SunStar Philippines 
Quezon City govt in occupancy row with private firm
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government on Friday decided to padlock the two local government-owned buildings which were being occupied by the Rotary International District 3780 even after its lease agreement expired in 2020. The city government said in a statement emailed to The Manila Times that upon monitoring and inspection, it was discovered that the property on Roces Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, continued to be occupied by the private organization and “worse, it is also being occupied by the Rotary Center Foundation Inc. (RCFI).” Aside from the fact that it has never entered into any agreement with RCFI, the local government said RCFI allowed other private commercial establishments to occupy the structures through illegal rentals. As a result, the city government padlocked the buildings, insisting that private entities are not allowed to unlawfully profit from any property or building that is publicly owned. Meanwhile, the city council denounced the alleged public misrepresentations by RCFI and “its unconscionable attempt to use a city council resolution to falsely claim that the Council has directed the Honorable Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte to enter into a lease agreement with RCFI.” “In a statement made by RCFI, they claim that the honorable mayor refused to renew the lease agreement, contrary to the council’s directive.” This is patently false,” Vice Mayor Gian Sotto said. Sotto said the subject resolution merely authorized the mayor to enter into the proposed agreement should she opt to do so, subject to her proper determination. “Our position is clear. We stand with the honorable mayor in ensuring that public property cannot be used for unlawful purposes. It cannot benefit only the privileged few who seek to profit therefrom. Public property belongs to the people of Quezon City,” the council’s presiding officer said.
The Manila Times 
STAR Tollway announces new toll fees effective Jan. 1, 2026
MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Friday announced that the toll adjustment at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway will be effective beginning January 1, 2026. READ: SMC expressways to offer free toll fees on Dec. 24-25, Dec 31-Jan 1 The TRB said that “[t]his adjustment will ensure the continued operations, maintenance, and improvements of STAR — for a safer, faster, and more convenient travel experience.” For Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lipa, Batangas (Section 1), an additional fee of P5, P9, and P14 will be applied to Class 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This will adjust […]... Keep on reading: STAR Tollway announces new toll fees effective Jan. 1, 2026
Inquirer
STAR Tollway announces new toll fees effective Jan. 1, 2026
MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Friday announced that the toll adjustment at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway will be effective beginning January 1, 2026. READ: SMC expressways to offer free toll fees on Dec. 24-25, Dec 31-Jan 1 The TRB said that “[t]his adjustment will ensure the continued operations, maintenance, and improvements of STAR — for a safer, faster, and more convenient travel experience.” For Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lipa, Batangas (Section 1), an additional fee of P5, P9, and P14 will be applied to Class 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This will adjust […]... Keep on reading: STAR Tollway announces new toll fees effective Jan. 1, 2026
Banatao, known 'father of Philippine semiconductor industry, ' dies at 79
MANILA, Philippines — Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, known as the father of the Philippine semiconductor industry and for his contributions in technology, died on Christmas Day, his family confirmed on Friday. He was 79 years old. “The Banatao Family regrets to share the sad news that our beloved Dado passed peacefully on December 25, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. He was 5 months shy of his 80th birthday, and ultimately succumbed to complications from a neurological disorder that hit him late in his life,” the family’s statement read. “We are mourning his loss, but take comfort from the time spent with him during this Christmas season, and that his fight with this disease is over. We thank everyone for all the messages of support and prayers during this time,” they added. A memorial page set up for Banatao said he died on the campus of his alma mater, Stanford University, in the United States. News of his death was first mentioned by former finance secretary Cesar Purisima. “Today we mourn the passing of Diosdado ‘Dado’ Banatao, a brilliant engineer, visionary tech entrepreneur, and a true pride of the Philippines. From humble beginnings in Cagayan Valley, where he once walked barefoot to school, Dado’s journey to Silicon Valley became one of the most inspiring Filipino success stories on the global stage,” Purisima said in a Facebook post on Friday. In Purisima’s post, he said that Banatao was known for shaping the modern personal computer, was behind innovations in the semiconductor industry that included first 10-Mbit Ethernet CMOS chip, the system logic chipsets for the IBM PC-XT and PC-AT, the first graphics accelerator chip, and the pioneering local bus architecture, technologies that have become foundational to today’s computing industry. Banatao also founded Silicon Valley companies that included Mostron, Chips & Technologies, S3 Graphics, and Tallwood Venture Capital. He and his wife, Maria, founded the Philippine Development (PhilDev) Foundation in 2011, which is focused on eradicating poverty and uplift the Filipino community. “He believed deeply in Filipino talent and often emphasized that talent was never the problem, what mattered was opportunity and access to world-class technology education. Through PhilDev, he worked tirelessly to open doors for young Filipinos, empowering them to dream bigger and compete globally,” Purisima said in his tribute to the late engineer. Banatao was born in Iguig, Cagayan on May 23, 1946 and was known for his rags to riches story. He graduated cum laude in Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in Mapua University and took up Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University in 1972. In Banatao’s memory, donations to PhilDev are appreciated by the family, while wake and funeral details are being finalized.
