Abbey M.

MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has relieved two district engineers in Pampanga over their alleged failure to enforce road safety measures following the death of a man who fell into an open drainage canal in Angeles City.

Relieved from their posts were Pampanga 3rd District Engineering Office officer-in-charge District Engineer Aser Mallari and OIC Assistant District Engineer Augustin Dagsaan Jr.

In a memorandum released Sunday night, Dizon cited their failure to comply with required safety standards, among other alleged infractions. The relief order took effect immediately.

Dizon also directed the two officials to complete and turn over all pending documents and official records to ensure the continuous delivery of public services.

The action follows the death of Reiner Novero, who fell into a flooded, open drainage canal along Fil-Am Friendship Highway in Barangay Cutcut, Angeles City on Aug. 28.

The incident was captured by a closed-circuit television camera and later circulated widely on social media.

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MANILA — The southwest monsoon or habagat will bring rains over several parts of Luzon today, September 7, according to PAGASA.

Occasional rains are expected over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the rest of Mimaropa, Abra, Benguet, and Antique will experience scattered rains and thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy rains may cause flash floods or landslides in affected areas.

The Visayas and the rest of Luzon may also experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to habagat, while localized thunderstorms may bring isolated rains over Mindanao.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas are also expected over Northern Luzon.

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‍MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has warned Filipino applicants and local government units against dealing with unauthorized recruiters offering recruitment, training and deployment services for seasonal jobs in South Korea.

The DMW said brokers are strictly prohibited from taking part in the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers under South Korea’s Seasonal Workers Program (SWP).

Under DMW Advisory No. 54, series of 2026, South Korea has designated the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) as the central government agency handling the seasonal worker program.

The department also clarified that private companies in South Korea are not authorized to arrange or facilitate “sisterhood” or twinning agreements between Philippine and South Korean local government units for the program.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac urged LGUs participating in the SWP to avoid transacting with unauthorized companies or individuals.

“This is an important reminder to our LGUs that are part of the Seasonal Workers Program in Korea not to engage with unauthorized companies or individuals to ensure the welfare and protection of our Filipino seasonal workers,” Cacdac said.

The DMW said the advisory is part of government efforts to strengthen safeguards for overseas Filipino workers and prevent illegal recruitment and unauthorized deployment arrangements.

LGUs and applicants seeking more information about the Seasonal Workers Program may coordinate directly with the DMW’s Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau at the DMW Building in Mandaluyong City.

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MANILA, Philippines — Students on Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan may eventually gain access to Department of Science and Technology scholarship programs as the agency works to expand its reach to the remote municipality.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the department’s scholarship programs have already reached 72 of the 73 municipalities in MIMAROPA, with Kalayaan remaining the only municipality not yet covered.

The possible expansion comes as formal education on Pag-asa Island continues to develop.

According to Solidum, students on the island had access only to elementary education until 2024. Junior high school has since been established, opening a possible pathway for students to complete secondary education and eventually qualify for college and DOST scholarship programs.

Among the scholarships offered by the DOST are the DOST-Science Education Institute Merit Scholarship for students with strong aptitude in science and mathematics, and the scholarship program under Republic Act No. 7687 for qualified students from families that meet socioeconomic requirements.

The agency also offers Junior Level Science Scholarships for qualified third-year college students taking priority science and technology courses.

Across MIMAROPA, DOST currently supports 2,757 scholars, including 2,510 undergraduate students, 193 master’s students and 54 doctoral scholars.

Expanding scholarship access to Kalayaan could provide students living on the remote Pag-asa Island with opportunities to pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering and other related fields.

However, DOST’s planned expansion should not be interpreted as the opening of a separate scholarship application exclusively for Pag-asa Island students. The agency is still working to extend its existing scholarship programs to Kalayaan.

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‍MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for the removal of the 12% value-added tax on residential electricity to help lower monthly power bills for Filipino households.

Aquino said exempting residential electricity from VAT could provide consumers with greater relief, particularly if combined with measures addressing system loss charges, which account for around 5% to 6% of electricity charges.

“If we remove VAT from residential electricity — not from businesses and factories, but just residential — this could mean a bigger drop in the electricity bill of our citizens,” Aquino said during a recent Development Budget Coordination Committee briefing.

Aquino has filed Senate Bill No. 266, which seeks to exempt from VAT the sale of electricity by generation, transmission and distribution companies, as well as electric cooperatives.

The proposed measure would also exempt from VAT the services provided by franchise holders of electric utilities.

Aquino said removing the tax could lower electricity prices by eliminating the VAT cost currently passed on to consumers.

He has also filed Senate Bill No. 2047, which proposes reducing the general VAT rate on goods and services, including petroleum products, from 12% to 10%.

Separately, Aquino filed Resolution No. 375 seeking a Senate inquiry into a recent Manila Electric Company power rate increase and the system of cross-subsidies reflected in consumers’ monthly bills.

Aquino questioned why households that do not benefit from electricity subsidies are made to help shoulder discounts provided to low-income consumers, marginalized sectors and senior citizens.

He said these cross-subsidies may add around P20 to P100 per month to the electricity bill of an average household.

While assistance for low-income consumers should continue, Aquino said the cost should instead be funded by the national government through the budget rather than passed on to other electricity consumers.

The proposals remain pending in the Senate and would still need to go through the legislative process before any changes to electricity VAT rates can take effect.

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