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Despite high airfares weighing on travel sentiment, the operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) still expects a slight increase in passenger traffic during this year’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, or Undas.

According to New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), passenger traffic at the country’s main gateway could reach 1.25 million from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4, slightly higher than the 1.24 million recorded in 2025.

NNIC expects the Undas travel rush to peak on Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of the long weekend, when about 149,000 passengers are projected to pass through the airport.

Malacañang has declared Sunday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 2, special nonworking days.

In anticipation of the travel rush, the Naia operator said it was stepping up preparations, including round-the-clock operational monitoring, additional personnel and passenger assistance services during peak periods and heightened security measures.

Additional immigration, customs and quarantine counters may also be opened to prevent long queues, while more screening personnel and checkpoints could be deployed during peak hours.

Public assistance desks will be available across all terminals, alongside a command center at Terminal 2 that will operate around the clock to assist passengers.

NNIC said interterminal shuttles would also be deployed during peak arrival and departure periods to facilitate passenger transfers.

Despite these measures, the airport operator advised travelers to arrive at Naia at least three hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.

‘Naia enters this year’s Undas travel period with improved passenger processing systems and expanded facilities following more than two years of modernization under NNIC,’ said the operator, which had taken over the airport in September 2024.

Government-operated airports are likewise preparing for an increase in passenger traffic during the Undas period.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said it expected passenger traffic across its airports to reach 4 million during this year’s observance, up from 3.7 million in 2025.

Budget carrier AirAsia Philippines has also reported an influx of domestic bookings for the ‘Undas’ travel period, particularly to the Visayas destinations of Caticlan, Bacolod and Iloilo.

Expressway managers advised motorists to plan their Undas travel as they project vehicles to reach more than 750,000 each day across major superhighways bound for different destinations in Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon.

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) projects an average vehicular increase of 12 percent during the peak travel days of October 30 and 31, compared to the minimal 3-5 percent increase in overall traffic volume at all its superhighways – the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), NLEX Connector, the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), and the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

Because of the anticipated surge, MPTC is implementing its ‘Biyaheng Arangkada’ program starting on October 29 to November 3 to support traffic management, road safety, and motorists’ travel needs during the peak holiday period, the company said on Tuesday.

The average daily volume of 342,000 vehicles at NLEX, 78,000 at SCTEX, 22,000 at the NLEX Connector, 163,000 at CAVITEX Segment 1-4, 31,000 at the CAVITEX C-5 Link, and 50,000 at CALAX totals 686,000 cars, buses, and trucks.

The number of motorists is expected to climb to more than 734,000, a five percent increase, and further to 768,320 motorists at the peak 12 percent rise.

According to MPTC, Biyaheng Arangkada is being implemented in SCTEX in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and on CAVITEX in partnership with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) through thd PEA Tollway Corporation (PEATC).

At NLEX and SCTEX, outbound traffic is expected to peak from Friday afternoon (October 30) through Saturday afternoon (October 31), while return traffic is expected from late afternoon on November 2 through the early morning of November 3.

CAVITEX and CALAX are expected to experience high traffic volumes on the afternoon of October 30 and the morning of November 3.

With the anticipated traffic surge, MPTC will mobilize 2,000 personnel to manage traffic, toll, security, incident response, and technology, and provide round-the-clock support personnel across its expressways. Traffic operations teams will work closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the local governments traversed by the motorways, and other government agencies throughout the period.

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations will be available at select NLEX Rest and Refuel Stations, free Wi-Fi at select NLEX Rest and Refuel Stations, in partnership with Smart, and free bottled water at roadside assistance stations, courtesy of Maynilad.

Roadworks, lane closures, and maintenance activities will be suspended from October 29 to November 3, except for emergency safety repairs. Traffic teams and marshals will monitor conditions and implement measures as needed.

NLEX Connector offers an alternative route between western Metro Manila and destinations in Northern and Central Luzon, while access from Mindanao Avenue provides another connection to the NLEX mainline for motorists from eastern Metro Manila.

In the south, CAVITEX C5 Link connects C5 Road in Taguig to CAVITEX, giving access to Parañaque, Las Piñas, Bacoor, and Kawit cities. CALAX connects Cavite and Laguna, with its operational stretch running from Mamplasan in Biñan, Laguna, to Governor’s Drive in the City of General Trias in Cavite.

MPTC continues to expand its expressway network. The upcoming opening of NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A, connecting NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza to Quirino Highway, will provide an additional access route to NLEX, with onward connections via NLEX Connector toward Manila and via NLEX and SCTEX to destinations across Central Luzon and Northern Luzon. In the south, the full alignment of Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is nearing completion, while the planned opening of the CAVITEX-CALAX Link (CCLink) will directly connect CAVITEX and CALAX. Together, these projects are expected to boost regional mobility and provide motorists with more route options.

Isn’t that like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted? People might ask of the belated timing of the recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down key provisions in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets.

With the budget of previous years spent by now, a high court official admitted that there’s no way that taxpayers would get back the billions in disputed fund increases from the three years covered by the ruling.

In the decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the high court deemed ‘unconstitutional’ the entire 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) because Congress had increased unprogrammed appropriations by P449.5 billion, thus bloating the President’s budget beyond the amount submitted in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), from P281.9 billion in the NEP to P731.4 billion in the GAA.

The 2025 GAA was nullified over the P17.99-billion increase in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Special Road Fund, that again exceeded the President’s recommended appropriations. The high court meanwhile permanently prohibited the implementation of several Special Provisions in the 2026 GAA that govern the release of unprogrammed appropriations.

Inherently unconstitutional

It also invalidated P12.75 billion in increases to certain agencies’ Special Accounts in the General Fund for violating the Administrative Code, which prohibits increasing the amounts in special provisions beyond those proposed by the President. The ruling stemmed from petitions challenging the 2024 budget’s expanded standby spending authority, and related provisions in subsequent national budgets.

Briefly, the ruling stressed that while unprogrammed appropriations are not inherently unconstitutional and serve as standby funds for unforeseen funding needs, they must remain within narrow constitutional limits, must not be used to circumvent spending restrictions, and must not include lump sum appropriations. These funds may be tapped when specified conditions are met, including the availability of additional government revenues.

While the court applied the ‘operative fact doctrine’ to the 2024 and 2025 budgets, preserving irreversible programs whose beneficiaries acted in good faith despite their constitutional defects, its ruling does not automatically absolve those who authored, proposed, or implemented the questionable appropriations from criminal, civil, or administrative liability.

Personal entitlement

The ruling has not been entirely welcomed by the administration which plans to challenge it based on the vaunted separation of powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government. Still, there’s no denying that the court has demonstrated practicable insights and suggestions to put in place transparency and accountability in the often opaque budgeting process.

The ruling cited specific guardrails to ensure that, moving forward, fiscal discipline, restraint, and responsibility are exercised in handling public funds.

Even the timing of the ruling-long overdue by most standards-‘couldn’t have come at a better time,’ Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, pointing out that the House version of the 2027 general appropriations bill is currently undergoing scrutiny by the Senate. The ruling’s legal precepts can certainly prove helpful.

Just as welcome is how the ruling called out lawmakers for treating taxpayer money as personal entitlement that allowed them to insert outrageous unprogrammed funds regardless of what had been originally proposed by the President himself.

Also questioned were special funds to some government programs that could lead to pork-style patronage ahead of the 2028 elections. Included here is the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs, which accounted for about 30 percent of unprogrammed funds in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

Concrete steps

More than providing concrete steps on transparency and fiscal restraint, the ruling should also prompt closer scrutiny of projects that the watchdog People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) said were inserted by the House into the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Agriculture.

‘The House inserted 7,054 projects worth P190 billion, deleted 1,881 projects worth P93 billion, increased 258 projects worth P7.5 billion, and decreased 277 projects worth P91 billion,’ PBC co-convenor Kenneth Abante said.

Aside from potentially inflated project costs, the PBC expressed concern about several farm to market roads whose project coordinates allegedly point to bodies of water rather than their identified locations in Nueva Ecija, Cebu, and Quezon.

The ruling thus sets the stage for a more inclusive, consultative, and participatory relationship between government and the public it serves, in this case, the much put-upon taxpayer. As the court ruling stated, ‘Every peso collected in taxes and fees represents labor rendered, needs deferred, perseverance, and sacrifice endured by our people. The General Appropriations Act must honor that sacrifice.’

Robinsons Malls, the Commercial Centers Division of Robinsons Land (RLC), has earned national recognition for its efforts to promote responsible energy use, being named as an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Champion at the inaugural Philippine Energy Awards on October 7, 2026.

Robinsons Malls, the Commercial Centers Division of Robinsons Land (RLC), has earned national recognition for its efforts to promote responsible energy use, being named as an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Champion at the inaugural Philippine Energy Awards on October 7, 2026.

Presented by the Department of Energy (DOE), the prestigious distinction recognizes Robinsons Malls’ leadership in championing voluntary energy conservation initiatives that go beyond regulatory compliance. These efforts support Republic Act No. 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, while contributing to the country’s pursuit of a more secure and sustainable energy future.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin and Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella presented the award to RLC Corporate Energy Head Lucky Jay Damaso during a ceremony held alongside two major ASEAN energy industry gatherings.

In an official statement, Robinsons Malls recognizes the value of this recognition as it continues to be committed to its millions of shoppers nationwide. ‘This recognition from the Department of Energy affirms our commitment to continuously improve how we manage our resources and operate our malls,’ said Maria Kristina Real-Lim, Deputy Business Unit General Manager for Robinsons Malls. ‘As a company serving millions of Filipinos across the country, we recognize our responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable future. We are grateful to the DOE for this recognition, which inspires us to further strengthen our efforts in energy efficiency and conservation.’

Behind the award are tangible achievements that demonstrate the impact of responsible energy management across Robinsons Malls’ nationwide network of commercial properties.

From April to June 2026 alone, Robinsons Malls avoided approximately 5.8 million kilowatt-hours (5.8 GWh) in grid electricity imports across its malls. To put this achievement in perspective, that amount is equivalent to the average monthly electricity consumption of approximately 29,000 Filipino households.

‘Energy efficiency has long been integrated into Robinsons Malls’ operations through thoughtful building design, the adoption of energy-saving technologies, and participation in government-led conservation programs. These measures help make its properties more environmentally responsible while maintaining the comfort, safety, and convenience that mallgoers expect’, explained Ms. Real-Lim.

Among these initiatives is joining the DOE’s O.N.E. (Oras Natin sa Efficiency) campaign, officially rolled out at Robinsons Galleria last May 2026. As part of the program, Robinsons Malls nationwide switch off nonessential lighting every Monday from 8 to 9 p.m., demonstrating how voluntary conservation efforts can reduce electricity demand during critical periods and strengthen the country’s energy security.

As Robinsons Land celebrates 46 years of proven stability, Robinsons Malls’ achievement adds another proud chapter to the company’s legacy of creating quality developments and enriching Filipino lives.

Guided by RLC’s Building Better Lives philosophy and its identity as the Heart of the Communities, Robinsons Malls is demonstrating how responsible business operations can make a difference beyond the walls of its properties-helping build a cleaner, more energy-efficient Philippines for generations to come.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) upgrades its La Mesa water treatment facilities to strengthen its preparations for the strong El Niño phenomenon in the coming months and reduce its reliance on the Angat-Ipo Dam, its primary source of raw water.

The upgrades are designed to help the company manage changes in raw water quality, recover more water during treatment, and maintain a stable supply even when water availability becomes more challenging, Maynilad head of corporate communications Jennifer Rufo said.

‘The upgrades allow us to better manage more variable raw water conditions, recover more of the water already in the system, and give our operations greater flexibility when supply conditions become more challenging,’ Rufo said.

Upgraded water facilities

The improvements include enhanced capabilities to manage turbidity, or the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles, as well as to extract sludge containing dirt, clay and sand during the treatment process.

Maynilad has also constructed additional lagoons to increase its water storage capacity, providing a buffer during periods of reduced water inflow from the Angat-Ipo system or adjustments in raw water allocations.

Another improvement allows the facility to recover water used to clean its filters and return it to the treatment process instead of discarding it.

The company also converted a former lagoon into a reservoir to provide additional storage when supply conditions deteriorate.

Water Production North head Christopher Gaon said the improvements would give Maynilad more options when its usual sources encounter problems.

‘When we encounter problems with the Angat-Ipo Dam, we have other options that we can use to augment our water supply,’ Gaon said.

‘We will treat the water again so that it can be used. This way, even if disruptions occur, we will still have another source of water.’

Preparations go beyond El Niño

Maynilad’s upgrades to its La Mesa water treatment facilities are intended not only to prepare for the upcoming El Niño but also to help the company address future water supply challenges, vice president and head of water supply operations Ronaldo Padua said.

Maynilad had to implement rotational water disruptions during the 2019 El Niño, disrupting households in Metro Manila and Cavite.

The improvements were prompted in part by the company’s experience during the 2019 El Niño, which highlighted the need to prepare for more challenging water supply conditions, Padua said.

‘Preparations for El Niño did not happen overnight. It took us more than five years to prepare for this,’ he said.

The construction took time because Maynilad had to keep the plant operational throughout the upgrades to ensure that consumers continued receiving water.

‘We had to ensure that the plant continued operating throughout the upgrades, as it could not be shut down. We carried out the infrastructure improvements in phases, one at a time, which took a considerable amount of time,’ Padua said, adding that construction and materials procurement also take time.

At least 1.2 million households are expected to benefit from the upgraded facilities, Padua said.

He added that consumers had already benefited from the improvements, citing the company’s efforts to remove high levels of manganese from its water in July.

‘Past experiences have driven us to upgrade these treatment plants because a large portion of our consumers depends on them,’ Padua said.

Water conservation, contingency measures

Despite these preparations, Padua urged consumers to use water responsibly, saying conservation remains important in managing demand and preserving water levels at Angat Dam.

‘Responsible water use remains a major factor in managing demand and preserving water levels at Angat Dam,’ he said.

Padua said Maynilad could not guarantee that water interruptions would be avoided altogether, but the company aimed to ensure that no customer would go 24 consecutive hours without running water. ‘That is part of our obligation: no customer should go 24 hours without running water. We will implement water rotation schedules, and we have tankers ready for deployment to areas far from our network,’ he said.

Police arrested a 59-year-old barangay councilor from Barugo, Leyte, after officers discovered two sachets of suspected ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Cayare, San Miguel, Leyte, on Monday.

Police stopped the suspect, identified only by the alias ‘Aldo,’ for allegedly riding a motorcycle without a helmet, according to the San Miguel Municipal Police Station.

Police said the suspected illegal drugs fell to the ground when the councilor presented his driver’s license, prompting officers to notice and recover the sachets.

The two sachets contained an estimated 0.48 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P3,264 based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s valuation.

Authorities said the suspect was among the newly identified individuals allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.

The suspect and the seized evidence were brought to the San Miguel police station for documentation and the filing of charges for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The operation was part of the Police Regional Office 8’s intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign under its regional director, Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño.

Cardiño commended the operating personnel for their vigilance and emphasized the role of checkpoints in detecting illegal activities and maintaining public safety.

‘We will continue conducting proactive police operations and hold those who violate the law accountable, regardless of their position in the community,’ Cardiño said.

He also urged the public to respect the law and cooperate with authorities, particularly during checkpoint operations, to help maintain peace and order throughout Eastern Visayas.

Vice President Sara Duterte has been checkmated in her impeachment trial as the evidence presented against her is hard to debunk and dispute, prosecution panel spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said on Tuesday.

Barbers, in a press briefing, said it is hard to fathom how the documents and testimonies from government officials will be refuted once Duterte’s lawyers get the chance to present their own evidence and witnesses before the Senate impeachment court.

‘Well para sa akin, yes, checkmate. Bakit? ‘Yon nga ang aking paniwala, napakahirap pasinungalingan (ng ebidensya). Kung ika-counter mo lang naman ‘yong mga testigong iniharap natin, ang tanong, saan kaya at sino kaya ‘yang mga ‘yan?’ Barbers asked.

(Well, for me, yes, checkmate. Why? Because I believe it will be hard to refute the evidence. If you will counter the witnesses presented, the question is, who will you field and what evidence will they present?)

The spokesperson, a former lawmaker from Surigao del Norte, said that even Duterte’s alibi that she was not aware of the business transactions and investment made by her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, will not stand against the prosecution’s evidence.

”Yon ang ine-expect na madidinig natin, ano, na hindi rin nila alam. Maaaring kung ang usapin ay tungkol doon sa joint account, gaya doon sa direct examination at sa cross, lumabas doon na hindi alam ng Pangalawang Pangulo ‘yong mga investments o pera na ayon sa bank records ay pera ni Atty. Mans Carpio, ay wala rin siyang alam,’ Barbers said.

(That is what we expect to hear from them, that they do not know. Maybe that will be the case when the discussion shifts to the issue of joint accounts, because it came out during the direct examination and the cross (examination) that the Vice President does not know the investments or funds mentioned in the bank records of Atty. Mans Carpio.)

‘So I don’t know ano’ng weight no’ng gano’n klaseng testimony o gano’n klaseng statement doon sa bigat ng kaso na sinusuportahan ng mga ebidensyang inilatag ng prosecution. So sa aking paniwala, again, I would go back to the question-talagang checkmate ito kung tutusin,’ he added.

(So I don’t know what will be the weight of such testimony or statements against the gravity of the case and evidence presented by the prosecution. So in my belief, again, I would go back to the question-I think we have a checkmate here.)

Barbers held a press briefing to refresh the public about the impeachment trial, which was adjourned last Oct. 13. It will resume on Nov. 9, with the defense scheduled to present their evidence and witnesses for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article II, which is the lone charge left as the prosecution withdrew the three other articles, deals with Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth and her non-disclosure of other assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Covering possible strategies

According to Barbers, possible counter-arguments to the evidence presented by the prosecution have been cut off, like insinuations from the defense that Duterte’s cash on hand and cash in bank were declared in her SALN, through the ‘others’ category.

However, Barbers said that even if this was true, the ending balances of Duterte and Carpio’s bank accounts or the final balance before year-end exceeded the amount stated in her SALNs.

‘Makikita natin na ang kanilang dineclare sa kanilang SALN, sa others or other personal properties, ay umabot lamang ng P21.13 million pesos sa taong 2024. Pero ang pera sa bangko, ‘yong sinasabing ending balance […] ay umabot ng P22.24 million,’ Barbers said.

(We can see that with what they declared in the SALN, under others or other personal properties, it only reached P21.13 million in 2024. But the funds inside their bank accounts, the so-called ending balance […] reached P22.24 million.)

‘Ngayon ang tanong, sa isang taon lang ba nila ginawa ito? Ito ba ay nangyari lamang no’ng 2024? Base sa datos na nakita natin at sa records na iprinesenta before the impeachment court, makikita natin na mula pa no’ng 2022, ang kanilang dineklarang ‘others’ o ‘yong kanilang cash na sinasabi nilang nasa ‘others’ ay nakakahalaga ng P13 million. Pero ayon sa mga bangko […] P59 million ‘yong kanilang (ending) balance,’ he added.

(Now the question is, did they do this for a year only? Did this happen in 2024 only? Based on the date we saw and the records presented before the impeachment court, it happened since 2022; they declared ‘others’ or the case under ‘others’ amounted to P13 million. But banks said they had […] a P59 million [ending] balance.)

Barbers stressed this will be hard to dispute because their evidence came from the documents submitted by the Duterte-Carpio couple, like the SALN, and bank and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records.

To begin with, Barbers said that placing cash on bank and cash on hand under ‘others’ is already a violation, as stated by former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

‘Malinaw din, malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na wala […] silang dineklarang cash on hand at saka cash in bank. At ito ay sinabi nga ni Justice Cabotaje-Tang, separate item ito at dapat ito ay fini-fill up-an, hindi ito pwedeng i-lump doon sa item called ‘others’,’ he noted.

(The truth that they did not declare any cash on hand and cash on bank is brighter than the sun. And Justice Cabotaje-Tang said that this should have been a separate item and this should be filled out, and not lumped with the item called ‘others.’)

‘Assuming na ito na pwede mong ilagay sa ‘others’, assuming lang-although hindi ‘yon ang sinasabi ng SALN, ng batas-assuming na inilagay nila sa others ‘yan, eh hindi pa rin tugma doon sa balances na according sa mga bangko ay sobra-sobra doon sa dineklara nilang amount doon sa ‘others’,’ he added.

(Assuming that you can place it under ‘others’-we’re only assuming because that is not what the law on SALN states-assuming that they placed it under others, it still doesn’t match the balances, as according to the banks, their ending balances exceeded the declared amount under ‘others.’)

During the same briefing, Barbers said that even if the defense floats a prenuptial agreement between Duterte and Carpio, the evidence presented during her impeachment trial is enough to merit a conviction.

A prenuptial agreement is usually signed by couples before marriage, indicating what part of their assets, debts, and other financial matters do not become intertwined-in contrast to the common occurrence where marriage causes the couple to have communal property.

Prosecutors have refused to comment on the strength of their evidence against Duterte so as not to violate the sub judice rule, but their spokespersons have expressed confidence in the case that they built.

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that employees cannot be forced to retire before the compulsory retirement age of 65 without them giving clear and voluntary consent to their respective companies.

In a decision promulgated on June 29, the SC’s First Division partly granted the petition of Rodolfo Ondevilla against Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Laguna (CSJL), which had considered his appointment as school comptroller expired after he turned 60 in 2019.

Ondevilla filed an illegal dismissal complaint against the CSJL before the

Labor Arbiter and the National Labor Relations Commission, where he won the case.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals, in its decision, said that although it also found Ondevilla illegally dismissed, a letter he sent to the school showed he had agreed to retire effective July 31, 2020.

The employee argued that he never intended to retire before turning 65, challenging the CA’s decision before the SC.

The high tribunal then ruled in his favor and found CSJL guilty of illegal dismissal since ‘his retirement was involuntary.’

The SC explained that Ondevilla’s letter to the school ‘was not a clear notice that he was choosing early retirement,’ but actually ‘a response to the school’s demand that he repay the cash advance he had received from CSJL.’

Citing the Labor Code, the court noted that ‘the retirement age is set by an existing agreement or employment contract.”If neither exists, the law sets the compulsory retirement age at 65 and the minimum age for optional retirement at 60,’ said the SC.

With this, the high court said Ondevilla was entitled to full backwages and separation pay.

He was also awarded retirement benefits covering his employment from 2004 to 2024, upon reaching the 65-mandatory retirement age.

How much consumers pay for seafood in the Caraga region depends heavily on whether they live by the sea or deep inland, regional market data showed.

A price monitoring report by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga revealed a stark economic divide during the second week of October: coastal towns enjoyed cheaper marine catches, while landlocked communities paid steep premiums to cover long-haul logistics and cold storage.

In the landlocked commercial hub of Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur, whole yellowfin tuna sold for P350 to P360 per kilogram. Neighboring San Francisco sold whole yellowfin at P280 per kg.

In contrast, coastal ports closer to municipal fishing grounds offered the same pelagic fish for far less. Whole yellowfin traded at P200 per kg in Dapa on Siargao Island, P240 per kg in San Jose, Dinagat Islands, and as low as P140 per kg in Butuan City.

A similar price disparity affects inland shellfish consumers.

In San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, small to medium blue swimming crabs (alimasag) reached P380 per kg – more than double the P160 per kg recorded in the coastal trading hubs of Tandag, Bislig and Butuan cities.

Whiteleg shrimp showed a comparable inland markup. Medium-sized shrimp fetched P360 per kg in Bayugan City, significantly higher than the P250 per kg recorded in coastal Bislig City and P300 per kg in Tandag City. Large shrimp in San Francisco commanded some of the region’s highest prices, at P380 to P400 per kg.

For everyday wild catches like round scad (galunggong), island access offered the best relief. San Jose in Dinagat Islands recorded medium galunggong at P140 per kg, while consumers paid P180 per kg in Bayugan City, P180 to P200 per kg in San Francisco, and P220 per kg in Tandag City.

Whole skipjack tuna (gulyasan) remained cheapest at primary coastal landing sites, selling for P100 to P120 per kg in Butuan City and P120 per kg in Surigao City, San Francisco and Dinagat Islands, before reaching P160 per kg in Bayugan City.

Edible seaweed, locally known as lato, sold for P70 per kg in Bislig City and P80 per kg in Surigao City, before climbing to P120 per kg in inland Bayugan City and topping out at P160 per kg in Butuan City.

The two other quarterfinal series of the PBA Governors’ Cup start on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, headlined by an early playoff showdown between powerhouse sister squads Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.

The Gin Kings and the Beermen Ginebra and San Miguel open their quest to win another championship to cap off the 50th season at 7:30 p.m. following the 5:15 p.m. opener between Rain or Shine and Converge.

Both series are best-of-five affairs, like the two quarterfinal matchups that got underway last Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

NLEX held off Phoenix, 97-92, while TNT blew out Magnolia, 92-70, to kick off that part of the quarterfinal bracket.

In a rare occurrence, the Gin Kings and the Beermen are squaring off in the first round of the playoffs, something that has not taken place since the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone described the pairing as ‘consuelo de bobo’ (consolation prize) after securing the last quarterfinals berth the hard way due to a slow start in the conference.

Cone and the Gin Kings have no other recourse but to deal with what’s in front of them.

‘Obviously we’re not excited to play San Miguel, but we’ll take on all comers,’ Cone said. ‘And it’s a best-of-five series, so that kind of equals it all out. So it should be a really good battle to see who comes in.’

It will be the fifth time since 2023 that the two San Miguel Corporation teams have set a playoff showdown, with each team winning two series apiece. The Beermen won their last encounter during this season’s Philippine Cup, 4-2.

Rain or Shine and Converge are meeting for just the second time, and both sides are keen to hurdle the first phase of what is described as an easier bracket, given that the winner gets to face whichever comes out of the NLEX-Phoenix series.

Meanwhile, NLEX’s Robert Bolick and Deonte Burton emerged pacesetters in the race for the Best Player of the Conference and Best Import awards, respectively.

Bolick topped the BPC race through the end of the group stage with 37.1 Statistical Points, followed by Terrafirma’s Maverick Ahanmisi (35.7) and the Converge trio of Justin Arana (34.7), Justine Baltazar (34.2) and Juan Gomez de Liano (33.8).