Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Tropical Depression Wilma is now forecast to make landfall over Eastern Visayas on Saturday, Dec. 6, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) latest update.

In its 8 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, Pagasa said Wilma was last seen 170 kilometers (km) east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

‘On the forecast track, the center of Wilma may make its initial landfall over Eastern Visayas tomorrow. Afterwards, it will continue to traverse Visayas until Sunday,’ Pagasa explained.

‘Wilma is forecast to move west southwestward until [Saturday] before turning generally westward for the remaining forecast period,’ it noted.

The tropical depression was moving westward slowly while packing maximum sustained winds of up to 45 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 55 kph.

As Wilma approaches the country’s landmass, Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over the following areas:

The southern portion of Sorsogon (Matnog, Bulan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Bulusan, Barcelona, Magallanes, Juban, Casiguran, Gubat)

mainland Masbate including Ticao Island

the eastern portion of Romblon (San Fernando, Cajidiocan, Magdiwang)

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands

Bohol

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, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan, City of Kabankalan)

Siquijor

the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (City of Guihulngan, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Pamplona, City of Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Sibulan, Bacong, Mabinay)

Guimaras

the northern and central portion Iloilo (San Dionisio, Estancia, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Ajuy, Sara, Balasan, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, City of Passi, San Enrique, Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Mina, Pototan, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Iloilo City, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Dueñas, Bingawan, Lambunao, Calinog, Janiuay, Badiangan, Cabatuan, Maasin, Alimodian, San Miguel, Oton)

Capiz

the eastern portion of Aklan (Altavas, Batan, New Washington, Kalibo, Banga, Balete, Libacao, Madalag)

Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Dinagat Islands

the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza)

the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes)

Camiguin

TCWS No. 1 warns of strong winds between 39 and 61 kilometers per hour (kph) in the next 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threat to life and property

Malacañang on Friday said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has already received its P41 million budget for 2025.

At a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked if the fund is now in the hands of the super body after Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson tendered his resignation as one of its commissioners due to lack of budget and intense, stressful work.

‘Yes, it’s with them,’ she said in Filipino.

Castro also responded to Baguio City Mayor and former ICI Adviser Benjamin Magalong’s statement that the P30,000 he spent for the group has not yet been refunded.

‘Regarding what he said that he still has something missing, we have already requested-since the funds are already there-that whatever shortages or remaining amounts that need to be paid to those who should receive them, should be paid immediately,’ the Palace official said, speaking Filipino.

‘And the President has not been lacking, because everything that the ICI needs-every form of assistance that can come from the President-is being provided. And regarding who else might resign, perhaps it’s better if you ask him. He is the one who gave the information,’ she added in Filipino.

No choice but to let go

Meanwhile, Castro said that Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon initially tried to convince Singson not to leave the ICI.

‘At dahil nga muli, may concern po si Secretary Babes, iginagalang po iyan ng ating Pangulo at nagpapasalamat po tayo sa napakagaling pong serbisyo po ni Sec. Babes Singson,’ Castro said.(And once again, since Secretary Babes has a concern, the President respects that, and we express our gratitude for the excellent service of Sec. Babes Singson.)

Singson’s resignation is effective Dec. 15 but ‘could be extended’ until Dec. 31. Born on Sept. 16, 1948, Singson is 77 years old

Several villages in Libjo in the province of Dinagat Islands were cut off from the rest of the town after a culvert bridge in Barangay Doña Helen has become impassable after it was severely damaged by flooding due to rains brought by Tropical Depression Wilma.

A report from the Dinagat Islands Public Information Office said the structure gave way after water levels in the nearby creek rapidly rose due to heavy rainfall.

The strong current and sustained downpour weakened the bridge, forcing authorities to temporarily close the road that serves as a key link between several barangays.

The Libjo local government unit, through its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and partner agencies, has conducted an on-site assessment to determine the extent of the damage and identify the necessary measures for repair.

Officials have also prioritized the safety of residents, warning the public to avoid the area to prevent accidents.

Coordination is ongoing with barangay leaders to ensure alternative routes are available and that assistance can be provided to affected communities while repair work is pending.

The local government said it continues to closely monitor the situation and will release further updates as developments unfold

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the Internal Affairs Service to conduct a separate investigation into an alleged P14 million robbery by five police officers in Pampanga.

Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO 3) relieved the officers last Tuesday while its own investigation was ongoing, after members of Angeles City Police Station 2 reported them through an unsigned letter.

In a statement on Friday, Nartatez said he tasked the PNP Internal Affairs Service to conduct a parallel investigation into the alleged robbery.

‘There will be an investigation, and I want this done as soon as possible,’ Nartatez said.

‘If the investigation finds them liable, I assure our fellow citizens that all of them will not only be dismissed from the service but will also go straight to jail,’ he added.

The alleged robbery occurred on Nov. 25 at the victim’s home in Barangay Santa Cruz, Porac, Pampanga. The victim, her family, and her guests were reportedly forced into a comfort room while the officers took the cash.

PRO 3 Director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. told reporters in a phone interview on Friday that the regional police will file criminal and administrative cases against the officers allegedly involved.

The officers implicated include a police major, a police corporal, and two police staff sergeants assigned to Angeles City Police Station 2, as well as another police corporal assigned to the Zambales Provincial Police Office.

The Macau Black Bears have expressed interest to take part in not just one but two conferences of the PBA’s 50th season.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said Lukas Peng, who serves as the team’s president of basketball operations, reached out to him about the possibility of playing in the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup.

Marcial added that Macau may also take part in the planned mini-tournament that will be held during next year’s Nagoya Asian Games where several PBA players are expected to banner Gilas Pilipinas’ defense of the gold.

‘It will be up for discussion within the board to see what the arrangements are in the event they agree to join us for the second conference, the mini-tournament and the third conference,’ Marcial said during Friday’s Philippine Cup playdate at Ynares Center here.

The PBA had previously invited two Hong Kong-based outfits in the Bay Area Dragons during the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup and Eastern Sports Club in last year’s edition of the same conference.

Bay Area lost to Barangay Ginebra in the Finals while Eastern was booted out by eventual champion TNT in the quarterfinals.

Macau currently plays in the East Asia Super League, but will likely comply with PBA regulations in terms of roster composition and requirements on imports.

The Black Bears are no strangers to playing PBA teams, particularly the Meralco Bolts who they have faced in the last two seasons of the EASL. The two teams are actually going to face off on Saturday in Ilagan, Isabela

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.