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SENATE President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson intends to scrutinize potentially dubious farm-to-market roads, ‘ayuda’ programs and ‘Super Health Centers’ that ‘benefited’ from some P255.5 billion from flood control project funds of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the 2026 budget.

Lacson said an initial check of the realignments showed the funds went to these items, as well as some ‘ayuda’ programs that may be funded by unprogrammed appropriations.

Part of the realignments also went to the Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP) that funds the Super Health Centers, he added.

‘Much of the realignments went to farm-to-market roads. The question is, is the list of such roads from the Department of Agriculture or from congressmen?’ Lacson said.

‘Some ayuda programs are to be funded by unprogrammed appropriations. We intend to uproot these and return them to the regular budget,’ he added.

Lacson said he will move to consolidate funds for ‘ayuda’ and social services under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a program that will vet and provide qualified families with livelihood and education.

He also pushed for the realignment of some P2 billion for ‘Tulong Dunong’ scholarship program of legislators to the Free Tertiary Education Act.

On Tuesday, Lacson said the Senate will move to strike out ‘alien’ and ‘turo-turo’ items-along with unprogrammed appropriations not tied to foreign-assisted projects-from the 2026 budget bill which it will start tackling next week.

Lacson said ‘alien’ refers to items not in the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the budget bill, while ‘turo-turo’ refers to whimsical, arbitrary and patronage-based programs.

He said the Senate will move to realign ‘turo-turo’ items to funding meaningful programs like Universal Health Care (UHC).

Lacson said he has discussed with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Finance committee chief, the consolidation of funds for Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) to the UHC. This will remove from lawmakers the ‘burden’ of issuing guarantee letters as the Department of Health will now determine what assistance to provide to needy patients.

‘Our work as lawmakers is to legislate and exercise oversight, not to implement laws,’ he said.

‘Let’s make our programs systematic, and not whimsical, arbitrary and patronage-based,’ he stressed.

When watching pro or collegiate basketball, what often mesmerizes us are the stars executing the plays drawn up by the coaches to near perfection, or imperfection.

Their power moves, sleight-of-hand tricks, Fort Knox-like defense and foxy one-upmanship on the opponent make athletes the hands down box office attractions.

Star coaches also wow with their wisdom, smarts and strategic genius. In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) alone, top-calibre coaches share the spotlight with their players.

Tab Baldwin, Goldwin Monteverde, Nash Racela, Topex Robinson, Sean Chambers, Chris Gavina, Jeff Napa and Pido Jarencio all have their distinct personalities, styles and quirks that make them intriguing and watch-worthy.

But are you aware that hidden in the benches of the eight UAAP teams are legit basketball stars who fascinated us when it was their turn to make magic on the basketball court during their time?

I’m talking about the coaching staffs of the different teams in the ongoing men’s basketball tournament. If you looked more closely at the team benches, squint your eyes and rev up your memory a bit, you’ll strike a gold mine of basketball legends sitting, almost anonymously, with the high-profile ballers of today.

Once you recognize them, memories and images of their days on court will start to flow. And you’ll be glad to know that if you ever asked the question ‘where are they now?’ about your former basketball idols, the answer would be right under your nose.

Let’s start with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. This bench is star-studded as far as basketball stars of yesteryears are concerned. Apart from head coach Sean Chambers, who along with the late Bobby Parks was a multiple Best Import awardee and named ‘Mr.100%’, you’ll find the lovable Mutt and Jeff team of the Tamaraws of yore-Victor Pablo and Johnny ‘The Flying A’ Abarrientos-who both left their stamp on the PBA, albeit in different teams. Fearless FEU big man Mark Isip is also on that bench, as well as Richie Ticzon-the former Ateneo guard with the soft touch and the unfailing ‘long toms.’ Even Cholo Añonuevo, versatile FEU forward last seen in Season 87 is riding that bench.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles are not to be outdone with their distinguished alumni going back to their aerie. Magnum Membrere, member of the Ateneo champion team of 2002 and five-time UAAP champion Nico Salva are backing up Coach Tab Baldwin and Assistant Coach Sandy Arrespacochaga in the Season 88 campaign. Even Bacon Austria is sharing his earned expertise with the women’s team.

De La Salle University has a bona fide star warming their bench in a different way. Sharpshooting Archer Renren Ritualo is there to make sure the Archers’ aims are straight and true. Former Fighting Maroons-Marvin Bienvenida and Gelo Vito, who were La Salle Greenies before they changed colors in college-are also part of Coach Topex Robinson’s high performing assets.

Over at the Blue and Gold, tough and wily guard Glenn Capacio (a Tamaraw in college who played for Purefoods, Mobiline and Red Bull in the PBA) is supporting Coach Jeff Napa and enjoying the best season the National University Bull Dogs are having in a long time. Former Growling Tiger Siot Tanquincen (who played for San Miguel in the PBA) is also on the bench and concurrently Director of Basketball Operations at NU. Young alum Patrick Yu-now also an engineer-adds youthful energy to the bench.

Don’t look now, but the University of the East Red Warriors have quite the high-profile bench. Apart from former PBA coach Chris Gavina, the UE bench has multi-champion ex-PBA player Alex Cabagnot as assistant coach. UE alum Niño Canaleta, who made basketball fans go wild during his playing days, is also on the staff, alongside former Growling Tiger Louie Vigil.

For their part, the UP Fighting Maroons have former PBA player Lowell Briones (father of sweet shooting Chicco Briones), multi-talented former PBA player and Growling Tiger, coach and broadcast panelist Christian Luanzon plus roaring Red Lions coach Britt Reroma as Coach Goldwin Monteverde’s back-ups.

The University of Santo Tomas has its elite guard Jeric Fortuna and Letran’s three-peat coach Bonnie Tan supporting Coach Pido Jarencio.

The Adamson Soaring Falcons have celebrated pro player, Rommel Adducul, a three-time NCAA MVP when he was with the San Sebastian Stags, as one of Coach Nash Racela’s wise men on their bench, together with never-say-die new graduate Vince Magbuhos.

Do you agree? The list of assistant coaches of the eight UAAP teams are just as interesting as the team rosters. I’d like to think of it as the ex-players’ reincarnation.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it may be forced to hold manual polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) if the parliament fails to pass its redistricting law by November 30.

‘I’ll be very honest. This is not to pressure the Bangsamoro or preempt the Supreme Court. Based on our study, if the law is passed beyond November 30, it may no longer be possible to hold elections by March 31. November 30 is already the absolute limit,’ Comelec Chair George Erwin M. Garcia said in an interview.

‘But of course, as long as there is a law, the Comelec will find a way. Even to the extent that if we need to conduct a manual election, why not,’ he added. ‘But at this point, the election in the Bangsamoro will be automated. That [manual voting] is only the worst-case scenario.’

Garcia said the commission continues to prepare for the first parliamentary elections in the region but warned that delays in the passage of the redistricting law could again hamper preparations.

‘Of course, we are also worried about that. The preparations for the elections might again be disrupted if the new law in BARMM is not passed,’ he said.

The Comelec chief stressed that the poll body has the authority to act should the timeline be missed.

‘There are ways the Comelec can find just to proceed with an election. Everything must be done to comply with the election date-either invoke a postponement of the election or resort to another system of election, such as a manual one,’ he said.

Garcia said he recently spoke with interim Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who told him that the proposed redistricting measures are still on second reading and must still be consolidated before passage.

Garcia said the Comelec remains hopeful that the Bangsamoro parliament can still meet the deadline.

‘We believe in the capability of the Bangsamoro parliament. The Comelec also constantly reminds them to keep us informed.We believe that because of the pressure and the [Supreme Court’s] decision, the Parliament is aware that time is of the essence,’ he said.

To recall, the Court voided Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act of 2025, and BAA No. 58, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2024, saying both violated the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

With no valid enabling law, the Comelec had no legal basis to push through with the parliamentary elections this year.

Instead, the Court directed the Comelec to continue with its preparations and conduct the BARMM parliamentary elections not later than March 31, 2026, in compliance with Section 5 of the Voter’s Registration Act, which provides for the establishment of precincts.

It also ordered the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to immediately undertake, not later than October 30, 2025, the determination of parliamentary districts for the first regular election of parliament members, in accordance with the BOL.

TWO-TIME Olympian and Asia’s top pole vaulter EJ Obiena is locked in on defending his Southeast Asian Games title for the fourth time at the 33rd edition of the biennial meet.

With no competitions lined up before the SEA Games set for December 9 to 20 in Bangkok, Thailand, the 29-year-old Asian champion is dedicating his time to conditioning and training.

‘My last meet was in September in Makati. The next is the SEA Games. There’s no time to relax,’ Obiena told BusinessMirror.

He’s keeping a close eye on Thai rival Patsapong Amsamarng, who cleared 5.67 meters for bronze at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.

‘He’ll be competing at home, so I have to be ready. But the good thing is, I’m healthy-no pain, everything’s on track,’ Obiena said.

Obiena, who matched his season-best 5.80 meters at the Atletang Ayala meet in Makati, has since returned to Formia, Italy to continue intensive training under coach Vitaly Petrov.

Obiena is one of the country’s top gold medal bets, having won SEA Games gold in 2019 (Philippines), 2022 (Hanoi), and 2023 (Cambodia).

Monde Nissin Corp. on Wednesday said its core attributable income for the nine months of the year fell 3 percent to P7.19 billion from the previous year’s P7.45 billion on higher prices of commodities, such as edible oils.

Henry Soesanto, the company’s CEO, said its Asia Pacific branded food business delivered modest topline growth in the third quarter, supported by volume growth in biscuits and other categories.

‘Our strong start to October, with record domestic sales, is encouraging; however, we remain cautious given the uncertainties ahead in the fourth quarter. While higher edible oil costs continue to put pressure on our gross margins, we are beginning to see the benefits of our pricing adjustments and cost-saving initiatives, such as reformulation,’ Soesanto said.

‘We expect these efforts to drive gradual gross margin recovery in the succeeding quarters, though full year gross margin is still expected to be lower than last year.’

As for its veggie meat business, he said the company is seeing continued easing of year-on-year declines and the significant gross margin improvement this quarter, which expanded by over 500 basis points year-on-year.

‘While category conditions remain challenging, the improvement in EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] demonstrates that our initiatives are making steady progress. We will continue to focus on driving efficiency and supporting a gradual recovery as we navigate the current market environment.’

Net sales for the nine-month period rose 3 percent to P63.26 billion from the previous year’s P61.14 billion.

Its branded food group, with products such as Lucky Me! noodles and Sky Flakes biscuits, rose 4 percent to P53.28 billion from the previous year’s P51.05 billion, but its alternative meat business fell 1 percent to P9.97 billion from P10.09 billion recorded a year ago.

For the third quarter alone, its attributable core income inched up by 4 percent to P2.45 billion from the previous year’s P2.35 billion. Sales, meanwhile, grew 4 percent to P21.8 billion from P21.01 billion a year ago.

Gross margin contracted 279 basis points year-on-year to 34.8 percent for the nine months and 355 basis point to 34.4 percent in the third quarter, primarily due to higher edible oil costs. On a sequential basis, however, gross margin improved by 153 basis point, reflecting the impact of pricing actions and early benefits of cost management initiatives, the company said.

THE country’s inflation held its ground in October, unchanged at 1.7 percent from September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The figure was lower than the 2.3 percent inflation recorded in the same month last year, bringing the year-to-date average from January to October to 1.7 percent.

According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the stable inflation reflected the effectiveness of government measures in tempering supply pressures and maintaining price stability.

‘The steady headline inflation rate shows that our coordinated interventions are helping to maintain adequate supplies and keeping essential goods affordable,’ he said in a statement.

‘We remain vigilant in managing risks from weather disturbances, global market volatility, and other domestic factors that may affect prices in the coming months.’

Earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projected October inflation to fall within the 1.4 to 2.2 percent range.

Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels continued to be the main driver of inflation, with a 2.7-percent increase and a 34.6 percent share in the overall index.

Meanwhile, restaurants and accommodation services followed with a 14.6-percent share (0.2 percentage point contribution), while food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 13.0 percent (0.2 percentage point).

Faster price increases were recorded in four commodity groups during the month: Clothing and footwear (1.8 percent from 1.7 percent), housing and utilities (2.7 percent from 2.1 percent), information and communication (0.7 percent from 0.6 percent) and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (2.5 percent from 2.4 percent).

On the contrary, slower inflation was observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.5 percent from 1.0 percent), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.0 percent from 4.1 percent), health (2.7 percent from 2.8 percent), transport (0.9 percent from 1.0 percent), and recreation, sport, and culture (1.9 percent from 2.1 percent).

The PSA identified five key commodities that largely shaped October’s inflation: other pelagic fish (11.7 percent, contributing 0.4 percentage point), rentals (2.6 percent, 0.3 percentage point), pork (9.8 percent, 0.3 percentage point), restaurants and cafes (2.5 percent, 0.3 percentage point) and electricity (4.1 percent, 0.2 percentage point).

Meanwhile, food inflation continued to ease nationwide at only 0.3 percent in October from 0.8 percent in September. In October 2024, food inflation stood at a much higher 3 percent.

Core inflation also slowed slightly to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent in the previous month.

By region, inflation in the National Capital Region (NCR) quickened to 2.9 percent from 2.7 percent in September, while areas outside NCR saw inflation ease to 1.3 percent from 1.5 percent.

Central Visayas posted the highest regional inflation at 2.6 percent, while the Bangsamoro region recorded the lowest, with deflation at -1.3 percent.

Inflation among the country’s poorest households stood at 0.4 percent in October, rebounding from -0.2 percent in September but sharply lower than the 3.4 percent recorded in the same month a year earlier.

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has officially released the draft terms of reference (TOR) for the special auction on waste-to-energy (WTE) projects, revising its earlier target power generation capacity to 170 megawatts (MW) from 330MW that could be sourced from waste feedstock within Metro Manila and Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) areas.

‘The 335MW earlier mentioned was the total potential for WTE projects but given some consideration, we will only offer 170 megawatts,’ said DOE Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol in a Viber message, adding that the these considerations are related to ‘project timelines’.

The drafted TOR states that assured feedstock in Metro Manila and HUCs can generate an estimated 12.4 million metric tons (MMT) of municipal solid waste, equivalent to a total of 170 MW baseload.

Per region, the chunk comes from Luzon (9,369.24 MMT in Metro Manila). In Visayas, 706.89MT will come from Cebu and 451.23MT in Bacolod. In Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro registered 542.88MT and Davao with 1,335.51MMT.

The target completion for these WTE projects is 2028. The special auction is expected to happen early next year.

‘The special auction round shall be conducted exclusively for WTE projects employing thermal combustion technology and are RPS-eligible and qualified under GEAP [green energy auction program] guidelines,’ the draft TOR stated.

As an emerging renewable energy technology, WTE project development is one of the country’s strategies to address solid waste management, serve as flood control mitigation, and provide additional clean energy.

‘Hopefully, this will help the flooding concerns in Metro Manila because there’s 13,000 million tons, I think, per day. We need more of this so we cannot just collect the garbage but also produce energy,’ said DOE Secretary Sharon Garin.

This initiative is aligned with the objectives of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) and the government’s renewable energy targets of 35 percent in the energy mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

‘The integration of WTE projects into the GEA framework underscores the DOE’s commitment to ensuring energy security, environmental protection, and private sector participation in the country’s transitioning to clean and sustainable energy,’ the agency said.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) on Tuesday said its net income for the nine months of the year fell 8 percent to P17.3 billion from the previous year’s P18.8 billion.

Power accounted for 60 percent of the total net income contributions from AEV’s business units for the nine-month period, while the food and beverage segment accounted for 25 percent.

Net income contributions from the financial services were at 15 percent, real estate at 5 percent, and infrastructure was at -5 percent.

‘AEV’s results this quarter reflect the resilience of our portfolio and the dedication of our teams across all our businesses,’ company president and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz said.

‘We continue to invest in growth areas that create long-term value for our stakeholders.’

On a standalone basis, Aboitiz Power Corp. had a core net income of P23.1 billion, lower by 15 percent compared to P27.2 billion last year.

The conglomerate said its core net income in January to September reflects the full impact of depreciation and interest expenses for GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co, which AboitizPower began recognizing only in March 2024.

Union Bank of the Philippines had a net income of P3.2 billion for the period, 24 percent lower than the P4.2 billion recorded in the same period in 2024.

Aboitiz Land Inc. reported a consolidated net income of P879 million in nine months, a 69 percent increase from the P521 million in the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by the recognition of gains from asset monetization.

Net income contribution from the food and beverage segment, which includes Aboitiz Foods Holdings Inc. and Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines Inc. was P5.2 billion in January to September, 25 percent higher than the P4.2 billion recorded last year.

This was primarily driven by full nine-month contributions from Coca-Cola, which financially closed only on February 23, 2024, and also the strong volumes and margins of AboitizFoods’ flour, farms, livestock and trading segments.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.’s income contribution to AEV amounted to P137 million for the period, a reversal of the P148-million net loss it incurred last year.

This was primarily driven by economic estates’ lot sales at TARI Estates in Tarlac, passenger traffic growth and the full nine-month contribution of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the continued expansion of Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc.’s co-location services and tower portfolio and the commercial ramp-up of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc.

AEV’s share in Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc.’s loss for the nine months of the year amounted to P1.1 billion, higher from P726 million loss last year.

‘The higher net loss is mainly attributable to the continued weakness in sales volume and selling prices driven by low market demand for cement.’

FINANCE Secretary Ralph G. Recto has ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to tighten its crackdown on predatory loans by imposing interest rates ceiling and stringent measures on lending and financing firms.

A statement issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) quoted Recto as saying the SEC is finalizing a memorandum circular that would set caps on interest rates and other fees imposed by lending and financing companies. The Commission is seeking public input on the proposed guidelines until November 14, 2025.

‘We need to further strengthen protection for our fellow citizens, especially as the number of online lending platforms increases, where people are often victimized by excessively high interest rates and become mired in debt,’ Recto said. ‘The DOF will help the SEC tighten regulation on these.’

Under the proposed rules, the ceiling on interest rates and other fees will apply to unsecured general-purpose loans with a maximum amount of P20,000 and loan terms of up to six months.

The guidelines propose a maximum nominal interest rate of 6 percent per month or about 0.2 percent per day and an effective interest rate, including all other costs and fees, capped at 10 percent per month or around 0.33 percent per day.

The agency noted that late payment or nonpayment penalties would be limited to 5 percent per month on the outstanding amount. The SEC also intends to limit the total charges to the amount borrowed.

Credit providers that fail to comply with the interest rate caps would face a fine ranging from P25,000 to P100,000 for the first and second offenses.

Heavier penalties, including suspension and revocation of permits, might also be slapped on noncompliant companies, the DOF said.

‘Through responsive policies and stronger enforcement actions, the SEC will ensure that lending practices remain fair, transparent, and aligned with consumer protection standards, while promoting the continued viability and competitiveness of legitimate financing and lending companies,’ SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said.

Under Republic Act 11765 (Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection law), the SEC can determine reasonable interest rates and fees that financial service providers may demand, collect, or receive for any service or product offered to consumers.

Implementing the right policies is a necessary condition to effect the changes that will allow the Philippines to achieve its climate goals. This has been aptly demonstrated by the statistics on the country’s forest cover based on the latest report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Philippines (FAO). The report titled ‘Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025′ indicated that the country’s forest cover expanded by 212,241 hectares in 2020.

The report noted that the president of the Philippines issued directives that allowed agencies to protect the remaining forest resources of the country in February 2011. The FAO report cited Executive Order 23, which declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and created the anti-illegal logging task force. The government also issued EO 26 to implement the National Greening Program and EO 193, which expanded the coverage of the National Greening Program to cover the rehabilitation of all the remaining denuded and degraded forestlands not covered by EO 26 and extended the period of the program up to 2028.

Prior to 2011, the FAO report noted that the Philippine government permitted the harvesting of trees in natural and residual forests. This led to the decrease in the country’s forest cover from 1990 to 2010. Data provided in the report indicated that the Philippines’ forest cover in 1990 reached nearly 7.78 million hectares, which shrank to 6.839 million hectares in 2010.

These policies, the report noted, allowed the Philippines to increase its forest cover to 7.226 million hectares in 2020 from 7.014 hectares in 2015. This development bodes well not only for biodiversity and regulating climate, but it is also beneficial for the agriculture sector. According to the UNDP, healthy forests play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility, regulating water cycles and supporting biodiversity-all of which are essential for productive agriculture.

In Ecuador, for instance, UNDP said a partnership between the government, a private company and local coffee farmers highlights the vital connection between coffee cultivation and forest conservation. Coffee, one of the world’s most beloved beverages, is heavily dependent on healthy ecosystems, with forests playing a critical role in maintaining the climate conditions necessary for high-quality coffee production. The deforestation-free coffee partnership between Ecuador and Lavazza encourages farmers to grow coffee while preserving the surrounding Amazonian forests.

The Philippines has shown the world that it can implement the necessary policies to reverse years of abuse suffered by the country’s forests. While it would take a while to expand the forest cover to a level last seen in the 1990s, the Philippines has exhibited the willingness to make tough decisions for the protection of the environment. These forests, especially in rural areas, also serve as the first line of defense against flooding so it makes sense to invest in initiatives that will increase the number of trees in the Philippines instead of allotting funds for substandard flood control projects.