Index rallies ahead of GDP releaseThe bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) jumped by 0.78 percent or 48.88 points, closing the session at 6,355.78. MANILA, Philippines — The local stock market advanced for the second consecutive session ahead of the release of the country’s full year gross domestic product (GDP) data. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) jumped by 0.78 percent or 48.88 points, closing the session at 6,355.78. The broader All Shares index also improved by 0.45 percent or 15.96 points to end at 3,597.04. Market breadth, however, was negative as decliners edged out advancers in a close contest, 106 to 102, while 54 issues were unchanged.

Solar sa Politika and energy securityBut solar business has been hot this month. Solar as energy source has also been weak in the country this month as it was mostly cloudy and solar dislikes clouds and other shade. Despite these, SP got a second chance, winning one of two bids in the Green Energy Auction (GEA) program of DOE. I am no fan of intermittent renewable energy (RE) like solar and wind for many economic reasons, especially their higher inflation effect. But private energy companies, global and national, have been compromised and tied up with RE laws that made coercive mandates.

SM Group brings higher education to regionsAddressing the brain drainMANILA, Philippines — Home to more than 84,000 students, National University’s presence in seven cities outside of Metro Manila has not only expanded access to higher quality education but also access to professional opportunities. NU Laguna has 99 percent local employees; NU Baliwag has 98 percent local employees; NU Dasmariñas has 96 percent with four percent transferees; NU Lipa has 98 percent local employees, and NU Clark has 97 percent local employees. NU’s presence especially in the provinces allows professors and students to access quality education and employment without leaving their hometown. The university’s standardized compensation package across its campuses attracts talent while helping address brain drain in the provinces. By allowing the campus to be a part of the SM community,accessibility is achieved and affordability is maintained.

Rice tariff rate stays at 15% until MarchUnless world prices fall below $370/MTMANILA, Philippines — Rice tariff will remain at 15 percent, the lowest on record, until the end of first quarter unless international prices fall below $370 per metric ton (MT), a ranking agriculture official said. Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the threshold established by the government to increase rice tariffs has not yet been breached. Furthermore, De Mesa disclosed that the next round of review whether to increase the rice tariff rate or not will be in April with March serving as its reference price point. President Marcos issued late last year Executive Order 105 that sought to establish a flexible rice tariff mechanism depending on prevailing international prices as a way to protect local farmers’ income. The Philippines officially returned to the international rice market last Jan. 1 with imports as of Jan. 22 reaching around 247,272 MT.

I’m OK, Marcos Jr. says on healthPresident Marcos plays with his dog Oreo yesterday, in a video released by Malacañang. MANILA, Philippines — Amid rumors of his alleged deteriorating health, President Marcos appeared in a video message last night, assuring the public that he is fine while he continues to take medications for his diverticulitis. “I was just prescribed medication and continue to take antibiotics, but I’m OK,” Marcos said in Filipino. Earlier in the day, Castro said Marcos has no serious illness and continues to work inside Malacañang,. (If the President said it was not life-threatening, then what is the need for a medical bulletin, while we are providing you with the President’s health status?)

Senate mulls suspending Bato’s salaryMANILA, Philippines — The Senate ethics committee will look into the proposal to suspend the salary of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who has been hiding amid a supposed arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. “We’ll see what happens, proposal na yung leadership ni Sen. Lacson to suspend Sen. Bato’s salary while he’s not reporting for office,” Ejercito said. The decision is up to the body, which was constituted when the session resumed. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson earlier floated the idea of revising Senate rules to allow for the suspension of a senator’s salary due to absences. Lacson’s proposal does not include a senator’s suspension from office, as earlier reported by The STAR.

Divers search for missing passengers in BasilanMANILA, Philippines — Nineteen technical wreck divers and a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commenced diving and search operations for the 10 missing passengers of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town. Passenger and cargo ro-ro vessel Trisha Kerstin 3 sank at around 1:50 a.m. of Jan. 26 east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan. As of the PCG’s official tally yesterday morning, there are 316 survivors, 18 fatalities and 10 missing passengers. ‘Marina negligence’Sen. Raffy Tulfo yesterday tore into maritime regulators over what he described as systemic failures that led to the sinking of the Trisha Kerstin 3. “They should know the weight and the trim of the ship,” Tanseco said, explaining that cargo weight, ballast water, fuel and the vessel’s own weight are all factored in.

‘Eradicating corruption will take several lifetimes’“Probably, if you want to correct government or correct corruption, then it would take several lifetimes, because then you would probably need to take out everyone who is part of the system,” Fajardo said on Tuesday during the 55th annual membership meeting and foundation day of the business-led non-governmental organization Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). The former DPWH chief has since returned to the agency as a member of a technical working group assessing new flood control projects. Meanwhile, the arraignment of former DPWH Bulacan First DEO engineer Arjay Domasig was reset to Feb. 9 as he was not represented by any lawyer during yesterday’s proceeding. Aside from Domasig, yet to be arraigned for their graft case are former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former DPWH Bulacan First DEO accountant Juanito Mendoza. Another accused, former DPWH Bulacan First DEO engineer Emelita Juat, had already pleaded “not guilty” to graft during her arraignment last Jan. 23.

Carpooling eyed on EDSA buswayPublic utility buses pass through the EDSA Bus Lane at the Santolan Station in Quezon City. MANILA, Philippines — To help reduce traffic volume along the busiest thoroughfare in the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking at the possibility of allowing high-occupancy vehicles with at least 10 passengers to use the EDSA busway. MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III said the proposal is still under study, adding that it is among the options being considered to promote carpooling. The EDSA busway, also known as the Carousel, was launched in July 2020 as a dedicated median lane for buses to provide faster and safer public transport. He said carpooling and transport network vehicle services could help reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.

Anti-dynasty bill passage seen before next pollsMANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that a bill banning political dynasties – a priority measure of the administration – would be passed in time for the 2028 elections. Recto was asked whether he thought the bill against political dynasties would be approved before the filing of certificates of candidacy next year. Last month, President Marcos included the anti-dynasty bill in the list of his legislative priorities. “The meeting was held to come up with good provisions that can be included in the proposed legislation,” Castro told reporters last Jan. 22. The House suffrage and electoral reforms committee has started its hearings on the anti-dynasty measures.

Sara slams ‘biased’ ICCMANILA, Philippines — After failing to get a ruling in favor of her father, detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of being “biased.”“If they have already pre-judged the case of Rodrigo Duterte, we will also pre-judge the ICC as a biased political court. In a 25-page decision released yesterday, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously denied the defense’s request to indefinitely adjourn the proceedings due to Duterte’s supposed cognitive impairment. “The ICC cited the declarations of our family whether or not that happened on ‘Duterte Street’ or on other platforms. You should be factual about what you see in the case or the circumstances surrounding the case,” the Vice President said. I will ask that question tomorrow to former president Duterte,” the Vice President said after visiting her father in detention.

MANILA, Philippines — A study conducted by experts from the University of the Philippines and other foreign universities found that at least 1,500 social media influencer accounts were involved in covert or under-the-radar campaigning during the 2022 general elections. They added that the research built on early research that focuses on political influencers and the mediatization of politics. The research said that of the 1,425 influencer accounts across four social media platforms engaging in covert political campaigning, about three percent of the total influencer accounts were subjected to the 18 multi-dimensional index. Notably, TikTok had the least number of influencer accounts posting election-related content but almost 13 percent are deemed to be involved in covert political campaigning. The study said the influencer-campaigner accounts vary in their participation in covert political campaigns across the three dimensions of analysis and the platforms.

Philippines seeks cooperation to boost tourism in ASEANASEAN’S BIGGEST TRAVEL EVENT AT MACTAN EXPO: The Philippines officially opened the Asean Travel Exchange, the biggest travel event for Asean member countries, at the newly opened Mactan Expo, an iconic convention center that is close to the beach, built by property giant Megaworld at The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. TRAVEX, which will run until Jan. 30, is one of the major events under the Asean Tourism Forum being hosted in Cebu, and is attended by tourism ministers, industry organizations, senior officials, exhibitors, business delegates and media from Asean countries. Buensuceso led the 63rd ASEAN National Tourism Organizations Meeting in Cebu City on Monday, which gathered senior tourism officials from ASEAN and other partner countries. Based on the tally from the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippines welcomed a total of 6,484,060 foreign tourists – composed of 5,940,975 foreigners and 543,085 Filipinos living overseas – in 2025. With the Philippines hosting both the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu this year, member-states are expected to meet with tourism officials from Australia, India, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

China poses ‘greatest threat’ to Philippines – pollProtesters from the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement hold plac- ards outside the Chinese embassy in Makati yesterday. The same survey also asked respondents which of the countries on a list posed the greatest threat to the Philippines. North Korea and Saudi Arabia were selected by two percent, while one percent of the respondents selected Japan, Iran and Pakistan. None of the respondents selected Australia and India, while four percent said none of the countries in the list poses the greatest threat to the Philippines. From January 2021 through December 2025, China has been consistently identified by a clear majority of Filipinos as the Philippines’ greatest threat.

President Marcos can simply declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, embassy Counselor and Spokesman Ji Lingpeng said. “As Ambassador, he bears responsibility for all words and actions of the Chinese embassy,” Ji said in a statement last night. There is but one person who has the authority to ask Ambassador Jing to leave, and that is President Marcos,” Ji said. Marcos,” Ji said. “President Marcos has been clear and consistent: we will defend what is ours, anchored on law and diplomacy,” Ortega said.