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Quezon City has recorded 5,589 dengue cases as of Sept. 24, with recent weekly cases remaining above the city’s alert threshold, the Quezon City Health Department said.

The total was 35.01 percent lower than the number of cases recorded during the same period last year. The city also reported 24 dengue-related deaths, with a case fatality rate of 0.43 percent.

Despite the year-on-year decline, the health department said dengue cases showed a notable increase in recent morbidity weeks, with weekly counts exceeding the alert threshold.

Cases reached 356 in morbidity week (MW) 36, the highest weekly count recorded in 2026 and 44 cases more than the 312 reported in MW 34.

The number declined to 317 cases in MW 37 but remained above the alert threshold, the department said.

The city government urged residents to intensify dengue prevention measures, including regularly searching for and destroying potential mosquito breeding sites and using personal protection against mosquito bites.

The Department of Health has also urged the public to observe the 4Ts to prevent dengue:

Taob (turn over): Turn over containers that can collect water.

Taktak (shake): Empty remaining water from containers and other items.

Tuyo (dry): Allow wet items and areas to dry completely.

Takip (cover): Keep drums and other water storage containers covered at all times.

The reminder is part of the DOH’s Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito campaign, which encourages the public to check and clean potential mosquito breeding sites every 4 p.m.

Three municipalities filed a joint petition with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to obtain an accounting of Pangasinan’s primary care funds managed by its province-wide health system.

The move seeks to shed light on how the P1,700 in PhilHealth primary care funding allocated to qualified beneficiaries in the province was spent and distributed.

Representatives of the local governments of Bayambang, Urdaneta City, and Malasiqui formally filed the petition with the PhilHealth head office in Pasig City on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

‘Open the books, reconcile the health funds attributable to their beneficiaries, and show Pangasinenses where the money went,’ they urged, as stated in the press release.

The petitioners aimed to obtain the records which showed the ‘beneficiary counts, PhilHealth remittances, Special Health Fund credits, Provincial Health Board allocations, sub-ledger entries, transfers, releases, obligations, disbursements, deductions, receivables, and remaining balances.’

According to them, only a portion of the P340 attributed per beneficiary goes to the LGU level, while the large sum of the share, or P1,360, is funneled into the province-wide Special Health Fund, under the existing arrangement.

They urged PhilHealth and the provincial government to explain and provide official documents that show the amount of funds allocated per LGU and entered into the provincial pool, as well as the services funded and the remaining balance.

The petitioners also aim to clarify which medical services are offered under the locally branded GUIConsulta covered by PhilHealth and which are funded by the provincial government.

‘But the public discussion surrounding the product illustrates the broader transparency issue raised by the LGUs: when medicines, consultations, and other health benefits are distributed under a locally branded program, which benefits are paid for by PhilHealth, which are funded or provided by the Province, and what do the official financial records show?’ they asked.

KZ Tandingan and Gloc-9 teamed up for their latest track ‘Luha ng Buwaya,’ which confronts the severe flooding and corruption in the country.

‘Walang pake kung kami ay malunod sa baha / Basta lunod mga bulsa ng mga nakaw na biyaya / ‘Di mahihiya, pakapalan ng mukha / ‘Wag magpapaniwala sa mga luha ng buwaya,’ a portion of the song released on Friday, Oct. 2, says.

During the track’s launch event, Tandingan admitted that she had fears about releasing the song but nonetheless hoped it would awaken those who hear it.

‘Sana naramdaman niyo ‘yung dapat niyong maramdaman,’ she said.

‘To be completely honest, I’ve never been more scared to release a song sa almost 15 years ko po dito sa industry,’ she stated.

‘But as Nina Simone once said, ‘An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times,” she continued, quoting the American singer-songwriter.

This is not the first time Tandingan and Gloc-9 – who is known for his music that reflects social issues – worked together. In 2016, the OPM artists joined forces and released the track ‘Industriya.’

The project engineer in the allegedly substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro told the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Thursday that he had to rely on the reports of contractor Sunwest at times when he or his staff could not personally monitor or inspect construction work.

Felisardo Casuno, who used to be with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region IV-B office, used the lack of personnel as his defense when he testified before the court where he faces a charge of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Casuno was the project engineer who prepared the certificate of inspection (COI) for the P289-million road dike project. The COI meant that the project followed approved plans, specifications and quality standards.

Accused’s denial

The former DPWH official, however, maintained that he did not falsify the COI.

Sunwest was cofounded by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, one of Casuno’s co-accused.

The multimillion project was supposed to have 12-meter-long steel sheet piles (SSPs). Public Works Vince Dizon, however, said after an inspection that the SSPs were only three meters long.

Casuno told the court that he was present only in one of the three instances the SSPs were installed in 2024. He said he was not able to assign one of the three personnel under him to observe the other instances.

Casuno told Associate Justice Kevin Vivero that he and the three personnel were in charge of over 60 infrastructure projects in the region. Because of the lack of personnel, he admitted that sometimes, they have to rely on the reports of contractors.

Some senator-judges in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte are wont to wax biblical before they stress their points or in order to lend profundity to their positions and questions. During prayer time before the proceedings begin, the senator-judge whose turn it is to lead reveals somewhat the stirrings in her/his heart, bares hopes and fears, and solemnly vouchsafes the Almighty, the God of many names, for clarity of mind so that the truth may be laid bare and justice may be reached in the end. How salutary it all appears to be.

But after the presiding senator-judge bangs the gavel for the proceedings to begin, it is all systems go. Senator-judges, counsels for the prosecution and defense, witnesses, and all other personnel in the impeachment court are individually on their own, so to speak, to present evidence, to listen and separate the grains from the chaff, to record and to ensure order. But most of all, on the part of the judges and the viewing and listening public out there, to absorb, internalize, and assess the facts, figures, information, and the demeanor of those who speak, present evidence, cross-examine, defend, disclose, and deny, etc.

In yesterday’s headlines, the Supreme Court junked (‘ibinasura,’ in TV lingo) three petitions that sought to invalidate the impeachment-judges’ decision to lower the number of votes needed to convict the VP. The Supreme Court dismissed the petitions for their prematurity and lack of legal standing. This meant that the impeachment court’s decision to lower from 16 to 14 (2/3 of 20, not of 24) stands. Only 20 senator-judges are ‘legally and functionally’ present. Two are in detention without bail while facing plunder charges, one is at large and hiding to evade the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, and one has been abroad and on medical leave for two months now.

My two cents: next time, if there would be a next time, the Constitution should nail it at 2/3 plus one. So, too, with groups that use unwieldy fractions.

At the 2025 conclave, where United States-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope, who would take on the name Leo XIV, the threshold was also 2/3 of 133 voting cardinals, or 88.66, rounded up to 89, but votes for him reportedly exceeded 100, as per leaked information, despite strict confidentiality. The Sistine Chapel’s walls have ears and cracks. And yes, in papal conclaves, voting is done several times until the threshold is reached.

As I said last week, the public are judges, too, in their own right. Long after the senator-judges will have handed down their verdict-to acquit or to convict the VP-the public will have made their judgment, too, not only of the VP but of the voting senator-judges as well. Who listened intently and voted according to the evidence and who looked the other way and voted according to their political affiliation?

While writing this piece, my eyes are on the computer monitor, my thoughts making their way to my fingers and to the keyboard while my right ear is listening to Day 32 of the impeachment proceedings playing on TV.

Fourteen is now the threshold number to convict for this impeachment case. Whatever the result, the fraction 2/3 will haunt us in our dreams, roaring, howling, like the wind in a lost empty city. In the light of eternity, it is only a fraction of a grain on the everlasting shores, but for people so wounded here and now, it could be a curse and a blessing.

Today, the Philippine Daily Inquirer will offer a mass for its founding chair Eugenia ‘Eggie’ Apostol and former editor and sportswriter Ricardo ‘Recah’ Trinidad. Apostol died on Sept. 13, 2026, and would have been 101 years old three days ago on Sept. 29. Trinidad also wrote ’30’ on Sept. 13 at age 83. Both persons we dearly love.

‘Salinawit ni Pete Lacaba: A Tribute’ for poet, scriptwriter, translator, editor and book author Lacaba will be held on Oct. 10, 2026, 5 p.m. at My Brother’s Mustache, Hive Hotel, on 68 Scout Tuazon, Quezon City.

Salinawit refers to hit songs in English translated (salin means to translate, awit means song) into Filipino by Lacaba himself. Through the event, Lacaba’s work and legacy will continue to be relevant and promoted through artists and supporters.

Participating artists include Nathan Abella, Rey Abella, Joey Ayala, Bayang Barrios, Ferdie Borja, Pat Castillo, Cooky Chua, Waki Ignacio, Leah Navarro, Chikoy Pura, Joel Saracho, and Mitch Valdes. For reservations and inquiries, please visit My Brother’s Mustache on Facebook. Reserve before tickets (P1,000 to P1,500) run out.

The provincial government of La Union will shift to a four-day workweek starting Oct. 5, with employees working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

The new schedule will remain in effect until revoked, according to Memorandum Circular No. 31-2026.

John Martin, a staff member of the La Union information office, said the arrangement was meant to help employees cope with higher transportation costs brought by the oil crisis and the expected effects of El Niño.

The provincial human resources office earlier surveyed employees on measures that could help them cope with the rising costs and El Niño. A shortened workweek emerged as the consensus.

The new work arrangement does not cover offices providing medical, rescue, library, custodial, residential care, security and revenue collection services.

The provincial government did not say when the four-day workweek would be reviewed.

Seasoned pageant girls have hopped on the Mutya ng Pilipinas train as veterans tried their luck in this year’s edition of one of the oldest national beauty contests in the Philippines.

Among the 38 official candidates making up the Mutya ng Pilipinas Class of 2026 are alumnae from Binibining Pilipinas, Miss Universe Philippines and other national pageants.

The pageant organization revealed the names of the successful applicants for its 58th-anniversary edition this year at the end of the final screening held at CWC Design Center in Makati City on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1.

Fresh from the 2026 Bb. Pilipinas pageant held in July, Angelica Arwin Evora and Iris Oresca have made their second attempt at a national title in just a matter of months by sending in their applications for Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Evora landed a Top 12 semifinal placement at Bb. Pilipinas, where she carried Oriental Mindoro. She is once again raising the flag of her home province in her quest for a Mutya ng Pilipinas crown.

Reigning Miss Bicolandia Iris Oresca stood for the entire Bicol Region at Bb. Pilipinas. But for this pageant, she has scaled down and is representing her home province of Camarines Sur.

Lyra Punsalan is staging her national pageant comeback three years since carrying Pampanga at the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, where she took home a special award. For Mutya ng Pilipinas, she is carrying Albay.

Joining the bevy of national pageant veterans are 2024 Hiyas ng Pilipinas fourth runner-up Josiela Lagrimas, 2025 Miss Grand Philippines candidate Chelsea Arciaga and 2025 Miss Universe Philippines alumna Rani Lachmi Dado.

The Grand Coronation Night will be held at the Playtime FilOil Center in San Juan City on Oct. 14. Several national titles are at stake in the competition.

The municipal government of Santo Domingo in this province will shift to a four-day onsite workweek starting Monday, Oct. 5.

This is part of efforts to conserve energy, promote environmental sustainability, and improve administrative efficiency.

Under the interim modified workweek, municipal offices will operate onsite from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, while employees will work from home every Friday.

The local government said in an advisory Friday (Oct. 2) that the arrangement was adopted to reduce energy consumption and support more sustainable and efficient government operations.

However, offices providing frontline services will maintain adequate staffing and skeleton forces on Fridays to attend to walk-in clients and urgent public transactions.

These include the Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar, Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Municipal Health Office, Business Permit and Licensing Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and public safety and traffic enforcement units.

The municipal government said that frontline services will remain operational and accessible despite the work-from-home arrangement.

The modified schedule will be implemented as an interim arrangement, according to the local government.

Kaila Napolis emerged as the lone podium finisher for the Philippine national jiu jitsu team on Friday after winning bronze in the women’s -52kg division at the Asian Games 2026 at Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.

Napolis, a gold medalist in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, outlasted Mongolia’s Tsagaanbileg Altangerel, 2-0, in the bronze-medal match to give the Philippines its only jiu jitsu medal on Day 2 of the competition.

‘It’s an honor pa rin to win a bronze medal here in a big competition. I was happy I was able to pull the two points on this bronze medal,’ Napolis said.

Napolis reached the repechage after falling to Mongolia’s Mongoljin Gabaatar, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

‘I’m so disappointed after the second match,’ said Napolis. ‘So I really wanted to bounce backwith the bronze medal. I wanna give it all. And thankfully, I was able to pull it off.’

Earlier, world champion Annie Ramirez, who won the -57kg gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, suffered a shock exit in the round of 16 after losing to Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad.

Napolis matched her bronze finish from Hangzhou and remained grateful for another Asian Games podium result.

‘This is still big for me. This is the Asian Games, and it happens every four years,’ said Napolis. ‘We’re a bit sad, of course, for others who couldn’t win a medal. But I’m super thankful for the support, especially the PSC, POC, and our federation.’

In other results, Luigi Dy lost to Mongolia’s Davaadorj Munkhtur, 3-0, in the men’s -77kg round of 32, while Mark Constance Vergel fell to Mongolia’s Shinezorig Bulgankhuu, 2-0, in the same round.

Romeo John Alfred Raphael Arellano also lost to United Arab Emirates’ Amaar Alhosani, 2-0, in the repechage.

Four more Filipinos will vie for medals on the final day Saturday: Vito Luisa Luzuriaga and David Miranda in men’s -85kg, and Andrea Lois Lao and Alenxandria Luz Enriquez in women’s -63kg.

A drunken challenge on Wednesday evening escalated into a fatal bloodbath after a Bukidnon man shot an alleged intruder six times before stabbing him in the neck Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1.

Police said the 30-year-old victim, reportedly intoxicated, forced his way into the suspect’s residence in Barangay Kipaypayon, Quezon town at around 5:50 p.m. to provoke an armed confrontation.

Claiming self-defense, the 38-year-old suspect opened fire using a 9mm Cobravo Ingram gun. As the victim collapsed from multiple gunshot wounds, the suspect seized the intruder’s own bladed weapon and without hesitation, stabbed him in the nape.

The victim was declared dead on arrival at the Quezon Health Infirmary Hospital.

Initial investigation by the Quezon Municipal Police Station (MPS) revealed a brewing feud between the two men. On Sept. 28, the victim allegedly chased the suspect with a knife. Two days later, the suspect filed a police report claiming he was mauled by the victim’s brother.

Following the killing, the suspect surrendered to the local barangay chairman, who turned him over to the Quezon MPS. Investigators seized the Ingram firearm, a steel magazine, several spent 9mm bullet casings, and the knife used in the stabbing at the crime scene.

Col. Oliver Navales, Bukidnon Provincial Police Office director, has ordered a thorough probe into the incident, urging the public to immediately report suspicious individuals or threats.

‘Cooperation and support of the community is the key to make Bukidnon a safe place to live,’ Navales stated in an advisory.