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Sen. Mark Villar has filed a bill making the Professional Identification Cards issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) valid for five years.

Villar said the current PRC IDs are valid only for three years.

Having a longer validity for IDs would spare professionals time and money spent on renewing their PRC cards, Villar said in pushing his proposed Senate Bill 2391.

Villar cited data showing that there are 5,887,714 registered professionals across 65 PRC-regulated professions.

‘Our professionals have already invested years of study, training and continuing development to serve the country. We should not add unnecessary burdens to their work through frequent and costly renewal transactions,’ Villar said.

‘Extending the validity of the PRC ID to five years is a practical reform that will save our professionals time and money, reduce congestion in PRC offices and allow them to focus more on their careers, their families as well as the people they serve,’ he added.

Under the bill, all PRC-issued ID cards would be valid for five years, subject to compliance with existing legal and procedural requirements.

The measure also directs the PRC’s Information and Communication Technology Service and other concerned offices to undertake the necessary system enhancements, including improvements in the Licensure Examination Registration Information System and other administrative processes.

The bill also provides for the finalization of the revised assessment of annual registration fees within six months from its effectivity.

‘Every hour saved from unnecessary queues and every peso saved from repeated transactions can instead be spent on productive work and professional development,’ Villar said. ‘Through this measure, we are making government services more convenient for the people who help keep our country moving.’

Spouses and members of the PNP Officers’ Ladies Club Foundation, led by Mary Rose Nartatez, were welcomed to Tesoros 1016 in Makati City for a special ‘More Than Just Shopping’ cultural experience as part of the Spouse Tour during the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference.

The visit introduced the delegates to the richness of Philippine arts, crafts and culture through a well-curated program celebrating the country’s vibrant cultural heritage. Highlights included a mini fashion show featuring traditional and trendy Filipiniana attire, live demonstrations by master Filipino artisans showcasing time-honored handicraft techniques, and a wide selection of locally made handicrafts, textiles and artisanal products that reflect the diversity and creativity of Philippine craftsmanship.

Beyond shopping, the cultural immersion gave the honored guests an encompassing encounter with Filipino culture and artistry that continues to inspire generations.

Tesoros continues to offer customized cultural programs for corporate groups, educational institutions, organizations and private gatherings. These experiences may include fashion presentations, live artisan demonstrations, heritage talks and specially curated shopping experiences that celebrate the best of Philippine arts, crafts and culture.

For inquiries on customized cultural tours and group experiences, contact Tesoros through Facebook Messenger, call (0917) 819-6188, or visit Tesoros 1016, Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.

Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda took aim at Filipinos who sell their votes, saying they should think about the consequences of their choices as Metro Manila and nearby provinces continue to grapple with severe flooding.

The TV host-comedian made the remarks while discussing the hardships faced by Filipinos, particularly commuters, amid widespread flooding brought by days of heavy rains.

Vice urged the public to vote wisely and choose candidates based on their qualifications and platforms rather than short-term financial incentives.

In a recent episode of ‘It’s Showtime,’ Vice connected the flooding crisis to vote-buying during elections, stressing that accepting money in exchange for votes could have consequences beyond election day.

‘Bumoto tayo nang maayos. Bumoto tayo nang tama. Alam ninyo, ‘yung mga binabaha, ‘di ba? Marami diyang binaha na kaya kayo binaha kasi ‘yung tuyong bahay ninyo binenta ninyo ng P5,000 nu’ng eleksyon. Di ba?’ Vice said.

‘Sa P5,000, pumayag kayong pasukin ang bahay ninyo (baha). No Filipino deserves that, ‘yung masalanta ng bagyo,’ he added.

Vice has been vocal about issues concerning governance and corruption, particularly alleged irregularities involving government flood control projects. He has also participated in anti-corruption rallies.

His latest remarks came as flooding continued to disrupt communities in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, leaving residents dealing with damaged homes, stranded commuters and other difficulties caused by the inclement weather.

Visa is seeing encouraging early traction for Apple Pay in the Philippines, but said wider adoption will depend on more banks joining the platform and programs that can turn initial consumer interest into regular usage.

Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro said the payments firm has been pleased with the initial response to Apple Pay following its local rollout earlier this month.

‘The traction is good and we’re very happy with what we’re seeing. So we’re betting on it,’ Navarro told reporters in an ambush interview.

He said Visa has also been encouraged by the attention Apple Pay has generated among Filipino consumers, particularly online.

Still, he cautioned that it is too early to determine how quickly Apple Pay would gain scale, particularly as several major banks have yet to make the service available to their customers.

He added that Visa would have a clearer picture of adoption once the ecosystem expands and participating institutions begin rolling out programs aimed at encouraging customers to use Apple Pay more frequently.

Apple Pay officially launched in the Philippines on Aug. 4 with China Banking Corp., GoTyme Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Union Bank of the Philippines listed as participating banks on Apple’s local website.

The initial roster is smaller than the lineup Visa had when Google Pay entered the country in November last year. Visa launched Google Pay in the Philippines with seven partner issuers in November 2025.

Navarro said the difference does not necessarily indicate that Philippine banks are less prepared for Apple Pay, noting that mobile payment platforms have their own requirements while banks also follow separate technology and product timelines.

Asked whether onboarding onto Apple Pay takes longer, Visa Philippines head of products Michelle Mascariñas said the timing ultimately varies by issuer.

‘They have their own set of standards, but each bank would have their own processes and their own pipeline priorities. So it actually depends on their assessment on how soon they can get certified on onboarding,’ she said.

‘So it varies depending also on the appetite and the project pipeline of the issuer,’ Mascariñas added.

Apple Pay allows eligible cardholders to make contactless purchases using an iPhone or Apple Watch, as well as payments in apps and on websites through supported Apple devices. Apple said the service works anywhere contactless payments are accepted.

For security, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code instead of transmitting the user’s actual card number to merchants. Purchases also require authentication through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode.

Navarro said Visa’s experience in other markets suggests that Apple Pay’s transaction contribution becomes more meaningful after roughly a year, although the pace depends heavily on the number of participating issuers and efforts to promote usage.

‘Give it after a year. There are still big banks who have yet to activate,’ Navarro said.

For now, Visa expects adoption to strengthen as the number of participating Philippine banks expands.

‘I think it’s going to be successful once most of the banks are on the platform,’ he said.

When the nation’s leading truck solutions company and the most trusted non-bank financing institution decide to work together, the Filipino entrepreneur wins.

Trucks leaving a warehouse or a business before dawn head to a wet market three provinces away or to other small businesses that need construction supplies to build bigger stores or better services-this quiet scene has mobilized the economy for decades.

Without commercial vehicles, businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cannot be activated, as we’ve seen clearly during the pandemic community quarantine episodes in 2020 and 2021. And commercial vehicles do not move without financing.

Filipino-built companies, Global Dominion and Autokid, shake hands to further expand their partnership to cater to business owners’ and aspiring entrepreneurs’ growing need for better trucking and truck financing solutions.

‘The country needs more institutions helping each other to help more MSMEs,’ said Kevin Mchale Yao, Autokid’s chief executive officer (CEO). Yao believes that their partnership with Global Dominion bolsters Autokid in its mission to empower enterprises to achieve greater heights.

The roots of Autokid lie in the shared vision of partners Yao, Marvin Tiu Lim, and Eric Lim. By pivoting their extensive expertise in digital pre-owned vehicle trading to the commercial sector, they built a venture that anticipated the national logistics surge long before it peaked.

The story of Global Dominion is one of strategic inclusivity. As a non-bank financing entity, it flourished into a network of over 170 branches by championing the very borrowers traditional lenders often ignored-dynamic MSMEs, nascent fleet managers and visionary entrepreneurs whose drive far outweighed their formal documentation.

Aside from truck financing, the company also offers real estate financing, car financing, doctors’ loan, and vehicle and real estate mortgage loans. Its partnership with Autokid will facilitate faster truck financing service and wider quality options for aspiring truck owners.

‘We’re not only aligned in our mission of helping more Filipinos, we also share the same intensity in wanting to make that happen,’ said Samuel Cariño, Global Dominion president and CEO.

‘We have one customer who, from starting with one truck, expanded his logistics business managing twenty-plus trucks years after,’ Cariño added.

Global Dominion has financed more than 800 trucks year-to-date, equaling more than 300 million pesos in disbursements, which triggers a multiplier effect on the economy-more equipped and empowered Filipino entrepreneurs.

From financing brand-new and used trucks to refinancing or offering truck mortgage loans to MSMEs, the financing company has been igniting and accelerating growth among people and organizations to transform lives for the better.

In this partnership, Autokid handles the supply of trucks while Filipinos can connect to Global Dominion for their truck financing needs.

The combined footprint of both organizations extends truck financing to more people nationwide with speed and simplicity. They both know and understand the importance of a good cash flow and funded expansion plans for the MSMEs in the country.

With the Visayas on the rise as a catalyst for national development and a major conduit for global trade, regional firms are operating some of the country’s most sophisticated multi-island operations and international compliance requirements in the area.

Globe Business brought together the region’s leading corporate leaders and technology innovators at G Summit Cebu 2026 to demonstrate its Intelligent Transformation vision, illustrating how enterprises can go beyond individual technology upgrades to a more synchronized approach.

By bringing together cloud, cybersecurity, APIs and artificial intelligence on a resilient network backbone, Globe Business helps organizations address integration gaps and build a more connected, adaptive enterprise.

‘Technology should be a catalyst for regional growth, not a barrier. For the Visayan region, connecting operations across a distributed landscape represents a complex operational undertaking,’ said Globe Business Vice President Glenn Estrella.

‘G Summit Cebu is about aligning with the region’s leaders to orchestrate regional resilience that meets global standards. By delivering highly integrated digital foundations, we are enabling local industries to seamlessly coordinate their operations, secure their assets, and compete confidently on the international stage,’ Estrella added.

Visayan leaders explore the new operational standard

This strategic imperative took center stage during an executive panel featuring key regional figures, including Visayan Electric Company (VECO) President Mark Anthony Kindica, Vivant Corporation Chief Information Officer Nilo Arribas, and GCash Vice President Suzelyn Urbano. Together with Globe Business, the panel explored the unique operational demands facing Visayan enterprises-from aligning physical utilities and telecom readiness in new commercial developments to managing multi-island expansion and safeguarding rapid digital transaction growth.

Synthesizing these key industry perspectives, Globe Business Senior Advisor Dennis Wong highlighted how these real-world operational challenges prove the necessity of a unified digital foundation. Wong emphasized that orchestrating resilient infrastructure, real-time APIs, layered security and AI allows regional enterprises to eliminate blind spots, protect critical transactions, and scale intelligent applications smoothly across island markets.

Inside the future enterprise architecture

Moving from strategy to execution, the summit showcased these concepts in action through interactive, next-generation enterprise environments. Through four purpose-built innovation experience rooms, attendees stepped directly into working prototypes of tomorrow’s operational tech stack, gaining a clear preview of how their organizations will be required to operate in the coming years.

Inside the Orchestrated Infrastructure room, leaders witnessed live stress tests of self-healing networks and quantum-safe protocols. The demo showed automatic mitigation of hardware failures and security threats without service disruption. This is a vital safeguard for 24/7 Cebu IT-BPM centers and cross-island manufacturing plants operating across distributed Visayan grids.

In the API Hub, a zero-friction digital loan application demonstrated telco API authentication, automated identity verification, and credibility scoring capabilities. While demonstrated in a financial service use case, this next-generation technology also allows retail, e-commerce, and tourism platforms to instantly verify customer identities and accelerate onboarding.

The experience shifted to a floor-to-ceiling projected digital grid inside the Cyberheist room, placing executives inside multi-vector threat simulations to demonstrate proactive, layered defenses across the entire technology stack. This immersive demo illustrated how financial institutions, hotel chains, and enterprise platforms can protect sensitive customer data and secure digital transactions quietly behind the scenes.

Completing the showcase, the Gemini Agent Force zone proved that future-ready automation is deployable today, enabling leaders to build and deploy custom enterprise AI agents that streamline departmental operations in real time. These intelligent agents allow frontline teams in BPOs, FandBs, and SMEs to resolve customer inquiries and operational bottlenecks without delay.

Beyond showcasing the next-generation technologies, G Summit Cebu 2026 underscored a broader strategic imperative: in an increasingly fast-paced regional economy, sustained competitiveness depends on the strategic intelligence and cohesion of an enterprise’s digital foundation. By orchestrating resilient infrastructure, layered security, and AI automation, Globe Business is supporting Visayan enterprises in eliminating operational friction and driving sustainable, future-proof growth.

Year after year, the rains expose the same weaknesses in Metro Manila. The rain comes. Then, streets turn into rivers. Homes are flooded, destroying appliances, furniture and other hard-earned investments accumulated over years of sacrifice that many could not afford to replace. Families evacuate. Commuters are stranded. Vehicles either stall or just float. Businesses shut down. Workers lose income. Students miss school. The floodwaters eventually recede, but the underlying problems remain exactly where we left them.

In the aftermath of rains, we saw an especially disturbing image – a virtual sea of garbage clogging the waterways of Parañaque. More than 200 truckloads of garbage were hauled from the Redemptorist Water Channel after days of monsoon rains. It was shocking, but it should not have been.

For years, we have treated flooding as though it were an unavoidable part of Filipino life. We shrug and blame it on the rainy season and our continued exposure to typhoons and storms. Yet many countries face heavy rainfall without seeing entire communities submerged every few months. The difference is not just nature. It is preparation, governance and discipline.

But to be fair, the recent rains were extraordinary. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported that Metro Manila received 201 millimeters of rain in just five hours during the height of the southwest monsoon. Th existing drainage systems were overwhelmed. Climate change is clearly making weather patterns more intense and less predictable.

But the weather should not become the convenient excuse for everything.

The sea of garbage in Parañaque tells us that many of our flood problems are self-inflicted. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) collected more than 1,200 sacks of waste from clogged waterways across Metro Manila after the flooding. Plastic bottles, food containers and household waste do not just disappear after we throw them away. Eventually, they find their way into canals, rivers and drainage channels, where they become barriers. The reality is uncomfortable: many Filipinos continue to litter despite knowing better.

Yet it would also be unfair to place all the blame on ordinary citizens. Government cannot lecture people on discipline while failing to provide systems that work. Reports say that Metro Manila generates around 10,000 tons of garbage a day. In many communities, especially densely populated urban areas, waste collection remains inconsistent and disposal facilities remain inadequate. If we are serious about changing behavior, we must make proper waste disposal easier and more accessible.

And then there is the bigger issue many Filipinos have been asking about. Where did all the flood control money go?

Sen. Panfilo Lacson recently noted that some P2 trillion has been spent on flood control projects since 2011. Think about that number – P2 trillion. After spending that much money, should Metro Manila still be flooding this badly?

Taxpayers have every right to ask all the hard questions- especially since it’s hard-earned money that goes to government coffers. For years, stories have circulated on flood-control projects that were poorly designed, poorly implemented or suspiciously overpriced. Corruption in infrastructure is not just a financial crime. It has real human consequences. Money stolen from flood-control projects eventually returns in the form of flooded homes, damaged livelihoods and disrupted lives. Every peso lost to corruption becomes another inch of floodwater somewhere.

Still, I do not believe this is a problem that can be solved by finger pointing alone. We need accountability, certainly. But we also need a national commitment that goes beyond political cycles.

One of the most sensible observations raised recently was the need for a long-term flood control master plan that survives changes in administration. Too often, each government wants to leave its own signature project. Floods do not care about politics. Water follows geography, not election calendars.

We need projects planned over decades. We should also embrace transparency. Every flood control project should be visible to the public online, including budgets, contractors and implementation status. Citizens should know exactly where their money is going.

At the same time, local governments must finally enforce waste-management laws seriously. More collection points, more materials recovery facilities and stricter enforcement of anti-littering measures would go a long way. So would restoring rivers, protecting green spaces and modernizing drainage systems to cope with a new climate.

Most importantly, we need to recover a sense of shared responsibility. The battle against flooding is not fought only in waterways and pumping stations. It is fought in our homes, neighborhoods and communities. The sight of garbage floating through Parañaque should unsettle all of us. It is easy to blame government – much of that criticism is justified. But those waterways also reflect the habits we have tolerated for far too long. In many ways, all the trash clogging our canals is a visible reminder of a deeper neglect shared by institutions and citizens alike.

As someone who has watched this issue resurface decade after decade, I understand why many Filipinos have become cynical. We have heard the promises before – most were unfulfilled.

Yet I remain optimistic. I see younger Filipinos becoming more conscious about the environment. I see communities cleaning rivers and canals. I see stronger public demand for transparency and accountability. Most of all, I see a growing recognition that flooding is not a fate we Filipinos simply have to accept.

The problem was created over many years. Solving it will take time.

But if honest governance can finally meet responsible citizenship, perhaps the next generation will inherit a Metro Manila where flood season is no longer synonymous with suffering.

That is a future worth working for, fighting for – and one I still believe is possible.

Coco Martin and Julia Montes are bringing the romantic-comedy vibes as their characters Gabo and Sam enter each other’s lives in the hit Kapamilya teleserye ‘Coco Martin’s Sigabo.’

ABS-CBN and CCM Film Productions got viewers excited about the upcoming episodes by dropping behind-the-scenes photos and a teaser video of Coco and Julia’s kilig-filled scene together, showing Gabo taking care of Sam in his house while they lay next to each other.

As the story continues, following incidental and not-so-pleasant encounters, Gabo and Sam are set to cross paths once again when Sam suddenly finds herself in the community of Gabo after a do-or-die battle against high-profile syndicates. The action also intensifies as Gabo fully commits to doing special secret missions to take down notorious criminals.

Tune in to action, romance, and lighthearted moments in ‘Coco Martin’s Sigabo,’ weeknights at 8 pm on ALLTV2, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube and Facebook, and iWant.

More than 100 housing loan accounts have been availed of by qualified Naga City government employees under a housing partnership with the Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund.

In a statement, Pag-IBIG said this was the first group of city employees to become homeowners under the Naga City Employees’ Housing Project that initially covers 576 housing units at BellaVita Naga in Barangay Pacol, each priced at P350,000.

Qualified employees may purchase them through Pag-IBIG Housing Loans at a subsidized interest rate of three percent per annum for the first five years under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino program.

‘We especially appreciate how quickly this partnership has delivered results. Just two months after signing our agreement, more than 100 housing loan accounts have already been taken out, and we are very happy to see our employees and their families becoming homeowners,’ Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo said.

Robredo said she hopes to complete the takeout of all 576 housing units by October and eventually extend the same opportunity to educators, uniformed personnel and other workers in Naga, including those members in the informal sector.

The partnership aims to help public servants, particularly those in lower salary grades and first-time homebuyers, have access to affordable housing and financing.

It was established through a memorandum of understanding between the fund and the City Government of Naga, signed in mid-June to help city employees acquire homes at low cost.

Both parties and BellaVita, Ayala Land Inc.’s socialized housing arm, put in place a government-to-government documentation arrangement to make loan processing easier and facilitate the takeout and turnover of homes to qualified employee-beneficiaries.

‘We continue to heed President Marcos’ direction to widen access to affordable homeownership for working Filipinos, including government employees who devote their careers to public service,’ Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta said.

‘The initiative comes as Pag-IBIG Fund further strengthens its collaboration with Ayala Land, most recently through a memorandum of understanding with its residential brands Avida and Amaia to expand quality housing choices and Pag-IBIG financing options for Filipino workers,’ she added.

Marikina residents have denounced what they described as political attacks against Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, saying the complaints filed against the lawmaker lack sufficient basis.

The Samahan ng mga Angkan sa Marikina, a group representing 50 clans in the city, said the accusations have frustrated families and communities who have known Teodoro for years.

‘These cases against Congressman Marcy Teodoro are bogus and have no basis,’ the group said, describing the complaints as an attempt to bring down the lawmaker.

The group said the allegations would not erase Teodoro’s long-standing ties with Marikina families and communities.

The residents also called for an end to what they described as political attacks, saying Marikina should remain a ‘city defined by dignity and respect.’

Teodoro’s lawyer Alma Mallonga, meanwhile, questioned the validity of a resolution issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the complaints.

Mallonga said the complaints have been investigated by a DOJ panel composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen Denavadera and Assistant State Prosecutor Ruth Anne Zamora.

‘There were hearings. The investigation was completed more than seven months ago. That is why it is surprising that a resolution was issued that was neither prepared nor signed by the DOJ panel that conducted the investigation. Instead, it was prepared and signed by another state prosecutor,’ Mallonga said in an interview over dzMM.

The DOJ on Tuesday indicted Teodoro for four counts of sexual assault and one count of acts of lasciviousness over complaints filed by two policewomen who previously served as his security personnel.

The sexual assault charges were filed before the Marikina Regional Trial Court. The acts of lasciviousness were lodged before the Metropolitan Trial Court.