00:00 There was this report about this meeting regarding the COC. 00:05 Could you confirm if it will really take place on the 30th until February 2? 00:13 Yeah, regarding the COC discussions, yes, certainly it will take place. 00:27 And that was also agreed by the parties to keep the details of this meeting confidential. 00:43 What's the expected outcome during this meeting?

His firm, Lor Calma Partners, announced his death on Wednesday, saying, "We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and husband, Ar. The Philippine architectural and design community is in mourning following the passing of Architect Lorenzo "Lor" Calma. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lor Calma & Partners (@lorcalmapartners)"His legacy lives in the values he championed: restraint over excess, meaning over trends, craftsmanship over convenience. 'An international modernist'Calma co-founded the Philippine School of Interior Design in 1967 and served as one of the country’s first Interior Design board examiners in 1982. His legacy continues through his son, Eduardo "Ed" Calma, who followed in his footsteps as a prominent architect and interior designer.

Trouble in paradiseTrouble is brewing in the mountains of Rizal, and how it will end will depend on Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla. This is about the placement of proposed wind turbines in Rizal’s karst landscapes by Vena Energy, a company that describes itself as a major green solution provider in the Asia-Pacific region. Lotilla and Vena Group Philippines country head Samrinder Nehria to reconsider the placement of the company’s proposed wind turbines in Rizal’s karst landscapes. While supporting renewable energy, he stressed that clean energy projects must also protect nature and follow environmental safeguards. Tanghal Tertulia, UP’s flagship cultural program, is set against the scenic bamboo backdrop of the UP Executive House Amphitheater in Diliman.

It was not clear from the spokesperson’s account if the President was ordering the BSP to intervene to stop the peso’s fall or was simply indulging in wishful thinking. As a matter of formal policy, the country observes a market-determined exchange rate. Recall that the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 happened because Thai monetary authorities were manipulating the exchange rate and keeping the baht overvalued. In June 2022, when the Marcos II administration took over, the public debt per capita stood at P115,304. But we will all be indulging in pure wishful thinking if we do not comprehensively address the structural weaknesses of our economy.

BFP probes 5 firefighter volunteers for lootingMANILA, Philippines — Five firefighter volunteers are in hot water after they were recorded on video stealing bottles of liquor from a membership-only retail supermarket, which was razed by a fire in Quezon City yesterday. Anthony Arroyo, spokesman for the Bureau of Fire Protection, said the BFP launched an investigation to identify the firefighters who looted the supermarket. Based on the fire suit worn by the firefighters, Arroyo said the people on the video are not from the BFP but from volunteer groups. There were about 30 volunteer groups that joined the BFP in extinguishing the Landers fire. “It is up to Landers whether it will file criminal cases against the firefighter volunteers,” he said.

Nartatez promoted to 4-star rankPresident Marcos swears in Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as the 32nd Philippine National Police chief after Nartatez received his fourth star at Malacañang yesterday. President Marcos yesterday led the donning ceremony at Malacañang for Nartatez’s promotion as the 32nd PNP chief. Nartatez vowed to sustain gains in the anti-crime drive in compliance with the President’s directive to keep communities safe. Focus crimes are murder, homicide, rape, physical injuries, car theft, motorcycle theft, theft and robbery. As he assumed full control and supervision of the police force, Nartatez vowed to lead the 230,000-strong PNP in defending the Constitution.

Farm sector grows 2.6% in 2025, highest in 5 yearsMANILA, Philippines — The value of the country’s agricultural output (at constant 2018 prices) rose by 2.6 percent on an annual basis to almost P1.8 trillion, the highest in five years, on the back of expansions in the crops and poultry subsectors. Historical PSA data showed that it marked the fourth consecutive year that farm output grew since 2021. The value of crop output in the fourth quarter alone fell by 2.5 percent to P274 billion due to weather disturbances. The DA hopes to sustain the 2.6 percent growth this year by ensuring timely and efficient use of its P215-billion budget. “We are now laying the groundwork for a smarter, climate-resilient agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, referring to the department’s plans to further invest in cold storages, drying facilities, greenhouses and smart irrigation.

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.