Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday (Aug. 26) turned over three fire trucks to the Batangas provincial government to boost its fire response and emergency preparedness.

‘The new vehicles will serve as additional assets in strengthening fire response and emergency preparedness in the province,’ the provincial government’s Public Information Office (PIO) said in a Thursday report (Aug. 27).

Governor Vilma Santos-Recto personally received the fire trucks during a turnover ceremony at the provincial capitol compound in Batangas City.

Santos-Recto said the additional fire trucks would help ensure faster and more efficient responses to fires and other emergencies in local communities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ramped up its peacebuilding and economic initiatives through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program, distributing millions in livelihood seed capital and launching cultural preservation efforts across multiple provinces.

The formal launching ceremony took place on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Folk Arts Theatre, Kaamulan Grounds here, bringing together local government units (LGUs), Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities, and people’s organizations (POs).

The ceremony featured the inauguration of the Pamana LGU-Led Indigenous Peoples’ Sacred Rituals and Cultural Rites and the ceremonial check turnover to local POs.

Miramel Garcia-Laxa, DSWD Central Office National Program Management director, said the Pamana program highlighted a whole-of-government approach aimed at reaching vulnerable sectors in conflict-vulnerable areas, safeguarding cultural heritage, and promoting inclusive, sustainable development.

As part of the rollout, the DSWD awarded P10.2 million in seed capital for Bukidnon’s PO based in the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia, and in the towns of Pangantucan, Impasugong, Kibawe, San Fernando, and Baungon.

In this city, nine POs each received P300,000 for livelihood venture such as corn farming.

An additional P300,000 will follow once project growth is verified.

Prior to disbursement, these groups underwent rigorous social preparation and capacity-building on financial management and project administration alongside partner agencies like Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

For Misamis Oriental, P5.1 million in seed capital has been turned over to 17 POs spanning five municipalities and two cities.

In Misamis Occidental, P3.6 million has been slated for distribution to 12 POs this September.

Several POs in Lanao del Sur are also slated to each receive P300,000 to assist their identified projects

Through these synchronized financial interventions and cultural initiatives, the DSWD-Pamana program continues to solidify community resilience, ensuring that marginalized and conflict-affected sectors achieve long-term economic independence while preserving their ancestral traditions, Garcia-Laxa said.

Pierre Abellana may not always get the spotlight, but Farm Fresh knows the value of having a reliable service specialist who can deliver when called upon.

Abellana has embraced that role for the Foxies over the past three years, providing steady defense and timely serves whenever she enters the court.

In Farm Fresh’s final PVL on Tour game, Abellana nailed two aces on top of her steady floor defense as they eked out a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-12, 15-10 win over Capital1 on Saturday at the Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental.

Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara brought Abellana and hometown player Maicah Larroza in the postgame interview to praise his unheralded duo alongside Ara Galang and Ces Molina.

Tsuzurabara has been impressed by the University of Santo Tomas product’s consistency.

‘Pierre had her best performance. Her progress has been great,’ said Tsuzurabara.

Abellana, the 16th overall pick of Farm Fresh in the inaugural Rookie Draft in 2024, was honored by the praise from her coach, saying it reflected the work she has put in since earning her place in the professional ranks.

‘I really want to thank coach Koji because he rarely gives compliments,’ Abellana said in Filipino. ‘He’s not really the type to give praise, but he rewards you when he sees that you’re working hard.’

‘I know I worked hard for this, and I don’t want to discredit myself either. I’m really thankful to coach for the opportunity.’

Ahead of the Invitationals, where they will face the Jaja Santiago-Minowa-led Creamline, defending champion PLDT, Nxled, and guest teams EST Cola from Thailand and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, Abellana hopes to continue thriving in her role.

‘I’m really happy because it’s not an easy role, but I’ve still been given playing time,’ she said. ‘That has been a big factor in building my confidence, and I’ve learned a lot from this role, especially about how to regain my confidence.’

Farm Fresh opens its campaign against EST Cola on Monday next week at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The top two teams in the round-robin format will clash in a winner-take-all final.

La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong City switched to online synchronous classes on Thursday, August 27, following a ‘security concern.’

In an advisory posted on Wednesday night, the La Salle Green Hills administration said, ‘All classes from Preschool to Grade 12, including IB (International Baccalaureate) and Alternative Education, will be conducted online synchronously tomorrow as a precautionary measure.’

It noted that it received a ‘security concern’ on Wednesday night, but it did not expound.

‘The school administration has already identified the source,’ La Salle Greenhills said.

‘However, given the late hour, a thorough safety protocol and onsite investigation cannot be properly completed before school starts tomorrow (Thursday) morning,’ it added.

‘In light of this, and in deep respect, empathy, and solidarity regarding the recent heartbreaking incidents in the news, we refuse to leave our campus vulnerable or take any security risks with our students’ safety,’ it further explained.

The school administration added that classes on Friday, August 28, will be held asynchronously online as previously scheduled.

On Wednesday, San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City likewise suspended face-to-face classes due to an ‘unverified safety concern.’

Later on Wednesday, the Southern Police District (SPD) said the San Beda Alabang campus had been declared cleared and safe following a security sweep

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic on Thursday continued condemning and disposing of 10 containers of abandoned cigarettes valued at about P413 million, following the destruction of the first three containers worth P129.065 million at the end of July.

The first batch, consisting of three 40-foot containers containing about 3,000 cases of assorted-brand cigarettes, was destroyed from July 28 to Aug. 3 at the Legaxy 88 Recyclable Materials Collection Services in Santa Maria, Bulacan, an accredited disposal facility of the Port of Subic.

The cigarettes underwent shredding and pyrolysis, or the use of intense heat to break down molecules in accordance with established customs disposal procedures, the BOC said in an August 25 statement.

The agency then disposed of the remaining seven containers.

The agency said it coordinated with the appropriate committees and accredited disposal facilities to ensure the abandoned goods are properly accounted for, rendered unusable, and disposed of in accordance with the law.

About 3,000 cases of assorted-brand cigarettes from three 40-foot containers are destroyed through shredding and pyrolysis as part of the BOC Port of Subic’s continuing disposal of abandoned goods (Photos courtesy of BOC Port of Subic)

The latest operation came weeks after the BOC Port of Subic oversaw the destruction of about P430 million worth of cigarettes in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Police seized the shipment in separate operations and later declared the items abandoned before destroying them.

The Port of Subic said the continuing disposal is part of its ‘efforts to safeguard government revenue, secure the country’s borders and promote transparency and accountability in customs operations

Justin de Dios of SB19 recalled being treated disrespectfully by a Filipino airport employee in Los Angeles while the group was traveling to the US for their historic Lollapalooza performance.

De Dios shared the encounter in SB19’s latest YouTube vlog, recalling how the incident happened after the group arrived in Los Angeles and was waiting for their luggage.

According to de Dios, an elderly Filipino woman approached the group’s manager, Leah, to ask for a photo. Leah politely asked if they could take the picture later, once the members had collected their luggage and were ready to leave the airport.

‘Siyempre, as manager, lumapit siya. Parang sabi ni Ate Leah, ‘Ay, okay lang po ba mamaya na lang po pagka-settle?’ So, meaning pag pagka-settle, pag nakuha na lahat ng luggage before we go, pa-picture kami with Nanay,’ he recalled.

De Dios said the elderly woman understood Leah’s request and eventually took photos with the other SB19 members, including him, when they were available.

However, a Filipino airport employee allegedly overheard Leah’s earlier conversation and approached the manager after the elderly woman had left.

‘Tapos nung umalis na si Nanay, may lumapit na nagta-trabaho sa airport. Parang narinig niya ata na sabi ni Ate Leah na mamaya na, later na lang po magpa-picture. Kasi nakapagpa-picture naman na si Nanay,’ he recalled.

De Dios said the employee asked Leah for her name before telling her, ‘Suplada ka, ah.’ The remark upset the singer, who said Leah had spoken politely and was not even directly addressing the employee.

‘Maayos naman ‘yung pagkakasabi nung manager namin, tapos hindi naman siya ‘yung kausap. Na-overheard lang… hindi naman technically pinipigilan, nakapagpa-picture na nga eh,’ he said.

De Dios said the employee continued making negative remarks about Leah and SB19, while also talking about his previous encounters with celebrities and showing photos of himself with famous personalities.

‘Ang dami niya nang sinabi bigla. Like sabi niya, ‘Di pa nga sikat, ‘di na nagpapa-picture. ‘Pag nasa harap na ng camera, doon kakaway-kaway. Pero mga suplado naman,” he recalled.

‘Tapos parang sinabi niya pa na Filipino mentality daw. Basta ang dami niyang sinabing mga offensive… disrespectful na bagay, [kahit na] nagta-trabaho ka doon. And wala namang ginawang mali or masama ‘yung tao,’ he added.

De Dios said he chose to listen to the rude remarks so he would know what to say if ever he decided to confront the employee.

‘But the thing is… parang ang hirap lang gumalaw kasi parang siyempre delikado and all, pero talagang as in super disrespectful,’ he continued.

While he, the other SB19 members and Leah decided not to engage further with the employee, de Dios remarked that the incident was particularly disappointing because it involved a fellow Filipino.

‘Sa mga past tours naman namin, hindi naman ganon ‘yung na-experience namin. Pero like sa Filipino pa namin mae-experience ‘yung ganon. Tapos parang, it’s very normal sa kanila. Tapos parang kami pa ‘yung mali,’ he said.

‘Grabe, wow, the welcome committee sa pag-land ng LA… Shoutout to you, kuya!’ he concluded the video.

SB19 recently made history as the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago. They also recently performed at Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival alongside fellow P-pop act BINI.

The cost of producing and moving rice rose much faster than the price of the staple in June, creating a widening gap that could put pressure on farmers and other players in the rice supply chain even as retail prices remained relatively stable.

University of the Philippines Diliman associate professor and Inquirer data scientist Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao based his finding on data from the International Rice Research Institute’s (IRRI) June 2026 Global Rice Market Brief, which showed the rice input-cost index at 143, compared with a rice-price index of 102.

‘In other words, the cost of producing and moving rice rose far faster than the price of rice itself,’ Panao said.

The resulting 41-point gap was the third-largest among the eight markets covered by the IRRI data, behind Indonesia at 46 points and Myanmar at 45.

The figures suggest that the price consumers see in the market does not necessarily reflect the costs incurred throughout the rice supply chain, Panao said.

Input costs rise faster

Panao said the gap was not driven by a shortage of rice but by higher costs of inputs and activities involved in producing and moving the staple.

‘Fuel prices remained elevated after the March-to-May shock linked to the Middle East conflict, while fertilizer (urea) prices also stayed high,’ he said.

At the same time, rice prices softened in May and June, which Panao said was presumably linked to the government’s P50-per-kilogram ceiling on imported rice under Executive Order No. 118.

The disparity between input costs and rice prices raises the question of where the cost is being absorbed along the supply chain, Panao said.

‘The cost-price gap implies that the real cost of rice is being absorbed somewhere along the supply chain, likely by farmers through lower returns, as well as by millers, traders and transporters through thinner margins, and even by government through subsidies,’ he said.

A wider gap

Panao said the increase in costs associated with producing and moving rice has outpaced the movement in rice prices, putting pressure on farmers, millers, traders and transporters, as well as the government.

He said the situation is significant because the price of rice at the consumer level does not necessarily capture the costs incurred throughout the supply chain.

‘The price of rice, a daily staple for millions of Filipinos, may have stabilized. But a stable retail price does not necessarily mean a healthy market,’ he said.

Beyond cheaper rice

Panao said the current system may be working for now, but a longer-term approach should look beyond bringing down the price paid by consumers.

‘While the current system may be working for now, a forward-looking government should look beyond bringing cheaper rice to consumers and build a rice system strong and sustainable enough to feed Filipino families tomorrow,’ he said.

Panao said the IRRI recommendations include stronger competition and closer monitoring of margins across the supply chain, along with targeted support when rising costs threaten production.

‘This includes helping farmers adopt higher-yielding and climate-resilient varieties, improving access to credit and inputs, and using NFA procurement more strategically.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has a shortage of field auditors, and this could be a ’cause for concern,’ its assistant commissioner Lorna Cabochan told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Cabochan, during a hearing of the House committee on appropriations on the COA’s 2027 budget, said the commission still needs ‘almost 400′ auditors.

She provided the figure in reply to Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña’s question on whether the COA’s manpower gap had already been addressed.

Cendaña cited the agency’s report last year that it had only two auditors assigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s First District Engineering Office of Bulacan, which has been at the center of the flood control corruption scandal.

According to Cabochan, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has restored 332 plantilla positions in July out of the 716 that were previously reduced. But this still means a shortage of 384 auditors.

When Cendaña asked whether this was a ’cause for concern,’ the COA official answered in the affirmative.

‘Because the agencies are adding and, as of now, we are also somewhat lacking in auditors in the field,’ Cabochan explained.

She also disclosed that some auditors have left the COA for higher-paying jobs or flexible working positions.

Other auditors, she added, were even considering retiring ‘as soon as they reach 60.’

‘Although we are continuously recruiting, there is also separation through transfer to other government agencies and resignation,’ Cabochan said.

Hearing this, Cendaña emphasized that the current state of manpower in the COA is ‘alarming,’ pointing out that ‘it’s still lacking to this day.’

‘This 2027, there is a proposed P107 billion for flood control under DPWH. If the audit is sloppy again or if the audit is insufficient or slow, we will repeat the performance in 2025,’ he said. ‘And we already know the reason. This is the deficiency we mentioned.’

The lawmaker said the government must allot additional resources to the COA, noting that the commission is the ‘first line of defense’ against corruption.

Zero capital outlay

Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, committee chair, meanwhile said it was ‘interesting’ that none of the proposed projects under the COA’s capital outlay request for next year were granted by the DBM.’

The COA initially proposed a P1.18 billion budget to cover its Information Systems Strategic Plan for 2027-2029, the construction or modernization of some of its buildings, and the purchase of three vehicles, among others.

But the DBM did not approve the COA’s proposal, recommending a ‘zero capital outlay’ for the commission through the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

In the same budget hearing on Tuesday, Suansing said the zero capital outlay ‘really stood out.’

When asked by Suansing whether the DBM gave an explanation, COA Assistant Commissioner Nilda Plaras answered, ‘There was none, your honor.’

Wish list

The Inquirer has reached out to the DBM about the matter, but it has yet to respond as of publication.

The House committee also found that the DBM did not approve even the COA’s request for a budget to purchase a vehicle for its office in the Negros Island Region.

Suansing then asked the COA to provide a ‘wish list’ of items that were left out in the NEP that it wanted to advocate for so that Congress could consider them during deliberations on institutional amendment requests.

‘Given the limited fiscal space, realistically, we would not be able to fund all. So for us to get a better sense, we request a more detailed list of all of the items under the capital outlay request with the corresponding details,’ said Suansing.

The COA is seeking a P17.3 billion budget for 2027, but the DBM has recommended lowering the amount to P16.05 billion.

Low-cost carrier Vietjet is launching direct flights between Clark and Ho Chi Minh City in November, opening a new gateway to Vietnam for travelers from central and northern Luzon.

The operator of Clark International Airport announced on Wednesday that the new Vietjet service will operate three times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This will provide travelers with another direct connection to the booming Southeast Asian tourism destination.

Vote of confidence

‘Vietjet’s decision to launch its first Clark service is a strong vote of confidence in the market we serve,’ said Noel Manankil, president and CEO of Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (Lipad). The company manages the Pampanga gateway.

‘Clark gives airlines access to a large catchment area beyond Metro Manila, and this direct connection to Ho Chi Minh City creates a more efficient travel option for passengers across Central and Northern Luzon,’ Manankil added.

Vietjet’s new service will begin on Nov. 10, Lipad said.

Vietjet flight VJ1871 will depart Clark at 5:05 p.m. and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:35 p.m. local time. The return flight, VJ1870, will leave Ho Chi Minh City at 12:30 p.m. and arrive at Clark at 4:05 p.m.

Ahead of the launch, Vietjet will offer a special promotional one-way fare of $75, inclusive of taxes and other fees. The promotional fare will cover travel periods through March 31, 2027, Lipad said.

Tourism cooperation

This new service comes just months after the Philippines and Vietnam launched a tourism cooperation program during Vietnamese President To Lam’s meeting with President Marcos in Manila last June.

Under the agreement, which runs until 2029, Manila and Hanoi agreed to increase commercial flight frequencies and strengthen air connectivity between the two countries.

As of June, the Philippines was Vietnam’s largest source of foreign tourists, with Filipino arrivals reaching 364,721 in the first half of 2026.

In 2025, the number of Filipino tourists that visited Vietnam surged 81.3 percent to 482,173.

Travel in the opposite direction remains considerably smaller. Vietnam was the Philippines’ 23rd-largest source of foreign tourists in 2025, with 33,599 arrivals.

For Manankil, Vietjet’s expansion into Clark International Airport fits into the two countries’ broader push to strengthen bilateral ties.

‘We see considerable potential for this route to support both tourism and business links between the two markets,’ he said.

Ivana Alawi extended help to those affected by the recent severe flooding, while urging the public to demand accountability over the alleged corruption in flood control projects.

The actress said this through her social media pages on Tuesday, Aug. 25, while showing a clip of herself packing relief goods which she gave out to flood-affected communities.

‘Busy lang po mag repack ng relief goods. Kayo po, kamusta na kaya ang flood control? Ang bilyon bilyong pondo?’ she said in the caption. ‘Habang may Pilipinong lumulubog sa baha…. Sorry, hindi kami makakalimot.’

‘Wag tayo maghanap ng ibang issue para matakpan ang mga pinaka importanteng issue,’ she stressed. ‘Dapat may mangyari. Dapat may solusyon.’

While Alawi has yet to share a documentation of her relief initiative, several videos already circulated on social media showing her personally handing out relief packs and cash assistance to flood victims in Pampanga.

Meanwhile, amid the praise for the actress-vlogger, some netizens brought up Alawi’s previously criticized phone giveaway tied to an online gambling advertisement. The issue also recently resurfaced after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ordered to stop the promotion, and fined the online gambling company behind the giveaway.

Pagcor Alejandro Tengco said this during the House of Representatives committee on appropriations’ hearing on Pagcor’s budget for 2027, after Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah Fernando pointed out the surge in content creators and influencers promoting online gambling. Fernando made a mention of Alawi’s giveaway during the hearing.

Alawi has yet to comment on the matter as of this writing.