Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Backhoes, loaders and trucks in Porac town, Pampanga, hummed back to life on Friday as 40 quarry operators resumed extracting Mt. Pinatubo sand and gravel, while some 850 haulers took turns loading aggregates after two weeks of protests over alleged additional taxes.

The local government did not set up checkpoints or roadside collection desks starting at 1 a.m., a field check by the Inquirer showed.

This meant the proposed additional P100-on top of the P50 service fee and P50 ecological tax-was not collected, according to Lennard Lansang, president of the protesting Porac Truckers and Haulers Association Inc.

The so-called ‘double taxation’ triggered the protest, Lansang said. ‘The amended tax ordinance has not been approved and we were not called to a hearing,’ Lansing revealed.

Mayor Jaime ‘Jing’ Capil and the local treasury office did not reply to calls or messages seeking confirmation about the noncollection. Municipal treasurer Bernadette Duya has resigned, acting treasurer Albert Sotto retired on Nov. 30, and the new treasurer has yet to assume office.

Income lost

During the two-week protest that began on Nov. 21, haulers stopped transporting materials to Luzon buyers, leading to nonpayment of the original amount approved in the local ordinance.

With a minimum of 3,000 trucks and a P100 tax per truck, the local government must have lost P300,000 daily-or P4.5 million in 15 days-Lansang estimated.

He used an old Kapampangan proverb to describe the municipal government’s predicament: ‘Mantun lang kagatang, menugse lang kasalikap’ (‘They wanted only a few kilos but ended up throwing away the entire rice bin’), Lansang added.

Conditions

Even as it agreed to lift the protest, the Association of Porac Sand and Gravel Quarry Operators informed Capil in a Dec. 3 letter that its 40 members operating 170 hectares of quarry sites ‘will not procure further prepaid municipal ecological tax receipts’ starting Friday until the local government provide a valid ordinance authorizing the change in the amounts and manner of collection; a judicial ruling on the legality of the prepurchase practice; and a written legal basis showing that the prepurchase scheme is allowed under the Local Government Code of 1991.

The association also declined to serve as a collection agent for the service fee and ecological tax.

Lansang said haulers will only pay the P100 approved in the tax ordinance and will resist paying any additional amounts.

Two operators filed administrative cases against Capil before the Pampanga Provincial Board last week for alleged grave abuse of authority and several other violations.

During the protest, quarry operators and haulers reported foregone income amounting to P128.25 million.

The provincial government lost around P40 million in revenues for social and medical services, according to Romeo Dungca, head of the quarry regulatory unit, Kalam.

Calvin Abueva rallied Titan Ultra back from a double-digit deficit to edge Terrafirma, 111-108, that kept itself within striking distance in the quarterfinal race of the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Abueva scored the go-ahead basket with a minute left, then swatted a Jerrick Ahanmisi jumper before making an outlet pass for Joshua Munzon to put the Giant Risers ahead 109-106 after being down by 15 in the second period.

Titan Ultra later heaved a sigh of relief as Ahanmisi’s attempt at a game-tying three rolled out before time expired.

The Giant Risers improved to 3-6 for ninth spot, trailing Meralco and Barangay Ginebra with identical 3-4 slates.

Abueva finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocks while Munzon topscored for Titan with 21.

Von Pessumal added 12 before he takes a break from PBA duties to represent Gilas Pilipinas in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Terrafirma dropped to 1-7 after suffering its sixth consecutive defeat and squandering a 37-22 lead in the first half.

Jerrick Ahanmisi had 20 points while Mark Nonoy had 18 for the Dyip.

The silver-and-white Val Taguba gown with light, flowy attachments that 2025 Miss Universe third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo showcased on the finale stage in Thailand earned gasps from delighfully surprised spectators. And the ensemble came with matching custom-made shoes.

Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais crafted a unique pair of crystal shoes made just for the seasoned pageant queen. ‘Ahtisa messaged me, and talked to me. Sabi niya, ‘Kuya, gawan mo ako ng shoes’ (She said, make my shoes),’ he told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

Manalo was the only beauty queen he made clear straps for, and Bragais said the inspiration was from years ago. He said he met the then 18-year-old lass from Quezon Province back in 2016 when she was thinking of joining Binibining Pilipinas.

‘She was in jersey shorts with a hole, and her shirt was loose. She looked shabby, you could tell she was not well off. But she’s beautiful. In my eyes she was Cinderella,’ Bragais shared.

‘Those crystal shoes were entirely her idea, although in my eyes she has been groomed by fairy godmothers,’ he added. Manalo’s stylist Patty Yap first approached Bragais for shoes to match the gown for the finale.

He said he did not see what the gown’s design would be, but was only told that it would be white with silver. ‘I told them if they wanted to use the Ahisa tribute design that I was not able to finish. So I sent them my execution, and they told me it was perfect for the finals,’ Bragais said.

The concept was from Manalo and her team, but the design itself was all from Bragais, he revealed. This resulted in a pair of crystal shoes with platforms, and clear straps with silver accents.

He asked Manalo and Yap about the overall aesthetic of the finale look, and how high the beauty queen wanted the heels to be. Bragais also made sure to make her legs look longer, and give the shoes thicker heels ‘for better balance.’

But style considerations were not the only factors that required a custom pair for Manalo. Bragais revealed that the queen has unique feet that may get difficult to find the perfect shoes for.

‘Her toes are long. She’s in the slim category and we don’t have that. Her foot’s length is for a size 8, but her width is only for a size 7, that is why it’s challenging to find the right pair for her,’ he shared.

For the swimsuit round, Manalo sported a modified version of the strappy heels named after 2024 Miss Grand International Christine Juliane ‘CJ’ Opiaza, customized to fit her feet.

And avid pageant fans and aspirants may get to walk in the shoes that helped make the beauty queens’ dreams come true. Jojo Bragais, the brand, will throw a Christmas Clearance Sale where the items will be at their lowest prices ever.

Those interested in getting their own Bragais shoes may visit the flagship store on Scout Borromeo in Quezon City to catch the sale event from Dec. 11 to 17. Pageant titleholders are also expected to drop by to greet shoppers. /ra

Seventeen persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ilocos Norte received early Christmas gifts on Friday, as Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos led the distribution of hearing aids to the recipients in celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

The hearing aids, amounting to P40,000 each, were funded by the Presidential Action Center, according to provincial social welfare officer Rochelle Gajes in an interview.

Aside from the initial 17 recipients, Gajes reported that they are expecting over 30 more recipients in the next batch of distribution.

Before the distribution, hearing-impaired individuals in various parts of the province underwent general hearing tests, voice tests and ear measurements from professionals pooled together by the product supplier, Audibly Hearing Aid Center.

The hearing apparatus comes with a one-year supply of batteries.

To give the gift of hearing to those in need and empower them, the Ilocos Norte provincial government, through its Provincial Disability Affairs Office, has partnered with the Presidential Action Center to fund the project.

In her short speech, the governor thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for approving the request of PWDs with hearing impairment.

One of the recipients, 71-year-old Marino Guieb, a person with a hearing impairment and artificial legs from this city, also thanked the president and the provincial government for the hearing aid.

‘I thank the President for providing us with this hearing gadget. We thank him for this early Christmas gift for indigent PWDs,’ she said

The proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) will carry on investigating anomalies from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) should it be dissolved, according to Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III.

Sotto said this in an interview over DWIZ on Saturday after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla recently said that he believes the ICI only has about a month or two before the investigating body could turn over the work to his office.

According to Sotto, the IPC, which he filed last August, could continue the work of the ICI, saying that his proposed bill may be passed ‘in one or two months’ since it is already on the second reading.

The Senate president said the IPC has prosecutorial powers, including the power to issue subpoenas and the power to hold individuals in contempt.

He likewise noted that unlike the ICI – which is mandated to investigate solely infrastructure projects – his version of the IPC will probe any kind of anomaly in the country.

‘All the anomalies, the corruption, the anomalies in the NIA (National Irrigation Administration), in agriculture-all of that will be prosecuted. The IPC can investigate all of that,’ he said.

‘Maybe make it seven’

‘I would like to add that aside from the five, maybe we can make it seven so that one representative is from the DOJ (Department of Justice) and one representative is from the Ombudsman so that it can be done directly. Isn’t it good that after the investigation, the Ombudsman will no longer investigate? Because there already is one,’ Sotto pointed out.

Sotto said the qualification for the head of the IPC will also be a former chief justice, just like in the case of the ICI, which is currently headed by former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr.

When asked if the president will also be the one to appoint the members of the IPC, Sotto answered in the affirmative.

The ICI was created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Executive Order No. 94 in September this year.

The commission currently has powers limited to conducting hearings, taking testimonies, and receiving, gathering, and evaluating reports, evidence, and information before recommending the filing of charges to the Office of the Ombudsman.

ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka recently said the body would continue to fulfill its mandate until its work is completed or until it is ‘dissolved by the President (as) stated in the executive order that created the ICI.’

After its first three months of operations without a budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the commission’s P41-million budget this Friday.

The DBM’s issuance of the Notice of Cash Allocation, which allows the ICI to withdraw the funds from government-servicing banks, came after outgoing ICI commissioner Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson lamented that budgetary constraints became a reason why the fact-finding body could not fully do its mandate.

On Thursday, Singson, who resigned from the ICI due to health reasons, urged the Congress to pass a law that would strengthen and give the commission more authority to conduct a speedier investigation on infrastructure anomalies. /mr

Century Properties Group Inc. has laid out a major fundraising plan, which may inject the group with P12 billion in fresh capital.

In a disclosure on Friday, the firm said the planned registration of bonds with the Securities and Exchange Commission would have an initial offering of up to P5 billion. There is a principal amount of P3 billion and an oversubscription option of P2 billion.

This will consist of four-year Series D bonds and seven-year Series E bonds due in 2030 and 2033, respectively.

Century Properties hopes to raise the remaining P7 billion under a shelf registration, which it can pursue within a five-year period.

These bonds would be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

Aggressive expansion

Earlier this week, the firm said it was keeping up its aggressive expansion in Central Luzon, with the completion of one project and two more now underway at its 7.8-hectare Azure North Estate in Pampanga.

The company reported the completion of its P1.6-billion Barbados Tower, the eponymous estate’s third and final high-rise building.

Construction works for the other two developments-the Azure North Townvillas and the Mykonos Tower-have also started.

The group last November said its affordable housing unit had continued booking robust sales. This helped Century Properties to record a 17-percent increase in its profit in the first nine months of this year.

Century Properties said its earnings hit P2.1 billion, up from P1.8 billion in the same period last year.

Its consolidated revenues also climbed 14 percent to P12.31 billion from P10.79 billion a year ago.

‘By balancing PHirst and premium residential segments, we are able to sustain our growth in the first nine months of 2025 as it diversifies our revenue streams and expands our footprint across the nation’s key growth corridors,’ said Century Properties president and CEO Marco Antonio.

Antonio is expecting that ‘housing demand will remain resilient .’ INQ

Tropical Depression Wilma has remained almost stationary over the coastal waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar, with 19 areas in Luzon and Visayas still being placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1, the state weather bureau said Saturday afternoon.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that TCWS No. 1 remained over the following areas due to Wilma:

Luzon

Sorsogon

Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Romblon

The southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong)

The southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan)

The northernmost portion of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay) including Cuyo, Calamian, and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

The northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)

The northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands

The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)

The northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Hinigaran)

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique including Caluya Islands

According to Pagasa, Wilma maintained its strength, carrying a maximum sustained wind speed of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

The tropical depression is forecast to make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar this Saturday. It will continue to traverse the Visayas region until Sunday and will then emerge over the Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by Monday morning.

Wilma is likely to remain as a tropical depression throughout its passage over Visayas and Palawan, but there is an increasing likelihood of weakening into a remnant low-pressure area while traversing the area of Visayas due to dry intrusion from the northeast monsoon. /mr

E-wallet platform GCash has made it possible for motorists to conveniently pay their traffic violation fines. This is under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

For this purpose, the MMDA launched a new feature of the ‘May Huli Ka’ website. Also, the agency signed a memorandum of agreement with G-Xchange Inc. to enable motorists to pay their violation fines through the GCashplatform.

Edgardo Layug, head of GCash for Business, said that convenience fees were lowered to P7 from P12 to accommodate the government’s initiative. This goes along with the goal of providing accessible payment methods for those paying MMDA fines.

Motorists who will be paying fines through the e-wallet platform would wait one business day for the payment to go through.

Thus, through MMDA’s ‘May Huli Ka’ website, motorists can now view their violation records online and pay it with the partner fintech.

The agency particularly highlighted how it will ease transport network vehicle service (TNVS) operators, ride-hailing fleet managers, logistics companies and commercial vehicle operators.

‘With the new features made available in the May Huli Ka website, motorists can now check on their records anytime and anywhere as we continually improve on the system and make it more inclusive,’ MMDA chair Romando Artes said.

Jauro Castro of Angkas also welcomed this government initiative for the growing TNVS industry also operating on a digital means.

‘On behalf of Angkas, we thank the MMDA and GCash for the project meant to increase road discipline and this is a step forward to the right direction,’ Castro said. INQ

Inflation cooled to 1.5 percent in November after the continued decline in rice prices helped temper overall food costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.

The latest print is slower than the 1.7 percent clip recorded in October and landed within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 1.1 to 1.9 percent forecast range for November.

Further, it was better than the 1.6 percent median forecast of 10 economists polled by the Inquirer last week.

This brings the year-to-date average to 1.6 percent, still undershooting the central bank’s 2 to 4 percent target for the ninth straight month, once again fueling expectations of a rate cut on Dec. 11.

The BSP said the risks to the inflation outlook were ‘limited’, as supply-side pressures are expected to ease.

Low risk

‘Inflation expectations also remain well-anchored. Potential electricity rate adjustments and possible increases in tariffs on rice imports could add some upward pressures,’ the BSP said in a statement after the release of November inflation data.

‘Inflation is projected to average below the low-end of the target range in 2025, primarily due to the decline in rice prices in previous months,’ it added.

In a commentary, economists at Chinabank Research echoed the central bank’s view, barring any new shocks.

‘Hence, we think the BSP will likely deliver another 25-basis point cut at its meeting on Dec 11, with possible further reductions in 2026,’ they added.

Ruben Carlo Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, likewise said that the benign inflation environment provides the BSP with greater policy flexibility.

Contributors

The slowdown in November inflation was largely driven by easing food prices, with inflation for food and nonalcoholic beverages rising by only 0.1 percent and accounting for 85.3 percent of the downtrend.

This supports Asuncion’s earlier view that rice has remained ‘a powerful dampener on overall inflation.’

According to PSA Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia del Prado, rice prices-which account for nearly 9 percent of the consumer price basket-have been falling since January following tariff reductions, with the maximum suggested retail price dropping to P43 per kilogram from P58 at the start of the year.

Del Prado added that this drop will likely be seen in December as well.

Another factor in easing food costs was the sharp slowdown in vegetable inflation, which fell to 4 percent from 16.4 percent last month. Still, Del Prado noted that prices of some vegetables, such as beans and potatoes, rose due to late-season typhoons.

‘Stability is key’

Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., said the cooler inflation was a ‘welcome breather’ that gave households some relief.

Still, he warned that stability is still at risk, considering volatile global markets and risks of El Niño.

‘Let’s not celebrate too early.,’ he said. ‘Government should double down on food supply chain efficiency and invest in climate-resilient agriculture. Stability is key.’

In a statement, the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) said the government would intensify efforts to ensure price stability through programs such as the expansion of ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’, which provides affordable rice to vulnerable households.

But November’s inflation, following a subdued reading in the previous month, comes at a time when stability has been tenuous, as the government’s macroeconomic targets have been shaken by a raging flood control corruption scandal and a series of typhoons.

‘The sustained moderation in inflation reflects our commitment to protect consumers and strengthen our economic resilience against both global and domestic headwinds,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

‘We will continue implementing timely, well-coordinated policies to keep prices stable and ensure that progress is felt by every Filipino,’ he added.

The BSP, for its part, said the Monetary Board has noted that the outlook for domestic economic growth has weakened

‘This outlook reflects in part the impact on business confidence of governance concerns about public infrastructure spending as well as lingering uncertainty from the external environment,’ it said.

‘Going forward, the Monetary Board will continue to review newly available information and reassess the impact of prior monetary actions in light of evolving economic conditions and their implications for inflation and growth,’ it added. INQ

For Elizabeth Mortera – or Nanay Beth, as visitors of her modest roadside diner in Quezon City call her – the Michelin Guide citation is not merely a prestigious recognition. For her, it is a lifelong mark that adds more flavor to the dishes they serve their customers.

Nanay Beth said that since her Morning Sun Eatery received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in November for serving honest, soulful, and affordable Filipino fare, their income has doubled as customers have begun lining up for their Ilokano dishes.

‘Just from the line of customers, in less than two or three hours, our first dish is already sold out,’ Nanay Beth said in Filipino, as cited in the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) press release.

‘We increased the kilos and quantity of our dishes; from 15 kilos, we doubled it. Dinakdakan, dinuguan, barbecue, and pinakbet. this is our culture. So it’s heartwarming to accept that this is what people are looking for,’ she added in Filipino.

On Friday, the DOT held the Resto-Run Caravan, which made stops at 15 Michelin-recognized restaurants and food establishments in Metro Manila, including Gallery by Chele in Taguig City; Kasa Palma, Ramen Ron, Pilya’s Kitchen, Hapag, Aya, and Taupe Dining in Makati City; as well as Inato, Metiz, and Automat in Chino Roces. This followed the turnover of Michelin plaques to 53 awardees during a ceremony at Novotel Manila in Quezon City.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with the Michelin awardees, many of whom shared how the recognition has impacted their lives.

According to Chef Josh Boutwood, owner of Helm, which received the first two-star Michelin rating, the recognition made them ‘super hyped’ and excited to keep evolving as much as they can.

Meanwhile, Offbeat Bistro chefs Angelo Comsti and Don Baldosano, who received the Michelin Young Chef Award, said their Makati-based restaurant has begun drawing more foreign and local diners after the recognition.

For Underbelly co-owners and head chefs Jackson Chua and Noel Mauricio, the Michelin award boosted their business across their various establishments.

Manam operations manager Jen Manangan said the Michelin distinction was an honor for a Filipino restaurant like theirs, especially since it is their first time receiving the recognition.

Chef Jordy Navarra, owner and head chef of the one-star Toyo, expressed appreciation to the DOT for its support in ‘putting a life in what all of us do and also in a way how it ties in with the agriculture and hospitality.’

Frasco said the Michelin Guide’s arrival comes ‘at a moment when Filipino cuisine is gaining global attention.’

‘We continue with the celebration of the culinary excellence that pervades our nation, with the handing out of the Michelin Guide plaques that will be prominently displayed in each and every one of your establishments as a reminder and as a symbol of the sacrifice it has taken to be here – the work that all of you have done collectively to advance culinary tourism and gastronomy in the Philippines, as well as the hope of all that is to come,’ Frasco said. /jpv