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The low end of the government’s growth target for the year remains within reach despite expectations of a slowdown in government spending amid the flood control controversy, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

‘The low end of the range is still very much achievable,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters on the sidelines of the European-Philippine Business Dialogue.

For this year, the government is aiming for a 5.5 to 6.5 percent gross domestic product growth.

In the first semester, the economy posted an average growth of 5.4 percent.

Revelations of alleged irregularities in flood control projects have prompted the government to put many projects on hold.

With infrastructure spending expected to slow down, Balisacan said the economic team is set to meet next week to discuss the way forward.

While there may be a bit of a slowdown in the third quarter economic performance due to typhoons that disrupted economic activities, Balisacan is hopeful that it will not be lower than the 5.5 percent growth posted in the second quarter.

He told The STAR earlier that third quarter growth is expected to be at the same pace or slightly better than the second quarter, citing low inflation, labor market improvements as well as higher exports.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto also said that growth in the third quarter could slow down amid greater scrutiny in government spending.

Balisacan said the flood control scandal is expected to impact both investment and consumer sentiment.

He also expects uncertainties in the external environment, particularly from tariffs imposed by the United States, to affect investment growth.

‘But we believe that the setbacks are very temporary,’ Balisacan said, noting that the flood control scandal gives the country an opportunity to address issues affecting the economy’s medium and long-term prospects.

‘As a result of this, we can put our house into better order. We can put reforms. We can get these institutional processes to address these issues. So we establish a better foundation for long-term growth,’ he said.

According to Balisacan, the six to seven percent annual growth target set for next year until 2028 remains doable.

Despite uncertainties mainly due to the US tariffs, he said the outlook is a little better now.

‘So we hope that there will be greater clarity and less uncertainty in the coming years,’ Balisacan said.

For most of the game, Magnolia couldn’t shake off hard-fighting Titan Ultra, which repeatedly climbed out of double-digit holes.

But come the payoff canto, veterans Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang made sure the Hotshots would finally land the KO blow.

With the two veterans sparking a 13-0 salvo to start the fourth, the troops of LA Tenorio secured a 127-119 win over the Giant Risers to take the lead in the PBA Philippine Cup at 2-0 last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Barroca and Sangalang, embracing their new roles coming off the bench, combined for 10 in that telling run that enabled the Hotshots to seize a 105-88 upperhand, which they later stretched to 119-98.

Sangalang finished with 21 while Barroca shot 16 with seven assists in backing up Zav Lucero, who dished out a 23-point, 17-rebound, four-assist performance in the follow-up to their 80-73 victory over Ginebra on opening night.

‘Vets are vets. Whether they get five, 10, 15 minutes, I know they will deliver,’ said Tenorio.

Later, Meralco unleashed a 33-14 closing barrage to defeat Ginebra, 89-75. The Bolts improved to 2-2 off a 0-2 start while sending the Gin Kings to 1-2.

Today, October 18, 2025, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) returns to its birthplace, Cebu, where it was founded in 2007.

NUPL is a ‘nationwide voluntary association of human rights lawyers as well as lawyers from mainstream bar groups or traditional legal practice who have expressed interest in human rights lawyering and advocacy in various degrees and capacities.’

I was still a Law student back then when around 89 lawyers from across the country, together with paralegals and fellow Law students, first assembled in Cebu in September 15-16, 2007 amid the increasingly repressive atmosphere under the then-unpopular Arroyo administration.

NUPL thus says in reference to its founding congress in Cebu: ‘The genesis of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) emerged from the urgent need for a structured response to the grave human rights violations during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.’ These abuses, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and political harassment, along with the then impending passage of the Human Security Act of 2007, showed the urgent need for organized legal action and advocacy.

By 2016, during its 4th Congress in Legazpi City, Albay, NUPL had grown to more than 20 chapters nationwide. As of 2023, it has 258 member-lawyers in chapters throughout the country, making the NUPL the largest lawyers’ organization in the Philippines in terms of membership. If Law student members and paralegals are included, the number grows even larger.

For its 7th National Congress, the NUPL returns to Cebu with the theme: ‘Seven Congresses Strong: Advancing Peoples’ Lawyering in the Struggle for Rights, Justice, and Accountability.’ That the congress was first held in Cebu and has now returned for its seventh is a testament to Cebu’s enduring role in the defense of human rights, both historical and contemporary.

But as a member of the NUPL, I can say that it is more than just human rights lawyering. In the words of Boehringer (Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2015), ‘progressive lawyers have formed organizations for the specificpractice of law in the interests of the people.’ So what exactly is peoples’ lawyering, and how is it distinguished from ordinary legal aid to the marginalized?

In the Philippine context, says NUPL chairman Edre Olalia in a 2013 presentation culled from the late NUPL founding chairman Romeo T. Capulong’s ‘Lawyering for the Oppressed and the Exploited Poor: Selected Speeches on People’s Lawyering in the Philippine Context’, ‘peoples’ lawyer’ means lawyering for the overwhelming majority of our people composed of peasants, workers, urban poor, small fisherfolk, indigenous people, women, youth, and migrant workers.

While traditional legal aid also serves the poor and marginalized, the key difference lies in the perspective of the peoples’ lawyer. A peoples’ lawyer helps the poor not just because they cannot afford legal fees, but because he or she understands that their poverty and the injustices they suffer come from an unjust system that must be changed. Thus, beyond providing competent legal services, a people’s lawyer is also deeply committed to social change as part of his or her work.

Says the late Atty. Capulong: ‘Unlike the typical pro bono lawyer, the people’s lawyers do not limit themselves to the generally accepted interpretation and use of the law to uphold and protect their clients’ interest. They know that in an elite-dominated society, the law is merely the expression of elite interests. Instead, they take a critical view of the law and what the law should be from the perspective of the disenfranchised or marginalized client.

‘Unlike the traditional practitioner who pleads the client’s cause during adversarial proceedings with the cold neutrality of a skilled legal technician, the people’s lawyers fight with passion and dedication to the legal as well as the social cause of the client, pleading such cause in and outside the courtroom or legal fora, in dialogue and negotiations, in networking and building alliances, in street rallies, in media, in legislative inquiries and hearings, and in symposia and conferences.’

At the 2007 NUPL Founding Congress in Cebu, then Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno delivered these resounding words: ‘By calling yourselves the ‘people’s lawyer,’ you have made a remarkable choice. You decided not to remain in the sidelines. Where human rights are assaulted, you have chosen to sacrifice the comfort of the fence to the dangers of the battlefield. But only those who choose to fight on the battlefield live beyond irrelevance.’

The government is partnering with internet analyst Ookla to improve monitoring of connectivity speed and response time to outages as part of efforts to narrow the digital gap in the Philippines.

In a joint statement with Ookla, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said they are enhancing transparency in the publication of data on internet speeds.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said ‘transparency is the new sexy,’ perhaps in reference to the public demand for truth over the alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

In response, Aguda said the DICT is stepping up measures for consumers to learn more about the quality of their internet connection at home and on mobile. Ookla gives the agency access to the Downdetector dashboard to find out about service outages in real time.

Aguda said the DICT would maximize this access to quickly report disruptions to the responsible provider.

The partnership also supports the DICT’s Oplan Bantay Signal, which is a platform that enables users to check their internet speed in real time.

Likewise, the tie-up mandates Ookla to submit quarterly reports on network performance of telco providers so the DICT can identify which areas are lagging and where improvements are needed.

‘With this strategic alliance (with Ookla), we reaffirm DICT’s dedication to a Philippines where connectivity is transparent, reliable and always improving,’ he added.

The DICT, through Oplan Bantay Signal, operates a dashboard where consumers can find which provider is turning in the quickest download speeds. The platform also monitors the availability, consistency and reliability of Dito, GOMO, Globe, Smart, Sun, TM and TNT.

AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez remained on a collision course by reaching the semifinals of the Gentry National Tennis Open Championship at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan Thursday.

Lim, the top seed and recent PCA Open champion, routed Alexis Acabo, 6-0, 6-1, in the Round of 16, before dismantling Thai bet Tanakorn Srirat, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals. He now braces for a semis showdown with No. 9 seed Charles Kinaadman.

Olivarez is eyeing revenge and redemption, powering past Evan Bacalso, 6-0, 6-1, and then outclassing Eric Jay Tangub, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the Final Four. Standing in his way is unseeded Arthur Pantino, who has emerged as the tournament’s surprise package.

Far Eastern U turned back Saint Benilde, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, to secure the last twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup yesterday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

Alyzza Devosora stepped up in the fourth set and carried the Lady Tamaraws to an all-important victory to close the second round with a 2-1 win-loss record and the No. 2 spot in Pool F.

The outside spiker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth set, including four of FEU’s last six points of the match.

‘Tumatakbo sa isip namin na quarterfinals, kailangan maganda ‘yung standings namin. Goal talaga namin 3-0 kaso medyo nakulangan, naging shaky, nawalan ng pasa. So mas in-improve namin yun para makuha yung last set,’ Devosora said.

Once director Josh Boone read the script for Regretting You, the movie adaptation of the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, he jumped right in.

‘Regretting You is a coming-of-age story about relationships between parents and children growing up, like my previous films Stuck in Love and The Fault in Our Stars,’ shares Boone. ‘I have always been and always will be attracted to movies about families, specifically kids who are finding out that their parents are fallible. That’s an important moment in anybody’s life.’

In Regretting You, Allisom Williams and Mckenna Grace play the mother-daughter duo of Morgan and Clara Grant, respectively, as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. Regretting You is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco, Mason Thames and Sam Morelos, with Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown.

The story works on multiple levels, says Allison Williams, which makes it perfect for a wide audience. ‘There’s so much contained within this movie,’ says Williams, who plays Morgan Grant.

‘When I’m talking to another mother, I say it’s about a mom who is watching her daughter go through a moment that completely changed her own life. She is hoping that her daughter won’t do the same thing, but at the same time she does not regret having her daughter. When I talk to younger people, it’s about a couple that’s clearly meant to be together. That could actually be referring to either of the romances in the movie. It is also about a relationship that begins at the moment when two kids are about to embark on a new adventure in the world. That’s part of what made it so meaty and such fun to work on.’

For Mckenna Grace, who plays Morgan’s teen daughter Clara, the story was also a big reason she wanted to be part of the film; it was the quality of the script that impressed her from the start.

‘It hits all the right places,’ Grace says. ‘It’s really sad, but still such fun. When I read the book, I really connected to Clara. The dialogue felt so natural that I sometimes threw in things from the book that weren’t in the script, but that were so right for Clara. Josh created such a fun and safe environment to create in that it was easy. He’s so much funnier himself than I ever expected.’

When Boone offered Dave Franco the chance to play Morgan’s love interest, Jonah, Franco seized the opportunity to play a character different from what he’s played before.

‘I have played degenerates in recent films, so when he [Josh] called and asked if I was open to playing a nice guy, I was ready,’ says Franco. ‘It is fun to play morally ambiguous characters, but it’s also nice to play someone that audiences can root for.’

‘There is a lot of drama in this movie and a lot of romance,’ continues Franco. ‘Mckenna once said that she’s either crying or kissing or doing both in every single scene. And that’s not far from the truth. We’re hitting the broad spectrum of emotion.’

Mason Thames, who plays Miller (Clara’s love interest), agrees. ‘This movie can be very sad, but it’s also very sweet, often funny and a bit of a journey. I hope the audience leaves crying. It’s an emotional roller coaster, so bring plenty of tissues.’

Hoover, whose stories are known for powerful emotions, tumultuous relationships and unforgettable characters, shares: ‘Audiences will have a fun and emotional experience. It is something you can watch with friends and family and feel good about, then go back and watch it a second time with a different group of friends. It’s just a real feel-good movie.’

There are certainly heartbreaking moments, but ultimately the filmmakers want audiences to be uplifted by the tale. ‘No matter what, life keeps going and things keep happening,” says Boone. ‘You are going to laugh again. I say that from experience.’

Regretting You, from Paramount Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas this October 22.

The Los Angeles Dodgers moved to within one win of returning to the World Series on Thursday, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts and second baseman Tommy Edman both drove in runs while starter Tyler Glasnow recorded eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings in front of 51,251 fans at Dodger Stadium.

The result leaves the Brewers needing to stage a near-miraculous comeback in the National League Championship Series to keep their World Series hopes alive.

A municipal councilor tagged in a bomb attack that killed two barangay officials and injured eight others in Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao del Sur early this year has been arrested.

Allan Ganoy, 44, of the Datu Salibo municipal council was arrested near the Cotabato Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Oct. 11.

Ganoy did not resist when agents of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the local police collared him.

The suspect was tagged in a bomb attack that killed Manaot Silongan, then chairman of Barangay Pendeten in Datu Salibo, and former kagawad Salik Katua.

The victims were walking in Barangay Ganta when an improvised explosive device exploded.

Cebu’s tourism industry, long known for its resilience, is once again put to the test. The recent 6.9-magnitude quake that rattled the province on September 30 may have lasted only seconds, but its aftershocks continue to reverberate, and at this time through empty hotel rooms and cancelled tour bookings. One of the core sectors that puts Cebu on the map continues to be threatened.

The Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) admits that the impact has been staggering. According to HRRAC President Mia Singson-Leon, cancellations poured in for October and November, hitting both group and individual bookings. The losses already run into the millions. The reasons are concerns over safety, should another earthquake hit the city. Guests also worry about cancelled flights or boat trips, fearing they might get stranded if another calamity strikes.

The problem isn’t just fear. Truth be told, it’s misinformation too. Rumors of widespread damage in Central and Southern Cebu have circulated online, discouraging travelers from pushing through with their trips. In reality, most roads and bridges remain intact. The industry is wary that tourism jobs and livelihoods are at risk if this continues. It’s a sobering thought. Every cancelled booking doesn’t just affect hotel owners. Those affected include front desk clerks, tour guides, transport providers, and vendors who depend on visitors’ spending.

Still, there’s reason to stay hopeful. The HRRAC continues to reassure the public that Cebu’s hospitality sector remains open and safe. Rigorous safety checks are constantly done. In fact, key destinations such as Mactan, Moalboal, Badian, and Cebu City have largely been spared. The beaches are still turquoise, the waterfalls still cascade, and the city’s warmth remains.

The Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CATG) has also seen a worrying decline in tour bookings. CATG president PG Guba said many tourists have either postponed or canceled trips through the rest of the year. This even after engineers cleared tourist sites and accommodations as safe. The situation is ‘alarming’, especially since this was supposed to be their peak season following the lean months of June and July. The group has even implemented safety protocols to ensure guests know what to do in case another tremor occurs.

Meanwhile, up north in Bantayan Island, local officials are eager to set the record straight. Councilor Jaypee Lao of Santa Fe clarified that their tourism operations remain fully open despite a few cancellations. Viral photos showing Hagnaya Port submerged in water, he said, were taken during high tide is a normal occurrence. There was no major damage or injuries, and all tourist facilities, accommodations, transport services, and attractions are open.

For travelers, that means the island’s powdery white beaches and calm turquoise waters await. It is untouched, unbroken, and ready to welcome everyone back. Cebu may be shaken, but its spirit stands firm. The call now is simple: believe the facts, not the fear. If we want to retain Cebu as thriving then let’s help each other. The province’s beauty and hospitality are still here, waiting to be rediscovered.