Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC), through its Environmental Permits Division EPD), successfully conducted the first-ever Eco Study Tour: ‘Discover the Green Side of Clark’ on October 13, 2025.

This activity highlights CDC’s continued commitment to environmental awareness and sustainable development in the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) and Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).

The activity aimed to enhance environmental awareness and appreciation of CDC’s sustainability programs among its employees.

It also marks the eco-tourism initiative of EPD that will promote the CFZ as a model for green and sustainable living, similar to Singapore.

The program further supports eco study tours that integrates learning with conservation/preservation and sustainability practices and recreation.

The Eco Study Tour commenced with safety briefing from Engr. Romeo Galang, EPD Building Safety Officer, followed by an overview of the activity and facilities to be visited delivered by Engr. Erwin C. Bognot, Manager and Mayflor R. Candelaria, Assistant Manager of the EPD, respectively.

The participants then visited the Clark Water Corporation (CWC) Wastewater Treatment Facility, where they were welcomed by Engr. Mark Franklin Manalang PhD, the Used Water Operations Head, who provided insights into responsible wastewater management and their compliance with the existing environmental laws. He also provided a walkthrough of the existing WTP process flow and operations.

Assistant Manager Candelaria discussed the WTF support of the seven United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing how CWC supports global efforts toward clean water, responsible consumption, protecting the environment, sustainable cities and communities.

It provided the participants to think together with Ms. Candelaria on how the facility contributes to the UN SDGs.

In closing Ms. Candelaria emphasized that that the CWC WTF is more than an engineering system-it is real world example of sustainability in action.

By supporting SDGs 3, 6,11, 12 13, 14, and 15, CWC and CDC together are showing how responsible infrastructure protects people, communities and nature.

The study tour continued at the CDC EPD Eco Park, guided by Senior Parks and Ecosystem Management Officer L.Ar. Melvin Flor Nabong and Parks Maintenance Supervisor Angelo Tiotuico. Participants learned about the eco-park’s vital role in biodiversity conservation.

The Eco Park project is envisioned as a dedicated space for cultivating ornamental plants to support CDC’s in-house landscaping needs while promoting sustainable environmental practices. Key features will include an edible landscaping area, composting facility, plant propagation section, and solar-powered lighting, all designed to demonstrate renewable energy and resource efficiency. Once fully operational, the park will serve as an educational and interactive hub where visitors can learn about sustainable landscaping, urban gardening, and environmental stewardship.

Participants were also introduced to wood identification techniques using magnifying lenses to examine cross-sections of various wood samples and visited the proposed xylarium (wood collection) within the parkThe activity concluded with a Tree Walking Tour at Clark Parade Grounds led by Forester Tiotuico, allowing employees to explore and recognize or identify native tree species and appreciate Clark’s natural environment. One of the highlights of this segment was the use of the Illustrated Tree Map Guide, an informative designed booklet featuring the tree species found within the Clark Parade Grounds illustrated and rendered by LAr. Melvin Flor Nabong, which serves as his lasting legacy to CDC.

The CDC Eco Tour is envisioned to become part of the corporation’s future tourism activities, attracting not only CDC employees but also other people to experience the Green side of Clark.

CDC EPD also welcomes potential partners who wish to support and collaborate in promoting best environmental practices (BEP) using best available technologies (BAT), including but not limited clean energy projects, composting technologies, and other sustainability innovations, geared towards building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Clark.

Filipino families need more than ever to prepare emergency go bags with essential supplies that could save lives especially after a recent series of earthquakes, according to Philhealth Care Inc. (PhilCare)

The health maintenance organization noted that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded an average of 20 earthquakes daily. Most of these are minor events, but with the constant threat of a major tremor that could devastate densely populated urban centers.

PhilCare said a well-supplied go bag could help save lives during the critical first 72 hours after a major seismic event.

Citing Department of Health protocols, PhilCare said every household should have at hand first aid kits, food and water, important documents, hygiene supplies, basic clothing, technical equipment like charged power banks and radios, and emergency cash. These items can mean the difference between life and death when hospitals are overwhelmed and infrastructure is damaged.

‘Earthquakes strike without warning, and having a go bag ensures you are ready to leave quickly with essential items for safety and survival,’ said Eilyn Evora-Ayuste, medical director at PhilCare.

‘Being prepared today can make a big difference tomorrow-it helps protect you and your loved ones by keeping important supplies within reach, anytime, anywhere,’ Ayuste said.

What a first aid kit should have

PhilCare recommends that first aid kits should include alcohol, band aids, povidone-iodine, wound ointment, paracetamol, mefenamic acid and maintenance medicines for family members with chronic conditions. These are supplies that become critically scarce in the immediate aftermath of disasters when pharmacies are damaged and hospitals are operating beyond capacity.

‘When a major earthquake strikes, our members with chronic illnesses face a double threat: the immediate danger of the disaster itself, and the risk of interrupted access to their daily maintenance medications,’ Ayuste said.

Beyond medical supplies, PhilCare emphasized the critical importance of securing vital documents in waterproof containers, including birth certificates, IDs, insurance policies and medical records. These are documents that families will need to access healthcare services, claim insurance and rebuild their lives after a disaster.

Regarding this, PhilCare is promoting a dual-documentation strategy. That is, keep original or certified copies of essential documents in earthquake go bags and maintain digital copies accessible. For PhilCare members, they may use the Member Gateway platform to ensure that even if physical documents are destroyed, families can still access critical information needed for recovery.

The company is also ready with remote medical consultations even during disasters when transportation is disrupted or hospitals are overwhelmed. INQ

The Benguet State University (BSU) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Cordillera are spearheading a three-year research project to identify the causes of vegetable oversupply in the region, which has long caused distress among local farmers.

La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post (LTVTP) market supervisor Janice Alleg said on Thursday that the study aims to help farmers cope with fluctuating prices and prevent losses caused by excess production.

‘The study can help overcome the worry of farmers on low vegetable prices due to oversupply,’ Alleg said in an interview.

The project, titled ‘Agri-Innovate: Development and Piloting of Supply Chain/Value Chain Solutions for Excess Supply and Resource Recovery of Vegetables in the Cordillera Administrative Region,’ began on June 1, 2024, and will run until May 31, 2027.

It is currently in the data-gathering phase.

The study is seeking to analyze the region’s vegetable supply and value chains – from farm production and transportation to trading and marketing – to understand the factors that lead to market saturation and price drops.

Its first phase covers farmers’ production calendars and crop rotation practices, leading up to how produce reaches the trading centers.

Vegetables traded in La Trinidad come mainly from Benguet, the Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

However, the influx of supply has often caused drastic price declines, leaving many farmers unable to recover even half of their production costs.

In extreme cases, farmers have resorted to giving away or donating unsold vegetables, with some using social media to invite the public to collect the produce for free. Others simply let their harvests rot due to unprofitable selling conditions.

‘We often hear farmers complain about low prices. For some, they do not anymore bring their produce to the trading post once they are informed of low prices,’ Alleg said.

La Trinidad hosts the region’s two biggest vegetable trading hubs – the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in Barangay Pico and the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center in Barangay Betag. Vegetable wholesalers from as far as Mindanao flock to trading centers here daily to buy vegetables, competing with traders who supply vegetables in the wet markets of the Visayas, Metro Manila, and Luzon. (Delmar O. Cariño

Nearly a month ago, popular local radio station Magic 89.9 canceled ‘Boys’ Night Out’ (BNO) unceremoniously after 19 years on air.

It all stemmed from management problems, and accounts will differ depending on who you ask. Tin Gamboa, aka DJ Suzy, will claim that it all began when they were talking about former President Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC), when station manager and former DJ Nelson ‘Sarge’ Capulso tried to stop and censor them because of what appeared to be his own personal political bias.

From there, Gamboa would voice her displeasure with Capulso’s management, which led to the show being scheduled to officially end on Oct. 2-but due to this feud, they announced that the Sept. 30 episode was the abrupt finale.

Edgy but progressive

Now I write about this news, even if I’m a little late to the party, because once upon a time, I was a huge fan of BNO. The young college-age boy who grew up listening to music-based radio his whole life got hooked by a talk show (with occasional songs) pushing the envelopes of what was considered decent and permissible live on air.

The very adult banter definitely made Manila traffic and night drives more bearable and entertaining, and I even got on the show myself a couple of times, as both a caller and as an actual guest when the local wrestling scene was gaining momentum.

But even though I grew up and out of BNO’s brand of edginess, I always acknowledged the value of what they were doing. They weren’t afraid to try and grow with the times, either, being flexible enough to add female voices to their typical brand of male locker-room talk-voices that they weren’t gushing over, even if that was still a thing.

Most guys their age probably wouldn’t have been open to that move, and for it, I commend the team’s intuition.

And if you had asked the old me, who was tuned in almost every night for all the dirty talk, I’d have probably scoffed at the idea that BNO would even dance near political territory. That seemed more like the speed of Mo Twister’s equally iconic radio show ‘Good Times,’ but that just goes to show that the boys were growing up, after all.

The end of an era

While BNO no longer reigned as supreme as it did 15 years ago, it was still an avenue for a good chunk of Filipinos to get things off their chest.

‘I think I’m still processing what has happened, despite my knowing something like this was always possible!’ Tony ‘Tony Toni’ Bueno, a day-one host of the show, tells me in a message. Known as one of the most positive voices on the show, the energy he gives me is that of clear optimism-if there’s any grief (and I know there is, as I’ve seen tears shed on social media), he is adamant not to show it.

‘Being in this industry for 26 years, you’ve seen and heard everything. For me, [my headspace is] seeing what’s out there, opportunities for me as a broadcaster and host, and also for the BNO group.’

The timing of the cancellation-especially over Capulso’s own views and that it happened less than a month after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which led to people facing real consequences for not showing sympathy-definitely made me feel like it was ultimately some form of political censorship and backlash, even though Bueno doesn’t fully agree that it was the case.

‘I don’t think we were politically censored, but definitely filtered in general,’ he says. ‘Our former station manager [Andrew Santiago aka James Bang, StationGuy899] (who, along with four other senior members, was also let go) gave us free range since we aren’t a political or religious program.’

‘We don’t normally like politics, but it’s important to share our views and opinions,’ he adds, showing the personal growth that they’ve experienced over the years.

One last ‘Yeah, men!’

For his part, Capulso hasn’t said anything publicly about the matter, simply opting to keep his Instagram account private. He seems to be quietly moving forward and rebuilding Magic 89.9, though at this point, many fans who were still listening have vocally thrown their support behind BNO.

‘Definitely [feel it was] powertripping or [being] punished for personal reasons, a vendetta, insecurity, since BNO will always call out management on what’s not working and what is,’ adds Bueno. ‘We always wanted what’s best for the station, but in the end, we are the ones cut for wanting better programming and music!’

For their part, BNO isn’t taking the cancellation lying down. They’ve teased a final episode, titled the ‘Last Night Out,’ scheduled on Nov. 10, though there are no details yet beyond the title and the date. Bueno didn’t have specifics to share when we spoke-only that the full cast, both the core three and the newer additions of Gamboa and Gino Quillamor, will be present.

‘With a vibrant community we built for the past 20 years we will have one last show with the original cast. We also wanna acknowledge everyone we worked with over the past 20 years,’ he says.

In fact, they seem to not want for this to be the end, although there were no explicit promises made.

‘As far as the brand, we shall see what we can do to go back on air,’ Bueno concludes. Whether the ‘Last Night Out’ is really the last time or just the end of this particular chapter of the show, it’s still an important chance for everyone who loves BNO to throw out one last ‘Yeah, men!’

At the Asia Global Institute forum in Hong Kong on navigating the tariff war, the consensus was that no one is immune to structural uncertainty where everything is happening all at once, with no one knowing what exactly comes next. Navigation is about planning and executing a journey, but you need maps, compasses, and point of reference to know where you are and where you are going. Journeys across time and space need sound navigation, especially in troubled waters. Sailing is all about teamwork, but in today’s ‘nanospeed’ changes, getting anything done is like repairing an airplane in midflight. Any mistake could end up in a crash.

Some fundamental trends may guide us on the rules to navigate these uncertainties.

First, the United States-China rivalry which prompted the tariff war is a long-term trend that will not disappear soon. We all must be prepared for the weaponization of everything in this rivalry, from trade, money, talent, chips, and technology. Assuming that the big powers are sensible enough to avoid mutually assured destruction from nuclear war, we can assume that all kinds of proxy wars or more conventional warfare will be experimented with in the current march to folly.

Second, consultants use the acronyms PEST (political, economic, social, and technology) to assess the operating context and operating environment. They also use SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to evaluate preparedness for competition. Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously introduced his ‘Unknown Unknowns’ matrix.

The Known Unknowns are risks that can be anticipated. Grandmasters in chess have super memories and remember all games played, but the artificial intelligence computer can beat the grandmaster because it can play games that no one has played before. The AI computer fills in gaps which humans know exists arising from rules that humans framed. If humans themselves do not know such Unknowns, I doubt that AI models can yet explore the Unknown Unknown uncharted territory.

Theory and existing knowledge can only carry you so far. It is only through action and risk-taking that the Unknown Unknown is revealed to humans taking risks in going where no man has gone before, like Captain James Kirk of Starship Enterprise. Chinese reformer Deng Xiaoping famously called it ‘crossing the river by feeling the stones,’ meaning you have to take risks to reveal new information. Since, the future is an unknown unknown, humanity advances through experimentation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and risk-taking. Failure is the precondition of success.

The fourth rule is that technology as the solution to all human and climate change challenges may not add up. Technology is a necessary but not sufficient condition for long-term resilience or survival. It is right to invest in technology, but not all technology will yield results. The unfolding tech or AI bubble is an example of this euphoria that technology will be worth billions for some, but not necessarily for all. Based on a huge boom in AI technology usage across almost all sectors, the AI chip designer Nvidia has reached $4.4 trillion in market valuation, investing $100 billion in OpenAI, the unlisted ChatGPT maker, so that OpenAI can build data centers using Nvidia chips. OpenAI also did a similar deal with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., pushing its own valuation to $500 billion.

Fear of missing out is causing every country to buy into their own data centers, which is why the stock market thinks that the AI phenomenon is not a bubble but has still quite ways to run. The leading AI models are all financed by the tech giants, because it costs a lot to build and test these models. The leading AI players are Grok (Elon Musk), Gemini (Google), Llama (Meta), ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Copilot (Microsoft), Qwen (Alibaba), and DeepSeek, the last two being Chinese platforms. The law of market competition means that not every model will be winners at the consumer level, because ultimately, it will be the mass market rather than the specialist users (such as governments for military/national security reasons) that will determine their success in revenue and market valuation.

The fifth rule therefore is trust that for technology to succeed, you must have a good narrative, execution plan, and ability to deliver what the market wants. There is no doubt that AI itself is a game-changer, but some will be big losers when the game changes with no technology or innovation.

The sixth rule is that in this war of elephants or giants, the smaller players, businesses, or emerging economies must be nimble, adaptive, and able to pivot at speed. Geopolitical conflict means that self-preservation will be the name of the game. The slower player will be the loser in this fast changing game. The new normal is abnormal. Be prepared for all contingencies.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the conglomerate led by billionaire Ramon Ang, racked up P48.86 billion following its successful preferred share exchange offer and public offer.

In a statement Friday, SMC said the shares have been listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

An P18.86-billion exchange offer covered investors holding Series 2-J and 2-K shares, giving them the option to swap them for newer ones 2-P, 2-Q, and 2-R.

Through this, a total of 251.47 million shares were swapped, comprising 173.76 million Series 2-J and 77.71 million Series 2-K. The remaining older shares will be redeemed in October and December.

Alongside this, the conglomerate giant also secured P30 billion from its preferred share offer, with each share priced at P75.

A Pasig City court has denied for the second time televangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s bid for hospital arrest, saying his medical needs were being ‘adequately and consistently’ attended to while he’s in detention at the Pasig City Jail.

‘[H]e continues to receive appropriate, timely, and sufficient medical care at the Pasig City General Hospital, under the supervision of competent medical professionals,’ the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 said in a four-page order dated Oct. 8.

Quiboloy is facing a nonbailable charge of qualified human trafficking at the Pasig RTC for allegedly subjecting to sexual exploitation a minor who was a member of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious sect.

He asked to be put under hospital arrest either at the Philippine Heart Center or Medical City, supposedly due to the persistent shortness of breath, intermittent fever, muscle pain, and cough he experienced while in detention.

Quiboloy also pointed to his advanced age, severe medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and recurrent bouts of pneumonia, as well as his multiple hospitalizations since November 2024.

‘Invoking the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules), accused Quiboloy maintains that the State must ensure access to health care for persons deprived of liberty,’ said the order by acting Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa.

Mere iterations

The prosecution opposed Quiboloy’s motion, arguing that his concerns were mere iterations of those that he already raised in the denied motion for house arrest earlier this year.

State prosecutors likewise asserted that his advanced age and medical condition did not make him different from other detainees, who were also suffering from equal or serious health issues.

In denying Quiboloy’s motion, the Pasig RTC cited a Sept. 30 report indicating that Quiboloy’s attending physician at the Pasig City General Hospital noted improvements in his vital signs and that he had no complaints regarding his health since Sept. 24.

It pointed out that Quiboloy was also cleared for discharge by the pulmonary, cardiology, and nephrology services on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26.

‘In view of the foregoing, the court finds no compelling reason to place accused Quiboloy under hospital arrest at either the Philippine Heart Center or Medical City,’ the court said.

Rain or Shine proved to be the steadier team, outplaying Blackwater down the stretch in a 110-100 win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Elasto Painters got into their rhythm at the most opportune time to keep the young Bossing at bay and rise to a 2-1 record.

‘We just got our run at the right time,’ Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.

‘It was a tough endgame situation but we were able to manage to put together a scoring run. We knew their three-point shot was a weapon and we knew that coming in but even if you knew it’s coming it’s hard to stop.’

The two teams went back-and-forth until Rain or Shine broke the game wide open with a 16-3 run capped by a jumper by Adrian Nocum that gave the Painters a 101-91 lead with 2:52 remaining.

Keith Datu led Rain or Shine’s balanced effort with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Nocum had 17.

Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyact tallied 16 and 13 points, respectively, as Rain or Shine bounced back from a loss to San Miguel Beer.

Richard Escoto and Jack Cruz-Dumont each posted 20 points to pace the Bossing, while Christian David nearly recorded a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Blackwater dropped to 1-2.1

Maya Philippines Inc. has launched its online stock trading platform dubbed ‘Maya Stocks’ in time for the initial public offering (IPO) of Maynilad Water Services Inc.

‘Our goal has always been to make access to financial opportunities simpler and more inclusive,’ Maya group president Shailesh Baidwan said in a statement on Thursday.

‘Maya Stocks brings IPO participation closer to consumers by embedding a secure, regulated process into the same app they already use every day,’ she added.

The company simplifies users’ participation in a single interface by opening a stock trading account and partnering with brokers DragonFi Securities Inc., F. Yap Securities Inc. and Philstocks Financial Inc.

The platform’s new functionality becomes available for Maya users as Maynilad’s IPO runs until Oct. 29. The same feature will later support IPOs as well as regular trading of stocks. INQ

The Liberal Party (LP) will expel any of its officials or members who are found involved in corrupt schemes especially in the aftermath of the flood control mess, Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan warned on Friday.

Pangilinan made the statement during LP’s ‘Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap’ (if there’s no corrupt, no one is poor) fellowship in Quezon City, adding that the party will clean its ranks regardless of their position or influence.

‘We cannot ask for transparency if we will not live by it. We cannot condemn corruption if we condone it within our own backyard,’ Pangilinan said.

‘That’s why, as the chairman of the Liberal Party, this is my promise to the Filipino people: We will clean our ranks. We will expel any member who has been involved in corruption, regardless of how high their position is in government or how influential they are,’ he told the members.

Pangilinan and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, two of the LP members in the 20th Congress, earlier released copies of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as a first step towards promoting transparency.

In a subsequent ambush interview, Pangilinan said this is their call for all LP members – to release their SALNs.

‘That is what we said. Well, for the Senate, I’m the only LP member. So in the House (of Representatives), that is our call – to be sensitive to the people’s cry and their request for transparency and accountability,’ the senator said.

At the House, there are four LP members in the Minority – de Lima, Dinagat Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Albay Rep. Krisel Lagman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice.

Of the four, only de Lima and Bag-ao have released their SALNs publicly.

De Lima is the 12th House lawmaker to publicize the documents, with Bag-ao – as part of the Akbayan Reform Bloc – releasing her SALN last September 1.

So far, aside from de Lima and Bag-ao, the following House members have released their SALNs to the public:

House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III

Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno

Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña

Akbayan party-list Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio

Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co

Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ Barzaga

Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando

Negros Occidental 1st District Rep. Jules Ledesma

Calls to release SALNs came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in late August 2025 gave the directive to do a lifestyle check – starting with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who are currently on the hot seat due to the issue on anomalous flood control projects.

Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Marcos’ directive covers the entire executive department, beginning with the DPWH, the agency implementing and overseeing the multibillion-peso projects he wanted investigated for alleged irregularities. But Malacañang also asked other agencies, particularly the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Bureau of Customs, as well as local government units, to conduct parallel checks.