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Debuts and defenses take center stage on the second game day of the PBA’s 50th season, which heads to Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday.

Titan Ultra makes its big-league debut at 5 p.m. against Meralco, while San Miguel Beer launches its Philippine Cup title defense at 7:30 p.m. against NLEX.

While San Miguel’s campaign in the conference it has historically dominated is a key storyline, Titan Ultra’s first PBA appearance draws added attention. The team enters the league after parent company Pureblends Corporation acquired the NorthPort franchise in the offseason.

Most Improved Player and All-Defensive Team honoree Joshua Munzon, alongside Calvin Abueva, Cade Flores, and rookie Chris Koon, is expected to lead the Giant Risers in their bid to upset the seasoned Bolts, who won the all-Filipino crown in 2024.

‘We’re a new team and we have to manage expectations,’ Munzon told the Inquirer. ‘The players and the coaches haven’t been together for a month so we have to go out there, build our chemistry and stay together.’

Munzon enters the season having grown steadily over the past two years, averaging 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.0 steals during the 2024-2025 campaign with the former Batang Pier.

Titan Ultra also bolstered its roster by signing veterans James Martinez, Arvie Bringas, and Roi Sumang, who spent recent seasons in the MPBL.

Meralco, on the other hand, enters the conference with new uniforms and renewed optimism. After being eliminated in the quarterfinals of all three tournaments last season, the Bolts are eyeing deeper runs.

Chris Newsome, who re-signed with the team despite exploring free agency, leads the charge alongside a healthy Allein Maliksi, who returns after playing only two games last year.

San Miguel, meanwhile, is brushing off preseason tuneup losses to Converge and Meralco, focusing instead on games that matter.

June Mar Fajardo, fresh off a record-extending ninth MVP award, will once again team up with CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz. The trio will look to resume their dominant form from July, when they secured the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy against a TNT squad chasing a Grand Slam.

Rookie Chris Miller may also carve out a significant role in the Beermen’s rotation. Meanwhile, Robert Bolick, who finished second in the MVP race, hopes to steer the Road Warriors past last year’s quarterfinal heartbreak-when they squandered a twice-to-beat edge to Rain or Shine. INQ

The opening scene of the Cinemalaya short film ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit (Objects Do Not Randomly Fall From the Sky)’ hits audiences right in the face – it is a display of how the country’s fishermen grapple with the territorial aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

For its director and writer Maria Estela Paiso, it is a manifestation of her anger toward the ongoing issue. ‘Dahil hindi ako nag-film school, sinulat ko ‘to dahil sa galit. Sa totoo lang. Sinulat ko ito as a response sa ‘Ampangabagat nin talakba ha likol (It’s Raining Frogs Outside).’ Kailangan nating lawakan ang lente natin sa pagtingin kung saan tayo nanggagaling,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

(Since I wasn’t able to go to film school, I wrote this short film out of anger. If I have to be honest with you. I wrote this as a response to my other short film, ‘Ampangabagat nin talakba ha likol.’ We need to widen our lenses when it comes to telling stories of where we come from.)

Paiso, who finished Communication Arts at De La Salle University-Manila, was referring to her 2021 short film, which screened at the QCinema International Film Festival in the same year, and the 2022 edition of Cinemalaya. It tells the story of Maya returning to her childhood home in Zambales as the world is about to end, wondering why frogs are literally raining down from the sky.

This time, ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit (Objects Do Not Randomly Fall From the Sky)’ revolves around Sita and her mother turning into half-fish, half-humans, as they navigate through their youth in Zambales amid the ongoing territorial aggression on the West Philippine Sea.

‘Docu-fiction siya, pinagsama ko siya sa mga kwinento sa’kin ng mama ko sa pagkabata niya sa Zambales, territorial aggression na dinadanas ng mga mangingisda sa Masinloc sa West Philippine Sea,’ Paiso explained. ‘Ilang admin na ang dumaan pero wala pa rin tayong solusyon. Mas malala na siya ngayon.’

(It’s a docu-fiction short brought together by the stories of my mom’s childhood in Zambales, and the territorial aggression that fishermen go through in Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. Many administrations have come and gone, but there is still no solution. It even got worse.) Throughout the entirety of the short film, stop-motion animation was used to explore the narratives of Sita and her mother, combined with compilations of fishermen and the country’s past presidents sharing their take on the issue.

To bring ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit (Objects Do Not Randomly Fall From the Sky)’ to life, Paiso compiled sentiments from fishermen, before ‘structuring them together.’ Also included are quotes from her mother and other related soundbites, before adding in the visuals.

‘Noong nakausap ko ang ilang interviewees ko, hindi pa rin sila nakakapunta sa Panatag Shoal. Banned sila within 14 nautical miles ng shoal, so mas malala pa. Dati, nakakatakas sila pero ngayon naka-barricade na talaga. Hindi ka na makalapit,’ Paiso said, reiterating that topics on the West Philippine Sea aggression need to be discussed.

‘Importante siya pag-usapan kasi may karapatan ang mangingisda natin sa sarili nating katubigan. Tayong mga Pilipino ang dapat makinabang sa likas na yaman natin. Ang isa sa narratives na gusto kong ibahagi ay [to counter] ‘yung claim na issue lang ito ng pamimili between magkaibang bansa in case magka-guerra, hindi siya issue ng pamimili ng kakampihan. Ang dapat nating kinakampihan ay ang mga kababayan natin,’ she said.

(My interviewees shared that they haven’t been to the Panatag Shoal. They are banned within 14 nautical miles, so it got worse. Before, they were still able to find their way through, but there is a barricade now. You really can’t come close to it. It’s important to talk about it because our fishermen have the right to their own waters. Filipinos have the right to our own resources. One of the intentions in my narrative is to counter the claim that we must choose a country to stand by in case of war. It is not an issue of choosing our allies. We must choose our own countrymen.)

Paiso is aware that funding is one of the biggest challenges filmmakers face, especially when it comes to certain ‘political’ topics. Or in her case, ‘kung anong ibig sabihin ng political sa mga institusyon (what being political means depending on the institution,’ but she hopes that it serves as a reminder of why the public should never stop talking about the aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

The short film, which ends with the glaring phrase, ‘Atin ang Pinas (The Philippines is ours),’ is an official entry to the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, which runs until Oct. 12.

The World Bank (WB) said the Philippines can continue to lean on resilient domestic demand to cushion its economy from the fallout of higher US tariffs, which threaten to slow growth across East Asia.

In its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, the Washington-based lender kept its growth forecast for the Philippines at 5.3 percent this year and 5.4 percent in 2026, pointing to steady consumer spending and sustained government investment in infrastructure development.

That relatively stable outlook stood out in a region bracing for trade disruptions and weaker external demand. The WB expects the broader East Asia and Pacific economy to expand by an average of 4.8 percent this year, easing from 5 percent in 2024.

3rd fastest growing

With those projections, the Philippines-which was slapped with a 19-percent American tariff-is poised to be the region’s third fastest-growing economy this year, trailing only Vietnam’s robust 6.6 percent and Mongolia’s 5.9 percent.

Still, the bank’s forecast fell short of the Marcos administration’s target of 5.5- to 6.5-percent growth this year and 6 to 7 percent in 2026.

‘The Philippines will benefit from robust domestic demand, supported by easing inflation, lower interest rates and strong labor markets,’ WB said.

‘Growth will also be sustained by public infrastructure investment exceeding 5 percent of gross domestic product and private investment spurred by the reforms discussed above,’ it added.

Some of that momentum is already visible.

New challenges

In the second quarter, the economy expanded by 5.5 percent as household consumption grew at its fastest pace in more than two years, lifted by moderating inflation and lower borrowing costs. Even so, consumer spending remained below the prepandemic five-year average of 6.2 percent.

Zooming out, the WB said East Asia and the Pacific continued to outperform much of the world, but sustaining that momentum would require ambitious reforms as the region navigates an uncertain global environment.

The bank warned that the region’s once-successful model of inclusive development now faces new strains. Recent job growth has been concentrated in low-productivity, often informal service sectors that offer limited prospects for advancement.

Labor constraints

At the same time, many young people are struggling to find work, and women continue to participate less in the labor force.

While about 25 million people in the region are expected to escape poverty between 2025 and 2026, the WB noted that the share of those vulnerable to falling back into poverty now exceeds the size of the middle class in most countries.

‘East Asia’s export-oriented labor-intensive growth lifted a billion people out of poverty in the last three decades, but the region now faces the twin challenges of trade protection and job automation,’ said WB East Asia and Pacific chief economist Aaditya Mattoo.

‘Reforms of the business climate and improvements in education could unleash a virtuous cycle between opportunity and capacity, leading to higher growth and better jobs,’ Mattoo added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is preparing to subpoena a social media user over a post in which she claimed Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. urged officers to disobey President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘According to the CIDG and the Anti-Cybercrime Group’s report, the post was taken down and the poster of the disinformation was identified,’ PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said in Filipino in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

‘The CIDG subpoena is now being prepared to summon her and give her a chance to explain,’ he added.

Tuaño said he was not at liberty to name the social media user, only saying that she was a ‘professional living in Mindanao.’

A screenshot of the original post shared by the PNP at the briefing showed a Facebook page named ‘Rose Ann’ claiming that Nartatez urged the police force to disobey Marcos’ orders and called the president a ‘thief of the country’s treasury.’

In a statement on Tuesday night, the PNP debunked the post, saying it was ‘fabricated and malicious’ and it ‘intended to spread confusion and discredit our institution.’

In a press briefing last Monday, Nartatez said neither he, his staff, PNP commanders, nor regional directors had been asked to withdraw support from Marcos.

‘And what’s the basis? We have a president who won by a majority vote. I don’t see any basis to remove him from office,’ he said.

This came after Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he rejected open calls by several groups and retired officers to oust the President amid outrage over alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects. /mcm

In search of material for a column, I visited the Ateneo Rizal Library the other day and browsed aimlessly in the periodical section. There, I came across bound volumes of the pro-Ferdinand Marcos Sr. magazine ‘Republic Weekly.’ In it was a series on Dovie Beams and her lurid affair with the former president. The first article that caught my attention was suggestively titled ‘Dovie Turns the Screw,’ written by someone hiding under the initials ‘A.E.’ I was very disappointed that someone had cut out all the sexy photos from the article. The photo captions left a lot to the imagination. A missing vertical photo was captioned: ‘Dovie Beams Hungry and Angry,’ and the other missing horizontal or landscape photo was captioned: ‘Miss Beams posing for photomen in the buff.’ Almost all the photos in the series that ran from April 1971 were cut out, and I wondered: who would have done this? Was it a horny Ateneo student or professor? Or was it a prude librarian who wanted to keep the stacks free of pornography?

Going over the whole Dovie Beams series over several issues of Republic Weekly made me reflect on the practice of history. First, did I find the material, or did the material find me? I could have opened issues of the Philippines Free Press, Graphic, Asia Philippines Leader, Sunday Times Magazine, etc., but I chose Republic Weekly because it was not familiar to me. Finding Dovie Beams was pure serendipity. History in the university setting is either placed under the humanities or social sciences department because the discipline is both about creative expression and rigorous research and analysis. In the humanities and the sciences, all scholars go through their so-called eureka moments.

Second, looking at the missing photos of Miss Beams and being curious about them underscores the fact that until the time machine is invented, the historian cannot truly go back and know the past fully. At best, the historian tries to get as close to the truth as possible, following in the tracks or traces of the past through the primary sources. What happens if the sources are incomplete, nonexistent, or worse, biased, wrong, or outright lies?

Historians digging through current Philippine newspapers know that there are no newspapers on dates that fall on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Having no Philippine newspapers on these dates does not mean that nothing happened on those days, that time and history stood still. This reminds me of a trick test question I have in an exam. I asked for the most significant event that happened in the Philippines on Thursday, Dec. 31, 1844. Students couldn’t find it because that day ‘disappeared,’ thanks to Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria, who realized that the Philippine calendar was off or 11 days ahead of other places where the Gregorian calendar was adopted. To correct the discrepancy, Claveria decreed that Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1844, would be followed by Friday, Dec. 31, 1844. Remember this is the same governor who decreed in 1849 that, for census and tax purposes, all Filipinos had to adopt a surname chosen from the ‘Catalogo alfabetico de apellidos (Alphabetical catalog of surnames).’

Libraries and archives are the lifeblood of history and historians, but these institutions cannot collect everything. When I go over the periodicals collected by the Rizal Library, I realize that these are mostly broadsheets. Where are the tabloids? In terms of magazines, the library did not collect movie titles, song hits, or local pornography. I was surprised that the Rizal Library has the Baguio Midland Courier and other local papers, but these are either in English or Filipino. What about materials in other languages, like Ilocano or Kapampangan? What about periodicals in Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Bisaya, Maranao, Manobo, or Subanen? In the Rizal Library special collections, we have materials in Spanish, even recorded oral epics from Palawan. In a country with over a hundred different languages and many different ethnolinguistic groups, how can we weave a true Philippine history when what passes for it is basically a local history of Manila? When I think of a national history these days, I think in plural terms, because what we have is not one Philippine history but rather many Philippine histories.

While the content of the Republic Weekly in 1971 was old news, there was a lot that was strangely contemporary. Politics filled the first sections of the magazines, followed by showbiz news and features. Some people featured in 1971 are still in the news, like the immortal Juan Ponce Enrile. Tirso Cruz III, in 1971, was part of a movie loveteam with Nora Aunor. Today, he is the chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Annabelle Rama, controversial today for what she says, was provocative in 1971 on the Republic Weekly cover, her blouse open slightly to provide a peek into one of her breasts. Browsing through the Republic Weekly of 1971 made me realize that the historian’s true task is to write and educate so that the present will stop reading like the past.

Thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, and Bulacan, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

In its latest advisory issued at 10:08 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said moderate to heavy rain showers with lightning and strong winds are expected in the areas mentioned within the next two hours.

In Cavite, the affected areas are Kawit, Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Silang, Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite City, and Noveleta.

In Bulacan, the towns of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Bocaue, Balagtas, Bustos, Santa Maria, Angat, and Pandi will be affected.

Similar conditions are already being experienced in Rizal, including Binangonan, Cardona, Pililla and Jala-Jala, which may persist for two hours and possibly affect nearby areas.

Authorities advised the public to remain cautious of possible flash floods and landslides and to continue monitoring official updates./mcm

Far Eastern University avoided another collapse and fended off Adamson, 25-13, 25-22, 15-25, 25-23, to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge on Wednesday at Dasmariñas Arena here.

The Lady Tamaraws lost steam after taking the first two sets, losing the third by 10 points and blowing a 23-20 lead in the fourth after Frances Mordi’s clutch hits.

They reached match point with a lucky break after Red Bascon missed her serve. Jaz Ellarina drilled the game-winning block on Mordi to equalize the finals series.

FEU, which bounced back from a Game 1 collapse, and Adamson clash for the 2025 crown in Game 3 on Friday at FilOil EcoOil Arena.

Gerz Petallo and Kyle Pendon led the charge for 15 points each as the Lady Tamaraws get another shot at a championship after settling for runner-up in the past two V-League finals.

‘We really pushed ourselves because we really wanted to win. We wanted this game for us, so even before it started, we made sure our mindset was in the right place. It was all about having a strong, winning mentality,’ said Petallo, who tallied 11 kills and four blocks to go with 14 receptions and 12 digs.

‘We really prepared hard. We focused on having the right mindset, believing that we’re fully capable. We knew we could fix the lapses we had before. We truly came into this game well-prepared.’

Ellarina chipped in 11 points for FEU. Alyzza Devosora had 10 points, while setter Tin Ubaldo tossed 23 excellent sets.

Tournament MVP Shaina Nitura had 20 points for Adamson but only converted 18 kills of her 70 attack attempts. Mordi had 13, while Lhouriz Tuddao added 12.

Leading home improvement retailer MR.DIY Philippines has been honored for Job Creation in the Philippines at the ESGBusiness Awards held September 25 at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The award celebrates the company’s outstanding contribution to building livelihoods in provinces where opportunities are needed most.

The winning entry highlighted MR.DIY’s efforts in Samar and Leyte-two provinces that were hardest hit by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Six years after the disaster, MR.DIY began expanding its footprint in the region and has since established 38 stores, generating over 300 full-time jobs for local residents and creating sustainable livelihoods that keep families together. ‘For MR.DIY, expansion is not just about opening stores-it’s about opening doors of opportunity,’ said Ms. Roselle Marisol Andaya, Chief Executive Officer of MR.DIY Philippines. ‘Every store we open is a commitment to empower families, strengthen communities, and bring progress closer to home.’

By hiring locally in close partnership with LGUs, MR.DIY has helped reduce the need for residents to migrate in search of work. Beyond direct employment, the company has stimulated indirect job creation through local contractors, transport providers, logistics partners, and mall vendors.

The entry of MR.DIY stores in smaller towns also spurs new markets, making affordable goods more accessible and encouraging other businesses to invest in the area.

To ensure sustainable growth, MR.DIY invests heavily in its people through its 4Es methodology (Education, Environment, Exposure, Experience) and Shift Supervision Leadership Track, providing employees with the training and opportunities they need to build lasting careers.

These initiatives reflect MR.DIY’s belief that it doesn’t just hire people-it develops them into confident team leaders and future supervisors.

This recognition from ESGBusiness underscores MR.DIY’s dedication to embedding social responsibility at the heart of its operations, proving that business growth and community empowerment can-and should-go hand in hand.

Behind iron grills across the Philippines, sari-sari (variety) store owners pursue dreams that go far beyond their small storefronts.

For these micro-entrepreneurs, their modest shops represent something much larger: It’s a form of resilience that helps them weather economic uncertainty, so they can provide, first and foremost, for their families.

According to Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) recent ‘Heart of Hustle’ report, a survey of 3,098 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)-which make up 99.5 percent of all businesses in the country, including sari-sari stores, and employ over 60 percent of the workforce-paint a portrait of an economy driven by devotion to their loved ones.

The report, written by Julian Cua, Anthony Oundjian, Jamie Bawalan, Lance Katigbak, Anjeli Panis, Christabel Dewani and Julianne Ong, show that 64 percent of business owners say they started their enterprises to achieve financial independence for their families.

The rest were primarily driven by passion for their product or service (41 percent), and the need to be able to afford their children’s education (38 percent).

However, as much as small business owners strive to support their families, they themselves lack the system to thrive in their endeavors, the report reveals, as they face complex barriers that fall five under critical areas: access to financing, markets, tools, government support and labor.

When it comes to accessing capital, more than half of MSMEs (55 percent) have never applied for a loan, with 42 percent saying they’re afraid of going into debt. Another 34 percent cite high interest rates as a deterrent.

However, among those who did receive loan approvals, 59 percent secured interest rates between just 1 to 5 percent-far lower than many expected. This points to what the report calls ‘a deeper issue: accessibility is not the same as availability.’

Funding constaints

The financing challenge becomes more acute when viewed through the lens of business size. While 44 percent of MSMEs rely on personal savings as their main funding source, only 10 percent use bank loans as their primary capital source. The rest patch together funding from family, friends and increasingly, government programs.

Government support receives mixed reviews from MSMEs. While 84 percent want more and 77 percent feel able to comply with current regulations, satisfaction varies significantly by program type.

The data reveals high awareness but low participation in key DTI programs. Over 70 percent of MSMEs are familiar with initiatives like Negosyo Centers and Kapatid Mentor ME, but actual participation often falls below 20 percent. The reasons range from difficulty meeting requirements to uncertainty about program applicability.

More concerning is the labor law compliance gap. While 77 percent say they can comply with general business regulations, only 14 percent are registered with the Department of Labor and Employment. Understanding of labor-specific requirements-from termination pay (19 percent awareness) to occupational safety standards (29 percent awareness)-remains limited.

In today’s digitally connected world, 77 percent of MSMEs say they want to increase their use of such tools; however, only 20 percent report actually using more business software than they did a year ago. Just 16 percent use any digital tools at all. The barrier isn’t lack of interest-it’s perception of scale. A striking 74 percent of business owners say their business isn’t big enough to justify digital tools, while 50 percent simply lack the technical expertise to implement them.

This digital hesitancy comes with real costs. The report shows double-digit gaps between current usage and future demand for basic business tools like accounting software (11 percent current usage vs 60 percent desired), website management (13 percent vs 49 percent), and point-of-sale systems (21 percent vs 73 percent).

Know your MSMEs

The study also reveals that MSMEs have four distinct archetypes, each with unique motivations and pain points:

Manufacturers stand apart as the most passionate and growth-oriented segment. They’re more likely than other business types to cite passion for their product (54 percent) and desire to build something lasting. These businesses often emerge from craft, technical skill, or family trades. They employ more people on average and are more likely to operate through multiple channels, with 77 percent selling both online and offline.

Sari-sari Store Owners represent perhaps the most financially motivated segment. Their dreams center on family welfare.

These micro-retailers face the steepest barriers. Among all MSME groups, 57 percent cite limited financing as a top challenge-the highest rate across segments. Most operate with razor-thin margins, buying from local wholesalers at retail-adjacent prices while competing against larger stores and online platforms.

Wholesale and Trade Retailers emerge as commercial pragmatists driven by market opportunity rather than necessity or passion. They’re 8 percent more likely than other MSMEs to cite ‘seizing market opportunities’ as a primary motivation. However, they face intense competitive pressure, with 44 percent citing competition from cheaper products and 43 percent feeling squeezed by large enterprises.

Food Service Operators blend passion with financial necessity. Like manufacturers, they show strong emotional connection to their products-47 percent list passion as a key driver, the second-highest across all MSME types. Yet they operate in one of the most volatile sectors, with 51 percent citing high operating costs as a major challenge, higher than any other sector.

The report argues for a fundamental shift in how these MSMEs are perceived and supported: ‘MSMEs are often seen as ‘nice to have’-a sector worth celebrating, but not central to policy or national planning. That mindset has to shift.’

Their recommendations center on three core principles:

First, treat MSME support as economic infrastructure rather than social aid. With MSMEs representing 99 percent of all businesses and employing millions, investment in their growth should receive the same priority as roads, ports, or power grids.

Second, build pathways for informal entrepreneurs to gradually build credit. Rather than requiring formal prerequisites, create progressive systems that start with micro-limits and increase with demonstrated performance.

Third, recognize that MSMEs aren’t simply scaled-down versions of large enterprises. They operate in fundamentally different ways-with different time horizons, decision cycles, and resource constraints. Support systems must be designed from their reality upward, not corporate models downward.

As Secretary of Trade and Industry Ma. Cristina A. Roque writes in the report’s foreword: ‘MSMEs are not just economic actors, but also individuals with goals, constraints, and a deep desire to grow.’ Ultimately, the question isn’t whether Filipino MSMEs have the heart to hustle-the data shows that they clearly do. The question is whether the systems around them will rise to match their determination. Because if starting a business remains one of Filipinos’ top dreams, then supporting MSMEs should be a national imperative.

Since President Marcos blew the lid on massive corruption in the country’s multi-billion flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address last July, stocks had slumped to their lowest in six months, the peso has weakened to the 58 level versus the greenback and investors have retreated to the sidelines, closely watching the investigations unfold.

Unfortunately, they are likely to stay there, especially with the surprise move of Senate blue ribbon committee chair Sen. Panfilo Lacson to step down from his post after barely warming his seat and suspend public hearings, primarily because the testimonies of contractors and officers of the Department of Public Works and Highways eventually brought corruption allegations at the doorsteps of his own colleagues.

That easily bolstered perception that the Senate and the House of Representatives were only out to protect their own, leading observers to conclude that the revelations of huge piles of cash exchanging hands and involving some of the country’s top elected and appointed officials will come to naught.

Thus, if the Marcos administration sincerely wants to win back the trust of the Filipino public and foreign and local investors, it must demonstrate the political will to punish those who would be proven guilty of corruption, no matter how rich or powerful they may be.

Bigger role to play

It already took a step in the right direction with the setting up of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) last month that is entrusted with the gargantuan task of investigating flood control and other infrastructure projects implemented from 2015.

With the Congressional hearings suspended, the ICI now has an even bigger role to play and must be granted the power and resources it needs to carry out its mission. Given its mandate to investigate infrastructure projects spanning three presidencies, it may need more teeth to be more effective. Thus, the move to enact the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act of 2025 which would provide the body with subpoena powers to cover all branches of government including constitutionally created bodies, as well as private companies and individuals.

It will also be granted full and unrestricted access to all government records as well as contempt powers to sanction those who will willfully ignore or fail to comply with subpoenas.

The influential Makati Business Club has also supported the passage of the ICI bill to fully empower it to do its work swiftly and effectively, with no fear nor favor. ‘In the current investigation on corruption relating to flood control, our people are demanding transparency, accountability, and justice,’ MBC said in a statement. Indeed, investors are just as concerned about these imperatives.

Long-standing problem

The United States’ State Department said in its 2025 assessment of the Philippines’ investment climate that corruption in the country, ranked 114th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, ‘is a pervasive and long-standing problem in both the public and private sectors.’

‘Various organizations, including the World Economic Forum, have cited corruption among the top problematic factors for doing business in the Philippines,’ said the document that also flagged poor infrastructure, high power and logistics costs, cumbersome bureaucracy and regulatory inconsistencies as hampering government efforts to attract foreign investments.

Indeed, the brazen displays of corruption in full view of the public during the widening probe are only reinforcing the increasing risks that will make it difficult for investors to focus on the country’s fundamentally strong macroeconomy.

Leading to a slowdown

Japanese investment bank Nomura, for example, said in a note to Japanese investors that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely assess the ongoing controversy around flood-control projects ‘as potentially leading to a slowdown in government capex (capital expenditure) disbursements’ that puts the gross domestic product growth target of 5.5-6.5 percent for 2025 at risk of not being met.

A slowdown in public expenditures poses ‘downside risks’ to the country’s economic growth outlook, Nomura stressed, and this increasing likelihood will influence the Monetary Board’s decision on whether to further cut its policy rate at its meeting this week to help support economic growth or keep it unchanged at 5 percent.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has already frozen a total of 1,889 assets and has also committed to pursue offshore assets, including foreign bank accounts, real estate, and personal properties as part of a broad mandate to recover ill-gotten wealth accumulated at the expense of the long-suffering Filipino taxpayer. Failure to deliver on that expectation may mean losing whatever is left of investor confidence in the Philippines, never to be recovered again.