Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has extended its previously issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) covering flights near Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island, and Taal Volcano in Batangas until Wednesday morning, October 15.

In its latest advisory released on Tuesday, Caap said the extension of the NOTAM was released ‘to ensure aviation safety.’

According to Caap, the NOTAM for Bulusan is now effective from 8:39 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 10,000 feet.

Meanwhile, the NOTAM for Kanlaon will be in effect from 8:35 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

As for Taal Volcano, the NOTAM is effective from 8:38 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

‘All flight operators are strongly advised to avoid flying close to the volcanoes and to continuously monitor NOTAMs for updates,’ Caap said.

The aviation authority assured the public that it remains ‘vigilant and proactive in ensuring flight safety amid ongoing volcanic activity across the country.’

It was on Monday when Caap first issued NOTAMs over Bulusan, Kanlaon, and Taal following volcanic activities observed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Based on the update from the Phivolcs on Tuesday, 26 volcanic earthquakes were recorded over Bulusan, which remains under alert level 1.

Kanlaon, which is on alert level 2, recorded 17 volcanic quakes in the past 24 hours.

On the other hand, a minor phreatomagmatic eruption that lasted for six minutes and 17 volcanic quakes were observed over Taal. It remains under alert level 1. /das

After her successful surgical procedures in the past two months, a grateful Kris Aquino expressed her appreciation for her sons Josh and Bimby who have been by her side through it all.

The celebrity mom documented her recent hospital visits, through her Instagram page on Sunday, Oct. 12.

In the photos, Kris can be seen on a wheelchair while surrounded by medical staff and Bimby. She is also seen lying on a hospital bed while her youngest son stands by her bedside.

‘It’s been a very tough [eight] weeks but somehow I SURVIVED,’ she said. ‘This video is about my [two] boys. And why I’m fighting for them.’

Kris then talked about Bimby pursuing a career in music, hinting how the latter has been receiving lessons from some of the veteran singers in the industry. Bimby began his vocal coaching sessions under Cornerstone Entertainment in September.

‘My 18 year old has for now decided to continue with his singing lessons with coach Thor [Dulay] (plus some super star ‘Titos’ who have volunteered to teach him about stage presence and how to make audience rapport fun for all),’ she wrote.

The Queen of All Media also looked back at how Bimby has been her constant companion during her medical procedures since he was just 11 years old.

‘A singing doctor-thank you hunny for being the embodiment of what mama had wished for,’ she addressed Bimby.

Kris, who has been diagnosed with 11 autoimmune diseases, earlier started a more aggressive treatment following an alarming blood test result. /ra

Kaila Estrada doesn’t believe that she is a better actress than her mother, Janice de Belen, saying that she ‘only wishes to achieve half’ of the latter’s milestones in the entertainment industry.

During the media launch of ‘What Lies Beneath’ in Quezon City on Monday, October 13, Estrada said this when asked to react to an interview in which de Belen stated that the ‘Incognito’ star is a ‘better actress’ than her.

‘She said that? Thanks, mom! I disagree. I feel like my parents, gusto lang nila ipagmalaki ang mga anak nila (they just want to show how proud they are of their children),’ she said. Estrada also underscored that de Belen is a ‘living legend’ on her own, and she wanted to express how proud she is of her mom as well.

‘I look up to her in all the aspects of my life, not just her as an artista. Having said that, nandito rin ako para ipagmalaki siya (to express how proud I am of her), and I’m so proud to be her daughter. I’m so proud of what she has achieved. I only wish to achieve half of that,’ she said.

In a 2022 interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Estrada admitted that she ‘seldomly’ asks the screen veteran for acting advice, saying de Belen has always encouraged her to explore the process of being an actress in her own terms.

The actress is one of the leads of the upcoming mystery drama ‘What Lies Beneath,’ which also stars Janella Salvador, Sue Ramirez, and Charlie Dizon.

Joining the actresses are Jake Cuenca, JM de Guzman, Jameson Blake, Yves Flores, and Race Matias. /edv

ZUS Coffee gained a share of the early lead in Pool B after making short work of Galeries Tower, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Anna DeBeer sustained her fine form with 18 points as a follow up to her 37-point explosion against Chery Tiggo last Saturday. DeBeer recorded 15 spikes, two aces, and a block in just 85 minutes as the Thunderbelles tied the Akari Chargers atop their group. Rookie AC Miner backstopped the American import with 10 points on an efficient 7-of-13 attacking clip, two aces, and a block.

‘I’ve been with the team for over three months now, so I think my connection with the setter has really improved,’ said Miner in Filipino. ‘It’s still our job to keep working on that connection, not just with the setter, but with everyone. It’s something we’ll continue to develop throughout this conference and in our practices.’

Setter Clo Mondoñedo paced the Thunderbelles with 20 excellent sets. Fiola Ceballos had seven points, while Riza Nogales and Kate Santiago added six points each. Libero Alyssa Eroa protected the floor with 14 digs and nine excellent receptions.

‘We’re still trying to get better. Still a lot of lapses. It’s a work in progress,’ said ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee.

‘We’re really waiting for the more challenging teams to come, because that’s when everything we’ve been working on will really be tested. Hopefully, by then, our lapses won’t be too many.’

ZUS Coffee will have ample time to prepare for its next game against Creamline, which it took down in the PVL on Tour, on October 23 at FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Montenegrin import Jelena Cvijovic was the lone double-digit scorer for Galeries with 11 points and nine excellent receptions. Jean Asis had nine points.

The HighRisers, now 0-2 tied with Chery Tiggo, battle the Cool Smashers in Ilagan City on Saturday.

Most Filipinos expressed anger and fear due to the multibillion-peso corruption scandal involving the flood control project, Octa Research’s latest survey showed.

In Octa’s Tugon ng Masa survey held from Sept. 25 to 30 and published on Tuesday, 60 percent of 1,500 adult Filipinos polled expressed anger or outrage while 30 percent felt fear and anxiety due to the recent developments.

Nine percent of respondents expressed sadness or sorrow while one percent still saw hope and optimism amid what is happening.

‘A clear majority of Filipinos express outrage and frustration over corruption in government infrastructure projects, particularly those involving flood control,’ Octa said in a statement.

Furthermore, Filipinos also expressed confidence in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) than both the House of Representatives and the Senate combined.

Octa said 46 percent believe that ICI is the most suitable body to lead the investigation into the flood control scandal.

On the other hand, the Senate ranks second with 23 percent of respondents believing the said institution is most suitable for a corruption probe while only 13 percent believes it to be the House of Representatives.

‘Overall, these findings reveal a clear preference for independent oversight and citizen participation in corruption investigations,’ Octa noted. ‘The strong support for an external, integrity-based commission underscores the public’s skepticism toward political institutions and highlights the need for new, transparent mechanisms of accountability that can restore public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts.’

It can be recalled that former Department of Public Works and Highways officials alleged that some lawmakers were asking kickback as much as 30 percent in exchange for billions of pesos worth of insertions they made in the national budget under the unprogrammed funds which escaped scrutiny until recently.

Citing lack of public trust, the House of Representatives stopped its short-lived infra-committee investigation while the Senate also suspended its blue ribbon committee probe.

Meanwhile, 83 percent of adult Filipinos also expressed agreement with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s move to expose flood control contractors, but three percent of respondents still disagreed.

Marcos’ revelation of top flood control contractors triggered the probe which led to several revelations in the congress. /jpv

Ahtisa Manalo, the Philippines’ representative in the 74th Miss Universe pageant, is seeking participants who would like to be featured in her video for the international competition.

The initiative takes off from the ‘Mabuhay’ opening dance number that she and the rest of her fellow candidates performed during the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines coronation night in May that trended online.

‘May the Universe join us in the Philippine way to welcome [musical notes emoji] MABUHAY! Join my video!’ Manalo posted on social media.

Those interested in contributing their videos are instructed to use the ‘Mabuhay MUPH’ audio and perform the official dance choreography.

‘Showcase a landmark from your province, city, or town-let’s highlight the beauty of the Philippines!’ Manalo reminded us in her post.

Videos taken using either a camera or a smartphone will be accepted, but only those using the ‘LOG color profile’ and with a resolution of 4K or 1080p. The orientation should be landscape.

Send entries to [email protected]. The deadline for submission is on Oct. 20, at 11:59 P.M.

‘Be creative and be part of my special video for Miss Universe! Let’s make the world shout ‘MABUHAY!’ Manalo said.

More than 130 delegates are expected to take part in the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month.

Reigning Danish queen Victoria Kjær Theilvig will crown her successor at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok, on Nov. 21.

Manalo hopes to become the fifth Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Universe, seven years since her Binibining Pilipinas batchmate Catriona Gray won the title in Bangkok. /edv

The recent increase of influenza-like illnesses in the country is ‘not[hing] new,’ with a ‘clustering of cases’ expected from September up to early January next year, according to an infectious disease expert.

‘September is the start of the influenza-like illness up to the early part of January in the Philippines. This is not new. This is expected,’ Dr. Rontgene Solante told the Inquirer in a Viber message.

He noted that respiratory viruses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID, adenovirus, rhinovirus, and enterovirus, would circulate during this period, causing influenza-like illnesses.

According to Solante, the ‘peak’ of influenza-like illnesses last year was recorded from September to October. For this year, he said that while cases were expected to continue until January, it will mostly be a ‘clustering’ of cases and not a continued increase.

Based on data from the Department of Health’s (DOH) epidemiology bureau shared by Solante, a total of 9,649 cases of influenza-like illnesses were reported in the country from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13, which was 17 percent higher than the number of cases reported two weeks earlier, from Aug. 17 to Aug. 30.

According to the report, this increase ‘follows the usual seasonal trends.’

Weather conditions

It was also noted that the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) regions had earlier breached their epidemic thresholds, with 33,856 cases recorded in these areas.

The report added that out of the respiratory viruses, the most common pathogens were influenza A, which accounts for 1,842, or 45 percent of the cases; rhinovirus, with 552 or 14 percent; and enterovirus, with 499 cases, or 12 percent.

This increase in influenza-like illnesses was felt in private hospitals, with Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., estimating that there has been a 5- to 10-percent rise in cases.

‘We expect a rise in viral infections during the third quarter, and usually it is the flu-like illnesses,’ he said in a Viber message. ‘Maybe it was enhanced by the weather conditions.’

De Grano said the increase in influenza-like illnesses had led to a rise in admissions among private hospitals, especially for pediatric patients.

Earlier on Sunday, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that in-person classes in all public schools in the National Capital Region will be suspended due to the increasing cases of influenza-like illnesses, as well as the recent earthquakes that struck various parts of the country.

‘DepEd regional offices and schools division offices may implement preventive suspensions in order to hold structural inspections as well as other activities to ensure that schools are ready in case of a strong earthquake or other calamities,’ the agency said in a statement.

‘These steps are conducted together with initiatives to fight illnesses,’ it added.

DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo noted in another Viber message that the number of influenza-like illnesses this year remains lower than last year.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday that she does not support calls for the resignation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. amidst the ongoing corruption scandal.

‘Never ask him to resign. That is a pointless call. He will not resign. Did you see the father? How long did that [presidency] last? That was 20 years. Look at the DNA. He doesn’t want to leave the position,’ Duterte said partly in Filipino at a press briefing in Zamboanga City.

‘I never said ‘Marcos resign.’ What I said was, first of all, he should take a drug test. He has a challenge from Atty. Vic Rodriguez. That is a hanging open challenge that he still refuses to do. I say that is a betrayal of public trust,’ Duterte said.

‘Second, his signing of the questionable budget. That is a culpable violation of the Constitution. That is what I am saying he should answer, which he is not answering,’ she added.

Duterte reiterated that Marcos should not be asked to resign, and instead asked him to do his job.

‘Marcos resign’ is a pointless call. That is why, I’m asking him to do his job, of which, we all know that he is not doing.’

Duterte also accused the administration of diverting the people’s attention to someone else instead of answering the questions on leadership.

On Sunday evening, a rally of around 100 individuals calling for the resignation of Marcos Jr. at Forbes Park was staged, led by Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco Barzaga. /gsg

Fans of Claudine Barretto and Mark Anthony Fernandez had a trip down memory lane after the former couple met anew for an apparent project.

In the clip shared by the actress on her Instagram page on Sunday, Oct. 12, the two of them are all smiles while in an embrace and while sitting close to each other in a photoshoot.

In a separate post, Barretto also showed their meeting in which she can be heard greeting the actor, ‘Hi, my ex!’ before they went in for a hug.

Fernandez, in response, said, ‘Dati ‘babe.” (It was ‘babe’ back then.)

Barretto and Fernandez are reportedly working together on the TV series ‘Totoy Bato,’ where the latter is part of. Details on the actress’ participation in the project have yet to be announced as of this writing.

Barretto and Fernandez, who dated back in the 1990s when they were just teenagers, had reunited in 2021 and headlined the Joel Lamangan-helmed film ‘Deception.’

‘We never had a problem with each other. We never spoke ill of each other – ever,’ Barretto said of Fernandez at the time.

The actor likewise noted, ‘We have always liked each other even if we weren’t together anymore.’ /ra

The contract for a new building for the Commission on Audit’s (COA) headquarters was awarded to a contractor with ties to the wife of one of its own commissioners already linked to anomalous public works projects, according to a watchdog group.

Records reviewed by the Right to Know, Right Now (R2KRN) coalition showed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) awarded in 2021 a P959 million contract for the new COA building, with a basement, in its central office in Quezon City, to the joint venture of R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. and Le Bron Construction.

Le Bron Construction, a sole proprietorship, is the main joint venture partner of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Phils. Corp., a construction company headed by Marilou Laurio Lipana, wife of incumbent COA Commissioner Mario Lipana. A review of Olympus’s DPWH contracts from 2023 to 2025 showed that it entered into joint ventures with Le Bron in nine out of its 22 contracts during that period.

Le Bron’s authorized managing officer is a certain Moises Nicdao, who is also among the incorporators of Iron Ore, Gold and Vanadium Resources Inc. where Mrs. Lipana is listed as president. Although Commissioner Lipana was not yet part of the commission when the project was awarded, R2KRN noted that he was already a senior COA officer then. His official profile indicated that he had served as the supervising auditor of COA for Manila.

The Inquirer called Commissioner Lipana’s office for comment but was told by his staff that he was still on medical leave.

The 1987 Constitution bars members of constitutional commissions from having any financial interest, direct or indirect, in businesses that may be affected by their office’s functions.

Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, extends this prohibition to spouses and close relatives.

Even if Commissioner Lipana had no role in auditing DPWH projects involving his wife’s company, R2KRN argued that it ‘still stands that the new headquarters of the nation’s audit institution was awarded to a contractor that had a business association with the family of one of its senior officials.’

‘This betrays the deeper institutional entanglements that now confront COA,’ read the report written by Nepomuceno Malaluan, Malou Mangahas, and Jenina Joy Chavez.

‘Indeed, while a new home for the country’s supreme audit institution was being built, the very foundations of its independence were being eaten away like wood by termites from within,’ the report said.

The Le Bron-Olympus partnership extended far beyond the COA compound, the coalition added.

From 2016 to 2025, Olympus bagged P1.89 billion worth of infrastructure projects from DPWH-mostly flood-control structures and access roads in Bulacan-including nine joint ventures with Le Bron Construction.

Many of these projects fell under Bulacan’s first district engineering office, whose former officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Ericson Hernandez had admitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to kickbacks, bid rigging and ghost projects.

In his sworn statement to the Senate on September 23, 2025, Alcantara claimed Commissioner Lipana personally requested a list of flood-control projects for Bulacan and later managed to insert P500 million worth of them into the 2023 Unprogrammed Appropriations, followed by P400 million in 2024 and another P500 million in 2025.

DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo confirmed in an affidavit that the commissioner had sought introductions to Bulacan DPWH officials.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier confirmed that it was now conducting a fact-finding investigation into Lipana since these allegations surfaced.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said this could constitute an impeachable offense for Lipana, who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022 and whose term is set to expire in 2027. /apl