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Star maker Johnny Manahan, more popularly known as “Mr. M,” has left GMA Network and will reportedly sign with TV5.

In a report by PEP, Mr. M is set to sign his contract with TV5 later this week.

Mr. M was the consultant of the GMA Artist Center having launched the network’s talent agency Sparkle.

He is currently the director of TV5’s “Vibe,” an OPM music countdown show, adding credence to him signing with the network.

In her column for The STAR, TV5 reporter MJ Marfori said Mr. M is “deeply involved from the concept development of ‘Vibe,’ to the packaging of its ‘Vibe Jocks,’ and even in scouting the Gen V – the next-in-line personalities who will eventually join the main roster.”

The PEP report also said that Mr. M could be tapped to handle the talents of TV5’s Media Quest.

Following the recent earthquakes that hit some parts of the country and the typhoons that hit other parts of the country, many of us may have been conditioned into believing that natural disasters are the only large-scale disasters we have to deal with.

What happened in Negros Oriental recently should set us straight about this.

In case you haven’t read about it, the 20-hectare wall of a wastewater lagoon of Universal Robina Corp. collapsed there last week, contaminating the sea around Bais City with ethanol, and affecting more than 4,500 families.

The sea in the affected area is literally red. Some areas of the North Bais Bay and the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape and major fishing ground, are now off-limits. The contamination has caused a fish kill in the areas around North Bais Bay and Manjuyod. Activities like dolphin watching and visiting the famed Manjuyod sandbar have also been canceled.

Bais City has been declared under a state of calamity

This should teach us that natural disasters aren’t the only disasters to happen. And that if we let our guard down, cut corners, or just become plain negligent we –and not Mother Nature, which is completely beyond our control– can be the very cause of our own misery.

Of course, accidents can and will always happen as part of the natural order of things. There is no such thing as 100% fool-proof or 100% preventable. All structures will suffer wear and tear eventually, like roads and highways, building foundations, riprap, bridges, and retaining walls of wastewater lagoons.

What’s the best we can do? Preventive maintenance. Periodically checking if something can still perform as it was designed to do. Checking for cracks, signs of damage, or other indications that may turn into a point of failure over time.

Universal Robina Corp. is now in the process of rectifying the situation and we should leave them to their work. No doubt they will have learned from this unfortunate and expensive incident.

Across generations, Filipina leaders have shown that leadership is not defined by position but by purpose. We have seen women rise to the challenge, breaking barriers, driving transformation, and leading with empathy and integrity. While our progress has been remarkable, there is still much to be done to ensure that women are fully empowered to take their place at the highest levels of decision-making.

In 2013, our firm, R.G. Manabat and Co., did an analysis of Manila-based companies in the top 1,000 and found that out of 770 companies, only 68 had female CEOs. For perspective, that figure represents a mere 8.8 percent. By 2020, Filipina CEOs in publicly listed companies accounted for only 10 percent, and though this rose to 13 percent by 2022, it remains clear that we must accelerate this progression. The necessity of women in leadership goes beyond equal representation, as many studies have observed the fact that female leadership is strongly associated with transparent communication, ethical decision-making, and inclusive corporate cultures. These qualities enhance employee trust, engagement, and retention, and ultimately strengthen organizations and drive innovation in rapidly evolving markets.

Last Sept. 18, I had the privilege to speak with four industry leaders as the moderator of a Fireside Chat Session at the Filipina CEO Circle’s 10th anniversary celebration held at Shangri-La The Fort. In line with the event’s theme, ‘LIT: Lead, Inspire, Thrive,’ we explored their professional journeys, the defining traits of leadership, and why empowering women benefits organizations and communities alike. The panel was composed of Phinma Solar Energy Corp. and Union Insulated Panel Corp. chief operating officer and director Danielle del Rosario, ABS-CBN Corp. head of digital Jamie Lopez, Grab head of regional corporate strategy Grace Vera Cruz and EastWest Bank vice president, chief strategy and transformation officer, and executive director Isabelle Yap – leaders who have made a difference in their respective sectors through their leadership and expertise. Despite coming from different industries and backgrounds, they shared the same commitment to excellence and to the people of their organizations, emphasizing the importance of giving women the leverage and opportunities they need to succeed and grow.

They reflected on how they began their careers, the challenges they faced, and how these shaped them as leaders. Grace noted that her position today is the result of years of hard work and consistency, rising through the ranks with the support of mentors and champions who helped guide her along the way. Building on this, Isabelle emphasized the importance of strong female role models for the younger generation, so that they have examples to look up to and emulate. Adding her perspective, Danielle emphasized the value of speaking up, advocating for your career, and embracing challenges with confidence.

Jamie then highlighted the role of male allies actively empowering women with meaningful opportunities to lead and paving the way for others to follow. He noted that women’s perspectives and insights are integral to any boardroom, crediting many of his organization’s recent accomplishments to the capable female leaders and employees driving the company’s growth. The panel also discussed how organizations can enable women to thrive both professionally and personally. Flexible arrangements such as remote work allow women to balance their careers with family life, a benefit that the women in the panel said they deeply value.

The discussion reminded me that when women are given the right opportunities and support, they create lasting impact. Empowering women to lead is not only about representation – it strengthens organizations, inspires collaboration, and builds a future where every voice contributes to progress. I look forward to continuing this advocacy and supporting more women as they step into leadership and shape the future.

With Typhoon Tino still wreaking havoc in Visayas, authorities have announced several cancellations of both air and sea trips.

The typhoon comes a few days after the Undas holiday, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Meanwhile, another cyclone has been recorded outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

The following airlines have released a list of canceled flights:

Air trips

Philippine Airlines

PR 1841/1842 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PR 1845/1846 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PR 1851/1852 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PR 1835 Manila-Cebu

PR 1279/1280 Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu

PR 486/487 Cebu-Seoul Incheon-Cebu

PR 434/433 Cebu-Tokyo Narita-Cebu

PR 1145/1146 Manila-Iloilo-Manila

PR 2836 Cebu-Manila

PR 2344 Davao-Cebu

PR 2380/2381 Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu

PR 2666 Cebu-Busuanga

PR 2686 Busuanga-Clark

PR 2285/2286 Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu

PR 2345/2346 Cebu-Davao-Cebu

PR 2232/2233 Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu

PR 2139/2140 Manila-Iloilo-Manila

PR 2981/2982 Manila-Tacloban-Manila

PR 2967/2968 Manila-Butuan-Manila

PR 2557/2558 Manila-Dipolog-Manila

PR 2889/2890 Manila-Ozamiz-Manila

PR 2203/2204 Manila-Roxas-Manila

PR 2771/2772 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila

PR 2129/2130 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

PR 2519/2520 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila

PR 2664/2665 Cebu-Busuanga-Cebu

PR 2295/2296 Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Cebu

PR 2361/2362 Cebu-Butuan-Cebu

PR 2680 Cebu-Busuanga

PR2679 Busuanga-Clark

PR 2372/2373 Davao-Tagbilaran-Davao

PR 2363 Cebu-Davao

PR 2359/2360 Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu

PR 2351/2352 Cebu-Siargao-Cebu

PR 2382/2383 Cebu-Siargao-Cebu

PR 2853/2854 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PR 2313/2314 Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Cebu

PR 2653/2654 Cebu-Catarman-Cebu

PR 2963/2964 Manila-Busuanga-Manila

PR 2545/2546 Manila-Dumaguete-Manila

PR 2131/2132 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

PR 2773/2774 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila

PR 2849/2850 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PR 2141/2142 Manila-Iloilo-Manila

PR 2905/2906 Manila-Antique-Manila

PR 2893/2894 Cebu-Ozamiz-Cebu

PR 2037/2038 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

PR 2041/2042 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

PR 2347/2348 Cebu-Puerto Princesa-Cebu

PR 2995/2996 Cebu-Zamboanga-Cebu

PR 2368/2369 Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu

PR 2133/2134 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

PR2143/2144 Manila-Iloilo-Manila

PR 2543/2544 Manila-Dumaguete-Manila

PR 2687 Clark-Busuanga

PR 2667 Busuanga-Cebu

PR 2045/2046 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

PR 2043/2044 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

PR 2678/2681 Clark-Busuanga-Clark

PR 2287/2288 Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu

PR 2388/2389 Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu

PR 2365 Cebu-Davao

PR 2135/2136 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

PR 2357 Cebu-General Santos

PR 2374/2375 Cebu-Siargao-Cebu

PR 2875/2876 Clark-Siargao-Clark

PR 2973/2974 Manila-Siargao-Manila

PR 2039/2040 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

PR 2035/2036 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

Cebu Pacific

T6 5172/5173: Manila – El Nido – Manila

T6 5336/5337: El Nido – Cebu – El Nido

T6 5410/5411: El Nido – Caticlan – El Nido

DG 6064/6065: Cebu – Coron (Busuanga) – Cebu

DG 6068/6069: Cebu – Coron (Busuanga) – Cebu

DG 6171/6172: Clark – Masbate – Clark

DG 6339/6340: Clark – San Jose – Clark

DG 6416/6417: Cebu – Cagayan de Oro – Cebu

DG 6468/6469: Cebu – Bacolod – Cebu

DG 6546/6547: Cebu – Calbayog – Cebu

DG 6569/6570: Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu

DG 6575/6576: Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu

DG 6601/6602: Cebu – Dipolog – Cebu

DG 6286/6287: Cebu – Caticlan – Cebu

DG 6295/6296: Clark – Caticlan – Clark

DG 6641/6642: Cebu – Pagadian – Cebu

DG 6693/6694: Cebu – Camiguin – Cebu

DG 6695/6696: Cebu – Camiguin – Cebu

DG 6713/6714: Cebu – Cagayan de Oro – Cebu

DG 6715/6716: Cebu – Cagayan de Oro – Cebu

DG 6717/6718: Cebu – Cagayan de Oro – Cebu

DG 6759/6760: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6791/6792: Cebu – Ozamiz – Cebu

DG 6793/6794: Cebu – Ozamiz- Cebu

DG 6851/6850: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6853/6854: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6855/6856: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6857/6858: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6859/6860: Cebu – Siargao – Cebu

DG 6872/6871: Davao – Siargao – Davao

DG 6875/6876: Siargao – Davao – Siargao

DG 6929/6930: Cebu – Butuan – Cebu

5J 134/135: Cebu – Boracay – Cebu

5J 136/137: Cebu – Boracay – Cebu

5J 155/156: Clark – Cebu – Clark

5J 247/248: Iloilo – General Santos – Iloilo

5J 251: Cebu – General Santos

5J 261/262: Iloilo – Puerto Princesa – Iloilo

5J 357/358: Manila – Roxas – Manila

5J 373/374: Manila – Roxas – Manila

5J 433: Cebu – Zamboanga

5J 435: Cebu – Zamboanga

5J 576: Cebu – Manila

5J 451/452: Manila – Iloilo- Manila

5J 453/454: Manila – Iloilo – Manila

5J 463/464: Manila – Iloilo – Manila

5J 483/484: Manila – Bacolod – Manila

5J 485/486: Manila – Bacolod – Manila

5J 561: Manila – Cebu

5J 576: Cebu – Manila

5J 587: Manila- Cebu

5J 649/650: Manila – Tacloban – Manila

5J 891/892: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 897/898: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 899/900: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 903/904: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 905/906: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 911/912: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 915/916: Clark – Boracay – Clark

5J 919/920: Manila – Boracay – Manila

5J 1135/1136: Clark – Iloilo – Clark

5J 2265/2264: Iloilo – Manila – Iloilo

5J 4311/4310: Cebu – Clark – Cebu

5J 4734/4735: Davao – Boracay – Davao

5J 5064/5065: Cebu – Narita – Cebu

5J 5108/5109: Cebu – Osaka – Cebu

November 5, 2025:

T6 5110/5336: Manila – El Nido – Cebu

T6 5337/5179: Cebu – El Nido – Manila

T6 5174/5177: Manila – El Nido – Manila

T6 5172/5173: Manila – El Nido – Manila

T6 5180/5610: Manila – El Nido – Bohol

T6 5611/5181: Bohol – El Nido – Manila

T6 5112/5113: Manila – El Nido – Manila

T6 5176/5538: Manila – El Nido – Coron

T6 5539/5410: Coron – El Nido – Caticlan

T6 5411/5175: Caticlan – El Nido – Manila

AirAsia

Z2 219: MNL – MPH

Z2 220: MPH – MNL

Z2 215: MNL – MPH

Z2 216: MPH – MNL

Z2 217: MNL – MPH

Z2 218: MPH – MNL

Z2 221: MNL – MPH

Z2 222: MPH – MNL

Z2 213: MNL – MPH

Z2 214: MPH – MNL

Z2 225: MNL – MPH

Z2 226: MPH – MNL

Z2 227: MNL to MPH

Z2 228: MPH to MNL

Z2 223: MNL to MPH

Z2 224: MPH to MNL

Z2 322: MNL to TAC

Z2 323: TAC to MNL

Z2 320: MNL to TAC

Z2 321: TAC to MNL

Z2 763: MNL to CEB

Z2 764: CEB to MNL

Z2 781: MNL to CEB

Z2 782: CEB to MNL

Z2 783: MNL to CEB

Z2 784: CEB to MNL

Z2 350: MNL to TAG

Z2 351: TAG to MNL

Z2 354: MNL to TAG

Z2 355: TAG to MNL

Z2 358: MNL to TAG

Z2 359: TAG to MNL

Z2 309: MNL to ILO

Z2 310: ILO to MNL

Z2 313: MNL to ILO

Z2 314: ILO to MNL

Z2 315: MNL to ILO

Z2 316: ILO to MNL

Z2 304: MNL to ILO

Z2 305: ILO to MNL

Z2 605: MNL to BCD

Z2 606: BCD to MNL

Z2 607: MNL to BCD

Z2 608: BCD to MNL

Z2 711: MNL to KLO

Z2 712: KLO to MNL

Z2 715: MNL to KLO

Z2 713: MNL to KLO

Z2 714: KLO to MNL

Sea trips

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority has announced the cancellation of ferry trips in the following port areas due to strong waves caused by Tino:

PMO Batangas

All trips

PMO Bohol

All trips

PMO Eastern Leyte Samar

All trips

PMO Western Leyte Biliran

All trips

PMO Masbate

All trips

PMO Surigao

All trips

PMO Lanao del Norte / Iligan

All trips

PMO Bicol

All trips

PMO Misamis Oriental / Cagayan de Oro

All trips

PMO Negros Occidental Bacolod / Banago / BREDCO

All trips

PMO Negros Oriental / Siquijor

All trips

PMO Panay / Guimaras

All trips

PMO Palawan

All trips

PMO Zamboanga del Norte / Dapitan

All trips

PMO Misamis Oriental Cagayan

All trips in TMO Balingoan

All trips in Camiguin

PMO Marinduque / Quezon

Lucena to Masbate

Lucena to Romblon

San Andres to San Pascual

PMO Agusan

Port of Nasipit: MV Starlite Archer – Nasipit to Cebu

Port of Nasipit: Lite Ferry 16 – Nasipit to Jagna, Bohol

Port of Nasipit: Cokaliong MV Filipinas Jagna – Nasipit to Jagna, Bohol

Port of Nasipit: Cokaliong MV Filipinas Agusan del Norte – Nasipit to Jagna, Bohol

Port of Butuan: All trips

PMO NCR-North

NorthPort: M/V St. Francis Xavier – Manila to Siargao, Butuan, Ozamis

NorthPort: M/V 2GO Masigla – Manila to Cebu, Tagbilaran

NorthPort: M/V 2GO Maligaya – Manila to Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan

PMO Zamboanga

Zamboanga to Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has opened applications for the government’s import quota allocations next year, marking the start of the selection process for traders seeking to bring in pork, poultry, corn, potatoes and coffee at lower tariff rates.

In a public notice, the DA said the applications under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) program will be from Nov. 2 to 29 for the 2026 Beginning Year Pool, which sets the annual import quotas allowed at lower tariff rates under the country’s World Trade Organization commitments.

‘All applications with complete requirements received after the deadline shall no longer be accepted,’ the DA said.

Available volumes for next year include 54,210 metric tons of pork, 23,490 MT of poultry meat, 60,000 MT of chipping potatoes, 1,457 MT of coffee beans, 216,940 MT of corn and 37 MT of coffee extract.

The DA said importers must submit applications online through the MAV portal and attach certified true copies of required documents.

These include valid licenses from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) or the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), proof of import history, updated permits and tax registration certificates.

New entrants must also have a history of importing at least nine MT of pork and poultry, six MT of potatoes, 12.5 MT of corn and six MT of coffee.

According to the government agency, all approved applications must be submitted in printed form to the MAV Secretariat in Quezon City from Nov. 2 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29.

The MAV system allows limited imports of certain agricultural commodities at reduced tariffs to help stabilize food supply and prices while balancing support for local producers.

Under Administrative Order 1 series of 1998, MAV certificates are valid for three months from issuance and may be revalidated until February of the following year.

According to the DA, pork imports are taxed at 15 percent within quota compared with the regular 25 percent.

Corn imports under the quota enjoy an even steeper relief of just five percent for in-quota imports versus the 15 percent rate for those entering the country outside the MAV window.

JJZ are the three musketeers of the P1-trillion flood-gate or flood control scam – the largest act of corruption, the biggest looting of our money ever.

JJZ – Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Zaldy (Elizaldy) Co. The first two are incumbent senators. Co is a resigned congressman, now a world-class fugitive.

The trio are the soldiers of unbridled corruption and greed. They man the ramparts of the battle against the biggest cleanup launched by any sitting government against corruption. They have deployed the musket of their popularity, the cult of the religion of mass hysteria that has ensconced them in the pantheon of false icons and false gods, draped with seeming invincibility.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has compiled damning testimonies against the Three Musketeers of Corruption.

In their Oct. 28, 2025 interim report with the anti-graft prosecutor ombudsman, the three-man commission recommended the filing of plunder charges against the trio by the ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court tries corruption cases of ranking government officials, with salary Grade 27 (a monthly salary of P132,000 or P1.7 million annually).

A pay of P1.7 million for a legislator who works only three hours a day for 200 out of 365 days is not enough wherewithal for the trio. They need to rake in hundreds, if not billions. They do and did – thanks to the trillion-peso flood-gate.

According to ICI documents, Zaldy Co wangled from the Department of Public Works and Highways 426 flood control projects worth P35 billion in the past three years alone, 2022-2025. He took a 20 percent cut in 2022. The cut increased to 25 percent in 2023 to 2025, enabling him to pocket easily P7 billion.

P7 billion is like earning P1.7 million a year for 4,188 YEARS. So why not be corrupt? Easy money – more than enough to buy bags, blingblings and Boeing jets for yourself, your dear wife, your kids and your immediate family, with enough money left to buy the best lawyer money can buy to defend you and BUY your acquittal.

Because per DPWH records, Zaldy got P86.1 billion worth of contracts in the past 10 years. A 20 percent cut on that is P17.22 BILLION. With that money, you can buy half of the 286 companies listed in the PSE. And most of the best lawyers in town. To BUY your acquittal.

Each time Cong. Zaldy proposes a project, relates ICI, DPWH Bulacan 1st Engineering District chief Engr. Henry Alcantara gives an obligation based on the project budget and their agreement. For 2022, Cong. Zaldy asked for 20 percent and from 2023 up to 2025, he asked for 25 percent of the project funding. Zaldy got his loot three ways.

During the NEP, National Expenditure Program, the proposed budget of the President;

During the bicam. If a project was proposed in the bicam, Co would ask for 10 percent of the funding after the GAA is proposed in the house and then the rest of the 10 percent or 15 percent would be given to him two months after passing the GAA.

Project proposed in the Unprogrammed Allocation. If a project is proposed under the Unprogrammed Allocation, Co would immediately ask for and be given the whole 25 percent of the funding.

If the project was proposed during the NEP, Cong. Zaldy would ask for 10 percent of the funding. The remaining 10 percent or 15 percent would be given to him after it was approved in the GAA (General Appropriations Act), when the budget becomes law.

ICI: ‘These large sums would be paid by the contractors as an advance without them knowing where these sums would go. The sums allocated for Cong. Zaldy would be brought to Engr. Alcantara who then later brought it to ‘Alyas Paul’ and ‘Alyas Mark.’ These were brought to a parking lot at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. There were other times when the sums were brought to Cong. Zaldy’s house at Ladybug Street, Valle Verde 6, Pasig City.’

Alcantara’s deputy, engineer Brice Hernandez, corroborated his chief’s testimony.

ICI: ‘Brice was introduced to Cong. Co in 2021 by Engr. Alcantara as someone who would help them get funding for Bulacan. Engr. Hernandez accompanied Engr. Alcantara to a meeting with Cong. Zaldy at The Fort, Shangri-la where Cong. Co has a penthouse. At the meeting, Cong. Co and Engr. Alcantara agreed on the 25 percent SOP per project. To celebrate their transaction, Engr. Alcantara gave Cong. Co P20 million as ‘Christmas gift,’ which was delivered by one Paul Duya and received by Cong. Co’s chief of staff, Mr. Paul Estrada.’

Joel Villanueva

In 2022, the senator asked for a multipurpose building worth P1.5 billion. Approved, but only for P600 million which angered Villanueva. To appease the displeased senator, USec. Roberto Bernardo and Engr. Alcantara were forced to ‘gumawa ng paraan.’

Villanueva was given P600-million flood control projects under the 2023 Unprogrammed Allocations; 25 percent of the amount, P150 million, was brought personally by Engr. Alcantara to a rest house at Barangay Igulot, Bocaue, Bulacan and was left with a certain ‘Peng,’ who works for Sen. Villanueva, with the instructions to hand the same to him.

Jinggoy Estrada

In 2024, Engr. Alcantara and DPWH USec. Bernardo attended the budget hearing at the Senate. USec. Bernardo asked if ‘mayroon pa akong gustong lagyan’ since a certain ‘SJE’ still had an excess of P355 million.

Alcantara produced projects in 10-15 minutes, all flood control. Said ICI: ‘Like the other transactions, 25 percent of the amounts was supposed to be given to the proponent.’

ICI: ‘Engr. Hernandez usually communicates with a certain Ms. Mina and Beng Ramos about projects pertaining to Sen. Estrada. Ms. Mina is likewise a representative of WJ Construction which has several projects in the 1st DEO of Bulacan.’

Plunder is non-bailable. The penalty is life imprisonment.

Rice importation will remain suspended until the end of the year.

In a new executive order (EO), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the importation of regular rice until Dec. 31, 2025.

The new EO would allow locally-produced rice to circulate in the markets until the end of the year, including the upcoming holiday season.

‘Pursuant to the recommendation of the [Department of Agriculture], the importation of milled and well-milled rice shall remain suspended until 31 December 2025,’ Marcos said.

Rice varieties that are not regularly produced by Filipino farmers will not be covered by the new order.

The suspension can either be shortened or extended by the president, depending on the necessity.

The DA, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, and the Department of Trade and Industry are ordered to convene within 30 days of the order to evaluate the effects of the suspension, and within 15 days they must submit a report to the president.

The new EO was signed on October 30.

The president had previously suspended rice importation from September to October to stabilize rice prices.

Rice in the Philippines had been undergoing steady deflation to the point that local farmers suffering tremendous losses.

Many of these farmers have attributed these losses to the high volumes of rice being imported.

Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen is pregnant with her first child with husband Cole Greif-Neill, bettter known as Cole M.G.N.

On her Instagram account, Carly shared black-and-white images of her and Cole on a bed while showing off her baby bump.

Oh hi, baby,” Carly simply captioned the post accompanied by a heart emoji.

Cole reflected his wife’s enthusiasm by commenting three smiling emojis that had heart-shaped eyes.

Carly and Cole officially tied the knot last October 4 in New York but shared the news on social media three weeks later.

Carly rose to fame in 2012 with her hit single “Call Me Maybe” from her sophomore album “Kiss.”

She later released the well-received “Emotion,” “Dedicated” and its Side B companion release, “Loneliest Time” and its companion album “The Loveliest Time.”

The Philippine energy sector remains a magnet for local and foreign investors despite lingering multibillion-peso corruption in infrastructure, particularly in flood-control projects, according to top energy officials.

‘I’m still very bullish about investments in energy in the Philippines, as shown by the oversubscription in GEA (green energy auction),’ Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in an interview.

Garin, who engaged in high-level forums in Singapore last week, said ‘many investors from all over the world’ expressed strong interest in pouring capital into the Philippines.

‘So I think it’s still very positive, and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about as far as energy is concerned,’ she said, brushing off concerns over the corruption issues in the country.

Garin said the ongoing probe into flood-control projects, spotlighted by President Marcos during his July State of the Nation Address, has signaled to investors the administration’s serious stance against corruption.

Citing an initial report from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Marcos revealed in August that P545 billion in public funds has been allocated to flood-control projects nationwide since July 2022.

Notably, 15 contractors secured 20 percent or around P100 billion of these projects over the past three years.

Faced with rising public outrage, Malacañang established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to investigate alleged corruption, irregularities and misuse of funds in government projects within the decade.

‘So I think for our investors, that should be an assurance that the current administration is being very transparent,’ Garin said.

Unlike other industries in the Philippines, energy is largely privatized, with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act unbundling it into four distinct segments – generation, transmission, distribution and supply.

In 2022, the government opened the country’s renewable energy (RE) sector to full foreign ownership, which was previously subject to a 40-percent cap.

Latest Department of Energy (DOE) data showed that fully foreign-owned companies already bagged around 20 gigawatts of RE projects.

Beyond renewables, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said foreign investors are also exploring opportunities in the Philippines’ upstream energy sector.

‘As far as policies are concerned, they (investors) also told us that the policies in the Philippines and fundamentals are in place. So it’s very predictable,’ Fuentebella said.

Just last month, the government awarded $207 million worth of petroleum service contracts in a bid to ramp up local production and reduce the country’s oil import dependence.

The contracts cover exploration areas across Cagayan, Cebu, Palawan, Central Luzon and the Sulu Sea.

According to Garin, the DOE is also in talks with Abu Dhabi regarding potential investments in the Philippine upstream sector.

‘So I think they are aware it’s private-driven, and it’s not about corruption per se. So it’s more like we’re just establishing ourselves as good policy makers as far as energy is concerned,’ she added.

As water security continues to challenge communities across the Philippines, SM City Baguio is showing how innovation and sustainability can flow together. Through its rainwater treatment facility, the mall treats rainwater to convert into potable water, helping secure tomorrow’s water supply for its operations.

Baguio City experiences frequent rainfall but limited water resources. Water supply from the Baguio Water District is rationed, with some neighborhoods receiving water only twice a week, which they use to fill up their water tanks. When this runs out, residents depend on deliveries from private water companies.

SM City Baguio’s pioneering system captures, treats, and stores rainwater to potable standards, producing up to 150 cubic meters of safe drinking water per day, with the capacity to double production to 300 cubic meters daily.

This initiative reduces reliance on local water utilities while ensuring the mall can continue serving millions of visitors responsibly. More importantly, it demonstrates how rainwater, when managed smartly, can be harnessed to address urban water scarcity.

‘We’ve always valued innovation and creativity in the malls-we take it a step further now to where it truly matters. SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility shows how the right innovation can secure tomorrow’s water,’ said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.

Championing water for tomorrow

SM Prime’s Water for Tomorrow campaign advocates efficiency, innovation, resilience and awareness in water resilience, and promotes the wider sustainability campaign of the SM Green Movement. Beyond Baguio, SM Prime’s water initiatives span the installation of advanced treatment facilities, recycling systems and community engagement programs.

In 2024, SM Prime recorded a 26.23% increase in recycled water volume, rising from 4.42 million cubic meters in 2023 to 5.59 million cubic meters.

The SM Green Movement’s Water for Tomorrow campaign continues to demonstrate how everyday innovation can ensure a sustainable tomorrow-for businesses, communities and the planet.