Dev Flores

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has confirmed that an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) died in a drone attack in Saudi Aramco Shaybah oil field last Wednesday, October 21.

The DMW is coordinating with the OFW’s family, colleagues, and employer to obtain more details about the death.

The agency will also coordinate with Saudi authorities for legal and welfare assistance for the victim’s bereaved family, and to arrange the repatriation of its remains.

The DMW also monitors the reported attack in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reminds the OFWs in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East to be always cautious, follow all safety protocols, and monitor advisories of their host countries for their safety.

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced that new EDSA Busway stations are set to open in 2027.

According to DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the new busway stations include Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Cubao, and Magallanes.

“Hopefully, by next quarter of 2027, this is the PITX station; then we have one in Cubao and one in Magallanes,” he said

Guadalupe Busway Station will also be set to open next month, according to the agency.

The secretary also inspected the recalibrated Monumento Busway Station. However, some of the portions still have no lighting. He said that the DOTr will coordinate with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Meralco, as some of the electrical lines are still registered under the MMDA.

“Makikiusap po tayo kay Chairman Artes at saka at least sa Meralco din also, kasi tayo nakikihiram din po ngayon. At this point in time, yung line po ng electrical line natin dito ay nakapangalan pa yata ho sa MMDA,” Sec. Lopez said

Meanwhile, the agency also started the installation of portalets busway stations, such as Santolan.

During the inspection, Secretary Lopez appealed to the public not to take necessary items in the portalet without permission.

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Monthly safety drills in public schools will begin in November 2026, based on the new directive of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Simula Nobyembre 2026, buwan-buwan nang magsasagawa ng mga safety drill sa lahat ng pampublikong paaralan na nakatutok sa iba’t ibang uri ng banta batay sa localized risk assessments,” the agency said

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stated that drills aim to limit damage and to prevent cases of deaths 

“The purpose is really to limit the damage that can be done,” Angara said

The drill also aims to train students on how to respond in case a threat of violence happens in schools.

DepEd and DILG signed an agreement, expanding the roles of village watchmen

The DepEd and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed an agreement on Wednesday allowing village watchmen to guard school surroundings for additional layers of security in schools, especially for schools lacking security personnel.

“Yung role ng barangay, i-expand 'yung role ng mga barangay tanods para bantayan yung mga school,” Angara said

Secretary Angara also clarified that watchmen are not a replacement for the  Philippine National Police (PNP). Instead, they will serve as partners in guarding schools, while maintaining the prohibition on bringing weapons inside the campuses.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro responded to Vice President Sara Duterte’s earlier statement that nothing can be expected from the president.

At a press conference, Usec. Claire Castro recalled the Vice President’s remark about the president’s promise of P20-per-kilo rice. These include VP Sara’s earlier statement that she knows a way to make the price of rice down to P20 per kilo, but she will not share it because she does not want to help the president.

“Sinabi niya na mayroon siyang alam na paraan para ito maging P20 kada kilo na bigas pero hindi daw niya ishe-share dahil ayaw niyang tumulong sa pangulo,” Castro said

Castro questioned that and asked whether P20-per-kilo rice has ever been available in Davao City, because if it has, VP Sara has already implemented what she already knows.

“Meron na po bang P20 na bigas sa Davao City na hindi galing sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo? Kasi kung meron, ibig sabihin, na-implement niya yung kanyang alam,” she said

Hence, Castro said that nothing can be expected from the Vice President.

“From that statement na ayaw niyang tumulong sa pangulo, anong mae-expect natin sa bise presidente sa pagtulong sa isinasagawa ng pangulo, sa mga interventions ng gobyerno? Wala tayong lalong maaasahan sa presidente,” she said

She also countered the Vice President’s plan for an information dissemination campaign by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and stressed that the administration does not end with the information dissemination, as it comes with action.

“Hindi lamang po information dissemination ginagawa ng administrasyon. Hindi lang sa information dissemination tumitigil ang Pangulo. May aksyon. May pagtulong. May mga ginagawang pamamaraan,” she said

The earlier remark of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. about buying a bucket (balde) in preparation for the threat of Super El Niño has gone viral among netizens. In his statement, the President suggested buying buckets to collect and store water.

“Bumili na kayo ng balde para pag umulan makolekta na ninyo lahat,” he said

He said that the government is also ready to provide a guide on filtration steps to make sure that the collected water is clean and safe. Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro clarified this remark at a press briefing and stressed that the president’s statement should not be taken negatively. She said that the government will release a tutorial on water filtration. 

“Ang isa sa mga baldeng pinag-uusapan dito ay kung papaano magkaroon ng filtration ng tubig. Kung mag-iipon po kayo ng tubig, kapagka pumatak ang ulan ay maaari pong gamitin 'to at ituturo po sa inyo yung filtration,” she said

“Magsasagawa po mismo si Secretary Rex Gatchalian ng video patungkol po dito para po kayo ay maturuan,” she added

VP Duterte declines to comment on PBBM’s remark

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte declined to comment on the president’s statement.

“Hindi na ako magko-comment diyan sa balde-balde niya,” she said

She said that the Office of the Vice President is set to conduct an information dissemination campaign in preparation for the threat of Super El Niño in the country.

“Gagawa po kami ng information dissemination, educating para mas maintindihan nila: Ano ba yung El Niño? Ano ba yung epekto sa personal mo na buhay? Ano yung epekto niya sa komunidad natin? Ano yung epekto niya sa pagkain natin, sa presyo ng mga bilihin?” she said

The Vice President explained that the campaign will inform affected sectors of what they should do to survive and protect themselves and their livelihoods from the effects of El Niño.

Castro: Take the president’s advice seriously

Nevertheless, Usec. Castro said that the president’s suggestion on El Niño preparations should be taken seriously.

“Ang bawat mga binibigay na aral sa atin ng gobyerno at ng pangulo, ito ay dapat na sineseryoso,” she said

She also stated that obstructionists must have a bucket of brains to understand the plan of the president.

“Sa mga obstructionist po, itong sasabihin ko: Kailangan po talaga natin ng balde, baldeng utak para po maintindihan niyo po kung ano ang plano ng pangulo,” she said