SOTTO VS MARCOLETA: SENATE ARCHIVES IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT VS VP SARA
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE implementation of a new rice policy and sticky inflation may give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reason to “rethink its easing cycle,” according to economists.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently disclosed that it wants to ban rice importation for up to two months as early as September in its bid to arrest the slump in farmgate prices of palay.
On Wednesday morning, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the DA’s recommendation for a two-month imports halt.
HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay said the Marcos administration’s policies on rice, the country’s staple, must be closely monitored, particularly its impact on supply. He said if rice supply is affected, this could lead to faster headline inflation.
“One risk to monitor, however, is rice policy. Due to falling rice prices, the Department of Agri-
culture is proposing to impose a 1 million metric ton quota on imported rice. We have written previously that curbing the supply of rice risks stoking inflation by 1.2 to 1.4 percentage points,” Dacanay said.
“Though the policy is still up for debate—and is therefore a risk, not a guarantee—market watchers will likely keep a tab on the proposal’s legislation since the impact would be enough for the BSP to re-think its easing cycle,” he added.
Another risk that should be monitored, Ateneo de Manila University
economist Leonardo Lanzona
said is sticky inflation, given the faster core inflation figure disclosed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday. BusinessMirror on Wednesday reported that core inflation, which excludes volatile food items such as rice as well as energy, remains elevated at 2.3 percent in July. This is faster than the 2.2 percent recorded in June but slower than the 2.9 percent recorded a year ago. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/08/06/july-core-
329K JOIN JOBLESS EVEN BEFORE TARIFFS HURT
By Cai U. Ordinario
WITH thousands joining the ranks of the unemployed, it’s easy to blame Trump’s tariffs but economists believe the full extent of the impact of Washington’s new trade policies have yet to impact Filipino workers.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) disclosed that unemployment increased by 20.3 percent or 329,000 to 1.95 million in June 2025 from 1.62 million in June 2024.
With this, PSA data showed total unemployed Filipinos averaged 1.95 million in the first six months of 2025, a reduction of 60,000 from the 2.01 million posted the same period last year.
“The increase in unemployment is unlikely to be directly caused by the Trump tariffs, at least not yet. Its full labor market impact would likely surface in the second half of the year, especially in export-reliant sectors like electronics, garments, and agribusiness,” Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera told BusinessMirror Rivera said, however, that anticipation of weaker orders and uncertainty on tariffs may have prompted companies to delay hiring or reducing their manpower.
In the briefing, Assistant National Statistician Divina Gracia L. del Prado said among the sectors that saw the largest declines in employment was manufacturing which shed 424,000 jobs. Under manufacturing, Del Prado said, 156,000 jobs were lost in cement manufacturing; 114,000 in semiconductor and electronic products; and 24,000 in rice and corn milling.
“It’s not fair to pin that directly on Trump’s tariffs.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE country’s farm output expanded by 5.7 percent in the second quarter, the highest in eight years, driven by the absence of weather-related shocks in local plantations.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that while the fisheries and livestock subsectors contracted in terms of value, the crops and poultry subsectors sustained their rise enough to buoy the
agriculture industry’s performance in April to June. Historical data also indicated that the latest growth rate is the highest since the 6.4-percent farm output in the same period of 2017.
The value of agriculture and fisheries production reached P437.53 billion in the second quarter, higher than last year’s P414.05 billion.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa attributed the increase in farm output to the absence of El Niño and
ENCOURAGED by Manila’s growing bilateral trade with New Delhi, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to expedite negotiations for the PhilippinesIndia preferential trade agreement (PTA) to spur further business collaboration in “high-growth sectors” in both countries.
Addressing participants of the Philippines-India CEO Roundtable at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi in India on Wednesday, the chief executive said he has ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to initiate formal talks with the Indian government for a PTA, to focus on information and communication technology (ICT), digital technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, infrastructure,
healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
“We are working very hard together to find the common ground so as to make the passage or the agreement of the PTA come as quickly as possible. The very fervent discussion we were having here earlier was just precisely about that, and I think we have found ways to do—to quicken the process,” he said.
Once the PTA is finalized, Marcos said he hopes it will sustain the growth momentum between Philippines and India which reached US$ 3.3 billion last year.
The event was attended by 17 business executives from different sectors including information technology and business process management (ITBPM), infrastructure, and healthcare.
Marcos urged 10 Indian business leaders to consider making new investments in the Philippines by
citing its promising economic indicators, particularly its 5.7-percent gross domestic product last year, healthy financial and banking sectors and improved credit rating.
He also cited the country’s newly approved laws and policies, which create a business-friendly environment such as his Executive Order No. 18, establishing green lanes for strategic investment, Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, Renewable Energy Act, and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (Create More) Act.
“I urge you to further engage the economic team to learn more about such benefits. Our investment environment is the most open and liberal that it has ever been,” Marcos told the Indian business leaders.
“We stand ready to welcome you to
our tropical country so you may personally see what a globally competitive Philippines can offer,” he added.
For her part, DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said Indian firms can take advantage of the Philippines strategic location in Southeast Asia and preferential access to key markets through its extensive network of free trade agreements.
“To our esteemed Indian partners, we warmly welcome your expanding interest in the Philippine market. We view your companies not merely as investors but as long-term partners in nation-building,” Roque said. Marcos and his other Cabinet members including Roque are currently on a five-day trip in India. Before returning home on Friday from his state visit, the chief executive will also visit Bangalore to meet with more Indian business leaders.
@caiordinario
‘PHL must recalibrate export and industry devt strategy’
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THEPhilippine government should recalibrate its strategy on developing exports and local industries and ensure that the Plan takes into account the new tariff rates agreed upon by Manila and Washington.
“We have a Philippine Development Plan and there we’ve set certain strategic directions on exports and also on the development of our local industries. And sad to say, some of those actions do not align with what was said in the Plan,” Alexander Michael Palma, Assistant Professor, Asian Center, University of the Philippines said at a virtual forum on Wednesday billed: “Asia after US tariffs: Whither regional economic integration?”
Palma said there’s a “big need” to align the country’s strategy not just with the overall macroeconomic plan,
“but also to look at the micro level, how tariff rates can be beneficial to particular tariff lines or products.”
Palma explained that as the Philippines is set to open its local automobile market to the United States, meaning allowing entry of US-made vehicles to Philippine borders at zero tariffs, this may cause “distortions” in the industry.
“The vehicle imports cover more than 23 tariff lines under the motor vehicle development program classification. That’s just to give you an idea of how many tariff lines or tariff or product categories it will affect, and most of the
products covered under the trade deal have tariff lines that are included in the highly sensitive tariff list,” he said.
He said being included in the highly sensitive tariff list means that any changes in the tariff structure would naturally cause distortions.
While the Philippines does not have a “nationally manufactured” vehicle, it has a motor vehicle development program which Palma said “has been stagnant” for quite a while.
“We hope to be able to rejuvenate our motor vehicle parts industry, at least to start off with that end in view of developing the auto industry,” he said.
However, the deal now allowing entry of US-made cars duty-free to the Philippine market is expected to “restrict” the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the sector given that this situation creates “cost competition” with vehicles imported from the US.
Further, Palma warned that the entry of tariff-free goods to the Philippines may “redound to the erosion of investments and employment opportunities.”
On July 22, 2025, a trade deal between the Philippines and the US was
announced in the White House.
After a press conference at the end of an official visit by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Trump confirmed a reduction of the US tariff rate on Philippine goods from 20 percent to 19 percent.
In return, the Philippines would impose zero tariffs on some of the products it is importing from the US such as automobiles, soy products, wheat products, and medicines.
A recent study by local think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) underscored the need for the Philippine government to come up with a blueprint that “neutralizes” US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability to avoid longterm instability.
Among the strategic approaches listed by researchers of the PIDS paper is to increase competitiveness of domestic industries.
The PIDS study noted that the government should ensure local manufacturers and businesses are able to maximize the benefits provided by the existing trade agreements of the Philippines, including those that are currently being negotiated.
“The government should also address the bottlenecks in trade support services to ensure Philippine exports have lower non-tariff costs,” the researchers said. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/08/06/phl-mustneutralize-trump-unpredictability/)
downpours that battered local fields in the previous year.
“This year is a recovery period, and we can see the strong growth in the agriculture sector starting from the first quarter,” De Mesa told reporters on Wednesday.
“We are still expecting a continuous rebound for the next half of the year and a positive growth for the entire year.”
PSA data showed that crop production, which amounted to P244.90 billion, grew annually by 11.3 percent. Rice and corn output, which makes up the bulk of crop production, posted double-digit growths at 13.9 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively.
Poultry, which is valued at P75.07 billion, posted a 7-percent increase.
The production of chicken and chicken eggs recorded an expansion in their value of production.
De Mesa noted that the crops and poultry subsectors make up for around 73 percent of the total farm output at 56 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
“So, if the crops and poultry posted increases, it will drive the value of production higher even though there are declines in fisheries and livestock, especially for hog [output],” he said.
For the fisheries subsector, the state statistics agency said it reached P57.96 billion during the reference period, contracting by 4.2 percent year-on-year.
Livestock production amounted to P59.60 billion and declined by 5.9 percent in the second quarter, with the value of hog production recording a 7.5-percent drop, based on PSA data.
The DA official said the livestock subsector, particularly the hog industry, is still grappling with the aftermath of African swine fever (ASF) that slashed pork output since its detection in 2019.
“Unless there’s a commercially approved vaccine, the hog industry will have a hard time recovering,”
BSP may ‘rethink’ easing…
Lanzona explained that core inflation pertain to structural factors. As such, it reflects the state of the economy such that BSP’s reduction of key policy rates while core inflation is high could “make things worse” for the Philippines.
He also noted that companies are watching core inflation to assess input cost trends and pricing power. Rising core inflation could lead to higher wages and service costs, discouraging investments and squeezing profit margins.
“High core inflation reduces real purchasing power, leading to lower consumer spending, which can drag down GDP,” Lanzona told BusinessMirror
“BSP can make things worse if reduced policy rates raise aggregate demand but aggregate supply which is the foundation of core inflation remains the same or even diminishing, suggesting that growth is decelerating,” he also said.
Nonetheless, Dacanay said
July inflation is expected to be the floor of the Philippines’ inflation outlook. Headline inflation is expected to increase in the months ahead due to waning base effects of the rice tariff rate cut in 2024.
Dacanay added that this will not derail the BSP’s easing cycle as inflation is expected to peak at around 2.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. This implies that inflation will still be well within the BSP’s 2-4 percent target range.
“Currently standing at 5.25 percent, we expect the BSP’s policy rate to be cut to 5 percent by year-end. But since the US tariff rate on the Philippines was less favorable than expected [From 17, to 20, to 19; takeaways from US tariff talks, 23 July 2025], the risk of a deeper easing cycle by the BSP is increasing,” Dacanay said.
Meanwhile, Nomura’s Euben Paracuelles and Nabila Amani said they still expect the BSP to reduce policy rates by 25 basis points on August 28, the next policy meeting of the Monetary Board.
They added that this will be fol-
De Mesa said. “So, we need to ensure the commercial approval and distribution of the ASF vaccines, because the hog [output] has been in the negative territory for several quarters.”
Rice import ban
MEANWHILE , Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government’s decision to slap an import ban on rice shipments while maintaining rice tariffs under status quo is a “measured response” to the current challenges that beset rice farmers.
“The suspension is a more calibrated action—one that we can quickly reverse if needed,” Laurel said. “It gives us the flexibility to act fast to protect both our farmers and our consumers. A premature tariff hike, on the other hand, could backfire and would take much longer to undo.”
President Marcos announced early Wednesday the suspension of rice imports for 60 days starting September 1 as part of efforts to arrest the continuous slide in farmgate prices of palay. The move invokes the President’s authority granted under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to temporarily halt foreign rice purchases for a limited period in order to stabilize domestic prices.
Despite this, De Mesa clarified that the import ban would only apply to well-milled and regular milled rice, excluding fragrant rice varieties like basmati.
Meanwhile, Marcos also opted to delay the decision on the DA’s recommendation to raise rice tariffs from the current 15 percent to 25 percent before eventually increasing it to 35 percent.
Laurel said the agency will use the two-month import freeze to assess its effects on palay prices and the broader market.
“If this strategy leads to higher farmgate prices and better income for our farmers, we may no longer need to raise the tariff,” he said. “What matters most is that we make a well-informed decision because millions of lives depend on the outcome.”
lowed by another 25-basis-point reduction in rates in October, placing the policy rate at 4.75 percent. This, Paracuelles and Amani said, places BSP’s monetary stance slightly below neutral.
“BSP continues to emphasize its assessment of the inflation outlook as the main driver of policy decisions. Supporting our forecast, BSP’s statement following the CPI release emphasized that ‘more accommodative’ monetary policy remains warranted,” they stated.
Earlier, DA said under Republic Act (RA) 12078, the President can suspend or prohibit the importation of rice for a specific period when there is an “excessive” supply of imported or locally produced rice resulting in an “extraordinary” decrease in local prices.
Industry sources have been sounding the alarm over the sharp decline in farmgate prices of palay that dropped to as low as P8 per kilo, which they attribute to the influx of cheaper rice imports.
Globally, bumper harvests in exporting countries and the lifting of India’s rice export ban slashed prices of the staple grain in the world market. The current landed cost of 5 percent broken rice has dropped to around P35 per kilo, which the government said could be lower in some cases.
BusinessMirror reported that economists pointed out that Filipinos continue to feel the pinch despite the slowdown in inflation because of higher costs of services such as education, health, accommodation; sticky prices in non-discretionary items; and limited wage growth— which are included in core inflation. Data obtained from the PSA showed that cereals, which includes rice, are excluded from the computation of core inflation as well as meat and fish that are fresh, chilled or frozen; and fresh dates, figs and tropical fruits. PSA data showed core inflation also excludes other vegetables that are fresh or chilled; fresh or chilled fruit-bearing vegetables; electricity; liquefied hydrocarbons; diesel; and gasoline.
‘SC made impeachment process unnecessarily complex, difficult’
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE Supreme Court has significantly raised the bar for impeaching top public officials by introducing new requirements not found in the Constitution, thereby weakening one of the fundamental tools for accountability, the House of Representatives impeachment panel spokesperson said on Wednesday.
In a news conference on Wednesday, lawyer Antonio Audie Z. Bucoy, spokesperson for the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel, said the Supreme Court’s decision nullifying the Articles of Impeach-
ment against the Vice President introduced rules not found in the 1987 Constitution, making the process “unnecessarily complex and difficult.”
“With the Supreme Court’s de -
cision—which we are challenging through a motion for reconsideration—new requirements have been added that make impeachment much harder. It’s now like passing through the eye of a needle just to hold a public official accountable,” Bucoy said.
Vice President Sara Duterte is facing allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
He argued that the ruling contradicts the plain and simple language of the Constitution and could discourage legitimate efforts to hold powerful officials to account.
“Impeachment is a straightforward but sacred process. The Constitution was written in plain language. You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand it. It’s clear and simple,” he added.
Among the additional burdens imposed by the Court, according to Bucoy, is the requirement for collec-
tive deliberation or plenary debate in the House before an impeachment complaint can be transmitted to the Senate.
He also pointed out that the decision now demands all evidence be attached to the complaint and distributed to every House member—steps not expressly required by the Constitution.
Moreover, Bucoy criticized the imposition of a standard of proof not found in the Charter and raised concerns about the vague rule introduced regarding what constitutes a “reasonable time” for the impeachment process.
“The Court said we can review what’s considered ‘reasonable time’—but only after the fact. They didn’t define it clearly,” Bucoy explained.
He lamented that the ruling, if followed, strips the impeachment process of its effectiveness in enforcing accountability.
“Officials are public servants entrusted with the people’s welfare.
When they betray that trust, they must be held accountable,” Bucoy stressed.
He emphasized that impeachment is not meant to shield powerful individuals but to protect the broader public interest.
“That’s the purpose of impeachment—to safeguard the body politic, not the impeachable official,” he said.
Bucoy also cited a core democratic principle: when private interests conflict with the public good, the people’s interest must prevail.
“There is a doctrine that when individual interests clash with the public’s, the balance must always tip in favor of the people,” he explained. “We must strengthen the people’s interests—not protect one person.”
The House has filed a motion for reconsideration urging the Supreme Court to reverse its decision, asserting that it violates the Constitution’s exclusive grant of power to the House to initiate impeachment proceedings.
Año on Tuesday night condemned China’s “irresponsible testing” of its Long March 12 rocket, which he said caused alarm and placed the people of Palawan at risk.
“Loud explosions caused by the Chinese rocket caused widespread alarm and concern in Puerto Princesa City and other towns, particularly in coastal barangays in the province,” Año, who is also National Security Council director general, said in a statement.
“Local residents also saw a fireball cross the sky that later exploded causing the ground to shake.”
While no immediate damage or injury has been reported so far, Año said falling debris from the
launch pose a clear danger and risk to land areas and to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone.
He also raised the possibility of the debris floating around the area and toward nearby coasts.
“The government has deployed surface and aerial assets to look for debris associated with the loud explosions caused by the Chinese rocket launch from Hainan Island,” Año said.
“The public is strongly advised to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted. The public is advised against retrieving or coming in close contact with debris materials that may contain toxic fuel residues. We are coordinating closely with local
authorities and coastal fishermen on this matter,” he added.
Respect rights of other states
THE Philippines has expressed concern over the reported fall of debris from a Chinese rocket into its waters, urging spacefaring nations to act responsibly and safeguard the interests of other states.
In a press briefing in India on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro read the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) official statement on the August 4 launch of China’s Long March 12 rocket, which left debris within Philippine maritime territory.
“The Philippines takes this opportunity to urge all spacefaring
states to conduct their space activities in a manner consistent with norms of responsible behavior and with due regard to the rights of interest of other states,” Castro quoted DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro as saying.
She noted that under the 2023 agreement between President Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both countries committed to maintain appropriate communication mechanisms in handling rocket launches and their post-launch effects.
“The department defers comments on technical and safety matters to the Philippine Space Agency and other concerned agencies,” Castro said.
The Palace official also said Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Deputy Director General Gay Jane
Comelec now expects 1.5 million new voters
By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
WITH the unexpected surge in the number of applicants in the ongoing 10-day voter registration period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) raised its target to 1.5 million.
The poll body initially set a one million target prior to the start of the voter registration that ends on August 10.
As of Wednesday, Comelec Chairman George M. Garcia said the number of applicants has already breached the one million mark.
“We expect that in the remaining five days there will be even more. Maybe we will reach 1.3 million to 1.5 million registrants,” he said in Filipino.
“If we reach that [new target], that will be really extra ordinary,” he added.
He attributed the trend to
the increasing interests of the youth to exercise their right of suffrage, which he noted became more apparent in the 2025 Midterm polls.
The poll chief also gave an update on the enrolled bill, which resets the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from December 1, 2025 to November 2026.
Instead of President Marcos signing the said piece of legislation, he is now expected to let it
lapse into law.
“We have information that it seems there will be no formal ceremony. The bill will just lapse into law by August 14 so the postponement of BSKE will automatically become law,” Garcia said partly in Filipino.
“Until the bill becomes a law, Comelec said it will continue its preparations for the next BSKE so the poll body will not be accused of negligence in performing its duties,” Garcia said.
DOE wants all govt buildings to use solar energy
TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE Department of Energy
(DOE) has set a challenging target of 100-percent solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation in all government buildings nationwide.
“The government is committed to create an enabling environment for renewable energy, but we need your help to make this real. Let us aim for 100 percent solar installation in all government buildings,” said Energy Undersecretary Felix
William B. Fuentebella at the recent inaugural general assembly of DOE-Registered Solar PV Installers.
Fuentebella underscored the crucial role of the private sector in achieving this target, emphasizing a collaborative partnership between the government and registered solar PV installers. He did not mention a target date but said that this goal “demands a strong partnership between the government and the private sector.”
This event served as a vital platform for collaboration, knowledge
sharing, and updates on the latest technologies, policies, and incentives. Discussions included crucial updates on the solar PV registry, policy opportunities, compliance mechanisms, and the importance of public-private partnerships. DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) Director Patrick T. Aquino underscored the importance of aligning installation practices with Department Circular No. 2024-06-0021, which outlines the obligations of government entities to optimize energy use and integrate renewable energy in public buildings.
Also, the DOE said it also focused on extending electricity access to underserved communities.
The National Electrification Administration plans to energize 100,000 households this year alone, expanding to a total of 154,000 households over the next two years.
The agency said these efforts, spearheaded by the EUMB and the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, are key to the streamlining of processes and the creation of a supportive environment for the growth of the renewable energy industry.
Lacson hits poor implementation of Natl ID Law
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
MANY poor and deserving commuters may be denied the chance to avail themselves of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3)’s “Libreng Sakay” this month, owing to the “poor implementation of the National ID Law.”
Thus said Sen. Panfilo Lacson as he noted that those still without National IDs because of this bureaucratic breakdown “are unfairly penalized.” Lacson, who co-authored and sponsored what is now Republic Act 11055 or the Act Establishing a Philippine Identification System, said many Filipinos still do not have a National ID despite having applied for one years ago.
Referring to the MRT free rides, he said in a post on X: “This is good but unfair to poor and deserving commuters who will not be benefited by failure of [the] government to provide the national IDs to them in spite of having applied months, even years ago.”
Perez assessed the incident and found the debris drop zone “medyo malapit nga po” [somewhat close] to Philippine territory.
“Pero po ’iyong mga teknikal nito ay aaralin pa kung ano ang naging effect nito sa Pilipinas Pero as of the moment, wala naman daw pong dapat ikabahala [Technical teams will still assess any possible effects on the Philippines, but at the moment, there is no cause for alarm],” Castro said.
Asked what action the government is taking, she responded: “Titingnan po muna kung may nalabag pero as of the moment parang wala naman po nakikita na paglabag ng anuman [We’ll check first if there were any violations, but at the moment, there doesn’t appear to be any].” PNA
On Wednesday, the Department of Transportation offered the free rides to MRT commuters using their National IDs from 9:00 to 11 a.m. And 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on all Wednesdays of August. DOTr said commuters may present their IDs, printed papers, or digital copies of their National IDs to security personnel at the service gate to avail of the free rides. Earlier, Lacson said the National ID would have been a key to effective social services, but its implementation was flawed. As a result, he said many who applied for the National ID are still waiting for their cards. He said lawmakers must revisit the implementation of the National ID law as part of their oversight functions.
Aklan seeks full funding for Boracay cruise port
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
BORACAY—The local government of Aklan is eyeing the construction of a P2-billion cruise ship port in this resort island as part of longterm plans to improve tourist access and address the absence of docking infrastructure for large vessels.
Aklan Gov. Joen Miraflor told reporters that the project is intended to provide a dedicated port facility that would allow cruise ships to dock directly on the island, replacing the current setup where passengers are transferred by smaller boats from the bay.
“In 2024, we received 19 cruise ships, but none of them could dock at the island,” Miraflor said on the sidelines of the Boracay Smart Port System launch on Tuesday.
“Tourists, many of them seniors or persons with disabilities, have to board tender boats just to reach shore. It’s inconvenient and a safety concern when seas are rough,” he added.
The port, as envisioned, will accommodate two cruise ships at
a time, with a planned minimum depth of 12 meters to eliminate the need for dredging.
A budget of P800 million has been approved by the Philippine Ports Authority for the project’s initial phase, the governor said. The remaining P1.2 billion is still being secured by the provincial government through formal requests to the agency. Construction is targeted to begin in the fourth quarter this year, with pending procurement and bidding processes led by the national government.
Cruise ships calling at Boracay typically originate from Hong Kong and travel via South Korea, Cebu and Palawan. Miraflor said several scheduled arrivals were canceled last year due to unfavorable sea conditions that prevented offshore transfers.
“This is already supported by our Department of Tourism and other national agencies as they see the need for a cruise ship facility,” he said.
Boracay is preparing to welcome more cruise tourists next year, with 17 ships lined up to visit in 2025, almost double last year’s total.
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Thursday, August 7, 2025 www.businessmirror.com.ph
NGCP yellow alert in Visayas enters third day
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
FOR the third consecutive day, the Visayas grid was placed on yellow alert by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday.
A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.
As of 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the grid operator lifted the yellow alert for the Visayas as
Early in the day, the grid was placed on yellow alert from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Electricity spot market price hits ₧3.99/kWh
SPOT market prices further increased to P3.99 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from June 26 to July 25 billing period compared to the previous month’s P3.86 per kWh, the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) operator reported on Wednesday.
Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) showed that system-wide average supply decreased to 20,754 megawatts (MW), a 3.2 percent drop from June, mainly due to major plant outages in Luzon which are cheaper such as GNPD units, Ilijan units, QPPL units, and San Gabriel units during the first and second week of the billing period.
Demand also fell to 13,812 MW, a 5 percent decline, driven by cooler temperatures and the onset of the rainy season.
However, market prices increased by 3 percent to P3.99 per kWh, a rise from P3.86 per kWh in the previous month.
Camacho said that the slight increase in WESM prices was affected by major power plant shutdowns during the first and second weeks of the July billing month, coupled with a fallen demand driven by cooler temperatures and the rainy season.
“Based on the data, there was a slight increase, but only a slight one. Remember, we did not have any outages in the summer so now we are entering and there is a little reflection of that in our July transaction,” said Iemop head of trading operations Isidro Camacho during a news briefing.
The average supply of Luzon stood at 14,540 MW, which was 3.6-percent lower than June’s figures; the Visayas’ supply saw a 4 percent decline to 2,530 MW, while Mindanao’s supply only trickled down by 1 percent to 3,685 MW.
In Luzon, despite higher supply margin there was a slight increase in WESM price to P3.92 per kWh owing to the limited flow of the HVDC (high-voltage direct current) from the Visayas to Luzon.
In the Visayas, prices significantly increased by 11.7 percent to P4.39 per kWh despite lower supply and demand because of the decrease in supply margin and limited flow from Mindanao owing to the outage of LalaDumanjug Lines 1 and 2.
In Mindanao, prices increased by 7.2 percent to P3.8 per kWh due to the limited HVDC and, at the same time, coal plants such as FDC units, GNPK units, STEAG units and SMC units were on outage. This resulted in high-cost generators clearing the market.
“Having a limited power flow from Mindanao to the Visayas and the Visayas to Luzon and cheaper plants were on outage, this resulted to higher energy prices across the regions,” Iemop said.
In terms of system-wide generation mix, renewable energy (RE) contributed 24 percent of total generation. The share of natural gas rose to 21 percent, up from 19 percent in the previous billing period.
Meanwhile, coal and solar generation decreased, with coal dropping from 57.5% to 54.1 percent, and solar generation from 3.8 percent to 3.3 percent. Oil-based maintained its share at 0.4 percent. Hydro generation increased its share from 7.8 percent to 10.5 percent, due to rainy season that was intensified by typhoon and southwest monsoon.
Iemop also noted that approximately 24 percent, or 2.29 terawatt hours of total customer transactions were purchased from retail market for this billing period.
Lenie Lectura
capacity margin stood at 494 megawatts (MW). Available capacity was recorded at 2,711MW as against 2,217MW of peak demand.
The yellow alert on Wednesday was the fourth time issued on the Visayas grid this year.
NGCP said 11 power plants have been on forced outage from April
to August and six other power plants have been out since 2023 while four are running on derated capacities, for a total of 725.2MW unavailable to the grid.
The Luzon and Mindanao grids are operating normally.
Meanwhile, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop), operator
of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), said spot market prices for Visayas are likely to increase given the series of yellow alerts.
“We expect increase in price.
But, as I’ve said earlier, hopefully, it’s not going to be higher compared to last year. Our fearless projection is it will play somewhere between P4, P5 on average. Maybe it will be an additional 30 centavos. Our expectation here is we don’t see it exceeding P5 or maybe P5 based on our initial projection. But we will see a slight increase,” said Iemop head of trading operations Isidro Camacho during an online briefing.
DSWD relief to typhoon, monsoon victims hits ₧1.16 billion
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended more than P1.16 billion worth of aid to individuals and families affected by the onslaught of Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as the southwest monsoon, or habagat, as of Wednesday.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao, who also heads the agency’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), reported that over 1.7 million family food packs (FFPs) have already been distributed to those affected.
In addition to food packs, the agency also provided non-food relief items and financial assistance to hard-hit communities across regions impacted by the habagat.
“This level of response shows our commitment to serve Filipinos during their most difficult moments. We continue to coordinate with local government units, as there are still families staying in evacuation centers,” said Dumlao.
“Despite our extensive response, the DSWD still maintains a sufficient amount
of prepositioned resources, with P2.18 billion worth of stockpiles and standby funds ready for immediate augmentation to local governments,” she added.
On Tuesday, DSWD Field Offices continued delivering relief aid to communities inundated by heavy rains and flooding, while maintaining close coordination with local authorities to monitor the situation.
Latest reports from the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) indicate that 8,458 families—or 31,822 individuals— remain in 334 evacuation centers across various regions.
“These evacuees continue to receive aid from the DSWD, through their respective LGUs, until they are able to return home,” said Dumlao.
Rice donation
SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also on Wednesday received a donation of 1,632 metric tons of rice from the Republic of Korea (ROK).
“We extend our sincerest appreciation to the ROK and the UN-WFP [United NationsWorld Food Program] for their support and generous donation of 1,632 metric
BCDA gets ₧75-M to
By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan
STATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it secured nearly P75 million “provisional” funding from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to fast-track the modernization of Poro Point Seaport in La Union.
Modernization of the seaport is seen to enable Northern Luzon to fully participate in global trade flow.
“Following the recent issuance of a technical assistance agreement, the BCDA and the PPP Center will jointly engage expert consultants to undertake the endto-end preparation of the project under a PPP arrangement,” BCDA said in a statement on Wednesday.
tons of rice to help those affected by the recent combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong. Thank you to our friends from the ROK and the WFP for your compassionate heart in extending resources for the benefit of individuals and families affected by disasters,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian, along with ROK Ambassador to the Philippines, Lee Sang-Hwa, and WFP Representative and Country Director Regis Chapman, signed the deed of donation during a simple handover ceremony at the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.
“Your donation will go a long way in helping them [disaster-hit families] put food on the table as they find ways to recover and eventually lead normal lives. Rest assured that we will ensure our immediate and sustained provision of humanitarian assistance to the families affected and exert all efforts to distribute your donations to those in most need. Beyond words, we know that this is the best way to express our utmost gratitude for your generosity,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief said the donated rice will be repacked and form part of the
department’s family food packs (FFPs). Based on rough estimates, the 1,632 metric tons of rice, or 40,000 sacks of rice, would be able to cover around 280,000 FFPs with 6 kilos of rice per food pack. Last year, the ROK also donated 4,000 metric tons of rice when the country was devastated by Typhoon Kristine. Ambassador Lee expressed sympathy with the Filipino people following the damage caused by the recent calamities. He said the ROK donated more than 2,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippine government, with 1,632 allocated to the DSWD for disaster response.
“I commend the DSWD on the able leadership of Secretary Gatchalian for his dedication to the Filipino families during times of adversity. In this context, the Korean government is honored to support the Philippines’ disaster response and peace-building efforts through this contribution. Of this total donation, 1,632 metric tons are being handed over to DSWD to bolster the country’s emergency response capacity,” Lee said.
The DSWD has already distributed more than 1.7 million boxes of FFPs as part of its disaster relief operations for those affected by the recent disasters.
speed up Poro Point seaport modernization
BCDA said this “advisory package” covers feasibility studies, market analysis, legal and financial structuring, PPP transaction support, and other related expenses, with an “indicative” budget of P74.90 million.
The full redevelopment and modernization of the San Fernando International Seaport in Poro Point aims to transform the current bulk and break-bulk terminal into a “worldclass” seaport equipped with modern port infrastructure and logistics systems.
Moreover, BCDA said the project will enable “full containerization, including container terminals and automated yard systems; install quay and yard cranes for faster cargo turnaround; expand storage and stacking areas; deploy advanced terminal operating systems, gate automation, and digital freight management; improve road
and future rail connectivity for seamless cargo movement; as well as integrate gender, environmental, and climate safeguards into planning and design.”
BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer
Joshua M. Bingcang explained that Northern Luzon has “long been underserved” by modern port infrastructure, limiting its ability to fully participate in global trade flows.
“This project is designed to change ange that by enabling full containerization, streamlining logistics, and anchoring regional industries to more competitive supply chains. It is a critical step in realizing Poro Point’s vision as a strategic economic gateway for Northern Luzon,” added Bingcang.
COMPREHENSIVE health insurance coverage for public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive guaranteed and sustainable funding under the national budget once a measure institutionalizing the annual grant of a P7,000 medical allowance were enacted into law.
It will continue through the preparation of documents and PPP bidding support, and will conclude with post-contract signing advisory services.
BCDA is eyeing to break ground on the Poro Point Seaport modernization by the second quarter of 2027, with full completion targeted by 2029.
“Once operational, the upgraded seaport will support regional industries in Pangasinan, La Union, and the Ilocos provinces as well as enhance Poro Point Freeport Zone’s appeal to logistics investors and export-oriented manufacturers here and abroad,” BCDA noted.
The state-run firm said the project scope is divided into six phases, beginning with project inception and market assessment, followed by feasibility study and structuring, and assistance in securing government approvals.
‘Institutionalize annual medical allowance of DepEd personnel’
In filing House Bill 2579, Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan said his proposal aligns with President Marcos’ renewed commitment, as emphasized in his latest State of the Nation Address (Sona), to address longstanding challenges in the education sector—including improving the welfare of public school teachers and strengthening basic education. Originally filed in the previous Congress, Yamsuan’s bill seeks to institutionalize the annual grant of a P7,000 medical allowance for eligible DepEd personnel. This subsidy will enable the department to provide health maintenance organization (HMO) benefits for its personnel.
The initiative builds on Marcos’ Executive Order 64, which directed the provision of a medical allowance for government employees starting in 2025. This directive has allowed DepEd to begin procuring HMOtype healthcare coverage for its workforce, which includes nearly one million public school teachers.
“Teaching is a demanding job that could take a toll on one’s health, especially for those working in the public education sector. Public school teachers should be able to readily access quality healthcare whenever they need it without having to worry about medical expenses,” Yamsuan said.
“A healthy, happy teacher leads to an inspired and productive educator. Our proposed HMO for Public School Teachers Act aims to ensure that the President’s initiative of providing comprehensive healthcare support to our teaching force would be institutionalized and given a regular allocation under the national budget even beyond his administration,” he added. Yamsuan made the statement following
the recent issuance of DepEd Order 016 by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, which sets the guidelines for the provision of medical allowances to both teaching and non-teaching personnel.
“On top of the benefits that they may get from PhilHealth, what we want is to ensure that the grant of a more comprehensive healthcare package for our public school teachers and DepEd’s non-teaching personnel will be a regular and permanent part of the aid that they are receiving from the government,” he added. Under the Yamsuan bill, the P7,000 medical allowance will be subject to a mandatory review by the DepEd every three years to ensure it remains adequate and reflects prevailing healthcare costs.
“At present, public school teachers do not have the usual paid sick leave benefits enjoyed by other professionals. Thus, when they fall ill, they are faced with a difficult choice: either report to work despite their condition, potentially worsening their health, or take an unpaid sick leave, which can strain their finances and limit their ability to afford necessary medical care. This is an unjust dilemma no teacher should have to endure,” Yamsuan said. He emphasized that institutionalizing HMO benefits will uplift teachers’ morale, reduce absenteeism, and ultimately enhance student learning
₧350M investment: Paintplas Global Corp. to start manufacturing plastic parts in Batangas economic zone
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
PAINTPLAS Global Corporation is investing over P350 million as it is set to start with the manufacturing and assembly of plastic parts for toys, vending machines, and motorcyle parts within an economic zone in Batangas, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
In a social media post, PEZA divulged that the firm officially signed its Registration Agreement with PEZA last August 1 as a new Ecozone Export Enterprise.
“With its commercial operations scheduled to launch in September 2026, the company is set to inject more than P350 million in investment for its manufacturing and assembly of plastic parts for toys, vending machines, and motorcycle parts at the Lima Technology Center-Special Economic Zone
[LTC-SEZ] located in Malvar, Batangas,” the investment promotion agency said.
PEZA said the company’s operations are expected to generate around 60 new jobs, contributing to local employment and economic activity in the region.
“We at PEZA wholeheartedly welcome Paintplas Global Corporation into the roster of our ecozone enterprises,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said.
“We are proud to support Paintplas as they embark on manufacturing and assembly operations at LTC-SEZ, strengthening Batangas as a dynamic export hub and reaffirming PEZA’s role in fostering investment-led growth,” the PEZA chief also noted.
In a Viber message sent to the BusinessMirror on Wednesday, PEZA said Paintplas is eyeing to export to Japan,with an annual production capacity of 3.2 million pieces.
The Registration Agreement was signed by PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga
and Paintplas President Nilo N. Magbanua on August 1, 2025.
Aboitiz InfraCapital’s LIMA Estate is a 940-hectare industrial-anchored mixed use development which houses industrial, residential and commercial areas in Batangas.
Based on Aboitiz InfraCapital’s website, the Estate’s industrial footprint is expanding with an ongoing 110-hectare and a planned 100-hectare developments.
Meanwhile, the Estate also has commercial lots ranging from 1,100 to 2,300 square meters which are “ideal” for BPO companies, offices, condos, hotels and “institutional uses.”
LIMA Estate hosts nearly 180 locators from light to medium industries with local and global companies providing jobs for over 71,000 people, Aboitiz InfraCapital noted.
These locators include Epson, Yamaha, JTI, Aice, among others.
Angara inaugurates ‘flood-resilient’ school in Pampanga, a model for disaster-prone areas
EBy Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
DUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Wednesday led the inauguration in Masantol, Pampanga of a flood-resilient school building, a structure, which is part of a broader initiative to make learning spaces more disaster-resilient amid the worsening impacts of climate change.
“Yung nakita nating classroom sa Masantol, I think ‘yun yung talagang magiging modelo for flood-prone areas. SaBicol, dito,saBulacan. ‘Yandin anggustongPangulo,namaypermanent solutions na tayo hindi yung nag-adjust. We must adapt our policies,” Angara said, reaffirming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize immediate response to people’s needs during disaster recovery.
Angara was joined Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc, DepEd Region III Assistant Regional Director Jessie L. Amin, and Schools Division Superintendent Romeo S. Alip for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new floodresistant school building.
According to DepEd, the “flood-resilient” school buildings being referred to are part of the agency’s upgraded standard designs meant for flood-prone areas.
These are typically constructed using reinforced concrete and structural steel to ensure strength and durability against water and wind hazards. Many of these buildings follow a stilt-type or elevated design, which has been especially effective in regions with frequent flooding.
This design concept was previously applied in typhoon-resilient schools in areas like Bicol, and has since been refined through site-specific risk assessments and climate-adaptive planning.
NBP’s congestion rate down by 22.4 percent
THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has recorded a 22.4 percent decrease in congestion rate at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. noted that from 313 percent in 2022 , the congestion rate now stands 243 percent, which he attributed to the construction of new facilities and transfer of 11,601 PDLs from NBP to other operating prison and penal farms.
In his midterm accomplishment report submitted to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Catapang disclosed that from June 2022 to June 2025, the BuCor released a total of 23,629 persons deprived of liberty, exceeding the first three years during the past administration by 41.35 percent and exceeding the accomplishment of the previous administrations over their six year terms.
The following are detailed benefits of the stilttype school building design:
1. Flood Protection
ELEVATING the building prevents water from entering classrooms and damaging school facilities in flood-prone areas.
2. Improved Ventilation and Natural Light
THE open space beneath the building enhances airflow and allows more natural light to enter, promoting a more comfortable and energy-efficient learning environment.
3. Adaptability to Sloped Terrain STILT construction allows schools to be built on uneven or sloped land, providing greater flexibility in site selection and design.
4. Versatile Under-Space
THE space under the building can be used as a play area, covered assembly space, storage, or even parking, depending on the site’s needs.
5. Unique Architectural Design
STILT buildings offer a distinct and modern aesthetic, which can help boost school identity and student pride.
6. Connection to Nature
THE elevated design opens up sightlines to the surrounding environment, promoting a stronger sense of place and connection to nature.
7. Sustainability
THE design can integrate green features like natural cooling, eco-friendly materials, and open-air spaces, contributing to a more
sustainable school infrastructure.
Relief operations
LIKEWISE , Angara spearheaded relief operations in the flood-hit municipalities of Masantol and Macabebe, Pampanga.
Following the ceremonial opening, Angara held a dialogue with educators, students, and community members affected by recent floods in a roundtable forum held in another part of the school. He later led the distribution of food packs and essential supplies to affected teaching and nonteaching personnel.
Angara emphasized that the Department, in line with President Marcos’ directive, is taking swift and comprehensive action in times of calamity. These include conducting damage assessments, offering psychosocial support, and ensuring continuity of learning.
“Kapag may kalamidad, una nating tanong: ligtas ba ang mga paaralan? Kumusta ang ating mga guro at kawani? Kaya’t sinigurado ng DepEd, alinsunodsautosngPangulo,namayagarangtugon ataktwalnapagdalawsainyongayon,”said Angara, who also visited San Isidro Elementary School and San Nicolas Elementary School.
At nearby Macabebe Elementary School, Angara also led the distribution of another round of relief packs. The relief mission in Pampanga provided over 2,000 food packs for teachers, non-teaching staff, and their families.
Angara concluded both engagements by reaffirming DepEd’s whole-of-government approach to education continuity and disaster response.
“Hindinatinkayangpigilanangbagyo,perokaya nating ihanda ang bansa. Basta’t magkakasama tayo—DepEd, LGU, Kongreso, at mga guro— walang hindi kakayanin,” he said.
NBI agents nab Pampanga mayor for alleged extortion of bizman
CLARK Field, Pampanga— National Bureau of Investigation agents on Wednesday arrested the mayor of San Simon, Pampanga, Abundio “JP” Punsalann Jr. after allegedly accepting P30 million bribe from a company operating in his town. Investigators said the P30 million was part of a larger P80 million bribe that Punsalan allegedly demanded from the company in exchange for a favorable local government resolution.
The operation took place at a restaurant in Clark Freeport Zone, where Punsalan and his alleged accomplice identified as Dr. Ed Ryan Dimla, also known as “Dr. Yang” were reportedly caught while receiving initial cash payment.
Hours before the arrest, Punsalan attended the Leadership, Ethics, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) in Local Governance held at Kingsborough Convention Center in the City of San Fernando. The event was organized by the provincial government in partnership with
the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The NBI operation was in response to a complaint filed by Real Steel Corporation, a business investor in San Simon.
One of Punsalan’s security men was also taken into custody after being found in possession of a loaded firearm.
Punsalan, Dimla, and the security aide were taken to the NBI headquarters in Manila early Wednesday night.
The Wednesday event is just the last of Punsalan’s brushes with corruption allegations.
On June 24, 2024, the provincial government suspended him for the fourth time following an administrative case of gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) filed against him. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recommended the suspension to ensure impartiality in
the pending investigation.
All three of Punsalan’s earlier suspensions were also recommended by then-Gov. Dennis Pineda and the provincial board, and stemmed from a questionable land purchase in 2020.
In June 2023, Punsalan, thenVice Mayor Romanoel Santos, and five councilors were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for simple neglect of duty and misconduct over the reclassification of land in 2020.
In July 2021, the DILG served a six-month suspension after Punsalan and several officials were found guilty of grave misconduct related to the land acquisition near the municipal hall.
The earliest recorded suspension came in November 2020, when then-Gov. Lilia Pineda issued a two-month preventive suspension against Punsalan and six councilors, also linked to the same land deal. Ashley Manabat
A6 Thursday, August 7, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Netanyahu hints at expanded war in Gaza; former Israeli military and spy chiefs object
By Julia Frankel & Wafaa Shurafa The Associated Press
JERUSALEM—Israeli
Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at wider military action in devastated Gaza on Tuesday, even as former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs called for an end to the nearly 22-month war.
The new pressure on Netanyahu came as Gaza’s Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll had surpassed 61,000. Health officials reported new deaths of hungry Palestinians seeking food at distribution points. As desperation mounts, the Israeli defense body coordinating aid announced a deal with local merchants to improve aid deliveries.
Among those speaking out were former leaders of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, Mossad spy agency and the military—and also ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In a video posted to social media this week, they said far-right members of the government are holding Israel “hostage” in prolonging the conflict.
Netanyahu’s objectives in Gaza are “a fantasy,” Yoram Cohen, former head of Shin Bet, said in the video.
“If anyone imagines that we can reach every terrorist and every pit and every weapon, and in parallel bring our hostages home—I think it is impossible,” he said.
Possible tougher military action NETANYAHU convened his Security Cabinet to direct the military
on the war’s next stage, hinting that even tougher action was possible. However, the meeting wrapped up hours later without any announcements about Israel’s plans.
US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn’t aware of the “suggestion” but that “it’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.”
Netanyahu said his objectives include defeating Hamas, releasing all 50 remaining hostages and ensuring Gaza never again threatens Israel after the Hamas-led 2023 attack sparked the war.
Israeli media reported disagreements between Netanyahu and the army chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, on how to proceed. The reports, citing anonymous officials in Netanyahu’s office, said the prime minister was pushing the army, which controls about three quarters of Gaza, to conquer the entire territory—a step that could endanger hostages, deepen the humanitarian crisis and further isolate Israel internationally.
Zamir reportedly opposes this step and could step down or be
pushed out if it is approved. Israeli officials did not respond to requests for comment on the reports.
More aid-seekers killed HEALTH officials in Gaza said Israeli forces opened fire on Tuesday morning toward Palestinians seeking aid and in targeted attacks in central and southern Gaza, killing at least 45 people.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has said after previous shootings around aid distribution that it only fired warning shots at people who approached its forces.
The dead include at least 26 people killed in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone where looters and desperate crowds unloaded U.N. aid convoys.
Six people were killed in Teina, near a road leading to a site run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor. Morgue records at the nearby Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, detailed the deaths and locations.
The hospital is part of the Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians but says roughly half the dead from the war have been women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The United Nations and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of casualty data.
Sami Arafat, a father of seven, described the chaos in the Morag Corridor early Tuesday, saying crowds rushed toward a convoy of U.N. aid trucks and Israeli forces fired toward them.
“There are no buildings to shel -
ter us from the shooting,” he said.
“The area is all rubble.”
He said looters brandishing knives climbed aboard the trucks first and tore into the aid boxes, taking sugar that could be resold at the market while leaving less expensive rice behind.
Elsewhere in central Gaza, AlAwda hospital said it received the bodies of six Palestinians who were killed when Israeli troops targeted crowds near another GHF aid distribution site.
The GHF said there were no incidents at its sites Tuesday and that most of the recent violence has been linked to U.N. aid deliveries.
Several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while heading toward food distribution sites, airdropped parcels and aid convoys, according to witnesses, local health officials and the U.N. human rights office.
Israel’s military says it only has fired warning shots and disputes the toll.
The Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid, COGAT, said on social media there will be a “gradual and controlled renewal of the entry of goods through the private sector in Gaza.”
It said a limited number of local merchants were approved for the plan.
‘Stained with humiliation and blood’
MOHAMMED Qassas from Khan
Younis said his young children are so hungry that he is forced to storm aid trucks, which rarely reach warehouses these days because they are stopped by hungry crowds.
“How am I supposed to feed them? No one has mercy,” he said Monday. “If we fight, we get the
food. If we don’t fight, we don’t get anything.”
It has become routine to see men returning from aid-seeking carrying bodies as well as sacks of flour.
Israel’s blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid, contributing to the territory’s slide toward famine. Aid groups say Israel’s week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, and blame Hamas.
As international alarm has mounted, several countries have airdropped aid over Gaza. The U.N. and aid groups call such drops costly and dangerous for residents, and say they deliver far less aid than trucks.
‘The entire world is watching’ PALESTINIANS gather daily for funeral prayers.
“We are unarmed people who cannot endure this,” shouted Maryam Abu Hatab in the yard of Nasser hospital.
Ekram Nasr said her son was shot dead while seeking aid near the Morag corridor.
“I had to go alone to carry my son,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I collected the remains of my son like the meat of dogs from the streets.”
“The entire world is watching,” she added. “They are watching our patience, our strength and our faith in God. But we no longer have the power to endure.”
Shurafa reported from Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
PALESTINIANS rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, August 5, 2025. AP/ABDEL KAREEM HANA
Hiroshima marks 80 years since atomic bombing, survivors warn of nuke threat
By Mari Yamaguchi The Associated Press
HIROSHIMA, Japan— Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence.
With the number of survivors rapidly declining and their average age now exceeding 86, the anniversary is considered the last milestone event for many of them.
“There will be nobody left to pass on this sad and painful experience in 10 years or 20 years,”
Minoru Suzuto, a 94-year-old survivor, said after he kneeled down to pray at the cenotaph.
“That’s why I want to share (my story) as much as I can.”
The bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city and killed 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and Japan’s nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned against a growing acceptance of military buildups and of using nuclear weapons for national security amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and conflicts in the
Mideast, with the United States and Russia possessing most of the world’s nuclear warheads.
“These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history,” he said. “They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.”
He urged younger generations to recognize that such “misguided policies” could cause “utterly inhumane” consequences for their future.
“We don’t have much time left, while we face a greater nuclear threat than ever,” said Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organization of survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its pursuit of nuclear abolishment.
“Our biggest challenge now is to change, even just a little, nuclear weapons states that give us the cold shoulder,” the organization
said in its statement.
About 55,000 people, including representatives from a record 120 countries and regions, including Russia and Belarus, were expected to attend the ceremony. A minute of silence was held while a peace bell rang out at 8:15 a.m., the time when a U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the city’s mayor and other officials laid flowers at the cenotaph. Dozens of white doves, a symbol of peace, were released after the mayor’s speech.
Hours before the official ceremony, as the sun rose over Hiroshima, survivors and their families started paying tribute to the victims at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocenter of the nuclear blast 80 years ago.
Kazuo Miyoshi, a 74-year-old retiree, came to honor his grandfather and two cousins who died in the bombing and prayed that the “mistake” will never be repeated.
“We do not need nuclear weapons,” Miyoshi said.
“There is hope,” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement read by Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, noting Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize and countries’ re-commitment to a nuclear free world in “the Pact for the Future” adopted last year.
Guterres stressed the importance to carry forward the survivors’ testimony and message of peace and added: “Remembering the past is about protecting and building peace today and in the future.”
Outside the park under high
security, more than 200 protesters gathered, holding posters and flags carrying messages such as “No Nuke, Stop War” and “Free Gaza! No more genocide” while chanting slogans.
Local police said two people were arrested in separate cases near Hiroshima’s iconic Atomic Bomb Dome, each on suspicion of assaulting a security guard.
Wednesday’s anniversary comes at a time when possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence is increasingly supported by the international community, including Japan.
Some survivors said they were disappointed by President Donald Trump’s recent remark justifying Washington’s attack on Iran in
June by comparing it to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the mild response from the Japanese government.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Kosei Mito, a 79-year-old former high school teacher who was exposed to radiation while he was still in his mother’s womb. “I don’t think we can get rid of nuclear weapons as long as it was justified by the assailant.”
In the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that he was praying that the 80th anniversary of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima “will serve as a call to the international community to renew its commitment to pursuing peace for our own human family.”
Japan’s government has rejected
the survivors’ request to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or attend its meetings as observers because it is under the protection of the US nuclear umbrella.
Matsui, the city’s mayor, in his speech Wednesday, urged Japan’s government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty, a request also made by several groups of survivors in their meeting with Ishiba after the ceremony. Ishiba, in a speech, reiterated his government’s pledge to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, but did not mention the treaty and again indicated his government’s support for nuclear weapons possession for deterrence.
At a news conference later Wednesday, Ishiba justified Japan’s reliance on US nuclear deterrence, saying Japan, which follows a non-nuclear principle, is surrounded by neighbors that possess nuclear weapons. The stance, he said, does not contradict Japan’s pursuit of a nuclearfree world.
Past prime ministers have stressed Japan’s status as the world’s only country to have suffered nuclear attacks and have said Japan is determined to pursue peace, but survivors say it’s a hollow promise.
The Japanese government has only paid compensation to war veterans and their families, even though survivors have sought redress for civilian victims. They have also sought acknowledgment by the US government of its responsibility for the civilian deaths.
The Associated Press video journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report.
VISITORS observe a minute of silence for the victims of the atomic bombing, at 8:15 a.m., the time atomic bomb exploded over the city, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during the ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing in Hiroshima, western Japan, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. KYODO NEWS VIA AP
Thursday, August 7, 2025
NBI deactivates Special Task Force due to controversial raid on scam hub last month
NBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
ATIONAL Bureau of Investigation
Santiago said the subject operatives have been re-assigned to other divisions and regional offices to allow impartial investigation and to prevent possible tampering of evidence.
The identities of the operatives have yet to be disclosed by the NBI pending the result of the investigation that will be conducted by the NBI-Internal Affairs Division.
(NBI) Director Jaime Santiago has temporarily deactivated the agency’s Special Task Force (STF) and placed its 13 operatives, including its chief, under investigation due to irregularities they allegedly committed during an operation on a suspected scam hub in Malolos City, Bulacan last month where nine Chinese nationals were arrested.
Go files bill for financial literacy, entrep in junior and senior high school curricula
AS Chair of the Senate Youth Committee, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is pushing to strengthen the financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills of young Filipinos by institutionalizing these as separate core subjects in the junior and senior high school curricula under the current K - 12 program.
Building on his consistent advocacy for education reforms that respond to the needs of the times, Go filed Senate Bill No. 672 at the start of the 20th Congress. He stressed that enhancing the economic knowledge and skills of the youth is a vital step in addressing poverty and unemployment, while also promoting sustainable national development.
“Kungmatututonaangkabataannatin sa tamang paghawak ng pera at sa pagnenegosyohabangnasaeskwelapalang,mas magiginghandasilangharapinanghamon ng buhay.Tandaan natin na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng ating bayan at edukasyon ang susi tungo sa mas maganda nilang kinabukasan,” said Go.
His bill, if enacted, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10679, or the “Youth Entrepreneurship Act,” to broaden its coverage and deepen its integration in the education system.
In his explanatory note, Go underscored that the importance of entrepreneurship education in fostering economic growth and development has long been recognized in the Philippines as a proven means of addressing poverty and unemployment.
He recalled that RA 10679 was enacted to promote entrepreneurship among young Filipinos by providing programs and services to support the development of their entrepreneurial skills and mindset.
The proposed measure, he explained, declares as a policy of the State the promotion of “the sustained development of young Filipinos whose aptitude and skill in the field of finance and entrepreneurship shall be encouraged and honed through education and specialized training programs.”
Go also cited findings from the Global
the price of rice one of the priorities of his administration since it was among his popular campaign promises, particularly selling it for P20 per kilo.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) through its partner local government units (LGU) was able to start selling the P20 per kilo rice in May, but through significant government subsidies.
The DA has allocated P5 billion for the program’s implementation this year and is seeking an P18-billion budget to expand the
Entrepreneurship Monitor showing that, in 2015, 46 percent of Filipinos already had a very positive view of entrepreneurial opportunities in the country, a statistic that highlights the strong potential for nurturing this mindset among the youth.
Meanwhile, according to the June 2025 “Ulat ng Bayan” nationwide survey conducted by Pulse Asia, 53% of Filipino adults identified having a good job or reliable source of income as one of their most urgent personal concerns, second only to staying healthy at 64%.
At the national level, job creation emerged as the third most pressing concern for 25% of respondents, following inflation at 62% and the need to increase worker pay at 51%.
The proposed measure tasks the Department of Education to ensure the inclusion of separate core subjects on financial literacy and entrepreneurship in the junior and senior high school curricula of both public and private secondary schools nationwide.
Recognizing the importance of foundational learning, the bill also proposes that at the elementary level, programs will focus primarily on instilling the ideal values necessary to become successful entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the proposal mandates the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to promote entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs in higher education and technical - vocational institutions.
In addition, it seeks to expand the responsibilities of the Entrepreneurship Education Committee to include formulating a national plan of action, standardizing programs, adopting relevant foreign practices, and providing training and mentoring support.
These initiatives will also cover the development of enterprise incubation laboratories, creative spaces, and agriculture - related entrepreneurship programs in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Land Bank of the Philippines.
number of its beneficiaries in 2026.
In the second part of the third episode of his video blog posted in his social media page, Marcos reiterated their ongoing efforts to make the P20 per kilo rice sustainable by providing support to farmers through inputs to boost their production as well as agrarian reform.
He also said their ongoing campaign against food smugglers and hoarders will make local farmers more competitive.
“As our production [of rice] improves, it [subsidies] will go down...We’ve reached the point where we can say we can do it. We can afford it. We can afford the subsidy,” he said in Filipino. Samuel P. Medenilla
In the meantime, Santiago said the STF would remain empty until he has appointed a new person to lead it.
The STF was created to handle serious cases that require confidentiality under the direct orders from the NBI director.
Santiago issued the order in response to the concerns raised by the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the counsel of those apprehended against those involved in the questionable raid.
The NBI chief said the members of the STF
are under investigation after it was learned that they applied for a search warrant before a Malabon court despite the fact that the subject of their operation was situated in Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
Thus, Santiago said the search warrant was defective since it was issued by a court that has no jurisdiction since the place subject of the operation was in Pampanga.
The NBI chief said he was puzzled why the STF operatives would apply for a search warrant
before the Malolos court despite conducting prior surveillance operations several times on the place subject of their operation.
“It seems tha t they intentionally misled the court and the court granted the search warrant based on a wrong address,” Santiago added.
Due to the defective warrant, Santiago said the case against those arrested would likely be dismissed since the evidence seized from the place cannot be used as evidence.
Santiago explained that various equipment and personal items including the passports of those arrested were seized by the STF operatives who later on reported to the Bureau of immigration (BI) that the said foreigners were undocumented.
He also noted that there were minors who were present in the raided establishment but were not taken into custody. Instead, Santiago said, the operatives assigned a woman to look after the minors.
Army chief orders stop, review of ‘reception ceremonies’
PHILIPPINE Army (PA) commander Lt.
Gen. Antonio Nafarrete has ordered a stop of the so-called “reception ceremonies” in all of its units even as a review of the practice is now ongoing.
This was said by Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala in an interview with reporters on Wednesday.
The temporary stop of the abovementioned came in wake of the death of 22-year-old Private Charlie Charlie Patigayon, who allegedly died while undergoing such practice in his new unit in Maguindanao del Norte last week.
Patigayon collapsed last July 30 while
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reportedly undergoing reception activities at the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Battalion at Barangay Capiton, Datu Odin, Maguindanao del Norte
He died the following day even as two officers and 21 enlisted personnel were ordered relieved in wake of the incident.
“The PA chief ordered the temporary stop of the reception ceremonies in the Army while we are conducting reviews,” Dema-ala said in a mixture of Filipino and English.
He added that the review is to determine whether there is still a need for this practice.
But he also clarified that the reception ceremony being referred to is for newly-
Most of the job losses came from local sectors like construction and manufacturing, which are facing internal pressures. The US tariffs haven’t hit us head-on yet,” Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong & Co. told B usiness M irror
Ravelas said, however, that there is a risk ahead when it comes to how the tariffs will impact local jobs. He said if tariffs “start biting” into the country’s electronic exports, the Philippines top export, this could lead to more job losses.
He said companies adversely affected by reduced export earnings due to higher tariffs, even those in economic zones, could implement layoffs. This, Ravelas said, requires “smarter trade strategies and support for vulnerable sectors.”
“In the coming months, if the tariffs persist and orders drop, we can expect more pressure on jobs in affected sectors. The risk is not just job losses but also higher underemployment if firms reduce hours or shift workers to lower-paying roles to cut costs,” Rivera also told B usiness M irror
Lost jobs
APART from manufacturing, del Prado said construction also lost 692,000 jobs due to the decline in jobs in the construction of buildings, electrical installation, and construction of roads and railways.
The agriculture and forestry industry also shed 580,000 jobs due to the reduction in workers engaged in the growing of corn except young corn, growing of other vegetables, melons, roots, and tubers, and growing of leafy and fruit-bearing vegetables.
Another industry that lost the most jobs was arts, entertainment and recreation, which shed 218,000 jobs.
Del Prado said this was largely due to the 209,000 jobs lost in gambling and betting activities.
She also said that under arts, entertainment and recreation, there were also jobs lost in other amusement and recreation activities not elsewhere classified, and activities of sports clubs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said another factor that caused the rise in unemployment was youth unemployment.
The data showed there were 623,000 unemployed youth in June 2025, a 7.1 percent or 41,000 increase from the 582,000 recorded in June 2024. The youth unemployment rate in June 2025 grew to 9.4 percent from 8.6 percent.
“We remain cautious due to the slight uptick in
unemployment, particularly among the youth. To address this, we are committed to enhancing workforce competitiveness by aligning education and training systems with industry needs and accelerate interventions to improve school-to-work transitions and youth employability,”
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a statement.
DOLE’s course of action
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it will continue to bolster Filipinos’ employability and employment facilitation programs following the increase in labor force participation in June.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma touted the 526,000 increase in the labor force participation on an annual basis, noting that “more and more Filipinos are actively searching for employment opportunities.”
Citing PSA data, he noted a rise in the employment rate to 96.3 percent in June from 96.1 percent in May, which indicated an increase of 185,000 Filipinos who found jobs within a month.
“This upward trend suggests a strengthening labor market driven by growth in the industry sector, specifically in the subsectors such as wholesale and retail trade, fishing and aquaculture, and construction,” Laguesma said in a statement.
He also cited the decline in unemployed Filipinos to 1.95 million in June from 2.03 million in May, along with the drop in underemployed individuals on a monthly basis to 5.763 million in June from 6.603 million in the previous month.
“This can be attributed to the increase in the number of full-time employment by 1.724 million monthon-month and the decline in part-time employment by 878,000 month-onmonth,” Laguesma said.
The agency, he added, will focus on key initiatives that strengthen youth and adult employability and employment facilitation programs through an approach anchored on convergence, innovation, and accessibility.
Such measures will include the enhancement of its labor market information system, particularly the PhilJobNet online portal, to provide real-time, verified job postings for youth and other jobseekers.
Laguesma said DOLE will also intensify partnerships with Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), national government
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The BuCor attributed the accomplishment to the efficiency in Management Screening and Evaluation Committee (MSEC), the effective implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) and expanded access to parole and executive clemency, Catapang said. However, Catapang said the BuCor needs more dormitories amounting to P14.6 billion to further address the congestion in prison facilities, on top of dormitories under construction to increase PDLs capacity by 3,000 beds in Iwahig, Sablayan, Davao Prison and Penal Farms and Leyte Regional Prison.
recruited and trained soldiers undergoing posting for the first time, and not to civilians who have signified an interest in undergoing training to become a bonafide Army trooper.
Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated its lack of tolerance for hazing and all forms of physical abuse and any form of maltreatment.
“The AFP is a professional institution built on discipline, integrity, and respect for human dignity. We do not and will never tolerate hazing, physical abuse, maltreatment or any form of degrading treatment. These values are instilled in every soldier from pre-entry training and reinforced throughout their service,” it added.
agencies, local government units (LGUs), private sector, and social partners, to expand the reach of job fairs and employment services nationwide through the Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas.
“We are also actively implementing and scaling up pre-employment and internship programs such as the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program (GIP), and JobStart Philippines, while supporting the career development support needs of students and first-time jobseekers,” he said.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will also expand its scholarship programs, he added.
Elementary, unpaid THE jobs data released by PSA on Wednesday also showed a 1.37-million increase among those classified as being engaged in elementary occupations.
The increase led to a total of 15.11 million Philippine jobs being classified as elementary occupations. In May, there were only 13.74 million.
These elementary occupations, the PSA said, involve the performance of simple and routine tasks which may require the use of hand-held tools and considerable physical effort.
Among these occupations, on a monthon-month basis, included an increase of 290,000 workers in crop farming; 240,000 in fishery and aquaculture; and 171,000 in building construction.
Meanwhile, there was also an increase in unpaid family workers to 942,000 in June 2025 from 862,000 in June 2024.
Del Prado explained that this included Filipinos helping out in their family businesses or farms, among them students who are helping out their families after attending classes.
DepDev, however, said the Marcos Administration is likewise advancing key DOLE programs and initiatives to increase jobs and improve the quality of jobs.
The agency noted that the underemployment rate declined to 11.4 percent, down from 12.1 percent in June 2024, indicating continued improvements in job quality. This is largely driven by the drop in the invisibly underemployed, particularly the manufacturing (-251,000) and wholesale & retail trade (-220,000) subsectors.
“The numbers show that our efforts are bearing fruit, but more work lies ahead. We must accelerate structural reforms to
“We are very fortunate to be given P6 billion as per directive of the President for the construction of eight dormitories including the supermax facility in Sablayan,” Catapang pointed out.
In his report, Catapang also said the agency is developing its land and water assets to drive economic growth and foster positive social impact by master planning the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farms into a mega economic zone to be replicated in Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farms into a in Zamboanga. Over the past six months, the BuCor chief said prison guards were able to confiscate 139,738 prohibited items, thus, enhancing the safety of both officers and PDLs.
The AFP also said that its chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. had issued a clear and uncompromising directive to all units to uphold the highest standards of military conduct and discipline, and reject all forms of hazing, physical abuse, maltreatment, and degrading treatment. It added it remains fully committed to cultivating a culture of professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability. All personnel, regardless of rank or tenure must be treated with dignity in every setting whether in training, duty, ceremonies, or daily interactions. Rex Anthony Naval
make our labor market more inclusive, competitive, and resilient. Through sustained collaboration and innovation, we aim not just to create more jobs, but to sustain improvements in the lives of all Filipinos,” Balisacan said. Balisacan said to boost youth employment, the government has the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the Government Internship Program, the JobStart Philippines Program, as well as strengthened coordination with LGU-based Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and school-based Job Placement Offices. The Department of Trade and Industry’s implementation of the Tatak Pinoy Strategy will also guide efforts to strengthen local enterprises, attract investments, and elevate the country’s position in the global value chain.
Balisacan also stressed the importance of aligning workforce competencies with emerging industry demands, particularly in high-value sectors such as Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and digital services. He also highlighted the forthcoming release of guidelines on the “Future Workforce in an AI Workplace,” which aim to support AI integration across government, industry, and education, while safeguarding job security through stronger digital literacy and AI-related skills.
To generate more high-quality jobs, the government is also working to strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry. This effort will be supported by the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap currently being developed to outline key investment priorities, innovation goals, and talent development strategies.
By accelerating growth in this sector, the government aims to create more employment opportunities for skilled Filipino workers and enhance the country’s competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.
Complementing these initiatives, the government is accelerating the implementation of Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) to attract job-generating investments and address infrastructure bottlenecks. Improving public spending efficiency and prioritizing investments in education, healthcare, food security, and connectivity infrastructure will further support inclusive and sustainable growth.
Additionally, the bureau has also strengthened its digital services, including E-Dalaw, E-Burol, and E-Hearing, ensuring that PDLs maintain connections with their families and have continued access to justice.
The BuCor has also hired 4,004 new personnel while 10,244 existing staff are undergoing specialized education and training to keep pace with modern correctional practices. Furthermore, Catapang said as part of a rigorous commitment to maintaining order and integrity, 157 personnel were either dismissed or suspended without pay due to misconduct, emphasizing Bucor’s zero-tolerance policy for unethical behavior. Joel R. San Juan
Report: PHL coco oil more expensive in July
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
INTERNATIONAL quotations for several commodities being imported and exported by the Philippines continued to rise in July, according to the latest report from the World Bank.
World Bank data indicated that the average price of the arabica coffee variety jumped by 26.63 percent to $7.18 per kilo in the reference month from $5.67 per kilo in the same period last year. The price of its cheaper counterpart, the robusta variety, retreated.
Figures from the international organization indicated that quotations for these coffee varieties are on a downtrend since May.
BMI, a unit of Fitch solutions, recently reported that the coffee quotations indicated a bearish sentiment, owing to a potentially improved stockpile in Brazil along with the announcement from the United States that farm products not grown there may be exempted from tariffs.
Despite this, the World Bank
expects prices of arabica and robusta varieties this year to settle at $8.50 per kilo and $5.50 per kilo, respectively. These figures are higher than the average prices of the two varieties in 2024 at $5.62 per kilo and $4.41 per kilo, respectively.
The average quotation for cocoa also inched up by 3.95 percent to $7.37 per kilo in July from $7.09 per kilo in the previous year. This was slightly higher than the average price of $7.33 per kilo recorded in 2024.
However, World Bank data showed that the average price of the crucial chocolate ingredient are also on a downward trend.
According to BMI, cocoa futures fell in end-July as signs of easing demand amid elevated prices placed downward pressure on quotations
for the commodity despite supply concerns in West Africa, where majority of the crop is grown.
Meanwhile, fertilizers like DAP and urea, which are critical farm inputs imported by the Philippines, were more expensive in the reference month.
The price of DAP went up by 36.45 percent to $736 per metric ton (MT) from $539.4 per MT, while urea climbed by 44.82 percent to $496 per MT from $342.5 per MT last year.
As for the country’s top farm export, World Bank figures indicated that the average quotation for coconut oil surged by 87.99 percent to an all-time high of $2,771
per MT in July from $1,474 per MT a year ago.
Given the rally in quotations of the tropical oil, the World Bank forecasts the average quotation for coconut to settle at $1,800 per MT this year, higher than the average price of $1,519 per MT recorded last year.
Of the metal prices, aluminum posted a 10.94-percent increase to $2,606 per MT in July from $2,349 per MT in the previous year.
Copper and tin also registered an uptick in quotations during the reference period to $9,771 per MT from $9,385 per MT and $33,610 per MT from $31,860 per MT, respectively.
‘Canada wants to buy more tropical fruits from PHL’
CANADA is keen on importing more tropical fruits, such as mango from the Philippines, as it diversifies its trade options amid the uncertainty created by Washington’s tariff policy.
Despite the concerns posed by the new tariff policy of the United States, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald said it also presents opportunities for other countries to strengthen their trade ties.
MacDonald said he and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met recently to discuss trade issues.
“It’s giving us an opportunity to come together as countries and do more. We’re seeing that we need to diversify, and we can’t depend on partners that we can’t trust,” he told reporters in a media briefing on Tuesday.
“So, we need to develop rela -
tionships in other countries, and this is what we’re doing. Canada can be a trusted partner in trade.”
Washington recently reduced the reciprocal tariffs levied on Philippine goods to 19 percent from 20 percent, while some US products may enter the Philippines tariff-free, such as soy and wheat.
Such opportunities for increased trade could focus on farm products between the two nations, according to Diedrah Kelly, executive director of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO).
In particular, Kelly said Canada wants to import tropical fruits, including mango, mangosteen, and guavas from the Philippines.
The country’s top farm export, coconut oil, could also see increased demand from the North American country, she added.
As for Canada, Kelly said there are opportunities for the North American country to expand its beef exports to the Philippines.
“If you look at the numbers, even though we’re in the top 10 position, it’s quite low at about $80 million. So, there is a significant opportunity to do more in terms of beef.”
She said Canada could also export malting barley and wheat to the country, which she noted is ideal for baked goods like the country’s famed pan de sal.
FTA talks
MEANWHILE , such opportunities from Washington’s new tariff policy could also extend to the free trade agreement (FTA) between both nations, according to David Hartman, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines.
“I would be quite surprised, frankly, if recent geopolitical
developments don’t potentially accelerate our ability to look at this area,” Hartman said in the same briefing.
While no formal negotiations for the Philippines-Canada FTA have been launched, he noted that talks for the Asean-Canada FTA could fast-track negotiations for a bilateral trade deal between the two countries.
“We are looking to conclude that at the most expedient pace possible and then immediately work successively with our bilateral relationship with the Philippines,” Hartman said.
Currently, he said they are awaiting feedback to negotiating proposals presented for Canada.
“As soon as we receive those, our machinery of government is lined up to be able to meet the high level of ambition that our leaders have declared on behalf of both of our countries.” Ada Pelonia
SMFB profit rises on steady demand for food products
By VG Cabuag @Villygc
S
AN Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. (SMFB) on Wednesday said its consolidated net income grew 15 percent to P23 billion in the first half from the previous year’s P19.97 billion, driven by steady sales and improved cost management.
Revenues rose 4 percent yearon-year to P201.2 billion, from the previous year’s P192.88 billion, according to the food and
beverage unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
“Our first-half performance shows the strength of our operations and our ability to execute on long-term strategic goals,” SMFB Chairman Ramon S. Ang said.
“We will continue to invest in capacity, improve efficiency, and expand our reach to deliver lasting value to our customers and stakeholders while making everyday food and beverages more accessible to Filipino families.”
San Miguel Foods recorded P94.4 billion in revenues, up 7 percent from a year earlier, supported by higher volumes and favorable pricing across core categories such as chicken, canned meats, spreads and coffee.
Operating income jumped 41 percent to P8.6 billion, while net income rose 53 percent to P6 billion.
Beer brewer San Miguel Brewery’s net income edged up 3 percent to P13 billion, despite its revenues being down by 1 per -
cent to P74.6 billion, as softer domestic demand offset gains overseas.
International sales rose 2 percent to $144.8 million, with growth in South China and Vietnam. Operating income rose 2 percent to P16.2 billion.
Liquor firm Ginebra San Miguel Inc.’s net income grew 16 percent to P4.2 billion. The company said it posted a 7 percent rise in revenues to P32.2 billion, supported by better prices and stable volumes.
Healthy diet costlier for Filipinos in 2024–FAO report
THE cost of a healthy diet for each Filipino rose to $4.39 per day last year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The estimated price of a healthy diet in the Philippines last year was 4.3 percent higher than the $4.21 recorded in 2023. Based on the current
foreign exchange rate, this means that each Filipino must spend around P242 per day for nutritious food.
The price of a healthy diet in the Philippines compares with that of Malaysia where it costs $4.27 per person. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar recorded the lowest price, followed by Malaysia and the Philippines. The highest was
recorded in Brunei, where it reached $5.89 per person in 2024.
Despite this, the FAO noted that the number of Filipinos unable to afford a healthy diet last year declined to around 51 million from 52.2 million in 2023.
The international organization also noted a “modest improvement” in hunger levels with around
Why burgers cost so much right now
THERE’S no question that steak and hamburgers contribute to global warming, driven by cows’ potent methane burps and their wide-ranging grazing habits. But a warming planet with intensifying extreme weather is also affecting the price of your steak and hamburgers.
After years of drought, pastures haven’t been producing enough grass to feed cattle.
So ranchers have been sending their animals to the slaughterhouse earlier, cutting back herds even as Americans eat more beef. This is sending prices to record highs.
Average ground beef prices in city supermarkets surpassed $6 a pound in June, while the cost of uncooked beef steaks approached $11.50 a pound. Those levels are the highest in a decade, according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The upward march of prices illustrates a phenomenon known as climate inflation, in which droughts, heat waves, floods and wildfires raise prices for everything from home insurance to groceries. While some price hikes are so far proving temporary, others are longer-lasting, like beef, which is expected to stay expensive for at least the next few years.
“This is one indicator of how climate change will affect our food system, and it’s playing itself out in beef right now,” says Ben Lilliston, director of rural strategies and climate change at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a Minneapolisbased nonprofit. “You’re seeing it in other commodities, like coffee.”
Long-lasting drought
US beef prices are spiking after years of drought in areas where cattle are raised.
In the southwestern US in particular, which includes cattle-producing areas like California’s San Joaquin Valley, drought has exceeded historical expectations over the last quarter-century, says Brad Rippey, a USDA meteorologist.
Scientists have found that global warming’s higher temperatures make droughts more likely to happen in some places and more severe. For example, a 2020 study that examined anomalously dry conditions in the western US and northern Mexico between 2000 and 2018 determined that climate change contributed to nearly half of that drought’s severity.
Drought conditions in the US in recent years were also enhanced by several instances of the naturally-occurring La Niña climate pattern, which tends to leave portions of the US drier than usual, Rippey says.
8.2
percent of the entire population or about 673 million people experiencing hunger in 2024 from 8.5 percent in 2023.
This showed a decrease of 15 million people from 2023 and of 22 million from 2022, according to the FAO.
“While the decline is welcome, the latest estimates remain above pre-pandemic
“The long-term impact is that you have less ability to produce, which is where we find ourselves now after four or five years of this process,” says Derrell Peel, agribusiness professor at Oklahoma State University. Demand from consumers for beef, meanwhile, has grown, which also contributes to higher prices. That generates a trade-off between cashing in on today’s high prices and holding animals back for breeding — a process that takes years to pay off. A female calf born this year could be sold, entering next year’s beef supply, or it could be bred in 2026 and rear a calf ready for market by roughly 2028. Cattle usually have only one calf at a time, in contrast with other animals like chickens and pigs. Other factors affecting cattle ranching besides drought include higher interest rates and greater costs for inputs ranging from the cattle themselves to feed and equipment.
More climate challenges
MOST cattle spend their lives outdoors, exposing the animals to other hallmarks of climate change like extreme heat. High temperatures can affect cattle’s reproductive health and their growth, extending the time and cost of raising animals. In the highest-emissions scenario, it could get so hot by 2050 that fewer parts of the world will be suitable for cattle production, according to the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.
Another climate change-related threat is also looming: a deadly parasite known as the screwworm, which was long-ago eradicated in the US but has made a resurgence in Mexico. It thrives in warmer climates, and scientists say that climate change could facilitate the fly’s spread. While the majority of American beef is produced domestically, the US routinely imports young cattle from Mexico to fatten up in American feedlots, says David Anderson, a professor and livestock economist at Texas A&M University. The supply of those cattle, the equivalent of about 4 percent of US calf production, has been intermittently cut off since November because of the threat the screwworm poses.
“On the margin, that’s a bunch of animals,” he says. “That’s contributing to high prices.” Bloomberg News
Ranchers have some options, including feeding their herds alternatives to pasture grass, such as hay. But as dry conditions continue, selling the cattle begins to make more financial sense than buying the expensive feed. US herds have been dwindling for years, and are now smaller than ever even as drought conditions have improved.
levels, with the high food inflation of recent years contributing to the slow recovery in food security.”
FAO said such an improvement was “not consistent” across the globe, with hunger continuing to rise in most subregions of Africa and western Asia.
“The proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa surpassed 20 percent in 2024, affecting 307 million people, while in western Asia an estimated 12.7 percent of
the population, or more than 39 million people, may have faced hunger in 2024.”
With this, the FAO stressed the “immense challenge” of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 or Zero Hunger.
The international organization describes a healthy diet as adequate, diverse, balanced, and moderate, which ensures that people receive the necessary nutrients while avoiding harmful excesses. Ada Pelonia
OLIVER SJÖSTRÖM | PEXELS
The ‘Land of Promise’: Navigating the waters of peace in Mindanao
THE recent decision by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to stop the decommissioning of its armed fighters highlights the precarious nature of peace in Mindanao. This development echoes past grievances voiced by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), showing a persistent cycle of mistrust and unmet expectations between the government and Moro groups.
At the heart of the matter is the allegation of government noncompliance with commitments made under the peace agreement signed in 2014. The Office for Bangsamoro Transformation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) has countered these claims, asserting that significant progress has been made in providing socioeconomic support to decommissioned combatants. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PHL government was not remiss in commitment to Bangsamoro peace pact—Opapru,” August 1, 2025).
Yet, while the government’s efforts—such as cash assistance, educational funding, and civil registration—are commendable, they must be viewed within the broader context of the peace process and the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.
The historical context cannot be ignored. The MNLF’s accusations against the government a decade ago reflect a pattern of disillusionment among Moro groups. The Opapru’s denial of MILF’s claims signals a lack of open dialogue and transparency that is crucial for rebuilding trust. The peace agreement should not merely be a checklist of programs; it must embody a genuine commitment to the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.
As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) approaches its first parliamentary regional elections in 2025, there is a critical opportunity to shift the narrative. Political empowerment is not just a checkbox on a reform agenda; it is the cornerstone of sustainable peace. The upcoming elections will allow the Bangsamoro to choose their leaders, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability within the region.
Moreover, the government’s substantial financial commitments, including an annual block grant and special development funds, present an unprecedented opportunity for the region. However, these resources must be utilized effectively and equitably to bridge the gap between the promises made and the realities faced by the decommissioned combatants and their communities.
Mindanao is often referred to as the “Land of Promise,” a title that encapsulates its vast potential. Yet, without lasting peace and genuine collaboration between the government and Moro groups, this promise remains unfulfilled. As we look to the future, it is essential for both sides to engage in constructive dialogue, address grievances transparently, and commit to a shared vision of prosperity.
The path to lasting peace in Mindanao is fraught with challenges, but it is also rich with opportunities. By fostering mutual respect, understanding, and accountability, the government and the MILF can transform their relationship from one of suspicion to one of partnership, ultimately paving the way for a more prosperous and harmonious future for the Bangsamoro people.
BusinessMirror
T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo
Ruben M. Cruz Jr.
Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes
D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan
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AYBE it is the rainy weather that has me catching up on my reading.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb is not your typical intellectual. He writes about economics like it is a contact sport and argues like someone tired of everyone else getting it wrong. In his 2012 book “Antifragile,” Taleb presents an idea so elegant—and so irritatingly obvious once you get it—it ought to be tattooed on the forehead of every bureaucrat in Metro Manila: “Some Things Benefit From Disorder.”
If fragile things break under stress and robust things resist it, then “antifragile” things—like tsismis on social media or Manila’s sidewalk vendors—actually grow stronger from it. Taleb has little patience for experts who believe more data leads to better predictions. He calls them “fragilistas”: people who meddle with complex systems and unknowingly push them closer to collapse. Sound familiar? Just look at how government handles anything big—from the jeepney phaseout to import bans—and you will see fragility in full display.
Taleb’s lesson is not philosophical fluff. Systems that survive do so by failing small and learning fast. Airline safety improved not because of regulators, but because deadly crashes forced the industry to adapt. Failure led to improvement. The local approach, in contrast, is to deny that anything went wrong until the entire system collapses—just look at NAIA runways, digital infrastructure, or
the so-called food stamp program, now reduced to a ration card and political prop.
We built a fragile economy. It depends on OFW remittances, imported energy, and consumer demand driven by debt. One international disruption—a shipping delay, oil shock, or distant war—and the whole system trembles. That is not resilience. That is hoping the global supply chain behaves. Taleb calls this “sailing too close to the wind.” Ours is more like clinging to the side of the boat without a life vest, praying the typhoon turns away.
Taleb warns against trying to eliminate all risk and volatility. A child’s immune system strengthens through exposure to dirt and germs. Overprotective parents—and overreaching governments—may mean well, but they produce fragile children and fragile citizens. Medical experts now warn that over-sterilized childhood environments can weaken immune defenses. It is a reminder-
Taleb’s idea of “via negativa”— removing what does not work— is another idea we ignore. We love adding programs, adding committees, adding staff. What we rarely do is eliminate what clearly fails. How many failed irrigation and flooding projects have we “reinvented” with new acronyms? How many underperforming officials are “reassigned” instead of removed?
that fragility often begins with good intentions.
In trying to shield everyone from discomfort, we have created people—and policies—that collapse under real pressure. Have we built a culture where we need safe spaces?
We guard against minor stress, then act shocked when a real crisis overwhelms the “snowflakes”. According to a recent survey by Intelligent, an education research site, 40 percent of business leaders believe that recent graduates are unprepared for the workforce.
This is the real lesson: systems thrive by adapting through failure. That goes against the grain of bureaucratic thinking. Government prefers five-year plans, “whole-ofnation approaches,” and unread frameworks. Antifragility favors trial and error. Fail small, fail fast, learn. The sari-sari store is antifragile—it adjusts with every unsold bottle of vinegar. The mall chain is fragile; it waits for quarterly reports before reacting.
Taleb’s idea of “via negativa”— removing what does not work—is another idea we ignore. We love add-
Japan’s nominal pay rises faster in June, backing case for BOJ rate hike
By Erica Yokoyama
JAPANESE workers saw their nominal wages rise at the fastest pace in four months, reflecting gains won in annual negotiations with employers and fueling market speculation that the Bank of Japan may hike its benchmark rate in coming months.
Nominal wages increased 2.5 percent in June from a year earlier, accelerating from a revised 1.4 percent gain the previous month, the labor ministry reported Wednesday. While the figure fell short of economists’ forecast of a 3.1 percent rise, it still marked the steepest increase since February.
Base salaries rose 2.1 percent, and a more stable measure, which avoids sampling issues and excludes bonuses and overtime, climbed 2.3 percent for regular workers. Real cash earn-
Nominal wages increased 2.5 percent in June from a year earlier, accelerating from a revised 1.4 percent gain the previous month, the labor ministry reported Wednesday. While the figure fell short of economists’ forecast of a 3.1 percent rise, it still marked the steepest increase since February.
ing programs, adding committees, adding staff. What we rarely do is eliminate what clearly fails. How many failed irrigation and flooding projects have we “reinvented” with new acronyms? How many underperforming officials are “reassigned” instead of removed?
People who are economically engaged are less likely to kill each other. This is not theory. In Mindanao, local economies did more for reconciliation than most peace summits. You cannot run a karinderia and a rebellion at the same time. Social cohesion grows when people can feed themselves.
Taleb’s solution is the “barbell strategy”: play it ultra-safe where it matters—food, fuel, infrastructure—and take risks only where failure is survivable. The Philippines does the opposite. We gamble billions on vanity projects and underfund rural health clinics. What we need is redundancy—not 10 consultants predicting success, but five backup plans for when things go wrong. Taleb argues that systems must be allowed to stumble in order to grow stronger. Instead, our leaders avoid volatility, then act surprised when everything collapses. The lesson for the Philippines is not to chase perfect control, but to build a system that learns, adjusts, and thrives in the face of chaos.
The real danger is not the Black Swan, but the illusion of preparedness—while floodwaters rise and the creeks remain clogged.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
far, we’re seeing developments that could well support the BOJ’s rate hike case.”
ings fell 1.3 percent, a deeper decline than the 0.7 percent retreat expected by economists. Wednesday’s data provide the latest evidence of robust wage growth momentum, likely keeping the BOJ on course to consider another interest rate hike this year. Following the decision last week to keep the policy rate steady at 0.5 percent, Governor Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to raise borrowing costs if economic conditions improve, emphasizing the importance of confirming a “positive mechanism” between wages and prices.
“As of June, wage increases have been spreading steadily as the BOJ had envisaged. The outcome of the annual wage negotiations was strong, and that’s gradually starting to show up in the monthly wage data,” said Airi Urano, Research Fellow at Marubeni Institute. “So
After a US-Japan trade deal was announced late last month, BOJ watchers brought forward their predictions on when the bank might next hike, with more than 40 percent forecasting the BOJ will move at its October policy meeting. No economists expect a move when authorities next set policy on Sept. 19, but over half of respondents expect another increase before the end of the year. “For policy, the wage data are consistent with our projection for another rate hike at the October meeting—though uncertainty over Japan’s political situation and cooling in the US labor market mean it’s See “Japan” A11
Trump ramps up tariff blitz with India, pharma, chips in sights
PBy Skylar Woodhouse, Michael Shepard & Kate Sullivan
RESIDENT Donald Trump said he’d impose increased tariffs on countries buying energy from Russia while clarifying that levies on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports would be announced “within the next week or so.”
In a divergent approach toward Asia’s giants, Trump said he’d raise tariffs on India “very substantially over the next 24 hours,” accusing its Russian oil purchases of “fueli ng the war machine.” By contrast, he said he was “very close to a deal” with China to extend a trade truce that saw the two countries agree to reduce tit-for-tat tariff hikes and ease export restrictions on rare earth magnets and certain technologies.
India, which hoped to lure manufacturers amid Trump’s tariff blitz, will face a double squeeze as Trump said levies on pharmaceutical imports would be announced in the next week or so, along with tariffs on semiconductors. Unlike Beijing, which used its dominance of rare earths in trade dealings with Washington, Delhi has no such leverage.
Coming just days after Trump re-set his tariff plan with rates on imports from trade partners ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent, his latest blast of trade threats and deadlines shows his quest to remake global trade in America’s favor is far from done. That’s even as the latest economic data suggests the US economy is grappling with the fallout. Asian stocks struggled for direction in early trade Wednesday. The S&P 500 was on the brink of all-time highs on Tuesday, before losing steam.
Trump is threatening secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil as he ratchets up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin is weighing options for a concession that could include an air truce with Ukraine to try to head off the threat of such sanctions.
When asked if he’d follow through on a previous threat to impose tariffs on additional countries, including China, Trump said “we’ll be doing quite a bit of that.” In an interview with CNBC earlier Tuesday, Trump indicated he would push forward with escalated tariffs on India in particular.
“We settled on 25 percent but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil,” Trump said. “They’re fueling the war machine. And if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy.” He also detailed timing and discussed potential levels of US tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports.
Trump is threatening secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil as he ratchets up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin is weighing options for a concession that could include an air truce with Ukraine to try to head off the threat of such sanctions.
“We’ll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year—one and a half years, maximum—it’s going to go to 150 percent and then it’s going to go to 250 percent because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country,”
Trump said Tuesday in the interview on CNBC.
Trump said the US was “getting along with China very well.”
“It’s not imperative, but I think we’re going to make a good deal,” Trump said.
Still, Trump downplayed the notion that he was eager for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying he would only want to see his Chinese counterpart as part of an effort to conclude trade negotiations.
“I’ll end up having a meeting before the end of the year, most likely, if we make a deal,” Trump said. “If we don’t make a deal, I’m not going to have a meeting.”
“It’s a 19-hour flight—it’s a long flight, but at some point in the not too distant future, I will,” Trump added.
A preliminary deal between the US and China is set to expire on Aug. 12. That initial truce eased worries of a tariff war that threatened to choke off bilateral trade between the world’s two largest economies and also gave the countries more time to discuss other unresolved issues such as duties tied to fentanyl trafficking.
Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in Stockholm —the third round of trade talks between the US and Beijing in less than three months.
While Chinese officials and the Communist Party’s official newspaper had signaled satisfaction with the Stockholm talks, the pact remained fragile. Bessent had said that any agreement to extend the arrangement would be up to Trump. Bloomberg
Texas’ vow to arrest Democrats spurs US redistricting clash
By Joe Lovinger, Erik Wasson & Miranda Davis
DEMOCRATIC and Republican lawmakers are escalating their threats over redistricting, a fight that started in Texas and is now quickly spreading across the country.
California Democrats have vowed to “fight fire with fire” as they weigh asking voters to override the state’s independent redistricting commission.
Missouri Republicans are studying a plan like the one in Texas, with one lawmaker saying the governor wants to be sure the state’s “Christian conservative majority” has adequate representation.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul slammed the Republican effort in Texas as a “blatant power grab” and called for disbanding her state’s bipartisan redistricting committee— even though new districts wouldn’t be established ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
The mapping duel is emerging as a national flashpoint as Republicans seek to protect their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives. President Donald Trump has said redistricting in Texas will enable the GOP to add as many as five seats in Congress. Texas Democrats, scattered from Chicago to Boston and facing arrest warrants back home, are urging other states to join the fight.
“I want to encourage California and New York and Maryland and Washington state to say, ‘You know what? We’re gloves off,’” US Representative Julie Johnson, a Democrat from the Dallas area, said in a news conference late Monday in Illinois. “War is war.”
Still, the results of an escalating war over congressional maps would be uncertain—and potentially risky for Democrats. Republicans have a greater opportunity to gain seats if a redistricting “free for all” breaks out given the state of the current delegations and varying state constitutions, said Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report.
He estimated Republicans could gain up to twice as many seats as Democrats, citing GOP opportunities in Ohio, Indiana and Florida,
Japan . . .
continued from A10
not a clearcut call,” said Bloomberg economist Taro Kimura.
The strong wage data reflect the outcomes of this year’s annual pay negotiations, in which workers represented by the largest umbrella group for unions secured their steepest pay increases in over three decades. Roughly 70 percent of those gains were likely reflected in workers’ paychecks by mid-June, based on last year’s results referenced in the Cabinet Office’s monthly economic report.
Despite robust nominal wage growth, real wages continued to decline, as rising prices outpaced
as well as Missouri and Texas. Ohio is mandated under its laws to redistrict this year and analysts see Republicans able to gain two seats in the process.
California probably can only net five seats for the Democrats and New York faces too many legal hurdles to redistrict, Wasserman added.
By exiting Texas, Democratic lawmakers left the state’s House of Representatives short of the minimum number of lawmakers required to hold votes—a maneuver known as a quorum break. On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott ordered their arrest after a vote by the remaining members of the state’s House of Representatives to authorize the warrants.
Abbott announced late Tuesday that he filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court seeking the removal from office of State Representative Gene Wu, the leader of the Democratic caucus in the Texas House.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences,” Abbott said in a statement.
Wu said leaving the state “was a fulfillment of my oath” because it enabled him to sound the alarm about the redistricting proposal.
“History will judge this moment,” Wu said in a statement. “It will show a governor who used the law as a weapon to silence his people, and it will show those of us who stood for a higher principle.”
While the arrest warrants don’t carry any criminal charges and can’t be enforced across state lines, Abbott also directed the Texas Rangers, a state law enforcement agency, to investigate potential violations including bribery by “any of those Democrats who solicit, accept or agree to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote.”
Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Re-
salary increases. The nation’s key inflation gauge reached 3.3 percent in June, led by surging food prices. The number of price increases by Japan’s major food and beverage companies will exceed 1,000 in August, a 53 percent increase compared with the same month in 2024, according to Teikoku Databank.
With persistent inflation weighing on private consumption, gross domestic product figures for the three months through June due August 15 are expected to show signs of anemic growth.
The continued retreat by real wages is likely to intensify pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to take stronger action to help households contend with soaring costs of living. Ishiba may be forced to
The mapping duel is emerging as a national flashpoint as Republicans seek to protect their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives. President Donald Trump has said redistricting in Texas will enable the GOP to add as many as five seats in Congress. Texas Democrats, scattered from Chicago to Boston and facing arrest warrants back home, are urging other states to join the fight.
publican, has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get involved, saying the agency “has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines.” Trump, speaking at a White House event late Tuesday, said the FBI “may have to” help.
James Talarico, a Democratic state representative from Texas, told Bloomberg Television that the arrest threats are “a page out of the authoritarian playbook that we’ve seen in other countries.”
Texas seats
REPUBLICANS currently control 25 of the 38 seats that Texas has in the US House, or about 66 percent.
Trump won 56 percent of the votes in the state in last year’s presidential election.
Trump said Republicans are “entitled” to five more seats in Texas, arguing that congressional districts in Democratic-dominated states are configured to curtail the seats controlled by the GOP.
“We should have many more seats in Congress,” he said Tuesday on CNBC. US states typically redraw political boundaries to reflect population changes every 10 years, in line with updated census figures. These maps determine which voters are grouped into each district for elections to Congress and state legislatures.
In some states, the party in power can shape the maps to favor their candidates, a tactic known as gerrymandering.
propose broader price relief steps beyond his party’s pledge to make one-off cash handouts.
The ruling coalition’s historic setback in last month’s upper house election left it without a majority in either house of parliament, forcing it to collaborate with opposition parties to pass legislation. Those groups are currently working to finalize a unified proposal to press for a temporary cut to the consumption tax.
Looking ahead, policymakers including those at the BOJ expect upward pressure on wages to persist, driven largely by the nation’s chronic labor shortage, which forces businesses to raise pay in order to attract and retain workers. The nation’s unemployment rate stood at 2.5
Thailand’s zero tariff vow to Trump still limits US imports
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat
THAILAND’S pledge to President Donald Trump of near-total market access for US goods includes key limits to protect some domestic industries, according to a government official, laying out the Southeast Asian nation’s terms for a tariff deal with Washington.
The restrictions—specifically on pork and corn—will be hammered out in final negotiations with the US, said Pongsarun Assawachaisophon, who was involved in the talks and serves as deputy secretary-general to the prime minister.
The tariff is expected to shave off as much a 1.5 percentage point of Thailand’s economic growth next year. The deal is designed to fulfill Trump’s demand to erase Thailand’s $45 billion trade surplus while still keeping trade open to Bangkok’s biggest export market.
California, the most populous state, took that power away from politicians in 2010 and handed it to an independent citizens’ commission. But now, Democratic leaders say that system is putting California at a disadvantage, and they say they won’t sit idly by while other states game the system. A plan backed by Governor Gavin Newsom would allow the state legislature to override the independent commission—but only if Texas approves its own map changes. The proposal must clear California’s Democratic-controlled legislature with a two-thirds majority to qualify for a November 4 special election.
“The Assembly won’t stand by while our state is targeted. We will fight fire with fire,” California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said in a statement. “Our voters must be empowered to push back.” At a Tuesday news conference with Texas Democrats near Chicago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said it would be possible to redistrict in his state while cautioning that it wasn’t his preference.
“It’s not something I want to do, it’s not something any of us want to have do,” said Pritzker, a Democrat. Referring to the Texas quorum break, he said “we’re hoping this will be successful.”
Other Democratic leaders are pouncing on the Texas clash as a call to arms for their party around the country.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said the Texas map is a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act. While acknowledging that leaders in each state will need to decide what’s best in their jurisdictions, he called on the party to fight back with its own redistricting initiatives.
“Our constitution is under assault and voting rights are being completely violated,” Martin said. “Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while the other party has completely ignored them. They decided to cheat, and we’re going to respond in kind.” With assistance from Julie Fine, Eliyahu Kamisher, Madlin Mekelburg and Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg
percent in June, remaining below 3 percent for more than four years. US trade policy poses a risk to wage growth in Japan. Washington will impose a 15 percent tariff on most imports from Japan. That rate is significantly higher than US import levies a year ago, potentially crimping companies’ ability to boost salaries by eroding their profit margins.
“Looking ahead, downside risks are likely to be quite high. Bonuses growth could slow toward winter, if the impact of the Trump tariffs begins to emerge,” Urano said.
“That signals a decline in corporate earnings, and companies may find it difficult to offer similarly strong pay increases in next year’s annual negotiations.” Bloomberg
The US president announced a 19% tariff on Thailand last week, down from an earlier threatened 36%, following several rounds of negotiations and offers from Thailand, including eliminating import levies on more than 90 percent of US goods.
The tariff is expected to shave off as much a 1.5 percentage point of Thailand’s economic growth next year. The deal is designed to fulfill Trump’s demand to erase Thailand’s $45 billion trade surplus while still keeping trade open to Bangkok’s biggest export market.
“Among more than 10,000 US items that will get a 0 percent tariff, some will be subject to tariff staging, import quotas or other conditions,” Pongsarun said in an interview with Bloomberg News Monday. “Thailand got a really good deal because we didn’t act carelessly. We explained our reasons and didn’t just stubbornly keep everything shut.” Trump has touted his tariff threats for pushing countries to buy
more US goods and claimed, as in the case of Indonesia, that markets are “completely open” to American goods. But many countries in Southeast Asia have sought carve-outs or protections for agricultural sectors, with farmers forming a key political constituency. Jakarta, for instance, wants to buffer its poultry and corn industries while Vietnam’s seafood sector is seeking support.
For US pork, Bangkok will gradually reduce tariffs and limit American imports to less than 1 percent of domestic consumption. It must
also be free of the additive ractopamine, which is used to promote the development of lean muscle mass and banned in Thailand.
The initial limitations are to allow the US to “test the market” while giving Thai pork producers— notably Charoen Phokphand Foods Co. and Betagro Pcl.—and smaller pig farmers time to adjust, he said. Pork market access has long been a contentious issue for the US, and the reason why Washington revoked some trade preferences for Bangkok in 2020.
As for corn, Thailand will require local feed mills to absorb all home grown corn first, at set prices, before being granted quotas to import US supplies, said Pongsarun. The government will also allow US corn imports only during specific windows when there’s no harvest in Thailand, to minimize impact on local output, he added. While the details haven’t been finalized, the timing may align with US ex-
ports, with shipments usually rising around November to March, a slow period for Thai harvests.
The Thai Feed Mill Association, which has been consulted on the matter, has said the country is able to buy as much $2.8 billion annually of US corn, as well as soybean meal and dried distillers’ grains.
‘Made in Thailand’
A SEPARATE concern for Thailand is Trump’s 40 percent additional tariff on so-called transshipped goods, a way for Washington to block Chinese manufacturers from evading higher US tariffs.
About one-third of Thailand’s current exports to the US would fall under this category, Pongsarun said, ranging from car tires to electrical appliances and toys that were made by Chinese factories in Thailand.
Government regulations deem goods with at least 40 percent of local content to be “Made in Thai -
land,” but Pongsarun said officials expect the US might require a much higher threshold, possibly up to 80 percent. Those details have yet to be unveiled by Washington. Since April, Thailand rewrote rules around issuance of certificates of origin with the help of the US Customs and Border Protection, and has ramped up inspection and factory visits for 65 types of goods, worth about $15 billion, that the US had flagged as being potentially mislabeled as Thai-made. Going forward, product certification will also only be granted by the Department of Foreign Trade, instead of the Federation of Thai Industries or the Thai Chamber of Commerce, a move that allows the government greater oversight.
“It’s what we need to do anyway,” Pongsarun said. “The US deal is a wakeup call that nudges us to expedite the process to reform this system.” With assistance from Megan Durisin/Bloomberg
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Marcos halts rice imports, but no tariff tweaks for now
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENTFerdinand Marcos has ordered a 60-day suspension on rice importation, but withheld any tariff adjustments for now, to stop the slump in the farmgate price of palay (unhusked rice), according to Malacañang.
The chief executive granted the Department of Agriculture’s recommendation to temporarily halt rice importation starting 1 September 2025 “to protect local farmers [who are] reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season.”
“The President issued the directive after consulting with Cabinet members on the sidelines of his 5-day State Visit to India, and upon the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tui-Laurel Jr.,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave M. Gomez said in a statement on Wednesday. Marcos made the decision after the Philippine Statistics Author-
ity (PSA) reported that the average farmgate price of rice dropped P16.99 per kilo last month from P24.93 per kilo in the same period in 2024.
Industry sources interviewed by BusinessMirror said the farmgate price of palay has now even dropped to as low as P8 per kilo.
The retail price for local commercial rice, however, remains high and ranges from P30 to P45 per kilo for regular milled and P37 to P52 per kilo for well milled based on the price monitoring of DA in major markets in Metro Manila as of 5 August 2025.
Despite the drop in rice farmgate
Senate votes to archive impeachment complaint vs VP Sara Duterte
By Butch Fernandez
NINETEEN senators voted Wednesday night to transfer to the archives the fourth impeachment complaint of the House of Representatives against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, capping grueling debates of over five hours sparked by conflicting motions between neophyte senator Rodante Marcoleta and Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III. The Senate first voted to reject Sotto’s motion to table Marcoleta’s motion -- which the latter had amended from “motion to dismiss” to “archive” the case following the Supreme Court’s July 25, 2025 ruling. This SC ruling junked the House complaint against Duterte for being unconstitutional and violative of due process, and ruled it as void ab initio. The SC said the Senate never acquired jurisdiction over the impeachment case. Explaining his vote to support Marcoleta’s motion, Senate President Chiz Escudero described as “calls for judicial disobedience,” the relentless comments made since July 25, criticizing the SC ruling penned by Justice Marvic Leonen.
In his explanation of vote, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, however, said not one of those who would rather await the SC final ruling before the Senate moves on the impeachment case had any intention to disobey the high court. Despite Escudero’s assurance that the case can be easily retrieved from the archives in the event the SC reverses its July 25 ruling, Sotto said he knew from experience as a legislator for over three decades that “once archived, it’s dead.”
All he wanted, Sotto said, was “time” because it is more “prudent to wait for the results” of the SC judgment on the motion for reconsideration filed by the House last Monday. He noted there are “clear and blatant errors of fact” in the July 25 ruling and it was possible the court, revisiting this, could reverse itself.
Sotto and Hontiveros had disputed Marcoleta’s assertion that it was almost impossible for the court to reverse its unanimous ruling. Hontiveros cited at least two cases where the SC reversed a unanimous decision:
the League of Cities vs Comelec and ISAA et al vs Greenpeace.
Earlier, before the session, Lacson said in a statement that while he had previously called for respecting the SC ruling, he had read the August 4 motion for reconsideration by the HOR and would rather await the SC’s final ruling.
“My position to respect and not disobey the Supreme Court ruling on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has not changed, and will not change for the same reason which I stated earlier.
“That said, I read the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives through Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, and I would say I am in agreement with my legal staff and other legal observers that it was very well-written and argued why the Court should take a second look at the case at bar.
As for the impending Senate debate on this issue, it is best to exercise prudence and wait for the Supreme Court to rule with finality,” Lacson said.
Since there’s still a pending MR filed by the HOR through the OSG, “I believe the July 25 ruling is not final, until it rules with finality” on the MR.
“I would rather wait, not preempt, the final ruling of the high court. It is for these reasons that I abstain,” said Lacson.
For his part, Senator Aquino said in a manifestation before the vote that not waiting for the SC final ruling, simply because the July 25 judgment was unanimous, was wrong. He said he would rather continue to assert the Senate’s position, until the final ruling: Nabanggit dito, Huwag na tayong lumaban kasi matatalo naman tayo. Of course, Mr. President, it is improbable. Aaminin ko po iyan. Very improbable na magbago ang Korte Suprema with 15 votes, but it’s not impossible. Improbable at impossible, magkaiba po iyan, firstly.” In a speech at the start of the session, Marcoleta cited serious flaws that attended the manner by which the House processed the impeachment case, among them: archiving the first three articles of impeachment; not referring any of the complaints to the Committee on Justice; and failure to include the same in the Order of Business, only in the Journal.
prices, Marcos said it is time to raise the current 15 percent rice tariff, which he imposed under Executive Order No. 62.
“We will still see if we need to resort to that. Right now the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1,” Gomez said.
Aside from the rice import suspension, DA also earlier proposed raising the rice tariff to 25 percent.
Salceda: Necessary shock treatment A FORMER legislator threw his support behind the decision to restrict rice imports, calling it “a necessary shock treatment” in order to “recalibrate market conditions.”
Former House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Joey Sarte Salceda also recommended that the government act swiftly on buffer stocking through the National Food Authority.
“This is not protectionism. It is strategic management. The current system, where a handful of traders dominate logistics, warehousing, and pricing, has captured the gains of liberalization and transferred the risks to our farmers,” Salceda said.
In July 2024, the government already reduced the most-favored na-
tion tariff on rice imports from 35 percent to 15 percent to stabilize prices, Salceda said.
However, he said, the main beneficiaries of the tariff reduction are not consumers or farmers but importers, traders, and millers. Salceda said while the prices of regular- and well-milled rice as well as special grade rice decreased, farmgate prices increased.
Salceda said palay prices dropped 31.8 percent to P16.99 per kilogram in June 2025 from P24.93 per kilogram in June 2024. He added that in some areas, farmgate prices reportedly reached as low as P8 per kilo, well below production cost.
“The result is a margin of P8 to P12 per kilogram captured by intermediaries, while farmers suffer losses and consumers see only modest relief,” Salceda said.
“I was the principal author of the Philippine safeguard measures law during our accession to the World Trade Organization. I have always believed that trade can be good for everyone, but I have also insisted that certain sensitive sectors, such as food and agriculture, require salutary protection when national welfare is at stake,” Salceda said.
With Cai U. Ordinario
‘NIXING PALACE TARIFF POWER TO SLOW RESPONSE TO PRICES’
MALACAÑANG said the ongoing move in the Senate to remove the presidential power to adjust tariff rates may slow down government response to arrest possible spikes in market prices due to imports.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted Congress has delegated some of its powers under the Constitution to the President in setting tariff rates so the chief executive can control the prices of some commodities during emergencies.
“It is not possible to simply enact a law and not give the President power regarding this because if there is a problem, [or] an emergency, it will be very difficult for the President to adjust the price once the President’s power to adjust tariff rates has been removed,” she said in Filipino at a press briefing in New Delhi last Tuesday at the sidelines of the ongoing state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos in India.
Palace reservations ON Tuesday, senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan filed a joint resolution to revert the tariff rate for rice from 15 percent to 35 percent to help address the significant drop in the farmgate price of palay
(unmilled rice).
Hontiveros and Pangilinan said the low tariff contributed to the lower farmgate price of palay. On Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos ruled out the possible raising of tariffs for rice for now and instead announced a two-month suspension in the importation of rice to stabilize the farmgate price of the rice. Castro expressed her reservation on the senators’ proposal to remove the tariff-related powers of the President if it will be implemented.
“If they remove this power from the President, who will they give it to? Our legislators probably won’t be able to negotiate with other countries and other leaders of the country to adjust the prices of products [due to tariffs],” she said in Filipino. Marcos and his economic team, she said, showed their capability to conduct such deals during their visit to Washington D.C. last month to negotiate with United States President Donald Trump. The negotiation has led to a 1-percentage point reduction to the 20 percent US tariff rate on Philippine goods. Sustainable affordable rice MARCOS has made controlling
Support plastics treaty now,
By Jonathan L. Mayuga
GREENPEACE Philippines is calling on the government to back a global target to cut primary plastic production and support the phaseout of common single-use plastics and toxic chemic als as talks on a landmark Global Plastic Treaty resumed in Geneva, Switzerland this week.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups from around the world expressed mounting concerns over efforts by oil-producing states and industry lobbyists to derail the ambition and scope of what they believe will be the biggest environmental deal since the Paris Agreement.
Greenpeace Philippines is also pushing the establishment of zerowaste systems like reuse and refill, and protecting health through programs that uphold environmental rights, while ensuring inclusive consultations with various stakeholders.
The group is backing calls for fair financing and trade rules; and for the treaty in human rights, just
transition, and sound environmental policy.
Greenpeace Philippines believes that a bloc of oil-producing states— backed by fossil fuel and petrochemical lobbyists—pushes to narrow the treaty’s focus to waste management, removing provisions related to plastic production, climate, and health impacts. Reports revealed the growing presence of fossil fuel and petrochemical industry representatives in the negotiations, with over 200 industry-linked observers participating in previous sessions.
“The Plastics Treaty is under threat,” said Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines, who is in Geneva attending the talks. “If governments do not ensure that measures for production reduction, phaseout of problematic single-use plastics, and hazardous chemical elimination are in the treaty, we will end up with a weak agreement that protects corporate profits over people’s health and the environment.”
The ongoing negotiations mark
the final round of talks for the legally binding treaty on plastic pollution.
Advocates say this is a critical moment for governments to reject industry-driven proposals and instead support binding targets that phase down plastic production, eliminate single-use plastics and toxic chemicals, and support a just transition to reuse systems.
“The Philippines must take a bold stand in these talks,” said Ledesma. “We need countries to establish real solutions supported by just financial mechanisms. The recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice makes it clear: states have a duty to ensure everyone’s right to a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. That won’t be possible if plastic production continues to skyrocket.”
During the opening plenary, the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty said in a statement,
“Plastic pollution, including nano-, micro-, and macro-plastics, is leaked and released along the full life cycle of plastics. Plastic pollution directly
and indirectly harms human and environmental health, as confirmed by decades of international research.” The international network of scientific and technical experts also emphasized the need for “a legally-binding treaty with the scope to cover the full life cycle of plastics” and “mandatory obligations to prevent plastic pollution at the source.”
In the Philippines, over 80 organizations, academic institutions, and businesses have submitted a letter to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), urging the Philippine delegation to align with countries demanding an ambitious treaty that prioritizes upstream solutions like reduction and reuse over downstream waste management strategies. “Plastic pollution doesn’t start in our homes. It starts in boardrooms and factories,” Ledesma said. “No amount of recycling or cleanup can undo
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
SMIC profit rises on strong consumer spending in H1
By VG Cabuag @villygc
SM Investments Corp.
(SMIC)
on Wednesday said its net income for the first half of the year grew 6 percent to P42.6 billion from P40.2 billion recorded in January to June 2024.
Consolidated revenues for the period also expanded at the same pace at 6 percent to P319.2 billion, from the previous year’s P301.4 billion.
“We continue to see steady growth across our core businesses, supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions in the Philippines,” Frederic C. DyBuncio, the company’s president and CEO, said.
remainder of the year.”
Banking accounted for 50 percent of reported net earnings, followed by property at 28 percent, retail at 15 percent and portfolio investments at 7 percent.
SM Retail net income rose by 10 percent to P8.4 billion from P7.6 billion in the same period last year.
Revenues were up 8 percent to P211.8 billion from P196.3 billion.
ed a net income rise of 3 percent to P40.6 billion from P39.4 billion in the same period last year supported by strong performance from its core businesses.
China Banking Corp. posted P13 billion in net income, up 14 percent on the back of strong core business growth.
DMCI H1 earnings decline on weakness of core units
CONSUNJI-LED engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc. on Wednesday said its income fell 18 percent to P9.12 billion in the first half from P11.13 billion a year ago, on the low contribution of some of its units and losses incurred by its cement firm.
The company said its revenues grew 11 percent to P61.6 billion from the previous year’s P55.51 billion.
power sales partially mitigated the impact.
Property developer DMCI Homes Inc. contributed P678 million, down by 8 percent from P737 million, despite higher operating and finance costs.
Associate Maynilad Water Services Inc. grew its contribution by 33 percent to P973 million, from P732 million, driven by higher average effective tariff and prudent cost management.
“Bank lending remains strong, and consumer spending in our malls and retail stores continues to rise.
In non-food retail, revenues of the department store grew by 11 percent, marked by a shift in the school opening to the second quarter.
The Philippine economy was steady at 5.4 percent growth in the first quarter, while inflation has eased to its lowest level since 2019, creating a more supportive environment for both corporates and consumers. Despite global trade uncertainties, overall sentiment remains positive, and we share that optimism for the
Revenues for specialty retail inched up by 5 percent, fueled by spending on stationery or back-toschool items, fashion as well as health and beauty categories.
Food retail revenues increased 8 percent to P127.1 billion due to store expansion and volume growth.
Lender BDO Unibank Inc. report-
SM Prime Holdings Inc. reported that its first-half net income went up by 11 percent to an all-time high of P24.5 billion, driven by higher rental income, real estate sales and ancillary revenues.
The portfolio investments performance in the first half was boosted by Philippine Geothermal Production Co. which contributed 35 percent of total portfolio income, followed by NEO with 30 percent and 2GO Group Inc., the delisted transport and logistics firm, with 16 percent.
Globe bullish on results in July-Dec
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
GLOBE Telecom Inc. expects a stronger rebound in the second half of 2025, as the telco braves the macroeconomic pressures that weigh on household spending and service revenues.
Darius Delgado, who heads Globe’s consumer mobile business, said the group expects a “progressive lift in the second half” after its second quarter showed signs of a turnaround with “sequential” improvements in revenue and profitability.
“We expect progressive lift in the second half,” he said in a press briefing on Wednesday. “We are sustaining the approach in the coming quarters.”
He said the company’s financial performance in the second quarter— with its core net income rising by 30 percent to P5.9 billion—helped temper the effects of a “complex international macroeconomic environment and shifting consumer preferences.”
Globe reported a net income of P12.4 billion in the first half of 2025, down 14 percent from the same period last year, with gains from its digital ventures and cost-efficiency measures partially offset lower service revenues and higher depreciation and financing charges.
Excluding non-recurring items such as the gains from the partial Mynt stake disposal and foreign exchange adjustments, core net income declined by 11 percent to P10.4 billion from P11.7 billion in the previous year.
Consolidated service revenues stood at P80.2 billion, 2.4 percent lower than the P82.2 billion posted in the first six months of 2024. This was due to softer contributions from traditional services and a contraction in fixed wireless demand, although revenues from mobile data and fiber broadband segments showed resilience.
Mobile services remained the largest contributor at P57.1 billion, while home broadband generated
P11.7 billion and corporate data brought in P9.6 billion.
The telco’s mobile customer base rose five percent to 62.5 million as of end-June, from 59.5 million a year ago. Mobile data users grew to 37.8 million, as mobile data now accounts for 86 percent of mobile revenues.
Total operating expenses and subsidy declined three percent year-onyear to P38.0 billion, driven by lower marketing, staffing, and utility costs.
The Ayala-led telco also reduced its capital expenditures by 33 percent to P18.9 billion in the first half, down from P28.3 billion a year ago, as it optimized investments while expanding 5G and fiber infrastructure.
About 91 percent of the capex was directed toward data-related initiatives. During the period, Globe rolled out 937 new cell sites, upgraded over 4,500 with LTE, and added nearly 36,000 new fiber-to-the-home lines.
“The sequential growth in revenues, core net income, stable margins, and rising contributions from Mynt reflect not just finan -
Boracay unveils new ticketing system
BBy Bless Aubrey Ogerio @blessogerio
ORACAY—A P150-million automated ticketing and fee collection system was launched at Boracay’s main ports last August 5 under a 10-year public-private partnership between the local government and Topline Hi Tech and Synergy Corp.
The system, called “LezzGo Boracay,” aims to consolidate payment of terminal, environmental, and boat fees into a single QR-based transaction. It has been deployed at the island’s primary ports in Caticlan and Cagban, with partial rollout at Tabon and Tambisaan, which operate during weather disruptions.
Aklan Governor Joen Miraflor said the project is part of broader efforts to digitalize port transactions and improve processing times, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
“LezzGo Boracay is a proof of how public and private sector collaboration can realize a shared vision of enhanced tourist convenience by embracing innovation in port management.” Under the scheme, a P35 con -
venience fee per trip will take effect starting September 1, covering system maintenance and data security.
An additional P15 booking fee applies to online payments made through third-party processors. These charges will not apply to passengers who pay in cash on site.
Moreover, around 2 percent of the convenience fees collected will be remitted to the local governments managing the port facilities.
Manual ticketing will remain available at designated counters.
Based on Topline’s projection, the automated system could handle over 10,000 passengers daily, nearly double the current volume under manual operations.
Yet, Topline President and CEO Eugene Erik Lapasaran Lim said its use for managing Boracay’s carrying capacity would depend on policy approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and related agencies.
“This system was designed in coordination with multiple stakeholders to meet inter-agency requirements,” Lim said in a mix of English and Filipino during the press conference.
He added that 90 percent of UATS staff are Aklanons, and part of the convenience fee revenues will support civil society initiatives in Boracay in coordination with the provincial government.
For 2026, a second phase is scheduled for rollout, which includes a dedicated mobile app and P50 million worth of self-service kiosks.
Target
TOURIST arrivals in Boracay are projected to reach 2 million this year, flat from 2024 but in line with prepandemic targets, according to Aklan Governor Joen Miraflor.
“These are considered off-season months for the island, especially for local tourists, since it’s already a busy time—children are back in school and it’s also habagat season,” Miraflor said in Filipino during the press conference.
As of August, average daily arrivals range from 4,000 to 5,000. Visitor traffic typically peaks between November and May, he said.
Data from the local government showed that Boracay welcomed over 2 million tourists in 2024, though this figure was slightly lower than in 2023.
cial discipline but the operational strength of our entire organization. These results are a reflection of our strong execution, focused on delivering value to our customers even in a mature and competitive market,”
Carl Raymond R. Cruz, president and CEO of Globe, said.
“Business transition and integration take time, but our diverse business mix and engineering ecosystem continue to support the group. We believe that the improvements we are making today will lead to meaningful value for our stakeholders in the long run,” DMCI Chairman and CEO Isidro A. Consunji said.
For the second quarter alone, the company said its income drop was much steeper at 27 percent to P4.02 billion from the previous year’s P5.53 billion. This was mainly due to lower contributions from its core coal, real estate and construction businesses, alongside the ongoing integration of its newly acquired cement operations.
Improved earnings from the water distribution, nickel mining, and off-grid power segments helped cushion the decline, it said.
Revenues for the April-to-June period was up by 6 percent to P29.74 billion from the previous P28.08 billion.
Semirara Mining and Power Corp. contributed P2.3 billion, down by about a third rom P3.4 billion, as soft energy market conditions drove down selling prices. Record-high second quarter coal shipments and
DMCI Power Inc.contributed P374 million, up 5 percent from P355 million, on higher energy sales and the addition of new bunker-fired and wind power capacities in Palawan and Antique, respectively.
DMCI Mining Inc. swung to a profit of P344 million from a P43million net loss last year, supported by improved selling prices and operational performance, following the full activation of Zambales Chromite Mining Co., which doubled the number of active mines.
D.M. Consunji Inc., the construction firm, also had a lower contribution of P18 million, coming from P250 million in the previous year, due to higher project costs, delays and conservative revenue recognition.
Cement firm Concreat Holdings Philippines Inc. had a net loss contribution of P682 million, mainly due to higher interest expense and softer revenues.
Recovery efforts are underway, with improvements aimed at enhancing sales and reducing costs through operating efficiencies and distribution network optimization, the company said. VG Cabuag
Banking&Finance
How converging technologies transform banking experience
AS part of its mandate to upskill the bank marketing profession through training, education and information dissemination, the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) will be holding its first learning session on August 7, 2025. Titled “How Converging Technologies are Transforming the Banking Experience,” it would feature subjectmatter experts.
DITO CME Holdings Corp. President and COO and Udenna Corp. Chief Innovation Officer Donald Patrick L. Lim would talk about “AI, Blockchain and Cybersecurity 101 for Bank Marketing.” Eddie Lee, managing partner of Amplifai Services Inc., would discuss “AI Transformation for BFSI.” Vic Barrios, the country manager of Digital Edge DC Philippines Inc., would deal with the topic “AI Ready Data Centers: Reliable Pillars Supporting the Banking Industry.” Maricris A Salud, the deputy director of the Bangko Sentral nd Pilipinas’s Cybersecurity and Oversight Group, would give insights on “Boosting Financial System’s Cyber Resilience.”
Jose G. Villaret Jr., the vice president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. Corporate Affairs Group, would share “New Regulatory Issuance on Advertising.”
The learning session will provide additional knowledge on developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, cybersecurity, AI Transformation for banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) and AI Ready Data Centers. The session will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the BPI Townhall, Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, Paseo de Roxas Avenue in Makati. Sponsored by the Bank of the Philippine Islands and Digital Edge DC Philippines, the session is free of charge for BMAP members.
BMAP x AIM Bank Marketing Academy
BMAP and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) have partnered to offer comprehensive professional programs designed to elevate bank professionals, and equip them with the knowledge, tools, and certification to thrive in the dynamic financial marketing landscape. The first
program will be a hybrid format for 5 half days starting September 27, October 4, 11, 18 (online), and a faceto-face session on October 25, 2025. This is the first and only dedicated bank marketing professional course that is part of a specialized marketing professional certification. For more details, visit aim.edu or e-mail SEELL@aim.edu and bmapsecretariat@gmail.com
6th Bank Marketing Awards
THE BMAP will be announcing the 6th Bank Marketing Awards for this year. The BMA is a biennial awards program that aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in the banking industry. The awards showcase banks’ innovative marketing strategies and their dedication to providing exceptional customer service.
The 5th BMA held in 2023, held its awarding ceremonies during the “BSP Financial Education Stakeholders’ Congress” at the SMX Convention Center. Among the winners of the Fifth BMA were:
n Best Product Program: GoTyme Bank’s debit card program n Best Brand Program: RCBC Diskartech
n Best Electronic Channel: RCBC ATM GO!
n Best Program in Digital Marketing: RCBC Pulz/Digital n Best Financial Inclusion Program: GoTyme Bank’s Phygital Model n Best Customer-Centric Product or Service (in partnership with the BSP and Financial Sector Forum): GoTyme Bank, A Human Digital Bank
n Best Sustainability Drive: BPI
Sustainability Awareness Month
This year’s BMA promises to be an exciting one, with a distinguished panel of judges.
For more information, visit bmap. org.ph or facebook.com/BankMarketingAssociationPH
Eric Montelibano is a consultant of Integrated Marketing and Communications at CSBank (Citystate Savings Bank) and the president of the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines. He can be reached via erichmontelibano@gmail.com. The writer’s views and his written piece do not necessarily reflect those of the BMAP, the BusinessMirror and CSBank.
By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief
DAVAO CITY—The Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP) is testing the waters for Islamic financing through a collateral and interest-free loan to Moro farmers and fishermen. The initiative was formalized last week after the AAIIBP and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (Mafar) agreed to implement a P7.5-million “Mafar Loan for Enhancement of Necessary Development Strategies” (Mafarlends) program.
Govt to limit currency risks by borrowing ₧100B locally
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE government is looking to raise its borrowings by about P100 billion more next year from the current program, sourcing the bulk of its debt domestically to tap ample liquidity and limit currency risks.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the retail treasury bond (RTB) issuance last Tuesday, National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said the borrowing plan for 2026 will increase by about P100 billion.
This year’s borrowing plan is set at P2.545 trillion, but with the P100billion increase, this could push the program to about P2.645 trillion.
Almanza said the government will still follow an 80:20 borrowing mix next year, in favor of domestic
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has rolled out new regulations setting a uniform tax on passive income, reducing the stock transaction tax (STT) and scrapping the excise tax exemption for pickup trucks under the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA).
The rules are contained in a suite of revenue regulations (RRs) issued on August 5 by the BIR, which aims to implement the changes in the Tax Code following the passage of CMEPA two months ago.
Under the regulations, a 20-percent income tax will now be imposed on interest from bank deposits, trust funds, prizes and other winnings worth more than P10,000 and royalties earned as passive income.
The BIR said cash/property dividends received by individuals will be taxed at 10 percent. This excludes non-residents engaged in trade or business in the Philippines, who will be taxed at 20 percent.
A 15-percent capital gains tax will be applied on the sale of unlisted shares of domestic or foreign corporations not traded on a stock exchange. Meanwhile, gains from the sale of real property will be subject to a 6-percent tax.
THE state-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) assured that the pension fund remains stable following its questionable investment in a listed online gaming operator.
sources, to continue minimizing the country’s exposure to foreign currency risks.
“Part of our debt management strategy is to reduce our foreign currency risk. So that’s one of our targets. One way to achieve that is to take advantage of domestic liquidity,” the National Treasurer said.
The government is also eyeing to sell jumbo bonds to institutional investors next year to bring in more liquidity and set a clear reference for
Income of domestic and resident foreign corporations on their foreign currency transactions units transactions remains exempt from income tax.
According to the BIR, interest income and gains from the sale of project-specific government bonds, as well as gains from redeeming mutual fund shares or unit investment trust funds (UITFs), are also excluded from gross income.
Further, the STT on the sale, exchange or transfer of listed shares through local stock exchange or foreign exchange has been reduced to 0.1 percent from 0.6 percent.
The levy will be collected by brokers for local sales and by the selling shareholder or their representative for foreign trades, with remittance to the BIR required within five to ten banking days.
A uniform 0.75 percent documentary stamp tax on the original issuance of shares, bonds, debentures, certificates of indebtedness issued abroad and all debt instruments, with proportional rates for instruments maturing in less than one year.
At the same time, trades of listed shares on local or foreign exchanges, the issuance, redemption or other
“Still, we recognize that public trust must be continuously earned,” read the statement issued by the GSIS.
future issuances.
“We are hoping for it to be a regular part of our [borrowing program]. It’s a way for us to establish new benchmarks because the size is large already,” Almanza told reporters.
Just this April, the Treasury was able to generate P300 billion through its issuance of 10-year fixed-rate treasury notes to hedge its funding requirements against interest rate risks brought by global market volatility.
The government also just launched the 31st tranche of RTBs to small investors, raising an initial P210 billion on the first day of its issuance. The bonds will be offered until August 15.
According to the National Treasurer, the Marcos administration’s economic managers “want to spread out the supply of government securities.”
“So even if we’re able to raise a substantial amount for this RTB issuance, you can still expect options in the fourth quarter,” Almanza said.
disposition of mutual fund shares, and the issuance of certificates or other evidence of participation in mutual funds and UITFs will not be subject to DST.
Pickup trucks
THE BIR has removed pickup trucks from the list of automobiles exempt from excise tax. For pickup trucks priced up to P600,000, the tax rate is set at 4 percent; those priced over P600,000 to P1 million will be taxed at 10 percent.
Units priced over P1 million to P4 million will be taxed at 20 percent, and those above P4 million will be taxed 50 percent. Hybrid vehicles will be taxed at half the applicable rate, while purely electric vehicles remain fully exempt.
However, tax exemptions may still be applied if pickup trucks will be used for export; be purchased by taxexempt persons or entities, such as foreign embassies and international organizations and other treaty-covered entities with prior BIR approval; for exclusive use within legislated freeport zones; and temporarily removed for authorized test run.
The BIR said tax- e xempt entities may claim a refund or credit for ex-
scrutiny and call for public disclosure from various sectors.
The
cise tax erroneously paid within two years, but vehicles later brought into the customs territory from a freeport zone or test units not returned on time will be subject to the corresponding excise tax.
‘Negative implications’
WHILE the CMEPA is expected to boost the capital market and enable ordinary Filipinos to invest, Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said that the law could dent his agency’s collection target.
“The incentives that we provide; all of that, even CMEPA, has negative implications in our collection targets,” Lumagui recently told reporters. However, the government’s tax bureau chief did not provide a specific number on how much these “implications” would impact their targets. The BIR’s collection target for this year is at P3.219 trillion. It has raised P1.554 trillion as of the first half of the year. Nonetheless, the BIR’s parent agency, the Department of Finance believes the government stands to gain P25 billion in net revenues within five years, as CMEPA will “promote equity and eliminate tax arbitrage.” Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
“We pledge responsive, quality services to underserved Bangsamoro communities,” Amilasan said after signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on July 28. The MOA, co-signed Mafar Minister Abunawas L. Maslamama, requires funding 75 cooperatives and ARB organizations. Maslamama emphasized that the agreement aims to enable the beneficiaries to engage in income-generating agribusiness ventures, uplifting the latter’s livelihoods while respecting their faith through Islam-based financing.
“It bridges our farmers and fisherfolk to wider markets,” he added. Meanwhile, the Mafar gave P5,000 in cash assistance to 640 farmers in the municipality of Kadayangan in the SGA on July 18. They come from the barangays of Sambolawan, Tugal, Kapinpilan, and Central Abas.
The money was intended to assist farmers affected by the La Nina rains, targeting over 20,000 farmers regionwide. The aid was taken from Mafar’s quick response fund.
The program would provide Shariahcompliant financing, which will not impose interest on loans, to support agribusiness ventures of farmers, fishermen, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) across the Bangsamoro region. According to AAIIBP CEO Amilbahar P. Amilasan Jr., the program specifically targets those in communities in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato City, and Special Geographic Areas (SGA). Amilasan said they consider the Mafarlends as a vital financial assistance for the farm and fisheries sectors of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm). He also cited their confidence in Al-Amanah Bank’s commitment to serving the Bangsamoro.
A statement released by GSIS last Wednesday read that the agency’s “Social Insurance Fund” “remains strong, secure and actuarially sound” after investing P1 billion in DigiPlus Interactive Corp. According to the GSIS, its total assets amount to P1.88 trillion as of June. It also booked a net operating income of P76.82 billion, up by 31 percent compared to the same period last year. In addition, GSIS also posted a 6.75-percent average return on its investments over the past five years.
CALAMITY funds released to frontline agencies reached P8.774 billion as of end-July to support various disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government.
Latest data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed P5.180 billion was disbursed from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund in July.
Broken down, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was allotted P1.129 billion for the reconstruction of infrastructure projects in La Union and Pangasinan damaged
The statement comes after Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros and Sen. Erwin T. Tulfo criticized GSIS’s investment in Digiplus.
“[The] GSIS got into this when Digiplus shares were being offered at a peak of P65.30. Those shares have since dropped to a low of P13.68,” Hontiveros said.
The GSIS has been urged to justify its ‘reckless and questionable” investment moves, as the Senate was pressed to review the state pension fund’s investment policies, procedures and guidelines.
The GSIS has said it welcomes the
by Tropical Cyclones “Chadeng,” “Egay,” “Goring,” “Hanna” and “Ineng” in 2023. The Department of Science and Technology was also provided with P19.161 million for the same purpose. About P2.207 billion was also given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fund the emergency cash transfers for 246,328 families in Region 11 hit by the combined effects of Northeast Monsoon and Trough of Low-Pressure Area in 2024. Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration received P200 million to restore and rehabilitate power distribution facilities damaged by typhoons
“We are prepared to present all relevant documents and data to the appropriate authorities. As stewards of public trust, we affirm our unwavering commitment to act in the best interests of our members and pensioners,” read its statement. According to the GSIS, it will also continue to review its charter, investment policies, risk exposure thresholds and sectoral guidelines, especially those involving sensitive or high-risk industries.
“This will ensure alignment with our members’ evolving expectations and the highest standards of ethical and fiduciary responsibility,” it said.
in 2024 and in preparation for possible calamities in 2025. Calamity funds may be used for aid, relief and rehabilitation, as well as to repair and reconstruct damages from natural or human-induced calamities within the current or past two years. In addition, the DPWH and DSWD obtained P1 billion and P625 million, respectively, to replenish their Quick Response Fund.
Last month, GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso and six other executives were suspended for six months, having been found guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty and violating reasonable office rules and regulations for investing P1.45 billion in Alternergy Holdings Corporation.
According to the constitutional body responsible for investigating and prosecuting Philippine government officials, the GSIS acquired the perpetual
QRFs are built-in budgetary allocations or stand-by funds for agencies to immediately assist areas affected by catastrophes and crises. First-response agencies can request QRF replenishment from the DBM once their funds fall to 50 percent or below, subject to approval by the Office of the President. The NDRRM Fund has a
Health&Fitness
Health experts stress early blood sugar testing to prevent diabetes complications
By Candy P. Dalizon | Contributor
TO prevent complications and better manage the disease, health experts recommend early blood sugar testing. People with risk factors should be tested at any age, while those without risk factors should begin testing at age 35.
There are several key factors that increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Excess weight is a major contributor, particularly if you store fat around your waist rather than your hips and thighs. A waist measurement greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women significantly raises this risk.
In addition, an inactive lifestyle increases your risk as physical activity helps manage weight and improves how your body uses insulin. A family history of the disease, such as having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, also makes you more susceptible.
“While being fit and athletic significantly lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, even people who appear thin can be at risk due to what we call visceral adiposity or fat stored deep within the abdomen around vital organs. Therefore, we still recommend blood sugar testing for everyone starting at age 35,” said Dr. Nines Bautista, a diabetologist and Vice President of Diabetes Philippines.
At a gathering for National Diabetes Awareness Week held recently, Dr. Bautista and other health experts and advocates addressed the growing concern of type 2 diabetes in the Philippines. They highlighted that the disease, which reportedly affects 4.7 million Filipinos, often leads to a severe complication called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), impacting nearly half of all patients.
The group’s primary goal was to dispel common myths and encourage the public to be proactive about their
health. They emphasized that seeking early screening, intervention, and proper disease management can lead to significantly better health outcomes.
“For too long, diabetes has been a silent battle for many Filipinos,” said Dr. Bien Matawaran, chief of the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. “Our goal today is not merely to dwell on the problems of this disease, but to forge a path forward, a path built on collaboration, stronger support systems, and a genuine understanding of what this condition truly is,” he added.
Understanding type 2 diabetes “IN essence, type 2 diabetes is a condition where our body’s cells struggle to effectively use glucose from our food, or our body doesn’t produce enough insulin to manage it,” said Dr. Lora May Tin-Hay, president of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PCEDM).
“It’s not just about what we eat; it’s a true lifestyle disease influenced by multiple factors,” added Dr. Tin-Hay.
Dr. Tin-Hay explained that the amount of food consumed, level of physical activity, and genetic history all play significant roles in determining the risk a person has for developing type 2 diabetes and CKD.
“But the good news remains the same: with early detection and proper, comprehensive management that addresses these factors, we can work to prevent complications,” she said.
Data from the International Diabetes Federation DATA from multiple sources highlights the serious and widespread impact of diabetes in the Philippines. According to the 2024 data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 4.7 million Filipinos between the ages of 20 and 79 are living with the disease. The same statistics also show that an estimated 53.5 percent of adults in the country remain undiagnosed, highlighting the need for early screening on type 2 diabetes.
In the 2023 National Nutrition Survey of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) revealed that two out of every 10 Filipino adults between 20 and 59 years old are prediabetic, a condition that can progress to full-blown type 2 diabetes if not managed promptly.
The severe consequences of this disease are further underscored by data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which reported that diabetes was the fifth leading cause of death in the country for the period of January to November 2024. These statistics collectively emphasize the urgent need for widespread early screening and effective management to mitigate the national health crisis posed by diabetes.
Prevention and management
“THE greatest challenge is bridging the final gap: the gap between knowledge and action. The healthcare professional’s role is to be a translator—to distill complex clinical data into a simple reason why a patient should take a new pill. True innovation happens when a patient leaves our clinics with a clear, manageable plan they feel empowered to follow,” said Dr. Bautista.
Type 2 diabetes patients are also advised to take CKD screenings for early detection and early intervention of kidney disease that can significantly slow or even halt the progression of kidney damage and avoid dialysis and transplant.
“The goal should be to make dialysis a last resort, not an inevitability. If we can use technology and early intervention to introduce therapies that can significantly slow down the progression of the disease, we can change the outcome,” said Reynaldo Abacan, president of CKD support group Dialysis PH.
Dr. Tin-Hay added that for those already diagnosed, the focus shifts to effectively managing their condition and preventing it from leading to kidney failure.
“Each of these steps is a smarter investment in our future. It is far more cost-effective to support wellness and early management than it is to pay for dialysis sessions later on,” she said.
Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP)
FOR their part, PhilHealth affirmed its commitment to boosting comprehensive healthcare for Filipinos with type 2 diabetes by emphasizing its continuous improvements in its services.
“PhilHealth is continuously working to enhance the support we provide to patients,” shared Dr. Lydia Ann Labro, representative for PhilHealth.
“Our goal is to ensure that comprehensive health services are not just available, but truly accessible, such as our newly announced Yaman sa Kalusugan Program [YAKAP], an initiative which expands the list of essential medicines and services, which will benefit millions of Filipino patients,” added Dr. Labro.
For Astra Zeneca Philippines, their goal, according to Dr. Cyril Tolosa, director for Medical Affairs, “is to improve and save the lives of people living with the complexities of renal and metabolic diseases.”
“We are committed to advancing science-based diabetes care in the Philippines, with a strong focus on early diagnosis and timely intervention, allowing patients to better manage their condition, reduce health risks, and prevent long-term complications,” he said.
Cervical cancer is treatable when detected early–DOH
EVERY woman, married or single, is at risk of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor of the cervix uteri or cervical area. The cervical area of the uterus, which is usually called the “uterine cervix,” is the part of uterus which connects the uterine body to the vagina. According to the Department of Health (DOH) over 8,000 cases of cervical cancer were recorded in 2022. Cervical cancer remains the second most common type of cancer among Filipino women ages 15 to 44 years old.
Early detection
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
THE best way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of babies is breastfeeding.
According to an article of UNICEF, breastfeeding takes time and practice for both mothers and babies.
Breastfeeding is also time intensive, so mothers need space and support at home and work.
However, the article published on August 4, 2025 stated, fathers or partners can support breastfeeding for they have a huge role to play in whether a mother has a successful breastfeeding journey—or initiates breastfeeding at all.
“People around the mother-infant pair—including the father— have a huge role to play in whether a mother breastfeeds successfully or initiates it at all.”
In fact, it added, research has found that when partners (like dads) were more supportive of breastfeeding, the mothers were
Editor:
SLMC
SPersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact, is the main cause of cervical cancer.
However, not everyone who gets infected with this virus will develop cancer. Aside from HPV infection, the DOH said, there are other factors which increase the risk for developing cervical cancer, which include:
n Having multiple sexual partners
HOWEVER, the DOH said that cervical cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer and is preventable and curable when detected early. There are also available vaccines. “ Maaari itong maiwasan sa pamamagitan ng HPV vaccination. Kaya habang maaga, magpabakuna na. [This can be prevented by HPV vaccination. So get vaccinated as early as possible.],” the DOH said as the National Adolescent Immunization Month is being observed.
n Early age at which you first had sex (younger than 18 years old)
n Family history of cervical cancer
n Other sexually transmitted infections
n Problems with the immune system
n Cigarette smoking
Signs and symptoms
PATIENTS don’t usually have any symptoms during the earlier stages of the disease. By the time the individual has symptoms, the cancer may have already spread. These symptoms include:
n Abnormal bleeding from the vagina: irregular bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, or bleeding/spotting after sex
n Unpleasant vaginal discharge: whitish or blood-stained
n Pain during sexual intercourse
Other symptoms which may point to a more advanced cancer include:
n Pelvic pain
n Difficulty urinating
n Swelling of the legs
Prevention and control
THE following measures can help reduce the risk of having cervical cancer:
n Having only one sexual partner
n A delay in the first sexual intercourse
n Consistent and correct use of barrier contraceptives, like condoms during sexual intercourse
n Vaccination of anti-cervical cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine)
n A healthy lifestyle (especially stopping cigarette smoking)
Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
is among Newsweek’s Best Specialized Hospitals in Asia Pacific
T. Luke’s Medical Center has once again earned international recognition, securing multiple distinctions in the 2025 Newsweek Best Specialized Hospitals in the Asia Pacific list. The rankings, published in collaboration with global data firm Statista, honor the most respected and trusted hospitals across the region in various medical specialties.
Both St. Luke’s Medical Center facilities, located at Global City and Quezon City, were cited across several disciplines, reaffirming the institution’s reputation for delivering world-class healthcare and clinical excellence.
Areas of Specialization:
Cardiac Surgery
ST. Luke’s-Global City and Quezon City hospitals were both included in the list of top cardiac surgery hospitals in Asia Pacific. Among Philippine hospitals, St. Luke’s - Global City earned the highest recognition in this specialty.
Cardiology
Orthopedics
ST. Luke’s-Global City stood out as the only Philippine hospital recognized in the orthopedics category in the Asia Pacific list.
Pediatrics
advancing healthcare in the Philippines and delivering care that meets the highest global standards.
Neurology
ST. Luke’s-Quezon City was honored in the neurology category, ranking as the topperforming hospital in the Philippines for this specialty.
Neurosurgery
ST. Luke’s-Quezon City was also distinguished for neurosurgery and recognized among the country’s top institutions for this complex field.
ST. Luke’s-Global City was named among the region’s best for cardiology and was recognized as the leading cardiology hospital in the Philippines.
BOTH St. Luke’s-Global City and Quezon City hospitals were recognized for pediatric care, placing them among the top institutions in the Philippines in this vital specialty.
Pulmonary Care
ST. Luke’s-Global City was acknowledged for excellence in pulmonary care and was the sole hospital from the Philippines recognized in this specialty in the Asia Pacific.
Raising the Bar for Philippine Healthcare THESE distinctions reflect the exceptional work of our medical professionals and the trust our patients place in us every day. To be recognized across multiple specialties is a clear indication of our commitment to
The Newsweek rankings are based on recommendations from medical experts, patient satisfaction scores, and key quality indicators. St. Luke’s presence in this prestigious list highlights its dedication to continuous improvement, innovation, and compassiondriven care.
A Global Standard of Care
AS the only Philippine hospital recognized in several categories and consistently ranked among the best in others, St. Luke’s Medical Center continues to set the benchmark for specialized care in the country. These international distinctions further solidify its mission to be the most trusted and respected healthcare institution in the region.
For more information about St. Luke’s Medical Center and its services, call our Product Information Hub at 09479930471 / 09399161805 / 09285200239 / 09985822276.
more likely to both start breastfeeding—and to continue it for longer.
If you want to support your partner with breastfeeding, here are some tips.
One of the best ways dads can support breastfeeding is to understand how important it is.
The scientific and medical consensus are clear: Breastmilk offers the babies the best start to life.
Among other benefits, it reduces the risk of deadly diseases, including cancer, in both babies and breastfeeding mothers. It provides an immunity “boost” that protects infants from infections.
It even leads to better IQ and educational outcomes in children
It may even make the postpartum period a little smoother – such as by reducing the risk of postpartum depression.
When those around the mother and baby know this, they are more likely to offer the support, encouragement and advice that is most useful, UNICEF article said.
play significant roles in breastfeeding–UNICEF DOH rank and file regret removal of senior officials
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes Contributor
BASED on the current situation, the Department of Health (DOH) is undergoing an internal crisis that might affect the delivery of health services to the people, according to a reliable source.
The Unyon ng mga Kawani ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan Sentral (UKKKS) said it was compelled to take a stand in support of senior management officials who were replaced or unceremoniously removed. This piece of news was released on social media before it even became official.
“In the previous years, we have witnessed a continuing pattern of removing senior DOH officials, including those holding established career оfficer ranks. We are deeply concerned and saddened by these events, especially for those who were once members of UKKKS before they became part of the management.
Many of these individuals began their journey as rank-and-file employees, rose through the ranks with integrity, and exemplified the values of loyalty, competence, and public service,” said the UKKKS in a press statement.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, UKKKS president Jeff Miralles told BusinessMirror that the personnel in the DOH felt a profound sense of regret over the removal of Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, Achilles Gerard Bravo and Kenneth Ronquillo. They were recently taken off the list of members of the Executive Committee (Execom) on the DOH website. The Execom is composed of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and his undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.
Calm and composed
MANY people remember the calm and composed Vergeire who served as the department’s “calm face and decisive voice’’ during the recent health crisis and those who consistently championed the welfare and development of the employees.
The UKKKS said the removal of officials was already happening back in 2023. “And then, we also have directors who also experienced the same thing.
Program managers before started from the bottom, then became directors unceremoniously, then suddenly disappeared. And most recently, Undersecretary Vergeire. We were all really surprised because including the manner when he was removed term expired,” said Miralles.
Miralles said this has caused apprehension in the DOH as the security of tenure held by every worker might be lost, especially given the current management changes and the apparent disregard for career executive rank in their officials.
“We are concerned about the lack
of adherence to established processes and rules in government institutions, especially concerning the appointment of officials at various management levels,” said the UKKKS.
Disruptive unceremonious dismissals
MEANWHILE, a group of concerned health professionals in public service described the DOH’s move as a “series of disruptive unceremonious dismissals from service of these tenured officials that has turned the system away from the once renowned merit-based leadership structure in the bureaucracy.”
In a statement that was circulated among DOH employees, the group said the sheer disregard for the social construct of meritocracy has undermined the foundation by which the Career Executive Service is created in the first place whereby educated and skilled people with the ability and talent, rather than wealth, social class and affiliation, provide competent and faithful service.
“The erosion of this system which is based on performance and measured through a demonstrated achievement is in itself a disservice to the Filipino people as they run the risk of compromising institutional stability and weakening the public trust,” they said.
It urged the DOH to uphold the rule of law and observe due process stressing that any action affecting the mandate of a career executive service officer must go through the proper channels.
“Undersecretary Singh and other DOH Officials have served the DOH with strength, integrity, and consistency. The removal of seasoned career officials left a wounding effect that weakened the institution and demoralized the very professionals upon whom the health of the nation hangs in the balance,” they pointed out.
“To spread rumors and misleading narratives about how senior career officials were separated from the DOH is not only irresponsible; it is a grave injustice. It insults the decades of selfless and dedicated service they gave to this institution and to the country,” they added.
Erosion of the DOH leadership THEY warned that the “erosion of the DOH’s leadership core comes at a steep cost. They said this will compromise critical health programs, weaken the ability to respond to emerging and re-emerging health threats, and lead to inefficiencies in the public funds utilization and missed programmatic targets. In the absence of experienced guidance, the group said the strategic vision of the DOH and the overarching agenda of the administration risk being derailed.
“A weakened health institution cannot defend the Filipino people from the multifaceted threats to their wellbeing,” they said.
Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
FOCUS ON WOMEN
PBBM hails ambassador’s role in enhanced PHL-Australia ties
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr. honored outgoing ambassador HK Yu PSM’s vital role in enhancing the Philippines’ relations with Australia.
Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross)-Gold Distinction on Yu during her farewell call at Malacañang Palace in Manila, citing her many significant contributions to strengthening the bilateral ties between the Philippines and the Commonwealth of Australia.”
The award is the national order of diplomatic merit, conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious service to the Republic of the Philippines.
The Chief Executive acknowledged that it was under Yu’s leadership that Manila and Canberra elevated their ties into a strategic partnership.
He also hailed Yu’s “outstanding and dedicated” service in the field of international relations, making her an “exceptionally worthy and com-
TDFApetent” representative of Australia in the Philippines.
He thanked the outgoing diplomat for her steadfast efforts in promoting high-level dialogues and exchanges between the two nations, saying her support paved the way for the conclusion of numerous government-togovernment cooperation pacts.
Marcos said Yu played a key role in enhancing cooperation to support the Philippines’ priorities in the fields of education, agriculture, environment, defense, and maritime domain awareness.
He also lauded Yu’s efforts in obtaining humanitarian and other forms of Australian government assistance to the country in times of natural disasters and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The conferment of the award also
recognized Yu’s “many laudable initiatives to foster amity and mutual appreciation between the Filipino and Australian peoples.”
Prior to her appointment as ambassador to the Philippines in 2022, Yu worked as deputy head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in Japan, and senior career officer with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In Canberra, the envoy served as
DFALF welcomes Secretary Lazaro as new chairperson
Tfirst assistant secretary in the Middle East and Africa Division. She also held a number of senior roles in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and in the Treasury. Yu will be succeeded by Marc Innes-Brown who is a senior career officer and once served overseas as Australia’s ambassador to Türkiye, Iran, and Iraq. He had similar postings in Thailand and the United States. Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/PNA
introduces its new spokesperson
HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Angelica Caraos Escalona as its new spokesperson. A career diplomat since 1996, Escalona has served in various capacities at the DFA. She served as executive director of the Office of Consular Affairs and director of offices handling Asean, European, Asian, and American Affairs.
18th Israeli film fest: Cinema that places women at the center
APART from entertaining, cinema has the power to hold a mirror that reflects our lives, and ask questions that are not often spoken aloud.
This year, the Israeli Film Festival in the Philippines carried the theme: “Women at the Center.”
The four-day celebration of award-winning films explored identities, motherhood, the freedom to choose, and the universal impact of women’s stories. It highlighted experiences and insights, while exploring the emotional depths of women in cinema. These films invited audiences to reflect on what it means to love, lead, wait, rebel, and care, then contemplate on how those stories shape the people and the societies we become.
The Embassy of Israel kicked off the 18th Israeli Film Festival with the gala screening of Golda at BHS Cinemas in Central Square, Bonifacio Global City. The film explores the life and l egacy of Golda Meir—Israel’s first and only female prime minister and founder of MASHAV: Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.
“Golda” offered a compelling look at Meir’s leadership during one of the most critical moments in Israel’s modern history: the 1973 Yom Kippur War, highlighting how she faced an existential threat with resilience and resolve.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ilan Fluss delved into this year’s festival theme: the importance of women and their roles in shaping history, culture, and society. The envoy highlighted the value of sharing narratives that place women at the center of storytelling, as he reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections through culture and the arts. The festival also reflects the embassy’s broader efforts of introducing Filipino audiences to a vibrant, creative, and diverse side of Israel—one that goes beyond headlines, and speaks through the language of cinema and culture.
The evening marked the beginning of a fourday celebration of cinema and storytelling, with a focus on the enduring impact and contributions of women, both on screen and behind the scenes.
Overseas, she has represented the Philippines in key posts, most recently as consul-general in Toronto, Canada, from 2023 to 2025, as well as in Indonesia, Japan, and the United States. Her work has earned her multiple honors, including the Gawad Mabini-Dakilang Kasugo and awards from the Indonesian government.
Escalona earned a Master of Foreign Affairs and Trade from
Monash University in Australia, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tsukuba University in Japan.
An avid traveler, she continues to embrace new experiences wherever her assignments take her. According to her, she enjoys exploring good food and relaxing with a great movie outside work.
The DFA warmly welcomed Escalona as she takes on her vital role.
Women-led businesses take centerstage in United States-supported trade expo
THE United States Embassy and SPARK! Philippines held the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Trade Fair from August 1 to 3 at the Gateway Mall 1 in Quezon City.
From artisanal goods to modern twists on local delicacies, the trade fair featured over 30 homegrown businesses by graduates of AWE—a U.S.-led business learning program for women entrepreneurs.
“Since it was launched in the Philippines in 2020, AWE has supported hundreds of women in building and scaling their businesses. [They] were able to transform their lives, create jobs, strengthen their communities, and contribute to the Philippines’ economic resilience,” Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said. “Through AWE, we celebrate the contributions of women entrepreneurs to our strong bilateral economic relationship as partners in prosperity.”
A mong the entrepreneurs featured at the trade fair is Corrs Valenton who is a graduate of the AWE Quezon City cohort. In 2021, she turned a passion for creating her signature cheese pimiento for friends and family into Corrsy’s Kitchen: a food-in-jars business offering a wide selection of cheese spreads, jams, and gourmet sardines. W hat started as a one-woman online venture is now a growing enterprise that will soon open its fourth physical store.
Valenton credits AWE for helping women grow their businesses through training in sales, marketing, innovation, leadership, and networkbuilding.
“The fair [was more than just a marketplace—It was] a celebration of women’s resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit,” Executive Director Maica Teves of SPARK! Philippines shared. “It allows our AWE graduates to reach new audiences, build networks, and open doors to future opportunities.”
The AWE Trade Fair was made possible through the support of the Quezon City government, under the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte and the J. Amado Araneta Foundation.
The trade fair is a highlight of the AWE Philippines Summit 2025—a three-day event which began on July 29 in Manila and gathered 100 AWE alumnae from seven implementing sites: Bacolod City, Baguio City, Manila, Puerto Princesa City, Quezon City, Bohol, and Zamboanga del Sur.
At the summit, AWE graduates had the opportunity to engage with seasoned business leaders, draw insights from established entrepreneurs, and participate in interactive
workshops that refined their entrepreneurial skills.
“Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow your existing business, [the summit offered] a wealth of knowledge from experienced mentors, real-world insights from fellow entrepreneurs, and interactive learning opportunities to sharpen your skills,” relayed Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Grace Baluyan as she delivered remarks on behalf of Secretary Cristina Roque. “Truly, it was a gateway to innovation, business growth, and impactful networking.”
Launched by the US State Department in 2019, AWE is a hybrid learning program that offers courses on market research, laws and regulations, business plan creation, cash flow projection, and digital marketing for women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
In the Philippines, the academy has trained more than 500 womenbeneficiaries since its October 2020 launch in partnership with the US Embassy’s American Spaces.
HE 2025 DFA Ladies Foundation Inc. (DFALF) Board of Trustees welcomed on July 30 Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro as their new chairperson. Lazaro shared with the DFALF board her vision of the foundation, focusing on the flagship scholarship program by opening more opportunities to children of financially challenged DFALF members, and connecting with more educational institutions in addition to its current partners AMA Education System, STI College, and Lyceum of the Philippines University. In addition, collaboration with other socio-government agencies will form part of DFALF’s endeavors for its Financial Assistance Program. Lazaro also aims to add more to the foundation’s network of generous donors to strengthen these programs.
DFALF President Christina
Rola McKernan was with
President Joan
Corrado, Treasurer Lorleejane
Assistant Corporate Secretary
nor Balanquit, Assistant Treasurer Colyn Buncio, Auditor Diana Myra Eson-Alomia, and Assistant Auditor Jill Gardose during the meetand-greet with the new chairperson. The Office of the Secretary’s Chief Coordinator Ma. Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, OSEC Chief of Staff Shirley Flores-Imperial, together with OSEC-Special Projects Unit Overall Coordinator Rose Paz C. Narvaja-Cornista, and Jeremie Obra of the DFALF Secretariat also attended.
The SFA encouraged all DFA personnel and employees of its attached agencies to join DFALF and support all its meaningful endeavors toward a compassionate, family-centered, and globally conscious community within the department.
UK-led partnerships strengthen women, peace and security agenda in Philippines, Indonesia
THROUGH its Indo-Pacific Governance Fund and i n partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Kingdom is supporting academic linkages between Mindanao State University (MSU)-Maguindanao and Indonesian universities to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across Southeast Asia.
A Philippine delegation which included representatives from MSU-Maguindanao; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity-Centre for E xcellence on WPS; the Philippine Centre for Islam and Democracy (PCID); the Bangsamoro Women Commission; the Ministry of Public Order and Safety; as well as the Development Academy of the Bangsamoro recently participated in a four-day international l earning exchange in Yogyakarta. The program featured panel discussions and immersive activities t hat fostered regional dialogue and co-developed WPS strategies informed by the Philippine and Indonesian experiences.
“The purpose of this MOU is to establish a partnership [among] our universities based on the principles of mutual equality and reciprocal benefit,” said Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro of Universitas Gadjah Mada. “We have many similarities in our diversity and there a re several areas we can work on together.”
This initiative builds upon the success of MSU-Maguindanao’s Diploma Course on WPS—the first of its kind in Asia. This was launched in 2024 with support from the British Embassy-Manila, UNDP, and PCID.
The partnerships will contribute to the development of new t eaching modules, collaborative research, and regional coordination on shared peace and gender c hallenges—including violent extremism and climate insecurity.
N azra Abdi of the British Embassy-Manila emphasized the UK’s c ommitment to support pioneering efforts in advancing the WPS a genda: “The UK recognizes the profound impact of women in peacebuilding, and this initiative underscores our ongoing support to institutionalizing WPS across governance, civil society and education in Southeast Asia.”
A s Southeast Asia prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, with the Philippines looking ahead to its Asean Chairpersonship in 2026, the i nitiative underscores the UK’s long-term support for genderresponsive peacebuilding across the region.
“These learning exchanges spark the curiosity that drives meaningful research and action— exactly what we need to not only mainstream the WPS agenda, but to truly transform the challenging situations facing our women, communities, and families,” said MSUM aguindanao Chancellor Dr. Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona. The exchange concluded with the signing of memoranda of understanding between MSU-Maguindanao and three Indonesian u niversities: Gadjah Mada University, Muhammadiyah University o f Yogyakarta, and Ahmad Dahlan University. The memorandum a ims to strengthen cooperation on gender education, research, and community engagement.
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. confers the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Grand Cross)-Gold Distinction on Australian ambassador HK Yu. PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
AMBASSADOR Angelica Caraos Escalona DFAOPD CIELO MARIE VICENCIO
SECRETARY Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (second from right) with DFALF board members
First Vice
Macrise
Mandi,
Elea
THE Academy for Women Entrepreneurs graduates join Ambassador MaryKay Carlson (fifth from right) at the 2025 AWE Philippines Summit.
PhilHealth reaffirms support for PBBM’s health agenda
OEquity Champion Award
The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region received the Health Equity Champion Award (Fund Utilization) during the national awarding ceremony held by the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (BLHSD) on July 17, 2025 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
The award recognizes initiatives made by the regional office in promoting health equity and highlights the effective use of resources to address
health disparities and ensure access to healthcare for all, particularly in underserved areas.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco extended her appreciation to the awarding body and stated that the award was due to the collaborative effort of people working tirelessly to promote health equity across sectors and communities to address health disparities and create a more just and equitable system for the benefit of all.
She added that health inequalities are often avoidable and unfair, and addressing these disparities requires action on the social determinants of health.
Likewise, BHW Regional Coordinator
NMaria Lourdes Ducusin was also conferred the Health Equity Champion for initiating projects that directly benefit BHWs, providing incentives and support which strengthened the sustainability and impact of the BHW Program in the region.
“Rest assured that the regional office will continue its efforts in achieving health equity and encourage advocacy, policy changes, and community-based initiatives to address health disparities for a healthier future for all,” Ducusin said The award was presented by Undersecretary of Health for UHC HSC Area 1 Glenn Mathew G. Baggao and BLHSD Director Mar Wynn Bello.
N July 28, 2025, following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), heads of government agencies convened at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center in San Juan City. This two-day event was designed to offer a more comprehensive and indepth discussion of the Administration’s accomplishments, building on the President’s address.
As one of the crucial agencies ensuring the nation’s health security, PhilHealth actively participated in the third and final cluster on the first day, joining the Department of Health, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
PhilHealth Spokesperson and Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas thoroughly discussed PhilHealth’s revitalized primary care benefit package, Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or PhilHealth YAKAP. This program stands as a tangible representation of the President’s
vision for ensuring every Filipino’s health and well-being.
PhilHealth YAKAP offers an expanded package of accessible health services, including medicines, check-ups and basic laboratory tests. In the coming weeks, members will see even greater benefits, six critical cancer screening tests will be activated, alongside access to 54 additional medicines under the strengthened PhilHealth GAMOT (Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment) will be made available. This significantly widens the scope of care available to members.
As the Marcos administration enters its 4th year under the banner of “Bagong Pilipinas,” Filipinos can expect continued programs to build a nation where lives are better, healthier, and truly secured.
Dr. Pargas concluded the forum on an inspiring note, emphasizing a powerful vision for healthcare in the nation: “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, mayroon tayong Mabilis, Patas at Mapagkakatiwalaang PhilHealth”.
Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts Celebrates Five Years of ‘Ever After’
HOVALUXIA, an emerging global leader in AI-powered Social E-Commerce 3.0, has officially entered the Philippine market with the launch of its mobile app, now available for download on both the App Store and Google Play.
Positioned at the forefront of next-generation digital commerce, NOVALUXIA offers a new kind of platform experience that combines group buying, reward points, content creation, and grassroots communitybuilding. At the heart of the model is a mission to create an inclusive, user-driven e-commerce ecosystem where users don’t just shop, they participate, earn, and grow.
Alongside the national rollout, NOVALUXIA launched its NOVA-RISE Pioneer Partner Program, a flagship initiative designed to recruit and train local brand representatives in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
“We’re not just building another sales platform,” shared the NOVALUXIA Philippines Project Lead. “We’re creating an ecosystem where users become co-creators, contributors, and business builders.”
The NOVA-RISE program focuses on empowering local women, youth leaders, and community influencers through:
Structured digital skills training
A flexible, task-based earning system
Real-world incentives and income opportunities
Ongoing support and leadership development
Over the next three months, the platform aims to onboard its first 1,000 Pioneer Partners—with more expansion phases planned throughout 2025.
Interested participants can visit www.novaluxia.ph or download the NOVALUXIA app on the App Store or Google Play to learn more and apply.
The Role of LRT-1 in Building Resilient Transport Systems in PHL
TRANSFORMING the Philippine transport sector and elevating it to global standards is among the top priorities of the current administration. Continuous developments to modernize and improve transport systems are happening despite challenges and setbacks, ensuring that accessible, affordable, comfortable, safe, and efficient transport services can be provided to all commuters.
In working towards a reliable and resilient transport system that is crucial to connectivity and economic development, the government shares the responsibility with concessionaires or private companies that manage, operate, and maintain various transport systems. Within the railway sector, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is steadfastly building a transport system that not only meets the current demands of Metro Manila but also anticipates and shapes its future.
Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), LRMC has introduced a wave of innovations since taking the helm of the LRT-1 that significantly enhanced operations and the commuting experience for the public.
“We recognize that as a high-ridership north-south artery, the LRT-1 has a pivotal role in the government’s ongoing push for railway renaissance. As such, important upgrades and expansion initiatives have been completed to increase its capacity, alleviate congestion, and seamlessly connect a greater number of communities,” said Enrico R. Benipayo, President and Chief Executive Officer of LRMC.
The recent opening of the Cavite Extension Phase 1 is a landmark milestone in LRT-1’s modernization that added six kilometers of new track and five state-of-the-art stations to the line. These new stations are equipped with elevators, escalators, and tactile paving that make transportation more
accessible for all passengers. New, modern Generation 4 train sets were also introduced and enhanced through the installation of a state-of-theart onboard signaling system. As of writing, there are now 28 Gen-4 trains in commercial service that are bolstering the LRT-1’s overall capacity and operational safety.
Notably, one of the most visible improvements has been the comprehensive LRT-1 station upgrades that are directly aimed at better serving passengers by creating more comfortable and accessible environments. LRMC also embarked on an extensive light rail vehicle rehabilitation program that ensures the continued availability of wellmaintained trains, leading to more dependable service for commuters. In the event of any incident that could disrupt businesses processes, LRMC has in place a well-established Business Continuity Plan that outlines specific actions to be undertaken, responsibilities for each department and designated point persons during a crisis to implement robust recovery solutions, and ensure the swift resumption of operations and the sustained delivery of safe, efficient, and reliable service.
Looking into the future, the full completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension is a cornerstone of LRMC’s ambition of a revitalized and more resilient railway system. According to Benipayo, they are proactively coordinating and engaging with their government partners to ensure that the next crucial phase of the project can commence at the earliest possible time.
“This expanded network, capable of serving an estimated 800,000 passengers daily, is more than just infrastructure—it’s about unlocking opportunities and fostering economic growth in these interconnected communities, bringing the benefits of efficient transportation to even more Filipinos in the years to come,” he added.
ILTON Manila Newport World Resorts has successfully concluded its fifth annual “Ever After Bridal Fair,” held on July 12 and 13, 2025. This year’s theme, “A Love Like Ours,” brought together soonto-wed couples, premier wedding creatives, and industry leaders for a two-day celebration that reimagined the bridal fair experience, placing authentic love stories and meaningful connections at its core.
Far from the conventional showcase, “Ever After: A Love Like Ours” offered an immersive and emotionally rich journey. The highlight of the weekend was the Testimonial Dinner, an intimate evening where real Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts couples returned to share their wedding journeys. Through heartfelt storytelling, poetry readings, and a moving short film, guests were invited to witness love not just as a concept, but as a lived, cherished experience.
“We didn’t want to host just another bridal fair -we wanted to create a space where love could be felt, seen, and celebrated in its truest form,” said Gagan Talwar, general manager of Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts. “This year’s theme, A Love Like Ours, reminded us that every wedding we host becomes part of a larger story, one that’s deeply personal, beautifully unique, and forever remembered.”
Throughout the fair, guests explored a thoughtfully curated exhibition of the country’s most sought-after wedding suppliers. Highlights included a trunk show by renowned designer Francis Libiran, interactive sessions with industry experts such as Kathy Sy King, Tiger Lim, Royal Flower Shoppe by Gina Galang, Amady, Eye Candy, Got Music and GDV Productions.
Adding a flavorful and purposeful touch to the experience, a sustainable menu tasting led by Executive Chef Lord Bayaban highlighted the hotel’s dedication to both culinary excellence and environmentally conscious practices. What truly set this year’s event apart was its intentional atmosphere -- warm, welcoming, and reflective of today’s evolving love stories. From couples connecting with future florists to hearing real vows retold during the dinner, every detail was designed to inspire and help guests envision their own version of “happily ever after.” As “Ever After” continues to grow, Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts remains steadfast in its mission to create spaces where love stories are honored, communities are built, and celebrations are both stylish and deeply personal.
For inquiries about Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts’ bespoke wedding packages and upcoming events, please contact: +632 7239 7788 or email hiltonmanila_events@hilton.com
MORE AT-HOME HEALTH TESTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. HOW TO KNOW WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
By Devna Rose The Associated Press
THE doctor is in—the mailbox, that is.
You can now do self-administered tests for everything from thyroid function to HIV in the privacy of your own home—and that list continues to grow, as the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first at-home cervical cancer test.
While the tests can make it easier for people to access health care and can be helpful for those who have extreme anxiety about sensitive or invasive medical exams, experts warn that most of the tests cannot replace an actual in-person visit.
Here’s what doctors say you can test for at home, and when you should make the trek to your physician’s office:
n What kinds of at-home tests are available?
There are two kinds at “at-home tests.”
In one type, the patient collects the sample and sends it off to a lab; the new cervical cancer test is like this. The other gives an instant result—think Covid-19 and pregnancy tests.
n What are the benefits of at-home tests? HIV home-testing kits can improve rates of diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in rural communities and help people who are nervous about going to the doctor to seek a sensitive test, said Dr. Joseph Cherabie, an infectious diseases specialist in St. Louis.
“You really want to get people to care as quickly as possible, but some people could be very anxious about that results as well,” Cherabie said. “And they have very negative reactions.”
Labs are required to report a positive HIV test, instead of putting the onus on the patient who took the test, Cherabie said, and, often, the patient is matched up with HIV support services.
“If you are part of a sexual and gender minority community, going to a doctor’s office can be full of a lot of historical trauma, and you may prefer to just do testing at home without anyone judging you or asking you invasive questions about your sex life,” Cherabie said.
The new cervical cancer test—which tests for strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV—involves a testing swab that’s like a tampon, said Dr. Susan Modesitt, a gynecologic oncologist at Emory University in Atlanta.
It is not, Modesitt said, a replacement for a Pap smear, the exam in which a metal speculum is inserted in the vagina to scrape cervix cells. A doctor’s visit also involves a pelvic exam, a chance to talk about abnormal bleeding—a sign of endometrial cancer— and other symptoms and issues, like menopause or STIs.
“There are so many other reasons to see your doctor and get an exam outside of a cervical cancer screening,” she said.
The at-home cervical cancer test from Teal Health requires a prescription, and the company said that results are not left for the patient to interpret.
n I live in a rural area—can I take an at-home test? Some at-home tests can replace a trip to the doctor’s office. That’s especially true in rural areas, where it can be difficult to get a colonoscopy.
“The colonoscopy requires a pre-op, and you have to drive maybe 70 miles for it,” said Dr. Steven Furr, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians who practices in rural Alabama. “You get anesthesia. It’s actually almost like a surgical procedure in many ways.
“So, for a lot of people, that’s pretty arduous. That’s where an at-home test can come in handy.”
But, Furr said, if your test reveals issues, you need to go to your doctor. Plus, patients should always discuss test results with their physician instead of interpreting them on their own, he said.
n Who shouldn’t do at-home tests? If you have symptoms of what you’re testing for, go to the doctor. At-home colon cancer tests aren’t the right option for people with a history of colon cancer or high-risk conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, said Dr. Zachariah Foda, a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins. He added that they’re also not recommended for people who are having GI symptoms.
Parentlife BusinessMirror
Let kids create their own garden, and other tips for instilling a love for growing things
By Jessica Damiano The Associated Press
WHEN I was a kid, my friends and I spent long summer days outdoors, picking daisies, observing roly-poly (also known as pill) bugs, holding caterpillars and trying to catch fireflies (lightning bugs).
It’s still not hard to entice the under-5 set to make mudpies, smell flowers and eat string beans off the vine, but as children get older and turn to screens, nature exploration often falls to the bottom of their boredom-buster lists.
With a little creativity, however, parents can nurture an interest in the great outdoors and inspire a lifelong love for gardening. The key is starting kids young—and giving them ownership.
LET THEM PICK THE PLANTS
TAKE children to the nursery and let each decide what they would like to grow. Annuals and perennials should be limited only by the site’s conditions (sunny? poor drainage?) and their non-toxicity (children tend to put things in their mouths). Leaves and stems of tomato, potato and rhubarb, for instance, are toxic, so if you grow them, you’ll need to monitor little ones closely. Otherwise, let the kids have complete control. Vegetables should be ones they like to eat; they’ll take pride in a meal that includes ingredients they grew themselves. Growing edibles can also play a role in influencing a lifetime of healthy food choices.
While you’re at the nursery, pick up some childsize rakes, hoes, spades and gloves—or scout for used ones at neighborhood garage sales or online marketplaces. Ordinary kitchen spoons can also be used for digging.
LET THEM LAY OUT THE GARDEN AND NAME IT BACK at home, let each child use a yardstick to measure a 3-square-foot plot of land to call their own.
If you don’t have garden space, give them a container
(be sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom).
Name the area or container for the child and let them design a sign that reads, for instance, “Olivia’s Garden” or “Noah’s Nasturtiums.” Let them name their individual plants, too. They will feel protective over them and take pride in their growth.
OFFER ADVICE ON PLANT CARE
TEACH kids that gardens need to eat and drink like they do—and that gardens, too, get cranky when they’re hungry or parched. Show them the symptoms, then let them figure out when their plants need water or fertilizer.
together and, if possible, situate the plot where others can admire it.
While there are tests for many things—running anywhere from $15 to $400, depending on what is being evaluated—Furr said it’s essential to make sure that your test is FDA-approved so you can better trust the results.
“Anytime we get people involved in their own health care and help them understand what’s going on, I think that’s a good thing and it gives us a chance to talk,” he said. “Any kind of screening is better than no screening.”
SO you’re on a vacation—and apparently, so is your ability to poop. What is it about going on trips that suddenly make our bathroom habit so difficult and straining, even to the most regular among us?
“The infrequent or irregular passing of stool when you’re on a vacation is so common, there’s actually a name for it—traveler’s constipation,” says Frederick D. Leelin, MD, a gastroenterologist from Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph).
“If your travel involves flight, the constipation is likely due to dehydration from dry airplane air. Hours of sitting prevent muscles from contracting to help move the food you eat through your digestive system. Crossing time zones throws your circadian rhythm out of whack, messing up not just your sleep routine but your regular bowel movement too.”
Traveler’s constipation also happens when vacationers put their healthy eating habits on hold, indulging in fried and fatty food instead of fiber-rich fruits and greens, which are guaranteed to make you go.
“But traveler’s constipation can simply be caused by your being in new and unfamiliar territory,” adds Leelin. “When there are passengers waiting in line for you to finish using the plane’s restroom, you tend to get self-conscious and hold it in.” Thankfully, the condition is temporary and can even be resolved while you’re still on holiday with a few simple tricks from MakatiMed:
n Drink. From during the flight to when you’re exploring tourist attractions and sitting down to sample local cuisine, drinking softens stool, making it easier to pass. “Choose water over soda and alcohol.
perfection: Teach children not to step on plants, but let them get dirty.
Mistakes are often the best teachers, so, if they insist, allow them to pick an unripe tomato. They will quickly learn that an unripe tomato doesn’t taste as good as a ripe one, and that an early harvest is wasteful. The same goes for immature potatoes, garlic, carrots and radishes. These are the lessons that stick.
be done. Crossing off completed items will also impart a feeling of accomplishment—I know it does for me.
Gardening offers food and flowers, yes, but it also teaches patience, responsibility and the satisfaction that comes from nurturing something over an extended period. It’s also relaxing and creates precious one-on-one time that they’ll remember long after the flowers have faded. And that’s the best harvest of all.
Travel lighter: Pro-tips for smoother bathroom breaks on the go
Both have diuretic properties, which will just get you dehydrated,” advises Leelin. n Eat. “Fruits are a tasty and healthy way to stay hydrated. Apples and pears have high water content, while papaya and prunes are natural laxatives,” the doctor explains. “Vegetables, of course, are an excellent source of fiber and water, which you need. Include leafy greens like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and lettuce in your meals.” n Move. Don’t spend your holidays just sitting and sleeping. “Walk as much as you can, and use your hotel’s gym or pool to squeeze in some exercise. Physical activity stimulates muscle contractions in the digestive system, which helps you poop,” reminds Leelin. n Get a little help. If you still haven’t gone and your constipation’s making you bloated and gassy, relieve yourself with an over-the-counter laxative. Teas with senna and powdered drinks containing psyllium fiber are more “natural” laxatives that also do the job nicely. “Timing is of the essence when it comes to laxatives,” warns Leelin. “Laxatives take effect between 6-12 hours, so if you have a full day of plans and don’t have
Cone: We must move forward
on
a
find
SSprings’ Arnold Palmer-designed layout, endured a rollercoaster second round marked by superb iron play and marred by some costly errors but closed strong with a clutch nine-footer for birdie to card a second straight two-under card and stay at the helm at 140. Ikeda, meanwhile, turned back the clock with a vintage performance.
After stumbling out of the gates with a double bogey on the par-4 second hole, the former Order of Merit winner mounted a spectacular rally with six birdies in a 10hole stretch, including a pair on Nos. 10 and 11, to seize the solo lead.
CARL CORPUS upstaged veteran Angelo Que in their muchanticipated showdown—in separate flights—at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Caliraya Springs Championship Wednesday. Corpus displayted admirable resolve and composure in the closing stretch to shoot a 69 and wrest solo control in the race for the Philippine Golf Tour crown in Cavinti, Laguna. Steadying himself after a rollercoaster front nine, Corpus toughened up when it mattered most—a clutch two-birdie finish in his last nine holes for a gutsy 35-34 under darkening skies, moving past Que and the rest of the field with a nine-under 135 aggregate. The young gun’s gritty stand mirrored the poise and maturity of a seasoned pro, further validating his breakout triumph on the Asian Development Tour in Morocco last June.
She added another on the 16th to go five-under for the round but faltered late, bogeying the 17th to settle for a 68 and a share of the top spot.
Superal also stayed firmly in the mix with a composed 69, negating a lone mishap on No. 13 with four birdies, including a key conversion on the 15th.
Her improved putting made the difference as she parred the last two holes—where she faltered in the first round—to complete a 34-35 card and keep pace with her longtime friends and course rivals.
W ith all three tied at 140 heading into the final round, the stage is set for a frenetic battle among veterans who have long figured in the local circuit’s biggest moments.
By Josef Ramos
“I’m happy with my iron shots. I hit 17 greens today,” said Ababa, who also led after the first round and is eyeing another Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory following her triumph in Iloilo last year. “I had a few three-putts but that birdie on the 18th gave me a boost. There’s no pressure going into tomorrow, especially since I’ll be playing with friends. I’ll just enjoy the game.” Ikeda echoed a similar mindset after her stirring comeback.
“I just reminded myself there were still a lot of holes to play,” said the former multiple-leg winner, who missed a chance to seal the Lakewood Championship last year. “My irons were sharper today and the putts kept falling.”
Now, she gets another shot at redemption, this time in a three-way battle with two of the tour’s most decorated players.
But while Ababa and Ikeda lit up the scorecards with stretches of brilliance, all eyes could well be on Superal, the former Asia Pacific champion whose consistency may prove decisive on a course known for its risk-reward layout.
“I just need to stick to my process and give my 100 percent tomorrow,” said Superal, now a step away from ending a long title drought.
an extremely rare occasion, saw Justin Brownlee fouling out with four minutes remaining in the game. FIBA PHOTO
from this and move forward. This is the only thing we can do at this point—we must move forward.”
“I str uck the ball better yesterday [Tuesday],” said Corpus, whose impressive opening 66 earned him a share of the Day 1 lead with Que. “I prepared and executed the same way today, but I had a few errant shots and less solid executions.”
Still, Corpus found a way to hang tough. He birdied three holes, but two bogeys on the front nine stalled his momentum. Undeterred, he reminded himself to dig deep in the back nine.
“I told myself not to dwell on mistakes and to focus on what I could still do right. I just needed to make a strong backnine charge. I was able to make more putts and finish strong,” said Corpus, who birdied Nos. 12 and 15 to close with a solid 34. Que faltered in the end—a mis-hit drive and an overshot approach on the 18th led to a bogey and a second-round 70, pushing the seasoned campaigner down to joint second at 136.
“If we have to come through the loser’s bracket, then we will try to do that,” he told reporters at the mixed zone of the King Abdullah Sports Center after the game. To complete the eight-team quarterfinals, the second and third placers in each pool will square off to determine which teams would complete the first of the knockout phase of the 16-team tournament.
In the meantime, a headache from down under is what’s Cone and his team are focused on for the next 48 hours.
“The bottom line is we got New Zealand coming up and we’ve got to get ready for them,” he said. “This maybe a big roadblock for us right here, but it is
something that we must overcome.” New Zealand—at world No. 22 is ranked rungs over the Philippines— opened its campaign in Pool D with a 100-78 rout of Iraq behind Taylor Britt’s 19 points and seven rebounds. Also posing threats from New Zealand are Mojave Jackson King and Carlin Davidson who scored 18 and 14 points against Iraq. In an extremely rare occasion, Justin Brownlee fouled out with still four minutes remaining in the ChineseTaipei, leaving the game with 19 point and seven rebounds. Kevin Quiambao proved lethal with 17 points in 16 minutes of action while Scottie Thompson and Dwight Ramos posted 16 points each for Gilas. C hinese-Taipei’s Chen Ying-Chun erupted for 34 points while Brandon Gilbeck added 16 points and nine rebounds in the game they started control at the half, 43-34.
Team PHL ready for battle as World Games get going
COLORS of different nations come in one piece, all reveling on a backdrop of cultural display and Chinese modernity as the 2025 World Games unwraps Thursday evening at the Tianfu International Convention Centre in Chengdu, China.
Wushu star Agatha Wong and cable wakeboard sensation Raph Trinidad will lead the Philippine contingent in the opening parade that will highlight the ceremony advertised as an extravagant show of heritage and innovation in an urban setting.
Set at 8 p.m., the organizers veered away from staging the opening in a stadium and will instead take the participants on the wooden eaves of a massive gallery, creating an open-air vibe with the massive Qinhuang lake on the side giving a natural charm.
C hef de Mission Stephen Arapoc will join the flag bearers along with the other Filipino athletes in Chengdu who are all encouraged to take part in the festivities barring any conflict on arrival or training.
“I am excited because it is my first time in an opening ceremony. I just want myself to enjoy and live throughout the experience,” Wong said.
From there, the Philippine representatives, supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, will see a unique torch-lighting ceremony on the waters, with local Chinese bets passing the torch through a motorboat and skiers completing the ignition, a three-part fireworks display, and all the dramatic Sichuan-style performances to end the night.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio is expected to watch from the VIP row, along with prominent Chinese officials and World Games executives led by its president Jose Perurena Lopez.
Pr oviding the inspiration of the day is the men’s floorball team which is plunging into action against Latvia at 9 a.m. at the Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre.
Coached by Noel Mendoza, the 14man squad, ranked No. 12 in the world, arrived first in Chengdu last Sunday, and had its first practice Tuesday evening to prepare for the Latvians who are No. 4 but were beaten by Switzerland, 4-3,
SARAH ABABA and Princess Superal
themselves
top with
resurgent Chihiro Ikeda going into the final round.
IT will be tough from now on for Gilas Pilipinas after that stinging loss to Chinese-Taipei where, in
