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THE government has directed its housing agencies to suspend amortization payments in areas severely affected by the recent earthquake in Cebu and the twin typhoons that battered the Bicol Region.

In a memorandum issued last Thursday, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) ordered the agencies under its tutelage to implement a moratorium on monthly housing amortization for members whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

The order covers the Home Development Mutual (Pag-IBIG) Fund, the National Housing Authority (NHA), the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) and the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC).

Regional offices of the DHSUD in Bicol and Central Visayas were also directed to inspect sites to determine the extent of destruction and identify beneficiaries eligible for assistance.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu on Tuesday night, killing more than 70 people and injuring hundreds. According to disaster officials, the tremor affected over 47,000 families, many of whom lost their homes after strong ground shaking and secondary landslides.

Last week, typhoons ‘Nando’ (international name: ‘Ragasa’) and ‘Opong’ (international name: ‘Bualoi’) swept across the Bicol Region, toppling structures and flooding towns in Masbate, where thousands of shelters were reported either damaged or completely destroyed.

According to a statement, the DHSUD is coordinating with other government agencies and the private sector to ‘streamline’ housing assistance and rehabilitation efforts.

THE Department of Energy (DOE) is considering setting up an auction for nuclear energy in a bid to deliver the country’s first nuclear-generated kilowatt hour (kWh) by 2032.

The auction could be patterned after the green energy auction program (GEAP), but since nuclear energy is not renewable energy (RE), then there is a need to conduct a separate auction.

‘We’re always saying it’s a low-carbon option. We are studying to have an auction for it. But we are looking at the legal framework,’ said DOE Director and Technical Secretariat Head of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) Patrick T. Aquino.

The DOE would have to issue a circular for the planned nuclear auction. ‘Any DOE policy is studied carefully so that when we hold consultations involving auction for nuclear, it means that we have hurdled their legal proposition. It can be treated as the same as any technology,’ added Aquino.

During the Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) 2025 held Thursday, Aquino cited the significant progress the Philippines has made in preparing for its nuclear energy future, highlighting key milestones and strategic priorities needed to meet its 1,200 megawatt (MW) target of nuclear power generation by 2032. The DOE is also aiming to increase this to 2,400MW by 2035 and 4,800MW to 2050.

‘The NEP-IAC aims to transition from preparatory activities to implementation-ready frameworks,’ Aquino said. ‘In order to establish the groundwork for a safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy future, 2026 will be crucial in reinforcing institutional readiness, technical credibility, and public trust,’ he added.

A historic milestone in the country’s nuclear energy goals is the recent enactment of Republic Act No. 12305 or the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority or PhilATOM Act, which serves as the legal backbone for nuclear energy governance.

Aquino said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the PhilATOM law will be out within the year. ‘Our law will be effective before the end of October. What we expect is that we, at the DOE, are not part of the ones who will write the implementing rules and regulations. But in our NEP-IAC, we will provide support to our PhilATOM so that we can help accelerate and establish their agency,’ Aquino said.

The high-level forum gathered global nuclear technology leaders, policymakers, regulators, industrial partners, academia and development agencies from the United States, South Korea, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Argentina and the Philippines to exchange insights and collaborate on fortifying a robust and resilient nuclear ecosystem for the country.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been closely assisting the Philippines in addressing 19 infrastructure issues, currently handled by six NEP-IAC subcommittees. Last December, the IAEA conducted a follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission-a specialized review designed to prepare the country for the second phase of its nuclear development under the agency’s milestone approach.

In its 2018 INIR mission, the agency issued 14 recommendations, nine of which have now been fully addressed by the Philippines while five are in progress.

Just recently, the DOE released a nationwide Social Weather Stations survey showing that over 70 percent of Filipinos believe nuclear can deliver reliable electricity, reduce dependence on imported fuels, create jobs, and mitigate climate change.

‘Flawed’ survey

The Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement (NFBM), meanwhile, said the ‘flawed’ survey and the PhilATOM law are being used as a tandem strategy to fast-track the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and build new nuclear plants.

‘We are being rushed into a nuclear future based on a poll that highlighted only the benefits and downplayed the catastrophic risks of operating a nuclear plant. The ghost of the BNPP and the tragedies of Chernobyl and Fukushima are being obliterated by a marketing campaign,’ said Atty. Dante Ilaya, NFBM Chairperson.

The NFBM said the survey failed to present the consequences of nuclear accidents, long-term radioactive waste, and the immense financial costs.

Baseload facility

The DOE, meanwhile, said the country’s first nuclear power plant will be treated as a baseload facility, granted priority dispatch, and automatically certified as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS).

Under Department Circular No. 2005-10-0019, signed on October 2, 2025 by DOE Secretary Sharon S. Garin, the agency established the policy foundations for the Philippines’ first commercially developed and operated nuclear power plant (NPP), designated as a Pioneer NPP.

The Pioneer NPP will serve as a cornerstone project, not only by diversifying the country’s energy mix but also by creating a robust framework that is attractive to both local and international investors.

Within 90 days upon the Circular’s issuance, the DOE will explore government participation models and financing options in collaboration with the Department of Finance, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, the Maharlika Investment Corporation, and other relevant agencies.

At the same time, grid readiness will be prioritized to ensure seamless integration of nuclear power into the transmission system.

To support long-term financial viability, flexible contracting mechanisms such as auctions, direct contracting, or aggregation for industrial and economic zone use will be introduced. In parallel, the Energy Regulatory Commission, in consultation with stakeholders, will implement a Regulatory Asset Base (RAB)-type model or a similar capital recovery mechanism, anchored on minimum contract terms of 25 years, extendable for another 25 years.

Two senators took the cudgels for erstwhile backwater destinations down south in eastern Mindanao when they argued for funding to upgrade its small airport and usher in wider recognition and interest to its water bodies described as untapped world-class destinations.

A communication dispatch from the Office of Senator Lawrence Christopher ‘Bong’ Go said the senator from Davao City called for support to allocated funds to the airport in Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental, now increasingly known for its open seven-kilometer white sand beach and where three water bodies around this Pacific Ocean-side city have been listed in the in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World.

Go said he was manifesting in the recent Senate hearing to allocate funds to develop the Mati Airport through the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The hearing was held Monday.

He has urged the national government to continue current development works at the airport that were initiated last year to make it operational on its target date of November this year.

‘Transportation has always been the backbone of our economy,’ citing this and other infrastructure projects that were started during the previous administration that he said must be continued.

He said former DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade completed and enhanced aviation infrastructure across the country. ‘The DOTr, led by Sec. Tugade, constructed new airports and improved existing ones. They were able to complete more than two hundred airports including those in Albay, Legaspi, Clark International Airport, Bohol-Panglaw and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.’

How does this Mati Airport be made operational? He said the project was supported by Sen. JV Ejercito to help decongest the Davao Airport and improve tourism.

Sen. Loren Legarda supported Go’s call as she emphasized that ‘leaving runways idle wastes existing infrastructure and even leads to safety issues, such as animals straying onto airstrips’. She said she has supported the move to secure funds to make Mati Airport and similar facilities and make them operational.

Early this year, Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat announced that ‘collaborative efforts’ with the Department of Transportation, contractors, and local government officials would accelerate the development of the Mati Airport to be finally opened next month.

She said the 1,628 meter-long airstrip was once called Imelda Marcos Airport when it was constructed and operated in the 1980’s and later renamed Mati Airport. ‘This will be back on tract after a long lull and will operate beginning in November this year,’ she said.

The DOTr and the provincial government also jointly announced that they will sign an agreement that time on the expansion and development of the airport runway, and that the approved construction scope of the DOTr includes the terminal, fire station, and parking area. Contractors O.G. Santos Construction and Rakki Corporation reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the project on schedule.

Engr. Zenaida Loon, head of the Office of the Building Official (OBO), will oversee the electric plan and coordinate with Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (Doreco). Joseph Progatorio, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), will handle the zoning requirements to ensure the project’s seamless integration into the city’s master plan.

They also disclosed that expansion works has a budget of P90 million, to be taken from the P100 million budget previously secured in 2019 by former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and her brother, Congressman Erwin Tulfo. This money jumpstarted the airport development, the information office said, although it was halted when the Covid 19-pandemic set in the following year.

Mati City boasts of untapped natural wonders like the seven-kilometer white-sand Dahican Beach fronting the Pacific Ocean, the tranquil and marine-resource rich Pujada Bay and the Unesco

Heritage site Mount Hamiguitan. Also just around its corners are its three water bodies, including Pujada, which were listed in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World by the MBBW Association.

Outside Mati City is Pusan Point in Caraga town, which was marked as the site of the first millennium sunrise in the Philippines.

THE Department of Finance (DOF) has ordered all state-run firms to deploy resources, provide critical services and roll out calamity assistance packages to the victims of the recent earthquake in Cebu.

Department Circular 003-2025 issued by the DOF on October 1 directed government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to accelerate service delivery and ground support after natural calamities.

The order covers the 53 GOCCs and nine GFIs under DOF oversight, particularly those in utilities, infrastructure, logistics, communications, housing, financial services and other essential public functions.

They are instructed to use available resources, personnel, and equipment; prioritize restoring power, water, communications, and transport; and coordinate with national agencies, local governments and stakeholders for an integrated response.

Calamity-related assistance packages, such as cash aid, concessional loans, deferred payment schemes or service subsidies, were also ordered to be immediately rolled out.

In addition, they are also told to fast-track the processing of insurance claims for damaged properties, assist borrowers in affected areas and provide short-term loans for the repair of homes and the recovery of livelihoods.

At the same time, they must ensure the continuity of financial services by keeping branches operational, ATMs functional and other service channels available to the public.

‘Our goal is to make sure that when calamity strikes, the GFIs and GOCCs respond without delay. They must also be the first responders to restore essential public services and work hand in hand with the government to help our people recover faster,’ Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto was quoted in a separate statement as saying.

According to the DOF, the Social Security System is ready to provide P10 billion to P15 billion under its Calamity Loan Program for this year to disaster-stricken members.

To deliver financial relief to affected Filipinos in calamity-declared areas, Recto, who is also the ex officio chair of the Social Security Commission, approved a lower annual interest rate of 7 percent and a faster activation period of seven days under the program.

The Government Service Insurance System is also extending financial aid to disaster-stricken Filipinos through its calamity and emergency loans.

Those with mortgaged houses can file for insurance claims through the Pag-Ibig Fund, where members in affected areas may also be eligible for calamity loans. For minor repairs, members can access short-term improvement loans.

Meanwhile, the Land Bank of the Philippines vows to facilitate quick access to salary loans for employees of government agencies and private companies using the state-run lender’s payroll service.

The Bureau of the Treasury is prepared to submit a claim for the restoration and repair of public schools damaged by the earthquake under the National Indemnity Insurance program, the DOF added.

‘We assure the Filipino people that we have more than enough funds to support the victims, lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka, manggagawa, estudyante, at bawat pamilyang Pilipino na apektado ng trahedya,’ Recto said.

CEBU-BASED call center workers on Thursday lodged a formal complaint before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 7 against several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that allegedly violated occupational safety and labor standards in the aftermath of the September 30 earthquake.

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu said it had received ‘hundreds of complaints’ in less than two days, citing incidents where companies compelled employees to report to work despite the aftershock tremors and threatened sanctions against those who opted to prioritize their families and personal safety.

Among the allegations raised were reports that one BPO firm required agents to continue taking calls while the earthquake was ongoing, while another company was accused of blocking exits on one of its floors to prevent workers from leaving.

Employees who refused to report for work were reportedly issued notices to explain, stripped of attendance incentives, and subjected to administrative sanctions.

‘This example merely shows and emphasizes the corporate greed of BPO companies, highlighting profit over the welfare and safety of their own agent,’ BIEN-Cebu spokesperson Kyle Enero said.

‘It also shows the negligence of the government itself in regulating situations like this, when it should declare a temporary suspension to ensure the safety of the employees.’

The group also criticized the government’s decision not to declare an imminent danger situation, instead leaving it to companies to decide whether operations should continue.

BIEN-Cebu said this approach exposed thousands of employees and their families to further risks.

‘If the government can suspend classes due to the need to inspect school buildings, they should also rightfully require BPO companies and their building administrators to provide a detailed inspection and safety report to ensure that resumption of work does not threaten worker safety,’ the group said.

The PLDT Group said on Thursday it has identified nearly two million URLs containing online child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM) since June 2021, as PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group blocked more than 650,000 attempts to access such links in January to August.

‘Guided by our child safeguarding policy, we have adopted a child safety-by-design approach across our products and services,’ said Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement at PLDT and Smart.

‘Recognizing the scale of the problem, we continue to welcome collaboration with child safety advocates to help create a safer digital space where children can thrive.’

He noted that central to PLDT’s efforts is its Child Protection Platform, which blocks CSAEM at the content level.

Furthermore, the group’s partnerships with the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s Project Arachnid have bolstered the company’s detection and blacklisting capabilities.

The group has likewise embedded its child-protection framework into community awareness campaigns. Through its program, PLDT and Smart have reached over 100,000 participants nationwide, including students, teachers, parents, barangay officials, MSMEs, farmers, seniors, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.

Unicef noted that in 2021 alone, two million children in the Philippines were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation. Children reported that they experienced grooming and received offers of gifts or money in exchange for sexual acts.

‘Some were threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual acts. Due to stigma, disclosure is disproportionately low-despite various reporting channels. Only 0-4 per cent of victims ever reported, and only 0-3 per cent know how to report to the police or to helplines.’

Unicef also noted 44 percent of children do not know where to get help if they or a friend were subjected to sexual abuse or harassment online; while 50 percent of them added people as friends on social media even if they had never met face-to-face.