Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The municipality of Manjuyod in Negros Oriental has declared a state of calamity following the massive spill that engulfed its seas caused by the collapse of the wastewater lagoon of the Universal Robina Corp. (URC) Bais Distillery.

The declaration, passed by the municipal council on Monday, would remain in effect for 90 days, unless lifted or extended upon the recommendation of the Local Risk Reduction and Management Council, based on its assessment and validation of the environmental condition.

The Bais City Council has also earlier declared a state of calamity, stating that the consequences of the disaster have severely impacted the economic stability and livelihoods of local fishermen and others relying on aquatic resources in several barangays in the city.

The spill, which occurred on Oct. 26, spread to about 3,000 hectares of sea that formed part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape and within the immediate environs of Bais City and Manjuyod town.

A spill came from a breach in the 20-hectare wastewater lagoon of the ethanol distillery company, leaving cores of dead fish and affecting thousands of families in Manjuyod and Bais City, it said.

The dike of the wastewater lagoon collapsed reportedly on the evening of Oct. 26, but an investigation by the local government of Manjuyod found that the leak happened on Friday, Oct. 24.

Not the first time

Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi said this was not the first time the distillery had been involved in such an environmental incident.

‘This has been recurring for several years,’ he revealed on Monday.

Bais City is nestled along the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape and deemed the largest protected seascape in the Philippines.

Tañon Strait serves as a feeding, breeding, and nesting ground for marine mammals. It is also known for its diversity of fish, mollusks, and crustacean species.

Tourism activities, including dolphin watching in Bais Bay and sandbar hopping in Manjuyod, have since been halted.

URC Bais Distillery, in a statement, said it expected the repair of its collapsed lagoon wall that caused the spill of wastewater into the Tañon Strait by Nov. 4. /cb

Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) made two landfalls since early Tuesday in the Visayas, where eight areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4, according to the state weather bureau.

The typhoon’s initial landfall occurred at midnight in Silago, Leyte. It made a second landfall at 5:10 a.m. in Borbon, Cebu, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest bulletin.

Pagasa last spotted Tino over the coastal waters of San Francisco, Cebu, at 5 a.m., moving west at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 205 kph.

Tino will pass through the Negros Island Region on Tuesday before heading toward northern Palawan and clearing the Philippine landmass Wednesday, Pagasa said.

The typhoon will cross over the West Philippine Sea and is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Thursday.

Areas under Signal No. 4

Western and southern portions of Leyte

northern and central portions of Cebu, including Camotes Islands and Bantayan Islands

northeastern portion of Bohol

northernmost portion of Negros Oriental

northern portion of Negros Occidental

Guimaras

central and southern portions of Iloilo

The southern portion of Antique

Residents from island barangays in Tubigon, Bohol, are ferried to the mainland and brought to an evacuation center at the town proper for their safety as Typhoon Tino is moving closer to the Visayas on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Areas under Signal no. 3

LUZON

Cuyo Islands

VISAYAS

Southern Leyte

central and eastern portions of Bohol

northern portion of Negros Oriental

central portion of Negros Occidental

the rest of Iloilo

southern portion of Capiz

central portion of Antique

Areas under Signal No. 2

LUZON

southern portion of Masbate

southern portion of Romblon

southern portion of Oriental Mindoro

southern portion of Occidental Mindoro

northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian Islands

VISAYAS

central and southern portions of Eastern Samar

central and southern portions of Samar

the rest of Leyte

Biliran

the rest of Bohol

the rest of Cebu

central portion of Negros Oriental

the rest of Negros Occidental

Siquijor

the rest of Capiz

Aklan

the rest of Antique, including the Caluya Islands

MINDANAO

Dinagat Islands

Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Camiguin

Areas under Signal No. 1

LUZON

Albay

Sorsogon

the rest of Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands

southern portion of Quezon

southern portion of Marinduque

the rest of Romblon

the rest of Oriental Mindoro

the rest of Occidental Mindoro

central portion of Palawan, including the Cagayancillo Islands

VISAYAS

Northern Samar

the rest of Eastern Samar

the rest of Samar

the rest of Negros Oriental

MINDANAO

northern portion of Surigao del Sur

northeastern portion of Agusan del Sur

Agusan del Norte

Misamis Oriental

northern portion of Bukidnon

northern portion of Misamis Occidental

northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte

We all probably have that friend who makes a big deal about all the steps they take in a day-and if not, you’re very likely that friend in your group. It’s actually hard not to be that person, especially if you’ve got your fitness in mind. And if you don’t already have a smartwatch or fitness band that’s tracking your steps, your phone is serving as your pedometer by default. Face it: You cannot escape the step count in 2025.

And for good reason, too. We all know by now that getting our steps in is the easiest way to maintain a baseline level of being healthy. If you’re lounging around at home all day and not getting up on your feet, it can lead to health problems. The only difference among everyone is exactly how many steps one should take in a single day.

Really active people will set at least 8,000 to 10,000 steps as their minimum. Regular people, especially those who may not enjoy walking (we are in a hot and humid tropical country, after all), can cap their steps at 6,000 to 7,000, which should take them around an hour to achieve.

That was the general wisdom. until now.

The fake 10,000 steps

First, recent scientific studies have found that the magic 10,000-step number is actually quite arbitrary. In fact, it’s even mythical-the origin of this particular figure is apparently the marketing of a Japanese pedometer company, which told people they needed to get a lot of walking in order to stay healthy. While, yes, being that active is good for you, it is a little bit overblown.

When you really think about it, achieving 10,000 steps a day would require you to walk a total of two to three hours, which most people may not have the time and energy for. (I know my feet would be cursing at me should I try to pull that off outside of a vacation in a walkable city abroad.)

Second, and the most important breakthrough: A new study published last week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that you may only need much less walking to get its benefits. The study tracked more than 13,000 women with an average age of 72, and after only walking 4,000 steps one day a week, they saw a decline in the likelihood of dying from or developing heart disease. They recorded a 27 percent lower risk of getting cardiovascular disease and a 26 percent lower risk of dying, compared to those who didn’t walk at all.

Walking is enough to save you, but it’s not a miracle cure

So what does this tell us exactly?

It’s important to look at the nuance. For those who simply need exercise to stave off chronic illness and diseases, and may not have time or energy to devote to a greater active lifestyle, the findings are positive that you’ll only need a relatively minimal amount of activity. Of course, the more active you are and can be, the better your chances will be-so if you can do more, please do more.

For those who are going after certain fitness and wellness goals, such as losing weight, burning fat, or increasing endurance, this isn’t the news you might be looking for. Your actual goals will still need actual, dedicated work. But it’s still good to know that even a decreased amount of activity from your usual levels still helps a lot more than doing nothing at all, so don’t stress out if your busy life keeps you sidelined.

Zooming out in the bigger picture, however, it’s clear that more studies need to be done-mainly because the subjects were elderly white women. There are a lot more variables that need to be looked at, and that’ll take a long time. Still, it’s a good sign that any movement is good, especially if the thought of diving into a full workout program or an entirely healthy and active lifestyle seems daunting to you.

Data shared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday showed an 11.99-percent decrease in focus crime rates across the country between June and October 2025.

Focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft and carnapping.

According to the PNP data, there were 2,961 incidents of focus crimes last June.

Although it rose to 3,304 incidents in July, then 3,335 incidents in August, focus crime dropped to 2,845 incidents in September, then 2,606 incidents in October.

However, theft cases, in particular, showed a 5.25-percent increase from 1028 in June to 1082 in October.

Nonetheless, the following focus crimes showed a decrease during the said period, according to the PNP:

rape dropped by 39.64 percent from 618 in June to 373 in October;

carnapping of motor vehicles cases dropped by 30.77 percent from 26 in June to 18 in October;

physical injury cases dropped by 21.05 percent from 399 in June to 315 in October;

homicide cases dropped by 12.20 percent from 82 in June to 72 in October;

robbery cases dropped by 9.88 percent from 324 in June to 292 in October;

murder cases dropped by 9.15 percent from 295 in June to 268 in October; and

carnapping of motorcycles cases dropped by 1.59 percent from 189 in June to 186 in October

The law enforcement agency also stated that its case solution efficiency rate increased by 6.6 percentage points, from 62.82 percent in June to 69.42 percent in October.

In the PNP, a case is considered solved if the offender has been arrested.

The PNP particularly noted that, from Aug. 26 to Oct. 30, 10,434 individuals were arrested for drug-related charges in 9,061 anti-drug operations, leading to the seizure of illegal drugs valued at P1.91 billion.

It added that police across the country arrested 11,500 most wanted persons as well as confiscated 5,600 loose firearms, P2.86-million jackpot money in illegal gambling operations, and P337.8-million goods in alleged smuggling operations.

ADOR, the music label under HYBE and home to NewJeans, has completed several demos for the group’s next album and submitted the list of tracks to the Seoul Central District Court as evidence of its continued management responsibilities, The Korea Herald has learned.

According to a legal source, Friday, ADOR submitted the list to the court in July. The list is believed to contain more than five demos, as it pertains to a full-length album.

During a trial session that month, the presiding judges asked whether the list included new songs, to which ADOR’s legal representatives confirmed that it did. The submission was intended to demonstrate that the label has been fulfilling its duties as NewJeans’ management company amid the ongoing legal dispute with the group.

The tracks ADOR in the list submitted to the court are in MR form, meaning the instrumental tracks have been completed, but no member vocals have been recorded.

In a press statement released Thursday, ADOR said, ‘As we have stated during the trial, we have completed preparations for NewJeans’ official album release and are waiting to resume their activities.’

Although the kind of music Ador has produced for the group remains unknown, The Korea Herald confirmed that Beasts And Natives Alike (BANA) – the creative collective behind NewJeans’ previous hit songs such as ‘Attention,’ ‘Hype Boy,’ ‘OMG’ and ‘Ditto’ – appears not to have participated in the new material.

Min Hee-jin, former ADOR CEO. Image: Courtesy of ADOR

BANA, founded by Kim Ki-hyun, a longtime friend of Min Hee-jin, was rumored to be attempting to bring NewJeans under its management in February, when the group announced its departure from the agency, though that speculation later proved false.

The conflict between NewJeans and ADOR began in November 2024, when the group unilaterally announced the termination of its exclusive contract, citing a management and production vacuum following Min’s dismissal as its CEO in August that year. NewJeans argued that their contract was built on trust in Min and that her removal constituted a serious breach of the label’s contractual obligations.

However, the Seoul court ruled Thursday that NewJeans must maintain their exclusive contract with ADOR, stating that Min’s dismissal alone did not justify contract termination. The court said it found no managerial vacuum that prevented ADOR from carrying out its duties, adding that ‘the members’ trust in Min Hee-jin alone cannot be considered a fundamental contractual obligation.’

Following the ruling, NewJeans announced through their legal representative, law firm Sejong, that they respect the court’s decision but plan to immediately appeal, saying, ‘The relationship of trust with ADOR has been completely destroyed,’ making it ‘impossible to return and continue normal activities under the company.’

It is no secret who is powering ZUS Coffee to its best start in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

American import Anna DeBeer brings the right blend of firepower and leadership to power the Thunderbelles’ four-game unbeaten run in the Reinforced Conference.

The Thunderbelles’ last victim was a complete and healthy Petro Gazz side, rising above the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference champions, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.

DeBeer’s 23-point production helped keep ZUS Coffee as the lone unscathed team in the tournament, earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of Oct. 28 to Oct. 31.

The 24-year-old outside spiker previously said she is aiming for nothing less than the crown. And with a whole organization-from management to staff members-backing her up, the sky is the limit for the Thunderbelles.

‘Obviously, as a team, we want to win this thing. And we’re going to try our best to get there,’ said DeBeer.

‘I think that’s why it’s super exciting to be in an environment with such a great team, with great staff, and be around good people where it’s fun to work hard every single day.

‘So, I’m really just excited about getting better and seeing how far we can go,’ she added.

DeBeer edged out Akari’s Annie Mitchem, Creamline’s Courtney Schwan, Farm Fresh’s Helene Rouss Seaux, PLDT’s Savannah Davison, and the closest competitor, Capital1’s Oleksandra Bytsenko, for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering professional volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.

As one of the shorter imports in the league, DeBeer is embracing a ‘height doesn’t matter’ mentality.

DeBeer previously played in the US NCAA Division I with the University of Louisville Cardinals, helping steer the squad to national championships.

‘Obviously, I think in the US, we’ve kind of brought it out like height doesn’t matter, so I really don’t think about-I didn’t even know I was one of the shorter ones, I guess,’ she said.

Authorities recovered at least 13.5 kilos of ‘kush’ or high-grade marijuana in Balayan town, Batangas, on Sunday morning.

In a report on Monday, the Calabarzon police said that barangay chairman Roderick Delos Reyes of the coastal village of San Piro alerted the local police at 9:40 a.m. after discovering six abandoned sacks.

Upon inspection, the sacks were found to contain 27 packs of kush with an estimated value of P1,620,000. Police investigators are working to identify those responsible for the illegal drugs.

Balayan lies along the Verde Island Passage, a busy maritime route separating Batangas from Mindoro island province, which authorities said is sometimes exploited for smuggling activities

Pro-environmental group EcoWaste Coalition has called on Congress to enact a law that would phase out and eventually ban single-use plastics (SUPs) to help reduce the country’s growing volume of garbage, following this year’s observance of Undas (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day).

The group issued the call after monitoring plastic waste scattered across public and private cemeteries in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Metro Manila – including the Manila North and South cemeteries – from October 31 to November 2.

Among the single-use plastics observed were plastic bags, bottles, cups, cutlery, straws, and polystyrene food and beverage containers, according to EcoWaste.

‘We urge our lawmakers to prioritize the enactment of a law that will phase out and eventually ban the production and consumption of SUPs,’ EcoWaste campaigner Ochie Tolentino said in a statement on Monday.

‘This long-overdue pollution prevention legislation will surely help reduce the volume as well as the toxicity of what we throw away every day, especially during Undas and other cultural celebrations,’ he added.

EcoWaste noted that while less litter was observed inside cemeteries due to the efforts of street sweepers and regular cleanups, streets outside cemetery compounds from November 1 to 2 were still littered with assorted garbage, including food packaging and leftovers.

‘Less litter and less garbage will be generated in the future Undas if SUPs are phased out, if local government units effectively enforce existing plastic ban ordinances, and if RA 9003-compliant waste management systems are implemented inside and outside cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria,’ the group said.

Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, aims to protect public health and the environment by promoting sustainable waste prevention and reduction practices, including source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and proper disposal.

But Tolentino emphasized that simply placing trash bins for mixed waste in cemeteries is not enough, as garbage still needs to be properly segregated to ensure efficient recycling, prevent contamination, and minimize the amount of residual waste that ends up in landfills.

‘As most cemeteries lack ecological solid waste management plans and adequate personnel to carry them out, especially during Undas when thousands visit their departed loved ones, it is best for visitors not to leave any trash behind, no matter how little,’ he added.

Higher member contributions pushed the Social Security System’s (SSS) net income up by nearly 20 percent in the first nine months of 2025, helping offset the impact of increased benefit payouts from the recent pension hike.

Data from the state-run pension system showed that its net income reached P93.88 billion by the end of September, or a 19.9-percent growth from P78.3 billion in the same period last year.

Contributions from members rose by 14.23 percent to P281.7 billion, more than double the pace of growth in benefit payments, which went up 6.84 percent to P223.3 billion. Overall expenses rose 9.07 percent to P251 billion during the period, driven by higher benefit payouts and operational costs.

At the start of September, SSS started to roll out an increase in pensions phased over until 2027, which was said to benefit millions of pensioners without requiring an increase in member contributions.

Retirement and disability pensioners received a 10-percent increase, while death or survivor pensioners got 5 percent on Aug. 31.

Robert Joseph de Claro, the fund’s president and chief executive, earlier said that slow growth was to be expected next year even as they set a higher target for contributions in 2026.

Earnings are only projected to increase by about 8 percent in 2026, which is lower than the estimated 38 to 45 percent increase this year.

The fund forecasts earnings to rise by just about 8 percent in 2026, well below the estimated 38 to 45 percent increase in 2025.

Earnings are projected to increase by about 8 percent in 2026, significantly lower than the estimated 38 to 45 percent expansion recorded this year.

Still, the higher earnings recorded for the first three quarters remain on track with the system’s full-year profit goal of P100 billion.

Local governments in Siargao activated their disaster response teams, issued advisories for preemptive evacuation, and heightened coastal monitoring as Typhoon Tino advanced toward the Caraga region on Tuesday.

After a series of emergency meetings over the weekend to coordinate contingency plans with local councils in Surigao del Norte and the Province of Dinagat Islands, the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) issued an advisory directing all local disaster offices to activate emergency operations centers, preposition rescue assets and ensure the readiness of evacuation sites to accommodate people coming from low-lying and landslide-prone areas.

In General Luna town, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) issued an early evacuation advisory to its 19 barangays, particularly urging families in flood-prone coastal zones to evacuate early and not wait for weather conditions to deteriorate.

MDRRMC also encouraged local lodging houses, resorts, and private establishments to voluntarily open their facilities to evacuees who may need temporary shelter.

Among those who offered help is General Luna resident Alexa Ray Paroz, who opened her house to everyone who would need assistance.

‘Everyone is welcome. We can keep our community safe through kindness and readiness,’ Paroz stated on her Facebook page.

The MDRRMC also reminded residents to identify the nearest evacuation centers and prepare essential supplies.

Town and village officials went house-to-house to ensure that residents were aware of where to go in times of disaster.

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection also opened their coordination lines for immediate emergency rescue operations should the storm intensify.

In neighboring Del Carmen town, which had boosted disaster preparedness since the devastation of Odette in 2021, the MDRRMO apprised the town’s 20 barangays of its updated list of evacuation centers and emergency hotlines for the public to tap in times of emergency.

In the past, disaster officials in both Siargao and Dinagat Islands stressed preparedness measures that included preemptive evacuations, mangrove rehabilitation, and the building of typhoon-resilient housing to minimize risks amid potential heavy rains and strong winds that typhoons like Tino would bring