Abbey M.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government has begun implementing a flood control master plan that had existed for decades but was never fully carried out.

“We already have a master plan. It's just never been executed. We are only executing it now,” Marcos told on Wednesday after inspecting repair works at a collapsed bridge in Tarlac.

“We have had a master plan for decades pero walang ginawa. Ngayon lang natin sinisimulan,” he added.

The President made the statement as Central Luzon, Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon continue to deal with widespread flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains.

The flooding has renewed calls for long-term measures aimed at reducing flood risks, particularly in areas repeatedly affected by severe weather.

Malacañang has pushed for the implementation of measures such as improving waterways and drainage systems, strengthening land-use planning and addressing structures or developments that obstruct natural water flow.

Marcos also directed national agencies and local governments to enforce existing laws and no-build zones, stressing that disaster preparedness and compliance with regulations are necessary to lessen the impact of extreme weather events.

The President said the government would continue adjusting its disaster preparedness and infrastructure strategies as communities face increasingly severe weather conditions associated with climate change.

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Impeachment Court on Wednesday declared Vice President Sara Duterte’s former Department of Education chief of staff, Michael Wesley Poa, a hostile witness, allowing the House prosecution to question him through leading questions about DepEd’s ₱112.5 million confidential funds.

Presiding officer Senate President Francis Escudero issued the ruling shortly before private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. began examining Poa.

“The Chair will proceed to declare Atty. Poa as a hostile witness, therefore giving Atty. Tolosa the right to ask leading questions, but again, as a reminder, not to ask misleading questions,” Escudero said.

Poa served as DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff and spokesperson during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. He is now part of her legal defense team in the impeachment trial.

Lead defense counsel Shiela Sison acknowledged Poa’s present role in Duterte’s defense, telling the court that it could be reasonably presumed that he would not readily support the prosecution’s theory of the case.

The prosecution sought to have Poa treated as a hostile witness as it questioned his role in responding to Commission on Audit findings involving DepEd’s confidential fund expenditures.

Tolosa argued that Poa had previously admitted he had no personal knowledge of how the confidential funds were actually used on the ground before he was tasked to answer COA’s Audit Observation Memoranda.

“Why is it that the Vice President tasked one of his trusted aides to respond to the AOMs issued by the COA when he confessed that he knew nothing about it? That is very material,” Tolosa told the court.

When asked by Escudero to clarify, Tolosa said Poa had no personal knowledge of how the confidential funds were “operationalized or used on the ground.”

The prosecution is examining the use and liquidation of ₱112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds in 2023 as part of the first Article of Impeachment against Duterte.

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MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Education Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa, who now serves as spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team, testified Wednesday that he reported directly to Duterte and regularly received her instructions while at DepEd, but had no firsthand knowledge of how the agency’s confidential funds were operationally used.

Poa took the witness stand as a hostile prosecution witness on Day 21 of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. questioned Poa about his authority and working relationship with Duterte while he served as DepEd spokesperson, undersecretary, chief of staff, officer-in-charge of the finance office and head of the procuring entity.

Poa confirmed that he had a direct reporting relationship with Duterte and could communicate with her without going through other department officials.

As chief of staff, Poa said he regularly gave Duterte updates and received her guidance on matters involving DepEd operations.

He also confirmed that he consulted Duterte before media interviews while serving as department spokesperson.

Poa earlier said that whenever he needed to face the media, he would message Duterte to determine what she wanted him to say. He confirmed during the impeachment trial that the statement was his.

Despite his close working relationship with Duterte, Poa maintained that he had no personal knowledge of how DepEd’s confidential funds were used on the ground.

“I don’t have personal knowledge in the operations of DepEd. So, I’m answering based on my understanding, based on what I’ve read when I was trying to study,” Poa said while discussing confidential fund requirements.

Poa also testified that his involvement in the confidential fund issue began only after DepEd received an Audit Observation Memorandum from the Commission on Audit.

He said he did not sign the original liquidation reports covering the confidential funds.

According to his testimony, the records were signed by then-special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda, Duterte as head of the agency, and an accountant.

DepEd received and used ₱112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023 while Duterte was education secretary.

The prosecution is examining who exercised control over the funds, what safeguards were put in place and how the money was actually used as part of the first Article of Impeachment against Duterte.

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NEW YORK — Alex Eala advanced to the second round of the 2026 US Open after a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Tuesday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The 17th-seeded Filipina overcame a shaky start before taking control of the match, breaking Stoiana four times and completing the win in one hour and 18 minutes.

Eala faced a break point in the opening game after a double fault but recovered to hold serve. She then broke Stoiana in the next game and quickly built a 5-0 lead.

Stoiana finally got on the board at 5-1, but Eala responded with a love hold to close out the first set.

The American showed more resistance in the second set, with the two players holding serve through 2-2.

Eala then secured a crucial break in the fifth game and pulled away from there.

Stoiana saved three break points in the seventh game, but errors eventually gave Eala another break before the Filipina served out the match.

“Of course, it was very difficult. Every exchange had its own challenges, especially in the start of the second set,” Eala said after the match.

She added that Stoiana had put her in uncomfortable positions but said she was pleased with how she handled the contest.

The victory was met with loud support from the mostly pro-Eala crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, continuing the growing “Eala-mania” surrounding the Filipina tennis star.

Eala thanked the Filipino community and tennis fans in New York for their support.

“Thank you everybody for being part of my journey and making it such a pleasure to do my job,” she said.

Eala will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round as she continues her US Open campaign.

‍MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-two Filipino seafarers have safely returned to the Philippines after their vessel was hit by a missile while docked at a port in Ukraine.

The Filipino crew arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Sunday, August 30, aboard Turkish Airlines Flight TK084. They were welcomed by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Manila International Airport Authority medical team.

The seafarers were serving aboard the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier M/V Antonia S when the vessel was struck by a missile on August 19 while berthed at Chornomorsk Port in Ukraine.

Following the attack, local authorities evacuated the crew to a designated shelter within the port, where they remained safe while arrangements were made for their temporary accommodation and repatriation.

The ship’s Filipino captain also credited a foreign security officer aboard the vessel for warning the crew of the incoming attack, giving them time to move to a safer area and take precautionary measures before the missile struck.

Upon their return, the seafarers received financial assistance through the DMW’s AKSYON Fund for their immediate needs.

They will also undergo medical and psychological assessments arranged by their licensed manning agency to address their physical and psychosocial needs following the incident.

DMW Assistant Secretary for Sea-Based OFW Concerns Augusto San Diego III urged Filipino seafarers to remain aware of their rights, including the right to refuse to sail when conditions pose a serious threat to their safety.

The DMW has maintained restrictions on the deployment of Filipino seafarers to the northern Black Sea due to continuing security risks from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Separately, the DMW provided financial assistance to 92 distressed overseas Filipino workers during its “Parangal sa Bagong Bayani ng Mundo” gathering for National Heroes Day.

Of the beneficiaries, 86 received ₱50,000 each, while six OFWs requiring medical assistance received ₱75,000 each.

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