Manila Standard - 2026 March 31 - Tuesday

PBBM orders gov’t energy cuts Major

groups back efforts to cushion Mideast crisis

By Charles Dantes, Darwin Amojelar, Joel Zurbano, Othel Campos, and Maricel Cruz

ALACAÑANG

Mstudying the procurement of liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel and diesel in its next importation batch to stabilize supply, energy officials said Monday.

By Maricel V. Cruz and Katrina Manubay

Sen. Robin urges SC to act on Rody petition NEWS / A3

By Vince Lopez, Joel E. Zurbano, Charles Dantes, and Darwin Amojelar

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday, March 30 .called on the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and all local government units (LGUs) to ensure a safe, orderly, and peaceful observance of the Holy Week.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday inaugurated a new segment of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) C5 Southlink, designed to ease traffic congestion and cut travel time between the cities of Parañaque and Taguig. The President also announced that the new segment would be toll-free for motorists until the end of April to encourage

By Charles Dantes

crisis.

Presidential Communications Office

“We will always be sincere in our conversations, if there are any, and we will always be careful to protect the interests of the nation and every Filipino,” Castro said.

She underscored that the Philippines would not give up any of its rights or

Undersecretary Claire Castro said any engagement with Beijing would be approached with caution and sincerity, stressing that the welfare of Filipinos remains the government’s top priority.

Major Philippine business groups have backed government efforts to cushion the impact of the Middle East crisis, noting that volatile global oil prices pose serious risks to economic stability and consumer welfare, prompting both government and private sector action.

In a joint statement, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Federation of Philippine Industries, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored the need to maintain stable interest rates and reduce non-fuel costs to prevent spikes in basic commodity prices. At the House, Speaker Faustino Dy III directed a series of joint committee hearings to consolidate government action and craft a comprehensive legislative response to the escalating crisis, focusing on immediate relief, econom-

ic stability, and long-term resilience.

Dy said the joint hearings—to be conducted during the session break after Holy Week—will be led by a cluster of committees covering critical sectors affected by the crisis, including energy, food security, labor, transportation, and economic management.

According to Recto, the energy conservation policy complements the financial assistance programs for sectors affected by the oil price surge, while reinforcing a nationwide push to reduce consumption.

He said energy monitors have started inspecting more than 1,000 government offices to ensure proper use of lighting, air-conditioning systems and office equipment.

Under the directive, agencies are required to scale down electricity consumption by adjusting cooling systems, minimizing non-essential lighting and limiting equipment use.

Fuel consumption is also being tightly controlled, with most government vehicles restricted to official functions. Exemptions apply only to vehicles used

and trading close to $117.

Iran also launched new strikes on a water desalination plant in Kuwait, after its own electrical facilities came under attack at the weekend, cutting power to parts of Tehran. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted five ballistic missiles. The war has inflicted havoc on the global economy, with fuel shortages across much of Asia, stock markets in turmoil, and oil prices soaring — the main US benchmark rising past $100 a barrel and UK-traded Brent up sharply

Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp reiterated its stance not oppose any move by the House of Representatives to fast-track the impeachment process, including the plenary vote and subsequent transmittal of the complaint to the Senate for trial.

San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said the legal challenge was anticipated and would not impede the constitutional process.

“Well, of course, we expected that, and we felt that they were going to file a petition before the Supreme Court. I mean, she (Duterte) has her lawyers, and it is just natural for the lawyers to exhaust all remedies available to them,” Zamora said in an interview.

The petition, filed by lawyers associated with the Dutertes, alleged grave abuse of discretion by the Justice committee in conducting the impeachment proceedings and seeks to halt the ongoing hearings.

But Zamora said the justice panel will move forward in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and the rules of the House of Representatives.

“Well, what will happen next is the continuation of the proceedings before the Committee on Justice, where we will have a hearing, as stated under the Constitution and as stated in the rules of impeachment of the House of Representatives. So, we will proceed with a hearing,” she said.

Zamora maintained she sees sufficient support within the House to sustain an impeachment case, based on her discussions with colleagues, but stressed that the process remained ongoing and evidence will be determinative.

“Of course, we will follow the rules on impeachment proceedings, and we will still have to determine probable cause as stated in our rules. And maybe for the understanding of others, what we are doing right now is akin to a preliminary investigation in criminal cases,” she said.

“So while, again, we said that it appears that we have the numbers, we still have to go through the process, we still have to vet documents, verify the authenticity of these documents, especially those attached to the complaint and to the answer, if ever,” she added.

The Justice committee began hearings on March 25 after finding the two remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte “sufficient in form, substance and grounds.”

The panel is now determining probable cause, the final step before the case can be transmitted to the Senate

for public safety and health services. Austerity measures also apply to preparations for the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Summits, Recto said, with officials scaling back activities, trimming expenses, and canceling non-essential events in favor of more results-driven engagements.

As this developed, business groups have committed to adopting energy conservation measures across corporate operations, optimizing logistics through flexible work arrangements to reduce fuel demand, and promoting sustainable practices among employees.

They also pledged to accelerate investments in renewable energy, particularly solar power, to lessen dependence on imported fuel and enhance longterm energy security.

For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday presented the proposed guidelines for a carpooling program to address the continuing increase in oil prices, adding that it expects to release the final guidelines after Holy Week.

According to MMDA chairman Don Artes, individuals with private cars may enroll in the carpooling program, while companies may have their own shuttle service for employees.

All authorized vehicles must have a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) special permit or official QR code and company-identification marking.

Under the program, a point-to-point system will be implemented where one pickup and one drop-off point will be approved, with no roadside loading or unloading.

Trips will also have limited hours: once in the morning (6 to 9 a.m.) and once in the evening (5 to 9 p.m.), to avoid direct competition with other public transportation.

“Our goal is to make daily trips accessible, convenient, and comfortable for commuters. This could also become a prototype model for other locations in the country,” LTFRB Asec. Vigor Mendoza II said, adding that the program will not add to the vehicular volume since existing units will be used.

Administration said most parts of the country may experience heat index values ranging from 33°C to 41°C, categorized under the extreme caution level.

“The ridge or extension of the high-pressure area will continue to affect mostly Northern Luzon in the next two to three days,” senior weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said during a live early morning broadcast on PAGASA’s Facebook page.

Based on the weather bureau’s forecast, the heat index may reach 40°C in Cotabato City; Dagupan City, Pangasinan; La Carlota City, Negros Occidental; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; and Zamboanga City.

A heat index of 36°C to 37°C is expected in Metro Manila’s Pasay City and Quezon City, respectively.

The heat index, or apparent temperature, refers to what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature.

A high-pressure area brings clear skies and dry weather, often causing hot temperatures and less rainfall.

With economies already reeling from recent energy price rises, and US President Donald Trump openly mulling a military operation to seize Iran’s main export terminal, market experts warned that any US ground operation or wider Iranian retaliation could send oil prices to historic highs.

Oil price surge

“If the US were to launch a ground invasion of Iran, possibly taking the Kharg Island, or if Tehran were to intensify retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure or fully close the Strait,

its use, especially during the busy Holy Week travel period.

“Mula ngayon hanggang end of April, toll-free ngayon muna dito,” he said.

For its part, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) implemented a heightened alert status across all airports under its jurisdiction, preparing for an expected increase in passenger traffic during the Lenten season.

This proactive measure aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of airport operations as travel activity escalates during this period.

In another development, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that services across all major

projections of $200 bbl oil will not be an otherworldly supposition anymore,” analyst Tamas Varga of PVM Energy said.

Oil has never cost more than $150 a barrel, last hitting record highs during the July 2008 commodity boom, but the global benchmark Brent crude has risen in price by nearly 60 percent since the start of the war, and the US standard WTI by more than half.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said he wants to “take the oil in Iran” and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island, comparing this to his raid on Venezuela, where

rail lines will be suspended to give way for scheduled maintenance throughout the Holy Week period.

The agency said the MRT and LRT systems will be closed starting Maundy Thursday (April 2) through Easter Sunday (April 5), with regular operations set to resume on April 6.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Railway (PNR) will pause operations for a shorter window on Good Friday (April 3) and Black Saturday (April 4).

“All commuters are advised to plan their trips carefully for a safe and comfortable Holy Week,” DOTr said.

The DILG underscored that a strong, visible, and coordinated presence of law enforcers on the ground is critical to deter criminal activity as millions of Filipinos travel, reflect, and gather with their families this Holy Week.

In his message, President Ferdinand

day), bringing retail prices to between P109.50 and P153.10 per liter.

“Diesel is the most used, and it’s the most volatile now,” Garin said.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin noted that the country’s fuel reserves currently stand at 50.94 days, and fuel importations by PNOC Exploration Corp. will help increase the national buffer.

By fuel type, gasoline stocks are at 59.78 days, diesel at 46.93 days, kerosene at 107.88 days, fuel oil at 57.27 days and LPG at 34.02 days.

Aside from a 142,000-barrel diesel delivery from Japan which arrived on March 26, an additional 300,000 barrels are expected from Malaysia and Singapore, 300,000 barrels from North Asia and India, and 300,000 barrels from Oman via Singapore—all scheduled for delivery this month, Garin said.

“By securing these deliveries and scheduling their arrival through April, we are reinforcing domestic supply, supporting critical sectors, and helping ensure that the country remains responsive and resilient amid continued uncertainty in the global oil market,” she added.

Garin said the government, with help from various embassies, is looking at sourcing supply from Argentina, Canada, Australia, Brunei and India.

Discussions with China are also ongoing to ensure existing contracts with oil companies are honored.

DOE Director Rino Abad said the agency also expects Petron Corp. to deliver 477 million liters of crude oil, followed by another 317 million liters in the next two weeks.

“Around 19 percent of Petron’s production goes to LPG, which adds to our days of supply,” Abad said.

Oil firms will raise diesel prices by P4.50 to P12.90 per liter today (Tues-

She noted the landed cost of diesel, previously at P33 to P37 per liter, has soared to P104 per liter due to the Middle East crisis.

“This is something not controlled by the government,” Garin added.

Some oil companies will roll back gasoline prices by P2.35 per liter, while others implemented an increase of P2.90 per liter. This brings gasoline prices to between P81.65 and P114 per liter.

Kerosene prices will also rise by P1 peso to P2.40 per liter, resulting in a price range of P141 to P169.19 per liter.

Among individual firms, Seaoil Philippines and Unioil announced a P12.50 per-liter increase for diesel. Seaoil will hold gasoline prices steady, while Unioil will implement a P2.50 increase for gasoline.

Seaoil will also raise kerosene by P2 per liter.

Jetti Petroleum will increase its diesel price by P12.90 per liter and gasoline by P1 per liter, while Petron announced increases of P1.90 for gasoline, P11.90 for diesel and P1.40 for kerosene.

Oil prices rose worldwide Monday as the Middle East crisis escalated with the entry of Houthi rebels into the Iran war and speculation that the United States could deploy troops on the ground.

Brent North Sea crude, the international benchmark, jumped more than three percent at one point to reach almost $117 per barrel.

“Attacks in the Gulf continued over the weekend, with a new layer of risk emerging as Yemen’s Houthis entered the fray, which could restrict shipping in the Red Sea, adding another choke point to oil supplies,” noted Richard

the US plans to control the oil industry following the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro in January.

But the US leader nevertheless expressed confidence that there would soon be a negotiated end to the conflict, as Pakistan hosted regional foreign ministers for talks on the crisis.

As Israel pressed its offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah in south Lebanon — hitting, an official told AFP, an army checkpoint and killing at least one Lebanese soldier — Indonesia confirmed Monday one of its peacekeepers was killed after the UN force said a projectile hit one of its positions. AFP

Marcos Jr. urged the people to continue working together for the welfare of families, the strength of communities, and the realization of a more compassionate and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, the PNP will be on heightened alert throughout Holy Week, deploying more than 70,000 personnel nationwide, including close to 40,000 uniformed police officers and around 30,000 support and force multiplier units, focusing on transport hubs, major roads, and over 3,200 tourist and convergence areas.

The BFP is mobilizing around 40,000 firefighters under Code Red Alert nationwide to ensure immediate emergency response and intensified fire prevention in churches, transport terminals, and other areas of public convergence, with Oplan Semana Santa and Lakbay Alalay fully implemented.

Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.

As the conflict moved into its fifth week, the specter of a widening conflict grew as Houthi rebels on Saturday said they had fired “a barrage of cruise missiles and drones” at strategic sites in Israel. The strikes raised concern about the war spreading to the Red Sea, with Saudi Arabia rerouting much of its oil exports there to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of crude and gas usually passes and has been effectively closed by Tehran.

Adding to the dour mood were US President Donald Trump’s remarks to the Financial Times that he wanted to “take the oil in Iran” and could take the country’s Kharg Island “very easily.” Kharg Island, located off the west coast of Iran, is a vital oil terminal for the country and is being eyed by the Pentagon for ground operations, though the United States insisted it would stop short of a full-scale invasion.

As this developed, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday lamented that more than 10,000 motorcycle taxi and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers did not receive the government’s P5,000 cash assistance after some ride-hailing companies have been hesitant to submit their driver lists, owing to data privacy issues.

But Gatchalian assured the affected drivers will be included in the next round of distribution after Holy Week, tentatively on April 8, Wednesday. He said the next payouts will not be released all at once, as the DSWD is coordinating with local government units to finalize validated lists.

“This (list) was withheld from us, but together with the LTFRB we managed to secure those lists. In particular,

resources in the course of the talks.

“Nothing will be lost, and no interests will be given away,” she added.

Her remarks came after the Philippines and China confirmed they had opened “initial exchanges” on potential cooperation in oil and gas exploration, particularly in areas within the West Philippine Sea, where overlapping maritime claims have long strained bilateral relations.

The Philippines has been exploring ways to tap energy resources in the resource-rich waters to help address its growing energy needs, while ensuring compliance with the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. Previous attempts at joint exploration between Manila and Beijing, including a 2018 memorandum of understanding, faced legal and constitutional concerns over ownership and control of natural resources, which under Philippine law must remain under the full control and supervision of the state.

Castro said the government remains mindful of these constraints and would ensure that any agreement aligns with the Constitution and protects the country’s sovereign rights.

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has repeatedly said it is open to dialogue with China while maintaining that Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone are non-negotiable.

two players – Grab and InDrive – these two had significant issues,” Gatchalian said.

The LTFRB said it has already released over P651 million cash assistance in fuel subsidy even as it encountered “several minor challenges, especially in the distribution in Metro Manila.”

“The goal still remains, fast distribution of the fuel subsidy and we assure our friends and partners in the PUV sector that we are on the right track,” LTFRB chief Vigor Mendoza II said. Of the total of P651,185,000 distributed since March 17, Mendoza said the regions with biggest fuel subsidy distribution are as follows: Metro Manila with P181.278 million; CALABARZON, P98.215 million; and Central Luzon, P73.416 million.

The distribution covered drivers and operators of modern and traditional jeepneys, UV Express, passenger and P2P buses, TNVS partners, taxis, tricycles and delivery services.

“The task is not yet done. There are still a lot of things to do but we assure our countrymen that the entire government is working together not only to release the fuel subsidy in the soonest possible time but in finding other ways to assist the PUV sector,” Mendoza added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said that the number of gas stations that have closed due to supply constraints has dropped to 365 from 425, while the number of fuel hoarding and profiteering incidents reported to authorities has climbed to seven.

“The primary reason for the closures is the non-delivery of petroleum products and some had no stocks. Some closed down but later reopened after restocking,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said. With AFP

Solon proposes Easter bonus for SSS, GSIS pensioners IN BRIEF

By Maricel V. Cruz

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Monday called for the immediate release of what he called an “Easter Emergency Bonus” to cushion the impact of rising prices on pensioners of the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

Rep. Rolando Ledesma Macasaet of the SSS-GSIS Pensyonado Party-list emphasized that pensioners remain among the most vulnerable sectors during the current economic pressures.

“At a time when the prices of fuel, food, and medicine continue to rise, we need quick assistance for our pensioners,” he said.

The lawmaker proposed that the emergency bonus be sourced from existing benefits, specifically the 13th-month pension of the SSS and the Christmas cash gift of the GSIS, allowing immediate relief without the need for additional funding.

He clarified that the proposal would not affect the financial stability of the pension funds.

“As the former president of both GSIS and SSS, I know there will be no effect on the fund life of the institutions if we release it now,” Macasaet assured.

Macasaet stressed that the measure is a timely and practical intervention to provide immediate assistance to retirees who depend primarily on their pensions.

“There is no need to delay this any further. This does not require any action from Malacañang or Congress. The respective boards of the SSS and GSIS already have the authority to approve and release this benefit immediately,” Macasaet added.

SC to review Comelec ruling vs. Escudero

By Pot Chavez

THE Supreme Court (SC) is set to review the Commission on Elections ruling that cleared Senator Francis Escudero over a P30-million campaign donation.

In an interview with Manila Standard Monday, petitioner Barry Tayam said the Supreme Court’s resolution uplifted his spirits on the matter.

“The Court resolved to grant the Motion for Leave of Court to File and Admit Petition for Review dated December 23, 2025 filed by the petitioner,” the notice read.

Tayam said he hopes the High Tribunal will also ask the respondents for their comments.

In December 2025, he filed a petition to contest the poll body’s ruling that found no violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

The SC on Monday, meanwhile, dismissed the petition of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque against the conduct of the House of Representatives Quad Committee hearings in relation to now-defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

In its decision, the SC en banc ruled that Roque’s petition for certiorari and prohibition had become moot after the lifting of his contempt order, adding that the 19th Congress adjourned on June 11, 2025.

In his petition, Roque sought to stop the Quad Committee from arresting him and requiring him to attend future hearings and submit documents related to its investigation.

Padilla urges SC to act on Rody ICC petition

By Ram Superable

SENATOR Robin Padilla on Monday arrived at the Supreme Court (SC) carrying a suitcase containing over 300,000 signatures backing a petition challenging the legality of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

The signatures were submitted as part of a campaign urging the high court to promptly resolve the habeas corpus petition regarding Duterte’s detention and his transfer to the International Criminal Court.

“We are here again to bring to our highest court the signatures we have collected from our fellow citizens…

we are bringing 304,000 signatures,” he said.

On the same day, Padilla also publicly expressed frustration at those questioning former Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s support for Vice President Sara Duterte in the upcoming election.

He referenced a historical photo showing former Presidents Duterte and Corazon Aquino to defend Guanzon, arguing that PDP-Laban historically aligned with the Aquino administration.

According to the lawmaker, PDP-Laban played a key role in Aquino’s 1986 snap election victory, which followed the EDSA People Power Revolution.

Padilla added that Aquino appointed Duterte as officer-in-charge vice mayor of Davao City on March 20, 1986, as part of nationwide OIC appointments.

“People seem to have a hard time understanding. Do some research instead of just spouting nonsense,” he said.

Manila LGU launches ‘Libreng Sakay’ program

By Pot Chavez

THE Manila city government’s free jeepney ride program officially began Monday, benefiting operators, drivers, gas stations, and commuters.

Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau

Director Dennis Viaje reported that around 28,000 passengers had already boarded free jeepneys in the capital city as of 11 a.m.

“This free fare is brought to you by the taxpayers of the city of Manila. This was conceptualized by the local government due to the crisis. The public faces compounding

problems in the economy, to the point where they experience difficulty commuting,” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said in Filipino.

A total of 22 Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations and 1,400 public utility jeepneys joined the program, which will initially run for five days over two weeks, with possible extension depending on available funds.

The local chief executive said the initiative was deliberately structured to deliver guaranteed benefits to affected sectors.

“Everyone will benefit. For the operator, there is guaranteed revenue, and there is a boundary. For the driver, from their regular P200 to P300 net earnings, at least now around P1,000 is guaranteed,” Domagoso said.

He added that the city government will subsidize daily operations of participating jeepneys while allowing commuters to ride for free. Domagoso said the program would cost roughly P20 million in taxpayers’ money over five days, noting that the breadth of its impact justified the spending.

Troops break ground for Cagayan school library

A NEW school

The operation followed complaints from three victims who reported physical harm and adverse effects after using the products, prompting cyber surveillance of the suspect’s online storefronts. Investigators found an unauthorized manufacturing facility in San Jose, Antipolo producing unregistered feminine hygiene bars and soaps marketed with unverified health claims.

A March 25 raid by the NBI, Food and Drug Administration, and Antipolo licensing office led to the suspect’s arrest and confiscation of illegal items. The suspect faces charges for violating the Food and Drug Administration Act and Consumer Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. Joel E. Zurbano Competency-based gov't hiring pushed

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has issued new guidelines directing government agencies to shift to a competency-based human resource system to strengthen meritocracy and improve public service delivery.

CSC Resolution No. 2600005 outlines the implementation of competency-based human resource management systems, moving agencies away from traditional, compliance-focused personnel practices. The policy requires clearly defined competencies in recruitment, performance management, rewards, and employee development, including core, leadership, and technical competencies. The guidelines apply to national agencies, local government units, government corporations with original charters, state universities and colleges, and constitutional offices.

This is to inform the public that MS. EVANGELINE S. SURAT, former Collection Officer (Cashier) at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)- Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) Parañaque City is no longer connected with the Corporation. Any transaction that Ms. Surat may enter into or undertake in behalf of or in connection with PhilHealth shall no longer be honored by the Corporation and may be reported to our Office thru the PhilHealth Corporate Action Center at telephone no. (02) 86622588.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026

MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM

IN BRIEF

DICT told to help LGUs migrate to e-Gov scheme

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Miguel Luis

“Migz” Villafuerte on Monday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to work right away with local government units (LGUs) on establishing their respective electronic government or e-Gov platforms.

Villafuerte raised the call as the government is poised to implement the e-Governance Law. He said the LGUs’ e-Gov platforms should be interlinked with the national digital framework “to speed up the nationwide switch to more efficient and transparent—and even graft-free—transactions with the public.”

Villafuerte said the recent release of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 12254, or the “EGovernance Act,” should “clear the path for the DICT to engage local executives on developing or improving their e-Government platforms to accelerate our country’s digital transformation and ensure our people’s easy online access to government services.” Maricel V. Cruz

PhilHealth, PSA tie-up to enhance healthcare

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) have forged an agreement meant to modernize PhilHealth’s systems, curb fraudulent claims, and ensure that benefits reach all eligible Filipinos.

The accord also covers PhilSys colocation and the launch of the PhilHealth Check Utility (PCU), the parties said in a statement.

“Filipinos deserve a health insurance system that is modern, secure, and reliable. Through our partnership with the PSA, we are strengthening our systems, improving the accuracy of our records, and ensuring that every peso of the health fund supports legitimate claims,” said PhilHealth president and chief executive Dr. Edwin Mercado. He emphasized that while safeguards were being enhanced, access to benefits remained fully protected. Minerva Newman

DOH offers online mental health services for OFWs

THE Philippine Embassy in Manama, Bahrain on Monday urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country to avail themselves of a free online mental health and psychosocial support services offered by the Department of Health (DOH) amid ongoing regional tensions. In an advisory, the embassy said the online mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) will be conducted online on March 31, 2026, 8:00 PM (Bahrain time) via Zoom.

“The Philippine government recognizes the need for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for the Filipinos living in the Kingdom of Bahrain, especially in the current crisis in the Region,” the advisory read. Earlier this month, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa gave assurance that the DOH will provide telemedicine services to Filipinos in the Middle East, highlighting that mental health remains a priority amid the Gulf situation. Katrina Manubay

‘Protect women, girls with disabilities’

By Maricel V. Cruz

IN line with the celebration of the 22nd Women with Disabilities Day, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called for unified efforts to prioritize the welfare and protection of women and girls with disability.

“Filipino women and girls with disabilities often face intersectional discrimination which is rooted in their gender, disability, and status in a developing nation. When seeking social services and opportunities, they face disproportionately higher obstacles, particularly in the lack of equal access to education, livelihood opportunities, and healthcare,” DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

She stressed that the “multiple layers of discrimination” experienced by women and girls with disability must be immedi-

ately addressed through a whole-of-society approach.

“The DSWD has been very vocal in calling for a unified stand to support the plight of women and girls with disabilities. We continue to urge the government and all stakeholders to prioritize policies, programs, and services where women with disabilities can fully participate in nation-building,” Dumlao pointed out.

The Department, in coordination with its attached agency, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) implements

programs and services to support persons with disabilities.

“Currently, the DSWD provides community-based and center-based programs to help persons with disabilities to enhance their knowledge and capabilities to acquire income-generating opportunities so that they can support themselves and their families as productive members of the society,” Dumlao said.

The DSWD’s initiatives include the Persons with Disabilities - Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS), Therapy for Fee (TheraFee) Project, Developmental Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment (DARE) for Children with Disabilities Caravan (CAREvan); the Sensory Lab; and the Project ARUGA.

Last year, the Department launched the pilot implementation of the Persons with Disabilities - Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) project under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to provide livelihood grants to persons with disabilities who are members of SLP associations to purchase electric vehicles that

are disability-friendly.

The TheraFee Project under the Cashfor-Work Program for Persons with Disabilities (CFWP-PWD), under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), is another initiative of the Department that supports family and community members caring for persons with disabilities with high support needs by incentivizing their duty as care workers through cash-forwork (CFW).

The DARE CAREvan provides help to children with developmental delays and neurodevelopmental conditions and their families by offering free developmental assessment and accessible and community-based interventions.

The Sensory Lab, on the other hand, is a project that offers free sensory-friendly spaces in SM Malls to cater to the needs of children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or other sensory sensitivities.

Maguindanao security heightened after ambush-slay of 5 cops

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, March 30, intensified security measures in Maguindanao del Sur following an ambush in Shariff Aguak town that left five policemen dead and three others wounded.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez

Jr. said the internal protocols for field operations were placed under strict review to prevent similar tactical lapses in the future.

“We are reinforcing our presence in Maguindanao del Sur until we hold all those involved accountable,” he said.

Additional rapid response teams have been deployed to prevent similar incidents, while random checkpoints and unpredictable patrol routes are being implemented to deter further attacks.

By Rex Espiritu

AMNESTY International (AI) has urged the government to review the antiterror cases filed against human rights defenders following the acquittal of child rights advocate Ma. Salome Ujano. Ujano, former national coordinator of Philippines Against Child Trafficking, was arrested in November 2021 in connection with a 2005 ambush of two military personnel in Quezon Province. She was sentenced in 2024 by the Taguig Regional Trial Court to 10 to 17 years in prison, but the Court of Appeals overturned the conviction, ruling that the evidence against her and her co-accused “fails to establish with the

required moral certainty” their participation in the alleged rebellion.

AI asserted that her case was part of a “pattern of harassing human rights defenders, journalists, and development workers by filing fabricated charges against them.”

“It was no surprise that Ujano was acquitted, since she should not have been charged in the first place,” Amnesty said, calling the case “a clear miscarriage of justice and the improper use of criminal proceedings based on trumped-up charges.”

The rights group urged the Marcos administration to conduct “a prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into abuses in the

implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and related laws,” noting that such legislation grants “excessive and unchecked powers” that are vulnerable to arbitrary enforcement.

“These two administrations [Duterte and Marcos] have been relentless in silencing dissent and criticism by curtailing peoples’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association,” Amnesty added. It also warned that filing such cases threatens the colleagues of activists and hampers advocacy work.

Reuniting with her family, Ujano expressed relief and gratitude. “Finally, truth and justice prevailed. Miracles do happen,” she said.

The fallen officers, who belonged to the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, were returning to their camp from nighttime duty when they were waylaid along a highway near Camp Akilan.

Nartatez said the attack will not affect

“We remind all our officers to stay alert and follow strict safety protocols as we conduct operations in the pursuit of justice for our fallen officers. Every patrol must be treated as a high-risk operation,” Nartatez added. Five policemen were killed and three others were injured in an ambush in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak on the evening of March 28.

the PNP’s resolve to maintain peace and order and help pave the way for development in Maguindanao del Sur and nearby areas. He said the incident only encouraged the police officers to do more in terms of peace and development, as well as the rule of law in the province.

Meanwhile, manhunt operations were ongoing against the ambushers.

“We urge everyone to cooperate with the police. We need your eyes and ears,” the PNP chief said.

MGB reinforces drive vs. illegal mining, quarrying in C. Visayas

By Minerva Newman

CEBU City – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region VII has formally deputized police and environmental officers to strengthen its campaign against illegal mining and quarrying in Central Visayas.

“We believe that the best way to safeguard our environment is through shared responsibility. Through the formal deputization of law enforcement, we are strengthening our enforcement network to ensure the sustainable management of our mineral resources in the region,” MGB acting regional director Al Emil Berador said.

Berador described the initiative as a strategic shift toward a more community-driven approach to environmental protection, enabling a unified front against illegal extraction activities across the region.

Under the setup, the deputized officers can investigate and arrest violators, as well as seize illegally sourced minerals and the vehicles or heavy equipment used in unauthorized operations. To prepare them for their expanded roles, MGB-7 conducted an Enforcement Training on Anti-Illegal Mining on March 18.

The session equipped the officers with a working understanding of mining laws and translated complex technical regulations into practical field protocols.

Mining claim examiner Jacob Densing led a comprehensive discussion on the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), emphasizing the distinctions between permits issued by the MGB and DENR and those granted by local government units under devolved functions.

MGB-7 lawyer Gleen Revilla-Maravilla

OPINION

Honor Blanco Cabie

Technological shifts hit Ilokandia’s popular theater

KOMEDIA Ilokana, introduced by Spanish authorities and missionaries after their arrival in the 16th century, have been muffled by a combination of rapid technological shifts and changing entertainment preferences.

In Pinili, Ilocos Norte as well as the nearby towns of Paoay, Badoc, Currimao and Batac City –the comedia Ilokana, also called Moro Moro was for scores a major feaure of their town fiestas as well as other municipalities in Northern Philippines.

But it has has faded out with the last sound of the wind instruments accompanying the battle between the brightly robed stage performers.

Komedia had been undoubtedly the greatest and most popular theater from 1798 to1898, the last span of the 371-year Spanish rule, which began in 1521.

The komedia was fundamentally a religious and political propaganda tool staged during town fiestas which happen during the summer months of April and May, its core themes being “good versus evil,” “conversion and conquest,” “romantic battles,” and “restoration of order.:

Traditionally, the komedia Ilokana was a long-form event that usually spanned three to nine days, where residents, mostly from the outskirts of the town, gathered in their slippers to watch the centerpiece of the fiesta celebration up to the feast day of the town’s patron saint.

The play portrayed Christianity as “good” and Islam (labeled “Moro” or “Moors”) as “evil,” and the plot typically involved a Christian prince battling a Muslim king, ending with the Muslim characters converting to Christianity.

As a 7-year-old musician, the youngest among the nearly 50-member Pinili Troubadors at the time, we heard the the storylines – dictated behind the plywood wall of the teatro by Kapitan Basilio – which frequently blended battle scenes with intense love stories between royalty from the opposing sides. Despite the chaotic battles, tranquility was always restored through the victory of the Christian army.

Why did the Spaniards, who arrived in Ilocos on June 12-15, 1572 led by Captain Juan de Salcedo and his 80 soldiers, introduce this in the region and other areas of the country, which received the cross in 1521?

For several tactical reasons.

It was used to introduce Catholicism to the locals and convert them to the Spanish faith; the plays were designed to marginalize and demonize the Moro people of Mindanao, who successfully resisted Spanish conquest for centuries.

By creating a play that highlighted the differences between Christians and Muslims, they fostered anti-Moro sentiments among Christianized Filipinos, preventing unity against colonial rule. Another reason was the theater performance served as a major cultural event during town fiestas, integrating local customs with Spanish religious ideals.

In addition to being a political tool, it was also used to teach the Christianized inhabitants how to behave according to Catholic teachings.

Other culture scholars say there has been a perceived decline in the cultural relevance of these traditional, heavily staged performances, with the transition from communal, live, and often weeklong performances to on-demand digital content which has made it difficult for this traditional theater to retain its audience.

Modernization, urban migration, and globalization have weakened the transmission of traditional folklore and local theatrical forms

These same scholars add this decline has been accelerated by, among others, digital transformation and media consumption where Ilokanos, and Filipinos in general, have shifted from traditional community gatherings to digital platforms as their primary source of news, knowledge, and leisure, reducing the audience for live performances.

There has also been this rise of on-demand content, meaning the proliferation of smartphones and social media has allowed younger generations to prefer personalized, instant, and on-demand digital entertainment over traditional, long-form theater.

The same observers have noted high cost and resource intensity, where mounting moro-moro requires months of preparation, significant community funding, and time, making it difficult for communities to sustain these productions.

Yet another pad is a decline in local interest, where younger generations are increasingly unfamiliar with or less interested in traditional practices, leading to a loss of cultural continuity, not helped any by a shift in cultural identity, where modernization, urban migration, and globalization have weakened the transmission of traditional folklore and local theatrical forms, with a preference for global or westernized media.

Others have succinctly pointed to changing social values, where the Moro Moro, traditionally a tool to demonize Moors (Muslims) to reinforce Spanish Catholicism, is now often perceived as a dying art, a “memento” of a divisive era that is less aligned with contemporary Filipino identity and inter-religious dialogue.

While the Moro Moro still survives in some areas for church festivals, the digitalization of entertainment has broken the community-centered, live nature of this art form.

When the money trail floods out

BY ANY measure, the Philippines knows floods.

Each year, waters rise, swallowing homes, memories, and sometimes entire futures. But the most dangerous floods are not made of rain. They are made of money—public money—quietly diverted, siphoned, and laundered until accountability itself drowns.

Last week, Jesus Crispin Remulla, the country’s Ombudsman, pulled back the curtain on a troubling reality: the very institutions meant to trace dirty money may be struggling—or unwilling—to follow it where it leads. His warning about the Anti-Money Laundering Council was not just bureaucratic frustration. It was a rare public admission that the machinery of justice is grinding against itself. At the center of this tension is a multibillion-peso flood control scandal—an irony so sharp it almost feels scripted. Funds meant to prevent disaster now appear entangled in one. And as investigators try to trace where the money went, they are discovering an old truth: corruption is not just about who takes the money, but about who cannot—or will not—follow it.

Remulla’s criticism cuts to the bone. If

the AMLC, the country’s financial watchdog, hesitates to fully cooperate, the entire anti-corruption effort risks collapse. Financial crimes live and die by paper trails— bank transfers, shell accounts, suspicious flows. Without that data, prosecutors are left chasing shadows.

Trust, once eroded, is difficult to rebuild

Yet the AMLC operates under a different kind of pressure. It must balance law enforcement with financial stability, transparency with confidentiality.

The Philippine banking system rests on trust—trust that deposits are protected, that information is not casually disclosed. Too much zeal, and that trust could fracture. Too little, and corruption thrives.

This is the tightrope the AMLC walks. And it is a narrow one. Still, Remulla’s sharper point is about incentives.

When he warns of conflicts of interest—of regulators who may one day seek employment in the very banks they over-

Victory over death and sin

HOLY Week, which began on Palm Sunday, traces, according to Catholics, the final days of Jesus, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his Resurrection, forming the foundation of Christian faith.

These days represent supreme sacrifice, the institution of the Eucharist, and victory over sin and death, offering a journey from suffering to hope, culminating in the Resurrection on Sunday, the Gregorian Easter.

One of the experiences many Catholics, 79 percent of the country’s population of nearly 118 million, have during the Holy Week is the “journey to Calvary” – also called “Way of the Cross” or the Via Crucis – a central, prayerful meditation on Jesus’ Passion, especially during Lent and on Good Friday.

The 14 Stations of the Cross are a profound devotion within Christianity, primarily in Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions, that mark the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life, from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his entombment.

It is a meditative, spiritual pilgrimage that brings the scenes of the Passion into the modern lives of believers, serving as a powerful, 14-step reflection among devotees from as far north as Batanes to

the Christian towns in Muslim-inhabited Mindanao. Originating from early Christian pilgrims visiting Jerusalem, the Stations allow worshippers to walk the “Way of Sorrows” mentally and prayerfully, even if they cannot travel to the Holy Land.

There is a 15th station – the Resurrection on Sunday – which is sometimes included to complete the narrative of salvation

According to Bible scholars, the spiritual journey allows believers to step beyond being spectators and become companions in Jesus’ passion, making his sacrifice deeply personal – and

reflect on his falls and his exhaustion which highlight his human nature, offering comfort to those facing their own “crosses” of pain, loneliness, or injustice.

It also marks a time of repentance, with the devotion a stark reminder of the cost of redemption, encouraging repentance for sins.

It teaches love, perseverance, patience, and humility, as followers learn to carry their own burdens in union with Christ.

Some may ask whether going through the journey is that important.

Ecclesiastics say the Stations of the Cross are considered a vital spiritual practice for many believers, particularly during Holy Week and Lent because the journey allows Christians to encounter the living Jesus and enter the mystery of his Passion, seen as the center of salvation.

It also provides a structure for meditating on personal sins, gratitude for mercy, and the need to “take up your cross daily.”

For many, it is an essential community practice, particularly when done in a procession, connecting them with local church traditions and the universal Church.

Today, in the digital age, there is a 15th station – the Resurrection on Sunday –which is sometimes included to complete the narrative of salvation.

In Israel, air raid sirens spark anxiety and dilemmas

HOD HA’SHARON, Israel – Acutely sensitive to noise because of childhood trauma, Nili stresses when air raid sirens send her into a crowded shelter where her own “internal war” overlaps with the one raging outside.

The experience of Nili, whose name has been changed for this article, highlights the particular vulnerability of people with mental health conditions when dealing with the Middle East war, triggered on February 28 by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

With every siren warning, the same anguish returns for the 21-year-old, who has spent nine months at the Shalvata Mental Health Center in the central town of Hod HaSharon, run by Israel’s largest healthcare provider, Clalit Health Services.

“It’s unpleasant and unfamiliar to be in a relatively small room with many people you don’t know, men and women together, usually quite crowded,” she told AFP during a visit to the centre.

“We’re in Israel, and there’s a war outside. But there are also people who have been dealing with their own internal war for many years,” she added.

The anxiety of war is also something felt acutely by Israelis living with disabilities, who number about 1.32 million people, or around 13 percent of the population, according to a 2025 report by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

For 16-year-old Rhea Azmanov, who has a cognitive disability, the uncertainty creates layers of additional challenges.

“All kids with disabilities really need routine” to give them a sense of stability and certainty, her father, Ziv Azmanov, told AFP.

“So when there is no normal routine, as in the current circumstances, it creates with her a lot of stress and anxiety.”

The Azmanov family does not have a “mamad” or reinforced room in their apartment in the central city of Raanana, and must use their building’s shelter each

see—he is naming a problem that extends far beyond one agency. It is the quiet “revolving door” that blurs the line between watchdog and insider. Even the perception of such a conflict can erode public confidence.

The resignation of AMLC Executive Director Matthew David only deepens the unease. There is no proof of wrongdoing, but in a system already under strain, leadership changes invite speculation. In the absence of transparency, rumor fills the gap—and rumor, in a democracy, can be as corrosive as fact.

Meanwhile, the legal process grinds on. Assets have been frozen. Civil forfeiture cases have been filed. Deputy Ombudsman Mico Clavano has assured the public that even if freeze orders lapse, mechanisms remain to keep ill-gotten wealth out of reach. These are important steps. But they are also reminders of how complex—and fragile—the system is. Because here is the uncomfortable truth: the Philippines has built a legal framework that both empowers and restrains anti-cor-

time a siren sounds the warning of incoming missiles.

“She’s very uncomfortable. She hates crowded places. So sometimes instead of going down, we have to stand outside,” said her mother, Veena Azmanov, who noted that the noise inside the shelter, combined with the wail of sirens and boom of missile interceptions, can elevate stress.

—“—

Sometimes patients refused to take shelter by insisting that there was no danger and nothing would happen to them

And for people with reduced mobility, accessibility challenges become more extreme during wartime “because everything is more accelerated”, said Yoav Braver, who heads training at Beit Issie Shapiro, one of Israel’s leading centres for people with disabilities.

Braver said that public information mapping accessible shelters was hard to come by, and even people with mamads in their homes could struggle to get there in the 90-second window afforded by the longest air raid warnings.

Caregivers often shoulder a particularly heavy burden during wartime, Braver said, adding that Beit Issie Shapiro had set up a hotline offering advice for professionals or family members.

“Burnout is a main issue that we deal with in times of war,” he said.

‘Ethical dilemmas’

For medical staff caring for psychiatric patients such as Nili, and those with more severe conditions like schizophrenia and

ruption efforts. Bank secrecy laws protect privacy but can shield wrongdoing. Due process safeguards rights but can delay justice. Agencies are mandated to cooperate, yet structured in ways that sometimes discourage it. The result is a paradox. Everyone is doing their job—and yet the system struggles to deliver results.

For ordinary Filipinos, this is more than a legal puzzle. It is a question of fairness. Every peso lost to corruption is a classroom not built, a road left unfinished, a flood control project that exists only on paper. When investigations stall, it is not just cases that suffer—it is public trust. And trust, once eroded, is difficult to rebuild. The way forward will require more than finger-pointing. It will demand institutional humility and reform. The Ombudsman and the AMLC must find a way to work together—not as rivals, but as partners in a shared mission. Congress may need to revisit laws that unintentionally hinder accountability. And perhaps most importantly, the public must

personality disorders, seemingly impossible choices can surface between ensuring their own safety or staying with the most vulnerable.

Merav Agsham, head nurse of the psychiatric unit at Shalvata, described these as daily “ethical dilemmas” when the sirens sound.

“Come out, please,” she recently begged a patient having a psychotic episode, as he was taking a shower and refused to head for the shelter.

“Eventually I went down without him,” the 38-year-old mother told AFP, but recalled she had a lump in her throat.

“If something will happen, how can I live with that? They’re my responsibility,” she said.

Agsham said that sometimes patients refused to take shelter by insisting that there was no danger and nothing would happen to them.

Other times, patients would argue “I don’t mind if the missile will come down on me, and I will die. I want to die.”

At night everything becomes more complicated, said the center’s director Shlomo Mendlovic. Medicated patients sleep deeply and are hard to wake, while others are restrained to prevent violence.

Mendlovic said staff must find their own balance between respecting the patients’ autonomy, choosing to stay with those under their care, or ensuring their own safety.

“I would prefer that everyone will go to the shelter,” he said, but added he was proud to see the dedication of staff who chose to stay with patients.

Uri Nitzan, director of the depression and crisis intervention ward at Shalvata, said the center prioritised dialogue, encouragement and support.

“In moments of crisis, you can feel that... there is a good relationship,” he said. AFP

demand transparency, not just results. Because corruption, like flooding, exploits the weakest points in a system. It seeps through cracks, gathers strength, and overwhelms defenses that were never designed to withstand it. The question now is whether this latest scandal will be another story of waters rising and then receding—leaving little changed—or a turning point that forces the country to confront the deeper currents beneath.

The rain will come again. It always does.

The real test is whether, by then, the Philippines will have learned how to follow the money before it washes everything away.

NOTICE

US senator: Taiwan defense bill approval ‘very crucial’

TAIPEI – A US senator said Monday it is “very important” for Taiwan to approve a special defense spending bill, as Washington dials up pressure on the democratic island to invest more in its own military capabilities.

Taiwanese lawmakers are at loggerheads over how much to spend on improving defence capabilities against a potential attack by China, which claims the island is part of its territory and has threatened to forcibly seize it.

President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party and the two opposition parties, which control parliament, are locked in negotiations after reviewing rival budget proposals last week and failing to reach a consensus.

“Passing of the special defense budget is very important to me and my colleagues back in Washington DC,” Republican Senator John Curtis told reporters in Taipei, during a visit by a bipartisan Senate delegation.

“We want to make sure that as we invest in this part of the world,

that you are also investing and that we’re in this together,” he said, after the senators met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

Lai’s government has proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) in spending on critical defense purchases, including US arms, while the opposition Kuomintang party wants to allocate NT$380 billion for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions. As pressure from the United States — Taiwan’s most important security backer — grows, some KMT lawmakers are pushing for a much higher budget than the one proposed by the party, signaling an internal split over defense.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is part of the delegation, said US support for Taiwan “remains strong and enduring.” AFP

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026

Jr Lady Altas reclaim NCAA volleyball title

By Dennis Abrina

THE Perpetual Help Junior Lady Altas left no room for a deciding match, dominating the defending champion Arellano University Baby Chiefs in straight sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22, to secure the NCAA Season 101 Volleyball Fiesta Girls’ Division title on Monday.

Leading the charge was Elizha Sildo, who delivered a game-high 16 points built on 15 attacks and a block, powering the Altalettes to their ninth consecutive victory this season.

Middle blocker Isabel Baser added 12 points highlighted by seven attacks, four blocks, and an ace. Sherrie Rose Acosta chipped in 11 points along with five excellent receptions and a dig, while Joycelle Casil contributed eight attack points. Ramiel Panganiban finished with six points coming from four attacks, a block, and an ace.

Setter Jasmine Morte, playing in her final season, orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets out of 82 attempts, while libero Janine Espiritu anchored the defense with 12 digs and five receptions.

Despite the loss, Catherine Chu stood out for the Baby Chiefs with an impressive 29 points, along with four digs and five receptions.

With the victory, coach Sandy Rieta reclaimed the championship title her team last held in Season 99 (2024), marking their second crown in three years.

“I saw their heart and eagerness to win the championship in Game 2,” Rieta said. “During our last practice, they talked among themselves and promised to give their best for their team captain, Jasmine Morte, who is graduating this school year—and they fulfilled that.”

Sinner whips Lehecka, wins Miami Open crown

MIAMI—World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the ATP Miami Masters 1000 for a second time on Sunday, adding the title to his Indian Wells crown. Sinner had to wait out rain delays before and during the match to complete his “Sunshine Double,” becoming the first man to sweep the elite hard court tournaments in California and Florida since Roger Federer in 2017 and the first to do so without dropping a set.

In fact, Sinner -- who won Miami in 2024 but missed last year as he served a three-month doping ban -- has now won three straight Masters 1000 events, starting with a victory in Paris last year.

“It’s a very, very special moment,” Sinner said. “Coming here, performing again in a very good way after Indian Wells means a lot to me.

“It’s something I never would’ve thought (I’d win) because it’s difficult to achieve.”

Sinner’s victory, coupled with Aryna Sabalenka’s triumph over Coco Gauff on Saturday, mark the first time the Indian Wells-Miami sweep was achieved on both the men’s and women’s sides since Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka both did it in 2016.

It also saw the Italian gain a bit on Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz -- who was upset in the third round -- in the race for world number one as the clay court season beckons.

Early showers saw the match delayed for more than an hour. Sinner had just pocketed the first set when the showers hit again, halting the match for 90 minutes.

It wasn’t enough to unsettle Sinner, who fired 10 aces and won 33 of 36 points when he put his first serve in play.

His return game was also spot on as he handed 22nd-ranked Czech Lehecka his first service break of the tournament for a 2-1 lead in the opening frame.

Sinner trailed 0-40 in the following game but fired three service winners and a pair of aces to hold.

“I tried to be focused,” Sinner said. “I tried to understand why I missed the first serves before. In the beginning, the conditions were very different ... very, very heavy balls. I missed a couple of first serves in the net because they were quite heavy.”

‘Very precise’

He said Lehecka’s aggressive return game also gave him pause.

“You have to hit very precise. If not, he has it on the racquet,” Sinner said. But he made the advantage stand up and gave himself a first set point in the ninth game with a blistering cross-court forehand service return winner. AFP

Tense reset for 4 PVL semifinal contenders

FOUR teams. Two coveted semifinal slots. And after a conference defined by upsets, shifting momentum and unexpected breakthroughs, nothing feels certain heading into the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference’s final do-or-die clashes on April 7.

In a tournament where early favorites stumbled and underdogs surged at just the right time, Creamline, Farm Fresh, Nxled and Akari now find themselves in a tense reset during the Holy Week break – each squad recalibrating, reflecting and reloading for matches that will ultimately decide who moves on and who goes home.

In the Final Four, sister teams PLDT and Cignal lie in wait, ready to face the last survivors in what promises to be a gripping round-robin showdown. Creamline and Farm Fresh enter with unfinished business after falling short in the Qualifying Round, while Nxled and Akari ride the confidence of survival, having clawed their way through the Play-In knockout stage at the expense of Galeries Tower and Choco Mucho. But if this conference has proven anything, it’s that past results offer little assurance. Momentum can vanish as quickly as it appears, and reputations carry no guarantees in sudden-death scenarios.

What awaits at the FilOil Centre is a pair of high-stakes duels where preparation, mental toughness and in-game composure will outweigh statistics and prior head-to-head results. Farm Fresh faces Nxled at 4 p.m., followed by Creamline against Akari at 6:30 p.m. –two matchups brimming with intrigue and volatility.

Savouge’s Calado is week’s

best

MARK Calado continues to prove his worth for Savouge after anchoring the Spin Doctors’ surge heading into the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference semifinals. His consistency and steady presence on offense allowed Savouge to build momentum with a four-game winning streak before plunging in the Final Four.

Calado delivered the goods in the Spin Doctors’ last two victories, and his effort earned him the distinction as the Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of March 24 to 27.

Savouge enters the next round brimming with confidence following its back-to-back romp over the AEPCabstars and VNS Always Bright Laticrete.

Calado powered the Spin Doctors with 16 points in a hard-earned 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 victory over the Cabstars on Friday.

The Far Eastern University product’s heroics came on the heels of his 10-point contribution to help Savouge put on a volleyball clinic over VNS, 25-21, 25-23, 25-20, in one hour and 20 minutes, last Tuesday. He edged his teammate and last week’s winner JP Bugaoan, Criss Cross’ Alche Gupiteo, Cabstars’ Jay Rack De La Noche, and EJ Casana for the recognition deliberated by print and online media covering the country’s premier men’s volleyball league, organized by Sports Vision.

BROWNLEE TAKES

CHARGE. Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra drives to the basket against two Converge defenders in a PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Brownlee erupted for 21 points in the nal two quarters as the Gin Kings won 99-93.

SBP mulls hiring foreign mentor for Gilas Women

By Randy M. Caluag

THE Samahang Basketbol ng

Pilipinas (SBP) has begun its search for a new head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Women, with officials open to appointing a foreign mentor to replace Patrick Henry Aquino after his 12-year tenure.

SBP Executive Director Erika Dy said the federation would conduct a broad search and would not limit the pool to local candidates.

“We’re going to have a thorough process to determine who will lead Gilas Pilipinas Women moving forward,” Dy said. “We’re not limiting ourselves to looking for local coaches, as our plan is to land the best option possible. If that means hiring from abroad, that’s what we will do.” Aquino has stepped down from his coaching role and will shift to a development position within SBP, focusing on talent identification and grassroots programs alongside program director Norman Black.

“The SBP thanks coach Patrick Aquino for everything that he has done for the program,” Vargas said. “But now it’s time to move forward and do more for Gilas Pilipinas Women and the entire women’s basketball community.” Under Aquino, the Philippines won its first women’s basketball gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and secured multiple podium finishes in subsequent editions. The team also reached Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup at both senior and youth levels.

SBP is preparing the team for upcoming international events, including the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2027, which the Philippines will host.

“The landscape of women’s basketball is changing as we’re seeing Filipina talent sprouting from all over the world,” Vargas said. “We need to harness all of this into our team.”

Gilas Pilipinas Women recently competed in a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Lyon, France, finishing with a 1-4 record against higher-ranked teams. Despite the result, SBP said it believes the team can compete with elite opposition under the right leadership, with campaigns in the Olympic pre-qualifiers and the Asian Games ahead.

Local rowers display caliber in indoor tournament

AFTER two days of intense competition, the Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) honored the elite rowers who triumphed during the 2026 PRA Indoor Meet presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Sunday, March 29, at the University Hotel, UP Diliman in Quezon City.

With a surge of entries in this year’s edition, the tournament witnessed the best of the best step into the podium.

In the men’s open solo 1000 meter (m) event, Leo Lope Franco successfully defended his title after clocking in 3:06.0 seconds, dominating John Martin De Jesus (3:09.2), and Vincent Chua (3:17.0).

The businessman shared that this is his “side quest” and snatching the gold for the secondstraight year was tough.

“I feel very fulfilled. Of course, defending this title did not come so easy. I actually trained quite a lot because I really thought that this year’s competition will be a lot tougher and tighter and there’s gonna be a lot of players from different sports coming in,” he shared. Playing as a varsity of rowing for the Ateneo de Manila University before, Lopefranco shared how the sport already grew.

“With all the numbers you see in rowing, it just shows how honest it is, you know. It will really measure your technique, how strong you are, how fast you are, how much you can maintain that kind of power all throughout the whole race and you don’t gas out, you know, at the last 300 meters, right? So, yeah, it’s really a sport that requires a lot of time and dedication.”

The women’s edition saw Madelyn Veluz tapped in first with a time of 4:08.4 seconds, while Alexandria Muyot was just a second shy after finishing 4:09.6, to place second. Kat Santos rounded out the podium in 4:15.7. In the Under-21 men’s division, Stephen Andre Trovela topped the field with 3:16.6. Clark Tito placed second at 3:21.0, and Miguel Cuales secured third with 3:21.5. Standout Andrea Daquigan finished first in 3:55.6, in the U21 women’s division. Jasmine Regio followed at 3:56.2, while Ashley Dy

TAGAYTAY City—Japan’s Kaiya

Ota earned his niche in the Tagaytay CT Velodrome by setting a new Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track Cycling Championships elite men sprint record in the qualifying round before eventually winning the gold medal with relative ease.

Ota clocked 9.348 seconds in Sunday’s qualifiers to smash the previous Asian mark of 9.350 seconds he himself set at the Paris Olympics in August 2024. The two-time Asian Games gold medalist went on to win gold but was unable to submit a better time at 9.575 seconds on Sunday, but good enough t deny China’s

Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, Sports Plus PH, Toyota and Peak. Eiya Hashimoto and Kazushige Kuboki produced a masterful performance in winning the elite men Madison gold with 104 points—Kazakhstan’s Ilya Karabutov and Ramis Dinmukhametov settled for the silver medal with 82 points and Hong Kong’s Tsu Wai Chu and Kai Kwong Tso completed the podium with 65 points. Mizuki Ikeda and Maho Kakita claimed gold for Japan in the women’s race with 53 points, beating China’s Xianbing Gong and Menghan Zhou who bagged silver with 40 points and Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Lee and Wing Yee who got bronze with 31 points. China, meanwhile, continued to lord it over the 16-nation will also celebrate the ACC’s 33rd foundation anniversary on Tuesday (March 31), the last day of the competitions.

By Othel V. Campos

SINGAPORE-BASED Total Advanced Future Technology Pte. Ltd. (TAFTPL) plans to invest P3.6 billion to establish manufacturing operations in the Light Industry and Science Park IV (LISP IV) Special Economic Zone in Batangas, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Monday. The project is pending a presidential proclamation to officially designate the site as a special economic zone. Once the proclamation is issued, TAFT is expected to sign a registration agreement with PEZA and

begin operations soon.

The facility will focus on manufacturing high-tech, climate-resilient housing units specifically for the Japanese market.

The scope of the project includes the packaging and export of complete housing products along with their various components and accessories.

PEZA said the investment is projected to generate more than $120 million in annual export revenues. To support these operations, the company also intends to build a dedicated warehouse facility on the site.

The agency has allocated 13 hect-

ares of the 30-hectare LISP IV expansion area for the initial phase of the project.

PEZA director-general Tereso Panga met with the TAFT management group on March 12 to discuss the investment as part of a broader push to attract high-value, export-oriented industries to regional areas.

“As PEZA pursues its target of proclaiming 30 ecozones this year, we remain committed to regional development and inclusive economic growth, ensuring that projects like TAFT’s bring tangible benefits to Filipino communities,” Panga said.

PhilWeb secures accreditation for gaming services

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GAMING technology firm

PhilWeb Corp. said Monday it obtained accreditation under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) framework for gaming affiliates and support service providers.

The accreditation allows the company to deliver technology and operational services to licensed operators.

PhilWeb said in a disclosure to the stock exchange this affirms its capabilities in platform technology, systems integration and operational support as it deepens its role in the regulated gaming sector.

The listed firm is participating in technical working discussions with regulators and industry stakeholders to contribute to the development of standards aimed at improving transparency, consumer protection and governance.

PhilWeb earlier teamed up with several integrated resort operators, including Hann Casino Resort and Okada Manila, where it supports regulated online gaming platforms through infrastructure and system integration services.

The company also collaborated with FBM Philippines to deploy scalable platforms across a nationwide network of gaming venues.

PhilWeb president Brian Ng said the industry is reaching a pivotal stage as it moves toward a more structured and transparent framework.

PAG-IBIG Fund said it will maintain its 3-percent annual interest rate for qualified socialized housing loans under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program. It said this aims to keep homeownership affordable amid global oil market volatility triggered by Middle East conflicts.

The decision aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide decent and affordable housing to low and moderate income Filipino workers.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and PagIBIG Fund board of trustees chairperson Jose Ramon Aliling said the move ensures workers can pursue homeownership despite global economic uncertainty.

interest rate for qualified socialized housing loans under the Expanded 4PH so that more Filipino workers can continue to pursue homeownership even during a time of global uncertainty,” Aliling said.

He said lower monthly amortizations support sustained housing production and job generation.

Under the program, first-time homebuyers earning less than P47,856 monthly in the National Capital Region and less than P34,686 in other areas may qualify for the subsidized rate for the first five years.

All overseas Filipino workers qualify regardless of income. An early bird promo offers the 3 percent rate for the first 10 years to the first 30,000 qualified borrowers.

“In keeping with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Pag-IBIG Fund shall maintain the 3 percent

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine peso closed at a new alltime low of 60.69 against the US dollar Monday as intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Middle East drove a surge in global oil prices.

The local currency weakened from 60.55 on Friday and hit an intraday low of P60.82 during morning trade before settling at its record-low finish. Economists said the peso’s depreciation is compounding domestic fuel price hikes already triggered by supply disruptions in the Middle East. Reyes Tacandong & Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas attributed the further weakness of the peso to markets pricing in a prolonged war amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

“[The peso is] likely to trade within the 60.60 to 60.90 levels,” said Ravelas.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso’s weakness still reflects the dollar’s strength against the local currency and oil demand, with thin liquidity exaggerating moves.

“61 is possible but not a straight line—market is stretched. Expect choppy trading around 60 to 61, not a clean breakout,” the trader said. Philippine shares followed the currency lower, closing at their lowest level this year. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 103.34 points or 1.73 percent to settle at 5,869.49 as the conflict in the Middle East entered its fifth week.

The broader all-shares index shed

The Beaufort East Tower, 5th Avenue corner 23rd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City,

40.01 points or 1.20 percent to end at 3,295.85. The downturn mirrored a broader retreat across Asian markets, where investors grew increasingly concerned about the impact of crude oil prices soaring past $100 per barrel amid an escalating war between the United States and Iran.

“Rising crude oil and weaker peso reinforce macro headwinds, with inflation risks and a more hawkish global rate outlook weighing on sentiment,” AB Capital Securities said. Market participation was further dampened by a shortened trading week, with many investors choosing to stay on the sidelines.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said the prolonged tensions have continued to weigh on market risk appetite as both geopolitical and economic factors persistently dampen investor sentiment.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of FILINVEST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (“FDC” or the “Corporation”) will be conducted virtually on 24 April 2026 (Friday) at 9:00 a.m., at which meeting the following matters shall be taken up:

Call to Order

7. Ratification of Acts and Resolutions of the Board, Board Committees, and Management from the Date of the Last Annual Stockholders’ Meeting up to 24 April 2026

Proof of Notice of

Election of Directors, including three (3) Independent Directors, to serve for 2026-2027

Appointment of External Auditor

10. Other Matters

11. Adjournment

Stockholders may attend and participate in the meeting only by remote communication, voting in absentia and/or appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy. The procedure and requirements for online registration for remote communication and voting in absentia are explained in the Information Statement.

Ratification of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December

Only Stockholders of Record as of 5:00 p.m. of 31 March 2026 shall be entitled to vote at this meeting. Votes cast remotely or in absentia should be received by the Corporation on or before 15 April 2026.

Ratification of Acts and Resolutions of the Board, Board Committees, and Management from the Date of the Last Annual Stockholders’ Meeting up to 24 April 2026 8. Election of Directors, including three (3) Independent Directors, to serve for 20262027

Stockholders who wish to vote by proxy shall submit the same on or before 15 April 2026 to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, through Atty. Ma. Ruiza R. Hernane, located at 6th Floor, The Beaufort, 5th Avenue corner 23rd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634, Metro Manila, or by email to FDCASM@filinvestgroup.com.

Appointment of External Auditor

A proxy submitted by a corporation should be accompanied by a Corporate Secretary’s certificate quoting the board resolution designating a corporate officer to execute the proxy. In addition to the above requirement for corporations, a proxy form given by a broker or custodian bank in respect of shares of stock carried by a certification under oath stating that the broker or custodian bank has obtained the written consent of the account holder.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CORPORATION IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

The Corporation’s Information Statement, Management Report, and 2025 Audited Financial Statements will be made available in the company website at https://www.filinvestgroup.com and in the Philippine Stock Exchange EDGE disclosure system no later than 01 April 2026. Pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020, please be informed that there will be a visual and audio recording of the meeting.

Stockholders of Record as of 5:00 p.m. of 31 March 2026 shall be entitled to vote at this meeting. Votes cast remotely or in absentia should be received by the Corporation on or before 15 April 2026.

Please be guided accordingly.

IN BRIEF

ABS-CBN’s board denies P1-b executive payout claims

ABS-CBN Corp.’s board of directors denied claims of “unresolved audit findings” and allegations that the company paid more than P1 billion in bonuses and allowances to certain individuals.

The media company issued the statement following news reports concerning a dispute within the Lopez family. ABS-CBN’s board said the broadcaster is not a party to the legal case but sought to address claims attributed to court records. “First, on the claim of ‘unresolved audit findings’. There were no audit findings. There is nothing to resolve. This claim is unfounded,” ABS-CBN said. ABS-CBN’s board includes Martin Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Rafael Lopez, independent directors Honorio Poblador IV, Emmanuel De Dios and Randolf David. The board also rejected allegations that a proposed P2-billion capital infusion was intended for executive payouts. The company said no such payments have been made or planned, calling the claim “equally baseless.”

The internal rift surfaced after First Philippine Holdings Corp. chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez filed a complaint with the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court. Federico Lopez is seeking reinstatement as president of Lopez Inc., the family’s ultimate holding company, following his ouster by his cousins.

Meralco unit energizes first 250 MW of Terra Solar project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MERALCO PowerGen

Corp. (MGen), through its affiliate Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (MTerra Solar), has energized the first 250 megawatts (MW) of its solar capacity, contributing to the country’s growing demand for reliable and clean energy while reducing dependence on imported fuels.

MGen said the milestone represents a critical step in the project’s phased

development. It comes as global fuel market volatility, driven in part by conflict in the Middle East, continues to highlight the urgency of strengthening domestic renewable energy sources.

“Reaching this milestone reflects the strong execution, collaboration, and dedication of our teams and partners,” said Dennis Jordan, president and chief executive of MGen Renewables and MTerra Solar.

“More importantly, it underscores the role of projects like MTerra Solar in helping secure the country’s energy future at a time when reliability and affordability are under increasing pressure.”

MTerra Solar was initially authorized to export up to 85 MW of firm power to the grid for testing and commissioning but has since ramped up to 250 MW, helping stabilize supply during a period of heightened demand.

“Beyond its contribution to the renewable energy transition, MTerra Solar plays an important role in supporting the country’s

near-term energy requirements,” MGen president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio said. “The project’s phased energization enables earlier delivery of capacity to the grid, helping ease supply constraints and supporting efforts to maintain stable electricity prices.”

MTerra Solar has also energized the first tranche of its battery energy storage system (BESS). Using energy generated from its solar output, the plant has delivered up to 450 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy to the grid at night.

While this tranche represents the largest operational BESS in the Philippines, the facility will undergo comprehensive testing in the coming weeks to ensure the safe integration of battery storage with the solar facility.

“Every megawatt of domestic capacity that we bring into the grid strengthens our ability to withstand external shocks, protect consumers, and preserve system reliability,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.

Mega Prime, CP Foods team up for Zamboanga egg complex

By Othel V. Campos

Prime Foods Inc. (MPFI), the maker of Mega Sardines, is expanding into agriculture through a partnership with Thai agro-industrial giant Charoen Pokphand

The companies recently broke ground on the multibillion-peso Mega CP Layer Complex in Zamboanga City, positioning the area as an emerging hub for modern poultry production. The project is among the first world-class egg-layer facilities in the region and aims to strengthen local MPFI said the partnership combines its local market presence with CPF’s global expertise in integrated poultry operations

to build a more resilient food ecosystem.

“This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to innovation and nationbuilding,” said Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan, MPFI president and chief executive. “As we expand beyond seafood, we aim to play a more active role in strengthening food security, supporting local communities, and delivering accessible, high-quality nutrition.”

Marvin Tiu Lim, MPFI chief growth and development officer, said the venture marks a step toward building a “future-ready food system” by combining local capabilities with international agricultural expertise.

The facility is designed with an initial capacity of up to 100 million eggs annually, with plans to scale up fivefold.

It will adopt CPF’s integrated layer model, featuring advanced farm systems and strict biosecurity protocols adapted to Philippine conditions. CPF will lead technical implementation and farm management. Spanning 22 hectares, the complex will incorporate sustainability features, including an odor control system and a biogas facility that converts waste into renewable energy.

MPFI said the project is expected to generate jobs in Mindanao while strengthening Zamboanga’s role in the country’s agricultural development.

The company, which traces its roots to a fishing business established in 1975, said the expansion marks its continued transformation into a diversified food firm.

A mistake that Malacañang and Congress must not make

THE advice that a seasoned public relations (PR) practitioner almost always gives a crisis-hit client is to just sit tight and wait for the crisis to be removed from the newspaper headlines and televisions news programs by subsequent crisis.

That, almost certainly, is the piece of advice that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the recent and current leaders of Congress have been getting from their PR counsellors with regard to the flood control projects scandal. Just be patient, the PR folks must have been telling them, and other crises will in time capture the attention of the Filipino people and bring about a reduction in the intensity of their anger.

Since the date of the occasion that brought the flood control projects scandal to the nation’s consciousness – President Marcos’ 2025 State of the Nation Address – two major events have taken place that almost certainly have tended to validate the PR counsellors’ advice. One is the restarting of the effort to impeach and place on trial Vice-President Sara Duterte. The other event is the economic turmoil brought about by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the U.S.’s attack against Iran.

The waves of speculation preceding the filing of fresh Articles of Impeachment

The shift in primary public attention away from the flood control projects scandal is only temporary.

against the Vice-President and the subsequent House of Representatives hearings that have followed the filing definitely have elicited keen interest from Filipinos who believe that the nation’s No. 2 official should finally be brought to accountability. The legal skirmishing that has attended the current effort to remove Sara Duterte from office—with all its implications for the 2028 Presidential election—have caused the people of this county to intermittently their attention to the Congressional goings-on against the Vice-President.

The second, more recent diverter of public attention away from the flood control projects scandal—the Middle East conflict – has the potential for causing a great deal of harm to the economy of this country. The possibility of a drying up of this country’s oil supply , the likely sharp rise in inflation and the heavy toll it will take on the government’s fiscal resources has caused the Filipino people to give less thought to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, the Discaya couple and other contractors and the Senators and Representatives who conspired to bring about the biggest scandal in the history of the Philippine government.

But the shift in primary public attention away from the flood control projects

scandal is only temporary. The Filipino people have been distracted momentarily. The scandal has all along been in their minds and it will stay there until justice has been fully served, which will happen when every accountable person— including the big fish—have been charged and appropriately penalized.

The title of this column speaks of a mistake that is likely being made by Malacanang and the current and recent leaders of the two chambers of Congress. The mistake lies in believing that the Filipino people, distracted by other negative events, have ceased to be interested in the outcome of the flood control projects scandal and that the scandal’s perpetrators are now out of the woods.

The scandal’s perpetrators will never be out of the woods. The people of this country will see to that. The Catholic Church, civil society, the business community, the professionals, even retired military personnel—these and other groups have indicated that they will not stop their effort to hold accountable all the perpetrators—big and small—of the biggest heist against the government in the history of this country.

To think otherwise will be the gravest mistake the perpetrators will make. (llagasjessa@yahoo.com).

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

DENR leads mangrove planting in Danao City to protect coasts

TAWSAN, Danao City—Coastal restoration efforts took center stage in Sitio Tawsan, Barangay Guinsay, Danao City, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region VII led a mangrove planting initiative in line with the observance of the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2026.

A total of 86 participants from Perpetual Succour Hospital of Cebu Inc., Concentrix, People’s Organization (PO) Tawsan and the Danao City Agricultural Office actively took part in the initiative, demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems.

Prior to the planting activity, participants attended a short lecture on different mangrove species, which deepened their understanding of the critical role mangroves play in shoreline protection, climate change mitigation, and sustaining marine biodiversity.

As part of the restoration effort,

Over 5,000 outlets of Jollibee join Earth Hour

FOR Earth Hour 2026, the Jollibee Group mobilized a record 5,354 stores and facilities worldwide—the highest number of participating locations in its history—across 17 brands to switch off non-essential lights, signage, and billboards in support of global action to protect the planet.

Earth Hour is a global initiative that encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to switch off nonessential lights as a symbol of collective responsibility and commitment to addressing climate change and energy conservation. This year on March 28 marks the movement’s 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of inspiring action for the planet.

“As a global organization spanning multiple continents, countries, and time zones, we value initiatives that unite us as one Jollibee Group. Our participation in Earth Hour reflects our belief that collective action across thousands of locations can create meaningful momentum for environmental responsibility,” said Pepot Miñana, Jollibee Group Global Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer.

“Guided by our Joy for Tomorrow sustainability agenda, we will continue taking part in global initiatives that encourage responsible use of energy and strengthen our commitment to treating the world responsibly.”

The Group’s Earth Hour participation aligns with Joy For Tomorrow, which guides the group’s sustainability efforts that help reduce carbon emissions and promote responsible stewardship of resources.

Participating brands for Earth Hour 2026 included Jollibee, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Tim Ho Wan, Smashburger, Chowking, Red Ribbon, Highlands Coffee, Milksha, Greenwich, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Yonghe King, Mang Inasal, Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery.

500 mangrove seedlings—specifically Ceriops tagal and Avicennia marina—were successfully planted across the coastal area. These species are known for their adaptability and

effectiveness in stabilizing shorelines and supporting marine life.

“This initiative reflects our shared responsibility to conserve and sustainably manage our natu-

ral resources for present and future generations,” said Luisito Babaran, Executive Assistant of DENR Region VII. The activity highlights the im-

portance of collaboration among government agencies, private sector partners and local communities in addressing environmental challenges.

More climate resilience plans eyed

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

THE government has pushed for more investments in climate resilience measures to safeguard Filipino homes, livelihood and food security, epecially among vulnerable sectors.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Analiza Teh said interventions in agriculture, water management and ecosystem protection can deliver immediate benefits to low- and middle-income households.

“Climate adaptation is not an abstract policy; it is

a lifeline for families who depend on small farms, informal work and local markets,” Teh said during the Adaptation in Action Investment Forum in Taguig City last week.

“When we invest in resilient irrigation, watershed protection and climate-smart farming, we reduce the shocks that force households to sell assets, skip meals or pull children out of school,” she said.

Teh noted the need to scale up adaptation financing and ensure it reaches the most vulnerable communities.

“Financing adaptation within the water-food nexus is a crucial climate action as climate change significantly impacts food systems through water scarcity, pollution and increased climate variability,” she said.

“With sustained and scaled adaptation, we protect the steady production of key crops such as rice, sugarcane and corn.”

She outlined key benefits of climate adaptation investments, including improved water management and irrigation systems that increase crop reliability and reduce seasonal hunger.

“For a smallholder, a reliable water source can mean the difference between a harvest that feeds a family and one that doesn’t,” she said.

Teh also stressed the role of financial tools, such as microfinance, insurance and risk-mitigation measures in reducing losses during disasters.

“When farmers have access to affordable credit and weather-indexed insurance, they are less likely to resort to distress sales or high-interest loans after a storm,” she added.

Nature-based solutions, including reforestation and soil conservation, were likewise cited as key strategies to protect farmlands and minimize damage from floods and droughts. PNA

Solar power provides lifeline to blackout-prone PH and Southeast Asian villages

Conclusion

IN SOUTHEAST Asia, energy poverty is more pronounced in the informal sector, where women make up the majority of the workforce, found a UN Development Program report.

The lack of reliable energy forces many to work longer hours and exposes them to greater health and economic risks.

Solar-powered devices have long been viewed as a potential solution to that problem. Yet for many rural women, cost remains a major barrier to clean power.

“If money weren’t an issue, everyone here would want a solar dryer,” Sumarni says.

EmPower works across Asia and the Pacific to expand women’s access to clean energy and other climate solutions. By providing training, small grants and low-interest loans, the program helps women overcome affordability barriers and adopt solar technologies that

strengthen livelihoods and resilience to climate impacts.

To date, the program has mobilized more than US$48 million, engaged

225 partners, trained more than 4,000 policymakers and influenced action in 24 countries. In the Philippines district of Bay-

Women participate in a

10,

ang, Maridita Rufin, a hog farmer, made the switch to solar. A small, home-based system powers incubators for her piglets, along with a few household electronics, including lights, a standing fan and a radio. She says even when power lines go down, a common occurrence during typhoon season, she and her family carry on with life without anxiously awaiting repairs to the electric grid. Jointly implemented by UN Women and UNEP, with support from the Governments of Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, the Women for Climate-Resilient Societies program (EmPower) aims to strengthen gender equality and human rights in climate change and disaster risk actions in the Asia and the Pacific region. 
 
This story was published for International Women’s Day 2026, led by UN Women, focused this year on “Rights. Justice. Action.” UNEP News

Medicinal plants and their ecosystems

By Evgeniya Kleshcheva Conclusion

Ayurvedic plant under threat

One plant illustrates both the importance and vulnerability of medicinal species: nardostachys jatamansi, sometimes called spikenard, a Himalayan herb long valued in traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda.

Growing in high-altitude regions of Nepal, India and China, its aromatic roots are harvested for use in medicinal preparations and essential oils. The root is the valuable part, so harvesting usually kills the plant, making careful management essential to prevent population decline.

Considered critically endangered on IUCN’s “Red List” of threatened species, nardostachys jatamansi has been the focus of efforts to ensure sustainable harvesting, particularly in Nepal, where trade restrictions now protect wild plants.

While such measures aim to conserve the species, they can also affect rural livelihoods that depend on medicinal plant harvesting.

To address that, Ms. Leaman said demonstrating sustainable harvesting practices could help balance conservation with economic needs.

“If harvest and trade can be shown to

be sustainable,” she explained, “it would enable local economies to benefit while also strengthening incentives to conserve the habitats where these species grow.” What can consumers and companies do?

Global interest in and demand for medicinal and aromatic plants is growing rapidly.

While many communities have long relied on natural products, demand has surged in recent years in markets where consumers are increasingly seeking plant-based remedies, supplements and cosmetics.

“It’s important that people be attentive to where these products are coming from,” Ms. Leaman said, offering a few tips:

Consumers are encouraged to look beyond marketing claims and seek evidence that products are sustainably and ethically sourced.

Independent tools are now available to help, including an online platform called WildCheck, developed by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, the IUCN’s specialist group and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to help companies and consumers assess whether plant ingredients are harvested sustainably, environmental impacts are managed responsibly and communities involved in harvesting are treated fairly. UN News

SHOWBIZ

Very Wang Nickie Wang

JOSEPH Marco considers working with Rhen Escaño a blessing. The two have reunited as lead stars of the upcoming Viva One series My Husband is a Mafia Boss.

Joseph Marco and Rhen Escaño make love a felony

At the media conference to announce the premiere of the project, Marco described their pairing as “the most genuine team-up” he’s had, crediting his leading lady for making even the most challenging scenes feel effortless.

“I feel so safe having her as my partner,” Joseph said. “She’s supportive in every scene, and even when it gets tough, I know she’s there by my side.”

“I don’t think I would be able to do the things that I do here if she wasn’t my partner. Our relationship is very healthy, and every time we have taping, I’m always excited to work with her,” the actor went on. Rhen, on the other hand, admitted she initially struggled with Aemie, her over-thetop comedic character.

“It wasn’t easy to bring out her crazy, funny side,” she said. “During our workshop, I worried I couldn’t do it naturally. At first, I thought, ‘I don’t think I can.’”

“She has to be funny, and you can’t force her to be funny, so that was really hard for me at first. There were moments in the workshop where I felt like it wasn’t coming out naturally,” Rhen added.

Her worries eased thanks to director Fifth Solomon , whom she credited for guiding her through the role.

“He’s hands-on, witty, and imaginative,” Rhen said. “A big part of Aemie’s humor in the trailer comes from him. It’s funny without being forced.”

Fans went wild when the teaser dropped on March 8, racking up 12.6 million views in just 24 hours. Marco’s intense portrayal of Zeke and Escaño’s bubbly charm as Aemie immediately drew praise online, with viewers saying they “stepped right out of the book.”

Based on the Wattpad hit by Diana Marie Serrato Maranan , the series follows Zeke, a billionaire CEO secretly running a mafia empire, and Aemie, a cheerful college student who becomes his unexpected wife. Their unlikely romance unfolds amid secrets, danger, and plenty of comedic chaos.

Joining Joseph and Rhen is a new generation of actors in key roles. Frost Sandoval plays Kaizer Maxwell Lamperouge, Zeke’s righthand man in the Roswell Mafia Group, while Sara Joe portrays Amesyl Cross, Aemie’s cousin and closest friend.

Andre Yllana eyes screen debut with parents

DURING his recent contract renewal with Viva Artists Agency, Andre Yllana shared a dream project: acting alongside his parents, Aiko Melendez and Jomari Yllana

“I’d really love to do a screen project with them. I’ve never experienced it before,” he said. “I mentioned it to my mom, and she liked the idea.” Serious about his craft, Andre added, “I want to be a versatile actor, exploring different characters rather than sticking to one genre.” He is grateful for his role as Aries in the Viva One series Ang Mutya ng Section E, which stars

Andres Muhlach and Ashtine

Olviga

“It’s a huge blessing. People even

Aemie’s circle of friends includes Jaime Yllana as Nico Jeisz Young, Icee Ejercito as Caileigh Ferrer, Kyosu Guinto as Kevin Alferez, Dann Aquino as Louie Birkins, and Aaliyah Coco as Shan Venice Birkins.

Other Roswell Mafia members are R-ji Lim of Alamat as Jacob Lee, PJ Rosario as Sebastian Lerwick, and Maru Delgado as Vash Boulstridge. The rival Yaji Mafia Group, led by Eiji Ferrer, is played by Simon Ibarra, with Roberta Tamondong as Meisha Lamperouge, Hazel Calawod as Cassandra Heather, Naz San Juan as Tristan Klein, and MO Mitchell of Alamat as Spade Clifford.

Additional characters include Priscilla Meirelles Kelley Day, Yuki Sonoda, Bianca Santos, Sandex Gavin, Anjo Damiles, Akihiro Blanco, and Edsel Santiago

Ara Mina plays Alyana HeartilyFerrer, Aemie’s sweet but childish mother, whose secret could strain Aemie and Zeke’s relationship.

The series premieres April 11 on Viva One, with new episodes released weekly.

call me Aries in the mall—my mom didn’t know about it at first, so it surprised her,” he recalled. Andre is especially thankful to his mother. “I want to become financially stable to repay all of her sacrifices, especially when it comes to money. She worked hard raising me, and I want to give back.”

On Aiko’s relationship with former matinee idol Onemig Bondoc, he said, “My mom is very happy. They enjoy each other’s company and are always going on trips.”

Does he support another wedding for her?

“Absolutely. If she finds the right person, she should go for it. If not, I’m here for her.”

And his bond with Onemig? “We’re fine. He relates to me about daddy issues and gives good advice. I can see he’s

DINA Bonnevie shared a surprising story during a recent visit to Maddox Jewelry in Marikina City.

The seasoned actress, who has been following the live selling and vlogs of Charo Cordial , the founder of Maddox Jewelry, turned her curiosity into a personal revelation.

During her visit, Dina spoke about a painful chapter from her past, the theft of her personal jewelry collection while taping her show Ms.

“I was doing the intro, then I said, ‘We’ll be right back!’ I saw a production assistant walking away, and all my jewelry was with them… once they got out of GMA, everything was gone. Apparently, the driver was involved too, they were relatives,” she recalled. That’s real-life drama straight from a seasoned star. But that wasn’t all. Dina also revealed that part of her visit was preparation for an upcoming role

Jewelry’s platforms: YouTube: @Maddox_Jewelry, Facebook: D Maddox Jewelry , TikTok: maddox.jewelry.

Shticks Joseph Peter Gonzales

genuinely trying to get close to me,” Andre said.

* * * MEANWHILE Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0 Big Winner Caprice Cayetano recently fulfilled one of her dreams: buying her own car.

“It’s for tapings and family outings. I consider it a reward for myself,” she said.

This Holy Week, Caprice plans to spend time with family, making up for days spent inside Bahay ni Kuya. “We might go out-of-town or even fly to Bangkok to relax,” she shared.

Life after PBB has been full of support. She said she can feel the love of fans, who now feel like family to her.

“They always cheer for us during live appearances. I’m thankful for all of them,” Caprice said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

How women leaders shape the next generation

By Japser Valdez

LEADERSHIP is often talked about in terms of position, but in practice, it is learned by watching how others handle pressure, setbacks, and responsibility. For many women, that kind of learning often comes from examples set by other women, a point that came through during JCI Manila’s March 24 event.

Held at Citadines Bay City Manila as part of National Women’s Month, the Joint General Membership Meeting brought together leaders from the government and business sectors, including Senator Risa Hontiveros and Representative Leila de Lima, alongside members from JCI Manila and its sister chapters.

Hontiveros spoke about leadership through experience, particularly the kind shaped by failure.

“I know what it means to lose twice. But I also know how to return,” she said, referring to her early Senate runs. “Sometimes, losing teaches you things that winning can’t. It teaches you humility. It teaches you endurance.”

Speaking to younger members in the room, she emphasized the importance of staying in the fight despite setbacks.

“Please do not ever underestimate yourselves… Keep going, even after disappointment, even after loss, even through difficulty.”

While Hontiveros spoke about persistence, De Lima pointed to what sustains it over time. “Resilience is the ability to remain human while institutions try to reduce you to a case number, a headline, or a label,” she said, reflecting on her nearly seven years in detention.

Travel surge exposes insurance gap in the Philippines

By Angelica Villanueva

BEFORE today’s global uncertainties changed the way people travel across borders, Filipinos were already traveling more than ever, taking advantage of more opportunities to fly for work, family visits, and leisure, both locally and abroad. However, despite the growing number of travelers, many still went on trips without protection against the risks that can come with every journey. In response to this growing need, Palawan Group of Companies introduced its latest travel insurance offering, which aimed to expand access to basic protection. Speaking at a media roundtable, Palawan Group president and CEO Carlo M. Castro underscored the company’s long-standing goal of providing “serbisyo para sa Pilipino,” adding that its financial services are guided by “tunay na malasakit” as it expands beyond remittances and digital payments into insurance products. “Today, more Filipinos travel than ever before. Some travel for work, others to reunite with family, and many to explore new opportunities and experiences. While travel brings excitement and possibilities, it also comes with uncertainties— from delayed flights and lost baggage to unexpected medical situations. This is where protection becomes just as important

up with Allied Bankers Insurance Corporation to introduce

Protektodo Travel Insurance, aiming to offer an accessible and low-cost option for both domestic and international travelers. Its coverage is designed to be simple and easy to understand, especially for first-time insurance buyers.

Palawan Group sales and marketing manager Meijhen

Maulanin-Santos said domestic travel protection starts as low as P39 for solo travelers and P99 for family coverage, with options extending to longer trips and expanded benefits. Coverage can include personal accidents, medical expenses, trip cancellation, baggage loss, and emergency assistance.

She added that the goal is to make protection more practical and understandable for ordinary Filipinos.

“Palawan Protektodo, at its core, is about making financial protection simple, accessible, and affordable,”

Maulanin-Santos stated.

She also noted that coverage can reach up to P825,500 for basic plans and up to P1.5 million for expanded options, depending on the package chosen.

Miss Universe-Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo shared her own travel experiences, including incidents involving damaged and lost luggage while abroad. She said such experiences highlighted the importance of preparation beyond itinerary planning.

“No matter how much you plan, there are things you can’t control. It’s important to be prepared so you can still enjoy the trip,” Manalo said, adding that travel insurance provides peace of mind in unpredictable situations.

The beauty queen, whose travel has increased following her pageant win, described balancing carefully planned personal trips with more spontaneous workrelated travel. She also emphasized affordability, noting that protection can cost as little as P35, saying travelers

“might as well cover all your bases.”

Palawan executives said the product will be available through its 3,500 branches nationwide, as well as via the Palawan Pay app and e-commerce platforms such as Lazada and Shopee. Claims, meanwhile, may be filed at branches within 30 days of an incident.

Castro also stressed that the initiative is part of a broader push for financial inclusion, while acknowledging that awareness of travel insurance remains

From there, she moved to a broader concern—how institutions affect the way people experience fairness, safety, and accountability.

“When institutions degrade, women pay early and pay long,” she said. “That is why I say that the fight for women is a fight for Filipino institutions.”

She broke that down into two parts: what leaders build within themselves and what they build within systems.

“Build inner strength… your capacity to remain compassionate. Then build institutional strength—your ability to keep records, to demand clarity, to make accountability measurable.”

Both speakers returned to the idea that leadership is shaped by consistency and by the choices people make in moments that count.

“Leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room,” Hontiveros said. “It is about being willing to stand your ground when it counts.”

De Lima emphasized that the need is not just for strong voices but for leaders who can stay grounded and consistent over time.

“The Philippines does not only need louder voices,” she said. “It needs steadier ones.”

IN celebration of Women’s Month, a new initiative in skincare education is helping Filipinos make informed choices about their skin. The Skin2Confidence Masterclass brought together medical experts, beauty professionals, and an engaged audience for a full day of interactive sessions and demonstrations aimed at transforming skin confusion into skin confidence.

Attendees explored the science behind common skin concerns.

Medical director Dr. Mara Capiroso explained how melasma, pigmentation, and premature aging are influenced by UV exposure, hormones, inflammation, and barrier damage, stressing a stepwise approach of repair, strengthen, and protect.

Dermatologist Dr. Finesse Evangelista discussed proper use and pairing of active ingredients, including NMN, PDRN, Niacinamide, Retinol, and Bakuchiol, noting that outcomes depend on synergy and consistency. Certified Korean Skin Educator Grace Lee demonstrated intentional layering—hydrate, treat, seal—while makeup artist Florence Vergara highlighted how wellprepared skin enhances natural beauty.

A women’s confidence masterclass

The masterclass was organized by Pretty Skin & Lamelin Philippines, in collaboration with Pretty Skin & Lamelin Korea and Manila House, which provided venue support and contributed to the event’s community-focused approach.

Jun Gamo, head of marketing for Pretty Skin & Lamelin Philippines, said the event prioritizes education over promotion.

“When people understand their skin, they make better choices. That is where true confidence begins,” he said.

Founder Catherine Andres-Gamo added that Skin2Confidence represents the start of a long-term advocacy promoting education over

misinformation, skin health over shortcuts, and confidence built on discipline, knowledge, and consistency.

The program included live product demonstrations, interactive Q&A sessions, community-building activities, and raffles, including a K-Beauty Innovation Experience in Seoul sponsored by Pretty Skin & Lamelin Korea. Plans are underway to expand the initiative through additional masterclasses, digital campaigns, community activations, healthcare collaborations, and the upcoming Skin2Confidence Training Institute.