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Customers of utility giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are likely to see higher power rates this October amid a potential jump in generation charges.

‘While we are still waiting for some billings from our suppliers to finalize the October electricity rate, indications point to a possible increase in generation charge this month,’ Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga announced yesterday.

The generation charge, which accounts for over half of the electricity bill, covers the cost of power purchased by Meralco from energy suppliers and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Zaldarriaga said the weakening of the peso against the greenback pushed up charges from Meralco’s suppliers, whose costs are largely dollar-denominated.

‘We are hopeful that these possible increases will be tempered by lower WESM prices as reported by IEMOP (Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines),’ he said.

System-wide WESM rates decreased by 33.8 percent to P3.04 per kilowatt-hour in September from the previous month’s P4.59 per kWh. This marks the lowest level in seven months or since February’s P2.73 per kWh.

Meralco sourced around six percent of its energy requirements last month from WESM. Power supply agreements and independent power producers accounted for 65 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

The company intends to announce its actual rate adjustment on Friday.

As the country’s largest power utility, Meralco serves over eight million customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has faced challenges in serving official notices to the companies of contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, as they were “uncooperative,” Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said.

Lumagui said this when asked why the tax evasion case against the contractor couple was filed only this year, despite the bureau having audited them since last year, saying that the couple sometimes refused to accept the bureau’s documents.

“Nahihirapan tayo dahil medyo pasaway rin. Binibigyan natin ng due process. Minsan ‘di nila tinatanggap ang mga notices. Kaya nagreresort tayo sa iba’t ibang paraan para maiserve ito,” he said in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, October 8.

(We’re having a hard time because they’re being quite uncooperative [or ‘defiant’]. We are giving them due process. Sometimes they don’t accept the notices, so we have to resort to different methods to get them served.)

“Ang proseso na pinagdadaanan ay hindi rin naman puwedeng i-shortcut ‘yon,” he added.

(The process being undergone cannot be simply shortened.)

The tax chief also said that even if the Discaya couple paid their tax liabilities, the case would still continue, as the act of tax evasion is already consummated, according to Lumagui.

Lumagui also said that even if the individuals were to become state witnesses, they would still be required to pay their tax liabilities, emphasizing that this payment is separate and does not count as restitution for the criminal offense.

“So kahit bayaran ‘yan, patuloy pa rin ang magiging criminal case na tutuloy pa rin ang pagtakbo ng criminal case,” he added.

(As far as the BIR is concerned, the tax evasion case is already consummated. Therefore, even if it is paid, the criminal case will still continue and proceed to run its course.)

Lumagui, in his capacity as Internal Revenue Commissioner, filed multiple criminal tax evasion complaints against the couple and another corporate officer of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue assessed a total tax liability of P7,182,172,532.25, stemming from unpaid income, excise and documentary stamp taxes from 2018 to 2021.

The construction and infrastructure companies associated with the Discaya couple secured a massive P31.04 billion in government contracts, encompassing approximately 421 projects awarded between 2022 and 2024.

These deals primarily involved flood control projects that are currently the subject of anomaly allegations.

Notably, the firms founded solely by the Discayas accounted for P25.2 billion of that value across 345 projects.

The Independent Commission on Infrastructure asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order for 31 individuals.

The request targets over two dozen current and former lawmakers and officials involved in the ongoing probe into anomalous public works projects.

The brazen corruption surrounding flood control and infrastructure projects is like acid poured on the nation’s wounds. It lays bare how government officials squander hard-earned taxes for personal gain while showing no regard for the people’s welfare. They put millions of Filipinos and their livelihoods in peril to floods while laughing all the way to the bank.

Yet, rather than wielding the full force of the presidency to hold the guilty to account and plug the loopholes in the system, President Marcos has met the scandal with a misplaced reliance on a toothless commission – the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).

Weak leadership

The Filipino people would have wanted the President to match its rage (which he professed to share) with decisive actions. These were the steps expected of him:

First, immediately suspend persons of interest – not just contractors and middle-rank DPWH executives, but legislators as well. Any official under credible suspicion should have been relieved of duty pending investigation, not protected by political shields.

Second, the ombudsman and DOJ should have been strengthened and granted full operational autonomy to pursue cases without political interference.

Third, the assets of all persons of interest should have been frozen to prevent laundering or concealment, alongside the swift issuance of hold-departure orders.

Fourth, the President should have directed that hearings of the ombudsman and DOJ be made public, broadcast live and completed within a fixed timeframe.

Fifth, Congress should have been pressed to expedite the enactment of structural reforms (which I outlined last week) to ensure that institutional plunder never happens again.

This is not what we got. From the outset, President Marcos’ response to the scandal has been marked more by emotion than action. Shedding tears on camera may have struck a chord with some, but it revealed a deeper problem – a leader who confuses symbolic grief with decisive governance. Crying over corruption does not dismantle the machinery that enables it nor does it hold the perpetrators to account.

Rather than immediately suspending implicated officials, freezing assets, imposing hold-departure orders and empowering state prosecutors to pursue cases swiftly, the President chose a timid middle ground – the creation of the ICI.

Granted, the ICI can play a role in investigation, but the snail’s pace of its investigations will allow plunderers to cover their tracks and conceal their ill-gotten wealth. It allows the guilty to build their defenses around legalese. It grants corrupt officials the time to intimidate whistleblowers and manipulate documentation. Worse, by relying on hearings and endless ‘fact-finding’ meetings, the ICI’s final report could arrive in months – if not years – way after public anger has waned. This is the classic formula of inaction disguised as accountability.

A toothless ICI, lacking credibility

The ICI may issue subpoenas and recommend suspensions, but beyond that, it has no bite. It has no power to prosecute, arrest or hold anyone in contempt. It can request bank records and testimonies – but cannot compel compliance when the powerful refuse. Instead, it must rely on the cooperation of the very officials it is supposed to investigate. This is not a commission of accountability, it is theater. The ICI projects the illusion of action while giving plunderers a window to escape culpability. In effect, it is an advisory body masquerading as an accountability mechanism.

Barely four weeks since its creation and the ICI has already lost credibility. The resignation of Mayor Benjie Magalong as special adviser and investigator was a serious blow. Magalong gave the ICI a semblance of independence and credibility. His decision to step down, citing doubts over the body’s mandate and independence, signals that the ICI is compromised.

Unfortunately, the personalities left at the helm do not inspire confidence. Chairman Andy Reyes, a retired Supreme Court justice, is viewed by critics as overly cautious and steeped in proceduralism – the kind that allows cases to languish for years. His deferential stance towards the accused makes us uncomfortable, as if he owes them a debt of gratitude.

Rodolfo Azurin Jr., the former PNP chief tapped as Magalong’s replacement, left the police service under a cloud of criticism over the 2022 shabu heist and alleged cover-up. His appointment raises questions about whether the ICI is meant to investigate wrongdoing or to protect political allies.

More disturbing is that the ICI has nothing to show even after four weeks in operation. No high level suspensions, no frozen contracts, no new whistleblower testimonies. In other words, no urgency. Meanwhile, those implicated were given precious weeks to conceal evidence, launder money and tighten political defenses.

The very design of the ICI reveals weakness on the President’s part. Instead of actually being in control, he has effectively outsourced the fight against corruption to a commission ill-equipped to handle entrenched interests.

And by allowing the ICI to take the lead, Marcos positions himself as someone ‘waiting for findings,’ thereby avoiding personal accountability. The ICI serves as a convenient shield. This is not the kind of leadership we need, nor deserve, at this time.

Government is failing us again. Now the burden now falls on the public. Civil society, investigative journalists and watchdog groups must demand transparency at every stage of the investigation. Closed-door hearings, selective leaks or sanitized reports will only protect the guilty. We have seen this happen before.

The proceedings must be broadcasted live, documentary evidence must be made public and the timelines strictly adhered to. Only constant public pressure can prevent the ICI from becoming another shield for the powerful – a smokescreen that hides corruption instead of exposing it.

It’s not too late. Marcos can still course-correct. We hope he rises to the occasion – leading the investigation, restitution, prosecution and structural reforms with the iron hand this crisis demands.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will lead an investigation into the alleged anomalies in flood control projects and related infrastructure, Malacañang said.

Palace Press Secretary Claire Castro said that despite the appointment of former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as Ombudsman, the ICI will not be abolished, as it will focus on the alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

“Ang Ombudsman kasi hindi lamang po tutok ito sa flood control projects. Marami pong kaso na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ang Ombudsman. So, hindi po natin nakikitaan na ito ang dahilan upang gibain or wakasan ang trabaho ng ICI,” Castro said in a press briefing with reporters on Wednesday, October 8.

(The Ombudsman is not solely focused on flood control projects. The Ombudsman has many cases that need attention. Therefore, we don’t see this as a reason to dismantle or end the work of the ICI.)

Castro explained that relying solely on the Ombudsman may take a long time to finish a single case, and with the ICI’s help, the prosecution of individuals may be expedited.

“Kailangan po talaga na may isang independent commission na siyang tututok at magkukolekta, mag-iimbestiga ng mga dokumento para po kapag naibigay po ito at mairekomenda for filing, rirebyuhin na lamang po ito,” Castro said.

“At kung tapos na po ang pagri-review at nakitang mayroon dapat na sampahan ng kaso, mas mabilis magsasampa ng kaso ang DOJ at ng Ombudsman,” she added.

Up to ICI for their transparency. Castro also said that it is up to the ICI to determine how they will ensure transparency in the flood control probe.

“Tama po. Ang Pangulo po, sa lahat ng mga pagkakataon gusto may transparency. Sa lahat ng pag-iimbestiga dapat may transparency, walang tinatago,” Castro said.

(That is correct. The President, at all times, wants transparency. In all investigations, there must be transparency; nothing should be hidden.)

“Pero kung paano po ito gagawin ng ICI, kung papaano po ito maisasapubliko, kung papaano po sila magiging transparent at hanggang saan, nasa ICI na po iyan. But still, ang Pangulo po ay sinusulong din po ang transparency sa lahat ng pag-iimbestiga,” she added.

(However, how the ICI will do this, how they will make it public, how they will be transparent, and to what extent, that is up to the ICI. But still, the President is also pushing for transparency in all investigations.)

On Wednesday, October 8, the ICI asked the Department of Justice to issue immigration lookout bulletins on 31 government officials.

The request targets over two dozen current and former lawmakers and officials involved in the ongoing probe into anomalous public works projects.

The Philippines and Japan launched their first joint exercise under the new Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on Wednesday, October 8, where both countries’ air force units will bring aid to Cebu residents affected by the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

The humanitarian mission is being carried out under the Doshin-Bayanihan 5-25, a bilateral exercise between the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) that opened on Wednesday at Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.

The operation marks the first implementation of the Japan-Philippines RAA, which took effect September 11. The pact allows both countries’ forces to enter each other’s territory for joint activities and simplifies rules for the movement of each country’s forces during joint military activities, including disaster response operations.

The Doshin-Bayanihan series itself began in 2017 as a bilateral training exercise between Manila and Tokyo focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Over the years, it has expanded to include more complex airlift and medical operations.

This fifth edition is the first held under a formal legal framework that allows foreign troops to conduct operations on Philippine soil. The RAA mirrors similar arrangements Japan has with Australia and the United Kingdom.

Aid delivery part of exercise

According to the Philippine Air Force, the exercise will run from October 7 to 11 and will involve 143 PAF personnel and 30 JASDF members.

Both air forces are using C-130 transport aircraft to carry out airlift and mobility operations that replicate real disaster scenarios while also providing actual relief aid to local residents.

Training activities include medical operations and, for the first time, night vision goggle flights for PAF observers.

Officials said these drills are designed to enhance interoperability and readiness for joint disaster response.

‘The term ‘Doshin’ means ‘same mind’ in Japanese, while ‘Bayanihan’ means ‘mutual support’ in Filipino,’ a statement by Col. Ma. Christina O. Basco, chief of PAF’s public affairs, read.

‘This exercise stands as a testament to the deepening defense partnership between the Philippines and Japan, and to our shared commitment to humanitarian assistance across the region,” it added.

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro described the activities as both an exercise and an aid mission at the same time.

“The DND expresses appreciation to the Japanese government for extending humanitarian assistance, which occurred concurrently with the Doshin-Bayanihan Exercise,” Teodoro said. “This effort aims to address urgent needs of communities affected by the recent earthquake in Cebu.”

The defense chief added that the RAA ‘plays a pivotal role in facilitating enhanced bilateral defense collaboration, ensuring interoperability, and advancing both countries’ shared commitment to regional resilience, security and stability.’

The Quezon City government has terminated four infrastructure projects awarded to entities or joint ventures linked to contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

In a statement yesterday, the local government unit said only four out of the more than 1,300 infrastructure projects of the LGU since 2019 have been awarded to companies owned by the Discayas.

City hall said it immediately conducted a review of the flood mitigation projects after the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board revoked the licenses of Discaya-linked companies, followed by the cancellation of their PhilGEPS membership due to violations of licensing requirements and procurement laws.

Four local government projects were found to have been awarded to Discaya companies: a six-story deck multipurpose building, the construction of a reinforced concrete canal at Ermitaño Creek and two phases of a high-rise housing project in Barangay Balingasa.

‘After the observance of the periods required by law, or as of September 19, 2025, all four projects of the Discayas have been terminated,’ the local government said.

City hall noted that these projects comprise only 0.3 percent of its total housing projects.

Other infrastructure projects linked to the Discayas were not implemented by the local government.

‘The Quezon City government has always observed transparency in all its procurement processes, including adherence to competitive bidding, publication and posting. This is the reason all our infrastructure projects are publicly posted on our website,’ city hall said. ‘The local government has nothing to hide. We welcome all examinations of competent authorities of our projects and processes.’

Quezon City called out ‘malicious insinuations’ that it said only seek to distract from actual schemes and perpetrators that victimized Filipinos.

‘We remain steadfast and unwavering in upholding the trust of our people. We will continue to ensure that public funds are used solely for the benefit of QCitizens,’ the local government said.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has been fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a misstatement reflected in its unaudited consolidated financial statement as of June 30.

SMC said that based on the SEC’s Office of the General Accountant (OGA), the misstatement pertains to the incorrect classification of cash outflow related to the acquisition of property, plant and equipment under operating activities instead of under investing activities, as provided under Philippine Accounting Standards PAS 7, statement of cash flows.

The assessment was made in connection with the evaluation by the OGA of the financial statement of the company in relation with the public offering of the 266.67 million Series 2 preferred shares with an oversubscription option of up to 133.33 million Series 2 preferred shares.

The OGA gave SMC a conditional clearance to proceed with the offering and was directed to submit its unaudited consolidated financial statement as of June 30, as amended to reflect the findings of the OGA.

It was also directed to update the financial information, particularly the cash flow-related information in the prospectus in relation to the public offering.

SMC was imposed a penalty of P1 million.

‘The corporation will comply with the directive of the OGA and pay the penalty,’ SMC said.

Five senators are being considered to replace Sen. Panfilo Lacson as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee following his decision to step down from the post, Senate President Vicente Sotto III revealed yesterday.

According to Sotto, the shortlist includes Senators JV Ejercito, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros.

A caucus among the Senate majority is scheduled today to formally discuss the leadership vacancy created by Lacson’s departure.

Despite strong public calls for Lacson to stay, Sotto admitted he was unable to convince the senator to reconsider.

He said that after several days, Lacson remained firm in his decision to step down from the chairmanship, although he will continue to sit in the committee as an ex-officio member by virtue of his position as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Sotto described Lacson as an objective investigator who follows the evidence, and not one who targets his fellow lawmakers arbitrarily.

However, he acknowledged that the intense scrutiny during the committee’s probes left the former chair ‘frustrated.’

The vacancy follows tensions in the Senate after Lacson’s remarks that nearly all senators had made insertions into the 2025 budget – a statement that initially caused friction among his colleagues but has since been addressed in a previous caucus.

Among those being considered for the post, Sen. JV Ejercito has expressed hesitation.

While grateful for the consideration, he admitted he would likely decline the offer, citing other senators who may be better suited to lead such an important committee.

Senator Raffy Tulfo also released a statement respectfully declining the position to focus on his current committee chairmanships in labor, migrant workers and public services, which are his main areas of advocacy.

Meanwhile, other senators continue to appeal to Lacson to reconsider his resignation, with some arguing that his leadership is crucial for maintaining the Senate’s credibility, particularly in sensitive investigations.

Senator Lito Lapid voiced support for Lacson’s retention, emphasizing his investigative credentials as a former police chief, likening him to figures such as Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

The Blue Ribbon committee’s hearings on flood control projects have been temporarily suspended due to scheduling conflicts, as several members also sit on the committee on finance.

Hearings are expected to resume after the congressional break in November.

Perjury cases

In a related development that may impact the ongoing Senate inquiries, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has filed four counts of perjury against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez.

Estrada accused Hernandez of making false statements under oath during congressional investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

The complaint, filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, arises from Hernandez’s testimonies before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and the House committee on public works and highways.

Estrada said these statements were ‘maliciously fabricated’ to damage his reputation.

According to the senator’s legal team, the perjury charges relate to four separate falsehoods allegedly made by Hernandez.

These include claims that Estrada demanded a 30 percent kickback from P355 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan, the supposed involvement of Estrada’s staff member ‘Beng Ramos’ in ghost projects, Hernandez’s denial of his role in the anomalous projects and his alleged use of a fake driver’s license under the alias ‘Marvin de Guzman’ to enter casinos.

Estrada emphasized that Hernandez’s kickback claim was ‘retaliatory,’ made immediately after he was cited in contempt and detained by the Blue Ribbon committee.

‘These malicious statements were deliberate lies made under oath, intended to destroy my name and reputation,’ Estrada said. ‘The evidence presented in subsequent hearings completely disproves his baseless accusations.’

‘I don’t know why he mentioned my name in the House hearing. It was all done to smear my character. The next day after his detention, he fabricated stories and dragged my name into it,’ he told reporters.

The complaint asserts that testimonies from contractors contradicted Hernandez’s claims.

Engineer Henry Alcantara reportedly told the Senate he had no transactions with Estrada, while DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo also denied the senator’s involvement in any kickback scheme.

Estrada’s camp further submitted affidavits from Divina Gracia ‘Beng’ Ramos and contractor Mina Jose, both stating they had no links to the senator and highlighting multiple inconsistencies in Hernandez’s statements during the hearings.

While Hernandez initially denied involvement in the flood control projects in Bulacan, Estrada said it later emerged that he was the mastermind behind them, receiving a 20 percent share from each ghost project.

He also refuted Hernandez’s story about Mina Jose visiting his office, saying it was later proven she had gone to a different office entirely.

‘You can clearly see that Brice Hernandez is a habitual liar,’ Estrada noted.

The complaint invokes Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes perjury with imprisonment, fines of up to P1 million and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Estrada also requested the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order to prevent Hernandez from fleeing the country, citing his use of aliases and falsified identification cards as signs of being a flight risk.

Hernandez is reportedly under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

Estrada, who was instrumental in citing Hernandez in contempt during the Blue Ribbon hearings, reiterated that the accusations were clearly retaliatory.

He expressed confidence the perjury charges would hold up, citing the live broadcast of the hearings as evidence of the inconsistencies in Hernandez’s statements.

‘Nationwide naman ang coverage. The public saw for themselves how deceitful this person is,’ Estrada said.

Regarding the Blue Ribbon committee’s leadership shift, Estrada said he would continue to participate in the hearings regardless of who replaces Lacson as chair.

He believes the investigation must proceed, pointing out that key individuals such as former House speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Albay Rep. Zaldy Co have yet to be called to testify.

Addressing rumors of another leadership shake-up in the Senate, Estrada dismissed the speculation, saying he was unaware of any such moves.

When asked about Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s suggestion for a ‘snap election’ within the chamber, he responded, ‘That is his own opinion, not the opinion of the minority.’

Hernandez, who previously served as assistant district engineer for the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, had earlier accused multiple public officials of benefiting from alleged flood control kickbacks.

Estrada has consistently denied any involvement.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office is expected to evaluate the complaint to determine if probable cause exists for formal charges.

If convicted, Hernandez could face imprisonment and permanent disqualification from public office.

Bolder probe

Amid shifting leadership and mounting legal battles, former senator Richard Gordon has called for a more aggressive approach to the unfolding flood control controversy.

He urged prosecutors, oversight bodies and Congress to act decisively, warning that political delays and strategic appointments could undermine the push for accountability.

Speaking on One News’ ‘Storycon,’ Gordon weighed in as both the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) continued parallel investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects and questionable budget insertions.

He noted that the Blue Ribbon committee’s momentum had already been shaken by recent leadership changes, particularly the resignation of Lacson as its chair.

Gordon emphasized that the responsibility now lies with prosecutors, the Office of the Ombudsman and other watchdog agencies to pursue the truth without political interference.

He called for former Senate leaders and oversight figures to resume a more assertive role in ensuring government accountability and urged the ombudsman to act motu proprio when warranted.

‘If the people who are supposed to file the cases are afraid, that’s where we should force them to act,’ he said, stressing that investigators must ‘swing that bat’ and not be timid in pursuing justice.

Gordon also raised concerns over political maneuvering within the Senate, suggesting that certain lawmakers were considering leaving the majority due to dissatisfaction with how the Blue Ribbon probe was being handled.

He warned that any reorganization aimed at stalling investigations would signal bad faith.

Without naming specific individuals, Gordon questioned the timing and implications of appointing administration allies to key government posts during an active investigation.

He cautioned that such moves could create perceptions, or realities, of protection for implicated officials.

He directed a pointed appeal to incoming ombudsman Boying Remulla, urging him to show resolve and act swiftly on available evidence by ‘filing the case right away.’

Turning to the ICI, Gordon acknowledged the commission’s efforts but pointed out its limited authority.

He argued that without clear legal mechanisms or stronger cooperation with prosecutorial bodies, the ICI’s work might fall short of delivering actual accountability.

‘Let the Blue Ribbon do its job. Let Congress do its job,’ he said, adding that the ICI ‘cannot even issue a warrant of arrest on their own’ and calling for either expanded powers or better coordination with entities capable of enforcement.

He warned that continued inaction or delay by prosecutorial offices and watchdogs would only lead to greater public frustration and skepticism.

Transparency and speed, he stressed, are vital.

‘If the prosecutors are fast and the courts are fast, we can accelerate this,’ Gordon said.

He also called on the public to demand more from their institutions, urging citizens to hold lawmakers and investigators accountable and push for meaningful justice.

Framing his appeal as a moral obligation, Gordon reflected on his own record in pursuing corruption cases and emphasized the importance of political courage.

‘When you take an oath you must swing that bat and you must not be afraid,’ he said, warning that failure to act leaves ordinary Filipinos ‘victimized by these people.’

Parañaque City joined the nationwide celebration of National Cooperative Month while also earning recognition as one of the finalists in the 2025 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit award.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez led the opening of the Coop Month celebration on Monday at the city hall, highlighting the city’s commitment to promoting socio-economic development through strong cooperative programs.

‘As they say, no man is an island. No one accomplishes a task alone. When we work together, we are strong,’ Olivarez said, stressing the importance of unity among local cooperatives and government offices in improving the livelihood of residents.

The month-long celebration, themed ‘Cooperatives United in Purpose and Action, Sharing Prosperity to Build a Better World,’ includes a five-day Koop Tiangge showcasing handcrafted products from local cooperatives until Oct. 10.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) named Parañaque as one of the finalists in the 2025 Most Business-Friendly LGU Award-City Level 1A.

Olivarez credited the city’s Business One-Stop Shop for making business permit applications and renewals more efficient.

The other finalists are Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas and San Juan.

Unbeaten Ateneo faces its biggest test just yet, facing reigning champion University of the Philippines in the Battle of Katipunan while National U eyes to rebound against struggling Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 5 p.m. with the Blue Eagles staking their clean 4-0 slate to protect pole position against the heating up Fighting Maroons, who are in a two-game winning run after a flat start. The Bulldogs meet the Falcons at 2 p.m.

Ateneo will march into the battle pit fresh from an 81-74 win against another rival La Salle, leading by as many as 33 points. It was a statement win after they missed the Final Four last season – a first under master tactician Tab Baldwin, who has guided them to four titles including a three-peat before the pandemic.

The Blue Eagles, who bled for a 4-10 slate in Season 87, try to surpass that tally in the first round alone. But it will be a tough one against the Fighting Maroons who have regained their groove after a listless start, warned Baldwin.