Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Farmers, fisherfolk and agriculture stakeholders are angry. They are not stopping there and are taking decisive action. With the full support of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., they are getting results.

They have been joining the street protests against corruption. But their significant start in taking action started much earlier. It happened when the Senate was voting for the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement as early as 2022.

How could we open our doors to agricultural imports so freely when our farmers and fisherfolk were not yet prepared to compete against them? Our agricultural budget for our preparation was 2 percent of total as compared to Vietnam’s 6 percent and Thailand’s 4 percent. In addition, we needed other requirements before we agreed to freer trade.

The AgriFisheries Alliance (AFA) took this stand in the Senate. The AFA is composed of farmers and fisherfolk represented by Alyansa Agrikultura (AA), with president Arsenio Tanchuling), agribusiness represented by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), with president Danilo Fausto and science and academe represented by the Coalition of Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP) with Chair Emil Javier.

With agriculture’s 2-percent budget share and this small amount depleted by 30 percent due to corruption and waste, this had to be fixed first. AFA cited three independent studies that documented this 30 percent.

RCEP conditionalities

AFA argued that RCEP should be ratified only if there were documented conditionalities in the RCEP agreement that would enable us to compete globally. This was an adequate information system that would facilitate good planning, proper consolidation of small farms to achieve economies of scale, effective anti-smuggling measures for fair competition and, very importantly, private-sector monitoring and proper implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) budget. Thankfully, after much deliberation, the Senate included these conditionalities in the RCEP.

However, the actual success is that the private sector budget monitoring and implementation did not happen until Tiu Laurel took over on Nov. 3, 2023. At a PCAFI meeting early in 2025, an Alyansa Agrikultura representative angrily complained about the 30 percent corruption and waste in the regions and asked for DA action. Tiu Laurel then asked him to co-lead with a DA official an investigation into this and recommend a solution.

The main investigation finding was that DA grants were being given without proper processes. The obvious solution was a required checklist (done by banks but not done by the DA) that had to be followed before any grant was given. There are six requirements. The three most important ones are identified here.

Three reasons

First, since grants were given even when farmers did not need them, a needs analysis was required. Second, since they were given to beneficiaries without the proper preparedness, a track record had to be shown.

And third, because no independent private sector person could monitor what was being given out, the elected private sector chair of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council should be a witness for transparency and accountability.

The DA regional executive directors who did not comply with these requirements would be severely penalized. So far, three regional executive directors have already been relieved of their posts. This is noteworthy, since no one has been penalized for this gross misuse of funds for the past many years.

The chart here shows partial results of this compliance, with letters instead of Region numbers listed until all the results are responsibly verified. This Table is updated monthly.

There can be no satisfactory delivery without the corresponding discipline. Tiu Laurel has shown his commitment against corruption and waste. He has ordered investigations and the corresponding disciplinary action on one undersecretary, three assistant secretaries, 10 directors, and 33 staff members. He identified a large previously approved project and called it a scam in a Senate hearing.

With Tiu Laurel’s commitment to fighting waste and corruption, the farmers, fisherfolk and agriculture stakeholders look forward to the action and results Tiu Laurel will soon be delivering. INQ

Cybersecurity firm Fortinet warned businesses and consumers to brace for a potential spike in cyberattacks during the holiday season. This, as increased spending and remittances could create more opportunities for online fraud.

Bambi Escalante, Fortinet’s country manager for the Philippines, said Filipinos are especially vulnerable to this due to the expected rise in overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances and their long Christmas celebrations.

‘In the holiday season, that’s when there would be a lot of financial transactions that don’t ordinarily happen the rest of the year, such as remittances from our OFWs, us buying gifts, online purchases, online transactions,’ Escalante said in a year-end briefing in Makati.

‘Now that the holidays are here, I’m sure there will be a resurgence of online scams again,’ she added.

Escalante added that work stoppages over the holidays could also leave businesses exposed to cyberattacks.

‘People take vacations, or there are network freezes, and nobody’s manning the data center or the network or looking at what’s happening, then the cyber criminals can just attack any industry,’ she warned. Cybercrime as an industry

As technology advances, cybercrimes are also growing more sophisticated and specialized, said Jonas Walker, the director of threat intelligence for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at Fortinet.

Walker noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is lowering the barrier for launching attacks. The technology even prompts malicious actors to develop their own AI models.

Fortinet predicts that by 2026, cybercrime will have evolved into an organized industry comparable in scale to global sectors.

‘The findings clearly show that cybercrime is no longer an opportunistic activity, it is an industrialized system operating at machine speed. As automation, specialization, and AI redefine every stage of the attack lifecycle,’ Walker said.

‘Cybersecurity has become a race of systems, not individuals, and organizations will need integrated intelligence, continuous validation, and real-time response to stay ahead of adversaries who measure success by throughput, not novelty,’ he added. INQ

Brazil and Portugal will dispute the right to become the inaugural winner of the Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup after taking down their rivals in Friday’s semifinals at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Two goals inside the first minute allowed Brazil to take down Spain, 4-1, in a battle between the top two countries in the Fifa rankings while Portugal racked up six goals in the first half on its way to beating Argentina, 7-1.

The final is set Sunday at the same venue to conclude the 16-day competition which the Philippines is hosting.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. after Spain and Argentina meet in a consolation match for third place at 5 p.m.

Ana Luiza and Amandinha put Brazil ahead just 61 seconds into the contest before Debora Vanin made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half.

Spain pulled one back seconds later behind Ale de Paz, but Luana Rodrigues added another for Brazil with eight minutes to go in the match.

Lidia Moreira and Fifo each had a brace for Portugal as it raced to a 6-0 lead at halftime before Ines Matos scored one early in the second half.

Mailen Romero scored for Argentina with less two minutes before the buzzer to avert a shutout.

Letran returned to the NCAA Finals after squeaking past Perpetual Help, 74-70, in Game 2 of their NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Final Four series at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

The Knights reached the championship round for the first time since 2022, when they completed a rare three-peat.

Since then, Letran hasn’t tasted a Final Four appearance. That was, until Friday when they swept the Altas in their best-of-three semifinals series.

‘I just kept my faith in the Lord that we’re going make stops and have good execution,’ said Letran coach Allen Ricardo.

‘The team is blessed that we’re in the championship now and we’ll work on it more.’

The Knights trailed by as many as 13 points before setting up a cardiac finish.

Staring at a six-point deficit, Letran went on an 8-0 surge capped by Jimbo Estrada’s corner triple for a 72-70 lead with 1:41 remaining.

Jun Roque sank two free throws to ice the game with only six ticks to go, atoning for his missed freebies the play before.

Jonathan Manalili powered Letran anew with a double-double of 16 points and 14 assists. Estrada added 11 points.

Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz provided the offense for the Altas with 17 and 15 points, respectively, but to no avail. John Abis’ double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds also went down the drain.

Letran will face the winner of the other semifinals matchup featuring San Beda and College of St. Benilde.

The Blazers sent their series to a deciding Game 3 on Ian Torres’ buzzer-beating floater earlier.

The scores:

LETRAN 74 – Manalili 16, Estrada 11, Roque 9, Cuajao 9, Omega 7, Buensalida 7, Santos 6, Gammad 5, Tapenio 4, Montecillo 0

PERPETUAL HELP 70 – Sleat 17, Gojo Cruz 15, Abis 10, Orgo 7, Nuñez 6, Boral 5, Tulabut 3, Alcantara 3, Casinilio 2, Maglupay 2

Quarter scores: 18-15, 39-42, 54-64, 74-70

An activist fishers’ group on Friday accused traders of driving up the price of galunggong (round scad) by exploiting the annual closed fishing season now in force in the Visayan Sea and other parts of the country.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said the ban, intended as a conservation measure, is creating conditions that allow speculative pricing, leaving both small-scale fishers and consumers struggling with soaring market costs.

The group issued the warning as galunggong prices hit what it described as an ‘all-time high’ of P300 to P320 per kilogram, echoing concerns raised in recent weeks by local fishers in Panay and Batangas over the economic strain of the seasonal closure.

‘Ito ang laging babala ng mga mangingisda sa tuwing magkakaroon ng closed fishing season-ang epekto sa supply at pagsirit ng presyo ng isda sa palengke,’PAMALAKAYA vice chair Ronnel Arambulo said.

(This is the constant warning of fishers whenever a closed fishing season is implemented-its impact on supply and the surge in fish prices in the market.)

‘Kadalasang inaabangan ng mga trader ang closed season para itaas sa di-makatuwirang presyo ang isda, partikular ang galunggong. Kaya bukod sa epekto sa mga mangingisda, apektado rin ang mga ordinaryong mamimili,’ he added.

(Traders often wait for the closed season to raise fish prices to unreasonable levels, especially galunggong. So aside from the impact on fishers, ordinary consumers are also affected.)

‘Hunger for three months’

PAMALAKAYA earlier questioned the three-month prohibition, saying it effectively shuts down traditional municipal fishing grounds where small-scale fishers operate. The group stated that local fishers have limited recourse, as larger commercial operators can easily relocate farther offshore.

‘Karaniwang maliliit na mangingisda ang nagdudusa sa closed fishing season dahil ipinapatupad ito sa loob ng municipal waters,’ Arambulo said. ‘Samantala, ang mga commercial fishing ay makakapagpatuloy ng operasyon sa malalayong lugar dahil sa mas abante nilang kagamitan.’

(It is usually small-scale fishers who suffer during the closed fishing season because it is enforced within municipal waters. Meanwhile, commercial fishing vessels can continue operating in distant areas because of their more advanced equipment.)

‘Hindi rin sapat ang ayudang nakalaan para sa mga apektado kaya gutom ang sinasapit ng mga mangingisda at kanilang pamilya sa loob ng tatlong buwan,’ he continued.

(The assistance allotted for those affected is also insufficient, which is why fishers and their families end up going hungry during the three-month period.)

In Panay Island, the ban affects around 66,000 fisherfolk in Iloilo and 24,000 in Capiz, according to PAMALAKAYA. In Batangas, about 15,000 fisherfolk from nine coastal towns are ‘reeling’ from the separate two-month closure that began on Dec. 1.

Why the ban exists

The annual closed season in the Visayan Sea is mandated by Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3, which prohibits catching, selling, or possessing mature sardines, herrings, and mackerel from November 15 to February 15 in a defined area spanning Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental, and northern Iloilo waters.

The measure aims to protect spawning fish stocks-but municipal fishers insist the government has failed to pair conservation rules with adequate livelihood assistance.

Prices already surging

The group’s statement comes as the Department of Agriculture (DA) cites tight domestic and global supply as the reason for the higher prices of galunggong, which have been worsened by typhoons that disrupted fishing and delayed import arrivals.

DA monitoring earlier showed:

Local galunggong: P300-P400/kg

Imported galunggong: P280-P350/kg

Other fish prices, such as mackerel (alumahan), have also risen to P300-P450/kg, prompting Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to advise consumers this week to temporarily shift to cheaper alternatives like chicken, milkfish, or tilapia.

‘We should not expect (galunggong) prices to go down because there is no supply worldwide. I did my own research, it’s really true,’ the agriculture chief said in an interview on Wednesday.

‘It’s a supply and demand thing. If local supply is really limited, prices will definitely increase. I’m not saying it will go down. I’m just being honest about it,’ he said.

Call for support

PAMALAKAYA reiterated its appeal for the government to provide sufficient financial and food assistance to municipal fishers during the ban, warning that many families will face months of lost income.

The group also urged authorities to guard against price manipulation during the closed season, stating that speculative pricing has historically preceded importation-a move that fishers say undermines their local catch and exacerbates their economic vulnerability.

It seemed like an open-and-shut case: Sen. Francis himself admitted to receiving in 2022 a P30-million campaign donation from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., one of the 15 contractors named by President Marcos Jr. as having cornered government contracts for infrastructure projects.

A group of civilians filed a case against Escudero for possibly violating the Omnibus Election Code, which bans campaign contributions from ‘natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities with goods or services or to perform construction or other works.’

While Lubiano had insisted that his company has no existing contract with the government, data from the Department of Public Works and Highways showed otherwise. Centerways, it said, won over 300 government contracts from 2016 up to this year.

But people’s expectation that the senator’s case would prosper and that we’d finally see a high-ranking official held accountable for flouting the law, quickly turned to dismay, disappointment, and disgust when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last week decided to terminate its investigation. Lubiano, it argued, made the donation in a ‘personal capacity’ and not as president of Centerways.

Corporate jargon and legalese

It didn’t help that the Comelec’s political finance and affairs department (PFAD) couched its decision in corporate jargon and legalese that tend to alienate ordinary folk already suspicious of complex judicial processes: Centerways has a legal personality that is ‘separate and distinct from that of its stockholders and officers,’ the PFAD said. Lubiano, while serving as its president, retained a ‘separate legal personality’ when he made the donation, it added.

The ruling may be legally sound, but it obscured what common sense found more logical: Lubiano might have donated P30 million in his ‘personal capacity,’ but it was his company that reaped the rewards. Being president of Centerways definitely carries clout and personal representation. Would the government have assigned projects to individuals without a company and its logistics to see them through?

A review of the nearly 10,000 flood control projects handled by this Sorsogon-based company, established in 2009, shows that it bagged 85 projects from 2022 to 2025, worth P5.4 billion. The majority are in Sorsogon, where Escudero served as governor from 2019 to 2022, and previously to that, as congressman.

Flexible interpretation

While Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay has explained that since the PFAD recommendation was not adversarial so there was no need to elevate the matter to the Comelec en banc, the ruling should have been reviewed by the body, given its serious implications.

Comelec’s flexible interpretation of the election code has undermined people’s trust in institutions, especially one mandated to decide who holds seats in government and decides the country’s future. With legal technicalities and loopholes allowed to circumvent the spirit of the law, what’s the point of imposing rules at all?

Is the Escudero case a prelude to how the election body would handle Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s case? Would he manage to slip through a loophole as well?

Marcoleta, who declared a net worth of P51.96 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth as of June 30, has refused to reveal the sources of his P112 million election war chest. Saying that his donor friends had requested secrecy, the neophyte senator wrote ‘zero’ in his statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) in violation of the Omnibus Election Code that requires full disclosure of such information.

Highly placed officials

Not that the piffling fines associated with this election offense would discourage would-be offenders. Candidates who file inaccurate reports routinely get away with fines of P1,000 to P30,000 for the first offense, and suffer no consequences for subsequent violations. In 2016, some 95 politicians who failed to file their Soces were reportedly able to run for public office despite the disqualification clause meant as a sanction.

Escudero’s and Marcoleta’s cases are a decisive test of Comelec’s independence, integrity, and spine. An investigative report also showed that President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte also received campaign donations from contractors.

Would the Comelec have the gumption to apply its rules equally to offenders, no matter their post, instead of allowing highly placed officials to toy with the process without public scrutiny? The poll body must uphold transparency, especially in its dealings with those in power if only to show how serious it is in enforcing laws meant to even the playing field.

For a start, can it apply the election code as well to the country’s top officials who have similarly received campaign contributions from government contractors?

Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) has obtained a P3.975-billion loan from Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to support its ongoing expansion in the renewable energy sector.

The loan will partly finance the P5.7-billion, 113-megawatt (MW)-peak Citicore Solar Pangasinan 2 project in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

The agreement was signed on Dec. 3 by senior executives from both companies, including CREC chair Edgar Saavedra, CREC president and chief executive officer Oliver Tan and BPI institutional banking head Luis Cruz.

‘The success of our goals goes hand in hand with the trust and confidence of those who choose to partner with us,’ Tan said.

‘With BPI partnering with us through this project finance agreement, we strengthen our ability to deliver on our commitments and continue championing renewable energy in the country,’ he said.

CREC said the loan will help ensure the timely delivery of the solar project. The Department of Energy (DOE) tagged it as an Energy Project of National Significance, a designation that fast-tracks permitting and regulatory processes.

BPI’s Cruz said the financing supports the bank’s push to fund ‘projects that drive sustainable progress.’ He added that the deal enables investments that deliver clean energy and create a ‘lasting positive impact for the communities.’

Pipeline

Citicore Solar Pangasinan 2 is part of CREC’s pipeline under its goal to roll out 5,000 MW of renewable capacity within five years.

The facility is one of three CREC developments in the province. The two others are the Citicore Solar Pangasinan project in Sta. Barbara and Citicore Wind Pangasinan project, which is in early development.

All three projects were awarded under the DOE’s Green Energy Auction Program 2 in 2023, which secured 20-year government offtake contracts for CREC.

BPI Capital Corp. serves as the sole lead arranger of the transaction.

BPI president Lester Ong said the bank’s role reflects its confidence in CREC’s long-term strategy. He noted that accelerating projects of this scale contributes to meeting the renewable energy targets outlined in the Philippine Energy Plan

Converge secured a place in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup after waxing hot in the second half to beat Magnolia, 114-97, on Friday at Ynares Center here.

Juan Gomez de Liano fired 27 points, Alec Stockton scored 23 while Justine Baltazar had 19 points and 17 rebounds as the FiberXers improved to 6-2 in the first game of the league’s resumption following the Fiba break.

Not only did Converge assure itself a place in the top eight, it also forged a three-way tie for the lead with Rain or Shine, its next opponent on Sunday, and NLEX.

The FiberXers, however, saw Justin Arana go down with an apparent sprained ankle while Baltazar was able to return despite cramping up in the fourth quarter.

Magnolia fell to 5-3 after squandering an eight-point lead at halftime, 40-32.

Gomez de Liano sparked the rally with two threes, at the expense of his older brother Javi in their first PBA matchup.

Zavier Lucero scored a career-high 31 points, but the Hotshots went down in defeat.

Magnolia looks to bounce back on Sunday against NLEX at Ynares Center Montalban in Rodriguez

Nearly 600 workplace accidents-14 of them fatal-were recorded across the Cordillera in 2023, although more than 80 percent of upland firms were better prepared after enforcing occupational safety protocols, according to the latest labor health survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which was disclosed on Wednesday.

A total of 585 accidents were recorded in 70 establishments with at least 10 employees, said Aldrin Federico Bahit Jr., PSA chief statistician for the Cordillera, as he discussed results of the 2023-2024 Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment and the 2024 Occupational Wages Survey recently completed by the agency.

Details specific to the Cordillera were not released during the briefing because PSA was still processing the data for regional and provincial policymakers, the Inquirer was told. For the national tally, however, the industries with the highest occupational injuries were manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and accommodation and food services, Bahit said.

He said the average number of workdays lost ‘for each case of occupational injury resulting in temporary incapacity’ was roughly eight days (7.3) in the Cordillera, higher than the national average of six days (5.56).

He also reported that the region accounted for 1.8 percent (1,369 cases) of the country’s 76,052 occupational diseases in 2023-ailments attributed to workplace exposure to chemicals and other harmful substances Health complaints

The top health complaints of Cordillera workers included back pain (530 cases or 39.1 percent), deafness (380 or 28 percent), and occupational dermatitis linked to chemical exposure (225 or 16.6 percent), Bahit said. No information was provided on the types of industry in which these conditions were most prevalent.

The survey showed that 1,241 establishments-85.7 percent of Cordillera companies surveyed-‘conducted preventive and control measures or activities,’ such as hiring or assigning safety officers, installing safety protocol signage in accessible areas, and regularly maintaining equipment, Bahit said.

It also found that 1,204 firms (83.1 percent) ‘implemented occupational safety and health policies and programs,’ with 935 designating safety and health personnel.

As of 2024, Cordillera firms with at least 10 employees collectively employed 96,409 workers, or 1.1 percent of the national workforce of 6.14 million.

The survey also noted an average monthly basic pay and allowance of P17,000 for a labor force composed of 97.1 percent young workers age 15-30 (25,798 workers) and 2.9 percent elderly workers age 60-65 (784 workers).

Nationwide, industries such as mining, energy, and agriculture recorded the lowest compliance rates with occupational health and safety standards in 2023.

Safer operations

At this year’s Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference held in Baguio last month, mining leaders called for a shift toward technologies that make operations safer and more efficient.

Members of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, for example, collaborated with the Swedish government to help develop ‘smart mines.’

During a business forum on Nov. 18, Luciano Benitez, senior project manager and Asia-Pacific mining leader of Business Sweden, signed a memorandum of understanding with Luis Sarmiento, Apex Mining Co. president, to transform the gold producer into a model of digital mining technology that other firms could adopt.

Business Sweden-a state-owned agency promoting access to Swedish technologies-will design automation systems and equipment suited to Philippine mining conditions, including underground tracking systems ‘to make sure miners are healthy,’ Benitez said.

Sarmiento added that the safety and technological output of this partnership would also support new mines planning to build renewable energy facilities to power their digital operations.

Jonathan Manalili’s playmaking has been key in Letran’s march back to the NCAA Finals.

Manalili was at it again on Friday, recording a double-double to the Knights to a 74-70 Game 2 win over Perpetual Help in Game 2 of their NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Final Four series.

A stat line of 16 points and 14 assists is a rare feat for most players, but for Manalili, it’s just another day in the office.

He has coach Allen Ricardo and the rest of the Letran coaching staff to thank for his consistent showing.

‘My coaches really help me during viewing,’ Manalili said. ‘They’re (Altas) always packed in the paint. Earlier, my pass to Jimboy (Estrada) in the corner, I studied that.’

The Altas led by just a point, 70-69, before Manalili drove the lane full of Altas defenders and swung the rock to the corner for Estrada’s go-ahead triple that put the Knights up for good, 72-70, with 1:41 to go in the game.

Manalili could have reveled in another highlight-filled performance but that’s not how the rookie is programmed. Instead, he’s looking for more ways to find the open man for the Knights.

‘I still make a lot of mistakes. I kept dropping the ball in the paint even though there were lots of defenders inside. I practice my passes in training and I work really hard on them and I’m thankful that it materialized.’

Manalili has been stellar all season long and he has no plans of slowing down as Letran faces either San Beda or College of St. Benilde in the Finals.

‘We’re not finished yet. We’ll keep working on ourselves and myself,’ he said. ‘I need to bulk up more. Whether we face Beda or Benilde, they’re both tough,’ Manalili added.