Erice hopes unprogrammed funds will be gone for goodReps. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) and Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) file a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — A Supreme Court ruling on the illegality of unprogrammed funds may lead to the permanent removal of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the annual national budget, according to Caloocan 2nd district Rep. Edgar Erice. Erice, along with Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, filed a petition on Thursday asking the Supreme Court to strike down the P150.9-billion UA remaining in the 2026 outlay. The Department of Budget and Management has touted this year’s unprogrammed funds to be the lowest in seven years, but President Marcos’ first enacted budget in 2023 contained P807 billion. “In the last Congress, the congressmen were incentivized to really pursue Sara,” he said.

Sandigan junks garlic cartel graft rap vs ex-DA chiefMANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft case against former Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala in connection with the alleged monopolization of garlic importation and supply, which caused a spike in prices in the market in 2014. Of the total 8,810 IPs issued by the DA, 5,022 were secured by VIEVA and VIEVA-affiliate importers, the ombudsman said. The ombudsman added that VIEVA’s monopolization of garlic importation caused the price of imported garlic to surge to P260 to P400 per kilogram from January to July 2014, up from P165 to P170 per kilogram in 2010-2013. The price of native garlic also rose to P250 to P450 per kilogram from April to June 2014. In dismissing the case against Alcala, the Fifth Division said the prosecution failed to establish that he acted in conspiracy with the other accused to favor VIEVA and its affiliated importers.

51 percent of Pinoy families feel poor – SWSResidents of Barangay San Nicolas in Binondo, Manila go about their daily routine. MANILA, Philippines — A slim majority of Filipino families rated themselves poor at the end of 2025, according to the fourth quarter survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). Results of the Nov. 24 to 30 survey released yesterday showed that 51 percent of the respondents rated their families as poor, almost similar to the 50 percent obtained in a similar survey in September.a poor families in November, from 14.2 million in September. The latest survey found that 37 percent of the respondents considered their families as “not poor,” almost similar to 38 percent in the previous poll. According to SWS, the country’s average self-rated poverty for 2025 was at 51 percent, lower than the 57 percent annual average in 2024.

Gold falls as commodity index adjustments weigh ahead of US jobs dataGold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025.

Eala barges into semisMANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala finally solved the puzzle of Polish ace Magda Linette with a 6-3, 6-2 masterclass and rolled into the semifinals of the ASB Classic singles yesterday at the ASB Tennis Center in Auckland, New Zealand. Eala, currently WTA No. Eala and Jovic, however, could not make it a twin milestone later in the day after bowing to the third-seeded Chinese tandem of Xu Yifan, WTA No. 40, and Yang Zhaoxuan, WTA No. Eala trailed 0-1 in the first set but owned her old rival the rest of the way.

Senate ready to defend constitutionality of unprogrammed funds – SottoEmployees enter the Senate of the Philippines as seen in this photo release on August 5, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate is ready to defend the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2026 national budget that has been questioned before the Supreme Court (SC). Unprogrammed funds are constitutionally valid based on SC decisions,” Sotto said in a Zoom press briefing yesterday. Sotto said the petitioners were just “nitpicking” when they assailed the legality of UA before the SC. Sotto stressed the need to set aside standby funds for foreign-assisted and other big-ticket projects, like the Metro Manila Subway and modernization of the military.

Extraction and refining of what is basically sludge will be costly to the planet. In a word, Venezuela’s oil may be abundant but it can never be cheap. Given the looming global oil surplus, it might not even make sense to invest in modernizing the cursed country’s oil sector. So there: Venezuela’s oil is not about to be flowing generously to flood the market and push prices down. The cost of extracting and refining thick and viscous sludge sets a basic price for the commodity that the global market may not be willing to pay.

ICI initiated operation seizing Co-linked luxury carsThe Independent Commission for Infrastructure temporarily holds custody of eight luxury vehicles linked to former congressman Zaldy Co, which are now parked at the ICI’s compound in Taguig City. MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) received a tip during the holiday season that 15 luxury cars, owned by companies linked to fugitive ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, were parked in a condominium building in Taguig. After verification, the BOC found nine cars lacked proper documentation and had unpaid taxes and dues, the ICI said. On Thursday night authorities executed search warrants, issued by First Vice Executive Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of the Metro Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41, and confiscated a total of 12 luxury cars. It’s the first major operation initiated by the ICI in 2026, amid rumors that the fact-finding body could already cease to exist.

• Megawide Construction (MWIDE) follows BLOOM closely with forecasted earnings growth of 119.5 percent. Renewable energy businesses benefit from long-term contracts and predictable cash flows once projects are operational. • Cosco Capital (COSCO), with forecasted earnings growth of 59.7 percent, offers a different type of opportunity. • Monde Nissin (MONDE), to deliver 45.4 percent annual earnings growth; produces widely consumed food products across Asia and Western markets. Also good buys are other mining stocks but they have risen dramatically in value in recent months.

DOTr to LTO: Suspend driver’s license confiscationIn a memorandum dated Jan. 9, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez instructed the LTO to halt the confiscation of licenses during apprehensions and to review all existing issuances to ensure uniform implementation of policies nationwide. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transport has ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to immediately suspend the confiscation of driver’s licenses in cases involving traffic violations, while new procedures are being streamlined. In a memorandum dated Jan. 9, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez instructed the LTO to halt the confiscation of licenses during apprehensions and to review all existing issuances to ensure uniform implementation of policies nationwide. “This means that holidays and long weekends are not included in the counting of days when a driver is settling a violation,” Lopez said. “The new memorandum circular shall take effect immediately,” the agency said.

Let’s grow our own mushroomsFor generations, many Filipinos believed that mushrooms sprout only after a thunderstorm. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, my plantita daughter started growing mushrooms from fruiting bags. It was fascinating to watch how mushrooms grow overnight, are harvested daily and cooked into delicious dishes like mushroom sinigang and my favorite – mushroom tempura. Made as a compact, automated cabinet-style setup, it allows individuals, schools and small businesses to easily grow mushrooms. This should interest small entrepreneurs, young people, housewives and plantitos and plantitas to grow mushrooms at home.

ROW for metro subway 90 percent cleared at end-2025MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has secured 90 percent of the right of way or ROW for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) as of the end of 2025, picking up the slack for a railway that is now behind by years. Based on its year-end report, the DOTr has acquired 90.76 percent of ROW for the subway as of 2025, with properties cleared in business districts and exclusive villages. Given this, acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez views 2025 as a banner year for the DOTr in ROW procurement. He said it would benefit commuters the most if ROW problems in the MMSP and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are settled. It is also working on ROW procurement for NSCR’s southern curve, with land cleared for four of the 19 stations, namely, in EDSA; Cabuyao and Sta.

Business opportunitiesWhat are the top business trends in 2026? Business advisory group Philippine Hub Partners recently identified several high-growth industries that are shaping the country’s economy and are creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike. The same e-Conomy report revealed that e-commerce remained the backbone of the Philippine digital economy, accounting for over 60 percent of the industry’s total GMV. It explained that the pandemic spurred this transformation, with more people investing in health-conscious choices and digital health care tools. The country’s combination of creativity, tech-savvy talent and affordability makes it a hotspot for outsourced digital marketing services,” it said.

More M&A deals expected this yearMANILA, Philippines — Merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the Philippines are expected to increase this year after deal activity saw a slowdown in 2025 with investors being strategically selective, according to a report by PwC Philippines. In its M&A Report 2025, PwC Philippines said the country recorded 74 M&A transactions as of Dec. 4, 2025 with a total deal value of $4.6 billion, lower than the 113 deals registered in 2024 worth $8.6 billion. A total deal value of $1.9 billion from 22 deals was recorded in the energy and natural resources sector. Compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, M&A deals in the Philippines ranked fifth in terms of value behind Singapore ($31.7 billion from 336 deals), Malaysia ($7.3 billion from 147 deals), Vietnam ($6.9 billion from 94 deals) and Indonesia ($6.2 billion from 102 deals). “Philippine M&A trends last year indicated our resilience points and opportunity strongholds,” PwC Philippines M&A and corporate finance partner Trissy Rogacion said.

Bato’s paid Senate absence an injustice to workers – ACTMANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers yesterday criticized Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for his prolonged absence from the Senate, calling it a brazen dereliction of duty, an abuse of privilege and betrayal of public trust. ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo urged Senate leaders to stop coddling the absentee lawmaker and immediately impose sanctions, including disciplinary action tantamount to dismissal. Bernardo cited reports that Dela Rosa has not reported for Senate work since Nov. 11, 2025, yet continues to receive his full salary, benefits and perks – an arrangement she described as an obscene display of entitlement funded by the taxes of struggling Filipino workers and teachers. She challenged Dela Rosa to stop hiding and face the consequences of his actions, daring him to “reunite with his former commander-in-chief, Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained by the ICC to stand trial for crimes against humanity.”The continued Senate inaction would only fuel public outrage and further erode trust in government, she added.