Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday told foreign aid and loan providers that his administration will not tolerate the wastage of public funds, as his administration backs sweeping investigations into billions of pesos worth of corruption-tainted flood control projects.

The president made the guarantee as he announced major reforms to the guidelines for reviewing and approving foreign-assisted flagship programs and projects of the government.

‘We will not tolerate measurement without action, nor will we tolerate the wastage of public funds,’ Marcos said in his keynote address at the 2025 Philippine Development Forum in Mandaluyong City.

‘No money will be wasted. We will not allow the squandering of the nation’s coffers,’ he told the audience.

The president acknowledged ‘critical bottlenecks and systemic challenges’ that have long hindered the government and its development partners from optimally utilizing the Official Development Assistance (ODA).

According to the chief executive, the Economy and Development Council (ED Council), which he chairs, revised the guidelines of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) ‘to streamline the process, cut bureaucratic delays, and accelerate public service.’

The president said it was the ‘first comprehensive update in a decade’ to the ICC guidelines.

‘Be assured that we continue to listen to the concerns and recommendations of our development partners. We are determined to go further,’ Marcos noted.

The ICC is one of the eight inter-agency bodies comprising the ED Council co-chaired by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) and the Department of Finance (DOF).

In a statement issued by DEPDev, among the key changes in the guidelines include raising the cost threshold for locally funded programs and projects to P5 billion, and expanding ICC coverage to include PPP projects.

The guidelines also institutionalize the ICC’s mandatory review of all foreign loan-assisted projects, regardless of loan amount or total cost, while excluding grant-assisted projects, which are reviewed by DEPDev.

According to the department, the new guidelines were designed to ‘encourage the submission of well-prepared, strategically aligned proposals; and promote discipline among implementing agencies to ensure timely and effective project execution.’

‘As we work to ensure that every peso invested by the government delivers maximum value for Filipinos, streamlining the ICC process and clarifying its scope will make project evaluation more rigorous while minimizing delays,’ ED Council vice chair and DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

The department has yet to make public a copy of the revised guidelines of the ICC.

According to the president, the ED Council will also introduce measures to simplify the issuance of special authority, ‘to enable faster mobilization of assistance aligned with national priorities.’

The special presidential authority for government officials to negotiate and sign a foreign loan, guarantee or grant agreement is one of the three requisites for the approval of big-ticket projects funded by ODA loans.

The other two requirements are the ED Council approval and the Forward Obligational Authority by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Marcos made the commitment as he said that the Philippines is projecting itself to transition from lower-middle income to upper-middle-income status by next year.

When this happens, the country’s eligibility for certain ODA may be reduced or eliminated.

Marcos expressed the Philippines’ ‘readiness’ for this transition, but noted that this ‘demands a kind of partnership built on stronger alignment, shared goals and genuine national ownership.’

According to the ODA Portfolio Review Report of the DEPDev, loans and grants received by the Philippines for projects increased by six percent to $39.6 billion in 2024 from $37.3 billion in 2023.

The 2024 ODA portfolio is the highest in a decade, consisting of 92 project loans, 19 program loans and 315 grants.

Japan remained the country’s largest partner, with $13.2 billion in active commitments, supporting 82 loans and grants.

Other key partners include the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and South Korea.

Among the projects that benefited from these loan commitments were the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project, Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project Phase I, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, Metro Manila Subway Project, and Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools Project.

The 2025 iteration of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival sailed ahead after a months-long delay, with its executives demanding that government officials be transparent about public funds and reallocate the people’s money to support the arts.

In their respective speeches at the Cinemalaya opening ceremony at the Shangri-La Plaza on Friday, Oct. 3, deputy festival director Tess Rances and president Laurice Guillen took the time to echo the public’s fury toward the corruption of public funds and why the country’s film industry needs proper funding.

‘While billions of taxpayers’ money are skimmed in ghost projects right under the noses of our lawmakers, who were supposed to safeguard them, artists scrape the bottom of the pot to bring their stories to life,’ Rances said.

‘Corruption stumps and kills creativity. We urge our government to prioritize the allocation of funds to support the arts, specifically institutions like Cinemalaya and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the FDCP that nurture the growth of Philippine independent filmmaking,’ she continued.

Staying on the topic, Rances called on government officials to practice ‘urgency in responding against corruption,’ as it also plays a role in ‘stifling creativity and artistic excellence.’

‘We demand accountability and transparency of public funds meant for cultural and artistic development. The Cinemalaya festival, now in its 21st edition, has proven time and again its significance in shaping the narrative of Philippine cinema, promoting innovation, and giving a voice to the people,’ she said.

‘We call on our lawmakers to act with urgency in [responding] against corruption. It stifles creativity and artistic excellence. The future of Philippine cinema and the art demand it. The voices of our artists demand it. Labanan natin ang korapsyon at suportahan ang sining (Let’s fight against corruption and support the arts),’ she further added.

Meanwhile, Guillen revealed that the festival currently has 197 films in its arsenal, while acknowledging how the current political climate has an impact on filmmakers and local cinema.

‘Cinemalaya is not just a festival, it is a journey. The filmmaker who joins the competition with a story close to his heart sets out on a personal journey to a process that emphasizes craft and creativity, he learns to refine his vision and finds his voice,’ she said.

‘Unless our filmmakers acknowledge the hard truth and the upheavals today. Climate change, migration and refugee flows, war and conflict, political instability, economic disparity, we can’t even begin to take up the challenge,’ she continued.

With the theme ‘Layag sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos,’ this year’s Cinemalaya will be held from Oct. 3 to 12 at the Mandaluyong-based mall and partner cinemas.

The full-length film entries include ‘Bloom Where You are Planted,’ ‘Child No. 82,’ ‘Cinemartyrs,’ ‘Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan,’ ‘Open Endings,’ ‘Padamlagan,’ ‘Paglilitis,’ ‘Raging,’ ‘Republika ng Pipolipinas,’ and ‘Warla.’

Meanwhile, the short-film entries are the following: ‘Ascension from the Office Cubicle,’ ‘Figat (Tomorrow),’ ‘Hasang (Gills),’ ‘I’m Left Inside My Head,’ ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat ha Langit (Objects Do Not Randomly Fall from the Sky),’ ‘Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman Sang Lawod (Cold as the Oceans Run Deep),’ ‘Please Keep this Copy,’ ‘Radikals,’ ‘The Next 24 Hours,’ and ‘Water Sports.’

A rainy Monday is expected over parts of Mindanao, while generally fair weather is forecast for the rest of the country, the state weather bureau said.

In its 5 a.m. weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)-where winds from the northern and southern hemispheres meet-is expected to bring cloudy skies and thunderstorms to southern Mindanao.

Pagasa weather specialist Daniel Villamil said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience fair weather.

‘Partly cloudy to cloudy skies don’t necessarily mean there won’t be any rain. The usual late afternoon to evening rain showers or thunderstorms may still occur,’ he said in Filipino.

He also said Palawan and Visayas will experience similar fair weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Villamil said thunderstorms and overcast skies are expected in Mindanao as the day progresses due to the ITCZ.

‘Because of the ITCZ, areas like the Zamboanga Peninsula and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)-technically the southern part of Mindanao-can expect a high chance of cloudiness today,’ he said in Filipino.

‘So we’re looking at cloudy weather with scattered [showers] and thunderstorms,’ he added.

Villamil also said that no gale warnings have been issued for any of the country’s seaboards.

Meanwhile, the following temperatures are forecasted:

Laoag, Ilocos Norte: 24°C to 31°C

Baguio: 16°C to 24°C

Metro Manila: 23°C to 32°C

Tagaytay: 22°C to 28°C

Tuguegarao: 24°C to 34°C

Legazpi: 24°C to 33°C

Kalayaan Islands: 27°C to 31°C

Puerto Princesa: 24°C to 33°C

Iloilo: 24°C to 32°C

Cebu: 26°C to 32°°C

Tacloban: 25°C to 33°C

Zamboanga: 24°C to 33°C

Cagayan de Oro: 24°C to 31°C

Davao: 24°C to 33°C

Weather disturbances

Villamil also reported that Severe Tropical Storm Halong and the cloud clusters monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility will not directly affect the country.

He said Halong was located 2,105 kilometers east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon, moving slowly northwestward, with maximum winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching 125 kph.

Meanwhile, the cloud clusters may develop into a low-pressure area either later today or in the coming days.

Four-day weather outlook

Pagasa also provided a four-day weather outlook to guide the public on expected conditions across the country.

Tuesday until Wednesday: Cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms over Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Western Visayas, and Negros Island Region due to the ITCZ.

Thursday to Friday: Generally fair weather to persist throughout the whole country apart from localized showers/localized thunderstorms.

Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corp. (TFSPH), the automotive financing and leasing arm of GT Capital Holdings Inc., began its maiden bond offer on Monday, aiming to raise P2 billion from the debt market.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, GT Capital said TFSPH’s issuance would involve two-year bonds and three-year bonds, with fixed rates of 5.7725 percent and 5.9418 percent, respectively.

‘TFSPH will use the proceeds to further diversify its funding sources and support its anticipated asset growth,’ the Ty-led conglomerate noted in its disclosure.

The bond offer period will run from Oct. 6 to Oct. 13. First Metro Investment Corp. and ING bank NV Manila Branch were tapped as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners. They are also the selling agents, along with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and BPI Capital Corp.

Philippine Rating Services Corp. earlier issued a PRS Aaa (corp.) with a stable outlook rating for TFSPH.

This is its highest issuer credit rating, indicating that TFSPH has a ‘very strong’ capacity to meet its financial commitments.

In giving this rating, PhilRatings said it had considered TFSPH’s ‘strong and highly supportive’ shareholders, the Toyota franchise, its ‘good’ asset quality and sustained revenue growth due to the expansion of its loan portfolio./tad

A team of geologists tasked with identifying areas prone to flooding and sinkhole formation was deployed to Cebu following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off the province on Sept. 30, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Monday.

In a statement, the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said it dispatched an eight-member team from its Central Office and Central Visayas Regional Office ‘to conduct a comprehensive post-disaster geohazards assessment across several areas in Cebu province.’

‘The assessment aims to identify zones susceptible to flooding, rain-induced landslides, ground subsidence, and sinkhole formation,’ the agency explained.

‘The initiative aims to enhance public safety and guide local government units in land-use planning and disaster risk reduction, particularly in communities situated on karst terrains characterized by limestone formations that are prone to dissolution and collapse,’ it added.

DENR Assistant Secretary Michael Cabalda said the assessment covers ground validation and geohazards data analysis.

‘This study will enable us to pinpoint areas susceptible to flooding, rain-induced landslides, and those areas with high potential for ground subsidence and provide technical recommendations to LGUs for proper zoning, building regulation, and emergency preparedness,’ said Cabalda, who also serves as the MGB director.

He said the results of the assessment will be disseminated to local officials, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and other concerned partners.

To date, the DENR said preliminary surveys have already been conducted in the proposed Tent City, Barangay Cogon, and Bogo City. /mcm

Another wave of fuel price hikes will hit motorists this Tuesday, with diesel and kerosene increasing for the seventh straight week.

In an advisory, Seaoil said diesel and kerosene would be more costly by 80 centavos and 20 centavos per liter, respectively.

Gasoline will also inch up by 20 centavos a liter.

Industry sources said last week that the expected increases could be attributed to the market’s fears of supply shortfalls, especially amid Russia’s partial diesel export ban.

Another major factor affecting prices was the new US sanctions against Iran over allegedly failing to comply with its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal./tad

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will file perjury charges against former Department of Public Works and Highways – Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez after the latter linked the senator to the anomalous infrastructure projects.

Estrada’s office made the announcement in an advisory released Monday, saying that the senator would lodge the charges against Hernandez before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 7.

Last month, Hernandez linked Estrada to the questionable infrastructure projects.

Contrary to the statements of Senator Rodante Marcoleta during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on September 8, Hernandez said that Estrada is ‘not safe’ from allegations linked to the projects.

‘Senator [Rodante] Marcoleta said yesterday, ‘You are safe.’ This is not true. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Joel Villanueva, [DPWH] Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and DE [district engineer] Alcantara. Senator Jinggoy laid out P355 million in 2025 for some projects in Bulacan,’ Hernandez said in Filipino.

In response, Estrada said he would file charges against Hernandez as he denied the allegations and described them as ‘kathang-isip at gawa-gawa’ (imaginary and made-up).

Estrada likewise reiterated his call for a lie-detector test with Hernandez to determine who among the two of them is telling the truth.

Estrada said the allegation that he secured P355 million in infrastructure deals in Bulacan was unfounded, as any line item from the General Appropriations Act could be linked to any senator.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed a task force composed of Area Police Commands (APCs) to dismantle private armed groups (PAGs).

‘They will coordinate the efforts of the regional offices, provincial offices, and tactical units,’ Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.

He did not specify the number of existing PAGs in the Philippines, but said the PNP is monitoring both active and potential armed groups nationwide.

Nartatez added that PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo will lead the task force, overseeing sub-group commanders from the five APCs: Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Western Mindanao, and Eastern Mindanao.

APCs are offices that coordinate operations across regions within their areas of responsibility.

They were deactivated following a National Police Commission resolution last January and an order by Nartatez last Wednesday, which cited that the units were merely duplicating the functions of other PNP offices.

The PNP previously stated that the deactivation of the APCs would occur over a transition period while affected personnel are reassigned to other posts./mcm

State-run National Power Corp. (Napocor), under fresh leadership, is ‘overhauling’ its strategy to cut dependence on costlier diesel fuel.

Jericho Jonas Nograles, the newly installed president and chief executive officer of Napocor, said he was working closely with the Department of Energy in exploring new technologies.

‘We’re trying to increase our renewable energy assets to decrease diesel dependence. And we are now currently overhauling the approach because the rollout is a bit slow,’ he told reporters last week.

‘Let’s hope that you will see the results within six months,’ Nograles said.

The Napocor CEO said he has initiated talks with the Western Mindanao Command to reach the farthest-flung islands.

Nograles said Napocor plans to deploy ‘hundreds of solar home systems’ to remote areas.

‘So, we’re looking at islands. We’re looking at geographically isolated areas. And for those that are within the Napocor territories, within our 168 islands, we will fix their cost of electricity,’ he said.

Hybridization program

The Napocor chief also said he would push for the state firm’s hybridization program. That is, the private sector will be tapped to build renewable energy facilities to either augment or replace existing diesel-fired power plants.

‘But I can see that it has big obstacles. We’re fixing and studying what are the ways to remove those obstacles,’ he said. Nograles, however, declined to specify the issues.

Napocor’s Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) currently operates 281 power plants across 35 provinces.

SPUG provides electricity to areas not linked to the main transmission grid. They operate mostly diesel-fired generators.

Nograles also said the bulk of Napocor’s generation facilities are diesel power plants, which are ‘the most expensive that we have.’

He said that the average cost of electricity from diesel generators is about P30 per kilowatt hour (kWh). Of that cost, about P23 is subsidized by the government. -LISBET K. ESMAEL INQ

Five major transport groups split from the ‘Magnificent 7’ transportation coalition after its leaders called for the resignation of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chief Teofilo Gaudiz III.

At a conference on Friday, groups Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Stop and Go Transport Coalition (Stop and Go), Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), and UV Express Federation of the Philippines announced their withdrawal from the coalition.

Left in the coalition are Pasang Masda led by Ka Obet Martin, and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) led by Boy Vargas.

The five groups, through its spokesperson Orlando Marquez, alleged that they were made to sign petitions by Martin and Vargas under false pretenses, particularly in calling to remove Gaudiz from the LTFRB.

Marquez said that the five groups will ‘no longer participate in smear campaigns against government officials who are working sincerely.’

He also added that the five groups did not agree with the coalition’s calls to remove Gaudiz, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Ramon Reyes, and LTFRB NCR Regional Director Zona Russet M. Tamayo.

‘The call to dismiss Undersecretary Ramon Reyes, Charmain Guadiz, RD Tamayo of NCR, we are not part of that. We did not discuss it with the group,’ Marquez said.

Marquez, however, also revealed that the five organizations will be joining five other Luzon-based groups to form a new 10-member coalition that he said will be ‘even bigger than the Magnificent 7.’