Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The water levels of Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi Dam in Bukidnon have receded due to lack of rain, officials said on Tuesday.

Atty. Edgar Ramirez said on the phone that as of 12 noon on Tuesday, the water level at Lake Lanao stood at 700.7 meters and 283.9 meters at Pulangi Dam.

Ramirez is the plant manager of National Power Corporation – Mindanao Generation Group’s (NPC-MGG) Agus 6 and Agus 7 hydroelectric power plants.

The critical water level at Lake Lanao is pegged at 698 meters, Ramirez told the Inquirer.

Engr. Willy Alfeche, plant manager of NPC-MGG’s Pulangi hydroelectric power plant, said in a separate interview that the water level of the Pulangi Dam has also gone down.

He cited as reason the lack of rainfall, with silt compounding the problem.

The normal level of Pulangi Dam is 285 meters, Alfeche said, noting that the current water level of 283.9 meters is already below normal.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao Regional Office placed the Mindanao Grid on yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The grid’s available capacity stood at 2,555 megawatts (MW) against the peak demand of 2,450 MW.

Elizabeth Ladaga, NGCP corporate public relations specialist, said that at least 766 MW are lacking in the Mindanao grid.

She said this situation is due to the forced outage or below-normal capacities of several power plants in the island in the past few months.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is not enough to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement, the NGCP said.

Manila Water Foundation (MWF), together with Manila Water Company’s East Zone and Non-East Zone operating units, activated its Agapay: WASH in Emergencies program to address the urgent water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs of communities affected by flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat.

In response to severe flooding in Central Luzon caused by continuous monsoon rains, Manila Water Foundation, in partnership with Clark Water and the Municipal Government of San Simon, distributed 600 units of 5-gallon potable drinking water and 200 hygiene kits to evacuees across the municipality.

Each hygiene kit contained essential personal care items, including feminine pads, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, Cleene CLIO toothbrushes, and other hygiene products donated by PHILUSA Corporation. The kits were provided to help evacuees maintain proper hygiene and sanitation while temporarily displaced from their homes.

The flooding significantly affected the Municipality of San Simon, with more than 21,000 families impacted across the town. Among the hardest-hit areas were Barangays San Agustin, San Isidro, San Miguel, Santa Monica, and Sto. Niño, whose residents sought refuge in evacuation centers. Around 500 evacuees from these barangays received hygiene and hydration support through the initiative.

‘We recognize that access to clean water and proper sanitation becomes even more critical during emergencies,’ said Reginald Andal, Executive Director of Manila Water Foundation.

‘Through our Agapay: WASH in Emergencies program, we continue to work closely with our local government and operating unit partners to help protect the health and dignity of affected families. We remain committed to ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to safe water and essential hygiene supplies as they recover from the impacts of disasters. We are also grateful to our partners in local government and the private sector who enable us to respond quickly to the needs of vulnerable families.’

Representatives from the Municipal Government of San Simon expressed their gratitude to Manila Water Foundation and Clark Water for the timely assistance, emphasizing the importance of providing potable water and hygiene products to evacuees. The availability of safe drinking water in evacuation centers helped bring comfort and assurance to affected families during a challenging time.

In the East Zone, MWF, together with the Manila Water Quezon City, Taguig-Pateros, and Rizal Service Areas, provided hydration support for families affected by flooding.A total of 450 units of 5-gallon potable drinking water were handed over to evacuation centers, impacting more than 2,088 evacuees. The LGUs managing the evacuation centers expressed support to Manila Water and MWF, as safe drinking water supports the health and well-being of children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable community members.

As residents continue to recover, Manila Water Foundation will provide 1,750 gallons of potable drinking water for Barangay San Jose in Rodriguez, Rizal, impacting more than 2,466 individuals.

Manila Water Foundation underscores the vital role of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in disease prevention and safeguarding public health through Agapay: WASH in Emergencies.

Dengue cases in the city have risen to 323 as of Aug. 26, with nearly half of the city’s 138 barangays reporting confirmed cases, prompting health authorities to intensify mosquito-control measures and urge communities to eliminate breeding sites.

The City Health Office (CHO) warned that the number of cases could continue to increase in the coming months as more frequent rains create conditions favorable for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the dengue virus.

Dr. Jaime Opinion, a city health official, said barangay officials and residents play a crucial role in preventing further transmission of the disease.

‘Our barangay officials and residents are really the main players on this. We at the City Health Office and the Tacloban City Hospital can only help in terms of interventions,’ Opinion said in an interview.

Opinion said communities should conduct regular cleanup activities in their neighborhoods and homes, particularly in areas where mosquitoes can breed.

The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that transmit dengue commonly lay their eggs in containers and other places where stagnant water collects, including discarded tires, cans, bottles, buckets, and uncovered water-storage containers.

Densely populated

Opinion also noted that many of the barangays reporting dengue cases are densely populated, which could facilitate the spread of the disease.

Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, chief of the Tacloban City Hospital, said the facility had treated 180 dengue patients from the start of the year through the previous week.

Of the total, only six patients came from outside Tacloban, she said.

Fabregas said 34 percent of the dengue patients treated at the hospital were between 6 and 20 years old, with males accounting for most of the cases in this age group

EST Cola of Thailand sent Farm Fresh crashing to its first defeat and earned a breakthrough 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 win in the PVL Invitational Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Thai club turned to the duo of Papatchaya Phontham and setter Natnicha Saelao to bounce back from a four-set loss to PLDT on opening day.

Phontham unleashed 17 points from 13 kills, three aces and a block, while the 17-year-old playmaker Saelao dished out 22 excellent sets and scored seven points, highlighted by four kill blocks.

‘Today we are so happy because of our teamwork and I helped in everything,’ said Saelao through a translator.

‘Thank you for the experience today, thank you, fans Philippines, for [allowing us to] coming here. Thank you for everything.’

Nirarach Srikuta and Nannaphat Moonjakham chipped in nine points each, while Nattharika Wasan added seven.

EST Cola forced a four-way tie at 1-1 tied with Nxled, PLDT, and Farm Fresh.

The Thais take on the Chameleons on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

‘In the next game, we need our receive and serve and block and teamwork a lot,’ Saelao said.

Farm Fresh’s lone double-digit scorer was Trisha Tubu, who had 15 points, all from attacks. Ces Molina and Ara Galang contributed nine and seven points, respectively.

The Foxies seek a bounce-back against Creamline on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division acquitted two former Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials and several entrepreneurs of graft charges in connection with the alleged manipulation of garlic prices.

In a decision promulgated on Tuesday, the court said the prosecution failed to prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Among those acquitted were former BPI Director Clarito Barron, former National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD) Chief Merle Palacpac, and Philippine Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association Group of Companies (Philvieva) Director Lilia Cruz.

The NPQSD is a division under the BPI which is the Department of Agriculture’s regulatory arm for the importation, exportation and the domestic movement of plants and plant products.

Also acquitted were traders Rolando Manangan; Prudencio Ruedas; Ma. Jackielou Ilagan; Gaudioso Diato; Denia Matabang; Raffy Torres; Mary Grace Sebastian; Orestes Salon; Jon Dino de Veyra; Jose Angulo Jr.; Laila Matabang; Edmond Caguinguin; Napoleon Baldueza; Jose Ollegue; Rolan Galvez; and Renato Francisco Jr.

Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses noted that the P30,000 bonds each of the accused had posted will be released and the hold departure orders against them will be lifted.

He noted that Torres, Caguinguin and Ollegue were not present during the promulgation, but the decision was nonetheless promulgated.

Meanwhile, the decision said the same case against three other co-accused-businesswomen Rochelle Diaz, Shiela Mary dela Cruz and Angelita Flores, who all remained at large-was archived.

Cruz was appointed chairperson of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) by then-Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in July 2013.

In November 2013, the NGAT recommended the importation of 58,240 metric tons of garlic to satisfy the local market’s requirements up until March 2014.

A total of 8,810 import permits were approved during the same period, of which 5,022 were issued to importers associated with Philvieva, according to the information filed by state prosecutors.

It added that, from January to July 2014, the price of imported garlic soared to between P260 and P400 per kilogram; from between P165 and P170 per kilogram from 2010 to 2013.

State prosecutors earlier pointed to Barron as the approving authority; and Palacpac and then-NPQSD chief Luben Marasigan as the recommending officers for the processing and release of the import permits.

The charge against Alcala was dismissed earlier this year due to insufficiency of evidence, while the charge against Marasigan was dismissed in 2021 due to his death.

The country needs at least 10 to 12 mega food hubs to help farmers and fisherfolk distribute their goods more efficiently, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday.

During the House committee on appropriations’ briefing on the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2027 budget proposal, Tiu Laurel said the agency is eyeing the start of operations of five food hubs during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘From what we can see, the country needs at least 10-12 mega food hubs to lessen traders, increase the profit of farmers… and that will go down to the municipal levels, to public markets,’ he said.

The secretary also noted that while Thailand has 16 mega food hubs, the Philippines has none. He said Thailand patterned its food hubs after the concept of Food Terminal Inc., which was originally established during the administration of the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Tiu Laurel said three food hubs will be implemented under the 2026 national budget in Clark, Pampanga; Isabela; and Pili, Camarines Sur. He added that under the proposed 2027 budget, food hubs are planned for Tiaong, Quezon; San Pablo, Laguna; Albay; Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte; and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Gabriela Rep. Sarah Jane Elago asked Tiu Laurel if the DA coordinates with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units to help small market vendors secure space in markets even if they can only display their produce weekly or seasonally.

He said the agency continues to implement the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program to link local farmers with different local government units. He noted that there are around 800 Kadiwa sites across the country.

Sen. Mark A. Villar urged the country’s economic managers to support his proposal to raise the annual income tax exemption ceiling to give immediate relief to Filipino workers while helping revive household consumption and economic activity.

Villar made his call during the Senate Committee on Finance briefing on the proposed 2027 national budget.

He was referring to Senate Bill No. 2137, which he filed, seeking to raise the annual income tax exemption ceiling from ?250,000 to ?360,000. Once enacted, workers earning up to ?30,000 a month would be exempt from paying personal income tax.

‘Kung mababa ang government spending at humihina rin ang consumption. Ang pagpapataas sa income tax exemption ceiling ay magbibigay ng agarang ginhawa sa ating low- at middle-income workers,’ Villar said.

(‘If government spending is low, consumption will also weaken. Raising the income tax exemption ceiling will give immediate relief to low- and middle-income workers.’)

‘Sa halip na hintayin pa ang pamamahagi ng tulong, direkta nang mananatili sa kanilang bulsa ang perang maaari nilang gamitin para sa pagkain, kuryente, pamasahe, edukasyon, at iba pang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya,’ he added.

(‘Instead of waiting to be given aid, they will retain in their pockets the money that they can use for food, electricity, fare, education, and other needs of their families.’)

Economic stimulus

During the Senate hearing, economic managers reported a slowdown in personal consumption and a 30-percent contraction of public construction for two consecutive quarters. The decline was attributed partly to high inflation, weaker consumer confidence, and governance concerns that have also affected investments.

According to Villar, raising the exemption ceiling may serve as an economic stimulus by allowing workers to keep and spend more of their hard-earned income.

‘This is a form of pump-priming. May epekto man ito sa revenues, ang perang hindi na kukunin bilang buwis ay maaari namang bumalik sa ekonomiya sa pamamagitan ng mas mataas na household consumption,’ Villar said.

Tax relief should complement – not replace – social assistance for poor families.

‘Hindi ko sinasabing alisin ang ayuda. Mahalaga pa rin ang direktang tulong, lalo na para sa pinakamahihirap at sa mga biktima ng kalamidad. Pero kailangan din nating bigyan ng relief ang mga manggagawang regular na nagbabayad ng buwis at patuloy na nahihirapan dahil sa mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin,’ Villar said.

(‘I’m not saying that aid should be removed. Direct aid is also valuable, especially for the poorest and the victims of disasters. But we have to give relief to workers who regularly pay taxes and continue to suffer because of the high prices of goods.’)

Villar cited Finance Secretary Frederick Go, who pointed out that the administration’s separate proposal to raise the income tax exemption ceiling to ?350,000 could reduce government revenues by an estimated ?60 billion. Go said, however, that around 15 percent of the lost revenue could be recovered through taxes generated by additional consumption.

Broader benefits of tax relief

But Villar stressed that his proposal’s broader economic and social benefits must also be considered.

‘Kapag nangolekta ang gobyerno, kailangan din nitong ibalik ang pera sa taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mga programa. Kung mabagal ang government spending, dapat nating ikonsidera kung mas episyenteng hayaan ang bahagi ng kita na manatili sa mga manggagawang nangangailangan nito,’ Villar said.

(‘Whenever the government collects [taxes], the money should be returned to the people through programs. If government spending is slow, we should consider whether it’s more efficient to let the workers who need it retain part of their earnings.’)

‘Direkta itong mapupunta sa mga manggagawa. Wala nang mahabang proseso, wala nang distribution costs, at wala nang bureaucratic inefficiencies. Agad nilang mararamdaman ang benepisyo sa kanilang suweldo,’ he added.

(‘It will go directly to workers. There’s no long process, no distribution costs, and no more bureaucratic inefficiencies. They will immediately feel the benefits of their wages.’)

Villa also cited Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who noted that personal income tax rates were last substantially revised in 2018 and that years of inflation have effectively increased the tax burden on workers within the affected income brackets.

‘In a way, this is an inflationary adjustment. Inaangkop lamang natin ang income tax exemption sa epekto ng pagtaas ng presyo at sa tunay na halaga ng kita ng ating mga manggagawa ngayon,’ Villar pointed out.

(‘In a way, this is an inflationary adjustment. We are just matching the income tax exemption with the effect of price increases and with the real value of our workers’ wages.’)

‘I hope the Department of Finance and our other economic agencies will give this bill strong consideration. Ang anumang epekto nito sa koleksiyon ay dapat timbangin laban sa agarang ginhawang maibibigay nito sa milyun-milyong manggagawa at sa dagdag na siglang maidudulot nito sa ating ekonomiya,’ he said.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was not surprised that Nick Kyrgios was suspended from tennis for drugs.

‘Pretty much expected, to be honest,’ Tsitsipas said. ‘I am surprised it came so late, though.’

Kyrgios was banned earlier this month after he revealed he tested positive for cocaine in June when he was in Spain to play at an event. The Australian could be suspended for four years, though a lighter punishment is expected.

Tsitsipas was asked about Kyrgios on Monday after upsetting No. 10-seeded Arthur Fils in the first round of the US Open.

‘I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it,’ Tsitsipas said.

‘So what can I tell you? I will just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made, and when I saw it on social media, I was, like, ‘Here we go.’ I kind of expected it, to be honest.’

Tsitsipas and Kyrgios played a fiery match at Wimbledon in 2022, when Kyrgios reached his only Grand Slam final. Tsitsipas blasted a couple shots directly at Kyrgios, intentionally hit a ball into the crowd, and afterward called Kyrgios a ‘bully.’

Kyrgios has largely battled injuries since and said when he was suspended that he had felt ‘helpless and alone,’ though added that ‘none of that excuses what I did.’

Nor did it come as a shock to Tsitsipas.

‘I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts. I will tell you that,’ he said. ‘I’m not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I’ll consider myself a nice person with everyone, but these were behaviors that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me.’

Atty. Reynaldo Robles is among the private lawyers assisting the House prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Robles, who will lead the examination of the prosecution’s witness for the 20th day of the impeachment trial, is a veteran litigation lawyer with experience handling civil, criminal, labor, and commercial cases at all levels of the Philippine judiciary.

Robles is the founding and managing partner of the Law Firm of Chan Robles and Associates, where he served since 1993.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, major in Economics, from the University of the Philippines in 1986, where he was President and Dean’s lister.

He later earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Far Eastern University in 1990, graduating cum laude and as class valedictorian. He also placed 10th in the 1990 Philippine Bar Examinations.

Moreover, Robles is also president and chief executive officer of ChanRobles LawNet Inc. and Chan Robles Professional Review, Inc., and serves as trustee and legal counsel of Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, Inc.

He has also served as legal counsel and legislative consultant to national and local government officials and legislators.

Robles has chaired technical working groups that assisted the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulations, and the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security in drafting committee reports and versions of more than 50 bills.

Robles likewise previously served as a professor of law at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law, teaching criminal, administrative and election law, and special proceedings.

San Beda has been considered the team to beat in nearly every NCAA season since its rise as a men’s basketball powerhouse.

That label carries even more weight entering Season 102, where the Red Lions will try to win back-to-back championships.

Fortunately for coach Yuri Escueta, the burden of heavy expectations is nothing new.

‘Pressure has always been there every time you coach or play for San Beda,’ Escueta told the Inquirer after the NCAA Season 102 press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday. ‘The expectation of winning comes with it, and we’ve been used to it for the past four or five seasons.’

‘It’s not just for me but for the players I have. We just have to prepare better when we play games to ease that pressure.’

San Beda made it look easy in last season’s finals.

With many expecting the showdown between rivals San Beda and Letran to go the distance, Escueta guided the Mendiola-based squad to a sweep and the school’s 24th men’s basketball title.

But that was last year.

With a new television deal with Cignal and several coaches and players moving across the league, the country’s oldest collegiate league enters Season 102 with a fresh coat of paint.

The same is true for the Red Lions, who lost all five starters from last season’s championship team.

‘We’re still confident even though we lost a lot,’ Escueta said. ‘We have capable guys who can cover for those gaps. I lost all my starters from last year.’

Janti Miller left for La Salle, while Joe Celzo, Bryan Sajonia and Yukien Andrada declared for the PBA.

Nygel Gonzales was supposed to be the lone holdover from that starting five, but he suffered an ACL injury during the offseason, leaving the Red Lions with another major concern before their title defense even begins.

‘Our title defense hasn’t even started yet and we already lost our point guard to injury,’ Escueta said.

‘Good thing we addressed it early because we had to play in the offseason without him.’