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The Social Security System (SSS) has stepped up efforts to collect unpaid social security premium contributions, with at least 200 individuals recently served with demand letters, officials confirmed.

SSS account officer Jan Michael Olaivar told reporters that employers who fail to comply could face criminal prosecution.

‘Usually, they would eventually settle if they know it is the end of the line,’ Olaivar said.

He added that settling obligations is crucial, warning that delinquency cases usually reach the courts if employers fail to comply.

Olaivar noted that three high-profile businesses were recently issued warrants of arrest in connection with similar violations, underscoring the seriousness of the crackdown by SSS.

Among these is a prominent bar and a pizza house.

Under the law, employers and self-employed individuals are required to remit monthly contributions to the SSS. Failure to do so can result in penalties, demand letters, or even criminal charges for repeat offenders.

The agency urged members to take immediate action to update their accounts, reminding them that contributions ensure eligibility for benefits such as retirement pensions, sickness coverage, and other social protection programs.

Cell phone technology has really transformed how people bet on sports. Speed, convenience and apps are at the forefront and online gambling has never been easier or more exciting.

From real-time odds to instant bets, smartphone technology is very much changing the way fans are affiliated with their beloved sports. The era of betting at the local bookie or on desktop PCs is long gone. With smartphone and tablet devices today, the thrill of the match now resides in the palm of your hand.

From Desktop to Mobile Betting

Betting on sports has been completely transformed from static websites to cell phones. Where once players would sit in the living room on desktops, now they pull out their phones and wager within seconds. The revolution has presented a much more dynamic experience. With a sports wager on a real-time event, fans can now witness every twist and turn.

Betting on the go is perfectly in sync with the rhythm of sports and spectators from around the world can bet on a sporting event while riding on a bus, in the stands, or at a bar, watching the action. The convenience and mobility of portable technology have really galvanized sports betting participation to all-time highs.

Guides and websites that display reputable sites also facilitate convenience. For example, sites like SBO.net provide punters with information on where to bet swiftly and safely, helping ensure that they make sound decisions within an expanding marketplace.

Speed, Wager Live on the Move

Speed is one of the characteristic benefits of mobile betting. Sports are very fast-paced and bettors desire their wagering choices to be equally so. With an app, it may only require a few taps to make a live bet. Odds are updated in real time. The user can react quickly to a change in a team’s tempo, an injury, or an explosive play.

Convenience is equally applicable. Sites or apps on the phone mean you can bet anywhere in a coverage zone. That level of portability has made betting a part of the everyday sports routine. There is no need to look ahead or sit down at the computer. The bettor is watching the action and betting at the same time.

Apps, Interfaces and the User Experience Revolution

The popularity of phone sports betting is also related to design. Betting apps are no longer cluttered but intuitive and straightforward. New bettors with limited experience quickly understand how to browse odds, bet and cash out. These are aimed at keeping engagement high. To simplify, there are inclusions like personalized dashboards, alerts based on users’ preferences and one-touch betting.

You even get to track your betting history. This can really help manage your budget and you can receive personalized recommendations on subsequent matches. This is a game-changer for multi-sport bettors. From one screen, hockey, basketball, baseball and football are monitored. With apps, you have real-time access to the odds and associated statistics, which is all streamlined.

Safety and Reliability

One of the foundations of a flourishing mobile bet on sporting events is security and modern apps employ strong encryption, two-factor authentication and rigid monitoring to ensure the safety of players’ data and funds. Licensing and regulation are just as significant. This provides a degree of security to the user. Reputable platforms offer information on this openly and honestly.

The respective payment process upgrades fortify reliability. From traditional banks to e-wallets and prepaid cards, cash withdrawals and deposits are now more immediate and certain. The worry about whether the money will come to the account or not is now history. Belief in transaction safety on phones is their replacement.

New Technologies and Personalization

The prospect of mobile phone sports betting in the future is even rosier. AI is already controlling how apps make betting recommendations. The apps show the user the markets and games best suited to their interests.

The trend’s very essence is individualization. No two customers will ever share the same experience. As it is, new technology like virtual reality can revolutionize the betting experience. Wouldn’t it be great to have live odds on your living room wall while you watch hockey? Or summon an interactive betting screen on a headset?

These are no longer science fiction scenarios but are already becoming real. Social features will probably increase too. Betting apps are already adding chat rooms, leaderboards and group challenges. For sports fans worldwide, gambling will be about more than just the bet. It will be about connecting to other individuals and having an event-based sense of community.

Mobile technology has really transformed the face of online sports betting. It has never been easier, from speed and convenience to customization and security. The fans now bet on their commute, at home or the stadium, with just a few taps on the screen. The success of mobile betting is no tech trend but cultural in how fans experience sports. For gamblers all over the world, mobile channels are sources of thrills, convenience and reassurance. With technology advancing further, online sports betting will be even more immersive and entertaining. The thrill of playing is indeed in your pocket.

The Philippines’ gross international reserves rose to $108.8 billion in September, the highest in 11 months, as higher gold prices boosted the value of the central bank’s holdings.

The figure climbed from $107.1 billion in August, reflecting gains from global gold prices, investment income, and foreign currency deposits by the national government, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

The reserves-composed of foreign securities, exchange holdings, and gold-serve as a buffer against external shocks, helping the country meet import and debt payments and stabilize the peso.

The latest level is enough to cover 7.3 months’ worth of imports and payments for services and primary income, the central bank said.

Bella Belen dazzled in her pro debut with 20 points, 18 digs, and 12 excellent receptions, but not enough to lift Capital1 to a winning start in the PVL Reinforced Conference.

Belen’s all-around game was in full display, but Capital1 fell short against Choco Mucho, 31-33, 24-26, 23-25, on Tuesday night at Ynares Center Montalban.

‘Of course, I’m really happy that I finally got to play. But sadly, we didn’t win. It’s a bit frustrating because I felt like we could’ve pushed the game further, but we fell short in the end,’ Belen told reporters in Filipino.

‘There were crucial moments, like during long rallies, where we kind of stopped fighting. I think we still lack some mental toughness and trust in each other. That’s something we really need to work on, especially since most of the sets were really close. Like in the first set, we even went past 30 points. So it was really a missed opportunity.’

Belen, the top overall pick, was far from satisfied despite an impressive opening game.

‘I just focus on what I can contribute to the game and what I can still improve on for the next matches. I don’t really think too much about the scores or stats. I just want to perform well,’ Belen said.

‘I honestly feel like I could’ve done more. I know I can still play better, but I guess it’s fine for a first game. There were some nerves, of course. I think I can definitely step up more in the next games.’

The 23-year-old Belen dominated in the UAAP, where she led National University to three championships with the same number of MVP awards.

Belen, however, knows that playing in the pros against the best volleyball players in the country offers a different kind of challenge.

‘I think what I need to develop more is patience, because this is a different level of play. It’s not like the UAAP anymore. Everyone here really wants to win, even our opponents. I need to be more patient with myself and with the team,’ she added.

‘It’s a totally different vibe now compared to when I played with NU. I’m with different teammates, under a new system, so I really need to adjust. But it’s just the first game. There’s still time for me to adapt, and there are more games ahead. We just need to adjust quickly because the pace here is fast,’ said Belen.

Belen and the Solar Spikers seek to bounce back on Monday against On Tour and Invitational champion PLDT at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) wants the Senate to continue its investigation of flood control project anomalies and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to publicize its hearings.

‘As is appropriate, the root cause of the theft of hundreds of billions of pesos from the public treasury must be held accountable even during times of hardship for the people. This is to ensure justice and hopefully prevent others from following suit. This, however, cannot be attained if the Senate investigation is stopped like what we’ve been hearing due to unclear reasons,’ INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo said in a letter in Filipino and read on Net25’s Sa Ganang Mamamayan on Tuesday.

‘Likewise, the ICI investigation won’t be of help if it is done in secret. Whatever the outcome, it is likely to be unacceptable to the people and will only add to the ongoing chaos and uncertainty,’ Manalo added.

‘The hearings of the ongoing investigation must be open and the public must witness them,’ he emphasized.

‘We believe that for there to be peace, there must be a continuous investigation into this widespread corruption and it must be conducted with transparency and without bias or cover-ups. This is a manifestation of the sincerity of those concerned,’ Manalo said.

‘Peacefully observing’

According to Manalo, the INC is ‘peacefully observing’ what is currently happening in the country, saying that they are praying that ‘peace and justice will prevail.’

‘Like many Filipinos, we are also waiting not only for the outcome, which must be genuine and credible, but also for how it can be implemented without any doubt,’ said Manalo.

Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson announced that the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on alleged flood control anomalies set for Wednesday is postponed ‘until further notice’ due to the unavailability of documents needed within a week.

‘To maximize the discussions, I checked with the DOJ if the supposed ‘tell-all’ affidavit/s of the Discayas were already available. Corollary to that, I also checked with the office of the executive judge of Manila RTC if they have concluded the investigation on the possible violations of the notarized document involving TSgt Guteza and Atty Espera,’ Lacson recently said.

‘Having been informed that both would not be ready within one week, not to mention that the BRC hearing will conflict with the budget and CA hearings, I informed SP Sotto of the cancellation until further notice,’ he added.

Meanwhile, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka recently said that hearings of the commission are not being live streamed to avoid ‘trial by publicity.’

The ICI is avoiding trial by publicity, and will not allow it to be used for any political leverage or agenda by any individual or group,’ Hosaka explained.

Tia Andaya’s PVL debut was pushed back to a later date as she and other Filipino-foreigners await the release of their International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) to play in the Reinforced Conference without a hitch.

Like the imports who were supposed to strut their stuff in Tuesday’s opening doubleheader at Ynares Center Montalban, Andaya was also forced to sit out Choco Mucho’s game against Capital1 to avoid risking her federation transfer from USA Volleyball to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).

Technically, Andaya is allowed to play in the PVL, which only requires Fil-foreign players to secure a Philippine passport to be eligible to suit up. But playing without an ITC puts her allegiance switch in peril.

‘It hasn’t been signed yet. Because you can get sanctioned by the FIVB, so I don’t want to jeopardize it with the FIVB,’ said Andaya, the seventh overall pick by the Flying Titans in the 2025 PVL Draft last June.

Petro Gazz’s Fil-American duo of Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips as well as PLDT star Savi Davision, who is Fil-Canadian, are in the same predicament as Andaya.

Van Sickle, Phillips and Davison, who have been thriving in the pioneering pro volleyball league for the past several years, are still waiting for their ITCs for this conference. They too are eyeing to be eligible to be part of Alas Pilipinas.

In a statement Tuesday, the PVL slammed the PNVF for the alleged ‘refusal to endorse the International Transfer Certificates (ITCs).’

ZUS Coffee and Akari were forced to go all Filipino in the Reinforced Conference curtain raiser with the Thunderbelles rallying past the Chargers in five sets behind Riza Nogales.

Choco Mucho and Capital1 were also left with no choice but to bench imports Marlee Smith and Oleksandra Bytsenko, respectively, in the second game won by the Flying Titans in a hard-earned sweep.

Arron Villaflor was quick to issue an apology after a post expressing solidarity with the victims of the recent Cebu earthquake earned backlash on social media when people pointed out his more prominent image in the photo card.

Villaflor, who currently serves as a Board Member of Tarlac, recently shared on his social media platforms an image of himself wearing a red shirt while in a praying position, accompanied by a black-and-white message, ‘Pray for Cebu and those affected by the earthquake.’

The image, however, did not sit well with netizens, who quickly referenced the TV characters ‘Honesto’ or ‘Santino’ with his prayerful stance in the picture.

He has since removed the image from his socials.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Villaflor said the post was a ‘lapse’ in judgment of his social media team.

‘First of all, gusto kong humingi ng pasensya. I want to apologize. It was a lapse from my social media team, and I told them na wala, nandito na tayo,’ he told reporters. ‘Let’s just learn from our mistakes and tawang-tawa ako kasi [na-realize ko] na ganito pa pala ako ka-relevant sa mundong ‘to.’

(First of all, I want to say sorry. I want to apologize. It was a lapse from my social media team, and I told them that there’s nothing we can do about it. We’re already here. Let’s just learn from our mistakes. And I find it funny because I realized that I’m still relevant in this world.)

‘AKO AY HUMIHINGI NG TAWAD’ WATCH: Actor-politician Arron Villaflor apologizes for his controversial ‘Pray For Cebu’ post, saying that his intentions were there but the ‘photo didn’t land well.’ | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/OKpezzTeEn

– Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 7, 2025

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolted Cebu with the epicenter at Bogo City north of the province. The trembler was felt in most parts of the Visayas islands, with the death toll reaching 72 as of posting.

Well intentions

Villaflor also pointed out that while the post was made with well intentions, it ‘didn’t land well,’ saying that the public has the right to voice their own opinions.

‘For me, I am a public servant of Tarlac. The intention was there, but the photo didn’t land well. Sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, ako ay humihingi ng tawad mula sa aking social media team,’ he said, noting that he had been receiving comments such as Honesto and Santino. ‘Hindi natin masisisi ang tao ngayon because everyone has the right to state their opinions, everyone has the right to say their arguments.’

(For me, I am a public servant of Tarlac. The intention was there, but the photo didn’t land well. To all my countrymen in the Philippines, I want to apologize for my social media team. We can’t blame the public now because everyone has the right to state their opinions, everyone has the right to say their arguments.)

The actor-politician also shared that the controversial post was a lesson for him to be ‘aware’ of his surroundings.

‘In my case, thank you for giving me this chance to apologize, and as a public servant and young leader of Tarlac, this is my advocacy,’ he said. ‘Let’s just be aware of our surroundings. Sa lahat ng mga ahensya, let’s just be aware of our surroundings so we can execute it well in that situation, and for us to serve with integrity and transparency.’

Villaflor is one of the stars of the upcoming Jerrold Tarog-helmed film ‘Quezon,’ which stars Jericho Rosales as the titular Manuel L. Quezon.

Also part of the cast are Benjamin Alves, Karylle, Mon Confiado, Iain Glen, Ana Abad Santos, and Romnick Sarmenta.

The registration of motor vehicles and driver’s licenses that expired on Sept. 30 will remain valid until Oct. 15, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said in a statement on Tuesday.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the move was ‘in consideration of the cancellation of government work caused by heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and typhoons Nando, Opong, and Paulo, as well as the devastating earthquake that struck Cebu.’

A memorandum on the extended validity of registrations has already been issued to all LTO regional directors and district office heads, according to Mendoza. He also assured the public that no penalties will be imposed on affected motor vehicle owners and driver’s license holders.

The 15-day period for the settlement of traffic apprehension cases effective Sept. 26 will also be extended until Oct. 15, Mendoza added.

He said the move was the LTO’s way of providing assistance given how a lot of Filipinos were affected by the recent calamities.

The LTO had previously extended the validity of motor vehicle registration and driver’s license expiring on Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, and had likewise scrapped penalties for delayed renewals.

The US government shutdown entered its second week on Monday, with no sign of a deal between President Donald Trump’s Republicans and Democrats to end the crisis.

Democrats are refusing to provide the handful of votes the ruling Republicans need to reopen federal departments, unless an agreement is reached on extending expiring ‘Obamacare’ health care subsidies and reversing some cuts to health programs passed as part of Trump’s signature ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’.

With the government out of money since Wednesday and grinding to a halt, Senate Democrats looked set to vote against a House-passed temporary funding bill for a fifth time.

The hard line taken by Democrats marks a rare moment of leverage for the opposition party in a period when Trump and his ultra-loyal Republicans control every branch of government and Trump himself is accused of seeking to amass authoritarian-like powers.

With funding not renewed, non-critical services are being suspended.

Salaries for hundreds of thousands of public sector employees are set to be withheld from Friday, while military personnel could miss their paychecks from Oct. 15.

Trump threats

And Trump has upped the ante by threatening to have large numbers of government employees fired, rather than just furloughed – placed on temporary unpaid leave status – as is normally done during shutdowns.

The president said Sunday that workers were already being fired, but White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt walked back the comments a day later, saying he was only ‘referring to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed.’

Republicans are digging in their heels, with House Speaker Mike Johnson telling his members not even to report to Congress unless the Democrats cave, insisting any health care negotiation be held after re-opening the government.

‘If he’s serious about lowering costs and protecting the health care of the American people, why wait?’ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a challenge to Johnson on Monday.

‘Democrats are ready to do it now,’ he wrote on X.

Shutdown impact

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which he signed into law on July 4, would strip 11 million Americans of health care coverage, mainly through cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income families.

That figure would be in addition to the four million Americans Democrats say will lose health care next year if Obamacare health insurance subsidies are not extended – while another 24 million Americans will see their premiums double.

Republicans argue the expiring health care subsidies have nothing to do with keeping the government open and can be dealt with separately before the end of the year.

As the shutdown begins to bite, the Environmental Protection Agency, space agency NASA and the Education, Commerce and Labor departments have been the hardest hit by staff being furloughed – or placed on enforced leave – during the shutdown.

The Transport, Justice, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Departments are among those that have seen the least effects so far, the contingency plans of each organization show.

Still in gridlock

With members of Congress at home and no formal talks taking place in either chamber, a CBS News poll released Sunday showed the public blaming Republicans by a narrow margin for the gridlock.

Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said Sunday layoffs would begin ‘if the president decides that the negotiations are absolutely going nowhere.’

Trump has already sent a steamroller through government since taking office for his second term in January.

Spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, 200,000 jobs had already been cut from the federal workforce before the shutdown, according to the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.

After a month of failed attempts to recover the original Facebook page of Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy, the Office of the City Mayor has decided to launch a new one to continue reaching residents online.

‘The Office of the City Mayor has created a new official Facebook page for Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy,’ the City Information Office (CIO) announced on its Facebook page.

The CIO said it failed to gain access to the original page of the mayor’s office despite numerous attempts.

The new verified page is titled ‘Office of the City Mayor – Cagayan de Oro City’ and will serve as the mayor’s official digital platform for updates and announcements.

Uy’s social media page has been its main platform for public outreach, especially in announcing schedules of its services and programs.

‘We encourage everyone to like and follow the new official page of Mayor Klarex Uy,’ the statement said. ‘Stay updated on the latest news, programs, and announcements from the City Mayor.’

Officials said the change aims to ensure transparency and continued public communication amid increasing reliance on social media for local government information.

The CIO has not issued an explanation why it failed to recover the original account, which has tens of thousands of followers. People who come to Uy’s regular ‘People’s Day’ schedule every week are dependent on his social media page for the announcements, including those for his weekly ‘Kasalan ng Bayan’ and barangay outreach.