Recently in the city of Muntinlupa, police officers successfully pulled of a buy-bust operation which resulted in the arrest of a man who had over P500,000 worth of illegal drugs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a 27-year-old drug suspect in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa on Oct. 30.
Alias Enteng was arrested by the police at about 7:40 a.m. in Pasong Makipot in the barangay he was listed under the Southern Police District’s drug watchlist.
The operation, conducted by the Muntinlupa police’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit, resulted in the confiscation of three plastic sachets containing 53.09 grams of shabu valued at P510,000, and a marked P500 bill used as buy-bust money.
The suspect was immediately brought to the SDEU office for documentation. He will face a complaint for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you thankful to the local police for the successful buy-bust operation they pulled off?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The country’s inflation rate held steady at 1.7 percent in October, unchanged from the previous month and lower than the 2.3 percent recorded in October 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Headline inflation averaged 1.7 percent during the first 10 months of 2025, below the government’s two- to four-percent target range of annual consumer price increases deemed manageable and conducive to economic growth.
PSA data showed that the main drivers of inflation last month were housing, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which contributed 34.6 percent or 0.6 percentage point (ppt) to the overall headline rate.
Other major contributors to the stable inflation rate were restaurants and accommodation services, with a 14.6-percent share or 0.2 ppt, and food and non-alcoholic beverages, with a 13-percent share or 0.2 ppt.
National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa noted that while rice and corn recorded faster negative inflation rates of 17 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively, challenges persist in other food groups. He said inflation for fish and other seafood rose to 8.2 percent in October from 7.9 percent in September.
The PSA also reported that inflation for oils and fats rose slightly to 9.4 percent in October from 9.3 percent in September, while fruits and nuts shifted from a positive inflation rate of 0.5 percent in September to a deflation of 1.4 percent in October.
“Rice is still going down in terms of month-on-month, but there are other items in the basket that are also increasing,” Mapa said.
Mapa reported that the average price of regular milled rice dropped to ₱40.09 per kilo in October from ₱50.22 in the same month last year, reflecting a 20.2-percent year-on-year decline. He added that prices also inched lower from ₱40.23 in September, indicating a continued month-on-month decrease of 0.3 percent.
For well-milled rice, Mapa said the average price fell to ₱46.49 per kilo in October from ₱55.28 in the same month last year, marking a 15.9-percent year-on-year decline. He added that the price was almost unchanged from ₱46.50 in September, indicating stable month-on-month movement.
For special rice, Mapa reported that the average price dropped to ₱56.39 per kilo in October from ₱63.97 in the same month last year, reflecting an 11.2-percent year-on-year decline.
“We can see, particularly the regular milled rice—it has a big year-on-year drop in terms of prices. This is about ₱10 per kilo, year-on -year, the average reduction in prices,” he added.
Mapa added that meat inflation declined from six percent to 5.2 percent, while vegetable price increases, though slowing down, remained elevated, easing from 19.4 percent to 16.6 percent. He also noted that, month-on-month, prices dropped more sharply in October compared to September.
PSA data also showed that inflation in October remained unchanged from the previous month for several sectors, including household operations, education services, and restaurants and accommodation.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think other types of food will get more expensive and possibly bring up the overall inflation rate higher by the end of the year?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!
As a long-time Xbox fan, I am disappointed with the way this current console generation turned out. Xbox gaming as a whole has changed for the worse this year and millions of Xbox fans got angered over the cancellation of Xbox projects (including Perfect Dark and Contraband), Xbox console price hikes and most recently the declared drastic changes on Xbox Game Pass – including the 50% price hike on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service (watch Team Xbox’s pathetic and tone deaf announcement by clicking here).
But the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price hike of 50% ruined my plan to play The Outer Worlds 2 at launch entirely! I also noticed that none of the Team Xbox executives appeared in the pathetic October 1, 2025, video announcement of the drastic XGP changes.
Imagine the crashing ship as Team Xbox falling down hard because Microsoft forced them to make decisions and implement changes that made lots of Xbox fans and other gamers frustrated this year.
By looking at the collective feedback – both critics and gamers – about the newest sci-fi role-playing game from Obsidian, the bugs reported and the current prices, I have decided to pursue The Outer Worlds 2 later. It should be noted that the new game has two upcoming DLC episodes (story expansions) and there is no certainty as to when those will be released. As such, pursuing The Outer Worlds 2 later is the right thing for me to do because rushing for it now does not make sense at all.
What I did recently was I downloaded again my purchased digital copy of The Outer Worlds as well as the two DLC episodes on my Xbox Series X. Previously I played The Outer Worlds and the story expansions on my Xbox One, and replayed them on my Xbox Series X (enjoying the faster load times and improved frame rates) a few years ago.
So this year, I started from scratch again on a new single player campaign. I created a new character – her name is Vanilee – and customized the abilities with intelligence, science, engineering, lockpicking, persuasion, hacking and medicine in mind.
Meet my new character Vanilee.
Having played The Outer Worlds a few times already since late 2019, I decided to try other scenarios, find new dialog options (in relation to how I customized my character) and explored the maps in and out again. I had no trouble adjusting myself into the controls and overall feel of the game when it comes to response and precision. Take note that The Outer Worlds was developed by Obsidian at a time when it was not yet acquired by Microsoft/Xbox and Private Division was their publisher.
After going through the quests and side-quests in Edgewater – I diverted power to Edgewater helping Reed Tobson, the locals and convincing the deserters to return home – I entered the Unreliable with Parvati and Vicar Max as my teammates and proceeded to the Groundbreaker in space for further quests, scenarios and more options to build up my team.
Teammates Parvati and Nyoka in action against a monster in Monarch.
Vicar Max attacks an enemy with his shotgun.
So I kept on replaying the game rediscovering places, interacting with more characters and making decisions. Along the way, I spotted new dialog options emerging in connection with how I customized Vanilee from the start and built up with additional points accumulated for each level achieved. I ultimately reached the maximum of level 36.
Since I first played The Outer Worlds, it was clear to me that Obsidian did not have a massive budget as the creative and technical limitations were visible (examples: some repetitive interior designs, structures that cannot be accessed at all, lack of polish on stealth gameplay, my teammates getting in my line of fire, sluggish reloading, etc.). Instead of massive open-world environments, Obsidian came up with large maps but they ensured that each new location had something new for players to discover. I also admired the effort the developers invested on the art direction as well as making each map look distinct from each other while maintaining an artistic connection with the planet.
This is from the Murder on Eridanos DLC episode.
While the gameplay remains good for an RPG and first-person shooter enthusiast like me, what I admired best about The Outer Worlds was how Obsidian came up with connections between scenarios, the characters, the dialog options, and the consequences caused by decisions I made. That being said, I enjoyed watching the visual presentation and narration executed right after concluding the game. The presentation shows the endings of not just the main game but also those of the side quests completed and even the main quests of the two DLC episodes. How my decisions impacted the different factions and scenarios were clearly emphasized. In fact, the endings of the side quests and the two DLC episodes are seamlessly connected with the main game’s conclusion. As such, Obsidian succeeded in making The Outer Worlds worth replaying again.
Having played Starfield already, I realized that replaying The Outer Worlds was somehow a more satisfying experience. In my view, Bethesda tried too hard to make Starfield grand with a more galactic scope only to fail when it comes to exploration and long-term engagement. The Outer Worlds had a much smaller scope but it delivered the depth of fun, exploration, interaction and decision-making that strongly impacted the game’s conclusion.
Ellie in action in Gorgon!
At the same time, I find my character’s companions in Obsidian’s 2019 RPG more interesting and more engaging than those in Bethesda’s 2023 sci-fi juggernaut because of the following factors – better personalities, more clever writing and better voice acting. I believe it is time for Bethesda to start learning from Obsidian on how to make engaging dialogue and characters.
Right now, I am having a lot satisfaction replaying The Outer Worlds even though it has some flaws as well as creative and technical limitations as Obsidian did not have a very big budget. I wish the game had space battles as well as opportunities for the Unreliable to chase and dock enemy space ships which will allow me and my team to infiltrate. The game lacked mini-games which could have added more variety and fun when exploring the different locations on-foot (examples: the tossball facility in Monarch could have used a sports betting mini-game while the bars could have used card-based mini-games).
My crew inside the Unreliable.
On its own, the 2019 game is still a lot of fun to play and the role-playing element remains strong. The Outer World characters are memorable and the developers’ writers added humor to the dialog which prevented the game from becoming too dramatic or depressing. Indeed, The Outer Worlds is worth replayingand those who never played it should go for it!
NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief – the Israeli-based, all-volunteer, non-profit NGO dedicated to helping people worldwide rebuild their lives with dignity after natural and human-made disasters – provided much needed assistance to people living in northern Cebu in tandem with local partner Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, the Israeli Embassy announced on social media.
For the newcomers reading this, the entire island province of Cebu was struck hard by an earthquake on September 30, 2025, and the epicenter was off the coast (east) of northern Cebu. The massive earthquake was felt all over the Central Visayas region and in other parts of the Visayas as a whole. That being said, a lot of people living in the northern part of Cebu were affected the most as they were near the epicenter.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the content from the social media post of the Israeli Embassy. Some parts in boldface…
In the aftermath of a 6.9 earthquake that struck Northern Cebu, NATAN-Worldwide Disaster Relief deployed a volunteer team in partnership with Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines, Inc. to support affected communities. The Embassy of Israel in Manila commends their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to humanitarian service.
Led by Head of Delegation Roni Diamant Avnon, alongside Ofira Ben Shlomo and other dedicated professionals, the team included two medical doctors and three social workers. They opened a free clinic, offering medical checkups and distributing Israeli medications to local residents.
The psychosocial team facilitated mental health support sessions, sharing practical techniques to help individuals and communities cope with trauma, stress, and emotional challenges. These sessions empowered local psychology students, teachers, and health workers to provide care and comfort amid ongoing aftershocks.
The Embassy of Israel in Manila is deeply moved by the resilience and solidarity of the people of Cebu. This mission reflects the enduring friendship between Israel and the Philippines, rooted in compassion, shared humanity, and mutual support.
This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties. Many times has Israel provided humanitarian aid and special assistance to victims of disasters here in the Philippines. If your local community badly needs assistance from NATAN, visit them online at https://natanrelief.org/
Long before I visited Israel in 2023, there was a time when I worked and lived in Cebu. While it has been thirteen years since that last time I set food in Cebu, I was disturbed by the news of the September 30 earthquake as I have lots of friends there. As such, to see Israelis (and its local partner) helping Cebuanos affected by the earthquake is deeply inspiring. As some of you already know, I love Israel and the Jewish people in accordance to my uncompromising faith in Lord Jesus.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the local police arrested a man for possessing a replica gun and live ammunition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A 33-year-old man was arrested by members of the Las Piñas City Police CAA Substation for possession of a gun replica and live ammunition on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Col. Sandro Tafalla, Las Piñas Police chief, identified the suspect “Ethelbert.” He was arrested at around 5:55 a.m. along Chronicle Street in BF Homes, Las Piñas City.
Tafalla said a concerned citizen reported that the suspect was seen roaming along the road while carrying what looked like a gun.
Officers of the Las Piñas City Police CAA Substation immediately responded to the scene and found Ethelbert carrying a half-open black sling bag with the handle of his replica pistol extending from it.
The city police chief added that during verification, the responding policemen also found a magazine of .9mm pistol with one live ammunition from the suspect.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Did you notice any people carrying guns – replicas or actual – within your local community over the past three months?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government officially launched the Philippines’ first-ever citywide early warning system (EWS) for the deaf and those who are living with hearing loss, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa City has become the first in the Philippines to launch a citywide early warning system to ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing receive timely life-saving information during emergencies.
Developed by the city’s Department of Disaster Resilience and Management (DDRM), the system uses LED beacon lights that flash color-coded signals corresponding to different types of hazards, such as tropical cyclones, earthquakes, or other emergencies. When activated, the lights emit distinct flashing patterns to alert communities across the city.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon, who led the launch alongside Representative Jimmy Fresnedi this week, said the initiative reflects Muntinlupa’s commitment to making disaster preparedness accessible to all residents.
“Through this first-of-its-kind system, we’re making sure that every Muntinlupeño, especially those who cannot hear sirens or public announcements, receives life-saving warnings when it matters most,” Biazon said.
A total of 20 Beacon Lights have been installed in key locations, including schools, health centers, and major thoroughfares, as part of the pilot phase. Expansion plans are already underway, in partnership with the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), to extend coverage to more communities.
The new visual alert network complements Muntinlupa’s existing 17 early warning system sirens, which deliver audible alerts citywide during disasters or emergencies.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted to see the City Government achieve more awards? Do you see any excellence in the local governance in relation to urban developments?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
A new crackdown on visas has officially been launched as the State Department of the United States recently directed American embassies around the world to implement new rules for visa screening under the revived “public charge” rule, according to a Fox News report. This developments follows the February 2025 presidential action titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Fox News. Some parts in boldface…
A State Department cable obtained by Fox News Digital directs U.S. embassies worldwide to enforce sweeping new visa screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law — a move that revives and expands a Trump-era standard officials say was relaxed under President Joe Biden.
The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
“Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy,” the cable that went out to U.S. posts across the globe on Wednesday states, “and the public charge ground of inadmissibility has been a part of our immigration law for more than 100 years.“
Any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization could also be grounds for denial. “You must examine all aspects of the case,” the guidance reads, “including the petition, visa application, medical report, affidavit of support, and any information uncovered in the course of screening and vetting.”
Older visa applicants nearing retirement age are to face particular scrutiny, both for their job prospects and whether they can support themselves once they stop working. “Long-term institutionalization (e.g., at a nursing facility) can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and should be considered,” the memo notes.
The new guidance follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.” The cable says the order seeks to ensure “that no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.“
“The public charge determination is ‘in the opinion of the consular officer,’” the cable reminds, placing the burden of proof entirely on the applicant. Officers are instructed to conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each case and to assess “the totality of the applicant’s circumstances” before issuing any visa. “There is no ‘bright-line’ test,” the cable adds. “You must consider all aspects of the case and determine whether the applicant’s circumstances… suggest that he is more likely than not to become a public charge at any time.“
A State Department official told Fox News Digital, “For years, the American taxpayer was held hostage by the Biden administration’s disastrous open borders agenda… The Trump administration has brought an end to the era of mass immigration.“
The State Department is responsible for deciding who receives visas abroad, while the Department of Homeland Security determines who is ultimately admitted to the United States and who may adjust status once inside the country. Although both agencies apply the same immigration law, the State Department’s guidance governs consular officers overseas, giving them broad discretion to deny visas on public charge grounds.
Wow! This is a tremendous change implemented under US President Donald Trump who in turn fulfilled his promise of reforming immigration that includes securing borders, arresting and deporting illegal immigrants/aliens, and now changing rules on visa screening. This is a reform that is very welcome and far too long have there been foreigners – who kept secret their personal hatred towards America – who secured visas to enter the US and cause trouble. As ICE continues to search for illegal immigrants/aliens, the State Department and the many US embassies will do their part to prevent visas from being issued to the wrong people.
This is also a much-needed change from the radical immigration handling of the failed US President Joe Biden. The Democrats and the woke zealots are obviously very angry about this newest development because they really do not care about their fellow American citizens. Considering everything that happened over the past few decades, the Democrats are the one American political party who keep on backstabbing Americans in favor of illegal immigrants/aliens and hateful foreigners who want to trespass into the USA.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support the State Department’s global visa crackdown?
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) recently held in South Korea, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stated that his administration is pursuing artificial intelligence (AI) and integrate it across the agencies of the Philippine government sooner than later, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
President Marcos said his administration is determined to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) across government agencies “as much as we can, as soon as we can,” warning that waiting too long would mean missing out on opportunities for innovation and efficiency.
“You’re missing a chance if you wait,” Marcos told reporters here on Saturday evening, Nov. 1.
“AI is going to come. Parang alon ‘yan, eh. Kahit anong gawin mo, mababasa ka (AI is like a wave — no matter what you do, you’ll get wet),” he added.
The President said the Philippines must quickly learn how to use AI “in the best, secure, and benevolent way” to serve the public, warning that failure to adapt could leave the country behind.
“If you do not learn how to swim, if you do not learn how to use AI properly, may iwanan ka talaga (You’ll be left behind),” he said.
According to Marcos, AI’s rapid evolution makes it necessary for governments to study and apply the technology carefully.
“What AI can do one month ago is different from what AI will be able to do one month from now. That’s why people can’t quite understand it — it learns,” he said.
He described AI as “such a powerful tool” that could transform governance, public service, and economic competitiveness.
“You must take advantage of it as quickly as possible. You have to learn how to use it as quickly as possible,” the President said.
He added that other world leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) share the same sense of urgency.
“That’s one of my big takeaways from APEC. All the other leaders as well — they recognize how quickly AI will overwhelm us if we do not learn how to handle it properly,” he said.
Not a one-size-fits-all approach – Asked whether he plans to issue a directive guiding agencies on AI adoption, Marcos said it was too early to impose a blanket policy.
“It’s not yet clear what AI you use for government,” he said.
“Each department has a slightly different AI. We have to learn — we’re still studying,” he added.
The President said the government intends to consult both local and international experts to identify which applications of AI are most useful and which areas require caution.
“We have to talk to the experts — the whole world — and find out what does it do well, what doesn’t it do well,” he said.
Still, Marcos emphasized that AI adoption must be people-centered, helping Filipinos rather than replacing them.
In my opinion, using AI for governance and public service still looks uncertain. Considering how powerful or sophisticated AI has gotten today, it can be prone to abuse by the government. Worse, there is no guarantee right now how to protect human users from getting overwhelmed in the event that AI becomes self-aware and turns rogue against humanity. Just two years ago, GMA Network came up with fake sportscasters (both generated by AI) which caused some controversy here in the Philippines and only reminded people that AI has no soul and no humanity. Apart from being harmful to human workers in the business world, lots of AI applications made errors that affected users in varying ways. AI is currently not so effective in Japan in relation to finding solutions to their rice production problems. Watch and learn from the videos below.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think AI will really be helpful with regards to governance and public service? Do you think Congress should first make a new law and a series of rules covering AI? What safety measures should be taken to protect people in case rogue AI happens? Do you think the AI move is a convenient strategy of the administration to keep people’s attention away from the flood control corruption scandals and the weakening economic growth of the country?
The official economic numbers have been unveiled at last by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the results are disappointing as the gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the Philippines for the 3rd quarter of 2025 landed at a disappointing 4%, according to a Malaya Business Insight new report. The results could mean that the Philippine economy could fall short of the 5.5% to 6.5% GDP growth range by the end of this year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Malaya Business Insight. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine economy expanded by 4 percent in the third quarter of 2025, a sharp slowdown from the second quarter and the year earlier as public construction spending eased amid stricter validation measures for government projects.
The third-quarter growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP) marks a deceleration from a 5.49 percent rise in the second quarter.
Data released on Friday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also showed growth in the third quarter this year lost some momentum from 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024.
For the first nine months to September 2025, GDP grew by an average of 5 percent, easing from a rise of 5.8 percent in the year-earlier period.
Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said services and industry, on the supply side, posted weaker growth. He pointed out that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) civil works went through stricter validation measures.
Q3 growth drivers – National Statistician and PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said the main contributors to growth during the July-to-September period were wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (up 5.0 percent); financial and insurance activities (5.5 percent); and professional and business services (6.2 percent).
“All major economic sectors — agriculture, forestry, and fishing; industry; and services — posted year-on-year growths in the third quarter,” Mapa said, citing respective increases of 2.8 percent, 0.7 percent, and 5.5 percent.
On the demand side, household final consumption expenditure grew by 4.1 percent year-on-year, while government spending rose 5.8 percent. Exports of goods and services climbed 7.0 percent, and imports expanded 2.6 percent. In contrast, gross capital formation — the measure of investment in fixed assets — fell 2.8 percent, reflecting caution among businesses and slower project rollouts.
Weaker services and industry – In a separate statement, DEPDev Secretary Balisacan, referring to the easing of the supply side, particularly in the services and industry performance in the nine-month period, cited “a sharp contraction in public construction due to stricter validation measures for DPWH civil works, as well as the implementation of new requirements that delayed billings and disbursements for government projects.”
Despite the slowdown, Balisacan pointed out that private construction “remained respectable,” though investment in durable equipment “was subdued.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines does not have enough momentum to achieve the national government’s GDP growth range for 2025? Do you think the ongoing flood control corruption scandal developments have turned away lots of foreign investors?
Excellence of the City of Muntinlupa has been realized in the form of seven honors bagged by the City Government during the recent Urban Governance Exemplar Awards (UGEA) 2025, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government bagged seven awards at the Urban Governance Exemplar Awards (UGEA) 2025 given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Nov. 4.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon and Vice Mayor Stephanie “Phanie” Teves-Wong attended the awarding ceremony along with city officials.
UGEA recognized the accomplishments of local government units (LGUs). The Muntinlupa City government received the following awards:
• Local Council for the Protection of Children Performance Year 2024 – Top Performer
• Sangguniang Panlungsod of Muntinlupa – 2025 Local Legislative Award for Exemplary Performance
• Peace and Order Council & Anti-Drug Abuse Council – Significant and Invaluable Partner in Advancing the Vision of a Safe, Secure, and Drug-Free NCR
• Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children 2025 Functionality Audit – Highly Functional
• 2024 Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation and Preservation LGU Compliance Assessment – Highly Compliant
• 2024 Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation and Preservation LGU Compliance Assessment – Top Performer (Informal Settler Families Cluster)
• 2024 Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation and Preservation LGU Compliance Assessment – Top Performer (Liquid Waste Management Cluster)
Biazon said the awards reflected the efforts of every city employee and leader in delivering high-quality public service.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted to see the City Government achieve more awards? Do you see any excellence in the local governance in relation to urban developments?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Author Carlo Carrasco 