Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Criminal and administrative complaints were filed against Energy Secretary Sharon Garin before the Office of the Ombudsman for her alleged violation of a coal moratorium after she reportedly approved a 1,200-Megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant project in Atimonan, Quezon, in July this year.

The 30-page complaint was lodged by various church leaders and residents from the province, along with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) on Monday, accusing Garin of violating Section 3 (e) and (j) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for purportedly committing grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

According to PMCJ and other groups, Garin reportedly exempted the 1,200-MW Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E) coal-fired power plant project from the moratorium, despite it not meeting the requirements necessary for exemption.

Under the coal moratorium issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2020, concerned stakeholders were notified that the agency would not process applications for greenfield coal-fired power generation facility projects requesting for endorsements and existing and operational coal-fired power generation facilities, among others.

‘There is overwhelming opposition against the construction of the Atimonan coal plant.

It is not just the church but the people of Atimonan and Quezon Province. Besides, the economic and financial arguments are clearly against it,’ said Fr. Warren Puno, lead convenor of Quezon for Environment (QUEEN) in a statement handed out to the media during the filing.

‘No one is interested in investing in the construction of coal plants anymore, as their era has passed. Even the past DOE leadership has given up on it. DOE Secretary Garin has created a mess, and now she has to face the consequences,’ he added.

For his part, PMCJ chief legal counsel Aaron Pedrosa stressed that even DOE’s October 14 advisory expanding the exemptions to the moratorium ‘cannot be retroactively applied to justify the Atimonan coal plant project.’

‘In the face of ongoing protests and. investigation into the flood control issue, Garin should be investigated for facilitating the endorsement and approval of projects supposedly banned by the government,’ Aaron Pedrosa said.

Aside from the moratorium, the lawyer noted that the project also violates the Department of Health (DOH) – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2021-0001, also known as guidelines for the operationalization of the health impact assessment (HIA) review process for development projects, as the project proponent has yet to send an application for Health Impact Clearance Certificate.

Puno said they were trying to talk to Garin about the concerns plaguing the project and even staged a protest, but the DOE chief did not respond to them.

Garin’s camp, on the other hand, said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

After a scorching Sunday afternoon, Tropical Cyclone Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) intensified into a severe tropical storm while over the Philippine Sea.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Tino was located 805 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.

It is moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. Pagasa said Tino is forecast to continuously intensify and may reach typhoon category within the next 24 hours.

Tino is forecast to move generally westward over the next three days and make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat Islands late Monday evening or on early Tuesday morning.

Pagasa said heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point, and the surge of the northeast monsoon (‘amihan’) coinciding with the passage of Tino would continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts.

My childhood mornings in Isabela began with the cry of roosters. For most people, it was just countryside background noise, the alarm clock that crowed too early. For me, it was family business. My father was a cockfighter, and the roosters in our yard weren’t pets. They were warriors in training, athletes bred for blood.

I remember watching my father care for them with tenderness that surprised me. He would feed them with precision, stroke their feathers, even talk to them as if they understood. Sometimes he would whistle a tune while cleaning their cages, as if it were no different from sweeping the yard or fixing a roof. To a child, it looked like love. Yet I also knew that this love had an endgame. One day, those same roosters would enter a cockpit, blades tied to their legs, fighting for his pride, his livelihood, and maybe his luck.

The first time he let me watch a derby, I was too young to understand what was happening. The air was thick with sweat, cigarette smoke, and the noise of men shouting wagers. The atmosphere buzzed with something that felt both festive and dangerous, like a fiesta where joy and desperation danced side by side. When the fight began, I froze. The roosters blurred into each other, feathers flying, claws striking, a spray of red on the sand. The crowd roared as if it were a basketball game, but I couldn’t cheer. One rooster fell, struggling for breath, and I remember clutching my father’s hand, too afraid to ask him if this was winning or losing.

Growing up in a cockfighter’s household means you learn contradictions early. I saw my father treat his roosters like champions, only to gamble them away in a few minutes of combat. I saw neighbors cheer at death, but also cradle their wounded birds with a tenderness that reminded me of a parent tucking in a child. Was it cruelty? Was it culture? In our town, those two things often wore the same face.

Cockfighting was never just about roosters. It was about money changing hands, debts being settled, pride being measured. Men came alive in the cockpit. They shouted, laughed, argued, prayed. For them, ‘sabong’ was not simply sport. It was brotherhood, tradition, and a stubborn piece of identity. To grow up there was to understand that it was woven into our weekends, our fiestas, even our family stories.

But as I grew older, I began to see the shadows it cast. Cockfighting wasn’t just feathers and noise. It was also broken families, unpaid debts, and fathers who went home with nothing in their pockets. It was children waiting for mothers to explain why the electricity bill couldn’t be paid that month. My own father came home defeated more than once, carrying silence heavier than any rooster. At times, I wondered if he was gambling not just with roosters, but with our family’s stability, our future.

And yet, I could never hate him for it. How could I? For him, cockfighting wasn’t vice. It was survival, a way of being part of a community, a way of holding onto manhood in a province where opportunities ran thin. He inherited it, the way I inherited his stories, his stubbornness, and the sound of roosters crowing before dawn. To deny him that would be to deny the world he grew up in, the very soil that raised us both.

Now at 17, far from the Isabela cockpits of my childhood, I think about those roosters differently. They were more than animals bred to fight. They were symbols of the contradictions I carry as a daughter of this country. We are a people who cling to tradition, even when it draws blood. We celebrate life with rituals of death. We gamble on chances and call it hope.

When I hear roosters now in Dumaguete, they don’t sound like background noise. They sound like memory, like the mornings when my father bent over a cage, whispering to a bird destined for a fight. They sound like the arena, with its blur of feathers and frenzy. They sound like the part of me that is both proud and uneasy about where I come from.

I don’t know if cockfighting has a future. Maybe it will be banned completely; maybe it will outlast all of us. But I do know this: I cannot erase it from my story. I was raised in its shadow, by a father who loved his roosters as fiercely as he risked them.

And perhaps that is the lesson cockfighting left me with: that love and violence, pride and loss, tradition and change are never clearly separated. They are tangled together, like feathers and blood on a sandpit floor-remnants of a fight both brutal and beautiful, unforgettable in the way only childhood truths can be.

Local shares slid to a three-year low on Monday, bringing the main index down to the 5,800-level, as investors anticipated gloomy economic data amid sluggish public spending.

With the corruption mess hurting market confidence, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) lost 1.17 percent, or 101.62 points, to close at 5,828.06.

The broader All Shares Index also declined by 1.24 percent, or 44.38 points, to 3,548.90.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said this was the lowest finish of the local stock barometer since Oct. 3, 2022.

‘The local market plunged as investors anticipate dismal [third quarter] GDP (gross domestic product) data to be released later this week amid government underspending and tempered business confidence caused by the corruption issues,’ Philstocks financial research manager Japhet Tantiangco said.

A series of probe and mounting protests against corrupt politicians and government officials linked to flood control projects continues, with Filipinos seeing no arrests yet.

Minimal gain

Meanwhile, only the services recorded minimal gain, with financials and mining and oil posting the highest losses.

‘The rest fell with the banks incurring most losses, down 3.33 percent, as investors expect more policy easing by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which would put pressure on banks’ margins,’ he added.

The market closed with 56 gainers and 134 decliners, while 62 were unchanged.

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was the top index gainer, climbing 8.83 percent to P22.80.

China Banking Corp., on the other hand, was the worst index performer, declining 5.97 percent to P48.05. INQ

With Philippine economic growth losing steam and inflation still well below the target range, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is likely to deliver more rate cuts through 2026, according to a unit of Fitch Solutions.

BMI, the research unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a report that the BSP is likely to trim its policy rate to 4.5 percent by the end of the year, following its Oct. 9 decision to cut the benchmark interest rate to 4.75 percent.

The latest reduction marked the BSP’s fourth consecutive rate cut this year.

‘We expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to maintain a pro-growth policy stance amid growing economic uncertainty,’ BMI said.

‘The central bank has ample room to ease as inflationary concerns subside. The latest headline inflation in September came in at 1.7 percent, marking the seventh consecutive month below BSP’s 2.0-4.0 percent target range,’ the research group added.

The BSP on Oct. 30 also said that inflation for the month may have settled within the range of 1.4 percent to 2.2 percent.

BMI is projecting average inflation to settle at 1.6 percent by the end of 2025.

Inflation averaged 1.7 percent from January to September, according to BSP data.

Further easing is expected in 2026, with BMI expecting the rate to end at 4 percent by year-end, as inflation rises due to possible electricity hikes and higher rice import tariffs.

‘As such, we forecast a higher average inflation of 3.5 percent for 2026, which remains within BSP’s target range. We also forecast GDP growth to slow to 5.2 percent in 2026, well short of the government’s 6-7 percent target. This will contain inflation, providing BSP the policy room to continue the easing cycle to stimulate the economy,’ BMI said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine peso is likely to weaken gradually toward 59 per US dollar by the end of the year, averaging around 58 for the whole of 2025.

The Philippine peso recently tumbled to a historic low after closing at 59.13 against the US dollar last Oct. 29, which the BSP said may have been partly due to the controversy over infrastructure-related corruption.

Despite this, BMI said the BSP remains well-positioned to manage the peso’s depreciation, supported by gross international reserves of $108.8 billion as of September.

Philippine factory activity inched up slightly in October, as manufacturers reported improved business confidence for the next year, despite muted demand and production cuts.

A survey of around 400 companies showed the Philippines’ Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) picked up slightly to 50.1 from 49.9 in September, SandP Global said on Wednesday.

This kept the index above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.

The slight recovery came even as production and new orders remained weak amid sluggish demand, while export orders still have not recorded any growth for the second consecutive month.

‘A closer examination of the Philippines PMI data revealed a mixed picture in October. The two largest segments, new orders and output, indicated further declines,’ SandP Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said.

‘On a more positive note, manufacturers grew more optimistic about their growth prospects for output in the coming year,’ she added.

What’s worse than corruption?

For many construction firms keeping tabs on the ongoing food control brouhaha, the bigger nightmare isn’t finding the rotten eggs in the food control saga-it’s having construction come to a standstill.

Zero action is worse than corruption, the head of a big construction and engineering firm told Biz Buzz.

Indeed, these companies now feel the pinch from the slowdown in infrastructure spending that we are starting to see in the official government data-the same trend that economists fear would drastically curb economic growth.

Big firms can survive, no doubt, the construction magnate said, as they have a robust pipeline of contracts with the private sector. Without the multiplier effect from big government projects, however, the private sector can’t do the heavy lifting for long, they said.

Other legitimate contractors share the same sentiment. They all hope that the departments that could catalyze development, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, will be able to move on and fulfill with their real mandate.

‘Let the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) handle the rest,’ the construction magnate said.

With only three years to go, the administration should not be distracted from pursuing other much-needed projects, they added.

Similarly, they feel that the Department of Transportation should pick up the pace. After the privatization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, nothing big has been put into motion.

On a brighter note, our sources are happy with how the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is pushing mass housing developments in the country.

But for other agencies with huge potential to create a multiplier effect on the economy, whatever happened to our Build Better More (BBM) promise? -Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

Forging ahead

Investor morale has taken a hit amid recent corruption scandals in the Philippines, but this has not deterred these firms from moving forward with their investment plans.

Michael Tan, president and COO of Asia Brewery Inc., said companies are still interested in investing in the country despite these issues.

‘The business sentiment right now is down but we still have to help our country, right? Pay the right taxes, and make sure that we hold them accountable those who are spending (taxpayers’ money),’ said Tan, also the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s vice president for industry.

Since the flood control saga in Manila began in June this year, several business groups and organizations have urged the Marcos administration to investigate the alleged anomalies in government projects and penalize those involved in the anomalies.

For now, it’s still business as usual-at least for most investors. Some of them are still in a wait-and-see mode, while others are feeling the pinch in sales.

With more revelations looming, discussions about corruption in the country are unlikely to end soon. Hopefully, investments won’t

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas has shifted all public schools in the region to Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) effective 7 a.m. Monday, as Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) continues to pose threats of heavy rain, flooding, and power disruptions across the Visayas.

According to a summary report from the DepEd Regional Office VI, the shift affects 884,415 public school learners across 2,714 public schools in 99 municipalities and cities in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Passi City, and Roxas City.

Under ADM, learning continues through self-learning modules, online instruction, or parent-assisted learning-depending on the capacity and context of each school and community. ADM ensures that learners can continue their studies safely even when in-person classes are suspended due to disasters or other emergencies.

Capiz, with 141,676 public learners across 463 schools, recorded the highest number of affected students, followed by Iloilo province with 334,945 learners in 1,094 schools and Antique with 130,879 learners in 538 schools. Guimaras, the smallest division, has 40,420 learners in 116 schools under ADM.

DepEd Western Visayas said that the measure aligns with its continuity learning plan and disaster preparedness protocol, ensuring that ‘no learner is left behind’ despite weather-related disruptions. The regional office has coordinated with Schools Division Superintendents to monitor learning activities and provide technical assistance to teachers and parents implementing ADM at home.

Local government units across the region earlier suspended in-person classes and work in government offices as a precautionary measure against Tino, which is expected to hit Panay Island by Tuesday

The Coast Guard Station in Oriental Mindoro has temporarily suspended vessel trips in five southern towns of the province due to the threat of Severe Tropical Storm Tino, according to its advisory issued at 6:21 a.m. Monday.

In its 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 4, issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), reported that Tino was affecting the towns of Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.

‘All vessels are reminded to take precautionary measures and remain vigilant in monitoring the movement of the tropical cyclone. Voyages will remain suspended until further notice and upon improvement of weather and sea conditions,’ the Coast Guard said in its advisory.

It added that vessels seeking to take shelter will be permitted to do so, provided they file a request, but no passengers or cargo will be allowed on board.

Meanwhile, vessel operations from Calapan Port remain ongoing as of 5 a.m. advisory from the Calapan Coast Guard

No major untoward incidents were recorded in this year’s commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, or ‘Undas,’ according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

‘Nationwide monitoring showed 1,345,116 visitors across public and private cemeteries, with no recorded violations, arrests, or disorder,’ the PNP said in a statement Sunday night.

‘The Undas 2025 commemoration remained generally peaceful with zero major untoward incidents recorded across the country,’ it added.

The national police force, however, noted that seven ‘minor, isolated’ incidents were recorded, including a drowning case in Central Luzon, an illegal gambling case and a grave threat case in Calabarzon, a physical injury incident in the Bicol Region, a theft case, and an illegal drug use case in Metro Manila

‘All incidents were immediately responded to by concerned police stations and did not affect the overall peaceful situation,’ the PNP maintained.

It added that crowd movements in both memorial parks and transport hubs were smooth.

The PNP previously said it was on heightened alert for the commemoration of Undas from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, adding that over 50,000 police officers were deployed nationwide.