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PAGASA: LPA may form next week

DOST-PAGASA

THE Philippines may see a low-pressure area (LPA) form later this week, potentially adding to rainfall over the eastern parts of the country, according to the state weather bureau on Sunday.

According to a 5 a.m. weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a “potential” LPA could develop between Wednesday and Friday, bringing scattered rains over the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao, including the Bicol Region.

As of Sunday, no LPAs were monitored inside or outside the Philippine area of responsibility, it added.

Ilocos and the rest of Central Luzon will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains, also due to the amihan, or northeast monsoon.

The shear line will cause cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms over Quezon, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

Meanwhile, easterly winds will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Bicol, Eastern Visayas, the Dinagat Islands, and parts of Surigao, while the rest of the country may experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Mayon still under Alert Level 3

MAYON Volcano spews ash and lava as seen from Legaspi City, Albay on June 11, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Mayon Volcano in Albay Province remains restless, with intensified rockfalls and lava emissions, the state seismology agency reported on Sunday.

In a bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the volcano has continued to emit lava, with a visible crater glow.

The agency has also logged 256 rockfall events and 41 pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) or “uson” in the past 24 hours.

It also warned of possible hazards, including landslides or avalanches, ballistic fragments, lava flows and lava fountaining, moderate-sized explosions, and potential lahar flow during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

The agency added that the volcano continues to emit moderate ash plumes seen reaching 200 meters high. The ash column was reportedly drifting in a northeast direction.

It also reported that the volcano has been emitting 777 metric tons of sulfur dioxide flux a day since Jan. 10.

Phivolcs said that Alert Level 3 remains in effect over the volcano, warning of potential increased lava flows, rockfalls, pyroclastic density currents, and ash emissions.

The seismology agency has warned the public not to enter the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and the Extended Danger Zone without vigilance.

It had also prohibited flying of any aircraft close to the volcano. — Adrian H. Halili

World Bank withdraws BoC support

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE World Bank has withdrawn its support for the modernization of the Bureau of Customs (BoC), citing legal issues, institutional capacity constraints, and the program’s slow progress.

In a note dated Dec. 27, the multilateral lender said it has pulled out its $88.28-million or P4.3-billion financing for the Philippines Customs Modernization Project (PCMP).

In October 2020, the World Bank’s board of executive directors approved its loan for the project designed to improve the BoC’s efficiency and lower trade costs.

The program was intended to support traders, exporters, importers, port operators, shipping companies, and transport providers.

It took effect on Jan. 28, 2021, and was launched on March 26 of the same year. It was later restructured in June 2022 as the World Bank updated the results framework and its monitoring and evaluation plan for the project’s key indicators.

A temporary restraining order issued before the project’s implementation prevented the BoC from procuring its customs processing system (CPS) and eventually stalled the project’s progress.

“This legal dispute created uncertainty in the viability for the entire project, given the relative importance of the CPS, and halted progress on essential ICT (information and communications technology) investments at the core of the modernization of customs,” the World Bank said, adding that the BoC and the Department of Finance later canceled the project amid a negative outlook on the issue.

The World Bank also noted that the project was delayed as Customs encountered issues with its staff.

It likewise attributed the program’s cancellation to slow disbursement and low resource utilization, noting that only 5% of the fund had been released by the time of the cancellation.

“The cancellation of the PCMP reflects the complex interplay of procurement, institutional, and legal challenges in large-scale ICT modernization projects,” the World Bank said. “The lessons learned from this experience should inform future operations in the Philippines and similar contexts, emphasizing the need for robust risk management, capacity building, and adaptive project design.”

The Customs modernization program costs $104.38 million or P5.45 billion. — Katherine K. Chan

House to pass social welfare bills

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

HOUSE of Representatives plans to pass several social welfare and governance measures when Congress resumes in the last week of January, its majority leader said on Sunday, as he touted the chamber’s approval of priority bills by end-2025.

In a statement, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III said the chamber approved on final reading 12 priority bills, while five were cleared at the committee level. About 15 remain at committee level, with 17 more queued for hearings.

“Our target when we return from recess is to move as many of the social protection, health, education and good governance measures up the pipeline,” he said.

Congress went on a later‑than‑usual break on Dec. 29 after the annual budget process came under intense scrutiny amid a widening corruption scandal over flood control projects.

Lawmakers are set to reconvene on Jan. 26.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s administration has set 44 priority measures for Congress, framed as a roadmap to attract investment and modernize state institutions.

Rep. Marcos said the House approved on final reading amendments to the Energy Regulatory Commission and waste‑to‑energy measures, along with a bill institutionalizing cash aid for indigent Filipinos. Lawmakers also passed changes to the decades‑old bank secrecy law. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Makati grants property tax relief

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Makati local government unit (LGU) urged landowners in the city to pay their annual real property tax (RPT) dues on or before Jan. 20 to avail tax reliefs.

“I urge Makati residents and businesses to pay their annual RPT dues on time and enjoy substantial savings from the newly approved 15 percent relief on land taxes granted by City Ordinance No. 2025-A-040 for a period of three years,” Mayor Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday.

This means that a homeowner currently paying P100,000 in annual real property taxes could save up to P15,000 each year until 2027; while owners of commercial properties, paying P500,000 in real property taxes on land could save P75,000 annually.

The ordinance was enacted on Dec. 9 and approved by Ms. Binay on Dec. 11 last year. It supersedes City Ordinance No. 2025-047, which was repealed over technical defects.

“After careful review and comprehensive study, we recognized that our taxpayers need genuine, meaningful relief,” Mayor Binay said. “This 15% across-the-board reduction on land taxes demonstrates our commitment to easing the financial burden on Makati residents while maintaining fiscal responsibility and sustaining essential public services.”

Makati also noted that tax relief will be implemented retroactively, which means any payment made last year will be adjusted to reflect the 15% reduction.

When combined with the 10% early bird discount granted to non-delinquent taxpayers, or those paying full-year RPT by Jan. 20, the LGU said taxpayers could avail up to 25% in savings. A 5% relief will be granted to those who will make prompt quarterly payments. — CAT

Group says workers in Bicol and Davao regions awaiting new wage orders

Workers take a break at a construction site along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, Jan. 30, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

Workers in the Bicol and Davao regions are awaiting relief, as regional wage boards failed to issue 2025 minimum wage adjustments, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said on Sunday, underscoring growing geographic disparities in the Philippines’ labor system.

In a statement, FFW said that out of 16 regions, the Bicol Region (Region V) and Davao Region (Region XI) are the only two regions that did not receive new wage orders last year, leaving workers exposed to rising costs of food, housing, transportation, and electricity.

“Hunger does not wait for wage board calendars,” said Ma. Victoria Garzon-Bellosillo, president of FFW’s Women Network. “Workers cannot defer rent, food, or medicine while wage determinations are endlessly postponed.”

Wages in Davao stood at P476-P481, and in Bicol at P415, and remained stagnant, with new reviews not scheduled until early 2026.

The group noted that while the National Capital Region maintains the highest daily minimum wage at P695 for non-agricultural workers following an adjustment in mid-2025, other regions lag significantly behind.

In Northern Mindanao, rates currently sit between P485 and P500, with full implementation of recent orders not expected until May 2026. Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remains at the bottom of the ladder with rates ranging from P386 to P411, despite a June 2025 adjustment.

FFW President Jose Sonny G. Matula stressed that minimum wages are meant as a floor, not a ceiling, but in many workplaces, they have become the effective maximum — especially where workers lack organization. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Eala joins Melbourne Kooyong Classic ahead of Aussie Open

ALEX EALA — KOOYONG CLASSIC/INSTAGRAM

NO REST for the weary.

Alexandra “Alex” Eala, hungry for more, turns her eyes to the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne for her final buildup ahead of her highly-anticipated main draw debut in the Australian Open.

“Until my heart stops. So close yet so far. Thank you Auckland for the warmest hospitality to start the year. I truly felt the wairua,” said Ms. Eala, who’s already off to the Land Down Under, following a semifinal run in the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ms. Eala, WTA No. 53, is one of the four WTA players listed so far in the Kooyong Classic set on Jan. 13 to 15, an exclusive by-invite only exhibition tourney serving as a sidelight to the Australian Open (AO).

Joining Ms. Eala are 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist and Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic (WTA No. 69) of Croatia, whom she beat in Auckland, No. 121 and home bet Priscilla Hon and the 42-year-old legend Daniela Hantuchova, a multiple Grand Slam mixed doubles champion from Slovakia.

Ms. Eala’s Kooyong Classic stint as the youngest player there comes on the heels of her impressive Auckland campaign for her first tournament this season.

As the No. 4 seed, the 20-year-old Filipina strung three straight wins before absorbing a 7-5, 5-7, 4-6 loss to China’s Wang Xinyu, WTA No. 57, for a foiled title shot in New Zealand but not all was lost by hitting a bevy of milestones anew.

Aside from netting her third career WTA semifinal appearance, Ms. Eala is projected to reach a new career-best WTA ranking at No. 49 according to live tracking.

Her previous best was at No. 50 to end the 2025 season as the first Filipina ever to reach the said peak.

Ms. Eala did it by slaying Croatian aces Ms. Vekic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and WTA No. 82 Petra Marcinko, 6-0, 6-2, as well as WTA No. 52 Magda Linette of Poland, 6-3, 6-2, in the first three rounds.

With American partner Iva Jovic, WTA No. 35, Ms. Eala also reached the final four in the Auckland doubles before bowing against the third-seeded Chinese tandem of Xu Yifan, WTA No. 40, and Yang Zhaoxuan, WTA No. 44, 7-5, 6-3.

The Filipina-American tandem stunned the seasoned tandem of former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina, now No. 13, of Ukraine and multititled Venus Williams of the USA, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, in Round 1 before a walkover win against Czechia’s Jesika Maleckova (WTA No. 72) and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua (WTA No. 84) in the quarterfinals.

After Kooyong, AO it is for the lefty sensation who for the first time ever has earned a direct entry to the main draw as a Top-50 player.

The AO remains as the only Grand Slam main draw she has not played in after the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open after multiple qualifying round exits as a wildcard.

A winner of the Australian junior doubles crown with Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho in 2020, Ms. Eala had only figured in the qualifiers of the AO until this year after her meteoric rise in 2025. — John Bryan Ulanday

Galeries Tower Highrisers acquire seven players to complete its rebuild for All-Filipino Conference

FACEBOOK.COM/GALERIESHIGHRISERS

GALERIES TOWER recently tapped seven players including Erika Raagas from Akari to jumpstart its complete rebuild in preparation for the forthcoming PVL All-Filipino Conference.

The 5-foot-7 Ms. Raagas should provide the needed ammo for the Highrisers, who have let go of all but four of their roster from a year ago plus the coaching staff headed by Godfrey Okumu.

Other free agent player signings by Galeries Tower were outside hitter Erika Deloria, opposite hitters Cams Victoria and Lycha Ebon, liberos Blove Barbon, Dolly Versoza and Juju Angeles.

They joined the team remnants Julia Coronel, Jean de Asis, Winnie Bedaña and Roselle Baliton.

Taking over as the fledgling franchise’s new coach is Clarence Esteban. — Joey Villar

Matthew Stafford’s last-minute TD lifts Rams over Panthers in wild-card game

MATTHEW STAFFORD’S 19-yard pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining rescued the Los Angeles Rams in a 34-31 victory against the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card game on Saturday at Charlotte.

“It was MVP type of stuff what he did,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Stafford. “I thought he saw the field really well and that’s why we’re advancing because of his leadership.”

Stafford was 24-for-42 for 304 yards, three touchdowns (TDs) and an interception.

“That’s a situation that I’ve been in a bunch of times in my life,” Stafford said of the game-winning drive. “I was just going to go out there and try to execute and give guys a chance to make plays. They made some great ones.”

Puka Nacua, who racked up 111 receiving yards, scored on a reception and a run, and Harrison Mevis kicked two field goals for the Rams.

Bryce Young’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker near the left side of the end zone with 2:39 remaining gave the Panthers a 31-27 lead but they couldn’t hold on.

The Rams will meet a to-be-determined opponent next weekend.

“Proud of the way we finished the game,” said McVay, whose Rams went 12-5 in the regular season to finish behind Seattle (14-3) in the NFC West. “I think there’s going to be a lot of things that we can learn from. There’s no style points. I think there was a lot of guys who stepped up and made some critical plays at the right time.”

Young was 21-for-40 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he also rushed for a TD. Coker finished with 134 receiving yards on seven catches for the Panthers, who were in their first playoff game in eight years.

“Proud of what we accomplished and what we got to, and sick about the missed opportunity that was right in front of us. That’s going to sting for a good while,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales, whose team finished 8-9 in the regular season as NFC South champions. “The boys kept battling. I’m just proud of this group.”

A blocked punt by Isaiah Simmons gave the Panthers the ball at the Rams’ 30 with 4:12 remaining and trailing 27-24. Four plays later, they were in the end zone with go-ahead points.

Chuba Hubbard’s 3-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter — his second of the game — gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 24-20. Carolina covered 62 yards in four plays.

The Rams came right back with a 67-yard drive that ended with Stafford’s 13-yard pass to Kyren Williams. The 11-play possession included a fourth-and-1 pick-up from the Panthers’ 30.

Earlier, the Panthers came back from a 17-7 deficit to pull even in the third quarter on Ryan Fitzgerald’s 46-yard field goal to end a 13-play drive.

Los Angeles went back ahead on Mevis’ 42-yarder later in the quarter.

The Rams were dominant for much of the first half, but the Panthers hung around.

Young’s 16-yard scramble for a TD with 37 seconds to go in the half allowed Carolina to pull within 17-14. That came after the Rams failed to cash in after recovering a muffed punt in Panthers’ territory, giving the ball back on a failed fourth down from the Carolina 19-yard line.

Carolina’s three first-quarter possessions ended on a failed fourth-down play, a punt and an interception by Cobie Durant.

The Rams scored first on Stafford’s 14-yard pass to Nacua. Los Angeles converted the pick into a 48-yard drive finished with Nacua’s 5-yard run around the end, claiming a 14-0 lead.

The Panthers were without cornerback Jaycee Horn on the Rams’ final possession of the game as he was in the medical tent. Canales said he was ruled out for the rest of the game.

“It was untimely,” Canales said. — Reuters

Wembanyama, Fox score 21 each as Spurs top Celtics

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA and De’Aaron Fox each scored a team-high 21 points to lead the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 100-95 victory over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

Fox also had nine rebounds and six assists. Wembanyama, who played 26 minutes, added six rebounds and three blocked shots. San Antonio also received 12 points and 13 rebounds from Julian Champagnie.

It was the second game in as many nights for the Celtics, who attempted only four free throws in the loss (three of four). Derrick White scored 29 points and Jaylen Brown had 27 to lead the Boston offense.

The Spurs won despite shooting 10 of 44 (23%) beyond the 3-point arc. San Antonio entered the game shooting 35% from 3-point territory this season, but made only 27% of their 3-point attempts in the seven games leading up to Saturday’s matchup. The Spurs had a 3-4 record during that stretch. 

Boston guard Sam Hauser didn’t play in Saturday’s game because of right hamstring tightness. Hauser, one of the team’s best perimeter shooters, started the previous four games and scored 19 points (five 3-pointers) during Friday’s victory over Toronto.

An early 12-0 run put the Celtics in front 14-7, and Boston led 26-21 after 12 minutes. The Spurs were two of 15 from 3-point range in the first quarter. Boston had a 55-50 halftime lead.

A Wembanyama free throw tied the game, 64-64, with 4:36 remaining in the third, but Boston had a 75-73 lead after three quarters.

San Antonio had its first lead since the game’s opening minutes after a Champagnie 3-pointer put the Spurs up 76-75 with 11:18 to play.

It was the final game of Boston’s four-game homestand. The Celtics will play six of their next seven games on the road. — Reuters

Salah celebrates ‘perfect win’ over holder Ivory Coast in AFCON

EGYPT forward Mohamed Salah described the victory over defending champion Ivory Coast as a “perfect win,” hailing his teammates after qualifying for the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday.

Salah scored the third goal for Hossam Hassan’s side, as Egypt ended Ivory Coast’s reign with a narrow 3-2 triumph, with Liverpool’s talisman setting a new record by scoring against 11 different national teams at the AFCON.

Egypt will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangier, for a place in the final, in a repeat of the 2021 AFCON final.

“It was a perfect win, but as I said before, we are fighting for our country,” Salah told CAF’s media channel.

“Hopefully we go through the next game as well, it’s against a tough opponent, but we will give our best. “We are fighting so hard, you can see the players, nobody is holding anything… We are just carrying on,” he added.

Salah equaled his manager Hassan’s AFCON tally, with each scoring 11 goals. He needs just one more goal to become Egypt’s all-time top scorer in the tournament alongside Hassan El-Shazly.

Salah, 33, said Egypt is not “100% the favorites” to win the title, with Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal all have players competing in European leagues.

“Most of our national team players play in the domestic league, it’s not to belittle them, but we are trying our best because we love our country,” he told beIN Sports.

“The game (against Senegal) will be difficult, they have a squad that plays at a high level in Europe, but I hope we can achieve victory,” — Reuters

Brooks Koepka applies for PGA Tour reinstatement

BROOKS KOEPKA applied for reinstatement with the PGA Tour on Friday just weeks after departing LIV Golf, according to multiple reports.

The five-time major winner announced on Dec. 23 that he was “amicably” parting ways with the Saudi-backed league despite having a year remaining on his contract. That immediately spurred speculation that Koepka would seek to return to the PGA Tour, where the 35-year-old did not renew his membership before the 2022-23 season, according to ESPN.

It’s unknown what punishment the nine-time PGA Tour winner may have to serve before being allowed to return.

Players must be one year removed from their most recent LIV event in order to be eligible to play in a PGA Tour event, per a tour rule instituted in the wake of several marquee players defecting in 2022. Koepka, who is eligible to compete in all four majors this year courtesy of his win at the 2023 PGA Championship, last played in a LIV event on Aug. 24 in Michigan.

However, Koepka is the biggest name yet by far to seek reinstatement to the tour after defecting to LIV and his reinstatement request will test the tour’s current sentiment toward allowing players to return.

The PGA Tour could offer an exemption, but did not offer any hints in its statement following Koepka’s official split from LIV.

“Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success,” the tour’s statement read. “The PGA Tour continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness.”

According to a report by Golf Digest, the decision on Koepka’s reinstatement will be made by new PGA Tour Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Rolapp. He is expected to listen to input from his Future Competition Committee headed by Tiger Woods, along with the tour’s policy board.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, one of the most vocal LIV critics over the past four-plus years, said last week that he would now welcome players back.

“I think they’ve already paid their consequence. They’ve made the money but they’ve paid their consequence in terms of the reputation and some of the things they’ve lost by going over there,” McIlroy said in an appearance on The Overlap podcast. “If it made the overall tour stronger to have Bryson DeChambeau back and whoever else, I would be okay with it.

“But it’s not just me, and I recognize that not everyone is in my position. It would be up to the collective group of PGA Tour members to make that decision.”

Koepka signed a four-year deal with LIV reportedly worth upwards of $100 million, but rumors began to emerge early last year that he was interested in returning to the PGA Tour. Koepka was a team captain, but did not wear LIV’s team outfits and was often critical of the league’s format and inability to gain better traction with golf fans.

Koepka has plummeted to No. 244 in the Official World Golf Ranking, having missed the cut in three of the four majors last year and with LIV players not earning points for league events. He played in four DP World Tour events following the end of the LIV Golf season, missing two cuts before a solo fourth place at the Open de France and a T15 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October — Koepka’s most recent competition worldwide.

He has not played in a PGA Tour event since a tie for 12th at the 2022 Valspar Championship.

“We have amicably and mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will no longer compete in the LIV Golf League, following the 2025 season,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement on Dec. 23. “Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home.”

More than two weeks later, it also appears he is prioritizing trying to return to the PGA Tour. — Reuters

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