Poll: Most Pinoys back anti-graft protest

December 2, 2025 | 9:17 pm

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

MOST Filipinos backed a recent anti‑corruption protest over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, pollster WR Numero said on Tuesday, as reports of wrongdoing linked to anomalous infrastructure deals continue to fuel discontent against the government.

In a statement, WR Numero said 58% of Filipinos supported the Nov. 30 protest against widespread corruption, with 12% saying they were “strongly supportive” and 46% “supportive.”

About 18% of respondents said they did not support the movement, according to a poll of 1,412 Filipinos conducted from Nov. 21 to 28, with an error margin of ±2.8 points. About two in 10 were unsure.

“Support for the protests signals accumulated frustrations,” Ederson DT. Tapia, a public administration professor at the University of Makati, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“While the government has taken visible steps to address issues such as corruption and improve service delivery, many citizens still feel a gap between policy intent and lived experience,” he added.

Thousands of Filipinos marched through the streets of Manila and Quezon City to denounce corruption in the government on Nov. 30, with some protesters calling for the resignations of officials linked to the multibillion-peso scandal.

The flood control controversy has struck a chord with Filipinos due to the scale of the fraud and the shock over collusion among politicians and contractors to pocket billions of pesos meant for infrastructure projects widely seen as a need in the flood-prone country.

Mr. Tapia noted that while support for the anti‑corruption movement remains strong, organizers should sustain momentum by broadening their calls and linking the campaign to other issues.

“We must avoid the temptation to view public sentiment through a single-issue lens,” he said. “Corruption is important, but citizens also care deeply about economic stability, job creation and the country’s long-term development trajectory.”

“Rally support can be strong, but sustaining momentum requires recognizing the full spectrum of public concerns,” he added.

OSG back as PHL counsel in ICC case

December 2, 2025 | 9:16 pm

THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) reinstated itself as counsel for the government respondents in Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa’s petition challenging the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte before the Supreme Court (SC).

In a recent manifestation filed with SC on Dec. 1, the OSG, under Solicitor General Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, formally re-entered the case as counsel for all government respondents, reversing the stance of former Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra, who had recused the OSG from the proceedings.

“After due consideration, the OSG hereby enters its appearance anew as counsel for all the Respondents in the above-captioned case and requests that it be furnished with copies of all court issuances and submissions at its official address,” the OSG said.

Mr. Guevarra earlier recused from representing the government in a consolidated lawsuit filed by Mr. Duterte’s children — Sebastian, Paolo, and Veronica — regarding their father’s arrest on March 11 through a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement on Tuesday, Duterte camp’s legal counsel Israelito P. Torreon said the re-entry of the OSG in the case, “constitutes an abrupt and unexplained shift from its earlier and formally approved recusal.”

“The OSG’s latest filing stands in direct conflict with its own prior position and raises substantial concerns regarding internal consistency, neutrality, and adherence to a Supreme Court Resolution that had already granted its withdrawal from participation,” he added. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Filipinos in HK blaze now safe

December 2, 2025 | 9:15 pm

HONGKONG-FIRE — A DRONE view shows flames and thick smoke rising from the Wang Fuk Court housing estate during a major fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, China, Nov. 27. — REUTERS/TYRONE SIU

ALL Filipinos affected by the blaze that engulfed multiple residential buildings in Hong Kong (HK) last week have all been confirmed to be safe, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Philippine Consulate confirmed that all 92 Filipino nationals residing in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong were all safe and accounted for.

“All Filipinos who likely worked at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex are all accounted for,” it added.

The consulate said that the last two overseas Filipino workers listed for verification have been found to be already in the Philippines when the fire broke out.

Earlier the consulate confirmed the death of a Filipina domestic worker who was said to be taking care of her employer’s five-year-old daughter when the fire broke out.

The consulate added that the other Filipina who was injured during the incident remains in the hospital.

The fire, which hit on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 26), rapidly engulfed seven of the eight 32-storey blocks at the complex during renovations.

Hong Kong authorities have arrested at least 13 people in connection to the fire that led to the deaths of about 152 people. — Adrian H. Halili

EDCOM II bill hurdles Senate

December 2, 2025 | 9:15 pm

IMG_6433 (1) — Education and professional regulatory agencies vow to address the nationwide diploma mill crisis. - ALMIRA S. MARTINEZ

THE Senate on Tuesday approved a measure extending the Second Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM II) life for another two years on third and final reading.

All sixteen senators present on Tuesday’s session approved Senate Bill No. 1483 that proposes to extend the commission to December 2027 from its initial December 2025 deadline, allowing the commission more time to ensure education reforms are fully implemented beyond its deadline this year.

The measure would also allow for further research, oversight of initial reforms, and coordination with stakeholders to turn proposals into lasting policies.

The proposed extension has also received support from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, during a committee hearing earlier.

The commission is tasked to work with Congress and other government agencies to ensure alignment of education and training systems with national development and labor market requirements.

A similar measure seeking to extend the commission’s life span hurdled a House of Representatives committee last month.

Formed in 2022, the education commission was tasked with crafting reforms to address weaknesses in the school system exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when classrooms were shut for more than two years, forcing a nationwide shift to online learning that led to stunted learning.

A World Bank report noted that nine out of 10 Filipinos are unable to read and understand a simple age-appropriate text at age 10.

Filipino students were among the world’s weakest in math, reading and science, according to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment. The Philippines ranked 77^th out of 81 countries and performed worse than the global average in all categories. — Adrian H. Halili

Over 90M register for Nat’l ID

December 2, 2025 | 9:14 pm

national-id-registration — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

MORE than 90 million Filipinos registered to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or National ID, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, noting complaints of undelivered cards continue to hound the program.

In a statement on Monday, the PSA said permanent identification numbers in the National ID of 90.29 million Filipinos have been generated as of end October.

The local statistics agency said this represents 80% of the population, whose demographic and biometric information were verified as unique.

“Over 90 million Filipinos can fully enjoy the benefits of being part of the National ID system, which includes improved access to services through any of the formats of the National ID and more secure transactions through the authentication services,” PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa said.

The PSA also warned against double registration as it may lead to issues in processing registrations in the National ID system.

“Demographic and biometric information of individuals verified as unique ensures that identity verification is more reliable in transactions in National ID-integrated institutions, thereby improving transaction experience for Filipinos,” PhilSys Registry Office Deputy National Statistician Assistant Secretary Rosalinda P. Bautista said.

However, there are still concerns among individuals that haven’t received a physical copy of their National ID.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas terminated its contract with AllCard, Inc. after the supplier failed to deliver goods specified in the contract for the National ID cards. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Lawmaker bats for abolition of estate tax

December 2, 2025 | 9:14 pm

A CONGRESSMAN on Tuesday filed a bill seeking to abolish estate taxes, in a move aimed at scrapping levies on inherited property to ease the use of idle lands.

House Bill No. 6553 seeks to abolish the 6% estate tax on the net estate of deceased individuals, removing levies on property inherited by family members, opting instead for taxation if the property is sold. A copy of the bill was not made immediately available.

“When a loved one dies, do you really have time to deal with estate matters?” Albay Rep. Adrian E. Salceda, who authored the bill, said in a statement. “Families are grieving. They need space to recover, not pressure to produce cash for a tax that arises only because someone passed away.”

He said collections from estate taxes amount to P14 billion annually, far less than the P78 billion in economic effects from delayed estate transfers that his team calculated.

“The damage it causes is greater,” said Mr. Salceda in Filipino. “Land titles cannot be transferred immediately. Properties are left idle. Banks cannot extend loans because the documents are not in order.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Go vows funding push for new customs HQ

December 2, 2025 | 9:14 pm

FINANCE Secretary Frederick D. Go has committed to helping secure funding for a new customs headquarters (HQ) in supporting the bureau’s modernization needs, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said on Tuesday.

“(Mr. Go) expressed support for efforts to secure funding for a new customs headquarters and other essential operational requirements, noting that modern infrastructure is crucial to enabling efficient, secure, and technology-driven customs services,” the BoC said in a statement on Tuesday.

This followed Mr. Go’s meeting with Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno on Nov. 28 where they discussed accomplishments for 2025 in revenue collection, anti-smuggling campaign, trade facilitation, and efforts for transparency and good governance.

According to the BoC, the Finance chief, who took office on Nov. 17, said the trillion-peso revenue-generating agency should have adequate facilities, systems, and resources to fulfill its mandate effectively.

Mr. Go also noted that modern infrastructure is crucial to enabling efficient, secure, and technology-driven customs services. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

7 NPAs, 10 more Dawlah, BIFF terrorists surrender in Central Mindanao

December 2, 2025 | 9:13 pm

COTABATO CITY — Seven members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 10 heavily armed violent religious extremists, including three experts in fabrication of homemade bombs, surrendered during separate rites in Maguindanao del Norte and South Cotabato provinces on Monday.

Major Gen. Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division (ID), told reporters on Tuesday that the seven NPAs together pledged allegiance to the government at the headquarters of the 38^th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Kablon in Tupi town in South Cotabato, in the presence of local executives and representatives from different state agencies.

The seven NPAs first turned in their firearms and improvised explosive devices and, subsequently, renounced their membership with the NPA before the commanding officer of the 38^th IB, Lt. Col. Erwin C. Felongco, Brig. Gen. Omar V. Orozco of the 1^st Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Also present were representatives from the local government unit of Tupi, the office of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., the Department of Social Welfare and Development-12, the Local Amnesty Board-Koronadal City and the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office.

Mr. Cagara said the seven NPAs agreed to come out and surrender through the joint intercession of local executives and officials of the 38^th IB and the 1^st Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

A group of 10 terrorists from the Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) also returned to the fold of law on Monday and together promised to reform for good during a simple ceremony at the headquarters of the Army’s 1^st Brigade Combat Team in Barangay Pigkalagan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

All 10 terrorists have assured to help convince the few remaining Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members to avail of the 6^th ID’s reconciliation program for violent religious extremists after they turned over to Army officials their improvised explosive devices, combat rifles, pistols, 40-millimeter and B40 anti-tank rocket launchers and two 60-millimeter mortars before they each committed to help the police and military maintain law and order.

Mr. Cagara said the 10 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members yielded to Lt. Col. Florencio Zambo V. Taguba, commander of the 6^th Mechanized Battalion, and Col. Romeo S. Pagayon of the 1^st Brigade Combat Team after a series of backchannel dialogues assisted by Moro religious leaders and two provincial officials, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Tucao O. Mastura and Vice Governor Marshall I. Sinsuat.

Local executives provided all 10 of them with relief supplies and cash grants that they can spend for their needs while undergoing religious reorientation by Army Islamic theologians in preparation for their return to their hometowns in the adjoining Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The surrender on Monday of 10 more Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members brought to 1,749 the total number of terrorists from both groups who have surrendered to units of the 6^th ID since 2021, all of them reintegrated into the local communities.

Units of 6^th ID in the region and local executives have also secured the surrender of 629 NPAs during the period. — John Felix M. Unson

PSEi posts slight gains as market looks for leads

December 2, 2025 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE STOCKS edged up on Tuesday as the market mostly traded sideways before the release of inflation data on Friday.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.08% or 5.11 points to close at 5,994.40, while the broader all shares index decreased by 1.92% or 68.28 points to end at 3,475.50.

“The local bourse closed slightly higher as sentiment improved after the PPI (producer price index) came in better than expected, helping ease concerns over rising cost pressures,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

The PPI for manufacturing went up by 0.3% year on year in October, slowing from the 0.8% increase recorded in September, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. This was a turnaround from the 0.4% annual decline recorded in the same month last year.

“Overall trading remained measured ahead of this week’s inflation data and the Fed’s policy decision next week, with investors waiting for clearer macro signals,” Mr. Limlingan added.

November inflation data will be released on Friday (Dec. 5). A BusinessWorld poll of 15 analysts yielded a median estimate of 1.6% for the November consumer price index (CPI), within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 1.1-1.9% forecast.

If realized, headline inflation would ease from the 1.7% clip in October and the 2.5% logged in the same month a year ago. This would also be the slowest CPI in three months or since the 1.5% seen in August and mark the ninth straight month that inflation fell below the central bank’s 2-4% annual target.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve will hold its policy review on Dec. 9-10, where markets widely expect another rate cut. However, investors will monitor its statement for hints on its policy direction moving forward as the US economic picture remains mixed.

“Our proxy for global trade (ICT) and the leading defensive play in the market (MER) barely raised the local index to positive territory, despite the multitude of unfavorable economic developments today,” AP Securities, Inc. said in a market note, referring to the ticker symbols of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and Manila Electric Co., respectively.

Most sectoral indices declined on Tuesday. Mining and oil sank by 1.44% or 202.41 points to 13,851.41; financials decreased by 0.96% or 19.19 points to 1,979.61; holding firms went down by 0.51% or 24.60 points to 4,740.13; and industrials slipped by 0.02% or 1.85 points to 8,621.86. Meanwhile, services jumped by 1.95% or 46.59 points to 2,435.79, and property edged up by 0.02% or 0.48 point to 2,202.48.

Advancers narrowly beat decliners, 97 to 95, while 59 names closed unchanged.

Value turnover went down to P5.49 billion on Tuesday with 1.13 billion shares traded from the P6.48 billion with 1.14 billion issues exchanged on Monday.

Net foreign selling decreased to P179.48 million from P1.87 billion. — A.G.C. Magno

‘Significantly lower’ export targets due out soon

December 2, 2025 | 9:00 pm

container-yard-manila-port — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Export Development Council (EDC) is set to release new targets for the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) this week, which will likely be revised lower, though exporters remain hopeful about single-digit growth in exports next year.

“The figures we will share during the National Export Congress … (will be) significantly lower for the next three years,” Export Marketing Bureau Director and EDC Executive Director Bianca Pearl R. Sykimte said on the sidelines of the opening ceremony for National Exporters’ Week.

She said the projections, when originally formulated, had reflected assumptions of a strong recovery post-pandemic, which were ultimately not sustained.

Launched in 2023, the PEDP had projected exports of $240.5 billion by 2028 after they came in at $112.7 billion in 2022.

For 2025, the PEDP estimated exports at $163.6 billion. In 2026 and 2027, the corresponding totals were $186.7 billion and $212.1 billion, respectively.

She said the revised PEDP to be issued on Friday will outline the revised targets for the 2025-2028 period, as well as the initiatives that the department plans to implement for the next three years.

“We were at the point of recovery from COVID, so medyo nahatak ’yung growth figures (the growth was assumed to reflect a strong recovery). When we simulated the figures… the projections were quite high, so basically hindi nasustain ’yung upward momentum (the momentum was not sustained),” she added.

After averaging $7.2 billion in merchandise exports for the last five months, Ms. Sykimte said total exports are likely to come in at around $110 billion and up to $113.42 billion, which was the previous export target under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

In August, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) upwardly adjusted the export target in the PDP to $115.49 billion for 2025.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicate that total exports in the first 10 months hit $70.43 billion, up from $61.9 billion a year earlier.

Last year, total exports, which include services exports, amounted to $106.6 billion.

If total exports hit $110 billion this year, it would amount to 3.19% export growth.

Ms. Sykimte said the US reciprocal tariffs caused many shipments from the Philippines to be front-loaded this year to get the goods to the US before higher tariffs took effect.

“So our exports to the US are up by, I think, by 10%,” she said, noting that she expects growth to normalize in the next few months.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said the recent US tariff exemption granted to agricultural products will also help increase exports to the US.

“But for those that are in the other industries, rest assured, we are still negotiating, and we are still fighting for the different industries of the Philippines,” she said.

However, she cited the need for exporters to diversify to other markets.

“Let’s not limit our exports to just one country so that just in case something happens, we still have many other countries that we can rely on. And of course, the more countries we export to, the more sales and the more income that we will generate,” she added.

She was positive about the expected signing of free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Chile, and the European Union.

Meanwhile, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said that he expects exports to grow in the single digits next year.

“If we get 7%, that’s good,” he added.

“I hope we can make some headway in our agricultural exports. But just a little bit,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Corruption fallout reflected in November PPI reading, FPI says

December 2, 2025 | 8:59 pm

worker-electronics-manufacturing-PEZA — REUTERS

THE fallout from the corruption scandal shows up in the dismal purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading for November, indicating weakening investor confidence and stalled plans to increase output, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said.

“Globally, corruption controversies are known to undermine investor trust, delay expansion plans, and possibly raise financing costs, and the Philippines has not been immune to these pressures,” the FPI said in a statement.

The group said other factors dragging down the PMI were falling export orders, and adverse weather.

On Monday, S&P Global’s Philippine Purchasing Managers’ Index for manufacturing slumped to 47.4 in November from 50.1 in October. This was the weakest reading since the 46.4 posted in August 2021.

Purchasing manager activity is a proxy for expected levels of manufacturing as companies order raw materials for later processing into finished goods. A reading above 50 signals an expansion in manufacturing and below 50 a contraction.

The PMI queried around 400 manufacturers on new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, and purchase volumes.

“The government’s decisive campaign against corruption is the tough but necessary remedy, and with proper reforms and the strict implementation of it, we are confident it will deliver lasting benefits — restoring fairness for businesses and rebuilding trust among consumers,” the FPI said.

The government has pulled back the reins on public spending as it reviews how major projects are bid out, monitored, and paid for in the wake of the flood control scandals, in which many projects were found to be substandard or even never built.

It has also been dealing with allegations that revenue officers have been exploiting the audit process to make businesses pay more taxes or even extort money from them.

The FPI said curbing discretion in government approvals, enforcing clear standards, and ensuring full traceability of goods from port entry to tax audit directly addresses issues that surfaced in recent scandals.

It noted that such measures level the playing field, reduce hidden costs, and inspire confidence among companies that are compliant.

Last month, the Bureau of Internal Revenue suspended audit operations and froze the issuance of Letters of Authority and Mission Orders this week to crack down on audit abuse.

“With demand-side support and credible enforcement now aligned, we look forward to a clearer path to restore confidence, strengthen manufacturing, and position ourselves for recovery in the near term,” it said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Government still counting on late-year public spending boost to hit GDP goals

December 2, 2025 | 8:59 pm

infra-construction-workers — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE GOVERNMENT is still counting on accelerated spending late in the year as it reaches for the low end of official growth targets, even though economic planners have all but ruled out the possibility.

The official growth target is 5.5%–6.5% for 2025, though the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) has warned that even the low end of the target band could be out of reach.

If DEPDev’s view pans out, it would be the third consecutive year targets will be missed, as the Philippines grapples with an infrastructure corruption scandal and successive natural disasters.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said on Tuesday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his economic team will “work together” to reach the desired gross domestic product (GDP) for the full year.

Mr. Marcos has said the government will ramp up fourth-quarter spending to boost economic growth, while the Budget department is counting on stronger holiday consumption to help lift the economy.

“The Palace and the President are doing their best to meet our targets,” Ms. Castro told a Palace briefing.

“We will continue striving, especially with the recent (protests), which have been quite disruptive and are affecting the economy. The economic team, the President, and hopefully the public as well will work together so we can still achieve our goals.”

The corruption scandal has weighed on government spending and undermined investor and consumer confidence.

About 59,000 protesters took to the streets on Sunday to denounce corruption within the bureaucracy. The Nov. 30 protest was billed as the second installment of protests first mounted in September.

The public works scandal has implicated several high-ranking officials, including Mr. Marcos, and led to the resignation of key cabinet members.

On Monday, the DEPDev said that to meet the low end of the target band, the economy would need to grow by roughly 7% in the fourth quarter — a pace it called “very unlikely.”

Growth slowed dramatically in the third quarter, with GDP rising only 4% — the weakest reading in over four years — dragging the nine-month average down to 5%.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) is set to meet on Dec. 9 to reassess macroeconomic assumptions and possibly reset the growth target for 2026.

“Our DBCC is meeting to assess the situation, particularly given the recent developments in the third-quarter performance and what’s emerging in the fourth quarter. Those will be taken into account in setting a target for 2026,” Economy Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said on Dec. 1. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana