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DBM OKs P5-B cash aid release

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the P5-billion release to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DBM said the AICS fund release is set to help more than 411,000 beneficiaries from October up to the rest of the year.

The AICS program provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food assistance, and cash relief assistance to a person or family in need.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the allocation aims to address the budget deficiency under the Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances component of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“This latest fund release underscores the importance of unprogrammed appropriations as fiscal buffers that enable the government to respond swiftly to social and humanitarian emergencies,” she said.

This came as the House of Representatives lawmakers refused to sign the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 amid calls to scrap the P35 billion allotted for unprogrammed appropriations.

Ms. Pangandaman explained that unprogrammed appropriations are not “discretionary or secret funds,” but standby allocations duly authorized and approved by Congress.

“These funds can only be accessed when there are excess or windfall revenues, new revenue measures, or valid loan agreements for foreign-assisted projects,” she said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Expanded education voucher program hurdles House

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE House of Representatives on Monday passed on final reading a bill expanding the government’s private education voucher program, aiming to boost access to quality education across the country.

With 287 votes in favor, three against and two abstentions, the chamber passed House Bill No. 4744, which seeks to expand the state’s education voucher program to include kindergarten and elementary students.

The bill also proposes the creation of a private education bureau that would oversee and regulate the expanded voucher program.

“Public and private schools are not competitors but partners in nation-building,” Pasig Rep. Roman T. Romulo, who heads the House Education Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday. “Together, they ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality education.”

The proposal is a priority measure by the Marcos administration. Its passage revived a similar bill previously approved in the 19th Congress but left unenacted due to time constraints. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Senator wants probe of schools’ quake preparedness

QUEZON CITY High School (QCHS) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and faculty members checked the various equipment in the Earthquake Survival Box provided by the local government inside the QCHS gym as part of their disaster preparedness, Oct. 14. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A SENATOR on Tuesday called for a Senate inquiry into the structural integrity of local schools in the event of strong earthquakes, after consecutive tremors rocked the country.

“It is important to know how prepared and resilient our schools are to strong earthquakes for the safety of students, teachers, parents, and others who work in schools,” Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said in a statement.

He added that the potential probe will determine the extent of the damage caused by recent earthquakes and the measures being implemented by concerned agencies to ensure that affected schools can safely resume classes.

Mr. Aquino said that he is planning to file a resolution in the upper chamber to formalize the Senate probe.

“We also need to know the actions taken by government agencies to repair school buildings and classrooms so that our students can use them as soon as possible and so that their studies are not interrupted,” he added.

The senator said that he also seeks to tackle potential measures to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience in schools.

It includes regular safety inspections, the regular conduct of earthquake drills and evacuation protocols, and the placement of earthquake emergency kits.

Mr. Aquino added that he will also push for an additional budget for the Education department for the inspection and assessment of public-school buildings to ensure their structural integrity.

“Let’s not gamble with the lives of our countrymen. It is better to ensure the preparedness and safety of our school buildings against earthquakes,” he said.

Successive earthquakes rocked various parts of the country recently, causing death and extensive property damage. — Adrian H. Halili

Lawmaker backs suspension of fines on temporary plates

Vehicles are stuck in traffic along EDSA-Taft in Pasay City, May 20, 2025. PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A CONGRESSMAN on Tuesday urged the government to keep the suspension of penalties on drivers using temporary plates, citing the unresolved backlog in official license plate issuance.

“Before we talk about imposing fines, let’s first make sure the system is in order,” Deputy Majority Leader and Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” L. Gutierrez said in a statement.

Land Transportation Office chief Markus V. Lacanilao on Monday ordered the suspension of an order implementing a fine on those using temporary plates.

“This decision reflects a commitment to fairness and responsiveness to the needs of our constituents,” said Mr. Gutierrez, adding that the suspension could pave the way for the agency to come up with solutions to ensure the timely delivery of plate releases.

The government had resolved the backlog in vehicle license plates that had accumulated since the past decade, then-Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said in July. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PDEA shuts down two drug dens in central Mindanao

COTABATO CITY — Anti-narcotics agents arrested six drug peddlers and shut down two clandestine drug dens in separate operations in two central Mindanao provinces in two days.

Three drug den operators were arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) during an entrapment operation on Monday, in Barangay Salimbao in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Gil Cesario P. Castro, director of PDEA-BARMM, told reporters on Tuesday, that the three suspects were immediately detained by their agents after they sold P34,000 worth of crystal meth (shabu) right in the premises of their drug den in Barangay Salimbao.

Mr. Castro said the operation was laid with the help of Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Tucao O. Mastura and Vice Gov. Marshall I. Sinsuat, who had separately warned last week to flex their connections and powers as elected officials in addressing shabu and marijuana trafficking in the 12 towns under their jurisdiction.

Mr. Castro said Brig. Gen. Jaysen C. De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, also assisted the entrapment operation in Barangay Salimbao that led to the arrest of the three suspects and the immediate shutdown of their drug den in the area.

Benjamin C. Recites III, director of PDEA-12, also announced on Tuesday that their agents and operatives under the Police Regional Office-12 (PRO-12) had clamped down three den operators in an entrapment operation in Barangay Malandag in Malungon, Sarangani last Saturday.

Mr. Recites said all three suspects yielded peacefully when they sensed that they had sold P54,400 worth of shabu to non-uniformed PDEA-12 agents and policemen under PRO-12’s director, Brig. Gen. Arnold P. Ardiente, inside their drug den in Purok Adelfa in Barangay Malandag.

Mr. Recites said the drug den is now guarded by barangay officials and volunteer community watchmen. — John Felix M. Unson

P6.3-M cannabis shrubs torched in Benguet

BAKUN, BENGUET — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and policemen torched at least P6.36 million worth of fully grown marijuana plants in a joint eradication operation in Barangay Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet on Monday.

The operation, carried out from early morning until evening, marks a significant blow against illegal drug cultivation in the area.

Starting at 7 a.m. Monday, operatives led by PDEA-La Union and joined by Bakun, Benguet policemen, PDEA Pangasinan, PDEA Baguio and Benguet and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Benguet police, trekked rugged terrain and cleared two separate marijuana plantation sites until 9 p.m.

At least 3,506 square meters with a total of 31,800 fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted, then torched.

PDEA Regional Director Atty. Benjamin G. Gaspi believed “(their) operation dealt a heavy financial loss to those behind the illegal plantations and demonstrated the authorities’ capability to strike even in remote areas.”

He added: “This successful operation is part of PDEA’s intensified campaign against illegal drug sources. Our continued collaboration with local police units ensures that no area will serve as a safe haven for illegal drug activities.” — Artemio A. Dumlao

PHL stocks extend climb on Wall Street’s gains

The lobby of the Philippine Stock Exchange in Taguig City, Sept. 30, 2020. — REUTERS

PHILIPPINE STOCKS ended in the green for a second straight day as players continued to pick up cheap shares, and as Wall Street’s climb overnight helped improve market sentiment.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.39% or 23.89 points to close at 6,076.22, while broader all shares index increased by 0.35% or 13.04 points to end at 3,668.63.

“The local market extended its climb as investors continued with their bargain hunting. The recent decline in the local long-term Treasury yields amid the dovish outlook of the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) continued to help the local bourse,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

“The positive cues from Wall Street also gave the market a boost.”

The BSP last week delivered a fourth straight 25-basis-point (bp) cut to bring the policy rate to a three-year low of 4.75% as it warned that a widening corruption scandal has affected investor confidence, leading to weaker prospects for economic growth. It has now lowered benchmark rates by a total of 175 bps since its easing cycle began in August 2024.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said another cut is possible at the Monetary Board’s last policy meeting for this year, which will be held in December. More reductions are also on the table next year as they seek to support growth while the inflation outlook also remains manageable.

Meanwhile, Wall Street’s main indexes ended sharply higher on Monday after President Donald J. Trump struck a conciliatory tone about renewed US-China trade tensions, easing investor worries, Reuters reported.

The S&P 500 climbed 1.56% to end the session at 6,654.72 points. The Nasdaq gained 2.21% to 22,694.61 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.29% to 46,067.58 points.

“The Philippine market continued to advance on tepid value turnover as investors await fresh leads,” AP Securities, Inc. said in a market note.

Value turnover increased to P6.17 billion on Tuesday with 3.17 billion shares traded from Monday’s P4.92 billion with 1.96 billion shares changing hands.

The majority of sectoral indices closed in the green on Tuesday. Mining and oil jumped by 2.4% or 352.10 points to 14,992.18; industrials went up by 0.88% or 79.22 points to 9,005.48; holding firms rose by 0.76% or 37.23 points to 4,878.61; financials increased by 0.69% or 14.06 points to 2,033.65; and property climbed by 0.65% or 14.72 points to 2,277.46.

Meanwhile, services sank by 1.1% or 25.85 points to end at 2,304.33.

“BDO Unibank, Inc. led the index members, climbing 1.78% to P137.40. Puregold Price Club, Inc. was at the tail end, falling 2.43% to P40.10,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 102 to 87, while 62 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling was at P345.88 million on Tuesday, a reversal of the P109.29 million in net buying on Monday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno with Reuters

PHL requires $1.79 billion in smart-grid investment — Ember

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Matthew Henry from Unsplash

THE PHILIPPINES will need $1.79 billion in smart-grid investment to follow through on its renewable energy (RE) ambitions, according to energy think tank Ember.

In a report on Tuesday, Ember said upgrading grid infrastructure will be needed if the Philippines and Vietnam are to sustain the momentum of their clean-energy rollouts.

“Vietnam and the Philippines are expected to lead deployment, followed by Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. This growth signals a strong commitment to clean energy but also unprecedented operational complexity,” Ember said.

The think tank said that ASEAN economies share the same challenges in building power systems that can support the rapid demand growth and huge influx of renewable energy.

According to Ember, smart grids are crucial to ASEAN’s clean energy transition, but require substation upfront investment.

A smart grid digitalizes electricity networks, enabling two-way communication between suppliers and users.

It said that a smart grid could deliver the flexibility needed for “high-renewables futures.”

“As the Philippines pursues its RE targets of 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040, smart grid deployment will be vital in shaping a cleaner and more resilient energy future, delivering reliable, flexible, and secure electricity to both growing industries and households,” according to Alnie Demoral, Asia energy analyst at Ember and lead author of the report.

Ember said the rapid growth driven by digital industries, advanced manufacturing, and data-driven services will depend on reliable electricity. Even short outages can translate into “major economic losses and weakened competitiveness.”

Across ASEAN, the average value of lost load (VOLL) — a planning metric that estimates the economic cost of electricity outages — is estimated at $2.4 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Among the ASEAN countries, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia are exposed to higher risks with their VOLL exceeding $3 per kWh.

Ember said the power interruption on Panay Island in January 2024 was reported to have caused daily losses to the economy of around P400-500 million.

“While such a scale of blackout is uncommon for the island, it illustrates how grid disruptions can have material impacts on local economies and livelihoods,” the report said.

The think tank said that reliability could lead ASEAN to lose nearly $2.3 billion in annual outage-related losses by 2040, through foregone investment, missed industrial production, and a decline in regional competitiveness.

“Nonetheless, the message is clear: modernizing grids is essential to secure growth, unlock renewable potential, and safeguard its place in the global economy,” Ember said. “Delay, by contrast, risks billions in annual losses and erodes the resilience the region has worked hard to build.” — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Agencies urged to directly procure rice ahead of farmer protest in QC

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THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said it is asking government agencies and corporations to directly procure rice from farmers to support them during a time of weak farmgate prices of palay (unmilled rice).

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said in a statement: “We are appealing to all National Government agencies, including Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), to rally behind our farmers and directly procure their rice.”

Mr. Estrella made the appeal at a meeting he convened of officials from various parts of the government, including Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Speaker Faustino Dy III, National Food Authority Administrator Larry Lacson, House Committee on Agriculture chair Rep. Mark Enverga, House Agrarian Reform Committee chair Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform chair Senator Francisco Pancratius N. Pangilinan, and local government executives from rice-producing provinces.

The meeting was convened a day ahead of planned protests at the DAR in Quezon City (QC) by rice farmers from Central Luzon, who are saying government has not acted sufficiently to address low farmgate prices.

The “caucus” of officials will submit a recommendation detailing the government procurement plan to the Palace.

This proposed directive aims to create immediate demand for local palay harvests, offer price stability, and ensure government-led support for agriculture.

Mr. Dy was quoted as saying in the statement: “We will continue to push for policies and budget support that ensure fair farmgate prices and national food security.”

Customs seeks talks with AmCham, US Embassy over corruption issues

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it is seeking a dialogue with the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) and the US Embassy after the agency was tagged in a US report as among the Philippines’ “most corrupt.”

“We have provided information through the proper diplomatic channels to clarify our ongoing reforms and have requested a dialogue with the American Chamber of Commerce and the US Embassy to further strengthen cooperation,” the BoC said in a statement on Tuesday.

The BoC hopes to further discuss the findings of the 2025 State Department Investment Climate Statements report and explore future cooperation in promoting good governance and facilitating trade.

In its September 2025 report, the State Department said the BoC is “still considered one of the most corrupt agencies in the country,” calling corruption a major barrier to attracting investments.

It added that the US embassy has received multiple reports from US firms of overly invasive searches, inconsistent customs charges, and demands for “facilitation fees” from BoC personnel. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

P349 temporary safeguard duty imposed on imported cement

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will be imposing a temporary safeguard duty of P349 per metric ton on imported cement for three years.

The DTI said it will be adopting the Tariff Commission’s (TC) recommendation to impose a safeguard duty of P14 per 40-kilogram bag of ordinary Portland cement Type 1 and blended cement.

“The imposition of the safeguard duty will be subjected to dynamic monitoring and review to ensure that prices remain stable and supply stays sufficient to cover demand at any given time,” Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the DTI, the TC recommendation is equivalent to only 3-4% of the prevailing retail price and will level the playing field between domestic manufacturers and importers. It does not expect the extra cost to be passed on to consumers.

It said  the excess cash bond paid by importers, or the difference between the provisional and final duty assessed, will be refunded once the DTI issues the corresponding order.

Ms. Roque said recent earthquakes underscore the need to ensure an adequate and affordable supply of cement.

“The DTI will regularly review the safeguard duty to adjust its scope and intensity in response to market conditions,” she added.

“The department will actively regulate the effects of safeguard tariffs to maintain a balanced environment where both local manufacturers and cement importers can adapt, compete, and thrive, particularly during periods of calamities or supply disruptions,” she said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Mati Airport set for expedited development

PIA.GOV.PH

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is expediting the construction and upgrade of Mati Airport in the Davao region, with plans for it to accommodate turboprop aircraft by 2027.

“We are working to expedite the construction of the airport… For 2026, CAAP (the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) allotted a P700-million budget for Mati Airport,” Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The DoTr aims to complete the airport’s passenger terminal building by 2026. Turboprop aircraft operations are expected to begin in 2027, to be followed by the introduction of jet services after further upgrades.

Mati Airport is being positioned as an alternative to Davao International Airport, the DoTr said.

Work on the airport started in February after being granted funding for site and runway development. 

In 2023, the provincial government of Davao Oriental pushed for the revival of the mothballed airport to boost tourism.

Initially built in the 1970s, the airport was left unused and has not hosted commercial operations due to land transfer disputes. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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