, DepEd’s tripartite agreements with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and 48 LGUs have so far secured 576 classrooms for construction in priority communities.

To strengthen transparency and accountability, DepEd maintains oversight through regular physical and financial progress reporting, technical validation and monitoring protocols across division, regional and central office levels.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon is a very busy man, so much so that he spent less than 20 minutes at the infrastructure forum arranged by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines held last Monday, Oct. 19 at the Insular Life Building along Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue in Makati.

He said that he had been called to attend a meeting in Malacañang and, thus, could not stay longer and participate in the Qand A session.

The DPWH Secretary spent less than 20 minutes delivering his speech. Perhaps I should describe it as more of a long explanation as to why he has no

infrastructure plan to talk about. Instead, what we heard from him was the difficulty he faces in dealing with one of the most corrupt Philippine government departments.

President Marcos tasked him to handle the DPWH after pulling him away from the Department of Transportation where he had been assigned to replace former DOTR secretary Jaime Bautista.

Dizon had barely warmed his seat at the Transport department when he was thrust into dealing with an agency mired in the flood-control controversy.

He actually has a very good relationship with business reporters due to his previous stint in government when he was with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority Secretary Vince is supposed to get the government’s main infrastructure agency back on track with building important projects that are key to pump-priming our ailing economy.

Mind you, the EJAP Infrastructure Forum was not a spur of the moment event. It had taken months to arrange and coordinate all the speakers for an informative half-day session.

Thus, we would have expected Secretary Dizon to have prepared as well, and if something had come up at the last minute, at least assign his undersecretary or representative to do an informative presentation on what the Marcos administration plans to do in its last two years, at a crucial time when the local economy needs government to take the lead in funding economic activity through construction of vital public works and structures.

Business reporters who attended the half-day forum were expecting to hear a comprehensive briefing from the DPWH Secretary on the state of the department’s infrastructure projects, including the controversial flood control projects that have rocked the country.

We were hoping to hear about the government’s infrastructure plans and share that information with the business sector.

Unfortunately, Secretary Vince did not prepare a presentation. What he did talk about and highlight is his mission to help reform the DPWH and the difficulty of embarking on such a task.

Secretary Vince admitted that he is very much aware of criticism from the media that ‘si Secretary Vince, puro inspection, puro turo-turo…I respect that. I respect the Fourth Estate’s view that, having seen DPWH secretaries come and go, and projects not being finished… I respect that. And that is a very, very valid point.’

However, he explained that his inspections have a purpose. ‘These inspections that we have been doing, and will continue to do, are vital.’ He pointed out, ‘the culture of these departments, unfortunately, is really a culture of just leaving things as they are. There is zero sense of urgency in these departments.’

He cited, ‘a distinct engineer sees a road unfinished… bale wala….an unfinished bridge, bale wala . They don’t care. That is the prevailing culture.’

The same culture, he adds, is also present in the DOTR, ‘you go to LTO, the prevailing culture, fixers…They don’t care. ‘

But, according to Sec Vince, if the Secretary himself does not go visit the departments and personally points out what is wrong and warns them of the consequences, they won’t change.

(If the Secretary himself does not go there and says, hey, di pwe-pwede ito. Kailangan may timeline, kailangan kayo may quality control, kailangan kayo on budget…kung hindi kulong kayo. Not to mention, magnakaw kayo, kulong kayo. iI we don’t do it, di magbabago, and we’ve seen it).

On the other hand, Sec Vince said that after breathing down on their necks, after 60 or 45 days, the departments do their work. (We have seen pag pinukpok namin sila, six months matatapos, 45 days matatapos.) ‘And that is really the reason for that.’

‘But the point here is, it is absolutely necessary. And we would love to see the day where we never have to do that. When a district engineer or regional director would do that himself…for ourselves. I would love to see that day. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet… We’re not there yet. We’ll get there, I hope. Maybe when there are more people in jail…and stay in jail. But we’re not there yet.’

The DPWH, according to Sec Vince, has more than 70,000 people. ‘That’s how big this organization is. The only bigger department is probably the Department of Education. But It’s hard. It’s like, as they say, you have an oil tanker. It’s so hard to turn it. It’s so hard to turn this huge ship.’

‘It’s so hard. It’s so ingrained, its culture of apathy, walang malasakit, pagnanakaw, no sense of urgency. It’s so hard. But we have to do it slowly and we have to keep on pounding again. These are the reforms we’ve tried to do.’

Add to that he said, is the need for transparency, acknowledging complaints about the difficulty in getting information and documents about projects.

Secretary Vince proudly pointed out that he has now addressed that issue with a digital portal where the public and media can now get data and documents on projects, bidding forms and contracts, including geo-tagging information about the exact location of where the project is to enable verification.

Communist China mouths two contradictory lies. One, that it never aggresses its neighbors. Two, that it wins in the end. History disproves both lies.

In 1289, Yuan emperor Kublai Khan dispatched Meng Qi to the Malay capital of Java to demand homage. Rejecting foreign taxation, King Kertanegara cut off the envoy’s nose and ears, then sent him bleeding back to Dadu, now Beijing.

Furious, Kublai Khan ordered an invasion. Twenty thousand Han foot soldiers and 10,000 Mongol horsemen, equipped with gunpowder weapons and catapults, set sail on 1,000 ships. The armada landed in Java early 1293. Kertanegara had just been assassinated in a palace coup by rival Jayakatwang.

Prince Raden Wijaya, Kertanegara’s son-in-law and heir, met the invading commanders with an offer: he’d turn over royal maps and censuses with palace treasures if they helped him regain the throne. The invaders agreed. Their combined forces deposed the usurper.

Raden Wijaya sought permission to retrieve the homage from his settlement in Tarik timberland. He staged a sneak attack on the scattered Yuan troops. The invaders, unused to humid tropical jungles, were decimated. Fearful of being trapped in monsoon storms for another half-year, remnants staggered back to China.

About 18,000 Yuan soldiers died from combat, disease and shipwrecks. Kublai Khan demoted the fallen generals and confiscated their estates. He died plotting a second invasion.

Kublai Khan twice attempted to conquer Japan. In 1274 his army of Mongols, Han and Korean conscripts landed in Hakata Bay, now Fukuoka. Firing poisoned arrows and gunpowder bombs, they dominated the daylong battle. But the Kamakura Shogunate pushed them back by gusty dusk. That night a severe storm struck the fleet, destroying most ships and forcing survivors to limp back home.

Crushing the southern Song Dynasty in 1281, Kublai Khan amassed wealth for a second invasion. A thousand ships with 40,000 troops sailed from Korea, while more ships with 100,000 soldiers set out from southern China. Japanese fortifications prevented their safe rendezvous in Hakata Bay. For weeks the fleet was stranded in nearby islands.

In late August typhoon struck the densely-packed fleet. Tempest smashed the vessels into each other and onto the rocky shores. Eighty percent of the armada was destroyed, and tens of thousands of soldiers drowned. Stragglers were slain or enslaved by Japanese samurai. Kamikaze (divine winds) again saved the country.

Yuan rulers invaded Vietnam in 1258, 1285 and 1288. All were fiascos. Gen. Tran Hung Dao thrice routed 500,000-strong enemy forces.

In 1979, China attacked anew. Vietnam, newly reunited after a 30-year war against colonizers France and America, had struck the brutal Beijing-backed Khmer Rouge regime in neighboring Cambodia. Deng Xiaoping declared that ‘China needed to teach Vietnam a lesson.’

Up to 300,000 People’s Liberation Army troops poured into the northern border by surprise. China had not fought a battle since the 1950s Korean War. Vietnam’s two divisions were busy in Cambodia, so only local regional forces, border guards and rural militias repelled the PLA. Around 26,000 Chinese were killed and tens of thousands more wounded. China’s stated goal to expel the Vietnamese from Cambodia failed. The PLA withdrew after a month.

In Manila last week, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan boasted, ‘If we want to use force, we may easily win; but no, we will not use force; you know, we love peace.’ He said that during a forum on China-Philippine ties amid maritime disputes.

President Bongbong Marcos took it as ‘a threat, very undiplomatic.’ It wasn’t the first time Jing Quan mentioned possible military violence.

Filipinos love peace. They will not be pushed either. In December 2025, 79 percent considered China the Philippines’ top threat.

China had a one-child policy in 1979-2015. Those born then are now 11 to 47 years old. Average age of PLA troops is 27; officers, around 35; majority are under 30 – all single offspring.

China must avoid violence in the West Philippine Sea. For every soldier that falls, three sets of seniors could lose a breadwinner: the parents and the paternal and maternal grandparents. Jing Quan, 51, should think of that.

On Aug. 11, 2025, a Chinese navy warship collided with a China coast guard gunboat that was water-cannoning a Philippine patrol near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. The menacers collided with each other. Two Chinese water-cannoneers were thrown overboard.

The Philippine vessel stopped to offer help in rescuing them. The Chinese ignored the gesture. Only on Aug. 5, 2026 did China admit the loss of two coast guards: Yi Xinyu, 21, and Cheng Long, 25.

Two personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were killed while their superior survived following an ambush by unidentified men in this city yesterday afternoon.

Reniel Agpalo and Louther Vitor were declared dead on arrival at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center due to multiple gunshot wounds.

The PCG said one of the fatalities holds the rank of seaman second class while the other was an apprentice seaman.

Their superior, Lt. Cmdr. John Paul Cabarrubias, was not harmed in the attack, which occurred near a station of the PCG.

Reports showed the PCG men were in a Toyota Innova on their way to the station when unidentified armed men waylaid them along Roman Vilo street.

The attack sparked a commotion, which provided the assailants a chance to escape.

After the incident, Cabarrubias went to the Cotabato City police station to assist in the investigation.

History crashes onto the shores of this surfing paradise from October 30 to November 8 as the world’s ultimate wave-riders storm the legendary barrels of Cloud 9.

For the first time ever, the country plays host to the World Surf League (WSL) Philippines Pro Championship Tour – surfing’s crown-jewel spectacle – bringing the sport’s most formidable global elite straight into local waters.

At the center of this celebrated gathering presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is a lineup of world-class athletes, each bringing a distinct brand of brilliance to Siargao’s unforgiving reef break.

Leading the men’s division is Brazil’s Yago Dora, the current World No. 1, who arrives in the Philippines with a target firmly on his back.

Celebrated for his seamless blend of high-flying aerial maneuvers and razor-sharp rail work, Dora views heavy, world-class reef breaks like Cloud 9 as the ultimate canvas to prove his consistency under high-stakes pressure.

Joining him from the famed Brazilian Storm are former World Champions Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira, two of the sport’s most explosive icons.

‘This will be a historic moment for Philippine surfing and the CT will usher the sport into a new era. Let it inspire a new generation of athletes. Let the world discover not just our waves, but the vision, ambition, and heart of the Filipino people,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

The country’s hosting of this global surfing spectacle was made possible through the united efforts of key national agencies with the PSC and PAGCOR – the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Tourism and Events Infrastructure and Safety Administration (TIEZA), and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in partnership with SIARELCO.

Equally vital was the steadfast support of local leadership. Surigao del Norte Governor Lyndon Barbers, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga, and Vice Mayor Doc Minmin Sajulga stood at the forefront of preparations, guiding every step with vision and commitment.

Adding even more firepower to the Brazilian contingency are Filipe Toledo and Miguel Pupo with the international men’s field being further elevated by global superstars across the map.

Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti brings technical tube-riding prowess and European precision to the lineup, while Japan’s Olympic medalist Kanoa Igarashi leverages his tactical sharpness and blinding speed in hollow waves.

Also helping turn the CT into a world-class event were key partners, including the DILG, DBM, CAAP, DOTr, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Airlines, TCP and SDMI.

Completing the high-caliber men’s roster is American standout Tyler Wright, who brings immense star power, veteran composure, and elite wave-reading abilities to the competition.

The women’s field is every bit as formidable, promising an unforgettable display of speed, commitment and artistic precision.

Australia’s top-ranked sensation Molly Picklum leads the charge, widely recognized across the globe for her aggressive, completely fearless approach when taking on heavy slab conditions and hollow barrels.

She is joined by American prodigy Caroline Marks, whose lethal, powerful backhand attack in steep, technical tubes make her an absolute threat whenever the swell turns on while rising star Erin Brooks brings a breath of dynamic energy and fearless barrel riding that far outstrip her years.

Hawaiian power-surfer Gabriela Bryan thrives in heavy, punishing swells that demand raw strength and absolute commitment, while seasoned veteran Lakey Peterson rounds out the elite field with a career built on tactical mastery, blinding speed, and flawless execution.

Together, these women stand ready to push the boundaries of high-performance surfing in the legendary waters of Cloud 9.

All eyes will be trained on these top-ranked Championship Tour standouts with a total 40 elite surfers (24 men and 16 women) in the field, including the three Filipino surfers – John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong, Jayuard Alciso and Mara Lopez – competing alongside these international stars.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 seized P3.7 million worth of shabu and arrested three men in separate operations in General Santos City and in nearby Polomolok, South Cotabato on Wednesday, October 21. One of the operations also targeted an alleged drug den.

Combined PDEA 12 agents and police officers arrested a suspected drug den operator and his two accomplices after they sold shabu to undercover operatives during a buy-bust operation at their hideout in Purok Lower Malakas, Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City. The suepects allegedly also facilitated shabu sessions for buyers at the site.

PDEA-12 Director Charlene Magdurulang told reporters Friday, October 23, that the operation, supported by personnel from various units of the Police Regional Office 12, resulted in the seizure of shabu worth P106,760. The confiscated drugs will serve evidence in prosecuting the suspects for alleged violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Under state law, drug den operation is non-bailable criminal offense.

In a separate operation on Wednesday, another PDEA-12 team seized shabu worth P3.6 million in Barangay Silway 8 in Polomolok, South Cotabato, while targeting a suspected local drug trafficker, who fled after realizing he was dealing with anti-narcotics agents posing as civilians.

The suspect left behind the illegal drugs at the designated transaction site in Purok Maunlad in Barangay Silway 8. The seized shabu is now in PDEA-12 custody.

Magdurulang said local executives and barangay officials had pledged to help file a criminal complaint against the fugitive suspect in absentia.

We have been reading and hearing about how AI will soon run the world as humans watch on the sidelines. AI has solved some of the toughest mathematical problems. AI is now at the controls of the world’s financial infrastructure, even trading 24/7 in equities and other markets.

Algorithmic governance means society would be organized around optimization, efficiency and data.

Decisions would no longer be dependent on the whims of corrupt politicians because AI would be programmed to function according to hard rules.

I am dreaming, of course. I can’t wait for the day it would be possible for us to just outsource the job of running our government to AI.

But nope. We are still stuck with the bozos we elect into office.

Nevertheless, perhaps AI has some bright ideas on how to run our country so we don’t become a failed state soon.

Google AI’s responses to my questions produced no earthshaking insights. It was essentially regurgitating what we have already written.

Still, Google AI provided a convenient laundry list of remedies economists have offered to save our government from potential collapse.

To begin with, Google AI said:

‘To prevent the collapse of institutions and secure a prosperous future, the administration should enact a two-pronged strategy: immediate stabilization to restore public confidence and structural transformation to cement a lasting legacy.’

Here are the short-term priorities AI thinks is needed for immediate stabilization in the next 12-24 months:

‘To bring back hope and ensure political and economic survival, focus on the most immediate pain points affecting everyday Filipinos.

‘First is food security and inflation control. If the people cannot afford to eat, no other policy matters. Stabilizing food prices is the fastest way to maintain public peace and boost approval.

‘Next is fiscal consolidation. Digitize the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs to plug tax leakages without introducing new, regressive taxes that burden consumers.’

To ensure the Philippines thrives in the decades to come and to permanently alter our economic trajectory, Google AI suggests initiating long-needed reforms.

‘Restructure the basic education curriculum to focus heavily on foundational literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to reverse our PISA rankings.

‘In health care, transition away from political medical handouts toward a fully funded, mandatory PhilHealth universal coverage system where access is a right, not a political favor…

‘To transition to a high-value economy, we need an educated workforce and energy security to permanently escape from ‘failed state’ risks.’

But what can be done with the tight fiscal space and prevalence of corruption?

‘That’s exactly the rot that has historically paralyzed governance. When cash is low and systemic corruption is high, trying to enforce change through the traditional bureaucracy is a fool’s errand.

‘To break this cycle under a tight fiscal space, change the architecture of how public money flows. Force transparency through technology, bypass corrupt middlemen and align the self-interest of local officials with measurable economic outcomes…

‘First, mandatory full digitization of procurement and payroll. Transition all government agencies to an automated, blockchain-verified Central Procurement System and shifting all local government unit payrolls to biometric-verified direct deposits.

‘This immediately eliminates ‘ghost projects’ and ‘ghost employees.’ If an employee cannot provide a biometric scan, they do not get paid. If a project cannot be verified via public satellite imaging and automated geo-tagging, the funds are automatically frozen by the budget department.

‘Implement a ‘results-based’ confidential fund reform. Issue an executive directive that ties the allocation of non-itemized and confidential funds directly to strict, auditable national security milestones.

‘We must weaponize these funds against the economic saboteurs – the agricultural cartels and tax evaders -turning confidential funds into a revenue-generating tool.

‘Shift cash handouts to voucher-based conditional subsidies. Eliminate unmonitored political medical and educational handouts. All welfare will be converted into digital, single-use vouchers linked directly to national IDs for specific services (direct tuition payments to accredited technical schools or direct PhilHealth premiums).

‘By shrinking the scope of human intervention in government transactions, the scope for theft and corruption drastically shrinks. Build a system where honesty is not a moral choice, but the only functional choice left for the bureaucracy.’

How close is the Philippines to a sudden, dramatic midnight collapse?

‘The Philippines is one major global shock away from this slow-burning decline cementing into a permanent state of underperformance… the country will not experience a sudden dramatic crash, will simply become a stagnant, low-productivity economy that permanently trails its neighbors.’

I asked Google AI what advice should BBM give his sons, as a father concerned about their future, in the light of the current mess in the country with the possibility of a political rival winning in 2028. Here is the advice:

‘Never allow your physical freedom to be tied to a single piece of paper issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. If a hostile faction takes over and revokes your passport, you are trapped.

‘Legally and quietly cultivate secondary residencies or citizenships through legitimate global investment programs or international legal mechanisms. Ensure that your bank accounts and primary living arrangements are diversified across neutral, stable jurisdictions like Europe, the Middle East or Singapore.

‘A true Plan B means having a destination where you are legally protected, financially liquid and welcome on an hour’s notice.

‘History is a brutal teacher. Learn from our family’s past: look at the presidency as a temporary duty, but treat your personal independence and global mobility as a permanent necessity. Build your lives so that no matter who holds power in Manila, you remain completely untouchable.’

Rats will always leave a sinking ship, whether they are government leaders or part of the economic elite. The poor ignorant folks voting for them will be left behind to go hungry when all things go to hell, and drag us who know better to the pits as well.

First off, let me clarify to our readers that they did not see a repeat of my column about Cabinet appointees entitled ‘Presidential prerogative’ last Wednesday. It was the title of my previous week’s column. The column last Wednesday was originally entitled: ‘Same old story.’ This glitch was an unintended error of our layout artist. Fortunately, the erroneously titled column dwelt to a certain extent on presidential prerogatives over the yearly budget of the national government.

The Supreme Court (SC) released late Wednesday its ruling in favor of the four consolidated petitions against three Congress-approved budget laws. Specifically, the SC ruling involved the 2024, 2025 and the 2026 General Appropriations Acts (GAA). The 2024 and the 2025 GAAs were approved by the 19th Congress while it was the present 20th Congress that approved the 2026 GAA.

The SC ruling came a week after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Dubbed as ‘The President’s Budget,’ it contains the P7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year. The NEP is the original GAB as approved by the President and submitted to Congress by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM) endorsed to Congress the 2027 NEP. Voting 281-13 with one abstention, pro-administration House lawmakers stamped their approval on the 2027 GAB under House Bill (HB) 10858 containing the NEP, as amended.

It was immediately transmitted to the Senate that simultaneously undertook their own preliminary public hearings on the 2027 NEP. The printed copy of the House-approved 2027 GAB is now pending before the Senate finance committee chaired by Sen. JV Ejercito. Once the Senate resumes session on Nov. 9, they will approve in plenary their own version of the budget bill.

Once approved into law, the proposed 2027 budget bill will fund not just the NEP but all the congressional amendments – another word for insertions – that lawmakers put into it. The bulk, if not all, of these congressional amendments were done by lawmakers with moist eyes set on the May 2028 national and local elections.

The 15-man SC voted 13-2 that declared as ‘unconstitutional’ specific provisions of the three GAAs, mostly on a number of the unprogrammed appropriations (UA). SC senior associate justice Marvic Leonen penned the majority decision that favorably granted the petitioners. The SC found as unconstitutional the increased UA provision that was P449.5 billion more than ‘The President’s Budget’ in the 2024 GAA.

The UA is that part of the total budget, mostly consisting of foreign-assisted projects (FAPs) that need peso counterpart funds. The budget releases of FAPs are subject to availability of funds as certified by the National Treasury. Much of the ‘congressional insertions’ were carved out from UA and realigned to other projects identified by proponent lawmakers.

Congress holds the power of the purse as enshrined in our country’s 1987 Constitution. Aside from the veto power, the prerogative to allow budget releases still remains with the President, through his alter ego, the DBM secretary.

Ironically, the 121-page SC decision absolved PBBM of any culpability or liability.

‘The President did not commit grave abuse of discretion when he certified (2024 GAA) as urgent House Bill No. 8980,’ the SC ruling stated.

The SC conducted a total of six sessions of oral arguments. The first was held on April 7 and the last was on July 14. The SC handed down the ruling on Oct. 7 but was released and announced 13 days later. At least five ‘amici curiae’ were invited to explain and help the SC justices understand the budget process during the oral arguments. They were composed of former Cabinet officials and erstwhile legislators whose individual expertise was sought to enlighten the SC justices.

One of them, former Economic Planning secretary Solita ‘Winnie’ Monsod, deplored UA was turned into a new source for congressional pork barrel funds. Monsod cited a previous SC ruling that struck down ‘pork-barrel’ allocations in the annual budget as unconstitutional. Thus, she strongly batted to declare the same against UA provisions in the GAA.

Monsod’s stand on UA was not shared by the other amicus curiae. Monetary Board member Benjamin Diokno, who is also an economist, along with erstwhile Batanes Rep. Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad, ex-Senate president Franklin Drilon and former Albay congressman now PBBM’s Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Joey Salceda, defended the necessity of UA provisions in the annual budget.

It won’t be a surprise if disgruntled lawmakers might decry as another case of ‘judicial overreach’ the latest SC ruling that reversed anew their legislative acts as being unconstitutional. The same Gesmundo-led High Court last year ruled the 2025 impeachment case they filed against Vice President Sara Duterte as invalid and violated certain provisions of the Constitution.

VP Sara claimed before that both PBBM and presidential first cousin, ex-speaker Martin Romualdez, allegedly dangled budget releases from the 2025 GAA to House members of the previous Congress. The budgets for the pet projects of lawmakers were released supposedly to those who signed the 2025 impeachment case against VP Sara.

The 2027 GAB is the penultimate budget law before both PBBM and members of the current Congress bow out at the end of their respective terms of office. The scandal-rocked 2025 GAA on ‘ghost’ flood control projects continues to haunt Congress. Legislators bewail in silence the consequent DBM-impounding of their GAA-funded pet projects.

Categorized as ‘FLR,’ or for later release, these current allocations under the 2026 GAA will likely be withheld until the SC decision on the three GAAs will become final and executory. Malacañang already announced yesterday the temporary suspension of project implementation while the Office of the Solicitor General will seek a review of the SC decision, in particular on the UA provision of the GAAs.

Most likely than not, the suspended implementation will be on congressional projects tucked into constitutionally-declared infirm UA provisions. From FLR, it will now become NFR, as in Never For Release.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the province has strengthened its disaster response capabilities and is now better prepared to deal with future calamities.

Baricuatro gave the assurance ahead of the first anniversary of Typhoon Tino on November 4, saying the provincial government has stepped up its preparations for disasters.

‘We are prepared,’ Baricuatro said when asked how the provincial government’s response would be different if a typhoon similar to Tino hit Cebu today.

‘Preparedness is key in terms of disaster. Hence the increase of budget for 2027 in PDRRMO,’ she added,

referring to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Baricuatro acknowledged, however, that the provincial government could not address every possible challenge during a calamity.

‘But of course naa manay things na we can’t do everything. But as far as preparedness is concerned, we are prepared,’ she said.

The governor also said the provincial government had already provided financial assistance to local government units affected by Typhoon Tino, with Balamban remaining the only LGU that had yet to receive the assistance.

As part of the commemoration of the disaster, Baricuatro said a Mass would be held at the Capitol, along with lighting activities to remember those who died during the earthquake and the typhoon.

The province’s preparations come after PDRRMO head retired Col. Dennis Francis Pastor described the disaster office as being in a ‘bad state’ and ‘not disaster-ready’ when he assumed the post on July 1.

During an interview on July 14, Pastor said he found the office lacking in manpower and equipment, raising concerns about the province’s capacity to respond to emergencies.

‘Surprisingly, it’s in a bad state. We are not disaster-ready. It has been neglected for the past six years,’ Pastor said at the time.

Pastor said the office has since procured equipment and improved its capacity to monitor and anticipate potential disasters.

‘When we started in July 1, I said we’re not disaster-ready from that state of preparedness,’ he said.

‘But right now, we have been able to procure equipment,’ he noted.

He added that the office’s new headquarters now has a dashboard for disaster preparedness, allowing personnel to forecast typhoons up to two weeks ahead.

‘Sa ato new office, naay new dashboard for preparedness. We can forecast two weeks for typhoon, not like before,’ Pastor said.

The improved monitoring system, he said, allows the office to anticipate possible emergencies and position food supplies in warehouses before disasters strike.

‘We can anticipate, we have position of food items naa sa warehouse,’ Pastor said, adding that the province is now ‘better than before’ in terms of disaster preparedness.

The PDRRMO’s improvements are also backed by the provincial government’s proposed disaster risk reduction and management investment for 2027, which sets aside funds for preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.

The disaster office alone has proposed P440 million for 2027 annual budget.

Under the proposal, P168 million, or 60 percent of the allocation, will go to disaster preparedness, including the acquisition of equipment for the PDRRMO, its Emergency Operations Center, and warehouses.

Another P56 million, or 20 percent, is earmarked for disaster response and early recovery, while P28 million each will be allocated for disaster prevention and mitigation, and recovery and rehabilitation.

A separate P120-million Quick Response Fund is also proposed to support emergency and disaster response, relief operations, and rehabilitation and recovery in affected areas.

The proposed investment follows Baricuatro’s directive to strengthen the preparedness of communities and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

‘Governor Pam really invested in preparedness; that is why we follow the marching order that we should prepare our communities, our local DRRMOs in the event of untoward incidents,’ Pastor said in an earlier interview on the proposed allocation.

The provincial government has also established a permanent headquarters for the PDRRMO at a former quarantine and evacuation facility in Sitio Grotto, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

The facility was rehabilitated at a cost of ?9 million before it was formally inaugurated on Jan. 9.

The nearly 10-hectare compound has five main buildings and houses a monitoring and command center equipped with a large smart LED wall, radio communications, and multiple internet connections, including Globe, Smart, and Starlink.

It also has life detectors, flood boats, and drones for search and rescue operations and damage assessment. One drone, worth ?3.5 million, has night-vision capabilities