BY ALEX ALAGON
NEWS REPORT: The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is ready to present any of the personalities involved in the graft-laden flood control projects. This is according to no less than Secretary JonVic Remulla of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG).
Who knows, the personalities concerned might have already downloaded a huge amount to the BJMP for the construction of special Kubols or well-furnished cottages, should, by miracle, they be indicted and eventually convicted of graft and corruption.
But are there chances that they will be convicted by the courts? Who knows, they, the corrupt politicians, DPWH officials, and greedy contractors, might have downloaded a much bigger budget for projects intended for both the prosecution and the court people?
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Talking of politicians, both active and currently taking a break, former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, who flaunts his wealth without any iota of hesitation, is now facing a plunder case with the Ombudsman.
The case arose from the reported hugely overpriced purchase of a land by the local government of Narvacan, where Singson once was mayor. The property was valued at only P49.48 million. But the purchase amount made by the Narvacan LGU with Singson as mayor was P149.96 million, or roughly P100 million overpriced.
Yet Singson has the gall to join the protesters demanding transparency from the government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and also loudly calling for an end to a government marred with corruption.
He even openly encouraged the military and other law enforcement units to withdraw support from the incumbent.
Will Singson be convicted? Again, money is expected to play its role in his prosecution. And Singson is no stranger to that kind of game.
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We are hoping that our column will have the chance of getting read by any member or even staff of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), now investigating corruption charges on flood control projects, and lately including other infrastructure construction.
Yes, for the nth time, we are again raising the issue of the long, supposedly completed bridge project spanning the creek that divides Barangay Catalunan Grande in the first district, and Barangay Tacunan in the third district of Davao City.
The fifteen or so meters long concrete span has been completed during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Tacunan end of the bridge has not been provided with an approach leading to the main road. On the other hand, the Catalunan Grande approach has long been completed. Unfortunately, it remains unconnected to the road leading to the latter barangay.
We have no idea who the contractor of the bridge was. But we are certain that it is both reported as completed and that the contractor is fully paid.
Considering that the project is both in the first and third districts of Davao City, we were encouraging the members of the City Council to investigate the bridge’s status. The intention of course is to find out whether it is a locally or nationally-funded project. The concerned agency should be made to explain why the said bridge has remained in that status for the longest time already. t
In fact, its side railings are already destroyed, even as its current “users” are only hordes of goats spending their nights in the area.
But it appears that not a single member of the City Council has the interest to find out what ails the project. Or are the members so afraid they might get the ire of some influential politicians?
We know that the mentioned bridge is not a ghost project. It is very visible to the naked eye. But many people, especially those frequent users of the route, are starting to feel their hair raising every time they pass the bridge area.
For certain, they now feel that the “completed” but still unfinished bridge project is possibly sheltering a number of ghosts that make the place creepy.
Again, we are urging our councilors to visit the site of the bridge so they can decide whether the condition of the project is worth investigating.
Maybe the chairperson of the Council Committee on Public Works should constitute his members into one group and do the visit.
Or, is he also afraid of getting confronted by the ghosts residing under the “troubled bridge” over the calm creek water?
THE POLICE Regional Office XI has seized over ₱28 million in various anti-drug operations and arrested more than 400 wanted individuals in 1,483 anti-crime operations from Aug. 26 to Oct. 13.
BGen Joseph R. Arguelles, PRO XI regional director, lauded law enforcers for an “exceptional operational and administrative performance.”
He said the most significant achievement during the period was the intensified campaign against illegal drugs. The PRO XI conducted 533 operations, leading to the arrest of 597 drug personalities, including 102 high-value individuals.
The total dangerous drugs seized reached a Dangerous Drugs Board value of ₱28,258,843.72, including 3.4 kilograms of shabu, valued at ₱23.4 million, and 38.3 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, valued at ₱4.6 million.
Officials noted the seizure of over ₱1.5 million worth of illegal drugs in a single anti-drug operation.
Cracking down on criminality
Meanwhile, authorities also arrested 425 fugitives, including 162 most wanted persons and 112 top most wanted persons.
As part of its anti-criminality campaign, police also launched 193 operations on illegal gambling and 151 operations on loose firearms.
Moreover, six operations led to the arrest of seven individuals and the confiscation of smuggled goods valued at over ₱2.2 million.
But the PRO XI also continued its internal cleansing operations to eliminate “rogues in the service” by filing 69 administrative cases and resolving 60.
“Our success is built on teamwork, discipline, and an untiring drive to serve and protect our communities,” he said,
Globe has won the 2025 International Finance Awards (IFA) for Best ESG Practices in Telecommunications (Philippines), in recognition of its efforts to support a resilient, inclusive, and thriving digital future for the country.
The IFA, presented by the International Finance Magazine based in London, spotlight executive excellence and groundbreaking innovation across banking, finance, energy, logistics, and telecommunications. With a strong footprint in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, the awards have become a benchmark for industry leadership.
The award further validates Globe’s leadership in sustainable business practices, aligned with global standards and focused on key national challenges such as climate change and digital inclusion.
“This reflects the collective dedication of the entire Globe team to integrate environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and good governance into everything we do,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.
As part of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, Globe champions a green network and is the first listed Philippine company with a Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated net-zero goal by 2050.
Globe had increased its renewable energy use to 24 percent, powering 29 facilities in 2024 and expanding to 36 sites this year. It has also deployed over 38,000 green solutions over the past decade and introduced EcoSIMs, recyclable packaging, and eSIMs to help reduce plastic waste.
At the same time, Globe fosters an inclusive digital society through affordable connectivity, reaching underserved areas with products like Globe Fiber Prepaid.
Globe has a long-standing commitment to digital literacy, providing support to students, parents, and teachers through the Digital Thumbprint Program. This effort was expanded last year with the launch of the Senior Digizen program for the elderly. Beyond literacy, Globe protects its customers by proactively blocking scam and spam messages and harmful URLs. The company also continues to advance hunger alleviation and address child stunting through the Hapag Movement.
In its supply chain, Globe enforces ESG-linked vendor policies that promote human rights, environmental responsibility, and ethical conduct. Its Sustainability Academy trained 160 vendors on sustainable practices in 2024.
Likewise, Globe upholds strong corporate governance, receiving the Five Golden Arrow Award for three years. The company also earned a spot in Time and Statista’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025, recognized as a 2024 Supplier Engagement Leader by CDP, and maintained its place in the FTSE4Good Index for the past ten years. It has consistently held an ‘AA’ ESG rating from MSCI for two years.
Globe’s board-led governance, through the Board Risk Oversight and Sustainability Committee, ensures sustainability is embedded in its strategy, earning consumer recognition in the 2025 Standard Insights Consumer Choice Awards as the Most Sustainable and Most Active Mobile Network for the Environment in the Philippines.
Through continued investment in green network, digital inclusion, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, Globe strengthens its ESG performance while contributing to national and global development goals.
Bringing affordable access and stronger sea connectivity to one of the Philippines’ top island destinations
MANILA — 2GO Travel, the Philippines’ largest premier sea travel provider, is set to make waves once again with the launch of its new Manila–Siargao route beginning November 10, 2025. This milestone marks a major step toward making one of the country’s most beloved islands more accessible and affordable for both travelers and traders.
The weekly voyage will depart from Manila every Monday at 6:30 PM, arriving in Siargao on Tuesday at 11:30 PM. The return trip will depart Siargao every Wednesday at 2:30 AM and arrive in Manila on Friday at 7:30 AM.
By opening this route, 2GO answers the public’s call for more affordable and reliable travel options to Siargao while also creating a vital logistics bridge that supports the island’s economy. The route enables the more cost-efficient movement of essential goods such as food, fuel, and construction materials, benefiting local communities and small businesses.
The MV 2GO St. Francis Xavier, one of 2GO’s largest and most modern vessels, will serve the route. It can accommodate over 1,700 passengers, along with containerized and loose cargo, reefer vans, and other temperature-controlled shipments—underscoring 2GO’s commitment to both passenger comfort and efficient cargo transport.
Designed for a complete sea travel experience, the vessel offers a 50KG luggage allowance per passenger, as well as a full suite of amenities including restaurants, a coffee shop, salon and spa, souvenir shop, karaoke rooms, an arcade, a medical clinic, and nightly live entertainment.
The voyage will also connect Siargao, Butuan, and Ozamis, expanding access across Northern Mindanao and opening new opportunities for tourism, trade, and regional mobility.
“With 2GO now sailing directly to Siargao, we’re not just expanding routes—we’re expanding possibilities,” said Francis Chua, 2GO Travel Business Unit Head. “This voyage is for every Filipino who has long wanted to experience Siargao without breaking the bank. At the same time, it ensures that local businesses can transport goods and supplies more efficiently. We’re making travel and trade more inclusive, one voyage at a time.”
Tickets are available through travel.2go.com.ph, the 2GO app, or at any 2GO Store nationwide.
With the launch of the Manila–Siargao route, 2GO Travel continues to bridge people, products, and progress across the Philippines, reaffirming its mission to make sea travel accessible, affordable, and essential to nation-building.
As the Philippines ushers in National Children’s Month this November, renewed calls were made to focus on bridging the alarming nutritional gap in Filipino children.
The 2023 report of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that 21.3% of Filipino children aged 5-10 years old are underweight, 8.4% have muscle wasting, and 12.9% are either overweight or obese. These numbers are higher compared to their 2021 data.
This was echoed in the February 2025 research of Thrive, a non-profit organization with an international board and advisory council, which said that childhood malnutrition remains a critical issue in the Philippines.
Dr. Yvonne Marie Ferrer, FEIHE Philippines’ Medical Affairs Head, echoed the calls to address children’s nutritional challenges, especially during early childhood, which is a period of rapid growth and development. She said that if parents miss out on this chance to support the child’s growth and development during early childhood, there could be a risk for lesser opportunities to excel later in life.
Dr. Ferrer said that one effective and simple step to help close the nutritional gap is for school-aged children to consume one to two glasses of milk daily, explaining that milk offers a lot of nutritional benefits for optimal growth and development.
However, a recent FNRI study showed that only half of the population of Filipino children consume milk daily and Dr. Ferrer said that this is a cause for concern.
“Parents should not miss out on the milk benefits for their children as an essential food and nutritional source. Not drinking milk on a daily basis may leave lasting consequences on children’s health and learning potential,” she said.
However, Dr. Ferrer said that not all milk is created the same and advised parents to be mindful about the milk they give their kids.
“Fresh milk formula would be a great choice for growing kids such as AceKid Activegro. Unlike conventional milk formulas which go through numerous heating treatments in their milk manufacturing, AceKid fresh milk formula has a game changer farm-to-can process. High heat treatment and storage required in conventional milk manufacturing degrade nutrients, and even leads to loss of some essential nutrients needed for the child’s growth and development. With FEIHEs single step process, heat treatment and storage are lessened, resulting in retention of milk’s natural nutrients, Dr. Ferrer explained.
“Parents would also be happy to know that AceKid does not contain sucrose and maltodextrin, preventing early tooth decay and picky eating due to the sweet taste conditioning and the possibility of having diabetes later in life,” she adds.
More importantly, Dr. Ferrer said AceKid ActiveGro is produced from the pristine “golden milk source belt” at 47° North Latitude. This region is known for its fertile black soil, rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—ideal for growing high-quality feed for dairy cows.
“Cows fed with crops from this golden dairy source produce milk that is naturally more nutrient-rich,” Dr. Ferrer said.
In choosing milk for their kids, parents should also pay attention to the milk’s texture, smell and solubility as children tend to reject milk that smells strong or feels clumpy,” she advised.
AceKid ActiveGro is processed using fresh milk formula, retaining the natural aroma of milk and its nutrients. The single step approach also leads to easy solubility of the milk when mixed with water. All these features make it easy for mothers to convince their children to drink milk, according to several testimonies of mothers.
As Filipino families continue to navigate the nutritional gap challenges, AceKid ActiveGro champions a simple yet powerful call: invest in children’s nutrition, one glass of fresh milk formula at a time, positioning itself as a trusted partner in building a healthier future for the next generation.
ALSONS Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) announced that it will begin the redevelopment of the Aldevinco Shopping Center site by the end of October 2025. Located at the corner of C.M. Recto and Roxas Avenue, the property has long been an iconic presence in downtown Davao. The redevelopment will usher in a new era for this historic landmark, paving the way for a modern, mixed-use destination that supports the city’s continued growth and revitalization while honoring its history and heritage.
The Aldevinco Shopping Center, launched in 1965, was one of Davao City’s earliest commercial hubs. In over five decades, it transitioned from a vibrant marketplace for local traders to a cultural icon showcasing Mindanao’s rich heritage through textiles, antiques, and handicrafts. Though it ceased operations in December 2021, its legacy continues through Poblacion Market Central, where many original tenants still carry forward the spirit of culture, creativity, and commerce.
Preparing the historic site for the future
The redeveloped property is envisioned to become a flagship mixed-use development that reflects Alsons Dev’s vision for vibrant, sustainable, and people-centric spaces.
The transformation will begin with the demolition of the buildings on the premises, a necessary step due to the structure’s age and safety considerations. The work will be carried out in sections to minimize disruption and ensure the safety of pedestrians, workers, and nearby establishments. The company is also working closely with the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) and other relevant government agencies to ensure full compliance with local regulations.
While long-term plans are being finalized, Alsons Dev will temporarily use the 5,106-square-meter site as a paid parking facility by Q2 2026. The interim space will feature designated areas for food trucks and carts, offering convenience and new opportunities for small businesses while keeping the property active and vibrant in the heart of the city.
Looking ahead
As Aldevinco enters a new chapter, Alsons Dev reaffirms its dedication to thoughtful and sustainable development that contributes to the vitality of Davao’s urban landscape.
“Our vision is to build developments that balance heritage and progress, ensuring that every project we undertake supports the city’s growth. As a homegrown developer, we take pride in helping shape Davao’s evolving environment,” said Miguel A. Dominguez, president and CEO of Alsons Dev.
The company will continue to provide regular updates to keep the community informed throughout the redevelopment process. For more information, visit the Alsons Dev Official Facebook page.
TWO NEW People’s Army (NPA) members who previously operated in Caraga surrendered to the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division under Eastern Mindanao Command in Baguio City on Oct. 12, 2025, bringing with them two high-powered firearms.
The surrenderers, residents of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, were both members of Squad 3, RSDG of the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
The surrender was facilitated through the joint intelligence efforts of the 75th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Battalion, 10th Intelligence Service Unit, 513th Engineer Construction Battalion, and the Regional Intelligence Unit 13 of the Philippine National Police.
They also turned over two M16 rifles, both in serviceable condition.
The two cited as reasons their disillusionment with the group, fear for their safety, and a desire to return to a peaceful life.
Lt. Col. Earl C. Pardillo, commanding officer of the 75IB, said the surrender was a direct result of intensified joint operations and his unit’s continuous community engagement in Caraga Region.
“Through persistent combat operations, intelligence-driven targeting, and genuine efforts to reach out to communities vulnerable to NPA influence, we have significantly weakened the operational capability and morale of the remaining NPA members,” he added.
The 75IB is also facilitating the enrollment of the surrenderers in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) to avail themselves of financial assistance and livelihood benefits.
A SUSPECT, considered a top six regional-level drug personality, was arrested by authorities at Iwha Village, Dumoy, Davao City, at 10:26 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The suspect was identified only as alias Bro, 39, single, unemployed, and a resident of Silka Saypon, Crossing Bayabas, Toril.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon confirmed that the suspect is a high-value individual for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
According to the report, the suspect was apprehended by a police poseur-buyer after a successful purchase of a sachet containing a white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu, in exchange for a P1,000 marked bill inserted in P14,000 in boodle money.
Authorities recovered the following pieces of evidence from the suspect: two sachets of shabu, the buy-bust money, consisting of P1,000 and P14,000 boodle bills, P300 money, a gold-colored HONOR cellular phone, and a black Toyota Vios.
Police estimated the total standard drug price of the recovered drugs at P287,232.
Photo courtesy of DCPO
THE NATIONAL Museum of the Philippines-Davao assured the public that the iconic durian building remains structurally sound following the recent 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the Davao Region on Oct. 10.
In a statement Sunday, NMP-Davao announced that the building underwent a full assessment by the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO).
While the strong tremor caused visible cracks on several wall surfaces due to stress absorption, OCBO confirmed that the structural integrity of the building remains secure.
“Current efforts are focused on repairing architectural and auxiliary components to ensure the continued safety and functionality of the facility,” it said.
NMP reported that the collections remained safe and intact.
However, a few pieces have to undergo minor conservation measures as part of their proactive care and preservation protocols.
“Please be assured that the safety of our visitors and the protection of our collections are our utmost priorities,” it said.
NMP is temporarily closed as of Oct. 10, 2025, until further notice, and assured it will reopen for the visiting public once necessary minor repairs are completed.
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