Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A House budget panel’s move to increase funding for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program drew criticism on Tuesday, with several groups saying the additional funds should instead be used to strengthen the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Healthcare professionals, budget watchdogs, labor groups and basic sector leaders questioned the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee’s (BARSc) decision to raise the MAIFIP allocation for 2027.

The groups said the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) on Oct. 1 increased the proposed MAIFIP allocation for 2027 from P24 billion to P49 billion.

The increase came after civil society groups called on Congress to raise the proposed P74-billion allocation for PhilHealth in the 2027 National Expenditure Program.

PhilHealth needs P244 billion in 2027 to cover existing benefits, according to the groups, leaving a P170-billion funding gap based on the proposed P74-billion allocation.

‘This proposed P74 billion budget will run dry as early as March 2027,’ said Dr. Antonio Dans, convenor of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance After COVID-19.

Dans also noted that the Supreme Court has yet to act on a petition challenging the zero budget given to PhilHealth in 2025.

He said the government still owes PhilHealth P311 billion from withheld and unappropriated sin taxes and earmarks from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

‘If there are enough resources to double the MAIFIP budget, then why can’t we put those resources into strengthening PhilHealth?’ Social Watch Philippines co-convenor Maria Victoria Raquiza said.

The groups called for the abolition of MAIFIP, describing it as a discretionary program that they said undermines healthcare as a human right by requiring Filipinos to seek assistance for medical expenses.

‘Let’s prioritize rights-based politics, not patronage politics. When a Filipino falls ill, the first question shouldn’t be, ‘Who can I turn to?” Raquiza said.

MAIFIP provides financial assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients for hospitalization, medicines, and other medical services. Under the 2026 national budget, the program covers expenses including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, medicines and professional fees.

Because the government does not sufficiently fund premiums for indirect contributors, the groups said direct contributors are shouldering healthcare costs.

‘As workers, we pay our PhilHealth premiums because we recognize our responsibility to ourselves and to one another. The government should not turn its back on its obligation to fund PhilHealth,’ said Public Services Labor Independent Confederation President Annie Enriquez Geron.

The groups also supported proposals to increase health taxes being considered by Congress under the ProGRESS (Promoting Growth, Revenue, and Equity towards Socioeconomic Sustainability) package pushed by the Department of Finance.

They said higher excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sweetened beverages would provide additional funding for universal healthcare while reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases by making harmful products less affordable.

‘As senior citizens, we have spent our lives contributing to PhilHealth, believing that it would be there when we need it most. It is exhausting to watch this happen year after year, feeling as if the benefits we worked and paid for are being taken away from us,’ said Salvacion Besiano of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Senior Citizen Council.

The groups urged Congress to prioritize PhilHealth funding over what they described as a politicized MAIFIP program as lawmakers finalize the 2027 General Appropriations Bill.

Megawide Construction Corp. has bagged P12.8 billion in contracts for two government housing projects in September, moving towards its P60-billion year-end order book target.

On Tuesday, the Edgar Saavedra-led construction and engineering firm said the contracts cover 8,300 units under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

Additionally these comprise the P6.9-billion, 3,800-unit Nocal Residences in North Caloocan and the P5.9-billion, 4,500-unit Sumi Residences in Imus, Cavite.

Likewise, both developments are set to begin construction before the end of the year, and they aim to complete by December 2028.

Moreover, the additions will bring Megawide’s portfolio of 4PH housing units across various stages of development to nearly 20,000.

The company plans to build 100,000 units under the program over the next five to seven years.

Meanwhile, Saavedra said the company measures progress through three milestones: contract award, topping-off, and turnover of units to beneficiaries.

‘We have already achieved the first two milestones for our initial projects, Avesta and JAB Residences, and we are confident in our ability to deliver on our commitments to the government, the Filipino people and our shareholders,’ he said.

Megawide recently topped off Towers C and D of the five-story JAB Residences, less than seven months after concrete pouring began in February 2026.

In August, the company also topped off the first tower of the 11-story Avesta Residences, 10 months after construction started.

Topping-off marks the completion of the project’s structural framework, allowing work to move to the next phases of development. The company said turnover to beneficiaries remains the final milestone.

Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) is broadening its tenant base beyond business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and corporate offices with an international school leasing space at Northgate Cyberzone in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

On Monday, the real estate investment trust backed by Filinvest Land Inc. said MIT International School (MITIS) had secured nearly 900 square meters (sq m) of ground-floor space at its iHub 2 building.

Established in 2007, the American-curriculum K-12 institution, is relocating from Alabang-Zapote Road. It will become Northgate Cyberzone’s first international school.

The lease supports FILRT’s strategy of bringing long-term institutional tenants into its office developments and expanding the district’s tenant mix.

‘As we continue to strengthen our office portfolio, we also see opportunities to welcome complementary institutions that contribute to a more dynamic and well-rounded community,’ said Maricel Brion-Lirio, outgoing president and CEO of FILRT.

Still accessible

MITIS president Dae Kwan Chung said the relocation would support the school’s growth while keeping it accessible to families across southern Metro Manila.

‘FILRT’s Northgate Cyberzone offers the exact blend of modern infrastructure, accessibility and security we envisioned,’ Chung said.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited district offers Grade A building infrastructure, round-the-clock security, pedestrian walkways and a green eshuttle network.

FILRT said the school would serve families residing in the cities of Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque and nearby communities along the South Luzon corridor.

In a separate disclosure, FILRT said its board approved on Monday Brion-Lirio’s retirement as president and CEO and her resignation as director.

Company chair Joseph M. Yap was given the additional responsibility as the new president and CEO.

Treasurer and chief financial officer Ana Venus A. Mejia was appointed director to fill the vacancy.

Yap, who has chaired FILRT since April 2024, will cease to be a member of its Audit and Risk Management Oversight Committee following his new appointment.

FILRT’s office portfolio comprises 17 Grade A buildings with more than 300,000 sq m of gross leasable area.

Of these, 16 are in Northgate Cyberzone, while the remaining building is in Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu Tower 1 in Cebu City.

Uswag Ilonggo Rep. James ‘Jojo’ Ang Jr. on Tuesday pleaded not guilty in one of his graft cases before the Sandiganbayan Second Division.

The lawmaker, who personally pleaded during the arraignment and pretrial proceedings, is accused of violating Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The provision prohibits public officials from ‘directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction, in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution, or by any law from having any interest.’

The Office of the Ombudsman previously filed 14 graft counts against Ang over his alleged links to a construction firm that secured P214-million worth of contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division handles five of Ang’s criminal cases.

The lawmaker had already entered a not guilty plea in his four other criminal cases in earlier proceedings conducted on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15.

The prosecution is expected to present its evidence against Ang on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1.

If the defense will also present evidence, it can do so on Jan. 12 and Jan. 21.

‘Filipiñana,’ ’58th,’ ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ (‘Makikiraan Po’) and ‘Ria’ are set to screen in different sections of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in South Korea.

Rafael Manuel’s ‘Filipiñana’ will screen in the A Window on Asian Cinema section, while Carl Joseph E. Papa’s ’58th’ will be featured in the Wide Angle – Documentary Showcase, as per the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Meanwhile, Lav Diaz’s ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ (‘Makikiraan Po’) will be part of the Icons section, and Arvin Belarmino’s ‘Ria’ will screen under Vision Asia.

The Philippines will also participate in the Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM) – the industry trade show and business platform held alongside the BIFF – through E Del Mundo’s ‘Once upon a Time in the Philippines.’

Aside from the films, the Philippine delegation at the film festival will include six producers, three featured projects, 10 production companies and 39 filmmakers.

The BIFF, which was earlier named by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations as one of its 17 A-list festivals, kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and will run through Oct. 15.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is bringing its Piso Caravan to Ilocos Sur, where residents can exchange unfit or mutilated Philippine currency for new banknotes or e-money.

The Piso Caravan will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Barangay San Juan in Candon City, in partnership with BSP-accredited Currency Exchange Centers (CEC) and Currency Exchange Partners (CEP).

The BSP said unfit currency includes banknotes that are excessively crumpled, faded or stained. Mutilated money refers to notes that are torn, punctured, chewed by animals or otherwise damaged.

Mutilated banknotes will be assessed based on the BSP’s 3S criteria-size, signature and security thread-to determine whether they are eligible for replacement.

Residents may bring their damaged or unfit money to the Piso Caravan venue for evaluation and possible exchange.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested two suspects tagged in the shooting of a barangay captain and his wife in San Juan, Abra.

‘So cases were already filed against them, two counts of frustrated murder,’ said PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Allen Rae Co in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The victims were brought to a hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.

The case was also filed against the suspects in violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

‘We are conducting an investigation into the suspects, who have previous cases against them. Some of these cases have been dismissed, while others are still ongoing,’ Co said in English and Filipino.

One case was dismissed for lack of probable cause, while another murder case filed in January did not proceed after the witness or victim declined to pursue charges.

One of the suspects also had a murder case filed in February 2019 that was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Co said investigators were also examining the suspects’ possible connections with other people in the area.

The victims have yet to be extensively interviewed as they continue to recover from their injuries.

The number of recorded HIV cases in this city has reached 812, with local health authorities intensifying efforts to identify an estimated 500 people who may be living with the virus but have yet to be diagnosed.

Dr. Virgilio Clement Bilalat, Medical Officer IV of the City Health Services Office (CHSO), said Baguio had recorded 800 HIV cases as of December 2025, with 12 additional cases documented from January to March.

All 12 newly recorded cases were male, most of them identified as men who have sex with men (MSM), while most were between 15 and 34 years old.

Bilalat said the Department of Health estimates that around 1,300 HIV cases may be present in Baguio, leaving about 500 cases potentially undiagnosed.

The CHSO is working with government and nongovernment organizations to identify possible cases through community outreach, online platforms and contact tracing.

Partner organizations reach out to people through platforms such as Grindr, Tinder and Facebook to encourage them to undergo HIV testing. Contact tracing is also conducted to identify people who may have been exposed to HIV through individuals who tested positive.

The CHSO provides free HIV testing and consultation and conducts outreach activities, including HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and lectures in barangays, workplaces and other communities.

Bilalat said limited manpower remains a challenge in expanding the city’s case-finding and outreach efforts. The CHSO is planning to hire additional personnel focused on identifying possible cases and linking individuals to testing services.

The office is also working to address stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV, emphasizing that information gathered during testing and consultation is kept confidential as required by law.

Bilalat said the CHSO also plans to upgrade the Namnama Center by adding a tambayan or cafe-style area, while strengthening its educational programs and expanding Project Bonjing lectures through partnerships with Sangguniang Kabataan offices.He urged people who may have been exposed to HIV to get tested, assuring them that their information would remain confidential.

Melquiades ‘Mel’ A. Robles, general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), was promoted from auxiliary commodore to rear admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) during a ceremony at the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters on Monday, Oct. 5.

Robles described the promotion as an opportunity to strengthen his commitment to public service.

‘For me, public service is about being present when people need help. It is about finding ways to respond to their needs and making sure that the assistance reaches those who need it,’ he said.

He also underscored the PCG’s importance as PCSO’s partner in transporting supplies and delivering assistance, particularly during calamities and emergencies when affected communities urgently need support.

‘And we know that because the Philippine Coast Guard is our partner in sending supplies,’ Robles added.

In his acceptance speech, Robles pledged to continue working with his fellow PCGA officers and personnel in service of the public.

‘Because at the end of the day, our positions, titles, and ranks are meaningful only when we use them to serve others,’ he stressed.

Karolina Muchova beat former world number one Naomi Osaka on her ninth match point to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open, triumphant in a tense tie-break on Tuesday in Beijing.

Muchova, the seventh seed, overcame 50 unforced errors across the two-hour-and-52-minute match to beat Osaka 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (9/7).

Osaka, the current world number 17, surrendered a three-game lead in the first set after a series of misfired shots in the seventh game.

The 28-year-old, who represents Japan, dropped just one game to win the second set and saved eight match points in the third but could not get past Muchova’s match-winning volley.

‘I think she played always great and steady,’ the 30-year-old Czech player told the crowd.

‘I was shaking. I’m happy I made the last volley… Naomi could be standing here. It’s me, and I’m really grateful for it.’

She will play either fellow Czech player Nikola Bartunkova or Austria’s Sinja Kraus.

Earlier, Russia’s Mirra Andreeva beat Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 6-2, 6-2 to book her quarterfinal spot against fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Alexandrova, ranked 28th, upset Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-2, ending the Czech player’s bid to return to the Beijing final that she reached last year.

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic was due to play Alex de Minaur for the title.

Djokovic, 39, enters the final with six titles in Beijing – although his most recent came in 2015 – and 33 wins in as many matches.

He secured his spot in the final after a gruelling physical battle with Daniil Medvedev on Monday ended with the Russian disqualified for hitting a spectator with a ball.