Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) has moved to protect its members from what it calls censorship disguised as revoked access, adopting new measures after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) briefly barred Spin.ph from coverage in the recent FIVB World Men’s Championship.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PSA said any official or organization that withholds or forfeits a member’s credentials without due process and prior notice will now be declared persona non grata.

The group stressed that media accreditation must never be used as retaliation for critical reporting. ‘Censorship does not always arrive as a law or an organizational rule. Sometimes it comes as a locked gate, a revoked pass or an admonished question,’ the PSA said.

To ensure the rule is not misused, the PSA said it will police its ranks and give continuing guidance on fair and impartial reporting. It will also create a committee to mediate disputes between journalists and sports officials when accreditation is in question.

‘These measures affirm our singular conviction: The PSA cannot, and will not, accept being silenced, not even temporarily,’ the group said, adding that freedom of the press is a constitutional guarantee no sports body can undermine.

The PSA issued the policy after Spin.ph’s credentials were revoked by PNVF president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara on Sept. 23 before being later restored. The association said the incident, while resolved, left a ‘chilling effect’ that must not be repeated.

Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. (IMI), the listed semiconductors and electronics manufacturing arm of the Ayala Group, has shut down its Kuichong facility to consolidate its China business in a single location.

In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, IMI said final production activities in Kuichong ended on Tuesday, Sept. 30. They are now integrating operations into IMI’s Pingshan facility.

‘Throughout this transition period, IMI’s management team will prioritize business continuity and ensure that key customer accounts from IMI Kuichong will be served with minimal disruption,’ IMI said in its disclosure.

‘This strategic move is expected to further improve operational efficiency, increase capacity utilization in IMI Pingshan and further streamline IMI’s footprint in China,’ it added.

This follows IMI’s P635-million exit from its Czech Republic business in June as it sought to cut losses and return to profitability.

Its subsidiary, Cooperatief IMI Europe UA, had agreed to sell 100 percent of IMI Czech Republic to Keboda Deutschland GmbH and Co. KG. /dda

San Beda may have opened the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament with a big win, but the path ahead is anything but easy.

Following the Red Lions’ 96-85 win over the College of St. Benilde at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, coach Yuri Escueta quickly turned their attention to their next game day. On Sunday at San Juan Arena, the oldest collegiate rivalry between Letran and San Beda takes center stage and the matchup always demands the best preparation.

‘Playing Letran always brings out the best of the coaches and the players knowing they’re our rivals,’ he said. ‘This year, they’re so strong. They’re like an all-star team.’

Bryan Sajonia, who scored a team-high 16 points with three steals to match, will have to exert the same effort or even more in their outing against their longtime rival.

For one, the Knights will have the services of former Perpetual Help stars Jun Roque and Mark Omega along with veteran shooter Deo Cuajao and Titing Manalili, who sat out last season due to academic deficiencies.

Red Lions forward Yukien Andrada knows just how physical that upcoming clash would be. After all, he’s been through most of the rivalry since his rookie year in the NCAA.

‘I’m expecting a very very physical ballgame but we’ll just play the game the San Beda way,’ he said after dropping 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo attended Wednesday, October 1, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) hearing on alleged flood-control irregularities.

Bernardo arrived at the ICI office about 10 a.m. Wednesday to testify as a resource person but declined to comment to the media.

Last week, in his testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee, Bernardo alleged that Senator Francis Escudero and former Senators Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay received kickbacks from allocations for public works projects.

He also named Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, whose P4.7-billion in air assets were recently ordered frozen by the government.

Co resigned as a member of the House of Representatives on Sept. 30./cb

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on Filipinos to support and nurture the country’s artists as he officially reopened the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) after six months of renovation.

‘As we reopen the doors of the PICC, let us also open ourselves to a greater challenge: to create, to imagine, and to contribute,’ Marcos said in his speech.

‘Support our artists-our painters, our musicians, our performers. For in their creativity, we find not only beauty, but the very soul of our nation. And beyond appreciation, let us take part in that creation ourselves,’ he added.

Marcos urged Filipinos to ensure that the PICC would remain ‘a testament to the artistry, ingenuity, and passion of the Filipino people.’

‘Let it inspire us to carry forward our heritage, so that decades from now, our children, our grandchildren will still look at this place with pride, saying: This is who we are. This is what we can achieve,’ he said. The President was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, as well as other officials, during the reopening.

In encouraging Filipinos to embrace creativity, Marcos said artistic expression can be found in many forms, including ‘a short reflection written in a notebook, a song hummed at the end of a long day, a painting done by a child, or even a simple story shared with the family.’

‘Every act of creation-no matter how small-is an act of courage. It is an act of hope,’ he said.

Marcos also highlighted the role of the PICC as a cultural venue that embodies the resilience of creativity.

‘If the PICC has shown us anything, it is this: That creativity, when nurtured, endures. That artistry, when given space, inspires. And that every Filipino, no matter who or where they are, can bring light, meaning, and beauty to the world,’ the President said.

Residents of Masbate are in need of cash to purchase basic commodities and rehabilitate their communities a week after Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi) wiped out the province. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the assessment on Wednesday during his visit to Masbate City, where he led the distribution of food packs, medicine, and cash aid, to the affected families. ‘I think we have managed to address most of the problems [in Masbate]. But the biggest issue that still needs our attention is the shortage of cash,’ the President told reporters at Nursery Elementary School, which serves as an evacuation center for Masbate City residents. ‘People cannot withdraw their own money because the banks are closed, since there is no electricity, and no internet,’ he added. The President said he had discussed the problem with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, and the possible immediate solution was ‘to bring large amounts of cash’ to Masbate.

According to the President, he received reports that Masbate residents would withdraw money in as far as Legazpi City in Albay in mainland Bicol Region, or in nearby provinces in the Visayas. Only two branches of the Land Bank of the Philippines are open in the province, but they are in Masbate City and in Cataingan town, which is more than 70 kilometers away or a two-hour travel from the capital. ‘People are going to different places just to borrow money. But no one can loan them because of the situation,’ he said. ‘It’s a problem that we are going to have to solve very, very quickly,’ Marcos added.

‘It is very inconvenient for the people, but we will work on improving the situation as soon as possible.’ Masbate, which is under a state of calamity, was one of the hard-hit areas in Luzon and the Visayas during the onslaught of Opong, which made successive landfalls in the town of Palanas and Milagros on Sept. 26. The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said that about P400 million will be needed to restore the electricity services in the province. Most of the towns were still struggling with power outages and limited communication lines. According to the DOE, various electric cooperatives nationwide have been arriving in Masbate to speed up restoration efforts of Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. (Maselco), the province’s energy distributor.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 1, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) adopted InstaPay for all its inter-institution cash-in transactions for a P15 fee as part of efforts to enhance interoperability of digital financial services in the country.

The Ayala-backed bank said the standard service fee would also apply to transfers to affiliate e-wallet platform GCash.

‘This transition ensures compliance with regulatory standards while continuing to offer customers flexible and affordable ways to manage their finances,’ BPI said in a statement. Standard fee

BPI earlier implemented the same fee for ShopeePay and SeaBank. This will likewise apply to other applications as they comply with a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directive.

Currently, fund transfers made to GCash via the BPI app carry a P10 fee, although select customer segments and merchant payments enjoy free transfers.

Meanwhile, clients with BPI #MySaveUp accounts in GCash also benefit from zero fees for funds transferred from the BPI app to GSave.

Credit-led fintech Salmon Group Ltd. has raised $50 million from its latest Nordic bond issuance, a deal seen to accelerate its aspiration to build ‘Southeast Asia’s next-generation consumer banking.’

This latest debt offering follows the $60-million inaugural bond issue in April 2025. This brings Salmon’s total bond financing to $110 million under its $150-million Nordic bond framework.

Strong demand from global fixed income investors made the issue oversubscribed by two times the original offer, the fintech said.

Salmon cofounder Raffy Montemayor said: ‘We are opening a new chapter for Philippine financial services built on innovation, inclusion and trust. As the Philippines stands at the heart of Southeast Asia’s growth story, with its young consumer base, strong regulators and digital-first mindset, we see tremendous opportunity to reshape the industry.’ Out to scale faster

‘Through Salmon Bank and Sunprime Finance, we are proud to lead this transformation by offering products that meet the everyday needs of Filipinos, including credit lines, cards, consumer and moto loans, and now high-yield deposits,’ Montemayor said.

The group operates through its financing company and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-regulated Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc., formerly known as Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna) Inc.

Montemayor said the successful bond issuance validated international investors’ confidence in both the Philippines and Salmon’s long-term vision.

‘With this new funding, we are poised to scale faster, bring world-class financial services closer to millions of Filipino families, and redefine what banking can mean in our region,’ added Montemayor.

Pareto Securities acted as the sole bookrunner and underwriter on the transaction. Explainer: Nordic bond?

According to a leveraged finance publication issued by Baker McKenzie’s Stockholm office, Nordic bond offering is an efficient and low-cost debt financing option. It benefits issuers by giving them an alternative form of financing while also rewarding investors who are chasing attractive yields in instruments that offer some level of liquidity.

However, Nordic bonds require no credit rating and limited disclosure, which also means that less information is made available to investors and no meaningful vetting of the issuer and its business is conducted, the publication said.

Vice President Sara Duterte is in Cebu until October 2 to visit communities affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the province, her office announced Wednesday night. ‘Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is currently in Cebu province to extend her sympathies to those affected by the earthquake,’ the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said in an advisory.

The OVP said Duterte will remain in Cebu until Thursday to visit the areas affected by the tremor.

In a separate video statement, Duterte offered her condolences to the families affected by the quake, urging them not to lose faith despite the hardship they experienced.

‘I know that the pain you feel and the hardships you now face are beyond measure. Yet, in the midst of the destruction left by this tragedy in your families and communities, may you never lose faith and hope,’ Duterte said in Bisaya.

‘May you become sources of strength, kindness, and inspiration to all,’ she added.

She then extended her prayers to the communities in Cebu and nearby provinces, hoping for their safety and enduring resilience amid the continued aftershocks being experienced in the area.

‘May you find strength in one another, and may the legendary Visayan warmth and resilience shine through amidst this deep sorrow,’ she said.

Duterte went to Cebu after she ordered the OVP’s satellite offices to provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake.

Her trip also coincides with the House of Representatives’ plenary debates for the OVP’s proposed budget for 2026, which was postponed for the second time until Thursday after she – or an official of the appropriate level – failed to appear before the plenary. House Deputy Majority Leader Arnan Panaligan earlier said that tomorrow is the last chance for the OVP to defend its proposed budget as Thursday is the House’s last day for its plenary debates.

The provincial government of Bohol is extending assistance to Cebu following the deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province Tuesday night.

Governor Aris Aumentado announced that the province is sending P5 million in financial aid, along with a team of 16 medical and rescue personnel, two ambulances, and a rescue vehicle to help quake-hit areas in Cebu. The team is scheduled to leave Bohol at 1:30 p.m. today.

‘This is our help for Cebu. Our team will be heading there this afternoon,’ Aumentado said after presiding over an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning with local agencies to assess the situation. While Cebu bore the brunt of the earthquake, Bohol sustained minimal damage. Some school buildings in Sevilla, Balilihan, Ubay, Bien Unido, and Guindulman reported minor cracks that were deemed non-hazardous.

Hospitals across the province remain fully operational.

At the Gov. Celestino Gallares Medical Center in Tagbilaran City, 87 patients were briefly evacuated Tuesday night as a precaution, but they were later returned indoors after engineers cleared the hospital building as safe. Road networks remain passable, except for two bridges in Dauis town. The Castel Bridge is open only to light vehicles, while the Borja Bridge is operating on a single-lane basis due to structural concerns. The tremor, which struck at 9:59 p.m., caused a temporary power outage across Bohol and sent residents rushing to the streets in panic.

Classes and government work in the province were suspended on Wednesday to allow safety inspections of public infrastructure./coa