Integrity chainDPWH Secretary Vince Dizon is done raging about the barefaced corruption that overrun the agency he now leads. He has since come up with his idea of an “integrity chain portal” to ensure transparency in the vital work the DPWH does. But the use of blockchain technology will be a major leap in tracking how our taxpayer money moves. The solution might lie in applying blockchain technology to produce a digital ledger of public works projects. Dizon’s idea of an “integrity chain portal” – complementing the transparency portal – might accomplish the transparency we need to combat corruption.

DENR sets 5-year effort to protect Philippine RisePhoto taken on March 7, 2025, shows the facade of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources central office on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. MANILA, Philippines — Amid threats to the country’s marine resources, food security and maritime domain, the government has begun a five-year effort to protect the Philippine Rise, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday. A part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the area formerly called Benham Rise is known to be rich in biodiversity, fish stocks and gas deposits. It will be implemented through the Biodiversity Management Bureau, in partnership with Conservation International and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia. A 434,517-hectare portion of the Philippine Rise was declared the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR) in 2018 under Presidential Proclamation No.

Supreme Court asked to cite Tito Sotto in indirect contemptMANILA, Philippines — A group of lawyers and a private citizen, known to support the Dutertes, have petitioned the Supreme Court to hold Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III in indirect contempt. The petitioners want Sotto cited for indirect contempt over his remarks about the Supreme Court following its final resolution declaring Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment unconstitutional. For the petitioners, Sotto’s statements are “demeaning,” “degrading” and “disrespectful” to the Supreme Court’s integrity and should constitute indirect contempt. “Para po sa amin, ‘yung sinasabi ni Senate President Sotto ay lumalagpas na po sa legitimate commentary,” Topacio told reporters. Topacio said they are also preparing for an ethics complaint against Sotto for his statements criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision.

Robin gets flak for calling youth ‘weak’Sen. Robin Padilla in this photo uploaded on his Facebook page. MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla is facing a wave of criticism from netizens and mental health advocates after he called the younger generation “weak” and “iyakin” or crybabies, unlike him. But netizens were quick to point out the irony of a man who called others “weak” for crying when he himself has cried on national TV. Advocates and experts including the Psychological Association of the Philippines stressed: “The Filipino youth is not weak.”They reminded Padilla that depression should not be trivialized and adult depression also exists. Television host Kim Atienza, who lost his daughter Emman in 2025, reminded Padilla that depression is not a simple matter of generational divide as he urged the senator to show more compassion.

Japan seizes China fishing boat, arrests captainTOKYO — Japan seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper, authorities said Friday, an incident that could deepen a spat between the Asian giants. It was the first time since 2022 that the Japanese fisheries agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat. China has a number of territorial tussles with Japan, and there have been repeated incidents around the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu in China. The 2010 arrest of another Chinese fishing boat captain off those islands in the East China Sea became a major diplomatic incident. Japan and China have close economic ties, but Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan have sent relations spiraling downwards again.

A kibbutz idea, Visayan styleWhen I met Mayor Aljun Diamante as a mentee at the DepDev Innovation awards last November, I thought he was a crazy mayor planting organic coffee in a land made of limestone. We visited the coffee farm where freshly harvested coffee cherries (fruits) were laid out to dry, where seedlings were also nurtured and where trainings for many farmers were conducted. Tuburan 360 is nine kilometers from the town proper. Farmers segregate trash at farm level or their trash will not be collected by the municipal collectors. Tuburan 360).

27 percent of Pinoys experienced or saw cheating in relationshipsThe survey, conducted from Nov. 24 to 30 and released this week ahead of Valentine’s Day, found that 27 percent of the respondents personally witnessed or experienced some form of cheating in a relationship. MANILA, Philippines — One in four Filipinos either personally experienced or witnessed some form of cheating in relationships, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). The survey, conducted from Nov. 24 to 30 and released this week ahead of Valentine’s Day, found that 27 percent of the respondents personally witnessed or experienced some form of cheating in a relationship. Of those who personally witnessed or experienced cheating, 11 percent identified these as physical or those who engaged in sexual and intimate activities with someone else. Five percent said they experienced or witnesses financial cheating, such as hiding luxury purchases or hiding debts from one’s partner, and micro-cheating, such as using affectionate terms with someone other than one’s partner or hiding one’s relationship status.

11,000 cops to secure Trillion Peso MarchCaritas Philippines with civil society organizations during the press conference on Feb. 11, 2026 for Trillion Peso March part 3. MANILA, Philippines — Over 11,000 police officers will secure the third Trillion Peso March by cause-oriented groups during the 40th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution on Feb. 25, the Philippine National Police said yesterday. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said they would deploy police officers at the EDSA people power monument and EDSA shrine – both in Quezon City where the anti-corruption rallies are going to be held. The first will be held at the EDSA shrine on Feb. 22 while the second will be at the EDSA people power monument on Feb. 25. Tuaño said the PNP is projecting a crowd of 50,000 for the two anti-corruption rallies organized by Caritas Philippines and other civil society groups.

Youth encouraged to explore aviationNEW CLARK CITY, Philippines — The 26th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) aims to introduce to the Filipino youth the world of aviation sports. Lead organizer Joy Roa emphasized that one of the event’s main missions is to encourage people to explore careers in aviation and participate in sports aviation. “The thrust of the new balloon fiesta is to encourage people to start a career in aviation and go into sports aviation,” he said. Roa also noted that, with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), stronger aviation-based sports programs will develop in the country. “We hope to form more teams with the drone flying, paragliding and paramotor,” he added.

P10 million cash, jewelry stolen in Batangas event venueThe robbery reportedly occurred at the Maharlika Events Place in Barangay Niyugan at around 11:20 p.m.CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Cash and pieces of jewelry worth P10 million were reportedly stolen from guest rooms of an event venue in Laurel, Batangas on Thursday night. The robbery reportedly occurred at the Maharlika Events Place in Barangay Niyugan at around 11:20 p.m.Probers said a man posing as a worker of the venue broke into two guest rooms and carted away personal belongings and jewelry. Video footage of a closed-circuit television camera showed the suspect forcibly opening Rooms 8 and 7 before fleeing in a Toyota Innova. Among the pieces of jewelry stolen were three necklaces, a diamond ring and a bracelet as well as cash amounting to P44,000 and 10,000 yen.

QCPD finds more evidence in cop’s slayCrime scene investigators use metal detectors in a grassy field along the Pulilan-Baliuag bypass road in Bulacan yesterday to search for the firearm used in the killing of Senior M/Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido. Inset photo from the NCRPO shows officers arresting a suspect in the killing of the policewoman and her eight-year-old son during an operation the other night. MANILA, Philippines — Probers have secured more pieces of evidence to strengthen the case against the suspects in the killing of policewoman Diane Mollenido and her eight-year-old son, John Ysmael, the Quezon City Police District said. QCPD director Brig.

Tabuena slows down with 71MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena went up and down for a one-over-par 71, dropping to a share of 25th through 36 holes of the LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club in Australia yesterday. Boosted by his upgrade from being a reserve to a full-time card holder in the 2026 season, Tabuena is proving himself that he belongs, going four-under in the Adelaide event after an opening-round 69. The 31-year-old Filipino ace shot himself in the foot with two quick bogeys on No. 1 and 4, but made a hot charge in the back nine only to lose another stroke on another bogey on No. He fired four birdies against three bogeys and sat at joint 25th, nine strokes behind frontrunner Jon Rahm who sizzled with a nine-under second round.

Our failing high school educationThe recent EDCOM 2 Report, which screams, “Student proficiency rates plunge from 30 percent in Grade 3 to 0.47 percent in Grade 12,” has set politicians and education planners into a new round of finger-pointing. Every year, universities accept hundreds of senior high school graduates with weak foundational skills in mathematics, the sciences, language, reading comprehension and communication. Their response – take away the power of CHED in developing the teacher education curriculum and selection of Centers of Excellence, and instead give it to the Teacher Education Council which, at that time, had done very little to develop teacher education in the country. CHED identified and awarded 120 best-performing teacher education HEIs in 2024 through the EQUATE Awards, but has not closed more than 200 non-compliant and poor-performing programs. I have witnessed public school students draw a computer keyboard on cardboard during a class discussion about computers.

Leyte residents oppose black sand miningLeyte as seen on Google Maps. TACLOBAN, Philippines — Residents of MacArthur town in Leyte on Tuesday blocked the entry of a massive equipment allegedly intended for black sand mining operation. The group’s spokesman, Jesus Cabias Jr., said residents were worried that the mining operation would destroy their farms and livelihood. In a letter, residents urged President Marcos to issue an executive order stopping black sand mining. The company, MacArthur Iron Project Corp. (MIPC), has reportedly been bringing in ships carrying dredging equipment to Barangay Maya.

Blue Ribbon urged to probe Bersamin link to flood messMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee should investigate the alleged involvement of former legislative liaison officer Adrian Bersamin in the flood control anomaly, including his alleged text messages with President Marcos, House senior deputy minority leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said. In an interview with “Storycon” on One News on Friday, Erice said it was Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, who first brought up Bersamin’s alleged links to the scandal. Bersamin is the grandnephew of former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, who was eased out after his name was also mentioned in connection with the scandal. “We’re trying to help uncover the truth by urging the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to summon the Bersamins, summon Congressman Leviste, so the truth will come out,” he said, referring to Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. Leviste reportedly showed Erice and other lawmakers alleged text messages between the younger Bersamin and Marcos discussing supposed kickbacks from flood projects.