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SENATORS showered with accolades members of the Alas Pilipinas Men with Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano sponsoring Senate Resolution No. 143 that congratulates and commends the team for its milestone 19th-place finish in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.

‘Sports brings Filipinos together. This team not only made us proud during the SEA Games, but they also made sure they will pleasantly surprise us,’ Cayetano said during his sponsorship speech.

Cayetano said the team’s breakthrough run ‘brought immense pride and honor’ to the country and proved that Filipino athletes can excel when given the right opportunities.

The senator emphasized that sports is a ‘God-given activity’ that promotes health and well-being, fosters unity even in the midst of political divides, and elevates the Philippines’ global image through international success.

The Senate resolution emphasized that the achievement was made even more significant by the Philippines’ role as the tournament’s sole host.

All 24 Senators supported and adopted the resolution with Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri and Senators Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, Joel Villanueva and Erwin Tulfo making their manifestations congratulating the national team.

Present at the Senate were Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara and secretary-general Donaldo Caringal and members of Alas Pilipinas led by head coach Angiolino Frigoni and deputy coach Ogie Mamon and team captain Bryan Bagunas.

The resolution also cited standouts led by captain Bryan Bagunas, who finished third among the tournament’s top scorers, and Marck Espejo, who ranked fourth among receivers, with Cayetano saying their feats prove the grit and talent of Filipino athletes on the world stage.

The senator likewise credited the coaching staff led by Angiolino Frigoni and the reforms implemented by the PNVF under Suzara, which opened doors to overseas tournaments and strengthened training programs for national players.

Cayetano, who also serves as Co-chair of the Local Organizing Committee and Chairman Emeritus of the PNVF, added that honoring Alas Pilipinas is not only about celebrating their success but also about sustaining momentum for long-term sports development.

‘Honoring Filipino athletes serves a public purpose because their achievements inspire national pride, set standards for sports programs, and justify sustained investment in facilities, training, and athlete support nationwide,’ he said.

This success, Cayetano said, set the stage for the Philippines to host the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Championship in 2029, with greater readiness and confidence.

‘Because of their performance and because of the successful hosting, two years from now, iyon namang Women’s Volleyball Championship will be held in the Philippines and this time around we have much more time to prepare,’ he said.

Pneumonia-related deaths became the fourth-biggest cause of death for Filipinos last year, overtaking diabetes mellitus, according to the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The report showed that the total deaths from January to December 2024 as of July this year totaled to 697,602, around 2,781 or 0.4 percent more than the 694,821 deaths recorded in 2023.

Deaths from pneumonia rose by 3,159 to 46,718 deaths in 2024, while diabetes-related deaths slightly declined by 158 to 43,690.

Ischaemic heart diseases remained the leading cause of death in the Philippines last year with 133,373 deaths or about 19 percent of the total, which was 4,296 higher than reported in 2023 at 129,077.

This is followed by neoplasms at 76,971 deaths or 11 percent of the total, 2,987 higher than last year at 73,984, and cerebrovascular diseases at 68,345 deaths or 9.8 percent of all deaths, 1,457 less than that recorded in 2023.

In terms of deaths caused by unspecified, external causes in 2024 totaled to about 2 percent of all deaths at 14,028, up 544 from 2023. This is followed by transport accidents at 13,724 deaths which also has a 2 percent share, which increased by 687 from the total in 2023.

Among the regions, Calabarzon had the highest number of deaths at 105,091, amounting to 15.1 percent of all deaths throughout 2024.

Cavite, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of deaths in a province at 26,835 or 3.8 percent of all deaths in the Philippines.

The National Capital Region or Metro Manila logged 83,930 deaths, increasing by 1.8 percent from the 82,410 reported in 2023. Within it, Quezon City had the highest number of deaths at 18,357, almost 22 percent of all deaths within the region.

The data was obtained from on-time or late registered deaths submitted at city offices or Municipal Civil Registrars nationwide and forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar through the Provincial Statistical Offices for processing.

The report includes deaths of Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad, as well as deaths of foreign nationals that occurred within the country. However, deaths of Filipinos abroad are not included.

In January 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Surveillance System logged a total of 179,227 cases as of December 31, 2024, which is still 17 percent lower than the 216,786 cases logged in the previous year.

This decrease may be attributed to better health-seeking behaviors and practices and better preparations by the health sector. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/09/doh-allays-fears-on-respiratory-virus-surge-in-china-says-no-cause-for-alarm/)

ILI is characterized by coughs, colds, and fever. It is commonly due to respiratory viruses with Rhinovirus (1,257/4,921 or 25.5 percent of positive samples), Enterovirus (1,140/4,921 or 23.2 percent), Influenza A (1,072/4,921 or 21.8 percent), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (560/4,921 or 11.4 percent), and Adenovirus (527/4,921 or 10.7 percent) being the top 5 causative agents of ILI in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, hMPV is being tested as part of panel 2 (expanded panel) for specimens that test negative on panel 1 (for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV) as part of the ILI and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance of the DOH.

Over P100 million will be released by the national government to Masbate to help in the rehabilitation of the island province after it was devastated by Severe Tropical Storm ‘Opong’ (international name: Bualoi) last week.

President Ferdinand Marcos made the announcement during his visit in Masbate City last Wednesday to lead in the distribution of government aid to the typhoon victims in the province.

‘I already instructed the DBM [Department of Budget and Management]before I left Manila to download 100 million [pesos] to the LGSF (Local Government Support Fund) [of Masbate] so you can use it,’ he told the provincial government of Masbate in Filipino in his speech during the distribution event.

He noted the provincial government of Masbate needed the financial support since the province is still recovering from the effects of Typhoon ‘Emong’ (international name: Co-may).

The national government, Marcos said, will continue to extend aid to Masbate to help in its recovery from the effects of Opong.

‘Don’t worry, the government’s support will continue as long as you need it. Even if it takes us a little longer because you haven’t repaired your homes yet, we are already supporting you,’ he told the beneficiaries in Filipino at the distribution event.

During the event, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P10,000 each of the 600 families through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided P28-million worth of cash-for-work assistance to 6,455 beneficiaries.

The local government of Masbate placed the province under a state of calamity after Opong killed three of its constituents and affected 57,113 others. Some parts of the Masbate also became isolated as the recent weather disturbance left them without power and mobile phone signals.

Opong also destroyed over 800 classrooms in the province. Marcos said the repairs of the said classroom will take around a month to complete.

The local officials from the typhoon-hit areas are currently seeking additional funding to help in the recovery of their respective localities.

Pressing concerns

After attending a situation briefing from the provincial government of Masbate, Marcos said among the pressing concerns in the province was lack of access to cash in the affected communities due to lack of power in many of its banks as well as the significant damage to agriculture by Opong.

He said two operational branches of Land Bank of the Philippines will try to provide for the cash withdrawal needs in Masbate.

As for the typhoon-affected farmers, the President said they will be given financial assistance, seedlings, as well as help in the processing of their crop insurance so they can continue planting crops.

During his visit to Masbate, Marcos helped in the distribution of family food packs from the DSWD and the hygiene kits from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

He said the Department of Health (DOH) also deployed medical teams to ensure the health of people in the affected communities.

Generator sets and satellite internet, the President said, were also sent to help restore power in hospitals and communications lines, respectively, in Masbate.

Marcos said DOH will release P3 million to help in the repairs of the Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City, which was damaged by Opong.

As of September 30, a total of 339 patients have been admitted to the hospital which has 364 hospital personnel.

At least nine farm-to-market roads (FMRs) worth P125 million were identified as ‘ghost’ projects by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the agency has submitted the initial audit report of FMRs to the Office of the President, where nine of the over 4,700 projects from 2021 to 2025 were considered ghost projects.

He noted that seven of the FMRs were in Davao Occidental, while the remaining two were in Lanao del Sur.

‘In our audit, those projects were not started, but in the Department of Public Works and Highways [DPWH] report, those projects were listed as completed,’ De Mesa told reporters on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) in Pasay on Wednesday.

While these were a relatively small percentage of the FMR projects, the DA official said this remains crucial to the farmers who were meant to benefit from them.

‘Even though the percentage of this was small, we still don’t want to have this kind of problem. These nine kilometers could have benefitted our farmers. Sayang,’ De Mesa said.

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the audit of every FMR project since 2021 amid the ongoing clamor on controversial flood control works.

The DA explained that even though FMR schemes are identified and validated by the agency, these road projects are commissioned, bid out, and constructed by the DPWH.

‘We must make sure they are done properly, that taxpayers’ money were spent to provide farmers with market access and not squandered for farm-to-pocket projects,’ Laurel said.

Given the 61,000 kilometers considered backlog or pending validation as of July, the DA chief called on lawmakers to pass legislation that mandates a priority list for FMR projects.

Such a move would veer away from the arbitrary selection of where to build those roads, often merely to satisfy parochial concerns.

He also recommended reviewing that priority list every three years to keep it aligned with agricultural needs.

However, the DA noted that funding remains a concern.

To stretch resources, Laurel proposed redesigning road dimensions, such as narrower roadways of 3 meters instead of 5 meters, with shoulders every 300 meters to facilitate traffic movement. This is expected to cut costs and build more roads faster.

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) hopes that the bill mandating its elevation to the Cabinet level would be certified as a priority measure by President Marcos, underscoring that once enacted, it would enable the agency to expand penalties and liabilities and grant the agency the power to arrest erring government personnel, among others.

In an interview on the sidelines of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday held in Makati City, Arta Director General Ernesto V. Perez said the agency has already submitted to the Office of the President the bill reorganizing Arta into the ‘Department of Anti-Red Tape’ or DART.

‘Nag-submit na kami ng proposal this week tapos we also submitted to the Office of the President sa Ledac [Lagislatirve-Executive Advisory Council], hopefully this can be considered a priority bill.hopefully this can be passed also sa House of Representatives. May nakuha kaming support from the Congress,’ Perez said.

Among the proposed amendments to Republic Act 11032 also known as the Ease of Doing Business Law are: Elevating Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) into a Department; Expanding the Powers and Functions of the Department; Authority to Arrest, Expanding Violations and Persons Liable; Criminal Liability for Private Individual Involved in Fixing, among others.

On top of the list of proposed amendments is for ARTA to be reorganized into the Department of Anti-Red Tape (DART) which ‘will now serve as the lead agency for streamlining government services and reducing bureaucratic red tape.’

According to the proposed amendments, to strengthen accountability, Arta’s scope of violations and persons liable should be expanded to include the following: failure to set up, create, and publish a Citizen’s Charter; Failure to establish electronic business one-stop shops; and failure to comply with the Automatic Approval mechanism.

Under the bill, ARTA will also have the authority to arrest.

‘Fixing activities may appear administrative or procedural on the surface, but they pose deep and often irreversible harm to public safety, public order, and the environment,’ Arta noted.

‘When a person obtains a driver’s license without undergoing mandatory training and assessment, they are unlawfully granted the authority to operate a motor vehicle, despite lacking the skill and judgment to ensure safety on the road,’ the country’s anti-red tape watchdog noted.

The agricultural damage caused by recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon surged to more than P2.5 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.

In its latest report, the DA noted that the losses incurred by 85,671 farmers and fishers have reached P2.51 billion, with the volume of production damage across 11 regions pegged at 186,253 metric tons (MT).

Rice bore the brunt of the damage caused by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and typhoons Mirasol, Nando, and Opong at 134,901 MT.

High-value crops, corn, and cassava also sustained damage at 32,470 MT, 18,871 MT, and 10 MT, respectively.

The report said the value of production losses is P1.51 billion for rice, P705.12 million for high-value crops, P278.14 million for corn, P8.12 million for livestock and poultry, and P260,000 for cassava.

Agriculture infrastructure also sustained damages amounting to P4.72 million; irrigation facilities, P3.28 million; and machinery and equipment, P143,000.

The DA said 74,689 hectares of agricultural areas were affected by the storms and habagat. Of these, 66,967 hectares have a chance to recover.

The agency said it has allocated P766.42 million in agricultural inputs, including rice, corn, and vegetable seeds that would help those affected by typhoons. Drugs and biologics for livestock were also included.

The DA said it offers loans of up to P25,000 through the Survival and Recovery loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). These loans come with a three-year repayment term, interest-free.

It also noted that an initial amount of P237 million for the indemnification of insured affected farmers would also be released through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

The DA recently said it continues to gather field reports from areas affected by severe tropical storm Opong, which recently swept through key agricultural zones in central Philippines, including the islands of Mindoro and Masbate.

Last month, the agency revised downward its palay production forecast for 2025 to 20.3 million metric tons (MMT).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the revised forecast for paddy rice output in 2025 during a recent hearing on the agency’s budget at the House of Representatives.

‘We revised our target from what we can see until the end of this year. We slightly lowered it to 20.3 MMT.’

The latest figure is lower than the agency’s initial projection of 20.45 MMT. However, this is around 300,000 metric tons (MT) more than the record 20.06 MMT output in 2023.

The country’s rice production fell by nearly a million tons to 19.09 MMT last year as El Niño ravaged plantations.

Because of the supply shortfall caused by the drought, the country’s rice imports reached an all-time high of 4.8 MMT last year.

TEAM North flexed its muscle in multiple divisions to seize control with eight wins out of 12 matches in the Four-Ball event of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. North vs South Elite Junior Championship at The Country Club in the City of Santa Rosa on Wednesday.

What began as a tightly contested showdown between Luzon’s finest junior golfers and the top talents from the Visayas-Mindanao region evolved into a dominant performance by the North squad which handled the pressure and pace of the day with poise despite the punishing heat.

Team North captain Francis Talion attributed their strong Day 1 performance to careful planning, preparation and a deep understanding of both their own players and the opposing team’s potential lineup.

‘Basically, we started by making critical projections on how the other team might compose their roster for Day 1-that’s what we based our own lineup on,’ said Talion, who also took the time to study each of their players’ personalities and how well their playing styles would complement one another.

‘Of course, we didn’t just consider their skills, but also their personalities, to ensure strong on-court chemistry and effective partnerships,’ he added.

The girls’ 7-10 pairings struck first blood for Team North-Athena Serapio and Ronee Dungca delivered a strong 3 and 2 win over Soleil Molde and Claren Quiño, while Mavis Espedido and Tyra Garingalao overwhelmed Denise Mendoza and Francesca Geroy with a 4 and 3 victory.

With Team North holding a commanding lead after Day 1, Talion hinted at minimal changes for Day 2, when action shifts to Foursomes, emphasizing the importance of team familiarity.

‘It’s all about chemistry. One of the key factors for Day 2 will be the lessons from today-what worked, what didn’t, and how the team handled different moments,’ Talion said.

Even in divisions where South showed flashes of resistance, North’s pairings remained in control with Zach Guico and Halo Pangilinan cruising to a 5 and 4 romp in the boys’ 7-10 division over Lucas Revilleza and James Rolida.

South’s Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo, however, foiled Zoji Edoc and Asher Abad, 3 and 2, in the other match.

In the boys’ 11-14 category, Zianbeau Edoc and Jacob Casuga outplayed South’s top gun Ralph Batican and Marcus Dueñas, 5 and 4, while Vito Sarines and Ryuji Suzuki smothered South’s Jared Saban and Ken Guillermo, 3 and 2.

The Sarines twins Mona and Lisa extended their winning streaks with impressive victories alongside different partners-Mona with Kendra Garingalao to edge Brittany Tamayo and Kimberly Baroquillo, 2 and 1, and Lisa with Alexie Gabi for a 2 and 1 win over Rafella Batican and Zuri Bagaloyos.

Team South staged a stunning comeback in the final match of the day as Eric Jeon drained a clutch pitch-in birdie on the challenging No. 18. The dramatic finish lifted his pairing with Mhark Fernando III to a thrilling 1-up victory over North’s Zach Villaroman and Jakob Taruc.

Trailing by two with just five holes to play, Jeon and Fernando mounted a spirited rally in the closing holes to square the match after 17 holes before Jeon’s brilliant birdie sealed the deal on the final green, earning loud cheers from South supporters.

‘I hit a good drive, but my approach came up a bit short. Still, I read the line perfectly from 23 yards and pitched it in for birdie,’ said Jeon. His clutch finish and the dramatic turnaround could prove pivotal, giving South a surge of confidence and much-needed momentum heading into Day 2, especially after trailing by as many as six matches earlier in the day.

Patrick Tambalque and Kristoffer Nadales delivered the eighth win for North with an emphatic 5 and 3 romp over Alexis Nailga and Armand Copok in the other boys’ 15-18 match.

Meanwhile, the South’s girls’ 15-18 squad lived up to their promise of dominance, delivering a commanding shutout against the North. Crista Miñoza and Precious Zaragosa led the charge with a 6 and 4 rout of Rafa Anciano and Chloe Rada. Their momentum was mirrored by Tashanah Balangayan and Mikela Guillermo, who also posted a decisive 6 and 4 win over Levonne Talion and Tiffany Bernardino-completing the South’s emphatic sweep in the premier division.

Despite trailing by four points, Team South skipper Alfred Gaccion remained optimistic, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back in tomorrow’s alternate shot format.

‘We’ll be reviewing today’s pairings and likely making a few adjustments-minor changes that we believe will better suit our strategy for tomorrow,’ said Gaccion. ‘It’s definitely going to be a different setup with the alternate shot format.’

Although Team South was outshone in several areas, Gaccion acknowledged both the challenges and bright spots from the day’s performance.

‘We expected our 15-to-18 teams to step up, and they did-we’re pleased with how they performed,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, a few of our key players just didn’t have their best day, and that certainly impacted our overall standing. But with some fine-tuning, we’re hopeful for a better outcome tomorrow.’

Despite the deficit, Gaccion emphasized that the team is far from finished.

‘We’re still in contention. We’ll try to bounce back tomorrow and hopefully do good,’ added Gaccion.

Excitement and enthusiasm were clearly visible in the youngest divisions, with juniors relishing the chance to represent their regions. But it was in the older brackets-the 11-14 and 15-18 age groups-where the tension and focus intensified, adding layers of drama, thrill and competitiveness to the event.

With a four-point lead after Day 1, Team North is in prime position, but with the Foursomes today (Thursday) and Singles on Friday, the battle is far from over. The South squad will need to regroup and mount a comeback if it hopes to close the gap in this high-stakes regional showdown.

Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz has introduced the Philippines as a major hub for economic services market in Asia.

In his speech at the recent Philippine Country Forum at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in China’s capital city, FlorCruz urged Chinese investors, innovators and business owners to choose the Philippines as a destination for their next projects.

‘The Philippines is a strong and stable country, and a global center of competitive services in Asia,’ the country’s envoy to China said. ‘We are open for business and we welcome China-our largest trading partner-to partner with us in high-growth services and industries.’

This year marks 50 years of Philippine-Chinese formal diplomatic relations, but trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have spanned for more than a thousand years.

According to FlorCruz, the Philippines is further improving its business-friendly climate, as well as new benefits from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act-a piece of legislation that lowers corporate income tax and provides clearer and more focused incentives for businesses.

The law aims to make the country a more attractive business destination, support the recovery of companies and strengthen its competitiveness in the region.

Also, the envoy highlighted FiberHome-a Chinese networking and telecommunication equipment provider with successful Philippine operations.

FiberHome, FlorCruz said, is living proof that progress can be achieved by investing in the Philippines.

‘We invite Chinese businessmen to visit the Philippine Pavilion and explore the possibilities of future cooperation-combining China’s cutting-edge technology and Filipino excellence in the field of services,’ he said.

MAKATI Medical Center (MakatiMed) reached a historic milestone on August 20, 2025, with the proclamation of its chapel under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration was marked by a solemn mass presided by His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, joined by priests and ministers from the Archdiocese of Manila.

During the liturgical celebration, Cardinal Advincula formally installed Fr. Moses Eduardo Ciego as chaplain of the newly proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.

Following the mass, he led the blessing of the chapel marker which serves as a lasting testament to the hospital’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this title.

The hospital’s devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe was initiated years ago under the leadership of then medical director Dr. Raul G. Fores. This was strengthened during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the hospital community turned to prayer and intercession amid unprecedented trials.

In his message for the occasion, Saturnino P. Javier, MD, MakatiMed interim co-president, CEO and medical director, emphasized how the consecration of the chapel reflects the hospital’s gratitude for divine guidance and protection: ‘All these 55 years of MMC, our healthcare workers continue to carry out their noble tasks of saving lives, promoting health, assuaging pain, and curing afflictions. Today, August 20, MMC does all these while affirming its devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.’

Under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the chapel now stands as a sanctuary of faith, hope and healing for the entire MakatiMed community.

SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro co-chaired a foreign ministerial meeting on ‘Reinforcing Cooperation to Achieve a Secure and Stable Maritime Domain’ during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s 80th Session.

On September 24, 40 countries actively participated in the meeting, which was co-hosted by the Philippines with Australia, Estonia, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Acknowledging the current challenges in ensuring a secure and stable maritime domain, there was renewed commitment to multilateralism and the shared stewardship of the world’s oceans.

In particular, emphasis was placed on international law, cooperation across shared maritime issues such as the protection of the marine environment, ensuring freedom of navigation and commerce, facilitating global connectivity, and securing critical underwater infrastructure.

‘As a growing coalition across regions, we reaffirmed international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [or UNCLOS as the constitution for the oceans,] and the legal framework in addressing global challenges to security and stability at sea.’ Lazaro said at the meeting.