Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The environment group Interfacing Development Intervention (IDIS) welcomed Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang’s sudden turnaround to stop mining in Mati City’s Barangay Macambol, an area very close to Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

But the group said the damage had already been done, and someone had to be held accountable for it.

Instead the group called on the provincial government headed by Dayanghirang, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region and all relevant agencies to immediately suspend and revoke the mining operations in Macambol and surrounding areas; conduct a full environmental and social audit; file administrative and legal actions against violators and their enablers and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the over 200 hectares of damaged land. ‘IDIS welcomes the provincial leadership for finally recognizing the urgency of the issue,’ said the group’s statement, referring to Dayanghirang’s call for public support on Monday to stop a mining operation that reportedly destroyed a 200-hectare land in Mati City’s Barangay Macambol.

‘But we must also confront the reality that this response came far too late. The damage has already been done, and its consequences are now being felt by communities, ecosystems and future generations,’ the group said in a statement sent to reporters.

Dayanghirang said during a stakeholders’ dialog in Mati City on Monday, October 6, that a resolution calling for a stop to the mining operations would soon be passed in the Provincial Board after mining had destroyed 200-hectares of forest land in the area which could also affect the planned Macalula Road Network Loop Project that would link Macambol with the neighboring villages of Cabuaya, Luban and Lanca.

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He also stressed the need to protect the environment, especially since the mining operation was very close to the buffer zone of Mt. Hamiguitan.

Warning against threats

Lawyer Mark Peñalver, executive director of IDIS, expressed surprise as the group had been warning against the threats that large-scale mining posed in the area for years, but their warning had fallen on deaf ears.

Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has been recognized for its unique and fragile biodiversity and as home to rare and endemic species of wildlife like the Philippine Eagle; and the pygmy forest ecosystem

IDIS said the provincial government’s acknowledgment of the environmental damages was both a ‘welcome and painful validation.and a stark reminder that when environmental protection is delayed, the costs multiply, and the victims are the poor and the powerless.’ ‘While we recognize this long-overdue action, IDIS underscores that the damage has already been done – with over 200 hectares of land degraded and threats now extending to the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape,’ said part of the group’s statement.

For more than a decade, residents of Barangay Macambol and environmental advocates have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the dangers posed by large-scale mining in the area, but these warnings were met with silence or denial.

In 2022, IDIS released a public statement warning that the mining operations in Macambol posed serious threats to both the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and the Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape but government agencies only dismissed these concerns, reasoning that the site was technically outside the protected area boundaries, disregarding the reality that pollution, siltation and deforestation do not stop at invisible lines on a map.

Hallmark Mining Corporation, which operates a mine in the area, released a statement saying it shared the ‘deep concern’ with the provincial government and that it was committed to ‘responsible mining.’ IDIS, however, said it rejected the notion that large-scale mining could ever be ‘responsible’ in a country with fragile ecosystems, weak regulatory enforcement, and communities already suffering from poverty and displacement. ‘Mining, by its very nature, is extractive and destructive,’ it said. ‘If the company’s operations were truly responsible, how do we explain the 200 hectares of ravaged land?’

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) community is set to stage a walkout on Friday, Oct. 10, to protest corruption in the country and demand a higher budget for the university.

According to a Facebook post by the PUP Office of the Students Regent (OSR) on Wednesday, the ‘largest university walkout in history’ is expected to involve 20,000 members.

‘In the face of widespread corruption, abuse, and government neglect of the education sector, the entire PUP community will not remain silent!’ PUP OSR said in Filipino.

The PUP OSR said decentralized programs will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the walkout protest at 12 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear black.

Universities across the country have staged walkouts to condemn corruption, particularly anomalies linked to flood-control projects involving government officials and lawmakers.

On Sept. 21, anti-corruption rallies were held nationwide, including joint demonstrations at Luneta Park in Manila and the People Power Monument in Quezon City, attended by thousands of Filipinos.

The PUP community is also calling for a higher budget for the university. In a separate post, the OSR condemned the planned P9.1-billion budget cut for PUP in 2026.

According to the Department of Budget and Management’s National Expenditure Program, the university is allotted P3.62 billion for next year.

‘We will not remain silent in our classrooms while [President Ferdinand] Marcos Jr. steals our future,’ the PUP OSR said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, PUP President Dr. Manuel Muhi expressed his support for the university’s call to end corruption.

‘PUP joins the call for transparency and accountability. As a united community, we stand to condemn and hold corrupt government officials accountable,’ he said in Filipino.

‘Funds sourced from taxpayers’ money and the sacrifices of the people must be used properly and honestly. They are not meant to fill anyone’s pockets,’ Muhi added.

With the aggression of China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines, based on data from the Asian Barometer 6th Wave (2020 and ongoing), stood out for its ‘deep skepticism toward China.’

Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, pointed out that close to six in 10 Filipinos, or 59 percent, believed China does more harm than good.

‘[It is] one of the highest levels of distrust in the region,’ he said.

Panao stressed that this places the Philippines alongside Taiwan and South Korea, both democratic societies that view China’s assertiveness as a threat to sovereignty and regional order at 64 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

Only 37.67 percent of Filipinos believe China does more good than harm.

China is asserting false claims over the West Philippine Sea through its nine, now 10-dash line, which has already been declared baseless and illegal by a 2016 arbitral decision.

RELATED STORY: West PH Sea: DFA cites Treaty of Paris to assert PH territorial rights

Its aggression, met with protests not only from the Philippines, is characterized by artificial island-building, water cannon, military laser, and sonic attacks, blocking of resupply missions, and deployment of maritime militias.

As Panao pointed out, ‘Filipino skepticism [.] is rooted in visible maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea and a growing sense that Chinese influence is expanding faster than the country’s ability to manage it.’

This is why the level of distrust ‘runs deeper than geopolitics,’ contrary to reasons behind the higher level of trust toward China from other countries in Asia that are more economically dependent on Beijing.

Over 50 percent of Cambodians and 47 percent of Mongolians say China does more good, reflecting strong aid and infrastructure ties. Thailand’s views are similarly tempered, with 42 percent viewing China with more optimism.

This suggests ‘a pragmatic balance between economic benefit and strategic caution.’

But in the case of the Philippines, Panao stressed that ‘while trade and investment link the two nations, trust remains elusive.’

‘Compared to its neighbors, the Philippines’ wariness underscores a broader regional reality: China’s rise inspires cooperation in some quarters, but anxiety in others especially where its power is felt most directly,’ he said.

The government awarded eight new petroleum service contracts on Wednesday, expecting gains of about $207 million in investment commitments.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally awarded the contracts, which were considered the ‘largest batch’ in the country’s history, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.

The seven-year exploration deals would cover the Sulu Sea, Cagayan, Cebu, Northwest Palawan, East Palawan, and Central Luzon.

The DOE said activities would include geological and geophysical surveys, such as seismic and aeromagnetic studies, to identify drillable prospects, with the potential to discover both native hydrogen reservoirs and new petroleum fields.

The agency stressed that the contracts had ‘undergone a transparent and competitive selection process,’ ensuring that the players who earned the right to explore the upstream energy sector have financial and technical clout.

The winning proponents include Australian company Triangle Energy (Global), UK-based Sunda Energy Plc., Philippines’ PXP Energy Corp. and The Philodrill Corp., US-based Koloma Inc., Gas 2 Grid Pte. Ltd., Anglo Philippine Holdings Corp., Forum Energy Philippines Corp., and Ratio Petroleum Ltd. of Israel.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the development showed ‘reinvigorated investor confidence’ in the local power sector.

‘These service contracts signify not only our determination to secure new energy sources but also our readiness to embrace innovation and sustainability while reducing import dependence. From conventional petroleum to native hydrogen, we are expanding the frontiers of Philippine energy exploration,’ Garin said in a statement.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed P16.08 billion worth of illegal drugs by burning them at a waste management facility in Trece Martires City, Cavite, on Thursday.

The drugs were seized in anti-drug operations and ordered destroyed by the courts handling their respective cases after serving as evidence, the PDEA said in a statement.

According to the agency, the destroyed drugs included:

2,336,482.63 grams of shabu (crystal meth)

529,906.12 grams of marijuana

3,067.69 grams of ecstasy

8,790.88 grams of cocaine

11,315.99 grams of ketamine

10,146.26 grams of nimetazepam, a hypnotic drug

41.56 grams of toluene, a clear liquid that occurs naturally in crude oil and the tolu tree

4.79 grams of opium poppy

0.58 grams of nitrazepam, another hypnotic drug

0.17 grams of diazepam, an anxiety medication

4,506.72 milliliters of liquid marijuana

851.13 milliliters of liquid shabu

8,760 milliliters of ephedrine, a stimulant; and

5,000 grams of assorted surrendered expired medicines

‘The destruction process is always done in full view of the public guided by the principle of transparency and accountability to address issues of drug recycling,’ PDEA Director-General Usec. Isagani Nerez said in the statement.

The Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP MG) arrested 919 suspects and confiscated P95 million worth of evidence in September 2025, the agency said on Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday, the PNP said the Maritime Group apprehended 259 individuals for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing across the country from Sept. 1 to 30.

The operations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing resulted in the filing of 91 cases in court and 59 administrative cases in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources adjudication board, the police noted. Further, the PNP MG apprehended 660 individuals for violating municipal fishery ordinances, resulting in the referral of 428 cases to local government units.

Police also said the maritime law enforcement operations led to the collection of P126,668 in fines and the confiscation of P8.53 million worth of illegal fish catch.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up programs to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), which make up over 90 percent of all registered businesses in the country but continue to face low productivity and lack of financing. DTI-Bukidnon provincial director Famelah R.D. Villanueva told reporters that while MSMEs contribute 16 percent of national employment, many remain constrained by outdated technology and limited access to affordable credit.

To boost productivity, DTI provides Shared Service Facilities (SSF) that give cooperators access to modern equipment.

After two years of sustained use, these facilities may be awarded to them free of charge.

Other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and PhilMech, also extend equipment support, particularly to agri-based enterprises, Villanueva noted.

On financing, Villanueva admitted many micro-entrepreneurs remain ‘non-bankable’ due to a lack of formal records, prompting them toward exploitative informal lenders. To address this, DTI’s financing arm-the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.)-offers flexible and more affordable loan schemes, with offices in Malaybalay City and Maramag, and applications accessible online or via Negosyo Centers.

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Bukidnon has 23 Negosyo Centers covering all cities and municipalities except Malaybalay, where the DTI provincial office currently serves as the main hub. Plans are underway to open a dedicated Negosyo Center in the city.

‘MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. For them to thrive, we must ensure access to the right tools, technologies, and financing,’ Villanueva said./coa

Authorities confiscated shabu (crystal meth) valued at P1.15 million and arrested one suspect in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City, the Southern Police District (SPD) said.

In a statement on Thursday, the SPD noted that the drug sting took place late Wednesday afternoon along Modomo Street in Barangay Upper Bicutan.

Police only identified the suspect as ‘Michael,’ a 35-year-old male. ‘Recovered from the suspect were eight plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing 169.3 grams, with a standard drug price of P1,151,240, along with marked buy-bust money, boodle cash, and a cellular phone used in the illegal transaction,’ the SPD explained.

Michael is now under the custody of the Taguig police, awaiting charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Thursday maintained that she played no role in Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s resignation as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Her statement came after Magalong said he quit the commission following Castro’s remarks that he had been appointed only as a special adviser and not as a lead investigator ‘or in any other investigative capacity During a briefing, Castro emphasized that she had no role in Magalong’s decision to resign, saying that it was entirely his choice.

‘This will be my last time addressing these issues. First of all, I cannot control his feelings; he resigned voluntarily, and no one forced him to do so. If that was his decision, I also cannot control how he makes his decisions,’ she said in Filipino.

She also clarified her statement from a September 26 briefing, in which she noted that Magalong was a special adviser to the ICI and not an investigator. ‘My pronouncement on September 26 that Mayor Magalong’s role would first be reviewed by the legal team, came from President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.],’ Castro said in Filipino.

‘Do not create intrigue by claiming someone else ordered me to say otherwise. As we said, let’s avoid baseless stories. If he knows who allegedly gave me instructions, other than the president, regarding my September 26 statement, he should reveal it-but I know he cannot, because it is untrue,’ she added.

She also called on Magalong to refrain from spreading intrigue, especially if it could affect Marcos.

‘The president is simply following the law. We cannot please everyone based on their wishes if it affects the law or the president’s pronouncement,’ she said.

‘Hopefully, this issue will end here, and there will be no repeated controversies of this nature,’ she added.

In a chance interview on Tuesday, Magalong expressed frustration over Castro’s remarks, which he said cast doubt on his role in the ICI.

‘You saw it. It felt like I had no right to investigate. That was the message from Undersecretary Claire at her press conference. I was basically told, ‘You have no right to investigate because you’re only a special adviser,” he said in Filipino.

‘If no one investigates, what happens to the cases outside? They are focused on high-profile investigations, so there really needs to be someone acting externally to ensure they are understood. That’s how we catch up with them,’ he added.

Some local government units announced class and government work suspensions in La Union, Pangasinan and Benguet on Thursday following a magnitude 4.4 earthquake that hit Pugo, La Union The following suspensions have been announced:

ILOCOS REGION

La Union

Caba: All classes and government work

Tubao: All classes and government work

Pugo: All classes and government work

Burgos: All classes and government work

Agoo: All classes and government work

Naguilian: All classes and government work

Aringay: All classes (public and private)

Santo Tomas: All classes (public and private)

Bagulin: All classes (public and private)

Bauang: All classes (public and private)

Rosario: All classes (public and private)

Santol: Elementary level (public and private)

Pangasinan

Mangaldan: All classes and government work

Rosales: All classes (public and private)

Asingan: All face-to-face classes (public and private)

CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

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Benguet

Baguio: Face-to-face classes, pre-school to senior high school (public and private)

No aftershocks are expected to occur following the earthquake, but it was felt in other areas of La Union, and portions of Pangasinan, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Nueva Ecija, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.