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The Philippine manufacturing sector contracted in September due to weak demand and lower output amid weather disruptions.

In a statement yesterday, S and P Global said the Philippines’ manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dipped to 49.9 in September from 50.8 in August.

This is the first time the PMI reading fell below the 50 no-change threshold after being in expansion mode since April.

A PMI reading of over 50 indicates an increase from the previous month, while below 50 denotes a decline.

Generated from a survey of around 400 manufacturers, the PMI covers the following: new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases.

S and P Global Market Intelligence senior economist David Owen said the PMI reading at the end of the third quarter is highly unusual in the sector’s post-pandemic history.

‘New orders and output decreased slightly as firms mentioned a fall in client numbers and a modest drop in production from the suspension of rice imports,’ he said.

While new orders dipped slightly, S and P Global said orders from foreign clients continued to improve, suggesting that the weak demand is mainly from the domestic market.

Poor weather conditions also affected manufacturing firms’ output.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said in an email that the series of storms and floods that hit the country reduced working days for some manufacturers.

He said the ghost month and the tariffs imposed by the United States also led some manufacturers to take a more cautious stance.

The US tariffs on goods entering the US took effect on Aug. 7.

Despite the dip in orders, S and P Global said manufacturers continued to increase their purchases of raw materials.

While input costs went up, manufacturers only implemented marginal increases in selling prices.

‘With overall sentiment in the year-ahead remaining upbeat in September and purchasing quantities increasing, manufacturers appear hopeful that the dip in sector performance is temporary,’ Owen said.

S and P Global said manufacturers are optimistic of posting improved sales and higher output in the next 12 months.

At his playful homecoming presscon, the new Mister International 2025 Kirk Bondad was still reeling from his victory.

‘Honestly, the feeling that I’m getting from being Mister International right now, it’s like when you walk in the park and suddenly a fresh breeze hits you and it goes like, I’m still catching up to the feeling. I have nothing but love in my heart,’ the Filipino-German supermodel, fitness enthusiast and businessman said.

Held at Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City in Pasay on September 29, Kirk expressed his gratitude to all his supporters, mentors and fellow kings.

He also dove deep into his budding friendship – and kilig chemistry – with Mister Korea Choi Seung-ho, who emerged second runner-up at the pageant’s finals in Bangkok on September 25.

‘We have been always very near to each other at the pacing of rehearsals or anything else because P and K are close to each other in alphabetical order. So, it was just naturally inclined that we will just spend more time together,’ explained a smiling Kirk.

‘But also, we are gym bros so there were not many people who were bonding in the gym but he was one of the people that I always saw in the gym so naturally we bond there, too,’ he added.

The duo made several videos together that fanned the flames of a possible bromance.

‘And then shoutout to my roommate Oliver [Prasetyo, who placed in the top 20], Mister Indonesia. One day out of nowhere in the live stream, he creates F4, which I at that time, I didn’t know what it means. But it meant a lot because that video also got viral and it was Oliver, Mr. Thailand Scott [Kanapol Treesongkiat, who was part of the Top 11], Seung-ho, Mr. Korea and me. So, automatically with that we were also doing additional content so we were just naturally organically building chemistry more,’ shared Kirk.

New F4 version

F4 (Flower Four), formed in 2001, is the now legendary Taiwanese boy group consisting of Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Ken Chu, and Vic Chou.

Kirk has another plan to further his ‘partnership” with Seung Ho.

‘I’m really pushing and pushing hard that [lifestyle brand] Bench will get him here because Bench is the official sponsor for Mister Korea International. So, I want him to bring Seung-ho here and do some shooting with me because I know there’s a lot of demand and we want to please [the fans].’ .

Mister Korea has also said that he’s hoping to do a project with you, a Boys’ Love (BL) series.

‘Yeah, we’ll figure out the details later about that,’ replied a hopeful and impish Kirk.

Former Senate president Francis Escudero has sent a letter to the Commission on Elections expressing his readiness to be investigated by the poll body for accepting illegal campaign contributions during the 2022 elections, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

‘The candidate who received (donation) from a contractor sent us a letter expressing his intention to appear next week. He’s a senator. He already made an admission,’ Garcia said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum without mentioning the senator’s name.

Garcia belied reports that the Comelec is singling out Escudero in its probe on candidates who had accepted donations from government contractors.

He explained that Escudero was among the first to be summoned because the contractor had already admitted giving P30 million in campaign funds to Escudero. The senator confirmed the donation.

In an interview with ‘Storycon’ on One News, Garcia also said he has inhibited from the investigation on Escudero’s case, admitting that he served as election lawyer when the senator ran for vice president alongside former senator Grace Poe in the 2016 elections.

‘I already inhibited myself,’ he said. ‘You cannot see my signature or participation in that particular case.’

Lawrence Lubiano of Centerways Construction and Development Corp. earlier appeared before the Comelec to confirm that he made the donation – but in his capacity as private individual.

‘Let’s just wait for the candidate to tell us his side because based on the law, both the donor and the candidate are liable,’ Garcia said in Filipino.

If proven guilty, Garcia said both the donor and the candidate would face imprisonment as well as permanent disqualification from holding public office.

At the same forum, Garcia confirmed that there are also presidential and vice presidential candidates facing Comelec investigation for allegedly receiving illegal campaign donations.

‘I would like to confirm that those on the PCIJ list are also on our list,’ he said, referring to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report on campaign contributions.

Based on the PCIJ report, both President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received donations from contractors.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the posting on social media of a photo of him with contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya was meant to discredit his Senate Blue Ribbon committee probe on the flood control corruption scandal.

Rep. Kiko Barzaga posted the photo, which Lacson said was taken during the May midterm elections campaign season. ‘The fact that it is being circulated only means that it is intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue Ribbon committee on the flood control project anomalies,’ Lacson said.

Lacson said a friend, Fred Villaroman, brought the Discaya couple to his Taguig office where they invited him to join their grand rally in Davao with their son who was a nominee of Pinoy Ako party-list.

Lacson said he declined the invitation after a meeting that lasted no more than 20 minutes. He said he turned down the offer because the Discayas were a political rival of his ally Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

‘I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group,’ he said.

‘I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue Ribbon committee hearings that I met them,’ he added.

‘I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,’ he also pointed out. ‘I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph.’

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will provide burial assistance as well as a P10,000 cash aid to families of victims of Tuesday’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

‘The DSWD’s Field Office Central Visayas is now counting the number of casualties and their location. Our social workers will also talk to the concerned families to inform them that the DSWD will shoulder the burial expenses of their loved ones,’ DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a statement.

The death toll from the powerful quake that rocked Central Visayas continues to rise, along with the number of injured and missing individuals based on reports by Cebu’s Provincial Disaster Response and Risk Reduction Management Office.

Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity to give the provincial government the ability to respond quickly and mobilize resources.

From Masbate where he assisted President Marcos in distributing cash aid to 600 Opong-affected families, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian was directed by the Chief Executive to proceed to Cebu to check on the condition of the families severely affected by the earthquake.

According to the Department of Education, the earthquake in Central Visayas is projected to affect more than 16,000 schools across 73 divisions of DepEd in varying intensities.

In Masbate City, Education Secretary Sonny Angara and other state officials accompanied President Marcos in the distribution of aid at Nursery Elementary School on Oct. 1.

These include the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation of P10,000 each for 600 families and two checks totaling over P34.8 million from the Department of Labor and Employment Region V to the Provincial Government of Masbate for Livelihood Assistance and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers for 6,455 beneficiaries in 11 municipalities.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the Department of Health will tap its P500-million quick response fund to assist earthquake victims.

In another development, the Department of Trade and Industry has imposed a 60-day price freeze on basic necessities in Cebu following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the province.

In Iloilo, retired Col. Cornelio Salinas, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, complained about the lack of local earthquake monitoring station in the area.

The Archdiocese of Cebu yesterday ordered the structural assessment of churches and rectories in its jurisdiction.

Two Filipino seafarers were injured when Houthi rebels attacked a Dutch-flagged cargo vessel in the Red Sea, the Department of Migrant Workers confirmed yesterday.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the victims are undergoing treatment.

Cacdac said 10 other Filipino crewmembers of Minervagcht are safe.

The 12 seafarers are set to be repatriated this weekend, Cacdac said.

Based on news reports, a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels set the cargo vessel on fire.

President Marcos extended his condolences yesterday to the families of those who died in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu on Tuesday night.

‘My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and my prayers go out to those who were injured and all those affected by the earthquake,’ the President said.

The earthquake, which hit the city at 9:59 p.m., left more than 60 people dead and caused widespread damage across the province.

While visiting typhoon-hit Masbate, Marcos said Cabinet members had already been deployed to Cebu to fast-track relief and restore essential services.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is inspecting roads and bridges for structural damage, while the Department of Energy is working to restore electricity in affected areas.

The Department of Health has dispatched additional medical personnel to assist hospitals, while the Bureau of Fire Protection is participating in search and rescue operations. Philippine National Police personnel are also on the ground to maintain order.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council joined forces to ensure the quick distribution of food and relief items.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the DSWD has P379 million in standby funds and over 2.4 million family food packs prepositioned nationwide.

The DBM, for its part, has instructed agencies to activate their quick response funds, which serve as emergency resources to finance immediate disaster relief and recovery.

Vice President Sara Duterte offered prayers for those affected.

House Speaker Faustino Dy III expressed his sympathies.

Some senators who expressed solidarity and urged immediate aid deployment were Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Francis Escudero, Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva.

Foreign ambassadors in the country also offered aid.

‘The US embassy community offers our deepest condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Cebu. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected. We stand ready to support the government’s response as #FriendsPartnersAllies,’ US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said.

‘We mourn the loss of lives and we stand with those who are grieving, injured or displaced. Canada stands ready to coordinate closely with Philippine government agencies, humanitarian partners and the international community to help meet urgent needs,’ the Canadian embassy posted on X.

Aside from Carlson and the Canadian embassy, European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown and the Embassy of India also extended their sympathies to the victims and their families.

After plunging to its lowest since he assumed office earlier this year, public satisfaction with President Marcos rebounded in the second quarter of 2025, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the June 25 to 29 survey released on Tuesday showed that 46 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of Marcos, up from 38 percent obtained in a similar survey in April.

Some 36 percent said they were dissatisfied, down from 48 percent, while those who were undecided increased from 14 percent to 19 percent.

SWS said the survey results resulted in a net satisfaction rating of ‘moderate’ +10, a 20-point rise from the ‘poor’ -10 he obtained in April.

The net satisfaction rating is the percentage differential between those who said they were satisfied and those who were dissatisfied with the performance of the government official.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as ‘excellent;’ +50 to +69 as ‘very ‘good;’ +30 to +49 as ‘good;’ +10 to +29 as ‘moderate;’ +9 to -9 as ‘neutral;’ -10 to -29 as ‘poor;’ -30 to -49 as ‘bad;’ -50 to -69 as ‘very bad’ and -70 and below as ‘execrable.’

Based on SWS survey results, Marcos’ satisfaction rating had been in a steady decline since September 2024, when it was at ‘good’ +32.

It went down to +19 in December 2024, +9 in January 2025 and +1 in February 2025.

Marcos had a ‘very good’ +63 satisfaction rating in October 2022, the first quarterly survey conducted by SWS during his administration. It went up to as high as +68 in December that year.

According to SWS, the latest net satisfaction rating of the President rose across all areas in the June 2025 survey.

It was highest among those in balance Luzon at +28 (from +7), followed by those in Metro Manila at +1 (from -6), the Visayas at -2 (from -11) and Mindanao at -9 (from -44).

It rose among men and women respondents, among all educational groups and across age groups, except among 18 to 24-year-olds, SWS said.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.

Marcos Jr.: Keep working

President Marcos said yesterday the significant improvement in his performance rating in the latest SWS survey was ‘nice’ but stressed the government must continue working to serve the people.

‘It’s, of course, nice to note. I didn’t know about that. But now that you tell me, of course I’m glad that it’s that way,’ Marcos told reporters after visiting typhoon victims in Masbate.

‘I guess we just have to keep working. Whatever happens, whether there is a storm, there is a scandal, there is chaos, the people expect the government to continue providing services, to continue the work of the government at every level,’ he said.

‘As public servants, who are elected by the people, we should not be seen playing around, doing whatever, politicking,’ Marcos said.

Alex Eala shoots for her second straight semifinal appearance against Swtizerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the battle between top-10 seeds in the WTA125 Suzhou Open Friday at Sungent International Tennis Center in China.

Eala, the No. 4 seed, and No. 6 Golubic came off contrasting paths from the Round of 16 heading into their gigantic duel for a shot at No. 2 seed Tatjana Maria of Germany in the Final Four. WTA No. 44 Maria, the No. 2 seed, had a walkover over WTA No. 63 and No. 5 seed Yulia Putintseva due to still undisclosed reasons.

But first things first for the WTA No. 58 Eala, who has to recover quickly from a gruelling duel against WTA No. 106 Greet Minnen in three hours and 18 minutes as one of the longest battles in her skyrocketing career.

The 20-year-old Filipina pride hacked out a 7-6(5), (3)6-7, 7-5 win over Minnen to notch her fourth straight quarterfinal stint in the WTA Tour and bagged a guaranteeed $3,450 (over P200,000) purse.

She now has a chance to jack it up to $5,300 or approximately P308,000 with a win against the 32-year-old Golubic in a still-to-be determined game time Friday, pending the completion of other Round-of-16 duels. Her match against Golubic is scheduled third in four quarterfinal pairing at centercourt.

More than that, Eala could move two steps away from capturing her second WTA title in a month after a breakthrough crown in the WTA125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico.

She also made the quarterfinals of the WTA250 Sao Paulo Open in Brazil and the the semifinals of the WTA125 Jingshan nearby, shoring up her stature as one of the most consistent players in the WTA Tour that will also include stops in the Wuhan Open from October 6-12 and the Hong Kong Open from October 27 to November 2.

That bid, however, will be a tough one against the Golubic, who hardly broke a sweat against WTA No. 140 Linda Fruhvirtova with a 6-2, 6-0 win in 61 minutes in their own Round-of-16 duel.

The first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will not push through as scheduled on Oct. 13 after the Supreme Court (SC) declared as unconstitutional laws redistricting the BARMM.

The SC said the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 77 and other pertinent laws concerning the redistricting of the BARMM are unconstitutional.

‘There can be no BARMM elections on Oct. 13 because of the lack of a valid district law,’ the SC said.

The BAA 77 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act mandates the redistribution of seven parliamentary seats originally allocated to Sulu, while its predecessor law, the BAA 58, created parliamentary districts in the BARMM.

The high court granted a consolidated petition filed by Lanang Ali Jr. and Abdullah Macapaar against BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The SC said the BAA 77 is unconstitutional as it violated Section 5 of the Voter Registration Act, which prohibits any alteration of poll precincts once the election period has started.

The law was enacted by the BTA on Aug. 28. The election period started on Aug. 14.

The high tribunal said the BAA 77 also violated the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which mandates that each district should comprise adjacent and adjoining areas as far as practicable.

The SC said some local government units in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Cotabato City were assigned to districts that were not contiguous or adjacent to LGUs.

The voiding of the BAA 77 did not revive the BAA 58 or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act as it was based on an outdated framework after Sulu was removed from the Bangsamoro region, the SC said.

‘A new valid districting law must be passed consistent with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national laws and the Constitution,’ the SC said.

The high tribunal directed the BTA to distribute the parliamentary seats by Oct. 30. It said the parliamentary election must be conducted not later than March next year.

The SC said the decision as immediately executory and deemed served upon posting and receipt through electronic means.

P1 billion needed for deferred BARMM elections

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would need another P1 billion for the rescheduled BARMM elections.

In an interview with ‘Storycon’ on One News yesterday, Garcia said the Comelec has yet to receive a copy of the SC ruling declaring BAAs 77 and 58 as unconstitutional.

He said the Comelec would not appeal the decision and would comply with the ruling.

Like in any other postponement, Garcia said rescheduling the BARMM elections would require an additional budget.

For the BARMM elections, about P1 billion of the P2.7 billion allocated to the Comelec had already been spent.

‘We will have to reprint all the ballots. We will have to conduct again a voter education campaign,’ Garcia said, adding it is now up to the BTA to come up with an issuance on the distribution of district parliamentary seats.

‘If the parliament is not able to come up with a law as prescribed in the decision, then all preparations will have to be moved again,’ Garcia said. ‘Our compliance will be dependent on the compliance of other agencies or instrumentalities of the government.’

Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV confirmed in a press briefing yesterday that no formal evacuation camps have been activated in Bogo City following the powerful earthquake that struck northern Cebu late Tuesday night.

As of press time, more than 1,000 evacuees were sheltering in open spaces in Bogo City, though tents are being mobilized to provide temporary relief.

‘We technically don’t have evacuation camps right now. Our kababayans are just in open spaces. We’re assessing how many cannot return to their homes, and that will dictate how many camps we’ll need to manage in the next 24 hours,’ Alejandro said.

The official emphasized that the immediate priority remains search and rescue operations, especially in the mountainous areas of Bogo and neighboring San Remigio, where residents were reportedly trapped under debris.

‘We are still within the golden hour. Trained personnel are working tirelessly to retrieve survivors,’ he added.

Among the hardest-hit facilities was the San Remigio Sports Complex, which had been designated as an evacuation center. The structure sustained significant damage during the quake, and initial reports confirmed that some lives were lost in the collapse. Alejandro declined to comment on concerns about possible substandard infrastructure contributing to the casualties, deferring the matter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

‘Next question. We’ll leave it to DPWH. They will assess,’ he said when pressed.

The DPWH has since issued multiple advisories and deployed augmentation teams to inspect the structural integrity of school buildings, hospitals, roads, and bridges in affected areas. Initial reports indicated partial collapses and single-lane passable roads, while air assets have also been deployed for aerial assessments and rescue operations in highland communities.

Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro is also in Cebu to personally oversee the situation.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that Bogo City District Hospital has been overwhelmed, prompting the deployment of additional medical personnel and transport teams for patient transfers. Power restoration efforts are underway, with generators temporarily supplying electricity, while the Department of Energy works to stabilize the grid.

Alejandro acknowledged the challenges posed by unstable communications and transport delays, noting that the city is around three hours away from Cebu City. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been tasked to establish emergency communication systems to provide a clearer operational picture.

Casualties, mostly due to falling debris, have been brought to hospitals. Close to 60 deaths were reported to the Office of Civil Defense earlier in the day, though figures remain fluid amid ongoing rescue efforts. The DOH and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are managing the retrieval and identification of the deceased, as well as concerns about the proximity of bodies to the district hospital.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continues to monitor aftershocks, some reaching magnitude 5. Residents remain hesitant to return to their homes, prompting further assessments of residential safety and the deployment of water filtration teams and food packs.

In anticipation of panic buying and hoarding, DILG Undersecretary Jovic Remulla placed the Philippine National Police (PNP) on red alert to maintain order and prevent looting.

Alejandro stressed that the full force of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has been deployed under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘All hands are on deck. Cabinet members are coordinating to ensure resources reach those who need them,’ he said.

He also underscored the importance of public education and preparedness, especially in Metro Manila, where ‘the Big One’ is expected within the next 50 years.

‘We can never be 100 percent prepared, but we continue to practice and improve the plan. This event is one way to test our systems,’ Alejandro said.

International support from neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia is being considered, though assessments are still ongoing.

As the situation unfolds, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and prioritize safety amid continuing aftershocks and rescue operations.