Over 4.7 million affected by ‘habagat’, 3 storms – DSWD

Over 4.7 million individuals were affected by the recent weather disturbances as of Wednesday morning, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a situational report, the DSWD bared that the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong have so far affected a total of 4,734,851 individuals or 1,305,842 families.

Of this figure, 63,687 persons (17,011 families) are currently in 844 evacuation centers nationwide, while 55,701 individuals (13,305 families) took shelter elsewhere or received assistance outside evacuation centers.

Based on the report, the affected persons reside in 11,211 affected barangays in Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

To aid flood-hit or affected communities, the DSWD said it has so far distributed over P307 million worth of assistance.

The death toll due to the recent tropical cyclones and habagat reached 27, with four confirmed, while the rest are up for validation, according to a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

NDRRMC also revealed that 33 people were reportedly injured and 16 remain missing.

Death toll in Cebu earthquake rises to 53

The death toll in the devastating 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Tuesday night has further risen to 53, with at least 175 persons reported injured, according to the latest report collated by the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

As of noon, the 53 fatalities were broken down as follows: Bogo City – 30; San Remegio – 11; Medellin – 10; Sogod – 1; and Tabuelan -1.

Bogo City, about 98 kilometers north of Cebu City, was the epicenter of the strong quake, while the other towns with reported fatalities were all in northern Cebu./coa

Raffy Tulfo accuses FDA of taking bribes, bias for big pharma firms

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday accused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of favoring and accepting bribes from multinational pharmaceutical companies, resulting in the continued sale of unregistered products and shutdown of smaller pharmaceutical firms. Tulfo made the pronouncement during a Senate panel hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Health for 2026.

During the hearing, Tulfo questioned why despite continuously releasing advisories and warnings on harmful medical products, the FDA does not seem to actually enforce it.

FDA Director General Paolo Teston, for his part, said that the advisories already include an order for law enforcement agencies to prevent such products’ sale, adding that the FDA does not have enough capacity to do it by itself as it only has 890 plantilla and 300 contract of service personnel.

But Tulfo pointed out that even just one or two researchers can check if their advisories are being enforced.

‘I only have four plantilla researchers, and yet we were able to investigate this,’ said Tulfo speaking in Filipino, adding that they found one of the banned products in online shopping apps and even mainstream pharmacies.

‘Don’t use that excuse on me about having 800 personnel . that’s already more than enough. If there’s a will, there’s a way; if there’s none, there will always be excuses,’ he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

Teston then responded that the agency is already coordinating with pharmacies and online shopping platforms to curb the illicit sale, but Tulfo interjected, insisting that the real reason it persists is due to the bribes the FDA allegedly receives from manufacturers and suppliers.

‘One of the most corrupt agencies in the Philippines is the FDA, and many pharmaceutical companies can attest to that,’ said Tulfo in Filipino.

‘So many small pharmaceutical companies are being forced to close because you favor these multinational firms,’ he added.

Tulfo then went on to cite a case he previously encountered where a smaller pharmaceutical firm introduced a mosquito spray that rivaled a popular brand.

The senator alleged that the FDA deliberately withheld the smaller firm’s license renewal over the flimsiest grounds-such as a typographical error in the address-to protect the larger competitor.

‘You withheld the license, you withheld the renewal because you were bribed,’ said Tulfo.

Tulfo then pressed the FDA chief on what concrete actions he will take to stop the continued online sale of banned products, warning that if the FDA continues to be ineffective, he would challenge Teston to step down.

Opong destroys P70 million worth of irrigation facilities in Masbate?

Six communal irrigation systems managed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bicol sustained heavy damage in the island province of Masbate following the onslaught of Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi), with initial estimates placing the total cost at P70 million.

According to a damage assessment report, irrigation infrastructure in four municipalities, particularly in Baleno, Milagros, Dimasalang, and Cataingan, was either destroyed or severely compromised, affecting key agricultural zones that rely on these systems for water supply.

Engr. Gaudencio De Vera, NIA regional manager, said in a Viber message to the Inquirer on Tuesday that approximately 350 meters of lined canals across the province, along with essential irrigation components such as dam aprons, sluice gates, siphons, and intake structures, suffered extensive damage from Opong.

He said NIA personnel have begun coordinating with local government units and the Department of Agriculture to conduct site inspections and draft immediate rehabilitation plans.

‘This level of destruction poses a threat, as it may disrupt the flow of water to farms during the upcoming cropping season. We are moving quickly to secure funding and deploy repair teams to minimize the impact on local farmers,’ he added./coa

Debris from Typhoon ‘Opong’ (international name: Bualoi) damaged the lifting mechanism and slide steel gate of a dam in Milagros town, Masbate, potentially affecting water distribution in the area. (Contributed photo/NIA Bicol)

NCAA Season 101: San Beda gears up for rivalry game vs Letran

San Beda may have opened the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament with a big win, but the path ahead is anything but easy.

Following the Red Lions’ 96-85 win over the College of St. Benilde at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, coach Yuri Escueta quickly turned their attention to their next game day. On Sunday at San Juan Arena, the oldest collegiate rivalry between Letran and San Beda takes center stage and the matchup always demands the best preparation.

‘Playing Letran always brings out the best of the coaches and the players knowing they’re our rivals,’ he said. ‘This year, they’re so strong. They’re like an all-star team.’

Bryan Sajonia, who scored a team-high 16 points with three steals to match, will have to exert the same effort or even more in their outing against their longtime rival.

For one, the Knights will have the services of former Perpetual Help stars Jun Roque and Mark Omega along with veteran shooter Deo Cuajao and Titing Manalili, who sat out last season due to academic deficiencies.

Red Lions forward Yukien Andrada knows just how physical that upcoming clash would be. After all, he’s been through most of the rivalry since his rookie year in the NCAA.

‘I’m expecting a very very physical ballgame but we’ll just play the game the San Beda way,’ he said after dropping 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Strong Cebu earthquake triggers panic in Bohol

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck late Tuesday night in Cebu, causing power outages in Tagbilaran, Bohol and sending residents fleeing into the streets.

The quake occurred at 9:59 p.m., with a depth of 10 kilometers and an epicenter 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In Barangay Booy, residents rushed out of their homes. ‘I ran for fear,’ said John Rey, who was watching television when the quake hit.

Business Process Outsourcing employees evacuated Alta Citta, while some nurses and patients at Gov. Celestino Gallares Medical Center were also forced to leave hospital buildings over safety concerns.

It was still raining past 10:30 p.m.

Phivolcs reported Intensity III in San Fernando, Cebu, and Intensity II in Laoang, Northern Samar. Instrumental Intensity VI was recorded in Cebu City and Villaba, Leyte.

Authorities have yet to report casualties or major damage as assessments continue.

Phivolcs also warned that aftershocks are possible in the coming hours and days, urging the public to remain alert and follow safety protocols

DMCI, EEI bid for Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project component

Eight construction groups, including Consunji-led DMCI and EEI Corp., submitted financial bids for a land approach component of the $3.91-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) opened their financial bids on Tuesday, which was livestreamed as part of the agency’s way to regain the public trust and promote transparency amid corruption issues hounding infrastructure projects.

The bids for the Contract Package 1 (CP1) were from Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd., DM Consunji Inc., China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., Sino Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd., EEI-PMI joint venture, POSCO EandC-Sta. Clara joint venture, China Wu Yi Co. Ltd./Fujian Road and Bridge Construction Group Co. Ltd. (consortium), and the joint venture of Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Ltd. and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp.

CP1 covers the construction of the Bataan Land Approach, with an approved budget of P7.25 billion.

The package includes the trumpet interchange that connects the BCIB with Roman Highway, Roman Interchange Bridge, Alas-Asin Main Bridge, Alas-Asin Overpass Bridge, Mt. View Overpass Bridge, Mt. View Waterway Bridge, and the Bataan Land Viaduct.

Envisioned to be the ‘longest water-spanning bridge’ in the country, it is a flagship infrastructure project under the Marcos administration.

Late in 2023, the Department of Finance said the project had secured financing of up to $2.11 billion. It will be built using low-carbon technologies and construction materials, it previously said.

The remaining funding would come from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Philippine government.

Once finished, the project will cut travel time between the two provinces to 45 minutes from five hours.

DPWH officials earlier said the project may be completed by 2030.

Senate to invite Romualdez, Co to next blue ribbon hearing

Former Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co will be invited to the next hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects.

According to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, the blue ribbon committee, which he chairs, will send invitations to Romualdez and Co while awaiting developments in the case and before scheduling the next hearing.

He stressed that this should debunk the perception of some groups that the committee was targeting, favoring or even ‘protecting’ some personalities. ‘We are not covering up for anyone here,’ the senator said.

In the case of Romualdez, the invitation will be coursed through Speaker Faustino Dy III, ‘in observation of the time-honored interparliamentary courtesy between the two houses of Congress.’

In Co’s case, Lacson said the letter would be sent to his residential address.

‘Now we know he is abroad and will not show up. If that is the case, we will issue a subpoena, and then a show-cause order,’ Lacson said in an interview on NET25. ‘If the show-cause order is not satisfactory, we will cite him in contempt of the committee and issue a warrant for his arrest.’

In his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned government officials and contractors who allegedly earned kickbacks from infrastructure projects at the expense of people suffering from heavy flooding. This led to congressional investigations and the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe alleged corruption in flood control projects.

Co, who resigned as representative of Ako Bicol party list on Monday, is abroad supposedly for a medical leave. The former lawmaker, who chaired the powerful House appropriations committee in the 19th Congress, has been accused of getting billions of pesos in kickbacks by contractors and public works officials testifying in congressional inquiries into these projects.

Co, in previous statements, had denied the allegations and lamented ‘the evident denial of my right to due process.’

Romualdez has not been linked to any of the top companies that cornered big-ticket projects of the government. He denied allegations made in congressional inquiries that he received kickbacks, calling them ‘false’ and ‘pure fiction.’

Evidence

Lacson made it clear that the blue ribbon committee will continue its hearings for as long as there are major developments that it needs to look into. He reiterated that he would maintain a ‘blindfold mentality,’ stressing he would be impartial and go where the evidence would lead him.

‘If we stop the probe now, we may reinforce the perception rightly or wrongly that we are covering up for someone. No. I said it clearly, we will go where the evidence leads us,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said Co should return to the country to face the possible charges against him.

‘Nothing can stop him from making his decisions, but if ever a case is filed against him, he will not be able to avoid it, he cannot run away from it,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Tuesday.

‘So it would be better that if he becomes an accused, he should simply fight for his rights and defend his innocence based on the evidence he holds,’ she said. The ICI on Monday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend filing of graft complaints against Co and 17 others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and his construction firm, Sunwest Inc., over a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.

Independence at 65: Masari rallies Nigerians to resist divisive politics

As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political and Other Matters, called on citizens to embrace unity and faith in the nation’s future.

In a statement, Masari expressed ‘unalloyed joy’ over how far Nigeria has come despite its diversity and challenges. He invoked the symbolism of the ‘broom principle’ to stress the importance of togetherness. ‘A strand of broom is easily broken but a bunch of broom is hardly broken. The important thing is that we are better and stronger together,’ he said, urging Nigerians to contribute positively towards the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers.

Masari praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing the Renewed Hope Agenda as transformative. ‘Our faith in a collective Nigeria where everyone’s future is assured should remain unshaken, moreso as the leadership of the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown strong capacity and commitment to returning the country to a path of progress with the Renewed Hope Agenda that is working beyond belief,’ he said.

He pointed to what he described as more inclusive governance, with development projects and appointments spread across political zones. ‘This is a time that all Nigerians are being carried along. so the spirit of divisiveness should die a natural death,’ Masari declared.

Highlighting improvements in education, security, infrastructure, health, finance, and the economy, Masari asserted that Tinubu’s administration had ‘brought back the coaches of our national derailment back on track.’ He encouraged citizens to rally behind government efforts to accelerate growth and catch up with developed nations.

Warning against political distractions, Masari urged Nigerians to remain steadfast. ‘Every scheme to draw us back by any political consideration should not only be thwarted but resisted,’ he said, before assuring that better days lie ahead.

‘Happy Independence Anniversary to all Nigerians,’ he concluded.

Kwara govt urges limited movement as security forces attack kidnappers’ hideouts

In its ongoing efforts at addressing insecurity in parts of Kwara state, especially, in border towns of Kwara and Kogi states, the Kwara state government on Wednesday urged residents of the state, especially people around Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke Ero, and Irepodun local government areas, to be vigilant and restrict outdoor activities as much as possible in the mean time.

Recall that on Monday night, combined forces of the Army, DSS and Police launched an offensive around Baba Sango community in the Ifelodun local government area, along the Kwara-Kogi border, neutralising about 15 armed bandits.

The same operation continued on Tuesday night, according to Governor Abduleahman Abdulrazaq.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, she said that the advisory followed heightened operations by combined security forces in border towns in Kogi and Kwara states, where kidnappers are believed to have hibernated.

‘We urge people to be very vigilant and limit their movements to only very necessary routines. That is to avoid being caught unawares as the kidnappers are fleeing their hideouts. We do not want law-abiding citizens to be affected,’ the statement said.

She said the government regrets the temporary inconveniences the limited movement may cause in the nearby areas.

‘We commend the security forces for the renewed efforts to rout out the criminals, and charge them to continue until they are totally neutralised and flushed out of our forests’, she said.

It is recalled that some communities in the Kwara South district of Kwara state like Oke Ode, Babanla, among others had been attacked by bandits, where many people were abducted and members of police and local security operatives were killed by the kidnappers.

Speaking on efforts made to address the situation, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, declaring that nowhere in Kwara will be safe for criminal elements, including kidnappers.

The governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye on Wednesday, said that,

‘The Army Headquarters has since relocated the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to Ilorin as part of the renewed efforts to strengthen security operations in the state’

‘Following the recent attack at Oke Ode, the governor travelled to Abuja to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during which he reiterated his request for additional federal deployment to raid the hideouts.

‘I presided over the State Security Council meeting at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, on Tuesday night to integrate state and federal assets into a single strategy for both Kwara North and South’.

Governor Abdulrazaq assured Kwara residents that his administration would not relent in supporting security agencies to keep every community safe.

‘I have assurances of the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal. Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals.

‘To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice. Kwara belongs to its people, and their peace will be defended,’ the governor added.