Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Lindsey Vander Weide and Brooke Van Sickle’s reunion was good as advertised, as they led Petro Gazz past Galeries Tower, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday at the Dasmariñas Arena here.

Vander Weide picked up from where she left off three years after winning the championship for Petro Gazz as she delivered 13 points off nine kills, two blocks, and two aces.

‘I think we have a lot of depth this year as you saw the players coming in, anybody can step on the court and make a difference. That makes me really comfortable playing with them,’ said Vander Weide ‘I know everybody around me is gonna do their job. That showed tonight because it was really a team win.’

Vander Weide reunited with her college teammate from Oregon and two-time All-Filipino Conference MVP Van Sickle, who led the way with 14 points off 12 kills and two aces. MJ Phillips chipped in 12 points, including a game-high four blocks. Jonah Sabete had eight points, while Djanel Cheng dished out 14 excellent sets.

Article continues after this advertisement

Brooke’s father, Gary, also had a winning debut as the new Petro Gazz head coach. ‘It was good, I think we came out a little slow, but overall it was a good team effort. I like what we saw, the little things that we can fix, we can do that practice, but overall it was a good win. Any win is a good win in the PVL,’ said Gary, who took over the coaching reins after Koji Tsuzurabara and interim Brian Esquibel.

Petro Gazz will be tested right away on Tuesday, battling defending champion Creamline for its second win in Pool B at Smart Araneta Coliseum at 6:30 p.m.

The HighRisers couldn’t give new coach Godfrey Okumu a winning debut after dropping their first Pool B game.

No one scored in double figures, with Montenegrin Jelena Cvijovic and new starting middle blocker Dodee Batindaan leading the way with nine points each.

The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a Manila court’s decision to grant bail to three individuals facing charges of illegal possession of firearms in relation to the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in 2023.

In a resolution dated Oct. 2, the CA’s Third Division denied the government’s motion for reconsideration of its earlier ruling upholding the grant of bail to Nigel Electona, Jeson Timtim, and Dionilo Mayagma.

Electona was chief of security at the compound owned by former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves, one of the alleged ‘brains’ in Degamo’s killing. Electona, security guard Timtim and fire truck driver Mayagma were arrested 20 days after the killing during a search of the compound which yielded firearms.

The CA, in the resolution written by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, ruled the Manila court properly exercised its discretion in granting the bail applications after following the required procedures.

It noted that evidence presented showed Electona and Timtim each possessed only one small firearm without the necessary license, with Electona admitting to owning a cal. .22 rifle, while Timtim was linked to a cal. .45 Grandmaster STI pistol found in his belongings.

Sen. Loren Legarda opposed the inclusion of Antique in the list of places that are potential nuclear energy sites.

‘I’m not in favor and I am not alone. I will block it every step of the way. Whichever government agency is studying it, do not waste your money, your time and your resources. I will oppose your budget,’ she warned.

She made her stand known during Thursday’s hearing on the 2026 proposed budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies.

‘I am not in favor of that and I think the provincial government will not be in favor, and many, or most, if not all, of our kasimanwas (fellow citizens) will not be in favor,’ she added. ‘Of all places, why Antique? We’re experiencing floods. We have mountains. We have indigenous people.’

Legarda said she was shocked when she heard on the news that Antique was recommended as a nuclear energy site.

Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said he was not the one who recommended Antique.

He said there is a nuclear energy program interagency committee that’s chaired by the Department of Energy (DOE).

‘It has been conducting studies on siting. So, these are sites that were, first those which were identified when we first built our nuclear power plant in Bataan. Then, in addition, they’ve been looking at other areas as well,’ he said.

Lotilla said he was not updated on the announcement that includes Antique as a possible site.

‘But we have identified from the DENR standpoint is that if the government, and that’s through Congress, does move ahead with the nuclear power, that before such permits can be issued, there has to be an ECC (Environment Compliance Certificate) that has to be issued by the DENR,’ he said.

‘And to be able to conduct the ECC in accordance with international standards, then we will have to build up the capacity within our environmental management bureau to be able to respond to that challenge,’ he added.

The DENR secretary said one of the leading agencies that can identify suitable sites is the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

He said they will find out more about the details of the report that included Antique.

Legarda appealed to the DENR to take out the province from the list of potential sites for a nuclear facility, stressing that people will not allow it.

‘There’s no need to think about it. Do not study it. It will not fly. Do not waste money. No one was consulted about that. We need to be more safety-conscious,’ she said.

The Amlig Antique Alliance earlier opposed the inclusion of province as one of the new potential sites for a nuclear power plant in the country.

‘We strongly oppose and condemn the reported inclusion of the province of Antique particularly Semirara Island as a potential site for a nuclear power plant,’ the group said, warning that it might be a ‘disaster waiting to happen.’

Government work and classes at all levels were suspended in Pugo, La Union, following the magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck the town at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to the local government unit (LGU).

‘In light of the recent earthquake and in prioritizing the safety and well-being of all, classes at all levels and work in government offices within the Municipality of Pugo are suspended today, Thursday,’ the LGU said in a Facebook post.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the earthquake’s epicenter was located 2 kilometers northeast of Pugo at a depth of 10 km.

Intensity V was felt in Baguio City, while instrumental intensity III was felt in Aringay, LA Union, Bontoc, Mountain Province; Sison, Pangasinan; Intensity II in San Fernando, La Union; Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, and Dagupan City; and Intensity I in Lingayen and Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

In a significant stride toward environmental sustainability and efficient waste management, the homeowners of Lipa City, through the concerted efforts of the Lipa City Federation of Homeowners Association Inc. and the robust support of the Lipa City local government, are actively backing a zero waste and waste-to-energy program.

This initiative marks a major step in safeguarding the environment and ensuring consistent garbage collection by professional collectors.

Gary Llanes, vice president for business development of Alterna Verde Corp., highlighted the project’s adherence to stringent environmental standards.

‘Our facility utilizes an advanced anaerobic digestion technology from Thailand. This process doesn’t burn waste or use high temperatures. Instead, we capture methane gas from the waste to power our generators, significantly reducing carbon emissions and providing a cleaner solution for the community.’

This collaborative effort between the homeowners federation and the city LGU underscores a shared commitment to creating a cleaner and healthier Lipa City. By embracing zero waste principles and exploring waste-to-energy solutions, the community is not only addressing the immediate challenge of waste disposal but also investing in a sustainable future.

The focus on professional garbage collection further ensures that the program is implemented effectively, providing residents with reliable and regular service.

With at least 100,000 farmers from Alcala and nearby towns in northern Cagayan now cut off from the main trading hub in the capital Tuguegarao City, 43-year-old farmer Samuel Cabaldo fears what lies ahead for his family.

‘Our income is uncertain,’ Cabaldo, speaking in Ilocano, told the Inquirer on Wednesday, anticipating delays in the delivery of dried palay and corn, which were bound for a trading post in Isabela province.

‘Our access to the main markets has been hindered, and some of our produce end up spoiling. This means either a loss or a reduction in our projected income,’ he added.

Following the collapse of the 51-year-old Piggatan Bridge on Monday, heavy vehicles are now forced to take the San Jose, Baggao-Peñablanca route, while light vehicles are redirected to the Maraburab-Piggatan alternate road stretching what used to be a 10-minute drive to a 45-minute or even an hourlong detour.

An 18-ton load limit had been imposed on the 74.7-meter steel bridge built in 1974.

The collapse is expected to impact on the livelihood of some 40,000 farmers in Alcala and an additional 60,000 in neighboring towns. As of the 2021 Philippine Statistics Authority survey, Alcala had a poverty incidence of 12.61 percent as a third class municipality (average annual income of between P130 million and less than P160 million).

Patrocinio Battad, a 30-year-old truck driver whose vehicle was among those passing through the bridge when it collapsed, lamented his sudden loss of income.

‘My truck wasn’t even loaded yet. I was on my way to Gattaran to pick up palay,’ he said in a separate interview.

Additional burden

For many in the area, the longer, riskier routes through poorly maintained roads only add to their burden.

‘It could take years before a new bridge is built,’ said Benedicto Battung, 51, a resident of Alcala’s Maraburab village.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon visited Alcala on Wednesday afternoon to inspect the bridge and hold a dialogue with Cagayan leaders.

Dizon inspected the site and pledged funding for the bridge repair. He also ordered plans and budgets for detour bridges on four other aging bridges in Cagayan.

While considering charges against owners and drivers of overloaded trucks, Dizon said he would focus on restoring economic activity.

‘This is a critical link for rice, corn, and other goods. Any disruption raises costs,’ he said after meeting with Cagayan Gov. Edgar Aglipay.

Dizon also pledged to recommend the inclusion of the bridge’s reconstruction in the proposed 2026 national budget and revealed that a temporary detour bridge is being planned.

Aglipay promised to help enforce load limits on bridges to prevent future accidents.

Senate inquiry

Following the collapse of Piggatan Bridge, local officials in nearby Lal-lo town have begun stricter monitoring of the Magapit Bridge, a 45-year-old structure with a load capacity of only 15 tons.

Government workers have installed warning signs to remind and caution truck drivers about the bridge’s weight limit part of efforts to enforce safety regulations.

Meanwhile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday called for a comprehensive Senate inquiry into the condition and structural integrity of bridges nationwide.

Review designs

Estrada’s Senate Resolution No. 153, urged the appropriate committee to conduct the inquiry, underscoring the need to review existing bridge designs and maintenance systems, assess the economic and tourism impacts of such incidents, and recommend measures to safeguard public welfare and ensure the integrity of the country’s infrastructure.

‘Will we wait for another bridge to collapse before we take action? We must act swiftly to identify vulnerable structures, especially in agricultural regions. It’s not just the roads that get cut off during incidents involving bridge collapse, transportation, safety and livelihood of people are also affected, he said in a statement.

Through the proposed inquiry, the Senate aims to identify aging and high-risk bridges that may require retrofitting or replacement, strengthen infrastructure audit systems, and reinforce government accountability in maintaining safe, reliable public structures.

Estrada urged the Department of Public Works and Highways and other agencies to prioritize the retrofitting and replacement of aging bridges, and to ensure that new constructions meet modern standards capable of handling increased traffic and heavier loads.

Labor groups Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and the Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN) on Thursday cautioned against reading too much into the recent drop in unemployment, saying the quality of jobs in the Philippines continues to deteriorate despite more Filipinos joining the workforce.

Their statements came in response to the latest Labor Force Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which showed that the number of employed Filipinos rose to 50.1 million in August, up by more than 4 million from July’s 46.05 million.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, or 2.03 million jobless individuals, down from 5.3 percent in July when massive floods disrupted economic activity. Still, both labor groups argued that these numbers fail to capture the persistent precarity faced by millions of workers.

‘Workers deserve more than survival jobs-they deserve secure, living-wage employment with dignity and purpose,’ said SENTRO in a statement.

‘The increase in employment amidst trade turbulence, corruption-induced flooding, and a deepening political crisis is surprisingly positive-but this reflects the resilience of Filipino workers, not any coherent government policy,’ the group added.

Article continues after this advertisement

SENTRO also warned that job generation remains mediocre, with underemployment still high and the loss of manufacturing jobs pointing to worsening deindustrialization. It urged the government to launch a robust public employment program and adopt a clear industrial policy focused on rebuilding the country’s productive base.

The PSA’s own findings support the sense of fragility in the labor market. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said in a press briefing that while August’s figures showed ‘broad improvement’ due to more favorable weather, the labor market remains vulnerable to external shocks-such as disasters, displacement, and extreme weather events.

‘There are risks in September because there were several storms that month,’ Mapa said. ‘While there is a substantial portion of our labor market that’s somewhat protected from such disasters, there are still components that are dependent on weather conditions.’

The services sector continued to dominate the labor market, accounting for 61.5 percent of employed persons. Agriculture made up 20.4 percent, and industry 18.1 percent. Construction, in particular, added 672,000 jobs, as projects resumed following improved weather.

The labor force participation rate rose to 65.1 percent in August from 60.7 percent in July-meaning more Filipinos were either employed or actively looking for work. The underemployment rate also dropped to 10.7 percent, or about 5.38 million individuals, from 14.8 percent the previous month. Still, LEARN said these improvements should be viewed with caution.

‘Statistics and numbers may provide a rosy picture of the national situation, but workers’ daily experiences suggest otherwise,’ LEARN said in its separate statement.

‘Many young people who have just entered the workforce feel that they do not earn enough to sustain themselves and their families,’ it added.

LEARN pointed to rising youth underemployment and persistent wage gaps, especially for women, as signs that systemic reforms are needed.

Despite a reported increase in women’s labor participation, the gender gap remains at around 20 percent, it said. The group also stressed that the unpaid burden of care work continues to weigh on women’s socioeconomic mobility.

The labor group criticized the lack of progress in addressing contractualization and securing workers’ rights. It echoed calls for a national employment policy that prioritizes the wellbeing of the working class-not just the numbers.

‘[C]hronic underemployment suggests that workers need multiple jobs to survive,’ LEARN said. ‘This is supported by the fact that minimum wages fall far below the poverty threshold.’

Both groups underscored that while the economy may be recovering on paper, true recovery must mean not just more jobs, but better ones. ‘The real measure of progress is not how many Filipinos have jobs-but how many have decent, secure, and meaningful work,’ SENTRO said. – With reports from Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral and Keith Clores/tsb

Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi was in awe of Belgian spiker Eli Rousseaux after her explosive 38-point performance in her PVL debut, but he also challenged his local players to raise their level for the Foxies to go far in the 2025 Reinforced Conference.

Losing the first set didn’t stop Rousseaux from having a rousing debut as she tallied 31 kills, four aces, and three blocks on top of 15 excellent receptions and eight digs to lift Farm Fresh past Nxled 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, in Pool A on Thursday at Dasmariñas Arena here. Lodi said they found not just the right player, but also the right personality to fit his young squad.

‘The good thing I did was picking not only the right player which was kind of easy to do, but picking the right person to integrate very well with these players, to understand them, to not judge them. You have to really find the right player but that’s one part of the deal and the biggest part is finding the right person,’ said the Foxies’ Italian coach.

‘Eli is the perfect person to complement this team, to work with this team, work for the others and the others work for her so we’re very optimistic for this league.’ Rousseaux, a 34-year-old former Belgium national team player, came from a gruesome ankle injury in Turkey last March and dazzled in her first PVL game.

Article continues after this advertisement

She thanked Lodi for trusting her and giving her the confidence that led to her major comeback.

‘ I was already really grateful the last couple of weeks being here and feeling healthy again and getting my shape back. Today I just went to this game without expectations whatsoever, to be honest. I just wanted to enjoy volleyball again,’ said Rousseaux.

‘We talked before coming here with Alessandro a lot. I feel that he trusted and helped me to get this level back, and this is something that for sure helped me to go into this game in a very positive way.’

Despite the impressive debut of Rousseaux, the Farm Fresh coach stressed that they can’t rely on the Belgian super scorer alone.

‘She cannot save us, you know? She can’t carry us. This is not fair to expect and we would never expect us. Yes she is gonna be the top scorer but we need more people to contribute, we need to lower her load because we want her to finish this league alive, both for performers’ sake and also for the rest of her career, it’s not gonna end in November. Great job for her,’ said Lodi.

The partnership was formally signed on October 8, 2025, led by top executives from both companies: Eusebio H. Tanco, Chairman of DigiPlus; Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent Inc., a subsidiary of DigiPlus; Ray C. Espinosa, Chairman of Bayad; and Lawrence Y. Ferrer, President and CEO of Bayad. The agreement is effective immediately, making DigiPlus Bayad’s only gaming partner for OTC cash transactions. Through this collaboration, DigiPlus customers gain access to Bayad’s extensive network of payment touchpoints, present across 800+ Bayad Center branches and Bayad Partners in malls, supermarkets, and convenience stores nationwide.

Bayad is accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as an Electronic Money Issuer (EMI). DigiPlus partners only with BSP-accredited payment channels in accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), ensuring that all player wallet transactions are processed through secure and compliant payment platforms. BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone players can now make cash-ins or deposits through Bayad. Additional features including cash-outs or withdrawals and access through the Bayad App will be rolled out in next phases, providing DigiPlus customers with more options to manage their funds conveniently and safely.

The Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH), a 100-bed Level 1 facility based in the provincial capital of Catbalogan City, has reached full capacity as of October 7, 2025, with 275 patients currently admitted – nearly triple its intended capacity – as the province grapples with increasing healthcare demands.

In an advisory, hospital management confirmed that all wards are fully occupied, forcing staff to place new admissions in temporary holding areas while awaiting available beds.

Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, and other health personnel continue to provide care despite limited space and resources. ‘We are ensuring that all patients receive proper attention even with the shortage of hospital beds,’ the hospital said in a statement.

The advisory also urged the public to seek early medical consultation at the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) to avoid worsening conditions that could require admission.

The overcrowding at the Samar Provincial Hospital reflects the broader strain on healthcare facilities across Eastern Visayas.

Article continues after this advertisement

Earlier, the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City – the region’s largest government hospital – issued a similar advisory, warning that its wards and emergency rooms were accommodating more patients than their capacity allows.

Aside from the 100-bed provincial hospital, the Samar provincial government also operates one 75-bed district hospital, two 25-bed district hospitals, and a 10-bed municipal hospital – totaling just 235 government hospital beds for the entire province.