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The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) have renewed their partnership to bolster the value of agri-fishery exports.

Both agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, placing great importance on the origin-based brands for various agricultural commodities.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said safeguarding the place of origin of agricultural products provides market opportunities for the sector.

‘For generations, our farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous communities have cultivated products whose quality and identity are deeply rooted in their places of origin,’ Tiu Laurel said.

‘Through geographical indications (GI), we can protect these unique products, preserve their authenticity, enhance consumer confidence, and create greater opportunities for our farming and fishing communities,’ he added.

The collaboration will secure the GIs of priority products, including Cordillera Heirloom Rice, Davao Pomelo, Zambales Mangoes, Davao Cacao, Davao Durian, Bonuan Bangus, Quezon Lambanog, Camarines Norte Queen Pineapple and Oriental Mindoro Calamansi.

Prior to this, the provincial government of Bohol already filed the GI registration for ubi kinampay, the province’s iconic purple yam variety which is among the country’s heritage crops.

The MOU involves creating a joint technical working group to develop a national GI roadmap, strengthen producer organizations and enhance certification and traceability systems.

The GI registration protects goods with unique quality, characteristics and reputation linked to their geographical origin and/or human factors, according to IPOPHL.

A registered GI enjoys protection for an unlimited term, unless revoked with finality, preventing third parties from misleading the public with false origin claims of the goods

To date, the Philippines has four registered GIs: Guimaras Mangoes, Aklan Piña, Alburquerque Asin Tibuok and Tau Sebu T’nalak.

Two alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were confirmed killed and another one captured after an encounter in Barangay Del Pilar, Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro province.

Troops from the Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion engaged in a firefight with around 10 members of the NPA under the leadership of a certain Antonio Baculo alias Floor or Duralite.

According to Del Pilar village chief Israel Saunar, the soldiers encountered the suspected rebels in the vicinity of Purok 2 and Purok 3 at around 11 a.m.

Brigadier General Melencio Ragudo, commander of the Army’s 203rd Brigade, said that a hot pursuit operation is ongoing and advised residents to monitor any suspicious activities and to avoid going near the affected area until authorities declare it safe.

Checkpoints were also set up by the Philippine National Police on possible escape routes of the remaining NPA members.

No casualties were reported among the Army troopers

Colliers Philippines expects Metro Manila’s office market to end the year weaker than initially projected as the Middle East conflict delays companies’ expansion plans.

During its second-quarter property briefing, Kevin Jara, Colliers director and head of office services-tenant representation, said the firm cut its full-year office demand and vacancy forecasts after leasing activity softened in the April-to-June period.

‘So now we’re at 300,000 square meters (sq m) net. That’s down from 400,000 which we originally envisioned for the year,’ Jara said.

Colliers lowered its net take-up forecast to 300,000 sq m from 400,000 sq m and now expects a 19.3-percent vacancy rate this year. Net take-up reached just 90,000 sq m in the first half, with vacancy at 19 percent.

‘The Middle East crisis slows down demand in both Metro Manila and provinces,’ Colliers said, citing geopolitical tensions.

Office transactions fell 24 percent quarter on quarter to 145,000 sq m in the second quarter as occupiers delayed leasing decisions, trimmed capital spending and renewed leases instead of taking new space.

Consequently, some leasing decisions have been deferred to the second half of 2026 or even 2027.

Despite the slowdown, tenants largely retained their office space. Vacated space rose just 4 percent year on year and fell 5 percent quarter on quarter, keeping vacancy broadly stable.

Business expansion remained the main driver of demand. Traditional occupiers leased 203,000 sq m, followed by third-party outsourcing firms with 108,000 sq m and global capability centers with 25,000 sq m, mostly for relocations.

Flexible workspace providers, banks, financial institutions, IT and software firms, and government agencies led demand among traditional occupiers.

Makati CBD posted the highest leasing volume at 65,000 sq m, followed by Fort Bonifacio with 63,000 sq m and Mandaluyong with 47,000 sq m, boosted by pre-leasing.

Colliers also said Administrative Order No. 45 could unlock more Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited office space and expand location options. However, Fort Bonifacio, Makati CBD and the C5 Corridor still offer limited site options due to tight supply.

Despite softer demand, green-certified offices accounted for 68 percent of first-half transactions. Colliers expects green buildings to comprise 43 percent of Metro Manila’s office stock by 2030

Kara David addressed the controversies surrounding her recent Famas award tie with Ivana Alawi and her documentary issue involving content creator Boss Toyo.

During her guest appearance on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ on Wednesday, July 29, David was asked about tying with Alawi for the Best Host for Public Service award at the inaugural Famas Broadcast Arts Awards

The recognition came shortly after Alawi faced criticism over a smartphone raffle linked to an online gambling platform she endorses.

Responding to the issue, David said she respects the different platforms people use to reach audiences, while stressing that public service should remain focused on helping others.

‘Ako nire-respeto ko ‘yung iba’t ibang platforms, nire-respeto ko at natutuwa ako na maraming iba’t ibang tao na gumagamit ng kapangyarihan ng storytelling para makatulong sa iba. So I acknowledge na iba-iba tayo ng platform,’ explained the broadcaster.

‘So iba ‘yung platform ni Ivana, iba ‘yung platform ko, iba ‘yung platform ng iba’t ibang tao. Sana lang kapag nag-public service talaga tayo, it’s really for the public, not for ourselves,’ she added.

David also clarified that there is no conflict between her and Boss Toyo following his comments questioning the findings of her ‘I-Witness’ documentary on an illegal dumpsite in an Aeta ancestral domain in Subic, Zambales.

‘Wala kaming away ni Boss Toyo. Ang issue namin dito ay may basurang tinambak sa gubat, sa ancestral domain. At ang gusto lang namin noong ginawa namin yung dokyu na ‘yun, hindi siraan ng kung sino man o kalabanin ng kung sino man. Gusto namin matanggal ‘yung basura,’ David said.

The award winning journalist added that she was pleased with the response after the documentary aired as she expressed hope that the local government actions should continue.

‘We’re very happy pagkatapos umire ng dokyu, nagkaroon siya ng suporta sa mga netizens. Nakakuha kami ng balita na naglinis daw yung local government. Tinanggal daw nila ‘yung basura doon. Pero seven years kasi nilang tinambak ‘yung basura doon so hindi mo naman matatanggal ‘yun in one week. So yung cleanup na ginawa nila doon sa gubat sana magtuloy-tuloy,’ she said.

The issue stemmed from Boss Toyo’s social media posts questioning the documentary’s findings after he said he visited what he described as the ‘ground zero’ of the Subic dumpsite with Aeta residents living near the area.

The content creator later apologized following the backlash. At the time, David said that her team spent more than a month investigating the issue before the documentary aired, interviewing Aeta residents and seeking the side of the local government.

Representatives from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said they secured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s authorization, allowing the agency to submit Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Senate impeachment court.

The BIR representatives told the Inquirer that they had secured the President’s authorization to produce the records.

BIR representatives submitted the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court by 9 a.m.

The Inquirer asked the representatives, as they arrived at the Senate, if they got Marcos’ approval for the documents, to which they replied, ‘Yes.’

Senate Secretary and Impeachment Court Clerk Renato Bantug likewise confirmed that the BIR was able to secure authorization from Marcos.

‘I wouldn’t have received it if there was no presidential authorization,’ he said in an ambush interview.

When asked whether the authorization also allowed the actual opening and inspection of the tax documents, Bantug said Marcos’ authorization ‘would give enough leeway for the impeachment court to decide on the contents of the BIR-submitted records.’

The impeachment court had earlier directed BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza to make the appropriate return on the subpoena seeking Duterte’s tax records in connection with the unexplained wealth allegations under the second impeachment article on July 30, at 9 a.m

Included in the requested documents were tax records of Duterte, her husband Mans Carpio, and other businesses allegedly linked to the couple.

When asked if the BIR was able to submit all the documents asked for by the subpoena, Bantug said they have yet to check the written contents of the submitted documents as they focused this Thursday on accounting how many envelopes and folders were inside the two red boxes turned over by the bureau.

‘It’s essentially mechanical what I did today, I’ll wait for the instructions from the impeachment court on what’s the next steps,’ he added

In its July 20 ruling, the impeachment court said the issuance of the subpoena alone did not authorize the disclosure of tax records, noting that the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) allows the inspection of taxpayer records only under limited circumstances, including upon the order of the president, upon the request of a foreign tax authority with presidential approval, or upon the taxpayer’s waiver.

Reacting to the development, House prosecution team spokesperson Renee Co said they expect to soon see a clearer, fuller picture of Duterte’s wealth.

‘Now is the time we let the evidence be heard, we let the evidence speak,’ Co said in an ambush interview.

Meanwhile, defense counsel and spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa replied in a message ‘No comment’ when asked for a statement about the matter.

The House prosecution panel sought the said documents to support allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte.

Agriculture and tourism continue to be the major economic drivers of La Union, with the province remaining self-sufficient in rice production and the tourism sector generating P1 billion in receipts in 2025, Gov. Mario Eduardo Ortega said during his State of the Province Address on Wednesday.

Records of the provincial agriculture office showed that La Union produced 197,295 metric tons of rice from some 38,363 hectares of farmlands.

Ortega said to sustain agricultural production, the provincial government distributes farm inputs like fertilizer and pesticide to 20,000 farmers, as well as provides mechanization assistance worth P27 million.

The provincial government, he said, is planning to improve tobacco production focusing on the quality of the plant, ‘as what is important now is not the volume of production, but the quality.’

On tourism, Ortega said more than 500,000 visitors arrived in the province in 2025, with the sector generating over a billion pesos in receipts for hotels, resorts, restaurants and other service providers.

San Juan town, known as the surfing capital of the northern Philippines, led the province’s tourist arrivals at 184,762 visitors, followed by the capital San Fernando City (134,181) and Bauang town (81,146).

‘Complementing this growth were strategic initiatives, such as the Ridge to Reef Program and the Hawaii-Philippines trade mission, which further promoted the province as a premier tourism and investment destination,’ Ortega said.

To sustain its competitive advantage in tourism, La Union strengthened watershed protection and sustainable resource management of the 19,407-ha Baroro watershed and river system.

Strategic initiatives

‘Continued programs and investments in health care, education, social welfare, infrastructure, and environmental protection also helped improve public service delivery and expand access to essential services, he said.

Emphasizing that health is his administration’s top priority, Ortega cited upgraded facilities in the province’s five district hospitals and the La Union Medical Center that enabled more than 190,000 patients to receive inpatient and outpatient care.

He announced major public investments that are expected to shape La Union’s next phase of development, including the modernization of district hospitals, the construction of the La Union Health Hub, the San Fernando International Seaport, and the extension of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

Ortega said that while ‘strategic investments will pave the way for the province’s future, lasting progress will be sustained by the unity and collective efforts of every La Union resident.’

The father of British music sensation Amy Winehouse was Wednesday, July 29, ordered to pay £950,000 ($1.26 million) to his late daughter’s friends, who he unsuccessfully sued for auctioning the singer’s clothes and other items.

Mitch Winehouse earlier this year lost a case in the high court in London against two of Winehouse’s friends who auctioned dozens of her clothes and other possessions years after her death.

The late singer-songwriter, who was famed for her distinctive husky voice and enjoyed global meteoric success at a young age, died in July 2011 from alcohol poisoning, aged just 27.

The late singer’s former stylist Naomi Parry and her friend Catriona Gourlay denied acting dishonestly in auctioning the items they said were given or lent to them.

Her father Mitch argued they had no right to sell the items.

The 155 items, which were auctioned between 2021 and 2023, included clothes, ballet slippers, handbags, earrings and make-up owned by the late singer, as well as a dress she wore on her final tour in 2011.

During the trial, the London court was told Winehouse’s friends ‘took advantage’ of her father’s forgetfulness and pocketed more than $1.4 million in sales.

The judge found the two women had not deliberately concealed any of the items from Winehouse’s father, who ‘knew all along’ about the intended sale and only pursued them for money after it was completed.

‘The claimant chose to bring an inherently weak claim, pursue it aggressively and relentlessly to the end, and make serious and unfounded allegations against the defendants,’ judge Sarah Clarke said Wednesday.

‘The fact that he knowingly and deliberately did this to two young women who had stood faithfully by Amy… makes his unreasonable conduct particularly serious.’

In the April ruling, the judge noted that Amy Winehouse was known for her ‘extraordinary generosity towards her friends and also those she barely knew.’