WITH the 20th Congress set to convene next month, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has vowed to refile its proposal for a P200 across-the-board wage increase.
TUCP Legislative Officer Carlos P. Oñate announced on Wednesday that the labor group, along with other labor organizations, will continue to push for a more livable wage for Filipino workers.
The announcement comes after the 19th Congress adjourned sine die without ratifying the proposed nationwide wage hike.
“The TUCP party-list will refile the P200 legislated wage increase bill that was passed by the House of Representatives. This will be the first measure we will file when the 20th Congress opens,” Oñate said during a press
conference in Quezon City.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 11376, which mandates a P200 daily wage increase for all minimum wage earners in the private sector, including contractual and sub-contractual workers.
The Senate passed a similar measure in 2024, mandating a P100 increase.
However, both chambers failed to convene a bicameral conference committee, which is needed to reconcile differing provisions and finalize a unified version of the bill for the President’s signature.
Oñate said the TUCP hopes the measure will move faster this time, citing Section 48 of the Rules of the House.
Under this rule, if a bill has been approved on third reading in the previous Congress, it may be fast-tracked in the next. He added that the TUCP has already secured a commitment from senators that they will re -
file their version of the wage hike bill once the new Congress begins. “What’s needed now is for our fellow workers not to lose hope. Let’s continue monitoring and putting pressure so that our congressmen, congresswomen, and senators are kept on notice,” Oñate said.
Is there still hope?
PARTIDO Manggagawa Chairperson Rene Magtubo believes an across-the-board wage hike remains possible, even after what labor groups described as the 19th Congress “dillydallying” on the measure. HB 11376 spent nearly nine months pending at the House Committee on Labor and Employment before it was approved on second reading in February, more than a year since the Senate approved its version.
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
is a possibility that Washington’s 90-day pause on higher tariffs would be extended, given that there are still around 50 negotiating deals pending on the US negotiating table, according to former Tariff Commissioner George N. Manzano.
“There are more than 50 countries interested in negotiating with the US. As of now, only the deal between the US and UK seems to have taken off,” Manzano told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday.
“There are ongoing talks with China. I doubt all 50 deals will be concluded by July 9, and thus there is a possibility that the pause will be extended. There is a great deal of uncertainty,” he also told this paper, adding that the tariff policy of Washington is independent from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. For his part, Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) economist Leonardo Lanzona told this paper: “From Trump’s perspective, the [Middle East] conflict is over. So I don’t think he will further pause
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio @blessogerio
T
HE government is set to procure new digital systems capable of scanning and removing harmful artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content online, including deepfakes, as part of efforts to keep the internet safer amid increasing connectivity.
Renato Paraiso, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) deputy executive director, said the agency is expanding its capabilities to detect, assess, and address emerg-
ing AI-related threats across digital platforms.
“The government, particularly the CICC, will procure new systems to sweep and scrub the internet against online harms,” Paraiso said in Filipino during a media forum last week. “Our goal is to ensure that as we expand internet access, we also protect that space.” According to Paraiso, the CICC already uses tools that can analyze deepfakes, or AI-manipulated videos or images, but the agency aims to move beyond detection and enable real-time removal of malicious content.
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
NUMBERS don’t lie. The Philippines remains in the backwater of tourist arrivals and a package of reforms is needed to improve this, specifically addressing peace and order issues, infrastructure, visa policies, and marketing strategy. In a news statement on Wednesday, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) President Victor Lim said they “fully support Interior Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla’s call for an uncompromising, nationwide security drive, particularly in tourist hotspots. As the business commu-
nity, we stand ready to support DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] initiatives through community engagement, technological investments in surveillance, and collaboration with local businesses to ensure safer environments for visitors and citizens alike.”
FFCCCII also recommended more competitive visa policies to simplify a foreign tourist’s entry to the Philippines. “There is urgent need to streamline visa processes for East Asian tourists and investors—particularly from China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan—who represent immense untapped potential,” said Lim.
The influential Chinoy executives also called for the ease of travel to
and within the country. “Seamless travel requires modern airports, efficient transport links and digital-ready tourism services. We commend the DILG’s efforts to coordinate with local governments and support public-private partnerships that accelerate development of gateways beyond Manila,” said Lim. The Department of Transportation oversees the development of airports in the country, and the networking of transport links to connect destinations. The Department of Public Works and Highways, however, has stopped funding the construction of new tourism roads.
FFCCCII likewise suggested an improvement in the Philippines’s promotion strategy, which falls squarely on
the shoulders of the Department of Tourism (DOT), not the DILG. Still, Lim said: “Beyond addressing security concerns, we must aggressively rebrand the Philippines in global media. The DILG’s leadership in showcasing not just our natural wonders, but also our stability and warmth is crucial to changing perceptions.”
The DOT under Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco changed the country’s branding and slogan to “Love the Philippines” from the award-winning “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” and yet last year, there were just 5.95 million foreign visitor arrivals in the country—or 28-percent less than the 8.3-million historic-high arrivals in 2019. This
HIGHLAND HARVEST HUSTLE La Trinidad, Benguet—The vegetable trading post buzzes with early morning activity on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as vendors unload crates of freshly harvested highland produce. With prices holding steady, traders eagerly await bulk buyers from the lowlands, fueling the vital farm-to-market supply chain. Known as the country’s “Salad Bowl,” Benguet
The DepDev has attributed the state of Philippine internet today to the lack of competition in the data transmission sector, resulting in “underinvestment in infrastructure” and “poor service delivery.”
The groups assured that the bill “requires big and small, local and foreign network providers alike to comply with cybersecurity measures based on internationally recognized standards and as prescribed by the DICT.” They added that it mandates a cybersecurity performance audit and makes this a requirement for continuing operation and license renewal—a first in Philippine law.
Konektadong Pinoy also “disallows foreign government-controlled and state-owned enterprises from operating data transmission networks,” the groups pointed out, countering critics’ claims that the bill will lead to a “foreign takeover’ of the country.”
Earlier, the Philippine Communications and Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), a group representing incumbent telcos and tower firms, raised “red flags” over certain provisions, warning that the bill could discourage further investment in infrastructure.
The PCTO specifically cited concerns about unequal regulatory obligations and what it described as “overly broad” open access rules that may compromise sustainability and security in the sector.
Konektadong Pinoy has been in the legislative pipeline for nearly a decade, undergoing revisions and scrutiny through different Congresses.
With .5-M sailors deployed, PHL vows protection of OFWs
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THEPhilippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers with over 504,000 deployed Filipino sailors deployed abroad last year, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Amid the global challenges and risks faced by the maritime industry, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to ensure that seafarer protec-
Bro.
Ption remains a top priority of administration.
The chief executive made the commitment in his message for the cel-
ebration of the international Day of the seafarer last Wednesday.
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) was tasked to ensure that Filipino sailors have the necessary skills, protection, and recognition, according to the President.
“The Marina’s mission is grounded in polies that matter, in training that empowers, and in a vision that sees our maritime workforce as a global asset and a national pride,” Marcos said.
He also affirmed that his administration will continue to invest in the long-term development of Filipino sailors and improving their deployment conditions.
“Let this day renew our com-
mitment to policies that uphold their dignity, expand their opportunities, and ensure that their contributions are much, By meaningful support, both at sea and at home,” Marcos said.
Among the challenges faced by seafarers are the growing security risks in important waterways such as the Gulf of Aden, the Black Sea and recently, the Strait of Hormuz, as well as lower shipments as a result of the United States-imposed tariffs.
Filipino seafarers also make considerable contributions to the economy, which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said reached US$6,941,085 in 2024.
Armin Luistro named member of Vatican dicastery on religious life
OPE Leo XIV has appointed Brother Armin Luistro, FSC, to the Roman Curia, as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Vatican Press Office announced on Wednesday (Philippine time).
“The Holy Father has appointed the following as members of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life...the Reverend Brother Armin
Altamirano Luistro, superior general of the Brothers of the Christian Schools,” the Holy See’s bulletin read.
The dicastery is part of the Roman Curia and is responsible for matters concerning religious congregations, secular institutes, and other forms of consecrated life in the Catholic Church.
Its members include cardinals, bishops, and other religious superiors from different countries.
Luistro is currently the Superior General of the De La Salle Brothers or the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a religious congregation dedicated to education in 80 countries. He was elected to the post in 2022, becoming the first Filipino and first Asian to lead the institute.
Before his role in Rome, Luistro served as the country’s Secretary of Education from 2010 to 2016 under the Aquino III administration.
In a statement, the La Salle Global said Luistro’s appointment is a “clear sign” that Lasallians are expected to stay involved and work closely with the Church.
“We extend our best wishes to Brother Armin in this new mission, trusting that his service will be a valuable contribution to the entire consecrated life of the Church,” they added. Justine Xyrah Garcia
the tariffs he had planned.” On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs for most countries after the announcement of sweeping tariffs led to a global economic turmoil.
With this, he started imposing a blanket global 10-percent additional tariffs on most of its trading partners except for China. This window is expected to lapse on July 8, bringing back the additional tariffs to the higher rates on July 9. Across Asean member states, Washington is imposing the following additional tariffs on goods that intend to enter the US market: Cambodia, 49 percent; Laos, 48 percent; Vietnam, 46 percent; Myanmar, 44 percent; Thailand, 36 percent; Indonesia, 32 percent; Malaysia, 24 percent; Brunei, 24 percent; Philippines, 17 percent and Singapore, 10 percent.
For the Philippines’s part, its economic officials flew to the US in May to discuss with the US Trade Representative the interests of the Philippine industries regarding the additional tariffs.
Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick D. Go said in an earlier statement that the talks “went very well,” emphasizing that the interests of the local industries remained central to the discussions.
For her part, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque earlier said in a statement: “We were able to clearly convey to the USTR our local industries’ asks and concerns and we are hopeful this will yield our desired results.”
put the Philippines at the tailend in Southeast Asia in terms of visitor arrivals after Thailand (36 million), Malaysia (25 million), Vietnam (17.6 million), Singapore (16.6 million), Indonesia (13.9 million), and Cambodia (6.7 million).
DOT also spent millions of pesos on an incentive program for overseas Filipinos called “Bisita Be My (BBM) Guest,” a remake of an old DOT program in the late ‘90s and in 2017. While the program attracted 510,383 overseas Filipinos, a 14.16-percent increase in 2024 from 2023 when the program was rolled out, foreign tourists rose a mere 8.7 percent to 5.44 million.
“The recent candid and courageous remarks of Secretary Remulla at the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s [HSMA] Summit deserve the highest commendation,” said Lim. “In an era where political rhetoric often obscures uncomfortable truths, his forthright acknowledgment of the challenges facing Philippine tourism demonstrates the kind of leadership that prioritizes progress over pretense. The FFCCCII stands firmly in support of his call to confront the systemic issues undermining our nation’s potential as a premier global destination,” he stressed.
In his keynote address at the HSMA Summit, the DILG chief said: “I truly believe that we have a beautiful country [and] we have the best people in hospitality all over the world. But why are [foreign tourists] not coming here? I have to admit it is our fault. It is the government’s
fault. It is the Interior Secretary’s fault. People do not want to come to the country because they don’t feel safe. They are afraid. There is cynicism in all the bad news that goes on here, and in the political atmosphere, and killing seems an ordinary activity [so] people become afraid.” (See, “Tourists aren’t coming to the PHL because they don’t feel safe—Jonvic,” in the BusinessMirror, June 20, 2025.)
Prior to Remulla’s remarks, Frasco and some tourism groups had issued a statement countering an online financial comparison site’s report that the Philippines was the “least safe country on the planet,” as published by Esquire Philippines. The DOT chief claimed that HelloSafe’s Safety Index 2025 was “false” and inauthentic. “What was presented as an objective safety index was, in fact, built on questionable data, lacking in transparency, and entirely disconnected from realities on the ground,” she said.
HelloSafe used the following metrics in determining the safety of countries: occurrence of natural disasters (30 points); violence in society (20 points), including perceived level of criminality; involvement in internal or external armed conflicts (20 points); healthcare infrastructure (20 points), including number of hospital beds and healthcare budget; and militarization (10 points), including percentage of military expenditure in gross domestic product.
HelloSafe added, “This index is not intended to reflect the tourist attractiveness of a country, but rather a global index of security and safety based on the largest possible number of objective criteria.”
With two weeks left at the 10-percent tariff rate for Philippine exports to the US, Philippine economists explained that between 10 percent and 17 percent, the 10 percent is still “more favorable.”
Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message: “Tariffs on some Philippine exports to the US covered by preferential trading arrangements range from 0 percent to less than 10 percent. These should be maintained, instead of raising tariffs on them.”
Former Tariff Commissioner Manzano, for his part, told this paper: “All other things equal, a lower tariff is always preferred, hence 10 percent. Regarding competitiveness of Philippine exports against other exporters to the US, the answer will depend on the tariff that the other exporters will receive. The situation is fluid.”
ADMU economist Leonardo Lanzona, meanwhile, said no tariffs are always better than tariffs from the point of view of consumption.
“Since the country is importdependent, then the lower tariff regime is better. Producers can be incentivized to be more competitive and increase production through investments in technology and human capital,” he also told this paper.
The third and final reading followed only on June 4, just a week before the session adjourned. Magtubo emphasized the importance of building pressure from the grassroots to compel lawmakers to act.
“We need key members of Congress to feel the urgency coming from workers who are demanding a real increase—not just token adjustments,” he said.
“This fight isn’t just the struggle of workers. It’s been proven that the economy also benefits from wage hikes. This is a fight for the country,” he added. Independent
Marcos observes destruction of confiscated illegal drugs
RESIDENT Ferdinand Mar -
Pcos on Wednesday witnessed the incineration of P9.48 billion worth of dangerous drugs in Capas, Tarlac.
Marcos said he decided to visit the facility to see how the government’s system for destroying illegal drugs is working efficiently.
“Because we need to make sure that the drugs that are seized are really destroyed and there is no hope of them coming back, of being sold, of being seized, of being reported,” he said in Filipino while delivering his speech at the event.
Among the destroyed contraband items at the event were the 1,304.604 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, which were found in sacks collected by fishermen on the waters off the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan.
Also destroyed through thermal decomposition were 0.1230 kilogram of MDMA or ecstasy; 3,917.4099 grams of cocaine; 232.6 grams of toluene; 0.8020 gram of lidocaine; and assorted surrendered expired medicines.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) noted that illegal drugs were seized from its various anti-drug operations, but
were no longer needed as evidence in court.
“The expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases where said drugs served as evidence, led to its immediate destruction,” Pdea said in a statement.
In the case of “floating” shabu packs, they were destroyed after the issuance of a certification by the Pdea Director General pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation 1 Series of 2002.
After being inspected, the said items were placed inside an incinerator, where they are exposed to extreme heat.
“The chamber’s temperature will be raised to 700 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to destroy all of the active elements within the drugs,” Marcos said.
The residues will then be allowed to cool for 12 hours before being going through another inspection to determine if these still contain any dangerous substance. Those with remaining harmful substances will be exposed to heat again.
Marcos said disposal of the said dangerous drugs demonstrates the government’s effective system for disposing illegal drugs.
Samuel P. Medenilla
Air Force seeks acquisition of short runway-capable multi-role fighters
THE Air Force (PAF) said the multi-role fighters (MRFs) to be acquired by the country must have the capability to land and operate on short runways.
This aligns with Manila’s adoption of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which aims to protect the country’s territories, including its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura, told reporters: “The specifications, I need not go to the details but in terms of our selection for MRF, the CADC, our defense campaign plan, our concept for defense entails projection so we need to be able to exhibit credible defense in our EEZ.”
The MRFs to be acquired are expected to augment the Mach 1.5 capable South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” light combat aircraft acquired from 2015 to 2017 for P18.9 billion.
With this mission in mind, Cordura said, potential MRF platforms must have “a longer endurance, a greater payload, it must [have the] capability to land on shorter runways” as future PAF operating bases would be located in the periphery of the archipelago.
Having the capability to land on short or small runways allows quick response and flexibility in deploying these proposed MRFs.
Cordura added that locating these bases in the peripheries is a “more strategic” move.
The MRFs that will be acquired “should cater to more asymmetric capabilities,” he added, referring to matching potential strength versus the weakness of a particular opponent.
“In addition, these platforms must be highly integrable and interoperable with our allies in the region,” he said.
Cordura said all recommendations and information concerning the MRF project have been submitted to the Department of National Defense.
“We’re just awaiting guidance, the definite platform that later that will be acquired. Any platform, from what we have recommended and what we have studied and researched on, are win-win for not only for the PAF but for the AFP [Armed Forces]. It is already awaiting the decision from our department and it will be very soon,” he added.
Shortlist
EARLIER reports regarding the MRF project had the Philippines shortlisting
Number of Pinoy workers seeking repatriation from Israel hits 340
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THE number of Filipino workers (OFW) seeking repatriation from Israel has breached the 300 mark, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) said.
In a television interview on Wednesday, Owwa Administrator Patricia M. Caunan disclosed that a total of 340 OFWs have sought
government aid to return home. Of the said OFWs, 26 arrived on Tuesday as the first batch of repatriates.
Caunan said the second batch of repatriates has increased to 50 from 33, while the third batch currently has 23 OFWs.
“So as you can see, less than 100 of the 340 have confirmed they want to be repatriated,” she said in Filipino.
In Iran, she said there are eight Filipinos, who will soon be repatriated. Seven of the said repatriates are OFWs.
All of the said OFWs, she said, will be provided with reintegration aid, including P150,000 financial assistance, temporary shelter or onward transportation to their respective provinces, psychosocial
counseling, medical assistance, skills training, redeployment options, as well as business and livelihood support.
Based on its latest data, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there are 30,742 Filipinos in Israel and 1,180 in Iran. Owwa acknowledged that the number of Filipinos in Iran might be higher since some of them might be undocumented.
Caunan urged the undocumented Filipinos to contact the DMW and OWWA so they can be provided with government aid amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
Dole assures job support for repatriated OFWs
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has assured repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East that they will be assisted in reintegrating into the local labor market and finding new sources of income.
for the MRF acquisition project is placed at P61 billion.
The F-16 Block 72/70 is the latest and most advanced F-16 in operation and is considered the foremost combat-proven fourth-generation MRF.
It is equipped with advanced radar systems allowing it greater detection and tracking capabilities along with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
The JAS-39 “Gripen” C/D on the other hand, is classified as the most reliable “swing-role combat aircraft” available in the world today.
The “C” version is a single-seat variant while the “D” version is a two-seater trainer.
The Swedish-made fighter requires minimal personnel and ground support equipment for dispersed operations and can operate from small unprepared roads. It is also equipped with sophisticated radar, sensors, and weapons.
Japan OSA
THE Air Force meanwhile said Japans Official Security Assistance (OSA) will enable it to enhance its maritime domain awareness (MDA) capability.
“We have actually a very progressively increasing defense relationship, a very healthy defense relationship with our ally that is Japan. The OSA will provide us avenues to increase or enhance our capabilities particularly on MDA,” Cordura said.
He made the remark when asked on how the Philippines’ inclusion to the OSA would benefit the PAF.
MDA refers to understanding activities, events, and conditions in the maritime environment that could impact security, safety, and the economy.
“Our priority here is our sensors, radars. In addition, OSA allows us [to] access HADR [humanitarian assistance disaster relief] platforms also, and equipment,” Cordura said.
“So, these are amongst the capability requirements that are already incorporated and up for obligation under the OSA to be delivered by our partner that is Japan,” he added.
The Philippines was among the four countries Japan identified as recipients of its OSA for fiscal year 2024. Japan provided the PAF and the Navy (PN) at least ¥1.6 billion or approximately P611 million worth of defense equipment.
This is the second OSA that Manila received from Tokyo, following the first
yen or about PHP235
In a radio interview on Tuesday evening, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the department is ready to help affected OFWs reskill or upskill and link them with local employers.
“We will follow the President’s directive to work together. Our employment facilitation program, which we implement through job fairs, can be coordinated with OFWs. Second, we can also support them through our livelihood program,” Laguesma said.
Through Technical Education
House assures funding for 20K new teachers
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday assured the public that it will sustain funding for 20,000 new public school teaching positions in the 2026 national budget and beyond.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the commitment ensures full allocation for these new positions, following their initial inclusion in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“All 20,000 new teaching items are about changing lives, not just addressing the shortage of teachers in our classrooms. Each position filled means a teacher in front of students who need guidance and a Filipino family with a new source of income, dignity, and hope,” Romualdez said.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has confirmed that the funding will originate from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Built-in Appropriations under the “New School Personnel Positions” program for Fiscal Year 2025. The House has pledged not only to protect this funding during its implementation but also to ensure its continuity in the 2026 budget and beyond.
and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), an attached agency of Dole, Laguesma said they will assist returning workers by matching their skills with what local employers are looking for.
He also said they can offer an option for OFWs to start their own businesses if they no longer wish to return to being employees.
“We have individual livelihood assistance, where the available capital is P50,000. With that, you can start a Negokart, a small store, or another livelihood activity that DOLE can support through technical assistance—preparing our workers,” the labor chief said.
Laguesma suggested that OFWs can use a part of the P150,000 cash
assistance they received to start a livelihood project with Dole.
However, if repatriated workers already have other plans for the cash assistance, he said Dole can still provide P50,000 under its Integrated Livelihood Program.
To qualify for the program, individuals must be considered displaced or disadvantaged— meaning they lost their source of income and have no immediate alternatives.
Laguesma explained that all applicants will undergo profiling, and DOLE will use existing program guidelines to determine eligibility.
“The goal is to give them a chance to return to employment
or start their own business that will help them recover. That’s what needs to be nurtured so it becomes sustainable. It’s difficult to keep relying on aid because public funds are not unlimited,” he added.
The first batch of 31 repatriated overseas Filipinos arrived in Manila on Wednesday midnight.
The Department of Migrant Workers earlier said it had received a total of 340 repatriation requests from Filipinos in Israel. The number of OFWs seeking for assistance is expected to rise in the coming days as the conflict between Israel and Iran, and other neighboring countries, continues to escalate.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Govt monitoring oil firms for possible price gouging
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos said the government has started closely monitoring oil companies for possible price gouging as international oil prices dropped after the announced cease-fire between Israel and Iran.
“There will still have an effect [to the economy] since the price of oil still increased,” Marcos said.
Prior to the announcement of the US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the price of oil has soared to US$79 per barrel. It has since gone down to US$69 per barrel.
Marcos, however, said he observed many oil companis are still increasing their pump prices despite the said development.
MOPS scheme
since the retail price for their oil is determined on a daily basis through the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), which is an average price in international market, instead of advance procurement price.
“My simple explanation would be, it’s like you pay for the replacement of the fuel that you sold,” Garin said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.
“The price is determined as you go,” she added.
Safe water available to more Pinoys
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
MORE than half of families in the Philippines had access to safely managed drinking water in 2024, while access to basic sanitation and handwashing facilities also showed modest improvements, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (Apis) found that 53.1 percent of households had access to a safely managed drinking water service, defined as piped water from an improved source, reliably available and paid through a utility provider.
Improved sources, based on international standards, include piped water, protected wells or springs, boreholes, rainwater, and refilling stations.
Nearly all families (98.4 percent) used water from these improved sources. The most common was water refilling stations (57.9 percent), followed by piped connections to homes (17.2 percent).
sanitation (shared improved toilets) declined to 10.1 percent.
However, the share of households with unimproved toilets (2.7 percent) and those practicing open defecation (2.6 percent) remained unchanged.
Central Luzon (94.3 percent), Cordillera (90.7 percent), and Caraga (88.3 percent) had the highest basic sanitation access. On one hand, Bangsamoro (57.1 percent) was the lowest, followed by Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) at 74.4 percent and Davao Region (80.6 percent).
Central Visayas posted a notable gain, improving from 76.3 percent in 2022 to 81.8 percent in 2024. Bangsamoro also rose, from 51.6 percent to 57.1 percent. Yet, it is also BARMM that had the highest share of families practicing open defecation (9.4 percent).
The largest reduction in open defecation was seen in Western Visayas, dropping from 7.1 percent to 4.9 percent.
“I’ve seen a lot of [local] price increases, but the [international] price of oil hasn’t increased. What we’re going to watch now is the price [of oil],” the Chief Executive said in Filipino in an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the incineration of P9.48-billion worth of illegal drugs in Tarlac on Wednesday. Marcos made the statement a day after he convened the economic cluster of the Cabinet to determine the impact of a possible increase in oil prices owing to the Israel-Iran conflict.
THE Department of Energy (DOE) reported that as of June 23, the average price for gasoline is P55.90 per liter. For diesel, P53.40 per liter, and for kerosene, P70.22 per liter.
During the said meeting, government economic managers said that the armed tension in the Middle East, which have shown signs of de-escalation, will result in “manageable” challenges to the economy.
Oil companies have split in big time fuel price this week to ease the shock on motorists and public utility vehicle operators.
DOE Officer-in-Charge (OIC)
Sharon S. Garin explained that oil companies cannot immediately reduce their pump prices
Marcos said the release of the fuel subsidies for select sectors will be determined by the current international price of oil.
“If the price of oil does not increase, then theres no need for that [fuel subsidy],” he explained.
The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law requires the government to provide fuel subsidies to public utility vehicles, farmers and fishermen if the price of Brent Crude oil reaches US$80 per barrel.
Mideast tensions boost Indian interest in the PHL
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror
MORE Indian tourists are booking travels to the Philippines as the situation in the Middle East grows more tense.
A tour operator, speaking on background, told the BusinessMirror he has been receiving inquiries from Middle East travel agencies, who have Indian clients and want to visit the Philippines. “Ironically, we’re getting more inquiries from the Middle East now cosidering the situation [diplomatic tensions], but they have Indian clients there,” he explained.
However, the Indian market mainly operates on “volumes,” so many tour operators here have to find good, inexpensive budget accommodations. “If there is a P2,500 per night [hotel] rate, they would gladly get it. It’s a very cheap market, which complains a lot.” He said among their common complaints
include the Philippines is “very pricey, lack of lower-priced Indian food. It’s usually the price.”
He said a number of hotels have already reached out to him asking for Indian clients, but he has yet to hear from them about the rates that they can offer, after giving them the budget of his clients.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in late May announced that Indian tourists can now travel to the Philippines without a visa for 14 days. Those who have current visas from the United States, Japan, Canada, Schengen, Singapore, or the United Kingdom, or are permanent residents of those countries, can also visit the Philippines for a maximum of 30 days.
Marketing rep to be appointed THIS developed as a government-appointed marketing representative will soon be appointed to India. “We are expected to award the contract by the end of June so that we will have a marketing coordinator on the ground,” said Tourism Promotions
Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles in a Viber message. TPB is the markerting arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
She added that TPB, along with a DOT team, are already in talks with Air India to finalize a joint marketing promotion. “We were able to budget for joint promotions, which will be used to help promote the new flight,” she said.
Air India was approved to fly direct from New Delhi to Manila starting October 1.
Nograles also said Philippines Air Asia (PAA) has “reached out discuss possible collaboration targeting the Indian market.” PAA can fly from several cities in India such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Kochi to Manila with a layover in Kuala Lumpur.
The private tour operator said the clients he is receiving India are mostly male-dominated groups, but those from the UAE are “families, looking for wholesome activities.” There are also inquiries for possible weddings here, “but they are few and far between,” said the source.
Weddings, MICE, group travel
TPB has been marketing the Philippines as a wedding destination for Indian couples, as spend about P850,000 on the ceremonies, which can last for five days.
(See, “TPB pushes ‘Wedding Season’ for Indian visitors in the PHL,” in the B usiness M irror , July 6, 2024.)
Marketing has also been focused on luxury travel, MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions Exhibitions), and group travel.
In a separate interview, Philippine Tour Operators Association president Arjun Shroff said, “Indian professionals, friends and families of Indian tourists are keenly interested in the Philippines, especially now that they can travel here visa-free. However, the DOT is targeting urban areas like New Delhi, Mumbai, and others, suggesting a focus on higherincome demographics.”
He estimated that a two-week trip to the Philippines by Indian tourists can range from US$563 to $1,857 per couple. “Hotel and meal costs vary greatly depending on the type of accommodation and dining choices. Budget options are available, but luxury resorts are also prevalent.” He failed to say if his own travel agency has booked any Indian clients coming to the Philippines this year.
Last year, there were some 79,000 arrivals from India, up 12.4 percent from 2023. However, the 2024 arrivals were 41.5-percent fewer than the 134,963 who arrived in 2019, despite the Philippines still requiring visas from Indian tourists then.
Basic drinking water access, or improved sources that require 30 minutes or less for collection, was available to 44.4 percent of households. Altogether, 97.5 percent of families had at least basic access, up from 96.3 percent in 2022. Access to limited water services fell to 0.9 percent.
Regionally, the National Capital Region had the highest share of safely managed water access (85.5 percent), followed by Calabarzon (73.1 percent) and Central Luzon (67 percent).
On the other hand, the Bangsamoro region recorded the lowest (14.8 percent), followed by the Bicol Region (25.8 percent) and the Cagayan Valley (27.6 percent).
Access to at least basic water services improved most in Zamboanga Peninsula, rising to 97.7 percent from 90.2 percent. Ilocos Region saw a slight dip, from 99.1 percent in 2022 to 97.9 percent in 2024.
Despite improved access, 6.5 percent of households experienced times when drinking water was insufficient. Additionally, 85.3 percent reported not treating water before drinking.
Meanwhile, access to basic sanitation, or private, improved toilet facilities, rose to 84.7 percent in 2024 from 84 percent in 2022. On the other hand, the use of limited
For handwashing, 93.6 percent of households had a designated facility in 2024. Most used fixed sinks with indoor taps (71.6 percent), while others used buckets or jugs (11.1 percent) or outdoor sinks (10.9 percent). Among those with a facility, 97.7 percent had water available, and 81.1 percent had soap. Among inspected homes, 94 percent had basic handwashing facilities, up from 93.2 percent in 2022. Those with limited facilities fell to 2.8 percent, while 3.2 percent had none, both showing slight decreases. Cordillera (98.4 percent), Central Luzon (97.8 percent) and Western Visayas (97.6 percent) had the highest handwashing access. Meanwhile, Bangsamoro (82.4 percent) remained the lowest.
The greatest improvement came from Eastern Visayas, rising from 81.2 percent in 2022 to 91.5 percent in 2024. The Apis, conducted when the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) is not held, serves as a key tool for tracking progress on WASH indicators and monitoring the country’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals targets under Goal 6, or sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Luzon innovation projects tackle agri, health issues
THREE innovation projects from Luzon are advancing to the national level of the 2025 Filipinnovation Awards after presenting solutions to pressing local challenges in agriculture, health and education during the Luzon Sub-National Competition on June 18.
The finalists include the Palatak Palay Seeder by Farmwell Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing, designed to improve rice planting efficiency; Pili Seal by Pili AdheSeal Inc., an aviation-grade sealant made from local pili resin; and Rainfold by LITHOS Manufacturing OPC, a solution aimed at sustainable water management.
The event gathered 11 semi-finalists from various places in Luzon, each presenting prototypes and product demonstrations to a panel of evaluators. The entries addressed issues in food and agribusiness, learning and education and health and well-being.
Assistant Secretary Agnes Tolentino of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), emphasized the role of inclusive collaboration in supporting innovation efforts.
“As we celebrate this gathering of brilliant minds, let us embrace our collective duty to build a supportive ecosystem that encourages innovation while upholding ethical standards, environmental sustainability, and workforce development,” Tolentino said.
Organized by the Depdev Regional Office 5 in collaboration with the National Innovation
Teachers. . .
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“We are creating 20,000 permanent government positions. That means 20,000 families with new income, thousands of education graduates finally landing their first job, and hope returning to homes across the country,” Romualdez added.
Romualdez emphasized that many of the new teachers will come from rural and underserved areas, where employment options are limited.
“We are giving our people a reason to stay and serve in their communities. This also helps local economies and strengthens our public school system from the grassroots up,” he added. With the growing number of students and
Council (NIC), the event provided a platform for live pitches and interaction between innovators, stakeholders, and judges. Gisela Concepcion, a member of the NIC executive board, noted that innovations often stem from daily experiences in communities—from farms and schools to clinics and homes.
“It is rooted in lived experience, fueled by purpose, and grows with the right support. These finalists represent that hope,” Concepcion said. On one hand, DepDev Regional Director Edna Cynthia Berces introduced the Bicolano word “Tais,” meaning “to sharpen,” as a reminder of how innovation can drive transformation, adaptability, inspiration and sustainability. The Filipinnovation Awards is part of the implementation of the Philippine Innovation Act. It seeks to recognize early-stage Filipinoled projects with potential for national application.
Participants are drawn from four clusters: National Capital Region or Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and must be either Filipino citizens or representatives of Filipino-owned enterprises registered with the Department of Trade and Industry or the Securities and Exchange Commission. The scheduled sub-national competitions will be held in the Visayas and Mindanao, while Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will host next year’s Luzon leg. Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ongoing teacher shortages, especially in remote barangays, Romualdez said the program is both timely and strategic.
“This is the kind of intervention that solves multiple problems at once. We improve teacherto-student ratios, relieve overburdened schools, and, at the same time, generate thousands of new jobs for qualified Filipinos,” Romualdez said. He added that the House will closely monitor the rollout of the hiring process to ensure it is swift, transparent, and merit-based, particularly in areas with the greatest need.
“Our goal is not just to fill slots. We want to deploy mentors who are committed, competent, and ready to serve. We are planting the seeds of real, lasting change, classroom by classroom, community by community,” Romualdez explained.
DBM approves 20,000 teaching items for DepEd to boost education system
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Department of Educa-
tion (DepEd) on Wednesday confirmed that all 20,000 teaching positions it requested for 2025 have been approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), clearing the way to reinforce the teaching workforce and ease classroom burdens, especially in newly established schools and those facing severe teacher shortages.
With all 20,000 items accounted
for and deployment already in motion, the School Year 2025–2026 is set to have a stronger teacher presence, improved learning delivery, and a more equitable education system, the DepEd said.
Kumpleto na po ang 20,000 teaching items para sa 2025! Kabilang dito ang 4,000 bagong teaching positions na unang inaprubahan ng DBM, sa pangunguna ni Sec. Amenah Pangandaman at sa utos ni Pangulong [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos [Jr.],” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said, noting that it is a considerable boost to the country’s
PHL govt to seek Japan’s assistance in searching for bodies of missing ‘sabungeros’ in Taal Lake
T
public education system and significant improvements in the national teacher filling rate.
The positions, which include Teacher I, Special Needs Education Teacher (SNET), and Special Science Teacher I items, will be distributed to all regions.
Based on updated school directories, enrollment data, and validated teacher gaps, the highest allocations are going to Region IV-A with 2,655 items, followed by Region III with 2,152, and Region VII with 1,774.
Hindi lang ito tungkol sa dami. Ang mahalaga, mas marami ang
buong pusong magseserbisyo para batang Pilipino,” Angara added.
The 20,000 new positions come at a time when DepEd is actively accelerating teacher deployment. In just eight months, the Department has slashed unfilled teaching posts from 72,964 in August 2024 to 38,862 by April 2025.
The national filling rate now stands at 96.03 percent, a substantial increase from 94.78 percent in 2022.
To fast-track deployment, Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Classification Action (NOSCAs) are
being issued by DBM Regional Offices directly to Schools Division Offices (SDOs) for Kindergarten, Elementary, and Senior High School (SHS) positions, and to Implementing Units (IUs) for Junior High School (JHS).
With NOSCAs in hand, the issuance of appointments will proceed swiftly based on the readilyavailable Comparative Assessment Result - Registry of Qualified Applicants (CAR-RQA) prepared for the current school year.
“Bawat bakanteng posisyon ay sayang na oportunidad para sa mga bata.
Kaya ginagawa namin ang lahat para ma -close ang gap na ’to. Hindi lang sa mabilis na hiring, kundi sa mas maayos at matalinong pag -deploy,” Angara said.
DepEd’s broader reform agenda continues to improve the welfare and capacity of the teaching workforce.
These reforms include increasing the annual Teaching Allowance to P10,000, streamlining workload policies, simplifying forms, and boosting promotion opportunities through the expanded Career Progression System.
DMW leads Asean workshop to enhance fair and ethical recruitment practices
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
Practices held in Pasig City from June 23 to 27, 2025.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Department of Justice (DOJ) will be seeking the assistance of the Japanese government in retrieving the bodies of some of the missing cockfighting aficionados or “sabungeros,” who were allegedly killed and buried in Taal Lake, Batangas.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippine government will specifically ask for remote operating vehicles (ROVs) and other equipment that can be used to comb the lake bed of Taal to find the sabungeros who were abducted or just went missing four years ago.
Remulla said authorities are currently looking into 34 cases of missing sabungeros who have been reported by their families although there is a possibility that the actual number of victims could reach to at least a hundred.
The Taal Lake has become a target of the search operation after an alias “Totoy,” one of the six security guards accused of abducting the cockfighting enthusiasts, finally decided to cooperate and disclose what happened to the victims, including where their bodies were buried. He revealed that the victims were ordered killed in exchange of P500,000 each after they were caught cheating.
“I have instructed my staff to draft a letter to the Japanese government to ask for their ROVs, remote operating vehicles and other equipment so we can map the lake bed of Taal and determine the sediments where we can conduct the search and hopefully find what we are looking for,” Remulla said in an interview over ANC.
Remulla admitted that the accused shared several names, including government officials, who allegedly ordered the killing of the sabungeros but refused to provide further information as the investigation is still ongoing.
“He was a trusted person of one of the principals that’s why he knows everything to the extent that he gave us access to the documents they were using,” Remulla said.
He noted that the government is facing an organized crime group behind the “mass murder.”
“This is an organized crime. This is not easy to prove, that’s why we need to be careful with the statement we are giving,” the DOJ chief stressed.
“This really needs the attention of our people and our country as a whole and the whole government machinery,” he added.
It can be recalled that in a resolution issued last May 6, the Court of Appeals affirmed its 2024 decision which nullified the lower court’s grant of bail to the six security personnel who have been charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with missing sabungeros.
The CA held that the presiding judge of Manila RTC Branch 40 committed a grave abuse of discretion by granting the accused’s petition for bail. It ruled that the trial court erred in saying that there was no deprivation of liberty committed against the missing cockfighting aficionados merely because they voluntarily went with the respondents.
It further held that “the fact that after the victims were made to board the van, that they could no longer be traced and found even by police authorities, are strong pieces of factual evidence that show that the victims were detained or kidnapped.”
The security personnel criminally charged before the court in connection with the missing “sabungeros” were Julie Patidongan, Gleer Codilla, Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Johnry Consolacion and Roberto Matillano Jr.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros on falsehoods being spread by a former Senate hearing witness
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros dismissed as “all lies” the allegations by someone claiming to be a former witness in the Senate inquiry on the crimes of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy that her committee had coerced them.
“Sangkaterbaangebidensiyangakingopisinanamagpapatunaynagawa-gawalangang pahayag ngayon ng taong iyan. All witnesses presented during the Quiboloy Senate hearings freely and voluntarily offered their testimonies and the evidence they carried.
“Lahat ng iyan ay may paper trail and readily corroborated by multiple agencies and officials. Handa rin kami
Govt. . .
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The current analyzer, developed with an unnamed supplier, focuses on video and imagebased deepfakes.
“We’re not stopping at detection. These tools must work to clean up digital platforms of threats, particularly those using AI,” Paraiso clarified. While deepfakes are currently most often used in scams, Paraiso noted that AI technologies are evolving quickly and may soon be exploited to commit fraud, spread disinformation, or even disrupt critical infrastructure. The CICC is preparing for such advanced threats, he said.
To complement its monitoring efforts, the CICC has opened discussions with major social media companies, including Meta, YouTube and TikTok, to coordinate faster responses to harmful content. While platforms have been generally cooperative, Paraiso said further action is needed to improve moderation and enforcement mechanisms.
At the policy level, the DICT is also reviewing cybersecurity protocols and reallocating funding to raise public awareness of online risks. It has issued advisories urging the public to safeguard their personal data, especially given its frequent
na ilabas ang iba’t-ibang screenshot at video sa tamang panahon.”
She added, “We have reason to believe that this individual has been coerced or paid off to derail the ongoing criminal proceedings against Quiboloy, and disturbingly, threaten my staff and the witnesses who spoke out against Quiboloy’s heinous crimes. That’s how desperate they are.”
The senator said they are “preparing our serious legal response against this act of harassment and intimidation. We won’t let those behind this harassment to go scot-free.” Butch Fernandez
misuse in phishing and online fraud.
In parallel, the CICC is forming a specialized task force to address four key threats: fake news and troll networks, online scams, unauthorized gambling operations and cyberattacks on government systems.
The agency also plans to roll out additional support services to help citizens respond to such threats, including expansion of access to reporting channels.
Paraiso said action centers may soon be relocated closer to public transportation hubs, such as MRT and bus terminals, making it easier for individuals to file complaints.
“We want to lower the barriers to reporting,” Paraiso said. “Many victims of online scams don’t know where to turn, or they feel ashamed. We’re offering a clear path through our hotline 1326.”
The public is also advised to block suspicious numbers and report scam-related messages or unauthorized account access. If the sender’s number is active, it can potentially be traced through the SIM Card Registration Law.
Looking ahead, Paraiso stressed the need for legislation to keep pace with AI advancements.
“We need to address the regulation of AI itself.
Detection is one step, but without laws guiding what happens after detection, our response remains limited.”
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is eyeing to update the fair recruitment and decent employment checklist of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the country hosts the regional bloc’s annual summit next year.
Last Wednesday, DMW and its partner organization held the ASEAN Workshop on Regional Actions on Fair and Ethical Recruitment
The workshop aims to promote and review the current recruitment policies in ASEAN and how it can be improved so migrant recruitment processes are “transparent, free from corruption and devoid of coercion.”
“The event highlighted the checklist developed by Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines’ wish to build on the improvements and identified priority action areas developed during the
workshop leading to the Philippines’ hosting of next year’s ASEAN Summit,” DMW said in a statement posted in its social media page last Wednesday.
During the workshop, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said they discussed the importance of legal services, healthcare, social security, and the crisis support system in the protection of the rights and welfare of migrant workers.
THE Philippine government has acceded to the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place under its Witness Protection Program (WPP) the possible witnesses in the crimes against humanity case filed before former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the death of 33 individuals during his bloody anti-illegal drug war campaign.
“There is an official word already that they have gone to our Witness Protection Program to secure the people who may be needed to testify in The Hague,” Remulla said over ANC when
asked if the ICC has already sought the DOJ’s assistance or participation in the trial of Duterte.
“And so we have given our support and cooperation as this request is a well-founded request based on the necessity to bring the witnesses safely to The Hague to testify,” the DOJ secretary added.
Duterte’s camp has maintained that the Philippine government has no obligation to cooperate with the ICC after its withdrawal from the Rome Statute which took effect in March 2019.
“At the core of fair and ethical recruitment lies the belief in the inherent dignity and rights of every individual,” he said. The workshop was attended by representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), DMW, recruitment agencies, employers, and trade unions.
DMW organized the event together with the ILO and the IOM, with the support from the European Union (EU), the Government of Sweden, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Govt grants ICC request to secure witnesses vs Duterte; opposes interim release for FPRRD
Remulla said the government is also willing to provide financial assistance to the witnesses who do not have the means to travel to The Hague, Netherlands, where the ICC holds its trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, Remulla also expressed his opposition to Duterte’s bid to be granted interim release by the ICC, saying that “there will be more harm than good“ that will come out if it is approved by the court.
But, Remulla noted that “the best medical care” is already available in the Netherlands and transferring him to another ICCmember country “may not be good for him.”
“So, I think it’s better that he just hears the case with him present in the proceedings,” the DOJ secretary argued. Joel R. San Juan
“The court itself knows it took a lot to be able to bring him before The Hague, before the ICC, and it’s not going to be easy to bring him back in case they lose possession of him,” Remulla said. Duterte’s camp argued and pointed out that the 80-yearold former should be granted interim release for humanitarian reasons and that he posed no flight risk.
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12145 (ECONOMY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT ACT)
RULE I
Preliminary Provisions
SECTION 1. Short Title and Purpose. — This Implementing Rules and Regulations, hereinafter called the IRR, is issued pursuant to Article V, Section 40 of Republic Act (RA) No. 12145, otherwise known as the “Economy, Planning, and Development Act”, for the proper implementation of its provisions.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies and Principles. — The State shall adopt and implement continuing, integrated, and coordinated policies, plans, and programs towards equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; ensure a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and expand productivity to raise the quality of life for all.
It is, therefore, vital that major programs and projects of different government agencies are properly reviewed and coordinated by a national government agency to ensure their consistency with established national and subnational priorities; that the linkage between development planning, programming, and budgeting is given the highest priority in identifying programs, activities, and projects; and that the public and private sectors at the national and subnational levels participate in the process of formulating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating policies, plans, and programs.
For this purpose, all socio-economic programs and activities of the government shall be programmed within the context of well-formulated and consistent long-, medium-, and short-term development plans and policies to promote both the growth of the economy and the equitable distribution of its benefits to the members of society
The State further recognizes that an independent economic and planning agency headed by the President of the Philippines shall, after consultations with the appropriate public agencies, private sector groups, and local government units (LGUs), recommend priority legislative measures to Congress. RULE II Department of Economy, Planning, and Development
SECTION 3. Reorganization of the National Economic and Development Authority.
— The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is hereby reorganized as the government’s primary economic and planning agency, hereafter referred to as the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
SECTION 4. Mandate. — The DEPDev shall be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, and monitoring arm of the Executive Branch of government on the national economy.
It shall formulate the country’s continuing, integrated, and coordinated policies, plans, and programs for national development for approval by the Economy and Development (ED) Council; ensure the vertical and horizontal alignment and coherence of national and subnational policies, plans, and programs towards optimal use of financial and economic resources; and oversee the country’s public investment program.
The DEPDev shall generate and provide impartial, objective, and evidencebased analyses and recommendations for the socio-economic betterment of the nation, particularly the Philippine government, and Filipinos in general.
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the DEPDev. — The DEPDev shall have the following powers and functions:
(a) Policy and planning
(1) Provide objective, evidence-based policy advice and alternatives; propose or review policies, plans, and programs through critical analyses of development issues; and report findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, or the relevant Committee of the ED Council, as appropriate, especially to:
(i) Foster sustainable and equitable distribution of economic opportunities and benefits to Filipinos;
(ii) Support the development of agriculture, industry, and services to achieve economic development goals, and foster innovation vital to equitable and sustainable growth;
(iii) Advance national productivity, competition, and competitiveness;
(iv) Promote transparency, accountability, participatory governance, and strengthening of national and subnational public institutions;
(v) Improve the policy and regulatory environment to reduce the cost and improve the ease of doing business; and
(vi) Ensure that master plans are coordinated, synergistic, responsive to emerging issues, and consistent with priority development strategies;
(2) Formulate a long-term vision and development framework as the basis for the overall direction of government policies, plans, programs, and projects with emphasis on sustainability;
(3) Formulate a national and regional framework for physical and spatial planning to ensure the sustainable use of land and other physical resources which support the development of agriculture, environment, and natural resources, industry, and services;
(4) Formulate national and subnational development plans that set forth measurable goals, strategies, proposed policies, programs, and projects.
The DEPDev shall be responsible for formulating the overarching national development plan, while the specific sectoral development plans shall be formulated by the respective sectoral agencies or bodies.
(5) Ensure consistency and monitor the implementation of policies, national, subnational, sectoral, and spatial plans and programs;
(6) Together with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), ensure that the annual and multi-year appropriations for programs and projects are aligned with the long-term development framework and national and subnational development plans towards optimal use of financial resources. The DEPDev shall use available evaluation results to inform decisions on the retrenchment, modification, or scaling up of government programs, projects, and activities. The President may request the DEPDev for its recommendation on budget appropriations that are not aligned with the long-term development framework and national and subnational development plans which may be vetoed or subject to conditional implementation;
(7) Conduct research, surveys, and related studies to inform the formulation of policies and plans, and the design of programs and projects. For this purpose, the DEPDev may tap its attached agencies, such as, but not limited to, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines (PPPC) pursuant to their respective mandates and consistent with Section 13 of this IRR; and
(8) Coordinate with autonomous and administrative regions in the conduct of planning activities affecting their respective regions;
(b) Investment programming
(1) Ensure that development plans are translated into programs, activities, and projects (PAPs);
(2) Formulate and review the national and regional public investment program that identifies priority PAPs;
(3) Adopt and implement appropriate evaluation measures and criteria to determine the viability of programs and projects;
(4) Appraise programs and projects, and recommend those found to be socio-economically viable to the ED Council; and
(5) Ensure that programs and projects which no longer serve their purpose or are not aligned with the medium- and long-term plans are retrenched or modified;
(c) Monitoring and evaluation
(1) Formulate annual reports that monitor the implementation of national and subnational development plans including recommendations to address identified gaps and challenges;
(2) Establish and implement a centralized data system to monitor and assess the progress of implementation of priority programs and projects;
(3) Monitor and assess the implementation progress of priority programs and projects using measurable indicators and adaptable reporting frameworks suited to their specific nature;
(4) Evaluate and report the impacts and outcomes of priority programs and projects to inform policy adjustments and decision-making; and
(5) Formulate a medium-term national evaluation agenda and oversee the government’s conduct of evaluation studies consistent with the agenda, ensuring alignment with national development priorities and transparency of findings; and issue planning instructions as part of the periodic planning calls so that the agencies will align their PAPs with the evaluation findings;
(d) Establish and implement a capacity-building program on development policy and planning for national and regional government agencies, including administrative agencies, such as metropolitan authorities and LGUs;
(e) Establish a dedicated office within the DEPDev that shall undertake scenario planning and futures thinking exercises, anticipating future trends or discontinuities, and recommend responsive measures to the President and the Congress,
a common vision of a desired future through wide participation;
(f) Provide technical and secretariat support to the ED Council and its committees, as may be provided in this IRR;
(g) Serve as Secretariat to the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 82, series of 2025; the National Innovation Council pursuant to Republic Act No. 11293, otherwise known as the “Philippine Innovation Act”; the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council pursuant to Republic Act No. 7640, or “An Act Constituting the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council”, and such other inter-agency committees, boards, or councils, as may be provided by law; and
(h) Establish, manage, and maintain a repository of data, and make available such data, publications, research, analyses, and other information generated by the DEPDev in accordance with existing laws and regulations for the purpose of knowledge sharing, subject to EO No. 2, series of 2016, on Freedom of Information (FOI), the NEDA FOI Guidelines, and other related issuances.
SECTION 6. Stakeholder Engagement. — In the discharge of these powers and functions, the DEPDev shall undertake consultations with appropriate government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), the academe, private sector, and LGUs to incorporate their priority needs in the formulation of policies, plans, programs, and projects.
SECTION 7. Composition of the DEPDev. — The DEPDev shall be composed of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, technical and sectoral staff, operations support staff, and Regional Offices.
SECTION 8. Secretary. — The DEPDev shall be headed by a Secretary who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, subject to the confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
The Secretary shall have the following minimum qualifications: a citizen and resident of the Philippines; of good moral character; of recognized probity, competence, and independence; professionally distinguished in public, civic, or academic service and preferably with a doctorate degree in Economics; has been in the active practice of his or her profession for at least ten (10) years; and does not come within the prohibition on the appointment of defeated candidates within one (1) year after the election.
SECTION 9. Functions of the Secretary. — The Secretary, who shall serve as the country’s Chief Economist, shall have the following functions:
(a) Advise the President and the Members of Cabinet on matters of national and subnational economic and social development;
(b) Provide regular reports to the President and the Members of Cabinet on the state of the economy and challenges ahead;
(c) Lead public discourse on the latest trends, strategic issues, futures thinking, and key developments and their relevant implications for the country;
(d) Provide executive direction and supervision over and establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operations of the DEPDev;
(e) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the DEPDev in accordance with law, including their investigation and the designation of a committee or officer to conduct such investigation;
(f) Promulgate such rules and regulations as may be required to implement the objectives of RA No. 12145 and the DEPDev’s mandate, objectives, and policies; and
(g) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the President.
SECTION 10. Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries. — The Secretary shall be assisted by at least five (5) Undersecretaries and at least five (5) Assistant Secretaries, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary and subject to the rules and regulations formulated by the Career Executive Service Board.
The Secretary shall have the flexibility to determine the assignments of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries depending on the DEPDev’s strategic directions on emerging development trends affecting the country’s economy.
SECTION 11. Organizational Structure and Staffing. — The Secretary of the DEPDev shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the DEPDev in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification system, subject to the evaluation and approval of the DBM, in compliance with the civil service laws, rules and regulations, and other relevant laws. Until the new organizational structure and staffing pattern are submitted to and approved by the DBM, the DEPDev shall retain the existing organizational structure of the NEDA.
SECTION 12. DEPDev Regional Offices. — The DEPDev shall establish, operate, and maintain an office in each region of the country, except in Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Each regional office shall be headed by a Regional Director, who shall be assisted by an Assistant Regional Director. The DEPDev Regional Offices shall discharge the functions of the DEPDev, as applicable, at the regional level.
In relation to the functions specified in Section 5 of this IRR, the DEPDev Regional Offices shall have the following functions:
(a) Ensure that regional and local development priorities are aligned with national plans, without prejudice to other means identified by the DEPDev Secretary to address delays in the achievement of Philippine Development Plan (PDP) goals. The Regional Development Committee (RDCom) and the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), after obtaining inputs from the RDCs, shall recommend national government (NG) and LGU cost-sharing arrangements to induce the LGUs to voluntarily commit resources for projects that will help address delays. The resulting recommendation of the RDCom and the ICC shall be vetted by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and shall be recommended for inclusion in the President’s budget message and the National Expenditure Program;
(b) Ensure that the national and regional plans and programs are coherent. For this purpose, the DEPDev Secretary and the Executive Secretary shall regularly convene regional national investment programming dialogues between RDC chairs and Cabinet Secretaries to formulate, update, and prioritize the roster of the DEPDev-DBM priority public investment projects;
(c) Oversee the integration of plans and programs of regional agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), special development bodies, and LGUs into the regional and national plans. The DEPDev Regional Offices shall provide assistance to regional line agencies, LGUs, SUCs, and special development bodies in identifying and developing programs and projects;
(d) Evaluate and review proposed policies, programs, and projects in the region;
(e) Review proposed land use plans of regions, provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and independent component cities in terms of their consistency with the regional development plan;
(f) Monitor and evaluate the implementation of plans, policies, programs, and projects;
(g) Provide technical and secretariat support to their respective RDCs;
(h) Undertake research and ensure knowledge utilization for regional development and productivity; and
(i) Provide technical assistance to development partners in the region in accordance with the DEPDev’s functions.
SECTION 13. Attached Agencies. — The agencies currently attached to the NEDA shall hereafter be attached to the DEPDev and shall continue to operate and function in accordance with their respective charters, laws, rules, and regulations, or orders on their creation, except as otherwise provided in RA No. 12145 and this IRR, the Administrative Code of 1987, and subsequent laws.
(a) The following agencies shall be attached to the DEPDev for purposes of administrative supervision: (1) Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) created pursuant to EO No. 635, series of 1980; and (2) Tariff Commission (TC) created pursuant to RA No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)”, as amended.
(b) The following agencies shall be attached to the DEPDev for purposes of policy coordination: (1) PSA; and (2) Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI), both created pursuant to RA No. 10625, otherwise known as the “Philippine Statistical Act of 2013”.
(c) The following agencies shall be attached to the DEPDev for purposes of policy and program coordination: (1) PIDS created pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1201 dated September 26, 1977; (2) Commission on Population and Development (CPD) created pursuant to RA No. 6365, otherwise known as the “Population Act of the Philippines”; (3) DAP created pursuant to PD No. 205, series of 1973, as amended; and (4) PPPC created pursuant to EO No. 8, series of 2010, as amended by RA No. 11966, otherwise known as the “Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code of the Philippines”.
Regional Offices, the RDCs shall also collectively conduct RDC national investment programming dialogues to aid the coherence and periodic updating of the overall PIP with regional priorities as provided for under Section 12 of this IRR.
SECTION 19. Philippine Development Report and Regional Development Reports. — The DEPDev and its Regional Offices shall annually formulate the Philippine Development Report (PDR) and the Regional Development Reports (RDRs), respectively, which shall serve as monitoring reports on the implementation of the PDP and the RDPs. The results from such monitoring activities shall serve as inputs to policy and decision-makers in the formulation of policies, budgeting, and implementation of programs and projects. To this end, the PDRs and the RDRs shall contain the latest data and information pertaining to the goals, policies, and strategies specified in the PDP
SECTION 20. Transparency and Accountability Reports. — Within the first quarter of every year, the DEPDev shall submit a report on the economic performance of the country to the President of the Philippines, the Members of Cabinet, the Congress, and the Filipino people through the mass media. The report shall include the status and the directions of the fiscal and monetary policies of the government in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Finance (DOF), and the DBM; macroeconomic outlook and labor market prospects; and other relevant information in the interest of transparency and accountability.
The DEPDev shall issue separate guidelines for the preparation of the report on the economic performance.
SECTION 21. Inter-Generational Report. — The DEPDev shall submit an Inter-Generational Report (IGR) to the President of the Philippines and the Congress upon the approval of RA No. 12145 and every six (6) years thereafter. The IGR shall be an assessment of the long-term sustainability of existing government policies over the next twenty-five (25) years, taking into account projected demographic, environmental, and other changes.
The DEPDev shall issue separate guidelines for the formulation of the IGR. RULE IV Economy and Development Council
SECTION 22. Economy and Development Council. — The NEDA Board shall be reconstituted as the Economy and Development Council, hereafter referred to as the ED Council. The ED Council, headed by the President of the Philippines, shall serve as the executive collegial body responsible for directing and providing overall policy direction on economic matters to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development.
SECTION 23. Composition of the ED Council. — The ED Council shall be composed of the following:
(a) The President of the Philippines as Chairperson; (b) Secretary of the DEPDev as Vice Chairperson; and the following as Members:
(c) Executive Secretary; (d) Secretary, Department of Agriculture (DA); (e) Secretary, Department of Budget and Management; (f) Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd); (g) Secretary, Department of Energy (DOE); (h) Secretary, Department of Finance;
(i) Secretary, Department of Health (DOH); (j) Secretary, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD); (k) Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); (l) Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); (m) Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); (n) Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); (o) Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOTr); and (p) Chairperson, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The Chief Minister of the BARMM shall serve as an ex officio member of the ED Council on matters concerning the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The Governor of the BSP or a duly authorized representative shall sit in the meetings of the ED Council as a resource person.
The President of the Philippines or the ED Council and its Committees may invite the participation of other heads of departments and agencies as resource persons, as necessary.
The President of the Philippines may revise the membership of the ED Council whenever necessary for the effective performance of the Council’s functions.
SECTION 24. Powers and Functions of the ED Council. — The ED Council shall have the following powers and functions:
(a) Direct the formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and programs that promote economic development and address development concerns of national importance;
(b) Approve policies, development plans, programs, and projects consistent with the policies set by the President of the Philippines, as may be
endorsed by the Committees of the ED Council;
(c) Approve proposed cost threshold and other criteria for priority programs and projects, except those provided by laws, rules, and regulations;
(d) Approve the level of annual government expenditures, as well as projections, forecasts, resource requirements, and the ceiling of government spending; and
(e) Issue rules and regulations necessary for the effective discharge of its powers and functions.
SECTION 25. Committees of the ED Council. — The ED Council shall have committees that shall act as its primary advisory bodies. These Committees shall be the main coordinating mechanism for ensuring that the policy environment is conducive to the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The following Committees shall assist the ED Council in the performance of its functions:
(a) Development Budget Coordination Committee;
(b) Economic Development Committee;
(c) Investment Coordination Committee;
(d) Social Development Committee;
(e) Infrastructure Development Committee;
(f) Tariff and Related Matters Committee;
(g) National Land Use Committee; and
(h) Regional Development Committee.
The DEPDev shall serve as the Secretariat to all Committees unless otherwise provided in RA No. 12145.
The President of the Philippines may revise the membership and reorganize the structures and functions of the Committees, and establish new committees, as necessary.
The Committees may invite the participation of other heads of departments and agencies, or other resource persons, as necessary.
The Committees may create their respective sub-committees, technical subcommittees, and technical working groups (TWGs), as necessary, to provide technical support on matters within their mandate, and which require their appropriate action. The technical sub-committees shall be composed of duly designated representatives of the same member agencies, with a rank of Undersecretary or its equivalent. Unless the relevant Committees resolve otherwise, the existing sub-committees, technical sub-committees, TWGs, and their respective Secretariats under the NEDA Board InterAgency Committees, or the Economic Development Group created under EO No. 28, series of 2023, shall be retained.
Each Committee shall formulate its respective rules and regulations, which shall govern procedures before its respective bodies, in accordance with applicable laws. In formulating these rules and regulations, the Committees may include a list of or criteria for determining the projects, programs, or matters that need to be elevated to the ED Council and the corresponding action needed from the Council.
SECTION 26. Meetings. — The ED Council shall regularly meet, at least on a quarterly basis or as frequently as necessary. A special meeting of the ED Council may be convened by the President to address urgent concerns, emergencies, and other extraordinary circumstances. In cases where the President is unable to attend, the Secretary of the DEPDev shall preside unless the President designates another ED Council member to preside over such meeting. All decisions reached by the ED Council in a meeting presided by an official other than the President shall require the latter’s concurrence.
The DEPDev shall maintain and preserve a complete record of the proceedings and deliberations of the ED Council, including the recordings and transcripts, either in their original form or in any secure format made available by existing technology.
SECTION 27. Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). — The DBCC shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DBM, DEPDev, DOF, and the Executive Secretary. The Governor of the BSP or a duly authorized representative shall sit in the meetings of the DBCC as a resource person.
The Secretaries of the DBM and the DEPDev shall serve as the chairperson and vice chairperson of the DBCC, respectively.
The DBCC shall have the following functions:
(a) Recommend for final approval of the President of the Philippines:
(1) The level of annual government expenditures and the ceiling of government spending for economic, social, and general public services, national defense, and debt service;
(2) The budget to be allocated for current operating expenditures and capital outlays of government programs and projects;
(3) Level of the NG counterpart budget in the NG-LGU cost sharing initiatives to augment resources for DEPDev goals and as described in Section 12 (a) of this IRR. As used in this IRR, DEPDev goals shall be construed as the PDP goals;
(4) A strategic multi-year fiscal program which supports the long-term and medium-term development objectives of the country; and
(5) A domestic and foreign borrowing program for general financing and development purposes; and
(b) Conduct periodic reviews of fiscal and macroeconomic targets, as well as the revenue and expenditure projections of the government, including general examination of costs, accomplishments, and performance standards applied in undertaking development projects.
The DBM shall serve as the Secretariat to the DBCC.
SECTION 28. Economic Development Committee (EDCom). — The EDCom shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DA, DBM, DEPDev, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), DILG, DOE, DOF, DOLE, DOST, Department of Tourism (DOT), DOTr, DPWH, and DTI, and a representative designated by the Office of the President. The Governor of the BSP or a duly authorized representative shall sit in the meetings of the EDCom as a resource person.
The Secretaries of the DEPDev and the DOF shall serve as chairperson and vice chairperson of the EDCom, respectively.
The EDCom shall be responsible for harmonizing, coordinating, complementing, and synergizing efforts to ensure the country’s rapid, inclusive, and sustained growth. For this purpose, the EDCom shall perform the following functions:
(a) Promote an environment conducive to the growth and competitiveness of private enterprises and the creation of jobs that will empower and provide people with opportunities to rise above poverty;
(b) Improve farms and rural enterprises, as well as trade policies vital to achieving food security and more equitable economic growth;
(c) Mitigate inflation and ensure food and energy security, while balancing the interest of producers, consumers, and the economy;
(d) Undertake research and development that are relevant to and supportive of the requirements of micro-, small-, and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) and for national industries;
(e) Improve national productivity and competitiveness of domestic products and services; and
(f) Ensure deep and wide distribution of economic opportunities and benefits to the Filipino people.
The EDCom may, as necessary, call upon any government institution or invite LGUs and representatives from the private sector to provide assistance in attaining its objectives.
To avoid duplication of efforts and forum shopping, the EDCom shall defer to the ED Council on matters within the primary purpose of the latter and its other interagency committees pursuant to RA No. 12145.
The DEPDev shall serve as the Secretariat to the EDCom.
A Sub-Committee on Inflation Monitoring and Market Outlook shall be established under the EDCom and shall serve as an advisory body to the EDCom on measures that will keep inflation within the government’s targets.
SECTION 29. Infrastructure Development Committee (INFRACOM). — The INFRACOM shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DA, DBM, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DEPDev, DHSUD, DICT, DILG, DOE, DOF, DOT, DOTr, DPWH, and DTI, and the Executive Secretary.
The Secretaries of the DPWH and the DEPDev shall serve as co-chairpersons of the INFRACOM.
The INFRACOM shall have the following functions:
(a) Recommend to the President an efficient, enduring, and resilient national infrastructure development strategy, and necessary government policies, programs, and projects concerning infrastructure development, consistent with national development objectives and priorities;
(b) Review and approve infrastructure master plans of national significance for subsequent endorsement to and confirmation by the ED Council;
(c) Advise the President of the Philippines and the ED Council on all matters concerning infrastructure development; and
(d) Coordinate the activities of agencies, including government-owned andcontrolled corporations (GOCCs) involved in infrastructure development.
SECTION 30. Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). — The ICC shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DBM, DEPDev, DOE, DOF, DTI, and the Executive Secretary. The Governor of the BSP or a duly authorized representative shall sit in the meetings of the ICC as a resource person.
The Secretaries of the DOF and the DEPDev shall serve as co-chairpersons of the ICC.
The ICC shall have the following functions:
(a) Ensure the efficient and effective evaluation of the country’s major capital programs and projects by determining levels of acceptability and viability relative to overall economic and fiscal conditions of the country;
(b) Recommend for the approval by the President or the ED Council, as the case may be:
(1) The timetable of the implementation of major capital programs and projects on a regular basis;
(2) PPPs and other modalities of development financing in support of long-term programs and projects for the national and local government, and GOCCs, in accordance with relevant laws; and (3) Specific major programs and projects found viable in terms of economic and social benefits;
(c) Submit to the President a status of the fiscal, monetary, and balance of payment implications of major capital and infrastructure programs and projects; and
(d) Advise the President on matters related to the domestic and foreign borrowings program in relation to major capital and infrastructure projects requiring approval by the ICC.
SECTION 31. Social Development Committee (SDC). — The SDC shall be
composed of the Secretaries of the DA, DBM, DEPDev, DepEd, DICT, DOLE, DHSUD, DILG, DSWD, DOH, and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Executive Secretary.
The Secretaries of the DOLE and the DEPDev shall serve as co-chairpersons of the SDC.
The SDC shall have the following functions:
(a) Recommend for final approval of the ED Council, appropriate policies, programs, and projects on social development, including education, human resources, health and nutrition, population and family planning, social protection, housing, human settlements, Overseas Filipino Workers, and other vulnerable sectors;
(b) Coordinate the activities of government agencies concerned with social development; and
(c) Advise the President and the ED Council on matters concerning social development and the delivery of social services.
SECTION 32. Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC). — The TRMC shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DA, DBM, DEPDev, DFA, DICT, DOF, DOLE, and DTI, the Executive Secretary, the Chairpersons of the TC and the Philippine Competition Commission, and the Governor of the BSP.
The Secretaries of the DTI and the DEPDev shall serve as co-chairpersons of the TRMC.
The TRMC shall have the following functions:
(a) Recommend to the President a trade and tariff rationalization policy that supports the attainment of the country’s socio-economic objectives;
(b) Advise the President and the ED Council on tariff and non-tariff matters, including possible effects of international developments on trade to ensure that trade policy is consistent with the country’s development goals and utilized as a tool towards efficiency, streamlining, and competitiveness; and
(c) Recommend the implementation of national positions for bilateral, regional, and multilateral economic negotiations on trade in goods and services.
SECTION 33. National Land Use Committee (NLUC). — The NLUC shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DA, DAR, DEPDev, DENR, DHSUD, DILG, and DPWH, the Executive Secretary, and one (1) representative of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.
The Secretary of the DEPDev shall serve as the chairperson of the NLUC.
The NLUC shall have the following functions:
(a) Advise the President and the ED Council on matters concerning land use and physical planning;
(b) Integrate and harmonize guidelines and policies relevant to land use and spatial planning;
(c) Recommend for final approval of the ED Council the national and subnational framework for physical planning;
(d) Endorse and provide technical support to the Department of Justice for the resolution of region-specific land use and spatial planning policy disputes and controversies among government agencies;
(e) Formulate the National Framework for Physical Planning (NFPP), shepherd the preparation of subnational spatial development and physical frameworks, and come up with other inter-sectoral policies and programs that guide the rational use and management of the country’s land and other physical resources. The NFPP shall have a timeframe of thirty (30) years with regular review and updating every ten (10) years;
(f) Promote and ensure the integration of land use and spatial planning policies, plans, and programs, including disaster risk management and climate change adaptation and mitigation, into national and subnational socio-economic plans and programs;
(g) Coordinate the establishment of an up-to-date, interoperable, and accessible national database system which shall identify and classify the present and possible uses of specific land resources; and
(h) Periodically assess the impacts or effects of land use policies which have been adopted and implemented.
SECTION 34. Regional Development Committee (RDCom). — The RDCom shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DBM, DEPDev, and DILG, the Executive Secretary, three (3) RDC Area Committee chairpersons representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and three (3) regional development experts from the private sector or academe representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The RDCom Area Committees for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shall be created to assist the RDCom in the performance of its functions. The RDCom Area Committees shall serve as the clearing house for interregional concerns to be elevated to the RDCom.
The RDCom Area Committees shall be composed of the RDC chairpersons and co-chairpersons of their respective island groups: Provided, That the Chairperson of the Metro Manila Council shall be part of the Luzon RDC Area Committee, and the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Economic Development Council of the BARMM shall be part of the Mindanao RDC Area Committee.
The RDCom Area Committee members shall select from among themselves their chairperson and co-chairperson. The three (3) RDCom Area Committees shall represent their respective island groups in the RDCom.
The Secretary of the DEPDev shall serve as the chairperson of the RDCom.
The RDCom shall have the following functions:
(a) Formulate and monitor the implementation of policies that reduce regional development disparities;
(b) Serve as the clearing house for key regional development policy or program proposals which impact on two (2) or more regions;
(c) Formulate and monitor the implementation of the framework for regional development of the PDP;
(d) Promote equitable allocation of resources among regions by providing recommendations to the DBCC on the guidelines for the regional allocation of budgetary resources;
(e) Periodically review the viability of the regional configuration of the country, and recommend to the ED Council the re-delineation of regions, as necessary; and
(f) Periodically review the composition, structure, and operating mechanism of the RDCs and recommend necessary changes to the President. SECTION 35. Full Disclosure Rule.
(a)
(b) Review and integrate into the RDP the relevant features of approved development plans of provinces and highly urbanized and independent component cities, line agencies, SUCs, GOCCs, and special development authorities in the region as well as national development plans or master plans concerning regional development;
(c) Implement an action agenda to operationalize the RDPs at the local level;
(d) Review and prioritize PAPs that support the RDP, as contained in the RDIP, and endorse to the national government those requiring funding support;
(e) Review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of government agencies or instrumentalities in the region, such as, but not limited to, agency regional offices, SUCs, and special development authorities;
(f) Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments in the region to support regional development objectives, policies, and strategies;
(g) Review and endorse national plans, programs, and projects proposed for implementation in the regions;
(h) As may be required by the ICC or by existing laws, rules, and regulations, review and endorse projects of national government agencies and those of LGUs requiring national government financial exposure which may come in the form of guarantees, or national government budget appropriations or subsidies, among others;
(i) Initiate and coordinate the identification and formulation of priority inter-LGU and special development projects, and oversee their implementation in coordination with the concerned agencies and LGUs;
(j) Coordinate and lead the monitoring and evaluation of major projects undertaken by national government agencies, GOCCs, and special development authorities, as well as LGU projects funded by the national government;
(k) Review and approve masterplans, such as those for metropolitan areas and river basins;
Each RDC shall be composed of:
(1) Provincial Governors; (2) City Mayors; (3) Mayors of municipalities designated as provincial capital; (4) Provincial chapter presidents of the league of municipalities; (5) Regional heads of DEPDev, BSP, CHED, DAR, DA, DBM, DepEd, DOE, DENR, DFA, DOF-Bureau of Local Government Finance, DOH, DHSUD, DICT, DILG, DMW, DOLE, DPWH, DOST, DSWD, DOT, DOTr, DTI, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); (6) Other agencies that the RDCs deem critical to their respective regions; and (7) Private sector representatives who shall comprise one-fourth (1/4) of the regular membership of the RDC.
The President shall appoint the chairperson and co-chairperson of each RDC. The RDC, through a majority of its members, shall nominate at least two (2) local chief executives who are ex officio members and two (2) private sector representatives from whom the President shall select and appoint the RDC chairperson and co-chairperson: Provided, That if the chairperson is from the government sector, the co-chairperson shall be selected from the private sector; and if the chairperson is from the private sector, the co-chairperson shall be selected from the government sector.
Regional directors of national government agencies in the region shall not be included in the selection of nominees for chairperson and co-chairperson.
The President may appoint a chairperson and co-chairperson who is not among the nominees of the RDC but is a permanent member of the RDC: Provided, That if the chairperson is from the government sector, the co-chairperson shall be selected from the private sector; and if the chairperson is from the private sector, the cochairperson shall be selected from the government sector.
The DEPDev Regional Director shall
SECTION 38. Separation, and Retirement from Service
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Iran-Israel ceasefire holds as Trump vents frustration with both sides amid conflicting intelligence reports
By Jon Gambrell, David Rising & Melanie Lidman The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—A fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to hold Tuesday after initially faltering, and US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with both sides, saying they had fought “for so long and so hard” that they do not know what they are doing.
But even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had brought Iran’s nuclear program “to ruin,” a new US intelligence report found that the program has been set back only a few months after US strikes over the weekend, according to two people familiar with the assessment.
The early report issued Monday by the Defense Intelligence Agency was described to The Associated Press by two people familiar with it. They were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The report also contradicts statements from Trump, who has said the Iranian nuclear program was “completely and fully obliterated.” The White House called the assessment “flat-out wrong.”
After the truce was supposed to take effect, Israel accused Iran of launching missiles into its airspace, and the Israeli finance minister vowed that “Tehran will tremble.”
The Iranian military denied firing on Israel, state media reported, but explosions boomed and sirens sounded across northern Israel in the morning, and an Israeli military official said two Iranian missiles were intercepted. Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a NATO summit that, in his view, both sides had violated the nascent agreement. He had particularly strong words for Israel, a close ally, while suggesting Iran may have fired on the country by mistake.
But later he said the deal was saved.
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly “Plane Wave” to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump said in his Truth Social post.
Indeed, Netanyahu’s office said he held off on tougher strikes against Iran after speaking to Trump.
A dozen tense days
THE conflict, now in its 12th day, began with Israel targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, saying it could not allow Tehran to develop atomic weapons and that it feared the Islamic Republic was close. Iran has long maintained that its program is peaceful.
If the truce holds, it will provide a global sense of relief after the US intervened by dropping bunker-buster bombs on nuclear sites—a move that risked further destabilizing the volatile region.
Trump phoned Netanyahu after the American bombing on Sunday and told him not to expect additional US military attacks and that he should seek a diplomatic solution with Iran, a senior White House official said.
Trump’s position was that the US had removed any imminent threat posed by Iran, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about sensitive diplomatic talks and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Israel followed up the US air attacks by expanding the kinds of targets it was hitting.
After Tehran launched a limited retaliatory strike Monday on a US military base in Qatar, Trump announced the ceasefire.
A protracted conflict could have a broad economic impact if Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel.
China, which is Iran’s largest trading partner and only remaining oil customer, condemned the US attacks and said it was concerned about a “spiral of escalations” without a ceasefire. Trump suggested the ceasefire would allow Iranian oil to continue to flow, saying on social media that China could keep purchasing crude from Iran.
Israel accuses Iran of violating the truce; Iran denies allegation THE deal got off to a rocky start.
An Israeli military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military regulations said Iran launched two missiles at Israel hours into the tenuous ceasefire. Both were intercepted, the official said.
Iranian state television reported that the military denied firing missiles after the start of the ceasefire—while condemning Israel for predawn strikes of its own.
One of those attacks killed a high-profile nuclear scientist, Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber, at his father-in-law’s residence in northern Iran, Iranian state TV reported.
Trump’s frustration with the early morning strikes was palpable as he spoke to reporters before departing for the Hague. He said both sides had violated the agreement and used an expletive to hammer home his point.
“We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f—- they’re doing,” he said.
Breakthrough announced after hostilities spread
NETANYAHU said Israel agreed to the ceasefire with Iran, in coordination with Trump, after the country achieved all of its war goals, including removing the threat of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In a televised statement, Netanyahu said late Tuesday that Israel took out top generals and nuclear scientists and destroyed nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and the Arak heavy water reactor. He thanked Trump for his help.
It’s unclear what role Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader, played in the talks. He said earlier on social media that he would not surrender.
Trump said Tuesday that he wasn’t seeking regime change in Iran, two days after floating the idea himself in a social media post.
“I don’t want it,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “Regime change takes chaos and, ideally, we don’t want to see much chaos.”
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that the US and Iran are already in early discussions about resuming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. He called the direct talks and discussions through intermediaries “promising.”
Before the ceasefire was announced, Israel’s military said Iran launched 20 missiles toward Israel. Police said they damaged at least three densely packed residential buildings in the city of Beersheba. First responders said they retrieved four bodies from one building and were searching for more. At least 20 people were injured.
Outside, the shells of burned out cars littered the streets. Broken glass and rubble covered the area. Police said some people were injured while inside their apartments’ reinforced safe rooms, which are meant to withstand rockets but not direct hits from ballistic missiles.
The attack followed a limited Iranian missile assault Monday on a US military base in Qatar in retaliation for earlier American bombing of its nuclear sites. The US was warned by Iran in advance, and there were no casualties.
Elsewhere, US forces shot down drones attacking the Ain
al-Assad base in the desert in western Iraq and a base next to the Baghdad airport, while another one crashed, according to a senior US military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly.
No casualties were reported, and no group claimed responsibility for the attacks in Iraq. Some Iran-backed Iraqi militias had previously threatened to target US bases if the US attacked Iran.
Conflict has killed hundreds IN Israel, at least 28 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the war. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 974 people and wounded 3,458 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
The group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from Iranian unrest, said of those killed, it identified 387 civilians and 268 security force personnel. The US has evacuated some 250 American citizens and their immediate family members from Israel by government, military and charter flights that began over the weekend, a State Department official said.
There are roughly 700,000 American citizens, most of them dual US-Israeli citizens, believed to be in Israel.
Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Gabe Levin in Dubai; Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Sam Mednick in Beersheba, Israel; Amir Vahdat in Iran; Michelle Price, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville, Aamer Madhani, Josh Boak and Matthew Lee in Washington; and Seung Min Kim in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
Powell: Fed rate cut on hold even as Trump demands cuts
By Chris Rugaber AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON—The Federal Reserve will continue to wait and see how the economy evolves before deciding whether to reduce its key interest rate, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday, a stance directly at odds with President Donald Trump’s calls for immediate cuts.
“For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,” Powell said in testimony Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee.
Several Republicans on the committee pushed Powell to consider reducing borrowing costs more quickly, as soon as its next meeting at the end of July. But on the whole, the hearing was uniformly polite and Powell did not face sharp criticism over the Fed’s decision to leave its rate unchanged.
Members of both parties thanked Powell for maintaining his focus on the Fed’s dual mission of controlling inflation and supporting maximum employment. Powell has often cited his support in Congress as a bulwark against Trump’s attacks.
Trump lashed out again early Tuesday, posting on his social media site: “I hope Congress really works this very dumb, hardheaded person, over. We will be paying for his incompetence for many years to come.”
Several Republicans asked Powell why the central bank has yet to lower borrowing costs. Powell
responded that most economists, inside and outside the Fed, still expect tariffs to push inflation higher, and Fed policymakers want to see what happens over the next couple of months before making any changes.
“We do expect tariff inflation to show up more,” Powell said. “We really don’t know how much of that’s going to be passed through the consumer. We have to wait and see.”
Under questioning, Powell acknowledged that tariffs might not push up inflation as much as economists forecast. That, he said, could lead the Fed to reduce rates more quickly. A sharp rise in the unemployment rate could also spur the Fed to cut borrowing costs more quickly, he said.
“We could see inflation come in not as strong as we expect,” he said. “And if that were the case, that would tend to suggest cutting sooner.” But when asked specifically about July, Powell declined to comment.
Powell also said he expected to see tariffs’ impact on prices emerge in the next few months, starting in June. The June inflation report will be released July 15.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, asked Powell whether Trump’s “bullying” would
impact the Fed’s decision-making.
Powell said the Fed wants to “deliver a good economy for the benefit of the American people, and that’s it.”
“Anything else is kind of a distraction,” Powell added. “We always do what we think is the right thing to do, and we live with the consequences. I don’t know how else to do the job.”
The Fed’s 19-member interest rate setting committee, led by the chair, decides whether to cut or raise borrowing costs. They typically increase rates to cool the economy to fight or prevent inflation, and lower rates when the economy is weak to boost borrowing and spending.
The Fed’s committee voted unanimously last week to keep its key rate unchanged, though the Fed also released forecasts of future rate cuts that revealed emerging divisions among the policymakers. Seven projected no rate cuts at all this year, two just one, while 10 forecast at least two reductions.
The Fed chair said the bump to inflation from tariffs could be temporary, or it could lead to a more persistent bout of inflation.
The Fed’s “obligation,” Powell said, “is ... to prevent a one-time increase in the price level from
becoming an ongoing inflation problem.”
At a news conference last week, Powell suggested the Fed would monitor how the economy evolves over the summer in response to Trump’s tariffs, hinting that a rate cut wouldn’t occur until September.
Yet two high-profile members of the Fed’s governing board, Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller, have since suggested the central bank could cut its rate as early as July. Both officials were appointed by Trump during his first term and Waller is often mentioned as a potential replacement for Powell when his term ends next May. Powell was also appointed by Trump in late 2017.
Other officials, however, are still cautious about rate reductions. Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve’s Cleveland branch, said Tuesday that given the uncertainty enveloping the economy, rates may be on hold for “quite some time” before the Fed decides to make “very modest cuts.”
Trump is urging the Fed to cut rates to save the US government money on interest payments affixed to the vast national debt.
Yet the Fed has long resisted consideration of the government’s
financing costs when making interest rate decisions, preferring instead to focus on the health of the economy and inflation.
Waller, in an interview Friday, said that lowering the government’s borrowing costs is “not our job” and added that it was up to Congress and the White House to reduce the budget deficit.
Trump meanwhile, on social media Tuesday repeated his false claim that the European Central Bank has cut its key rate ten times while the Fed has not cut at all. In fact, in the last 12 months the ECB has reduced its rate eight times and the Fed has done so three times, all late last year.
The Fed’s cuts last year lowered its rate to about 4.3%. Since then, it has put reductions on pause out of concern that Trump’s tariffs lead to inflation. The president has slapped a 10% duty on all imports, along with an additional 30% levy on goods from China, 50% on steel and aluminum, and 25% on autos. Yet inflation has steadily cooled this year despite widespread concerns among economists about the impact of tariffs. The consumer price index ticked up just 0.1% from April to May, the government said last week, a sign that price pressures are muted.
S&P 500 nears record high as oil prices plunge amid ceasefire hopes
By Stan Choe, David Mchugh & Elaine Kurtenbach
AP Business Writers
NEW YORK—US stocks rose toward their all-time high on Tuesday after oil prices eased further on hopes that Israel’s war with Iran will not damage the global flow of crude. The S&P 500 climbed 1.1%, following up on big gains for stocks
across Europe and Asia, after President Donald Trump said late Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire.” The main measure of Wall Street’s health is back within 0.8% of its record set in February after falling roughly 20% below during the spring. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 507 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.4%.
The strongest action was again in the oil market, where a barrel of benchmark US crude fell 6% to settle at $64.37. Brent crude, the international standard, had a similar drop.
The fear throughout the IsraelIran conflict has been that it could squeeze the world’s supply of oil, which would pump up prices for gasoline and hurt the global economy. Iran is a major producer of crude, and it could also try to block
the Strait of Hormuz off its coast, through which 20% of the world’s daily oil needs passes on ships. Oil prices began falling sharply on Monday after Iran launched what appeared to be a limited retaliatory strike to the United States’ entry into the war, one that did not target the production or movement of oil. They kept falling even after attacks continued past a deadline to stop hostilities early Tuesday. Trump later said that the
ceasefire was “in effect.”
Oil prices have dropped so much in the last two days that they’re below where they were before the fighting began nearly two weeks ago. With the global oil market well supplied and the Opec+ alliance of producing countries steadily increasing production, oil prices could be headed even lower as long as the ceasefire holds and a lasting peace solution can be found,
said Carsten Fritsch, commodities analyst at Commerzbank. Falling oil prices should take some pressure off inflation, and that in turn could give the Federal Reserve leeway to resume cutting interest rates.
Wall Street loves lower rates because they boost the economy by making it cheaper for US households and businesses to borrow
See “Stocks,” A10
Extreme heat dome sends East Coast residents to hospitals, disrupts travel
By Seth Borenstein AP Science Writer
NEW YORK—Extensive triple digit heat, broken temperature records and oppressive humidity piled up into a steaming mess as the heat dome crushing the Eastern half of the nation sizzled to what should be its worst Tuesday.
New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) a little after noon, the first time since 2013. Then Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston joined the 100 club. More than 150 million people woke up to heat warnings and forecasters at the National Weather Service expected dozens of places to tie or set new daily high temperature records Tuesday. The dangerous heat sent people to the hospital, delayed Amtrak trains and caused utilities to urge customers to conserve power.
“Every East Coast state today from Maine to Florida has a chance of 100-degree actual temperature,” said private meteorologist Ryan Maue, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist.
Fryeburg, Maine, also hit 100, for the first time since 2011.
“Getting Maine to 100 degrees is infrequent,” Maue said.
Tuesday’s heat came on top of 39 new or tied heat records Monday. But just as dangerous as triple digit heat is the lack of cooling at night, driven by the humidity.
“You get the combination of the extreme heat and humidity but no relief,” said Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. “It’s kind of been just everything stacked on top of itself.... It just speaks to
Continued from A9
money to buy a car or build a factory. But they could also give inflation more fuel. That threat is why the Fed has been hesitant to cut rates this year after lowering them through the end of last year.
how strong this heat wave is. This is a pretty, pretty extreme event.”
Asherman and Maue said Tuesday is the peak of the highpressure system that sits on top of the Mid-Atlantic and keeps the heat and humidity turned up several notches.
“Nobody is immune to the heat,” said Kimberly McMahon, the weather service public services program manager who specializes in heat and health.
Heat turns dangerous
DOZENS attending outdoor high school graduation ceremonies in a northern New Jersey city on Monday were treated for heat exhaustion and related problems, including 16 taken to hospitals. The Paterson school district held ceremonies in the morning and the afternoon as temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees. Officials halted the second ceremony about an hour after it had started due to the heat.
And in New Hampshire, two 16-year-old hikers were rescued from a mountain in Jaffrey late Monday afternoon, overcome by the heat, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said. They were described as being in and out of consciousness and taken to a hospital.
The heat hit New York City as residents headed to the polls
The Fed has said repeatedly that it wants to wait and see how much Trump’s tariffs will hurt the economy and raise inflation before committing to its next move. So far, the economy seems to be holding up OK, though a report on confidence among US consumers came in weaker than economists expected on Tuesday, and inflation has remained only a bit above the Fed’s 2% target.
for the city’s primary election. In Queens, Rekha Malhotra was handing out flyers in support of Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani while wearing a pink electric fan around their neck.
“It’s 90 bazillian degrees and here I am,” said Malhotra. “I could have been phone banking.”
“I have all the things—hat, ice and this,” Malhotra added, clutching a commercial-grade spray bottle.
Utilities across the Midwest and East braced for the surge of extra demand in the heat, at times asking people to cut back on air conditioning when it felt like it was needed the most. In Memphis, Tennessee, residents were asked to turn off unnecessary lights and electronics, wait until nighttime to use dishwashers, washing machines dryers, and raise thermostats a few degrees, if health allows.
No relief at night THE heat and humidity during the day was compounded by humid nights where the temperatures don’t drop much and the human body and the electric bill don’t get a break to recover, said Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central.
“The longer the heat lasts, the more it wears on the body, the more it wears on the health,” Woods Placky said.
A good rule of thumb is the temperature has to get at least as low as 75 degrees, if not lower, for people to recover, McMahon said. That’s a lesson from the Pacific Northwest heat wave of 2021, when many of the deaths were older people who lived at home and died at night because it wasn’t getting cool enough, she said.
“Unlike other weather hazards, heat does have that compounding effect on the human body. Your body tolerates less and less heat as the days go on,” McMahon said.
Because warmer air from human-caused climate change holds more moisture, making it more humid, summer nights are actually heating up faster than summer days, Woods Placky said. That’s why the Dust Bowl of the 1930s hit high temperatures similar to now, but it wasn’t as warm overall because the nights cooled, she said.
The United States daytime summer high temperature has
See “Heat,” A11
Switzerland’s ebbing glaciers show new, strange phenomenon: holes reminiscent of Swiss cheese
By Fanny Brodersen, Matthias Schrader & Jamey Keaten The Associated Press
RHONE GLACIER, Switzerland—Climate change appears to be making some of Switzerland’s vaunted glaciers look like Swiss cheese: full of holes.
Matthias Huss of the glacier monitoring group GLAMOS offered a glimpse of the Rhone Glacier, which feeds the eponymous river that flows through Switzerland and France to the Mediterranean, shared the observation with The Associated Press this month as he trekked up to the icy expanse for a first “maintenance mission” of the summer to monitor its health.
The state of Switzerland’s glaciers came into stark and dramatic view of the international community last month when a mudslide from an Alpine mountain submerged the southwestern village of Blatten. The Birch Glacier on the mountain, which had been holding back a mass of rock near the peak, gave way—sending an avalanche into the valley village below.
Experts say geological shifts and, to a lesser extent global warming, played a role.
Fortunately, the village had been largely evacuated beforehand, but Swiss authorities said a 64-year-old man had gone missing after the incident. Late Tuesday, regional Valais police said they had found and were examining human remains of a person who died in the mudslide.
The Alps and Switzerland—home to the most glaciers in any European country by far—have seen them retreat for about 170 years, but with ups and downs over time until the 1980s, he said. Since then, the decline has been steady, with 2022 and 2023 the worst of all. Last year was a “bit better,” he said.
“Now, this year also doesn’t look good, so we see we have a clear acceleration trend in the melting of glaciers,” said Huss, who also is a lecturer at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, ETHZ, said in beaming sunshine and with slushy ice dripping underfoot.
Less snow and more heat create punishing conditions
THE European Union’s Copernicus climate center said last month was the secondwarmest May on record worldwide, although temperatures in Europe were below the running average for that month
compared to the average from 1991 to 2020. Europe is not alone. In a report on Asia’s climate released Monday, the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization said reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat last year “were punishing for glaciers”— with 23 out of 24 glaciers in the central Himalayas and the Tian Shan range suffering “mass loss” in 2024.
A healthy glacier is considered “dynamic,” by generating new ice as snow falls on it at higher elevations while melting at lower altitudes: The losses in mass at lower levels are compensated by gains above.
As a warming climate pushes up the melting to higher altitudes, such flows will slow down or even stop altogether and the glacier will essentially become “an ice patch that is just lying there,” Huss said.
“This is a situation we are seeing more and more often on our glaciers: That the ice is just not dynamic anymore,” he said. “It’s just resting there and melting down in place.”
This lack of dynamic regeneration is the most likely process behind the emergence and persistence of holes, seemingly caused by water turbulence at the bottom of the glacier or air flows through the gaps that appear inside the blocks of ice, Huss said.
“First the holes appear in the middle, and then they grow and grow, and suddenly the roof of these holes is starting to collapse,” he said. “Then these holes get visible from the surface. These holes weren’t known so well a few years ago, but now we are seeing them more often.”
Such an affected glacier, he said, “is a Swiss cheese that is getting more holes everywhere, and these holes are collapsing—and it’s not good for the glacier.”
Effects felt from fisheries to borders
RICHARD ALLEY, a geosciences professor and glaciologist at Penn State University, noted that glacier shrinkage has wide impacts on agriculture, fisheries, drinking water levels, and border tensions when it comes to cross-boundary rivers.
“Biggest worries with mountain glaciers may be water issues—now, the shrinking glaciers are supporting summertime (often the dry season) flows that are anomalously higher than normal, but this will be replaced as glaciers disappear with anomalously low flows,” he said in an email.
See “Switzerland,” A11
Fed Chair Jerome Powell remains more cautious, though he did indicate Tuesday that the Fed’s next move is likely to be a cut.
Trump has been pushing loudly for more cuts to rates. And two of his appointees to the Fed have said recently they may consider cutting rates as soon as the Fed’s next meeting next month.
Asked during testimony before a Congressional committee whether a reduction could arrive as soon as July, Powell said, “We will get to a place where we cut rates, sooner rather than later—but I wouldn’t want to point to a particular meeting. I don’t think we need to be in any rush because the economy is still strong.”
On Wall Street,
That helped Treasury yields ease in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.29% from 4.34% late Monday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action, fell to 3.81% from 3.84%.
the
and
AS temperatures approach 100 degrees, children are cooling off in the Frog Pond at Boston Common, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Boston. AP/CHARLES KRUPA
US commitment to NATO in question as Trump heads into alliance summit
By Seung Min Kim The Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—
President Donald Trump on Wednesday is meeting with members of a NATO alliance that he has worked to bend to his will over the years and whose members are rattled by his latest comments casting doubt on the US commitment to its mutual defense guarantees.
Trump’s comments en route to the Netherlands that his fidelity to Article 5 “depends on your definition” are drawing attention at the NATO summit, as will the new and fragile Iran-Israel ceasefire that Trump helped broker after the US unloaded airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Soviet Union. Most NATO countries, with the key exception of Spain, are preparing to endorse the 5% pledge, motivated to bolster their own defenses not just by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine but also, perhaps, to placate Trump.
As a candidate in 2016, Trump suggested that he as president would not necessarily heed the alliance’s mutual defense guarantees outlined in Article 5 of the NATO treaty. In March of this year, he expressed uncertainty that NATO would come to the United States’ defense if needed, though the alliance did just that after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back only a few months by weekend strikes and was not “completely and fully obliterated,” as Trump had said.
But on Wednesday morning, Trump and other senior Cabinet officials vigorously pushed back on the assessment and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the administration was launching an investigation into who disclosed those findings to reporters.
“I’ve been asking them to go up to 5% for a number of years,” Trump said Wednesday morning as he met with Mark Rutte, the alliance’s secretary-general. “I think that’s going to be very big news.”
The boost in spending follows years of Trump complaints that other countries weren’t paying their fair share for membership in an alliance created as a bulwark against threats from the former
At the same time, the alliance is poised to enact one of Trump’s chief priorities for NATO: a pledge by its member countries to increase, sometimes significantly, how much they spend on their defense.
On Tuesday, he told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to The Hague for the summit that whether he is committed to Article 5 “depends on your definition.”
“There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right?” Trump said. “But I’m committed to being their friends.”
He signaled that he would give a more precise definition of what Article 5 means to him once he is at the summit.
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee
who traveled to The Hague and met with several foreign leaders at the summit, said other countries raised “understandable questions” about the US’s commitment to the alliance, “certainly given President Trump’s past statements.”
“We were very strong and reassuring everyone that we are committed to NATO, we are committed to Article 5, we are committed to maintaining troops on the eastern flank,” said Shaheen, who represented the US Senate
Japan conducts first domestic missile test amid rising tensions with China
By Mari Yamaguchi
TThe Associated Press
OKYO—Japan’s military test-fired a missile on Japanese territory for the first time Tuesday, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter China.
The Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was tested at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade used a training missile to target a boat with no crew about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the island’s southern coast.
Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan conducted past missile tests in the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available.
The military said the test was successful. It plans another through Sunday.
Dozens of protesters stood outside a neighboring army camp, saying missile tests only escalates tension in Asia and risks for Japan
Heat. . .
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increased 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1975, but the nighttime lowest temperature is now on average 2.6 degrees higher, according to NOAA data. In Baltimore, summer nights have warmed 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1975, while summer days only 1.5 degrees, the data showed.
Marc Savenor, who owns Acme Ice and Dry Ice Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, struggled to keep up with phones ringing as the heat wave overwhelmed ice machines and refrigerators, forcing customers to seek emergency supplies.
“During the heat waves, my phone will ring at 3 in the morning till 11 at night,” Savenor said
JAPAN’S army test-fires a Type 88 surface-to-ship short-range missile at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido in its first missile test on Japanese territory on June 24, 2025. JAPAN GROUND SELF-DEFENSE FORCE VIA AP
to be involved in possible conflicts.
Tuesday’s first domestic missile test underscores Japan’s push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strikeback capabilities as a deterrence to China’s increasingly assertive
as workers shoveled dry ice into pellets. “There’s no help for the weary here, because you’ve got to get it when it’s coming in and everybody wants some.”
Air conditioners and fans have been flying off the shelves at Khan Electronics in Queens, owner Mudassar Khan said.
“It started getting hot at night. People buy air conditioners when they feel uncomfortable at night,” Khan said.
“Relief is coming,” Maue said, predicting that on Friday, New York City probably won’t even get into the 70s. “It’ll feel incredible.”
The Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in New York; Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Rodrigue Ngowi in
and
naval activity in regional seas.
Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia.
Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have ter -
ritorial disputes.
Japan, under its post-World War II pacifist constitution, used to limit the use of force for selfdefense only, but made a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that names China as its biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-US alliance.
Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the US, beginning later this year.
Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88.
The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles).
Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country’s easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month.
with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Trump also vented to reporters before leaving Washington about the actions by Israel and Iran after his announced ceasefire — although on Monday, he said the ceasefire was “very good.”
After Trump arrived in the Netherlands, news outlets, including The Associated Press, published stories revealing that a US intelligence report suggested in an early assessment
“That hit ended the war,” Trump said. Drawing comparisons to the atomic bombings from the US during World War II, he added: “I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima. I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki. But that was essentially the same thing. That ended that war.”
The White House has not said what other world leaders Trump would meet with one-on-one while in The Hague, but Trump said in his morning meeting with Rutte that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later Wednesday.
The Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report from Washington.
For Switzerland, another possible casualty is electricity: The Alpine country gets the vast majority of its power through hydroelectric plants driven from its lakes and rivers, and wide-scale glacier melt could jeopardize that.
With a whirr of a spiral drill, Huss sends ice chips flying as he bores a hole into the glacier. Then with an assistant, he unfurls a jointed metal pole—similar to the basic glacier-monitoring technology that has existed for decades—and clicks it together to drive it deep down. This serves as a measuring stick for glacier depth.
“We have a network of stakes that are drilled into the ice where we determine the melting of the mass loss of the glacier from year to year,” he said. “When the glacier will be melting, which is at the moment a speed of about 5 to 10 centimeters (2-4 inches) a day, this pole will re-emerge.”
Reaching up over his head—about 2.5 meters (8 feet)—he points out the height of a stake that had been drilled in in September, suggesting that an ice mass had shrunk by that
much. In the super-hot year of 2022, nearly 10 meters of vertical ice were lost in a single year, he said. Some glaciers have gone for good THE planet is already running up against the target cap increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius in global temperatures set in the Paris Climate Accord of 2015. The concerns about global warming that led to that deal have lately been overshadowed by trade wars, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and other geopolitical issues.
“If we manage to reduce or limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, we couldn’t save this glacier,” Huss said, acknowledging many Swiss glaciers are set to disappear in the future. As a person, Huss feels emotion. As a glaciologist, he is awestruck by the speed of change.
“It’s always hard for me to see these glaciers melting, to even see them disappearing completely. Some of my monitoring sites I’ve been going to for 20 years have completely vanished in the last years,” he said. “It was very sad— if you just exchange this beautiful, shiny white with these brittle rocks that are lying around.” Keaten reported from Geneva.
Boston;
Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed.
Embracing the skies: The promise of drone delivery in Philippines
IN a bold and forward-thinking move, Grab Philippines, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Megaworld Corp., has initiated the country’s first drone delivery pilot program. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of logistics and urban mobility in the country, showcasing the power of innovation to address long-standing challenges. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Your food, drone-delivered, courtesy of Grab, Megaworld, DICT, DOTr pilot,” June 18, 2025).
The pilot program, set to launch in Quezon City and Pasig City, is more than just a test of technology—it is a strategic exploration of how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can transform delivery systems to be faster, safer, and more inclusive. By implementing a three-phase delivery process that integrates drone flights across controlled corridors, the initiative aims to reduce the chronic problem of road congestion and extend logistical reach to hard-to-access locations.
This is especially relevant in the Philippine context, where urban density and traffic woes consistently hamper efficient movement of goods and services. The use of drones to bypass congested roads is not merely a convenience; it is a potential game-changer that could ease the burden on our cities’ infrastructure, reduce delivery times, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for many Filipinos.
Moreover, the program’s focus on safety, privacy, and regulatory compliance—as highlighted by ICT Undersecretary Christina Faye Condez-de Sagon—ensures that progress does not come at the expense of public trust and security. The controlled environment in which the pilot will operate provides a necessary balance between innovation and responsibility.
Perhaps the most exciting prospect lies in the vision for interisland deliveries. The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, faces unique logistical challenges. If drone technology can be scaled to support interisland transport of critical goods—such as medicines and emergency supplies—it could revolutionize access to essential services for remote communities, bridging geographical divides that have persisted for decades.
This initiative also reflects a broader ambition to create smarter, more responsive cities. The partnership between government agencies and private sector leaders like Grab and Megaworld is a model for collaborative innovation, where technology serves as a tool for societal improvement rather than mere commercial gain.
As this pilot unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor its outcomes carefully, learn from the challenges encountered, and adapt the framework to ensure equitable benefits across all sectors of society. The success of drone delivery in the Philippines could inspire other Southeast Asian nations to reimagine their logistics landscapes, setting a regional precedent for smart urban solutions.
The launch of this drone delivery pilot program is a timely and visionary step toward modernizing the country’s logistics ecosystem. It embodies the spirit of innovation needed to overcome infrastructural hurdles and deliver better services to Filipinos, no matter where they live. The skies above Quezon City and Pasig City may soon become highways of progress—carrying not just packages, but the promise of a more connected and efficient future. The sky is indeed the limit, and the potential for progress is soaring high.
BusinessMirror
Pythia’s Mumbles: Our 2025 Babble
TOUTSIDE THE BOX
HE Ancient Greeks may have had it better than we do in 2025. Imagine a world where leaders sought answers from a priestess instead of “experts.” From the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE, the Oracle of Delphi, housed in Apollo’s temple in ancient Greece, served as home for the Pythia—a local woman channeling divine wisdom. Delphi drew pilgrims desperate for clarity on war, wealth, or wedding plans. Her trances, possibly sparked by fumes from a rocky chasm, made her the ancient equivalent of a hotline to the gods. Sounds cool compared to our 2025 parade of self-proclaimed experts pontificating on cable news or government payrolls.
The Pythia’s prophecies were cryptic puzzles, spun by priests into verses vague enough to cover any outcome. King Croesus of Lydia asked if attacking Persia was wise. The Oracle promised he would “destroy a great empire.” He did—his own, after Persia crushed him. Our modern “geniuses” churn out predictions just as slippery, minus the divine touch.
Apollo was the god of prophecy and lent Delphi its divine stamp of approval, making it the go-to for Athens, Sparta, and every other city-state squabbling over land or glory. Its neutrality—real or staged —positioned it as Greece’s trusted referee. The priests, though, were the real MVPs, running a network of informants rivaling a modern think tank or “Central Intelligence Agency.” They shaped prophecies to fit political realities, ensuring Del-
phi stayed ahead of the curve. Vague enough to survive any flop, practical enough to seem profound. Compare that to our current “insiders” leaking half-truths.
Fast forward to 2025, and not a single institution comes close to Delphi’s blend of trust, neutrality, and unity. Our experts, media, and politicians peddle agendas, not insights, lacking the impartiality of the Pythia’s temple. We are stuck with talking heads who unify nothing but their own echo chambers. Ancients listening to a stoned Pythia and the “Pay-for-Prophecy” priests had a better opportunity at learning “the truth” than we do. We cannot even agree on what “truth” looks like anymore.
Where do we turn for answers to the burning questions, like whether Trump is sparking, stalling, or sidestepping World War 3? The Greeks
Where do we turn for answers to the burning questions, like whether Trump is sparking, stalling, or sidestepping World War 3? The Greeks had their Pythia. Hoping for a clear voice amid the chaos is as foolish as expecting a priestess to predict next week’s headlines. Where are the “trusted voices” to cut through the noise.
had their Pythia. Hoping for a clear voice amid the chaos is as foolish as expecting a priestess to predict next week’s headlines. Where are the “trusted voices” to cut through the noise.
Do not ask me to play Pythia and divine the US global battleplan— Trump calls it a “monumental” global strategy, while Iran’s defiance keeps the world jittery. Unlike Delphi’s priests, who spun riddles with finesse, our digital Internet beast offers no filter—just a flood of unreliable noise and untrustworthy garbage.
However, while the world churns, consider this angle. Put into the Middle East War/s this thought: China, China, and more China.
As the Middle East simmers, China maneuvers with icy calculation. The 2021 China-Iran 25-year pact, priced at $300–$400 billion, funnels Beijing’s cash into Iran’s infrastructure and oil fields, telecoms, and railways, with whispers of military ties. For the Chinese Communist Party, it is not charity; it is chess, played with cold precision.
Economically, China is raking in
profits by embracing Iran, one of the 21st century’s global outcast. Beijing has played this game before, buying cheap oil from sanctioned states like Russia, Myanmar, and Venezuela. China’s “teapot” refiners buy Iran’s blacklisted crude, while the big stateowned oil giants steer clear, wary of the US financial guillotine. Western sanctions, meant to punish, just fatten China’s wallet.
Iran is China’s Swiss Army knife: a discounted oil source, a wedge in Middle East rivalries and power plays, and a thorn to prod Western unity. If Trump wants Iranian regime change, a fractured Iran is a playground for China to swoop in, as it did after the US fled Afghanistan, snapping up deals while the West licked its wounds.
Worried about oil supply disruptions? No fears in China. Iran’s new bold talk about the Strait of Hormuz owes less to bravado and more to a quietly humming China/Iran rail line, a piece of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative puzzle. The first direct freight train from China to Iran arrived in Tehran on February 15, 2016, slashing transit times from Western China and giving Iran an overland oil route to dodge US naval chokeholds.
Forget chasing oracles; the real game is Beijing’s quiet empire-building. While we bicker over moral victories, China rewrites the Middle East’s map, one rail track and one oil deal at a time.
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.
Indonesia cuts outlay on giant free meals program to $21 billion
By Eko Listiyorini & Agnieszka de Sousa
INDONESIA has trimmed spending plans for what could still be the world’s second-most expensive free meals program, offering modest relief from fiscal pressures as President Prabowo Subianto advances a host of big-ticket projects.
Planned spending on the program, which targets reaching 83 million people in the coming months, is now forecast at 350 trillion rupiah ($21.4 billion) next year after officials revised ingredient cost estimates lower by a third, said Dadan Hindayana, head of the newly created National Nutrition Agency. That marks a 22 percent drop from spending plans earlier this year.
This year’s expenditures are expected to total about $7.5 billion, Hindayana said in a recent interview. That represents a 29 percent reduction from prior plans.
The recalibration of the five-daysa-week program, aimed at improv-
ing health outcomes for students, children under 5, and pregnant or breastfeeding women in the world’s fourth-most populous nation, could ease some investor concerns about Indonesia’s budget deficit outlook as the president presses for big projects early in his presidency. Prabowo has backed consumer stimulus measures, started rolling out tens of thousands of new community cooperatives and floated plans for an $80 billion sea wall off the north Java coast. Indonesia’s free meals initiative could be the world’s most expensive after the US, which budgeted $29.4 billion for meals in the school year ended 2023, according to the Global
Indonesia’s free meals initiative could be the world’s most expensive after the US, which budgeted $29.4 billion for meals in the school year ended 2023, according to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, a Seattle-based nonprofit that surveys such programs. The third most expensive program that year, at a little over $10 billion, was in France.
Child Nutrition Foundation, a Seattle-based nonprofit that surveys such programs. The third most expensive program that year, at a little over $10 billion, was in France. One challenge will be to meet demand for food inputs, with the meals initiative sourcing eggs, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit locally, Hindayana said. He added that milk demand will soon outstrip supply, and that the government plans to import as many as 1.5 million dairy
cows in the coming years—potentially tripling the nation’s existing herd—from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the US and European nations. “We need time to induce people or farmers and everyone to produce food locally,” he said. “Right now we still have no problem, but in the near future we need more supply.” Hindayana said officials are still seeking to roll out meals to all 83 million recipients by the end of the year—even though it will require a 16-fold increase from 5 million currently. The drive thus far has been complicated by instances of food poisoning and logistical challenges in a country of more than 17,000 islands. He said the imminent deployment of some 30,000 university graduates to serve as managers of kitchen units would help accelerate efforts. Private investment is another hurdle. The government is banking
John Mangun
Chinese firms boost exports to UK as Trump tariffs shift trade
By Tom Rees
CHINESE companies are ramping up shipments to Britain to levels not seen in years, a possible sign that the Asian factory powerhouse is finding export markets unimpeded by high tariffs like those President Donald Trump has imposed.
Official data from both nations point to a pick-up in the value of Chinese exports to the UK after the US president slapped hefty duties on products from the world’s secondlargest economy before recently reducing them. Exports of small parcels and electronics have jumped in a sign of possible rerouting to avoid the US tariffs.
The figures add to evidence that as Trump’s trade barriers reduce the US’s reliance on Chinese production, demand for those exports often shifts elsewhere rather than disappears.
While Beijing reached a deal with the Trump administration to alleviate the highest of Washington’s import taxes, that’s considered a fragile truce and US tariffs on Chinese goods are still elevated at 55 percent, more than double the rate imposed before Trump’s second term began Jan. 20.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said his department is monitoring for trade diversion effects and stands ready to use powers to prevent dumping on the UK market, such as cheap steel.
The effects of China flooding Britain with cheaper goods can offer both upsides and downsides: It can bring down inflation faster while also undercutting domestic manufacturers on pricing.
Goods imports from China climbed to £6 billion ($8.2 billion) in April, up 11 percent from a year earlier and the highest in more than two years, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics. Non-seasonally adjusted data from Beijing also suggests exports sent to the UK in May was the highest since mid-2022 and running above levels normally seen for this time of year.
Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, said the data could have “important consequences for inflation, with trade diversion into the UK likely to put downward pressure on core goods.”
“It seems natural to think that there will be some trade dumping across Europe, particularly across things like household goods, clothing goods, and leisure goods,” he added.
The effects of China flooding Britain with cheaper goods can offer both upsides and downsides: It can bring down inflation faster while also undercutting domestic manufacturers on pricing.
One possible sign of export diversion from the US is small parcels from Shein Group Ltd., Temu and other companies, with shipments of those to the UK and Europe rising rapidly in May after the US imposed some of its highest tariffs on imports f rom China.
Indonesia
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continued from A12
on the private sector to set up the bulk of some 32,000 kitchens to source foods and cook and distribute meals. Currently fewer than 1,900 are in operation.
That’s been a hard sell in the early going, with a single kitchen costing as much as $183,000 and needing perhaps two years to break even, said Aditya Perdana, a political lecturer at the University of Indonesia.
“People aren’t convinced with the investment model and prefer to just wait and see the progress,” he said.
He added that while there hasn’t been serious opposition to the free meals program from political parties or citizens, implementation remains a question. “You can be ambitious, but you must also be rational to avoid adding a burden to the state budget,” he said.
Analysts at Nomura Holdings Inc. last week reiterated their forecast for Indonesia to post a fiscal deficit this year of 2.9 percent of gross domestic product, higher than a budgeted
US sees limited damage to Iran atomic sites as UN watchdog urges inspections
ABy Tony Capaccio, Alex Wickham & Natalia Drozdiak
MERICAN airstrikes had only a limited impact on Iran’s nuclear program, according to early US intelligence findings, as the United Nations watchdog urged fresh inspection of the sites.
A report by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency said the bombing likely didn’t cripple the core components of Iran’s program below ground, including its centrifuges, according to people familiar with the assessments.
Exports from China of small packages to the UK were up 66 percent in May from a year earlier, hitting a record of almost $2 billion in the first five months of this year.
Chinese exporters of low-value items in small packages directly to consumers have been saying they will shift to other markets once the US imposed tariffs. That looks to have happened in May, with global exports basically unchanged despite a big drop in shipments to the US.
This also looks to be an issue for many European countries, with exports across the 27-nation trading bloc of small packages also picking up.
Another area where trade is realigning is in electronics, with Chinese exports of smartphones to the UK rising 26 percent in the first five months of this year, while the value of shipments to the US fell 18 percent. Shipments of computers to the UK increased 11 percent while slipping 25 percent to the US over the same period.
Bank of England rate-setters are monitoring the data closely to see whether trade diversion may help to bring down inflation faster in the UK.
In a rush to sell products once destined for the US, Chinese exporters may provide discounts when they divert the goods to other markets. That could help stem a recent pick-up in goods prices, which has helped to push overall UK inflation to 3.4 percent—its highest in more than a year.
However, external BOE rate-setter Catherine Mann recently cast doubt on this channel, saying that retailers may use the discounts to help them rebuild profit margins squeezed by inflation.
“The data shows tentative signs of Chinese exports diverting to the UK,” said Thomas Sampson, associate professor at London School of Economics and Political Science.
“The increases to date are relatively small and monthly trade data can be quite volatile. So it’s too soon to conclude that big changes are afoot.”
With assistance from James Mayger /Bloomberg
2.5 percent and close to the country’s legal limit of 3.0 percent. They cited weak economic growth and low commodity prices, along with plans to accelerate spending in the second half of the year, including for the free meals program.
They added that they expect the government to announce a wider fiscal deficit outlook in July, when finance officials typically submit a mid-year budget review to parliament. Ministries will also begin discussing their budgets and work plans for 2026 with lawmakers next month.
Prabowo has acknowledged challenges of the free meals drive while describing it as a long-term investment in Indonesia’s future.
“Many people already express much negativity surrounding the free nutritious meal program; they say it is an impossible program,” he said in a cabinet meeting last month, according to a statement. “We need to prove them wrong.”
“We will call it a success, God willing, in December 2025,” he said. With assistance from Grace Sihombing/Bloomberg
President Donald Trump had said the weekend strikes “totally obliterated” their targets, and dismissed reports casting doubt on the claim. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Tuesday that the intelligence finding of limited impact—reported earlier by CNN among others—was “flat-out wrong,” and “a clear attempt to demean President Trump.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, appeared on Fox News Tuesday night and called reports that the mission didn’t achieve its objective “completely preposterous.”
Trump brokered a ceasefire to end the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran that appeared to be holding late Tuesday, with no reported attacks for several hours. The president had earlier lashed out at both countries, and particularly Israel, over violations. “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS,” he posted. Both nations have said they’ll honor the truce provided their enemy did likewise.
The prospect of de-escalation between Israel and Iran has triggered a slump in oil prices—erasing almost
all of the increase since the conflict broke out.
Still, the ceasefire remains fragile as the focus shifts back to nuclear diplomacy. A stated goal of the American and Israeli strikes was to destroy Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, adding urgency to assessments of how much damage was done.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi told Fox News that the country’s atomic program “has been set back significantly,” adding that it’s hard to specify whether that means months or years.
Grossi said inspections should resume “as soon as possible” to determine what’s happened to Iran’s stocks of uranium enriched to 60 percent levels, not far short of the 90 percent required to build a bomb. The IAEA says it last verified those inventories a few days before Israel’s June 13 attack, and their whereabouts is now unknown.
The DIA’s report found considerable damage on the surface at the nuclear sites, with the US strikes likely to have set Iran’s program back by several months to as much as a year, according to a person briefed on the report’s contents said.
The findings comport with opensource satellite imagery that shows new craters, possible collapsed tunnel entrances and holes on top of a
President Donald Trump had said the weekend strikes “totally obliterated” their targets, and dismissed reports casting doubt on the claim. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Tuesday that the intelligence finding of limited impact—reported earlier by CNN among others—was “flat-out wrong,” and “a clear attempt to demean President Trump.”
mountain ridge but no conclusive evidence that the attack breached the most heavily protected underground facilities.
Before the strikes Trump had said Iran was “weeks away” from having a nuclear bomb, though some experts and US intelligence estimates said it could take months or years for the nation to develop a more carefully constructed weapon.
One American official, who asked not to be identified discussing private assessments, said Tuesday that US and Israeli strikes had set back Iran’s ability to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, but the US was still waiting on further intelligence to say anything more definitive. The DIA assessment has been shared with House and Senate leadership.
The US strikes involved dropping more than a dozen 30,000-pound so-called bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, their first use in combat, according to the Pentagon. Tomahawk missiles were also fired from an US Ohio-class sub -
Trump baffles with sudden U-turn on China buying Iranian oil
By Grant Smith, Ben Bartenstein, Daniel Flatley & Mia Gindis
PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to undermine years of US sanctions on Iran, giving its biggest customer China the green light to carry on buying its oil as he seeks to bolster a ceasefire with Israel.
The announcement on social media—which surprised both oil traders and officials in his own government—could undermine the central element of Washington’s Iran policy under multiple administrations, which have sought to cut the regime’s main source of revenue by making its top export off limits.
“China can now continue to purchase oil from Iran,” the president said on Truth Social, amid a flurry of posts demanding Israel and Iran cease hostilities.
The statement landed only hours after Trump declared the Middle East rivals had agreed to a ceasefire, which got off to a shaky start with early breaches by both sides. It follows massive US airstrikes on several of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities Sunday, an offensive aimed at stopping Tehran from obtaining an atomic weapon.
Oil prices extended losses after Trump’s comments, with West Texas Intermediate futures sinking 6 percent to settle near $64 a barrel in New York. The market had already plunged in recent days as the threat to oil flows from the Israel-Iran conflict faded.
US Treasury and State department officials handling Iranian oil sanctions were surprised by Trump’s statement and uncertain how to immediately interpret it, according to people familiar with the situation.
In the meantime, however, Treasury will continue to strictly enforce related sanctions, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified given the political and market sensitivity of the issue.
Treasury Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment, while the State Department referred questions to the White House.
A senior White House official later signaled that sanctions would remain, saying that the president continues to call on China and others to import American oil rather than Iranian, which would be a violation of US sanctions.
The official added that Trump’s post was only intended to highlight that his actions over the past several days ensured that the Straits of Hormuz was not impacted, which the official said would have been devastating for China.
Tammy Bruce, State Department spokeswoman, declined to provide further specifics during a briefing Tuesday. “I’m not going to get ahead of the president or try to guess what his strategy will be,” she said when asked about the comment. “Things happen quickly and I think we’ll find out sooner than later.”
The apparent shift also comes as the Trump administration seeks to hammer out a new trade framework with China and climb down from a tariff war that saw duties reach levels high enough to cut all trade between the world’s two biggest economies.
The comments appeared to be Trump “throwing a bone” to China and Iran for cooperating in their respective talks with the US, said Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert. “Most of us are thinking that it’s
marine in the Arabian Sea.
Before Israel’s attack on Iran, the US had held five rounds of negotiations with the Islamic Republic, seeking a diplomatic solution to concerns over its nuclear program—effectively a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned during his first term. An agreement hadn’t been reached, though a sixth round was scheduled before the Israeli missiles rendered it obsolete.
Tehran has insisted on its rights under international law to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. In calls with regional counterparts reported by state media on Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to reiterate that stance. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is solely pursuing its legitimate rights and has no ambitions beyond that,” he told UAE counterparts.
Since the war started, 606 people have been killed in Iran, according to the government. In Israel, emergency services have said 28 people were killed by Iranian missile strikes, including four on Tuesday morning just as the truce was to take effect.
Israeli authorities said Tuesday that wartime safety directives had been lifted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the nation that immediate threats from Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles had been eliminated—though his military chief Eyal Zamir cautioned that “the campaign against Iran is not over.” With assistance from Akayla Gardner, Maeve Sheehey, Erik Wasson and Courtney McBride/Bloomberg
“China can now continue to purchase oil from Iran,” the president said on Truth Social, amid a flurry of posts demanding Israel and Iran cease hostilities. The statement landed only hours after Trump declared the Middle East rivals had agreed to a ceasefire, which got off to a shaky start with early breaches by both sides.
just rhetoric at this point. But it definitely took me by surprise.”
Allowing a specific carve out for China may be an effort by Trump to send positive signals to Beijing as he seeks a new tariff deal, said a person familiar with the president’s thinking, also asking not to be identified.
While the potential shift may ease some legal risks around China’s buying of Iranian oil, it’s unclear what impact the change would have on actual flows.
China, the world’s biggest importer, gets about 14 percent of its crude from Iran. But that figure is likely higher as some imports are masked as shipments from Malaysia, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Oman, in order to circumvent US sanctions, which Beijing doesn’t recognize.
Iran’s oil, often purchased at a discount, is vital for China’s substantial private refining sector and a crucial source of fuel for its economy, which has struggled under the weight of a slumping property sector.
“The Iranian oil sanctions have been so significant for so long, but also with relatively muted enforcement,” said Daniel Tannebaum, former Treasury official and partner at Oliver Wyman. “It would be premature to think that this policy—which would benefit both China and Iran—would go ahead without a longer term view of ensuring
stability in the region, before just literally opening up the spigots to allow legal trade of Iranian oil by China.”
Trump as recently as last month insisted all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products “must stop, NOW!” and that buyers would be subject to secondary sanctions and prevented from engaging in any business with the US. That threat built on previous warnings from his administration. In February, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington intended to squeeze Iran’s oil exports to less than 10 percent of current levels, as it renewed the “maximum pressure” campaign deployed during Trump’s first term.
As part of that effort, the US has sanctioned hundreds of oil tankers for their role in handling Tehran’s petroleum and, absent an easing in those measures, some buyers may still take a more-cautious approach.
The White House has also targeted Chinese entities that bought Iranian oil, something that could make other buyers wary. Likewise, secondary sanctions on Iran’s sales remain in place and it’s not clear where the president’s remarks will leave those.
The sanctions were intended to force Iran to voluntarily give up uranium enrichment so that it would never be in a position to obtain a nuclear weapon.
It’s still unclear if US airstrikes over the weekend seriously damaged the country’s nuclear facilities, while the International Atomic Energy Agency still doesn’t know what happened to Tehran’s stockpile of 409 kilograms (902 pounds) of highly-enriched uranium—potentially enough for 10 nuclear warheads. With assistance from Alaric Nightingale, Julian Lee, Jordan Fabian, Alexander Pearson and Kate Sullivan/ Bloomberg
Counterfeiting of PHL bank notes up 18.4% in ’24: BSP
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
COUNTERFEITING of Philippine banknotes rose by double digits in 2024, despite the improved detection efforts of banks, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
In its annual report, the BSP said fake banknotes detected in 2024 increased by 18.4 percent year-onyear. This means there are 13.2 counterfeit banknotes detected in every one million genuine banknotes in circulation in 2024, from 12.2 counterfeit banknotes per million in 2023.
“Banks’ cash handlers are increasingly becoming adept in counterfeit detection, with a sustained increase in correctly classified submissions to the BSP and a decline in misclassified counterfeits,” the BSP said in its report.
Counterfeit coins, however, declined by 87.8 percent and are now rare in circulation. There were 891 fake BSP Coin Series in 2024, from 7,290 in the previous year.
The BSP said fake coins remained below one part per million of genuine coins in circulation, or for every one million genuine coins in circulation, there was less than one counterfeit coin found.
Region IV-A (Calabarzon) at 12.2 percent.
Shopping malls posted the highest share of counterfeit currency recoveries at 27.2 percent, followed by supermarkets at 25.9 percent and wet markets at 20.9 percent.
DEPDEV: 19TH CONGRESS PASSED 40 LEDAC BILLS, THE MOST EVER
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
AROUND 40 measures under the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) have been passed by the 19th Congress, the Department of Economic Planning and Development (Depdev) reported on Wednesday.
This marks the highest number of CLA measures enacted since Ledac’s establishment in 1992.
Earlier measures passed under the CLA include key economic reforms such as the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, the CREATE MORE Act and the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act.
Laws addressing social development and education, such as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act and the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, were also enacted.
Meanwhile, the BSP cited the polymer banknote for demonstrating “resilience” as only three low-quality counterfeits were recorded for the P1000 polymer banknote in 2024, from six in 2023.
The fake polymer banknotes were easily detectable by the public as these were printed on paper, with the transparent portions cut out and substituted with substandard plastic.
In 2024, there were 69,922 paper banknotes that were detected as counterfeit, from 59,074 in 2023. The most counterfeited paper banknote was the P1000 banknote (accounting for 59.9 percent of the total), followed by the P500 paper banknote at 19.3 percent.
This is due to the enhanced security features of the New Generation Currency (NGC), such as the micro-printed details and laserengraved designs, which curbed counterfeiting attempts, according to the BSP.
“Most counterfeit coins were remnants from previous years, primarily involving 5-piso coins from the BSP Coin Series,” the BSP added.
The fake banknotes were produced using inkjet printing at 79.7 percent, followed by laser printing at 12.6 percent and altered security threads at 7.6 percent.
In terms of location, the National Capital Region had the highest number of reported counterfeit cases, making up over half (52.2 percent) of all incidents nationwide. The second-highest was
Due to the increase in counterfeit banknotes, the BSP also recorded a significant rise in complaints related to currency integrity, totaling 103 incidents in 2024.
The central bank conducted five field or law enforcement operations, which resulted to arresting six suspects and filing 11 criminal charges.
These operations led to the seizure of 960 pieces of counterfeit P1000 enhanced NGC (eNGC) banknotes, 305 pieces of counterfeit P500 eNGC banknotes, one piece of counterfeit P100 eNGC banknote and 220 pieces of counterfeit 100-US dollar bills.
The BSP posted a 100-percent conviction rate in counterfeiting cases. Three criminal cases related to currency integrity concluded with all accused found guilty of counterfeiting or possessing counterfeit currencies.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the heightened synergy between the Senate and the House of Representatives,” said socioeconomic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Of the 40 measures, seven were ratified just before Congress adjourned sine die on June 11.
These are the Government Optimization Act; the bill liberalizing the lease of private lands by foreign investors; the E-Governance Act; the Konektadong Pinoy Act; the Virology Institute of the Philippines Act; the Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act; and the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act.
Once signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., these will be added to the 33 CLA measures already enacted since the start of the 19th Congress.
Agriculture-related legislation likewise advanced, including the New Agrarian Emancipation Act and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. Looking ahead to the 20th Congress, Depdev said they will continue pushing for remaining and new priority legislation, including the proposed Department of Water Resources Act and the National Land Use Act.
“As we look ahead to the 20th Congress, we are hopeful for continued momentum in advancing our legislative agenda,” Balisacan said. Ledac, established under Republic Act 7640, serves as the President’s advisory body on priority policy and legislative matters to support long-term national development. Depdev, formerly the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), has served as its principal secretariat since 1992.
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
WHILE renewable energy (RE) investments, particularly in offshore wind (OSW), are expensive, the Department of Energy (DOE) said these will result in significantly lower power rates once all the committed power projects under the green energy auction (GEA) come online.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara, during a forum on Wednesday, said power rates across all grids will “eventually” go down. “We asked the Iemop [Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines], the market operator, to do a simulation of prices of electricity until 2050 if all the green energy auctions number one to five come online. From 2026, Luzon, for example, on the average will be P4.95 per kilowatt hour (kWh). By 2050, it will be P0.28 per kWh. Visayas will go from about P5.28 per kWh in 2026 to P0.48 per kWh by 2050. And lastly, Mindanao is at P4.06 and it will go down to P0.36 per kWh by 2050,” said Guevara during the Media Kapihan on Energy Investment in the Philippines.
The DOE wants the GEA to be conducted on a yearly basis, in a bid to promote RE as the country’s primary source of energy. This auction is part of a broader strategy to encourage marketdriven investments and efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix to achieve the target of 35 percent RE share in the power generation mix by 2030, the DOE said.
So far, GEA 1 to 3 have already taken place.
“The reason I’m saying this is that, you know, even in the UK, when they started the offshore wind, the price per megawatt hour was 120 pounds. In four years’ time, that 120 pounds on track for difference went down to 42 pounds in just four years’ time.
“So the initial investment for new technologies might sound very high, but eventually it goes down. And we already asked for Iemop to do the simulation because we want to make sure that our consumers are protected,” added Guevara.
For instance, the planned 1,000-megawatt (MW) San Miguel Bay Offshore Wind Power Project of Danish firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) may cost $3 billion. CIP, through its local affiliate Copenhagen Infrastructure New Markets Fund Philippines Corp., was the first 100-percent foreign-owned entity awarded wind energy service contracts by the DOE in 2023. The DOE has scheduled on June 30 a dialogue with stakeholders in the OSW sector to discuss the upcoming GEA 5.
The dialogue will bring together representatives from OSW developers, industry associations, development partners, and key government agencies, including the Energy Regulatory Commission, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and relevant DOE bureaus and offices.
“This dialogue is critical in ensuring that all stakeholders have a collective understanding of the draft NOA and TOR and are able to contribute to its refinement,” said Guevara. “Through this engagement, we hope to address cross-cutting issues early on and set the stage for a smooth and well-coordinated auction process,” Guevara added. Meanwhile, the agency released on Wednesday the confirmed winners of the GEA3 auction.
The following bidders confirmed their acceptance by submitting written confirmations to the agency.
Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp. accepted the award for three hydroelectric power projects (HPPs), including two impounding HPPs, such as the 150 MW Gened 1 and 150 MW Gened 2 projects, and the 2,000 MW Maton Pumped-Storage HPP. All projects are located in Apayao. Coheco Badeo Corporation confirmed its acceptance for the 500 MW Kibungan Pumped-Storage HPP, located in Benguet.
Olympia Violago Water and Power, Inc. and Ahunan Power, Inc., both affiliates of Prime Infra, also accepted the award for their pumped-storage projects.
Olympia Violago will develop the 600 MW Wawa Pumped-Storage 1 HPP in Rodriguez, Rizal, while Ahunan Power will undertake the 1,400 MW Pakil Pumped-Storage HPP in Pakil, Laguna.
San Roque Hydropower, Inc., an affiliate of the San Miguel Group, likewise accepted the award for three pumped-storage projects, such as the 800 MW San Roque Lower East Pumped-Storage HPP and 800 MW San Roque West Pumped-Storage HPP, both located in Itogon, Benguet; and the 250 MW Aklan Pumped-Storage HPP in Malay, Aklan. Finally, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and its affiliate Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. accepted the award for two geothermal facilities: the 5.645 MW Bago Binary Geothermal Power Plant—Unit 1 in Bago City, Negros Occidental, and the 21.573 MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant—Unit 1 in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon. Following the acceptance of bid awards by the aforementioned Bidders, a total capacity of 6,677.218 MW is expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2035.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
NEARLY three dozen organizations—from industry associations to consumer advocacy groups—have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately sign the Konektadong Pinoy Bill into law, touting it as a landmark policy that could define his administration’s legacy in the digital age. In a joint statement, 35 signatories representing business groups, foreign chambers, tech alliances, public sector organizations, and civil society said the passage of the bill “will democratize internet access, which could potentially be
this administration’s greatest legacy.”
The bill, also known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, aims to break down long-standing barriers in the telecom sector by simplifying permits, promoting infrastructure sharing, and eliminating the franchise requirement for internet service providers.
According to the organizations, the proposed piece of legislation is “pro-Filipino, pro-consumer, and pro-competition,” and could address the “lack” of internet access in 19,000 baraNgays, which represent 45.5 percent of all barangays nationwide.
Among the 35 signatories are the
Employers Confederation of the Philippines, PHILEXPORT, Fintech Alliance.PH, and the Analytics & AI Association of the Philippines, as well as foreign business groups such as the American, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean Chambers of Commerce.
Tech-focused organizations like MozillaPH, the Internet Society Philippines, and Asia Open RAN Academy have also joined the call, along with local government stakeholders, digital rights advocates, and grassroots groups like the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid. The measure has also garnered strong backing from government
agencies such as the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), among others. The bill’s supporters said Konektadong Pinoy aims to “accelerate the deployment of digital infrastructure by streamlining the
and
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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Grab vows to shield drivers, patrons from high oil prices
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
GRAB Philippines said it is rolling out a “multi-pronged transport resilience program” aimed at shielding both its driver-partners and passengers from the impact of surging fuel prices.
Amid persistent increases in fuel costs, Grab Managing Director Ronald Roda said the superapp is prioritizing “immediate, targeted support” for its driverand rider-partners nationwide.
The initiative includes a new Fuel Resilience Package that offers exclusive discounts through fuel station partners, along with enhanced in-app features that promote fuel efficiency and better trip-matching with the optimized GrabMaps.
“We recognize the growing pressure on our partners due to rising fuel costs,” Roda said. “Our priority is to provide immediate, targeted support, while also contributing to long-term efforts to
make Philippine transport more resilient, stable, and less vulnerable to external volatility.”
Grab is also in talks with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to help facilitate targeted fuel subsidies for transport network vehicle service (TNVS) and motorcycle taxi drivers, potentially leveraging GrabPay as a disbursement mechanism.
On the consumer side, Grab aims to cushion fare pressures by maintaining affordable offerings, such as GrabCar Saver and GrabUnlimited, a subscription program that gives users access to ride and delivery discounts.
“Affordability remains a core principle for us,” Roda noted. “By
supporting our partners through the rising cost of fuel, we’re also protecting our passengers - ensuring that the cost of transport remains accessible, especially for everyday Filipinos.”
Beyond short-term interventions, the company said it is accelerating its shift to electric vehicles (EVs). It recently launched the GrabTaxi Electric fleet in Metro Manila, with plans to scale up operations nationwide.
The company is working with EV manufacturers and government agencies to fast-track its e-mobility roadmap, which Roda described as a complementary strategy—not a replacement— for traditional fuel partners.
“This is about future-proofing Philippine mobility. We’ve long relied on our fuel and energy partners to keep the country moving. As global conditions grow more
complex, we also see the value in broadening our approach – combining traditional and alternative solutions to provide drivers and commuters with greater longterm stability.”
Fuel prices are up again this week, with oil firms raising rates in two rounds—P3.50 per liter for gasoline, P5.20 for diesel, and P4.80 for kerosene. The hikes took effect on June 24 and will continue on June 26.
As of June 23, gasoline averages P55.90 per liter, diesel at P53.40, and kerosene at P70.22. The increase is largely driven by speculative trading tied to global uncertainties, not supply shortages, according to the Department of Energy.
“We may not control the price of oil, but we can shape how we respond—as a platform, an industry, and a nation,” Roda said.
Pop Mart seeks to reach collectors in SE Asia via LazMall
POP Mart, a global designer toy brand, is tapping Lazada’s LazMall to reach its fans across Southeast Asia including Filipinos fans amid the region’s blind box obsession.
Citing data from Verified Market Research, Pop Mart noted that the global blind box collectibles market is set to hit $38.4 billion by 2031—a boom fueled by Gen Z and millennial collectors seeking “rarity, emotional connection, and a bit of playful nostalgia.” Data showed that the global blind box toys market was valued at $16.96 billion in 2024 and is set to grow at a 9.49-percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) until 2031.
With LazMall, Pop Mart said it is connecting with fans in a “more direct and hyper-personalized way.”
The global designer toy brand, best known for turning characters like Molly, Dimoo, and Skullpanda, into “household names,” is reaching Southeast Asian fans through surprise drops, unboxings and community events.
“Whether it’s the thrill of the mystery or the joy of finding your favorite character, our collectors are looking for more than just toys-they’re seeking stories,” said a Pop Mart spokesperson. “With Lazada,
we’re able to deliver those stories in a more seamless way.”
As to the products set to be launched in June, Pop Mart said it will release two globally limited figures which are Molly and Zsiga, adding that it will unveil the secondgeneration Skullpanda plush toys.
“These products will be available on Lazada’s LazMall from June 2025 onwards. Pop Mart will also increase its stock levels and scale up visibility on its LazMall storefront to meet fan demand,” according to a joint statement issued by Lazada and Pop Mart on Wednesday.
According to e-commerce platform Lazada, collectors would benefit from “prompt deliveries,” with 85 percent of orders in Manila and other key Southeast Asian cities guaranteed to arrive within 48 hours upon order confirmation.
“Collectibles are also delivered in custom shock-proof packaging to ensure they arrive in pristine, collectorworthy conditions, and the parcel can be tracked in real time on the Lazada app.” Lazada said Pop Mart collectibles are not just toys. “They are a lifestyle and the epitome of luxury and exclusivity that has been fueled by the energy of its fans and creators.” Andrea E. San Juan
Banking&Finance
Resilience in Hybrid Banking
6.7 percent. Indeed, although the Top 10 thrift banks consist of 98.3 percent of total TB assets, other savings and development banks are adequately capitalized and resourced.
GSIS disburses ₧413B in loans, weighs impact of current risks
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) disbursed a total of P413.4 billion in loans to state workers through its multipurpose loan programs.
P847.7 billion or almost 85 percent of TB resources are in the hands of the top five institutions: PSBank (PSB); China Bank Savings (CBS); Philippine Business Bank (PBB); City Savings Bank (CSB); and now, BDO Network Bank (BDONB). PBB is the only stand-alone TB of the lot. But it is joined by four other stand-alone banks in the “Next 5,” which have combined assets of P233.5 billion, or 23.3 percent of total TB resources. As the 38-member strong Chamber of Thrift Banks celebrates its 51st anniversary this July, it is adopting the theme “Resilience in Hybrid Banking.”
The thrift bank sector is nothing if not resilient. These banks have weathered the following: the oil crisis of the 1970s; the debt crisis of the 1980s; the 1997 Asian financial crisis; the global 2008 financial crisis; and, the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown of the early 2020s. What’s behind these TBs’ resilience?
For one, their stability: the average age of twenty thrift banks surveyed is 38.4 years. And the number of years’ experience of their respective heads has averaged 32.1 years. For another, their solid capital and deposit bases: total capital reached 174 billion, up by 10.7 percent from the prior year. Capital adequacy ratio is a solid 17.9 percent, well above the 10.0 percent regulatory requirement. Thrift banks big and small contributed to total deposit growth by 4.7 percent to P826.2 billion by end-2024 from P789.3 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, their non-performing loan ratio remained at a manageable
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
ENATE President Francis Joseph
S“Chiz” G. Escudero last Wednesday bared plans to propose in the 20th Congress a measure tweaking the Train law and related statutes to give government flexibility to reckon with crises such as the current surge in oil prices owing to the raging conflict in the Middle East.
Fielding reporters’ questions at a news conference, Escudero said he wants to give the Department of Finance (DOF) “standby authority” to reduce value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products in case a similar situation takes place, “similar to what is currently happening today.”
Thrift banks are also proving to be responsive to customers’ heightened requirements and demands by embracing technology and adapting to the rapidly changing financial and regulatory landscape. Most every TB is at one stage or another of its own digital banking transformation, albeit in a hybrid model. True to its Goldilocks positioning, TBs are combining their traditional brick and mortar networks—the better for their presence in and service deliveries to local communities nationwide—with the anytime, anywhere promise of mobile and online banking, particularly in the payments space. 16 of the 20 thrift banks surveyed have or are about to have such platforms or channels. As such, more and more of the unbanked and under-served may be integrated into the financial system in keeping with the central bank’s next phase of the country’s digital journey under the “2024-2026 Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap.” More and more Filipinos can have their financial meets met through their preferred or most convenient mode. And for financial advisory, negotiations, and security and familiarity, one’s friendly neighborhood branch is just around the corner. Here’s to the best of both worlds— the physical and the digital—which is what our ever resilient thrift banks are all about or growing into! 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 (BMAP). He can be reached via erichmontelibano@gmail.com. The writer’s views and his written piece do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror CSBank and the BMAP.
During a stakeholders’ dialogue last Wednesday, GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said the loans disbursed cover 1.9 million of approved loan applications.
Under the GSIS’s flagship multipurpose loan program, a total of P401.9 billion has been released as of June 23, since the program’s launch in September 2023.
The program has approved 1,437,060 loan applications, allowing members to borrow up to P5 million or 14-times their monthly salary. This can be repaid for up to 15
By VG Cabuag @villygc
THE Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) commenced its public offer for its P3-billion fixed rate peso-denominated “Series F Asean Sustainability Bonds” as it reported an increase in consumer loans.
The debt paper due 2028 will be drawn from the bank’s P200-billion bond and commercial paper program.
According to the lender, the securities will be offered with a minimum issue size of P3 billion with an option to upsize, at a fixed interest rate of 6 percent per annum with a tenor of two years and six months from issue date. The bonds have a minimum investment amount of P100,000 each and in increments of P10,000 thereafter.
The funds to be raised from the offer will be used to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, the eligible green and social categories as described in the
the additional burden.
years, depending on their premium contributions.
Another lending program called “Ginhawa Lite,” meanwhile, has disbursed P12.247 billion to 408,656 members since its rollout in October 2024.
The program offers loans—ranging from P5,000 to P50,000—for smaller or emergency financial needs of government employees. The loan is payable in six months to 24 months, with interest rates ranging from 6 percent to 7 percent—the same rates offered under the “Ginhawa Flex.”
bank’s sustainable finance framework.
On June 10, RCBC disclosed having received confirmation from the Securities and Exchange Commission that the bonds comply with the “Asean Sustainability Bond (ASB) Standards” and the “Guidelines on the Issuance of Sustainability Bonds under the ASB Standards in the Philippines and qualify as an ASB issuance. The public offer will run through July 9, unless shortened or extended by the bank in coordination with the joint lead arrangers and bookrunners and the selling agents.
Issuance, settlement and listing of the bonds at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. will be on July 17. Standard Chartered Bank and RCBC Capital Corp. were picked as the joint lead arrangers and bookrunners for this transaction, as well as its selling agents.
Loans
THE Yuchengco-led lender also reported
Online
ACCORDING to Veloso, almost all, or 99 percent, of the transactions with the GSIS were done online through the agency’s mobile app, in-app facial recognition (for pensioners), and digital hubs in branch offices.
Moreover, GSIS can buy out expensive loans from members under the “Ginhawa Max Loan Buyout.”
This program has an interest of 6 percent to 7 percent, with no service fee and repayment terms of up to 10 years. Borrowers may take up to P5 million or 19-times their salary, whichever is lower, based on their paid premiums.
In addition, Veloso said more than 4,000 families secures their homes through the GSIS’s “lease-with-option-to-buy” program. Meanwhile, he said nearly 2,000 borrowers retained their homes through the agency’s “housing accounts remedial and condonation” program.
The GSIS also expanded its insurance coverage to more than 130,000 public school buildings through its “National Indemnity Insurance”
a 39-percent year-on-year growth in its consumer loan portfolio in the first quarter of the year, with the auto and housing segment leading the charge.
Auto loan portfolio reached P69 billion in March, up by P22 billion, while housing loans climbed to nearly P109 billion, according to the bank. Ramil M. De Villa, RCBC consumer lending group head, said the lender has sustained strong double-digit growth in consumer loans, propelled by datadriven strategies and continuous enhancement to the experience of all its stakeholders–including the loan borrowers, property developers, and auto dealers and manufacturers.
“Partnership with leading automotive brands and property developers boosted our new loans growth. Likewise, data science enabled targeted cross-selling to the bank’s existing high net worth and affluent clients,” De Villa said.
program. According to Veloso, GSIS uses its earnings from various investments to fund all these loans and other benefits for its members.
Reassessment
VELOSO told reporters on the sidelines that the GSIS is reassessing its investment portfolio amid the ongoing geopolitical conflicts abroad.
“If there is uncertainty, others would like to get their cash and sell some of their assets. That’s what we would like to take a look at. What we should see here is: Is this temporary? That’s what we are researching,” Veloso said.
Despite the
The
Shift
THE partnership with Suzuki Philippines Inc., for example, resulted in a three-fold increase in new loans this year, the bank said. RCBC also secured a partnership with Nissan Philippines Inc. to become its preferred financing provider for Nissan vehicles, enabling customers to avail of special deals with fast-tracked loan approval. The country’s fifth-largest lender expects the momentum to continue, driven by strong fundamentals in the auto and housing markets. The country’s automotive sector alone is projected to sell over 512,000 units this year, with increasing consumer interest in electric vehicles.
“We are tapping into trends like green mobility and regional growth. More Filipinos are seriously considering EVs, not just for savings, but for sustainability. This shift, along with continued infrastructure improvements, is shaping the future of auto financing,” de Villa said.
Elevated
Adjustment
THE Philippines is set to finalize a customs cooperation agreement with Hong Kong SAR to streamline trade and prevent the entry of smuggled and illicit goods, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
A statement issued by the DOF last Wednesday quoted Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto as saying he has prodded the completion of the agreement. Recto expressed gratitude to Hong Kong officials “for collaborating with us on this very important matter.” According to the DOF chief, the “arrangement is necessary to ensure that both our Customs Administrations are functioning together in the most efficient way possible.”
“We owe it to our nations to ensure that what crosses our borders is legitimate, safe, and lawful,” Recto added.
The preliminary agreement seeks to
DOE Officer-in-Charge Sharon S. Garin said that suspending, lowering or even abolishing fuel taxes would have to be an act of Congress. “An amendment to the current law is needed for that,” Garin said. This is because the 12-percent VAT and excise tax on petroleum products are imposed by law and must be complied with, she explained.
JUSTIFYING his stand to grant DOF standby authority, Escudero gave an example of one scenario where “if the oil price crosses $100 per barrel, the government will benefit from a windfall even as the public groans under
“I have always been in favor” of tweaking petroleum taxes, Escudero said, a day after the Department of Energy said the ball is now in the court of Congress to suspend the VAT and excise tax on petroleum products amid growing calls from groups seeking relief from high pump prices as the Israel-Iran war continues.
strengthen trade facilitation between the two countries while protecting consumers from risks of smuggled goods. Under the draft arrangement, the exchange of information and intelligence between the Customs Administrations of the Philippines and Hong Kong aims to ensure the proper application of customs laws and regulations. The agreement also covers the prevention, investigation and combating of Customs offenses involved in smuggling. It further supports efforts to secure the international trade supply chain from risks ranging from economic sabotage posed by illicit goods.
The DOF said the draft agreement was the result of extensive discussions between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and its Hong Kong counterparts. This is in response to “heightened glob -
“Isn’t this unjust?” he asked, to have the government reap bigger profits at the expense of people.
As to the adjustment of excise tax rates on petroleum, he noted that this provision under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law was just for two years, which has ended and, therefore, there is need to grant new authority to adjust the excise rates.
“We should put in place a mechanism to deal with new developments” like this oil price surge as a result of the Middle East war,” Escudero said.
Last Tuesday, the DOE announced preparations are now under way for the swift rollout of the fuel subsidies for public transports, farmers and fishermen in case the situation in the Arabian Peninsula takes a turn for the worst.
al concern over supply chain security and the growing sophistication of cross-border smuggling operations,” the DOF added.
As of the first quarter of the year, the BOC-Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) seized P25.581 billion worth of smuggled goods through conducting 243 seizure operations.
Last year, the BOC seized a total of P84.356 billion worth of smuggled commodities, with agricultural products topping the most seizures.
In terms of estimated value, counterfeit goods topped the list with P34.698 billion, followed by various items at P33.443 billion.
The Philippines maintains strong economic ties with Hong Kong was the Philippines’s sixth-largest trading partner in 2024, with total merchandise trade amounting to $10.85 billion. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
YIELDS of the double-tenor Treasury bonds (T-bonds) rose last Wednesday as investors asked for higher yields despite the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
The Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) auction committee only generated P35.076 billion, out of the P40 billion offering, by making a full award of the 3-year T-bonds while partially awarding the 25-year T-bonds. Broken down, the committee raised the full P20 billion, as tenders reached P40.681 billion or twice oversubscribed the programmed offering.
The 3-year T-bonds fetched a higher average yield at 5.760 percent, up by 5.7 basis points from the previous yield of 5.703 percent recorded last May 14. Yields of the 3-year government securities ranged from a low of 5.735 percent to a high of 5.770 percent. However, the yield was lower by 8.9 basis points than the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (BVAL) Service Reference Rate for the 3-year tenor of 5.792 percent. Similarly, this is down by 5.9 basis points from the BVAL rate for the security itself at 5.762 percent. The 3-year T-bonds have a remaining term of two years and eight months and a coupon rate of 3.625 percent.
The auction committee failed to raise the planned offering of P20 billion as it only accepted P15.076 billion.
ACCORDING to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), the T-bonds yields increased as long-term US Treasury yields and other global bond yields remain elevated. The yields remain at their levels amid concerns of budget deficits and debt concerns due to US President Donald Trump’s tax plans, Ricafort said. The shaky truce between Israel and Iran led to global crude oil prices declining to new twoweek lows or since June 11, 2025, “erasing all of the increase in global crude oil prices” since the war between the two countries began, the RCBC executive further said.
Ricafort pointed to the benchmark Nymex crude oil, priced at $65 levels, which is back to the levels before the war intensified and sharply lower or better compared to the intraday high of $78.40 on June 23, 2025. He explained that the decline is a “positive development, as this could lead to some rollback in local fuel pump prices after the recent increase” and would “help ease the recent pressure on imported prices and overall inflation.”
Subdued
MEANWHILE, the average yield of the 25-year re-issued T-bonds spiked to 6.649 percent, 17.3 basis points higher than the 6.476 percent posted in the previous
auction last March 25.
Had the auction committee awarded in full the securities, the average yield would have gone up to 6.600 percent. The lowest bid yield was at 6.700 percent.
Tenders for the tenor were subdued at P22.605 billion, or 1.1 times the programmed amount.
The average yield is marginally higher by 0.1 basis points than the 25-year PHP BVAL yield of 6.648 percent. However, the average yield is slightly higher by 0.2 basis points than the BVAL Reference rate for the security at 6.629 percent.
The remaining term of the 25-year T-bonds is 24 years and 6 months, with a coupon rate of 6.375 percent.
Short THIS June, the Treasury raised a total of P127.679 billion from Treasury bonds, short of the P130-billion program.
The government has borrowed P1.135 trillion as of endApril, which already accounts for 44.59 percent of its borrowing program for this year set at P2.545 trillion. Domestic borrowings will amount to P2.037 trillion, while P507.408 billion will be raised from external sources.
The government’s outstanding debt reached a new record level of P16.752 trillion as of end-April, 11.56 percent higher year-on-year from P15.017 trillion. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Group: Bridge repair to hike cost of local pork
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE repair and rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge, as well as existing load restrictions, are disrupting the delivery of swine across regions and could put pressure on the retail prices of pork, a group of hog farmers said Wednesday.
National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NatFed) President Chester Warren Yeo Tan said the pig shipments from Visayas and Mindanao would now have to be loaded in three roll-on, roll-off (Roro) vessels instead of two.
Since May, only vehicles that weigh below 3 metric tons (MT) are allowed to pass through the bridge.
He noted that this would have an additional cost of P40,000
to P60,000, which translates to around P4 to P6 per kilo in terms of liveweight prices. Currently, farmgate quotations range from P230 to P250 per kilo.
The NatFed President said producers are absorbing the additional costs to prevent an uptick in retail prices of pork.
However, he noted that some hog raisers are bearing the brunt of the adverse impact of
the bridge rehabilitation.
“For now, our producers can still absorb [the additional costs], but our patience is not that long,” Tan told reporters on the sidelines of the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines 2025 in Pasay City on Wednesday. “Mindanao [hog] producers will suffer more because of this.”
With this, Tan said the industry needs the assistance of
the Department of Agriculture to help cushion the impact of the bridge repairs on local hog producers.
“We want to seek the help of the DA on what the best course of action is to maintain [current] prices.”
President Marcos recently ordered government officials to increase the load limits of the
Major rice pests could infest farms till end-June–PhilRice
THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) warned that four major pests could infest rice plantations until end-June.
The agency attached to the Department of Agriculture urged farmers in rice-producing regions, such as Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the Bicol Region, to intensify their monitoring for signs of rodents, rice stem borers, brown planthoppers, and rice bugs.
Central Luzon remained the country’s top rice-producing region in 2024, based on Philippine Statistics Authority data.
If left unmanaged, PhilRice said these pests could lead to “significant” yield losses.
“Regular field monitoring and timely pest control are crucial at this point in the season. Even minimal negligence can escalate into severe infestations that compromise yield and quality,” Leonardo Marquez, PhilRice crop protection expert, said in a statement.
Marquez noted that rodents are the leading threat due to their “destructive feeding behavior” throughout the crop’s growth stages, urging farmers to remain vigilant.
“A single rodent can damage
up to 300 tillers in one night, potentially causing yield losses of up to 90 percent in heavily infested fields. Farmers are advised to look for burrows, footprints, and chewed tillers, and to destroy nests on sight.”
Meanwhile, the agency said, rice stem borers remain a persistent problem. This pest bores into stems, causing “deadheart” and “whitehead” symptoms that could reduce grain development.
Brown planthoppers, which thrive in nitrogen-rich environments, suck sap from plants and cause hopperburn, leading to premature death. Rice bugs target maturing grains, which
San Juanico Bridge to 12 MT by December.
He warned that the officials involved in the project may face dismissal from service if they fail to raise the load limit by then.
The government had been forced to scrap the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork as the “severe shortage” in swine
results in empty or discolored kernels.
Marquez stressed the importance of integrated pest management strategies, including community-wide synchronized planting, controlled nitrogen use, and crop rotation.
He also warned farmers to be cautious of overusing insecticides, since improper application can lead to pesticide resistance and disrupt populations of beneficial insects.
“Farmers are encouraged to coordinate with their local agriculture offices and consult extension workers for pest surveillance and management support.” Ada Pelonia
Dairy exporters told to comply with UAE labeling policy
PBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
HILIPPINE exporters of
dairy products, cheese, and dairy-containing beverages to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are advised to comply with the new mandatory labeling scheme implemented by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC).
“The new labeling requirement applies to selected food and beverage categories, including cheese, milk-based drinks, flavored beverages, fat emulsions, and foods for children, that are sold in Abu Dhabi, UAE,” an advisory published on the website of the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) noted. Under the new regulation, products must display the Nutri-Mark,
a front-of-pack label that indicates the product’s nutritional rating calculated per 100 ml.
With this new scheme, the responsibility of ensuring proper labelling is with the food business operator under whose name the product is marketed in Abu Dhabi.
If the operator is not based in the said Emirate, the importer based in Abu Dhabi will assume responsibility.
“Philippine exporters are advised to coordinate with their UAE importers to ensure proper implementation of the Nutri-Mark label.
Exporters are also encouraged to review their product formulations and packaging to comply with UAE nutritional scoring standards,” the DTI-EMB advisory read.
The Abu Dhabi QCC, the government entity mandated to “raise the quality” of Abu Dhabi’s prod -
ucts traded locally, said the Nutrition Mark is a “groundbreaking initiative designed to empower consumers and promote healthier eating habits.”
“This innovative labeling system provides a simple, clear, and objective way for consumers to assess the nutritional quality of packaged foods as well as some of the non-packaged food types,” the Abu Dhabi Guideline for the use of the Nutrition Mark noted.
By using a color-coded rating system, the Nutrition Mark makes it easy for consumers to make informed choices and choose healthier options for themselves and their families, the Abu Dhabi government entity said.
Abu Dhabi QCC said the Nutrition Mark takes into consideration both unfavorable food composition elements for which
consumption should be limited (energy, total sugars, Saturated Fatty Acids – SFA, and sodium) and favorable elements for which consumption should be encouraged (fibers, protein, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and olive, rapeseed and nuts oils).
“QCC in collaboration with various government entities is trying to contribute to Abu Dhabi government goal of becoming the first global reference case for halting and reversing an obesity epidemic through addressing the issues related to Food production.”
Based on international trade data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines’s exports to the UAE amounted to $390.40 million in 2024 while it imported $1.44 billion from the Middle Eastern country in the same year.
‘CCAP expertise key to expanding cold chain network’
THE Department of Agricul-
ture (DA) urged the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) to help the government fast-track the development of cold storage infrastructure in the country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said CCAP’s technical expertise and support are crucial in turning the government’s farm infrastructure program into reality.
“It is a foundation for transforming the agricultural landscape, minimizing post-harvest losses, increasing incomes for farmers and fisherfolk, and delivering safe, highquality food to Filipino families,” he said during the CCAP’s recent annual membership meeting.
The DA chief noted that the agency is accelerating its cold chain expansion through the rollout of modular and mega cold storage warehouses (CSWs) in major agricultural regions.
“These facilities are designed to be scalable and adaptable, with modular features that accommodate local conditions while maintaining operational efficiency and integrity.”
He added that mega CSWs are being developed to handle largevolume storage, with its capacity of 1,700 to over 8,000 pallet positions. This will serve critical production and distribution hubs nationwide.
The infrastructure will also include refrigerated vans, dryers,
tramlines, packaging equipment, and ice plants to support a comprehensive logistics ecosystem, the DA said.
The DA has allocated P3 billion to build 99 cold storage facilities this year to extend the shelf life of farm products.
These refrigerated warehouses will feature hybrid systems, which are designed to operate on both renewable energy sources and electricity from the main power grid.
“This would ensure efficient and environmentally sustainable operations, particularly in remote or underserved agricultural areas.”
However, the DA chief said that apart from the cold chain program, a network of facilities would also
enhance regional aggregation. Such a network would streamline distribution and improve market access, connecting producers directly with consumers to stabilize supply and lower food prices.
“We also recognize that cold storage infrastructure is only one part of the equation,” he said. “The development of food hubs and agrifisheries ports—while more extensive in scope and requiring longer timelines—remains a critical longterm priority.”
The DA chief said these investments will empower rural communities, promoting price stability and reducing food waste, while building a “more resilient and climate-smart agri-food system.” Ada Pelonia
production created by African swine fever (ASF) made it difficult for retailers to comply with the scheme.
Aside from the supply shortfall, the Meat Importers and Traders Association noted that the threat of Washington’s new tariff policy is also putting pressure on local pork prices.
The DA noted that the Philippines continues to grapple with the lingering effects of ASF, which slashed hog inventory to 8 million heads from nearly 14 million before the disease struck local farms.
The agency had said it will roll out a P1-billion swine repopulation program to prop up hog supply and ease pork prices, which are still at record highs. Under this initiative, the agency will distribute around 30,000 gilts to large farms. Such farms will then repay the government by providing reared pigs for distribution to backyard raisers.
New Zealand farmers lack succession plan as debt spooks children
NEW ZEALAND farmers are finding it harder to interest their children in taking over the family business amid high costs and the waning lure of living on the land, according to a new report.
Just 33 percent of farmers and orchard growers have a plan in place to hand over their properties to new operators when they retire, the report from Rabobank New Zealand showed Tuesday. A further 17 percent have talked about succession but there is nothing documented, while 50 percent have no plan at all, the report said.
Farms in New Zealand traditionally are inherited by the next generation but many farmers are finding their sons and daughters are less interested in the occupation or are spooked by the amount of debt required. Failure to have a succession plan may lead to farms being turned into forest plantations or other alternative uses, reducing production in an industry that is seen as the backbone of New Zealand’s export-led economy.
“The traditional model of passing the farm to the next generation is under pressure,” Rabobank New Zealand Chief Executive Todd Charteris said. “Taking over the family farm involves committing to decades of indebtedness in a sector that is subject to volatility and uncertain returns. It remains a big call for a 20-something and their bank.”
Rabobank estimates some 17,300 owners—about half of the national total—will reach the retirement age of 65 over the next decade, meaning about NZ$150 billion ($90 billion) of rural assets will need to find new owners over that period.
The report, prepared with Waikato University, includes a sample survey of 450 farms. One third of respondents said high entry prices and financial constraints were the most challenging issue for succession, while 22 percent said the industry wasn’t as attractive to the next generation.
The drift out of the industry is evident with fewer than 20 percent of all owners aged under 40 in 2023, down from more than 30 percent in 1996, while nearly 25 percent are aged 65 or older.
The alternative to family inheritance is usually outright sale to a new entrant to the industry, often an existing employee, or to neighbors, according to the report.
There are also more sales to developers proposing alternative land use, such as forestry or residential development if the farm or orchard is near an urban area.
Overall the total area of New Zealand farms has fallen 15 percent in the 10 years to 2023, according to the report.
Bloomberg News
A
THIS BusinessMirror file photo shows pig heads hanging at a market stall in Marikina City. NONOY LACZA
FARMER lays out feed for dairy cows at a farm in Hamilton, New Zealand. BRENDON O'HAGAN/BLOOMBERG
Amb. Locsin headlines Phil.-UK investment conference in London
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) and HSBC will jointly host the Philippine-British Investment Forum in London to highlight growing two-way ties and local investment prospects.
Taking advantage of the country’s improving trade with the United Kingdom—which currently stands at £3.0 billion—the event on June 27 will highlight macroeconomic updates as well as investment opportunities in the PEZA zone and tax incentives, among others.
Ambassador of the Philippines to the UK
Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Chief Tax Advisor Raymond Abrea of the Asian Consulting Group, Chief Operating Officer Celeste Ilagan of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Country Head of Global Trade Solutions Stephanie Betant of HSBC UK, will serve as panel speakers.
The economic zone poses investment opportunities that mark the Philippines as an investment destination in the region. According to PEZA, figures from 1995 to 2024 have significantly grown, courtesy of 89 British-registered business enterprises (RBEs) with a cumulative investment of P34.036 billion.
Director-General Tereso O. Panga of PEZA previously noted that “our exporters located in the PEZA
economic zones will greatly benefit from the Developing Countries Trading Scheme [or DCTS]... More tax incentives from PEZA’s end will strengthen the posture of our exporting companies focused on the UK and EU markets.”
Executive Chairman Chris Nelson of BCCP noted in a recent interview that “the PEZA Forum is being hosted at HSBC’s office in Canary Wharf, and I know they are also looking to work with other people and other opportunities.”
Nelson shared that “one of our mantras at the British Chamber is: ‘Please come and invest in the Philippines. It’s a very important market.’”
The Philippines recorded a 5.4-percent growth in gross domestic product or GDP in the first quarter of 2025, retaining its status as the region’s second-fastest growing economy despite a modest slowdown. Its inflation rate eased at 1.3 percent in May, which marked the lowest in six years and signaled a more favorable monetary policy.
Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also hinted at the chance of two interest rate cuts, further boosting foreign investor
confidence in the country.
As a testament to the growing local British business community, HSBC Philippines recently marked its 150th anniversary. Its CEO and Head of Banking Sandeep Uppal confirmed that “we continue to have a meaningful and very beneficial partnership with the British government, as we
support the growth of the Philippine economy and play our part in nation-building.”
Uppal also thanked stakeholders for their unwavering support and for being part of their journey: “Together, we can build a legacy of service and bountiful opportunities in the Philippines.”
Stillness in chaos: International Yoga Day finds relevance in times of global unrest
By Charo Logarta
THOUSANDS of yoga practitioners around the world, including here in the country, took part in large-scale gatherings to mark International Day of Yoga (IDY). With the theme “One Earth, One Health,” this year’s Yoga Day reminded that calm and harmony can be found despite challenges posed by escalating geopolitical tensions, socioeconomic dysfunction, stress and mental-health issues.
Indian missions and posts around the world hosted IDY celebrations with a series of events spread from June 20 to 22. In the Philippines, the Embassy of India celebrated with close to 400 individuals who participated in yoga and meditation sessions at the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Sports Complex in Las Piñas last June 21.
Ambassador Shri Harsh Kumar Jain of India, UN Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alterna-
tive Health Care Director-General Ma Teresa Iñigo; UPHSD president Dr. Anthony Tamayo, as well as actress-yoga instructor and wellness advocate Maxene Magalona led the event.
“Yoga teaches us mindfulness— being aware [of] yourself, your surroundings, and brings us in harmony with nature and society,” said Jain.
“At a time when stress and mental issues are on the rise, yoga offers us a time-tested path towards peace.”
The envoy reminded: “If every-
body follows yoga, there would be peace in the country, peace in the world.”
Originating in India more than 5,000 years ago, yoga was developed from ancient Indian philosophies to achieve harmony, balance and mindfulness. In 2014, a resolution endorsed by a record 175 UN member-states proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, in recognition of its universal importance and holistic approach to health and well-being.
“It’s not for nothing that the UN has recognized as an important element in our lives,” Peral shared. “Yoga helps us bring unity, helps us reconnect with ourselves and with others. In times like this of fragmentation, or wars, destruction, doubt and divisions, it’s a call for breathing in, breathing out, and being more aware of our surroundings and giving a hand to others.”
IDY 2025 coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and India.
In the United States, 10,000 people gathered at Times Square in New York for day-long yoga sessions; while at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters, wellness guru Deepak Chopra led an open-air meditation session for over 1,000 diplomats, UN officials and thousands of yoga enthusiasts.
Yoga sessions were also staged in other key cities such as London, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Canberra and Bangkok.
US Coast Guard holds leadership course for PCG, expands Southeast Asia program
THE United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT) recently conducted its first-ever Leadership and Management School (LAMS) course in the region, with 43 members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as participants. Originally developed at the USCG Academy, the LAMS course held at the PCG’s Fleet Training Center of Excellence in Balagtas, Bulacan aimed to hone future-ready leaders, fostering innovation in maritime education, and deepening USCGPCG links.
“LAMS has breathed new life into how we grow leaders at the PCG’s Fleet Education, Training and Doctrine Development Institute,” said PCG Commander Raquel Colarina of the Coast Guard Fleet. “The impact is real—building [our people’s] confidence, self-awareness and a stronger sense of purpose.” The course was conducted in two one-week sessions, each led by seasoned USCG trainers and attended by PCG personnel from key units— including the Coast Guard Fleet, Marine Environmental Protection, and Maritime Safety Services.
“Marking a milestone in international cooperation, the PCG and the USCG are not only sharing best practices, but also forging a unified approach to developing resilient, adaptive leadership in complex maritime environments,” said USCG instructor Senior Chief Operations Specialist Anastazya Lencz.
Using an experience-based curriculum, LAMS enhances the leadership skills of junior-officer managers and non-officer supervisors. It emphasizes leadership competencies discussion, and develops skills in areas such as communicating effectively,
At 460K+ visitors in 2024, PHL tops SE Asian tourist markets for Taiwan
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
MORE than 460,000 Filipino travelers visited Taiwan in 2024, making the Philippines the island-state’s top tourism market in Southeast Asia.
The surge prompted Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to extend its visa-free privilege for Filipino passport holders for another year beginning August 2025.
Data from the Taiwan Tourism Organization showed that out of 1.9 million tourists from the region, 467,157 were Filipinos—a 33-percent increase from 350,487 in 2023.
Other leading Southeast Asian tourism markets for Taiwan include Singapore (441,841), Malaysia (429,727) and Vietnam (370,548).
Roughly 6.85 million Filipinos traveled abroad in 2024. Favorite destinations included Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan—with the first two offering visa-free access to Phil-
ippine passport holders.
During the Philippine Independence Day celebration, Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung officially announced the visa-free policy extension for Filipino travelers beginning August 1, 2025 and will be valid until July 31, 2026.
As part of its efforts to strengthen its New Southbound Policy, Taiwan also granted continued visa-free access to Brunei Darussalam and Thailand.
MOFA said it will continue to “review and fine-tune” visa policies for Asean countries as efforts to enhance bilateral ties and attract more visitors, while ensuring border control and public security.
The ministry added it will maintain dialogues with governments of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Thailand to “enhance visa treatment for Taiwanese nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient.”
UNDP: AI can steer human dev’t and inclusive growth
THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines and the Philippine Human Development Network (HDN) successfully launched the 2025 Global Human Development Report (HDR) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Headquarters in Metro Manila.
With this year’s theme: “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” the launch gathered government officials, industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics and civil society representatives who discussed artificial intelligence as a potential tool for inclusive and sustainable human development.
First unveiled globally in May in Brussels, Belgium, the 2025 HDR emphasizes AI’s growing influence in reshaping economies and societies. It urges governments and institutions to make deliberate choices to ensure AI technologies empower people, narrow inequalities, and support development goals—especially in emerging economies like the Philippines. UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran noted that “at its core, the HDR is a call to action for governments, businesses, communities and individuals to make deliberate choices on [AI’s design, use and governance]. If we make the right choices today, AI could become a force and an engine for freedom, opportunity and progress not just for a few, but for everyone.”
influencing others positively, creating an environment that motivates performance, getting the job done while taking care of subordinates, encouraging personal ethics, and promoting teamwork.
The SEATT program is expected to conduct future training events for PCG within the year.
Funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, it aims to support broader efforts to boost cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia.
HDN Convenor Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño, SEC Commissioner Javey Francisco, and Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) official Reynaldo Cancio each underscored the need for inclusive innovation and robust policy frameworks.
For Dr. Tuaño, the report comes at a pivotal moment: “While the promise of AI grows even more visible, we are reminded that the path of progress is not inevitable. It is a matter of human choice and governance. This report highlights how AI can be harnessed to enhance human capabili-
ties, rather than diminish [them].” Francisco shared that through digital transformation, the SEC is fostering a culture of transparency, measurable accountability, and performance enhancement. He highlighted that the commission “sees AI playing a growing role in our work—improving our ability to detect fraud, assess risk and promote financial inclusion. AI can help us direct capital toward sustainable enterprises, enhance market integrity, and protect investors more effectively than ever before.”
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the HDR 2025 findings by UNDP Philippines’ economist Mohamed Shahudh, followed by a panel discussion titled “Shaping the AI Agenda for Human Empowerment and Inclusive Growth in the Philippines.” Both explored the technology’s potential to improve productivity, public services and economic opportunities while also addressing risks of exclusion, job displacement, and uneven access to digital resources.
Panelists pointed out the importance of forward-looking investments in education, research and development, as well as AI governance.
A recent International Monetary Fund study cited during the forum revealed that while one-third of Filipino workers are highly exposed to AI, 61 percent of those roles could benefit from AI-enhanced productivity—particularly among young, urban and college-educated workers. An open forum enabled participants to engage with the panelists on issues ranging from AI adoption in education and health, to its implications for gender equity and development.
The 2025 HDR notes that while Philippines’ human development index or HDI rose to 0.720 in 2023, the country continues to face challenges linked to inequality and climate vulnerability. The report argues for a pivot toward AI-augmented human development, where the technology complements human potential rather than replaces it. The full report is available at https://hdr.undp.org.
UNDP Philippines’ Dr. Selva Ramachandran (from left); Regina Lay; Converge ICT Solutions Inc.’s Cherrie Ng; Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.; Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines’ Michelle Alarcon; Central Visayan Institute Foundation High School’s Dr. Christopher Bernido; Contact Centers Association of the Philippines’ Haidee Enriquez; with UNDP Philippines’ Mohammed Shahudh and Edwine Carrié.
CLOSE to 400 yoga enthusiasts joined the 2025 IDY celebration on June 21.
MR.DIY Philippines clinches win at Retail Asia Awards for ESG initiatives
Leading home improvement retailer MR.DIY Philippines (Bricolage Philippines, Inc.) won the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines category in the 2025 Retail Asia Awards for its remarkable dedication to bring affordability, convenience, and meaningful change in every Filipino home, showing outstanding success in its operations in the country.
Since entering the Philippine market in 2018, MR.DIY has transformed access to affordable, high-quality products, growing from six stores to 700 across 393 municipalities with a 158.08 percent annual expansion rate. With 77 percent of stores in underserved areas, the brand is bridging retail gaps and ensuring that families can shop without travelling far. The company also guarantees price consistency nationwide, allowing customers to enjoy the selection at “Always Low Prices.”
By 2024, MR.DIY has been able to create 4,306 store-level jobs, with 80 percent of employees hired locally through local government unit-level partnerships, turning every store into a driver of livelihood and community growth.
The company has also helped local businesses scale with 83 percent year on year growth. In 2024 alone, 9.2 percent of its inventory was locally sourced, injecting P1.9 billion into Filipino suppliers and creating opportunities for small businesses
to thrive alongside its expansion. Meanwhile, MR.DIY also encourages customers to reduce plastic waste whilst supporting meaningful causes through its Good Bag Campaign. It has sold 7.6 million bags, directly funding tree planting, medical aid, and education programs. By end-2024, this initiative has led to 2,000 seedlings planted, aid for 3,449 beneficiaries, and school supplies for 1,884 students.
“With millions of transactions each year and an ever-growing customer base, MR.DIY Philippines proves that convenience, savings, and community impact are not just business goals—they are a way of life. As we continue to grow,
one thing remains constant: wherever there’s a home, there’s always room for MR.DIY,” said Roselle Marisol Andaya, Chief Executive Officer of MR.DIY Philippines.
MR.DIY Philippines was joined by fellow winners, MR.DIY Indonesia, which won Household Goods Retailer of the Year - Indonesia and Integrated Campaign of the Year - Indonesia, and MR.DIY Thailand, which received Specialty Store of the Year and Store Design of the Year (Large) - Thailand. Retail Asia Awards recognizes outstanding achievements, innovations, and excellence within the retail industry across the Asia-Pacific region.
Record-Breaking Performance Highlights Forest Lake’s 11th National Sales Convention
FOREST Lake Development Inc. recently staged its 11th National Sales Convention at Dusit Thani Mactan, Cebu. It was a two-day event that celebrated a landmark 2024 for the company that saw national expansion, the launch of flagship programs, and over P3.8 billion in sales. Held on April 24 and 25, 2025, Forest Lake brought together top-performing sales leaders, award-winning agents, executives, board members, employees, premier investors, and bank partners to commemorate an incredible year for the developer. In an altogether celebratory mood, esteemed guests reminisced on Forest Lake’s key milestones such as the official launch of Libre Burol in Central Luzon, North Luzon, and Visayas; the expansion to Zamboanga North and Kidapawan; the opening of the Forest Lake Chapel in Iloilo; and the ever-growing presence of Premier Investors and new bank partners.
“This convention marks a year of strategic growth—not only with record-breaking sales, but in operations that continue to align with the evolving needs of Filipino families. From expanding our footprint through new park developments in Zamboanga North and Kidapawan, to offering Libre Burol across Luzon and the Visayas, we are deepening our commitment to Total Memorial Care,” said Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO of Forest Lake.
“Our teams, sellers, and partners have helped drive this momentum. The success of 2024 is a result of concerted efforts across sales, product innovation, and service delivery—ensuring Forest Lake’s stature as the most trusted name in memorial care,” Xerez-Burgos III added.
The two-day event culminated in a grand Gala Night that featured the one and only Gary Valenciano, who, together with Maneuvers Ignite,
brought his one-of-a-kind swagger to the festivities. Mr. Pure Energy entertained the crowd of over 480 guests, which included Forest Lake’s Premier Investors and bank partners who attended the event for the very first time. The presence of these stakeholders highlighted the increasing number of people willing to expand their portfolio with Forest Lake, a move that, in turn, signals the deepening confidence of investors in Forest Lake’s consistent performance, stability, and vision.
Still, going beyond premium entertainment, awards, and special guests, the night was truly made special by how it stood as a powerful reminder of Forest Lake’s long-term vision: to deliver meaningful, accessible, and dignified memorial care services to every Filipino family nationwide.
“More than touting the numbers, we are commemorating the legacy we continue to build—one rooted in compassion, dignity, and service. Forest Lake’s journey is a reflection of the lives we touch and the communities we serve. This convention is a tribute to the people behind that legacy—our teams, our clients, and our partners—who make our mission of meaningful memorial care a lasting reality,” said Alfred XerezBurgos Jr., Chairman of Forest Lake Development Inc. As Forest Lake forges ahead in 2025 and beyond, the industry leader remains committed to its objective of bringing Total Memorial Care to all Filipino families across the country.
Maynilad supports Brigada Eskwela 2025; provides aid to around 50 public schools
WEST Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) extended support to around 50 public schools in Metro Manila and Cavite for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela 2025 program, providing cleaning materials and hydration support to help prepare campuses for the new school year. In coordination with local government units and DepEd school divisions, Maynilad donated various disinfecting supplies, 87 refrigerated drinking fountains, and 260 packs of bottled water to public schools in the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Makati, Imus, and Bacoor. This initiative is part of the company’s ongoing partnership with government efforts to
Gary Valenciano brings the night to a powerful close with an electrifying performance, capping off Forest Lake’s 11th National Sales Convention.
improve learning environments.
“We are pleased to support Brigada Eskwela once again, as it aligns with our sustainability agenda to promote health, education, and overall well-being in the communities we serve,” said Maynilad Chief Sustainability Officer Roel S. Espiritu. “By helping to create safe and welcoming school environments, we hope to empower more Filipino children to grow and thrive.”
In addition to its Brigada Eskwela efforts, Maynilad is refurbishing drinkand-wash stations in 20 public schools this year. It will also conduct W.A.S.H. (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) education sessions and reading caravans through its Daloy Dunong program, in partnership with its sister companies under the MVP group.
ArenaPlus empowers coaching clinic, shaping future basketball champions
THE future of basketball is bright as ArenaPlus, the country’s best sportsbook, partnered with coach Richard Del Rosario to empower coaches and leaders at The Champions Class, a coaching clinic on June 9 to 10, 2025 in Muntinlupa City.
The two-day conference featured some of the greatest coaches in basketball history with championship titles under their leadership. Tim Cone, Sean Chambers, and Jong Uichico, who are experienced coaches, presented an informative class to mentors, including both aspirants and experienced coaches.
The event’s purpose
to all participants.
Jasper Vicencio, the president of ArenaPlus, conveyed his message, emphasizing the importance of the partnership. “We believe that through this partnership, ArenaPlus can play a meaningful role in promoting responsible engagement in sports.”
“We hope this collaboration helps spark greater awareness about the values that drive both athletes and fans alike,” Vicencio said. He also acknowledged the greatness of the coaches who facilitated the workshop. Moreover, Del Rosario extended his gratitude to ArenaPlus. “I’m very thankful to ArenaPlus for supporting a project like this. I think this is a big help for Philippine basketball. Not only basketball, but in other sports as well, yung support ng ArenaPlus.”
ArenaPlus sponsored the event to cement its position as the center of the Philippine basketball coaching community. This is a testament to the brand’s commitment and participation in empowering Philippine sports.
ExoMind Launches Breakthrough in Mental Wellness Technology
ROM skincare to self-care, Luminisce
FHolistic Skin Innovations takes its wellness philosophy to the next level with the launch of ExoMind, a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment designed to support mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
Using targeted magnetic pulses, ExoMind stimulates key areas of the brain—particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)— to help reduce anxiety, lift mood, and restore mental energy. The treatment is fast, comfortable, and has no downtime, making it ideal for today’s fast-paced lifestyles.
Patients experience improvements in sleep quality, stress levels, emotional eating, and concentration, making it a holistic tool for those experiencing burnout, brain fog, or emotional imbalance.
“At Luminisce, we believe beauty starts from within—and that includes the mind,” shares Dr. Kaycee Reyes, founder and medical director of Luminisce. “With ExoMind, we’re able to offer a treatment that supports both emotional and physical wellness. When your mind is well, your whole life begins to glow.”
Guests were given an immersive look into the treatment, including a talk by Dr. Antonio Sison, the only double boardcertified dermatologist and psychiatrist in the Philippines. His rare expertise offered a unique perspective on how ExoMind bridges physical and emotional wellness.
“Mental health is a luxury we can no longer afford to ignore. ExoMind allows us to take a proactive, science-driven approach in supporting emotional resilience and brain function—without medication or downtime,” said Dr. Sison.
Also in attendance was Vic Perez, General Manager of BTL Aesthetics, the manufacturer of ExoMind. “We’re proud to partner with Luminisce in bringing ExoMind to the Philippines. This treatment is backed by science, global regulatory approvals, and years of innovation in neurostimulation,” said Perez.
“The results we’ve seen globally—in improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, even binge eating—are lifechanging.” Scientifically backed and globally
recognized, ExoMind is FDA-cleared in the United States for the treatment of depression. It is also approved by Health Canada and CE-marked in Europe for treating depression, anxiety symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and excessive eating disorders.
Luminisce is the first to launch ExoMind in the Philippines, expanding its suite of high-performance treatments with a strong focus on holistic, internal wellness.
“Because mental clarity is the new luxury,” said Dr. Kaycee Reyes, founder of Luminisce. “We are proud to offer something that helps people feel lighter, clearer, and more present in their everyday lives.”
Book a consultation with a Luminisce today by calling 0977-804-4601 to get your own bespoke customized treatment plan. Luminisce provides a wide range of skincare solutions through its BGC, The Podium, Ortigas and Molito Alabang branches. To know more, visit Luminisce’s website at https://luminisce.com/ or follow https://www.instagram.com/luminisce_ official/
MR.DIY Philippines, led by CEO Roselle Mirasol Andaya (middle), proudly receives the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines award at the Retail Asia Awards 2025.
In support of the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela 2025, Maynilad donated cleaning supplies and provided hydration support to 36 public schools across
A guest experiences ExoMind firsthand—a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment designed to support mental clarity, reduce stress, and promote emotional wellness. The session is safe, comfortable, and requires no downtime.
Parentlife BusinessMirror
YOU PROBABLY DON’T NEED FOODS WITH ADDED PROTEIN, NUTRITIONISTS SAY
THE human body needs protein. Proteins carry out countless functions inside cells and they are vital for the growth, repair and maintenance of muscles, bones and skin. And with food companies rolling out highprotein versions of a huge range of foods, including milkshakes and granola bars—and even pancakes and popcorn—you might be tempted to think you need to add more to your diet.
But nutritionists say that if you are getting enough food, you are probably getting enough protein.
“Adding protein to foods is very beneficial—for the profits of that food,” said Federica Amati, nutrition lead at Imperial College London and head nutritionist at the health science company ZOE. “It is not based on health, it is not backed by science.”
The amount of protein you need depends on your age, weight and personal nutritional needs, and it is especially important for children and older adults to make sure they eat protein-rich foods. Here’s what to know about how much protein you need and how to ensure you’re getting it from the best sources.
n Protein is so critical that your body knows how to make it. Protein is a macronutrient, or a basic kind of food like fat or carbohydrates that your body needs to function. There are thousands of proteins, assembled from smaller molecules called amino acids—most of which can be made by the body.
“Because protein is so important, our body has adapted really well to making sure that it can reassemble and change the building blocks of these amino acids to make sure we have what we need, as long as we’re eating adequate amounts of food,” Amati said.
Still, the body can’t make all the amino acids, so some must come from food.
n If you aren’t starving, you are probably getting plenty of protein. The World Health Organization recommends that healthy adults get about 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight (0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight). That’s roughly 60 grams for men and 50 grams for women per day, based on body weights of 165 pounds (75 kilograms) for men and 143 pounds (65 kilograms) for women.
In most rich countries, the average adult gets far more, Amati said. Protein deficiencies are mostly seen in malnourished people on subsistence diet in poorer countries, she said.
Bridget Benelam, a nutritionist with the British Nutrition Foundation, said it was important to get protein from different foods, like dairy, fish, beans, nuts, vegetables and meat. She said studies suggest vegetarians and vegans have lower protein intake than meat and fish eaters, but that their average protein levels are still OK.
n Protein can be found in a huge range of food. Plant-based sources of protein include foods such as beans, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh and meat substitutes. Fish, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy foods such as milk and yogurt are also good sources of protein. Amati said that proteins from animal-based sources may be easier for the body to break down compared to plant-based proteins, which tend to have more fiber.
“If you eat a piece of beef, you’re getting protein and things like zinc and iron, but you’re also getting more saturated fat,” she said. In comparison, Amati said eating protein-rich foods like chickpeas or beans also provides the body with fiber, something that’s lacking in most of our diets.
n You probably don’t need to buy products with added protein. “Unless you have a specific health issue that requires you to have more protein, most people in countries like the US and the UK do not need more,” said Benelam of the British Nutrition Foundation.
Amati, of Imperial College London, said people should scrutinize the ingredient list of proteinenriched products to make sure they aren’t loaded with sugar and fat.
For people trying to build more muscle, she recommended a more direct solution: exercise.
“If you’re worried about your body composition and muscle strength, you have to lift [heavier] weights and give your body a challenge,” Amati said. “Eating a protein bar is not going to help.” AP
Phygital fun: How families today can enjoy screen time and real time
AS parents raise children in a far more digital and fast-paced world, it can feel like we are always trying to catch up. We are constantly asking: How do I connect with my kids in a way that feels real, relevant and healthy amid their exposure to digital content?
One answer I have discovered is this: Embrace the “phygital.” This means blending physical and digital experiences that can spark learning, encourage creativity, and bring families closer together. It is not about banning screen time, but about making screen time meaningful by connecting it with real-world action.
A great example? The recent Johnson’s #BidaBest campaign—a celebration of fun, hair care, and family bonding wrapped into a digital movement with reallife impact.
Johnson’s Active Kids Shampoo took the unexpected route to teach kids about gentle hair care by launching a TikTok dance challenge. Instead of just telling families what is good for their children’s developing hair, they invited them to move, groove, and learn together.
Many moms, dads and kids joined the dance challenge with their own unique spin. Celebrity mom Jolina Magdangal led the charge and soon, over 21.9 million views and 2,800 entries poured in. The campaign was not just fun, it was a bonding experience. In our family, screen time often divides
us into separate corners. But phygital campaigns like this pull us back into family communication and collaboration.
The campaign culminated in a live event at Robinsons Manila, where winners of the challenge were celebrated onstage. The message was loud and clear: when digital play is paired with physical interaction, parenting becomes more joyful and connected.
I am glad that more parents are discovering ways to merge our children’s physical and digital worlds. There are more digital tools that inspire learning and creativity, combined with physical activities and experiences that ground them in the real world.
On my visit to Greenhills Mall last weekend, I enjoyed seeing both children and parents playing together with “phygital” toys like Crayola Scribble Scrubbies. These adorable animal toys can be colored, washed and redesigned over and over. They can alternate this by downloading the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets App, where our kids are taught to adopt and take care of their pets. This develops their values of empathy, responsibility and kindness. They can even match what they watch in its animated videos on the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets YouTube channel while learning problem-solving through its stories.
I also saw a lot of parents and preschoolers enjoying Numberblocks. This is a math-powered series in YouTube that helps children understand math in a visual and physical way—and the learning sticks so much more when kids can manipulate the blocks themselves.
And “phygital parenting” is not just fun, it is supported by science. Studies show that children learn better when they engage in multi-sensory learning. When they move their bodies while absorbing new ideas, their brains make deeper connections. That means dancing, building, coloring, or even acting out a video can actually help information stick longer and encourage socialemotional learning.
This is why I have washable coloring materials and loose papers in my children’s sight (where they would usually use their screens/tablets), so digital time is always coupled with physical play. I keep carry cases in the car and organize a simple Ziploc coloring bag with coloring pages and materials for when we eat out. I arrange containers with multiple coloring tools like washable crayons, markers and paints in different rooms of the house like the kitchen and other family spaces. I have seen how my children might start with screen but gradually and voluntarily pick up paper and coloring materials in the middle to draw out what they are watching.
We parents benefit, too. Our role is to lead them to the physical side of their digital world by introducing and making physical manipulatives like toys and art tools available. These shared activities become precious time-outs from our day-to-day stress and a chance to communicate with our children both verbally and non-verbally. They remind us that parenting is not just about rules and routines, it is about relationship.
So the next time your child asks to go on YouTube, maybe sit beside them. See where that video takes you. Maybe it leads to coloring a toy bunny. Maybe it leads to a dance-off in the living room. Maybe it leads to a moment of Math joy—together.
Some of my parenting tips for phygital fun:
n Set screen goals, not just limits. Instead of only cutting screen time, choose content that inspires your child to create, move, or build after watching.
n Explore phygital toy. Look for toys that extend the experience from app/screen to actual play— like Crayola Scribble Scrubbies, Numberblocks, or National Geographic toys.
n Dance it out together Join a TikTok challenge or invent your own. Movement builds memory and connection.
Because in this digital age, raising kids is no longer about screen versus play. It is about our parental choice of screen and play—on our terms.
This is how diabetes can impact your body from head to toe
EXPERTS refer to diabetes as a “silent killer”—an ominous label, for sure, but definitely not an exaggeration. Caused by chronic high blood sugar due to the inability of the body to use or produce insulin (the hormone that converts food to energy), diabetes can have no obvious symptoms for many years. When signs do appear, however, they put you at risk for certain diseases or leave you with irreparable damage.
“Diabetes impacts our body literally from head to toe,” says Jimmy B. Aragon, MD, from the Diabetes Care Center of the country’s top health institution Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph). “That’s why we always advocate for early detection, so treatment can begin before the effects become irreversible.”
Long-term exposure to blood sugar damages our blood vessels, which leads to a host of complications, some of them life-threatening:
n CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. “People with diabetes are more at risk of getting a stroke and heart attack,” reveals Aragon. “Damaged blood vessels become stiff and develop plaque, hampering oxygen and blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart.”
n VISUAL PROBLEMS. “Damaged blood vessels in the eyes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a condition that blurs vision and could progress to blindness,” shares Aragon. “Cataracts or a cloudiness in your eye’s lens and glaucoma or the damage of an optic nerve are also traced to diabetes.”
n KIDNEY DISEASE. “When high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels and filters of the kidneys, it impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter out toxic waste from our system,” says Aragon. “The kidneys’ impaired function may eventually lead to dialysis or a kidney transplant.”
n NEUROPATHY. Nerve damage due to high blood sugar usually presents itself in the legs and feet. “The sensation
is one of pins and needles,” explains Aragon. “It could also manifest as numbness, and the loss of feeling makes you unaware of injuries on your feet.” People with diabetes are also known for their slow-healing wounds in the feet—a result, yet again, of damaged blood vessels and poor circulation.
A frequent need to pee, dry skin, fatigue, and unquenchable thirst are other signs of diabetes.
Managing blood sugar is the first step to controlling diabetes. “The two most common tests to check for diabetes are Fasting Blood Sugar and HbA1c,” says Aragon. “The former measures blood sugar after eight hours of fasting, the latter measures your average blood sugar levels in the last 2 to 3 months.” Type 2 diabetes (wherein the body cannot make insulin or is resistant to it) is the more common form of disease, while type 1 diabetes (an autoimmune disorder that attacks the cells that make insulin) is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
Aim for a normal fasting blood sugar between 70 and 100 mg/dl (or (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L). “You’re considered prediabetes if your blood sugar runs from 100 to 125 mg/ dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L). A result of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher means you have diabetes,” reminds Aragon. Medications are available to either lower blood sugar levels or aid the body in using insulin more effectively. MakatiMed also shares some simple lifestyle changes to keep blood sugar within normal levels. Aragon advises replacing carbs with low-glycemic whole grains and fiber, and hydrating with water, not sugary drinks, to manage blood sugar. The doctor also recommends staying active. Even a 30-minute walk after meals helps lower blood sugar and aids weight loss for better overall health.
Given that people with diabetes have an increased risk
of developing serious foot problems, Aragon stresses moisturizing and cleaning feet, and wearing socks to prevent sores. Diabetes also affects many of our organs, so the expert emphasizes the importance of monitoring any changes not only with your blood sugar but with your eyes, kidneys, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
“Diabetes doesn’t have to be your ‘silent killer,’” asserts Aragon. “With your doctor’s guidance and your compliance, you can live a full and active life and do what non-diabetics can do, within healthy limits of course.”
FROM left: Jolina Magdangal (left), Mommy Vanna Reyes (right), and winners of the #BidaBest TikTok Challenge (center) take center stage at the Robinsons Fit Kids last May; mommy Bernadette, daughter Olivia and daddy JR bonding over Crayola Scribble Scrubbies
Ostop smiling after attending the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship parade.
The 19-year-old Ross was among thousands of Oklahoma City’s unwavering fans who finally got to celebrate an National Basketball Association (NBA) championship after their team suffered through several close calls and heartbreaking moments the past two decades.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers on Sunday to clinch the title. On Tuesday, Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and their teammates joyfully greeted their adoring fans, who lined the downtown streets despite 90-degree heat. Ross said it was well worth it.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “From the days of wearing my KD [Kevin Durant] jersey every day, to crying when he left, having the Russell Westbrook Fathead in the living room during the playoffs, and all the Thunder playoff shirts, programs, hats hanging up on my wall to this day—it’s crazy to think about. But we did it.” The parade route ended at Scissortail Park, where Mayor David Holt declared a city holiday for Clay Bennett, the head of the Thunder’s ownership group, then added days for general manager Sam Presti, coach Mark Daigneault and every player on the roster. The fans cheered loudly for each announcement.
“I just feel like they really represent us as Oklahomans and put us—the whole state and the whole city—on their backs,” said Chris Willert, a 15-year-old fan from nearby Norman. Oklahoma City first hosted an NBA team during the 2005-06 season, when the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated after Hurricane Katrina. Oklahoma City’s fans fell in love with the team and a young point guard named Chris Paul who would be
No more heartbreak, it’s time to celebrate!
named rookie of the year. The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in time for the 2008-09 season, and fans feverishly supported the team, despite its early struggles—the Thunder became contenders with young stars Durant, Westbrook and James Harden. Even with all that talent, they couldn’t break through—they lost to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in 2012, and Harden left for Houston.
A possible run in 2013 was derailed when Westbrook was injured during the playoffs and the 2015-16 team led the Golden State Warriors, 3-1, in the Western Conference finals before losing the series in seven games. Durant left to join the Warriors after that season, ending that version of the Thunder. Westbrook was the league MVP in 2017 and averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons, but the Thunder never got out of the first round those years.
But after rebuilding with its new set of superstars, finally, Oklahoma City has its moment. Daniel Sweet, a longtime fan and pastor at Calvary Church in Norman, said it’s about resilience, loyalty and community.
To see this team rise and win, bringing a title to Oklahoma City—it feels like all of us just won something bigger than a trophy,” Sweet said. “It’s our story now. This team embodies what every family and community wants to be. Tough, passionate, and together no matter what.” AP
Yulo returns to Japan to perfect routines, get upgrade for worlds
CBy Josef Ramos
ARLOS YULO is returning to the very same gym in Japan where he honed ahead of the two gold medals he won in floor exercise and vault of gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Two to three weeks of training camp in Japan,” said the 25-year-old Yulo. “I need more upgrades, more efficient routines and I’m focusing more on executions and quality.” Yulo, however, said his current coaches—Aldrin Casteñeda and Australian Alyousef Nedal—have yet to decide on the dates of his training camp which is aimed at his campaign in the world championships in Jakarta set October 19 to 25.
He will train at the Tokushukai Gymnastics Club where he harnessed his skills for eight years under his
former Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama.
Kugiyama is now training his siblings Karl Eldrew and Eliza Yulo.
Yulo competed for the first time since Paris at the Asian championships early this month in Gumi, South Korea, and won gold in floor exercise and bronze medals in the individual all-around, vault and parallel bars.
“I was 70 percent good if I rate myself in Gumi, my first competition since I won the gold medals in Paris,” he said. “I learned a lot of things as I enjoyed the moment without pressure that time.”
Yulo will also be competing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok in December.
“These two competitions [worlds and SEA Games] will be my stepping stones for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games,” he said.
MARITANYA KROGG remained unbeatable and Ronnel Hualda nosed out his fellow veterans on Day 1 of the PhilyCling Tagaytay City Criterium 2025 on Wednesday. Krogg won the Women’s Youth (under 17) gold medal with plenty to spare—she crossed the finish on Crisanto de los Reyes Avenue in front of the new Tagaytay City Velodrome 39 seconds ahead of silver medalist Yvaine Osias and almost a minute over thirdplacer Princess Jaydee Pancho. A consistent gold medalist in the PhilCycling National Road
Non-stop NBA show
Officials for Pacquiao-Barrios fight in Vegas named
AMERICAN Thomas Taylor will be the third man on the ring when Manny Pacquiao and reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios square off on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
MP Promotions president, international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, also told BusinessMirror on Tuesday the appointment of Tim Cheatham of Nevada, Max DeLuca of New York and Steve Westfield of New Jersey as judges for the 12-round main event promoted by the
Championships and Batang Pinoy Nationals, Krogg also bagged a P3,000 cash prize staked in the race organized by the PhilCycling and presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and the Philippine Olympic Committee and Tagaytay City headed by Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Hualda, on the other hand, topped a sprint finish in the Men’s Masters B (40-up), beating by under two bike lengths Romeo Camingao and Marc Galedo in the event raced over a 2.1-km rectangular circuit over Crisanto de los Reyes, Isaac Tolentino, Acle and Mahogany Avenues.
SuperSonics have won their first championship.
A s the SuperSonics they were no pushovers either. They made the NBA playoffs 22 times, became Western Conference champs six times, played in three NBA Finals and won the 1979 NBA championship, where Dennis Johnson, who would become more famous as a Celtic, became Finals MVP.
They would play their last NBA Finals as Sonics in 1996 behind Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. In 2008, they relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.
Before their dominant 2024-25 season, OKC had been to the NBA Finals just once. That was in 2012 when they lost to the Miami Heat in five games. After Kevin Durant—the founding pillar of that contending Thunder team—went to the Houston Rockets, the Thunder would be nowhere near contention again until 2019 when general manager Sam Presti shipped out Russell Westbrook and Paul George to make way for the rebuild that brought Shai Gileous Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to Oklahoma. And we know the rest.
“It doesn’t feel real. So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief...but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours, and we deserve this,” said Season and Finals MVP Shai GileousAlexander, who thereafter made a heart gesture to the still cheering hometown crowd at Paycom Center.
Premier Boxing Champions. Pacquiao will try to break his own record of being the oldest welterweight champion at 46, but will be fighting for the first time in four years since losing via unanimous decision to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 also in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt. He was the oldest welterweight champion at 21 in July 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand via split decision.
Pacquiao (62-8-2 win-loss-draw slate with 39 knockouts) will be fighting in Las Vegas for the 23rd time but it will be the first time for Taylor, of Newport Beach in California. Taylor, however, has refereed twice in a Barrios (29-2-1 record with 18 knockouts) fight.
Barrios is 16 years younger than the 46-year-old Hall of Famer and is taller by four inches at six-foot—he also has a 71-inch reach of 71 against Pacquiao’s 67 inches. Josef Ramos
jiu-jitsu, self defense club opens in Iloilo
That buoyant, exhilarating championship moment, however, has a flipside that will be remembered alongside the masterful conquest of the Indiana Pacers by the Oklahoma Thunder. That would be the image of Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton writhing in pain after collapsing face down and wailing “No! No!” as he repeatedly slapped the floor.
Haliburton, the Houdini of the season who enabled Indiana to go all the way with Oklahoma to a Game 7, was down, his Achilles tendon torn. It was a death sentence for any hope there was for the Pacers to win it all.
“M y heart dropped for him. I couldn’t imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. I just felt so bad for him. Prayers go out to him for sure. Hell of a player,” SGA said.
“I felt the gut punch to Pacer Nation, not only from the loss of our fearless leader, Tyrese Haliburton. The man upstairs always has a master plan and ‘this too shall pass’, said Pacers Legend Reggie Miller (reggiemillertnt) on Instagram.
Those two images—one of ecstasy on the achievement of Sam Presti’s vision, the other of the agony of a fallen hero who had given basketball lovers worldwide an engaging and captivating series— would be the indelible snap shot of the 2025 NBA finals. And so it’s now the off-season.
DEFTAC is expanding its reach to share the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and promote self defense, discipline and grit to Iloilo City starting this Saturday.
“I’m very excited to open our first DEFTAC Iloilo gym under the DEFTAC Franchise as we have created many national champions, including a third place finish at the world championships,” said Alvin Aguilar, the first Filipino jiu-jitsu blackbelt who founded the organization in 1995.
“This gym will produce champions from Iloilo,” he added.
The Iloilo City gym is located at the third floor of LBS Building along Jalandoni Street.
Joining Aguilar in the inauguration ceremony are Professor May Masuda, Aielle Aguilar, Zony Zaldarriaga and David Zaldarriaga, all jiu-jitsu champions.
THE veterans—Juan Carlos Barrios (second from left) and Ronnel Hualda (right)—and the future of Philippine Cycling—Daniel Cortero (left) and Maritanya Krogg—top the gold medal rush on Day 1.
SOLEIL MOLDE and Jamie Barnes are playing as if they’re not first timers in the junior tour. NONIE REYES
KIDS in the Visayas will be introduced to one of the world’s most popular art of self defense.
AFTER rebuilding with a new set of superstars, finally, Oklahoma City has its moment. AP
Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
Health&Fitness
Obesity could cost PHL trillions as global losses mount–experts
By John Eiron R. Francisco
WITH nearly 40 percent of Fili -
pino adults living with obesity, the Philippines may soon bear the brunt of this growing crisis driven by rising healthcare costs, lost productivity, and premature deaths. This is an issue, experts say, could mirror the trillions in global losses unless urgent policy action is taken.
Dr. John Paul Ceaser delos Trinos, Chief Scientific Officer and Principal of metaHealth Insights and Innovations, Inc., said that while there is a lack of local data on the financial impact of obesity, international figures help illustrate the potential magnitude of the issue—highlighting obesity as a major economic burden.
During the stakeholder meeting for the Epidemiological Burden and Cost of Obesity in the Philippines (EpiCOB-PH) study held on June 20, 2025 at Edsa Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, he cited the case of the United Kingdom (UK), where the annual social cost of obesity reaches approximately £58 billion, the equivalent of around P4.4 trillion or roughly 80 percent of the Philippine national government budget.
“I’m pretty sure, at least in the Philippines setting, we could not afford a very high cost for obesity and to allow it to continue,” delos Trinos said.
Delos Trinos further explained that in the UK, lost productivity due to obesity-related health conditions, measured in lost qualityadjusted life years, represents the largest component of the overall economic burden.
Effective interventions AS the country moves toward universal healthcare, he said, understanding both the epidemiology and the economic costs of obesity is critical for informed policymaking and effective interventions.
He also referenced data from the United States, where annual medical expenses linked to obesity are estimated at $168.4 billion, accounting for 16.5 percent of total national medical spending. Individuals with obesity reportedly incur nearly $1,500 more in healthcare costs annually compared to those with normal weight, adding significant personal financial strain.
Globally, obesity accounts for an estimated 0.7 to 2.8 percent of total healthcare expenditures. In some countries, this figure climbs to
3 percent. But the financial toll extends far beyond hospital bills. Delos Trinos noted that the worldwide economic impact of obesity is now estimated at $2 trillion, or 2.8 percent of global GDP—exceeding the budgets of major government departments in the Philippines.
Projections indicate that by 2035, the annual economic cost of obesity could escalate to $4.32 trillion, paralleling the economic consequences experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“One very important insight from this is that the burden of obesity is tied a lot to noncommunicable diseases,” Delos Trinos said, noting that conditions like ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes now rank among the top 48 health issues affecting Filipinos and dominate the disease burden both globally and locally.
EpiCOB-PH study underway
THE EpiCOB-PH study, led by Dr. Madeleine de Rosas-Valera and funded by Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Philippines) Inc., is the first of its kind in the country to examine the epidemiological and economic burden of obesity.
Dr. Robert Neil Leong, Chief Data Officer and Principal at metaHealth Insights and Innovations, said their team is developing a locally contextualized epidemiological and costing model to measure the true burden of obesity in the Philippines, both in terms of health and economics.
Leong noted that the project aims to go beyond prevalence figures and quantify the disability and financial costs associated with obesity and related complications.
Makati provides integrated digital healthcare system to residents
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
MAKATI residents are now provided with roundthe-clock medical access and diagnostics through the city government’s integrated digital healthcare system, the first in the country.
Supported by over P16 billion in actual healthcare expenditures from 2017 to May 31, 2025, this 24/7 comprehensive digital system includes the Virtual Queuing Management System (VQMS), KonsultaMD telehealth platform, Makati Life Medical Center, and the Health Information Management System (HIMS).
The system seamlessly connects electronic medical records across all laboratories and facilities, creating what Mayor Abby Binay calls “patient-centered digital healthcare.”
Medical care transformation
THIS transformation required a substantial P3.47-billion investment in digital infrastructure and services across the city’s healthcare network, demonstrating Makati’s commitment to excellent medical technology and systems integration.
“We didn’t just digitize healthcare. We’ve changed how an entire city experiences medical care. From booking appointments online at any time to cancer detection powered by Artificial Intelligence [AI], from house-to-house medicine delivery to video consultations with specialists, Makati proves technology can enhance, not replace, compassionate care,” Binay said. She added that the digital innovations Makati has embraced are “not just about convenience, but about ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and building trust with our citizens.”
‘Everything is free’
“BUT what makes Makati’s healthcare truly extraordinary isn’t just the technology but the promise that everything is taken care of, everything is within reach, and everything is free,” Binay said.
The Virtual Queuing Management System, launched in 2021 and winner of the Galing Pook Award 2023, has transformed patient experience across all city health facilities with a total investment of P19.39 million.
Residents book appointments online through makatihealthappointment.ph, eliminating the need to queue in the early hours of the morning just to get a slot. The system operates 24/7 with real-time updates on wait times. At the heart of this healthcare network is Makati’s Yellow Card program, which provides access to all
“While we follow globally recognized frameworks, we are tailoring our models to the Philippine setting,” Leong said, citing the inclusion of local data sources and clinical inputs from Filipino endocrinologists.
Leong explained that the study calculates disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to obesity and its associated conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease.
Preliminary estimates suggest that obesity alone could account for the equivalent loss of 124,000 to 274,000 full life-years annually in the country. This, he said, translates to around two to five months of life per year lost per obese individual due to disability.
The study also seeks to determine the direct medical, non-medical, and indirect societal costs of obesity, including productivity loss and premature mortality. Cost estimates will be presented from both government and societal perspectives, with a 20-year projection window to illustrate the long-term impact if no interventions are made.
As the study enters the costing module phase, Leong emphasized the team’s commitment to generate granular, actionable insights for policymakers, down to age groups, socioeconomic segments, and regions, to support more targeted interventions and public health investments.
Obesity rooted in systems, not just habits
MEANWHILE, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Chairman of the Health Futures Foundation, Inc., and a former health secretary, emphasized in his speech that “obesity is not just about personal choices. Obesity is driven by systems and structures in society that make healthy living and healthy eating difficult, especially for lowincome communities.”
He noted that ultra-processed food continues to be cheap, easily accessible, and aggressively marketed in fast-food outlets, 24/7 convenience stores, and bakeries selling sugary treats on almost every street. He added that even small sari-sari stores in both cities and provinces are stocked with instant meals, sugary drinks, and other unhealthy options.
“People are being set up to favor a food environment that doesn’t give them real options,” Tan said.
Challenging the notion that healthy eating must be expensive, he cited local examples: a
fresh vegetable salad made with indigenous greens such as tagos, kamote, kangkong, malunggay, and saluyot, dressed with coconut vinegar and local spices; or a native dessert of tropical fruits like guava, papaya, bignay, and pineapple, topped with local nuts and coconut cream. “We have abundant, affordable, and nutritious food—we just need to make them accessible and visible,” he added.
Systemic intervention
HE pointed to New York City under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a model of systemic intervention. With targeted data on obesity and non-communicable diseases, Bloomberg deployed fruit and vegetable carts throughout the city, offering livelihood to lowincome residents and improving public access to healthier food. Over a decade, regular data showed measurable reductions in disease burden. Policies also mandated restaurants to display calorie counts and banned smoking and vaping in public spaces.
According to the former health secretary, some local government leaders in the Philippines are already leading the way, citing efforts by mayors from Baguio, Balanga (Bataan), Naga, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro. “We need to work with these mayors more closely—through stronger partnerships and more strategic public health collaboration,” he said.
The ongoing EpiCOB-PH study, he added, will provide crucial evidence to help shape better national and local policies, improve prevention programs, and inform smarter public health investments. But for any intervention to succeed, he said, people living with obesity must be at the center of the response.
“They are not just patients. They are experts of their own lived experience,” Tan stressed.
“Their voices and insights must guide solutions that are compassionate, effective, and people centered.”
He urged stakeholders across government, academia, civil society, and the health sector to treat the study as a springboard for more robust collaboration, inclusive policy making, and long-term systemic reform.
“With patient voices at the forefront, we can build a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient Philippines,” he said, commending the metaHealth team and its research partners for leading the initiative.
He expressed optimism that more research
on noncommunicable diseases will be pursued to inform and support policy decisions across key agencies—including the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Commission on Higher Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, as well as Congress and local government units. Meanwhile, Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, Senior Vice President of the Health Finance Policy Sector at PhilHealth, echoed the need for a systemic approach.
Collaboration
SPEAKING during the open forum, Pargas emphasized that tackling obesity requires collaboration across government and sectors—not just interventions from the health and finance fronts.
“I told the principal investigator, probably it is high time, since this is now a 20th Congress, advocacy groups, interest groups can actually campaign or provide a bill that will turn into law on law-salt, low-sugar food production, coming up with incentives for those who are following it instead of coming up with penalties,” Pargas said.
Pargas emphasized the need to avoid focusing only on the far ends of the disease spectrum—such as complications managed by PhilHealth or initial preventive campaigns by the DOH. Instead, he urged stakeholders to treat obesity as a complex issue influenced by societal norms and systemic gaps, not just as a clinical condition.
He also raised concerns about the current scope of the country’s Burden of Disease (BOD) framework, which lists complications like cardiovascular disease and diabetes but does not directly recognize obesity. “What exactly do we want the data to reveal? Are we planning to include obesity in the BOD, or will we only address its resulting complications and disabilities?” he asked.
He further questioned whether the study would limit its findings to the 48 currently recognized diseases in the BOD or consider additional conditions indirectly linked to obesity.
Pargas concluded by expressing interest in the study’s methodology and initial findings. “We hope to receive a copy of the research protocol and, if possible, access to early results,” he said.
The full results of the EpiCOB-PH study are expected to be released in September 2025.
Expanded Z Benefits Package seen to ease PhilHealth members’ CKD worries
By Rory Visco Contributor
health services for the city’s cardholders and their dependents. The program connects VQMS appointments, KonsultaMD consultations, Makati Life diagnostics, and the Libreng Gamot program through an integrated network of outsourced pharmacy branches citywide.
“From appointments to consultations, diagnostics to medications, free vaccinations, unlimited dialysis and chemotherapy treatments, and full hospitalization at Ospital ng Makati or Makati Life when needed, all vital services are enjoyed free by Makatizens,” the mayor said. Through a partnership launched in May 2023, KonsultaMD provides 24/7 video and voice consultations for all city employees and Yellow Card holders. The first Metro Manila local government unit (LGU) partnership of its kind offers unlimited consultations, e-prescriptions, e-laboratory requests, e-medical certificates, and mental health support.
Makati Life Medical Center opened its outpatient department on May 8, 2023, with full hospital operations inaugurated on April 24, 2025, as the country’s largest public-private partnership hospital. The facility, equipped with P2.64 billion worth of digital diagnostic equipment, houses the Philippines’ first AI-powered uMI 550 Digital PET/CT scanner, capable of detecting cancer in just eight minutes, plus digital mammography and endoscopy equipment, among many others.
Complete digital integration
THE complete digital integration allows patients to schedule appointments through VQMS, receive teleconsultations via KonsultaMD, access diagnostics at Makati Life, and have all medical records, laboratory results, and health information seamlessly connected through HIMS across every facility. Electronic medical records synchronize across all platforms, ensuring complete continuity of care.
However, Binay was quick to assure that digital innovation hasn’t replaced human care.
T he initiative includes house-to-house medicine delivery for seniors aged 70 and above, plus house-tohouse vaccinations, ensuring human attention remains central despite advanced digital tools.
“We’ve created something new. A city where medical care is truly universal, accessible, and excellent,” she said.
“From maternal care and infant health to children’s wellness, adult medicine, senior care, and even hospice services, we’ve built a complete circle of care that covers every stage of life. Best of all, it is completely free,” Binay concluded.
STATE health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth said chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to be a serious national health concern in the Philippines. It is so serious that CKD prevalence rates in the country are even higher than global numbers—35.94 percent compared to 9.1 to 13.4 percent worldwide estimates.
In fact, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) revealed that one Filipino develops CKD every hour, or about 120 new cases per million population every year. Under current conditions, the NKTI believes that kidney transplantation remains to be the “gold” standard when it comes to CKD treatment even with the availability of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
PhilHealth introduced the “Z Benefits Package” back in 2012 to address patients with catastrophic illnesses like most cancer types, and end-stage renal disease that requires kidney transplantation, among others. And now, PhilHealth announced that it is expanding the benefits it offers under the Z Benefits Package for Post-Kidney Transplantation Services, one for adults and one for children. This includes the provision of post-kidney transplant medications, antibiotics, and patient laboratory examinations to ensure the success of the transplant.
For Children and Adults
FOR children, PhilHealth will cover under the expanded benefits package P73,065 every month for the first year, and then P41,150 every month for the succeeding years immunosuppressive medications. Aside from this, PhilHealth will also pay up to P45,570 each month for drug prophylaxis or antibiotics in order to avoid infection.
Laboratory exams are also included in the expanded benefits package. Patients will receive P37,585 for quarterly laboratory procedures during the first year, and P14,078 every three months for the succeeding years.
For adults, on the other hand, those aged 19 and above, it will be P40,725 every month for the provision of immunosuppressive medications, P18,932 for six months of medication, and P11,242 for quarterly laboratory procedures for the first month and P8,125 quarterly for the succeeding years.
Under the same post-kidney transplant services benefits, PhilHealth will also provide support for the generous kidney donors.
Living donors for both pediatric and adult patients will receive P1,900 for every six months of laboratory tests and monitoring from PhilHealth. In a statement, the agency said the care and support that it provides to kidney donors is a result of its recognition and understanding of the value of community in assuring a good state of public health for all.
St. Luke’s WALANT is a breakthrough in hand surgery
ST. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City is always looking for ways to make life easier for patients, especially when it comes to hand pain and conditions that can get in the way of everyday living. Thus, the hospital offers innovative techniques like WideAwake Local Anesthesia with No Tourniquet (WALANT). WALANT is a game changer when it comes to hand surgery. It provides a more comfortable and quicker recovery compared to traditional methods. One of the biggest perks is that it doesn’t require a tourniquet, that tight band is often used to restrict blood flow during surgery. Many people find tourniquets uncomfortable, leading to pain and numbness both during and after the procedure. With WALANT, patients experience better blood circulation, which helps reduce swelling after the surgery and promotes a more natural healing process. It can be frustrating when things like trigger fingers, swollen tendons, or hand tumors make simple tasks a struggle. Traditionally, dealing with these issues meant surgery with tourniquets, which could mean a more uncomfortable surgical experience. While with WALANT, St. Luke’s is changing that. Picture this: hand surgery where you’re comfortable and able to communicate with your hand surgeon throughout the procedure. That’s a big deal, and it
Increased coverage for kidney transplant, other benefits
PHILHEALTH has also increased by over 230 percent the coverage for kidney transplant procedures, from P600,000 to P2 million. The purpose for the increased kidney transplant coverage is to minimize Filipinos’ out-of-pocket expenses when dealing with CKD. This increase comes on top of other improvements, such as the increase of hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 every year, estimated to be about P990,600 under the new rate of P6,350 from the former rate of P4,000 per dialysis session. Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), on the other hand, also saw increased coverage. Coverage for adult patients per year could be either P389,640 or P510,140, depending on the PD solutions the patient needs daily, a package pegged previously at P270,000 per year. Meanwhile, benefits for pediatric patients under Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) range from P510,000 to P765,210, while coverage for Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) for young patients ranges from P763,000 to P1.2 million. In 2024, PhilHealth was able to pay a total of more than P28 billion for hemodialysis from over five million claims. Overall, this has been a banner first five months of the year, or from January 1 to May 31, 2025, for PhilHealth, as it was able to pay a total amount of P118.87 billion in benefit claims for the whole country, up 84 percent from the same period last year.
comes with some real advantages:
n Easier pre-surgery preparation. There’s no need to skip on meals and drinks—it’s more convenient.
n There is no need for medical and anesthesia clearances requiring preoperative laboratory tests—more cost-efficient.
n Faster Surgery—Minimal time for the local anesthesia to take effect, faster start of surgery.
St. Luke’s surgeons are highly skilled and take great care with every WALANT procedure. They’re focused on helping you get your hand function back and minimizing your downtime.
If you’re tired of hand pain and limitations, contact St. Luke’s-Quezon City today to learn more about how WALANT could help you. Let’s get you back to doing what you love. For more information, contact the Product Information Hub at: 09479930471 | 09399161805 | 09985822276 | 09285200239.
DANISH Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin joined the stakeholder forum, expressing support for the study and emphasizing the importance of data in crafting effective solutions. “Data is the key to find the right solutions that will prove efficient at the end of the day,” he said. JOHN EIRON FRANCISCO
St. Luke’s Medical Center doubles down on talent development to ensure world-class care
By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor
PHILIPPINE healthcare is changing dramatically, moving from being behind to matching global standards through collaboration and talent development. This was the message from Dr. Dennis Serrano, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC), as he painted a vibrant picture of the nation’s medical future.
“Healthcare in the Philippines is coming into a new era,” Dr. Serrano asserted. “We are no longer 10, 15, or 20 years behind the US Whatever medicines are approved by the US FDA are already here in our country. All of the technology, both diagnostic and therapeutic, that is anywhere in Asia and in the US—as long as it’s no longer experimental – is already here in St. Luke’s and also in some of our worthy rivals.”
“We don’t have competitors. Maka -
ti Medical Center, The Medical City, Cardinal Santos Medical Center are not our competitors. They are our worthy rivals. And together with them, we try to uplift healthcare in the country. This is something that, collaboratively, we can do so that everyone wins, everyone gains,” he added.
Global Training, Local Expertise A CORNERSTONE of this new era, according to Dr. Serrano, is the doctor’s medical training abroad. Filipino
doctors are no longer solely looking to the West for advanced knowledge.
“Our doctors are now getting trained everywhere in the world, not just in the US or in Europe,” he explained. “We realize that medical advancement is not a monopoly of the United States or the UK We have very good advances in Japan, Korea, and they are our neighbors.”
The digital age has brought the world closer, making collaboration with these emerging healthcare powerhouses more accessible and advantageous.
“Because the world has become smaller digitally, the world has become smaller in terms of technology and information cascade, it works to our advantage that these emerging powers in healthcare are very close to us and very open to collaboration,” Dr. Serrano noted.
SLMC is actively participating in this global exchange. “As I speak, we are sending our graduates to Japan, to Korea, to Australia, to Singapore, some even to India, because India also has a very robust and very strong healthcare development,” he shared.
“We are getting the best of the world and bringing it back to the Philippines,
to what end? Really, to give better care to our people.”
Dr. Serrano’s vision extends far beyond the walls of SLMC. He emphasized a collective responsibility to elevate national healthcare standards.
“At St. Luke’s, we are not just looking out for St. Luke’s. We are looking out for the country. We are looking out for the Filipino people,” he declared.
“Because whatever we do here in St. Luke’s is essentially a step towards the advancement of healthcare. And whatever we do is essentially a step that paves the way for other hospitals to follow.”
This commitment aims to establish a benchmark for quality that permeates the entire Philippine healthcare system. It means even in cities where SLMC isn’t present, like Cebu, Davao, or Cagayan de Oro, hospitals will know these higher standards are achievable, maintainable, and can even be improved.
For Dr. Serrano, the pursuit of healthcare excellence is a continuous journey as there will always be new goals and achievements ahead.
Talent development
DR. Serrano likewise articulated the
EJAP, Unilab bring back Health and Wellness Day for media members
EIGHTY economic and business journal -
ists, along with their loved ones, gathered on Saturday, June 21, 2025, for the EJAP-Unilab Health and Wellness Day, marking the organization’s first wellness event since 2021.
Held at the Bayanihan Center in Mandaluyong, the activity was organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), the country’s premiere organization of business and economic journalists, in partnership with Unilab, the country’s leading pharmaceutical company.
This is also the first time Unilab hosted EJAP for a medical-focused event, a meaningful follow-up to its hosting of the EJAP Sportsfest in 2012.
The program allowed EJAP members and their loved ones to experience a full executive check-up, from lab tests and doctor consultations to specialized services like bone screening, sleep analysis and massages.
Upon arrival, participants first went through patient registration and vital signs monitoring. Afterwards, blood samples were collected for tests including hemoglobin, uric acid, total cholesterol, random blood sugar and anemia screening. These were followed by doctor consultations. The on-site pharmacy also provided free paracetamol, ImmunPro, Neozep, and Metformin.
RPsy, who shared insights on recognizing and managing mental health challenges.
A key highlight of the Wellness Day was the on-site flu immunization drive, where 62 members and their guests rolled up their sleeves for free shots of Vaxigrip Tetra, a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against four circulating influenza strains and is widely accepted by health authorities worldwide.
The vaccines were procured from Medstation Biologicals Inc., who also ensured a smooth and professional rollout of the vaccination process on-site. The vaccinations underscored EJAP’s commitment to preventive care and ensured that journalists head into the mid-year stretch with an extra layer of protection.
institution’s multi-pronged approach to attracting, developing, and retaining top-tier talent across all healthcare disciplines, from physicians to nurses and allied health professionals. He emphasized SLMC’s commitment to physician development, highlighting several key initiatives which include extensive training programs, investment in niche or highly specialized fields, and continuing professional development for practicing doctors.
“We currently train almost 1,000 doctors across our two hospitals in multiple specialties. St. Luke’s is recognized as one of the top training centers in the country,” he said.
Beyond general training, SLMC strategically invests in highly specialized fields, citing precision medicine and the treatment of rare genetic diseases as examples.
“We sponsor the training of our fellows—post-residency doctors— abroad. While we expect them to return to St. Luke’s, the ultimate beneficiary of these experts is the entire country.”
Recognizing the challenges in retaining nursing talent in the Philipp ines, Dr. Serrano outlined SLMC’s
innovative strategies which include top-tier compensation, and recognition and appreciation programs beyond the financial incentives.
Understanding the global demand for Filipino nurses, SLMC has adapted its approach.
“We realize that this is not something that we should stop or we should be in the way of for nurses who are seeking to advance their care. So, what do we do? We train them better. And we train more and more,” Dr. Serrano said.
He further elaborated on a significant fund dedicated to nurse training and the implementation of a “buffer nurse” system.
“Not only are we retaining, we’re also training so that there’s always a replenishment of our human health resource, which is one of the most important resources that any country should have as far as healthcare is concerned,” he added. Dr. Serrano concluded by emphasizing the continuous nature of these efforts.
“We have a lot of endeavors, and some are more successful than others, but we keep trying to find ways to improve that.”
Liver care brand sounds alarm on silent epidemic of MAFLD in the PHL
O“This is very important to us because we consider the media one of our key partners in health education and awareness. You’re the ones giving right and timely information, so you’re also public carers, and we believe in giving care to the carers. That’s why we call it Alagang Unilab,” she said.
“We were very open when EJAP ap -
Members then explored a wide array of wellness booths, including EyeSite (eye checkup), Nature’s Glowing Massage Wellness and Sleep Scienzzz (sleep analytics and solutions). A limited number of members also received individual psychological consultations as part of Unilab’s holistic approach to health. Claire Papa, AVP and Head of External Affairs and Social Partnerships of Unilab, emphasized the importance of caring for the media community:
proached us about this partnership. After all, you can’t be a fulfilled messenger if you haven’t personally experienced the message you’re delivering,” she added.
In the afternoon, attendees participated in informative health talks focused on everyday wellness concerns such as sleep disorders and mental health. The talks aimed to empower participants with practical knowledge and encourage proactive approaches to personal health, rounding out the day’s holistic wellness experience.
The sessions were led by Dr. Eden Castro, who discussed the importance of sleep on overall well-being as well as common sleep disorders, and Sheila Marie Hocson,
“As journalists, we often find ourselves prioritizing the stories we cover over our own well-being. This Wellness Day is our way of reminding everyone in EJAP that your health matters, too,” EJAP President Myla Iglesias-Acuña said.
“We’re grateful to Unilab for making this possible. It’s not every day that we get to pause, take care of ourselves, and feel the kind of support we usually report about. Today, we felt that care firsthand.”
The event was part of EJAP’s efforts to support the overall well-being of its members beyond the newsroom, ensuring that economic journalists also have access to quality healthcare, rest, and community care as it celebrates its 40th year. The event also happened as Unilab celebrates its 80th year.
Abbott Champions Early Brain Development Through Nutrition, Play
ABBOTT, the global healthcare leader, announced the launch of a campaign to educate and empower parents with information to help them raise fast learners. At an interactive cognitive play workshop held recently, Abbott highlighted how the early childhood years— especially between the ages of one to three—are a critical window for a child’s brain development and discussed the benefits of parents tracking key development milestones.
A child’s brain grows to 80 percent of its adult size by the age of three. During this period, the brain forms more than one million neural connections every second—laying the foundation for essential cognitive, language, and emotional skills.
‘’The brain’s neural connections are strengthened by consistent, positive daily experiences, responsive caregiving, and proper nutrition, making early childhood a vital window for shaping long-term learning potential,’’ said Dr. Josie Eusebio, de -
velopmental and behavioral pediatrician, who presented at the workshop.
‘’Through simple activities and by prioritizing good nutrition, parents can support their child’s cognitive growth at the peak of their child’s brain development.’’ Ingredients to Boost Early Learning The workshop hosted by Abbott included child development and nutrition experts who provided information and tips to parents on ways they can support their children.
Dr. Eusebio led the Cognition Play Workshop guiding parents and children through simple yet meaningful activities. These exercises highlighted how everyday play can support brain development during a child’s critical growth years.
Dr. Eusebio shared that during the third year of life, the brain continues to grow through three essential processes—neurogenesis (brain cells are born), synaptogenesis (formation of brain connections), and myelination (speed of connections within the brain) – which enhance the brain’s abil -
ity to process and retain information. These biological processes form the basis for how children think, remember, and learn.
‘’Brain growth in early childhood is rapid, and what parents do during this stage matters,’’ said Dr. Eusebio. ‘’Simple activities like tracing, sensory play, and asking thoughtful questions help build the essential skills that support faster learning.’’
Good nutrition—including a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and healthy fat—is also essential for brain development in children, providing the necessary nutrients for cognitive growth, memory, and learning.
‘’Nutrition with added gangliosides has been identified to help improve IQ scores in young children,’’ said Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., medical director for Abbott’s nutrition business in Asia Pacific, at the event. ‘’Abbott formulated Similac GainSchool with its exclusive Prodi-G Nutrition System—the first and only milk formula with added gangliosides. Together, these ingredients help strengthen neural path -
ways, protect developing brain cells, and promote faster learning during a child’s most formative years.’’
Gangliosides are lipids found in the brain that play a key role in supporting the formation of brain connections, which are essential for how the brain communicates and learns. By building strong and efficient brain connections early on, children can have a better foundation for focus, memory, and long-term cognitive growth.
The workshop featured hands-on activities designed to show how play – when paired with the right nutrition – can help strengthen early brain development. Also present were Similac GainSchool ambassadors Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo who shared their parenting journey in raising their daughter to be a fast learner.
Similac GainSchool is available in leading supermarkets, drugstores, and online retailers nationwide. To learn more, visit https://www.family.abbott/ph-en/similacgainschool/home.html
N Global Fatty Liver Day last June 13, 2025, Essentiale, the #1 liver care brand from Opella, is calling attention to a health crisis silently gripping the Philippines. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is on the rise, yet it remains one of the least understood and most ignored threats to Filipino well-being.
Nearly 20 million Filipinos are at risk of MAFLD—a condition commonly misunderstood as being alcohol-related but is, in fact, driven by poor diets, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and underlying conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Today, nine out of 10 obese individuals and seven out of 10 diabetics in the country are vulnerable to liver deterioration. Alarmingly, the average age of fatty liver sufferers has dropped to just 38 years old.
Globally, fatty liver disease has reached epidemic proportions. As of 2023, it impacts 30 percent of adults worldwide, which is expected to rise above 50 percent by 2040. Despite this staggering scale, treatment remains significantly underutilized. In the Philippines, these global trends are mirrored by local health burdens, where lack of awareness and late diagnosis amplify the risks. Yet, the silver lining remains: eight out of 10 cases are reversible when caught in time, according to one study.
“The liver performs over 500 essential functions, yet it’s one of the most overlooked organ, often dismissed as only a concern for heavy drinkers. MAFLD is one of the fastest-growing threats to public health in the Philippines. What makes it more dangerous is how silent it is. We are now seeing an alarming number of Filipinos in their 30s with early signs of liver damage, often without realizing it. By the time symptoms show, the liver may already be damaged. But there is hope. Eight out of 10 liver issues can be reversed if caught early. It’s time we start paying attention. Prioritizing liver health through early detection and lifestyle changes can make all the difference.” warned Dr. Jose D. Sollano, Jr., Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery specializing in Gastroenterology, University of Santo Tomas. Awareness campaign TO confront this crisis, Essentiale is leading a national awareness campaign to educate and empower Filipinos to take charge of their liver health. Through partnerships with pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and local communities, the brand is rolling out interactive education materials and an online self-assessment tool in English and Tagalog that helps users identify early liver health risks and guides them to seek timely medical advice.
“We need to shift the perception that fatty liver disease only affects heavy drinkers, because it doesn’t. In the Philippines, the way many of us live today, eating on the go, sitting for long hours at work, coping with stress, and often putting health last, makes us more vulnerable to liver problems and other lifestyle diseases. But we’re not powerless. Fatty liver disease is preventable and even reversible. With simple changes to our lifestyle habits and preventive health measures, we can take back control. Don’t wait for symptoms to show, take the self-test today and find out if you’re at risk. Now is the time to prioritize liver health—for all Filipinos and our families.” added J Ann Mirasol, Global Brand Lead, Opella. Essentiale challenges every Filipino to stop ignoring their liver. Take the test. Talk to a pharmacist. Act before it’s too late. Please visit https://www. essentiale.com/en-ph/check-your-liver to start your self-test today.
&Fitness
QC aims to ‘break the silence’ about mental health among men
By Rory Visco Contributor
BEFORE, almost everyone believed that the popular line about mental health “it’s okay not to be okay” applies only to women, that they are the ones most vulnerable to mental health issues. Mental health is often associated with women and does not apply to the stoic, resilient Filipino male, a mindset deeply rooted in the “macho” culture. Emotional restraint is seen as a good trait while vulnerability is a flaw.
But what happens when strength turns into silence, and silence into suffering? Many men are thought to live with unspoken anxiety, depression, or trauma, unaware that their mental well-being matters just as much as their physical health.
In observance of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the Quezon City government is calling on all men in the city to “break the silence” about mental health and seek help when in need—reminding them that “it’s okay not to be okay.”
Sad emotional state
IT is taboo even until now to see men cry when in a sad emotional state. The “man of the house” is considered the family’s emotional rock: undeterred, unperturbed, the provider and protector. Starting childhood, boys are conditioned to be strong-willed, are not supposed to cry, and must not show weakness. While women are more likely to suffer from mental health conditions, men are most possibly likely to die by suicide. The World Health Organization say men often underreport their struggles and are less likely to seek professional help.
In the Philippines, cultural expectations only worsen the problem. Men are raised to believe that expressing sadness or fear is unmanly and thus, creates an internal pressure to endure everything alone. Over time, that kind of emotional suppression becomes dangerous. Despite the dangers, Filipino men struggle to accept that they are undergoing emotional distress and need professional support.
Based on a national assessment conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) and IDinsight last year, it revealed certain gaps in mental health literacy among Filipino men. About 33.9 percent identified signs of anxiety while only 32.6 percent recognized eating disorders, 38.4 percent knew what bipolar disorder is, and just 49.6 percent could identify symptoms of depression. However, despite recognizing symptoms, only 27 percent said they would recommend seeking professional help for depression.
The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) said this situation nationwide mirrors what’s happening in the city, the so-called “City of the Stars.” The local government’s Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) revealed that only one out of five patients who access mental health services is male, and that 84 percent of the city’s total suicide cases involved men. Also, 21,156 persons have recorded mental or psycho-social disabilities and unfortunately, 53.5 percent or 11,310 were men, based on PDAO data.
According to QCHD Officer-in-Charge Dr. Ramona Abarquez, these figures have deeply rooted cultural expectations. “Denial, lack of self-awareness, and stigma often discourage men from seeking care. For many, asking for help is wrongly perceived as weakness. But true strength lies in vulnerability and self-care.”
As for Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, she said
that men are often expected to be tough and unyielding, but this narrative must be challenged.
“We’re only human. There’s nothing wrong in crying, in becoming emotional, or seeking help. These are not signs of weakness, but of courage and resilience. Every man deserves to be heard, supported, and healed.”
Bridging the gap IN order to bridge the gap in access and awareness, the local government has scaled up its gender-inclusive mental health services. Abarquez said all 67 city health centers now offer free mental health consultations and screenings. She said the city operates six Mental Wellness Access Hubs, which provide assessment, diagnosis, and free prescription medication to qualified patients.
QCitizens (or Quezon City citizens) can also dial the city’s Helpline 122 emergency contact number for immediate psychosocial support and crisis intervention. Call agents are trained in suicide response, psychological first aid, and trauma-informed support.
Also, barangay officials across the city were trained to assist residents facing trauma—especially survivors of violence, disaster, or loss.
“With only 20 percent of men seeking help, systemic reforms are urgently needed,” explains Dr. Abarquez.
“Expanded services, targeted awareness campaigns, and the de-stigmatization of emotional vulnerability are essential if we are to save lives and promote true well-being,” she added.
In the end, strength is not about how much men can carry on their own. It’s about knowing when to set down the weight and seek support. For Filipino men, acknowledging mental health struggles is not a betrayal of masculinity, but a bold, necessary act of self-preservation. And perhaps the bravest thing any man can say is: “I need help.”
The local government of Quezon City reaffirms its commitment to creating a mental health system where no one regardless of gender is left behind. It believes that when it comes to men’s mental health, “Asking for Help is Strength.”
‘Overstimulated’ Pinoys drive podcast listenership for emotional refuge–study
FILIPINOS are turning to podcasts for emotional refuge amidst overstimulation from digital fatigue.
This is the key finding of “The Two Faces of the Overwhelmed,” a study conducted by The Pod Network, the country’s leading podcast network, in partnership with socio-cultural research firm The Fourth Wall, which looked at the consumption behavior of the podcast listenership in the Philippines.
The study, which surveyed hundreds of digital users early this year, reveals that more Filipinos are turning to podcasts as tools to cope with feeling emotionally overwhelmed or mentally saturated, a result of today’s hyperconnected digital landscape.
According to the study, there are two faces of podcast listeners: the “mindful navigators” and “content grazers.” The “mindful navigators” are categorized as those aged 25 and above, balancing work, life, and family responsibilities, who turn to podcasts for relief. Their overstimulation stems from doing too much, and they seek podcasts for genuine relief, not mere distraction. With a stimulation score of +2.06 and a higher reliance on podcasts (53 percent identifying it as a key source of relief), “mindful navigators” spend up to six hours daily listening to narrative, reflective, or calming shows, often during commutes, chores, or end-of-day wind-downs.
Meanwhile, “content grazers” are those under 25 who are immersed in a multi-platform world, jumping between TikTok, Spotify, and YouTube. They show a lower stimulation score (-1.63) and lighter podcast reliance (47 percent), listening one to four hours per day, often while multitasking. Unlike “mindful navigators,” their podcast use isn’t emotionally anchored but more driven by boredom or habit.
The study also reveals that while podcasts
emerged as tools for calm, the emotional value they bring to consumers extends beyond just meditation apps or self-help monologues. “Mindful navigators” prefer clear, calm, conversational content, with ideal episode lengths of 30 to 45 minutes, especially during evening de-stressing periods (6 to 8 pm). Meanwhile, “content grazers” are drawn to humor, energy, and cultural relevance in shorter, dynamic episodes.
John Brylle Bae, Research Director at The Fourth Wall, emphasizes the implications for creators, saying, “Today’s digital landscape presents a generation overwhelmed by multitasking, digital noise, and attention fatigue. Hence, podcasts are increasingly becoming a reset button for silence and mindfulness. This key finding emphasizes that engagement is not just about time, but about purpose, opening new strategic ground for creators to better connect with their audience.”
Alan Fontanilla, CEO of The Pod Network Entertainment, underscores the growth and opportunities within the industry.
“This study not only provides insights into the listenership behaviors of Filipinos but, more importantly, offers a roadmap for action for creators and brands. Podcasts are increasingly becoming emotional infrastructure. Therefore, creators must understand the importance of designing podcast shows for emotional need, while brands need to realize that podcast ads aren’t interruptions but opportunities to build emotional trust.”
The “Beyond the Headphones: The Portrait of a Podcast Listener as Filipino” report, released last year, indicated over 17 million weekly podcast listenership in the country, with comedy emerging as the top genre for Filipinos. You may access the full report via https://thepodnetwork.com/tpn-insider or visit https://thepodnetwork.com/ for more information.
AHMC’s Asian Learning Institute inaugurated during two-day MMHRDC Conference
ASIAN Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) marked a significant milestone on June 5, 2025, with the official launch of the Asian Learning Institute (ALI)—one of the hospital’s five strategic goals for 2025.
Envisioned as a premier hub for medical innovation, education, and training, the institute is set to play a pivotal role in advancing research, enhancing professional development, and improving patient care outcomes.
“We are hiring a lot of people— nurses, technicians, and doctors. So, we need to make sure that our standards for training and education are all the same. At the same time, we must tailor-fit particular programs for the specific needs of patients,” said Dr. Beaver Tamesis, President and CEO of AHMC, said in an interview.
embrace
(AVP) Contest, further emphasizing the importance of creative communication in health research advocacy.
Advancing Science and Collaboration: Day 2 Highlights
research and development.
and make a lasting impact. Their influence will extend not only within the hospital but also into the broader community, paving the way for improved care, stronger collaboration, and a brighter future for all.
Inauguration Coincides with MMHRDC Conference THE launch of ALI coincided with AHMC’s hosting of the Metro Manila Health Research and Development
Dr. Jose M. Acuin, Director of the Asian Learning Institute, delivered the welcome message. Under his visionary leadership—marked by a clear and inspiring direction—the institute aims to grow and build a culture where people keep learning throughout their lives, stay open to new ideas, and always try to do their best, especially in how they care for others in the medical field. The inauguration marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for AHMC. It is more than just a ceremonial start—it represents a significant step forward. This new phase will empower healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and staff, with greater opportunities to acquire
Consortium’s (MMHRDC) 9th International Symposium and 16th Annual Scientific Conference, carrying the theme “Juan Health Research: Building Science, Technology, and Society.” Day 1 of the conference opened with warm messages from Dr. Tamesis, Dr. Acuin, Dr. Charles Yu, Research Program Head, and Dr. Ma. Luisa Enriquez, Chair of the Research Utilization Committee. These welcome remarks set a collaborative and forward-thinking tone, paving the way for robust discussions on healthcare
A ribbon-cutting ceremony formally opened the conference exhibit, showcasing entries in the Research Poster Presentation and Photography Contest. These highlighted the intersection of scientific inquiry, artistic expression, and community impact. In parallel, AHMC’s Conference and Function Unit hosted the ThreeMinute Pitch to Policymakers contest, while the hospital’s main lobby became the venue for the Health Research Audio-Visual Presentation
DAY 2 of the symposium was held at The Palms Country Club Grand Ballroom, with Dr. Tamesis opening the day by reaffirming AHMC’s unwavering commitment to research-based, patient-centered care.
Support messages followed from key government stakeholders. Engr. Romelen T. Teresvalles, Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology—National Capital Region (DOST-NCR), expressed the agency’s support for strengthening research and innovation in healthcare. Dr. Jimmy G. Catanes, Regional Director of the Commission on Higher
also
as conference chair, emphasized the importance of
ing a robust and inclusive learning ecosystem—one that not only drives research excellence but also bridges science and community for greater societal benefit. The successful launch of the Asian
alongside the
ence, reaffirmed
vision to be a leader in transformative healthcare. Through education, collaboration, and innovation, AHMC continues to build a healthier future for every Filipino.
INAUGURATION of Asian Learning Institute at AHMC Main Lobby
DAY 2 of the MMHRDC 9th International Symposium and 16th Annual Scientific Conference, themed “Juan Health Research: Bridging Science, Technology, and Society” at The Palms Country Club.
PRESENT during Day 1 of the Metro Manila Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium’s 9th International Symposium and 16th Annual Scientific Conference MMHRDC were Dr. Beaver Tamesis, President and CEO of AHMC; Dr. Ma. Luisa
DR. Jose Acuin, Director of the Asian Learning Institute
DR. Beaver Tamesis, President and CEO of Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Health&Fitness
Dengue control demands innovation, prevention, cross-sector collaboration
AS global dengue cases surged to over 14 million in 2024, with Asia bearing 70 percent of the burden, health leaders universally agree that dengue control demands a unified, multi-pronged, whole-of-society approach.
This was highlighted at the 8th Asia Dengue Summit, held from June 15 to 18, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. The summit, themed “Toward Zero Dengue Deaths: Science, Strategy, and Solidarity,” convened over 600 participants from 22 countries, including leading dengue experts, global health leaders, policymakers, researchers, and advocates.
“Dengue control has to be a multipronged, multi-sectoral approach. It cannot be single people working in silos. It has to involve cooperation and the whole of society,” said Prof. Datuk Zulkifli Ismail, Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Asia Dengue Voice and Action Group (ADVA), and Secretary General, Asia Pacific Pediatric Association.
Reinforcing this call for broad collaboration, Dr. Fatima I. Gimenez, Organizing Committee Co-Chair of the summit, added, “Since our health system is very much evolved, priorities will
be dependent on the local government units. There has to be collaboration between the central and local government units. Private organizations, like the medical societies, have always been at the forefront of championing the importance of controlling dengue. We all need to work together. It’s a public and private partnership that usually works.”
The summit’s overarching message, as articulated by Dr. Ma. Rosario Z. Capeding, Organizing Chair for the 8th Asia Dengue Summit, was clear: “With dengue cases persistently growing in many parts of the world including the Philippines, this summit delivers a unifying message: Dengue is preventable – and with scientific innovation, the right strategies, and strong community partnerships, achieving Zero Dengue Deaths is achievable. We want to protect lives, eliminate preventable deaths, and put a stop to this global threat.”
Dr. Capeding presented an overview of dengue disease in the Philippines during the first day of the four-day summit.
“While we can learn from the successful campaigns of our neighboring countries through this summit, we can also take this opportunity to share our own experience because we have the expertise and the commitment of our
dedicated scientific community. We can share our own achievements in this battle against dengue and be considered as strong partners and powerful allies,” said Dr. Gimenez.
A key driver behind these discussions is ADVA, a scientific working group dedicated to dengue vaccine advocacy in Asia.
The 8th Asia Dengue Summit was coconvened by a broad coalition of partners including Tropical Medicine and Public Health Networks, Global Dengue Plus Aedes-Transmitted Diseases Consortium, Fondation Mérieux, The International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Pediatric Society, and the Philippine College of Physicians.
Furthering its advocacy, ADVA, through its Asia Dengue Policy Working Group, recently released a white paper titled “Unlocking Progress: Dengue Policies and Opportunities in Asia.”
Its country-specific recommendation for the Philippines includes strengthening both dengue prevention through vaccination and quality care delivery. It also stresses that targeted
communication and global collaboration can counter misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, while expanding treatment access and ensuring guideline-based care will help save lives, especially in underserved areas.
Approaches to dengue control DELVING into practical strategies, Zulkifli also outlined two primary approaches to dengue control. While a dengue vaccine offers a crucial tool for disease control, he emphasized not to overlook the fundamental link between the mosquito vector, human host, and the virus itself.
“We cannot just say that vaccine is the answer. It’s not. Vector control has been there all the time and it’s still going on. There’s also human behavior that has to change so that we can have a better environment. And the vaccine is for what we call personal protection.” The first approach, he explained, focuses on reducing the number of cases through environmental and vector control, behavior modification, and vaccination. The second approach targets the reduction of dengue-related deaths by emphasizing proper management training for healthcare professionals. Candy P. Dalizon
IWTS graduates 115 kids from chemotherapy
By Vincent Peter Rivera
NON-PROFIT organization I
Want To Share Foundation
(IWTS) once again hosted the “CAn Beat It” ceremony to officially honor the resilience of 115 pediatric cancer survivors who successfully completed their chemotherapy programs.
More than just a ceremony, CAn Beat It is an annual celebration dedicated to the young cancer patients of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), recognizing their remarkable health journeys and the unwavering support of their loved ones in their battles.
IWTS founder Sheila Romero shared that the organization began in 2013 with a vision to give back. Initially, this involved assisting other foundations and individuals during calamities, eventually leading to the establishment of her own foundation.
“But I really wanted a group that I can grow with,” she said. “We found the Pedia Hema-Onco [Pediatric HematologyOncology] Department of the PGH who helps kids with cancer. So since 2015, we’ve been helping these children.” Echoing this advocacy, Dr. Pamela Fajardo, Head of the UP-PGH Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, highlighted the importance of the event through recognizing the enduring journey that the pediatric patients have to go through at a young age.
“These children have endured more in their young lives than many do in a lifetime. Yet, they have emerged not broken but transformed,” Dr. Fajardo mentioned. “Their journey through
pain, uncertainty, and countless treatments have shaped them into living masterpieces, all together by courage and faith.”
Now in its fourth year, the event honored pediatric cancer patients who had completed their chemotherapy sessions from various conditions, including leukemia, brain tumors, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and solid tumors.
During the event at the Manila Prince Hotel last May 25, 2025, each young survivor, dressed in graduation attire, performed the turning of the tassel to symbolize the successful completion of their treatment.
“This isn’t just a graduation—it’s a declaration of life after cancer,” Romero added. “I know how tough the fight can be, but I also know how powerful hope is. These children are proof that healing is possible and worth every effort.”
Further, each pediatric patient also received gifts in cash and in kind from IWTS, as well as toys from the Belo Medical Group.
Known personalities like Dr. Vicky Belo who shared her own journey as a cancer survivor, Dr. Hayden Kho, Scarlet Snow Belo, singer-actress Ysabel Ortega, and theatrical performer Arman Ferrer, who gave a special performance, were all present during the graduation.
A synergy of fashion, art, and advocacy
BEYOND the CAn Beat It ceremony, IWTS and Belo Medical Group held its second Gala Night, “An Evening for Brave Warriors” to reinforce its fundraising efforts to continuously support the young cancer patients.
With the venue at the Shangri-La The Fort Grand Ballroom, Bonifacio
Mastercard, Platinum Mastercard, World Mastercard
Lenticule Extraction (SMILE): P22,072.83
in St. Luke’s – Global City only)
n In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): P26,666.67
(Available in St. Luke’s – Global City only)
n Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LAP CHOLE): P23,671.67 (net of Philhealth)
n Robotic Hysterectomy or Myomectomy: P97,500.00
Terms and Conditions:
n The Promo is open to all Principal and Supplementary Cardholders (“Cardholder”) whose cards are active, in good credit standing, and have an available Credit Limit at the time of purchase.
n Participating Cards: Security Bank: Classic Mastercard, Gold Mastercard, Next Titanium Mastercard, Wave Mastercard, Cashback Platinum
BDO: Mastercard, Visa, JCB, American Express, Diners Club and UnionPay. Excluded are Corporate Cards, Distribution Cards, and Purchasing Cards.
Metrobank: Peso Visa/Mastercard, Vantage Visa/Mastercard, M Mastercard, Titanium Mastercard, Platinum Mastercard, World Mastercard, PSBank Credit Mastercard, NCCC Mastercard, Toyota Mastercard, Robinsons Mastercard, ON VirtualMastercard, Rewards Plus Visa, Femme Visa, Femme Signature Visa, Cashback Platinum Visa, and Travel Platinum Visa. Excluded are Metrobank Dollar Mastercard, Metrobank Prime Debit, Prepaid cards, and YAZZ Prepaid Visa.
n The 0% interest promo is available on three- or sx-month payment terms.
n The pay later offer from two to three months varies per bank.
n The Promo runs
Experiencing Korean skincare in Manila the natural way
By Ginger Franz S. Ocampo Contributor
SINCE establishing its foothold in the Philippines, KNatural has been building a reputation as a trusted destination for authentic Korean beauty. Their thoughtful approach to skincare, and advanced treatments are changing the way people experience facials in the Metro.
A Personalized Skincare
Experience
UNLIKE many facial centers where clients choose treatments without expert guidance, KNatural begins with a complimentary skin consultation. A high-tech scanner analyzes your skin’s condition, allowing their team to tailor treatments based on real data. In my case, the assessment revealed enlarged pores. The recommended treatment was the Porcelain Glow Facial, which targets pore size, oiliness, breakouts, adult acne, and signs of aging while brightening and smoothing the skin. After the session, my skin felt noticeably cleaner, tighter, and more radiant.
A Gentler Approach to Skincare ONE of KNatural’s standout features is its commitment to gentle, skin-friendly techniques. Unlike traditional facials that rely on pricking to remove impurities, which can be painful and potentially enlarge pores, KNatural uses refined alternatives that cleanse and treat the skin without irritation or damage.
Having experienced the downsides of pricking facials in the past, I found their approach much more effective and comfortable.
A Calming K-Beauty Escape FROM the moment you enter, KNatural sets the tone for relaxation. The facial rooms are clean, serene, and filled with soft piano versions of K-pop songs that enhance the calming ambiance.
Global City, the gala will took the PGH pediatric cancer survivors to center stage through a fashion show, feature different creations by Filipino designers Ivar Aseron, Michael Leyva, Francis Libiran, and Dennis Lustico. Complementing the event was a charity art auction that highlights artworks by renowned artists like Ramon Orlina, Elmer Borlongan, Manny Garibay, Daniel dela Cruz, Jigger Cruz, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Yeo Kaa, among others. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the medical needs and cancer care initiatives including: Phase 2 of the Bone Marrow Transplant Wing, Procurement of Mindray BeneFusion/ UVP Infusion Pumps, Support for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department, Long-term Survivorship Programs, and Campaigns dedicated to raising awareness for early detection and surviving childhood cancer.
The Porcelain Glow Facial begins with a soothing massage, followed by a thorough cleansing using KNatural’s own facial oil and cleanser. These in-house skincare and makeup products are also available at their store.
The treatment includes advanced devices like the HYSONIC Three-Way machine from South Korea, and HIFU technology, which gently stimulates collagen production using heat. While it may sound intense, the entire process feels gentle and refreshing.
The Glow is Real BY the end of the session, I could genuinely feel the difference. My pores felt tighter, and my complexion looked smoother and more luminous. This experience completely changed my perception of facials. I no longer feel the need to
return to painful treatments when there are gentler, more effective options like those offered at KNatural. The Porcelain Glow Facial is priced at P8,000. Given the care, a dvanced technology, and visible results, it is a worthy investment in your skin.
K-GLOW Membership FOR those who want to take their skincare journey to the next level, KNatural now offers the K-GLOW Membership program. This membership is filled with luxurious perks designed to give clients consistent care and more value with every visit.
Upon joining, members receive one Porcelain Glow Facial; a curated exclusive gift set; one complimentary classic facial (choose from Hydrating, Korean Relaxing, Acne, Wrinkle, or Whitening) and two complimentary underarm whitening sessions using IRIS Bluetoning technology.
Additional member privileges include priority booking for easy scheduling; 25 percent off all KNatural products and services; 10 percent off already discounted packages; one free premium treatment during the member’s birthday month (choose from FamiliAnti-Scar Laser Facial, Porcelain Glow Facial, Signature Calming Laser Facial, or Light Tech +++ Laser Facial); 50 percentoff treatments for family and friends accompanying the member during their birthday month; and a referral reward of a P1,000 service gift certificate for every successful new member referred The K-GLOW Membership is available to all new and existing clients. To enroll, visit any KNatural branch, fill out the in-store registration form, and pay a one-time membership fee of P10,000. Members will receive an official KNatural Glow Membership card to access all these exclusive benefits. With its thoughtful offerings, personalized care, and premium K-beauty expertise, KNatural delivers more than just skincare. It offers an experience that blends results with relaxation, helping you look and feel your best.
KNatural is located at G/F and 2/F, PNB Building, Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig, Philippines. For inquiries you may call 0917 150 1849 or visit https://knatural.ph.
THE 6th Celebration of Life and Legacy of Dr. George S.K. Ty, Manila Doctors Hospital’s late Chairman, held in November 2024, was culminated in a display of compassion and commitment with the official turnover of monetary donation from the Cups of Courage, Brew for Hope Commemoration Drive in support for cancer patients. Last November 2024, MDH honored its late Chairman through the commemoration drive participated by its employees and doctors. The proceeds of the pledge drive are dedicated to supporting cancer patients through the Box of Hope project and cancer support groups. Each cup of coffee purchased on that day is equivalent to a pledge to fund the Box of Hope for Cancer Institute and for the cancer support group of the Corporate Social Initiatives Office (CSIO). A total of P56,956 was turned over to the Cancer Institute and CSIO last May 28, 2025. Dr. Cherry Fernando, Head of Cancer Institute expressed
