Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Relief goods and rice have been prepositioned in Tacloban City and seven other Leyte towns, which may be affected by Typhoon Tino, Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the Tingog party-list said on Monday.

Romualdez, in a statement, said that his office and Tingog have made the said preparations in light of the possibility that Tino will bring strong winds and heavy rains to Eastern Visayas.

Relief stocks, Romualdez said, have been delivered to the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Sta. Fe, Alang-alang, San Miguel, and Babatngon as part of their preparations. Tingog said each municipality will receive noodles, sardines, biscuits, coffee, while the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Alang-alang, Tolosa, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, and Babatngon will also receive rice in addition.

‘Preparedness remains a top priority to protect vulnerable communities, especially in coastal and low-lying barangays,’ Romualdez said.

‘We want every family to be ready and no one left struggling when bad weather comes,’ he added

Latest updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday night showed that Tino is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

Tino’s eye was last seen 95 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

According to Romualdez and Tingog, 15,000 kilograms of rice have been prepositioned, while delivery of hot meals have started at various evacuation centers in Tacloban City-with 3,000 Tacloban evacuees benefitting from the program.

‘The food distribution aims to provide comfort and sustenance to families seeking temporary shelter due to bad weather,’ Tingog said.

‘The feeding operation will continue on Tuesday in the city and nearby towns to ensure that displaced residents receive warm meals and immediate support during the weather disturbance,’ it added.

Tingog has three representatives in the House-Romualdez’s wife Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, their son, Rep. Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Rep. Jude Acidre.

‘We want to move fast and be present even before the storm arrives,’ Rep. Andrew Romualdez said.

‘We prepositioned these supplies to ensure families will not go hungry and to enable immediate delivery of support during emergencies,’ Acidre added.

Due to Tino’s intensity, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 has been raised in the following areas:

extreme southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes)

western and southern portion of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, City of Baybay, Inopacan, Hilongos, Hindang, Bato, Matalom, Javier, Macarthur, La Paz, Mayorga, Burauen, Isabel, Merida, Albuera, Dulag, Julita, Palompon)

Southern Leyte

northern portion of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Balamban, Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Borbon, Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo), including Camotes Islands

northeastern portion of Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Trinidad, Ubay, Bien Unido, Talibon)

Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and Bucas Grande Islands

The following areas are under Signal No. 3:

southern portion of Eastern Samar (Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo)

southern portion of Samar (Marabut)

central portion of Leyte (Tanauan, Palo, Tabontabon, Ormoc City, Dagami, Pastrana, Tolosa, Matag-Ob, Villaba, Kananga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe)

extreme northern and central portions of Cebu (City of Talisay, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Sibonga, City of Carcar, San Fernando, City of Naga, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Aloguinsan, Pinamungahan, Barili, Dumanjug, Argao, Alcantara, Moalboal, Ronda), including Bantayan Islands

central and eastern portions of Bohol (San Miguel, Mabini, Buenavista, Inabanga, Danao, Dagohoy, Guindulman, Pilar, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Jagna, Duero, Sierra Bullones, Carmen, Sagbayan, Clarin, Tubigon, Batuan, Catigbian, San Isidro, Calape, Loon)

northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud)

northern portion of Negros Occidental (Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Cadiz City, Bago City, Enrique B. Magalona, Toboso, Valladolid, Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Bacolod City, Murcia, City of Escalante, Calatrava, San Carlos City, Silay City, Pulupandan, City of Victorias, City of Talisay, Manapla, Binalbagan)

Guimaras

Iloilo

southern portion of Capiz (Tapaz, Mambusao, Jamindan, Dumalag, Dumarao, Cuartero, Dao, Panitan, Pontevedra, Sigma, President Roxas, Ma-Ayon, Pilar)

central and southern portions of Antique ( Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y, Hamtic, San Jose, Sibalom, Belison, Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, Bugasong, Tibiao, Laua-An, Barbaza)

rest of Surigao del Norte

According to Pagasa, Tino may intensify into a super typhoon as it approaches land, drawing comparisons to Super Typhoon Yolanda, which wreaked havoc over Leyte in 2013, also in November.

Liza Soberano announced that she will be entering the music scene, as she revealed that she will drop her debut single ‘Red Ferrari’ on November 14.

Soberano announced her upcoming debut into music on her TikTok page on Sunday, November 4, while sharing a snippet of the single to her followers. The clip also showed the actress jamming to the song.

‘GUESS WHO’S DROPPING A SINGLE ON NOVEMBER 14th,’ she captioned her post along with the hashtag ‘#RedFerrari.’ Soberano’s announcement came days after it was confirmed that she will be part of the upcoming animated film ‘Forgotten Island’ with fellow Filipinos Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, and Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (or H.E.R.). Joining them are Dave Franco and Jenny Slate. It is set to be released in cinemas in September 2026.

A collaboration between Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, ‘Forgotten Island’ tells the story of lifelong best friends Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Soberano) finding themselves stuck on the forgotten island of Nakali. As they navigate the island, they are determined to find their way home after losing their cherished memories.

Soberano, who’s currently based in the US, made her Hollywood debut in the film ‘Lisa Frankenstein.’

As part of its goal to make this freeport the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the country, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) began the dry run of its electric bus (e-bus) system on Monday.

According to the SBMA, the dry run will be implemented from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Sunday (Nov. 9), with the e-buses picking up and dropping off passengers at designated bus stops within the Central Business District. No fares will be collected during the dry run.

The key objectives of the activity are to check e-bus functionality and capacity under actual passenger conditions, assess compliance and operational aspects of charging stations and manpower, and conduct a time-and-motion study to determine average cycle duration and efficiency.

In May, 10 e-bus units acquired through Golden Asia Automotive Builders, Inc. and manufactured by Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd. were delivered to the freeport and have already undergone road testing.

SBMA also built fast electric vehicle charging stations (EVCs) at the motorpool area of its Maintenance and Transportation Department and installed another charging station-donated by the Department of Energy-along Argonaut Highway.

Aside from the EVCs, the agency allocated ?10 million for the rehabilitation of bus stops and terminals and the construction of new ones: eight around the Central Business District, 16 in the Cubi Area, six in theme park areas, 18 in the Binictican Housing area, and 10 in the Kalayaan Housing area. The project is expected to be completed by December this year.

The SBMA said it remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint, aiming for a 30-percent decrease in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040

The San Juan Regional Trial Court denied the application for a temporary restraining order filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada against former Public Works Assistant Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez.

In a resolution, the San Juan RTC Branch 160 denied the senator’s request to stop Hernandez from making false and defamatory statements linking him to the anomalous flood control projects.

The court explained that the extreme urgency warranting the need for the restraining order is no longer present since its purpose is to prevent the wide dissemination of Hernandez’ false allegations.

It noted that the senator himself admitted that Hernandez’s statements have already pervaded all media outlets and featured on news channels.

‘Clearly, the issuance of a temporary restraining order at this point would no longer serve its purpose as the acts sought to be restrained were already fait accompli (they have already happened),’ the court, through Presiding Judge Caron Aicitel Lascano-Nethercott said.

It added that: ‘Owing to the permanent nature of online posts, even assuming that a restraining order can be issued, the digital footprint of the alleged malicious imputations which have been posted and reposted online lasts indefinitely, almost impossible to be forgotten.’

Although the court denied the TRO request of the senator, it warned the public that further public commentary on the matter outside official legislative proceedings could violate the sub judice rule.

‘Any imputations, comments or discussions made either through conventional or digital platform, outside the realm of official legislative inquiries and investigations. would in any manner tend to influence the Court, prejudge the issue, and in general, obstruct the administration of justice, are hereby proscribed,’ the ruling said.

The court clarified that its decision does not bar Hernandez from testifying in congressional inquiries, citing constitutional respect for legislative investigations conducted in aid of legislation.

‘The Court, ever mindful of the principle of separation of powers, and owing to the Constitutional respect due to a co-equal branch of the government, will not even venture to pry into their business,’ the court said.

Still, the court noted a hearing for Estrada’s application for a writ of preliminary injunction on November 12, 2025.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez has appealed to residents of Tacloban, especially those living in areas prone to flooding and landslides, to evacuate immediately as the city braces for the possible impacts of Typhoon Tino.

Romualdez also urged the city’s more than 250,000 residents to remain indoors, either at home or in shelters, by 6 p.m. Monday, noting that the typhoon is expected to intensify by then. The city has already been experiencing moderate to strong rains brought by the weather disturbance on Monday afternoon.

‘If Tacloban will suffer devastation due to the typhoon, I will lock down the city. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed to enter,’ Romualdez warned in an online address to residents on Monday.

He said the lockdown measure would prevent looting and ensure public order, recalling how the city suffered lawlessness and disorder in the aftermath of Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan) in 2013.

The mayor said that residents who wish to leave the city before or after the typhoon would be allowed to do so, but reiterated that public safety is the top priority. He also instructed the police and the Army to assist in enforcing safety measures if necessary.

‘This is the time to go to our evacuation centers, especially for those living in danger zones. This is the time to be safe and alert. Please pay attention to official reports,’ Romualdez said.

He also reminded the public of the ongoing liquor ban, which will remain in effect until Tuesday, as part of precautionary measures to maintain safety and order during the storm.

As of Monday afternoon, Tacloban City, the regional center of Eastern Visayas, has been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Typhoon Tino continues to move closer to the region.

Local authorities have also prepositioned food supplies for the evacuees. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, meanwhile, has started distributing food aid to Tacloban City and the other towns within the province’s first congressional district as residents hanker down to weather the storm

Patrick Coo went home with a bronze medal from the tough Asian BMX championships in Japan over the weekend, a finish that makes him an automatic favorite for the gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand that gets going next month.

The national federation for cycling is excited at the prospect of Coo winning as the body can improve on a two-bronze effort cyclists contributed to the medal cache of the Philippines in the Cambodia Games two years ago.

Japanese Asuma Nakai and Ryo Shimada-who both won’t be in Thailand-delivered before home fans at Nagoya Keirin Stadium BMX Race Course in Aichi Prefecture to bag gold and silver, respectively, in the eight-athlete race where Filipino Niño Martin Eday was last.

The event also featured riders from Indonesia, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Conspicuously absent was Thailand ace Komet Sukprasert, who won the race and time trial gold medals the last time BMX racing was on the SEA Games program during the 30th edition in 2019.

‘He’s a strong potential for the gold and improve on the two bronze medal our sport got in Cambodia two years ago,’ said Bambol Tolentino, the PhilCycling head who is also president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, referring to Coo.

Jeanne Soleil Cervantes, meanwhile, was fourth in the Women Junior race.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas reported that 1,639 families, or 6,284 individuals, are now taking shelter in various evacuation centers across the region as Typhoon Tino continues to threaten parts of the region.

Based on the PNP-8’s situation report released Monday afternoon (as of 12:51 p.m.), the majority of evacuees are from the province of Biliran, where 1,448 families, composed of 5,289 individuals, have sought temporary refuge. These evacuees come from the towns of Maripipi, Cabucgayan, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, and the provincial capital, Naval.

In Southern Leyte, particularly in Padre Burgos town, 103 families or 347 individuals are staying in evacuation centers, while in Eastern Samar, 88 families composed of 648 persons from the town of Guiuan have likewise been evacuated.

According to the PNP-8, a total of 2,757 evacuation centers have been prepared across Eastern Visayas in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact.

As of Monday afternoon, 14 of these facilities are currently occupied – eight in Biliran, three in Southern Leyte, and three in Eastern Samar.

Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said that 1,867 police personnel have been deployed as part of the PNP’s reactionary standby support force. These personnel are coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to assist in evacuation, search and rescue, and relief operations.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) has prepositioned 18,473 ready-to-eat food packs, 139,631 family food packs, and 20,664 non-food items such as family kits, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits.

These supplies are ready for distribution to families affected by Tino, which comes just days before the 12th anniversary of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan), the 2013 disaster that devastated Tacloban and other parts of the region

Local oil prices will surge in the first week of November, with diesel prices making the biggest jump of P2.70 a liter.

In an advisory on Monday, Seaoil said gasoline and kerosene would also increase by P1.70 and P2.10 a liter starting Nov. 4.

This marks the fifth straight week of hikes for gasoline, and the second for both diesel and kerosene.

Last week, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said the new sanctions against Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil ‘have introduced significant compliance risks and uncertainty into the market.’

‘Growing concerns that refined products output will tighten globally due to the US sanctions on key Russian producers have resulted in strengthening diesel and gasoline prices outside of crude movements,’ he added.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wants to exempt more small corporations from the mandatory submission of audited financial statements as it seeks to shrink ‘unnecessary’ compliance costs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In a statement, the corporate watchdog said it had submitted a policy paper to the Department of Finance (DOF) recommending that corporations with total assets or liabilities not exceeding P3 million be required to submit only annual financial statements.

These must be certified under oath by their treasurer or chief financial officer before submitting the documents in lieu of audited financial statements.

The proposed policy will apply to financial statements covering fiscal years ending on Dec. 31, 2025. This is still subject to the approval of the DOF.

‘Our proposed policy will not only improve the ease of doing business, but will also cut unnecessary compliance requirements for micro entities, in support of the government’s goal of driving inclusive economic development,’ SEC Chair Francis Lim noted.

The SEC currently requires corporations with total assets or liabilities of at least P600,000 to submit annual financial statements audited by an independent certified public accountant.

However, the regulator pointed out that the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines also recognized the authority of the DOF to determine the cap.

In pushing for the expansion of the threshold, the SEC is also seeking to reduce incidents of rubber-stamp audits, cut barriers to registration and simplify compliance obligations.

‘We have repeatedly said that MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, which is why the SEC remains committed to implementing measures that will foster a business environment that is easier to navigate for our budding entrepreneurs,’ Lim said.

This is the agency’s latest move to make it easier for MSMEs to do business. Earlier, the SEC announced that its newest policies have resulted in over P80 million worth of discounts for small corporations. The total covered over 40,000 transactions, including company filings.

Of the total discount, more than half, or P40.9 million, went to MSMEs, according to the SEC.

In July, a time-bound 50-percent discount on the physical and authenticated copies of company filings took effect, translating to over P36.5 million in discounts. These documents include articles of incorporation and by-laws, general information sheets and annual financial statements that used to cost up to P2,000 each.

The discount will be effective until the end of the year.

Under a separate memorandum, the SEC also provided discounted rates on filing fees to support MSMEs. This allowed a total of 8,506 MSMEs to accumulate P21.4 million in discounts on fees that need to be paid before they are registered as corporations.

ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio has thrown his support for the congressional probe on the controversial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project, but Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte has accused the lawmaker of being subservient to the current administration.

Tinio, in an ambush interview on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa complex, said that he sees nothing wrong with the House of Representatives’ committee on public accounts’ looming probe on the dolomite beach issue, noting that the pursuit of accountability should reach the top-including former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration spearheaded the project.

Rep. Duterte is the eldest son of the former president.

‘Well, I think it’s positive and it’s about time that we reveal that this project was truly useless, it was started by the past administration, in the middle of the pandemic, using over P600 million, but it is not even a true rehabilitation of Manila Bay,’ Tinio said.

‘So, this should really be investigated, again, for us to see how much public funds were wasted and the extent of the corruption involved here, and we have to hold everyone involved accountable, up to the (former) president himself, because it was a project of the previous leader,’ he added.

The younger Duterte, however, noted that it seems Tinio is quick to call for accountability, but they were allegedly silent when funds were stolen from the country.

‘You are quick to look for who should be held accountable now, but when the country was being robbed of its funds, you were silent. When it was billions that we were talking about, where are you, people who are quick to judge? When the people are mad about the brazen robbery revealed this year, it seemed that you were quick to forget,’ Rep. Duterte said.

‘Actually, the more pressing question should be: has anyone been held accountable for the billions lost during the time of your bosses? None, right? Do not make yourselves appear like champions of transparency if you are only politicking. If your goal of ‘accountability’ is true, start with yourself-and those whom you serve who are tainted with corruption.’

The terms ‘bangag’ (stupid or stoned) and ‘tambaloslos’ (Visayan mythical creature) have been used by Duterte supporters to describe President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, respectively.

Rep. Duterte also defended his father, saying that it was only during his father’s time that Manila Bay was cleaned.

‘How many decades has it been, and there were no officials from the government who gave the right attention to the problems of Manila Bay, and we were accustomed to the dirt and garbage floating on it. Now, a President from Mindanao did something so that Manila Bay could be useful, and many were happy that finally, Manila Bay is clean,’ he said.

‘But after a few years, and because of politics, you are forcefully trying to make an issue over Manila Bay and are dragging President Duterte to destroy him. There is no problem with accountability from those who are at fault, and like you said FPRRD is part of it because it was his project. But why are you silent on seeking accountability from those who signed the most corrupt budget from 2023-2025?’ he asked.

A quick search on social media and search engines would show that Makabayan has called out the government, and even both the House 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.

Progressive group Bayan Muna, a part of Makabayan, has also consistently questioned the need to certify budget bills as urgent, believing such executive powers are reserved for calamities and emergencies.

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.

Under Section 5, paragraph 5 of the Constitution’s Article XIV, the government is required to ‘assign the highest budgetary priority to education’.

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.’

Then, last January 23, 2025, Castro said that if Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab is correct-that there were blank items in the final version of the 2025 GAB-then constitutional issues may arise from it.

The schedule on the dolomite beach probe was announced earlier by Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who chairs the House committee on public accounts.

According to Ridon, the investigation will focus on whether the project was necessary, and check if the dolomite beach fits the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court (SC) writ of continuing mandamus on the Manila Bay rehabilitation.

‘The House public accounts committee will begin proceedings on the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project in the week of November 17, 2025,’ Ridon said.

The first hearing will focus on the project’s necessity based on (a) the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and (b) the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,’ he added.