Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reported the figures during a Palace press briefing, attributing the increase to improved taxpayer compliance and the bureau’s collection efforts.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza credited taxpayers who voluntarily comply with tax rules, along with the agency’s efforts to make tax payments easier.

These measures include improving taxpayer services, simplifying payment procedures and providing assistance to those meeting their tax obligations.

The BIR aims to meet or exceed its collection targets through these initiatives.IMT

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Lacson, chairman of the Senate accounts committee and a senator-judge in the trial, said more than P14 million had been spent from the P25.7-million continuing appropriation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

“Kakasya na yan kasi isang article na lang ang naiwan at presentation na lang ng defense, so hindi na magtatagal yan. Sosobra yan – actually may masa-save pa doon,” he said in an interview with DZBB radio.

Lacson also disputed the claim by Duterte’s spokesperson, Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., that P500 million had been wasted on the proceedings.

The senator said Panelo may have confused the Senate’s regular operating expenses of about P25 million a day with the actual cost of conducting the impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the National Bureau of Investigation’s latest findings on properties linked to Duterte could no longer be included in the evidence being considered by the impeachment court because they were outside the scope of the trial.

“Itong mga bagong pinakita ng NBI, hindi naman ito nasaklaw eh. So hindi kasama sa consideration namin yan,” he said in an interview with DZMM radio.

Lacson said any further findings by the NBI could be considered by the Office of the Ombudsman in a possible criminal case. The NBI had referred its findings to the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice. 

Duterte has denied owning a property linked by the bureau to her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and questioned the use of public funds for the investigation.IMT

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The PAHAYAG Third Quarter 2026 survey, conducted from October 1 to 4, showed that 44 percent of respondents believe Duterte will be found guilty, while 31 percent expect her to be cleared. Around 25 percent were undecided.

Public interest in Duterte’s impeachment trial also remained strong, with 65 percent of respondents reporting a high level of interest in following the proceedings.

The survey also measured public perception regarding the evidence, financial documents, government records, and witness testimonies presented by the prosecution over the nearly four-month trial.

It revealed that 44 to 46 percent of respondents believe the prosecution’s evidence and testimonies are sufficient, compared to 38 to 40 percent who say additional evidence is still needed.

Meanwhile, 45 to 47 percent said they were convinced by the evidence presented to the impeachment court, while 37 to 38 percent remained unconvinced.

The survey was conducted among 1,581 registered voters before the prosecution decided to focus the impeachment case on allegations regarding Duterte’s unexplained wealth.

The prosecution stands firm in its position that the financial evidence presented is sufficient to prove constitutional violations and betrayal of public trust.

House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro previously told the impeachment court that their evidence is heavy and solid enough to convict Duterte and permanently remove her from office as Vice President.

At the center of the remaining impeachment charge is the analysis by forensic financial analyst Atty. Alexander Cabrera, who uncovered approximately P817.87 million in alleged unexplained wealth belonging to Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio.

However, according to Cabrera, the accounting does not end there.

He explained that the P817.87 million is merely a conservative or minimum estimate, and that the couple’s questionable wealth could reach approximately P1.5 billion if a broader analysis of their financial records is applied.

Cabrera’s findings are based on bank records, tax documents, corporate filings, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).IMT

The post More Pinoys expect VP Sara’s conviction — survey first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

MORE Power President and CEO Roel Castro received the award beaming with pride. He was also a finalist in the Asia CEO Awards.

The APEX Company of the Year is awarded to companies that show significant innovation, contribute to economic advancement, demonstrate strategic leadership, and drive national transformation.

“APEX company of the year recognizes companies that have achieved something significant but more importantly companies whose success can impact beyond their own organization,” said Haidee Enriquez of Microsourcing Group.

As a distribution utility, MORE Power strengthened its services in more than six years.

It capitalized on rehabilitating the substations, put up new substations, put up insulated power lines, as well as a modern and centralized monitoring system for the entire distribution utility.

The company also initiated the underground cabling of JM Basa Street in Iloilo City Proper to eliminate spaghetti wires while highlighting the beauty of the heritage sites.

“We are very happy that as an electric distribution utility, where customers sometimes think they don’t have any choice, we try to give our best to our customers in terms of rates as well as in terms of service,” said Castro.

At present, MORE Power is processing the migration of consumers in Pavia and San Miguel after it was given the Certificate of Public Convenience to operate in some parts of the Iloilo province.

Castro was grateful for the consumers of MORE Power for its support to the company citing that the true measure of success is the extent of the benefits that consumers could enjoy.

Among the finalists in the same category are companies such as Acquire Intelligence, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Concentrix Philippines, Datamatic Global Service Corporation, Pag-IBIG Fund, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Robinsons Malls, SixEleven Global Services and Solutions, Inc.

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Inflation in Iloilo province accelerated to 10.4 percent in September from 9.7 percent in August, while the city recorded an inflation of 7.8 percent, rising from 7.6 percent logged the previous month.

PSA Iloilo chief statistical specialist Jerry Dolutan said food and non-alcoholic beverages served as the top driver of the acceleration, recording an inflation of 9.4 percent and accounting for 87 percent of the increase.

Health services came in second, posting a 9.8 percent inflation rate and contributing 9.3 percent to the overall figure, while information and communication recorded 1.5 percent inflation, accounting for 2.9 percent of the increase.

In Iloilo City, price pressures were concentrated heavily in food and logistics.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages posted a 7.4 percent inflation rate, contributing 44 percent to the total increase.

Transport registered a 14.6 percent inflation rate, accounting for 39.1 percent of the city’s headline rate.

Restaurants and accommodation services logged a 1.9 percent decline in overall prices but still contributed 16 percent to the headline inflation calculation due to structural weighting.

Cereal prices and palay supply dynamics

Cereals and cereal products—predominantly rice—remained the single largest driver of food inflation across both local government units.

Cereal inflation hit 29.8 percent in the  province and 23.9 percent in the city during the month.

Dolutan attributed the sharp rise in staple food costs to lower local palay (unmilled rice) production coupled with higher farmgate buying prices offered by commercial traders.

“This could be an advantage for our farmers if their production is good because they would be selling at higher prices after their harvest,” he said.

Meanwhile, meat and slaughtered animal prices showed a slower rate of decline in both the province and the city, each registering an inflation rate of negative 3.6 percent.

PSA attributed the stabilization in meat supply to ongoing municipal interventions aimed at bolstering local livestock stocks, particularly in swine repopulation.

Across Western Visayas, Iloilo province recorded the third-highest inflation rate in September, trailing behind Aklan (11.6%) and Antique (11.4%). IMT

The post Soaring rice prices push Iloilo province inflation to 10.4%, city to 7.8% first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

The honest answer is: it depends. Outsourcing does not automatically improve governance. It can strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability—but it can also weaken institutions if done poorly. Design, oversight, and political will matter.

We already have real Philippine examples where BPOs have helped the government work faster. COMELEC outsourced key components of election automation—ballot scanning, transmission, and technical support—helping speed up canvassing and reduce manual errors. The Department of Health and PhilHealth have long used BPO firms for medical transcription, claims verification, and customer support, especially during the pandemic surge. SSS hotlines and back-office loan processing are largely outsourced, cutting waiting times for members. Even the BIR uses outsourced taxpayer assistance and IT-enabled services to push e-filing and compliance.

These show that outsourcing works best in high-volume, citizen-facing, IT-enabled services—exactly where government bottlenecks usually choke service delivery.

Still, we should not romanticize outsourcing. The pros are clear: efficiency, faster processing, measurable accountability through service-level agreements (SLAs), scalability during crises, and access to modern technology. Done right, BPO strengthens compliance and risk management because everything is tracked, timed, and audited.

But the cons are just as real. Over-reliance on private providers can hollow out government expertise. Data security risks increase, especially with health, tax, and voter information. Poorly written contracts invite abuse. Cultural misalignment and weak oversight can quietly transfer power from public institutions to private contractors without public debate.

So where do we draw the line? Almost all non-core, repetitive, and administrative tasks are candidates for outsourcing: citizen hotlines, records digitization, tax assistance, education and scholarship processing, transport licensing support, disaster reporting systems, and even compliance analytics for audit agencies. Imagine barangays sharing BPO hubs for permits, complaints, disaster alerts, and health referrals—with local oversight boards watching the numbers in real time. That is not science fiction. It is modular governance.

What about the legal basis? Outsourcing is not a loophole. It is anchored on Republic Act 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act, which governs contracting of services through transparent bidding. The Administrative Code of 1987 allows agencies to contract services necessary for operations. Sector-specific laws back this up: the COMELEC Automation Law (RA 9369), the PhilHealth Charter, and the SSS Charter all allow third-party service contracts. The Data Privacy Act and COA rules provide safeguards—at least on paper.

Now for the irony: if we truly claim to be the BPO capital of the world, why are we not more aggressive in using our own BPO sector to improve our own governance? Why do we export governance support to foreign companies but hesitate to use it for our own public services?

There is also an unspoken social effect: the rise of BPO employment has quietly reduced the pressure to work abroad as OFWs. That alone is a governance outcome—families staying together, skills retained locally, and income circulating at home.

Should the government give more incentives to BPO firms that serve public agencies? Maybe. But incentives should be tied not just to job generation, but to measurable public impact: faster claims, fewer backlogs, higher citizen satisfaction, cleaner audits.

So, can BPO make governance better? Yes—if it is used as a tool for accountability, not just cost-cutting. No—if it becomes a shortcut to avoid fixing internal weaknesses.

The real governance question is not whether to outsource, but how much, how well, and under whose watchful eyes.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES
www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/10-13-2026

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WAS it a case of hubris on the part of the prosecution panel? Or overconfidence? 

Or both?

Whatever was the reason behind their decision to drop the three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, they may have already smelled victory, or a conviction based on the damning pieces of evidence unveiled in the testimonies of forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera in Article II, which accuses Mrs. Duterte-Carpio of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose assets or divest from prohibited business interests.

We don’t need a bazooka, a revolver, and a bayonet because we have sharpened the Samurai?

Two early to celebrate? Not so fast, folks.

Charlie Parker once warned that the desire for victory is a common trait that connects all life on planet Earth.

A tree will grow in the direction that provides the most sunlight for its leaves to maximize its probability of survival.

Lionesses will mate with the strongest male lion to maximize the probability of their offspring’s viability and success.

But no matter how hard we try, we can never guarantee victory and success.

-o0o-

If there were a person who could guarantee victory every time, that person would become the richest person in human history, Parker emphasized.

Imagine a quarterback who could never lose, or a scientist who always came up with the perfect formula.

Cocksure of becoming the first American-born world chess champion, Robert James “Bobby” Fischer supposedly “threw away intentionally” the first two games of his world chess championship match against defending champion Boris Spassky of Soviet Union in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1972.

But unlike the late American genius who would become the sixth non-Russian world chess champion even after the 0-2 deficit, there is no clear sign yet that the prosecution panel’s shocking decision to drop the three articles of impeachment will result in the conviction of the beleaguered Philippine vice president.

As of this writing, the prosecution panel continued to receive flaks even from supporters who didn’t agree with their decision.

After yielding the first two important games in the 21-game championship series played at the height of the Cold War, Fischer, then 29, faced heavy criticism for self-destruction, lack of emotional control, and erratic behavior.

Despite the disastrous start, Fischer wrested the world chess title by a commanding 12.5-8.5 points victory over the then 35-year-old Soviet champion on September 1, 1972.

-o0o-

Fischer’s Game 2 loss drew widespread condemnation for throwing a temper tantrum, protesting the noise and TV cameras in the hall, and failing to show up to the board. This self-inflicted default put him in a 2–0 hole against Spassky.

Soviet and Western analysts alike suggested that Fischer allowed his nerves and temper to crack under the massive pressure of the match, letting Spassky lure him into an emotional collapse.

There were concerns and fears from chess officials, the media, and even United States representatives that Fischer’s constant saber rattling, paranoia, demands, and refusal to show up would sabotage the match or lead to a complete embarrassment.

There were pundits who claimed, however, that Fischer did not actually sacrifice two games against the reigning Soviet world champion; rather, he lost the first game by over-the-board play (after miscalculating a bishop move) and forfeited the second game by failing to show up.

In Game 1, Fischer really lost, the pundits claimed, when he played a controversial bishop sacrifice (29…Bxh2), which trapped his piece. Some conspiracy theories or speculative opinions suggested he might have miscalculated or played bizarrely on purpose, but many chess historians viewed it as a real miscalculation or risky struggle rather than a deliberate game sacrifice.

Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed

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The declaration, recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The move came after three heavily impacted local government units separately declared their own states of calamity: Passi City, which reported a staggering 99% infestation rate; Dueñas, at 98%; and San Enrique, at 58%.

The province-wide declaration will allow local authorities to tap into emergency response funds and expedite assistance to affected agricultural workers and farmers across the province.IMT

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Running from October 21 to 25, 2026, at Megatrade Halls 1–3, Level 5, Mega B, SM Megamall, this national showcase builds upon the momentum of the successful trade fair held last August.

Organized in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) and supported by the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), the event puts the spotlight on the remarkable versatility, innovation, and economic potential of the Philippine coconut industry.

“The momentum we are seeing from our Western Visayas MSMEs continues to make us proud. Beyond the impressive sales generated from these trade fairs and exhibitions, what inspires us even more is their growing confidence, eagerness, and determination to pursue new market opportunities and compete on a larger stage,” said DTI-6 Acting Regional Director Mutya D. Eusores.

“Their willingness to innovate, adapt, and actively seek growth opportunities reflects the strength and resilience of our entrepreneurs and reinforces the vast potential of our region’s MSME sector especially for the coconut-based producers,” she continued.

The delegation of 13 entrepreneurs from the region, many of whom are proud CFIDP beneficiaries, will represent Western Visayas’ rich heritage and craftsmanship, featuring a diverse array of local products.

From Aklan, PS Integrated Farm of Ibajay will showcase intricate coconut-based fashion accessories including coconut leis, chandeliers, and necklaces.

Antique joins the roster with Patnongon’s Colsol Distillery, presenting its locally crafted artisanal Don Tikyo rum.

Capiz is well-represented by Pontevedra’s Nanay Patring’s Recipe offering local delicacies such as coco gourmet, bukokayo, and ubod, alongside My Souvenir Shop and the Capiz Cacao Producers Cooperative from Roxas City and Panitan highlighting handicrafts, wearables, homestyle products, and fine local chocolates.

Guimaras brings nutrient-rich virgin coconut oil, coco jam, and healthy trail mixes through the TPAS Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Buenavista.

Iloilo boasts a robust contingent of innovators and artisans.

Balboa’s Coconut Farm of Barotac Viejo will present sustainable coconut charcoal briquettes, fire starters, and natural air purifier bags, while Tubungan’s Betchay’s Craft Souvenir Shop showcases artistic coconut shell crafts.

Pavia’s Einar’s Natural Food Export will offer specialty teas, coconut spreads, jams, and healthy snack bars, complemented by exquisite handcrafted capiz shell floral arrangements from Capiz Shell Flowers and Antiques in Iloilo City.

Dingle’s Lorenzo Farm will feature rich cocoa pearls, instant tablea, coco truffles, and artisanal tablea, while Miagao’s Spinners Herbal and Wellness Enterprise brings trusted wellness essentials including virgin coconut oil, massage oils, citronella, peppermint oil, and turmeric ginger powder.

Rounding out the regional delegation is Vernice Rose Integrated Farm from Sara, showcasing fashionable and durable coconut-based bags.

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