THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Thursday reported strong financial results for the first 10 months of 2025, with net income jumping more than 50 percent year-on-year as cargo, container, and passenger traffic continued to rise across the country’s port network.
Jay Daniel Santiago, the agency’s general manager, reported that net income after tax surged 50.76 percent to P10.67 billion from P7.08 billion in the same period last year.
Revenues for the January-to-October period climbed 10.57 percent to P24.97 billion from P22.58 bil-
lion a year earlier. He attributed the strong performance to increased vessel and cargo traffic, favorable dollar-denominated tariffs, higher storage fees, and improved regulatory income.
“We are pleased to share that the PPA continues to register consistent improvement across all operational indicators. We can attribute this to good and transparent fiscal management of PPA,” he said.
Cargo throughput reached 262.84 million metric tons, up 7.47 percent from 244.58 million metric tons in the year-ago period. The growth was driven by steady demand for construction materials, ongoing infrastructure projects, mining ac-
tivities, and rising exports of raw minerals.
The agency expects cargo volumes to hit at least 301.47 million metric tons by year-end.
Container traffic expanded 11.04 percent to 7.14 million twenty-foot equivalent units from 6.43 million TEUs, with the port chief citing digitalization programs such as the Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS), the strengthened public-private partnerships, and expansion of domestic shipping fleets as key contributors.
Container throughput is projected to exceed 8 million TEUs for the full year.
Passenger movement increased
5.25 percent to 69.13 million from 65.68 million, supported by domestic tourism and a strong cruise sector that has welcomed more than 150,000 passengers as of October— a 78 percent year-on-year increase. With the Christmas travel season approaching, the agency expects passenger traffic to reach 85.41 million by year-end. Ship calls rose 7.95 percent to 558,534 from 517,411, indicating stronger domestic shipping activity and enhanced maritime connectivity. Santiago said the agency is “confident in meeting its 2025 targets” given the “strong revenue and operational performance as of October 2025.”
RATING, BUT FLAGS RISKS
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
Global Ratings affirmed its longterm “BBB+” and “A-2” short-term sovereign investment-grade credit ratings and maintained its positive rating outlook on the Philippines.
In a report, S&P Global Ratings affirmed the Philippines’ “BBB+” long-term and “A-2” short-term sovereign credit ratings. An investment-grade credit rating will allow the government to borrow at cheaper costs, freeing up resources for essential services and infrastructure. It will likewise support businesses access more affordable financing, supporting expansion and job creation.
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
MANDATORY lifestyle checks should be conducted to validate the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of government officials, according to six business and civil society groups.
In a statement, the concerned groups asserted the need to go beyond scrutinizing SALNs, saying these records are not enough to weed out corruption in government.
“We call for truthful and
“The positive rating outlook reflects our view that the Philippines
public submission of SALNs by all government officials, and mandatory lifestyle checks to validate these disclosures,” the groups underscored in a statement on Thursday. These business and civil society groups are the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. has vowed that
his government will create the necessary conditions that will enable the economy to grow faster. Marcos made the pronouncement after he met with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona on Wednesday to review the October 2025 policy decision and the
country’s economic outlook.
“The President reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding economic stability and creating conditions for sustained, broad-based growth for all Filipinos,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.
The Monetary Board decided to push through with the lowering of interest rates after inflation eased to 1.7 percent to “support more affordable borrowing for families and businesses.”
“The good news is, the inflation outlook was good enough for the Philippines to be confident about reducing the policy rate,” PCO said.
For 2026, however, the inflation forecast is about 3.1 percent, which is higher than the average print of 1.7 percent in January to October.
The PCO noted that the figure still falls within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.
In 2027, the inflation outlook is
about 2.8 percent. The country’s economic growth slowed to 4 percent during the third quarter of the year due to the impact of natural calamities and the flood control project investigations, which resulted in lower government spending.
Remolona, who chairs the Monetary Board, said the reduced interest rate will help “stimulate more demand.”
BARRACKS TO BETHLEHEM The Armor Division’s “Armor Division
of AMLC’s functions, except by the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court; and
* Authorizes the AMLC to suspend transactions as a preemptive measure to let the AMLC and covered persons to hold off any transaction suspected of being related to money laundering, terrorism financing, or any other unlawful activity.
The bill enhances the AMLC’s role as the country’s independent central anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing authority.
AMLC shall function as the financial intelligence unit, specialized money laundering and terrorism financing investigation agency, and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator and supervisor of the Philippines.
Under the bill, the list of covered persons is expanded to include those buying and selling real estate; and lawyers and accountants of covered persons; online gambling operators regardless of their license classification; and virtual asset service providers.
Meanwhile, the list of predicate offenses covered by the AMLA is expanded to include, among others:
* Terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and providing material support to terrorists;
* Violation of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children, and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials;
* Violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012;
* Violation of the Anti-Dummy Act;
* Violation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
DA chief blasts Zaldy Co’s ‘lies’ to save self, eyes suit
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has denied former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s videotaped allegations, calling it a “fabricated lie” crafted to divert public attention from the controversial flood-control projects.
In a press conference on Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. listed his encounters with Co across several major agricultural commodities.
He recalled Co introducing him to a major sugar importer seeking a 200,000-metric ton (MT) sugar import allocation in 2024 valued at
Continued from A1
(SHAREPHIL).
“Without rigorous verification,
roughly P2 billion. This was about 83 percent of the total sugar import volume of 240,000 MT last year.
“I was shocked by the size of the request,” Tiu Laurel told reporters, adding that he consulted with Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Pablo Azcona.
The SRA then issued Sugar Order
SALNs remain symbolic records rather than effective tools against corruption,” added the six groups.
Citing Article XI, Section 17 of the Constitution, the groups said this provision mandates every public offi-
(SO) 2, which changed the allocation system in a bid to eliminate favoritism.
“That order became the basis for rejecting the request,” he said.
Tiu Laurel then traced the 2023 price surge in retail prices of onions to a supply-and-demand collapse rooted in October 2022, when the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) reported critically low stocks and pushed for urgent importation.
He said these recommendations were left unacted upon, which catapulted retail prices to a high of P700 per kilo.
“If large-scale smuggling happened then, prices would not have shot up like that. And no sensible businessman would hoard onions at the peak of a price spike,” he said.
The DA chief further assailed Co’s claim that he recommended
cial, both elected and appointed, to submit a sworn SALN upon assuming office.
While the concerned groups welcome the recent Ombudsman decision restoring public access to SALNs, they pointed out that transparency alone is insufficient.
The groups also cited Republic Act No. 1379 or the Forfeiture of Ill-Gotten Wealth Act as confirmed by a recent Supreme Court decision, which supplements the mandatory submission of a sworn SALN.
“Any property “manifestly out of proportion” to an official’s lawful income is presumed ill-gotten and subject to forfeiture,” the law noted.
This now raises the urgency to conduct lifestyle audits.
“Discrepancies uncovered through these checks must trigger immediate, impartial investigations and prosecutions under the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate,” the concerned groups pointed out.
In ensuring that SALN requirement is not only pressed upon a public official, they also cited the Republic Act No. 6713 or
importing 13 million metric tons (MMT) of rice last year.
“That volume would kill our farmers—it equals 20 million MT of palay, our entire national production,” he said. He added that Co had pushed for a zero-percent tariff on rice imports, which was rejected by both him and then Finance Secretary Ralph Recto. Under Executive Order (EO) 62, the tariffs levied on rice imports was slashed to 15 percent from 35 percent. With this, the DA chief said the agency is preparing to file charges against Co for cyber libel by January 2026.
“He pretends to care for farmers and consumers, but his greed is clear. Zaldy Co, come home and face your cases. That is what the Filipino people demand,” Tiu Laurel said.
the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees which underscored that high-ranking officials must make a “full public disclosure.”
This measure, they said, “extends SALN requirements to spouses and minor children living in the same household and mandates annual updates.”
As such, the groups also called on the public to do its duty which is: “To remain vigilant and report signs of excessive or unexplained wealth among officials.”
“The corruption we now see, we cannot unsee. We can no longer allow pilferage to prosper under the cover of pretense, political patronage, and public indifference,” the six business and civil society groups underscored.
On the penalties that should be slapped on erring officials, the groups cited the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which “imposes penalties, including disqualification and imprisonment, while the Plunder Law punishes with lifetime imprisonment those who amass illgotten wealth of at least P50 million, a low benchmark given what we now know.”
will maintain its external strength and healthy growth rate, and fiscal performance will strengthen over the next 12-24 months,” S&P said. A positive outlook points to a possible rating upgrade within 24 months, which would further lower borrowing costs and boost investor confidence.
However, it said that the outlook could be revised to “stable” if the country’s long-term trend growth erodes significantly, leading to a deterioration in the government’s fiscal and debt positions.
S&P further warned that the persistently large current account deficits leading to a structural weakening of the Philippines’ external balance sheet could result in a change in outlook.
Nevertheless, S&P said that policy settings in the Philippines have helped to keep economic performance strong, and have sustained fiscal spending on public investment.
“A strong economic recovery in the Philippines over the past three years, and ongoing reforms to support business and investing conditions reflect these strengths,” it said.
Although the ongoing investigation into some infrastructure works in the Philippines will result in the slowdown in GDP growth this year, S&P said, “this will not derail the country’s long-term growth trajectory, which remains healthy.”
While the investigation has intensified the political pressure on the Marcos administration, with several protests involving hundreds of thousands of people staged over the past three months, S&P said, “We do not foresee the protests will lead to political instability.”
“The direction of policymaking has not changed, and the government remains committed to delivering probusiness and progrowth conditions,” it added.
Despite this, the government’s fiscal and debt settings deteriorated due to the economic fallout of the pandemic and the associated extraordinary policy responses, S&P added.
“Fiscal buffers built through a long record of prudence before the pandemic thinned. But consolidation is ongoing, with government deficits gradually coming down and the debt burden stabilizing,” it said.
BSP’s, DOF’s take MEANWHILE , Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said, “S&P’s rating decision confirms our view of the favorable long-term economic growth prospects.”
Remolona added that the country remains well-positioned against external risks, having $110.2 billion in gross international reserves as of end-October 2025.
at once may negotiate staggered releases, but only through a mutually agreed arrangement with workers.
“They should discuss how they
Government economic managers were aiming for a 5.5-percent gross domestic product (GDP) rate for next year. However, some think tanks, including the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)+3
can make the payment…If workers see that the employer also needs some leeway as long as payment is assured, then it can be based on their agreement,” he said.
The BSP said this is enough to cover 7.4 months of imports, more than twice the International Monetary Fund’s adequacy benchmark.
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go added that S&P’s affirmation is proof of the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals and the administration’s sustained commitment to pursuing fiscal consolidation.
Macroeconomic Research Office, projected GDP growth next year to settle at 5.2 percent, citing as basis the impact of the “aggressive protectionism” and potential slowdown in major economies in the coming months.
“Having a high credit rating will benefit Filipinos because this means cheaper financing for the government, and in effect, more resources for essential public services. This supports our goal of uplifting the life of every Filipino,” Go said.
Moreover, the S&P sees that the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (Create More) Act will continue to support foreign direct investments in the next two to three years.
ganic agriculture businesses, slow food enthusiasts and experts, and innovators from across Asia and the Pacific. It is patterned after Slow Food International’s Terra Madre Salone del Gusto held every two years in Turin, Italy.
In an earlier interview, Uy told the BusinessMirror that mounting TMAP would cost some P60 million, Aside from national and local government assistance, organizers were also able to secure funding from overseas donors like the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Slow Food International, Campari/Negroni Week, among others. (See, “PHL putting its best foo(d) forward for Terra Madre,” in the BusinessMirror, July 21, 2025.)
S&P also acknowledged other reforms such as the liberalization of telecommunications, power generation and transportation sectors. Meanwhile, renewable energy subsectors such as solar and wind in particular allow 100-percent foreign ownership.
The Department of Finance said a catch-up plan is already in place to carefully manage and direct spending towards high-impact projects to stimulate growth and provide essential services to its citizens.
ICI welcomes Sandro Marcos offer to appear, shed light on flood-control mess ‘involvement’
THE Independent Commission (ICI) for Infrastructure on Thursday welcomed the offer of House of Representatives Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos to voluntarily appear before it and shed light on allegations that he illegally benefited from budget insertions in from 2023 to 2025 totalling to P50.93 billion.
ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka, however, said Marcos testimony before the commission will be livestreamed unless there is a formal request from him for an executive session.
Hosaka said the body would have to convene first and decide on the date for Marcos’ appearance.
In his letter to the ICI dated November 26, 2025, Marcos expressed his support to the ICI’s ongoing investigation on the anomalies involving the government’s flood control projects.
“Let me state this clearly and without hesitation, I am willing to appear before the commission at any time. I welcome the opportunity to shed light on any matter that may assist your review,” Marcos said.
“I stand ready to cooperate, answer questions, and provide any clarification needed to move this investigation forward,” he added. Hosaka said the ICI is open to receiving any information from any individual that could help bring those responsible for the flood-control mess before the bar of justice.
In his video statements, resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co accused Marcos of having budget insertions for the past three years.
Co served as the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations during the 19th Congress and was removed from the post following the passage of the 2025 budget.
The former legislator left the country last July before the flood control scandal broke out and has been in hiding since then.
The Office of the Ombudsman had filed graft and malversation charges against him and 17 others before the Sandiganbayan over the P289.5 million anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro implemented by Sunwest Corporation, the construction firm being linked to the family of Co.
When asked if the ICI would discuss Co’s statements during Marcos’ appearance, Hosaka said: “I cannot speculate on that. What we have right now is a letter coming from the congressman and his willingness to assist the commission in our investigation. So, we take that as an opportunity for us to gather more information.”
“We take note of his willingness to appear voluntarily before the commission and we will wait for the commission to eventually set the date on when he will be coming,” he added.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Reps. Patrick Michael Vargas (Fifth District) and Maria Victoria Co-Pilar (Sixth District) appeared before the ICI on Thursday for investigation in connection with the claim of government contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya” that they received kickbacks from flood control projects.
The two lawmakers testified in an executive session. Joel R. San Juan
FORMER presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has revealed a detailed account of his offloading from a KLM Amsterdam–Vienna flight on Tuesday, narrating a brief interrogation by Dutch authorities and what he described as an apparent attempt by Austrian police to apprehend him upon arrival.
In a Facebook Live broadcast, Roque confirmed that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) denied both his initial petition and appeal for asylum in the Netherlands. Authorities instead sought to transfer him to Austria—the country that issued his Schengen visa.
Under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation, the member state responsible for issuing the visa is typically tasked with processing the asylum application.
In Roque’s case, Austria is designated to handle his protection and asylum claim.
While awaiting the IND’s decision, Roque underwent major spine surgery on October 30, followed by a minor biopsy to remove a suspicious lesion on his head just two days before his scheduled flight.
His personal physicians certified him “unfit to fly,” citing a twomonth recovery period and a strict restriction against lifting objects heavier than one kilogram. However, Roque said Dutch-appointed doctors declared him fit to travel.
From his apartment in The Hague, Roque was escorted by Dutch police directly to the airport and onto the plane—without his passport. He handed his medical certificate to the pilot.
8 accused in Mindoro flood control project anomaly plead not guilty
E“Noong nakaupo na ang mga pasahero, lumabas iyong captain at umakyat ang dalawang airport police, pinuntahan ako, dala-dala ngayon iyong certificate ko na unfit to fly,” Roque recounted. “ Sabi ko , ‘So what is your point?’ Ang sagot nila , ‘Do you want to take this flight?’ Sabi ko , ‘No.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘Because my own doctor said I am unfit to fly.’” Roque added that he boarded the plane out of respect for Dutch hospitality and under the impression that he had no choice.
After being offloaded, Roque said Dutch authorities interrogated him and threatened to charge him under the Alien Act for allegedly “absconding” by refusing the transfer.
He disputed the accusation, citing his medical condition and physical limitations:
n He was traveling with seven heavy suitcases, which he could not carry due to post-surgery restrictions.
n He emphasized that he did not evade authorities and was offloaded only after truthfully answering the captain’s question.
Twenty minutes later, officials reportedly returned and told him: “We’re not charging you with anything, you can go.” Roque said he required assistance returning home.
Although Roque remained in Amsterdam, he said he received reports that Austrian police boarded the plane upon its arrival in Vienna and searched for him.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
IGHT of the 18 accused in the P289.5 million anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, on Thursday pleaded not guilty on the graft charge filed against them during their arraignment before the Sandiganbayan.
The eight accused, who were earlier taken into custody by authorities by virtue of the arrest warrants issued against them, were arraigned before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division where the graft case was assigned.
Those who entered “Not Guilty” pleas were Gerald Pacanan, Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director; Gene Ryan Altea, DPWH Assistant Regional Director; Ruben D.S. Santos, DPWH Assistant Regional Director; Dominic Serrano, DPWH
Chief, Construction Division and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson; Felisardo Casuno, DPWH Project Engineer 3; Lerma Cayco, DPWH Accountant IV; Dennis Abagon, DPWH OIC-Chief, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; Regular Member, BAC; and Montrexis Tamayo, DPWHMimaropa Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge.
During the arraignment, the anti-graft court revealed that DPWH Region 4B maintenance division head Juliet Calvo was not present and will be arraigned on December 2. She is currently detained in Camp Tomas B. Karingal in Quezon City.
The anti-graft court set pretrial conference for the graft case on January 9, 19, and 26; as well as February 5, 12, 19, and 26 in 2026.
The arraignment of the accused for the malversation through falsification of public documents was set on December 2 by the Sandi -
ganbayan’s Sixth Division.
Another accused identified as DPWH 4B maintenance division head Juliet Calvo, who is currently detained in Camp Karingal, was not present during the proceedings, prompting the court to set her arraignment on December 2.
The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman November over the allegedly anomalous Naujan flood control project.
The project involves the construction of a road dike along MagAsawang Tubig River.
When the project was inspected, it was discovered that the materials used were substandard which resulted in public losses in the estimated amount of over P63 million.
There were also deficiencies in documentation supporting progress billings and that several payments were approved despite missing records and in some instances,
identical photographs were reused to justify separate billings. The project was undertaken by Sunwest Corporation, the construction company being linked to the family of resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who is also one of the accused in the graft and malversation cases.
Co left the country last July before the flood-control scandal broke out and has been in hiding since then.
Aside from Co, the other accused who are still at large are Timojen Sacar, DPWH materials engineer; Aderman Alcazar, president and board chair, Sunwest Construction; Cesar Buenaventura, treasurer and board member, Sunwest Construction; Consuelo Aldon, board member, Sunwest Construction; engineer Noel Yap Cao, board member, Sunwest Construction; and Anthony Ngo, board member, Sunwest Construction.
Court orders transfer of Guo, cohorts to CIW
THE Regional Trial Court in Pasig City on Thursday ordered the transfer of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and her two companions from the Pasig City Jail to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
The order was issued a week after Guo and several others were found guilty of qualified human trafficking by the RTC in Pasig and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The verdict stemmed from their involvement in the illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in her town.
Aside from Guo, also ordered to be transferred to CIW were her female co-accused Jamielyn Santos Cruz and Rachelle
Malonzo Carreon.
The trial court is expected to issue a commitment order soon for the transfer of Guo’s male coaccused who were also found guilty for the crime to the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa.
BuCor ready
THE Bureau of Corrections said it is “fully prepared” to accept Guo and other individuals under its jurisdiction.
Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. assured that security measures are being enhanced at the CIW.
CIW Corrections Technical Superintendent Marjorie Ann Sanidad has informed Catapang that they already deployed additional Corrections Emergency Response
Team to ensure peace and order within the facilities.
All personnel have been placed on-call status following Guo’s conviction. Sanidad explained that as a standard operating procedure, upon the commitment of Guo at CIW, she will be received by a designated Receiving Officer at the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC).
The initial phase includes the verification of her documents and belongings before she is quarantined in the RDC for five days during which a thorough medical examination will be done.
She will then be transferred to the RDC regular dormitory where she will undergo the mandatory orientation, diagnostics and qualification.
After completing the 60-day
process at the RDC, she will be transferred to her assigned regular dormitory at the Maximum Security Camp considering that she is sentenced to life imprisonment. Catapang explained that as a newly committed person deprived of liberty (PDL), the 55-day assessment period after the five-day quarantine is very important to help determine her psychological and physical needs because this information will be used by the institution to create an individualized treatment or program. He also added, the RDC likewise provides orientation programs and educational sessions aimed at helping new inmates adjust to the correctional environment while understanding their rights and facility’s rules.
Joel R. San Juan
Japanese destroyer at Subic for 3-day goodwill visit
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JS Harusame (DD-102), is now at the Naval Operating Base Subic in Zambales, for a three-day goodwill visit.
The port call highlights the growing naval ties between the Philippines and Japan.
A statement issued by the Philippine Fleet (PF) said the goodwill visit of JS Harusame is from November 26 to 29.
“This visit, which followed the recent official trip of a PF delegation to Yokosuka, Japan led by the PF commander, Rear Adm. Joe Anthony Orbe began with an arrival honors for JS Harusame [DD102] skippered by Comdr. Makoto Ozawa, as it made port at Naval Operating Base-Subic, Zambales,” it added.
After the arrival honors, Ozawa along with Japanese Assistant Defense Attaché, Cmdr. Kawahata Noriyuki, and two other JMSDF officers paid a courtesy call to Orbe.
“During the call, both navies discussed the PF commander’s engagement in August and his recent visit to Yokosuka, Japan, in preparation for the official PF and JMSDF staff-to-staff talk to be held in the Philippines,” the PF said.
Likewise, Orbe assured the visiting JMSDF delegates of the Fleet’s readiness to provide any assistance they may require, while both sides exchanged insights from their experiences as ship commanding officers.
The PF commander and his staff also
conducted a shipboard tour on JS Harusame giving them an opportunity to familiarize the vessel’s equipment and technology. This also promoted knowledge sharing and enhanced mutual appreciation of each other’s maritime assets and operational procedures.
“The visit will conclude with a send-off ceremony on November 29, 2025, marking the completion of the goodwill visit and reaffirming the enduring ties between the PN [Philippine Navy] and the JMSDF,” the PF statement said. Rex Anthony Naval
Flood control probes will not sidetrack House from passing vital bills–Speaker
IBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
N the wake of the Ombudsman’s statement that several lawmakers are facing investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, House Speaker Faustino Dy III assured that the lower chamber remains committed to its primary duty of serving the Filipino people through legislation.
Dy’s statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that at least 10 percent of House members are under investigation for alleged links to flood control project irregularities.
Remulla also said he intends to meet with the Speaker, noting that
the investigation could potentially disrupt the House’s legislative work.
The ICI, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), on Wednesday recommended the filing charges against eight sitting and former congressmen who own construction companies and have handled DPWH projects.
“No matter what happens, the House of Representatives remains focused on its duty to serve the nation. Accountability is part of being a public servant, and all members—whether under investigation or not—are ready to cooperate with any process while continuing to fulfill their roles as legislators,” the Speaker said.
At the same time, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos of Ilocos Norte voluntarily informed
the ICI of his willingness to cooperate fully with the inquiry.
In a letter dated November 26, 2025, Marcos told ICI Chairperson Andres B. Reyes Jr. that he supports the Commission’s efforts to “uncover the truth behind the ongoing investigation on flood control projects.”
“Let me state this clearly and without hesitation: I am willing to appear before the Commission at any time,” Marcos wrote. “I welcome the opportunity to shed light on any matter that may assist your review.”
“Regardless of position and who you are, no one is above the law. Given that I have nothing to hide, I hereby submit myself for investigation by the ICI at their earliest convenience,” Marcos said in a separate message.
Marcos emphasized that he
remains ready to answer questions and provide any clarification needed to assist the investigation. “You have my commitment that I will be there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas also voluntarily appeared before the ICI. “I went to the ICI voluntarily to defend the truth. I presented documents and other evidence showing there are no Discaya projects in District 5 and no ghost projects in our district,” Vargas said. He added that the information provided aims to help the Commission carry out its mandate.
Vargas expressed gratitude to the ICI for the opportunity to correct misinformation, reiterating his commitment to serving his constituents “honestly, transparently, and for the people.”
Group appeals for awareness about dangers in toys to kids
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
ALOCAL waste and pollution watchdog on Thursday appealed to various stakeholders to ensure children’s safety from dangerous toys during the gift-giving season.
EcoWaste Coalition issued the appeal as the nation shifts from the observance of the National Children’s Month in November to the month of joy and gift-giving in December in time for Christmas.
The National Children’s Month is mandated by Republic Act 10661 to commemorate the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The month is dedicated to promoting and protecting children’s rights, raising awareness about their issues, and ensuring their well-being through various government-led activities.
In December, EcoWaste expects children’s toys to flood the market.
Dangerous toys, the group pointed out, pose risks of choking, laceration, strangulation, burns, injuries to the eyes, ears, and other body parts, and exposure to hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals like lead and cadmium.
Roque. . .
Continued from A3
He linked the timing to the alleged release of an Interpol Red Notice, claiming he received a text about its publication at 12:50 p.m.—the same time the flight landed.
Roque believes the move was intended to bypass his asylum protections: “At doon nila po kukunin habang wala pang ugnayan ang Austrian police at ang Austrian immigration na ako ay isang asylum seeker” (And there they would take me while there is no coordination yet between Austrian police and Austrian immigration that I am an asylum seeker).
He described the incident as “too much of a coincidence,” asserting that the Interpol request cannot be enforced while his asylum application is pending.
Roque said Dutch immigration authorities are scheduled to meet with him again soon.
“Meron lang po kasi hanggang 10th of December ang the Netherlands na ipadala ako sa Austria. Otherwise, under the Dublin rules, the Netherlands lang dapat mag -process ng aking asylum,” he added.
According to EcoWaste, all children are highly vulnerable to dangerous toys because their brains and bodies are still developing, and they are not able to assert their rights as young consumers.
Children living in poverty may face higher risks owing to their families’ lack of access to toys of good quality and to redress mechanisms, the group observed.
Duty-bearers, toy manufacturers, toy importers, toy retailers and toy regulators in particular, are duty-bound to implement quality and safety standards that will honor and uphold children’s right to safe and non-toxic toys, the group said.
Periodic test buys conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition since 2011 indicate that many toys have not undergone quality and safety assessment and may present potential hazards to children, particularly if used without close
adult supervision.
To keep children safe from dangerous toys, the group has again shared some tips on choosing child-friendly toys that can contribute to their full development instead of jeopardizing their health and future.
Gift givers are requested to consider the following tips when purchasing toys for children:
1
Check the product label for the age suggestion; warnings and usage instructions; manufacturer’s markings; and the FDA-issued license to operate (LTO) number.
2 Buy from legitimate sources and keep the proof of purchase to facilitate replacement, refund or warranty claim if needed.
3 Look for toys that are suitable for the child’s age, aptitude, skill and temperament, follow the age recommendation, and check for potential hazards.
4 Avoid small toys and those with detachable parts that can pose choking risks.
5 Avoid toys that can easily break into small parts or with small unsecured components like button cell batteries that may be ingested or placed in the nose or the ears.
6 Avoid painted toys unless the paint used is certified leadsafe.
7
Avoid toys made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic as they may contain toxic plasticizers called phthalates and other hazardous chemicals such as cadmium and lead.
8 Avoid art toys and toy cosmetics that are not verified as non-toxic.
9 Avoid play sands unless certified safe from asbestos.
10 Avoid toys that shoot small or pointed objects into the air that may cause eye or body injuries.
11
Avoid toys with sharp edges or points that may bruise or cut a child’s sensitive skin.
12 Avoid toys with cords or strings longer than 12 inches that may get tangled around the neck and suffocate the child.
13
Avoid toys that create excessive noise, which can damage a child’s sensitive hearing.
14
Avoid stuffed toys with buttons or eyes that may be pulled loose and get swallowed by a child, as well as those with pellet-like stuffing that may get into a child’s hand and mouth when the toy breaks open.
15
Avoid toys that tend to induce aggression and violence, such as toy guns, toy knives, and other toy weapons.
House panel fast-tracks development of unified natl policy on cyber security
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
TO build a “robust national framework” that protects government institutions, private organizations, and vital digital systems from cyberattacks, the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is fast-tracking the development of a unified national policy on cybersecurity and critical information infrastructure protection (CIIP), amid the rise of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Camarines Sur Rep. Migz Villafuerte, the panel chairman, said a technical working group (TWG) under the ICT committee is now consolidating 13 pending bills proposing a Cybersecurity Act and two additional measures on CIIP into one comprehensive substitute bill.
Villafuerte underscored the urgency of enacting updated cybersecurity and CIIP legislation, citing the rapid expansion of digital interconnectivity and the rise of complex cyber threats targeting
critical sectors.
“It is clear that robust and adaptive cybersecurity measures are no longer optional; they have become imperative for preserving and enhancing both our national security and economic stability,” said Villafuerte.
He also called on all stakeholders to actively contribute technical expertise to ensure that the emerging unified measure will be “effective and equitable” and will help build “a safer and more secure digital future for every Filipino.”
Villafuerte noted that the global disruption affecting major platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Google, and OpenAI— after Cloudflare admitted a “latent bug” caused unusual traffic spikes—highlights that even top cybersecurity companies managing 20 percent of global internet traffic remain vulnerable.
Similar outages affecting Amazon and Microsoft cloud services in previous years further underline the need for a Philippine cybersecurity structure capable of preventing and responding to cyber risks, he added.
Villafuerte said the TWG-led consolidated measure aims to strengthen the country’s cyber defenses by upgrading the government’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to threats targeting both public and private institutions. It will also safeguard critical information infrastructure across key sectors—including banking, finance, energy, health, telecommunications, emergency services, disaster response, media, and transportation—while establishing minimum information security standards to ensure national resilience against disruptions that could endanger public safety and stability.
2026
NIA budget has ₧50-M allocation for transparency
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
FOLLOWING allegations that some irrigation projects are also plagued with corruption like the anomalous and ghost flood-control projects, the 2026 budget for the National Irrigation Administration was approved by the Senate with a P50-million allocation for transparency measures to allow for quick tracking of each project.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday successfully sponsored and defended the P54.79billion budget of the NIA for the 2026 fiscal year, highlighting the importance of expanding irrigation systems to develop agricultural lands, empower farmers, and achieve food security.
The 2026 budget bears a P50million allocation for transparency measures—including a public online dashboard— with Pangilinan stressing that, “transparency is key to public accountability.”
Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Agriculture committee, underscored the importance of irrigation to farm growth and sustainability, calling it “the most powerful force multiplier in Philippine agriculture.”
His sponsorship of NIA’s 2026 proposed budget follows the agency’s compliance with requests from Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Sens. Raffy Tulfo and Rodante Marcoleta for updated information on various NIA projects.
These include the breakdown of the 265 national irrigation systems by operational capacity, an inspection report on repairs
Deputy Majority Leader Luigi Villafuerte explained that HB 2826—one of the key measures being consolidated—proposes the creation of a National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The NCSA will be mandated to standardize threat detection protocols, facilitate real-time information sharing, lead nationwide cyber incident response, oversee the protection of critical information infrastructure, and serve as the central authority for national cybersecurity planning.
The bill also creates a National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) composed of cybersecurity experts. The NCERT will directly assist threatened institutions and coordinate a network of Computer Emergency Response Teams across agencies for rapid response and system recovery.
HB 2826 also proposes the creation of a Cybersecurity Risk Management and Mitigation Fund (CRMMF) to support threat identification and detection, incident response, system recovery, the protection of critical information infrastructures, and other cybersecurity-related interventions. Under the bill, 30 percent of the fund will function as a Quick Response Fund to ensure the immediate restoration of compromised CIIs. The amount of the fund and the agencies tasked to implement it will be determined by the President upon the recommendation of the NCSA.
A comprehensive cybersecurity law is among the 44 priority measures under the Common Legislative Agenda agreed upon by President Marcos and congressional leaders.
to Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects, a list of all contractors involved in the repairs, a list of farmer-beneficiaries of the irrigation projects, and compliance documents for high dam contracts, among others.
In his opening statement when he endorsed NIA’s budget, Pangilinan stressed the significant role that well-developed irrigation systems can play in the country’s agricultural sector.
“It’s been said that without water, nothing grows... It is also our most effective climate adaptation tool, protecting farmers from drought, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather,” the senator said, partly in Filipino.
The proposed budget will allow NIA to invest heavily in national, communal, and pump irrigation systems; major multipurpose projects; and transparency measures, among others, the senator assured. Such investments, Pangilinan said. will ensure that “water flows from river to canal, canal to field, and field to Filipino households through affordable food.” It will also support construction, rehabilitation, expansion, and monitoring of irrigation systems nationwide.
Pangilinan has been pushing for the empowerment of the agricultural sector through better financial resources, improved government support, and solutionsbased policies. He said an increase in the budget of the agriculture department and its attached agencies, such as NIA, will lead to rural development, improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, strengthen local food production, and achieve national food security.
DOE: 14 power plants produce 956 MW more for three grids
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
FOURTEEN power plants have started injecting 956 megawatts (MW) into the three grids, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Thursday.
“The DOE is pleased to announce that, as of November 27, 2025, about 956 megawatts of new power generation capacity have been added to the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids, complemented by 160 MW of new energy storage systems [ESS] capacity located in Luzon and the Visayas,” the agency reported.
The additional 956 MW of generation comes from 12 power plants using renewable energy (RE) technologies, one oil-based power plant, and one natural gasfired power plant, most of which started commissioning in the second half of this year.
These form part of the directive from President Marcos to the DOE to accelerate the construction of 200 power plants over the next three years. This was conveyed during the 4th State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July.
The DOE said these power projects strengthen the grid’s ability to meet peak demand, reduce the risk of supply shortfalls, and provide greater flexibility in managing both baseload and variable loads.
Meanwhile, the rollout of 160 MW of ESS capacity further enhances grid stability and resiliency. By storing excess electricity during off-peak hours and releasing it when demand is high or when renewable output dips, these systems help smooth
fluctuations, reduce dependence on expensive peaking plants, and support the integration of more renewable energy into the power mix.
The DOE stressed that the new generation and storage capacities represent concrete progress in translating policy directions into on-the-ground infrastructure that directly benefits consumers.
“Every megawatt we add to the grid is not just a number on paper; it is electricity for homes, power for businesses, and confidence for investors. By combining renewable energy projects with flexible conventional plants and modern energy storage, we are building an energy system that is cleaner, more reliable, and more resilient.
“This is how we honor the President’s directive: by turning commitments into completed projects that keep the lights on, bring down the risk of outages, and ensure that our people and our industries have the energy they need to move forward,” DOE Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.
The DOE recognized that these newly commissioned facilities are among the early gains in the ongoing pipeline of projects aligned with the President’s 200 power plant directive.
The agency said it will continue to work closely with the private sector, regulators, and other stakeholders to accelerate project implementation, streamline permitting processes, and ensure that future capacity additions remain consistent with the goals of energy security, affordability, and a just and orderly energy transition.
Let’s set aside political colors and unite against graft, corruption—Sen. Bam
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
THREE days before a mas -
sive anti-corruption mobilization involving dozens of groups, Senator Bam Aquino called on the public to set aside political colors and unite in the fight against graft and corruption amid the issue of anomalous flood control projects hounding the government.
The real victims of corruption, the senator pointed out, are ordinary Filipinos, noting that disasters and systemic failures do not distinguish between political affiliations.
“Right now, the question is, who stole and from whom? The flood victims are not simply pink, green, red, yellow, or whatever. The victims of flood are the people, the citizens,” he stressed, speaking partly in Filipino.
The massive rallies on November 30, from diverse groups across the nation, is collectively billed, “The Trillion Peso March,” and is meant to keep up the pressure on authorities to fast-track the investigation and prosecution of those responsible and benefited from the billions in kickbacks from infrastructure projects the past several years.
Aquino, among with Senators Risa Hontiveros and Kiko Pangilinan have been alternately tagged “pinklawan” or “dilawan” by pro-Duterte camps, and the Aquino clan active against the dictatorship of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. remains active in the political scene.
In recent days, there have been parallel calls to prosecute the guilty in the flood-control funds mess, no matter how high, and for President Marcos Jr. to resign; and, on the other hand, for both Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign their posts and a “constitutional caretaker” to take over.
Sen. Aquino said, partly in Filipino, “It shouldn’t just be that if you’re an ally, you side with this.
No. It should be, who did this to our nation and whose are the people from whom funds were stolen?”
He added: “People should go beyond politics, as corruption sees no color.”
For Aquino, discussions must shift away from politicians and back to the people they are meant to serve.
“ Dapat ganoon iyong way we should frame it. Kasi , once you frame it back to the politician, it just becomes about politics again. And people tune out of politics,” he added.
Moreover, the senator added that the issue is beyond politics, saying it should focus on the things that affect taxpayers, their future, and the future of the current and succeeding generations.
“This is beyond politics. It’s about taxpayers, your future, and your children’s future. You know, it’s about things that affect us,” Aquino emphasized.
As part of his push to strengthen transparency and prevent abuses in public spending, Aquino highlighted his proposed Senate Bill No. 1506, the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, the senator added. He said the measure seeks to institutionalize full transparency in government budgeting and ensure that every peso is traceable.
Under Senate Bill No. 1506, also known as the Blockchain the Budget Act, all government agencies will be mandated to upload and maintain budgetrelated documents—including contracts, project costs, bills of materials, and procurement details—in a Digital Budget Platform. The system uses tamperresistant technology to make the entire process transparent and accessible to the public.
If passed into law, Aquino said government officials who fail to publicly disclose budget-related documents or deliberately upload false information will face administrative and criminal penalties.
Lawmaker seeks enhanced benefits, hazard pay for barangay officials after chairman’s killing
FOLLOWING the killing of a barangay chairman who was shot dead while livestreaming on Facebook, a lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to grant social security coverage and expanded benefits—including hazard pay—to all barangay officials and workers nationwide.
Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos filed House Bill (HB) 2004, or Act Providing Social Security and Additional Benefits to All Barangay Officials and Workers, Including Hazard Pay, which aims to institutionalize a comprehensive benefits package for both elected and appointed barangay personnel.
In Digos City, Davao del Sur, Barangay Captain Dodong Bucol of Tres de Mayo was shot dead Tuesday while livestreaming on Facebook. Bucol was helping a resident who reported a lost identification card when a gunshot rang out midlivestream. The video—now circulating online—shows him running and calling for help as more shots followed.
In Pampanga, Jinky Quiambao, 43, chief of Barangay Balibago, was killed, while another official was wounded in an ambush in Masantol on Monday. Quiambao died from a gunshot wound to the head, while Enrique Yamat, 54, chief of Barangay Nigui, sustained injuries to his hand.
Under the measure, barangay workers will receive mandatory Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) coverage, PhilHealth enrollment, Pag-IBIG Fund membership,
Confidence in DepEd leadership boosts Marcos’ education agenda
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
MAJOR business and education groups have reaffirmed their confidence in the current leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd), as they recognize of the Department’s commitment to transparency, data-driven policymaking, and collaboration strengthens efforts to advance key reforms under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s education agenda.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said the renewed show of support follows the groups’ joint endorsement of the proposed P1.38-trillion allocation for the education sector in the 2026 national budget.
The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), Makati Business
Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), and the Association of Foundations noted that sustained confidence in Angara’s reform is crucial to ensuring that increased investments yield meaningful improvements for learners, teachers, and schools.
“The direction set by President Marcos to invest strongly in human capital provides us with the foundation to push reforms that matter...Our commitment is to ensure that every peso is used effectively and that learners, teachers, and parents feel the impact in their classrooms and communities,” Angara said.
The Department, which received P1.044 trillion budget in the Senate version of the General Appropriations Bill, also echoes
the private sector’s call to move education spending closer to global benchmarks while ensuring stricter transparency and accountability in the bicameral conference committee deliberations.
DepEd said it shares these priorities, noting that recent internal reforms—such as the launch of the DepEd Open Data (Project BUKAS) initiative, accelerated and flexible classroom procurement reforms, and the shift to evidence-based policy design— were all designed to improve transparency and implementation discipline.
Angara also highlighted that his leadership has placed greater emphasis on partnerships with the private sector and development organizations.
Since his appointment as DepEd secretary, Angara has expanded collaborations on teacher upskill -
Comelec division junks Cebu ex-gov’s protest vs. rival
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has dismissed former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s call for a recount in the May 2025 gubernatorial race, effectively upholding Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s victory.
In a press briefer released late Wednesday, the Comelec said Garcia’s petition was “insufficient in form and content” for its lack of detailed account of alleged electoral fraud during the midterm polls.
To recall, the former governor alleged that electronic manipulation, vote padding, malfunctioning automated counting machines, and unusually high undervotes or overvotes.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
Tand hazard pay for those involved in disaster response, community safety, and emergency operations. The bill also covers retirement benefits for long-serving officials, accident and disability insurance, and medical and hospitalization assistance. It further mandates regular training and professional development programs to strengthen barangay governance and capacity.
“For decades, our barangay officials and workers have served as the government’s frontliners—during disasters, emergencies, peace and order operations, and community health crises,” Santos said. “Yet many continue to work without adequate protection, sufficient benefits, or hazard compensation. This bill seeks to correct that injustice.”
Santos said that barangay personnel carry critical responsibilities yet lack the safeguards afforded to national government employees.
“They maintain peace and order, respond to calamities, manage health concerns, resolve conflicts, and assist their constituents around the clock,” he said. “It is unacceptable that those who protect our communities continue to operate without proper security and benefits.”
Under the Local Government Code of 1991, barangay officials are compensated only through honoraria—at least P1,000 per month for the Punong Barangay and P600 per month for Sangguniang Barangay members, as well as the barangay treasurer and secretary.
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
HE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has acknowledged that it is among the most complained national agencies in 2025, but stressed that the volume of complaints is tied to the 5 million frontline consular services it delivers annually.
“As an agency that delivers frontline services, the DFA acknowledges receipt of client concerns through its effective feedback mechanism,” the DFA said in a statement.
Despite being ranked 8th in the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) list, the DFA said it takes pride in maintaining a 96% complaint resolution rate.
The DFA underscored that its Office of Consular Affairs in Manila, 42 Consular Offices nationwide, and 98 Foreign Service Posts worldwide continue to serve millions of Filipinos each year.
It added that its frontliners strive daily to provide the best possible service within the bounds of available resources.
“Every day, the hardworking men and women of the Department, including its frontliners, strive to deliver the best possible service to our kababayans within the bounds of available resources,” the DFA said.
Consular Services
The DFA’s frontline services include:
n Passport services application,
She also sought to contest all 4,120 clustered precincts across the province.
The First Division, however, ruled that the protest failed to meet the mandatory requirement under Section 7(g), Rule 6 of Comelec Resolution No. 8804.
Resolution No. 8804 outlines the minimum requirements for election protests, including the specific contested position, the protestant’s candidacy, the date of proclamation, and the votes credited to each party.
It also requires the number of precincts involved, the votes gained by the parties in each contested precinct, and a detailed description of the alleged irregularities—an element the First Division said Garcia’s protest failed
renewal, and courtesy lanes for priority groups.
n Authentication/Apostille services—certification of public documents for use abroad.
n Civil registry services reports of birth, marriage, and death for Filipinos overseas.
n Visa services issuance of visas for foreign nationals entering the Philippines.
n Assistance to Nationals (ATN) legal aid, emergency support, and repatriation for Filipinos abroad.
n Dual citizenship services processing petitions for reacquisition or retention of Philippine citizenship.
These services reflect the DFA’s dual role as a frontline agency for millions of Filipinos and a global support system for nationals overseas.
ARTA Complaint List
ARTA recently released its list of the Top 10 Most Complained National Government Agencies (NGAs) and GovernmentOwned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) for 2025, covering January 1 to October 31. Complaints were filed through ARTA’s multiple channels, including email, social media, the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk (PACD), physical mail, the electronic Complaints Management System (eCMS), and the ARTA website.
The most common violations involved Section 21(e) of the Ease of Doing Business and
to satisfy. The commission explained that the supporting documents Garcia submitted focused mainly on Mandaue City and a handful of municipalities, “with no affidavits for the remaining 46 cities and municipalities.”
Many of the alleged irregularities, it also said, were issues already addressed under “contingency procedures” and could not be used to justify a recount. The commission has yet to made the public the full copy of the first division ruling.
In the May 2025 elections, Baricuatro secured 1.107 million votes, or 32.51 percent of Cebu’s total voters, while Garcia obtained 764,884 votes, equivalent to 22.45 percent.
Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which penalizes failure to render services within the prescribed processing time without due cause.
Top agencies with complaints
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) topped the list with 599 complaints.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) followed with 414 complaints.
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ranked third with 336 complaints.
Other agencies in the top 10 include the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The DFA recorded 82 complaints, of which 79 have been resolved and 3 remain active.
DFA’s response
OFFICIALS emphasized that while the DFA’s inclusion in the ARTA list reflects the scale of its operations, its high-resolution rate demonstrates responsiveness to public concerns. The agency said it remains steadfast in improving service delivery and addressing issues raised by clients both in the Philippines and abroad.
ing, digital learning support, curriculum enhancement, and learning remediation.
These include initiatives with the business community, philanthropic groups, publishers, and international partners such as UNICEF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), UNESCO, USAID, and SEAMEOINNOTECH to complement government efforts.
“These partnerships help us rebuild confidence in the public school system. They bring expertise, innovation, and accountability into the work of improving learning outcomes,” Angara said. He added that the trust expressed by the country’s leading business and education institutions is a clear indication that the sector is moving toward a more stable, data-driven, and collaborative reform environment.
The upcoming distribution will benefit thousands of ARBs across the Davao region. DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III will lead the turnover and deliver the keynote address.
The event reinforces the government’s commitment to agrarian justice, land tenure security, and increased rural productivity to uplift the lives of the ARBs. “By providing land security through titles, relieving them of decades-old debts, and equipping their organizations with modern farm machinery and inputs, we are investing in the long-term productivity and resilience of our rural communities,” Estrella said in a statement.
Austria secures system wide accreditation for meat plants, boosting PHL meat supply
TMarcos commits ₧15M to Baseco Hospital, inaugurates San Lazaro Residences in Manila
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Philippines can expect additional sources of meat after Austria secured systemwide accreditation for its meat plants.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Department Order (DO) 15, which granted the system accreditation of Austria’s foreign meat establishments (FMEs).
Under DO 15, the DA said the 17 FMEs audited by the Department of Agriculture Inspection Mission (Daim) were found to
be compliant with the country’s quarantine and meat inspection system procedures. “After thorough evaluation, the application of the Government of Austria for the system accreditation to export beef and pork into the Philippines have been found to be satisfactory.”
The Daim was conducted to assess the veterinary services, animal health, and food safety control in Austria on May 3 to May 21, 2025.
The system accreditation of meat plants in Austria will be effective for three years, starting September 15, 2025, until September 15, 2028.
The Philippines provides two types of accreditation to FMEs, such as individual accreditation and system-wide accreditation.
A system-wide accreditation means that the Philippines recognizes the exporting country’s food safety system as the same as its own domestic system. Hence, any exporter or FME recognized and accredited by the exporting country could ship meat products to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, an individual accreditation or an FME-based accreditation only allows certain companies to export meat products into the country.
Under existing rules and guidelines, exporters to the Philippines are required to secure the accreditation of their FMEs to ship meat and meat products into the country.
The accreditation would ensure that an inbound shipment is safe for human consumption and does not pose a threat to the domestic livestock and poultry industry.
The country imported a total of 1.18 million metric tons (MMT) during the January to September period, from the 1.04 MMT recorded volume during the same period of 2024, based on Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) data.
SBMA honors port sustainability partners with ‘Green Anchor’ awards
By Henry Empeño
BAY FREEPORT—
UBIC
SThe Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has recognized Subic port stakeholders who partnered with the agency in strengthening its port sustainability and environmental stewardship programs.
The recognition came in the form of the 1st Green Anchor Awards, which SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño described as a milestone celebrating innovation, community partnership, and green initiatives.
“This ceremony is more than an event. It is a declaration of what the Port of Subic stands for. It marks our aspiration to build a green port city that is not only competitive and resilient, but also responsible—a port that anchors growth to sustainability, and progress
to protection of our shared natural resources,” Aliño said during the presentation of awards at the ACEA Subic Beach Resort on Monday, November 24.
“The Green Anchor Awards celebrate those who choose to go beyond compliance. Those who innovate, who invest, who adjust their operations because they understand that sustainability is not just a requirement—it is a responsibility. It is also smart economics,” he added.
The Green Anchor awards were given under three categories, said SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao: Emerald Award, for excellence in trade volume; Sustainability Award, for green initiatives; and Partners in Progress, for government agencies and trade organizations that significantly contributed to Subic’s growth.
A total of 15 firms were declared Emerald winners:
San Miguel Foods Corp., which imports ingredients for animal feeds; FLS Group Philippines, importer of solar panels; Worldwide Logistics Group, Philippines (solar panel imports); Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. (raw rubber importer); Nestle Philippines Inc. (packed food products importer); Juken Sangyo Philippines Corp. (logs and lumber importer); Philippine Resins Industries Inc. (resins importer); HLD Clark Steel Pipe Company Inc. (steel pipes exporter); Datian Subic Shoes Inc. (cow suede leather importer); Ecossential Foods Corp. (packed food products and coffee importer); Maersk Lines Limited; Evergreen Lines; SITC Container Lines; Mediterranean Shipping Company; and CMACGM Lines.
Five sustainability special awards, meanwhile, were presented to organizations with exemplary programs in key areas like pollution prevention,
waste management, safety, energy efficiency, biodiversity protection, and community partnership: Subic Bay Freeport Grains Terminal Services Inc.; Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corp.; Pure Petroleum Corp.; Subic Bay International Terminals Corp.-ICTSI Subic Inc.; and United Auctioneers Inc.
The Partners in Progress awards, on the other hand, went to: Association of International Shipping Lines Inc.; Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations; Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. Subic-Clark Chapter; Bureau of Customs; and Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Aliño said he expects the Green Anchor awards to ignite a movement among Subic business locators and port users to aspire for projects that not only consider profitability but also environmental impact.
TO allow the newly rehabilitated President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital, also known as Baseco Hospital, to accommodate more patients, President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered the release of P15 million in financial support from the Office of the President to the medical facility.
The Chief Executive made the announcement when he visited the facility together with Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso last Thursday.
He said he decided to extend the budgetary support to the said hospital after learning that since its opening last September until 24 November 2025, it has already accommodated over 7,300 patients or around 200 to 220 patients per day.
“We have seen that the service [of the hospital] is very important especially when it comes to the health of our countrymen. This was done by our local government. We in the national government, as the mayor mentioned, will do everything it can do to support, and provide benefits we can do [to help the hospital],” Marcos said in Filipino.
Aside from the funding support, the President also announced
Baseco Hospital has an a Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) clinic, which is accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
The clinic, he said, provides free consultations, primary care checkup and diagnostic and screening tests.
While in Manila, Marcos also led the inauguration of the San Lazaro Residences — a 382-unit residential project located at Alvarez Street in Santa Cruz, City of Manila. Of the said units, 193 are allocated to Manila Health Department employees, while 189 are reserved for indigent city residents and government employees with salary grades not exceeding 18. Funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the P2-billion 20 storey- socialized incity vertical housing project was built on the former parking lot and public health center of the Manila Health Department.
Marcos praised the project, which he said can be a model for other local government units since it not only provides housing units but also other facilities public health laboratory, health center, swimming pool, changing rooms, a function room, an outdoor activity area, and a parking area.
DAR set to distribute condonation certificates, e-titles, and support packages to ARBs in Davao
THE Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) said it is set to distribute 2,215 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCRoMs), SPLIT E-Titles, along with farm machineries and organic fertilizers to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Davao Region.
The distribution is scheduled on Friday, November 28, at the Sta. Cruz Gym in Davao del Sur.
A total of 2,215 CoCRoMs and 1,900 SPLIT
Region
E-Titles will be distributed along with P48.5 million worth of farm machinery and organic fertilizers.
The DAR said the ceremony is part of the government’s continuing implementation of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA 11953), which fully condones land amortizations, penalties, and surcharges for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
See “Dar,” A5
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Landslides, flash floods on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island leave at least 23 dead and dozens missing
By Binsar Bakkara
MThe Associated Press
EDAN, Indonesia—Rescuers recovered more bodies in the search for dozens of people buried under landslides or swept away after torrential rains unleashed flash floods and triggered landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, increasing the death toll to 23 and leaving more than two dozen people missing, officials said Wednesday.
Rescue teams were struggling to reach affected areas in 11 cities and districts of North Sumatra province after the monsoon rains over the past week caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through hilly villages as mud, rocks and trees tumbled down, leaving destruction in their wake, as mudslides that covered much of the area, blackouts and lack of telecommunications were hampering the search efforts, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement.
Rescue workers by Wednesday had recovered at least eight bodies and three
injured people in the worst-hit city of Sibolga and were searching for at least 21 villagers who were reported missing, the statement said. In the neighboring district of Central Tapanuli, landslides hit several homes, killing at least a family of four, and floods submerged nearly 2,000 houses and buildings, forcing about 1,900 displaced people to seek emergency shelters.
Rescuers retrieved seven more bodies in South Tapanuli district, raising the death toll to eight, and workers dug through tons of mud and rubble to search for three people remain buried after floods and landslides also uprooted trees, prompting more than 2,800 residents to flee to temporary shelters and injuring 58 others, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said. He said that landslides also hit 50 houses in North Tapanuli district and destroyed at least two main bridges in the region. Floods had cut off a bridge in Mandailing Natal and submerged hundreds of houses
See “Indonesia,” A9
Political prisoners released in Myanmar mass amnesty
BANGKOK—Excited families greeted relatives released from Myanmar’s Insein Prison on Thursday as part of a mass amnesty granted by the country’s military rulers ahead of next month’s election.
At least eight buses carrying prisoners were welcomed outside the gate of the Yangon prison at 11:30 a.m. by relatives and friends who had been waiting since early morning.
The military administration granted amnesty to more than 3,000 people locked up for opposing army rule and dropped charges against more than 5,500 others, state-run broadcaster MRTV reported Wednesday. The amnesty was intended to ensure eligible voters could participate in the Dec. 28 elections, it said.
An official from Insein Prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information, confirmed prisoners would be released starting Thursday but did not say how many or who they were. In past amnesties, releases have taken several days.
There was no sign that the prisoner release would include former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who led
the National League for Democracy government ousted in the military takeover in 2021 and who has been held virtually incommunicado since then.
Among those freed were Kyi Toe, a member of NLD’s central information committee, and freelance journalist Zaw Lin Htut, also known as Phoe Thar. Both were arrested in 2021.
“I am determined to work with Aunty until I am 90 years old,” Kyi Toe told journalists as he arrived outside the prison gate. Aunty is a common expression of respect for Suu Kyi among senior NLD members.
He added that other senior NLD members still remain in prison.
Critics have asserted Myanmar’s election will be neither free nor fair because there is no free media and most of the leaders of the dissolved NLD have been arrested.
MRTV said the National Defense and Security council, a
3 arrested in Hong Kong, as high-rise fire leaves
By Chan Ho-Him & Ken Moritsugu
The Associated Press
HONG KONG—Hong
Kong’s deadliest fire in decades burned through the night, leaving at least 55 people dead and 279 reported missing with rescuers still pulling residents from blazing highrise apartment buildings into the morning.
Police had arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with fire which began Wednesday afternoon in a housing complex in Tai Po district, a suburb in the New Territories. By Thursday morning local time, the fire was yet to be put out and rescues continued.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated as the fire spread across seven of the eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court complex, as bright flames and smoke shot out of windows.
Forty of the 55 fatalities were declared dead at the scene, officials said.
Authorities suspected some materials on the exterior walls of the high-rise buildings did not
meet fire resistance standards, as the rapid spread of the fire was unusual.
Police also said they found Styrofoam materials—that are highly flammable—outside the windows on each floor near the lift lobby of the one unaffected tower, believed to be installed by a construction company.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said Eileen Chung, a senior superintendent of police. The three men arrested, aged 52 to 68, are the directors and an engineering consultant of the firm.
The fire at four of the buildings was “coming under control” by Thursday morning, according to the Fire Services Department.
Officials said the fire started on the external scaffolding of one of the buildings, a 32-story tower, and later spread to inside the building and then to nearby buildings, likely aided by windy conditions.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and ex -
tended sympathies to the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also urged efforts to minimize casualties and losses.
John Lee, the city’s chief executive, said the government will prioritize the disaster and halt public efforts for the Dec. 7 elections for the Legislative Council, the city’s legislature. He didn’t say if the elections could be delayed but said decisions would come “a few days later.”
The housing complex consisted of eight buildings with almost 2,000 apartments housing about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. It was built in the 1980s and had recently been undergoing a major renovation.
constitutional administrative government body controlled by the military, granted amnesties covering 3,085 prisoners convicted under the part of the penal code known as the incitement law, which makes it a crime to spread comments that create public unrest or fear, or spread false news. It has been widely used to arrest critics of the government or military and is punishable by up to three years in prison. Conditional release was granted to 724 prisoners, who would have to serve the rest of their old sentence if they commit a new offense, and 5,580 people who are either
being prosecuted or are in hiding, will receive amnesty and have their incitement cases closed.
Some 22,708 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, were in detention as of Wednesday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests.
The 80-year-old Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted in what supporters have called politically tinged prosecutions.
The army takeover in 2021 was met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since become a widespread armed struggle. AP
55 dead and 279 reported missing
Fire chiefs said high temperatures at the scene made it difficult for crews to mount rescue operations. A column of flames and thick smoke rose as the blaze spread quickly on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that had been set up around the exterior of the buildings. About 900 people were evacuated to temporary shelters.
Authorities said that hundreds of firefighters, police officers and paramedics were deployed. Firefighters aimed water at the intense flames from high up on ladder trucks.
The blaze, which started midafternoon, was upgraded to a level 5 alarm—the highest level of severity—as night fell. Authorities
said that conditions remained very challenging for firefighters.
“Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings (is) falling down,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations. “The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.” The fire department said it received “numerous” calls requesting assistance.
Firefighters deployed more than 200 fire vehicles and about
100 ambulances to the scene.
A 37-year-old firefighter was among the dead, while another firefighter received treatment for heat exhaustion, said Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung. District officials in Tai Po have opened temporary shelters for people left homeless by the fire.
“I’ve given up thinking about my property,” a resident who only provided her surname, Wu, told local TV station TVB. “Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.”
IN this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), rescuers on a rubber boat evacuate residents from their flooded home in North Sumatra province, Indonesia Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. BASARNAS VIA AP
A8 Friday, November 28, 2025
Peru’s former President Vizcarra sentenced to 14 years for corruption, claims ‘revenge’
LIMA, Peru—A Peruvian court on Wednesday sentenced former President Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after finding him guilty of taking bribes while serving as governor of a southern state.
Vizcarra was sentenced to immediate imprisonment and a nine-year ban from public office. He is expected to appeal the decision.
“This is not justice, it is revenge,” Vizcarra said on social media. “But they will not break me.” Vizcarra alleged his sentence was retribution for “standing up”
to the right-wing political groups that control Congress, among which the influence of the late former President Alberto Fujimori is particularly prominent. Vizcarra clashed with these groups when he led the South American country between 2018 and 2020 and eventually dissolved Congress.
The criminal court in the capital, Lima, concluded that Vizcarra received illegal payments from companies in exchange for awarding them contracts for two major projects—an irrigation system and the construction of a hospital—during his time as governor
Macron to unveil French voluntary military service
PBy Sylvie Corbet
The Associated Press
ARIS—President Emmanuel Macron will unveil a new na -
tional military service plan
Thursday as France seeks to bolster its armed forces to address growing concerns over Russia’s threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine.
Macron will stress the “need to prepare the nation for growing threats,” the president’s office said ahead of his visit to the Varces military base, in the French Alps.
Earlier this year, Macron announced his intention to provide French youth with a new option to voluntarily serve in the military. Conscription, which France ended in 1996, is not being considered.
France is seeking to boost its defenses as Russia’s war in Ukraine puts the European continent at “great risk,” Macron said.
“The day that you send a signal of weakness to Russia—which
for 10 years has made a strategic choice to become an imperial power again, that’s to say advance wherever we are weak—well, it will continue to advance,” he told radio RTL on Tuesday.
Macron has announced 6.5 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in extra military spending in the next two years.
He said France will aim to spend 64 billion euros in annual defense spending in 2027, the last year of his second term. That would be double the 32 billion euros in annual spending when he became president in 2017.
France’s military currently comprises around 200,000 active personnel and over 40,000
of
Authorities accused Vizcarra of receiving approximately
$611,000 in bribes from construction companies.
Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison sentence.
The
reservists, making it the second largest in the European Union, just behind Poland. France wants to increase the number of reservists to 100,000 by 2030.
France’s new army chief of staff, Gen. Fabien Mandon, last week sent a warning about the nation’s need to get prepared to “lose its children” in the event of a potential conflict with Russia—words that prompted an outcry across the political spectrum. Russia annexed 20% of Georgia’s territory in 2008, Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Gen. Mandon said.
“Unfortunately, Russia today, based on the information I have access to, is preparing for a confrontation with our countries by 2030. It is organizing itself for this, it is preparing for this, and it is convinced that its existential
Mexico to build Latin America’s most powerful supercomputer, ‘Coatlicue’
MEXICO CITY—Mexico unveiled plans Wednesday to build what it claims will be Latin America’s most powerful supercomputer—a project the government says will help the country capitalize on the rapidly evolving uses of artificial intelligence and exponentially expand the country’s computing capacity.
Dubbed “Coatlicue” for the Mexican goddess considered the earth mother, the supercomputer would be seven times more powerful than the region’s current leader in Brazil, José Merino, head of the Telecommunications and Digital Transformation Agency.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her morning news briefing that the location for the project had not been decided yet, but construction will begin next year.
“We’re very excited,” said Sheinbaum, an academic and climate scientist. “It is going to allow Mexico to fully get in on the use of artificial intelligence and the processing of data that today we don’t have the capacity to do.” Merino said that Mexico’s most powerful supercomputer operates at 2.3 petaflops—a unit to measure computing speed, meaning it can perform one quadrillion operations per second. Coatlicue would have a capacity of 314 petaflops. AP
Moquegua.
former president’s brother, Mario Vizcarra, is seeking Peru’s presidency.
Former Peruvian Presidents Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala and Pedro Castillo are also in prison. Fujimori was imprisoned for more than 15 years. He was released in 2023 and died the following year at the age of 86. AP
FORMER President Martin Vizcarra, who faces corruption charges, waves as he arrives for a sentence hearing, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. AP/MARTIN MEJIA
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron talks to soldiers as he visits an army base in Orleans, central France, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. AP/CHRISTOPHE ENA
MEXICAN President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at her first state-of-the-nation address at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sept. 1, 2025. AP/EDUARDO VERDUGO
Afghan national in custody after shooting of 2 National Guard members near White House
By Alanna Durkin Richer & Gary Fields The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—An Afghan national has been accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence at a time when the presence of troops in the nation’s capital and other cities around the country has become a political flashpoint.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the guard members were hospitalized in critical condition after Wednesday afternoon’s shooting.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey had walked back his statement Wednesday announcing the troops had died, saying he received “conflicting reports” about their condition.
The rare shooting of National Guard members on American soil, on the day before Thanksgiving, comes amid court fights and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.
The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington.
The suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be lifethreatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter
publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
The 29-year-old suspect, an Afghan national, entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal from the country, officials said.
The initiative brought roughly 76,000 people to the US, many of whom had worked alongside US troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators. It has since faced intense scrutiny from Trump and his allies, congressional Republicans and some government watchdogs over gaps in the vetting process and the speed of admissions, even as advocates say it offered a lifeline to people at risk of Taliban reprisals.
The suspect, who has been living in Washington state, has been identified by law enforcement officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, but authorities were still working to fully confirm his background,
it would start phasing it out for public projects because of safety concerns.
two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter said. The people could not discuss details of an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Lakamal arrived in Bellingham, Washington, about 79 miles (127 kilometers) north of Seattle, with his wife and five children, said his former landlord Kristina Widman.
Wednesday night, in a video message released on social media, President Donald Trump called for the reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered under the Biden administration.
“If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” he said, adding that the shooting was “a crime against our entire nation.”
Jeffery Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.
“This was a targeted shooting,” Bowser said.
Troops held down the shooter THE shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station. Hearing gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the gunman after he was shot, Carroll said.
“It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Carroll said, adding that it was not clear whether one of the guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect.
“At this point we have no other suspects,” Carroll said at a news
conference.
At least one of the guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter, said another law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a sidewalk covered in broken glass.
Witnesses saw people fleeing MICHAEL RYAN was just across the street when he heard loud bangs and started running with others. When he later came back, he told AP he saw a person pinned to the ground as people shouted “stay down,” and, nearby, National Guard troops hugged each other.
“It’s just a terrible situation to see,” Ryan said.
Emma McDonald, who exited a metro station just after the shots were fired, said she and a friend
sought safety with others in a cafe.
McDonald told AP that minutes later she saw first responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in blood.
Police tape cordoned off the scene, and fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead.
Agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were there, and National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.
“I think it’s a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vice President JD Vance said in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troops.
Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau,
scrapped plans to spend the holiday with troops at Guantanamo Bay in order to travel to D.C. and be with guard members there instead.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said on social media that he visited the wounded National Guard members in the hospital and that his “heart breaks for them.”
Troops deployed to DC under emergency order
TRUMP issued an emergency order in August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.
Nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government’s latest update.
Last week a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment, but she also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the administration time to either remove the troops or appeal.
The guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and guard sports events.
More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed in August. About 160 of them volunteered last week to extend their deployment until the end of the year, while the others returned home just over a week ago.
The Associated Press journalists Konstantin Toropin, Seung Min Kim, Safiyah Riddle, Matt Brown, Mike Balsamo, Eric Tucker, Jesse Bedayn, Evan Vucci, Nathan Ellgren, John Raby, Hallie Golden, Michael R. Sisak and John Seewer contributed.
Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appear on state television saying they have seized power
Tai Po is a suburban area in the New Territories, in the northern part of Hong Kong and near the border with the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Bamboo scaffolding is a common sight in Hong Kong at building construction and renovation projects, though the government said earlier this year that
Continued from A7 Indonesia.
Continued from A14
in the hilly district and its neighboring Padang Sidempuan city, where a resident was reported missing after being swept away by flooding.
The fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades. In November 1996, 41 people died in a commercial building in Kowloon in a level 5 fire that lasted for around 20 hours.
Moritsugu reported from Beijing. Researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing and AP writer Didi Tang in Washington contributed to this report.
BBy Assana Sambu & Mark Banchereau
The Associated Press
ISSAU, Guinea-Bissau—Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appeared on state television Wednesday saying they have seized power in the country, following reports of gunshots near the presidential palace, three days after national elections. The president told French media he had been deposed and arrested.
suspending the electoral process and the activities of media outlets, as well as closing all borders.
Guinea-Bissau has seen four coups and numerous attempted ones since independence, including one reported last month. The country also has emerged as a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe.
observer group said the election commission chief was arrested and the commission office was sealed off by the military.
“The president has been speaking to people saying he’s being held by the military,” the observer group staffer told the AP. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.
French news outlet Jeune Afrique quoted Embaló as saying he was arrested in what he called a coup led by the army chief of staff. He said he was not subjected to violence.
day that the National Disaster Mitigation Agency declared the official end of relief efforts in two areas of Indonesia’s main island of Java after 10 days of operations. More than 1,000 rescue workers had been deployed to search for people buried under landslides triggered by torrential rains that left 38 people dead in Central Java’s districts of Cilacap and Banjarnegara.
It is the latest of several coups in recent years in West Africa.
“The High Military Command for the re-establishment of national and public order decides to immediately depose the president of the republic, to suspend, until new orders, all of the institutions of the republic of Guinea-Bissau,” spokesperson Dinis N’Tchama said in a statement.
The presidential and legislative elections were held Sunday. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias each claimed victory Tuesday, even though official provisional results were not expected until Thursday.
How the coup unfolded
GUNFIRE was heard midday Wednesday near the presidential palace. An Associated Press journalist saw roads leading to the palace closed off, with checkpoints manned by heavily armed and masked soldiers.
“I have been deposed,” Embaló told French television network France 24.
Embaló had faced a legitimacy crisis, with the opposition saying his tenure had long expired and that they did not recognize him as president.
Cape Verde, the party said in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday.
A former prime minister, Domingos Simões Pereira was seen as Embaló’s main challenger, before he and his party were barred from the election after authorities said they failed to submit their application early. He later endorsed Dias for the election.
Bodies demand return to constitutional rule
A UN official said Wednesday that the world body was following the situation in GuineaBissau “with deep concern.”
North Sumatra provincial police spokesman Ferry Walintukan said that at least one resident died when mud and debris struck a main road on a tiny Nias island and at least two people were found dead after a landslide hit Pakpak Bharat district. Images showed water cascading down rooftops as panicked residents scrambled for safety. In some areas, flash floods rose rapidly, transforming streets into raging torrents carrying tree trunks and debris.
Sibolga police chief Eddy Inganta said that emergency shelters have been set up and authorities urged residents in high-risk zones to evacuate immediately, warning that continued rainfall could trigger more landslides after six landslides in the hilly city flattened 17 houses and a cafe.
“Bad weather, power blackouts and mudslides hampered the rescue operation,” Inganta said, adding that access remains limited as rescuers battle harsh conditions. Tuesday’s disasters occurred on the same
He said they acted in response to the “discovery of an ongoing plan” that he said aimed to destabilize the country by attempting to “manipulate electoral results.”
The “scheme was set up by some national politicians with the participation of a well-known drug lord, and domestic and foreign nationals,” N’Tchama asserted, and gave no details.
Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed. Hong
At least two people in Cilacap and 11 in Banjarnegara were still unaccounted for when the operations ended, as unstable ground, bad weather and the depth and extent of the landfill material pose a high safety risk to rescue teams and residents, the agency said. Floods were also reported in many other provinces in the vast archipelago nation that is home to more than 280 million people, including in Aceh and West Sumatra, where hundreds of houses were flooded, many up to roofs and, main roads were blocked, the agency said.
Heavy seasonal rain from about October to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains.
Niniek Karmini contributed to this report from Jakarta, Indonesia.
The soldiers said they were immediately
Continued from A8
enemy is NATO,” he said.
Macron made clear the national military service volunteers would not be sent to the front line.
“We must, in any case, immediately dispel any confusion that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine,” Macron said
An official from the presidential palace said a group of armed men tried to attack the building, leading to an exchange of gunfire with guards. Another official from the Interior Ministry said they also heard gunshots near the National Electoral Commission nearby. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.
A key member of an international election
Tuesday. “That’s not at all what this is about.”
France is not the only European nation bolstering its military capabilities.
Germany is redoubling its efforts to attract more recruits, notably via a new voluntary military service. The plan remains to be approved by parliament.
Belgium’s defense minister sent a letter this month to 17-year-olds
Guinea-Bissau’s constitution sets the presidential term at five years. Embaló first came to power in February 2020. The opposition says his term should have ended on Feb. 27 of this year, but the Supreme Court ruled it should run until Sept. 4.
The presidential election, however, was delayed until this month.
Soldiers arrested Embaló’s rival Fernando Dias as well as Domingos Simões Pereira, the leader of the main opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and
to encourage them to sign up for a military service next year, with the aim to select 500 candidates between 18 and 25 to launch the program in September.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres “appeals to all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law,” Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesperson, told reporters. In a joint statement, the election observation missions of the African Union and of the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, denounced a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process” and called for a return to the “constitutional order.” It also urged the immediate release of detained election officials.
Poland has recently started rolling out a new voluntary military training program and aims to train 100,000 volunteers per year from 2027 as it seeks to build an army of reservists with worries about Russia growing. It isn’t considering a return to universal military service, but rather a reserve system. Ten EU countries have compulsory military service: Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden. Norway, which is not a
ADB study shows PHL lags in digital skills, hampering economic growth
ARECENT Asian Development Bank (ADB) study highlights a critical challenge facing the Philippines: insufficient digital skills essential for economic engagement. As other countries in Asia and the Pacific rapidly digitize their economies, the Philippines is falling behind, revealing a troubling lack of digital skills among the workforce. This deficit not only affects the employability of Filipinos but also presents a major obstacle to the country’s overall economic progress. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PHL ranks lowest in digital skills demand across A&P,” November 25, 2025).
The ADB’s report reveals that the Philippines has the lowest digital skill score among its regional peers, including Malaysia and India. This metric, which assesses how digitally intensive job postings are, highlights a mismatch between the skills employers seek and those that the local workforce can offer. In stark contrast, the Republic of Korea demands digital competencies that outstrip those required in the Philippines by 17 percent for similar occupations.
As ADB economist Silvia Garcia Mandicó pointed out, this skills gap is largely a reflection of the slower adoption of digital systems, especially within small and medium enterprises. Many Filipino employers cite a lack of digital competencies among their workforce as a reason for their lower skill requirements. This is a classic case of a self-fulfilling prophecy: inadequate digital skills lead to employers lowering their expectations, which in turn perpetuates the cycle of under-skilling.
The implications of this skills deficit are profound. Job listings increasingly demand a range of digital skills, with 45 percent requiring even basic competencies such as e-mail usage and office productivity tools. More than 30 percent of roles call for intermediate skills like content management and basic coding, while over 10 percent seek advanced capabilities in programming and cloud services. With the demand for AI skills skyrocketing since the rise of generative AI in 2022, it has never been more critical for the Filipino workforce to equip itself with these essential tools.
The financial incentives for developing these digital skills are clear. The ADB study indicates that digitally skilled workers earn significantly higher wages—5 percent more for basic skills and up to 15 percent for advanced IT competences. This wage premium is particularly pronounced in countries like India, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where talent remains scarce. The contrast with Australia, where the labor market is already more digitally intensive, underscores the urgent need for the country to step up its investments in human capital.
ADB Chief Economist and Director General Albert Park highlights a crucial barrier: persistently low learning outcomes in the Philippines. To address the digital skills gap, it is imperative for the government to enhance digital infrastructure and revitalize basic education. Building a strong digital foundation will not only equip workers with necessary skills but will also enable them to participate meaningfully in an economy that is increasingly shaped by technology.
Moreover, the government should adopt proactive measures to stimulate technological growth. Investing in startups and encouraging ventures that address social impact can drive innovation while helping to build a robust pipeline of digital talent. Countries that fail to adapt risk being left behind in a global economy that rewards agility, creativity, and tech-savvy labor forces.
The results of the ADB study should act as a powerful call to action for the Philippines. To close the digital skills gap, a concerted and multi-faceted approach is required from both government and private sectors.
The Philippines cannot afford to be the region’s laggard. As AI reshapes the global landscape, the choice is clear: invest in the digital foundations of the workforce today, or risk becoming obsolete tomorrow. The cycle of low expectations must be broken, or the country will remain offline while the rest of Asia moves forward.
BusinessMirror
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder
Five Filipinas in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Asia 2025
IKuwentong Peyups
WAS reading Fortune magazine while having breakfast in a Kuala Lumpur hotel when I saw the names of five Filipinas who were included in the list of 2025 Most Powerful Women in Asia.
Published in the October/November 2025 edition, the list honors 100 leading women who are transforming business across Asia’s major financial, consumer, and technology centers, among others. Their innovative strategies and leadership are driving market growth, scaling new platforms, and shaping Asia’s business landscape.
The 3rd edition of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Asia features business leaders from 14 markets: Mainland China (20), Singapore (15), Hong Kong SAR (13), India (8), Thailand (8) Japan (7), Australia (6), South Korea (5), Philippines (5), Vietnam (4), Malaysia (4), Taiwan (2), Indonesia (2), and Macau SAR (1).
Tan Su Shan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DBS Group, is ranked number one followed by Grace Wang (Luxshare Precision Industry), Meng Wanzhou (Huawei), Roshni Nadar Malhotra (HCLTech), Choi Sooyeon (Naver), and Malina Ngai (AS Watson).
In compiling the list, Fortune evaluated company scale and health,
career momentum, influence, innovation, and efforts to drive social impact.
The five Filipinas who made it in the list include Martha Sazon (37th) as president/CEO of Mynt/ GCash, Ana Margarita Bautista Dy (69th) as president/CEO of AyalaLand, Lynette Ortiz (72nd) as president/CEO of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Lourdes Gutierrez Alfonso (92nd) as president of Megaworld, and Ana Maria Aboitiz Delgado (94th) as president/CEO of Union Bank.
Ortiz and I are both alumni of University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE). She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1984). She is also a holder of an MBA in Finance and Investments from the City University of New York, Baruch College.
Ortiz’s LBP is the nation’s largest government financial institution. At its core, the bank provides services to the country’s marginalized and vulnerable sectors such as small farmers and fishers, and other micro, small,
and medium enterprises.
She is the 11th LBP president and CEO and has been leading it since her 2023 appointment by the Philippines’ president.
The bank remitted a $580 million dividend to the government this year, the largest among the Philippines’s state owned companies.
“I was really at that point when I was prepared to serve and to give back in any capacity, and the fact that I was given this opportunity to be in this post, I really consider it a blessing and an opportunity to really see how I can in any way, small or big, really contribute and parlay all of these banking skills I’ve learned,” she said in an interview.
She serves as the First Vice President on the Board of the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) and is an active member of the BAP Executive Committee.
She was recognized this year as a Distinguished Alumni Awardee for Community Empowerment by the UP Alumni Association (UPAA).
Sazon’s GCash is the popular and fast-growing Philippines fintech app with over 94 million Filipino users. The app offers a range of services from remittance to a savings account and even credit.
Bautista-Dy’s Ayala Land builds housing, malls, offices, hotels, and resorts. Ayala Land’s net income rose by 8 percent in the first half of 2025 to hit $240 million, due to record performance in leasing and hospitality.
Alfonso’s Megaworld is the Philippines’s largest office developer founded in 1989. Megaworld report-
Bonifacio and the working class
OManangan
813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.businessmirror.com.ph Printed by BROWN MADONNA
Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila
EAGLE WATCH
N Sunday, November 30, we celebrate the birthday of Andres Bonifacio. Bonifacio is one of only two national heroes, alongside Jose Rizal, whose lives we celebrate by designating for each one day in the year as a national holiday.
In Rizal’s case, of course, we commemorate him on the day of his death (December 30) rather than the day of his birth (June 19). Perhaps, this has something to do with Bonifacio’s controversial death via firing squad by other revolutionaries. For the rest of our heroes, we have National Heroes Day on August 31. Bonifacio was known as the Father of the Philippine Revolution and also as the Great Plebeian. He was the
Father of the Philippine Revolution because he founded the Katipunan (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). [I wonder how many of the thousands of people passing through the major thoroughfare everyday, including Ateneo students, know that this is what Katipunan stands for. Today, of course, many people first think of a basketball game between UP and Ateneo when hearing of the
battle of Katipunan].
The Katipunan was the first organized Philippine revolutionary movement with widespread membership, which initiated the first major armed uprising against Spanish rule in the Philippines. Why was Bonifacio known as the Great Plebeian? What is a plebeian?
The word plebeian is of ancient Roman origin and originally referred to people who are not members of the Aristocratic elite (known as the patricians—think Julius Ceasar and his ilk). The plebeians are the common rung of people or those not born into patrician families. Plebeians would include soldiers, farmers, merchants, artisans, and even freed slaves. [The HBO series Rome deliberately centered on select lives of both patricians and plebeians].
The key difference is that the patricians exercised political power and religious authority and owned most of the property, especially land, while plebeians were, at least initially, pre-
ed $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024, a 17 percent jump due to its real estate and hospitality businesses. Delgado’s Unionbank is focused on driving digital innovation and customer-centric growth which reported $1.8 billion in revenue in 2024, a 5 percent jump.
Additionally, Fortune has spotlighted 12 Asian icons—influential women who have excelled in arts and culture, sports, and public leadership.
Among them are Filipina tennis trailblazer Alex Eala, the stars of BLACKPINK—Lisa, Jennie, Rose and Jisoo, Oscar-winning Malaysian screen legend Michelle Yeoh, and Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo.
Eala was described as “Filipina tennis trailblazer—the first from the Philippines to win a grand slam main singles match (US Open 2025.)” His father, Mike Eala, is also my colleague from the UPSE. Eala was also recently included in Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 50.
Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-w inning reporting for those who want to make business better. Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks and holds companies accountable around the world.
Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@ sapalovelez.com or call 09175025808
vented from holding political office. In the case of Bonifacio, he was the Great Plebeian because he was one of the few nationalist leaders to come from a working-class background, while most other nationalist leaders, including Rizal, were either from mestizo families or landed families, which, together with the Spanish themselves, will be the equivalent of the patrician class at that time. [Just to note that Bonifacio was himself an admirer of Rizal, even though he eventually disagreed with Rizal on the proper means of achieving liberation from Spain].
Bonifacio was famously born in a poor family, had a limited formal education but self-educated, and worked various jobs, including as laborer, warehouse employee, and clerk. Bonifacio was no intellectual lightweight. He was a self-made scholar who was widely read and wrote poetry (like Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, which begins with See “Eagle Watch,” A11
Dr. Geoffrey Ducanes
Dennis Gorecho
Private fund giants hit resistance in European insurance hunt
By Leonard Kehnscherper
PRIVATE fund giants have spent more than a decade vacuuming up US life insurance assets in the hunt for stable capital. But in Europe, they’re having a much tougher time.
Since the collapse of Milan-based life insurer Eurovita in 2023, regulators and industry insiders have been on high alert over private-equity control in the sector. Eurovita’s owner at the time, British buyout firm Cinven Group Ltd., didn’t stump up enough cash when policy redemptions left the insurer short. The company’s 350,000 customers ultimately had to be bailed out by a group of banks and insurers.
That cautionary tale is still slowing down deals and giving pause as managers including Apollo Global Management Inc. and Brookfield Corp. continue their search for capital. Zurich Insurance Group AG is back on the lookout for a buyer for a $20 billion book of life policies, after previous suitor Viridium Group— backed by Cinven—was forced to pull out of a deal to acquire them. But with Eurovita in mind, the Swiss insurer is keen to stress that they’re seeking the right kind of new owner.
“In key countries, including France, Germany and Italy, life insurance is a core savings vehicle and regulators are therefore extremely attentive to who owns and operates these undertakings,” said Richard Bruyère, managing partner of consulting firm Indefi. “A large part of the market also remains out of reach for private equity investors as insurance undertakings are mutual or cooperative firms.”
Private equity’s scramble in Europe stands in stark contrast to the US, where private finance firms have taken a grip on insurers and have been more actively offshoring risks. While executives like Apollo Chief Executive Officer Marc Rowan argue that private capital’s involvement in insurance doesn’t increase systemic risk, regulators and some senior figures in Europe are warning that their commitment isn’t as long term as insurance products need—and they’re more likely to invest funds in more opaque, illiquid assets.
So far, private equity control of life insurance assets has almost entirely been driven by the US market where PE-backed insurers now oversee about $900 billion of liabilities, up from $67 billion in 2012, according to the Bank of England. Globally, the level of PE control has risen by more than $1 trillion from very low levels since 2009.
In Europe, Swiss Re AG researchers estimate that allocations to illiquid and potentially risky assets backing traditional savings product liabilities increased to about 15 percent in 2023 from 8 percent in 2017. That translates to about €300 billion ($348 billion) of pension funds invested in assets that are riskier than traditional European insurers’ fare—safe, liquid government bonds. As populations in major economies age and demand for retirement-savings products rises, the pressure to seek yield beyond shrinking public markets will likely increase.
In theory, private equity involve-
“Aling pag-ibig ang hihigit kaya Sa pagkadalisay and pagkadakila”) and political manifestos, aside from organizing and leading the Katipunan. We do not formally recognize a patrician class in the Philippines, so there is simple dichotomy between patricians and plebeians. Of course, in practice, we do recognize an elite class who have historically controlled a disproportionate amount of economic and political power in the country.
The distance to death is love
Ament can bring benefits. The Bank of England has said that firms inject capital into the insurers that they control, allowing for a higher supply of life products in the market and reducing the pressures on publiclyfunded retirement pensions. They in turn provide access to higheryielding assets. Yet a key risk is that the private capital firms will encourage life insurers to invest in the assets that these money managers are themselves promoting, triggering a potential price spiral that could eventually collapse, according to David Blake, director of Bayes Business School’s Pensions Institute.
“Even if European firms do hold back, they will still face the problem that there is only a limited supply of high-quality assets that generate stable real returns and cash flows,” Blake said. “It seems inevitable that they will be looking at the same asset classes as the private capital firms in one way or another.”
That backdrop is shaping the kind of deals that are—or aren’t—taking place in the region.
In March, Cinven agreed to sell Viridium to a consortium that included Allianz SE and BlackRock Inc.—seemingly more in tune with regulators’ expectations for closely aligned interests between life insurers’ owners and customers. Zurich’s attempted book sale wasn’t the only one that has fallen through in recent years. France’s Axa SA and Apollo-backed Athora Holding Ltd., last year scrapped a deal to shift €19 billion in German life liabilities to the consolidator, after the preceding rise in interest rates made annuities riskier. In Europe, Apollo merely holds a minority stake in Athora, whereas it wholly owns its insurer serving the US market, Athene.
“A series of opportunities or inorganic transactions have proved to be politically very difficult in Europe— not just for us, but for everyone,” Apollo chief Rowan told investors last year.
Apollo has since pivoted Athora toward growing organically through writing new business in the Netherlands, as well as outright acquisitions of insurers rather than legacy books. In a landmark deal, Athora agreed in July to acquire the UK’s Pension Insurance Corp.—one of the largest players focused on taking over defined-benefit pension programs from British businesses.
Conscious of the deal’s political sensitivity, PIC—which had been owned by a vehicle controlled by South African billionaire Johann Rupert, a unit of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and CVC Capital Partners Plc.—kept the UK Treasury informed about the transaction, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves ended up publicly endorsing the deal—and repeated the exercise a few weeks later, when an insurer backed by Brookfield agreed
But, of course, the working class still exists. The term working class is typically used now to refer to people who do manual or routine work and are mainly dependent on wages and salaries.
These would include people who work in low to medium skill jobs in industry and services. The category would include factory workers, construction workers, maintenance workers, restaurant and hotel workers, janitorial and cleaning staff, security guards, retail clerks, drivers, farm workers, fishermen, etc. These are workers who typically face lower pay, limited benefits, and greater job
ANNOTATIONS
BOUT this time last year, my younger brother, Carlo, was taken ill to the hospital. Hours before he was in conversation with another sibling, our youngest sister who is based in Tokyo. Lilibeth remembers how their conversation was interrupted. She would be compelled to come home, and discover how serious my brother was. She would also find out that I was in the same hospital, not as serious, but with a condition that warranted confining.
Carlo would pass away this year.
To the two of us left—an older brother had gone in 1999—this year has become the season of passing. We could not call it the year of dying; Death or its corresponding verb does not yet come easy for us. For those who have loved, and we all have loved someone and many at some point, we do not easily give up on the beloved. We try our best to cling to memories about life. We find ways to remember our loved ones, mastering enough efforts that they remain alive before us, at least in remembering. Carlo was not always with us. This was his advantage. He lived away from us, first in some assignments in the Visayas. Then he left for graduate studies in Europe. He was back for a while and then he was off again, this time in England, for work. Last year, he decided to come home. Then he got sick. He was in and out of the hospital. Then he was gone. “Gone” is the word. It made sense for him and for us. He had travelled once more.
My sister dreams of him. She was telling me how she was kissing his nape, and how he smelled good cologne. Suddenly, Carlo was here again. As if he has not left us at all. I remember how our mother passed on. It was noontime. I no ticed my mother looking weak. We asked her caregiver to bring my mother back to her room. That day, we went out to buy her a food supplement. It was already one o’clock in the afternoon when we were having our late lunch. This was the thought that kept coming back—the caregiver brusquely tapping my shoulder and, without cer emony, announced, “I think Lola is already dead.”
I should have told her, fore warned her not to use that deathly word, but I was reckless. She bran dished that verb, that action. No one should really die. Loved ones should go, pass on, leave. What saved my mother that day
were her memories of home. She never left her home on the island of her birth. Even when her mind dimmed, her heart shone the brightest in that windy living room where she danced the Tango with Papa. She always recalled those heady nights when another cousin came home from the big city to teach her the latest dance steps, for she was one who would easily learn them. I could see Mama giggling as she listened to the song: “When orchids bloom in the moonlight And lovers vow to be true I still dream in the moonlight Of one dear night that we
Mama, this was the home on the island, this rambling house behind the old church. On her deathbed, this
South Korea’s rocket launch marks shift to commercial space race
By Hyonhee Shin
SOUTH Korea marked its first rocket launch in partnership with a private company, a milestone in the country’s bid to become a bigger player in the global space race.
The Nuri rocket lifted off at 1:13 a.m. local time Thursday from the Naro Space Center in the country’s south. A next-generation satellite established initial contact with a ground station in in Antarctica at 1:55 a.m., and all of the 12 cubesats successfully separated and landed in their target orbit at 600 km (370 miles), the space agency said.
“The successful launch not only reaffirms our country’s independent space transport capabilities, but also marks the first joint publicprivate operation, which provides a significant turning point in the transition of Korea’s space industry ecosystem to the private sector,” Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon told a briefing.
The launch is part of a 2.6 trillion won ($1.8 billion) program that will see six rocket launches through 2027. The Nuri is the country’s first homegrown space vehicle, debuting in 2021 but achieving its first successful flight the following year.
The mission is critical to South Korea and its young space agency as it marks the formal hand-off of launch operations from the state to the private sector—a transition modeled after the SpaceX-driven
insecurity.
The Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey (LFS) can be used to count the number of working-class Filipinos. The occupational categories in the LFS can be roughly divided into what we can call the professional class and the working class.
The professional class includes occupations that typically require a college degree. These are jobs as professionals, managers and administrators, and skilled technicians. The rest are classified as working-class occupations and includes service and sales workers, craft and relat-
boom in the US commercial space industry.
The launch was led by defense contractor Hanwha Aerospace Co., which secured full exclusive rights in July to Nuri technology through the Korea Aerospace Research Institute for about 24 billion won. The company helped assemble earlier iterations of the Nuri as the main engine developer.
The rocket is designed to reach an altitude of 600 kilometers and carry a 960-kilogram (2,116-pound) payload consisting of a next-generation satellite and 12 cubesats.
For South Korea, the success of a privately-run Nuri mission could help redefine its role in Asia’s evolving space race at a time when access to orbit increasingly signals geopolitical and technological clout. Many nations are also seeking to reduce reliance on US, Chinese or Russian launch systems and foster private-sector ecosystems capable of sustaining innovation.
South Korea’s program has a particularly strong element of national pride, given its proximity to North Korea, which said in 2023 it had put a spy satellite into orbit. Seoul wants to boost its share of the global space
ed trades workers, clerical support workers, plant and machine operators and assemblers, and those in elementary occupations.
Using these two categorizations on the merged 2023 Family Income and Expenditures Survey-Labor Force Survey, 78 percent of all employed Filipinos are estimated to belong to the working class and only 22 percent to the professional class.
For those whose basic pay information is available, of course the working class is paid lower, an average of P388 per day compared to P857 per day for the professional class. The median education for the
was all she remembered; this was all that mattered. Carlo had that privilege at least. And honor. He had eased his life away from us, quietly. Years ago, without our knowing it, he underwent a bypass operation. Straddling over life and death, Carlo travelled back to the island of his birth. One day, his family received a frantic call from him. He was back in Ticao island; he was describing the sea, the fishermen hauling their catch for the day. His wife wanted to take the next bus to our hometown. My logic prevailed and I took it upon myself to call relatives to inquire if they saw Carlo on the island. Obviously, he was not there; he remained in London, recovering from the procedure. Unconscious, his mind took him where his heart was—on Ticao, the only land he loved and remembered. His love made him travel through time and space. Through Death, it seems. This summer, when we all have recovered from our sadness and heartaches, we will plan to make this long trip to the island of our birth. There, we look to see all those we have never forgotten, to embrace once more the tree that sheltered us from the persistent little elves, and extend gratitude to the mighty trees, home to those green, enchanting parrots that graced our sweet, unforgettable childhood.
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com
economy to 10 percent by 2045 from about 1 percent now.
“Government-led programs are mostly inefficient, time-consuming and barely feasible, and you can’t keep pace with other countries and compete in this era,” said Kim Jeong Soo, professor at Pukyong National University’s space propulsion lab.
“You have to bring companies to speed up the process and make it profitable as soon as possible so that they’ll invest more.”
Still, South Korea’s space program lags behind regional peers Japan and China and comes as the Korea AeroSpace Administration grapples with leadership instability and project delays.
Last month, John Lee, a NASA veteran recruited as KASA’s vice administrator, resigned just halfway through his three-year term. In a statement, Lee said it was the right time to leave after laying the basic foundation of the agency. He has joined Aravir Inc., a company seeking to build a real-time autonomous object tracking system.
The high-profile Korean Positioning System—modeled after the US-run GPS satellite network—has been delayed by almost two years to September 2029 due chiefly to design flaws in the navigation payload system. Meanwhile, the latest Nuri launch, initially scheduled for December 2024, was postponed by almost a year.
The South Korean government
working class is high school graduate as opposed to college graduate for the professional class. And as could be expected, the working class is typically poorer: 35 percent belong to the poorest 30 percent of household compared to only 13 percent of the professional class. There is still much to be done for the working class, such as raising their productivity through training and education, improving their access to social insurance, improving public services including transportation. Achieving these goals is
wants private companies to accelerate progress and attract capital, betting the sector can recreate the success of national champions that hold immense sway in industries from advanced chips to shipbuilding and nuclear power.
The first up is Hanwha Aerospace, which handled the rocket’s full production and will also support launch operations. The company plans to develop a full value chain that spans launch vehicle and satellite production to data services.
The government is also working with LIG Nex1 Co., a major supplier of defense weapons systems, on KPS. The Korean space agency is in discussions with LG Corp. around collaboration opportunities. The conglomerate is already taking part in the Nuri launch through a cubesat consortium, and is considering launching its own cubesat around 2028.
“The launch symbolizes the credibility of Korea’s broader industrial-policy agenda,” said Byunghwan Son, an associate professor in the global affairs program at George Mason University. Moving high-value capabilities out of government labs empowers national champions and positions South Korea to compete with other advanced economies, where private firms already dominate the commercial space market, Son said. With assistance from Eunkyung Seo/Bloomberg
when she occasionally interviewed me and from her writing. Having started my career as a business reporter myself, I know that Cai was a great one. Her questions were always on point, her writing clear, and there was always value added in her reports. She will be missed.
Tito Genova Valiente
Friday, November 28, 2025
2nd Front
BusinessMirror
DOLE REMINDS EMPLOYERS: COMPLY WITH 13TH-MO RULE
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
on Thursday warned private sector employers that failure to release the mandatory 13th-month pay on time may lead to administrative fines and penalties.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the benefit must be given on or before December 24, stressing that deferment is not allowed under existing law.
“I hope it doesn’t reach that point because this benefit must be really paid. Employers may face cases and incur liability...especially if their refusal is shown to be unjustified, they can be given appropriate penalties under the provisions of the Labor Code,” Laguesma said, mostly in Filipino.
Under the law, non-payment of the 13th-month pay may result in administrative penalties and even the suspension or cancellation of business permits.
Laguesma also noted that the DOLE regional offices will conduct strict compliance monitoring, and all employers must submit their 13th month compliance report no later than January 15 next year.
So far, he noted that the department has not recorded any
employer violating the mandate since he assumed office.
On the same day, the agency issued Labor Advisory No. 16, Series of 2025, outlining the payment guidelines.
Under the advisory, private sector employers must provide 13th-month pay to all rank-andfile workers regardless of position, designation, or employment status.
The pay must not be less than one-twelfth of the basic salary earned during the year.
Piece-rate workers are also covered, with computation based on total output earnings divided by 12.
Laguesma reminded employers that even contractual and casual employees are also covered by the mandate as long as they have rendered at least one month of work within the calendar year.
“They [contractual and casual workers] are among those who must be paid…A worker is entitled to 13th-month pay, and the only requirement is that they must have worked at least one month in a calendar year,” he said, adding that employment contracts must never violate statutory benefits.
He also noted that employers unable to pay the full amount
Senate bill arms AMLC with tools vs ‘evolving’ corruption
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
NOTINGthe complex financial crimes exposed in the investigation into the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has filed a bill to further strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Senate Bill 1557, which Lacson filed on Wednesday, gives the AMLC additional powers while widening the scope of covered persons and updating the list of predicate offenses to money laundering.
“Recent corruption issues have highlighted the complexities of financial crimes. Updating the AMLA to meet the requirements of the times would also prevent us from being placed in the FATF Gray list again,” Lacson said in his bill, noting that the Philippines will be subjected to the fifth round of global mutual evaluations of the Paris-
based Financial Action Task Force in 2027.
On the day Lacson filed his bill, the AMLC announced it had secured two new freeze orders allowing it to safeguard the assets of those accused in the trillion-peso flood projects fiasco, bringing the total frozen assets to P11.7 billion.
In privilege speeches in August and September, Lacson had detailed the corruption behind substandard and ghost flood control projects—and how some of those involved gambled away public funds in casinos.
As the AMLC is now among the
RSSI bug threat seen to leave sugar yield flat
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THE country’s sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2026 would likely remain flat at 2.085 million metric tons (MMT) as red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) pose a threat that could dent overall output, an international agency said.
While the leading sugarcane producer Negros Occidental shows favorable crop development in the South, the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS Manila) warned that the RSSI could thwart potential gains.
“The RSSI, however, are affecting some parts of Negros Island, especially the northern part, and these areas are expected to produce sug-
arcane with lower sucrose content depending on the extent of RSSI infestation,” the USDA-FAS Manila said.
Despite this, the international agency said sugar output in the south would offset the possible losses in the north.
“Favorable crop development in the Southern Negros is expected to compensate for the decrease in production caused by RSSI infestation in the Northern part,” the USDAFAS Manila said.
“Furthermore, utilization of improved high- yielding varieties, better soil health and enhanced irrigation systems helped farmers improve their production.”
With this, USDA-FAS Manila said the sugar industry might be hard-pressed to repeat its strong performance in the previous MY
despite the expansion in area planted, particularly in Mindanao.
The international agency projects MY 2026 sugarcane area in the current MY to inch up by 2 percent to 400,000 hectares (ha), from 392,000 ha last MY.
“This expansion is driven by the conversion of some banana plantation affected by Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) into sugarcane.
The loss of area in Luzon due to land conversion to residential and commercial purposes will partly offset area expansion in Mindanao.”
“The prevailing high prices of sugar will continue to encourage farmers to plant sugarcane rather than switching to alternative crops like corn, cassava, and banana.”
Earlier, the Sugar Regulatory Ad-
ministration (SRA) issued Sugar Order (SO) 1 for crop year 20252026, where it expects output to settle at 1.92 MMT.
If realized, this figure would be lower than the 2.085 MMT recorded sugar output in crop year 20242025.
The SRA, however, noted that the initial forecast could further slip owing to the potential impact of RSSI infestation on yield.
In the previous crop year, the country’s sugar output breached the SRA’s initial forecast 1.78 MMT, owing to the rainy season that helped crops recover.
Based on the latest SRA data, 7,449 hectares have been infested with RSSI as of October 24, from the initial 87 hectares recorded on May 22, when it was declared an infestation.
frontliners in preventing the fruits of multibillion corruption in infrastructure from being dissipated or diverted, the amendatory Senate Bill 1557 seeks to introduce these amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The bill:
* Designates trusts and virtual asset service providers as covered persons;
* Clarifies that the threshold for jewelry dealers and dealers in precious metals and stones pertains to covered transaction reports;
* Includes the respective definitions of transactional and continuing violation of any applicable law or regulation issued by the AMLC or its authorized officer;
* Updates and expands the list of offenses as predicate offenses to money laundering;
* Sets the threshold for conducting customer due diligence by casinos to P150,000, equivalent to the FATFprescribed threshold of US$3,000— with a system of verifying the true identity of their clients;
* Authorizes the AMLC to issue a non-court-based subpoena instead of the current court-based one;
* Authorizes the AMLC to file petitions for freeze order and civil forfeiture directly or through the Office of the Solicitor General;
* Improve the efficiency of the AMLC in conducting bank inquiries without a court order, similar to the AMLC’s current power to conduct non-court-based bank inquiries in cases related to kidnapping, illegal drug crimes, terrorism, terrorism financing, arson and murder;
* Authorizes the AMLC to visit and inspect covered persons to ensure compliance with the AMLC to strengthen the AMLC’s risk-based supervision;
* Authorizes the AMLC to administer oaths or affirmations in discharging its mandate;
* Strengthens AMLC’s quasijudicial functions in handling administrative cases, to support the AMLC’s risk-based supervision;
* Allows for indemnity to the AMLC or its staff against costs incurred in “harassment suits”;
* Expands the coverage of Information Security and Confidentiality Provision against the AMLC and its staff to include all other persons to whom AMLC information was allowed to be shared, to ensure accountability to anyone who gets information from the AMLC;
* Issues a general prohibition against the issuance of injunctive relief against the discharge
Terra Madre nets ₧47-M sales for organic farmers, slow food producers
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
THE inaugural Terra Madre Asia and Pacific (TMAP) generated some P46.5 million in sales during the five-day event.
This was disclosed by local organizers as proof that the event was an “overwhelming success.” In a news statement, TMAP 2025 Executive Director Reena Gamboa said the amount is “based on consolidated reports of actual sales” from November 19 to 23.
Specifically, the sales came from major events like the Street Food Exhibition, Restaurant and Bar Takeovers, Slow Food Travel, Taste Workshops, and donations from Coffee and Slow Drinks, she said.
The event at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Lagoon drew 2,500 delegates from the region and as far as Europe, and attracted an estimated 75,000 visitors, organizers noted.
Gamboa, also president of Slow Food Negros, expressed optimism that Bacolod City earned more “from hotel bookings, restaurant sales, tourist arrivals, and other tourist-related computations.” The Department of Tourism shared that many hotels in the city during TMAP were fully booked. (See, “TMAP surge highlights need for more hotel rooms in Bacolod,” in the BusinessMirror, Nov. 27, 2025.)
‘Organic farmers benefited, too’ THE Street Food Exhibition along North Capitol Road emerged as the highest earner during the event. It featured 107 exhibitors, including organic produce and food sellers featured by various regional offices of the Department of Agriculture, she said. The exhibition attracted 50,000 visitors, while events inside the Capitol Lagoon recorded an additional 25,000 in foot traffic.
Separately, TMAP 2025 Co-Chair and Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon
“ChinChin” Uy Jr., asserted that the 18th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival earned P1.4 million in sales from purchases made by
TMAP participants.
“Chefs, mixologists, Slow Food communities, and Cooks Alliance members sourced their local ingredients from organic farmers and fisherfolk participating in the organic farmers festival,” he said.
“These ingredients were then used in food and drinks at the Taste Workshop, Cooking Demonstrations, Community Cook-off, Street Food Exhibition, and Slow Drinks,” he explained. The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist managed the organic farmers festival, held during the same period, but separately from TMAP and along the South Capitol Road.
A piece in Sunstar Bacolod quoted Negros Occidental Gov. Eduardo Jose Lacson expressing disappointment over the alleged poor sales of organic farmers in their festival, at just P185,000.
However, Uy averred that “the synergy between the events ensured the farmers and fisherfolk sold out their produce. The remaining products, totaling P130,000, were purchased by a member of the Slow Food community on the festival’s final day.”
Bonds formed with producers FOR her part, Gamboa said the organic farmers in the festival were allocated free seats at TMAP’s Public Talks and Conferences. “We also donated part of the meals of the Indigenous peoples brought in by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to ensure that they had food during the event,” she added
“We are proud to have formed bonds with farmers, fisherfolk, food producers, and cooks within the Asia-Pacific region to ensure good, clean, and fair food for all,” she underscored.
TMAP, said Uy, put “Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and the Philippines on the global gastronomy map.”
Hosted by the Philippines for the first time, TMAP is one of the world’s largest sustainable food gatherings attended by farmers, or -
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
NGCP gets nod of ERC for ₧90-B transmission project
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has secured the green light from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to carry out the 500-kiloVolt (kV) Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection and Backbone Project (BMIBP) worth almost P90 billion.
“NGCP’s proposed BatangasMindoro 500-kV Interconnection and Backbone Project in the amount of P89,981,256,921.48 is hereby approved,” the ERC said in its 40-page decision promulgated last November 25.
Further, the ERC directed NGCP to complete the first phase of the project by September 2027 and the second phase by December 31, 2030. Failure to comply will result in administratively penalties. Also, the ERC ordered NGCP to pay a permit fee worth P674,859,426.91.
The order was signed by the five commissioners and was posted on its website on Thursday.
The project aims to link Mindoro Island to the Luzon grid, thus, providing access to more reliable and competitive generation sources. Moreover, the project encourages the development of power generation in the Mindoro Island, such as those renewable energies in the two Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) with an aggregate capacity of around 343 megawatts (MW) for solar and 710 MW for wind farms, due to a wider market brought about by the completion of the interconnection project.
The BMIBP will be constructed in two stages. Stage 1 involves the development of a combination of
overhead transmission lines and undersea/submarine cables connecting the Pinamucan substation in Batangas to the proposed Calapan substation in Oriental Mindoro. The transmission line is designed for 500kV but will initially be energized at 230kV.
The project also includes the construction of the Calapan 500kV substation; however, only the 230/69kV section will be implemented initially, along with associated 69kV transmission facilities to connect to the existing 69kV system. This setup, NGCP said, will supply power to Mindoro Island.
Stage 2 entails the energization of the overhead transmission lines and submarine cables between the Pinamucan and Calapan 500-kV substations to their full design capacity of 500 kV, along with the complete development of the Calapan 500-kV substation.
This stage also includes extending the 500-kV interconnection system established in Stage 1 toward the southern part of Mindoro Island. This will be achieved through the construction of the Calapan–Magsaysay 500-kV transmission line and the Magsaysay 500-kV substation.
The expansion aims to serve
the electrical loads of Occidental Mindoro and support potential offshore wind (OSW) projects in the southern region of the island, NGCP said.
“Stage 1 of the project aims to establish a reliable interconnection facility that will deliver power from the Luzon Grid to Mindoro, to meet both current and projected demand.
On the other hand, Stage 2 of the subject project will expand substation capacity by adding a drawdown facility to ensure a stable and reliable power supply to the existing 69kV network in Occidental Mindoro,” it said.
Overall, upon interconnection of the Mindoro Island grid with the Luzon grid, Mindoro will cease to operate as an isolated or missionary grid.
Consequently, the project is expected to eliminate the island’s eligibility for and reliance on Universal Charge-Missionary Electrification (UCME) subsidies, as demand will be served through integrated grid operations and competitively procured generation within the Luzon grid.
The Department of Energy has approved the BMIBP as an Energy Project of National Significance.
BCDA, Korean firm ink investment pact
By Andrea E. San Juan
@andreasanjuan
TATE-RUN firm Bases Con -
Sversion and Development Authority (BCDA) locked in a P5.1-billion deal with Korea Real Estate Investment & Trust (KOREIT) and Sky Blue New Clark City Golf & Resort Corp. for a premium golf course and residential villa estate in New Clark City.
BCDA said this project is set to create 1,200 direct and indirect jobs and “boost” the Philippines’s
sports and tourism infrastructure.
KOREIT is one of South Korea’s leading real estate investment management firms.
Through its Philippine subsidiaries Eagle-K GC Corp. and Eagle-K RV Corp., BCDA said KOREIT will enable its subsidiaries to fully develop and manage the 150-hectare estate.
“The project covers about 77 hectares for an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse, and 52 hectares for a 9-hole extension, along with supporting facilities,” BCDA said, adding that the remain-
ing areas will host residential villas and related amenities.
According to BCDA, commercial operations of the golf course are targeted to begin by the first quarter of 2026.
The state-run firm said the P5.1billion investment is expected to generate significant economic activity in Tarlac and nearby areas, supporting tourism, local businesses, and employment.
The development is also projected to attract both domestic and international visitors which is seen to
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the rental pool deals of Sta. Lucia Land Inc., which was processed through the streamlined guidelines on Securing and Expanding Capital in Real Estate Non-Traditional Securities (SEC RENT).
In its en banc meeting, the agency approved the company’s 16 registration statements covering 2,382 certificates of participation. The company will offer certificates of participation priced at P70,000 apiece for 2,101 studio units; P80,000 for each certificate in 150 one-bedroom units; P90,000 each for certificates in 121 two-bedroom units; and P100,000 each for certificates in 10 three-bedroom units.
About 15 of the projects under the rental pool program are located in Quezon City, Baguio, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Palawan, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao, and have been operating since at least 2011. VG Cabuag
SMX convention center in Cebu to open in Q4 of ‘26
By VG Cabuag @villygc
SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., the hospitality arm of shopping mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc., is set to open the P3.6-billion SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu in the fourth quarter of 2026.
SM Prime is building one of the largest MICE, or short for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, venues in the Visayas region.
The SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu will offer over 21,000 square meters of leasable space spread across six levels with over 18,000 seating-capacity.
“This regional expansion reaffirms our position as the largest private convention center network in the Philippines,” Peggy Angeles, SM Hotels executive vice president, said.
position New Clark City as a “rising sports and lifestyle destination.”
BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said the partnership reflects “growing interest” from international institutional investors in New Clark City’s long-term development plan.
“KOREIT’s entry shows the level of confidence that major global investors place in New Clark City. This strengthens our investment pipeline and supports our goal of building competitive, sustainable growth centers.”
‘Share sale via GCash to boost growth’
THE initial public offerings and follow-on offerings on e-money platforms, such as Gcash, allow listed companies to scale their businesses while directly strengthening access for individual investors.
GCash said demand surged during the first IPO and FOO made available within the application, where investors took up about P50 million in shares across the maiden offering of west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. and the follow-on offer of Megawide Construction Corp. For Maynilad, the original tranche of the brokerage’s allocation for the e-wallet was fully taken up within the first 12 hours. Even with the heightened demand, all GStocks PH orders placed for the two offerings were fully allocated by AB Capital Securities Inc.
“These recent milestones show Filipinos are increasingly enthusiastic about exploring investment opportunities when provided the proper tools and access,” Winsley Bangit, group head of new businesses at GCash operator Globe Fintech Innovations Inc.
“The encouraging response to the Maynilad IPO and Megawide FOO on our platform demonstrates
that being able to invest and plan for a brighter future is no longer limited to a few,” Bangit said.
“AB Capital Securities is proud to continue innovating with GCash to bring the stock market closer to more Filipinos,” Hazel Tanedo Tan, president of AB Capital, said.
“Together, we’re ensuring that opportunities like IPOs and FOOs become increasingly accessible to every investor who wants to be part of the local growth story.”
John Garcia, head of market education for Wealth Management at GCash, said the recently concluded deals set “a strong proof of concept” for future offerings. It underscores the potential of bringing investment opportunities directly to a platform millions of Filipinos trust and use every day, he said.
“By simplifying what was once a tedious and uncertain subscription process into just four taps on GCash, we’re directly supporting a traditionally underserved segment of investors--everyday Filipinos.”
As of June 2024, the Philippine Stock Exchange reported 2.86 million stock market accounts, with 99 percent belonging to local investors. This accounts for just around 4 percent of the country’s roughly 70 million adults, underscoring the considerable potential for growth in retail investing.
GStocks PH, which is found within the GCash app, aligns the minimum investment requirement for share issuances with the board lot, effectively lowering the minimum investment amount and reducing high capital requirements for ordinary Filipinos. VG Cabuag
“After recent events, we hope SMX Seaside Cebu will play a meaningful role in revitalizing the province’s tourism and business landscape.”
With the launch of SMX Seaside Cebu, SMX’s total convention portfolio will expand to over 80,000 square meters of event leasable area across 10 venues nationwide. This includes the planned SMXCITE in Pasay, and other SMXes located in Manila, Taguig, Bacolod, Davao, Clark, Olongapo, Skyhall Seaside Cebu and Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.
Currently, SMX’s footprint stands at approximately 42,000 square meters of leasable event space.
MERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGen) will soon seal a financing agreement for its high efficiency combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) facility in Singapore that will be undertaken by its Singapore-based subsidiary, PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. (PLP).
“We just signed the EPC [engineering, procurement, construction] with Mitsubishi. We’re trying to actually sign the financing this Friday,” said MGen President Emmanuel Rubio.
MGen is the power generation arm of Meralco. PLP signed last month an EPC contract with a consortium of Mitsubishi Power and Jurong Engineering Ltd. (JEL) to develop the CCGT facility in Singapore. The power plant will be the first CCGT unit in Singapore integrated with a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), enabling dynamic energy management to align electricity supply with grid demand.
The new CCGT power plant will deploy Mitsubishi Power’s stateof-the-art M701JAC gas turbine with hydrogen co-firing poten -
Pre-booked events are already lining up for SMX Seaside Cebu, the company said, which include Philconstruct Cebu in November 2026 and Wofex Visayas in April 2027. “SMX Seaside Cebu prioritizes the safety and security of its clients. It has comprehensive emergency and disaster preparedness protocols that align with the standards of SM Prime and local government regulations.”
The company said it is structurally compliant with the latest national building codes and seismic safety requirements. Safety inspections, emergency evacuation drills and staff training to ensure immediate and orderly response during unforeseen events such as earthquakes are regularly conducted.
“Emergency exits, assembly areas and communication systems are clearly designated and maintained for efficient evacuation and coordination with local emergency response units.”
The SMX Seaside Cebu is part of SM Prime’s South Coast City project, a 26-hectare master-planned estate in Cebu that also features the upcoming SM Seaside City Arena. South Coast City is envisioned as a major lifestyle and business hub in the southern Philippines. Cebu’s connectivity through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and its status as a top tourism destination further strengthen its position in the industry. Cebu is one of the country’s top 10 provincial economies in both size and share of national GDP in 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
tial, as the power sector works towards net zero carbon emissions. This gas turbine is recognized as the world’s most efficient largeframe gas turbine model, with more than 64 percent combined cycle efficiency and proven reliability through three million operational hours.
Expected to commence operations in 2029, the 670-megawatt (MW) plant on Jurong Island, Singapore will be capable of supplying reliable and cleaner energy to more than 965,000 four-room flats, while also being designed to operate on 30 percent hydrogen and fully transition to run entirely on hydrogen in the future.
“Well, at the moment, we have 945 megawatts of gas to power capacity in Singapore. And the ones for this project to be delivered in February of 2029 or January 2029, this is 670 (MW),” said Rubio. PLP currently owns and operates an 830-MW CCGT facility and a 100MW Fast Start Ancillary Services facility on Jurong Island. The 830MW CCGT facility is one of the most efficient and reliable combined cycle power plants currently operating in Singapore. Lenie Lectura
ARTIST'S perspective of SMX Convention Center in Cebu. PHOTO FROM
Banking&Finance
‘Most-complained-about’ SSS plans to clean house
THE Social Security System (SSS) is accelerating digital upgrades and anti-red tape initiatives after being flagged as the most-complained-about government agency, the state-run pension fund manager said through a statement.
“The SSS remains steadfast in its mission to provide fast, efficient, and transparent services to its members. We continue to implement reforms and digital innovations to minimize bureaucratic delays and enhance customer experience,” read a statement the SSS issued last Thursday.
SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said the agency is currently coordinating with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to validate the reported data involving 244 complaints.
According to De Claro, all complaints received from January to August 2025 were addressed and resolved within ARTA standards, as its resolution rate stood at 99.3 percent.
A total of about 474,000 emails are tracked “diligently” until they are all resolved within ARTA standards, added the SSS chief.
Most complaints are about SSS’s service delivery, followed by matters concerning its loan programs and contributions matters, De Claro said. Service delivery complaints were mainly about queuing at the branches and repeat visits to the SSS branch for a benefit claim.
Meanwhile, loan program complaints were about salary loan and calamity loan programs, which were both enhanced this year, featuring lower interest rates, mainly due to difficulties in calamity loan applications and challenges with loan eligibility requirements and procedures.
Contributions complaints were
mainly about non-remittance by employers and long wait time for manual verification, De Claro said.
“We value transparency and accountability in all our operations. While we recognize the importance of these reports, we want to assure our members that every concern raised through our channels is being acted upon until resolved. Our partnership with ARTA reflects our commitment to improving processes and delivering efficient services,” he added.
Since June 2021, the SSS has established the Committee on AntiRed Tape (CART) to receive complaints and feedback via hotline, corporate email, postal mail, referrals from various government entities, including ARTA and through SSS Branches
De Claro said the SSS also monitors news reports and social media for SSS-related matters and issues press releases or statements to keep its stakeholders informed.
The ARTA has recently released a list of the “Top 10 Most Complained Agencies” for 2025.
The SSS topped the list among the poorest-performing governmentowned and -controlled corporations.
The pension fund manager was trailed by the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth, the Government Service Insurance System, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine Postal Corp., the Philippine Ports Authority, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., the National Housing Authority, the Social Housing Finance Corp. and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Beyond your comfort zone: A call for associations to grow and serve
COLLEAGUES in the association community often advise me to “go beyond my comfort zone” in situations where I’ve exhausted almost all means to surmount a difficult challenge in aspects of my work. The phrase “beyond your comfort zone” is used to describe the willingness to step into unfamiliar, challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, territory to achieve growth. The term “comfort zone” itself originated in psychology in the early 20th century, describing a mental state where people feel safe, in control and at ease. While this zone offers stability, it can also breed stagnation if one remains there too long. True progress, whether for individuals or organizations, happens when we push past that boundary into the unknown.
For associations, the idea is not just motivational jargon; it is a leadership imperative. Associations exist to advance their members’ interests, strengthen professions and contribute to society. Fulfilling such missions requires going beyond the familiar ways of operating. Leaders and staff must embrace innovation, adaptability and courage, particularly when faced with unprecedented challenges.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a vivid reminder of this truth. Practically overnight, associations around the world were forced out of their comfort zones. In-person conferences and training programs—the lifeblood of many associations—got canceled. Membership engagement, advocacy and service delivery had to be reimagined. Those that thrived did so because they were willing to step boldly into the discomfort of uncertainty.
Take the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), which quickly pivoted to virtual platforms to host its annual meeting, creating an engaging online experience for thousands of professionals worldwide. Similarly, local chambers of commerce across Asia
a nd the Philippines became lifelines for small and medium enterprises, providing digital training sessions, online marketplaces and real-time policy
Tokenized-asset markets to grow to $60B–study
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Philippines could capitalize on widespread mobile wallet usage and early adoption of blockchain-based financial tools, as the country’s tokenized-asset markets could grow in billions of dollars by the year 2030.
In a media launch on Thursday, the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX) Inc., Saison Capital Pte. Ltd. and Onigiri Capital fund of Japan’s Credit Saison Co. Ltd. released “Project Bayani: The Philippines’s Asset Tokenization Opportunity,” a landmark white paper estimating the country’s tokenizedasset market.
The study found that the Philippine market for tokenized assets in 2030 could reach $60 billion, with
updates. These were not comfortable shifts; they required investments in new technologies, learning new skills and in many cases, rethinking business models. Yet, they helped associations remain relevant and indispensable to their members.
Going beyond one’s comfort zone also fosters creativity and resilience—traits that associations must model for their communities. During the pandemic, medical associations collaborated across borders to share protocols and knowledge, accelerating the global response to Covid-19. Tourism and hospitality associations, heavily impacted by restrictions, pioneered hybrid events and sustainable travel campaigns that have now become permanent features of their strategies.
The lesson here is clear: when association leaders step out of their comfort zones, they demonstrate vision, adaptability and commitment. They signal to their members that the organization is not afraid to evolve in service of its mission. And in doing so, they inspire members themselves to embrace growth, change and innovation. Ultimately, going beyond your comfort zone is about more than just risktaking; it is about unlocking potential. For associations, this potential lies in delivering deeper value to members, building stronger communities and shaping a better future. Staying in the comfort zone may feel safe, but stepping beyond it is where growth and true impact happens.
Octavio Peralta is founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror . E-mail: bobby@ pcaae.org.
public equities amounting to $26 billion, followed by government bonds at $24 billion, mutual funds ($6 billion) and other assets ($4 billion).
Filipinos also demonstrate strong readiness for digital and tokenized investment products, with over 14 percent of Filipinos owning cryptocurrencies and outpacing participation in stocks (2.4 percent) and bonds (less than 1 percent).
Tokenized bonds are already available via PDAX and the GCash
‘Stricter rules help shape responsible e-games sector’
electronic wallet, with nearly half of all bond-account holders holding securities in tokenized form.
Mobile wallets such as Maya and Coins.ph have embedded blockchainenabled wallets that allow users to hold cryptocurrencies and tokenized investment products.
National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said that tokenization allows people to invest in much smaller amounts and could be distributed through e-wallets, which makes it easy and fast to invest in regular Treasury auctions, such as retail treasury bonds (RTBs) and treasury bills.
“Cheap bonds are really revolutionary because those investors that are constrained by that limitation are now able to participate in our RTB and even in our regular auction,” Almanza said. “Access is very important because we are able to reach out to all users.”
In 2023, the Bureau of the Treasury launched its maiden tokenized treasury bonds, issued in the form of digital tokens. The Treasury saw strong demand
THE country’s e-games and e-Bingo operators are navigating a difficult but necessary transition toward stricter safeguards and more transparent operations that help shape a more responsible industry, Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said.
Speaking during a gathering of the Association of Independent Licensed Gaming and Amusement Operators Inc. (Ailgao) in Muntinlupa City last Wednesday, Tengco acknowledged that recent reforms have prompted adjustments across the E-Games sector.
He cited in particular the mandatory de-linking of e-wallets from online gaming platforms which he said is intended to strengthen the credibility of legitimate operators while preventing potential harm on young and vulnerable players.
“You may be interested to know that in the third quarter of 2025, we recorded an industry GGR [gross gaming revenues] that was a bit lower than last year,” the Pagcor chief said.
“But this reflects an industry transitioning to stronger and safer practices.”
Tengco noted that the e-Games and eBingo segment still grew 17.4 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year. Nonetheless, he admitted that the de-linking policy triggered a temporary GGR decline in August and September.
“We know that many of you were affected by this sudden development,” he said. “However, we must not look at these reforms as obstacles but as safeguards designed to protect your players, your businesses, and the entire ecosystem you operate in.”
Tengco also warned that while legitimate licensees are adapting responsibly, illegal operators continue to expand aggressively without paying taxes or observing player protection protocols.
“They expose players to financial fraud and data theft,” he said. “But the worst part is, they damage the reputation of the entire industry, including the legitimate ones.”
from investors for the TTBs, as the total awarded amount of reached P15 billion, which is higher than the minimum issue size of P10 billion. By integrating tokenization into its capital markets, the Philippines is demonstrating how emerging economies can modernize financial systems and expand participation in investment products through digital transformation.
“If we can make our financial markets more accessible, engender more trust in the market, then we can sustain this economic growth for the country,” PDAX CEO and Founder Michel Merlmichael O. Gaba said.
“We firmly believe in the opportunity of tokenization as a way to promote better access to financial products,” PDAX Chief Business Development Officer Kenneth Chua added.
Tokenization allows enhanced accessibility, increased liquidity, security and transparency, composability through smart contracts that automatically execute on agreed instructions and lowers costs, Chua said.
BIR files cases vs. firms in ‘ghost’ infra projects
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed criminal complaints against contractors IM Construction Corp. and SYMS Construction Trading Inc. for evading P13.8 million in taxes in “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.
On Thursday, Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza filed criminal cases against IM Construction, SYMS and their responsible officers with multiple violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
According to the BIR, the two contractors involved in the ghost flood control projects failed to pay a total of P13.8 million in taxes arising from fictitious expenses, underreported income and false value-added tax declarations.
The respondents are charged with violation of Section 254 or Tax Evasion and Section 255 or Willful Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information. Both violations carry heavy fines and imprisonment, according to the BIR.
“They took public money meant to protect families from flooding, and built nothing. That is corruption at its most shameless. The BIR will not allow contractors to enrich themselves through fake projects and falsified tax filings,” Mendoza was quoted in a statement as saying.
BIR investigation showed that IM Construction was paid for the construction of a pumping station and a flood gate in Ba-
rangay Santo Rosario, Hagonoy, Bulacan; but no structure of any kind was built, as confirmed by a physical verification. With zero actual accomplishment, the BIR said the company’s claimed project costs, deductions and input taxes were “entirely fictitious,” resulting in significant tax deficiencies.
“These false declarations constitute a deliberate, willful attempt to evade taxes while misusing public funds intended for critical flood-control infrastructure,” the BIR said.
Meanwhile, SYMS collected 100 percent of the contract amount for a reinforced river wall in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan.
However, inspections established that no reinforced river wall was constructed on site.
“Because the project had no actual accomplishment, the taxpayer had no legal basis to claim deductions or input taxes. The false filings submitted by SYMS Construction Trading reflect a clear, intentional effort to conceal income and evade taxes derived from a fully paid but nonexistent government project,” the BIR said.
Mendoza said the BIR is conducting expanded audits of related contractors and individuals, and will file more criminal complaints in the coming weeks.
“We will pursue every offender, recover every peso, and continue filing criminal charges until this practice ends,” Mendoza added. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Reforms must follow BIR field audit halt—co-ops
DESPITE the suspension of letters of authority (LOAs), institutional reforms within the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) can stop the corruption “that have long plagued tax audits of cooperatives,” the Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives Inc. argues.
In a statement last Thursday, the Coop Chamber said the BIR’s suspension of LOAs is a relief for cooperatives and small businesses that have been “long burdened by coercive audit practices.”
“However, it must be followed by decisive reforms to ensure account-
ability and protect the integrity of the cooperative sector,” Coop Chamber added.
Coop Chamber said it is pushing for deeper and permanent reforms to ensure accountability and protect the cooperative sector from abusive practices.
As such, the chamber is urging for the immediate Senate investigation into the misuse of LOAs and stricter regulation of LOA issuance, with safeguards specifically for cooperatives.
They are also calling for the protection of Certificates of Tax Exemp -
tion from arbitrary suspension, as well as institutional reforms in the BIR to prevent harassment and corruption.
Last Monday, the BIR temporarily suspended all field audits and other related operations, including the issuance of LOAs and Mission Orders.
Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said the suspension is needed to protect taxpayers’ rights, strengthen internal discipline and ensure the integrity of the BIR’s audit processes.
The temporary suspension will apply to all BIR offices involved in
audit and field operations, such as the Large Taxpayers Service, Revenue Regions and District Offices, Assessment Divisions, VAT Audit Units and Intelligence and Special Audit Units.
There have been reports on the alleged corruption in the BIR, particularly in the misuse of LOAs that have allegedly become a long-running “money-making scheme.” (See: Fernandez, B. (2025, November 21). BusinessMirror. businessmirror.
Octavio Peralta
A ssociation World THIS November 26, 2025, photo shows Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco receiving the “Gaming Exemplary Leadership Award” from Association of Independent Licensed Gaming and Amusement Operators Inc. (Ailgao) President Rafael A. Tabora (left) and Ailgao Vice-President Amelia Cruz (right) during the association’s gathering in Muntinlupa City. CREDIT: PHILIPPINE
AND GAMING CORP.
Virtus Awards champion heart, vision, and craft in PHL hospitality
THE Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), the premier organization of sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality industry, finally pulled off its 11th Virtus Awards.
The awards, given annually, celebrates the best sales and marketing professionals and their campaigns that drove more guests and higher revenue to their respective properties.
Held this year at Okada Manila on November 16, the awards “recognize not only individual excellence, but also the collective strength of an industry that continues to demonstrate successful collaboration amid unheard of challenges, [and] demonstrating unwavering commitment to service,” says veteran hotelier and Virtus chair Rose Libongco.
With the theme “Paths and Bridges,” the awards are a timely and meaningful reminder “that progress is built not on isolated achievements, but on shared vision, collaboration, and the ability to connect people, ideas and opportunities across boundaries,” she adds.
The big winner of the evening was Megaworld Hotels and Resorts (MHR), which won Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign with its “100 percent MuslimFriendly Accommodation Establishments,” its team led by Arturo Boncato Jr., the company’s Group General Manager.
“From January this year, we have monitored several thousand room nights from new sources across all our 13 properties. Notable are recent MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) and leisure groups from Bangladesh, India, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and BARMM (Bang-
samoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” explains Boncato, when in jest I “demanded” proof of the effectivity of MHR’s campaign. “Our Marhaba Beach in Boracay Newcoast has attracted groups as well,” he adds.
Boncato also underscores that MHR’s “Halal-certified kitchens, menus and promotions have established an active market for our food and beverage (F&B) outlets. Our Muslim-friendly offerings (rooms and F&B) are in all commercial platforms both for sales and marketing with substantial revenues and mileage gained and secured. Our indicators for 2025 will be the springboard to a sustainable growth envisioned.”
I visited MHR’s Newcoast property last year, where I stayed at Savoy Boracay, and caught a glimpse of the Marhaba Beach. It is so far the only Muslimsonly beach in the country, and is a fenced off area on the larger white-sand Newcoast Beach. I was also told that it was actually a tedious process to build halal kitchens—separate units from the regular kitchens— and get these certified. But all that hard work has been worth it, as far as MHR is concerned, especially with the recognition the company has just won.
Other 2025 Virtus awardees also included:
• Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate
- Carthryn Mae Asis, F&B Sales Executive at Okada Manila;
• Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager
- Jaron Nepomuceno, Brand Management and Graphic Design Manager at Manila Marriott Hotel; and
• Outstanding Sales and Marketing LeaderSharon Deanne Guerrero, Director of Sales and Marketing at Luxent Hotel Judges for each Virtus category have a little over a month to interview the nominees and determine the winners. This is a tightly guarded secret, explains HSMA chair Margie Munsayac: “Since the Awards began, the judges’ scores, evaluation sheets, and deliberation notes have always been strictly confidential.”
She adds that HSMA also employs “independent external auditors who tabulate and validate all results, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and full compliance with the Virtus judging guidelines.”
Libongco further underscores, “The Virtus Awards honors those who see beyond the ordinary—those who create possibilities where others see limitations, and who inspire progress through vision and action. These are the men and women who continue to strengthen the foundation upon which Philippine tourism and hospitality stand.”
***
THIS has been a difficult month, both for my family and my media colleagues.
Our family lost my only nephew Mikee to a disease no one knew he had. An unhealthy diet and lifestyle took his young troubled life. Like his father, my brother Monching, Mikee was incredibly smart—but restless. He so wanted to be a success like his cousins and other family members, but just didn’t know how to get there.
I was looking through my Facebook for photos of Mikee and found just three of him smiling. It was often at Christmas and whenever there were family gatherings. He was often serious and sensitive, but when he did laugh or smile, it was precious as it was so rare. Rest in peace, Mikee. See you back on the mothership someday.
A day before he passed, my first cousin Vera also died. A cancer survivor, she had fallen ill from what she thought was mere food poisoning. By Sunday, Vera was gone. She was just 56. A kind heart, Vera will surely take Mikee’s hand as they journey to the great beyond.
Last week, Cai Ordinario, BusinessMirror’s diligent banking and economics reporter, also left our mortal world at just 45 years young. Cai was the inveterate overachiever—while she reported for our paper, she had also been studying for a post-graduate degree, and teaching at the University of the Philippines, then later her alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas.
At some point, she did all that while leading the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, our exuberant group of business journalists, which had just celebrated its 40th anniversary. She was a great reporter, and a good leader. Cai definitely led an extraordinary life.
May their souls rest in peace. Your sympathies and prayers, dear readers, are a welcome comfort to their families and friends.
Lullabies have limits: New sleep clinic redefines comfort and care in sleep testing
SLEEP is one of the most important building blocks of a child’s health and development. Yet for some, even bedtime can pose hidden risks.
In the Philippines, 5 in every 50 children experience a form of sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts breathing and causes kids to wake up, snore, or sleep with their mouth open. Symptoms such as low energy or unusual hyperactivity are often observed, but they are rarely recognized as signs of a sleep disorder, leaving many children undiagnosed.
REIMANGINED
SLEEP TESTING
THE experience of couple Jacky Ang and Perkin Chai began the same way many parents encounter this condition: with small signs that seemed easy to overlook. One night, they noticed their kids sleeping with their mouths open, and what looked like tiredness turned
out to be part of a bigger issue, a diagnosis that would introduce them to a condition they knew little about.
As they went through the required tests and follow-ups, they saw firsthand what the process involved—from securing schedules to overnight studies in unfamiliar hospital settings that can feel intimidating for children. It wasn’t an easy stretch for them, and it helped them appreciate what the experience is like for families going through it for the first time.
Wanting to understand it better, they began researching sleep apnea and the options available to families. “We wanted to know what we could do to give our kids the best chance for better sleep,” Ang shared.
That became the starting point for what would later become Hele.
See “Lullabies,” B5
job, or an investment in yourself or how you live, make it happen. A confident and positive attitude will help you navigate your way forward. Plan to celebrate your success. Romance is in the stars. HHHHH
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Bypass controversy, talks and those trying to redirect you. Focus on physical activities, a healthy diet and socializing with people who uplift you. Pay attention, and you’ll realize someone has more interest in you than you think. Be careful not to let your emotions take over when common sense is necessary. Choose healthy living over indulgent behavior. HHH
fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Change what you don’t like or need anymore, and focus on what you do. Align yourself with those who share your values and are heading in a similar direction. A change may look inviting, but it’s up to you to shape it into something that fits and suits your needs. A partnership seems worthwhile. Discuss the possibilities. HHH
gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Simple, discreet and doable are your best bets. Too much of anything can backfire, leaving you to pick up the pieces or pay for something you don’t need or want. Focus on your living space, efficiency and saving, not overspending. Pick up the pace and do something that physically challenges you. Set and pursue personal goals. HHH
h
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look, see and do. It’s time to turn your dream into a reality. An open mind, a disciplined attitude and a unique perspective will help you gain the support and confidence you need to market and launch your plans. Refuse to let emotional issues or someone’s negativity sideline your efforts. HHHHH
iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Conversations can easily turn into emotional battlegrounds. Pick and choose your words carefully. Take the high road, listen, consider the consequences, maintain peace and move forward with your day. Stick close to home, and work on projects that you find satisfying. A financial opportunity is apparent, along with a commitment. HH
j
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotions and money will clash today. Paying on time will save you from unnecessary penalties. Revising how you present your skills will help you gain professional ground. Communication, travel and selling what you have to offer are favored. Look for an opportunity, and seize the moment. HHHH
k AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t waffle when you can achieve so much. Take advantage
Losing a character in ‘The Beast in Me’
Cmalcy to her
As if this is not enough, Aggie wakes up one morning to a raucous—a new neighbor has moved across her rambling home. He is Nile Jarvis, the scion of a real estate magnate. Jarvis is no regular person; he wears his hubris on his sleeve like a badge of courage. He also carries his entitlement proudly as if it is a title connected to his family name.
In a teaser to the series, we are presented the two characters of Aggie Wiggs and Nile Jarvis and you have to admit the scene between the two must be one of the most engaging—because it immediately polarizes the two immediately—scenes between two protagonists in a series. Later, as we re-discover that scene embedded in a longer episode, we realize that lunch was kind of imposed upon by Nile Jarvis to Aggie Wiggs who is put on the spot and is unable to refuse the invite. In that longer scene, written adroitly, the nuances of the respective characters are not only essayed but, layer after layer, peeled for the audience to savor and psycho-analyse.
Here we see an uptight Aggie Wiggs being pushed to the wall, her wit and ethical wisdom the only weapon she could muster to brandish against Nile Jarvis who, it seems, is in command of his own wealth and self-importance. Then comes the crucial question: What is it that occupies the mind of the writer? Nile Jarvis reads Aggie Wiggs and the former is keen to know what subject matter interests the author. It is at this point when Aggie Wiggs shares her idea, that of writing the biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the unlikely friendship of the woman
Lullabies…
FROM ONE FAMILY’S CHALLENGE
TO BETTER SLEEP CARE FOR ALL
HELE is a sleep clinic that offers world-class diagnostic testing, with a vision rooted in comfort. For the couple, they want Hele to represent and provide attentive care, just like how family members care for each other.
“We wanted to build a clinic where patients and their families can feel safe, relaxed and cared for, in a more private, stress-free space even while undergoing a test,” said Ang.
At its core, Hele is built to give clients another option that can fit their needs and lifestyle. It reimagines sleep testing by combining hospital-level service with five-star comfort.
This includes a private room at Makati Diamond Hotel, designed to accommodate both patients and family caregivers comfortably, along with hotel-level facilities and security, and flexible scheduling. Like a regular hotel stay, patients can check in at their convenience and are free to roam nearby areas or freshen up before their test.
All these added comforts are part of the basic testing package and come at no extra cost.
Each test is monitored by sleep-trained technicians and the results are interpreted by a partner sleep doctor. These add up to the promise of worldclass care the brand wants to bring.
COMFORT AND COMPASSION
IN SLEEP CARE AND DIAGNOSTICS
PEDIATRIC sleep apnea often goes unnoticed because its symptoms can seem like regular kid behavior.
“We felt that if this was a surprise to us, how many more people are in the same boat? It made us realize na posibleng maraming unaware sa realities and threats of sleep apnea, especially to kids,” said Chai.
For Jacky and Perkin, Hele is the kind of place they wished existed when they were going through the process. It’s their way of helping families find a clearer, smoother path to understanding sleep issues—and the beginning of a mission to make sleep care easier to navigate. It delivers the same standard of testing offered in hospitals, but in an environment that feels far more reassuring for families.
If you know a loved one who constantly snores, wakes up in the middle of the night, or sleeps with their mouth open, it might be time to consult your doctor.
More information about Hele and how to book a sleep test can be found at facebook.com/sleepbyhele and www.sleepbyhele.com.
with Antonin Scalia. Booooring, according to Nile Jarvis, who eggs on and teases Aggie Wiggs to instead write about him. After all, he is the more interesting person. Already, at this point, we all know that Nile Jarvis is in that Long Island home, far from the madding crowd it appears, because he still lives with a case of a wife who is missing. The fact is the encounter that happens between Aggie and Nile engages us to a point that we could go on watching the two parry each other. But the writers of the series have other things on the back burner. Finding herself in a rut, Aggie Wiggs succumbs to the temptation to write about something that is right there in her midst, this man who stares straight into her and demands if she believes he is indeed guilty of murdering his own wife. This is the same man who confesses to the charm of getting to know more about “dykes,” a pointed if not politically abrasive reference to the gender of the writer. And then something occurs after that fateful
By Patrick Villanueva
PUTTING a whole different meaning on “running for grocery,” Puregold’s first-ever Hakot Relay Run and Sunset Concert drew in thousands of attendees at Burnham Park in Luneta in a fun-filled afternoon of fitness and entertainment.
Combining fitness, entertainment, and the classic Puregold “hakot” experience, their first-ever Hakot Relay Run spun a popular activity with a new twist. Participants formed teams of three, with each entering the “hakot” stage, putting groceries in their sling bags before tagging the next person. Being first was not of priority, but rather putting in strategy to haul as much grocery in a run.
This community-building effort was patterned after a social activity and community participation event that rewarded joiners not only with a much needed fitness activity, but also with groceries they could take home. Eventgoers also got the commemorative Finisher’s medal, an official race singlet, and an exclusive grocery sling bag.
lunch. From afar, Aggie Wiggs sees once more Teddy Fenig, the drunk driver who killed Aggie’s son. Nile takes note of this persistent if not anxious presence of an irritant. The next morning, Aggie wakes up to the sordid news of Fenig missing—if not dead. The pattern is repeated in the life of this mogul, someone is missing or dead and Nile is the common angle in the narrative.
An FBI agent, Bryan Abbott, who once investigated the life of Nile, enters the picture. Abbott is having an affair with another FBI agent who, we find out, happens to have connections with the family of Nile Jarvis. The father of Jarvis looms over the plot. The present wife of Nile Jarvis, who is a gallerist, becomes interested in the works of the former wife of Aggie Wiggs. There is already a cobweb in this maze of castles and we see no end yet in the puzzle.
I must confess Claire Danes as the author burdened by her own sadness and isolation is enough of an attraction for me. There is something so credible,
To top off the event, live music and entertainment was staged at the Sunset Concert where Ppop groups Press Hit Play, KAIA, and G22 stepped on the stage to perform their best hits. They also went to the crowd to engage in a little fan service.
PBB Celebrity Collab Edition winning duo Mika Salamanca and Brent Manalo, after their individual performances, thrilled the audience with a romantic performance of “What If Tayo?” that thrilled the audience. The event ended with an amazing fireworks display.
original and bohemian-smart in the rugged wear of Danes. It is as if she has gotten tired of dressing up and has allowed the world to pass her by.
As Nile Jarvis, Matthew Rhys is the ultimate foil to this writer. As a man of wealth with a lot of surplus, Rhys supplies the dialogues with a smirk that seems a product of a spoiled childhood. When at last Aggie Wiggs enters Jarvis’ world, the two of them plumb the life of his father like his own septic tank. The edge in the voice of Rhys can never diminish the hollowness in the echo created by Danes.
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys are two charismatic performers and strangely enough, the two of them share in the burden of good and evil. It is a duplicitous balancing act good actors are able to master.
The Beast in Me is created by Gabe Rotter. Conan O’Brien and Jodie Foster are among those named as executive producer. Cinematography is by Lyle Vincent.
The Beast in Me is now being streamed on Netflix.
“Wins come in many forms. This is a new one for us, as Puregold tries to create moments where families, friends, and communities can connect. This Hakot Relay Run gave us a chance to do exactly that,” Puregold President Vincent Co said.
This initiative was launched to reflect the company’s goal of uplifting Filipino communities and celebrating everyday wins. To learn more and be updated on their upcoming events, follow Puregold on their YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok pages.
GMA Network President and Chief Executive Officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. was honored by BizNews Asia with the prestigious Management Excellence Award for his outstanding and visionary leadership during the publication’s 24th anniversary on November 25 in Makati. Duavit has championed forwardlooking strategies that strengthened the network’s performance and expanded its reach across television, radio and online platforms. Duavit first joined GMA Network in January 1999 as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Subsequently, he was appointed as Chairman of the Executive Committee in August 2000 and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in November of the same year. He was elected as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and as its CEO
effective January 1, 2024. Beyond his leadership of GMA Network, Duavit also serves as the Chairman of the Board of GMA Network Films Inc.; president and CEO of GMA Holdings Inc. and GMA Productions Inc. (formerly RGMA Marketing and Productions, Inc.); director and CEO of GMA New Media Inc.; and chairman, president, and CEO of Group Management and Development Inc. and Dual Management and Investments Inc. He is also the vice chairman of GMA Ventures, Inc.
He is also the president and a trustee of the GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc., a trustee of the Guronasyon Foundation Inc., and Board Advisor of the HERO Foundation. Duavit holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines.
More information can be found at www. GMANetwork.com.
GMA Network President and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. honored at
GSIS Member Feedback is Key Driver of Reforms in 2025 NCR Stakeholders’ Dialogue
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) recently underscored the importance of direct member feedback in shaping institutional reforms as it gathered hundreds of stakeholders for the 2025 GSIS NCR Stakeholders’ Dialogue at the VS Hotel and Convention Center in Quezon City.
“We are here to listen so we can better understand how to make your transactions with GSIS easier and more convenient,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso told members and government representatives. “Every improvement you see started with someone speaking up in a dialogue like this one. Your feedback is the trigger for real change.”
Veloso highlighted policy shifts such as the removal of the required down payment for members purchasing the GSIS housing units they currently rent.
“Your monthly rent will now be treated as part of your amortization. That change came from you,” he said.
A substantial portion of the program was devoted to an open forum, where members and agency representatives raised questions on GSIS programs, loan policies, pension concerns, and digital services. GSIS officials addressed the issues directly, noting that the dialogue allowed the agency to gather firsthand insights on the needs and challenges of its stakeholders.
UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, who delivered the keynote message, affirmed GSIS’s efforts through
GSIS emphasized the crucial role of member feedback in shaping reforms during the 2025 NCR Stakeholders’ Dialogue held in Quezon City last November 19. PGM Wick Veloso thanked members and partners for openly sharing their concerns, noting: “Every improvement you see started with someone speaking up. Your feedback is the trigger for real change.”
the same principles he emphasized in his address. “Your theme, ‘Basta sama-sama, tuloy-tuloy ang ginhawa,’ is more than a slogan. It captures a truth that both GSIS and UP Diliman hold dear: that meaningful progress happens when institutions work together, when systems are aligned, and when public service is strengthened by shared purpose,” he said.
“Your continued efforts to modernize member services, strengthen records management, and enhance digital security directly contribute to nation-building. You are preserving the dignity and welfare of millions of government workers and pensioners.”
The dialogue also featured updates on digital innovation and fraud prevention.
Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman discussed the rising risks of digital fraud affecting government workers.
GSIS also presented enhancements to its digital services and mobile app, including improvements to system security and features designed to deliver a more seamless member experience.
A major portion of the event was dedicated to honoring top performing government agencies recognized for efficiency in loan and premium collections, management of past due rates and excellence in digital collaboration. Among the awardees were CHED Region IV B, the University of the Philippines System, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, the House of Representatives, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Philippine National Police, the Anti Red Tape Authority, the Public Attorney’s Office, the National Housing Authority, the Department of Transportation MRT 3 and the Commission on Audit.
Representing the awardees, Acting PNP Chief PLTGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. expressed gratitude to GSIS for recognizing top performing agencies. “These awards remind us that accountability and good governance matter and that public service improves when every agency does its part,” he said.
He also thanked the GSIS leadership for introducing reforms that make the system clearer, faster and more reliable for government workers.
“You can be assured that we will continue to meet our responsibilities with discipline and integrity. This recognition strengthens our commitment to serve better, work smarter and uphold the trust given to us,” he added.
Veloso, joined by GSIS Trustees Beatriz Torno, Atty. Garry de Guzman and Gilbert Sadsad, said GSIS will continue holding stakeholder dialogues across the country to strengthen transparency and accountability. “Your insights guide our policy decisions and help us build a more effective and member focused GSIS,” he said.
Sichu Malatang Opens its 10th Branch at SM City Fairview
SOMETHING bold is heating up at SM City Fairview—and it’s not just in the bowls. Sichu Malatang officially opens its 10th branch, marking a new era for the brand with a refreshed logo and identity that perfectly captures what Sichu stands for: a modern take on a spicy classic.
Rooted in the street food culture of Sichuan, China, Malatang is built around the bold málà flavor—”má” (numbing) and “là” (spicy)— served your way. At Sichu, diners can customize their experience across three authentic Sichuan styles:
• Malatang – broth-based and comforting
• Malaxiangguo – dry stir-fried with bold, savory flavors
• Malapan – rich, saucy, and crave-worthy Every bowl is made from your choice of fresh vegetables, quality
French
Apples Arrive in the
WITH their crisp texture,
French apples are poised to
and
in the Philippines. As consumers across the
increasingly seek high-quality, health-conscious, and globally-inspired food choices, France is proud to introduce its finest apple varieties, a combination of tradition, innovation, and care in every bite.
This year, France anticipates a satisfying apple harvest of 1.485 million tons, an increase of four percent compared to 2024 and three percent above the three-year average. Well-known international varieties such as Gala, Golden, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Red apples remain stable (-1 percent), while premium “Club” varieties like Pink Lady, Jazz, Joya, and Juliet are up by two percent. Traditional local varieties like Chantecler, Canada, and Boskoop, on the other hand, have increased by three percent. A
at its lowest since 2017, estimated at 10.45 million tons, highlighting the strength and resilience of the French apple industry. The Philippines is emerging as an exciting and dynamic market.
meats, noodles, and classic street food items like fish balls and tofu, then prepared by an in-house Chinese chef. Whether you’re dining solo or sharing with friends, the menu offers everything from quick meals to one kilogram group feasts worth gathering around.
But this opening isn’t just about the food (which already speaks for itself). It’s also the official debut of Sichu’s refreshed logo—a fresh, fun, and vibrant design that mirrors the energy of the food and the people who love it. It’s still the same bold Malatang regulars know and love—just now with a cooler, more modern edge built to welcome a wider crowd.
Along with the new look, Sichu Malatang is also introducing an exciting collaboration with Manila Creamery, showcasing two unique gelato flavors made with Sichu’s signature málà spice—Mala Peanut Crumble Gelato and Watermelon Strawberry Sorbet Gelato— alongside Manila Creamery’s two classic flavors Carabao Milk Gelato and Roasted Milk N’ Cookies Gelato. These unique creations debut exclusively at SM City Fairview and are set to roll out across all branches soon—offering diners the perfect way to cool down after a spicy bowl.
Since 2019, Sichu Malatang has been quietly winning over fans across Metro Manila—starting with its first branch at Double Dragon Plaza, and expanding to popular destinations like Podium, Uptown Mall BGC, MOA, Eastwood, Venice Grand Canal, U.P. Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza, and Food District. The new SM Fairview branch marks its 10th location and a key step in bringing Malatang to even more people who have yet to discover this bold, customizable, and flavorful dining experience. Find us at the Upper Ground Level, Parkway, SM Fairview. Follow @sichu.malatang on Instagram and Facebook.
Philippines:
With increasing demand for nutritious, diverse, and high-quality products, French apples are perfectly positioned to become a favorite among Filipino families. “The Philippines is a key partner in our international development. With its dynamic and discerning consumers, this market represents a true opportunity to share the excellence and diversity of French apples. We’re excited to bring them to the Philippines, where there’s a strong appreciation for healthy, highquality food. Beyond trade, we aim to build a lasting relationship based on quality, trust, and sustainability,” said Daniel Soares, International Director at Interfel. French apples are grown using eco-responsible practices, with a strong commitment to biodiversity, traceability, and varietal richness. As Filipino consumers continue to seek food that aligns with both taste and values, French apples offer a perfect fit—delivering freshness, flavor, and sustainability in every bite. As a key step in establishing a strong presence in the Philippine market, Interfel is launching a bold, nationwide promotional campaign under the Taste France banner, running from November 2025 to February 2026. Highlights include:
Media Partners, Sponsors Unite for the 17th PHILSME Business Expo Media Launch
THE 17th Philippine SME Business Expo: Entrepreneur and Franchise Edition officially gathered its network of media partners and corporate sponsors for a successful Media Launch held at SPACES Century Diamond Tower in Makati City. The event marks the lead-up to the highly anticipated expo happening on November 28 to 29, 2025 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.
The launch was spearheaded by PHILSME CEO and Managing Director Trixie Esguerra-Abrenilla, who thanked the media for amplifying the stories of Filipino entrepreneurs and underscored PHILSME’s continuing role as a platform for connection and growth.
“Every edition of PHILSME represents collaboration in action — from sponsors who innovate, to media who tell the stories, to entrepreneurs who drive our economy forward,” Esguerra-Abrenilla said. “The upcoming expo will highlight how partnerships fuel possibilities for SMEs.”
Joining her in the media panel were the expo’s major sponsors: Diamond Sponsor Toyota Motors Philippines Manager, Renz Patrick Diaz, GCash B2B Commercial Head, Martin Kristopher Limgenco II, and Taho Story Chairman & Co-Founder, Jude Paul Espinas, each sharing their company’s advocacy for empowering Filipino businesses. Diaz discussed Toyota’s mobility solutions built for SMEs, Limgenco emphasized digital finance and financial inclusion, and Espinas discussed Taho Story’s growth as a modernized Filipino brand.
A key point in the press conference was the discussion on how Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can be encouraged to establish businesses in the Philippines through their families, enabling them to come home and still enjoy stable livelihood. Organizers highlighted the Expo’s Franchising Village as an ideal place for OFW families to explore business options that align with their
needs and goals.
Attending journalists and industry partners engaged the panel in discussions on this year’s expo highlights, SME competitiveness, and the growing participation of regional and international exhibitors. A short networking session followed.
The 17th PHILSME Business Expo will showcase 130+ exhibitors and 180 brands and business solutions, with over 10,000 attendees expected from across the country and overseas.
During the media launch, organizers also announced the first confirmed speakers for the PHILSME Business Talks, including: • Myrna Natividad (Mommy Negosyo) – Mentor to thousands of Filipino entrepreneurs and author of Grow Your Business, Pinoy!
• Dr. Francisco “Dean Pax” Lapid – Chairman and CEO of IT-SPAC and AIOS.PH, recognized among the Philippines’ TOP30 LinkedIn Leaders.
• Jonathan Yabut – The Apprentice Asia winner and founder of The JY Consultancy & Ventures. • Boss RDR (Reymond Delos Reyes) – Motivational speaker and online business coach behind the RDR Talks platform.
Professionals and entrepreneurs can now register for free tickets to attend the two-day event, featuring business solutions, franchise opportunities, and networking sessions designed to help SMEs thrive.
Organizers also highlighted the PHILSME network community’s monthly virtual meetings, which give entrepreneurs and professionals a platform to regularly expand their networks, learn from peers, and gain practical ideas to boost their businesses. Visit www.philsme.com/ticket to secure free access. Walk-ins during the expo will be subject to an entrance fee.
LA Chicks heats up Manila, turns one
LA Chicks, the hot chicken spot that got Manila obsessed with Nashvillestyle heat, is officially turning one and it’s celebrating with a spicy success story to match. Since opening its flagship store in October 2024, the brand has been on a nonstop glow-up, quickly expanding to five full-service branches thanks to a loyal crowd that lives for flavor, heat, and a little adventure on their plate.
LA Chicks isn’t your basic fried chicken. It serves three hype-worthy staples: ultracrispy signature chicken tenders perfect for dunking, the stacked chicken sandwich loaded with juicy fried chicken thigh, slaw, and sauce, and of course, the classic bone-in fried chicken for the purists. But the real plot twist? Full control of the heat.
From Naked (zero heat), Mild, Medium, Hot, all the way to the notorious Extra Hot—this customizable approach is why adventurous foodies flock to LA Chicks for its tenders to match their spicy cravings every single time.
In just one year, LA Chicks has taken over Metro Manila one fiery bite at a time. Starting with its first branch at Festival Mall in Alabang, the brand has expanded to Two E-Com at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, Three Central Mall in Makati City, and Central Square Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig—meeting nonstop demand for bold, customizable heat.
They also recently opened at NAIA Terminal 3, making it even easier for travelers, commuters, and loyal fans to grab their go-to spice level on the move. Now at five branches (and counting), LA Chicks shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon. Manila’s hottest chicken is only getting hotter. So, the real question is: How hot can you handle it? Because it’s about to get spicy - watch out for their next spot.
A Fresh Taste of Sustainability and Flavor
A press and KOL event featuring celebrated Filipino chefs, Chef Rolando and Chef Jacqueline Laudico, who creatively blended Filipino cuisine with French apples in a festive culinary experience In-store promotions at leading supermarkets and specialty outlets
the photo are, from left,
Casumbal,
Rolando “Lau” Laudico, Stéphanie Le Joncour,
Jacqueline “Jac” Laudico at the French Apples Christmas at Guevarra’s press event
Editor: Tet Andolong • www.businessmirror.com.ph
Pleasant surprise from TMP; SM & Lynk collab
LOOK what I got. A pleasant surprise from Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP).
While we were sleeping, while we weren’t looking, TMP has been quietly churning out car experts from their technical school in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. They are proud graduates of Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology. Toyota Tech for short.
Many of the school’s graduates are not only gainfully employed now in the nation’s automotive industry but in overseas companies as well.
“We are proud of our students,” said Jose Maria “Jing” Atienza, now the chairman of Toyota Tech on top of his highlycrucial post as TMP executive vice president. “They are highly-skilled and imbued with Toyota’s template of quality production all the way.”
Established in 2013. Toyota Tech has so far produced a sizable number of graduates, with 1,660 of them dispatched to Toyota Philippines’ dealers and partner dealers in Japan and the Middle East.
The breakdown: A total of 1,264 graduates now working in Philippines’ Toyota and Lexus dealerships, 186 in Japan’s Toyota and Hino companies and 210 in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The school now teems with enrolees, according to Atienza.
“The basic requirement for every applicant to qualify is, one has to be a senior high school graduate,” said Atienza. “Male and female are qualified. No age limit.”
For an automotive general job course, 16 months of schooling, with12 months in-school and four months OJT (onthe-job-training in Toyota dealers).
For an automotive general job with Japanese language, 16 months (12 months in-school, including 10 months Japanese language and four months OJT in dealers).
For an automotive body panel repairing course, 11 months (eight months in-school, and three months OJT in dealers).
For an automotive body painting course, 11 months (eight months in-school, and three months OJT in dealers).
Did I not say here last week that Japan is presently suffering from a car mechanic shortage?
Who they are gonna call?
Toyota Tech, who else?
SM & Lynk partnership HERE is EA Torres unravelling a Christmas jackpot. “In a spectacular partnership celebrating luxury and sustainable innovation, SM Megamall and Lynk & Co Philippines have teamed up to make one lucky shopper’s Christmas extra special.
“Under SM Megamall’s ‘Mega 12 Gifts of Christmas’ raffle promo, one lucky shopper stands the chance to drive home the top prize: the much-coveted Lynk & Co 01 PHEV!
“This revolutionary Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle blends cutting-edge design with powerful sustainability, promising one lucky winner an electrifying start to the new year.
“From November 15, 2025, to January 11, 2026, shoppers at SM Megamall can earn raffle entries when they purchase at all stores and restaurants of SM Megamall, including SM Cinema (but excluding SM Supermarket.)
“A minimum purchase of P3,000 at all participating establishments at SM Megamall earns shoppers one (1) raffle entry each.
“The Lynk & Co 01 PHEV represents the future of driving. With plug-in hybrid technology that provides an efficient 47.08km/L of mileage; and Econyl® Nylon seats made from regenerated plastic, it’s eco-friendly without sacrificing style or performance, or its premium sustainable positioning.
“The Lynk & Co 01 PHEV is on display at the Mega Fashion Hall from November 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026.
“‘We’re thrilled to partner with SM Megamall in redefining what it means to celebrate the holidays,’ said Timothy Sytin, executive director of United Asia Auto Group, Inc. (UAAGI), the local distributor of Lynk & Co products and services.
‘The Lynk & Co 01 PHEV isn’t just a car; it’s a statement of how innovation and sustainability can blend seamlessly into everyday life. Through this collaboration, we’re giving Filipinos a chance to experience the future of mobility, wrapped in the warmth and excitement of the holiday season.’
“As an added bonus, the car can be had at a bargain price of P88,000 down payment until Dec. 31, 2025.”
What are you waiting for, fellas?
PEE STOP Some P38 million was recently raised from the auction of several luxury cars of the Discaya couple linked to the alleged anomalous billion-peso flood control projects. The money will revert to the national coffers. More high-end cars are up for grabs from the Discaya collection of allegedly amassed illegal autos through the years.
PETRON LAUNCHES NEW SPRINT SCOOTER OIL
Story by Randy S. Peregrino
PETRON Corporation, the country’s leading oil company, recently launched Petron Sprint Scooter Oil, its newest motorcycle engine oil. Designed for scooters, Petron claims it delivers reliable performance and protection that Filipino riders can trust daily.
Petron knows ACROSS the Philippines, scooter ownership is rising. Scooters are agile and wellsuited for navigating traffic and covering long distances.
Petron believes that for many Filipinos, a scooter means more than convenience; it stands for autonomy, independence, and control over their schedule. It enables genuine mobility,
removing restrictions imposed by public transport timetables and fixed routes.
Whether commuting to work, caring for family, running errands, or enjoying a weekend ride to unwind, having a scooter streamlines daily life and increases flexibility. It is more than transportation—it is a tool enabling you to move efficiently and live independently each day.
Yet it entails responsibilities such as maintenance, insurance, and fuel costs; these are all part of properly caring for your motorcycle. Every day on the road brings distinct challenges. Heavy traffic on major thoroughfares like C5, EDSA, and Commonwealth, sudden weather changes, rough surfaces, steep hills, and prolonged rides all test both riders and their motorcycles.
Petron understands PETRON developed the latest Sprint Scooter Oil to keep every scooter running smoothly and reliably, no matter what the road brings. It has the right viscosity and one of the highest API ratings in the country— even exceeding what scooter engines currently require. It performs well in traffic, on long rides, uphill roads, and in continuous operation under heat or rain. It is blended at Petron’s modern facility, one of the top oil-blending plants in Southeast
Asia, ensuring consistency and reliability.
High quality yet affordable, Sprint keeps scooters performing daily. “We understand scooter riders’ challenges—that’s why we developed Petron Sprint Scooter Oil,” said Virgilio V. Centeno, VP for Industrial Sales. “It was designed to make rides smoother and worry-free, with quality and value riders can rely on.”
Peace of Mind WITH Petron Sprint Scooter Oil, riders approach daily trips confidently, trusting their scooters to operate reliably in all conditions. Whether commuting in the morning, delivering goods, or riding on weekends, Petron Sprint consistently delivers performance and protection. When the engine runs efficiently, every trip becomes smoother. Riders can then focus on reaching their destination safely and comfortably, free from worry.
BEYOND TYPHOONS: ISUZU ROLLS OUT COMPREHENSIVE CALAMITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR VEHICLE OWNERS
IÑAN , Laguna—In response to the increasing frequency and severity of natural calamities in the Philippines, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has officially launched its Calamity Assistance Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to help Isuzu vehicle owners recover from the impacts of various natural calamities, including typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, ashfalls, earthquakes, and landslides.
This program builds on the Typhoon Assistance Program introduced last year, which primarily supported customers affected by floods and typhoons.
Recognizing the need for broader coverage, IPC has expanded its assistance efforts to address a wider range of calamities, reinforcing its commitment to being Your Responsible Partner in times of crisis.
“In Isuzu, we understand that natural calamities can disrupt not only mobility but livelihoods,” said IPC President Mikio Tsukui.
“Through this expanded Calamity Assistance Program, we aim to provide timely and practical support to our customers, helping them restore their vehicles and resume their daily lives with confidence. This is part of our ongoing commitment to be Your Responsible Partner and helping customers in times of need.”
The Calamity Assistance Program
Easy questions first, difficult ones later
B8
Friday, Novem
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Keanu vs Guidio in unlikely but compelling showdown at TCC
KEANU JAHNS and Guido van der Valk forged an unlikely but compelling showdown for the International Container Terminal Services Inc. The Country Club Match Play Invitational crown—an ending few predicted but was rather inevitable on Thursday in Santa Rosa City. Although they entered the P2 million season-ending championship of the Philippine Golf Tour as solid contenders—No. 2 Jahns and No. 4 van der Valk—their emphatic semifinals victories defied expectations as each turned what was seen as a tight duel into a one-sided clinic.
After a 5&4 rout of Mike Bibat in the morning quarterfinals, the seasoned Dutch ace admitted that stamina could become a major issue with the grueling schedule and the oppressive mid-noon heat.
“For sure, stamina will be a big factor,” he said, mindful of the demands of TCC’s punishing layout.
But once the semifinals began, he looked anything but weary as he won the first two holes against Clyde Mondilla, then delivered the shot of the day—a breathtaking ace on the 171yard No. 3 using a 7-iron and Srixon ball. That hole-in-one instantly shifted the match’s mood, putting Mondilla on the defensive and van der Valk fully in command.
The ace earned him a TCC trophy and P20,000 from Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., but more importantly, it fueled a surge that Mondilla, who earlier booted out top seed and Order of Merit champion Angelo Que, 4&3, could never match.
Even when the former Philippine Open champion mounted brief charges, van der Valk, 45, countered with his own steady shot-making and clutch putting to cruise to a 3&2 win.
Jahns, meanwhile, carved out his own dominant semifinal win, a 6&4 dismantling of Reymon Jaraula, completing a day that began with a narrow escape against the wily Tony Lascuña.
JAHNS carves out his own dominant semifinal victory. NONIE REYES
and grit. But the veteran eventually showed signs of fatigue as he clung to a 1-up lead through 13 holes and Jahns began imposing his raw advantage, leveling the match heading into the daunting par-four 18th.
Silat team to SEAG safe and sound in Songkhla
WENTY-EIGHT pencak silat
Tathletes are safe and sound in flood-stricken Songkhla and despite the natural catastrophe that struck the Thailand province, the team managed to stick to their training camp program for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
We’re very thankful that everyone is safe there after the flash flood,” Philippine Pencak Silat Sports Association president Princess Jacel Kiram told BusinessMirror on Thursday, adding she’s receiving periodic reports from their coach Andy Zulkarnaen who is with the team in Songkhla.
Philippine Sports Commission
chairman John Patrick Gregorio and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino have also been monitoring the situation and independent news reports from Thai media said that competitions in 10 sports—boxing, men’s football (Group B), chess, judo, Kabaddi, karate, wrestling, pencak silat, petanque and wushu—in the SEA Games will be transferred to Bangkok.
A report by the team to Gregorio stated that the athletes didn’t skip meals and slept in standard hotel beds but in the higher floors because the flood breached the second floor.
D rinking and potable water were also available—as well as linen and food for the next four days—for the
athletes who continued to train despite the prevailing region-wide power outage that started Monday.
We instructed them to use one mobile phone at a time to save power for communication,” Kiram said.
Zulkarnaen’s report also said that the flood was falling although it continued to rain and that the team decided to stay put in the hotel so as to avoid water-borne illnesses.
S tranded in Songkhla are Alvin Campos, Rick Rod Ortega, James El Mayagma,Edmar Tacquel, Almohaidib Abad, Mary Francine Padios, Harold Ralph Ungaya, Dines Dumaan, Hannah Mae Ibutnande, Gregmart Benitez, Maricel Dela Torre, Cyrel Covon, Mark James Lacao, Allimar Campos, Stephen
Suazo, Angeline Viriña, Fatima A-Isha Lum Hamsain, Katherine Aliganga, Zandro Fred Jizmundo, Mark Laurenz Ortega, Kyan Voyde Garcia and Joash Cantoria.
T he coaches are Zulkarnaen, Ellvia Zahara and Irenedin Lepatan.
Philippine Ambassador to Bangkok
M illicent Cruz Paredes confirmed to BusinessMirror late Wednesday night that the athletes, coaches and officials are safe but remain confined to their quarters.
“They are safe, holed out in their quarters. They prefer to stay to keep the athletes safe,” Paredes said.
The Philippine Embassy is also monitoring the wider Filipino community in Songkhla. Josef Ramos
Duremdes tops 9th Plaridel Golf Cup
By Josef Ramos
OGuam could be an easy prey, but head coach Tim Cone is not taking any chances.
“We are expecting a great solid game from Guam and … every game in the World Cup qualifiers is very crucial,” Cone told BusinessMirror in a chat message on the eve Thursday of Gilas Pilipinas’s away game in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 2027 World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the University of Guam Calvo Field House. The match is set at 5 p.m. Manila time. The Philippines never faced Guam in a FIBA game, but on paper, the US territory in the Pacific which was included in the AsiaOceania Zone in 2017 is ranked No. 81 by the world governing body to Gilas Pilipinas’s No. 37 Yet then again, it’s basketball and blitzkriegs are bound to happen in a team’s unguarded moments. “If we do not win these two games, all our goals are dashed,” Cone said. “That’s how crucial these two games are.” Obviously that looks like tackling the easy questions first and the difficult ones later for Cone as up next for his wards in the second window in Pool A are No. 25 New Zealand in February and
Superpower Brazil right on
Miñoza-Singson showdown
MARTINA MIÑOZA and Mafy Singson stormed into the International Container Terminal Services Inc. The Country Club Match Play Invitational Finals after pulling off tense victories over rivals who refused to yield until the pressure-packed finish on Thursday in Santa Rosa City.
Both matches went down to latehole heroics, underscoring the razorthin margins and volatility that define elite match play. Miñoza clawed back for a gritty 2&1 decision over Harmie Constantino, while Singson edged Daniella Uy with a clutch birdie on the 17th to secure a 1-up triumph.
The day demanded power, precision and mental toughness with both finalists weathering momentum swings and unrelenting pressure to forge an all-South championship for the P280,000 top purse in the P1.5-million season finale of the 2025 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Among the two wins, Miñoza’s was the more stunning. Down two holes after eight amid nerves and miscues that ambush players in match play duels, the Del Monte native appeared in danger of unraveling against the more seasoned Constantino.
But Miñoza, carrying a surname steeped in Philippine golf history, rediscovered her composure. She took the ninth, then capitalized again on the 11th to square the match and dramatically shift momentum.
W hat followed was a tense, threehole standoff before Miñoza finally grabbed control by winning No. 15. After halving the next, she delivered her biggest shot of the day on the tricky par3 17th to close out a 2&1 victory.
“I honestly didn’t expect to win, but I believed in my preparation and
stayed confident,” said Miñoza, niece of legend Frankie Miñoza.
“Even when I was two down, I kept focusing, trusted my swing and never gave up,” she added. She credited her father and caddie, Ben, for crucial reads and emotional steadiness on the greens, saying his guidance helped her stay calm and focused.
SUPERPOWER Brazil led the four early quarterfinalists after six match days in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup (FFWWC) Philippines 2025 with eight other sides vying for the last four tickets. The top-ranked Brazilians, who are looking to add the inaugural FFWWC silverware to several triumphs in previous global and regional competitions, flexed their muscles in a 6-1 dispatching of Italy Wednesday for back-to-back victories in Group D and a sure quarters seat with a game to
Celebrities in ‘Rock ’n’ Roll’ run
BEAUTY queen–turned–triathlete Faith Garcia, volleyball star Ced Domingo and AIA Brand Ambassadors Solenn Heussaff and Will Dasovich are set to lend star power to the AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series Manila presented by Asics on Saturday at the Rizal Park. Despite packed schedules and demanding careers, the personalities made a deliberate choice to show up, using their
well-known figures, including Barbie Forteza, DJ Chacha, Kim Atienza, Selena Reyes, Kristoffer Martin, Aira Lopez, Dominique Roque, Lance de Ocampo, Gazini Ganados, Elilienne Vigier, Andre Felix and Jose Atienza. Their participation does more than entertain; it humanizes running and makes the sport feel welcoming to kids, families and new runners who may be lacing up for the first time.
Similarly ensuring their early advance to the KO rounds and top seeding in their respective groups were No. 3 Portugal (Group C), No. 2 Spain (Group B) and No. 6 Argentina (Group A). The Portuguese outclassed Asian champion Japan, 4-1, to get to six points Wednesday night while the Argentines and the Spaniards booked their Last-8 tickets with their second wins Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The race for the remaining seats heats up in the next three days of the prestigious tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation. Poland and Morocco, level at three points on one win and one loss, were slated to contest the No. 2 in Group A Thursday night. Their high-stakes duel served as curtain raiser to the main fixture featuring the host Filipina5, out of contention with two losses but upbeat on the heels of Inday Tolentin and Cathrine Graversen’s historic goals, playing their final group assignment against sweep-seeking Argentina. On Friday, Thailand and Colombia, both with three points, battle it out for Group B No.2. On Saturday, it’s the turn of Japan and Tanzania in Group C then Iran and Italy in Group D to settle the dispute for a trip to the next round. The quarterfinal stage is set for Monday and Tuesday with the victors moving forward to the semifinals on
KEANU
MAFY SINGSON leans on a clutch birdie to vie for the crown. NONIE REYES
