Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A coastal protection project that combines Dutch water-management expertise with the indigenous knowledge of a coastal community in this city is drawing interest from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and European countries as a potential model for addressing tidal flooding, land subsidence, and other effects of climate change.

Nearly 100 delegates from Asean and European countries visited the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) coastal protection project in the island village of Pamarawan during a three-day cross-learning program held Sept. 28 to Sept. 30.

The program, themed ‘Beyond the Risk: Strategic Choices for Climate Change Resilient Countries in Asean,’ brought together delegates from the Netherlands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Asean member states, including representatives of the Asean Secretariat. The Dutch ambassador to the Philippines also joined the visit, according to Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad.

The Pamarawan NbS project covers about 14 hectares of coastline and shoreline defenses along Manila Bay. It uses locally available and discarded materials, including oyster shells, bamboo and coconut shells, to help protect the community from tidal waters and storm surges.

Natividad said the project grew out of an initial North Manila Bay Flood Protection Strategy study conducted by Dutch water-management firm Royal HaskoningDHV, which was tapped by the city government to develop the project’s detailed engineering design.

The project is considered the Philippines’ first large-scale NbS initiative of its kind, according to the city government.

Pamarawan, an island barangay adjacent to Manila Bay, can only be reached by boat.

Cross-learning program

Natividad noted the cross-learning program was conceptualized by Asean and European leaders during the International Water Week in Singapore in August. The program aims to allow participating countries to study the Malolos project and explore how similar approaches could be adapted to their own coastal communities.

But while the project draws on international expertise, Natividad said much of its implementation relies on the indigenous knowledge and labor of Pamarawan residents.

‘It is our people in Pamarawan who build all these,’ Natividad told the Inquirer.

He said the project seeks to restore shorelines that had been damaged by tidal waters and strong storm surges.

‘There were sea walls and dikes that were constructed by the government, but these were wrecked,’ Natividad added, attributing the worsening flooding problem to what he described as corruption, substandard materials, and so-called ghost projects.

Unlike conventional ‘gray’ infrastructure such as concrete seawalls, dikes, and floodwalls, the project uses natural materials to work with the environment.

‘This is a green project. This is Malolos’ way of trying to solve its tidal and fluvial problems without the use of concrete and cement. We are building with nature, not against nature,’ Natividad shared.

The project’s breakwaters, made partly from discarded oyster shells and bamboo, are designed to reduce the force of waves and tidal surges from Manila Bay while trapping sediments and debris carried downstream.

Climate change

Natividad said flooding in the area has been aggravated by rising sea levels due to climate change and the continued sinking of land.

While concrete dikes and walls can cost billions of pesos, he said, mangroves and bamboo can continue to grow even as land subsidence and sea-level rise persist.

The trapped sediments are expected to gradually raise the elevation of the shoreline and create conditions favorable for mangrove growth.

The city government has allocated P70 million for the project, which began construction in 2024 and is targeted for completion this year.

Natividad said the project could serve as Malolos’ contribution to global efforts to address tidal flooding, land subsidence, and other environmental challenges associated with climate change.

‘Even international communities want to adopt our Nature-based Solution project. It was first recognized in the international scene. It has been known in Malolos, then later in other towns and cities in our province and now, at the national level,’ he noted.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon cited the Malolos NbS project as one of the flood-mitigation initiatives that the agency is considering for other coastal communities during a meeting with Bulacan officials on Sept. 18.

Dizon also visited the Pamarawan project on Sept. 29.

Natividad said Malolos hopes to share its approach with other coastal communities across the country.

‘We are an archipelago. We will restore nature as part of the solution. Imagine if the entire country will be greened through this project. We have already restored the elevation of our shoreline and our coastal areas because of the mangroves,’ he stated.

All provinces in the country are expected to experience drought by March 2027 due to the increasing effects of El Niño, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. warned Monday.

‘By the end of March, all provinces,’ Solidum said during a Palace briefing when asked how many provinces were expected to experience drought or very dry conditions due to El Niño.

Drought occurs when there are several consecutive months of unusually low rainfall, specifically, three consecutive months with more than 60 percent less rainfall than average, or five consecutive months with rainfall 21 to 60 percent below normal.

Solidum also clarified what experts mean by ‘Super El Niño’ and how it may affect the Philippines.

‘Super El Niño is a description of the condition in the Pacific. Its effects on us will vary. As you can see, the provinces experiencing more severe drought are expected to be affected next year, not now, because there is a time lag in its effects,’ he explained.

‘So, we need to clarify to our fellow Filipinos that the term ‘El Niño’ describes the condition in the Pacific, not in the Philippines. When we say El Niño, it means that sea surface temperatures are much higher than normal. However, its effects here, such as whether there will be insufficient rainfall, will still depend on the amount of rain that comes and how much rainfall we receive,’ he added.

Solidum said the southwest monsoon had masked the effects of El Niño, which was why its impact had not yet been fully felt.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will revive its water conservation campaign as the country prepares for the possible effects of El Niño.

During the same briefing, DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna urged the public to use water wisely, stressing that everyone has a role in protecting the country’s water supply.

‘Every individual, every citizen, needs to do their part by conserving water,’ he said.

Four senator-judges called out defense lawyer Mark Vinluan on Monday for raising possible administrative and criminal liability against those who disclose and report confidential information, including the media.

During his cross-examination of prosecution witness Atty. Ronel Buenaventura, executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat, Vinluan enumerated the penalties under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

‘Based on this provision, Atty. Buenaventura, penalties involve both administrative and criminal sanctions. Correct?’ Vintuan asked the witness, after citing the specific provision of the law.

Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia interjected, saying the question was ‘irrelevant.’

‘And you’re already bordering on badgering the witness, albeit the threat is veiled, Your Honor,’ she added.

This later prompted Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo to take the floor and remind the defense lawyer that the Senate impeachment court had already allowed the disclosure of AMLC records during the trial.

‘Now, I can see itong defense pa ulit-ulit na bina-badger na lang niya itong witness. Kanina pa ito ng alas-10 ng umaga at nakikita ko pagod na siya. And I don’t see any reason bakit paulit-ulit na lang itong defense na tinatakot pa, pati media tinatakot…’ Tulfo said.

(Now, I can see that the defense has been repeatedly badgering the witness. This has been going on since 10 this morning, and I can see that the witness is already tired. I don’t see any reason for the defense to keep doing this repeatedly, especially when it is even intimidating the witness and the media.)

‘Come on. Kanina pa tayo. Pagod na tayong lahat, especially the witness. And I can see ‘yung sa prosecutor kanina pa masakit ang likod n’ya. Give us a break, okay? Walang takutan,’ he added.

(Come on. We’ve been at this since earlier, and we’re all tired, especially the witness. I can also see that the prosecutor has been complaining of back pain for quite some time. Give us a break, okay? No intimidation)

Senator-Judge Francis Pangilinan shared this sentiment, saying it was uncalled for to raise the issue of possible sanctions when the impeachment court had already authorized the disclosure of AMLC records during the trial.

Pangilinan particularly noted Vintuan’s mention of possible criminal liability arising from the disclosure of AMLC records during the House of Representatives hearings.

‘It leads us to think that maybe in the cross-examination, I don’t know, the defense counsel will raise the issue of the possible criminal liability of the senator-judges? I don’t know. It’s a matter of concern and I just want that placed on record,’ Pangilinan said.

Since the impeachment court had already ruled on the issue, Pangilinan said the defense team could raise the matter before the Supreme Court.

‘But raising the issue of possible criminal liability for authorized disclosure in this impeachment court, I believe is uncalled for, for the record,’ he pointed out.

Senator-judge Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III chimed in, saying the defense counsel ‘should be reminded of the term parliamentary immunity.’

Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros agreed with her colleagues, saying it was wrong ‘even indirectly,’ to threaten the media, who are just performing their duty to cover the impeachment proceedings.

‘Dapat po walang chilling effect na either sadyang or ‘di sadyang lilikhain sa hanay ng Fourth Estate,’ Hontiveros said.

The Diocese of Antique on Sunday urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to include a Just Transition Roadmap for Semirara in the Philippine Energy Plan to ensure a shift to renewable energy and protect workers affected by the transition.

The appeal followed a gathering of Semirara Island residents in Caluya town, Antique, who raised concerns about possible job losses as the coal operating contract of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) with the government is set to expire next year.

The diocese appealed to the government to ensure that workers receive just compensation and appropriate assistance amid uncertainty and changes in mining operations. The Semirara Islands are considered a major coal mining site in the country.

‘Uncertain’

The diocese said that while it recognizes SMPC’s efforts in worker welfare, environmental rehabilitation, livelihood programs and economic diversification, it noted the lack of a just transition roadmap for renewable energy.

‘What appears to be lacking, however, is an overarching, publicly articulated, time-bound and adequately funded Just Transition Roadmap that brings these various efforts together toward a clear goal: the gradual transition of Semirara and its people away from dependence on coal,’ the diocese said in a pastoral letter.

It noted that without such a framework, the direction of other initiatives would remain ‘uncertain.’

‘Any future operator should be required not only to present a credible plan for extracting coal, but also an enforceable plan for workers, communities, environmental rehabilitation, economic diversification, and the island’s progressive transition away from dependence on coal,’ the diocese added.

The diocese explained the call for a just transition to renewable energy was not just an environmental concern but also an appeal for justice and human dignity.

‘This responsibility belongs not only to government and industry. Care for our common home is a mission entrusted to all of us,’ it said.

Two warring clans in this city have agreed to a ceasefire following renewed hostilities that triggered exchanges of gunfire and forced residents to flee, the Army said.

Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID), brought together Barangay Kalanganan Mother chair Bimbo Ayunan Pasawiran and Ustadz Abusaima Hussain, commander of the 128th base command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF), for a dialogue on Saturday at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Both sides agreed to support the military-initiated cessation of hostilities involving them and their followers.

The meeting also resulted in the creation of a probe team led by Cotabato City police director Col. Jibin Bongcayao to determine what triggered the recent exchange of gunfire.

‘Both parties issued a commitment to honor the understandings reached and to work toward ending hostilities in the area,’ Bunayog said.

The clashes erupted following the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on Sept. 14. Army and Marines were deployed in Kalanganan after an initial exchange of gunfire on Sept. 28, while Philippine Air Force helicopters conducted aerial patrols over the city for three nights.

No deaths or injuries were reported in the clashes, which involved firearms and M-79 grenades.

Bunayog said 6ID troops would continue patrols and security operations in Kalanganan, a coastal village with about 18,900 residents.

‘We do not want to see another exchange of fire in Kalanganan that could put our people’s lives and safety at risk. We will employ all lawful measures within our mandate to protect the community and maintain peace and order,’ Bunayog said.

He added that troops would take lawful measures to protect residents and maintain peace and order.

The government and MILF ceasefire panels are also working to resolve the conflict.

A few weeks after the controversial crime drama ‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence’ was pulled from YouTube, its preferred platform for the six-part miniseries, it came back stronger, earning several recognitions from the Singapore-based Asian Academy Creative Awards 2026.

‘Drug War,’ which is set to return to the platform for its sixth and last episode this week, just took home three of the four recognitions: Best Screenplay (director Shugo Praico and Jonathan Guillermo); Best Cinematography (Moises M.M. Zee); and, Best Editing (Lawrence S. Ang).

Also from the same showrunners, another crime drama ‘Salvageland,’ directed by Lino Cayetano, also won big in the same awards, bagging the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Mon Confiado.

Both ‘Drug War’ and ‘Salvageland’ will represent the Philippines to the international round for the Grand Final Award.

‘These recognitions inspire us to stay true to Rein Entertainment’s mission: to push boundaries, explore fresh perspectives, discover unexpected worlds, and tell bolder Filipino stories that deserve a place on the global stage.’ said Praico, Rein Entertainment’s president and head of creatives.

The recognition came as ‘Drug War’ is set to release its final episode this week, after encountering a delay from its original Sept. 3 premiere schedule on Rein Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

On top of this, Episodes 1 to 4 were summarily removed from the platform without due notice, and with no assurance of whether it would be restored.

INQUIRER Entertainment had tried to get a statement from showrunners regarding this, but they declined to give a comment at that time. The show eventually returned on YouTube recently.

Set against the Philippines’ deadly and deeply polarizing war on drugs, the series follows a priest (Ian Veneracion) and a conscience-stricken policewoman (Jane Oineza) as they investigate the death of his former protégé (Harvey Bautista) that unravels into a wider conspiracy of killings, silenced witnesses, and erased evidence. The series has drawn millions of views on YouTube.

Harry Kane is set to equal England’s appearance record with his 125th cap against the Czech Republic on Tuesday as the striker looks to build on his flourishing partnership with ‘scary’ Jude Bellingham.

Kane will take centre stage if he ties former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s landmark in the Nations League clash at Wembley.

The England captain’s pride in representing his country has shone through since his debut against Lithuania in 2015.

Kane scored within two minutes of coming off the bench in that match, and he has rarely endured a barren spell in an England shirt ever since.

The 33-year-old is England’s record scorer with 89 goals after netting twice in Saturday’s 7-0 demolition of Croatia.

Bayern Munich star Kane has been England’s talisman and the one constant throughout their highs and lows over the last 11 years.

Roy Hodgson gave Kane his England debut and the striker has since played under coaches Sam Allardyce, Gareth Southgate, Lee Carsley and now Thomas Tuchel.

But even having a player of Kane’s predatory instincts and remarkable consistency has not been enough for England to end their angst-ridden wait for a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

England lost the European Championship final in 2021 and 2024.

And for Kane to follow Bobby Moore as the only male England captain to lift a trophy, Tuchel believes he needs an assist from a midfielder whose virtuoso performance against Croatia on Saturday drew gushing praise from teammates and pundits alike.

In danger of missing out on the World Cup after being dropped from the England squad in October 2025, Real Madrid star Bellingham has gone from Tuchel’s doghouse to the penthouse over the last 12 months.

Having irked Tuchel with his volatile on-pitch antics, Bellingham eventually regained his place in time for the World Cup in June and July.

It was Bellingham rather than Kane who finished as England’s top scorer at the World Cup, but their tournament ended in semifinal heartbreak against Argentina.

‘Never seen anything like it’

Tuchel’s defensive tactics in the closing stage of that loss were widely pilloried.

But has learnt from that late meltdown and wants England to stay on the offensive, with Kane and Bellingham leading the charge.

Key to England’s hopes of winning Euro 2028 will be Kane staying healthy and Bellingham remaining in the kind of masterful form that inspired the rout of Croatia.

The 23-year-old was so dominant in Rijeka, scoring once and providing three assists, that former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane said he can go on to be ‘one of the greatest players of all time’.

‘At this moment in time, he is an amazing footballer. The package, his running power, his delivery, his goal threat,’ Keane said.

Keane’s praise was echoed by Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who made his first England start alongside Bellingham and Elliot Anderson in midfield against Croatia.

‘Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it,’ Scott said.

‘He’s even better in person, seeing it up close and being on the same pitch as him, he’s the best midfielder in the world.

‘On the pitch his ability is scary and that’s the benchmark we need to live up to.’

England winger Bukayo Saka added: ‘He was special, (I’m) happy to play with him and happy to have him in the England team.’

Tuchel said Kane’s relationship with Bellingham has blossomed on and off the pitch in recent months, paving the way for the explosion of creativity and goals from the pair.

Fittingly, it was Bellingham who took the captain’s armband from Kane when the striker was replaced late in the Croatia match.

‘They get better and better. They love playing with each other. They understand each other better,’ Tuchel said.

Authorities rescued a 5-year-old girl and arrested her mother and the woman’s live-in partner for allegedly exploiting the child online for profit, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said Monday.

NBI-7 agents arrested the 25-year-old woman and her partner during a raid at a house in Sitio Tambisan, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Sept. 30.

NBI-7, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the joint operation.

NBI-7 said the case began Sept. 18, when HSI Manila referred information about illicit material involving children that was allegedly being sold online.

After verifying the information, NBI-7 sought a cyber warrant against the woman.

Judge Jose Nathaniel Andal of Branch 24 of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court issued the warrant on Sept. 29.

In a statement, NBI-7 said its investigation uncovered the alleged commercial distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors, including the suspect’s own child.

The woman worked as an online seller, while her partner was an e-bike driver in the area, according to authorities.

NBI-7 also said the suspects had already been charged with violations of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act (Republic Act 11930), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended (Republic Act 9208), and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act 7610).

The offenses are nonbailable.

The suspects are being held at the NBI-7 office, while the child was turned over to the DSWD in Central Visayas for protective custody.

National University made it to the Finals of the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge after not giving Colegio de San Juan de Letran a chance in their rubber match in the semifinals on Sunday, carving out a masterful 25-14, 25-23, 25-20 victory at FilOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Bulldogs made sure there would be no repeat of their heartbreaking 22-25, 25-23, 29-27, 13-25, 20-18 loss in Game 2, coming out with complete focus as NU returned to the championship round for the first time since its title run in 2022.

‘The players took it as a challenge,’ multititled coach Dante Alinsunurin said in Filipino, referring to the loss that necessitated this rubber match. ‘We needed adjustments [from Game 2] and were able to come up with them for this game.’

‘That was the key for us, and the players were really determined,’ Alinsunurin continued. ‘It was in their mindset that they will win this game.’

Rookie RK Medino led NU with 17 points, all coming from attacks, as he shouldered the scoring load in the absence of top stars Buds Buddin, Leo Ordiales and Peng Taguibolos, who had just wrapped up their campaign with Alas Pilipinas in the 20th Asian Games in Japan.

Jade Disquitado added 13 points and five excellent receptions, while Luke Macatangay chipped in 10 points. Choi Diao and Obed Mukaba also contributed seven and six points, respectively.

Greg Ancheta orchestrated NU’s offense with 22 excellent sets, while also scoring three points as the Bulldogs needed just 73 minutes to dispatch the hard-fighting Knights.

NU dominated across all scoring categories, finishing with a 41-35 edge in attacks, a 12-7 advantage in blocks and a 3-2 lead in aces. The Bulldogs also capitalized on Letran’s 19 errors while limiting their own miscues to just 13.

The Finals will pit NU against fellow UAAP squad Far Eastern University, renewing a familiar rivalry between the two schools after they faced off in the last two UAAP Finals. Game 1 is set for Friday.

Meanwhile, Dave Lardizabal paced Letran with 16 points on 13 attacks and three blocks, while Jasper Afgao and Vince Himzon added 10 and nine points, respectively, in the defeat.

The Knights will take on another NCAA team in College of Saint Benilde in the battle for third place, also on Friday.

Seven years after becoming the second-highest grossing film ever, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ returned to the No. 1 spot at the box office in a victory lap for Marvel and an appetizer for the upcoming blockbuster ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’

The rerelease grossed $26 million over the weekend and another $60 million overseas, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film, which grossed $2.8 billion in 2019, was put back into theaters with several new end-credits scenes and an introductory thank you to fans from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.

Among rereleases, only the 1997 release of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ ($35.9 million) and the 2011 repeat of ‘The Lion King’ ($30.2 million) have opened higher than ‘Endgame’ in domestic cinemas.

Hollywood has increasingly turned to rereleases in recent years to take advantage of holes in the release schedule. But The Walt Disney Co. rerun, billed as ‘Endgame: Encore,’ came out on top on an especially crowded weekend in theaters.

Three well-reviewed new releases – A24’s ‘Primetime,’ with Robert Pattinson; Paramount Pictures’ ‘Heart of the Beast,’ with Brad Pitt; and Universal Pictures’ ‘Forgotten Island’ – all landed in theaters.

Second place, though, went to Zach Cregger’s reboot of ‘Resident Evil.’ The Sony Pictures release followed up its above-expectations debut with $23.3 million in its second weekend. In two weeks, the video-game adaptation has grossed $103.5 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters.

In a close race for third place, ‘Heart of the Beast’ came out just ahead of ‘Primetime’ with an estimated $20 million from 3,435 theaters. Directed by David Ayer, the film stars Pitt as a retired veteran who must trek through the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog after a plane crash. It added $30.1 million in international theaters.

Pattinson drives ‘Primetime’ sales

But the opening for ‘Primetime’ was more impressive. ‘Heart of the Beast’ cost $82 million to produce, making its path to profitability challenging. ‘Primetime,’ starring Pattinson as ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen, was made with a modest budget of $15 million and it opened in 500 fewer theaters.

Yet ‘Primetime,’ buoyed by strong reviews and buzz out of the Venice Film Festival, debuted with $19.2 million. For Pattinson, who also starred this year in A24’s ‘The Drama’ and Universal’s ‘The Odyssey,’ the strong performance showed the actor’s drawing power with Gen Z audiences.

Some 69% of ticket buyers for ‘Primetime’ were under the age of 30. Gen Z has emerged as the most regular moviegoing demographic, fueling hits this year like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms.’ ‘Primetime’ is directed by 30-year-old documentarian Lance Oppenheim, who co-directed the much-anticipated Elizabeth Holmes documentary, ‘You Can See Everything,’ due out next month.

‘Forgotten Island,’ from DreamWorks Animation, had a hard time standing out. The film, which cost $80 million to make, opened in fifth place with a disappointing $12.8 million domestically. In 31 overseas markets, ‘Forgotten Island’ also didn’t make much of a dent, grossing $7.8 million internationally.

Universal will hope family audiences catch up to the movie that landed the weekend’s best CinemaScore (an ‘A’) and the best reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). ‘Forgotten Island,’ directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, is about two friends who get stranded in a mystical world.

The confluence of releases added up to a historically good September weekend in theaters. According to Rentrak, ticket sales were up 58.5% from the same weekend last year. The domestic box office has massed $7.8 billion thus far, putting it 19% ahead of last year.