Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Barbie San Andres made an impressive debut for Alpha Insurance to stun back-to-back bronze medalist Savouge, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22, in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Monday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

With Savouge threatening to force a decider after tying the third set at 23-all, San Andres scored the go-ahead spike before Billie Anima blocked Mark Calado to reach match point, 24-22. Shawi Caritativo’s attempt went off the mark as the Protectors opened their campaign, prevailing in two hours and 16 minutes.

San Andres and Anima also stepped up in the end game of the third as the former sent Alpha to set point twice before Anima’s block on Charlee Magpayo for a 2-1 advantage.

San Andres, who last played for the defunct D’Navigators last year, delivered 19 points, 11 excellent receptions, and nine digs. JJ Javelona and Vince Himzon had 12 and 11 points, respectively. NCAA Season 100 rookie MVP Rocky Motol chipped in 10 points and 11 digs.

‘Our mindset is that when we take the lead, we hold onto it. So when the other team starts to catch up, we remind ourselves, this is ours, we can’t let it slip away. Once we’re ahead, we tell ourselves the win is within reach, and we can’t let it go, especially during the crucial parts of the game,’ said San Andres.

Anima had six blocks to finish with eight points to start their campaign on a high note before facing Cignal on Wednesday at Paco Arena.

‘We’re trusting the process. Last conference, we really lacked preparation, but coming into this one, we had a much better buildup,’ said coach Mike Santos. ‘We also recruited some strong, talented players, so we really focused on our training this time. But hands down, Savouge is a great team. It just so happened they made a lot of errors, and we were able to take advantage of that.’

Savouge was led by Calado, who had 20 points, and Caritativo with 19, including six consecutive points midway through the fourth set only to fall short.

Norwel Sanama had 13 points, as they try to bounce back against Far Eastern University on Wednesday.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday maintained that Cebu remains a safe and open for tourism, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last September.

The DOT, in a statement, said major hotels, ports, and airports in Metro Cebu, particularly Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Cebu Baseport, and seaports in Santa Fe, Maya, and Kawit, are fully operational.

Likewise, hotels such as Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu; Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan; Radisson Blu Cebu; Seda Ayala Center Cebu; Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino; Quest Hotel and Conference Center – Cebu; and Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu reported no structural damage and remain fully operational.

Meanwhile, other hotels that previously reported minor damage have already resumed normal operations following inspections confirming the properties are safe for accommodation, with no guest injuries reported.

The DOT also stated that dive and island destinations like Malapascua and Gato Island remain safe for diving and island tours, citing the Provincial Government of Cebu and accredited dive operators who have already conducted marine ecosystem assessments.

‘Tourism operations across Cebu and the Central Visayas region remain business as usual, with most public areas, heritage sites, and accommodation facilities already inspected and declared structurally sound by authorities,’ the DOT said.

Hence, the DOT said it will continue with all scheduled events and activities in Cebu, affirming that the province remains safe and open to visitors following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last September and subsequent aftershocks.

‘We, at the DOT, encourage tourism operations in Cebu not only to attract visitors to explore the island’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty, but most importantly to sustain the livelihood of our tourism stakeholders who depend on the continued vibrancy of tourism activities,’ Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.

Meanwhile, the DOT assured that it has already conducted multiple post-disaster inspections and coordination meetings with relevant agencies, as well as local governments, to implement immediate aid to affected communities, as well as recovery programs.

All 2,062 affected tourism workers have also received food assistance, with additional emergency cash transfer and livelihood training programs now being processed in partnership with national agencies.

The DOT also assured the public that it continues its joint efforts with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Small Business Corporation in providing accessible loan facilities to tourism enterprises affected by the earthquake.

Austin Reaves scored a career-high 51 points including four clutch free throws in the final 32 seconds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 127-120 without Luka Doncic on Sunday.

Reaves made 12 of 22 from the field and sank six 3-pointers including the 500th of his career. Reaves also had nine assists and 11 reboundsReaves is just the fourth player in the last 40 years with at least 50 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a game, joining Doncic, Russell Westbrook (twice) and James Harden (twice). The last time a Lakers player had 50-plus points, 11-plus rebounds and nine-plus assists was Feb. 13, 1963, when Elgin Baylor had 50 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists against the Boston Celtics.

DeAndre Ayton had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura scored 18 points.

Doncic was ruled out before the game due to a sprained finger on his left hand and a bruised lower left leg. He’s expected to be reevaluated in about a week, according to the Lakers.

That’s another blow for Los Angeles, which isn’t expected to have LeBron James (sciatica) back until mid-November.

Against the Kings it hardly mattered the way Reaves played.

Reaves scored 15 points in the fourth quarter after the Kings took a four-point lead, including a clutch jumper that gave the Lakers a 122-116 lead with 1:48 remaining.

Zach LaVine scored 32 points to lead six players in double figures for the Kings.

DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points, Domantas Sabonis had 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder added 18 points and 12 assists.

Even without their top two scoring options, the Lakers got going early and took a 10-point lead in the first quarter.

Hachimura had 10 points in the first nine minutes of the game while Ayton and Marcus Smart each scored seven points as Los Angeles led 31-21.

The Kings made seven 3s in the second quarter – three from Westbrook – to tie the game at halftime.

Up next

Lakers: Face the Trail Blazers in Portland on Monday.

Kings: Play the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Tuesday,

As the nation prepares to mark All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has urged the faithful to reclaim the true Christian meaning of Halloween by celebrating holiness instead of ‘horror.’

In his pastoral message titled ‘Children of God, Not of Darkness,’ the Cebu prelate encouraged parents, teachers, and parish leaders to guide children in choosing costumes and activities that reflect Christian virtues.

‘Let us guide our children to dress as saints, not as demons; as angels, not as monsters,’ Uy said. ‘Let their joy reflect the beauty of holiness, not the ugliness of sin.’

All Hallows’ Eve

He reminded the faithful that Halloween originated from All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil of All Saints’ Day – therefore meant to honor the saints.

‘Sadly, through the years, the meaning has been distorted. Instead of celebrating light, goodness, and holiness, it has often turned into a glorification of darkness, fear, and evil,’ Uy said.

The archbishop stressed that holiness is not dull or lifeless, but rather joyful, courageous, and full of love-qualities that today’s youth should embrace.

‘Holiness is not boring – it is joyful! Saints were people who loved deeply, served faithfully, and lived courageously. If we want our children to have true heroes, let them look to the saints,’ he said.

Celebration of faith

Uy also called on families to use the season as an opportunity to strengthen faith and instill Christian values in young people.

‘As we celebrate All Saints’ Day, may we be inspired to live holy lives in our homes, schools, and workplaces,’ he said. ‘Let us fill our communities not with fear, but with faith; not with masks of darkness, but with faces of kindness and love.’

The archbishop ended his message with a blessing for all families: ‘May the Holy Spirit keep your hearts pure, your imagination joyful, and your lives radiant with the light of Christ.’

Across Cebu, parishes have been preparing faith-centered events and ‘Parade of Saints’ activities, reflecting Uy’s call to turn Halloween into a celebration of faith, hope, and holiness

A soldier was killed while three others were injured early Monday after two motorcycles they were riding were sideswiped by a bus along the Maharlika Highway in Lopez town, Quezon province.

According to a police report, a Goldtrans bus driven by a man identified only as ‘Robert’ was negotiating a stretch of the highway in Barangay Talolong around 12:10 a.m. when it accidentally hit two motorcycles carrying four riders.

The motorcyclists, identified only as ‘Nico’ and ‘Erwin,’ reportedly lost control of their vehicles after the impact. They and their back riders, ‘Emer’ and ‘Reynaldo,’ were thrown off their motorcycles and landed on the pavement.

All four victims-soldiers assigned to the Philippine Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion-were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Nico, however, was declared dead on arrival, police said.

The report did not mention whether the victims were wearing helmets as required under the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009. It also noted that Erwin’s motorcycle had no license plate.

The bus driver fled the scene and remains at large as police continue their manhunt

Influenza-like illness (ILI), or flu, has surged to 1,161 cases in Cagayan from January to October this year, prompting provincial health authorities to urge residents to stay vigilant and take precautions against the virus.

Nestor Santiago, Provincial Surveillance Officer of the Cagayan Provincial Health Office, said in a Monday (October 27) briefing that influenza-like illness is a contagious disease caused by various viruses or bacteria that infect the nose, throat, and lungs.

‘It is important to strengthen the immune system because this is the most effective defense against the spread of the disease, especially now that the weather is changing,’ he added.

Most cases were recorded in Tuguegarao City with 231, followed by Gonzaga (185), Solana (96), Peñablanca (77), Alcala (69), and Sta. Teresita (6). The majority of patients are children aged one to ten years old.

During the same period in 2024, only 988 flu cases were reported, marking an increase of 173 cases this year.

Common flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, shivering, muscle and joint pains, severe weakness, and vomiting, Santiago added.

‘The public is encouraged to immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility to avoid more serious complications,’ he said.

Health office personnel also reminded residents to avoid crowded areas and follow basic health protocols, such as washing hands, wearing face masks, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, and ensuring proper ventilation at home or in the office

After several delays, Maynilad’s long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) is finally pushing through. The country’s largest water concessionaire will offer 2.29 billion shares at P15 apiece from Oct. 23 to Oct. 29, with listing set for Nov. 7.

What makes this IPO particularly interesting is its stability-a quality that’s becoming more valuable amid rising uncertainty about economic growth. Demand for water tends to be steady regardless of economic cycles. In fact, Maynilad’s billed water volume grew modestly from 526.9 million cubic meters in 2022 to 553.5 million cubic meters in 2024. While the growth isn’t dramatic, it reflects how water consumption doesn’t drop sharply even during economic slowdowns.

Adding to that stability is Maynilad’s government concession, which runs until 2047. Under this agreement, the company earns a regulated return of 12 percent on its open cash position (OCP)-basically, the cumulative amount it has invested in water and wastewater infrastructure (like treatment plants and pipelines), net of what it has already recovered from tariffs. Think of the OCP as a running tab of approved spending that Maynilad gradually gets paid back for through water bills-ensuring steady and predictable cash flows.

Dividends: The key attraction

At its IPO price of P15 per share, Maynilad’s projected dividend yield of around 7 percent immediately stands out-higher than the 10-year Philippine bond yield of about 6 percent and above the average yield of high-dividend stocks and real estate investment trusts in the local market.

The company follows a generous dividend policy, paying out the higher of 50 percent of the prior year’s net income or 40 percent plus depreciation and amortization. Backed by regulated returns, a long concession life and steady cash flows, these dividends should be both consistent and sustainable.

All in all, Maynilad offers bond-like stability with growth potential-a combination that’s especially attractive in a market where interest rates are starting to fall and investors are looking for reliable income plays.

Why the premium vs. Manila Water is justified

At first glance, Maynilad appears fairly valued versus fellow water concessionaire Manila Water (MWC), trading at 7.1x 2025E P/E compared to MWC’s 6.7x. But the slight premium seems justified.

Unlike the East Zone, which MWC serves and is already more developed, Maynilad’s West Zone still offers plenty of room for growth. The company plans to spend P163 billion from 2023 to 2027 to expand and improve its services-including reducing nonrevenue water from 35 percent to 25 percent by 2027, expanding the number of wastewater treatment plants from 24 to 28 and increasing sewerage coverage from 35 percent to 49 percent by 2031. These initiatives not only enhance service quality but also unlock long-term revenue potential.

Maynilad also has expansion opportunities beyond the West Zone, such as potential projects in Bulacan, Cavite and new reclamation developments in Pasay and Navotas-all of which could sustain earnings growth in the coming years.

Risks to keep in mind

That said, Maynilad’s business isn’t without risks. Because it operates under a government concession, its earnings remain tied to regulatory and political decisions. Although the current franchise runs until 2047, Congress can still review or amend the agreement-a reminder of the political risks inherent in regulated utilities.

Execution is another key concern. Maynilad’s ambitious infrastructure projects require precise and timely implementation. Falling short of service targets could lead to penalties or delays in tariff recoveries from the MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System).

Even so, the 2021 revised concession agreement made the regulatory framework clearer and more balanced. It fixed the allowable rate of return at 12 percent and excluded corporate income taxes from recoverable costs-addressing the most controversial provisions in the original deal. In return, the concession was extended to 2047, giving Maynilad more time to recover its investments.

And when it comes to execution, Maynilad’s track record provides reassurance. Since DMCI and Metro Pacific took over in the early 2000s, the company has consistently expanded service coverage, reduced water losses and improved wastewater facilities-a solid record that supports confidence in its ability to deliver on future targets.

Bottom line: A solid long-term play for income investors

Despite these risks, Maynilad’s fundamentals make it one of the more compelling IPOs in recent years. It’s a defensive play with strong earnings visibility, stable cash flows and a dividend yield that beats both bonds and most stocks. While it may look fairly valued versus Manila Water, its larger growth runway in the West Zone justifies the premium.

In short, Maynilad offers bond-like stability with equity upside, making this IPO worth a serious look.

Child labor continues to persist within the fishing and aquaculture sectors primarily due to poverty, a practice the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) hopes to end by 2028 as it seeks to address challenges affecting the industry.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma made the remark on Monday as he noted that Dole, through the National Council Against Child Labor, continues to ‘coordinate with local government units and civil society partners to prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labor in fishing and aquaculture.’

‘We have a target of zero child labor by 2028, and we hope our partners will help us realize that particular goal and objective,’ he said in his speech during the first National Industry Dialogue on Sustainable Aquaculture Supply Chains in the Philippines.

The dialogue seeks to establish reforms in the aquaculture sector, particularly in the shrimp and seaweed industries, given their significant role in ensuring food security and their potential as export commodities due to local and global demand, Laguesma explained.

He noted that, despite its potential, a study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that the ‘structure of the aquaculture sector remained largely informal,’ and that challenges regarding the application of basic labor standards remain unaddressed.

The report also raised deficiencies in the workers’ occupational safety and health, levels of skills and productivity, social protection coverage, and representation of both employees and enterprises in tripartite and social dialogue mechanisms.

‘As a consequence, workers in the sector are exposed to high levels of vulnerability, often working under challenging and hazardous conditions, and with limited and unstable incomes. Micro and small enterprises are similarly exposed,’ Laguesma said.

‘They operate with low profit margins, do not have provisions for business continuity in the face of contingencies, and are often hampered by lack of support facilities or taken advantage of by unscrupulous middlemen,’ he added.

Moreover, Laguesma noted that child labor persists within the industry primarily due to poverty as well as culture, pointing out that in certain areas, parents prefer to have their children help them in their work.

‘What we want to see are children in schools, not in factories, whether in aquaculture or any other form of employment. We only promote employment in programs where we can monitor the youth,’ he said.

‘We have government internship programs and job start, but we combine that with career support development programs,’ Laguesma added.

The labor secretary, however, said that the number of child laborers in the aquaculture sector has decreased due to various interventions by agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

‘If the child is being forced by the parent to work instead of studying.first we will see how we can help in terms of livelihood or by providing employment. If the parents continue to be stubborn, that’s when the intervention by the DOJ will come in,’ Laguesma said.

He said another concern is that the current labor workforce no longer has the ‘incentive or the appetite’ to enter industries such as aquaculture, agriculture, and farming.

‘Much of this is due to the fact that aquaculture in general, and shrimps and seaweed farming in particular, is seen as an economic activity associated with low skills and productivity, subsistence-level income, and poverty,’ he explained. ‘We need to have a different mindset for us to uplift this sector,’ Laguesma said.

The Philippine government is taking decisive steps to realize the development of nuclear energy, as it has begun exploring funding options for potential nuclear assets.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend that it pooled experts and representatives from the private and public sectors to discuss capital-raising mechanisms for such projects.

This was through the National Workshop on Nuclear Power Infrastructure and Financing held in Manila, from Oct 20 to Oct. 24.

Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the session would pave a way for ‘a clearer pathway forward.’ The Marcos administration has set a goal of including nuclear power in the electricity generation mix beginning 2032.

Hurdles

According to the DOE, engaging with industry experts on drumrolling financing is critical. This, given the challenges posed in establishing nuclear power plants, such as hefty capital, long development timelines and a legal environment.

‘The Philippines is taking a leap forward with the discussions on financing like public-private partnerships, green financing and other viable models that could help shape the future of nuclear energy for the Filipinos,’ Bacordo said.

Brianna Lazerwitz, energy economist at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that a total of 31 countries are using nuclear energy. She said there are 416 nuclear power reactors in operation, with 63 more under construction.

Lazerwitz also noted a growing interest in more countries, with at least 32 new markets opting for nuclear energy.

‘For the fifth year in a row, IAEA global nuclear electric capacity projections for 2050 have been revised upwards,’ Lazerwitz said.

‘In the high case scenario, nuclear electric capacity is set to rise by 160 percent or 992 gigawatts (GW), up from 377 GW at the end of 2024. Even in the low case, capacity is expected to grow by 50 percent to 561 GW globally,’ she added.

The economist said that securing loans has been the way to go for most private power producers. But she called for ‘strong involvement’ of the government to bankroll the expansion of nuclear energy.

Last September, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said that the government may start entertaining applications for nuclear developments next year.

Wedding bells are ringing for ‘Riverdale’ star Camila Mendes, as she said yes to the marriage proposal of her partner and fellow actor Rudy Mancuso.

Mendes announced her engagement to Mancuso on her Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 25, showing glimpses of Mancuso’s intimate proposal, with the latter getting down on one knee in what seemed to be a room full of white curtains.

‘Engaged to my best friend,’ she captioned her post which included a teary-eyed and a ring emoji.

The couple received congratulatory messages from their followers and friends in the comments, including some from Mendes’ ‘Riverdale’ co-stars Lili Reinhart and Vanessa Morgan, as well as ‘Bridgerton’ star Phoebe Dynevor, ‘After’ star Katherine Langford, ‘Snow White’ star Rachel Zegler, and Disney alum Laura Marano.

According to a Teen Vogue report, Mendes initially thought that Mancuso’s proposal was merely a gathering to celebrate her birthday until he eventually popped the question to her in front of their family and friends.

The couple first met on the set of the film ‘Musicá,’ which also marked Mancuso’s directorial debut. They went public with their relationship in November 2022 after the actress posted a photo of her partner kissing her forehead on Instagram.