Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The National Police Commission (National Police Commission) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) are now barring police officers from red-tagging and threatening journalists.

The Napolcom and the PTFoMS on Friday signed an agreement aimed at protecting media workers’ rights and deterring police officers from threatening or harassing journalists.

‘The use of force against media, red-tagging and issuing statements that place media journalists at risk, and retaliatory actions against media practitioners for critical coverage are no longer allowed,’ Napolcom Vice Chairperson Rafael Calinisan said in his speech after the agreement signing.

‘We will uphold respect and protection for all members of the media,’ he added.

The agreement between Napolcom and PTFoMS provided for a case referral, investigation, and monitoring system for administrative cases filed by media practitioners over alleged rights violations by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

It also provides for a referral system for protective custody and psychosocial support for complainants, as well as the review of existing PNP rules on media relations.

Whom does the agreement consider as media workers? Quoting the signed memorandum, PTFoMS Director Jose Torres Jr. said, ‘Media workers shall refer to individuals engaged in journalistic activities, including the production and dissemination of information in the public interest through an editorial process.’

‘This includes but is not limited to media educators, reporters, anchor persons, commentators, columnists, opinion writers, campus journalists, and photojournalists,’ he added.

And if police officers violate media workers’ rights anyway? Calinisan said Napolcom can file an administrative case against them for grave misconduct.

‘We will teach our friends from the PNP not to do that to our media practitioners. We will not allow that and we will never allow that,’ the Napolcom vice chairperson added.

The National Press Club joined Napolcom, PTFoMS, and PNP in signing the agreement.

For his part, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Chairperson Jonathan de Santos welcomed the development.

‘We, of course, welcome closer collaboration between PTFOMS and Napolcom especially on ensuring press freedom and freedom of expression as well as on case referral in cases of potential attacks and violations by police personnel,’ de Santos said in a message to INQUIRER.net later on Friday. ‘We also hope this MOA (memorandum of agreement) will mean better coordination on matters like accreditation of media covering police units and the prohibition on red-tagging,’ he added.

The city’s economy expanded by 6.8% in 2024, fueled largely by the services sector, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), measured at constant 2018 prices, reached P295.57 billion, up from P276.80 billion in 2023. At current prices, GDP totaled P353.45 billion, reflecting a nominal growth of 10.4% year-on-year.

The services sector continued to dominate the city’s economy, accounting for 76.5% of total output in 2024. It grew by 7.3%, led by strong gains in accommodation and food services (up 9.4%), human health and social work (12.1%), and professional and business services (12.5%).

‘The sustained rebound in tourism and business activity after the pandemic has strengthened Cagayan de Oro’s role as Northern Mindanao’s service hub,’ the PSA report reads in part.

Wholesale and retail trade – the single largest industry – also expanded by 6.2%, contributing nearly 41% of total GDP. Financial and insurance activities climbed by 8.8%, reflecting continued growth in banking and digital financial services.

The industry sector grew by 5.3%, driven by a 14.2% surge in construction and steady gains in manufacturing and utilities. Industry accounted for 22.9% of the city’s GDP in 2024, totaling P67.6 billion at constant prices.

‘Private investments in housing and commercial infrastructure helped sustain construction momentum,’ PSA officials said.

Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry, and fishing – the smallest contributor at 0.7% – posted a 0.9% growth rate, down slightly from one percent during the previous year.

‘The agricultural sector remains relatively stable but limited in scale, reflecting Cagayan de Oro’s urbanized economy,’ the report noted.

Overall, the PSA said Cagayan de Oro’s 2024 performance reflects steady post-pandemic recovery and resilience in consumer-driven sectors.

‘The 6.8% growth demonstrates the city’s strong service economy and improving investment climate,’ said PSA Regional Director Myrna Perez.

She added: ‘We expect continued expansion as infrastructure and commercial activities intensify across the metropolitan areaCagayan de Oro maintained its position as Northern Mindanao’s leading urban economy, with total output surpassing P350 billion in 2024.

As growth continues to expand southward of the metro, the 3,500-hectare Villar City emerges as a promising destination offering scale, strategy and vision.

This integrated megacity, touted as Metro Manila’s new center of gravity, has been masterplanned to have commerce, education, lifestyle, and innovation built into its core, laying the groundwork for long-term growth. For businesses and investors, Villar City thus represents entry into an emerging metropolis poised to become the South’s next business hub.

At the core of this plan are two districts now offering commercial lots to prospective investors: Emporia, the international trade district, and University Town, the knowledge and innovation hub of Villar City. Each district carries distinct advantages, yet both share Villar City’s strong foundation of connectivity and scale.

Comm’l spaces ready for growth

Emporia currently offers prime commercial lots for sale, with sizes ranging from 1,200 sqm to 3,500 sqm, ideal for offices, retail, and large-scale developments. Their value is amplified by being in a district already anchored by Vista Mall SOMO, Vista Hub Daang Hari, SOMO Market, and Teleperformance, with Unihealth Hospital and Medical Center set to open by 2026. These established institutions ensure that every investment here benefits from an environment where business activity and community demand are already in motion.

Strategic access strengthens this advantage. Situated along Daang Hari, Emporia connects directly to Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), ensuring smooth movement across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Upcoming infrastructure projects, like the LRT South extension, MCX West expansion, and Cavite Bus Rapid Transit, will further expand this reach, while within Villar City itself, the eight-lane Emporia Avenue links seamlessly to the 10-lane Villar Avenue, the city’s main artery.

Emporia’s proximity to Evia Lifestyle Center, Brittany Hotel, and Villar City’s golf and sports facilities further adds depth to the district’s appeal, creating a location where business thrives alongside leisure and lifestyle.

For businesses, locating in Emporia thus means securing a foothold in a district designed to deliver commercial visibility and long-term value.

Prime lots in a knowledge hub

Similarly, UTown also offers commercial lots for sale, ranging from 1,200 sqm to 2,200 sqm, and for lease, from 630 sqm to 1,200 sqm. These spaces are ideal for enterprises seeking to tap into a district built on knowledge and innovation. Locating here means access to a thriving academic and professional community anchored by the University of the Philippines-Dasmariñas and surrounded by institutions such as De La Salle University-

Dasmariñas, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Little Apprentice School. This concentration of talent positions the district as a hub where education, research, and enterprise help drive growth.

Beyond academics, UTown is also defined by its vibrancy.

It will house The Stadium at Villar City, a 30,000-sqm sports complex, alongside up and coming residences such as Elara, a horizontal enclave by Brittany, and Novus Prime Residences, a vertical community by Crown Asia. Planned additions-including international schools, a university mall, and a transport terminal-will further cement its role as a center for opportunity.

And since it is well connected to MCX, Daang Hari, and Governor’s Drive and set to gain better access via MRT-7, UTown offers investors a chance to establish their presence in a district built to attract talent, business, and innovation at scale. The Villar City advantage

Both Emporia and University Town clearly embody Villar City’s vision of a megacity where infrastructure, institutions, and industries move in step to drive growth.

With their commercial lots, Emporia and University Town will no doubt give investors and businesses the access, scale, and vision to grow within the South’s next frontier of progress.

Motorists should brace as fuel prices are expected to rise in the last week of October. Diesel prices are seen increasing by as much as P1.40 a liter.as much as P1.40 a liter.

In a statement, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said changes in diesel prices are estimated to be in the range of P1.20 to P1.40.

Gasoline prices might also increase by 60 centavos to 80 centavos per liter.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is also projecting upward adjustments in pump prices. The DOE estimates price increases of about 80 centavos per liter of diesel and kerosene.

The DOE said gasoline prices might rise by 30 centavos per liter.

‘Oil prices are higher this week due to concerns that the fresh US sanctions on Russian companies, following sanctions imposed by Britain last week, could lead to tighter physical flows of Russian oil,’ Bellas said.

‘This could force buyers of Russian oil to reroute volumes to other sources, causing major disruptions in supply flows,’ he added.

About 2,000 villagers feasted on 1,000 kilos of mangrove crabs and several roasted pigs – all gone within minutes – to cap the Crab and Mangrove Festival held at the town premises on Friday.

The mangrove crabs, raised in the town’s lagoon, and roasted pigs-dubbed ‘McBuchon’ to highlight Buguey’s unique version of lechon-were served to residents and guests along with various crab dishes.

Local officials also launched the Crab and Mangrove Industry Enhancement through Regulation, Research and Extension Services and Livelihood Assistance (CINDERELLA) program to support crab raisers.

‘As we continue to develop our crab hatchery, we have been raising crablets, which we use to distribute to farmers as assistance. However, due to existing laws, we have changed our policy. We now prohibit the gathering and catching of crablets in the Buguey River since these are still small,’ Mayor Licerio Antiporda III said.

‘By allowing crabs to be cultured in our lagoons instead of catching small ones, our crab raisers are now earning more through our mangrove crab hatcheries. We need an ample supply for crab growing and fattening,’ he added.

The mayor also inaugurated a cold chain facility for crabs and other fishery products, saying this would allow the town to maintain sufficient stocks of crabs, malaga, and other fish.

Dubbed the ‘Crab Capital of the North,’ Buguey has long been known for its abundant crab harvests.

Antiporda also promoted internationally inspired crab recipes prepared by local chefs, ‘so that we can cater to both foreign and domestic guests who love to eat such delicacies.’

Town officials reiterated a municipal council resolution prohibiting the transport of certain types of crabs outside the town for five years to boost local production.

The municipality also inaugurated a multi-purpose fishery building and broke ground for a new evacuation center./coa

The lean 11-man army tasked to defend home soil in the International Series Philippines held fort on Thursday, with Miguel Tabuena and Clyde Mondilla using furious finishes in firing three-under-par 69s to trail Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut by five shots after the well-attended opening round at Sta. Elena.

Mondilla birdied his last three holes in finishing on the front nine, while the crowd-favorite Tabuena picked up three consecutive shots from No. 15 while playing in the marquee group with Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuisen to stay within striking distance of the lead on a strength-sapping hot day.

Justin Quiban had two front nine eagles to shoot a 70 like the seasoned Angelo Que, with Keanu Jahns and Carl Corpus rescuing 72s and needing low second rounds on Friday to advance to weekend play.

The 31-year-old Tabuena whipped up the gallery with those three straight birdies, only to dump his approach on the 18th to a bunker ‘I’ve never been to in my life.’ He hit a great blast to within inches to seal his par and gain the needed momentum for another battle royale with Johnson and Oosthuisen in the second round.

‘It was nice to finish off that way, except for the 18th hole,’ Tabuena said. ‘I’ve never been in that bunker in my life. I play there all the time. So, I’m pretty pleased with how I finished, and I think it’s what I needed.’

Johnson, who has a Masters and US Open title, also played to the crowd and fired a 67, with Oosthuisen shooting a 71 like Charl Schwartzel, his fellow South African and another former winner at Augusta National.

Patrick Reed, the third Masters champ in the field, shot a 70 to join Quiban and Que.

‘I needed to make adjustments on my putting in the back nine and good that it worked,’ Mondilla, the Bukidnon ace, said in Filipino. ‘It’s a good start, but there’s still a lot of golf to be played.’

Sta. Elena was stretched to its absolute limit at just a shade over 7,300 yards, and the crowd that packed the first tee immediately got a treat from Tabuena, who outdrove Johnson and Oosthuisen with a shot that split the fairway for the group’s first birdie.

‘I got off to a good start,’ said Tabuena, who had three of his bogeys coming in a seven-hole stretch from the seventh that had him at level heading into his final four holes. ‘It was nice to birdie 15, 16, 17, which aren’t easy holes.

‘I think it’s what I needed for tomorrow to keep this momentum somehow.’

Suwannarut, meanwhile, drained nine birdies in cooler conditions in the morning for his 64, with Japan’s Kasuki Higa shooting a 65

After Kirk Bondad’s recent victory in the Mister International pageant in Thailand, another German-Filipino hunk seemed to be following his footsteps and won a national title.

Fitness model Oliver Eugen Kretz was crowned Man of the World Philippines at the 12th Misters of Filipinas finals held at the SM North Edsa Skydome in Quezon City on Oct. 22.

The hunk from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, bested 24 other aspirants for the title, and inherited the crown from Aian Abad Santos. Kretz will try to post the Philippines’ first win in the Manila-based Man of the World pageant next year.

Several other national titleholders were proclaimed alongside Kretz when the ceremonies concluded early morning on Thursday, Oct. 23. Tarlaqueño Jacob Kier Gomez inherited the Mister Fitness Supermodel World Philippines title from 2024 Mister Fitness Supermodel World second runner-up Denver Argana, and will try to post the Philippines’ first Mister Fitness Supermodel World win next year.

Pageant veteran Kristzan Karlo Delos Santos from Cavite received the Top Model of Universe Philippines 2025 from last year’s titleholder Gian Antonio Guidicelli, who still has not competed in the international tilt.

The Caviteño lad had already competed abroad before, and finished second in both the 2022 Mister Grand International and 2023 Man Hot Star International contests.

Pampanga’s Krishna Yasser Rodriguez was proclaimed Mister Celebrity International Philippines 2025, while Imus’ Calix Kayden Esguerra was hailed as Mister Teen of the Universe Philippines 2025.

Heavy favorites Juan Carlos Lopez of Bataan and John Nietzche Hipolito of Bulacan were proclaimed Mister Tourism Philippines 2025 and first runner-up, respectively. /edv

A civil society organization (CSO) has called on the government to launch a thorough investigation into the delays in classroom construction, following the Department of Education’s (DepEd) admission that only 22 classrooms were built this year.

E-Net Philippines made the call in a recent statement after pointing out that DepEd’s report that only 22 classrooms were completed this year was ‘both alarming and unacceptable.’ According to the organization, the delay is not merely a case of bureaucratic delay, but a tell-tale sign of a ‘deeply entrenched crisis of governance marked by corruption, poor accountability and misplaced priorities.’

It also warned that the massive classroom backlog of over 146,000 nationwide could rise further to 200,000 by 2028 should these types of delays continue.

‘Corruption in public spending not only robs every Filipino child of a future. It undermines our Constitution’s clear mandate to make education the country’s top priority,’ the group noted.

Due to this, E-Net Philippines called for the conduct of an independent and transparent investigation into the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as other implementing agencies, regarding the delays and possible corruption in classroom construction and related education projects.

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It also told the government to redirect budgets from questionable infrastructure projects to educational facilities, especially those in disadvantaged areas.

Along with this, E-Net also urged the government to address the ‘chronic underfunding’ of Alternative Learning System, Special Needs Education, Indigenous Peoples Education, Madrasah and Last Mile Schools, and immediately implement long-overdue teacher benefits under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

Furthermore, E-Net also called on the government to institutionalize CSO involvement in monitoring budgets and project implementation.

E-Net also implored DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara to ‘demonstrate decisive leadership and integrity in confronting this crisis.’

Tropical Depression Salome weakened into a low pressure area on Thursday afternoon and may then dissipate within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). ‘Due to the cold and dry air from the northeasterly wind flow, Salome weakened into a low pressure area at 2 p.m. today,’ Pagasa said in its latest typhoon bulletin.

‘The remnant flow will continue to move generally southwestward and may dissipate within the next 24 hours,’ it added.

According to Pagasa, the now-LPA was last spotted 145 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

All tropical cyclone wind signals have also been lifted after the weather system was downgraded to an LPA.

MANILA, Philippines-Robert Bolick admitted it was difficult to focus on getting the job done on the hardcourt as he returned to action for NLEX for the first time since the passing of his father.

Bolick had nine points, seven rebounds and nine assists in the Road Warriors’ 87-81 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Wednesday that served as his debut in the PBA Philippine Cup after missing the past two games.

The NLEX ace guard traveled to the United States where his dad, Robert Sr., died at the age of 82.

‘Hanging in there,’ Bolick said, his voice obviously feeling a sense of grief. ‘I tried to play for my dad. Good thing we were able to get the win.’

He played almost 36 minutes for the Road Warriors, though his shooting was off with just three conversions out of 10 attempts.

Bolick was glad that others stepped up, namely Kevin Alas, who delivered a stirring performance for NLEX.

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Alas finished with 26 points, his highest-scoring output in three years, which proved to be a major difference.

Bolick returned a few days ago, but not before having a chance encounter with NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, whom he was seated next to on the plane bound from Dallas to Los Angeles.

The meeting with Nowitzki, Bolick said, felt like it was heaven sent.

‘At least, there was something good that came out from that trip,’ said Bolick, who added that Nowitzki was gracious enough to provide tips during the flight.