Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Department of Education (DepEd) will push through with the national simultaneous school safety drill for active threat scenarios on Sept. 3 to build ‘calm operational confidence,’ noting fear-inducing elements will be strictly banned.

‘Our goal for September 3 is to build calm operational confidence and muscle memory through proper orientation, not fear,’ said Education Secretary Sonny Angara in a statement on Tuesday.

‘Preparedness saves lives, and trauma-informed execution protects our learners,’ Angara added.

The drills followed school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.

Earlier, the department postponed the Aug. 25 drill to provide ample time to align its simulation with the child-centered and trauma-informed standards of medical and mental health professionals.

Angara emphasized that school safety policies must treat physical security and mental health as inseparable priorities, with the drills now following health professionals’ suggestions.

‘Safety is not just about physical security; it is equally about protecting our children’s peace of mind,’ said Angara on Tuesday.

‘We are working closely with our medical experts and psychiatric societies to ensure our shared priority for the total well-being of our children remains at the center of our implementation,’ he added.

Under existing disaster risk reduction guidelines, DepEd reiterated that the drill will strictly ban all hyper-realistic or fear-inducing elements such as threat simulations, active aggressor role-players, weapons, and graphic elements.

The first active shooter simulation in July featured a mock role-play attacker using a plastic toy pistol.

During the nationwide drill, classes will practice a step-by-step walkthrough on securing entry points, practicing silent concealment away from windows and reviewing evacuation safety routes.

Police authorities are also strictly prohibited from displaying tactical disarming drills and aggressive uniform displays.

Police were urged to conduct external perimeter security, emergency notification systems, testing dispatch response times, and post-incident learner tracking.

Schools will also provide alternative activities to learners with special needs, disabilities or sensory sensitivities recommended by their parents and guardians.

‘Every kid has their own level of strength and understanding, that’s why we can’t conduct a one-size-fits-all approach to safety,’ Angara said.

After the simulation, guidance personnel and school health officers will also provide first aid and post-drill debriefing sessions to students. -With a report from Sheridan Delfino /

The country’s rice supply is ‘quite secure’ until the end of the year, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., citing rice importation and start of harvest season.

He made the guarantee at the House committee on appropriations’ briefing on the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Rep. Sarah Elago asked Tiu Laurel about the dangers of the country’s dependence on rice importation to our food security.

Tiu Laurel said that as the country aims to lessen its dependence on rice importation, there is a need to irrigate more lands for rice production.

‘As far as our food security for rice, for the year 2026, I’m happy to announce that we are quite secure in our rice requirements until the end of 2026,’ Tiu Laurel said.

He then told lawmakers that the country imported around 3.8 million tons of rice last week. He also attributed the rice security to the start of harvest in the country.

Meanwhile, the DA previously said that the agricultural damage from the effects of southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng rose to around P2.3 billion.

The agency last Thursday noted that 69,615 farmers and fishers were affected by the habagat.

The calamity victims are in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol and Western Visayas.

Despite over 60,000 hectares of farmland affected, Tiu Laurel said that the harvest can still suffice until the end of the year.

‘Our harvest seems to be going well this harvest season. That should carry us over until the end of the year,’ he added. The secretary also said that the country may import up to five million tons of rice this year due to the effects of El Niño.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. and state-owned Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) have secured the coveted original proponent status (OPS) for a P14.8-billion water and wastewater project in New Clark City, which they plan to develop in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

In a statement on Monday, the BCDA said it granted the two companies OPS on Aug. 28 following the evaluation and negotiation of their unsolicited proposal, which seeks to raise New Clark City’s water capacity to about 150 million liters per day (MLD) from the current 20 MLD to 30 MLD.

Securing OPS gives Maynilad and K-Water an advantage as the public-private partnership (PPP) project moves through the approval and competitive challenge process.

The OPS, which is valid for one year, gives the consortium the right to match the best competing offer during the Swiss Challenge. In case of a tie between the original proponent and a challenger, the PPP project will be awarded to the original proponent.

As the project advances, BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said the planned infrastructure would help New Clark City meet growing demand for water and wastewater services as more investments move into the Tarlac site.

Among the largest developments being planned for the site is the Pax Silica hub, a 1,619-hectare artificial intelligence and industrial enclave expected to accommodate facilities such as semiconductor and electronics factories.

‘Growth requires infrastructure that can keep up with it. Water and wastewater are fundamental to that growth; and we want New Clark City to have a system that is reliable, sustainable and built to meet the needs of the metropolis for the long term,’ Bingcang said.

‘We are building New Clark City for the decades ahead. That means putting in place the basic systems that will allow businesses to invest, communities to grow and the city to manage its resources responsibly,’ he added.

The OPS award follows Maynilad’s board approval of its participation in the nearly P15-billion joint venture, which the water concessionaire said was being considered for a 25-year term.

Sen. Joel Villanueva on Tuesday urged the management of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to consider waiving or refunding toll fees paid by motorists who were stranded for hours amid severe flooding along NLEx in San Simon, Pampanga.

In his privilege speech before the Senate, Villanueva also called for a clear, funded and permanent solution to the recurring flooding that has repeatedly disrupted traffic along the major expressway.

‘Naniniwala rin tayo na dapat ikonsidera ng NLEx management ang pag-waive o pag-refund ng toll fees para sa mga motoristang matinding naapektuhan ng prolonged closure,’ Villanueva said.

(We also believe that the NLEx management should consider waiving or refunding toll fees for motorists severely affected by the prolonged closure.)

‘Nagbayad ka na ng toll, naipit ka pa sa baha. Hindi po iyon ang serbisyong binayaran ng ating mga kababayan,’ he added.

(You already paid the toll, only to get stuck in the flood. That is not the service our fellow Filipinos paid for.)

Villanueva made the statement amid reports that traffic along the affected portion of NLEX stretched as far as 10 kilometers, with some motorists reportedly spending up to 22 hours on the road.

He also asked NLEx whether immediate assistance had been provided to stranded motorists.

‘May tubig, pagkain, portalets, at medical assistance po ba para sa mga nangangailangan?’ he said.

(Were there water, food, portalets, and medical assistance to those affected?)

Villanueva stressed that the situation should not be treated as a simple inconvenience, given the prolonged period motorists were trapped on the expressway.

‘Usapin po ito ng kaligtasan at kapakanan ng tao,’ he said.

(This is a matter of safety and welfare of the people,)

The Inquirer sought a comment from NLEx on the matter but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Meanwhile, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, operator of NLEx, has previously expressed its apologies to motorists who have been stranded in some sections of the expressway, which were rendered impassable because of severe flooding.

Recurring problem

Villanueva noted that the flooding in San Simon was not a new problem.

He recalled that following a similar flooding incident in 2023, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and NLEx identified the construction of the Tulaoc Overpass and the raising of portions of the expressway as a medium-term solution.

Since then, NLEx has raised a 0.7-meter section of a 200-meter stretch in the Tulaoc area, the senator noted.

But Villanueva said it was clear that simply raising the road was not enough to address the recurring flooding.

He also acknowledged that there were limitations to raising the expressway further because of existing bridges and required vehicle clearances.

While pumping equipment is being used to remove floodwaters, Villanueva said this should only be considered an emergency response, rather than a permanent solution.

‘Critical economic lifeline’

Villanueva described NLEx as a ‘critical economic lifeline,’ noting that the expressway handled an average of more than 350,000 vehicle entries every day in 2024, according to NLEx Corporation.

‘Kapag naparalisa ang NLEx, apektado ang trabaho, negosyo, supply chain, at oras ng ating mga kababayan,’ Villanueva said.

(When NLEx is paralyzed, jobs, businesses, the supply chain, and the time of our fellow Filipinos are affected.)

He also raised concerns over the rerouting of motorists to the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). Villanueva said there were insufficient signs, traffic personnel, lighting, and clear directions to guide motorists through alternative routes.

He also noted that navigation apps may not immediately reflect road closures, potentially leaving motorists unaware of the flood.

‘Sa emergency, information is also a form of assistance. Hindi dapat makarating muna ang motorista sa baha bago niya malaman na hindi pala siya makakadaan dito,’ he said.

(In an emergency, information is also a form of assistance. Motorists should not have to reach the flooded area before finding out that they cannot pass through)

Beyond emergency measures, however, Villanueva said authorities should pursue a ‘clear, funded, time-bound, and permanent solution’ to the recurring flooding in San Simon.

‘Our people deserve an expressway that is not only fast when the weather is good, but safe, reliable, and resilient when they need it most,’ Villanueva said.

A group of criminologists has called for the dismissal of two police officers accused of acts of lasciviousness against two female criminology student-interns inside a police station here.

Gerry Caño, president of the Professional Criminologists Association of the Philippines (PCAP), said the group would provide legal assistance to the interns and help file administrative complaints.

‘We will lead and take charge of filing the administrative cases,’ Caño said in an online interview.

He said officers found guilty of misconduct and violations of the Safe Spaces Act should face administrative and criminal charges, including possible revocation of their professional licenses.

‘Touching or caressing the body parts of female interns must not be taken lightly or treated as a joke,’ Caño said, urging the Commission on Higher Education and other concerned agencies to strengthen safeguards against sexual harassment during student internships.

PCAP is prepared to assist the victims in filing complaints before the Professional Regulation Commission, National Police Commission, People’s Law Enforcement Board and Office of the Ombudsman, Caño said.

Confirmation

The call followed confirmation by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 that a police captain and a corporal allegedly committed acts of lasciviousness against two female interns inside Police Station 7 of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) on Aug. 8.

PRO-10 Director Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. said the two officers had been placed under restrictive custody at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

‘Misconduct will not be tolerated,’ Babagay said, stressing that police personnel must uphold professionalism, integrity and respect for the dignity and welfare of others.

He directed the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division to conduct a pre-charge evaluation, while COCPO director Col. Dexter Paje was instructed to assist the alleged victims through the Women and Children Protection Desk in filing criminal complaints.

The COCPO earlier formed an investigation team after a local higher education institution requested the withdrawal of its student-trainees following complaints of sexual harassment.

Happiest Pinoy, Cebuana Lhuillier’s flagship advocacy celebrating Filipino resilience, optimism, and joy, has been named a Bronze Stevie® Winner for Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility at the 23rd Annual International Business Awards®. Known as the ‘International Stevies,’ the awards are among the world’s major business honors, drawing more than 3,400 nominations from organizations across 82 nations and territories. More than 210 professionals evaluated winners across 11 specialized judging panels.

For Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, the recognition underscores the role of optimism in creating meaningful social impact. ‘Happiest Pinoy was built on a simple belief: that optimism is not just a mindset, but a powerful force that can shape communities and inspire action. By celebrating the everyday ways Filipinos choose hope and happiness, we hope to spark a ripple effect, one that encourages more people to lift each other up and see the possibilities ahead.’

The 2025 search drew more than 500,000 entries nationwide, expanding its categories to celebrate the many faces of Filipino joy-from upbeat Gen Zs and inspiring seniors to persons with disabilities, OFWs, entrepreneurs, artists, Indigenous communities, LGBTQIA+ advocates, and everyday Ka-Cebuanas whose stories show that happiness can be found in every generation, community, and walk of life.

Happiest Pinoy also moved beyond a traditional competition through a nationwide roadshow that brought the advocacy directly to communities. Cebuana Lhuillier engaged student leaders, school heads, local tourism champions, media partners, local government representatives, and marginalized sectors, widening participation and creating opportunities for more Filipinos to share their stories. Entries were accepted online, through video, and at Cebuana Lhuillier branches, making the search accessible to Filipinos across the country.

A distinguished panel of judges from government, business, sports, media, and social development brought together diverse experiences and perspectives on overcoming challenges and making a difference in others’ lives. Together, they assessed the finalists not only for their resilience and optimism, but also for the impact, authenticity, and purpose behind their stories.

Zacarias Mansing Jr., a literacy and disability inclusion advocate, emerged as the overall winner from among 10 national category winners, taking home the ?500,000 grand prize. After an accident left him paralyzed, Mansing transformed his experience into a mission to advance literacy and disability inclusion, reaching more than 50,000 students across 300 remote public schools in Negros Oriental through his Books for Kids Project.

The advocacy has recently expanded into the digital space through #SimpleJoysPH, turning the celebration of happiness into an ongoing movement that can be experienced and shared year-round. Across online platforms, people celebrate the moments that make life meaningful like family milestones and personal wins to simple acts of kindness. Building on the spirit of Happiest Pinoy, #SimpleJoysPH takes the celebration beyond the annual competition, creating more ways to express and inspire everyday joy through meaningful stories, a songwriting contest, and a dance challenge.

The Bronze Stevie® recognizes Happiest Pinoy’s evolution from an annual search into a broader advocacy, one that continues to reach more Filipinos, amplify stories of strength and purpose, and celebrate the everyday optimism that makes the Filipino spirit shine.

A magnitude 6 earthquake rocked Davao Occidental at 9:22 Tuesday evening, the state volcanology office said.

The tremor was tectonic in origin and was traced 115 kilometers south of Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

It has a depth of 93 kilometers.

Intensity III was felt in Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Davao Occidental; Kiamba, Sarangani: and Tupi, South Cotabato

Intensity II was recorded in Digos City, Maasim, Malapatan and Maitum in Sarangani province; Gen. Santos City and Tboli,South Cotabato.

Intensity I in Sarangani, Davao Occidental and Koronadal City.

No reported damage to properties as of posting.

The national government’s cash utilization improved at the start of the second half of the year as the Marcos administration sought to ramp up spending to support economic growth, latest data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.

According to the DBM’s latest Notices of Cash Allocation (NCA) report, the government’s utilization rate improved to 94.6 percent as of end-July, equivalent to P2.955 trillion used out of the P3.125 trillion released. The rate was better than the 94 percent recorded in the same period last year.

The amount of NCAs released in the first seven months was also nearly 5 percent higher than the P2.986 trillion recorded a year earlier.

NCAs refer to the authority issued by the DBM that allows agencies to withdraw funds from the Treasury to cover the cash requirements of their operations, programs and projects.

Line departments, which received the bulk of the releases, recorded a utilization rate of 92.2 percent, slightly higher than the 92 percent posted a year earlier. They used P1.988 trillion out of the P2.156 trillion released.

The Department of Education received the largest allocation among departments at P513.943 billion, of which P478.656 billion, or 93.1 percent, had been utilized.

The Department of Public Works and Highways followed with P320.131 billion in releases. It used P275.932 billion, translating to an 86.2-percent utilization rate and leaving P44.199 billion unused-the largest among departments.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense used 98.4 percent of its P238.590-billion allocation, with P234.878 billion disbursed.

Among agencies with lower utilization rates, the Office of the President posted a 69.4-percent rate (P7.41 billion of P10.68 billion), followed by the Presidential Communications Office at 72 percent (P1.5 billion of P2.1 billion), and the Civil Service Commission at 73.3 percent (P1.38 billion of P1.88 billion).

Outside the line departments, subsidies to state-run firms and allocations to local government units were almost fully utilized, with their combined utilization rate reaching 99.8 percent, better than the 99 percent recorded a year earlier.

Subsidies to government-owned and -controlled corporations reached a utilization rate of 98.9 percent (P132.12 billion of P133.64 billion), while allocations to LGUs were fully utilized at 100 percent (P835.14 billion of P835.47 billion).

Globe Business is addressing this challenge through AI WAN, an intelligent network management solution designed to help anticipate, identify and respond to potential network issues with less manual intervention. Once progressively deployed across Globe’s network infrastructure, AI WAN will continuously analyze network conditions and traffic behavior, allowing potential performance issues to be detected and addressed before they escalate into larger disruptions.

‘The G Summit is designed around the theme of Orchestrating Intelligence, demonstrating how next-generation technologies function together to drive the autonomous enterprise,’ said Glenn Estrella, Vice President at Globe Business, speaking on the sidelines of G Summit 2026. ‘AI WAN serves as a critical network-layer component of our transformation roadmap. By integrating proactive intelligence directly into our infrastructure, we are providing businesses with a stable, self-healing foundation.’

This capability was previewed inside the experience rooms at G Summit 2026, where business leaders witnessed the practical application of self-healing networks. During a live demonstration, a physical hardware port was deliberately disconnected to simulate a network disruption. AI WAN automatically recognized the anomaly, analyzed the event, and rerouted traffic immediately, maintaining complete connectivity with zero operational downtime. Because Globe owns and manages the underlying network backbone, the company is uniquely positioned to execute these complex troubleshooting and restoration workflows on the backend, ensuring a seamless user experience.

AI WAN is designed to predict, explain, visualize and help resolve network issues. It continuously monitors network health and learns an organization’s traffic patterns over time, allowing it to detect unusual behavior and potential performance issues before they develop into larger disruptions. This also helps identify the likely source of an issue faster, reducing the manual work required from IT teams.

The system responds based on the level of risk involved. Low-risk network anomalies can be addressed automatically, standard configuration changes can be prepared for implementation, while higher-risk modifications remain subject to human review. Globe Business keeps enterprise IT teams informed when their input or authorization is needed, maintaining human oversight over critical decisions.

AI WAN can also analyze capacity trends to anticipate future network demand and potential bandwidth constraints. This gives businesses better visibility into when and where additional capacity or infrastructure may be needed, helping them plan investments more efficiently.

‘Businesses should be able to depend on their network without having to constantly think about what is happening behind it,’ Estrella said. ‘When the network can anticipate issues and respond more effectively, IT teams can spend less time troubleshooting and more time supporting the growth of the business.’

AI WAN is slated for progressive deployment across Globe’s network as part of Globe Business’ broader effort to make enterprise connectivity more proactive, resilient and easier to manage.

To learn more about how Globe Business can support your organization’s intelligent transformation journey, visit www.globe.com.ph/business.

Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima has called for the suspension of ‘earth-balling’ or relocation of mangroves until the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) crafts a more comprehensive study on the matter.

At a recent House hearing on the DENR’s proposed 2027 budget, De Lima inquired about the status of the department’s Oct. 8, 2025 memorandum providing guidelines for processing requests to earth-ball mangroves pending the completion of a study.

She wondered why the memorandum was issued despite the lack of scientific studies or even consultations.

De Lima also observed that an ‘interim operational guidance’ has apparently turned into a ‘de facto policy’ allowing the earth-balling of mangroves for flagship infrastructure projects.

‘We understand that there is a technical working group (TWG) that was recently created regarding the earth-balling of mangroves. I am wondering why that memorandum was issued at all, even before consultations, or even before the creation of TWG, or a scientific study. What exactly is the survival rate?’ she said.

‘All of these things should have been confirmed or verified first before allowing the issuance of this memorandum,’ she further pointed out.

Commitment to evaluate

In response, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the department deemed it appropriate at the time to issue the memorandum in pursuit of sustainable development.

He also claimed the DENR was in consultation with the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau, Biodiversity Management Bureau and Forest Management Bureau, the agencies tasked to study the survival rate of mangroves.

‘We’re encouraged by the initial results that have been sent to us already, but for us to be able to really extensively complete the study, we are targeting December of this year,’ he said.

Hearing this, De Lima advised the DENR to be more direct about the study’s findings, especially if the mangroves’ survival rate is extremely low.

She urged the department to ‘first suspend the implementation, if not do away with the memorandum altogether.’

Cuna committed to evaluate the matter.

House measures

De Lima earlier filed House Resolution No. 1206 seeking to conduct an inquiry into the memorandum as this directly conflicts with the country’s commitments and undermines its standing as a steward of global mangrove conservation.

She also filed House Bill No. 8353 seeking to require the establishment of coastal greenbelt zones to prevent coastal erosion. These zones consist of mangroves and beach forests at least 100 meters wide.

The measure also specifically defines the country’s policy goals and objectives for the management of mangrove resources.

‘The lack of a national policy on mangroves poses a great challenge and has caused existing mangrove protection and rehabilitation efforts to remain ineffective and unsuccessful,’ De Lima said in filing the bill.

‘We must urgently implement a comprehensive mechanism to shield coastal communities, protect habitats, and set the stage for rebuilding our fisheries and achieving food security,’ she added.

De Lima had also sought to establish the ‘legal validity’ of the guidelines, citing laws mandating the protection of mangroves such as Republic Act No. 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by RA 10654, and RA 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.