Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur is sending aid to quake-hit Cebu, Gov. Divina Grace Yu said.

Yu said this will be an initial salvo of help, to address urgent relief needs.

The contingent is set to travel on Saturday to Dipolog City, from where they will take a slow boat that will arrive in Cebu City on Sunday.

Yu said personnel from the provincial social welfare and development office and provincial disaster risk reduction and management office will join the delivery of the relief goods ‘to assess on what additional assistance the quake-hit areas needed.’

On Friday, trucks were loaded with 2,000 25-kg bags of rice and 500 kilograms of dried fish as part of the relief supplies to be brought to CebuYu said they will also send a water tanker ‘for areas who need to transport water.’

She disclosed that they initially wanted to send construction materials since many houses were damaged; however, with the current situation, the provincial government saw that food and water should be prioritized.

Yu added that the League of Provinces of the Philippines has called for aid to the people of Cebu.

Former Governor Victor Yu disclosed that several business owners in the province had lent the provincial government the trucks to transport the goods.

In Zamboanga City, Mayor Khymer Olaso sent the second batch of goods to Cebu province on Thursday evening aboard two coast guard vessels – BRP Tubbataha and BRP Capones, bound for Cebu.

The shipment consisted of 700 sacks of rice from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, 20 boxes of canned sardines and 1,000 jerry cans with water.

Paolo (international name: Matmo) intensified into a typhoon as it neared landfall, prompting the state weather bureau to raise Signal No. 4 over parts of northern Luzon and Aurora on Friday, Oct. 3.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) also reported that Typhoon Paolo’s center was located over the coastal waters of Dilasag, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 180 kph and moving west-northwest at 25 kph.

Landfall is expected in either Dilasag, Aurora, or Dinapigue, Isabela, within the day. Pagasa has yet to release the specific list of areas under Signal No. 4 as of this posting time.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals as of 8 a.m. are listed below:

Signal No. 3

The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

The central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Aurora, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Roxas, Palanan)

The northern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Diffun)

The northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Quezon, Solano, Bayombong)

Mountain Province

Ifugao

The southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo)

The northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Kapangan)

The central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Cervantes, Suyo, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Sigay, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, San Emilio, Galimuyod, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos)

The northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Santol, Balaoan, Luna, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 2

The central and southern portions of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung)

The rest of Isabela

The rest of Quirino

The rest of Nueva Vizcaya

The central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)

The northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao)

The central and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)

Kalinga

The rest of Abra

The rest of Benguet

The central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig)

The rest of Ilocos Sur

The rest of La Union

The northern portion of Pangasinan (San Fabian, Sison, Pozorrubio, Umingan, San Jacinto, Laoac, Binalonan, San Nicolas, Natividad, Tayug, San Manuel, Asingan, Santa Maria, San Quintin, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Manaoag, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, City of Urdaneta)

Signal No. 1

The rest of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

The rest of Aurora

The northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including Polillo Islands

Camarines Norte

The northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion)

Catanduanes

The rest of Apayao

The rest of Ilocos Norte

The rest of Pangasinan

The rest of Nueva Ecija

The northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael, Angat)

Tarlac

The northeastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

The northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)

Wider effects

Pagasa warned Paolo’s periphery may bring gale-force gusts on Friday to Metro Manila and other provinces, including Batanes, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Panay Island, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar.

It is also likely to affect Batanes, Cagayan-including the Babuyan Islands-Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan on Saturday, Oct. 4.

After crossing Northern Luzon, Paolo is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Friday evening./mcm/abc

Classes at all levels in both public and private schools, as well as work in government and private offices, were suspended on Friday in Ifugao and in most parts of Isabela due to Severe Tropical Storm Paolo (international name: Matmo), according to executive orders issued by the local government units.

In Ifugao, Governor Jerry Dalipog declared a province-wide suspension of classes and work, exempting only frontliners and disaster responders to ensure the safety of residents in affected towns.

In Isabela, class suspensions were enforced in the cities of Cauayan, Ilagan, and Santiago, as well as in the towns of Benito Soliven, San Mariano, and Gamu.

Meanwhile, in Tuguegarao City, classes at all levels were also suspended in both public and private schools, alongside the imposition of a liquor ban.

Disaster response teams across Cagayan Valley have been placed on alert, closely monitoring rivers and waterways while preparing rescue equipment. Authorities have likewise prohibited sea and river fishing, sailing, and swimming throughout the region as a precautionary measure./coa

For many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), remittances reflect years of sacrifice and hope. SMDC’s Symphony Homes Mabalacat converts those sacrifices into enduring assets-supporting families daily while increasing their financial stability for years to come.

Created for Life Upgraders: Filipino families, returning OFWs, and first-time buyers, Symphony Homes Mabalacat rises in Luzon’s growth hubs. This master-planned community keeps families near schools, hospitals, transport hubs, and SM malls, delivering everyday convenience today and investment confidence for tomorrow.

Connected Living, Compounding Value

Symphony Homes Mabalacat supports everyday living: safe, walkable streets, pocket parks, and a multi-purpose clubhouse where families can gather, play, and recharge. Homes feature efficient, expandable layouts, spaces that can be converted from nursery to study, or a WFH corner to a guest room-as needs change. The result is a secure, connected living, with confidence that your investment grows with your family.

‘Symphony Homes carries forward our mission of building communities where families can thrive. Every design choice is guided by the values of comfort, dignity, and belonging.’

– Jessica Bianca T. Sy, VP – Head of Design, Innovation and Strategy

By pairing location advantage with disciplined design and everyday utility, Symphony Homes Mabalacat converts hard work abroad into an asset. It safeguards family life today, builds wealth for tomorrow, and keeps rental or resale options open-without losing the convenience families rely on.

The Ayala conglomerate will let go of its Honda dealership business after more than three decades as it shifts focus toward the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

Ayala Corp. and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. jointly announced on Thursday the transfer of ACMobility’s operations of Honda dealerships across the country to ‘new dealer principals’ by Jan. 1.

ACMobility, through Iconic Dealership Inc., will continue operating Honda Cars Makati, Pasig, Shaw, Bacoor, Cebu, Mandaue, Iloilo, Negros and Cagayan de Oro until Dec. 31.

‘This transition reflects our ongoing effort to optimize our portfolio and focus on new growth areas,’ ACMobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala said in a statement.

‘Among these are our initiatives in advancing sustainable mobility and electrification, where we continue to build solutions that benefit communities, businesses and the environment,’ Zobel added.

of an era

This is a pivotal move for ACMobility, which first partnered with Honda in 1990 with the opening of Honda Cars Makati.

Since then, ACMobility has sold over 220,000 Honda vehicles through the dealerships it operates.

In exiting the business after 35 years, Ayala said this would also allow Honda to pursue its own ‘growth and innovation strategies.’

The country’s oldest conglomerate clarified that the affected dealerships would directly contact customers with active reservations to guarantee deliveries. Scheduled service appointments will ‘proceed as planned.’

Remaining assets

Apart from Honda, ACMobility’s vehicle dealership portfolio is composed of Isuzu, BYD and Kia.

EVs have been Ayala’s new focus in recent years as the official distributor of the Chinese brand BYD in the Philippines, aiming to capture growing demand for modern cars.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association show that car sales in the country increased by 1.6 percent to 269,207 units this year as of July.

EV unit sales totaled 16,195 during the period. Hybrid electric vehicles accounted for the biggest market share at 82 percent, representing 13,290 units.

Public Works Secretary Vincent Dizon has asked the Professional Regulation Community (PRC) to permanently revoke the professional license of those who will be proven involved in anomalous flood-control projects.

Dizon and PRC Chair Charito Zamora on Friday signed an agreement that will cancel the licenses of engineers and other professionals under the Department of Public Works and Highways if proven to have committed irregularities in flood control projects.

‘DPWH and PRC really need to have a deep working relationship so that those involved are not only held accountable for the anomaly [substandard and flood control projects], but also to prevent it from happening again in the years to come,’ speaking in Filipino, Dizon said during the signing.

‘It’s not just about accountability, but it’s also about safeguarding the institutions and the projects that DPWH is doing from now moving forward,’ he added.

Furthermore, Dizon asked PRC to permanently cancel the licenses of former DPWH District Engineer Henry Alcantara and others who are currently under investigation for alleged anomalies in said projects

When Ateneo notched its second straight victory in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, coach Tab Baldwin was more relieved than anything.

‘I’m really happy we’re getting wins in tough situations,’ he said after a 62-60 victory over University of the East last week.

The Eagles share the lead with National U, both with 3-0 (win-loss) cards heading into this weekend’s set of matches. Baldwin’s charges got to the top by playing extremely well in the clutch. And while the Bulldogs raced to two straight victories via routs, their third win, against a rolling University of Santo Tomas, came off a strong finish.

And how teams perform in the clutch might be crucial going into the weekend-and moving forward in the season.

Strong finish

Unbeaten Ateneo and NU lead the plus-minus in clutch play (games within five points at any point in the last two minutes).

The Eagles are scoring 8.5 points per game in clutch situations, fueled by that strong finish against Far Eastern U, where they battled from six points down using a 12-3 run. And they’re giving up just four points a game in that same stretch, for a +4.5.

In their lone thriller so far, the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers, 8-2 in the stretch for a +6.

La Salle, tied for third with host UST, has gotten through some nervy situations in the endgame, too.

‘We had a part in the game where we’re playing really, really well but in the UAAP you cannot say that you’re gonna have an easy win,’ said Archers assistant coach Caloy Garcia after a testy 74-72 victory over FEU. ‘We just have to figure out our struggles in the fourth quarter.’

Maybe not all of the fourth. La Salle has scored 4.5 points per game in the clutch while holding its opponents to 2.5.

So far, there have been five games this season with margins of five or less. And if you throw in Ateneo’s six-point deficit entering the two-minute mark against FEU, six games were separated by just two possessions in the last two minutes.

More importantly, all teams have been in clutch situations already, this early in the season-with half of them playing in two such games.

FEU has given up 8.0 points per game in the clutch so far this season (it is averaging 3.0 points scored in that same stretch for a -5) , while UE surrendered five in the lone tight game it has played. Both teams are two of the three lowest in that department. Not surprisingly, they are also winless so far.

With billions of pesos allocated to various infrastructure projects by the government, ensuring their efficient and effective implementation is not just a matter of good governance, but a sacred trust placed upon public officials and contractors alike. A cornerstone mechanism to safeguard this trust is the implementation of performance bonds.

The primary purpose is to shield a government agency, as the project owner, from any financial losses should the contractor fail to uphold their contractual obligations. This protection extends to various critical aspects, including the timely completion of the project, adherence to specific engineering and quality specifications, and the prompt rectification of any defects or issues that may emerge during the stipulated warranty period.

The process begins with the contractor being mandated to procure a performance bond from a reputable surety company. This bond is usually pegged at a specific percentage of the total contract value-commonly ranging between 10 percent and 20 percent. This financial commitment acts as an initial deterrent against noncompliance, ensuring the contractor has a vested interest in successful project delivery.

If a contractor defaults or fails to meet contract terms, the government files a claim, prompting the surety to conduct an impartial investigation into the alleged breach. Upon validation of the claim, the surety company is empowered to take decisive action to remedy the situation. The surety may opt to engage a new, qualified contractor to ensure the project’s completion, or directly compensate the government agency for the financial losses incurred due to the original contractor’s default. Alternatively, it could negotiate a settlement with the defaulting contractor, compelling them to rectify the issues at their own expense.

The benefits of enforcing performance bonds are manifold and undeniable. They serve as a powerful tool for risk mitigation, significantly reducing the likelihood of project delays, costly overruns, or substandard workmanship. With this financial cushion, the government is better positioned to navigate unforeseen challenges.

Performance bonds are not optional extras but often a requirement in government infrastructure projects globally to ensure that public funds are utilized efficiently and effectively. They provide an essential layer of protection and accountability, guaranteeing that projects are completed to the required standards.

Yet critical questions remain: Are these safeguards, particularly the enforcement and claiming of performance bonds, consistently observed as standard practice? While the legal frameworks are in place, realities on the ground often paint a different picture, prompting citizens to question their application.

We frequently witness reports of ghost projects, stalled projects, abandoned sites, significant delays, and visible defects in newly completed infrastructure. We hear of contractors who seemingly vanish after receiving initial payments, leaving projects unfinished or grossly inadequate. While a performance bond should prevent or mitigate such scenarios, the persistence of these issues raises serious doubts about the efficacy of its enforcement. Are government agencies consistently demanding these bonds? Are they diligently pursuing claims against sureties when defaults occur? Or are these bonds becoming mere paper requirements, overlooked in the rush to commence projects, or worse, deliberately ignored?

The implications of failing to observe and enforce performance bonds are severe and far-reaching. It translates into wasted public funds, delayed services for our communities, and a profound erosion of public trust in the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. Without robust enforcement, the purpose of these bonds-to protect the public and ensure accountability-is rendered moot.

Enforcing them protects public funds, prevents substandard work, and helps build a more resilient, prosperous Philippines.

The province of Zambales was placed under an orange rainfall warning on Friday evening, October 3, amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paolo, according to the state weather bureau.

The orange rainfall warning indicates 15 to 30 millimeters of rainfall within the next three hours, indicating that flooding remains a threat in the area.

A yellow warning level, on the other hand, is forecast in Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

Areas under the yellow warning level are expected to receive 7.5 to 15 millimeters of rain within the next three hours, and flooding is also possible in flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains with occasional heavy rains are expected over the following areas within the next three hours:

Metro Manila

Rizal

Cavite

Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta)

Laguna (Cabuyao, Calamba, Santa Rosa, Binan, San Pedro, Mabitac, Santa Maria)

Batangas (Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balayan, Balete, Batangas City, Bauan, Calaca, Calatagan, Tanauan, Cuenca, Ibaan, Laurel, Lemery, Lian, Lipa, Mabini, Malvar, Mataasnakahoy, Nasugbu, San Jose, San Luis, San Nicolas, San Pascual, Santa Teresita, Taal, Talisay, Tingloy, Tuy, Santo Tomas)

The same weather condition is affecting Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, which may also persist for three hours.

Based on the 5 p.m. bulletin of Pagasa, Paolo was last located over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 165 kph.

Signal No. 3 was raised over seven areas in Luzon, while several other areas were under Signal Nos. 2 and 1.

Human rights group Karapatan is demanding accountability from the police for the death of a 35-year-old construction worker believed to have been caught in the crossfire between authorities and rioting protesters after the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protest in Manila.

A funeral march was held on Thursday for Eric Saber, who was found to have sustained a gunshot wound in the neck, based on an autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun.

Based on Fortun’s findings, Saber was shot, injuring his spine. He developed pneumonia, which ultimately killed him.

‘This fact exposes the lies of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which repeatedly denied that they did not use firearms or tear gas that day. Who else bore firearms during the dispersal but the police forces, the SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team and agents who are not in uniform?’ said lawyer Maria Sol Taule, Karapatan deputy secretary general, who has also been helping protesters who were arrested without a warrant.

Taule said the untimely death of Saber, who was just passing by Mendiola when he was shot, is a reminder that ordinary people are ‘not safe from state violence and police brutality.’

Stark reminder

‘We demand accountability for those responsible for the killing of Eric Saber. We call for an immediate, independent and credible investigation into his case and into the many other rights violations committed by the police during the Sept. 21 dispersal,’ she added.

The number of protesters who were arrested and detained by the Manila police has reached 277 from the initial count of 216, based on the monitoring of Karapatan, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, Public Interest Law Center and Sentro para sa Repormang Agraryo.

The Manila Police District said on Monday that all minors who were arrested have been released. According to the Commission on Human Rights, 91 minors were processed by the PNP and the Department of Social Welfare and Development before they were released to their parents or sent to their respective local government units or a youth facility.