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The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has sent a new subpoena to former House appropriations chairperson Zaldy Co for him to appear for its two hearings scheduled in November.

The ICI delivered the Oct. 20 subpoena to Co’s addresses in Pasig City and Bicol, ordering him to appear on November 11 and 12 at 9 a.m., ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka said at a press briefing on Tuesday, October 28.

Co has yet to return to the Philippines and earlier snubbed the ICI’s first summons for him to attend its October 14 hearing.

That first subpoena to Co was sent alongside subpoenas to former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Both appeared before the ICI.

Co is being asked by the ICI to explain his role as chair of the House’s powerful appropriations committee, a position he held before stepping down in January.

The ICI initially shared that it had considered citing Co in contempt due to his refusal to show up, but decided not to do so due to a supposed difficulty in serving the first subpoena.

On Tuesday, Hosaka said that if Co fails to heed the ICI’s summons again, they would study if there is “enough basis” to pursue remedial measures, including whether to cite him in contempt.

Co has yet to return to the Philippines amid allegations he masterminded dubious insertions in the 2025 budget to allow for kickbacks in flood control projects. He has since denied these allegations.

The former lawmaker has been tagged by the Department of Justice as a person of interest.

Three people died after a truck plunged into the Chico River after hitting two other vehicles in Barangay Tocucan in Bontoc, Mountain Province yesterday.

According to the Bontoc Operations Center, the truck was transporting five construction workers to their project site in Kuro-Kuro, Sadanga town when it collided with a Ford Fiera and a mini dump truck at 6 a.m.

The impact was strong enough to send the truck diving into the Chico River, where emergency responders found at least three bodies.

The Bontoc Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office declared the three dead on-site. BMDRRMO personnel, town police and volunteer rescuers continue with the search for the other missing workers.

Authorities said strong river currents and uneven terrain posed challenges to the retrieval efforts.

Officials have yet to release the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.

Meanwhile, in Magpet town in Cotabato, five people were injured after a truck flipped, hit three motorcycles and slammed six houses along the national highway.

Magpet police said driver Alvin Ilorica lost control of the truck after its brakes malfunctioned while maneuvering through a downhill portion of Barangay Noa.

Investigators said the truck was fully loaded with bananas.

State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) is expecting to raise up to P90 billion from the overhaul of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex in Mindanao.

PSALM president and CEO Dennis Edward dela Serna said the rehabilitation could generate around P40 billion to P90 billion in revenues through a concession agreement with a private sector partner.

This would enable PSALM to slash its financial obligations, bringing them close to zero well before its extended corporate life ends in 2036, he said.

‘The mode that we’re looking at is through a concession. And the concession entails that somebody will rehabilitate it and fix the power plants over a certain period of time,’ dela Serna said.

In particular, he noted that the rehabilitation would be carried out through a public-private partnership (PPP), ensuring its timely completion within President Marcos’ administration.

Asked about the rehabilitation budget, Dela Serna indicated that costs could exceed the initial 2019 estimate of $350 million.

‘PSALM’s plan is to conduct competitive bidding. However, we are also allowed to entertain unsolicited proposals. When an unsolicited proposal is submitted, then we will evaluate based on that following the PPP Code,’ he said.

Situated around Lake Lanao, the Agus-Pulangi complex consists of seven hydropower plants with a total installed capacity of at least 1,000 megawatts. Due to aging facilities, however, only around 600 to 700 MW remain operational.

In August, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who chairs PSALM, said the rehabilitation plan was ‘moving forward’ and stayed on track to be finished by 2028.

Proposed funding for farm-to-market roads (FMR) nearly doubled in the 2026 budget process, increasing from P16 billion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to P32.6 billion in the version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) passed by the House of Representatives.

During the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s budget hearing yesterday, senators questioned its officials over the inclusion of P8 billion worth of FMRs in its proposed 2026 budget.

Finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the amount is not part of the agency’s master plan, warning that the funds could go unused or misaligned with actual agricultural needs.

The implementation of FMR projects has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture (DA) from the DPWH due to questions on the latter’s alleged anomalous implementation leading to ‘extreme overpricing.’

However, the issues raised during Monday’s hearing have yet to be dealt with by the DPWH when the FMR implementation was transferred to the DA.

‘Because we saw in the GAB, there’s a bigger allocation for FMR. So the point is we’re cleaning up the DPWH, we’ve transferred to DA any possible issue,’ Gatchalian said during the budget hearing.

Gatchalian urged DA officials to clarify whether the additional P16 billion was part of the Farm-to-Market Road Network Plan (FMRNP), the department’s master list of validated and feasible road projects.

DA engineer Cristy Polido admitted that not all of the additional FMR projects were included in the network plan.

‘They are yet to be validated. Some of which are included, some of which are yet to be validated and included in the FMRNP,’ Polido said.

She said that out of the 1,656 FMRs worth P32 billion, those amounting to P24 billion had already been validated.

That leaves P8 billion in unvalidated projects, which Gatchalian warned could not be implemented under existing special provisions requiring clearance from the DA.

Gatchalian pointed out that this situation risks wasting P8 billion in public funds if the unvalidated projects remain outside the DA’s official network plan.

Polido said the DA would not implement these if they are not part of the FMNRP.

7 DA ‘ghost projects’

The Department of Agriculture has identified seven ‘ghost projects’ in its ongoing review of unfinished or overpriced government contracts, with a combined reported value of P125 million.

DA assistant secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said on Monday that the current findings were submitted to President Marcos in early October by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

‘Most of these are in Mindanao,’ De Mesa told reporters.

He said the projects include farm-to-market roads, valued at P15 million per kilometer.

De Mesa also said the agency is still waiting for the results of its latest internal audit on farm-to-market roads, meaning they could uncover more ‘ghost projects.’

ICI livestream rules

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure is eyeing to finalize livestreaming rules before its next scheduled hearing around mid-November.

The ICI will conduct its next hearing on Nov. 11, though no resource person has been announced yet.

That day will mark the first time the public will see the inner workings of the commission.

‘We have to tread this matter very carefully,’ ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters on Monday.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. has found a buyer for its losing company in South Korea, putting it on track to end a 10-year investment that hardly turned in profit.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Bloomberry said its indirect unit Golden and Luxury Co. Ltd. has signed a share purchase agreement with Gangwon Blue Mountain Co. Ltd.

Gangwon Blue Mountain has placed a downpayment of 500 million Korean won, or roughly P20 million, to kick off the transaction.

Under the deal with Gangwon Blue Mountain, Golden and Luxury will spin off its casino business to create a separate new company. The resulting entity from the spinoff will be sold afterward to Gangwon Blue Mountain.

Golden and Luxury operates Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino in holiday island Jeju.

Bloomberry bought Golden and Luxury through a series of transactions in 2015, leading to its 9.6-percent stake in the company, while Solaire Korea, also a Bloomberry unit, holds 86.6 percent.

‘The completion of the transaction and payment of the purchase price shall be conditioned upon completion of the demerger, due diligence and regulatory approvals,’ Bloomberry said.

Jeju Sun is a 202-room hotel and resort in Jeju Island, equipped with casino tables, slot machines and dining outlets.

Jeju Sun is within a five-minute drive from the Jeju International Airport and half an hour away from the most visited attractions in the island.

However, Jeju Sun has failed to turn its advantages into revenue, compelling Razon to put it on the chopping block. Jeju Sun recorded an 88-percent drop in gross gaming revenue to P6 million in the first half.

Bloomberry took a P101-million loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from Jeju Sun. All in all, Bloomberry’s loss from Jeju Sun reached P145 million between January and June.

Razon has tried to free Bloomberry from the clutches of Jeju Sun since 2016, noting that the unit has struggled to grow as Seoul prohibits its locals from casinos.

Bloomberry almost sold the property in 2016 to Iao Kun Group Holding Co., but the buyer opted out of the deal for failing to raise the needed funds for a buyout.

The Cebu City Youth Development Office (CCYDO) and two of its Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councils-Barangay Tisa and Barangay Lorega-San Miguel-were among the honorees in the 5th Philippine Sangguniang Kabataan Awards (PSKA) held recently in Manila.

For the third consecutive year, the CCYDO was recognized as one of the Most Outstanding Local Youth Development Offices (LYDOs) in the Philippines.

The award, conferred by the Positive Youth Development Network, the Youth Work Research and Training Center, and the National Youth Commission (NYC), affirms the office’s sustained commitment to inclusive, participatory, and sustainable youth development.

The recognition, CCYDO said, reflects a deeply rooted culture of bayanihan and inter-agency collaboration that empowers young Cebuanos to lead, serve, and shape their communities.

Barangay Tisa’s SK Council was also named among the Most Outstanding SK Projects in the country under the Governance Category for its flagship initiative, the Tisa Youth Development Council (TYDC).

The project exemplifies transparent leadership, youth-led policy initiatives, and consistent civic engagement. TYDC, the group said, stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when young leaders unite with a shared vision to empower, educate, and uplift their peers.

‘This national distinction is a milestone for every Tisaanon youth who continues to dream big, take action, and work hand in hand for positive change,’ the council said.

Meanwhile, Barangay Lorega-San Miguel’s SK Council was recognized under the Environment and Agriculture Category for its twin initiatives-the Lorega Microfarm and Lorega Bazaar-also named among the Most Outstanding SK Projects in the Philippines.

What began as a simple vision to build a greener, more sustainable Lorega has grown into a movement of hope, unity, and transformation.

The Microfarm, nurtured by the barangay’s Eco-Warrior Youth, has become a living classroom for sustainable farming, environmental stewardship, and youth-led innovation.

The project was made possible through the support of mentors, barangay officials, and partners such as Kids Who Farm of Zamboanga and Visayan Electric Company, along with guidance from Barangay Captain Nilo Andrin Dela Cerna, Mayor Nestor Archival, and SK Federation President Rhea Mae Jakosalem.

Through this project, Lorega’s youth have cultivated not only crops but also leadership, resilience, and community pride.

South District Representative Edu Rama lauded the achievements of both SK councils, calling it a proud moment for Cebu City’s 2nd District.

He said the awards highlight the strength, creativity, and dedication of Cebu’s youth-and that true progress begins and endures through young leaders who serve with heart and purpose.

‘Kini nga mga pasidungog nagpamatuod nga lig-on, mamugnaon, ug kugihan ang atong kabatan-onan. Nagpakita usab kini nga ang tinuod nga kalamboan magsugod ug magpadayon pinaagi sa atong mga kabatan-onan nga manguna usab uban ang ilang tinguha ug kasingkasing sa pagpanerbisyo,’ Rama said.

Cebuana Lhuillier, through its insurance arm Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers Inc. (CLIB), is reinforcing its commitment to championing mental health and financial inclusion with the turnover of P10 million worth of insurance coverage under its MindCare initiative to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). The insurance coverage will be distributed nationwide, providing accessible protection to individuals and communities in need of mental health support.

The initiative aligns with the celebration of World Mental Health Day and reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to address the growing need for mental health awareness and accessible protection.

‘Through MindCare, we are extending our advocacy of financial inclusion to encompass mental health,’ said Jean Henri Lhuillier. ‘We believe that empowerment is achieved when Filipinos are both financially secure and emotionally resilient. By partnering with the NCMH, we aim to make mental health protection more accessible to all Filipinos, wherever they may be.’

Developed by CLIB, MindCare is an innovative insurance product designed to provide coverage for mental health consultations and treatments. It demonstrates Cebuana Lhuillier’s broader commitment to developing inclusive financial solutions that address relevant social concerns and promote the overall well-being of Filipinos.

According to Atty. Isagani Acosta, GM of CLIB, MindCare exemplifies the company’s dedication to making insurance more inclusive and responsive. ‘Our objective at CLIB is to offer innovative insurance products that meet the evolving needs of our clients. MindCare recognizes the importance of mental health as a key component of a person’s well-being and ensures that support is available to those who need it most,’ he said.

The P10-million coverage turnover to the NCMH highlights the value of collaboration between the public and private sectors in promoting mental health. As the country’s primary institution for mental health care, NCMH will oversee the nationwide distribution of the insurance coverage, allowing more individuals to benefit from essential mental health services.

Dr. Noel Reyes, medical chief of the NCMH, expressed appreciation for the partnership, stating, ‘We are grateful for Cebuana Lhuillier’s support and commitment to mental health. Partnerships like this help strengthen our capacity to reach more Filipinos and promote greater understanding and acceptance of mental health issues. This initiative is a meaningful step toward a more compassionate and supportive society.’

Through initiatives such as MindCare, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to lead in providing innovative and inclusive insurance solutions. The company remains steadfast in its mission to empower every Filipino with access to financial protection and mental wellness resources that contribute to a stronger, more resilient nation.

Two public cemeteries in Manila have launched online platforms that allow users to locate graves and tombs of their departed loved ones.

The websites of the Manila North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz district and the Manila South Cemetery in Makati both feature search engines that can be used by relatives to find the exact location of burial sites.

Through the ‘Memorial Search’ function on www.manilanorthcemetery.ph, users can view the name, date of death, section, lot and grave number of the deceased. A map is also provided to help users locate the section easily.

Meanwhile, the ‘Grave List’ feature on www.manilasouthcemetery.com displays the full name and grave number of the deceased.

Although the search for graves has become automated, the managements of both cemeteries said their databases are still being updated, with personnel continuously encoding the names of thousands of individuals buried there.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has ordered city government personnel ‘to remain visible and responsive on the ground, emphasizing the need for continuous assistance, crowd management and public safety operations’ during this year’s Undas, the Filipino observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The Manila Police District, Department of Public Services and Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau were instructed to coordinate closely to ensure safety, sanitation and smooth traffic flow.

Domagoso also directed the Manila Department of Social Welfare to assist parents and guardians in cases of missing children and to assign personnel at information desks and command posts to help the elderly, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable visitors.

Travel, security reminders

As millions of Filipinos travel to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, police urged the public to avoid real-time social media posts to prevent attracting criminals.

Maj. Hazel Asilo, spokesperson for the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), warned that burglars monitor posts about empty homes or parked vehicles.

‘As much as possible, we should avoid posting our real-time location or that we have left our homes,’ Asilo told radio dzMM, advising instead to ‘do a late post.’

The NCRPO will deploy 8,575 police officers starting Friday under full-alert status, with a skeleton deployment on Wednesday.

An additional 2,600 barangay watchers will serve as force multipliers, while 277 police assistance desks will operate in crowded Metro Manila areas.

Authorities will only allow sick and emergency leaves for police personnel during the Undas break.

Meanwhile, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. called on police officers to uphold integrity, fairness and public service during the Undas season.

At the PNP’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame, Nartatez reminded officers to remain grateful and disciplined following the release of their 2023 performance-based bonus, credited on Oct. 23.

He said the ongoing 2025 attrition quota processing would be carried out under the ‘nameless, faceless’ recruitment system to ensure merit-based entry.

‘Being a police officer is not just a profession; it is a calling to serve, protect and sacrifice for others,’ Nartatez said.

Around 30,000 PNP personnel will be deployed nationwide from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3 to secure cemeteries, transport terminals and major routes.

‘Our deployment plan is in place, in close coordination with LGUs and other government agencies,’ he said. ‘Let us work together to ensure a peaceful, orderly and solemn Undas 2025.’

Motorists assistance

To ensure safe travel, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) reactivated its ‘Biyaheng Arangkada’ motorists assistance program covering the NLEX, SCTEX, NLEX Connector, CALAX, CAVITEX and CCLEX.

About 2,000 traffic, toll and emergency personnel will be on duty, working with the PNP, LGUs and other agencies.

Free towing for Class 1 and Class 1M (for CCLEX) vehicles to the nearest exit will be offered from 6 a.m. of Oct. 30 to 6 a.m. of Nov. 3, while roadworks will be suspended during the same period, except for emergency repairs.

To ease bottlenecks, NLEX Corp. regraded shoulder lanes in key areas for counterflow operations. Motorists are advised to plan their trips and avoid peak hours, especially during the afternoons of Oct. 29 to 31, morning of Nov. 1, afternoon of Nov. 2 and morning of Nov. 3.

Motorists can use the MPT DriveHub app for real-time traffic updates, RFID reloading and assistance.

Maynilad will distribute free bottled water, while Smart Communications will provide free WiFi and charging stations in select locations.

MPTC encourages motorists to ensure their vehicles are in good condition and RFID accounts are sufficiently loaded before traveling.

Hidilyn Diaz’s influence is in full effect.

Weightlifters from her training centers in Rizal and hometown Zamboanga City made their moves even as tracksters propelled Manila to an early lead in the explosive second day of the 2025 Batang Pinoy yesterday at the Barangay Labangal Gymnasium here.

Both avid fans of Diaz with hopes of following her suit, Stephanie Mandigma led Rizal’s three-gold medal haul while Kyle Nathan Kue carried the fight for Zamboanga en route to a five-gold medal harvest.

The 14-year-old Mandigma lifted a total of 113 kilograms to rule the girls’ 40kg division while Kyle Nathan Kue carried a total of 150kg (65 in snatch, 85 in clean and jerk) to reign supreme in the boys’ 12-age category.

‘Coach Hidilyn inspires me. Thankful po ako na maging coach si Hidilyn kasi kung wala po siya, hindi ko makukuha itong gold,’ said Mandigma.

‘It inspires me to work harder so I can be the next Olympian of the Philippines, win many medals throughout my life and become famous like my idol, Ate Hidilyn,’ said Kue.

Pep Samantha Agosto, also from Diaz’s training center in Rizal, topped the girls’ 11-age category with a 135kg lift.

For Zamboanga, Hero Anthony Alas-as (95kg in boys’ 10), Jane Marie Manalo (108kg in girls’ 10), Cydrille Jay Andalahao (115kg in boys’ 38kg division) and Precious Jade Lozada (90kg in girls’ 36kg division) took top honors.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated yesterday at the Manila International Container Port P12.96 million worth of alleged misdeclared frozen chicken breasts and fish balls believed smuggled from China.

Customs personnel found 5,300 cartons of fish balls and sacks of frozen chicken breasts inside two shipping containers, according to BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla.

The BOC said the shipment’s consignee violated Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, joined the BOC in inspecting the smuggled goods.

Pangilinan asked if the frozen chicken breasts were safe for human consumption.

The confiscated goods will be sent to the Bureau of Animal Industry to test if the chicken products are contaminated with bird flu or E. coli bacteria.