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The country’s rice arrivals slid by nearly 15 percent through October following the temporary ban slapped by the government on the imported staple.

Figures from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice imports fell by 14.78 percent to 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) in the January to October from the 3.87 MMT posted last year.

Of this, only 31,101 metric tons (MT) of rice entered the country last month, from the average 362,761 MT in the preceding months.

Furthermore, BPI data showed that 2.67 MMT of rice shipments came from Vietnam, which remained the country’s top supplier. This was followed by Myanmar at 343,910.33 MT.

The Philippines also purchased rice stocks from other countries, such as Thailand (176,270.26 MT), Pakistan (76,394.02 MT), and India (20,314.78 MT).

The slowdown in rice arrivals comes after President Marcos issued an Executive Order (EO) suspending the imports of regular and well-milled rice for 60 days until October 31, 2025 to counter the sharp drop in palay prices ahead of the wet harvest season.

With this, the BPI halted the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) starting September 1. Specialty rice varieties, such as Japonica, glutinous, and basmati rice, are exempt from the import freeze.

While the measure briefly lifted farmgate prices, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said whatever gains the local rice industry attained had tapered off as the suspension neared its expiry.

Because of this, Marcos extended the rice import ban until the end of 2025 in a bid to arrest the slide in farmgate prices of paddy rice.

Despite the temporary ban slapped on foreign shipments of the staple grain, the DA projected that rice stocks would remain ample.

It added that conservative estimates place supply at 89 days by yearend, while optimistic scenarios forecast up to 92 days, at 122.7 kilos per annum of projected per capita consumption compared with just 58 days’ worth of stocks at the end of 2024.

The agency also said retail rice prices remained relatively stable amid the suspension, citing its price monitoring data.

In November, the DA expects well-milled rice to average around P42 per kilo, while regular-milled rice to hover near P40 per kilo.

Global consumer healthcare company iNova Pharmaceuticals continues its growth trajectory in Asia with the Philippine launch of DURO-TUSS®, a science-backed cough solution that joins iNova’s growing product portfolio in the country.

The launch event gathered healthcare professionals and medical experts to introduce the brand’s commitment to providing proven, effective, and reliable cough relief for Filipino families.

Tailored Relief for Every Type of Cough

DURO-TUSS® is available in two powerful formulations designed to target specific cough types:

Butamirate Citrate (DURO-TUSS BCS)

Available in:

? 60ml Syrup

? 50mg Sustained-Release Tablet

Butamirate Citrate (DURO-TUSS BCS) provides dual action relief by suppressing cough and easing breathing, making it ideal for dry cough.

Ambroxol Hydrochloride (DURO-TUSS AXS)

Available in:

? 60ml Syrup

? 75mg Sustained-Release Tablet

Ambroxol Hydrochloride (DURO-TUSS AXS) offers triple action relief for cough with phlegm, it thins and loosens mucus, clears chest congestion, and protects the lungs from phlegm buildup.

DURO-TUSS® is now available at leading pharmacies nationwide. It carries a comprehensive range of prescription and over-the-counter cough relief medications tailored to treat either dry cough or cough with phlegm.

Gokongwei-owned Universal Robina Corp. (URC) may face charges if it is proven that its Bais distillery has violated environmental laws or regulations for spilling wastewater into the Bais Bay, according to Malacañang.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a 90-day interim cease and desist order against the said distillery of URC due to the illegal wastewater discharge last October 26.

URC attributed the spill to earthquake-induced cracks in the lagoon, where wastewater from the distillery was collected.

In a press briefing last Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is looking into URC’s possible violation of Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.

‘If a law is violated, the government will not hesitate to file a case (against URC),’ she said in Filipino.

The spill was reported to have spread to 3,000 hectares of sea and affected parts of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape and parts of the Bais Bay near Bais City and Manjuyod town.

Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi condemned the latest spill from the distillery. He claimed similar incidents have happened in previous years.

For his part, Negros Oriental Governor Chaco Sagarbarria said the spill has affected 4,500 families from 13 barangays.

Castro said the DENR has already coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard and the affected local government units (LGU) to contain the spill, which is poisonous to living organisms.

‘There has also been a conversation with the URC Bais Distillery since they need to fix (the environmental disaster) immediately,’ Castro said.

Last Monday, URC said it deployed 127 of its personnel to assist in repairing the damaged part of the containment lagoon.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued a warning in the affected communities not to fish or collect aquatic organisms such as seaweed in the contaminated areas since it can be harmful to their health, according to Castro.

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has lowered the electricity consumption threshold to 100 kilowatts (kW) from the 500 kW average monthly peak demand to allow more end-users to choose their electricity supplier.

The new threshold will take effect on June 26, 2026, paving the way for more medium-sized enterprises and institutions to directly choose their electricity suppliers or aggregate their demand under the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP).

‘By expanding retail access to more end-users, we are promoting genuine consumer choice and driving competition that can lead to better prices, improved service quality, and innovation in the power sector,’ said ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan.

The commission has opted for a phased and coordinated approach to ensure market readiness and operational stability. The eight-month transition period before effectivity allows Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Retail Metering Service Providers (RMSPs) sufficient time to procure and install compliant metering facilities.

This approach also addresses key concerns raised by stakeholders during the public consultations held in September, particularly on the availability of the DUs’ Advanced Metering Infrastructure, procurement timelines, and potential stranded capacities from existing Power Supply Agreements (PSAs).

In line with this, the ERC has also amended and issued the new Rules to Govern the Implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) by DUs and ERC-authorized entities, which will guide the rollout of smart metering systems across the country.

The ERC said it will closely coordinate with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) to ensure that billing, registration, and settlement systems are ready to accommodate the increased number of retail customers and transactions.

To guide the transition, the ERC will prepare and publish a Comprehensive Roadmap detailing the phased implementation of customer choice programs-including RCOA (Retail Competition Open Access), RAP, and the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP)-up to eventual household-level participation.

Currently, the retail market records over 2,300 customers who have switched under RCOA and 37 Retail Aggregated Groups (RAGs) with a combined demand of nearly 31 megawatts (MW), indicating growing confidence and readiness among consumers to engage in retail competition.

‘Lowering the contestability threshold to 100 kW and implementing it in a deliberate and orderly fashion marks a significant advancement in unlocking the full potential of open access and consumer choice in the Philippines. This move underscores our commitment to fostering a fair, competitive, and transparent electricity market that delivers enduring benefits to Filipino consumers,’ Juan said.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos’ commitment to fund a law to make the proposed permanent infrastructure probe body ‘bulletproof’ and truly independent in pursuing corruption cases.

‘We have to find a way to speed up the investigation, the filing of cases, and for us not to be distracted. The problem of ICI is that they themselves admitted that ‘we have no powers.’ And they are also arguing about the direction of their work,’ Cayetano noted.

Cayetano’s remarks came after President Marcos gave assurances that the government is ‘committed to make sure that they can fund their investigation,’ following reports that the ICI has yet to receive an approved budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Moreover, Cayetano also reminded authorities that while the administration’s funding pledge is a good start, financial support alone is not enough.

Also Cayetano urged Congress to pass the proposed law authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, which seeks to institutionalize the ICI as a permanent, non-partisan anti-corruption body with broader powers.

‘We must be focused . The law must make it faster, focused, and truly independent,’ Cayetano said, partly in Filipino.

He also called for broader representation within the commission, suggesting the inclusion of opposition and faith-based members to ensure independence, citing the US model of independent or special counsels.

‘Sa US, if you are an independent or special counsel, your funds and your actions are truly independent,’ he said.

Cayetano added that the ICI should also be granted contempt powers to compel cooperation during investigations while still respecting constitutional rights.

‘Imagine this: if there’s a hearing but no contempt power, then they will just ignore the probers,’ he said in Filipino.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and local producers agreed to set a minimum farmgate price for live hogs at P210 per kilo as the liveweight price plunged to the break-even point.

This, after local producers warned that farmgate prices had plummeted between P150 and P180 per kilo, which they said was barely enough to cover production costs for backyard and commercial raisers.

Industry groups included in the discussion were Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NatFed), and the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork).

‘Farmgate prices have fallen sharply, yet consumers haven’t felt any relief,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. ‘During my market visits, I’ve seen liempo still selling for around P400 a kilo.’

The government and industry groups would also recommend reinstating the tariffs levied on pork to 40 percent from the current 25 percent, citing cheaper foreign shipments as among the rationales behind the swine industry’s predicament.

‘Lower import duties have encouraged over-importation,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘This has flooded the market, squeezed local producers, and endangered both our food security and farmers’ livelihoods.’

He added that the DA would also issue an order to reclassify pork jowls, currently treated as offal, so that they can be levied a higher tariff. Jowls, a cut popular in Korean barbecue, have gained increasing demand from meat processors.

Furthermore, the agency was mulling over restoring a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork.

The level would be determined ‘carefully’ to balance profitability across the supply chain and consumer protection, the DA added.

With this, Tiu Laurel ordered the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to intensify monitoring to ensure transparency and fair trade.

He said supermarkets should clearly label frozen meat products and avoid misrepresenting them as fresh, while retailers selling frozen items must maintain proper chillers and freezers.

‘These measures are intended to stabilize prices, protect local producers, and safeguard consumers amid persistent volatility in the pork market.’

The prevailing retail price of pork ham in Metro Manila markets stood at P360 per kilo, while pork belly is being sold at P400 per kilo, based on the latest government price monitoring report.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will be needing nearly P14 million for the immediate minor repairs, and clean-up and clearing operations for 76 schools across six regions after sustaining structural damage due to typhoon Tino.

Initial data from DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (as November 5, 10.a.m.), showed that these 76 schools with damages are located in Region VIII, Region VII, Negros Island Region (NIR), Region IX, Region X, and Region VI.

DepEd said that P2.11 will be spent for clean-up and clearing operations while P11.6 million for the immediate minor repairs of the schools.

DepEd reported that 64 classrooms are totally damaged; 91 classrooms with suffered major damage; 237imor damaged classrooms.

Meanwhile, DepEd said that 20,681 schools have suspended face-to-face classes due to Tino in some regions in the Visayas and parts of Mindanao.

DepEd added that evacuees sought temporary shelter in 522 schools or a total of 2,507 classrooms in Region VII, NIR, Region VIII, CARAGA, Region VI, and MIMAROPA.

A MORE gradual and flexible tariff adjustment on rice shall be adopted starting January 1, 2026 depending on the change in international prices, according to the Economy and Development (ED) Council chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) announced Tuesday night.

This, the Council said, after it approved the recommendation of the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC) to maintain the tariff rate on rice imports at 15 percent until December 31,2025, for both in-quota and out-quota imports.

‘Starting January 1,2026, a more gradual and flexible tariff adjustment shall be adopted, with adjustments by 5 percentage points per 5 percent change in international prices, subject to a minimum rate of 15 percent and a maximum rate of 35 percent,’ the DEPDev statement read.

The socioeconomic planning body said the TRMC’s recommendation is part of a ‘broader’ government strategy to ensure ‘stable’ rice prices and protect both farmers and consumers, while safeguarding macroeconomic stability.

For his part, DEPDev Arsenio M. Balisacan underscored that the recent decision made by the President-upon the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recommendation-to extend the rice import ban until the end of December ‘renders the rice tariffs redundant,’ adding, ‘they no longer affect local market prices.’

In an interview with reporters on Monday, Balisacan said DA’s assessment is that there is ‘good enough supply’ for the rest of the year.

‘Our data also shows that there is good enough supply to prevent increases in retail prices,’ the DEPDev secretary also noted.

He pointed out that the overall goal is to protect farm gate prices from further falling.

‘Because in the past almost a year now, farm gate prices have dropped by more than 30 percent. It is quite sharp. I’ve seen that kind of decline in recent years, many years. So it’s a concern that our poorest of the poor which is in the rural communities are hitting such a .’ Balisacan noted.

He emphasized the importance of using a ‘combination of tools to achieve both the farm problem and the consumer problem’ to make food prices affordable to consumers while at the same time preventing any upward pressure on inflation and hurting the economy in the longer term.

‘So those things will require different tools and the import ban is very temporary,’ the DEPDev chief said, adding, ‘We are setting in place a more permanent ecosystem for the rice sector and the food sector in general.’

Apart from the rice tariff, the ED Council approved other key programs on Education, Water Access, and Social Protection.

Among the approved measures is the Program for Learning Upgrading and School Development (PLUS-D) of the Department of Education (DepEd), with a total cost of P38.27 billion.

Proposed for official development assistance (ODA) loan financing from the World Bank, PLUS-D seeks to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen education management and delivery systems nationwide, DEPDev said.

The agency said PLUS-D, which is scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2032, will introduce ‘system-level’ interventions, provide targeted support to schools, and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

The program aims to improve literacy and numeracy among Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners, and boost reading and math proficiency for students in Grades 7 to 10.

Balisacan said this project ensures that education reforms reach every Filipino learner, especially those in disadvantaged areas.

‘By strengthening schools and supporting teachers, we hope to create better learning environments that enable every child to achieve their full potential,’ Balisacan noted.

The Council likewise approved the Accelerating Water Supply and Sanitation for the Poor and Lagging Areas (AWSPSA) project, with a total cost of P14.98 billion.

Also proposed for ODA loan financing from the World Bank, AWSPSA aims to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation services in underserved communities, addressing public health and local development challenges, DEPDev noted.

USING blockchain to track government spending could pose more problems than solutions, given its complexity and vulnerability to tampering, experts warned.

During the joint hearing of the House Committees on Science and Technology and on Finance, experts and academics raised doubts about embedding a blockchain system under the proposed ‘Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability,’ or ‘Cadena’ (Tagalog word for chain).

Undersecretary David L. Almirol Jr. of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) explained Cadena is being created as ‘a transparency digital portal where people can not only see the budget, but they can see even the movement and the statuses of this budget moving forward.’

Chiming in, Sen. Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ A. Aquino added that Cadena aims to strengthen public trust and fight corruption through transparent records of government spending by way of embedding a blockchain in the management of the national budget.

However, Adolfo Jose A. Montesa of the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) raised concerns over whether a blockchain system is appropriate for the management of government funds.

‘I feel like some of the aspects here might, de facto, lock us into blockchain. Everything that I’ve heard so far, it seems like blockchain is the only technology that meets these standards right now,’ Montesa said during the hearing.

He added that the blockchain technology might prefer market dynamics and certain vendors over end-users like budget watchdogs and citizens.

But Aquino said lawmakers want to keep ‘it technology neutral because we understand in a year or two years from now, it may not be the gold standard anymore.’

‘Currently, that seems to fit the bill in terms of what we want to see,’ he added.

A blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions with a network of computers, where each transaction is saved as a block linked to the previous one, and is secured by cryptography.

‘I understand that a number of our watchdogs and a number of our citizens aren’t well-versed in blockchain. Naintindihan ko yan. But it’s not new,’ Aquino said.

According to Gail Concepcion Cruz-Macapagal of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, this wouldn’t be the first time the technology has been used in the country. Macapagal said that up to 145 companies use blockchain technology.

She cited a local startup that created a digital-signature technology using blockchain. The startup’s technology, which was partly-funded by the Department of Science and Technology, was branded as ‘safe and legally binding.’

Macapagal noted that the startup’s digital-signature technology saves cost by cutting the signing cycle from up to two weeks to just 40 minutes.

Expanded coverage

CURRENTLY, documents covered by the bill include disbursement data like agency financial statements, fund release documents, audit reports, and more. Some experts, however, proposed expanding the coverage of the bill.

Macapagal is pushing for the bill to add donations given in the aftermath of natural disasters like typhoons.

‘I saw with my personal eyes na may mga donations na binawi after mag-picture taking, so I want to know kung saan ‘yun manggagaling, saan mapupunta, at sino ang tumatanggap,’ she said during the hearing.

Montesa also pushed for the inclusion of ‘ayuda’ lists, which then raised concerns regarding the data privacy of recipients.

But BCP’s Mark S. Gorriceta said that the reference of the Data Privacy Act could be misused to hide project beneficiaries, supplier names, or fund flows.

‘I’d like to reinforce the principle that public money is public data, and let’s limit exceptions strictly to national security,’ Gorriceta, who is also a lawyer, added.

His view was supported by Sen. Aquino, who said that because government is ‘spending hundreds of billions in our dole-out programs; mahalaga na makita nati na totoong tao talaga at totoong nangangailangan ang pinagbibigyan ng ayuda ng gobyerno.’

The proposed policy covers all public-private partnerships and foreign-assisted projects using public funds and extends to all national government agencies and government-owned and state-controlled corporations.

Additionally, the bill also encourages local government units to adopt the framework voluntarily.

De-centralization

AQUINO further explained that by using a decentralized system like blockchain, public financial records could be more resistant from tampering.

The solon added that to further emphasize decentralization, he also plans to hand control of the blockchain nodes not just to the government, but to private and media organizations, schools, and even budget watchdogs like the PBC.

Goricetta pushed the idea further by proposing data embassies, which are data nodes hosted off-shore but still under Philippine control that can be used for data backup and other critical services.

Edmundo ‘Toti’ G. Casiño of the Philippine Computer Society proposed establishing the data embassy in Iceland to manage the temperature and water resources needed for maintenance.

How much this would cost taxpayers, Casiño didn’t mention.

Divine Adili returned from a three-game absence to power Ateneo to a 78-74 victory over University of the East on Wednesday in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Nigerian center, who has been nursing back issues, delivered 15 points-10 in the final frame where the Blue Eagles erased a seven-point deficit-along with 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.

Adili’s return helped Ateneo snap a five-game losing streak after starting the season with four consecutive wins. The victory lifted the Blue Eagles to an even 5-5 record, tying the Adamson Soaring Falcons at fifth place.

‘Divine, having him back, I don’t think we can overemphasize how important that is. We’ve been a team that, if you study the stats, really struggled around the basket this year. it’s pretty evident that when Divine is out there, it changes the dynamic for the team, and we got more out of him today than we expected,’ Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin said.

It was Ateneo’s first win a month since defeating archrival La Salle, 81-74, on October 5. The victory serves as a crucial springboard for the Blue Eagles as they prepare for their second-round clash with the Green Archers on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UE led by as many as 11 points, 63-52, in the third quarter and entered the final period still ahead, 64-57, but Ateneo was determined to end its slump.

The Blue Eagles reclaimed the lead Adili’s his layup with 3:46 left, 72-71. However, John Abate quickly responded for the Red Warriors with an and-one play to restore a 74-72 advantage with 2:15 remaining.

That turned out to be UE’s final basket of the game, as Ateneo sealed the win from the free throw line. Ian Espinosa and Adili combined to sink six of ten free throws in the last 1:42 to complete the comeback.

‘I feel really excited to be back. I’ve been itching to get back, and I got the opportunity today. I’m just going to keep looking to get 100 percent healthy, do my rehab, and control what I can control,’ said Adili, who has been dealing with a back injury since the start of the season.

Kymani Ladi had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Espinosa chipped in 13 markers.

The win also marked Ateneo’s 16th straight triumph over UE, a streak that dates back to the second round of Season 87. The Red Warriors remain winless at 0-10 this season.

Precious Momowei led UE with another monster performance of 19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. Abate contributed 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

Wello Lingolingo, returning from a three-game suspension, tallied 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists but struggled with his shooting, going just 6-of-21 from the field-including several crucial misses down the stretch.

UE will continue to chase its first win on Saturday when it faces the University of the Philippines at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.