BY ALEX ALAGON
- School metes suspension on Grade 11 student
A GRADE 11 student from a private institution in the city was placed under immediate suspension after cracking a joke about bringing a firearm to school during a routine security inspection on Thursday morning, Aug. 27.
Department of Education (DepEd) XI spokesperson Jenielito Atillo confirmed the incident, stating that the male learner made the remark directly to inspecting staff.
“What happened was that a Grade 11 student joked during the inspection that he would just bring his gun the following day,” Atillo told TIMES in a phone interview on Thursday afternoon.
Following the remark, school administrators immediately sought guidance from the police to determine the appropriate administrative and safety protocols.
Atillo confirmed that the student is currently serving a suspension while school authorities conduct a formal review of the incident.
DepEd backs school security protocols
DepEd XI affirmed that existing department guidelines permit private and public educational institutions to issue suspensions for behavior that compromises campus safety or triggers security alarms.
Atillo commended the school administration for its strict enforcement of entry protocols and rapid handling of the situation.
“It is allowed under policy, especially since what he did was dangerous,” Atillo stated. “What happened was very delicate, so the school subjected him to due process—not jailed, just suspended.”
The DepEd spokesperson warned students across the Davao Region to refrain from making jokes regarding firearms, explosives, or campus violence, emphasizing that school safety protocols treat all threats with utmost seriousness.
As of press time, the school has yet to issue an official public statement regarding the incident.
Photo from DepEd XI
MAYA is supporting activities under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) UPLIFT Assistance, helping beneficiaries transition to digital payouts while expanding opportunities to access savings and other formal financial services.
Maya teams recently provided on-ground assistance to beneficiaries in Navotas City and Quezon City, including support for account setup and verification ahead of succeeding digital payouts.
Under UPLIFT, DSWD is providing financial assistance to around 2.5 million poor, near-poor and low-income Filipino households, while expanding the use of digital channels to make the delivery of support more convenient, efficient and accessible to beneficiaries.
“For us, the opportunity goes beyond digitizing the payout,” said Angelo Madrid, president of Maya Bank. “When people have access to a digital financial account, they can also start using other services that can help them save, make payments and manage their money better. That is an important part of building financial health over time.”
Beneficiaries who choose Maya as their digital channel can use the account for everyday payments and, subject to applicable requirements, access digital banking services such as savings and credit through Maya Bank. This can help turn a government payout into a broader entry point to formal financial services, while leaving beneficiaries in control of how they use and manage their money.
The effort supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ financial inclusion agenda, which seeks to move beyond access to transaction accounts toward deeper use of financial services and improved financial health. The BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion also specifically encourages the use of digital solutions for government cash-transfer and social safety-net programs.
Maya continues to support government initiatives where digital finance can help make essential services more accessible while giving more Filipinos opportunities to participate in the formal financial system.
THE CHIONGBIAN Family, through WLC Holdings Inc., has completed the acquisition of the remaining 40% stake in FAST Logistics Group previously held by Asia Seal Pte Limited, returning the Philippines’ leading integrated logistics and supply chain solutions provider to full family ownership.
The acquisition sets the stage for FAST’s next phase of growth, with the Chiongbian Family focused on strengthening and consolidating its nationwide platform and selectively investing in logistics infrastructure, technology and automation, and a more sustainable and efficient network.
The Group also sees significant opportunities to strengthen food and agricultural supply chains, helping improve the movement of products from sources of production to markets and consumers across the country.
These priorities reflect the Chiongbian Family’s long-term confidence in the continued modernization of the Philippine supply chain and its commitment to position FAST for sustainable growth.
The transaction follows the execution of definitive agreements announced in June and the satisfaction of applicable regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Asia Seal is majority owned by CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific IV L.P., a fund managed by CVC Capital Partners.
CVC first invested in FAST in 2020, partnering with the Chiongbian Family and management team through a period of significant expansion and transformation for the business.
Over the course of the partnership, FAST strengthened its nationwide logistics and distribution platform, expanded its warehousing and transportation network and distribution reach, enhanced its commercial and operational capabilities, invested in technology and systems, and deepened its relationships with leading multinational and domestic customers.
William B. Chiongbian II, group president of FAST, said: “We return to full family ownership as a stronger organization than when the partnership began, with greater capability, resilience, and ambition for the next phase of FAST’s journey.”
He added: “After more than five decades in the industry, we continue to see significant opportunities to strengthen the supply chains that connect businesses, communities and markets across the Philippine archipelago. Full ownership gives us the flexibility to take a long-term view, consolidate the gains we have made, and invest with greater focus and conviction in the future of FAST and Philippine logistics.”
The purchase of CVC’s stake was also supported by an acquisition financing facility provided by BDO Unibank Inc. as the sole lender. As a trusted banking partner, BDO’s support provided the financial certainty needed to complete the transaction and reflected its confidence in FAST’s established platform and long-term direction.
AlphaPrimus Advisors acted as financial advisor to the Chiongbian Family both for the M&A transaction and the acquisition financing. Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles acted as legal counsel to the Chiongbian Family in connection with both activities.
AGRICULTURAL products from Davao Region are set to reach the international market in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Chayote, Cardava banana, Sweet Potato, and Singkamas from Davao Del Norte were sent off on August 26, 2026, from Barangay Tibal-og, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.
The shipment was through GERB Golden Hands Corporation, led by the Department of Agriculture XI.
In a statement, DA XI said the latest shipment builds on the initial market linkage established earlier this year.
To note, on July 24, 2026, DA XI also facilitated the send-off of GERB Golden Hands Corporation’s initial shipment of Cardava bananas and singkamas to the same importer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
DA XI said the current shipment demonstrated the buyer’s continued confidence in the quality, consistency, and supply capacity of agricultural products from the region, as this batch expands the product line to include chayote and sweet potato.
“This is a big opportunity for all farmers because not only bananas, singkamas, this time we have vegetables, sayote, which the Davao Region is very famous for,” Macario D. Gonzaga, DA XI regional executive director, said.
He emphasized that the shipment boosts the region’s agricultural sector, benefiting farmers by increasing the potential for their products to reach international consumers.
“I hope this arrives in good condition para makita sa atong importer nga maayo, if makita nila nga maayo, we will receive another volume of agricultural products, dako kaayo ni nga tabang sa atong farmers,” he added.
The shipment resulted from the market linkage established during the participation of DA XI in the AGRA Middle East Exhibition 2024, held on Oct. 7–8, 2024, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
GERB Golden Hands Corporation was among the participants during the international trade exhibition, which established connections with potential international buyers.
A 40-YEAR-OLD fisherman was rescued along the coastline of Barangay Mayo on Wednesday morning, ending a harrowing three-day search after he went missing from a commercial fishing vessel off the coast of Davao Oriental.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified the survivor as alias Junie, a resident of Magsaysay 17-B, Mati City.
Initial maritime reports indicate that Alias Junie was out at sea with crewmates aboard a fishing vessel when he vanished under unknown circumstances on the morning of Aug. 23.
Fellow crew members realized he was missing at around 11 a.m. upon waking up and immediately alerted local authorities to launch search and monitoring operations.
After surviving more than 70 hours adrift, Junie was spotted near the shoreline of Barangay Mayo at around 5 a.m. on Aug. 26 by a local resident.
The resident immediately rendered first aid and notified authorities, prompting a joint response team from Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Dahican and the Mati City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO-Mati).
Rescuers safely retrieved Alias Junie from the site and transported him to the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Mati City, where he is currently undergoing medical evaluation, fluids administration, and clinical observation.
The Coast Guard Station Davao Oriental reiterated its commitment to maintain active maritime safety watches and rapid emergency response capabilities across the province’s coastal waters to protect municipal fishermen and offshore workers.
TUCKED deep within the remote interiors of Agusan del Sur, soldiers guarding outlying military outposts received more than just essential supplies during a recent command visit—they received a direct reminder that their sacrifices on the frontlines do not go unnoticed.
Under a battalion-wide initiative dubbed “Frontreach,” Lt. Col. Jesus L. Rosete, commanding officer of the 60th Infantry Battalion, trekked across remote terrain on Aug. 16 to personally visit troops stationed at isolated Patrol Bases throughout Loreto and La Paz towns.
The command team made stops at the Waloe, San Vicente, Binucayan, Kauswagan, and Sabud Patrol Bases in Loreto, as well as the Valentina Patrol Base in La Paz.
At each remote post, Rosete personally handed over 25-kilogram sacks of rice to augment the troops’ daily rations, serving as a tangible gesture of appreciation for their sustained presence in hard-to-reach conflict-vulnerable areas.
Listening to the frontlines
Beyond delivering logistics, the core of the visitation focused on face-to-face engagements between unit leadership and ground personnel.
Rosete sat down with frontline infantrymen to assess living conditions, evaluate tactical readiness, and listen directly to their personal and operational concerns.
“Effective leadership begins with presence,” the 60IB commander emphasized, noting that the initiative is anchored on the unit’s ‘Service’ leadership framework and the 10th Infantry Division mantra. “Every soldier matters, every concern deserves attention, and every sacrifice contributes to the overarching mission of sustaining peace and development in our communities.”
For soldiers serving in isolated detachments far from urban centers and their families, the face-to-face check-ins serve as a vital morale boost, reinforcing the principle that no unit on the perimeter is beyond the reach or care of the headquarters.
The 60IB leadership reaffirmed that ‘Frontreach’ operations will continue regularly across all remaining field bases in Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte to ensure command presence remains active on the ground.
A THREE-PUMP solar-powered water irrigation project has been proposed to address severe water access challenges in Sitio Malapangi, Barangay Malabog, Davao City.
Councilor Ralph Abella, agriculture committee chair, introduced the proposal during the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday.
“Persistent water scarcity in the area has hindered local farming output. Reliable irrigation is expected to boost high-value crop yields in Malapangi,” Abella said.
The proposal targets a natural water source located 300 meters below the highway.
The project aims to utilize three solar-powered systems to lift water to a main storage tank at an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level.
Abella said the water will be distributed to surrounding sitios of Salag, Binaton, Betan and Taboan.
The proposal is still undergoing study, including technical design and cost, in coordination with the National Irrigation Association.
In terms of funding, Abella said the United Nations Industrial Development Organization has been identified as a potential funding partner.
But he noted that stringent administrative requirements have kept the project under cost evaluation.
The proposal is slated for submission to the City Council once technical studies conclude through the City Agriculturist’s Office.
The committee is also exploring potential water sources and irrigation projects in upland areas such as Mapula and Tapak in Paquibato District.
To note, the City Government of Davao built the first Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) in Pañalum, Paquibato District in January 2025.
The P1.4 million SPIS is expected to irrigate 10 hectares and benefit about 30 farmers.
Another SPIS is also being constructed in Barangay Malabog as part of the “Upscaling Agricultural Support in Vulnerable Production Areas in Davao City” project, funded by the 2024 Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.
THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) backed the signing of Executive Order No. 122, which establishes the National Policy Framework for Developing the Critical Minerals Industry.
MinDA chairperson Leo Tereso A. Magno said the measure allows mineral-rich regions like Mindanao to take part in the global economy, citing Mindanao’s dominance in nickel output.
Magno said the policy reshapes the government’s approach to the country’s mineral resources from raw extraction toward building industries around them.
“For decades, the development conversation around our mineral resources has largely centered on extraction. This Executive Order signals an important shift: from extraction to value creation; from exporting raw mineral resources to building industries, technologies, jobs, and wealth around them,” Magno said in a press statement.
Magno stressed that Mindanao accounts for about 95% of the country’s nickel ore output, putting the country as the world’s second-largest nickel producer after Indonesia.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed EO 122 on August 21, establishing the national framework.
With the EO, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau is directed to conduct a national exploration and mineral reservation program to evaluate new critical mineral deposits.
MinDA said the EO will guide the development of critical minerals such as gold, copper, nickel, and chromite.
EO 122 provides the framework for the country to move higher in the minerals value chain by supporting investments in refining, advanced materials, batteries, renewable-energy technologies, and localized production chains.
Magno said this means “new capital inflows and higher-quality jobs” for the region, considering investors have already expressed strong interest in Mindanao’s mining and processing opportunities through MinDA’s business missions.
The policy, he said, also reinforces responsible mineral development, environmental safeguards, and regulatory accountability.
“For Mindanao, this is the opportunity to transform mineral wealth into lasting prosperity for our communities, and to become a strategic Philippine gateway to the global critical-minerals and clean-energy economy,” he said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Magno said the total monetary value of the country’s Class A gold, copper, nickel, and chromite reserves reached ₱588.12 billion in 2025. Nickel and nickel products alone were valued at ₱94.23 billion, while copper production amounted to ₱27.24 billion.
These figures, he said, emphasize the scale of opportunity, as minerals are vital to batteries, renewable energy systems, electrification, and advanced technologies.
THE BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the first bank in the Philippines and the oldest in Southeast Asia, continues to grow alongside communities in Mindanao as it celebrates its 175th anniversary since its founding on August 1, 1851.
BPI established its fifth branch in Davao in 1952, marking an early milestone in its expansion beyond Manila. As of June 30, 2026, the Bank has grown its Mindanao footprint to 74 BPI branches, 91 BanKo branches, 12 Legazpi Savings Bank (LSB) branches, and 639 Agency Banking partner stores, bringing banking services closer to more Filipinos across the region.
Through its branches and partner network, BPI continues to make banking services more accessible across Mindanao while evolving with the needs of its customers. In 2025, BPI opened its first Prime Phygital branch in Mindanao at Azuela Cove in Davao City, bringing together digital banking capabilities and personalized, face-to-face service.
BPI is also advancing its sustainability efforts in the region. Of the 17 BPI branches nationwide equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, four are in Mindanao, located in Cagayan de Oro and Davao.
“Mindanao has been an important part of BPI’s journey for more than seven decades. As we celebrate 175 years, we are proud to continue growing with the communities we serve, while doing more to make banking more accessible and relevant to their everyday needs,” said Cathy Santamaria, BPI Chief Customer and Marketing Officer.
From its first branch in Davao to its expanding network of branches, partner stores, and digital-enabled banking spaces today, BPI continues to bring its 175-year legacy into the communities of Mindanao while looking ahead to the future.
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