ADVERTISEMENTThese are the statements of Guadiz as he appeared at the hearing of House committee on transportation on Monday. The bribe was reportedly in exchange for the approval of franchise applications and route alterations. At the hearing on Monday, Guadiz told lawmakers the routes are created by local government units (LGUs) and not LTFRB. Guadiz was ordered suspended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after Tumbado accused the LTFRB head of corruption and irregularities. One of the messages claimed the suspended chairperson was supposedly informed about franchise applicants who were willing to pay grease money.

Doing its share to help the country achieve food security while addressing environmental challenges, Robinsons Offices, one of the country’s leading providers of quality, flexible workspaces, has partnered with lifestyle brand FarmTop for the development of “sky farms” or soilless vegetable gardens on building roof-decks. The joint initiative promotes technologically enhanced but sustainable agriculture. The project envisions the setup of strategically located sky farms atop office buildings around the country, where crops are cultivated through hydroponics or soilless farming in a controlled environment. The method, which also does away with conventional pesticides, is also described as “post-organic” as it reduces the risk of attacks from soil-based pests and weeds. Company officials led by JG Summit president and chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei formally unveiled the project’s first rooftop farm—and enjoyed its first harvest—on Oct. 10 at Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

(File Photo)The Philippines said Monday that Chinese vessels "intentionally" hit Philippine boats in the South China Sea, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions at the weekend in the disputed waters. Manila also called China an "aggressor" and accusing it of "increasing tensions" in the South China Sea. China's coast guard said on Sunday there had been a "slight collision" between one of its ships and the Philippine boat while the coast guard was "lawfully" blocking the boat from transporting "illegal construction materials". It was not the first time that China's coastguard, backed by its maritime militia boats, have interfered with the Philippines' resupply mission. One of the images shared by the Philippine coast guard showed three of the four boats carrying out the resupply operation on Sunday surrounded by seven bigger Chinese coast guard vessels.

TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa knows the challenges the team is facing as the Tropang Giga prepare for the PBA Season 48. Mikey Williams PBA PHOTOWorse, Filipino-American guard Mikey Williams is still on extended vacation in the U.S., a situation Lastimosa would rather not discuss. Other than the Season 48, Lastimosa is also preparing for the Tropang Giga for the East Asia Super League home-and-away tournament that got underway over a week ago. The Tropang Giga, however, have a chance to get back at the Jets on November 1 when they host the visiting Chiba side in Sta. Veteran slot man Kelly Williams, at 41, will be entering his 16th season in the PBA.

Philippines distances from Locsin's comment on 'killing' Palestinian childrenA Palestinian child injured in an Israeli air strike is carried inside the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern of Gaza Strip, on Oct. 17, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has disassociated itself from a remark made by one of its diplomats inciting violence upon Palestinian children who he said would grow up to tolerate the actions of militant group Hamas. They could stage mass suicide against Hamas until the latter ran out of bullets,” Locsin said. After deleting the post, Locsin apologized for his remarks and said that his comment — which was shared with his more than 662,000 followers — was a “sarcastic response” to another user on the platform. Gaza officials reported 900 people killed so far, and Israel's army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.

Crude oil’s roller coaster rideCrude oil prices have seen a whirlwind of volatility over the past month, driven by various factors ranging from demand concerns to geopolitical conflicts. October 11: As the situation appeared to stabilize and concerns of a regional conflict subsided, Brent crude retreated to $85 per barrel. These warnings sent Brent crude prices higher from $85 to $90 per barrel. Brent crude prices surged to an intraday high of $93.76 per barrel before closing at $92.39. This strategic shipping route facilitates the transit of one-fifth of global oil supply and 40 percent of global seaborne crude.

BEIJING: China's financial system will continue to improve its ability to serve the real economy, according to a report from the State Council. The report on financial work was submitted on Saturday to lawmakers for deliberation at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. China’s financial system will continue to improve its ability to serve the real economy, according to a report from the State Council. XINHUA PHOTOSince the fourth quarter of 2022, the financial system has precisely and effectively implemented a prudent monetary policy, provided stronger support for the real economy, and ensured the smooth operation of the financial market, said the report. The financial system will also back up infrastructure and the construction of major projects and will prop up support for real estate firms to ensure the delivery of housing projects, it added.

A Philippine flagged boat is blocked by a China Coast Guard vessel during an incident that resulted in a collision between the two vessels, in the disputed waters of the South China Sea in this screen grab obtained from handout video released October 22, 2023. (Reuters)The Philippines repeated its call for China to stop "provocative actions", warning that its attempts to block Manila's resupply missions to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea could have "disastrous results". It has also summoned the Chinese ambassador and has filed a diplomatic protest, its foreign ministry said. NSC's Malaya accused China of "increasing tensions" in the South China Sea and maintained it was China's actions that caused Sunday's collision. But we are concerned by the escalation and provocations by Chinese vessels who have no business being in the West Philippine Sea," Malaya said.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos working and residing in Lebanon can opt for voluntary repatriation following the Philippines' decision to place the Middle Eastern country under Alert Level 3 due to the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon released an online form for Filipinos who want to be repatriated due to heightened tension in the country’s southern border. Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border Saturday as Israel’s army traded fire with Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening while Israel battles Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Shiite military group Hezbollah is the only Lebanese faction to have kept its weapons after the 1975-1990 civil war, and now has an arsenal more powerful than the army's. Hezbollah fought a war with Israel in 2006 that left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 dead in Israel, mostly soldiers.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis pleaded Sunday for an end to the Hamas-Israeli conflict amid fears it could widen, and called for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into to the Gaza Strip. Stop!” Francis said after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s Square. ADVERTISEMENT“I renew my call for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for hostages to be freed,” the 86-year-old pontiff said. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people. ADVERTISEMENTAlarm has grown about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, food and power.

German solar industry looks to rise againBITTERFELD-WOLFEN, Germany — A decade after a wave of bankruptcies all but wiped out the German solar industry, the sector is looking to reestablish itself in the face of stiff competition from abroad. In Bitterfeld-Wolfen, a solar cell plant opened in 2021 by the Swiss group Meyer Burger on the site of defunct German producer Q-Cells is a sign of a possible renaissance. "We managed to recruit a number of former employees in the sector, and we are benefitting from their know-how," the director of the Meyer Burger factory, Jochen Fritsche, told AFP. In the United States, President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has lined up billions of dollars to boost production in solar and other technologies. "We are under the impression that Europe is always behind... in the United States, everything is faster," said CEO Erfurt.

BITTERFELD-WOLFEN, Germany: A decade after a wave of bankruptcies all but wiped out the German solar industry, the sector is looking to reestablish itself in the face of stiff competition from abroad. In Bitterfeld-Wolfen, a solar cell plant opened in 2021 by the Swiss group Meyer Burger on the site of defunct German producer Q-Cells is a sign of a possible renaissance. A decade after a wave of bankruptcies all but wiped out the German solar industry, the sector is looking to reestablish itself in the face of stiff competition from abroad. "We are under the impression that Europe is always behind... in the United States, everything is faster," said CEO Erfurt. Nordic group Norwegian Crystals filed for bankruptcy in August, underlining the risks for the European sector as it looks to grow again.

Philippine allies condemn China's 'dangerous, disturbing' maneuvers in WPSScreengrab from the video of the Armed Forces of the PhilippinesMANILA, Philippines — Allies of the Philippines condemned Sunday the moves of Chinese vessels to block boats on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, resulting in collisions in the West Philippine Sea. It also said that a Chinese maritime militia vessel “bumped” a Philippine Coast Guard vessel escorting the routine resupply mission. According to the NTF-WPS, a second resupply boat successfully reached the grounded BRP Sierra Madre and unloaded supplies for the troops stationed there. Its coast guard, navy and maritime militia vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine patrol and supply boats. In August, tensions escalated when the China Coast Guard used water cannons against a Philippine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, preventing one of the boats from delivering supplies.

Marcos back in Philippines after ‘successful’ Saudi tripPresident Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. meets with the Filipino community during his visit in Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday night. MANILA, Philippines — It was a “short but successful” visit, President Marcos said yesterday after arriving from Saudi Arabia where he attended the first summit of leaders of Southeast Asian nations and the Gulf states. During the visit, Marcos met with the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia and assured them of continued support and assistance. He also had meetings with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. According to Marcos, the relationship between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia would become “a two-way street” as the Middle Eastern country would invest more in the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines — There is a growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines, but are there enough charging stations for them? “The biggest constraint in the adoption of EVs is the charging station. Under the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (Crevi), he said, the government has set a conservative target for the country to have 850,100 EVs and 20,300 EV charging stations (EVCs) by 2040. Battery swappingUnder Evida’s IRR, which were adopted in September 2022, EV charging stations may be installed in private and public buildings and establishments identified by the Crevi. The IRR identifies the different types of charging stations that can be set up.