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Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday called for a comprehensive Senate inquiry into the condition and structural integrity of bridges nationwide.

His call came following the collapse of the 50-year-old Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan – the second bridge collapse in the Cagayan Valley region in just eight months.

In February, the newly retrofitted Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela province collapsed, injuring six people while also leading to the fall of four cars into the Cagayan River.

Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) assessment revealed that the Sta. Maria-Cabagan bridge suffered from ‘under-design.’

Under-design refers to a situation where a structure, system or component is designed with insufficient capacity, strength or performance to meet expected loads, stresses, or operational requirements.

The Piggatan Bridge, a 74.7-meter steel structure built in 1974, collapsed on October 5, 2025, after reportedly being weighed down by three heavily loaded trucks carrying palay and corn.

The bridge, certified by the DPWH as being in ‘good overall condition’ just a year earlier, served as a vital link along the Maharlika Highway, connecting Alcala town to the rest of Cagayan province and Tuguegarao City.

The incident, which injured seven people, has paralyzed travel and trade in and out of Alcala, forcing trucks transporting agricultural goods to take longer and costlier routes.

Estrada’s Senate Resolution No. 153 urged the appropriate committee to conduct the inquiry, underscoring the need to review existing bridge designs and maintenance systems, and assess the economic and tourism impacts of such incidents.

He said the committee should recommend measures to safeguard public welfare and ensure the integrity of the country’s infrastructure.

‘Will we wait for another bridge to collapse before we take action? We must act swiftly to identify vulnerable structures, especially in agricultural regions,’ the senator said in a statement.

‘It’s not just the roads that get cut off during incidents involving bridge collapse. Transportation, safety, and livelihood of people are also affected,’ he noted.

Through the proposed inquiry, the Senate aims to identify aging and high-risk bridges that may require retrofitting or replacement, strengthen infrastructure audit systems, and reinforce government accountability in maintaining safe, reliable public structures.

Estrada urged the DPWH and other agencies to prioritize the retrofitting and replacement of aging bridges, and to ensure that new constructions meet modern standards capable of handling increased traffic and heavier loads.

He stressed that the recurrence of such incidents raises serious questions about the durability, inspection protocols, and design standards of public infrastructure. /apl

Citing low completion rates and idle infrastructure projects, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to transfer the P3-billion allocation for the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) Program from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Department of National Defense (DND).

During the budget hearing on the DND’s P295-billion 2026 budget on Tuesday, the Senate finance committee chair highlighted several unfinished DPWH projects, including two multipurpose buildings for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Pasay City, valued at P72 million and P51 million, both tagged as completed but still unfinished.

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

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

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

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

Teodoro said there was no validation of whether or not they can use the structures.

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

Teodoro added that they will discuss with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon the possible filing of appropriate cases against the people behind the unfinished projects.

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

On September 30,2025, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) participated in the ‘LAB for All’ Program held in Valenzuela City, demonstrating its commitment to expanding health and charity services to local communities.

Leading the PCSO team were Director Imelda Papin and Assistant General Manager for the Charity Sector, Atty. Lauro Patiag. They oversaw the distribution of 1,500 Charitimba relief packages to the city’s residents who attended the caravan.

In addition, the PCSO also turned over ?3,892,214.85 in Lotto Shares to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Valenzuela. This amount covers the city’s share of lotto sales generated from January to June 2025 and is mandated to be used for local health and medical services.

The ‘LAB for All’ initiative, spearheaded by First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta Marcos, is a collaborative program designed to mobilize various government agencies to bring direct medical and social services to citizens.

The PCSO’s participation and assistance directly support the directive of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and ensure that medical services are accessible in every community. The agency remains dedicated to continuous collaboration with government programs for the welfare of all Filipinos in need.

Responding to public outcry, Sen. Erwin Tulfo has proposed an ‘extraordinary measure’ granting a one-month income tax holiday amid the multi-billion-peso flood control projects scandal rocking the government.

‘The exposure of alleged anomalies in flood control projects, involving billions of pesos in public funds, has gravely eroded public trust in government fiscal stewardship. The Filipino people have raised a clear and resounding clamor-‘Return the people’s money. Lower the taxes,” Tulfo said when he filed Senate Bill No. 1446 on Tuesday.

‘The welfare of the people is the supreme law. It is therefore just and necessary that the State respond by providing tangible relief to the very taxpayers who sustain it,’ he added.

Under the bill, all individual taxpayers receiving compensation income may enjoy a ‘one-time, one-month income tax holiday,’ which will be reflected in the first payroll month immediately following the bill’s approval.

For mixed-income earners, only the portion classified as compensation income will be exempt from tax.

‘Towards this end, the state shall, as an extraordinary measure, grant a one-time, one-month tax holiday on compensation income, without prejudice to existing social security contributions and benefits,’ according to the bill.

It states that the proposed tax holiday will not cover the mandatory contributions to the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, PhilHealth, Home Development Mutual Fund, and loan amortizations and other payments voluntarily authorized by the employee.

The bill also includes a non-diminution clause, which will ensure that employers cannot reduce employee wages during the tax holiday month.

‘While taxation is recognized as the lifeblood of the State, we must equally recognize that this lifeblood flows from the people themselves,’ Tulfo said.

‘At a time when public confidence has been shaken, this bill provides a fair, extraordinary, and immediate form of relief that returns benefits directly to the people,’ he added.

Various protest rallies were recently held in parts of the country following revelations of alleged massive corruption in the government’s flood control projects.

Separate investigations in Congress also revealed the alleged involvement of some senators and congressmen, who were accused of receiving kickbacks in exchange for these infrastructure projects. /mcm

The PVL on Wednesday announced it has decided to replay the two opening game matches that were played without imports, giving all teams a fair shot with their full squads.

The decision was made with the backing of stakeholders and the teams, citing ‘spirit of fairness, competitive parity, and delivering the best possible experience’ for the fans.

The new schedule of the games will be announced at a later date.

On Tuesday, ZUS Coffee, Akari, Choco Mucho and Capital1 opened their Reinforced Conference-the tournament that showcases international talents- campaigns without their reinforcements due to a dispute over International Transfer Certificates.

In the all-Filipino battles, the Flying Titans and the Thunderbelles prevailed.

PVL pointed the blame on the Philippine National Volleyball Federation for their alleged refusal to endorse the ITCs required for foreign guest players to compete.

All the ITCs for imports and Filipino-Foreign players were activated and signed on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m.

With the issue sorted out, Petro Gazz can begin its bid with returning import Lindsey Vander Weide on board as well Filipino-Americans Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips. They battle the Galeries, which has Montenegrin Jelena Cvijovic, on Thursday at Dasmariñas Arena at 4 p.m.

Nxled’s Paola Martinez and Farm Fresh’s Helene Rousseaux are also cleared to play for the second game at 6:30 p.m.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has confirmed a coastal uplift in a village in Bogo City following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu last week.

In its field assessment released Tuesday, Phivolcs reported that the shoreline in Barangay Nailon rose by about a meter, as evidenced by exposed tidal flats, raised tidal notches, and elevated high-tide markers. It attributed the phenomenon to the movement of the Bogo Bay Fault, which triggered the powerful quake on September 30.

The uplifted zone was previously submerged in seawater, as indicated by dry seagrass beds and distinct changes in tidal formations along the coast. These features provide visible proof of the vertical displacement of land near the fault line during the seismic event.

The earthquake caused widespread destruction across northern Cebu, leaving 72 people dead and over 550 injured and affecting around 611,000 residents, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

‘Zone of avoidance’

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it would assist local governments in enforcing a 5-meter ‘zone of avoidance’ along the Bogo Bay Fault, following Phivolcs’ recommendation to prohibit construction near the active fault line.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police units in the Central Visayas region had been instructed to coordinate with disaster response councils and assist in establishing safety perimeters around the identified fault trace.

He said police stations in Bogo City and neighboring areas had been tasked to assist in ‘information dissemination, patrol vulnerable communities, and help local authorities enforce safety perimeters within the 5-meter zone of avoidance.’

There was no room for panic.

After stumbling out of the gate, both Arellano University and Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) responded with gritty bounce-back wins in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday-one emphatic, the other just enough.

The Arellano Chiefs showed little hesitation in dismantling San Sebastian, 82-66, at the San Juan Arena. Renzo Abiera orchestrated a flawless outing, scoring 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting clip.

‘What’s beautiful here is that every player and every coach is doing the work,’ said coach Chico Manabat. ‘Sometimes, it’s not about how many wins you get but about winning the right way-and at the right time.’

Arellano’s dominance was a statement of intent. After falling to defending champion Mapua in their opener, the Chiefs refused to fall into a dangerous 0-2 hole. Instead, they made the most of their offensive flow, turning a tight first quarter into a comfortable cushion by halftime.

On the other side of the bracket, EAC didn’t have the same luxury of separation. The Generals had to sweat out a tight finish against Jose Rizal University, escaping with a 68-65 win that came down to one shot-and one steady hand.

With 1:25 left and the score knotted at 65, Nico Quinal buried a cold-blooded triple that held up as the game-winner. He finished with 10 points, but none bigger than the final three.

‘I reminded the boys that if we lost this game, it would be hard for us to reach our short-term goal of landing in the top two of our bracket,’ said coach Jerson Cabiltes.

Wilmar Oftana and Oman Omandac added 13 and 10 points, respectively.-INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF

There are no active attempts to unseat Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III at present, according to Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Speaking to reporters in a press conference on Wednesday, Cayetano said the rumors of a possible leadership change in the Senate might be coming from supporters of both the majority and minority blocs.

Cayetano categorically stated that no resolutions are being circulated among senators and that they are not expecting any leadership change before the Senate adjourns its session on Friday.

‘There is no active courting,’ Cayetano said.

Echoing Sotto’s earlier statements, Cayetano said he had a brief phone conversation with the Senate President, during which he made it clear that he is not seeking his colleagues’ support to unseat Sotto.

‘We in the minority are not talking about whether there’s already someone, or who it might be, or how and what would happen, because we believe they’re still happy in the majority. And I think we have a role to play in the minority. But usually, it doesn’t happen when it’s noisy, because everyone’s on guard,’ Cayetano said.

‘But you can’t take it away from the supporters of the majority who are vocal on social media about not wanting any changes, and you can’t take it away from our supporters across the country who want a change in leadership,’ he added.

Rumors circulating on social media have pointed to Cayetano as Sotto’s alleged successor as Senate President.

Sotto, however, dismissed the speculation, stressing that he does not expect any moves to unseat him in the plenary before the scheduled adjournment on October 10./mcm

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the perpetual revocation of the license of the driver for hitting the motorcycle driven by a student in Teresa, Rizal.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) noted that based on a viral video on social media, the driver was seen intentionally crashing into the student’s motorcycle because ‘it allegedly ran over his vehicle.’

The video likewise showed that the student had been thrown to one side of the road as his motorcycle crashed on the other side.

The student then stood up and went into his motorcycle, while the driver went out of his vehicle, furiously saying, ‘Don’t run. Your apology is not enough.’ After the incident, Lopez ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to locate the driver to have his license revoked for life.

‘That driver has no right to drive on the road,’ Lopez emphasized.

‘Let’s just say that his car was hit. Is it right to chase and hit the child?’ he asked.

‘No amount of explanation can justify his actions. He’s older; he should know what’s right,’ the acting DOTr chief pointed out,’ the acting DOTr chief pointed out.

The LTO is set to issue a show-cause order against the driver this Wednesday.

In the same statement, the DOTr mentioned that Lopez will speak with the family of the student.

He said that the agency is willing to provide a lawyer to file a case against the driver.

The DOTr is in coordination with the police with regard to the incident. /apl

Heavy rains will continue to affect Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, Oct. 8, the weather bureau said.

In its 11:56 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy rain showers with lightning and strong winds will affect the provinces within the next two hours.

In Laguna, the towns of Santa Maria, Pakil, Paete, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Mabitac, San Pedro, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti, and Luisiana are expected to experience these conditions.

In Nueva Ecija, the affected areas will be General Tinio, Gapan, Peñaranda, San Isidro, San Antonio, Cabiao, San Leonardo, and Jaen.

Meanwhile, similar conditions are already being experienced in Metro Manila, Quezon Province, and Rizal. This may continue within the next two hours and affect nearby areas.

Pagasa also reported that as of 8 a.m., a tropical depression is still being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It is unlikely to directly affect the Philippines.

The tropical depression was last spotted at 1,795 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph. It was moving northwestward at 35 kph. /mcm