Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said it would probably be more fitting to ask ‘who is not guilty?’ amid the deep and widespread corruption in relation to the government’s infrastructure programs.

According to Lacson, he and his staff reviewed ‘classified’ documents of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which he had flagged earlier for systematic anomalies in substandard and ghost flood control programs.

‘[We] all wondered aloud if the more appropriate question to ask is, ‘Who is not?’ rather than, ‘Who is guilty?’ So sad to realize how widely corrupt our government infrastructure program has gone,’ he said in a post on X.

He said these documents include those papers relating to flood control projects to farm-to-market roads, among others.

Lacson cited Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon’s initial findings that at least 421 out of some 8,000 flood control projects inspected by the DPWH, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines were ‘ghost’ projects.

He noted as well the revelation by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian that over P10 billion worth of farm-to-market roads programmed under the 2023 and 2024 national budgets have been ‘extremely overpriced.’

Gatchalian disclosed at least one project costing 23 times more than the standard price set by the Department of Public Works and Highways and other projects with markups of up to 70 percent.

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Lacson earlier said that almost all senators of the 19th Congress inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), mostly in favor of the DPWH, for infrastructure projects, including flood control.

He cited documents he had gathered showing these were individual insertions, although they were eventually held ‘for later release.’

He also said that members of the House of Representatives likewise made their own amendments or insertions in the 2025 national budget, with the total exceeding by ‘much, much more’ those made by the Senate.

Citing information he accessed, Lacson said the list of the House members who made insertions in the DPWH’s favor in last year’s GAA was several pages long, with the names in alphabetical order. ‘It was like a roll call,’ he lamented.

When asked if the amount was larger than the insertions made by senators, Lacson replied: ‘Much, much more.’

He explained that the DPWH received such massive insertions because many lawmakers were likely in collusion with the department’s corrupt officials to get their share of huge kickbacks from projects-even if it meant giving the DPWH a bigger budget than the education sector, which was in violation of the 1987 Constitution.

In privilege speeches earlier, Lacson revealed how DPWH officials pocketed public funds, some of them gambling away taxpayers’ money in casinos.

He also bared several money-making schemes involving various requirements, including irregularities done by junior DPWH personnel.

Jewel Encarnacion has found a new home at Cignal in the PVL.

Cignal, which has rebranded its team as the ‘Super Spikers,’ welcomed the former Galeries HighRisers player on Thursday as the PVL Reinforced Conference kicks off anew.

Encarnacion was the 15th overall pick of Galeries in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft last year and has been one of the HighRisers’ offensive options in their quarterfinal run in the All-Filipino Conference.

‘Thank you to Galeries Tower for the chance to start my professional career and for all the learnings I’ll carry forward. It was an honor to play for the team,’ she said.

At Cignal, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons standout will reunite with her college coach Shaq Delos Santos.

‘It feels great to be back under Coach Shaq someone who knows my game and helped me grow as an athlete,’ said Encarnacion, who will bolster the wing spiker rotation of Cignal with Vanie Gandler, Ishie Lalongisip, Heather Guino-o, Erika Santos, and Tin Tiamzon.

‘I’m also excited to join Cignal’s current roster, where I believe I can contribute more and continue to develop as a player.’

The 24-year-old outside spiker shared that it didn’t take long for her decide to choose Cignal as her next destination.

‘I thank VP Global Management for helping me navigate this transition. Despite the short time to negotiate with the teams, I was able to come up with the right decision on which team to choose,’ Encarnacion said. ‘I’m thankful to all the teams that took time to reach out and express their willingness to include me in their roster.’

Encarnacion could make her debut on Monday when Cignal battles Choco Mucho at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Galeries kicks off its campaign on Thursday against Petro Gazz at Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

The blue ribbon committee hearings on the anomalous flood control projects will continue amid the change in leadership in the powerful panel, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III said on Wednesday.

Sotto confirmed that Sen. Erwin Tulfo has taken over the committee in an acting capacity following the resignation of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as chair.

‘It will continue. The blue ribbon is always alive. That’s the only committee that has motu proprio powers,’ Sotto told reporters after a caucus by the majority senators.

He said Senators JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Raffy Tulfo and Francis Pangilinan have all declined so they could focus on their respective committees.

Erwin Tulfo, as the panel’s only vice chair, automatically assumes the post.

Just ‘acting’

Sotto said it was now up to the majority and Tulfo whether the latter’s designation will be permanent.

For now, the Senate President said, Tulfo has accepted the post.

‘He accepted the post. He told me: ‘Just acting for now,” Sotto said.

In a statement, Tulfo expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence given by his colleagues. He vowed to uphold the committee’s mandate.

‘I thank Senate President Tito Sotto and my colleagues in the Senate for the trust in allowing me to serve as acting chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee,’ he said.

He added that the blue ribbon committee plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government.

‘I am aware that many Filipinos rely on this committee to investigate those who took advantage of public funds, regardless of their position in government or political affiliation,’ he said.

Tulfo, who is on an official trip abroad, said he was looking forward to the appointment of a permanent chairperson soon to ensure continuity and confidence in the committee’s work.

Sotto said the five candidates for chair have told him earlier they were still hoping that Lacson would change his mind.

Lacson formally resigned as chair of the blue ribbon panel last Monday.

In his resignation letter dated Oct. 7 and addressed to Sotto, Lacson noted how a number of their colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee hearings on the anomalous flood control projects.

‘Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ said Lacson.

He, however, denied these claims.

‘This narrative is categorically false. These misrepresentations are being floated mostly by critics opposed to our efforts to get to the bottom of the flood control anomalies,’ he said.

Hearings continue

Sotto, meanwhile, said committee hearings will continue despite the Senate’s scheduled adjournment on Friday.

‘The reason we have this break is so that the committee hearings continue. There will be continuous hearings of the different committees and even most especially the committee on finance, almost daily,’ he added.

The plenary session was suspended last week until Friday, Oct. 10, which Sotto explained, was to give priority to the committee on finance hearings.

‘Sessions have been suspended since last week till Friday due to conflict with budget hearings which have to stop every 3 p.m. There are no immediate legislation in the agenda other than the [general appropriations bill] so we deemed it necessary to give way so we can have our committee meetings,’ Sotto had said earlier.

Congress will be on recess until Nov. 9 and will resume session on Nov. 10.

As sustainability shifts from aspiration to expectation, businesses and governments across Asia face a pivotal question: Can cross-border collaboration unlock real, lasting impact?

At the Asia ESG Summit 2025, a key panel titled ‘Navigating the Trans-border Economic Climate Collaboration: Lessons from Asia’s Leaders’, led by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke, will explore how regional leaders are driving sustainability.

The discussion will highlight practical lessons, challenges and proven strategies to help incentivise businesses to adopt ESG principles for compliance as well as for long-term resilience and value creation.

This emphasis on collaboration is timely. From Nov 5 to 7 at the Sunway Resort Hotel, Malaysia, the Asia ESG Summit 2025 will bring together leaders across sectors, from policy, investment, corporate and civil society, to explore Asia’s unique role in shaping a global net-zero future.

With its rapid economic growth, diverse ecosystems and increasing investment in renewable energy, Asia is poised not just to participate in the sustainability transition, but to lead it.

Sime Darby Property sustainability general manager Dr. Yasmin Rasyid will present ‘Fostering Resilient Communities: The Sime Darby Property Approach’.

Among the voices adding depth to the agenda is Sime Darby Property Bhd sustainability general manager Dr. Yasmin Rasyid, who will present ‘Fostering Resilient Communities: The Sime Darby Property Approach’.

Drawing on the company’s integrated ESG framework, Yasmin’s session will offer a strategic overview of the framework’s key pillars, outlining the measurable targets and tangible efforts underway to operationalise this vision within the real estate sector.

The presentation will also address the challenges of integrating sustainability, especially in a landscape where financial-related regulatory disclosures are becoming mandatory.

The importance of moving beyond mere compliance toward a genuine commitment that drives innovation and impact will be emphasised on.

The presentation will challenge the audience to collaborate on building a sustainable legacy that benefits both people and the planet, ensuring value is driven far beyond financial returns and regulatory requirements alone.

Yasmin will conclude with a call to action for SDP’s stakeholders including investors, partners and the communities the company serves.

ACCIO Technologies chief executive officer Lau Cher Han will lead an ESG masterclass on how AI can help organisations drive sustainability.

Technology’s role in ESG also comes to the fore in an ESG Masterclass led by ACCIO Technologies chief executive officer Lau Cher Han. The masterclass is on how AI can help organisations drive sustainability.

As data-driven reporting and regulatory compliance become more complex, digital innovation will be key in managing risk and unlocking new opportunities.

To help delegates navigate the wealth of content, the summit offers three thematic streams:

Responsible investment and circular economy. This stream explores ESG-driven finance, carbon pricing, and circular business models.

Climate and value chain decarbonisation. This stream addresses Scope 3 emissions, data strategies, and industry case studies.

Innovative cleantech and sustainable change. This stream showcases cutting-edge technologies, product demos, and investor or startup engagement.

At a time when ESG is fast becoming a key measure of competitiveness and credibility, the Asia ESG Summit 2025 provides a timely forum for open dialogue, strategic collaboration and regional action.

This year’s summit also marks the inaugural gathering of the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC) a collaborative effort led by Star Media Group (SMG), KG Media, and the Inquirer Group of Companies reflecting the shared commitment of regional media leaders to champion sustainable progress across Asia.

Organised by SMG, with Sime Darby Property as the Urban Biodiversity Partner, the summit offers opportunities to engage with thought leaders and decision-makers shaping the region’s sustainable future.

Join a growing community committed to building inclusive, resilient and environmentally responsible economies.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has asked internet service providers (ISPs) to block more than 10 websites that allegedly stream Filipino films illegally.

The IPOPHL made these requests following complaints from entertainment company Viva Communications Inc. and its streaming platform Vivamax.

The first request sought the blocking of 13 FREECINE-related sites. These include freecineplus.com, freecine.ph, freecineph.com, freecine.com.co and freecine.site.

A second request was filed against ASYAMINIK (asyaminik.com).

Pirated titles

According to the complaints, FREECINE has been illegally distributing its copyrighted titles through its mobile app without any license or authorization. These include ‘Bedspace,’ ‘Dilig’ and ‘Room Service.’

Viva also said in its filing that its shows, such as ‘Chasing in the Wild,’ ‘Safe Skies Archer,’ ‘The Rain in España’ and ‘Avenues of the Diamond,’ are illegally shown on the ASYAMINIK site.

‘The FREECINE application contains unauthorized copies of cinematographic works, including those owned by them and allows users to stream or download these for free,’ the complaint read.

‘The content was illegally made available for viewing to the public via online streaming within the pages of ASYAMINIK and full copies of the content could be downloaded within ASYAMINIK for later or offline viewing,’ it said.

The company said these acts are an infringement of Viva’s copyright and other intellectual property rights.

Voluntary blocking

The IPOPHL lodges the requests based on the agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2023-025 or the Rules on Voluntary Administrative Site Blocking.

The memo states that an ISP should implement an effective mechanism to block access to a pirate website within 48 hours upon receipt of the site-blocking request.

It defined a pirate website as any site that features or facilitates copyright infringement, or that contains goods, materials or contents distributed without the consent of the copyright owner, right holder or those authorized by the right holder.

Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny’s music catalog has seen a jump in streams since his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance was announced.

According to Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, Latin music is primarily consumed via streaming. They found that Bad Bunny saw a 26% increase in on-demand streams in the United States following the Sept. 28 announcement, soaring from 173 million nine days before the announcement to 218.5 million streams in the eight days that followed.

The singer born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio recently said concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos played into his decision to bypass the mainland U.S. during his residency. He performs in Spanish and will do so at the Super Bowl, further proving that connecting with a U.S. and international audience does not require singing in English.

Since the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Bad Bunny will lead the halftime festivities from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, the selection has provoked conversation.

For his fans, Bad Bunny’s booking at the Super Bowl is viewed as a landmark moment for Latino culture. That feeling is no doubt related to his just-concluded, 31-date residency in Puerto Rico that brought approximately half a million people to the island during the slow summer tourism season and generated an estimated $733 million for the island.

Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said in a statement that what Bad Bunny has ‘done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.’

He is a known global hitmaker who ties his music to Puerto Rican identity, colonial politics and immigrant struggles.

On Saturday, Bad Bunny hosted the season 51 premiere of ‘Saturday Night Live’ with a few jokes about his forthcoming Super Bowl halftime show.

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He has long been critical of President Donald Trump and backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Some Trump supporters consider his Super Bowl booking to be a divisive political pick.

‘I’ve never heard of him,’ Trump said in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax when asked about Bad Bunny. ‘I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.’

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has reported an influx of patients following an earthquake that struck La Union on Thursday morning.

‘Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Emergency Room is experiencing a great influx of patients after the earthquake,’ the Baguio City Health Services Office announced around 1 p.m. in a Facebook post The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) first raised the earthquake’s magnitude to 4.8 before downgrading it to 4.4. Phivolcs noted that the epicenter was located three kilometers east of Pugo, La Union, at 10:30 a.m.

Phivolcs also said that Reported Intensity IV was felt in Pogo and Tubao in La Union and Baguio City.

‘Anyone seeking medical services, first aid, or counseling may go to the Baguio City Health Services Office (BCHSO) located at Teodora Alonzo Street, or to the sixteen (16) District Health Centers within the city,’ the health services office noted. The following district health centers are:

Asin District Health Center

Atab District Health Center

Atok Trail District Health Center

Aurora Hill District Health Center

Campo Filipino District Health Center

Engineer’s Hill District Health Center

Irisan District Health Center

Loakan District Health Center

Mines View District Health Center

Pinsao District Health Center

Quezon Hill District Health Center

Quirino Hill District Health Center

Scout Barrio District Health Center

Pacdal District Health Center

Lucban District Health Center

City Camp District Health Center /mr

Ex-Spice Girl turned designer Victoria Beckham describes herself as someone who ‘desperately wanted to be liked’ in a new three-part documentary about her life.

In the Netflix series due to launch on Thursday, the 51-year-old once known as ‘Posh Spice’ recounts her battle to reinvent herself as a fashion designer after the British girl band split.

‘People thought I was that miserable cow that never smiled,’ she said, referring to her straight-faced public persona.

Performing had been her ‘dream’, she said, but when the band came to an end she found fashion to be a ‘creative outlet’. Beckham, who frequently becomes emotional in the series by director Nadia Hallgren, said she struggled to establish herself as she came up against a world that said, ‘she’s a pop star, she’s married to a footballer, who does she think she is?’

Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour admitted to initially having her own doubts.

‘Most of the celebrities who get involved in our world are not true designers,’ Wintour said.

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‘I was skeptical. I think we can all be a little bit snobby in the fashion business, and think maybe this is a side gig, but Victoria was one that totally proved us wrong,’ she said.

Designer Tom Ford said his first reaction on hearing that Beckham planned to start her own fashion label was astonishment.

‘I wanted to call her and say, ‘Why? Why would you do this? Do you understand this business is so tough?” he said.

‘I think a lot of people thought, ‘Oh, OK, Victoria Beckham is starting a collection. Someone else will probably design it. She’ll stick her name on it,’ he added.

‘Uncool kid’

The series, titled ‘Victoria Beckham’, traces the celebrity’s early life and pop career, and follows her as she prepares for a high-stakes catwalk show at Paris Fashion Week.

Reflecting on her school days, Beckham said she did not fit in but always yearned to be valued.

‘That uncool kid at school who was awkward, that was me. But I desperately wanted to be liked, have a sense of worth,’ she said.

A low-pressure area (LPA) is forecast to bring rain in the southern portion of Luzon on Thursday evening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The LPA was located 315 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, at 3 p.m., Pagasa recorded.

Pagasa warned that the LPA will cause ‘cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms’ in Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region. Meanwhile, the southwesterly windflow will carry the same weather conditions to Visayas and Mindanao, while the northeasterly windflow will bring isolated light rains to Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, Pagasa added.

On the other hand, Tropical Storm Quedan (international name: Nakri) will still not affect the Philippines and its current weather conditions until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to Pagasa, Quedan remains at the edge of the PAR, at around 1,370 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon, moving north-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).

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It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kph, and gusts of up to 90 kph. Quedan is expected to be out of the PAR by early Friday morning, based on Pagasa’s forecast.

The total damage to schools caused by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu is expected to exceed P1 billion, the Department of Education (Deped) said Thursday.

‘The total damage to schools across the province is projected to exceed P1 billion, with more than 50,000 learners and over 1,400 teaching and non-teaching personnel affected, including nearly 900 in Bogo City,’ DepEd said in a statement, citing its regional director for Central Visayas, Salustiano Jimenez. Due to this, DepEd said it has already reinforced its disaster preparedness and response systems through the deployment of rapid assessment teams and the launch of new tools and facilities aimed at strengthening education resilience.

Among these major initiatives, said DepEd, is the ‘PlanSmart for Safe Schools,’ a web-based contingency planning application developed to enable schools to create evidence-based contingency plans.

DepEd said a series of training sessions for the project will begin in November 2025 for 3,012 schools in the Greater Metro Manila area, before its nationwide rollout.

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The Department said it is also set to pilot the ‘M7X School Ready Program,’ which refers to the initiative aimed at strengthening earthquake preparedness in public schools and DepEd offices.

West Valley Fault

The pilot phase of the program will prioritize schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, particularly those situated along or near the West Valley Fault.

DepEd also unveiled its Pillar 1: Safer Learning Facilities Guidebook, a reference manual which aims to empower schools to adopt inclusive, climate-resilient, and child-safe construction standards. Furthermore, DepEd rolled out the ‘Upgraded Temporary Learning Spaces’ program to improve modular classrooms designed to support continued education while permanent school structures undergo repair or reconstruction.

‘Preparedness is the foundation of resilience. When our schools have adequate equipment, training, and facilities, we can ensure that learning continues even in the midst of disaster,’ Angara added in Filipino.