Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Megaworld Corp. continued booking significant gains as its core businesses saw a 14-percent growth in the first nine months of 2025.

The Andrew Tan-led real estate developer said its earnings in the January to September period reached P17.9 billion from a year ago’s P15.69 billion.

Net income attributable to the parent company also jumped by 16 percent to P15.93 billion from P13.73 billion.

‘Our year-to-date performance continues to reflect the strength of our recurring income portfolio and the sustained demand across our residential and hotel offerings,’ Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president of Megaworld Corp., said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘Even as we navigate mixed market conditions, we remain focused on delivering long-term value through innovation, operational efficiency and township-led growth,’ she added.

Revenue drivers

Consolidated revenues also improved by 7.75 percent to P64.41 billion from P59.78 billion.

The property giant said real estate sales continued to be the main contributor to its top line, accounting for 62.48 percent of the total.

The firm said revenues from this business rose by 6.33 percent to P40.24 billion from P37.85 billion. Megaworld logged healthy demand for housing not just in the capital region, but also in key provincial areas.

Leasing revenues, meanwhile, kept their double-digit growth, jumping by 14.7 percent to P16.24 billion.

Office leasing booked a 15.6-percent growth to P11.14 billion from P9.63 billion.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls also pitched in P5.1 billion, 12.7 percent higher than a year ago’s P4.52 billion, as the segment witnessed stronger foot traffic and tenant expansion.

Hotel revenues likewise saw a 13-percent rise, reaching P4.13 billion from P3.64 billion.

Expenses

Costs and expenses, on the other hand, increased by 5.4 percent to P46.48 billion.

Currently, Megaworld has 36 township developments across the country and a land bank covering around 7,000 hectares. INQ

The total number of deaths due to Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) climbed to 85, including the fatalities due to a helicopter crash, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Wednesday.

OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano told reporters that most of the deaths are in Cebu province at 49 ‘due to fallen debris, landslides, and flooding.’

Mariano said the OCD also considered the six fatalities in Agusan del Sur helicopter crash as related to the effects of Typhoon Tino.

Also, he said that one death each was reported in Bohol, Capiz, and Leyte, ‘all caused by fallen deaths.’

In Negros Island Region, one person died due to falling debris and three from drowning, while another in Leyte died due to floods.

The remaining cause of the remaining 28 deaths is still being determined, according to Mariano.

Also, 75 individuals remain missing, while 17 were injured due to Tino.

As of 5:00 p.m., Tino’s center was estimated based on all available data at 330 kilometers east northeast of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan town of Palawan province, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Giving the gift of health has never been easier or more meaningful. Maxicare, the country’s leading HMO, makes wellness accessible through PRIMA, a suite of prepaid healthcare cards designed for every stage of life. A product of MaxiHealth and exclusively distributed by Maxicare, PRIMA turns care into a thoughtful, lasting gift, whether for moms-to-be and babies, young professionals, or retirees looking to stay healthy and active.

PRIMA Consult, Access, and Elite: Essential healthcare cards for all

The PRIMA Consult, Access, and Elite prepaid healthcare cards are the smart choice for families, young professionals, and seniors needing a complete health solution. These cards offer unlimited consultations with general practitioners and specialists, plus access to labs and diagnostics. This comprehensive coverage provides a full year of worry-free, accessible, and tailored healthcare, empowering individuals to manage their health effectively.

PRIMA for Moms and PRIMA for Babies: Confident parenthood

Maxicare PRIMA for Moms and PRIMA for Babies deliver convenience, comprehensiveness, and strong value for new and expectant families.

PRIMA for Moms gives expectant mothers a stress-free pregnancy with a complete solution bundled at ?16,499. The full bundle comes with unlimited consultations with doctors including OB-GYNs. There’s also an option of per-trimester vouchers that provide essential lab tests and procedures, with prices starting at ?4,499. With clear packaging and comprehensive coverage, this ensures the mother and child are healthy, monitored, and cared for.

Support your little one’s first year with unlimited pediatric consultations and a 6-in-1 vaccine with PRIMA for Babies, priced at ?4,999. This cost-saving, prepaid healthcare simplifies taking care of a child during their critical first year, giving new parents peace of mind.

PRIMA Screen: Preventive care to stay ahead of your health

Comprehensive screenings through PRIMA Screen Core, Vital, and Total make preventive healthcare a more practical choice for anyone committed to their long-term health. Starting at

?2,499, PRIMA Screen enables early detection through a full range of blood tests, imaging, and lifestyle assessments. By making comprehensive annual check-ups accessible, PRIMA Screen encourages young and health-conscious individuals to stay proactive and maintain control of their health.

PRIMA for Hypertension and Diabetes: Focused care

For Filipinos managing chronic conditions, PRIMA for Hypertension and PRIMA for Diabetes are all-in-one, accessible solutions, priced at ?2,499 and ?2,099 respectively. Each package provides access to laboratory tests, specially designed to help stay on top of blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

The expanded Maxicare PRIMA range empowers Filipinos to live fully and confidently, regardless of their life stage or health condition. Backed by Maxicare’s reputation as the country’s #1 HMO, PRIMA combines accessibility and trust, transforming healthcare into a thoughtful, lasting gift for every stage of life.

The UAAP season began with a stunning blowout-University of Santo Tomas handing defending champion University of the Philippines an emphatic 87-67 loss. Now, just weeks later, the paths of these two teams have completely flipped.

From the ashes of a 0-2 start, the Fighting Maroons (6-3) have clawed back into championship form. They’ve won six of their last seven games and now sit comfortably in solo second behind National University’s 8-2 record.

The Growling Tigers, on the other hand, are in free fall. Once unbeaten at 4-0 and riding a resurgence that turned heads around the league, UST has now lost four of five and finds itself teetering on the edge of the Final Four race.

Their rematch today at the Mall of Asia Arena isn’t just a game-it’s also proof of how swiftly the season’s momentum has changed.

‘They’re very competitive also as a team,’ said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, refusing to underestimate the Tigers despite their slump. ‘For us, we always focus on ourselves first-on what we need to improve. Of course, we prepare for every team the same way, and UST is no different. What’s important for us right now is to concentrate on our own game first, then slowly work our way toward preparing for UST. to struggles?

If UP is refining its championship edge, UST is desperately trying to rediscover its early-season identity. A gut-wrenching 96-97 overtime loss to Adamson last week typified their recent struggles-blowing an eight-point lead late in regulation and watching their place in the standings slip.

‘I don’t think we need to change anything,’ said UST cocaptain Forthsky Padrigao. ‘What’s more important is that we stay together, especially during tough times like this. We have to dig deep and really find out who we are and what our identity is as a team. Hopefully, we can show that in our next few games.’

Padrigao added, ‘We have to give more than 100 percent every game. It’s on us-watching film, learning from our mistakes, because that’s how we’ll improve. Our team is really growing and improving, even during this four-game losing streak-so yeah, let’s see.’

At 5-4, the Tigers cling to the fourth seed by just half a game over Adamson. With UP surging and UST stumbling, this matchup holds playoff implications for both-one team trying to keep pace with the leaders, the other hoping to stop the bleeding.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has called for an investigation into the flood control projects in Davao City’s first district, citing alleged ‘red flags’ discovered by his team in 80 out of 121 projects.

These allegedly anomalous public works cost P4 billion.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Tinio reported the findings of his team’s analysis of projects within Davao’s first district – under Rep. Paolo Duterte – after checking documents requested from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the agency’s website, and the National Expenditures Program and General Appropriations Act from 2019 to 2022.

The analysis spanned flood control projects along the Davao River and the Matina River.

According to Tinio, his team found a pattern of irregularities – like overpricing, duplication of projects, and even ghost projects – that merit an investigation.

‘Our analysis reveals a pattern of irregularities that demands explanation and accountability. There are indicators that point to ghost projects, double funding, location changes, gross overpricing, and contracts awarded without clear specifications,’ Tinio said.

Tinio gave five categories for classifying the red-flagged projects:

Total Overlap: Two contracts worth P135.14 million funded construction on identical river sections, with one 2019 project covering a section of the Davao River, while a 2020 project covered the same section plus additional areas.

Double Funding: Two contracts worth P115.09 million were awarded to different contractors for the exact same project location (‘revetment [facing of barriers like stones or concrete slope to protect a wall] Davao River at the Davao River Bridge upstream section’)

Changed Location and Shortchanging: Nine contracts worth P484 million were implemented at different locations than specified in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), often with significantly reduced coverage.

For example, one GAA item allocated P30 million for 375 meters of revetment , but the actual contract covered only 120 meters-a shortfall of 255 meters while charging P161,250 per meter, instead of the budgeted P80,000.

Awarded Contracts Without Details: A staggering 62 contracts worth P3.4 billion were awarded without proper specifications (such as exact location and length) in official records, making verification and accountability difficult.

Awarded Contracts Not in GAA: Ten contracts worth P622.5 million were implemented despite having no corresponding line items in the approved national budget.

Tinio said the team flagged 54 of the 68 implemented projects along the Davao River, which was worth P2.6 billion, while 26 out of the 28 implemented projects near the Matina River worth P1.7 billion allegedly showed irregularities as well.

‘So basically, we saw through a scan of flood control projects in Davao – and this is just partial – that there are disturbing indications of irregularity. And there is a huge possibility of ghost projects [.] Clearly there is overpricing, and other indications of anomalies,’ Tinio said.

‘That’s why we need a deeper probe on these projects, especially since the people are calling for accountability for everyone, and this includes the Dutertes and their use of public funds, in this case, flood control and other infrastructure projects,’ he added.

Inquirer has reached out to the office of Rep. Duterte for his response regarding Tinio’s allegations, but it has not issued a statement as of posting time.

Dutertes vs Tinio

Aside from claims of irregularities, Tinio noted that some of the projects were constructed by companies linked to the controversial Discaya couple, while contracts were supposedly awarded to allies and relatives of Senator Bong Go and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Rep. Duterte and Vice President Duterte are the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was a long-time Davao City mayor before his rise to national prominence.

Go, meanwhile, has been an aide of the older Duterte up to the first half of the latter’s presidency.

Tinio said he will file a resolution calling for a congressional investigation into these anomalies.

‘The Filipino people deserve answers about how P4.66 billion in public funds was spent-or misspent,’ he said.

‘This is about ensuring that every peso of public funds meant to protect our communities from flooding actually serves that purpose. Transparency and accountability must apply equally, whether in Bulacan, Davao, or anywhere else in our country,’ he added.

Tinio and Rep. Duterte have been engaged in a verbal feud since the ACT Teachers solon backed the House committee on public accounts’ looming investigation into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project.

Duterte on Monday night claimed that Tinio has been ironically silent on corruption within the current administration despite his calls for a probe on the controversial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project – which was implemented during the term of former President Duterte.

According to Rep. Duterte, such silence shows that Tinio’s political bloc Makabayan is subservient to the current administration.

But Tinio on Tuesday said it appears Rep. Duterte is ignorant of what Makabayan has stood for, telling him that the use of Google as a search engine is free of charge – so that Rep. Duterte can check his group’s previous statements and initiatives against corruption.

A quick search on social media and search engines would show that Makabayan has called out the government, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate, over issues involving the 2025 budget – and even voted against the budget bills.

After claims of possible issues in the then-proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the former roster of Makabayan – former ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, former Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and former Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel – said that the bicameral conference committee should convene again to address alleged allocation issues.

In December 2024, Makabayan – particularly Castro and Tinio – said that the 2025 budget failed to give priority to the education sector, contradicting provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

Castro and Tinio said Marcos’ veto of P194 billion line items in the budget was just a ‘deceptive maneuver to create an illusion of constitutional compliance.’

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin, special adviser and investigator of the Independent Commission for Infrastructures (ICI), led a team that inspected two infrastructure projects here that were included in the 51 questionable flood control projects flagged by the government in the Davao region.

The team included members of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Baguio City Benjamin Magalong.

One of the projects, the flood control project along the Davao river in the area known here as Matina Gravahan, was already destroyed by a big flood only months after it was completed last year, residents here said.

But Azurin said it was still too early to say whether the project was substandard or not, but the team had already taken samples of materials being used to check if the contractor who built the dike followed the specifications approved by the DPWH.

‘We saw that in less than two years, the project was already damaged, but we still have to review the contract with the DPWH so that we can determine what sanctions we can impose on the contractors and the implementers of the project,’ Azurin said.

With Azurin and Magalong was Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, who led the DPWH team during the inspection.

Aside from the flood-control project along the Davao River, the team also inspected the rock-netting intended for slope control along the Diversion Road here. Their earlier schedule to inspect another project in Barangay Callawa here did not push through.

Earlier, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon visited Davao Occidental province, where he discovered that the P96.5 million Culaman Bridge flood control project in Jose Abad Santos turned out to be a ‘ghost project.’

The cost of humanitarian aid in relation to Typhoon Tinio has reached P31.3 million, and this assistance has spread across more than 49,000 affected families, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its advisory at 12 noon on Wednesday, the NDRRMC reported that it has helped 70 percent of typhoon victims, using the P31 million fund, in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

The NDRRMC determined that a total of over 75,000 families require assistance – with more than 38,000 of them in Western Visayas, over 27,000 in Eastern Visayas, more than 6,000 in Caraga, and over 4,000 in Bicol.

Of these figures, the council’s humanitarian aid has reached 95.3 percent (more than 25,000) of the selected families in Eastern Visayas, 57.8 percent (more than 22,000) of those in Western Visayas, 8.8 percent (361) of the families in the Bicol Region, and less than 1 percent (566) of those in Caraga.

The breakdown of cost of assistance is listed below:

Eastern Visayas: P16,284,194.24

Western Visayas: P13,482,068.87

Caraga: P1,333,261.44

Bicol Region: P 222,082

Most of the aid came in the form of food, with only two areas listed that received cash.

According to NDRRMC, 626 families in Buenavista, Guimaras received financial aid amounting to P570,000.

In January, 188 families in Iloilo also received P3,000 in financial aid from the local government.

Over 300,000 families were affected by Typhoon Tino.

The NDRRMC broke down the number of affected families in seven regions:

Western Visayas: 152,514

Caraga: 84,769

Eastern Visayas: 45,698

Central Visayas: 26,403

Bicol Region: 7,763

Mimaropa: 638

Negros Island Region: 235

Typhoon Tino has yet to exit the Philippine area of responsibility, and yet the state weather bureau has already seen another cyclone that is expected to enter the country as a typhoon between Friday and Saturday.

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.

Harold Alarcon came through in the clutch once more as University of the Philippines edged University of Santo Tomas, 89-88, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball second round on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Alarcon sank seven straight points down the stretch, including the go-ahead jumper with only 22 seconds left that pushed the Fighting Maroons to their third straight win and a 7-3 mark. ‘We’re prepared for situations like those,’ said Alarcon.

‘We’ve been prepared for these to help with our experience for the future games. If we have these experiences and situations, we’ll know what to do.’

The graduating guard was a man on a mission, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Alarcon’s heroics helped the Maroons complete their comeback after trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half. They also avenged their season-opening loss to the Growling Tigers.

Rey Remogat and Migs Yniguez also stepped up for UP with 19 and 11 points, respectively.

The losses continued to pile up for the Tigers, who were once one of the top teams in the league.

Collins Akowe registered 26 points and 16 rebounds, but accounted for 10 of UST’s 24 missed free throws. Akowe went 10-of-20 from the line. Nic Cabañero added 18 points.

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.