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Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday lauded last Friday’s convening of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament, calling it a historic milestone in the country’s peace-building efforts.

He also congratulated Abdulraof Macacua for being elected chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to lead the newly elected members of the 80-seat parliament.

‘This is a victory not only for the Bangsamoro people but for the entire country,’ Escudero said. ‘We hope this parliament will help translate the gains of peace into tangible progress and development for the people it now serves.”

In a statement yesterday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto congratulated the people of BARMM and said the inaugural session marks a defining moment in their march toward lasting peace and genuine self-governance.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue, meanwhile, expressed support and solidarity to the new Bangsamoro government.

CBCP ECID Convener Most. Rev. Jose Colin Bagaforo said the ‘Church will continue to walk with our Muslim brothers and sisters, with Indigenous Peoples and with all communities in the region in dialogue, friendship and the common work of building a just and lasting peace.’

Bagaforo also congratulated the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for a peaceful and democratic transition from its interim administration.

Up to 810,828 people flocked to various seaports in the past three days to travel to the provinces for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The PCG said that from Oct. 29 to 6 p.m. yesterday, there were 413,441 outbound and 379,387 inbound passengers recorded under Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2026.

From noon to 6 p.m. yesterday, the PCG recorded 64,525 outbound and 56,171 inbound passengers.

The PCG has inspected 508 vessels and 722 motorized boats ahead of the observance of Undas to ensure travel safety.

‘The PCG Central Visayas district recorded the highest passenger volume with 14,825 outbound and 12,185 inbound during the monitoring period,’ the PCG said.

Up to 17,000 PCG personnel were deployed to assist passengers in various ports.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the agency expects the total number of passengers to reach two million.

All PCG units nationwide are on full alert from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3.

Boat sinks off Negros; 8 rescued

Meanwhile, eight people were rescued after a motorized boat capsized in the waters off Pulupandan in Negros Occidental on Thursday.

The boat, which came from Sibunag in Guimaras, was reportedly battered by big waves and strong winds, causing the engine to malfunction.

The PCG said the boat drifted before it capsized a kilometer away from the shore of Pulupandan.

All eight passengers were rescued by responding PCG personnel.

The PCG reminded travelers to monitor weather and sea conditions before and during trips.

Passengers were advised to wear life jackets at all times and avoid sailing when sea conditions are rough.

Professional services firm SGV and Co. has named Michael Sabado as its new chairman and country managing partner.

In a statement, SGV and Co. said that Sabado’s role will take effect on Nov. 3.

In this new role, Sabado will lead the firm’s continued efforts to strengthen relationships and collaboration and accelerate talent development.

Under his leadership, the aim is to position SGV and Co. as one of the most trusted professional services firms in the country.

Sabado is bringing more than three decades of professional experience at SGV to his new role.

Before being named chairman, Sabado served some of the firm’s clients, helping them navigate business, financial reporting and regulatory matters.

His previous roles include serving as an assurance partner and a former market group leader, where he worked with clients and gained experience guiding organizations through change and growth.

As SGV’s client relationship leader for core accounts and co-head of Japan Business Services, he also helped deepen key client engagements, promote greater integration in the organization and support growth.

Sabado completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, major in Accounting, at San Beda College.

SGV is the country’s leading and largest professional services company. It provides assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions services.

For millions of Filipinos, transportation is not an abstract policy debate. It is the alarm that rings before sunrise, the crowded platform, the long queue for a bus and the hours lost between home and work. Every delay has a cost. Less time with children, less rest after a shift and fewer hours for school, livelihood or simply living. That is why the decision to return Sec. Vince Dizon to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) deserves serious consideration.

On Oct. 26, 2026, Malacañang announced that Dizon would return to the DOTr, while Sec. Giovanni ‘Banoy’ Lopez wold lead the Department of Public Works and Highways. The government said Dizon’s priorities would be to ease daily commutes, shorten queues at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), eliminate fixers and accelerate critical mass transportation projects. These are not minor administrative concerns. They touch the everyday dignity of the public.

I believe this is the right move because Dizon has demonstrated an approach the department needs. Urgency, direct engagements with problems and attention to implementation. His first tenure as transportation secretary lasted only about six months, from February to August 2025, so it would be unfair to suggest he could have resolved decades-old transportation problems in that time. Still, the initiatives he pursued offer a useful indication of how he approaches the job.

One telling example was his decision to experience the EDSA Busway as an ordinary commuter would. Rather than relying solely on reports, he rode the route and examined the difficulties passengers faced, including confusing station navigation, access concerns and malfunctioning facilities. Firsthand inspection matters. A transport system may look acceptable in a presentation but feel entirely different to a senior citizen climbing stairs, a parent carrying a child or a worker trying not to miss the next bus. During Dizon’s first tenure, the department pursued improvements to busway stations and passenger access, including more accessible facilities. Infrastructure should be judged not only by how it looks, but by how safely and conveniently people can move through it.

Dizon also took steps to strengthen the management of major transport infrastructure. In February 2025, he issued Department Order No. 2025-002 creating a Flagship Project Management Office within the DOTr. The office was tasked with monitoring priority projects, coordinating agencies, mobilizing resources and imposing timelines. Its portfolio included the Metro Manila Subway, the North-South Commuter Railway, EDSA Busway and Greenways projects, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project. A dedicated team with clear monitoring duties and deadlines can make delays harder to ignore and accountability easier to establish. The public should expect this approach to continue, with regular updates explaining not only what has been announced, but what has actually been delivered.

What makes his return particularly encouraging, however, is that he has already begun addressing the basics of transportation. On Oct. 28, his first day back, Dizon inspected bus terminals in Manila ahead of the Undas travel rush. At Ohayami Trans, he found a cramped restroom and no toilet bowls in the men’s comfort room. At Victory Liner, he found no running water and malfunctioning toilet flushes. He also flagged inadequate waiting areas and ventilation. The DOTr issued show-cause orders and gave the operators 60 days to correct deficiencies, warning that failure to comply could put their terminal operations at risk.

Some may consider bathrooms, seats and electric fans small concerns beside billion-peso railway projects. But for passengers who spend hours waiting before a long journey, these are not trivial matters. A clean restroom with running water, enough seats, proper ventilation and a safe waiting area are basic standards, not special favors. Commuters pay for a service and deserve facilities that respect their dignity. Transportation reform must be felt not only in grand infrastructure, but also in the everyday places where journey begins.

The scale of the challenge is clear. TomTom’s 2025 Traffic Index recorded a 57 percent average congestion level in Manila. It estimated that rush-hour traffic cost drivers 143 hours over the year, which is almost six days. For workers paid by the hour, students with fixed schedules and families balancing work and caregiving, time lost on the road is time taken from other essential parts of life.

Congestion cannot be solved overnight. It requires coordinated agencies, reliable transport systems and sustained infrastructure improvements. The same urgency must apply to the LTO, where shorter queues, simpler transactions and the elimination of fixers must become realities. Efficiency means more than speed, it means fairness, transparency and respect for every Filipino.

A worker who leaves before dawn and returns after dark should not have to surrender so much of life to travel. A student should be able to reach class safely and on time. Parents deserve more hours with their children. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities should be able to use public transportation without facing unnecessary barriers. These are not luxuries. They are reasonable expectations in a country where mobility shapes access to jobs, education, health care and opportunity.

A change in leadership matters only if it changes the experience of the public. Secretary Dizon returns to the DOTr with a clear mandate and a difficult job ahead. Let us judge this decision by what follows. Not the number of announcements, but the number of commuters whose journeys become safer, simpler and shorter. When the government gives people back time, it gives them something invaluable: the chance to spend more of their lives with the people and pursuits that matter most. That expectation is practical and fair.

The weakening peso could drive up the cost of imported agricultural commodities such as rice and fertilizer, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA), further straining food prices amid production constraints caused by El Niño.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel De Mesa said consumers may see slightly higher prices for imported farm goods due to the declining peso.

‘This will affect our imports, like rice, meaning we will need more pesos to purchase the same volume. In short, most imported items will be impacted,’ he told reporters in a press briefing.

De Mesa said imported rice prices could see a slight increase by November but assured consumers that retail prices for the food staple would not reach P60 per kilo.

‘The price of imported rice may see some movement due to the rise in value of the US dollar. Freight costs are also fluctuating due to the prices of petroleum products,’ he added.

The price for imported premium rice was between P48 and P64 per kilo in local markets, while imported well-milled rice was priced at P47 to P50 per kilo, according to the DA price monitoring as of Oct. 28.

The country is expected to import more than five million MT of rice this year due to the decline in local production brought about by the effects of El Niño.

As of Oct. 22, the country has imported a total of 4.37 million metric tons (MT) of rice, according to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

‘That’s already a significant amount. Of course, we need to account for the possibility that El Niño could become more severe or prolonged, as it would span our entire dry cropping season,’ he added.

The DA has projected a 900,000 MT to one million MT drop in local palay, or unmilled rice production, due to the below-normal rainfall activity caused by the climate event.

De Mesa stressed that the declining peso could further impact the prices of fertilizers, which have surged due to high petroleum prices.

‘All of our fertilizers are imported, it will also have an effect. This means that when it comes here, it will be more expensive,’ he added.

The national average price for urea fertilizer could go as low as P2,206 per 50-kilo bag and as high as P2,670 per 50-kilo bag, according to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.

The peso last Oct. 27 breached the 64 level, sinking to another historic low of 64.17 against the dollar.

The Marcos administration has waged a credible war against corruption that has resulted in some big fish, senators included, landing in jail. The same administration has also done a credible job of bringing corrective remedies to flood control projects. There have also been serious attempts to bring assistance to those suffering from hunger and extreme poverty.

In spite of all these and other attempts to help a poverty-stricken population, the performance approval rating for this administration remains very low. Several attempts are being experimented to try and achieve a much higher approval rating. For example, the administration’s trouble shooter Vince Dizon, who was assigned to correct the DPWH problems, has now been moved to the transportation sector to ease the transport woes of the ordinary commuter.

I predict that all these will not attain its objective of improving the administration’s trust ratings. I think this administration needs to learn a lesson from the administration of past US president Bill Clinton. During Clinton’s campaign for the presidency and his term as president, his administration had only one directive which was summed up in the slogan, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’

The President must realize that if the economy continues in its present state, his approval rating will never increase significantly. This is the reason that the overwhelming majority of the population, especially the lower class, will continue to ignore even impeachment trials and corruption scandals, with their attention focused primarily on how the state of the economy is affecting their lives. The problem of the economy right now is not simply ‘concerning’ but is actually approaching a critical period.

One of the most serious challenges that any economy can experience is stagflation. This is particularly dangerous because it combines three economic problems: rising prices, slow economic growth and increasing unemployment. Under normal circumstances, inflation is often associated with a growing economy where consumers have more money to spend and businesses are expanding their operations. However, stagflation creates a different and much more difficult situation.

Prices continue to increase even when economic activity becomes weaker and people’s purchasing power declines. For developing countries like the Philippines, the threat of stagflation could lead to an economic depression. The Philippine economy depends heavily on imported petroleum, food commodities, raw materials and other essential products.

Consequently, international conflicts, oil price increases, supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation and global economic uncertainty can directly affect domestic prices and production costs. The important question is not simply whether the Philippines is experiencing inflation but whether the country could enter a long period in which inflation remains high while economic growth slows down.

Understanding stagflation can help the Philippine government develop policies that can protect businesses, workers, consumers and the overall economy. Stagflation is a combination of two terms: stagnation and inflation. It refers to a situation where economic growth becomes weak or nearly stops. Businesses experience declining demand, investments become limited, production slows and employment opportunities become fewer. Inflation, meanwhile, refers to the continuous increase in the general prices of goods and services, reducing the purchasing power of money.

This combination called stagflation means people are experiencing a more expensive cost of living while the economy is failing to create enough opportunities for them to improve their financial or livelihood situation.

Stagflation is a very rare economic situation. Among the historical examples when this happened was the 1973 oil crisis when the oil embargo was imposed by oil-producing countries. However, this is not a common economic occurrence.

The average Filipino is having difficulty looking for a decent job while at the same time is suffering from the continuing increase of prices of basic commodities. The government must take some immediate action to alleviate the lives of the average Filipino. One way of stabilizing or increasing the value of the peso is to either convince or mandate wealthy Filipinos to bring back their funds from foreign countries to the Philippines. If the wealthy business sector refuses to bring back their money, then the government must take drastic measures.

The business sector is urging Congress leaders to remove insertions in the proposed 2027 budget. This is a laudable proposal. But the business sector must also put their money where their mouth is and show their patriotism and love of country by bringing back their foreign-based funds and investing in productive enterprises in the Philippines.

During its remaining term, this administration must take the following steps: it must expand irrigation and agricultural modernization; improve farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities; increase renewable energy investments; improve access to financing for small and medium sized enterprises and it must somehow eliminate corruption, especially in government procurement and implement anti-corruption measures.

Instead of raising taxes, additional funds can be raised by eliminating corruption in revenue-generating agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

The Philippines must not wait before stagflation becomes a full blown economic crisis before taking action. Prevention, responsible economic management, stronger domestic industries and public accountability are far less costly than recovering from a prolonged period of economic stagflation.

With less than a month to go, the AIA Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila presented by ASICS is gearing up for its fifth staging on Nov. 29, bringing runners back to the streets of Manila for a milestone celebration of music, movement and Filipino pride.

As title sponsor, AIA Philippines returns to the event with a shared commitment to inspiring more Filipinos to get moving and make healthier living part of their everyday lives. From first-time participants and families to seasoned runners, this year’s event offers distances for different ages and abilities, including the marathon, half marathon, AIA 10K, 5K and AIA 1K Kids.

The partnership reflects AIA’s continuing commitment to helping Filipinos live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives, making the event more than just a race. It is an opportunity for families, friends and running communities to come together, embrace an active lifestyle and celebrate the positive impact of movement.

This fifth edition also marks a significant milestone for Rock ‘n’ Roll Manila, which has spent five years bringing together running and live entertainment in the heart of the capital.

Cement manufacturers have turned optimistic and now expect this year demand to match last year’s level, banking on higher infrastructure spending in the final quarter.

‘We see the market hopefully will be flat this year versus last year,’ Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc. (CeMAP) president John Reinier Dizon told reporters.

Earlier, he said demand is expected to be flat or decline by a single digit this year due to weak government spending.

Last year’s cement demand was estimated at 34 million metric tons (MT).

From January to September, Dizon said cement demand was down by around two to three percent year-on-year.

He said the industry faced challenges such as the Middle East conflict and the resulting energy crisis.

Slower infrastructure spending is also affecting cement demand after the government moved to implement stricter standards following flood control corruption issues exposed last year.

Cement manufacturers are also closely watching the peso’s movement, which has been weakening against the dollar, as some inputs, like fuel, are imported.

However, cement manufacturers have a more upbeat outlook for the fourth quarter, citing expectations of higher government infrastructure spending.

‘Our outlook and sentiment is that fourth quarter should be better than the fourth quarter last year,’ Dizon said.

With better controls and monitoring, he said CeMAP hopes to see a resumption of legitimate government projects.

CeMAP is also more optimistic about next year, a pre-election year.

Dizon said government infrastructure spending tends to be higher in the year preceding the elections.

With the economy projected to grow by five to six percent next year, he said cement demand is expected to rise at around the same pace in 2027.

However, he flagged high inflation as a key challenge.

Although projected annual demand is below the local cement industry’s production capacity of 52 million MT, he said firms continue to implement expansion plans.

Cebuana Margielyn Didal proved she still has plenty left in the tank after capturing a bronze medal in the recently-concluded Shanghai leg of the FISE Action Sports Festival World Series, her best finish on the circuit this year.

Didal delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, advancing from the Top 8 after defeating China’s Linglong Xu before moving into the Top 4 and eventually securing a spot in the Super Final.

The multi-titled Didal completed her podium run by defeating fellow Chinese skater Yunuo Liu in the battle for third place, earning the bronze medal and improving on her previous results in the FISE circuit this year.

The Shanghai bronze marked a significant step forward from her campaign at the FISE Battle of the Champions Macau 2026, where she reached the semifinals after beating Wenzi Lui Yuji before falling to eventual champion Yumeka Oda of Japan.

She later settled for fourth place after losing to China’s Yixin Sheng in the battle for bronze.

For the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist and the first Filipina skateboarder to compete in the Olympic Games, the latest result served as another reminder that she remains capable of challenging some of the world’s best riders despite the emergence of a younger generation of talent on the international circuit.

More importantly, the Shanghai podium highlighted Didal’s steady progression on the FISE tour this year.

Next for Didal will be the FISE stop scheduled in Sakai, Japan later this November.

A clutch ace at the most crucial moment saved Yvon Bisera’s season and delivered one of the narrowest victories in Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit history, while Angelo Que relied on consistency and a strong early-season surge to secure a second straight PGT OOM crown.

Both fashioned out two victories to seize early control of their respective OOM races, but neither had an easy ride to the coveted season-ending plum. As the circuit unfolded, a host of determined challengers emerged, turning the races into gripping battles of momentum, resilience and nerves, with the women’s title eventually decided by a razor-thin P4,550 margin.

While Que built a comfortable cushion through a series of strong finishes in the closing legs, Bisera saw her once-commanding position come under serious threat, setting up a dramatic showdown with Harmie Constantino in the final stop at Apo.

The ladies’ race proved particularly unpredictable, with the lead changing in significance from one leg to the next and the outcome remaining uncertain until the final round.

Bisera had seen her bid for a third leg victory fall short by just one stroke to Chanelle Avaricio at Summit Point. She came up two shots short of Tiffany Lee at Pueblo de Oro, then struggled to make a bigger impression at home at South Pacific, settling for fourth.

Still, she carried the OOM lead into the Apo finale, albeit with Constantino closing in. And when Bisera opened with a 74 and followed it up with a 73 in the second round, the door swung wide open for Constantino, who was coming off a four-win campaign in 2024 and had saved her best performance for the season’s final leg.

Constantino made her move count, claiming the Apo leg by two strokes and putting Bisera’s OOM crown on the line. At one point, the Davaoeña ace faced the prospect of finishing sixth and losing the season-long race by a mere P2,000 in earnings.

Then came the shot that changed everything.

Bisera aced the 17th hole of Apo, turning a potentially costly finish into a joint third-place effort with Avaricio and Princess Superal. It was a timely breakthrough that kept her in the money and, ultimately, preserved her place atop the rankings.

Her P83,750 share of the combined third- to fifth-place purse of P251,250 lifted her season earnings to P704,150, just enough to edge Constantino, whose P162,500 prize at Apo brought her total to P699,600, including her victory at Caliraya Springs.

The difference: a stunning P4,550.

Reflecting on her victory, Bisera admitted that she did not initially expect to contend for the OOM title, but a crucial hole-in-one on the final day ultimately proved decisive.

‘Going into Apo, I wasn’t really thinking about the OOM title. But looking back, that hole-in-one on the final day was probably the biggest turning point and the main reason I was able to secure the OOM crown this year,’ said Bisera.

For Bisera, claiming the season-long honor was especially meaningful, considering the challenges she faced throughout the year and the strength of the competition.

‘Winning the OOM title means a lot to me. I’m really happy and grateful to have achieved this, especially after going a long time without a win following my victory at Pradera Verde. Although I wasn’t able to perform as well as I wanted in Mindanao, I’m still thankful to have come out on top, especially with the field being so strong this year,’ she said.

Bisera also credited her consistency throughout the season, highlighted by two victories and two runner-up finishes, as key factors in her successful OOM campaign.

‘My two wins and two runner-up finishes were the biggest factors that helped me win the OOM title. But that clutch hole-in-one on the final day of the last tournament will always be especially memorable for me. I hope this achievement will give me more confidence as I prepare for my international tournaments,’ said Bisera.

It was a fitting climax to a fiercely contested eight-leg campaign in which every strong finish, missed opportunity and crucial shot carried enormous weight. In a race where fortunes swung repeatedly and no advantage proved entirely safe, Bisera’s ace became the ultimate difference-maker.

Lee wound up third with P650,000, her bid for a maiden OOM title derailed by a difficult Apo campaign that saw her settle for a share of eighth place.

Avaricio finished fourth with P588,600 despite winning three legs at Pinewoods, Summit Point and South Pacific, her campaign affected by her decision to skip a couple of LPGT events in favor of overseas tournaments. Last year’s OOM champion Sarah Ababa, meanwhile, settled for fifth with P491,450 after a winless season.

On the men’s side, Que took a markedly different route to his second consecutive OOM crown, leaning on his early-season victories and a string of respectable finishes to keep his pursuers at bay.

The veteran campaigner drew strength from his come-from-behind triumph at Caliraya Springs and his two-shot victory over Aidric Chan at Summit Point, building the earnings cushion that would prove decisive in the final stretch.

‘Winning back-to-back OOM titles means a lot to me. At 47, being able to compete with and keep pace with the younger players is something I truly value. I believe experience, coupled with a little bit of luck, played a big part in making this achievement possible,’ said Que.

‘Moving forward, I’ll just keep playing, continue working on my game, and strive to do better than I did the previous year. Hopefully, with hard work, faith, and a little luck, I can do it all over again,’ he added.

Juggling commitments between the PGT and the Asian Tour, Que endured a demanding schedule that left little room for rest. Fresh from an Asian Tour event, he struggled to a joint 12th-place finish in Negros Occidental before placing joint 21st in Iloilo. He then shared ninth at Pueblo de Oro, took fifth at South Pacific and closed out his campaign with an eighth-place finish at Apo.

Although he failed to crack the Top 5 in the final five legs, Que’s earlier victories and steady accumulation of earnings proved more than enough. He finished with P1.445 million to complete a rare back-to-back OOM championship.

Jeffren Lumbo remained within striking distance and still had a mathematical chance of overtaking Que heading into Apo. But the Sarangani standout also faltered in the finale, winding up joint 18th and settling for second with P1.230 million.

Clyde Mondilla, winner at South Pacific, took third with P1.223 million, his campaign likewise affected by missed opportunities in key legs. Rupert Zaragosa, who won at Pueblo de Oro, placed fourth with P1.038 million, while Keanu Jahns, winless after sweeping three titles last season, wound up fifth with P982,550.

In the end, Que’s calculated consistency delivered another season-long triumph, while Bisera’s remarkable late-season escape provided the defining moment of the year.

One needed only to stay steady to retain his throne. The other needed one perfect shot to save hers.