Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is confident of keeping his leadership even with the return of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as chair of the powerful Blue Ribbon committee.

‘Maybe not, because our colleagues also want him (to return as Blue Ribbon chair),’ Sotto said when asked if he’s concerned that Lacson’s return might cause unrest among the senators.

‘And if ever there is, no problem with that. I always serve at the pleasure of my peers. Maybe being a senator is much easier than being an official,’ he added.

Last month, Lacson announced that he would resign as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee after his colleagues expressed ‘disappointment’ regarding his handling of the inquiry into flood control projects.

Some sectors viewed Lacson’s previous departure from the panel as a sign of an ‘unstable’ Senate.

They said Lacson’s quitting his position as chair of the powerful panel was a bid to ‘appease his majority colleagues’ so the presidency of Sotto could be ‘preserved.’

Lacson is set to be reelected as Blue Ribbon committee chair next week.

Meanwhile, Sotto said he is eyeing to meet with former Speaker Martin Romualdez to possibly invite him to the next flood control hearing.

‘I’ve already set up a meeting. It might be later or tomorrow. Within the next few days, we’ll be able to talk,’ the Senate leader said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release by Nov. 15 the year-end bonus and cash gift for 1.85 million government employees nationwide, Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that under Budget Circular No. 2024-3, the year-end bonus, which is equivalent to a one-month basic pay, and the P5,000 cash gift will be released ‘with the first agency payroll of November 2025.’

Conditions

Under DBM rules, all government personnel-whether regular, contractual or casual, or working part-time or full-time-are entitled to both incentives if they have rendered at least four months of service from Jan. 1, and remain government service as of Oct. 31.

The early release of the year-end bonus and cash gift ‘reflects the Marcos administration’s recognition of public servants and their heroism in serving the nation,’ Castro said.

‘It is also one of the government’s efforts to honor the hard work and dedication of government employees,’ she added.

For fiscal year 2025, a total of P63.69 billion has been allocated for the year-end bonus of civilian and military or uniformed personnel, and P9.24 billion for the cash gift, which covers over 1.85 million government workers nationwide.

The DBM directed all government agencies to release the bonuses promptly and in accordance with existing budget circulars. It noted that all funds for the year-end bonus and cash gift have been comprehensively released at the start of the fiscal year, allowing them to process and credit the benefits without delay.

Season of giving

‘We value the diligence and excellence of our government workers, which is why we are making sure that their benefits are released on time,’ Pangandaman said.

‘We know how much government personnel look forward to this time of the year, not just because it’s the season of giving, but because it serves as a well-deserved recognition of their service and sacrifice,’ she added.

Prior to the 2024 budget circular, year-end bonuses and cash gifts were disbursed to government employees ‘not earlier than Nov. 15 of the current year,’ resulting in delayed releases, which affected their morale, motivation, and level of job satisfaction.

Rain or Shine shoots for a share of the PBA Philippine Cup lead, while two struggling squads-Titan Ultra and Blackwater-look to climb out of early slumps in a pivotal Wednesday triple-header at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Elasto Painters hope to stretch their win streak to four and improve to an impressive 5-1 card as they face the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters at 7:30 p.m. With TNT and Magnolia also sitting at 4-1, a win gives Rain or Shine a temporary solo hold of the top spot.

Despite their record, coach Yeng Guiao isn’t getting carried away.

‘We cannot win close games every time,’ he said, referring to back-to-back escapes-a 96-95 edging of Meralco and a thrilling 112-111 decision over Titan Ultra. ‘If we rely on breaks or we rely on getting lucky, there will be a day that luck won’t be on our side.’

Sides collide

Meanwhile, Titan and Blackwater collide earlier in the day, both carrying the weight of recent setbacks and desperately seeking momentum. The Giant Risers are mired in a four-game skid, their latest loss being the gut-wrenching one-point heartbreaker to Rain or Shine. Now at 1-4, Titan aims to stop the bleeding.

Blackwater, for its part, has dropped three straight after a 1-0 start and comes into the 4:30 p.m. clash with fresher legs, having had a full week to regroup following a 99-88 loss to NLEX

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured that Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) will not curb rice supply in the Philippines, although the weather disturbance may affect corn harvests.

‘We’re not too worried about rice since the harvest is almost complete in major producing provinces and most of the affected regions are not major producing areas,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.

But the DA warned that corn production might sustain ‘significant losses.’

Tiu Laurel said the National Food Authority (NFA) had sufficient rice stocks to cover the country’s requirements. Even then, he said the agency would closely monitor the situation.

‘But we may have an issue with corn because about 33,000 hectares of cornfields were affected by Tino,’ he added.

Current buffer

The country’s rice stocks totaled 2.35 million metric tons as of Oct. 1, up 3.2 percent from the same month last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

The commercial sector accounted for 40.5 percent of last month’s rice inventory.

Corn stocks reached 846,810 MT, a 16.3 percent increase from a year ago. The commercial sector contributed 78.1 percent to the total.

Tiu Laurel has instructed all regional field offices to conduct rapid damage assessments and prepare for a potentially stronger typhoon that could hit Northern Luzon over the weekend.

Losses expected

The DA has yet to estimate losses arising from Typhoon Tino.

However, the agency said, ‘damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validations are ongoing.’

Nonetheless, the DA has readied P255 million worth of farm inputs for distribution to affected farmers and fishers. These include rice, corn and vegetable seeds, fingerlings and biologics.

It is prepared to assist fishers in repairing fishing gears and boats, and provide fuel assistance.

Crop protection

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will expedite the processing of farmers’ claims affected by the typhoon.

To help local producers rebuild their plantations, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council is prepared to offer up to P25,000 in loans through its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program.

The NFA, for its part, has set aside 2.6 million bags of rice for distribution to local government units and relief agencies.

Meanwhile, the DA will sell rice at P20 per kilogram through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets.

A family of nine who sought shelter in their home in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, was swept away by raging floodwaters at the height of Typhoon Tino on Tuesday night.

Seven members of the Espora family were later found buried under thick mud and large rocks, while two others remain missing as of press time.

According to Seth Bariga of the Canlaon Public Information Office (PIO), the family likely did not expect flash flooding in their area, which had never experienced such an event before.

‘During our rescue and retrieval operations, their neighbors told us that during the onslaught of the flash flood, the family tried to climb up to the roof of their house to avoid being swept away. But when they got on the roof, it suddenly collapsed,’ Bariga said.

The family’s home was located along the national road, with a river stream directly behind it. The stream, which had never overflowed in the past, burst its banks during the storm.

Rescue teams said the water overflowed from the stream and surged into the Esporas’ home. As the family struggled to escape the rising waters at the back of their house, another flash flood hit from the front, trapping them between two strong currents.

‘They were literally sandwiched by two powerful water currents,’ one rescuer said.

On November 5, retrieval teams recovered the bodies of the seven victims buried under mud and boulders. The fatalities were identified as Ruditha Espora, 60; Reyno Espora, 60; Thea Sandra Espora, 20; Lady Grace Espora; Amarath Espora, 3; Indigho Espora, 10 sand John Nathan Espora, 10

Search and rescue operations for the two remaining missing family members are still ongoing

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured the bereaved families of those who died in a Philippine Air Force (PAF) chopper crash in Agusan del Sur that all assistance they need will be provided, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Castro said Marcos is already aware of the tragedy and extends his sympathies to the grieving families.

‘He [Marcos] extends his condolences to the families of the fallen heroes of our country,’ Castro said.

‘And all the help that is needed should be delivered to the affected families,’ she also said.

The Department of National Defense had also condoled with the relatives of the victims.

Castro, reading an official statement from the agency, said, ‘The Department of National Defense extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the six Philippine Air Force pilots and crew of the Super Huey that crashed in Agusan del Sur on November 4, 2025.’

‘Dedication to duty and sacrifice will always be remembered, especially as these were made in the service of our fellow Filipinos facing the effects of Typhoon Tino,’ she also said.

Search and rescue teams recovered six bodies believed to be those of the pilot and crew members of the PAF Super Huey chopper that crashed in Loreto town.

The PAF pilot and crew were conducting a relief mission in areas affected by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) when the helicopter crashed, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines officials.

Although he reportedly wants to face the allegations against him, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co is hesitant to return to the Philippines because of alleged ‘credible and serious’ threats to his life, according to his lawyer Ruy Rondain.

Rondain said Co wanted to personally respond to the issues but could not do so at this time because of security concerns.

‘Representative Co would have wanted to be here himself to answer your questions. Unfortunately, there are credible and serious threats to his life,’ Rondain revealed in a press conference Wednesday.

‘He has a general fear of being shot-whether by a vigilante or a political enemy he doesn’t even know,’ he said.

The lawyer also addressed questions about Co’s whereabouts, initially saying he does not know where the former lawmaker is.

‘Let me get ahead of the inevitable question: I don’t know where he is. I never asked, because it’s not relevant to his defense,’ Rondain said.

‘And frankly, I didn’t want to be in a position where I’d have to lie to anyone if I were asked that question. So no, I don’t know where he is,’ he told reporters.

Later, during the same press conference, however, Rondain disclosed that the last information he received about Co’s whereabouts was that he was in Boston, sometime between September and October, for medical reasons.

Co has been under scrutiny after his name was linked to alleged irregularities in the P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

In its first interim report, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) asked the Office of the Ombudsman to determine the appropriate charges to be filed against 18 public officials, including the former lawmaker.

A month later, the commission recommended the filing of criminal and administrative cases against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, Co and three others in connection with suspected ‘ghost’ flood control projects.

The recommendations stemmed from an alleged kickback scheme, based on sworn affidavits and corroborating evidence from former Department of Public Works and Highways officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.

Nearly 1,000 houses in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, were either destroyed or damaged after Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) battered the town early this week.

Based on a report from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), chaired by Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, 126 houses were destroyed while 818 others sustained damage.

The hardest-hit areas were the island barangays of Cagusuan, Casuguran, and Culasi, located in the historic Homonhon Island, where Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed in 1521.

In Cagusuan, 21 houses were reported totally destroyed while 203 others suffered partial damage. Casuguran recorded 98 homes completely flattened, while Culasi saw 237 houses partially damaged as strong winds and heavy rains pummeled the town from midnight on Monday until early Tuesday.

Mayor Gonzales-Kwan said most of the affected houses were made of light materials such as nipa shingles and bamboo, which easily gave way to the typhoon’s intensity.

Following the damage assessment, the Guiuan municipal council placed the entire town under a state of calamity on Tuesday to allow the release of emergency funds for immediate relief and recovery efforts.

The local government, with support from the provincial government of Eastern Samar under Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, has started distributing housing materials to families who lost their homes.

Despite the widespread destruction, the mayor said no casualties or missing persons were reported. However, seven individuals sustained minor injuries, according to the Rural Health Unit.

She added that no major roads or bridges were damaged, allowing relief operations to reach affected communities quickly.

During the height of Typhoon Tino, authorities carried out preemptive evacuations, moving 2,579 families or 9,083 individuals to safer areas to avoid casualties.

‘While the extent of damage to homes is significant, we are thankful that no lives were lost,’ Mayor Gonzales-Kwan said, adding that the local government remains focused on helping residents rebuild

It is clear that Joy Barcoma caught the attention of the judges, as she is one of the candidates who made it to the Top 25 of Miss Earth 2025 after a round of pre-pageant activities.

The Philippines’ representative was called on the 24th spot at the global tilt’s coronation night at Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Wednesday, November 5.

Other candidates who made it the Top 25 are:

Jenique Botha (South Africa)

Florencia Hernandez (Argentina)

Aria Keilbach (Northern Marianas)

Mariia Zheliaskova (Ukraine)

Waree Ngamkham (Thailand)

Elizaveta Kuznetsova (Moldova)

Ndeshipewa Angula (Namibia)

Hailey Wilson (Canada)

Evangeline Chen (Macau)

Elizaveta Guryanova (Russia)

Massiel Suarez (Peru)

Soldis Ivarsdottir (Iceland)

Choi Yoon-seo (Korea)

Natalia Guglielmo (Italy)

Mu Anh Trinh (Vietnam)

Laila Frizon (Brazil)

Natalie Puskinova (Czech Republic)

Komal Choudhary (India)

Delina Girma (Ethiopia)

Justyna Roguska (Poland)

Ana Zafyra (Arab Emirates)

Nathalie Briones (Chile)

Sanne-Esmee Walstra (Netherlands)

Joy Barcoma (Philippines)

Genesis Vera (Mexico)

Before the Top 25 candidates were revealed, Colombia’s Valentina Collazos and Cuba’s Rachel Chang’s were named the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, respectively.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s Genesis Vera brought home the People’s Choice award.

Compared to its previous editions, 25 candidates were selected to advance to the pageant’s next round in commemoration of its silver anniversary. Since its first iteration, 20 delegates were selected in the semi-finals.

A pageant veteran, Barcoma is on a quest to post the Philippines’ fifth Miss Earth victory.

The last time the NCAA held games at Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Tony Ynot didn’t even know how to play basketball.

Back in 2006, Ynot was a 6-year-old in Misamis Occidental. He had yet to pick up a basketball, while the Manila sporting complex was then the epicenter of NCAA action.

‘I hadn’t even played basketball yet. I started in 2012-my first sports were volleyball and track and field,’ said Ynot, after helping College of St. Benilde improve to 6-3 in Group B of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.

‘I was still in the province then. I was poor and scruffy,’ he added with a laugh upon learning how long it had been since the league last played at Rizal.

Nearly two decades later, the dynamic guard found himself at the center of Benilde’s 75-65 win over defending champion Mapua on Tuesday, in the NCAA’s return to the historic arena.

Ynot didn’t just help the Blazers tighten their grip on the second seed in Group B-he also led them in getting payback against the Cardinals, who swept Benilde in last year’s Finals to claim the Season 100 crown.

Benilde opened the game with a scorching 18-0 run, 11 of which came from Ynot, who finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Rizal Memorial has long been a launching pad for stars who would go on to flourish in the PBA. Ynot knows he’s still carving out his path, but hopes to return to the same hardwood someday-this time as a pro.

Strong turnout

‘I’m still in college, but maybe if I make it to the pros and get to play here again, I’ll give it my best,’ he said. ‘I’m so happy because this was my first time playing here, and I was the best player. I’m glad I helped the team get the win.’

Blazers coach Charles Tiu also welcomed the league’s return to Rizal-especially with the strong turnout of Benilde supporters from nearby Taft.

‘We can have every game here-we have a lot of fans for once because it’s near our school,’ said Tiu. ‘I don’t mind it being a bit loud. We’re 1-0 here now. I think we can play every game here.’

Allen Liwag added a double-double for Benilde with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Mapua’s Cyrus Cuenco and Earl Sapasap scored 14 and 13, respectively, as the Cardinals dropped to 4-5 in Group A.

Earlier, Lyceum had its own shining moment at Rizal, pulling off a 78-66 upset over San Beda.

Joshua Moralejo led the Pirates with 24 points.