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The Magat Dam in Isabela will open six spillway gates by 5 p.m. Friday as relentless rains from Typhoon Paolo continue to swell its reservoir, the National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) announced.

Floodgate releases began at 1 p.m., with one gate being opened every hour until all six are fully raised by late afternoon, releasing water at a cumulative elevation of 12 meters. This is in addition to the three spillway gates opened earlier in the day.

Engr. Edwin Viernes, chief of the dam and reservoir division, said the total volume of water to be discharged would reach 1,761 cubic meters per second.

He warned that floodwaters may rise to half a meter at Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao City within 20 hours of travel downstream.

Meanwhile, Paolo’s landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela, left a trail of damage across the Cagayan Valley. Uprooted Gmelina trees and toppled signage were reported along major highways, while thousands of sacks of palay and corn left out to dry were soaked, worsening farmers’ losses

Public Works Secretary Vincent Dizon has asked the Professional Regulation Community (PRC) to permanently revoke the professional license of those who will be proven involved in anomalous flood-control projects.

Dizon and PRC Chair Charito Zamora on Friday signed an agreement that will cancel the licenses of engineers and other professionals under the Department of Public Works and Highways if proven to have committed irregularities in flood control projects.

‘DPWH and PRC really need to have a deep working relationship so that those involved are not only held accountable for the anomaly [substandard and flood control projects], but also to prevent it from happening again in the years to come,’ speaking in Filipino, Dizon said during the signing.

‘It’s not just about accountability, but it’s also about safeguarding the institutions and the projects that DPWH is doing from now moving forward,’ he added.

Furthermore, Dizon asked PRC to permanently cancel the licenses of former DPWH District Engineer Henry Alcantara and others who are currently under investigation for alleged anomalies in said projects

Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) chief Arsenio Balisacan sought budgetary support for Regional Development Councils (RDCs) for 2026, seeking to stop ‘non-effective’ or ‘simply wasteful’ government projects.

Balisacan made the appeal during the Senate sub-panel on finance’s Friday hearing on the proposed 2026 budget of DEPDev and attached agencies.

He said they are requesting Congress to provide more support to local government units and RDCs, noting the huge tasks they cover.

In particular, Balisacan noted that RDCs are usually the ones on the ground, monitoring infrastructure projects, including those related to flood control.

‘We have these committees and they are supposed to know and be able to monitor these various infrastructure projects including flood control projects, but they don’t have resources to be able to do that function – especially [in] a difficult region [such] as MIMAROPA,’ said Balisacan.

‘That mobility cost is a problem,’ he told the senators.

Apart from this, Balisacan noted the need to ‘give more resources’ to Research and Development Monitoring and Evaluation.

‘I also find that quite missing is the lack of appreciation of what monitoring and evaluation can do. We don’t provide enough support to good studies doing impact assessment, monitoring assessment of completed and ongoing projects, especially for completed projects so that we don’t keep repeating mistakes over and over again,’ he lamented.

‘We don’t know that we are making mistakes because there is no available information to inform [us] of those mistakes,’ he added.

In making his appeal, Balisacan emphasized that these movements are not ‘expensive activities.’

‘If we do it right scientifically, they’re quite cheap and the benefits are enormous if we are able to stop non-effective programs or simply wasteful programs and projects,’ he said.

Panel on finance head Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, acknowledged Balisacan’s appeal, admitting the need for reform in the government’s planning and budgeting process, as well as budgeting coordination.

‘We understand that when DPWH endorses a project, it’s taken as gospel truth and ends up in NEP immediately. As opposed to, let’s say, the RDC endorsed – the RDC endorsed projects – you will really pass through the needle hole, which is good to be endorsed by the RDC,’ said Gatchalian.

‘This is good in my opinion, because that means the vetting process is working, making sure that all projects are aligned with the Philippine Development Plan,’ he added. /apl

From being a ‘typhoon’, Paolo has weakened and is now under the category of ‘severe tropical storm’ while traversing Mountain Province, according to the state weather bureau.

In its latest update released around 3:45 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 2 p.m., Paolo was last located in the vicinity of Tadian, Mountain Province.

It is packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of 165 km/h.

The severe tropical storm is moving west-northwestward at 35 km/h.

Pagasa advised the public to monitor its 5 p.m. bulletin for further details on severe tropical storm Paolo, including the updated tropical cyclone wind signal and the forecast track of the cyclone.

Taylor Swift has officially entered her showgirl era on Friday, Oct. 3 as she released her 12-track album ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’

‘I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right. A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait,’ the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter said via her Instagram page, referring to her collaborators.

‘If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain. The Life of a Showgirl is out now,’ she added.

The album includes the earlier announced titles ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ ‘Elizabeth Taylor,’ ‘Opalite,’ ‘Father Figure,’ ‘Eldest Daughter,’ ‘Ruin The Friendship,’ ‘Actually Romantic,’ ‘ Wi$h Li$t,’ ‘Wood,’ ‘CANCELLED!’, ‘Honey’ and the title track ‘The Life of a Show Girl,’ which features American pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

‘I care about this record more than I can even overstate,’ Swift said, describing the release as full of ‘bangers.’

Prior to its release, the album became the most pre-saved album on audio streaming platform Spotify. It surpassed five million pre-saves on their platform and dethroned the previous title holder, Swift’s 2024 album ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’

Allein Maliksi is determined to stay healthy and remain a key piece for Meralco after injuries sidelined him for all but two games last season.

Maliksi had more time playing the role of cheerleader than being on the hardcourt after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs in his knee before being bothered by a back injury.

But Maliksi has shown signs of being a key contributor for the Bolts going into the 50th season with his performances in tune-up games, particularly against Converge and Rain or Shine.

‘I’m just trying to be efficient in terms of my movement while keeping myself fresh during the games, especially with my age,’ said Maliksi, who recently turned 38.

His absence was a big setback for Maliksi after a season in which he played an important role in Meralco’s breakthrough championship in the 2024 Philippine Cup.

With Maliksi out, the Bolts couldn’t get past the quarterfinals in all three conferences of Season 49.

‘I thought the momentum we had from that run would put us in a position to have another shot at the championship,’ Maliksi said. ‘But then I had surgery, and then during rehab I got another injury that prevented me from making a full recovery.

‘But I’m happy to be back to help the team. Like I said, I hope I can be efficient so that I can contribute this conference.’

The Bolts are not only focused on the Philippine Cup but are also set to compete in the East Asia Super League, reinforced by PBA Best Imports Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, third import Israel Romero, and naturalized big man Ange Kouame.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte wants to disbar the justice secretary and other high-ranking officials for their role in the arrest and turnover of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March.

In a complaint filed on Thursday, the younger Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, sought the disbarment of Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, and Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.

Torreon declined to discuss the details of the case, citing the confidentiality provision of the Rules of Court. He only said that the complaint was related to the ‘kidnapping’ and ‘expulsion’ of the former president to The Hague, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs before the ICC.

Torre explained that Mayor Duterte’s complaint pertained to a ‘different subject matter’ compared to the criminal and administrative cases the latter filed last month before the Office of the Ombudsman against Remulla and the other government officials, including some police officers.

Lawyers only

‘This case for disbarment is concentrated only against lawyers because, as you know, we also have Canons of Professional Responsibility that we have to comply with and observe,’ he said.

When asked if the disbarment case was meant to block Remulla’s application to become the next Ombudsman, Torreon repeatedly said: ‘Hopefully,’ before adding, ‘I do not have any qualms on the matter nor would I hide that that is one of [the reasons why] Mayor Duterte filed this case.’

But when asked to further clarify his answer, Torreon took back his initial statement, saying they aimed to make Remulla ‘principally . liable for the violations that he committed under the code of professional responsibility.’

‘And on the side, if that would cause the blocking of his appointment, then that is one of the consequences of his actions,’ he added.

Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice, Remulla brushed aside the latest filing from the Duterte camp, again dismissing it as forum shopping.

‘That’s already expected . They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done or what we have sought to do for the ends of justice,’ he said.

Those applying to become the next Ombudsman should have no pending cases before the agency. Remulla, however, said he has already been issued a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman, making him qualified for the post.

Following the impact of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off Cebu on September 30, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called on government agencies and the private sector to ensure that assistance for members of vulnerable sectors is ‘well-considered, culturally sensitive, and timely.’

The CHR issued the statement on Friday amid the government’s distribution of aid to affected communities in the province.

‘The Commission calls on government agencies and the private sector involved in humanitarian efforts on the ground to ensure that responses for persons with disabilities, the sick, children and youth, the elderly, and the socio-economically disadvantaged are well-considered, culturally sensitive, and timely,’ it said.

‘Let us allow the human rights lens to guide our disaster relief for vulnerable groups in particular, so that we, as a society, can truly claim that we are keepers of even the less privileged,’ it added.

The CHR likewise pointed out the insufficiency of early warning systems and preparedness for vulnerable groups during disasters, noting that they are often ‘left behind to fend for themselves.’

The Commission emphasized that the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID) ‘provide that persons displaced by natural disasters have the right to protection, assistance, and durable solutions that respect their dignity and human rights.’

It also noted that the UNGPID ‘assigns the State the primary duty to provide assistance during displacement and to ensure support through the stages of return, resettlement, and reintegration, in shared responsibility with other humanitarian actors.’

Moreover, the Commission extended its condolences to the families of those who died in the earthquake in Cebu and nearby provinces.

‘As we stand in solidarity with government agencies and civil society organizations in their gargantuan efforts of rescue and relief, we particularly support all relief and rehabilitation for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the sick, children and youth, the elderly, and the socio-economically disadvantaged,’ it said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Thursday reported that it has already handed out millions worth of evacuation kits and relief goods to families impacted by Typhoon ‘Opong’ in Masbate, and the devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu. 6

Covering daily deliveries through C130 flights, and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel ‘Gabriela Silang,’ a larger wave of assistance is set to follow by land with a PCSO caravan scheduled to leave Manila Sunday morning on October 5, delivering further aid to both regions.

The caravan will transport substantial quantities of relief supplies to the affected provinces.

Among the resources being dispatched are 11 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) for Cebu, alongside five dump trucks from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) dedicated to carrying essential relief items.

To ensure a steady supply of aid, the convoy will also include at least five wing vans and one bus filled with crucial necessities for the families in need.

Masbate is currently under a state of calamity as it grapples with the aftermath of the typhoon, which has displaced thousands, destroyed homes, and severely impacted agricultural lands.

In Cebu, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake has left over 20,000 individuals displaced, with Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio among the most severely affected areas.

Thousands of residents remain in evacuation centers or have been forced to sleep outdoors due to ongoing aftershocks, highlighting the urgent need for immediate assistance.

‘We can not turn away from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos in Masbate and Cebu,’ stated PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles.

‘Our duty is clear: to respond and continue helping until aid reaches every corner of these communities.’

He added that they are committed to supporting those affected by these calamities.

‘Through these efforts, we uphold our principle of ‘Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong.’

The Philippine government awarded more than ?5.72 trillion in contracts from 2000 to 2021 across its top 10 procurement categories. An overwhelming ?4 trillion – or 81 percent – went to construction projects, yet floods continue to cripple communities nationwide.

This is according to an analysis of PhilGEPS procurement data by Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines.

‘Trillions have already sunk into concrete, yet the waters keep rising,’ Panao wrote. ‘[D]espite this torrent of spending, floods continue to paralyze communities, exposing how concrete often serves politics as much as public need.’

Construction dwarfs other spending

The data shows how construction has dominated government spending, dwarfing other vital sectors. Construction projects accounted for ?4.65 trillion, while an additional ?96.4 billion went to construction materials – together making up the vast bulk of procurement across two decades.

By comparison, Information Technology (?152.2 billion) ranked third in procurement, a figure that Panao noted ‘sits unusually high,’ reflecting both modernization efforts and ‘suspicions of overpriced, fragmented systems.’

Spending on health fell far behind. Drugs and medicines (?132.4 billion) and medical supplies and laboratory instruments (?74.2 billion) combined barely reached four percent of construction’s total.

The numbers, Panao explained, stress how ‘health spending, though vital, has struggled to compete with the politics of infrastructure,’ Panao said.

Other procurement categories included services (?125.3 billion), vehicles (?113.1 billion), lease and rental of property or building (?89.9 billion), and food stuff (?84.2 billion) – underscoring the heavy bias for physical infrastructure.

A recurring flood of spending

Despite the torrent of funds, floods remain one of the country’s most persistent and destructive disasters. The International Disaster Database earlier reported that storms and floods accounted for nearly two-thirds of all Philippine calamities from 2000 to 2024.

Panao warned that infrastructure-driven policies risk being ‘rich in contracts, poor in integrity’ if accountability and transparency are not strengthened.

The release of the PhilGEPS data comes as the Commission on Audit (COA) has filed a series of fraud audit reports on flood-control projects. Just in September, COA flagged multiple projects in Bulacan and Bicol as either nonexistent, duplicated, or built on mismatched sites – raising concerns over how billions in flood infrastructure are spent.

At the same time, public anger has mounted over revelations that just 15 contractors cornered more than ?100 billion worth of flood-control funds since 2022. Protesters have linked this concentration of spending to the ‘ghost projects’ scandal, which continues to fuel calls for accountability.

According to Panao, the figures show that even with trillions of pesos poured into construction projects, flooding has continued to affect communities nationwide. His analysis noted that this pattern reflects the limits of infrastructure spending when it comes to addressing recurring climate-related risks.