Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

As the nation prepares to honor its educators on World Teachers’ Day, Oct. 5, the government rolled out twin announcements that recognize the vital role of teachers in shaping the country’s future.

These are the release of the P1,000 World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) and the creation of over 65,000 new teaching and nonteaching positions under the proposed 2026 national budget.

In a memorandum dated Sept. 25, the Department of Education (DepEd) directed the immediate release of the WTDIB for fiscal year 2025.

The incentive, amounting to P1,000 each, will be distributed to all public school teachers with permanent and provisional appointments, including those in community learning centers, provided they are in service on or before Oct. 5 of the school year.

Education Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral stressed that implementing units with available funds may already begin processing payments to ensure that all eligible teaching personnel receive the incentive in time for the celebration.

Thousands of new jobs

The grant is anchored on Republic Act No. 4670, or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which guarantees benefits to support and uplift educators.

Meanwhile, at the launch of Project Bukas at Parañaque National High School on Sept. 29, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman announced that the proposed 2026 national budget includes funding for more than 65,000 teaching and nonteaching positions.

The initiative, Pangandaman said, aims to ease the heavy administrative load that often pulls teachers away from their core task of classroom instruction.

‘This allocation will help relieve teachers of the burden of paperwork and allow them to focus on teaching,’ she said. The budget chief also paid tribute to the education community:

‘We give thanks to the teachers, administrators and everyone who help run our schools for your for your unwavering commitment and dedication to nurturing our future generations,’ Pangandaman said.

‘Nation’s Gratitude World Teachers’ Day,’ celebrated every Oct. 5, serves as a reminder of the indispensable role teachers play in nation-building. For educators across the Philippines, this year’s observance comes with both tangible support-cash incentives and new positions-and symbolic recognition of their enduring service.

Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to look into the personalities linked to the anomalous flood-control projects during the Senate and House investigations, following the resignation of Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

‘The departure of Senator Lacson from the Blue Ribbon Committee should now compel the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to conduct a broad, unrelenting and open sweep of all individuals named in both Senate and House hearings, to determine with precision their respective liabilities, and to recommend the filing of appropriate charges,’ Ridon said in a statement on Sunday. According to Ridon, Lacson’s leadership in the said committee ‘yielded the most consequential testimonies and evidence’ compared to all the subsequent hearings on the alleged flood-control anomalies, particularly from the affidavits of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.

He cited that the testimonies of ex-DPWH District Engineer Henry Alcantara, ex-DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and ex-DPWH Assistant District Engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza all revealed before the Senate that contractors, DPWH officials, legislators and executive officials are involved in the controversy.

‘Senator Lacson’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearings exposed not only members of Congress as principal participants in the capture of the national budget at every stage of the budget process but also the involvement of executive officials, particularly in the capture of unprogrammed appropriations, which fall solely within the authority of the executive branch,’ Ridon declared. Apart from his wishes that the ICI would call on all the individuals named during the hearings, he also asked for the committee to publicize its investigation.

‘ICI should open its proceedings to the public, establish rules on when proceedings may be held in executive session,’ Ridon told the Inquirer.

Ridon also wished Lacson well, adding that he is sure the senator ‘will continue to pursue his advocacies for good governance and accountability in whatever capacity he chooses in the future.’

Lacson stepped down as the chair of the blue ribbon committee on Sunday following criticisms from his fellow Senators that the probe into the anomalous flood-control projects was not being handled properly. /mr

Sean Chambers has seen this happen before.

His Far Eastern University squad would fight its way to the end, and the Tamaraws would eventually wind up with close defeats. In the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, it’s happening again.

‘I say this humbly and respectfully. We felt we let one get away against Ateneo. We felt we had a moment against [National U] and for sure, we had our moments against La Salle,’ the FEU coach said That was the Tamaraws’ first win this season and Chambers is definitely pleased.

‘[When] you finally get over [the hump], you guys know how it is, you’ll feel so much better about yourselves,’ the legendary PBA import said.

But he can’t be blamed for counting how differently his team’s record should be, not with how two of FEU’s three losses could have easily been overturned by a field goal or two.

Before FEU’s first win of the season at the expense of the Soaring Falcons, the Tamaraws lost a squeaker at the hands of La Salle, 74-72. In their season-opener against Ateneo, the Tamaraws lost by just three points, 86-83, in a game where the team held a six-point lead entering the final two minutes.

Only National U dealt FEU an 84-68 beatdown from NU seemed definitive.

Chambers and company, though, made sure they wouldn’t say ‘if only’ this time around.

Janrey Pasaol headlined FEU’s first win of the season with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

‘I only got this kind of confidence from him (Chambers) with my whole career,’ Pasaol said, crediting Chambers for another one of his all-around performances.

‘I already repaid his trust in practice, so it’s good that I got to do it in the game this time,’ he added.

Mo Konateh dominated in the paint for FEU with a monster double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds.

MANILA, Philippines-LA Tenorio won his opening game as Magnolia coach after frustrating Barangay Ginebra, 80-73, in a low-scoring start to the PBA’s 50th season before a big crowd on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Zavier Lucero anchored the Hotshots’ big night with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, giving Tenorio an auspicious start to his new role calling the shots on the other side of the rivalry dubbed the ‘Manila Clasico.’ Jerom Lastimosa had 14 points and five assists while Javi Gomez scored 14 points in his first game for Magnolia.

Magnolia went up by 15 in the fourth, 63-48, even as it was able to foil Ginebra’s comeback bid in the final minutes. Stephen Holt posted 16 points, four rebounds and three assists but the Gin Kings dropped their opening assignment at the hands of their former backcourt general. Rookie of the Year RJ Abarrientos scored 11 with four assists while neophyte Sonny Estil tallied nine points and seven rebounds for Ginebra in the defeat.

Scottie Thompson uncharacteristically went scoreless in 31 minutes, missing all five attempts, while hauling down just five boards for Ginebra.

The game was highly-anticipated coming into the opener, given that Tenorio was facing his old team to begin the difficult task of trying to turn the fortunes of the Magnolia franchise.

Magnolia raced to a 10-0 lead, 13-2 and 19-5, though Ginebra was able to close in, trailing 26-24 in the second. But the Hotshots never relinquish their hold on the advantage the rest of the way.

More than P2.1 million worth of shabu (crystal meth) were seized during a surprise inspection inside the Antipolo City jail in Rizal province on Saturday morning, October 4.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel were undertaking on Saturday morning a surprise inspection – dubbed as ‘Oplan Linis Piitan’ – inside all dormitories at the detention facility located in Barangay San Jose when searchers discovered several packs of shabu hidden inside the air exhaust duct in one of the cells occupied by male inmates at around 9:30 a.m., the police in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) said in a report Sunday.

The seized meth was placed in one knot-tied transparent rubber condom, 10 knot-tied transparent plastics, and 14 sealed plastic sachets, weighing a total of 320 grams, worth P2,176,000 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation at P6,800 per gram.

The BJMP and police were still determining the identity of the inmates behind the drug contraband.

Inspired by a rare taste of success on the global stage with Alas Pilipinas, Dante Alinsunurin returns to club action with Choco Mucho in the PVL Reinforced Conference, armed with fresh lessons and renewed fire.

Alinsunurin, part of Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni’s staff during the Philippines’ historic 19th-place finish in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, still carries the emotional high of that campaign. The national team stunned African champion Egypt and pushed powerhouse Iran to five sets, falling just short of a round-of-16 berth.

‘It was an incredible experience,’ said Alinsunurin. ‘You could really see how much our team has improved. We showed we belong on the world stage.’

Seven of the 14 players on that team were his current or former athletes from National University-a source of pride for the coach who led the men’s national team to a silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

As he shifts his focus back to the PVL, Alinsunurin brings with him a key takeaway from the global stage: discipline.

‘That’s what stood out. Discipline in everything-not just training, but in how we eat, how we live daily. It has to come from the heart,’ he said. ‘That kind of consistency makes it easier to reach your goals.’

With Choco Mucho aiming to break through after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2023 and 2024 All-Filipino Conferences, Alinsunurin is buoyed by the return of key players. The only notable absence is Sisi Rondina, who is preparing for the SEA Games in Thailand with the beach volleyball squad.

‘I’m really happy a lot of our players are back,’ he said. ‘Some couldn’t play last conference, but now they’re ready. It feels great seeing more teammates at practice.’

Maddie Madayag returns from a stint in Japan, Kat Tolentino is back in training and top draft pick and Alas Pilipinas setter Tia Andaya is set to debut, working alongside Deanna Wong to set up hitters like Isa Molde, Des Cheng, Royse Tubino, Cherry Nunag and rookies Ayesha Juegos and Jen Villegas.

‘I’m thankful Kat and Maddie are both back, and Tia is showing promise,’ Alinsunurin said. ‘Every time I come to training now, I feel more confident about where we’re headed. Having more players gives us options and energy.’

He also praised American import Marlee Smith’s quick adjustment and team-first mindset. ‘She’s doing well-very coachable and even suggests ideas to help the team,’ he added.

Almost 6,000 people across four regions have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Paolo, (international name: Matmo) the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Saturday, with affected families numbering 1,833 or 5,979 individuals, across 10 provinces.

A total of 3,368 residents from Regions 1 and 3 were preemptively evacuated before the typhoon intensified, while 4,4317 people remain displaced. Of this number, many are staying in 74 evacuation centers, while others are sheltering outside designated facilities.

Paolo, which developed into a typhoon earlier this week, brought rains and strong winds over parts of northern and Central Luzon. The cyclone has since exited the Philippine landmass after crossing the country’s northern areas. The NDRRMC continues to monitor affected communities for damage assessment and assistance to displaced families.

Paolo is moving west-northwest toward southern China after exiting the Philippine area of responsibility, the state weather bureau said on Saturday.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lifted all the tropical wind signal advisories. However, they said Paolo’s outer rain bands may still bring storm to gale-force gusts over Batanes, northern Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Zambales and Bataan.

Pagasa located Paolo’s center at 440 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. It retained its momentum, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 135 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

Paolo may re-intensify into a typhoon while moving over the West Philippine Sea.

Meantime, the European Union (EU) released pound 800,000, or an estimated P54,380,800, in humanitarian aid to support relief operations for communities struck by recent cyclones and floods in the Philippines.

For relief assistance

In their official statement released on Friday, the EU announced that the funds will be directed toward emergency assistance.

‘The funding will help address the most urgent needs of people in the hardest hit areas, including communities that are also affected by conflict,’ the EU said.

‘This allocation will be used to provide emergency relief in areas such as shelter, health, and water and sanitation,’ they added.

This latest contribution builds on the pound 6.5 million (an estimated P441,800,000) in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness funding the EU has already provided to the Philippines this year.

That amount includes pound 500,000 (or almost P34,000,000) earmarked in July following an earlier string of tropical cyclones.

The EU delegation to the Philippines said it is also monitoring the aftermath of the Sept. 30 earthquake in Cebu.

‘The EU expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and stands ready to provide additional support pending on-going needs assessment,’ they said.

June Mar Fajardo captured a record-extending ninth Most Valuable Player award which he received in Sunday’s PBA Leo Awards at Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.

The San Miguel Beer star garnered 3,041 points compiled through statistics and votes from the media and players to beat out NLEX’s Robert Bolick and former NorthPort gunner Arvin Tolentino for the league’s most prestigious honor. June Mar Fajardo receives his record-extending ninth PBA Most Valuable Player during the Leo Awards @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kRlwKKaVkr Bolick was second in the race with 1,914 points followed by Tolentino with 1,901.

Fajardo, Bolick and Tolentino also secured membership to the Mythical First Team alongside San Miguel’s CJ Perez and TNT’s Calvin Oftana.

Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero, Converge’s Justin Arana and TNT’s RR Pogoy. June Mar Fajardo and Ramon Fernandez pose for photos after the PBA Leo Awards at Novotel Manila @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tyF7M5gHVS

– Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) October 5, 2025

Fajardo was also included in the All-Defensive Team with Lucero, Ginebra’s Stephen Holt, NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon and TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin.

Other winners were Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos as the Rookie of the Year, Munzon as the Most Improved Player and Rain or Shine’s Gian Mamuyac, who won the Sportsmanship Award.

Fajardo has more than doubled the MVP awards each won by Alvin Patrimonio and Ramon Fernandez, who was on hand to witness the event.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 9 dismantled a drug den and arrested five individuals, including two minors, in Barangay Sta. Maria here on Friday (Oct 3).

PDEA-9 regional director Bryan Babang said the operation was on account of a search warrant issued by a local court.

In the course of the search, the operating team found and eventually seized 16 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected meth weighing around 10 grams with an estimated market value of P68,000.00, along with other drug-use paraphernalia like disposable lighters with improvised needles, aluminum foil strips, scooping devices, and a glass tube, Babang said.

Babang identified the arrested suspects as alias Julius, 36, a construction worker who is alleged to be the one maintaining the drug den, alias Bryan, 27, and alias Glenia, 57.

The two minors were turned over to social welfare authorities for appropriate intervention.

The arrested suspects are to face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Babang said.

The duo of Dominic Escobar and Kymani Ladi made the most of their first and last taste of the storied Ateneo-La Salle rivalry.

Bolstered by the efforts of the one-and-done cogs, the Blue Eagles escaped Green Archers, 81-74, after squandering a commanding lead in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

While Escobar and Ladi paced their early outburst, but it was Shawn Tuano who came out with the push Ateneo needed to get to the finish line after La Salle’s herculean comeback.

‘I’m not going to take away from these players, especially the new guys,’ Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said.

‘We’ve got several guys who have never played in this rivalry before, so I’m not going to take away from them what they accomplished in the first three quarters.’ Ateneo led by as much as 31 against La Salle, and seemed headed for an easy blowout.

But Green Archers refused to fold, unloading a 19-0 run to start the fourth quarter and shaving the lead to 11, 68-57, 3:45. Tuano, though, sank back-to-back buckets for a 73-59 lead with 3:19 to go, giving the Blue Eagles enough cushion to fend off the Green Archers’ advances until the final buzzer.

Tuano finished with 15 points for Ateneo, which kept its grasp of the top seed at 4-0.

Escobar and Ladi also both finished with near double-doubles of 15 points and nine rebounds each in the victory.

La Salle dropped to the standings with a 2-2 record, tying with the University of the Philippines, which was its dance partner in last year’s Season 87 Finals.