Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

DESPITE infrastructure and warehouse damages caused by recent typhoons, the country’s buffer rice stock remains sufficient to feed Filipinos for 12 days, the National Food Authority (NFA) said.

NFA Administrator Larry Del Rosario Lacson said on Tuesday that the agency currently has 446,000 metric tons or about 8.9 million bags of milled rice, enough to last for nearly two weeks.

‘Right now, our buffer stock stands at almost 12 days nationwide. It can feed all Filipinos for 12 days,’ Lacson said in a press briefing.

According to Lacson, recent storms caused minor damage to some NFA facilities, such as leaks and flooding, but did not result in major losses and rice stocks remained unaffected.

He added that the NFA is currently assessing the volume of rice that got wet during the storms, noting that some may still be dried and recovered. Initial reports point to only a few hundred bags being affected, the agency administrator said.

‘There is nothing that needs rehabilitation. These are just minor repairs, just some leaks.The recent storm did not cause any damage to our stocks.’

P20 rice in Masbate

Lacson said the NFA started releasing P20-per-kilo rice on Tuesday in Masbate, one of the provinces hardest hit by the recent storms.

‘We also carried out an immediate dispersal in Masbate, which was severely hit by the typhoon. As of now, I think they still don’t have electricity. We are even looking for a generator there so we can run our rice mill and continue providing rice in the area,’ he added.

Under the agency’s directive to speed up augmentation, he said trucks were immediately deployed to the affected area, adding that additional supplies from other regions are also being considered.

Lacson explained that the government has been expanding the rollout of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s P20-per-kilo rice nationwide, but because Masbate was severely affected by the calamity, it was prioritized for distribution through Kadiwa outlets.

More than 3,000 bags of rice have so far been distributed in the province, while dispersals were also conducted in Regions 8 and 4, said Lacson.

This came as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) gave out relief aid to families and communities in provinces, including Masbate, hit by the recent major weather disturbances due to typhoon ‘Opong.’

The DSWD said on Tuesday that it has so far distributed more than 309,000 family food packs (FFPs) to households affected by recent typhoons. The largest share of assistance went to the Bicol Region with over 82,000 packs, followed by Western Visayas with 52,000 and the Ilocos Region with nearly 44,000.

According to Lacson, the P20 per kilo of rice in Masbate ensures that residents have an accessible food source once relief supplies and FFPs are depleted. He noted that power restoration in the province may take time, making DSWD food packs insufficient to meet daily consumption needs.

Lacson added that other provinces severely hit by typhoons would also automatically be given priority for the P20-per-kilo rice rollout.

‘Right now, we haven’t met yet with the DA and the Kadiwa team. But definitely, when it comes to the priority session, that will suddenly move up. As long as an area is hit by a typhoon, it will move up in priority. That’s for sure,’ he said.

Restoration of damaged power lines in affected areas in Masbate due to typhoon ‘Opong’ and the Southwest Monsoon will cost roughly P400 million, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

With the scale of destruction, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said that an estimated budget of around P400 million will be needed to repair affected power lines. Garin visited Masbate on Tuesday to inspect and assess the damage to energy infrastructure. She was joined by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, National Power Corporation (NPC) President Jericho Jonas B. Nograles.

‘This is more than an inspection, this is a commitment. We came here to see and assess the extent of the damage and to personally assure the Provincial Government of Masbate, its local electric cooperatives, and the people of Masbate that the energy sector will do everything it can to restore electricity as quickly and safely as possible,’ she said.

Meanwhile, NEA said the cost of damage to critical facilities affected by typhoons Nando, Opong, and the southwest monsoon are estimated at P52.1 million spread across 17 electric cooperatives (ECs) nationwide.

This covers the areas of ABRECO (Abra), BATANELCO (Batanes), BENECO (Benguet), BISELCO (Busuanga Island), CAGELCO 2 (Cagayan), CAPELCO (Capiz), KAELCO (Kalinga Apayao), LEYECO 5 (Leyte), LUBELCO (Lubang Island), MARELCO (Marinduque), MOPRECO (Mountain Province), NORSAMELCO (Northern Samar), OMECO, (Occidental Mindoro), ORMECO (Oriental Mindoro), ROMELCO (Romblon), SAMELCO 2 (Samar), and TIELCO (Tablas Island).

The DOE chief commended line workers from various ECs nationwide who, under Task Force Kapatid, have been arriving in Masbate since Sunday to support the Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MASELCO).

‘We are moving with urgency, but also with care. Safety remains our top priority for both workers on the ground and the public. Together, we will restore power and restore hope,’ Garin added.

Opong, which recently battered the Bicol Region, caused widespread damage to energy infrastructure, leaving many parts of Masbate without power.

The newly renovated 50-year-old Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) is now ready to accommodate the international delegate of the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings, which will be hosted by the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos was personally accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos when he led the reopening ceremony last Tuesday of the iconic building designed by the National Artist Leandro V. Locsin .

In his speech during the reopening ceremony, the chief executive recognized how Asia’s first international convention center became the venue of not only many historic events such as the Miss Universe pageant in 1994 and ASEAN Summit in 2017, but also numerous public events such as graduations and oath-taking ceremonies of board passers.

‘As we look ahead, we recognize the PICC as a symbol of Filipino resilience and creativity. And that is why, with the PICC’s Golden Anniversary in 2026 and, coincidentally, our hosting of the ASEAN Summit, we reaffirmed our commitment to preserving and modernizing the PICC for many generations yet to come,’ Marcos said.

The renovated facility now features state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, energy-efficient lighting, complex-wide high-speed Wi-Fi to enhance security.

It now also features a newly curated art collection, with priceless works from Filipino masters from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Marcos has vowed to preserve the PICC, which he said will continue to serve as ‘testament to the artistry, ingenuity, and passion of the Filipino people’ for the next generation.

‘As we reopen the doors of the PICC, let us also open ourselves to a greater challenge: to create, to imagine, and to contribute,’ Marcos said.

‘So, together, let us ensure that the PICC will remain as a testament to the artistry, ingenuity, and passion of the Filipino people,’ he added.

Century Properties Group Inc. (PSE: CPG) announces its inclusion in the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Global Equity Index Series (GEIS)- Microcap Index effective September 22, 2025.

The FTSE Microcap Index is part of the globally recognized FTSE Global Equity Index Series, which serves as a benchmark for institutional investors and fund managers worldwide. Inclusion in the index enhances the company’s visibility in global capital markets and may potentially increase liquidity and broaden its shareholder base.

CPG was added to the FTSE Microcap Index effective September 22, 2025, affirming the company’s growth prospects, increased market capitalization, enhanced liquidity, and higher free float. CPG’s free float has also improved from 27.4 percent to 34.21 percent after the Social Security System (SSS) bought a 6.4 percent stake in July 2025.

Over a period of three years from 2022, CPG has recorded a strong financial performance as it sustained its net income growth, increasing from P1.405 billion in 2022 to P1.855 billion in 2023, to P2.443 billion in 2024, reflecting a 32 percent and 31.7 percent year-on-year improvement, respectively.

‘We are honored by this inclusion, which represents a key milestone in our growth trajectory, said Marco R. Antonio, President and CEO of CPG. ‘This recognition underscores the strength of our business model and our commitment to delivering long-term value to our stakeholders-from homebuyers and communities to our shareholders,’ he added.

At the end of the trading week on September 19, CPG closed at P0.69 per share, 68 percent higher year-to-date and 89 percent compared to its level in the previous year.

Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, on Monday, September 29, delivered a manifestation in the Senate expressing his full support for the proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), praising Vice President Sara Duterte’s initiatives and contrasting them against what he described as flood control projects that have become ‘gatasan’ for unscrupulous individuals.

The Senate finance committee where Go serves as Vice Chairperson earlier approved the proposed budget of the OVP.

‘Tiwala po ako sa ating Vice President at sigurado po ako na nagagamit nang tama ang pondo ng bayan,’ Go stated during the Senate budget deliberations on September 29.

He stressed his confidence in the way Duterte’s office manages public funds, recalling his years of service under former President Rodrigo Duterte and his familiarity with the Duterte family’s approach to clean governance.

‘Sa totoo lamang po, matagal po akong nagtrabaho kay former President Duterte at naabutan ko po noong siya po’y naging bise mayor ng Davao, [at mayor] si Vice President Sara. Kung istrikto po si dating mayor at dating Pangulong Duterte sa gobyerno, mas istrikto po si VP Sara at alam ko pong magagamit talaga ang pondo para sa pantulong sa ating mga kababayan,’ he assured.

‘Kaysa naman po napupunta lang sa flood control na gatasan po ng iilang mapagsamantala,’ Go cited, highlighting how billions of public funds have been stolen in anomalous or ghost projects while the OVP budget was decreased despite providing direct benefits to vulnerable sectors.

Go went into detail about the programs rolled out by the OVP in recent years, emphasizing their direct benefits to ordinary Filipinos. He even urged fellow lawmakers to find ways to allocate more funding to the OVP to sustain its services.

‘Sa mga nakaraang taon, nagkaroon ang OVP ng mga programang nagbibigay ng tunay na benepisyo sa ating mamamayan. From medical assistance, to relief operations, educational support, pangkabuhayan programs, at libreng sakay among others,’ he noted.

Among the highlights was the OVP’s Medical and Burial Assistance Program, which he cited has helped more than 187,000 beneficiaries when it was still funded. In 2024 alone, the office extended assistance to over 144,000 individuals in need.

He likewise cited the Magnegosyo ‘ta Day Program, which provides entrepreneurial opportunities, including livelihood assistance and training for marginalized groups. The OVP has also been active in disaster relief efforts, aiding more than 200,000 individuals in calamity-hit areas.

‘Nakikita ko rin po ito dahil ako mismo umiikot rin po ako sa mga tinatamaan po ng bagyo,’ Go added, drawing from his own experience in relief operations across the country.

He also underscored the impact of the Libreng Sakay Program, which has served over a million passengers in Metro Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao. ‘Ito po yung nabanggit ko kanina na atin pong sinusuportahan,’ he remarked, pointing out that he has also personally supported the OVP’s free transportation efforts ‘in my own small way.’

Go also rooted his remarks in his personal experience as a Davaoeño who had long worked with the Duterte family. He emphasized that his support for the Vice President is based not only on alliance but also on his firsthand knowledge of her good governance style and priorities.

‘As a proud Davaoeño, I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable work of the Vice President when she was still the Mayor of Davao City. And when she became Vice President, I sincerely believe Vice President Duterte’s initiatives have been instrumental in helping this government uplift lives and promote the welfare of all Filipinos,’ Go said.

CONVERGE will manage everyone’s expectations in Season 50 of the Philippine Basketball Association that starts with the Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Head coach Delta Pineda said most teams are competitive and could adjust to the pace of every game prompting his coaching staff to dig into the deepest details.

‘There are very strong teams and veterans so do not expect too much. We have so many young players in our team,’ said Pineda, whose team has an average age of 27 with Kevin Racal (34) and recently signed Rafi Reavis (48) as the veterans.

‘In terms of experience especially in crucial games, veteran players have the experience to take charge, but you’ll never know what may happen,’ the rookie coach who’s also the vice governor of Pampanga, said. ‘We have been together for a few years so we adjusted and corrected some of our mistakes.’

No. 2 draft pick Juan Gomez de Liaño (25) will be joining forces with Schonny Winston (27), Alec Stockton (27) and big men Justin Arana (26) and Justine Baltazar (28).

Converge swept all its four tuneup games against Meralco, Blackwater, NLEX and San Miguel Beer (114-99), but Pineda reminded his players not to be excited.

‘We need everyone’s cooperation and we are doing everything to prepare them so we can achieve our goals,’ Pineda said. ‘We need their hard work. If we do not prepare well, we cannot expect good things.’

The FiberXers couldn’t go beyond the quarterfinals-Governors Cup and Commissioner’s Cup-last year in three seasons in the league.

San Juan and Rizal Province closed their elimination round campaigns with victories over also-ran teams on Monday in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at the Marikina Sports Center.

The San Juan Knights trounced the Marikina Shoemasters, 78-61, to improve their win-loss record to 26-3 and finish No. 3 in the North Division behind the Abra Weavers (27-1) and the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (27-2).

Rizal subdued Bacolod, 78-72, for a 19-10 record and third spot in the South Division led by Quezon (25-4) and Batangas City (19-10).

Arvin Gamboa scored 18, while Orlan Wamar had 10 points and nine assists for the Knights.

Karl Penano and Jay Yutuc each had 12 points for Marikina, which exited with a 4-25 record.

Michael Canete scored 14 points, while Alwyn Alday had 11 points for Rizal.

Bacolod bowed out with a 7-22 slate. John Lemuel Pastias scored 15 points, while Jan Gabriel Sobrenega and Aldave Canoy had 12 points each.

NEW DELHI, INDIA-Direct air connectivity between the Philippines and India is set to resume tomorrow, October 1, with Air India launching non-stop flights between Manila and New Delhi, a move hailed as a milestone in bilateral relations and a strategic boost to tourism and trade.

Air India Vice President Dr. Amit Kumar Pandey led a delegation to the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi on September 25 to formally brief Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio and the Embassy’s Economic Team-Second Secretary Melissa Anne M. Telan and Attaché Rachelle C. Yumo-on the upcoming service. The executives also presented a ceremonial model aircraft to mark the occasion.

The new route, tagged AI 2362 (Delhi to Manila) and AI 2361 (Manila to Delhi), will operate five times weekly-daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays-with a one-way flight time of 6 hours and 50 minutes. The inaugural flight departs Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 at 1:20 p.m. IST and arrives at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 at 10:40 p.m. PST. The maiden flight will be serviced by an Airbus A321, configured with 188 seats across three classes.

‘This new non-stop service represents a milestone in our aviation relations, and indeed in our overall relations,’ Ambassador Ignacio said. ‘We see this substantially driving up our tourism and business connections in line with the vision of President Marcos and Prime Minister Modi.’

The flight revival coincides with recent visa liberalization efforts between the two countries.

On June 8, the Philippines began granting 14-day visa-free entry to Indian tourists. During President Marcos’ State Visit to India last month, the Indian government reciprocated with gratis e-visas for Filipino travelers.

Ambassador Ignacio thanked Air India for restoring direct air links, emphasizing the Philippines’ readiness to welcome Indian visitors.

‘We Filipinos and our rich culture, peerless pristine beaches, incomparable dive sites, lush mountains, charming heritage sites and modern metropolises are eager to welcome our Indian friends,’ he said.

India has been identified as a priority market for Philippine inbound tourism.

With over 30 million outbound Indian travelers recorded in 2024 and projections placing India as the fifth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2027, the new route is expected to unlock significant growth opportunities for both countries.

AFTER quickly getting a Senate subcommittee to endorse her P902-million 2026 budget for the Office of the Vice President, Sara Duterte on Monday told a press conference her informants had told her a long time ago of the ‘luggage’ of money being delivered to former Speaker Martin Romualdez, her bitter political rival.

VP Duterte’s comments, made in a press conference after presenting the OVP’s proposed 2026 budget, quickly drew reactions from Romualdez and the Palace.

She said that recent revelations of billions in taxpayer money being wasted on ghost or substandard projects had ‘saddened’ her father, detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, and she expected him to say, ‘sinabi ko na si BBM ay hindi marunong [I told you that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doesn’t know how to govern].he is a weak leader,’ blaming him for the mess that has engulfed both the Executive and Congress in recent weeks.

Speaking mostly in Filipino, she said her father was sad, ‘not because of how they smeared his name, but more because of what they did to the country,’ referring to those accused of corruption in the flood projects scandal, both in the Executive branch and the lawmakers who vet and approve the annual appropriations.

She said that soon after she took office in 2022, ‘we had already heard of the ‘deliveries of money.’

However, she added, it was not only kickbacks from infrastructure projects that Romualdez allegedly got, but also from ‘illegal gambling.’

‘Pure fiction’-Romualdez

Leyte Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday strongly rejected allegations made by Vice President Sara Duterte that he received ‘suitcases of cash’ from illegal gambling operations, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated.

‘I hear the accusations. Let me say this directly: it is not true that I receive money from illegal gambling,’ Romualdez said in a statement. ‘These stories about ‘suitcases of cash’ are pure fiction-nothing but imagination. Until today, no evidence has ever been presented, only rumors repeated over and over.’

Romualdez dismissed the claims as recycled lies meant to discredit him. He also clarified that he has no involvement in the Okada/Delaware casino dispute that had resurfaced in public discussions, after VP Duterte also mentioned it.

‘On the Okada/Delaware issue, it is clear: I am not involved, I am not being investigated, and I am not accused. I have nothing to do with that case, which is simply a dispute between two businesses. It is only being revived now to malign me,’ he said.

Romualdez further questioned the credibility of the Vice President, who faces her own controversies.

‘It is sad that the Vice President herself-who was impeached by the House for misuse of funds-has resorted to spreading such lies. When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims?’ Romualdez said.

Palace on Sara: ‘Obstructionist’

Malacañang called Vice President Sara Duterte an ‘obstructionist’ who is trying to derail the government’s ongoing crackdown against anomalous flood control projects after she cast doubt on the ‘stability’ of the Marcos administration.

In her press conference at the Senate on Monday, Duterte claimed that the Marcos administration was no longer stable as the ongoing probe dragged several lawmakers in the said controversy, undermining public trust on government institutions.

She claimed the probe is being politicized and that it has yet to result in any conviction, which benefited the public.

‘Our institutions are clearly abused. They are used for personal gain.and we have already seen the testimony of witnesses about corruption and there is practically nothing happening in our country,’ Duterte said in Filipino.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, however, tagged the Vice President’s recent pronouncements as lies, which he said only aims to tarnish the reputation of President Ferdinand Marcos.

‘We know that our government is strong. The Marcos Jr. administration is only being destroyed by obstructionists like them,’ she told Palace reporters last Monday.

‘They probably don’t see what the President is doing because they are turning a blind eye,’ she added.

Marcos, she said, has already made significant gains in unearthing the said corrupt practices in public works through the Independent Commission for Infrastructure compared to previous administration.

‘So it cannot be said that our President is doing nothing. Let’s remember that he himself initiated this investigation,’ Castro said.

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P34.725 billion worth of various goods, natural resources, cigarettes and illegal drugs smuggled into the country as of end-August.

In his presentation of the BOC’s accomplishment report on Tuesday, Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said the bureau carried out 653 seizure operations from January to August this year, confiscating P34.725 billion worth of illicit items.

Confiscated various goods, such as general merchandise, topped the list of the highest-valued commodities, totaling P20.156 billion as of end-August.

This was followed by wildlife and natural resources amounting to P4.784 billion and illegal drugs valued at P4.562 billion.

The BOC also intercepted smuggled cigarettes, tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape products worth P2.104 billion.

Counterfeit goods, such as fake branded apparel and accessories, pegged at P1.041 billion, were also apprehended.

Maronilla also reported the BOC’s ‘record-breaking’ seizures during the month of July to August, conducting 128 seizure operations of smuggled products amounting to P2.390 billion.

The seizure of illicit cigarettes valued at P605.29 million in Plaridel, Bulacan, on August 2 was highlighted, which marked the largest cigarette seizure for this year.

According to the Department of Finance, the government could suffer a revenue loss of about P150 billion this year due to smuggling.

This estimated figure refers to potential revenue losses on the part of the BOC, covering foregone collections from general merchandise and oil.

Maronilla told BusinessMirror earlier that the BOC is strengthening its anti-smuggling measures to offset possible losses from illicit trade.

Maronilla said a new team at the BOC has already come up with a comprehensive anti-smuggling program focused on possible misdeclarations and technical smuggling.

The BOC is also working on revising a cooperation agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to effectively guard the country’s borders against smugglers.

To further plug expected losses, Maronilla said the BOC is also banking on its Fuel Marking Program as one of the agency’s main revenue drivers, as well as other revenue sources, such as cars, steel and chemicals.

The BOC has collected a total of P622.468 billion from January to August this year, higher by 1.3 percent than the P614.395 billion raised during the same period last year.

In the first seven months, the BOC collected P1.520 billion from non-traditional revenue sources through the Post Clearance Audit Group and P43.267 million from Public Auctions.

This year, the BOC will collect P958.7 billion, which makes up 21.20 percent of the government’s full-year revenue target of P4.520 trillion.