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To address a regional housing backlog of 40,000 units, Baguio developers have urged the government to tap land in neighboring towns of Benguet province instead of within the city for new low-cost settlements.

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (Creba) said utilizing land outside Baguio would help developers compensate for the city’s shortfall in providing homes to 28,123 residents who lack titled properties, live with extended families in cramped spaces, or have been displaced by disasters, based on a 2016 inventory.

The issue was discussed during a briefing this week organized by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Antoinette Anaban, DHSUD Cordillera director, proposed tapping into BLISTT an acronym for Baguio and its neighboring Benguet towns La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.

Relocation

BLISTT was formerly an economic collaboration now granted metropolitan status by Republic Act No. 11932 and governed by the Metropolitan Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA) modeled after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Emmanuel Clemente, Creba president for Baguio and Benguet, said the BLISTT municipalities could identify suitable areas for housing and license the private sector to develop projects there.

The BLISTT concept (originally BLIST without Tublay) was conceived by the late city architect Joseph Alabanza and his staff at the former National Economic Development Authority (Neda) as a strategy to salvage potential investments by relocating them to Baguio’s neighboring towns after the devastating Luzon earthquake on July 16, 1990.

Urban planners from the European Union later reinforced this idea, envisioning a new Baguio metropolis that would relocate major industries and build residential suburbs in adjoining Benguet towns. This would improve local economies while easing urban pressures in Baguio, such as overdevelopment and overpopulation.

However, the plan was initially met with resistance from Baguio’s neighbors, who were reluctant to play subordinate roles.

Decades later, BLISTT (with Tublay included) was formed as a loose mutual assistance group among local governments.

In 2019, the Cordillera office of Neda (now the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, or DepDev) commissioned an urban carrying capacity study for Baguio.

The study found that most resources water, forest cover, roads, and land had already reached unsustainable thresholds for the city’s current population, with land availability for development maxed out since 2015.

Real estate prices in Baguio also pose challenges, said Ramon Tagle, Creba Baguio-Benguet chair, making social housing projects prohibitively expensive. Some prime properties in downtown Session Road reportedly sold for as much as P250,000 per square meter, according to old tax maps.

Tagle also highlighted environmental concerns with relocating to Benguet towns, such as vulnerability to landslides worsened by climate change.

Baguio has shifted some social housing projects to the outskirts, with developments like Luna Terraces in Barangay Irisan and newly purchased land in Tuba for future housing, Anaban said.

The latest housing backlog in Baguio has reportedly decreased to 16,000 as of 2025.

Tropical Storm Nakri slightly intensified as it approached the northeastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but is not expected to directly affect the country, the state weather bureau said Thursday, Oct. 9.

In its 10 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Nakri was last located 1,445 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon.

The storm packed maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts of up to 90 kph, moving northwestward at 25 kph, and is forecast to maintain this motion.

Although Nakri is likely to enter PAR on Friday afternoon or evening, Pagasa said it will not directly affect the weather or sea conditions in the Philippines, and no tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted.

However, the southerly and northeasterly windflows will bring strong to gale-force gusts to some portions of the country.

Meanwhile, a new low-pressure area is being monitored inside PAR. According to Pagasa, it is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

With the aggression of China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines, based on data from the Asian Barometer 6th Wave (2020 and ongoing), stood out for its ‘deep skepticism toward China.’

Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, pointed out that close to six in 10 Filipinos, or 59 percent, believed China does more harm than good.

‘[It is] one of the highest levels of distrust in the region,’ he said.

Panao stressed that this places the Philippines alongside Taiwan and South Korea, both democratic societies that view China’s assertiveness as a threat to sovereignty and regional order at 64 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

Only 37.67 percent of Filipinos believe China does more good than harm.

China is asserting false claims over the West Philippine Sea through its nine, now 10-dash line, which has already been declared baseless and illegal by a 2016 arbitral decision.

RELATED STORY: West PH Sea: DFA cites Treaty of Paris to assert PH territorial rights

Its aggression, met with protests not only from the Philippines, is characterized by artificial island-building, water cannon, military laser, and sonic attacks, blocking of resupply missions, and deployment of maritime militias.

As Panao pointed out, ‘Filipino skepticism [.] is rooted in visible maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea and a growing sense that Chinese influence is expanding faster than the country’s ability to manage it.’

This is why the level of distrust ‘runs deeper than geopolitics,’ contrary to reasons behind the higher level of trust toward China from other countries in Asia that are more economically dependent on Beijing.

Over 50 percent of Cambodians and 47 percent of Mongolians say China does more good, reflecting strong aid and infrastructure ties. Thailand’s views are similarly tempered, with 42 percent viewing China with more optimism.

This suggests ‘a pragmatic balance between economic benefit and strategic caution.’

But in the case of the Philippines, Panao stressed that ‘while trade and investment link the two nations, trust remains elusive.’

‘Compared to its neighbors, the Philippines’ wariness underscores a broader regional reality: China’s rise inspires cooperation in some quarters, but anxiety in others especially where its power is felt most directly,’ he said.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion complaints at the Department of Justice against contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya for more than P7.1 billion in tax liabilities from 2018 to 2021.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said three separate cases were filed on Wednesday against the couple for unpaid individual income taxes, excise on their nine luxury vehicles, and documentary stamp taxes linked to their supposed divestment from four construction firms.

Lumagui said the P7.1 billion in deficiency ‘was just the tip of the iceberg,’ noting that the cases mainly covered the spouses’ individual tax liabilities for 2018 to 2021, while audits for other years are still going on.

‘We conducted essentially something like lifestyle checks here. We looked at their properties and compared them with the taxes they paid, and we were able to build the tax evasion case against them individually,’ he explained.

Transferred shares, luxury cars

The second case, which also implicated a corporate officer of one of their construction firms, stemmed from their failure to file and pay the required documentary stamp tax returns.

Citing the general information sheets of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corp., St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp., and Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corp., the BIR said the companies had several transfers or disposals of shares of stock.

Alpha and Omega and St. Timothy were among the top 15 contractors that cornered the most number of flood control projects, according to a list released by Malacañang.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier revealed that P100 billion, or about 20 percent of the P545-billion budget for flood mitigation projects since 2022, went to only 15 contractors, including the two Discaya-owned firms.

During legislative hearings, the Discayas claimed they had divested themselves of interests in these firms, but the BIR’s probe showed they failed to pay the documentary stamp tax and file the proper returns to validate the share transfers.

‘When you divest from a corporation, when you sell shares of stock in a corporation, there should also be corresponding tax payments. The transfer of shares should also be reported. We saw that they also failed to pay the taxes related to the transfer of these shares of stock,’ Lumagui noted.

The BIR also found that the couple and St. Gerrard failed to file excise returns and pay the corresponding imposts on nine luxury vehicles registered under their names, based on Land Transportation Office records.

‘Just getting started’

Lumagui said the bureau is continuing its audit and investigation of the Discayas and other contractors linked to the flood control controversy.

‘We’re just getting started; the audits of the other construction companies owned by the Discaya spouses are still ongoing. So far, we’ve only filed cases based on their individual liabilities and those related to St. Gerrard. The audits of the other corporations mentioned in the flood control projects are still ongoing,’ he said in Filipino.

‘It’s not just the contractors. We’ve also started conducting lifestyle checks on various personalities involved . (The politicians) are among those we’re looking into,’ Lumagui said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has vowed to transfer the P3-billion allocation for a military infrastructure program to the Department of National Defense (DND) from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), citing low completion rates and projects tagged as finished that turned out to be incomplete.

Gatchalian said this would also ensure that the projects would fit the program’s objective. The Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (Tikas) program is part of the joint efforts of the DND and the DPWH to bolster the defense and security capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

During the budget hearing on Tuesday on the DND’s P295-billion proposed budget for 2026, the Senate finance committee chair pointed to several unfinished DPWH projects under the Tikas program.

These included two multipurpose buildings for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Pasay City, valued at P72 million and P51 million, respectively. Both had been tagged as completed but were found to be unfinished.

Two other PAF projects, valued at P60 million and P17 million, respectively, also lack complete funding.

‘For 2026, we will transfer the P3 billion to the DND. What’s important is to finish and to ensure that our soldiers benefit from every peso of the funds,’ Gatchalian said.

‘The buildings are being put to waste; they are standing but are not being used. It would be better if the DND itself would implement the projects because they themselves know what their needs are,’ he added.

No validation

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reported that out of 944 approved Tikas projects since 2019, only 648 have been completed, with several left unfinished or unusable.

He said the DND has supervisory authority and vowed that ‘we will not allow these things to happen anymore.’

According to Teodoro, there was no validation of whether or not the standing structures could be used.

‘That’s why the remedy is to meticulously check these projects. We will also report these to the committee. We already have the inventory that we’re willing to submit,’ he said.

Teodoro added that they would also talk to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to discuss the possible filing of appropriate cases against people behind such projects.

‘These structures were essential, but these were not part of the core infrastructure-based development program . These do not fall in line anymore with our strategic basing and operational security requirements . and henceforth, these will not be pursued anymore, yet recovery must be done,’ he said.

‘Sometimes, funding did not continue.there were projects that were funded only for the first year, but the following year, no more funding was released. That happens because completion is by phase design is complete, but funding is released in a staggered phase. So when the project is not completed, money is wasted,’ he added.

Trading of PhilWeb Corp.’s shares were suspended for one hour on Thursday following news of a possible change in control, with Gregorio Araneta Inc. (GAINC) selling its 57-percent stake for P1.8 billion.

In a notice, the Philippine Stock Exchange said the trading suspension would be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The gaming technology operator announced GAINC’s exit and the sale of its entire stake to Nexora Holdings Inc. and Velora Holdings Inc.

Both are domestic holding companies that are not engaged in securities brokering, PhilWeb said in its disclosure on Thursday.

Since the acquisition involved more than 35 percent of PhilWeb’s outstanding voting shares, the buying companies are required to conduct a tender offer to all remaining shareholders.

The blue ribbon committee hearings on the anomalous flood control projects will continue amid the change in leadership in the powerful panel, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III said on Wednesday.

Sotto confirmed that Sen. Erwin Tulfo has taken over the committee in an acting capacity following the resignation of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as chair.

‘It will continue. The blue ribbon is always alive. That’s the only committee that has motu proprio powers,’ Sotto told reporters after a caucus by the majority senators.

He said Senators JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Raffy Tulfo and Francis Pangilinan have all declined so they could focus on their respective committees.

Erwin Tulfo, as the panel’s only vice chair, automatically assumes the post.

Just ‘acting’

Sotto said it was now up to the majority and Tulfo whether the latter’s designation will be permanent.

For now, the Senate President said, Tulfo has accepted the post.

‘He accepted the post. He told me: ‘Just acting for now,” Sotto said.

In a statement, Tulfo expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence given by his colleagues. He vowed to uphold the committee’s mandate.

‘I thank Senate President Tito Sotto and my colleagues in the Senate for the trust in allowing me to serve as acting chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee,’ he said.

He added that the blue ribbon committee plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government.

‘I am aware that many Filipinos rely on this committee to investigate those who took advantage of public funds, regardless of their position in government or political affiliation,’ he said.

Tulfo, who is on an official trip abroad, said he was looking forward to the appointment of a permanent chairperson soon to ensure continuity and confidence in the committee’s work.

Sotto said the five candidates for chair have told him earlier they were still hoping that Lacson would change his mind.

Lacson formally resigned as chair of the blue ribbon panel last Monday.

In his resignation letter dated Oct. 7 and addressed to Sotto, Lacson noted how a number of their colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee hearings on the anomalous flood control projects.

‘Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ said Lacson.

He, however, denied these claims.

‘This narrative is categorically false. These misrepresentations are being floated mostly by critics opposed to our efforts to get to the bottom of the flood control anomalies,’ he said.

Hearings continue

Sotto, meanwhile, said committee hearings will continue despite the Senate’s scheduled adjournment on Friday.

‘The reason we have this break is so that the committee hearings continue. There will be continuous hearings of the different committees and even most especially the committee on finance, almost daily,’ he added.

The plenary session was suspended last week until Friday, Oct. 10, which Sotto explained, was to give priority to the committee on finance hearings.

‘Sessions have been suspended since last week till Friday due to conflict with budget hearings which have to stop every 3 p.m. There are no immediate legislation in the agenda other than the [general appropriations bill] so we deemed it necessary to give way so we can have our committee meetings,’ Sotto had said earlier.

Congress will be on recess until Nov. 9 and will resume session on Nov. 10.

It took the University of the Philippines to solve the UAAP puzzle that was Ateneo.

Starting strong and finishing even stronger, the defending champions halted the Blue Eagles’ run at four games after an 83-69 victory on Wednesday in Season 88’s men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.

‘I believe we started well in the first quarter,’ said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, whose wards notched a third straight victory after starting the season on back-to-back defeats. ‘We told our bench players to try and sustain our momentum in the game.’

Francis Nnoruka dominated the paint in the UP win with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Noy Remogat and Harold Alarcon scored 20 and 17 points, respectively, to fuel their steady rise in the standings.

The Maroons took a slim lead at the half and turned it into a 64-49 after three quarters as the Blue Eagles again had another second-half letdown.

In starting the season with four straight wins, Ateneo has had a noticeable dip in the final two quarters of each game and that came to bite Tab Baldwin’s charges hard this time.

‘We didn’t really give that (second half) some [added] attention, but knowing coach Tab, he would adjust on those things properly,’ Monteverde said.

NU rebounds

‘We talked about our lapses in the first half, we addressed everything regarding our composure, and I think it showed,’ he added.

In the first game, National University bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 56-54 victory over Adamson.

Jake Figueroa led NU with 17 points, three assists, two rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the win that sent the Bulldogs to a 4-1 record.

UP’s defense made sure Ateneo couldn’t get its main weapon going in the game. After averaging nine triples made a game (No. 1 in the league) on a 34.6 percent clip (No. 1), the Blue Eagles were held to just four three-pointers on 17.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Ateneo’s struggles inside the paint also showed. Ranked second to the last in points in the shaded area, the Blue Eagles attacked the paint three times in a third-quarter sequence and got nothing. Meanwhile, the Maroons sandwiched those misses with baskets of their own to take a 63-46 cushion, the game’s biggest at that point.

Shawn Tuano led the Blue Eagles, much like he did vs La Salle, but this time, his 17 points weren’t enough. Kymani Ladi had 15 as Ateneo dropped to a share of the lead with a 4-1 record.

NLEX dedicated its come-from-behind 85-84 victory over defending champion San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup to ace scorer Robert Bolick, who is mourning the loss of his father.

Bolick was not around for Wednesday’s thrilling contest at Ynares Center here after he flew to the United States to visit the wake of Robert Lee Bolick Sr., a former United States serviceman.

The elder Bolick was 82 years old, according to an obituary page found online.

‘Kuya Berto, be strong,’ Jonnel Policarpio said after helping the Road Warriors overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half.

NLEX said Bolick left the country on the eve of the team’s opening assignment in the season-opening conference.

Even without Bolick, NLEX was able to withstand the challenge of starting the conference facing San Miguel, which ruled the centerpiece conference last July.

Coach Jong Uichico opted to spread the minutes to Matt Nieto, Enoch Valdez, Baser Amer and Kevin Alas, who had 12 points and five rebounds for the Road Warriors, in Bolick’s absence.

But the biggest factors were Policarpio and Brandon Ramirez with 16 points each plus JB Bahio with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Road Warriors.

Singers Gian Magdangal and Lara Maigue made their wedding day even more special as they celebrated the milestone by gifting their listeners with their new song ‘If You Only Knew.’

The couple said their ‘I dos’ in a church ceremony held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish church in Muntinlupa, as seen in the photos and clips they reposted on their respective Instagram pages on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Maigue looked radiant in a white off shoulder dress, complementing her groom who donned a gray suit.

Among the guests at the wedding were the couple’s fellow singers Martin Nievera and Carla Guevara.

Magdangal and Maigue then announced in a separate post the release of their new track in which they are both credited as composers.

‘A song released on the most meaningful day of our lives. ‘If You Only Knew’ out now,’ the caption read.

Magdangal and Maigue, who have been in a relationship since the height of the pandemic, announced their engagement to the public last July. Before they dated, the couple had been friends and had already worked together in several projects.