Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Moderate to heavy rain with lightning and strong winds is expected over parts of Quezon and Batangas on Wednesday morning, according to the state weather bureau.

In its 6:50 a.m. advisory, Pagasa’s National Capital Region wing reported that thunderstorms are expected within the next two hours in Quezon province, including the towns of Mauban, Perez, Polillo, Real, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tiaong, San Antonio, Dolores, Tayabas, Candelaria, and Sariaya.

In Batangas, the affected areas are Santo Tomas, Lipa, Tanauan, Malvar, Balete, and Mataasnakahoy.

The agency said similar conditions are being experienced in San Pablo, Nagcarlan, and Rizal in Laguna and may persist for two hours, affecting nearby areas.

In a separate weather forecast, Pagasa reported that rains will continue across the Philippines as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, northeasterly wind flow, and localized thunderstorms persist on Wednesday.

Flash floods swept through three barangays in this interior town of Bukidnon on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of dozens of families.

Videos circulating on social media showed floodwaters submerging large bamboo trees and carrying debris along the Mulita River in Barangay Concepcion.

The strong water current also affected nearby areas, including Barangay Adtuyon. Worst-hit by the floods was Barangay Poblacion, where over a hundred residents sought refuge at the local gymnasium, now serving as an evacuation center.

According to Ian Cagalitan of the Bukidnon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), at least 25 households, or 174 individuals, are currently staying at the evacuation center in Barangay Poblacion, with the number expected to rise.

Cagalitan added that the Mulita River has reached the red or critical level, prompting authorities to carry out forced evacuations in flood-prone areas.

Justine Navarro, weather specialist at the state weather bureau’s station in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, said in a phone interview that Pangantucan experienced moderate to heavy rainfall lasting nearly three hours on Tuesday afternoon.

Several areas across Bukidnon were also affected by continuous rains brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, according to the state weather bureau’s advisory issued that day.

As of posting time, no casualties or injuries have been reported. The Bukidnon PDRRMO said monitoring continues as response and relief operations remain ongoing./coa

Del Monte Pacific Ltd. (DMPL) is planning to raise up to $600 million from the issuance of new shares in its Philippine business to address a shortage of capital related to its loss-making American unit.

In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the Campos-led company said it was considering an equity raise through private placement at Del Monte Philippines Inc.

While it has yet to announce the final size of the offering, it is looking at raising between $500 million and $600 million from the share sale.

A private placement refers to the sale of securities to select investors, including institutional investors, instead of the general public.

DMPL’s planned equity raising is seen to help ‘reduce the group’s leverage and address the capital deficit resulting from the recent impairments relating to the US business,’ the company said in the published minutes of its annual general meeting.

DMPL currently has around $1.3 billion in debt, raising concerns that its equity has been ‘substantially eroded.’

Dilution

The firm also noted that share dilution would be expected as part of the planned equity raise, but DMPL would remain the majority shareholder in Del Monte Philippines.

DMPL said it had already evaluated ‘all available options’ to address its capital deficitand recapitalize its business.

DMPL is also considering disposing of some of its assets to reduce debt, and engaging its bankers to ‘explore options relating to the group’s various loans.’

‘These lender banks have been collaborative and the management team is working closely with them on the matter,’ it said.

DMPL has long been posting losses because of its US subsidiary, Del Monte Foods Holdings Ltd., which has already put up its assets for sale.

However, DMPL auditor Ernst and Young said it was not able to get enough evidence to review the ‘appropriateness’ of DMPL’s share in Del Monte Foods’ losses. -INQ

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Wednesday that the decline of the unemployment rate to 3.9 percent in August 2025 proves an ‘aggressive and successful recovery’ from the 5.3 percent unemployment rate in July 2025.

‘This is a powerful manifestation of our economy’s resilience and continued strength. This performance is even more impactful when viewed against the 5.3 percent unemployment rate in July 2025, demonstrating aggressive and successful recovery,’ Laguesma said in a statement.

Additionally, the DOLE chief said there has been a ‘strong driving job recovery and employment creation across the country,’ supplemented by the increase in employment.

The August 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS) reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that the employment rate increased by 1.4 percentage points – from 94.7 percent in July to 96.1 percent in August.

Laguesma also celebrated the increase in job quality, based on the underemployment rate, which lowered from 14.8 percent in July to 10.7 percent in August, according to PSA data.

This shows more workers transitioning from ‘insufficient and inadequate part-time work to substantially more permanent employment,’ DOLE reported.

According to the LFS, the service sector remains dominant in the employment landscape, accounting for 61.5 percent of the workforce. DOLE also noted recovery in the agriculture sector, with 20.4 percent of the labor force, as well as the industry sector, with 18.1 percent of the labor force.

With this, Laguesma vowed that DOLE will ‘scale up’ its pre-employment and internship programs, as well as its collaborations with Public Employment Service Offices, the private sector, and government agencies to organize more job fairs nationwide.

Furthermore, he highlighted the government agency’s partnerships with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for insights on jobs and the economy, and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines for youth employability in the IT and business process management sector.

The agency also recently recommitted to sustainable jobs, saying it will ‘focus on implementing the Framework and Action Plan for Green Jobs’ that was discussed in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Green Jobs Forum on August 27-28 in Malaysia. ‘DOLE will remain steadfast in its commitment to efficient, honest, and transparent public service in the implementation of our programs, projects, and activities,’ Laguesma added.

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International coronation night kicked off on Wednesday night, Oct. 8 with the parade of 43 delegates in unique ensembles in shades of red and yellow.

The candidates turned up the heat at the Cebu Coliseum, earning cheers from the audience at the venue. They were accompanied on stage by Miss Asia Pacific International 2024 second runner-up Selena Ali.

Prior to the candidates’ introduction and stage performance, a safety announcement that included reminders of what to do in case of emergencies including earthquake and fire was made. This was following the 6.9-magnitude quake that affected the pageant’s Benefit Gala Night last Sept. 30.

The Philippines is being represented by Anita Rose Gomez of Zambales.

Meanwhile, reigning queen Janelis Leyba from the United States opted to return home to her home country after experiencing trauma following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu last Sept. 30, which took the life of over 70 persons and left a trail of destruction all over the province.

After the opening number, and prior to the announcement of special awards, a moment of silence was offered for victims of the earthquake. A video was then shown where the candidates could be seen helping out packing relief goods and giving them to displaced families.

Pageant organizers gave roses to each of the delegates as a token of appreciation, bringing India and Indonesia bets to tears. According to host Marc Nelson, the roses symbolize love, resilience and rebirth.

ANTIPOLO-Calvin Abueva scored a career-high 41 points in a performance that brought back memories of his younger days as new team Titan Ultra stunned Meralco, 100-96, for a winning start to its PBA participation on Wednesday at Ynares Center here.

Abueva highlighted a big day by putting up 16 in the third quarter when the Giant Risers pulled away, eventually owning a 19-point lead in the fourth before foiling the Bolts’ comeback in the final minutes. Titan UItra also got 14 points from last season’s Most Improved Player Joshua Munzon plus six rebounds and five assists in the win that came despite a flat beginning to its Philippine Cup stint by missing the first eight shots and trailing 11-0 in the first five minutes.

Cade Flores had 10 points and six rebounds, Fran Yu posted nine points and nine assists and Ato Ular delivered eight points and seven rebounds after being traded from Phoenix days before the season opener.

CJ Cansino finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Bolts, who threatened to spoil the Giant Risers’ opening act when they cut the 90-71 lead down to three in the final seconds. Cansino drained a four that put Meralco within three, 98-95. The Bolts appeared to have gotten a big break when rookie Chris Koon missed two foul shots, time down to five seconds.

But Abueva came out with a hustle play to keep the possession, eventually leading to Munzon making two freebies after being fouled.

Cansino made one free throw and deliberately missed the second with 1.7 seconds. He actually got his own miss and made a pass to Chris Banchero from the four spot, only for time to run out.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has secured a fifth freeze order from the Court of Appeals under the ongoing flood control probe, bringing the total value of immobilized assets to over P4.4 billion.

The ongoing crackdown has so far frozen 1,632 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 40 real properties and 12 e-wallet accounts.

The latest freeze order covered several additional bank accounts, linked to persons-of-interests, notably including an entity whose license had been allegedly used in the implementation of ghost projects.

Securities and Exchange Commission chair Francis Lim, a member of the council, said, ‘The partnership sends a clear signal that corruption will not be tolerated.’

All imports and Filipino-foreign players are cleared to play in the PVL Reinforced Conference after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation signed the international Transfer Certificates on early Wednesday.

A day after the PVL called out the PNVF for refusing to endorse the ITCs, Control Committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo told the Inquirer that all documents were ‘100 percent active and signed’ as of 6:30 a.m.

Petro Gazz can now field Filipino-Americans Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips, as well as returning import Lindsey Vander Weide, in its campaign opener against Galeries, which will parade Montenegrin Jelena Cvijovic, on Thursday at Dasmariñas Arena.

Nxled’s Paola Martinez and Farm Fresh’s Helene Rousseaux are also cleared to suit up for the second game at 6:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the PVL was forced to bench all foreign reinforcements despite the timely submission of complete requirements-including clearances from players, their federations, and clubs-after the PNVF withheld its endorsement.

ZUS Coffee, which played without Anna DeBeer, turned to a balanced attack led by Riza Nogales to pull off a come-from-behind 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7 win over Akari sans Annie Mitchem.

In the second game, Marlee Smith of Choco Mucho and Oleksandra Bytsenko of Capital1 no longer joined the warm-up. Flying Titans Filipino-American rookie Tia Andaya also decided to sit out, not wanting to risk her transfer of federation and avoid getting sanctions from the FIVB.

Choco Mucho spoiled Bella Belen’s 20-point PVL debut after sweeping Choco Mucho, 33-31, 26-24, 25-23, behind the inspiring comebacks of Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag.

On Tuesday, the Inquirer reached out to the PNVF through president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara but received no reply. A source said the federation chief was under the weather, which Suzara later confirmed in a message: ‘I’m in the hospital.’

The House subcommittee on budget amendments on Wednesday approved an additional P56.6 billion for the education sector, setting up the proposed 2026 national budget to deliver the largest education funding in Philippine history.

Appropriations chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing said the increase covered, among others, an additional P35 billion for the Department of Education’s basic education facilities, P414 million for its computerization program, and P4 billion to cover part of the government’s three-year funding shortfall for state universities and colleges (SUCs).

SUCs would also receive an extra P1.8 billion for campus infrastructure, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to gain P3.6 billion more for its Training for Work Scholarship Program and Special Training for Employment Program.

These augmentations are on top of the P1.224-trillion education allocation in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP). If approved by the Senate and retained in their reconciled version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, this would mean that the education sector would receive P1.280 billion in total.

Budget exceeds 4% of GDP

The increases, Suansing added, would push education spending past 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – a long-recommended international benchmark.

‘This is unprecedented,’ Suansing said during Wednesday’s meeting of the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee. ‘This is the first time in history.This will be the highest education budget in history.’

Last Sept. 22, the BARSc had already moved to augment the budget of several agencies, including the education cluster, using the P255 billion originally cut from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s flood control projects.

However, ‘once the agencies saw which ones were included in the BARSc proposal, some of us came back to us and said if you’re allocating this much to our agency, can we ask for funding in this item instead, as this is the more urgent priority,’ Suansing said.

The BARSc – constituted for the first time in the history of Congress – is part of Suansing’s reforms to make the budget process more transparent and accessible in a bid to avoid a repeat of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). /mr

Gretchen Ho said Philippine ambassador to Norway was ‘surprised’ after she informed him of her family member’s experience of being denied service at a foreign exchange counter at Oslo Gardermoen Airport.

The broadcast journalist earlier said that a foreign exchange counter personnel at the airport refused to exchange her unnamed family member’s money ‘because of the corruption and money laundering in the Philippines.’

As per Ho’s Facebook page on Tuesday, Oct. 7, she received a call from ambassador Enrico T. Fos after she sent an official incident report on the matter.

‘I have already spoken with the Philippine Ambassador to Norway. The Ambassador was surprised,’ she said.

‘As far as he knows, these incidents shouldn’t be happening. He says he’ll be meeting with the Norwegian foreign ministry to address the issue,’ she added.

Ho then underscored the need to clarify the policy on foreign exchange in Oslo, as she pointed out that the Philippines has already been taken out of the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The list includes the ‘jurisdictions under increased monitoring and that are working closely with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.’

Ho further noted in her post that her effort to seek clarity on the matter is not only for her family.

‘I believe getting some clarity would help not just our family, but other Filipinos who have shared similar experiences at the same airport in Oslo, saying they have been declined foreign exchange services upon knowing their country of origin is the Philippines,’ she stated.