Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday rolled out the Department of Education’s Kaagapay Program at the Patul Elementary School, saying his administration’s priorities will be on children’s health through feeding programs, among other services for public schools.

Inspecting the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) modality under the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, President Marcos said he would further promote learners’ well-being through health initiatives.

The HGSF, which is anchored on Republic Act No. 11037 (the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act), provides hot meals that include at least 30 percent of the government’s standard Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI).

The ingredients used in the feeding program are sourced directly from farmers in the community.

Meanwhile, Marcos lauded the School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) in Santiago City for its efforts to strengthen school safety and promote learners’ health and well-being.

Santiago City has 41 public schools, with around 5,000 students in elementary and high school.

Jimmy Vic Elardo, SPTA federation president in Santiago City, said: ‘The feeding program is being done as we have many malnourished children. We have supporters and stakeholders ready to support our feeding programs in the schools.’

Police recovered an arms cache believed to have been hidden by communist rebels in a forested area of Baggao, Cagayan, on Thursday.

The Cagayan Provincial Police Office said a rebel returnee led authorities to the weapons cache in Sitio Tagang, Barangay Bunugan.

Police Maj. Abdel Aziz Maximo, commander of the 1st Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company, said the operation resulted in the recovery of an M1 Garand rifle, a Garand magazine and three M16 magazines, four 1.5-volt dry cells, two rounds of grenade rifle M76B HE, with bull trap, a 12.4-volt battery, 59 assorted bullets for short and long firearms, and anti-government documents.

Police Capt. Florentino Sibal, platoon leader, led the operations with Baggao police, Army soldiers and regional intelligence unit members.

The recovered weapons, ammunition and other materials were turned over to the Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (PECU) for documentation and safekeeping.

Filipino consumers can now enjoy premium Korean grapes following the official entry of Korean grapes into the Philippine market after 18 years of quarantine negotiations between Korea and the Philippines.

To mark the milestone, the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation (aT) held the ‘Korean Premium Grape Launching Show’ on September 29 at Solaire Resort Entertainment City in Parañaque.

The event brought together Korean grape producers and exporters, Philippine distributors, buyers, foodservice industry representatives, and influencers to introduce the quality, variety, and market potential of Korean grapes.

Quarantine negotiations for the importation of Korean grapes into the Philippines had been ongoing for approximately 18 years before they were successfully concluded in November 2025. The agreement paved the way for the official export of Korean grapes to the Philippine market beginning this year.

‘Today marks an important milestone as Korean grapes officially enter the Philippine market,’ said Kim Kyoung-cheol, Director of the ASEAN Regional Headquarters of aT. ‘Following many years of efforts to complete the quarantine negotiations, we hope Korean grapes will become a new premium fruit choice for Filipino consumers.’

The event was also attended by key Korean representatives, including Lee Seung-hee, CEO of K-Grape; Kwon Min-kyung, Team Leader of Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services; and Lee Han-il, Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines.

Several premium Korean grape varieties were featured during the launch.

Shine Muscat, one of Korea’s best-known premium grape varieties, is recognized for its high sweetness, crisp texture, and distinctive muscat aroma. It is seedless and can be eaten with the skin, while its firm flesh and good storage quality make it suitable for long-distance transport and export.

Kyoho is known for its large berries, soft flesh, and abundant juice, offering a rich sweetness and refreshing taste.

Coco Ball, a newly developed Korean grape variety, features a round and attractive appearance, crisp texture, high sweetness, and abundant juiciness. Its distinctive

appearance and eating quality are expected to offer Philippine consumers a new premium grape option.

Glory Star is a red grape variety known for its high sugar content, crisp and refreshing texture, vivid color, and large berries. Its good storage quality also makes it suitable for the premium export market.

Through the launch, aT aims to strengthen cooperation with Philippine distributors and buyers and expand awareness of Korean grapes through tasting events, consumer promotions, and other market development activities.

The entry of Korean grapes into the Philippines is expected to further diversify the country’s premium imported fruit market while giving Filipino consumers greater access to high-quality Korean fresh produce.

Globe Telecom Inc. is rolling out its Starlink Mobile service internationally for the first time, starting with Japan through a partnership with Tokyo-based telecommunications operator KDDI.

Their partnership will allow Globe subscribers to avail of the direct-to-device offering when traveling to Japan, while KDDI subscribers can access the same service when traveling to the Philippines.

To access the service in Japan, Globe subscribers would have to avail themselves of an applicable roaming offering that includes Starlink Mobile access.

GoRoam Japan starts at P400 for seven days, with 2 gigabytes (GB) of all-access data, 1 GB of satellite data and 50 satellite text messages to all networks.

Globe’s domestic Starlink Mobile service is available at P99 for 30 days and P299 for 90 days.

The initial international rollout comes just three months after Globe commercially launched the offering in the Philippines, in what it sees as a way to reach the remaining 4 percent of Filipinos still outside the coverage of terrestrial mobile networks.

‘Globe has always been at the forefront of connectivity innovation, and extending our Starlink journey into international access is the next step in that evolution,’ said Eric Tanbauco, head of Globe’s consumer mobile business.

Globe’s Starlink offering is available only on compatible LTE or 5G Android and Harmony devices.

Users must also have a clear line of sight to the sky to establish a connection, as the system links compatible phones directly to Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites, which essentially function as ‘cell towers in space.’

KDDI said it expects the partnership to further expand satellite-enabled roaming beyond areas covered by conventional mobile networks.

Police seized an estimated P7.8 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a high-value drug suspect in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Balugo here on Friday morning, Oct. 2.

Personnel of the Dumaguete City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the operation at 11:19 a.m. in Purok Santol.

This action resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old resident of Barangay Batinguel, identified as alias ‘John,’ the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported.

Operatives recovered about 1,150 grams of suspected ‘shabu’ (crystal meth), with a standard drug price of P7.8 million, along with the buy-bust money and other pieces of evidence.

Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant about the suspect’s alleged distribution of illegal drugs in several barangays in the city.

Surveillance and validation reportedly showed that the suspect was sourcing his drug supply from Cebu.

In coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), police arranged a drug transaction that led to the suspect’s arrest after the sale was completed.

A subsequent body search also yielded additional sachets and a pack containing suspected shabu.

Police said the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a dialect he understood.

The seized items were inventoried and documented at the scene in the presence of the suspect and required witnesses.

Alias ‘John’ was brought to the Dumaguete City Police Station for booking as police prepared charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PRO-NIR Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales commended the operatives for disrupting what police described as part of the local drug supply chain.

‘This accomplishment demonstrates our firm resolve to confront the illegal drug trade and protect our communities from its harmful effects,’ Reales said.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the inspection and retrofitting of old bridges along the Maharlika Highway in Camarines Sur to ensure their structural stability and safety.

Dizon issued the directive Thursday after inspecting the Daang Maharlika Highway and checking the progress of road projects and the condition of bridges along the major thoroughfare.

Among the bridges he inspected was the San Francisco Bridge in the municipality of Baao, which forms part of the Maharlika Highway, a major transport route linking Luzon with the Visayas and Mindanao.

‘These are the old bridges. I just wanted to make sure of their stability. So far, the maintenance work is good, but we need to be sure of their condition,’ Dizon told reporters.

‘We have seen bridges all over the country giving way. This should not happen because it would affect not only the economy of Bicol but also Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,’ he said.

Dizon said he had assured Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund ‘LRay’ Villafuerte Jr. that the bridges would undergo retrofitting as part of the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway.

He also said the Department of Public Works and Highways had addressed potholes and other road problems along the Andaya Highway, improving travel conditions and reducing travel time for motorists.

Camarines Sur 5th District Rep. Miguel Luis ‘Migz’ Villafuerte said bypass roads in Nabua, Baao and Iriga City could serve as alternate routes if traffic needed to be diverted during work on the Maharlika Highway.

The alternate roads would also help ease congestion by providing motorists with other routes, he said.

‘We want convenience for every motorist, so we make sure that alternate roads are available and accessible with the improvement of the Maharlika Highway,’ Villafuerte said.

The Philippine golf teams kept bets within medal range after two rounds of play in the Asian Games at Kasugai Golf Club’s East Course on Thursday as Justin delos Santos fired a three-under-par 67 and Rianne Malixi gunned down five birdies in shooting a 66.

Delos Santos returned a 34-33 that had four birdies against a bogey for a 135 aggregate as the 31-year-old is just four shots out of the joint lead in men’s play, with the squad counting the 70 of Miguel Tabuena for a second-round 137 and 274 that has the Filipinos trailing Japan by 10 strokes.

The men’s team is eight shots out of third-running South Korea, which drew a 66 from PGA star Tom Kim and 67 from Mun Do-yeob for a second straight 133 and 266.

‘There’s still a lot of golf left to be played,’ Delos Santos told the Inquirer over the phone. ‘I’m just happy to still be in a good position [heading into the final two rounds]. It’s still a good day, overall.’

Japan was so efficient for the second straight round that the 66 of Keita Nakajima and Kazuki Higa’s 67 counted for a 133 and 264 overall, with the host country throwing out the 68 of Taishi Moto. Japan leads China by a stroke heading into the third round.

Wenyi Ding shot a bogey-free 64 to lead China’s second round 132, as he climbed into a tie for the individual men’s lead with Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan, who shot a 66 for 131.

The Chinese counted either 68 of Yunhe Zheng or Zihao Jin for 265 as they kept the Koreans and Kim-who is seeking to win no less than gold to be exempt from mandatory military duty back home-at bay.

Malixi, meanwhile, put herself within three shots out of third place as the Duke University standout gunned down all five of those birdies in her first 15 holes before dropping her only shot on the 18th.

Malixi was the only one who cracked par for the Filipinas as Pauline del Rosario returned a 73 to complete the squad’s 139 for 276, with Team PH throwing away Bianca Pagdanganan’s 74.

Ruoning Yin of China, the former world No. 1 and major champion, also fired a 66 and climbed into a tie for third spot with South Korea’s Yang Yun-seo, who returned a 65, at 133.

Shannon Tan of Singapore fired a 64 for 127 and a two-shot lead over India’s Pranavi Sharath Urs, who was flawless in shooting a 63.

China counted a second 66 courtesy of Yan Liu for a second-round 132 and 268 overall, as the Chinese eased out into the team lead over Singapore by a shot.

KZ Tandingan and Gloc-9 teamed up for their latest track ‘Luha ng Buwaya,’ which confronts the severe flooding and corruption in the country.

‘Walang pake kung kami ay malunod sa baha / Basta lunod mga bulsa ng mga nakaw na biyaya / ‘Di mahihiya, pakapalan ng mukha / ‘Wag magpapaniwala sa mga luha ng buwaya,’ a portion of the song released on Friday, Oct. 2, says.

During the track’s launch event, Tandingan admitted that she had fears about releasing the song but nonetheless hoped it would awaken those who hear it.

‘Sana naramdaman niyo ‘yung dapat niyong maramdaman,’ she said.

‘To be completely honest, I’ve never been more scared to release a song sa almost 15 years ko po dito sa industry,’ she stated.

‘But as Nina Simone once said, ‘An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times,” she continued, quoting the American singer-songwriter.

This is not the first time Tandingan and Gloc-9 – who is known for his music that reflects social issues – worked together. In 2016, the OPM artists joined forces and released the track ‘Industriya.’

Eight people, including six students, were injured when a tricycle and a motorcycle collided along the Provincial Road at Barangay Ginablan in Romblon town at around 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, police said.

The crash involved a red Yamaha STX 155 tricycle driven by a 61-year-old man and carrying six students-five girls aged 12 to 17 and a 13-year-old boy, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Romblon reported, citing the initial investigation of the Romblon Municipal Police Station (MPS).

The other vehicle was a gray-and-black Honda TMX 155 motorcycle driven by a 36-year-old Romblon provincial government employee. Police said the motorcycle driver reportedly failed to present a driver’s license at the time of the incident.

The tricycle was traveling toward Barangay Agpanabat while the motorcycle was coming from the opposite direction, according to the initial investigation.

As the vehicles reached a road curve, the motorcycle was reportedly traveling at high speed and crossed into the tricycle’s lane, resulting in the collision.

Both vehicles were damaged, while the two drivers and six tricycle passengers sustained injuries.

They were taken to Romblon District Hospital for medical treatment.

The two vehicles were brought to the Romblon MPS for documentation and proper disposition.

Police said the investigation was continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Department of Health (DOH) in Mimaropa has stocked up on water, medicines and emergency supplies and placed response teams on standby as the region prepares for the possible impact of El Niño.

During a recent meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the DOH-MIMAROPA Center for Health Development reported that water, sanitation and hygiene supplies had been distributed across Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

The supplies include collapsible jerry cans and hygiene kits.

Essential medicines, Aqua Tabs and other health supplies worth more than P3.4 million have also been sent to provincial health offices and regional warehouses.

Standby vehicles and emergency tents have been prepared for field operations.

Ramonito G. Martin, DOH disaster risk reduction and management in health manager, said the agency was strengthening its logistics, response teams and coordination with other agencies to keep health services running during climate-related emergencies.

The DOH has also activated 24/7 monitoring through its Emergency Operations Center and placed rapid health assessment teams, medical responders and public health units on standby.

The agency is coordinating with hospitals, local governments and other partner agencies to deliver health services if dry conditions worsen.