THE Philippines continued to plunge to the 64th spot in the 2025 IMD World Talent Ranking, its lowest ranking since 2021, due to low investment in and development of homegrown talent and the lack of availability of skills and competencies in the talent pool, among others.
The IMD World Talent Ranking 2025 showed the Philippines’ rank over time. In 2021, the country placed 57th. It then climbed three rungs to the 54th spot in 2022.
Heading to 2023, however, the Philippines’s talent ranking took a
slump as it fell six notches down to the 60th spot.
The country further slipped three spots as it claimed the 63rd place in 2024, and plunged further to the 64th spot this year, its lowest ranking within the five-year timeframe.
The IMD World Talent Ranking “assesses the status and the development of competencies necessary for enterprises and the economy to achieve long term value creation.”
IMD collated data from 69 economies. It used a set of indicators measuring the development, retention and attraction of a domestic and international highly-
skilled workforce. The global talent ranking defines Talent Competitiveness into three main factors: Investment and development, Appeal, and Readiness. It can be gleaned from the country’s talent competitiveness profile that its ranking across all three pillars took a slump. For the Investment and Development pillar, the Philippines ranked 66th out of the 69 economies, this is two notches down compared to its 64th ranking in 2024. IMD defined Investment and Development as the factor that “takes into account the invest-
ment in and development of home-grown talent.”
“It traces the size of public investment on education by incorporating an indicator of public expenditure,” IMD noted. Under this category, the IMD world talent ranking said the country’s overall top weaknesses are: ratio of students to teaching staff in secondary education, with the Philippines getting a 26.33 ratio. The IMD report also underscored that the country’s weakness lies in how much it spends per enrolled student which is valued at $443.
This is according to Citi Philippines, which believed that the BSP remains on track to reduce policy rates to 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from the current 5 percent. In August, the country’s inflation rate jumped to 1.5 percent from the 0.9 percent posted in July on the back of higher food, utilities, and transportation costs.
“Barring a significant growth shock, the immediate uncertainty on inflation could push the timeline backward. We move our October rate cut call to December, as by then the inflation upside risk versus BSP’s base-case will probably have subsided,” Citi Philippines said.
This projection, Citi Philippines said, is also consistent with what they believed to be a “less dovish” forward guidance made by BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. in the August 28 policy meeting. Moreover, Citi Philippines said,
inflation is expected to pick up on account of the 60-day suspension in rice imports starting this month. This is bound to halt the disinflation trend that is happening in rice prices.
It has adjusted its headline inflation forecast to 1.7 percent by the end of the year from the previous estimate of 1.5 percent. For 2026, Citi Philippines maintained its inflation forecast to be within the 3 percent region.
“We expect inflation to rise to 1.9 percent and 2 percent in September and October 2025, respectively, before slowing below 12 percent in November 2025 to February 2026, and rising [above] 2 percent from March 2026,” Citi Philippines said. In terms of core inflation, Citi Philippines said it has picked up to 2.7 percent in August. While it may be too early to expect that this will start a higher core inflation trend, there is now a reduced
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
Secretary General Santiago V. Nolla said some members have been in “hanging” status for three weeks while the government investigates anomalies in floodcontrol contracts.
“They have no work while the issue remains hot...They also have unpaid wages, which is a big blow because until now their pay has not been released due to the suspension of permits of the contractors involved,” Nolla said. According to him, the affected workers are employed by subcontractors of construction firms earlier named by President Marcos as having cornered P100 billion worth of flood-control projects, equivalent to about 20 percent of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) P545.64billion allocation. In Pasig, Nolla said some crews were deployed under subcontractors of two companies linked to Sarah and Curlee Discaya’s St. Gerrard General Contractor and Development Corp.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines is reviving its long-standing ambition for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, as both allies explore sectoral arrangements and tariff exemptions amid renewed diplomatic momentum under the Trump administration.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez revealed
that recent meetings with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer signaled openness to future FTA talks, despite earlier indications that such a deal was off the table.
“We said, we know the FTA is not at the table. And he [Greer] said, ‘No, no—we’re ready to consider it,” Romualdez recalled during the Manila Strategy Forum Tuesday.
While a full-fledged FTA remains aspirational, the Philip -
pines is currently focused on securing exemptions from the 19-percent reciprocal tariff unilaterally imposed by the US on Philippine exports.
Romualdez confirmed that Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go has formally requested relief for priority sectors, including agriculture and semiconductors.
“We’re continuing to work with
Commerce and the USTR,” Romualdez said. “We’re confident that, at the end of the day, we’ll be able to get what we feel would be a fair tariff.”
Former US Ambassador to the Philippines John Negroponte backed the push for both tariff reform and a future FTA, calling it a “fitting” step for the alliance and a way to address “unusually high tariffs” on Philippine goods.
will be granted under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“In the coming year, the P100 billion that is very important, must be released on schedule as program budget. So it won’t be delayed and we can proceed with the implementation,” Sadain said on the sidelines of the hearing.
In terms of target completion years, majority or 24 projects of the 52 projects are slated to be completed by 2028. These projects amount to a total of P1.55 trillion or 76 percent of the portfolio cost.
The number of IFPs targeted for completion sooner is smaller. Planta said this includes the 16 projects worth P246.41 billion set for completion by 2027; 5 projects worth P98.66 billion in 2026; and 7 projects worth P140.90 billion in 2025.
“To accelerate the delivery of IFPs, the Philippine government has adopted a multi-pronged approach focused on streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and strengthening inter-agency coordination,” Planta said.
Last year, the DepDev reported that there were 197 IFPs under the Marcos Administration’s Build-Better-More Program, which amount to P8.7 trillion or $156.4 billion.
Of these projects, DepDev said 106 PPP projects are in the pipeline, where 36 are IFPs; most are found in the sectors of transport, road, property development, and information and communications technology.
Some of these projects are also focused on health and waste management sectors for social infrastructure.
US eyes ammunition base in Subic under ’26 budget
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THEUnited States Congress has included a proposal to establish an ammunition manufacturing and storage hub in Subic Bay in the draft 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), marking a strategic pivot toward deeper defense-industrial cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed that the facility would be a joint venture between the US government and a local Philippine partner, designed to produce a wide range of ammunition—from rifle rounds to howitzer shells.
“They want to invest. The US government will have an investment. Actually, it’s a partnership,” Romualdez said. “They’re going to look at a local partner here in the Philippines to set up an ammunition facility.”
The proposal was inserted into the NDAA through the efforts of US Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana,
who Romualdez said personally advocated for the initiative following discussions with Philippine officials.
“It was actually Congressman Zinke...I had dinner with him, and he did, he pushed through it,” Romualdez told reporters at the sidelines of the Manila Strategy Forum hosted by the US think tank Center for Strategic & International Studies.
The NDAA provision directs the US Department of Defense, in coordination with the State Department and the International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC), to assess the feasibility of establishing a forward-staged ammunition manu-
facturing and storage facility in Subic Bay. A report is due to Congress within 60 days of the budget’s enactment.
The initiative responds to a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee report that flagged the lack of forward-staged ammunition infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. Currently, most US military ammunition is sourced domestically, with critical raw materials like nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin often imported— including from strategic competitors such as China.
Beyond logistics, the Philippines is identified in the NDAA as a priority partner for expanding the US defense industrial base in the region. The bill encourages joint development of ammunition components, energetics, and logistics infrastructure, aligning with the bilateral vision statement signed in March 2025 by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The proposed hub also complements the Philippines’s newly enacted defense industry law, which
offers tax breaks and financial incentives to local arms manufacturers—potentially accelerating the search for a viable local partner.
Subic Bay—once home to the largest US naval base outside the mainland—was added in 2023 to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites, allowing American troops and equipment to be prepositioned amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
The NDAA reinforces funding for infrastructure upgrades at Edca sites including Subic, Lal-lo, Cagayan and Balabac, Palawan, and mandates quarterly updates to Congress on US-Philippines defense industrial cooperation, investment flows, and site development progress.
As of September 2025, the NDAA bill (S.2296) remains pending in the US Senate.
The bill proposes a $926-billion top-line defense budget—$32.1 billion more than the President’s request—underscoring congressional urgency around military modernization and Indo-Pacific posture.
and St. Timothy Construction Corp.
Data from Malacañang show that St. Gerrard is handling 23 projects worth P2.281 billion, scheduled for completion between 2022 and 2024. St. Timothy, meanwhile, is implementing about 100 projects valued at P7.015 billion with deadlines stretching until 2025.
The labor leader explained that even if workers are not directly employed by the suspended firms, they are still affected because their subcontractors depend on those companies for projects.
“Once these firms are blacklisted, suspended, or their permits revoked, their subcontractors are also affected because they, too, lose work. The practice in construction is that a subcontractor is further subcontracted—subcon of a subcon,” Nolla said.
“Although this is the government’s campaign to hold these contractors accountable—which is good—on the employment side it is bad for us because it means loss of jobs and hunger for the families of the workers involved,” he added.
NUBCW has yet to release full data on how many workers are affected, but Nolla said many have already approached the union to ask for referrals to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in case their employers close permanently.
Moreover, apprenticeships in the country are not “sufficiently” implemented.
According to the IMD report, the country’s public expenditure on education is equivalent to 3.3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Under the Appeal category, the Philippines ranked 56th, or two spots lower than its ranking last year. For this particular pillar, the IMD study pointed out that the country has a low quality of life, scoring 4.57 out of 10.
The Appeal factor “examines the ability of a country to attract highly skilled foreign labor.” In addition, IMD said it assesses the way enterprises prioritize the attraction and retention of talent.
This pillar includes indicators such as the cost of living and quality of life in a particular economy.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’s ranking in the Readiness pillar slipped by six spots to the 58th ranking this year, from the 52nd in 2024.
The Readiness factor, IMD noted, considers the growth of the labor force and the quality of skills available.
Among others, this pillar focuses on the ability of the educational system to meet the talent needs of enterprises.
“It examines the way in which the educational system fulfills the talent demands of the economy, the ability of higher education to meet that demand and the languages skills available,” the IMD world talent ranking explained.
Under this category, the IMD talent ranking revealed that in terms of primary and secondary education meeting the needs of a “competitive” economy, the country only got a score of 4.38 out of 10.
As to University education, the global talent ranking noted that the Philippines scored 5.72 out of 10.
Meanwhile, the IMD report noted that only 22.56 percent in the Philippines are graduates in Sciences or the (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM.
In relation to STEM graduates, Alfred S. Panlilio, the president of Management Association of the Philippines, told reporters on the sidelines of MAP’s 23rd International CEO Conference on Tuesday that there is a need for the country to focus on increasing its STEM graduates amid the technological advancements and with the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“Before when we had a chance to talk to the President, I did say, I think we should focus on STEM. Science, technology, engineering, and math. Because this is where...I mean, AI is technology. So, we have to have the skill sets for our youth to develop those kinds of skills. And those are the new jobs moving forward in the future,” Panlilio said.
He underscored the importance of having more STEM graduates in the country because “we don’t know what the new jobs will be in the future.”
“The things we are seeing now, there were no courses in AI four years ago, maybe five years ago. Technology has evolved so much that our skill level has to adapt,” added Panlilio.
“I hope what was agreed during President Marcos’ recent meetings in Washington is not the last word,” Negroponte said. “There should be flexibility going forward.”
The United States remained the Philippines’s top export market, accounting for US$12.1 billion or 16.6 percent of total Philippine exports. Electronic products dominated the outbound trade, followed by machinery, food preparations, and apparel.
“They have been asking if, once it becomes final that their company can no longer operate, we could refer them to some jobs at DOLE so that their income will continue, since many of them come from the provinces and were recruited from different areas,” Nolla said.
The union has yet to meet with DOLE to discuss possible interventions.
The BusinessMirror also sought comment from the labor department but has yet to receive a response as of press time.
“Manufacturing, to me, I don’t completely agree that you shouldn’t focus it. I think we should try to have companies invest. Because when you say manufacturing, they invest in the country,” Panlilio told reporters on the sidelines of the 23rd MAP International CEO Conference on Tuesday in Taguig City.
“And once they invest billions in the country, it’s long term. Services, yes, we need to continue to upskill. But, there are threats. Technology has threats,” the MAP president also noted. In 2024, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry hit the $38-billion revenue target in 2024 while the industry added 120,000 new jobs last year, hitting its 1.82 million employees target by the end of 2024.
Based on the 2028 IT-BPM Roadmap, the industry is eyeing to provide jobs to 2.5 million full-time employees by the end of 2028. Meanwhile, the industry has a vision of aiming to reach $59 billion in annual revenue, according to its roadmap. In 2024, meanwhile, Philippines’ exports of goods reached $73.27 billion, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Despite this strong bilateral flow, Philippine exports overall contracted by 0.5 percent in 2024, with electronic shipments dipping 6.7 percent.
Romualdez emphasized that the current tariff rates are “not written in stone,” and that ongoing talks with the US Commerce Department and the Office of the US Trade Representative are focused on achieving fairer terms. The Philippines is also preparing to host the Asean Summit next year, with President Marcos extending a formal invitation to President Trump—who, according to Romualdez, has committed to attend.
‘Strict, no-nonsense receipt based Senate blue-ribbon panel probe’
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
‘STRICT, no-nonsense and receipt based.”
These, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, will be the hallmarks of Senate blue-ribbon investigation, as he assumed leaderhip of the panel.
Top among this form of sleuthing is the ongoing investigation into substandard and ghost flood control projects, Lacson said, noting that unsubstantiated claims will not be entertained.
Lacson said on Tuesday that this approach will apply to the claims of contractor spouses Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, who testified on Monday and linked some lawmakers and officials to corruption.
“First of all, I will look for receipts. I will not rely on the say-so of others hook, line and sinker. In my privileged speeches, I do not rely on mere reports or testimonies. Instead, I ask myself what evidence do I have to support what I will say?” he said in Filipino in a radio interview.
Closer look
LACSON said he will also take a closer look at the supposed ledgers and vouchers containing the amounts supposedly given to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and lawmakers.
Pacifico Discaya had conceded he had no receipts to prove his claim that those he named actually received the bribes, but told senators he had ledgers in his office where
the payoffs were listed.
Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Erwin Tulfo asked the blue-ribbon panel to issue a subpoena duces tecum for these ledgers and other related documents, given what they noted was Discayas’ staggering claims. Lacson stressed that to ensure fairness in the investigation, he will be on the lookout for “selective” testimonies from the Discayas and other resource persons.
Also, he said he will start where the previous blue-ribbon committee hearings on the flood control projects left off.
No conflict
LACSON also said he does not see any conflict with the work of the independent commission to be formed by Malacañang, since the blue-ribbon committee’s work is in aid of legislation.
He said he will even furnish the independent committee with evidence gathered during the blue-ribbon probe, to help in the prosecution of those found liable.
“No, they won’t because they are separate. If we find evidence we will pass it to the independent commission. I have talked to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon about this,” he said when asked if the blue-ribbon committee investigation will clash with that of the independent commission as Sen. Rodante Marcoleta claimed when he still headed the committee.
Lacson said he has furnished Dizon with evidence based on his first privileged speech. He said he will furnish Dizon with new evidence after his second privileged speech.
Vico on Discayas: Lies, lies, lies
PASIG City Mayor Vico Sotto pulled no punches during Tuesday’s House of Representives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) hearing on ghost flood control projects, branding controversial contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife Sarah as “habitual liars.”
“We’ve seen many so-called inconsistencies. But to be more direct, these are outright lies—blatant lies,” Sotto said, referring to the couple, who own several construction companies now under investigation.
Sotto, who entered politics in 2016 as a councilor before becoming mayor in 2019, said the Discayas were already a familiar name in both political and construction circles when he took office. Their flagship company, St. Gerrard Construction, had even operated like a political machinery during elections, he recalled.
He testified that nine construction companies linked to the couple—all registered in Pasig—had surfaced in reports, many of which used dummies and had pending tax deficiencies with both the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the local government.
“Mr. Discaya was recently convicted of two counts of building code violations. Their record is notorious,” Sotto revealed.
While their companies still participated in Pasig projects during his term, he clarified this was only because the city strictly enforced rules on open and public bidding. The scale of their local contracts was modest, but Sotto noted their deals with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ballooned into the tens of billions.
“The flood control projects alone amount to P30–P31 billion. In total, their government
contracts easily reached over P100 billion,” he said.
Sotto then zeroed in on the Discayas’ sworn statements claiming they only earned 2–3 percent profit per contract.
“Even without expertise in engineering or construction, it’s obvious that’s a lie,” he argued, ridiculing their additional claim that some projects even led to losses. “Who bids for government contracts just to lose money? That’s absurd.”
Breaking down the numbers, he pointed out that even a 2–3 percent profit on P100 billion would already yield P2–P3 billion. He also cited the couple’s own boasts of “11-digit” assets, luxury cars, and office ornaments worth hundreds of millions—proof, he said, that their declared earnings don’t add up.
“They themselves flaunted their wealth. Just one jade piece in their office is worth P100 million. Their vehicles alone, if properly taxed, would already approach P1 billion. How can you afford that if you only earn 2–3 percent profit?” Sotto asked.
The mayor added that the Discayas’ own public pronouncements betrayed their lies: “Like the saying goes, fish are caught by their own mouth.”
He also cautioned that while corruption is present in many levels of government, the couple’s tactic was to sow confusion by dragging in names without proof.
“They don’t just want to point fingers. They want to muddle the story, to confuse everyone so that eventually the truth gets lost in the noise. They keep throwing out names with no evidence,” Sotto warned.
“In my experience, these are people capable of lying without batting an eyelash. We have to be very careful,” he said.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Cotabato gets new archbishop
POPE Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Charlie Inzon of the Diocese of Jolo, Sulu as the next archbishop of Cotabato, the CBCP News said on Monday.
Inzon will succeed Archbishop Angelito Lampon, who was consecrated Cotabato archbishop in 2019.
Born on November 24, 1965, the 54 year-old earned his undergraduate degree in theology from the Notre Dame University in Cotabato.
Inzon also studied philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he later earned his master’s degree in pastoral ministry and a doctorate in psychology. He made his perpetual vows in 1990
Former DPWH exec tags Jinggoy, Joel in flood control projects mess
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
AFORMER Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official on Tuesday said that Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva benefited from almost P955 million worth of Bulacan flood control projects with a 30 percent “SOP,” or kickback.
Brice Ericson Hernandez, former assistant district engineer of the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office, said he decided to reveal what he knew about anomalous projects after being cited in contempt and detained by the Senate blue-ribbon committee on Monday.
“Sen. [Rodante] Marcoleta [former blue-ribbon committee chairman] said yesterday, ‘You’re safe now.’ That is not true. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and District Engineer Henry Alcantara are involved. Senator Jinggoy allocated P355 million for several projects in Bulacan this 2025,” Hernandez said.
He claimed that senators and DPWH officials used district engineers as “bagmen” for infrastructure funds, naming Estrada, Villanueva, DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and dismissed Bulacan First District engineer Henry Alcantara as alleged recipients.
According to Hernandez, Estrada was tied to P355 million worth of projects, including flood mitigation structures with pumping stations and floodgates in several barangays in Hagonoy, Malolos, and Calumpit. He said Alcantara, his former district engineer, instructed DPWH staff to deliver cash, supposedly representing Estrada’s 30 percent cut from the projects.
Lacson is correct
“HE is right; Senator [Panfilo] Lacson is correct that DPWH engineers seem to have become mere legmen or bagmen. If you ask me who or for whom we acted as bagmen, I will answer that now,” he said.
Hernandez identified projects worth P355 million allegedly tied to Estrada. These included the construction of flood-mitigation structures with pumping stations and floodgates in barangays Mercado and Iba in Hagonoy worth P60 million each; a P45-million project in Mambog Creek, Malolos; a P50million project in Calero Creek, Malolos; a P60-million structure in barangay Meyto, Calumpit; a P 40-million project in Santo Rosario Creek, Malolos; and another P40-million project in Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy.
According to Hernandez, his former boss, then-district engineer Alcantara, was the “chief implementer” who instructed DPWH staff to
deliver the cash.
“Senator Jinggoy allocated funds here, and, according to our District Engineer Henry Alcantara, his SOP was 30 percent. This was delivered once the items were released under the General Appropriations Act [GAA],” Hernandez said, adding that DPWH drivers transported the money.
Denials
IN a statement on Tuesday, Estrada denied the allegations of Hernandez linking him to irregularities in flood control projects.
Estrada challenged Hernandez to undergo a lie detector test to prove his claims.
“I strongly and categorically deny the accusations made by Brice Hernandez. I challenge him—let us take a lie detector test in front of the public so everyone will know who is telling the truth,” Estrada said.
Villanueva on the other hand dismissed Hernandez’s allegationthat he was involved in the anomalous flood control projects as a “demolition job.”
In his privileges speech in Tagalog, Villanueva said that he was surprised that his name was mentioned during the hearing of the House of Representatives into the questionable flood control projects, along with Estrada.
He said in Tagalog: “I’ll repeat, Mr. President, I have never been involved in any flood control project.
I will not say that I categorically deny this accusation because I have receipts to show. There’s information that can be verified as to why this is happening.”
Hernandez claimed that Villanueva is behind P600 million worth of 2023 flood mitigation projects in Balagtas and Bocaue, Bulacan, also with a 30 percent kickback. He claimed the money was routed through Alcantara and delivered to Villanueva’s residence in Bocaue.
Hernandez further alleged that Alcantara pocketed an additional 3 percent cut from all projects in the district and demanded a 2 percent “finder’s fee” from contractors seeking more projects. He also identified DPWH officials, including former construction engineer JP Mendoza and Undersecretary Bernardo, as being involved in cash deliveries.
Stacks of P1000 bills DURING the hearing, Hernandez presented photos showing stacks of P1,000 bills spread across a table, which he claimed he personally took. Hernandez said it was the first time he had seen such an amount of cash.
According to him, the money was divided on the table based on the supposed recipients of kickbacks, with the funds intended for a “proponent” rather than the actual project.
See “Flood control,” A4
Discaya refuses to answer questions on senators’ role
PACIFICO DISCAYA II, owner of several construction firms under investigation for alleged involvement in flood control projects anomalies, invoked his right against self-incrimination after being asked if senators were among those implicated in the alleged irregularities.
“I have to invoke my rights, po,” Discaya told lawmakers, stopping a line of questioning that sought to confirm whether the names he withheld in his earlier testimony included senators.
The tense exchange occurred during questioning byParty-list Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal, who pointed out that Discaya’s affidavit contained the phrase “ilan sa kanila ay sina…”—indicating that the list of lawmakers he identified was incomplete.
“But paragraph 20 says, ‘ilan sa kanila ay sina …’ That means this is only partial, not complete, correct?” de Lima asked.
“Yes, your Honor,” Discaya admitted. De Lima pressed him to disclose the full list. “Can you provide us with the complete names? Because as you phrased it, ‘ilan sa kanila ay sina …’ you clearly know exactly who else among the members of the House of Representatives are involved.”
She then posed the critical question: “Those you have not yet named—are they still members of the House, or are they members of the Senate?”
Rights
DISCAYA replied, “Your Honor, I invoke my rights, po.”
Puzzled, de Lima demanded clarification. “Rights? Exactly what rights?”
with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate before he was ordained in April 1993.
In May 2020, Inzon was consecrated bishop in the nearly-empty Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato, owing to the lockdown caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.
The ceremony, which took place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed only 10 people in the 1,800 seat cathedral-Inzon, Lampon, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and several others. Lampon prior to his assignment in Cotabato was the bishop and apostolic vicar of Jolo, the post where Inzon was appointed. Ma. Alyanna R. Selda
Discaya responded, “I’m not yet certain about the documents of those who might be mentioned,” appearing reluctant to elaborate.
The lawmaker then asked if he was invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination. “I don’t understand what kind of rights under the law you are invoking. You are not invoking your right to self-incrimination, right?” de Lima pressed.
Discaya requested that further revelations be made only in an executive session for the safety of his family. “Your Honor, if it’s okay, I would rather say it in executive session for my family’s safety,” he said. De Lima rejected the request outright. “I will not allow that. Of course, it will be up to the committee to decide, but I am not in favor. If you could name members of the House of Representatives in open proceedings before, I don’t understand why you now want an executive session here before the House committee.”
She also reminded him that during his Senate blue-ribbon committee testimony, he publicly identified House members without asking for closed-door proceedings, making his sudden request appear inconsistent.
When asked directly if he intended to name names during the hearing, Discaya said he would not. “No, your Honor, none,” he replied.
“Then why are you asking for an executive session? Is it a matter of national security? I don’t think so,” de Lima countered, suggesting instead that Discaya confer with his lawyer before proceeding.
No direct transactions
DURING the same hearing, Discaya clarified that he had no personal dealings with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol. Discaya made the clarification a day after testifying that the names of Romualdez
and Co were repeatedly mentioned to him by at least one politician and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with alleged commissions from flood control projects.
“Many people have been calling me, asking if I had direct transactions with Zaldy Co and the Speaker. I just want to make it clear that I had no direct transactions with them,” Discaya told the House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm).
On Monday, during the resumption of the Senate blue-ribbon committee hearing on alleged corruption in flood control projects, Discaya revealed the names of public works officials and lawmakers who he claimed demanded and received bribes in exchange for awarding project bids.
He added that the emissaries making these demands often invoked the names of Romualdez and Co, the former chairman of the House appropriations committee.
Credibility questioned
THE House Committee on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability on Tuesday questioned the credibility of contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya, saying their Senate testimony on flood control project anomalies contained “huge holes” that need clarification.
Contractor Sarah Discaya was absent from Tuesday’s InfraComm inquiry into the alleged irregularities in flood control projects, citing health concerns.
Her husband, Pacifico said Sarah decided to remain at home after experiencing palpitations and low insulin levels brought on by stress.
The Discayas, owners of St. Timothy
Construction and several other companies, are at the center of the House investigation into ghost and substandard flood control projects flagged by President Marcos. They previously implicated several lawmakers in their Senate testimony, raising demands for them to address contradictions in their statements.
Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro, who chairs the joint committee, said the couple’s rise from modest contractors during the Aquino administration to becoming top players under Duterte and still major players under Marcos requires closer scrutiny.
Ridon pointed out three glaring inconsistencies: their claim of having no ledger of political payoffs before 2022, their assertion that no senator was involved in anomalous transactions, and their statement of supposedly low profits despite flaunting considerable wealth.
The Discayas have already been sanctioned following revelations in the House hearings. All their licenses from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (Pcab) have been revoked. Ridon vowed that the committee would continue pursuing accountability, with findings to be transmitted to the Independent Commission once established by President Marcos.
“The committee fully understands the public’s outrage over corruption in flood control projects. Our responsibility is to hold those involved accountable and push for reforms to end corruption in infrastructure programs,” Ridon said.
He added: “It is important for us to carry out this investigation carefully and courageously. Beyond current public opinion, history will ultimately render judgment on this issue.”
PN’s newest guided missile frigate now in PHL waters
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Navy (PN) on Tuesday said that the new guided-missile frigate that will be named BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07) when commissioned has entered Philippine territory on Monday. In honor of this event, the PN Public Affairs Office chief, Captain Benjo Negranza,
said the BRP Jose Rizal (FFG-150), the country’s first modern warship, met the ship approximately 14 nautical miles northwest off Botolan in Zambales.
“The soon-to-be BRP Diego Silang will undergo final preparations, acceptance procedures and commissioning before officially joining the PN’s active fleet,” Negranza said.
BRP Diego Silang, once it enters fleet service, Negranza said, will enhance the PN’s operational readiness, maritime domain protection, and capability to uphold a free, secure, and rules-based international order. Relatedly, the BRP Diego Silang also carried out a coordinated meeting procedure with the Philippine Coast Guard’s offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV8301) as the naval vessel was off the coast off Zambales, also on Monday. Negranza said the event
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Wednesday, September 10, 2025
www.businessmirror.com.ph
ADB assailed for role in Naia privatization
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
ACOALITION of airport workers, passengers and stakeholders on Tuesday held the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to account for what they described as its role in crafting a “highway robbery” concession deal for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) modernization project.
The Pagkakaisa ng Users, Stakeholders, at Obrero ng Naia (Puso ng Naia) staged a protest in front of the ADB headquarters in Manila, denouncing the bank’s advisory role in the P170.6-billion public-private
partnership awarded to San Miguel Corp.-led New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC).
Romy Sauler, head of the Puso ng Naia secretariat, criticized the ADB for allegedly pushing a model that transfers the burden of redevelopment costs onto passengers, workers, and other stakeholders through higher airport fees.
Passenger service charges at the Naia are set to increase beginning September 14. International passengers will pay P950, up 72 percent from the current P550, while domestic travelers will be charged P390, nearly double the existing P200. The revenues are intended to bankroll the airport’s long-delayed modernization
Proposed RTL amendment allows NFA to buy corn
Tprogram, from facility upgrades to new passenger amenities.
He also raised concerns over the nonregulated charges that, he claimed, have resulted in “the displacement of 1,000 workers” of concessionaires within the Naia Terminal 2 alone.
“We are not against the development and improvement and modernization, we just want a rational and transparent deal. Why are their charges that high?” Sauler said in a phone interview.
Furthermore, he questioned the provision of a “deficit payment clause” that he said will “force the government—using taxpayers’ money—to pay NNIC for any deficit from
their projected revenues.”
“This is highway robbery dressed up as development. We do not want to believe that the ADB and the Marcos administration are colluding with San Miguel [Corporation] to bleed passengers and workers dry while ensuring billions in profit for Ramon Ang and government coffers. God forbid but if this is so, we reject this indecent proposal.”
Labor leader Ding Villasin of Socialista Inc. added that the concession agreement undermines democratic principles by allegedly excluding key stakeholders from the decision-making process.
“The ADB itself has global standards on transparency and stakeholder
consultation, yet in this case, it allowed the Marcos administration, MIAA, and DOTr to ram through a deal without the voice of the very people who will pay for it. This is development at gunpoint— undemocratic, anti-worker, and anticonsumer,” Villasin said.
The increases are part of a pre-approved schedule under Administrative Order No. 1 and the concession agreement. Officials have argued the hikes are justified, noting that fees at Naia have long lagged behind other international gateways.
The group also expressed dismay over ADB’s lack of response to a formal letter they sent last week seeking clarification on
its advisory role in the Naia privatization.
“It is a pity that we have not received even an electronic form of reply from an institution that professes open and sincere dialogues and engagement,” Sauler said. Puso ng Naia leaders accused ADB of insulating NNIC from risks while guaranteeing its profits at the expense of consumers. They vowed to resist
and travelers. “We refuse to be treated as milking cows for privatization,” the group said. The B usiness M irror sought comments from SMC, the DOTr, and the ADB, but none have replied to the B usiness M irror as of press time.
Lack of funds prompts stay in F-16 acquisition–envoy
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
other priorities which they feel are much more important than the purchase of the F-16s.”
the F-16s, but Romualdez noted that the cost remains a sticking point.
Armed Forces,” Romualdez told reporters in a side interview.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Agriculture
(DA) said amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) could allow the grains agency to purchase corn from farmers again.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this initiative is among the proposals for the RTL under the new Rice Act bill filed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to reestablish the National Food Authority’s (NFA) authority to purchase milled rice and corn.
“Corn is not just a rice substitute in Visayas and Mindanao, it is the backbone of the country’s feed production for our poultry and livestock sectors,” Laurel said.
Citing data from the National Corn Program, the DA said yellow corn accounts for 46 percent of feed used in livestock and 62 percent in poultry. However, only 2.5 million hectares are planted to corn, supporting over 1.1 million Filipino farmers.
Undersecretary Roger Navarro stressed that the NFA’s procurement of palay and potentially corn is crucial during peak harvest periods, particularly in the wet season, to ensure fair prices for farmers.
For Laurel, empowering the NFA to buy rice milled through government-funded Rice Processing Systems (RPS) will ensure sustainability and provide market assurance for cooperative members.
Flood control. . .
Continued from A3
Amid the corruption controversy, Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan urged Alcantara to sign a waiver allowing access to his bank records, but Alcantara refused, invoking the Bank Secrecy Law.
The House super Infrastructure Committee—composed of the Committees on Public Accounts, on Public Works and Highways, and on Good Government and Public Accountability—is investigating ghost and substandard flood control projects flagged by President Marcos. Meanwhile, Hernandez asked the House not to return him to the Senate, citing safety concerns
“We must make these multi-millionpeso facilities work for the farmers they were meant to serve,” he said.
Earlier, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the grains agency would start purchasing corn from farmers in 2026. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/07/02/government-to-startbuying-corn-from-leading-producers/)
The initial procurement target is 118,000 50-kilo bags or 5,900 metric tons (MT) of white and yellow corn.
He said corn procurement would be piloted in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)—the country’s top corn producers.
“If traders [or] cooperatives buy it at a lower price, like what happens with rice, the farmer suffers,” De Mesa said in a previous interview.
“So, if the NFA also buys it at a good price…you can expect profit for the farmers and they will remain planting corn.”
Currently, the cost of producing corn ranges from P10 to P13 per kilo, the DA official said.
In 2020, the buying price for yellow corn grains stood at P12.30 per kilo, while that of white corn grains settled at P13 per kilo, based on NFA data.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that corn output fell by 3.1 percent to 8.138 million metric tons (MMT) in 2024 from the 8.405 MMT recorded in 2023 as El Niño ravaged farmlands, including those planted with corn.
since senators were among those implicated. He said he feared for his life and his family but expressed willingness to cooperate further if given time to consult with his lawyers. Hernandez said he was ready to reveal more with the assistance of lawyers.
The inquiry has already led to the resignation of officials of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), the revocation of licenses of contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya, and the dismissal of DPWH officials linked to anomalous Bulacan projects.
The DPWH and the Commission on Audit have also filed cases against implicated contractors and their cohorts. With Butch Fernandez
THE Philippines has shelved its planned acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from the United States, citing budgetary constraints and a shift in defense priorities, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Manila Strategy Forum on the US–Philippines alliance, Romualdez said discussions around the US$5.6-billion deal remain ongoing, but the purchase is not moving forward for now.
“The last I heard, it’s been on hold mainly because of funding,” Romualdez said. “At this point in time, the Armed Forces have
The proposed package—approved by the US State Department earlier this year— includes 20 F-16 fighter jets, missiles, and support equipment. It was previously touted as a major step in modernizing the Air Force (PAF) and boosting interoperability with US forces.
Romualdez’s remarks highlight the fiscal realities facing the Philippines, whose proposed 2026 defense budget stands at around US$7.5 billion—nearly the same amount required for the jet deal.
The Philippine government has submitted a Letter of Intent to purchase
“US$5 billion is a big chunk of the AFP’s budget. Unfortunately, that kind of insertion is considered a sin,” he said, half-jokingly referring to the controversial congressional insertion in the 2025 budget for flood control projects.
Romualdez said that based on consultations with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the Department of National Defense is now prioritizing land-based military hardware. A revised procurement list has yet to be transmitted to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC.
“It’s always been a credible defense posture. It’s what we were aiming at for the
President Marcos is scheduled to meet US Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee later this month in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session. Hagerty is a co-sponsor of the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (Pera Act), which seeks to strengthen and modernize the country’s defense capabilities.
Romualdez said there are strong indications that US congressional funding support for the Philippines will continue.
“There’s a good indication that we will continue to have the funding that the US Congress has allotted,” he said.
DOE harmonizes EV registration Ship. . .
TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE Department of Energy (DOE)
has issued a clearer and more harmonized electric vehicle (EV) classification system that seeks to establishes a consistent, comprehensive framework for Evs.
Department Circular 2025-09-0015, which takes effect on September 20, 2025, amends the EV Recognition Guidelines under DC2023-05-0012. This update ensures full alignment with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (Evida) and supports the nationwide effort to accelerate EV adoption.
“The purpose of the circular is to set fix timelines for the processes of applications for connection of EVCS with DUs. It also
provides for pathway for sourcing electricity such as on site renewable energy, green energy option program, and renewable portfolio standards,” said Director Patrick Aquino of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau.
To maintain up-to-date market data, stakeholders are required to submit the EV charger monitoring form quarterly, by the 15th of the month following the quarter’s end. Data revisions will be permitted except for core specifications, such as EV classification, which will require a new application. EVs no longer marketed will be removed from the recognized EV List once formally reported.
For EVs intended solely for promotional or non-marketing purposes, applicants must submit a specific notice and may receive a provisional certificate or non-
marketing certificate. The DOE will also conduct physical inspections to address documentation discrepancies.
The updated circular also introduces a harmonized EV classification system with detailed categories for Battery EVs (BEVs), Hybrid EVs (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs), Light EVs (LEVs), Range-Extended EVs (REEVs), and Fuel Cell EVs (FCEVs). This comprehensive framework ensures consistency across EV technologies and provides clear guidance for stakeholders.
Based on data from the Department of Transportation—Land Transportation Office, there were 29,715 EVs registered from January to July 2025, already surpassing the full-year total of 24,286 in 2024. EV registrations now represent nearly five percent of new vehicle registrations, marking a threefold increase since 2023.
the procedure, while his son, Coast Guard Ensign Joshua Orbe, participated aboard BRP Gabriela Silang as part of his ongoing schooling on ship familiarization,” he added.
More than a routine encounter, Negranza said the meeting of these vessels honors the legacy of Diego and Gabriela Silang, symbolizing the spirit of heroism and unity that guides the Navy and the Coast Guard in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
“The coordinated procedure also reinforced fleet interoperability, operational readiness, and the Navy’s modernization efforts, while highlighting the human side of service and the shared dedication of generations of maritime officers,” he added.
‘Smart communities need not be internet-heavy’
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
LOOK beyond the global model of internet-driven smart cities as communities can become “smart and sustainable” by adopting practical technologies that match their resources, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.
Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said that benchmarking against international standards could discourage local governments, many of which continue to face infrastructure and connectivity challenges.
“But there are many smart technologies that can be applied to improve processes within the local government [such as]
MILITANT fishers belonging to the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday questioned the new appropriation for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Manila Bay rehabilitation program, as the agency’s proposed 2026 budget.
In a statement, Pamalakaya said the DENR proposed a P20.5 billion budget in 2026, in which P1.2 billion will be allotted for the Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy, or the “rehabilitation
smart agriculture, telehealth, or even the internal governance process,” Solidum said during the kickoff forum of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in Quezon City.
He added that the DOST has also developed a human resource management information system and other applications that can be deployed across government offices and communities, including tools that strengthen disaster resilience.
In addition, Solidum stressed that sustainability must go hand in hand with smart initiatives. This includes better management of natural resources, reducing waste and repurposing byproducts, which he said are crucial for ensuring projects last beyond a single mayor’s term.
program,” is questionable, considering the agency’s alleged ‘total failure’ to rehabilitate the Manila Bay.
Fernando Hicap, national chairman of Pamalakaya said the proposed P1.2 billion budget for the Manila Bay rehabilitation is suspicious.
He said in the past years, such programs has brought no siginfiicant improvement to the lives of small fishers neither it improved the fisheries sector in Manila Bay.
“In fact, the condition of Manila Bay worsened because of the failure of the DENR to protect it from destructive projects
As part of the program, participating local governments are required to draw up 10-year roadmaps to gradually adopt technologies and sustain reforms over time.
The approach prioritizes immediate and practical solutions—what Solidum described as “low-hanging fruits”—before introducing more advanced initiatives.
“Because if your ambition is set too high and it doesn’t push through, it might not be sustained, and that is why the efforts we are doing are different,” the science chief said in Filipino.
The DOST’s Smart and Sustainable Communities Program began in 2023 with an initial target of 80 pilot areas. As of September, participation has expanded to
like dredging and reclamation,” Hicap said.
The fishers’ group said that the DENR has “even allowed” such projects to push through, by issuing environmental compliance certificates (ECC).
“We remind the DENR that to effectively carry out a rehabilitation program, it must first stop all the destructive reclamation and its related components, such as dredging in Manila Bay. Revocation of the existing ECCs of various reclamation projects won’t even cost a cent, only a strong political will.” The proposed budget allocation for
111 municipalities and cities. The program provides science-based solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, covering areas such as agriculture, healthcare, governance and disaster preparedness. Solidum added that the growing number of participants reflects strong interest from local governments in adopting smart and sustainable practices suited to their own context.
He added that pending measures such as Senate Bill 298, or the proposed Smart Philippines Act, also aim to institutionalize a framework that would ensure affordable and accessible internet for cities and municipalities seeking to pursue smart initiatives.
this program must be strictly scrutinized and ensure that it will be used for genuine rehabilitation and restoration programs. We have been proposing a massive mangrove reforestation to revive the marine and
Flood control contractor Discaya distances Romualdez from alleged ghost projects
PACIFICO “Curlee” Discaya, owner of construction firms under scrutiny for alleged ghost flood control projects, categorically told lawmakers on Tuesday that he never had any direct dealings with Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, stressing that his earlier Senate testimony was not drawn from personal interaction.
“Politicians may have just been using your name,” Discaya said during the House Infra Committee.
Testifying under oath in the Senate, Discaya began with a lengthy clarification distancing both Romualdez and Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, former chair of the House Appropriations Committee, from his company’s projects.
“I want to make it clear that I never had any direct transaction with them,” he declared.
Discaya explained that while the names of Romualdez and Co had been mentioned in his previous sworn testimony before the Senate, these were not based on personal interaction.
He stressed that he had no proof or knowledge that any funds were ever delivered to either Romualdez or Co, saying he was compelled to issue a public clarification because their names had been repeatedly invoked.
“It’s better that I tell Speaker and Congressman Co directly—I had no transactions with you,” Discaya said.
“What I heard were just statements from politicians pressuring us, saying payments had to be rushed because they were supposedly going to you. But I had no transactions with either of you,” he added.
At this point, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima asked Discaya to confirm if his clarifications referred to his earlier Senate testimony.
Discaya confirmed, saying his remarks addressed his Senate statement, which contained several references to Romualdez and Co.
He maintained, however, that while he stood by what was written, it did not constitute proof of direct dealings. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
More defense cooperation seen for PHL, South Korea
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Philippines and South Korea will be seeing more cooperation in defense in the coming years.
This was after Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with his counterpart, Minister Ahn GyuBack of South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, at the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2025 this September 8.
“Both sides explored avenues to further deepen cooperation in response to common regional security challenges. Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in logistics, technological exchange, defense industry cooperation, under the framework of the 2015 PH-ROK Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Defense,” the DND
said in a statement on Tuesday. It also said the meeting highlighted the enduring defense partnership between the Philippines and the ROK, rooted in the shared sacrifices of Filipino soldiers during the Korean War and further reinforced by this year’s commemoration of its 75th anniversary.
“The officials also underscored the importance of cultural and educational exchanges, along with people-to-people ties, as vital pillars of the bilateral relationship. Secretary Teodoro extended an official invitation to Minister Ahn to visit the Philippines, reaffirming Manila’s commitment to advancing defense cooperation, strengthening regional security, and sustaining strategic engagement with its long-standing partner,” the DND noted.
US coordinating with PHL on Pastor Quiboloy extradition terms amid ongoing legal proceedings
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
HE United States is coor -
Tdinating with the Philippine government on the terms of a potential extradition request for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, acknowledging the complexity of the legal process given that the religious leader is facing similar charges in the Philippines. Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and known ally and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained and facing multiple charges, including human trafficking and sexual abuse. The US indictment includes additional
Marcos strengthens ties with Cambodia through five key business agreements during state visit
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos concluded his three-day state visit in Cambodia with five signed business agreements, which will help boost the Philippines trade ties with its Southeast Asian neighbor.
The new strategic partnerships covered aviation, logistics, women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), exploration of market opportunities for Philippine exports of products and services, and institutional partnerships of business associations between the two countries. They were signed during the
P resident’s roundtable meeting with business leaders in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last 8 August 2025.
“We had a productive engagement with the top businesses in Cambodia, together with our official business delegation, where our discussions focused on our complementary strengths and
how both sides can offer each other unique opportunities for growth and for market diversification,” Marcos said in his arrival statement.
The said deals will allow the Philippines and Cambodia to complement each other’s economic strengths and capitalize opportunities for growth and market diversification, according to the President.
He said it is part of his efforts to bolster intra-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade through enhancing market access among its members.
The chief executive together with First Lady Louise AranetaMarcos and other members of the Philippine delegates arrived at 2.49 pm last Tuesday.
Aside from meeting with business leaders, Marcos’ also had bilateral talks with acting Head of State and Senate President of Cambodia Hun Sen and Cambo -
dian Prime Minister Hun
The Cambodian government has committed to back the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and for the chairmanship of the 2026 ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
The state visit has resulted in the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cambodian government on combating transnational crimes, education and training exchanges, as well as an Air Service Agreement. Marcos said he is now looking forward to improving the country’s cooperation with Cambodia, particularly in the field of migrant workers’ welfare and employment.
“I am confident that through regular dialogues, the PhilippinesCambodia partnership will be guided by our common aspiration for progress, peace, and stability for our peoples and for the ASEAN region,” he said.
ILO: Global privacy laws leave workers unprotected in digital era
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
DESPITE more than 162 countries enacting data protection laws, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that most workers remain inadequately protected in the digital workplace, with some jurisdictions even excluding them outright from legal coverage.
In a working paper, the ILO said existing privacy regimes were designed largely for consumer settings and fail to reflect the unequal relationship between employers and employees.
“Workers—particularly vulnerable due to systemic power asymmetries and data exploitation risks—often receive inadequate protection under existing laws, with some jurisdictions excluding them entirely,” the study said.
The ILO noted that the spread of digital monitoring and algorithmic management has outpaced the ability of current laws to safeguard workers’ rights.
These tools now allow employers to track keystrokes, analyze moods, and even predict if workers will quit their jobs.
“Employers are increasingly utilizing sophisticated electronic monitoring and surveillance tools to track their workers’ every move and predict a wide range of worker behaviours in the workplace,” the report said.
Yet, many legal frameworks remain silent on these practices or regulate them only indirectly.
In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is considered the global benchmark but implementation across member states remain fragmented.
allegations of sex trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and visa fraud.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez clarified that the document recently transmitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) was a draft, not a formal request. He said the draft was shared as a diplomatic courtesy, and that the DOJ’s concurrence is presumed once the US State Department submits the official
Germany and France have enacted workplace-specific rules, while others have left gaps that expose employees to intrusive surveillance.
The situation is more limited in the United States and Australia.
The ILO observed that US protections are “patchwork” and “sector-specific,” while Australia’s Privacy Act contains exemptions that exclude many employee records from scrutiny.
Emerging economies have also passed privacy regimes, including India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, China’s Personal Information Protection Law, and Brazil’s Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados.
However, the ILO said weak
enforcement, broad state exemptions, and limited workplace-specific provisions undermine their effectiveness.
Old rules in a new era
THE report recalled that international attempts to address workplace data concerns go back decades.
The Council of Europe issued its Recommendation on employment data in 1989, while the ILO adopted its Code of Practice on the protection of workers’ personal data in 1997.
Both instruments recognized that consent could not serve as a valid basis for data processing in employment, given the unequal nature of the relationship.
However, these standards were non-binding and predated the rise of artificial intelligence and widespread workplace surveillance.
“All frameworks are non-binding, and they were adopted before the widespread implementation of electronic monitoring systems in workplaces and the dawn of the AI era,” the ILO said.
Calls for new standards
RECOGNIZING the scale of the problem, the study stressed that workers cannot meaningfully consent to intrusive monitoring in the same way consumers accept terms of service.
It described them as a “captive population” since refusing surveillance tools is rarely an option at work.
To address this, the ILO urged governments to establish specialized workplace data protection frameworks that explicitly cover employees, applicants, and independent contractors. It also emphasized collective governance, calling for unions and worker representatives to be consulted whenever new technologies are introduced.
“This approach aligns with evidence showing that worker participation in technology implementation reduces exploitation risks while fostering trust…. Future regulatory frameworks should strengthen existing representation mechanisms and establish new mechanisms to ensure that workers have genuine agency in decisions regarding their personal data,” it added.
In March 2024, the ILO Governing Body agreed to convene a tripartite meeting of experts to review and update standards on the protection of workers’ personal data in the digital era.
Manet.
A6 Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Protesters in Nepal attack homes of political leaders over social media ban and corruption
By Binaj Gurubacharya The Associated Press
KATHMANDU, Nepal—
Protesters set fire to homes of some of Nepal’s top political leaders in opposition to a social media ban that was lifted early Tuesday a day after deadly anti-government protests.
Local reports and videos shared on social media showed protesters attacking residences of the top political leaders in and around Kathmandu. A curfew was imposed in the capital and other cities, and schools in Kathmandu were closed. The houses set on fire included those of Sher Bahadur Deuba, leader of the largest party Nepali Congress, President Ram Chandra Poudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and leader of the Communist party of Nepal Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A private school owned by Deuba’s wife Arzu Deuba Rana, who is
them for corruption.
“I am here to protest about the massive corruption in our country,” said Bishnu Thapa Chetri, a student. “The country has gotten so bad that for us youths there is no grounds for us to stay back in the country.”
“Our demand and desire is for peace and end to corruption so that people can actually work and live back in the country,” he said. Several protests were reported Tuesday despite the indefinite curfew in the capital.
“Punish the murders in government. Stop killing children,” the protesters chanted while police used loudspeakers urging them to return home. The protesters’ anger was turning toward the government led by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli,
Nepal Internet crackdown part of global trend toward suppressing online freedom
By Barbara Ortutay AP Technology Writer
Israel bombs another Gaza City high-rise as US advances new ceasefire proposal
By Wafaa Shurafa, Melanie Lidman & Samy Magdy
The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza
Strip—Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate, part of an offensive aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city. The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building.
Over several days, Israel has destroyed multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City, accusing Hamas of putting surveillance infrastructure in them. It has ordered people to flee ahead of its ground offensive into the city of some 1 million residents, which experts say is experiencing famine.
soldiers were killed in Gaza City on Monday when a group of militants threw an explosive device into a tank. Another soldier was wounded in an ensuing gunbattle, according to the military, which said two of the militants were shot.
Israel’s offensive has killed most of Hamas’ top leadership and vastly diminished its military capabilities. But the group still carries out sporadic guerrilla-style attacks. More than 450 Israeli troops have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began in 2023.
The loss of more soldiers could further undermine support for the war in Israel, where mass protests have been held in recent weeks demanding a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would return the hostages.
many were civilians or combatants. It says around half of those killed were women and children. Large parts of major cities have been completely destroyed, and around 90% of the population of some 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.
Hamas has said it will only return the remaining hostages— its only bargaining chip—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It says it is willing to hand over power to politically independent Palestinians.
In Jerusalem, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus station, killing six people and wounding 12 in the worst such attack on Israelis in nearly a year. Tensions have soared across Israel and the occupied West Bank in the two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza ignited the war.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said hospitals received the bodies of 65 people killed by Israeli fire over the past 24 hours, with another 320 people wounded.
Four soldiers killed in Gaza City attack
THE Israeli military said four
US President Donald Trump said he was giving his “last warning” to Hamas regarding a possible ceasefire, as Arab officials described a new US proposal for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages in exchange for 3,000 Palestinian prisoners and a temporary ceasefire. A senior Hamas official called it a “humiliating surrender document,” but the militant group said it would keep negotiating.
‘Last warning’ proposal THE “last warning” proposal, presented by Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, calls for a negotiated end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza once the hostages are released and a ceasefire is established, according to officials familiar with the talks.
The prisoner exchange would include hundreds of Palestinians serving life sentences, added the officials from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Egypt, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door talks. Details of the proposal were first reported by Axios.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon
Saar, speaking to reporters in Hungary, confirmed that Israel had accepted the latest US proposal and expressed hope it would succeed.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said the proposal seemed designed to be rejected because it calls for the release of all hostages on the first day, and for Hamas to disarm, and it conditions the withdrawal of Israeli forces on the establishment of a government in Gaza acceptable to Israel.
He said Hamas and allied groups seek an agreement that will “end the war, halt the genocide, and open the horizon for a political solution that achieves our legitimate national goals, but not by signing a humiliating surrender document.”
Russian glide bomb attack in Ukraine kills 21 elderly lining up to receive pensions
KYIV, Ukraine—A Russian glide bomb struck a village in eastern Ukraine as older people were lined up to receive their pensions on Tuesday, killing at least 21 and wounding nearly two dozen others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a regional official said.
The bomb hit the village of Yarova in the Donetsk region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.
“Frankly brutal,” he said of the attack, urging the international community to make Russia pay economically for its full-scale invasion through additional sanctions.
“The world should not remain silent,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The world should not remain inactive. The United States needs a reaction. Europe needs a reaction. The G20 needs a reaction. Strong action is
needed so that Russia stops bringing death.”
With US-led peace efforts making no headway in recent months, Russia has escalated its aerial barrages of Ukraine. On Sunday,
Russia hit the capital, Kyiv, with drones and missiles in the largest aerial attack since the war began on February 24, 2022.
The glide bombs are retrofitted Soviet weapons that have
laid waste to eastern Ukraine for months. Some of them now weigh 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms), which is six times bigger than when they were first used in battle in 2022.
Donetsk Gov. Vadym Filashkin said that 21 people were killed and 21 others wounded in the attack, which struck a line of older people waiting to receive their pensions.
“This is not warfare. This is pure terrorism,” he wrote on Telegram.
Emergency responders were at the scene, he said.
Yarova is located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the front line.
The territory was already occupied by Russia in 2022, but was then liberated by Ukraine’s armed forces in a counteroffensive later the same year. AP
An Egyptian official said the new proposal, which Arab mediators received from the US, was broader than previous ones and would require negotiations over ending the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm.
Dispute over war’s end has stymied ceasefire efforts HAMAS-LED militants abducted 251 people in the October 7 attack and killed some 1,200, mostly civilians. Forty-eight hostages are still inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,522 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected those terms, saying the war will continue until all the hostages are returned and Hamas has been disarmed. He says Israel will maintain openended security control over Gaza and facilitate what he describes as the voluntary emigration of much of its population, which the Palestinians and many others see as a plan for forcible expulsion. Mediators had previously focused on brokering a temporary ceasefire and the release of some hostages, with the two sides then holding talks on a more permanent truce. Witkoff walked away from those talks in July, after which Hamas accepted a proposal that the mediators said was almost identical to an earlier one that Israel had approved.
Lidman reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo.
Palestinian gunmen kill 6 people in attack on Jerusalem bus stop
By Melanie Lidman & Julia Frankel The Associated Press
JERUSALEM—Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour in Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people and wounding another 12, according to Israeli officials.
An Israeli soldier and civilians who were at the scene shot and killed the two attackers, said police, who later arrested a third person in connection with the shooting. Footage of the attack showed dozens of people fleeing from the bus stop at a busy intersection. The windshield of a bus was riddled with bullet holes and belongings were scattered across the street.
The war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and sparked a surge of violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank, with a rise in attacks by Palestinian militants as well as Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.
Monday’s shooting—at a major intersection, with a road leading to Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem—was the deadliest in Israel since October 2024.
Later, on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said two 14-year-old Palestinians had been shot and killed by Israeli forces
in the West Bank city of Jenin, where Israel has carried out several major military operations in recent years.
The military said troops fired at individuals who had entered an area under a closure order. It said they posed a threat to its forces, without specifying the nature of the threat or providing evidence, and that they had ignored instructions to leave.
Hamas welcomes attack but does not claim it
PARAMEDICS who responded to the scene said broken glass covered the area, and people wounded lay unconscious on the road and a sidewalk near the bus stop.
Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said the two attackers were 20- and 21-year-old Palestinians from the West Bank with no prior arrests. Hamas hailed the attack without claiming responsibility, calling it a “natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our people.”
President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, condemned “any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians,” and “denounced all forms of violence and
See “Gunmen,” A9
MOURNERS
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Attorney says detained Korean Hyundai workers had special skills for short-term jobs
By Russ Bynum, Kate Brumback & Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga.—A lawyer for several workers detained at a Hyundai factory in Georgia says many of the South Koreans rounded up in the immigration raid are engineers and equipment installers brought in for the highly specialized work of getting an electric battery plant online.
Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck, who represents four of the detained South Korean nationals, told The Associated Press on Monday that many were doing work that is authorized under the B-1 business visitor visa program. They had planned to be in the US for just a couple of weeks and “never longer than 75 days,” he said.
“The vast majority of the individuals that were detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement that were South Korean were either there as engineers or were involved in after-sales service and installation,” Kuck said.
The raid Thursday at the battery factory under construction at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant west of Savannah resulted in the detainment of 475 workers, more than 300 them South Koreans. Some were shown being shackled with chains around their hands, ankles and waists in video released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
South Korea expects to bring detainees home SOUTH Korea’s foreign minister was flying to the US on Monday to secure his citizens’
possibility that core inflation will slow.
“As for core inflation, while it is probably still too early to pencil in a resurgence in upward momentum, any downward momentum is now less likely in the near term,” Citi Philippines said.
Growth outlook
MEANWHILE , in terms of growth, Citi Philippines expects the country’s GDP to slow in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Nonetheless, domestic demand growth remains buoyant in the second quarter of the year, which was better than expected.
It added that export earnings growth expanded in July and has not shown “an alarming sign of a payback effect and manufacturing PMI was resilient.”
“While noting that external growth risks should not be ignored, backward-looking and coincident indicators do point to relatively stable growth so far,” Citi Philippines said.
Last week, economists warned that Filipinos may need to brace for higher prices in the coming months as La Niña conditions could lead to faster inflation for the rest of the year.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that commodity prices posted a
2. OIC District Engineer of Bulacan 1st District Brice Ericson G. Hernandez, alias MARVIN SANTOS DE GUZMAN;
3. Assistant District Engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, alias PEEJAY CASTRO ASUNCIÓN;
4. DPWH Engineer II Arjay Domasig, introducing himself as A Contractor from SYMS Trading Corp with alias, SANDRO BERNARDO PARK at;
5. Edrick San Diego, as himself.
return on a charter flight to South Korea, where many people have expressed confusion, shock and a sense of betrayal.
President Donald Trump said the workers “were here illegally,” and that instead, the US needs to arrange with other countries to have their experts train US citizens to do specialized work such as battery and computer manufacturing.
But immigration lawyer Kuck said no company in the US makes the machines that are used in the Georgia battery plant, so they had to come from abroad to install or repair equipment on-site—work that would take about three to five years to train someone in the US to do, he said.
“This is not something new,” Kuck said.
“We’ve been doing this forever, and we do it—when we ship things abroad, we send our folks there to take care of it.”
The Japanese and Germans did it, too, creating US jobs
WHILE neither government has revealed details about all the workers’ visas, it’s not unusual for foreign companies to save time and money by sending workers from abroad to set up US factories, and then train US workers, said Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute, a nonprofit that encourages US manufacturing.
Brumback reported from Atlanta and Hyung-Jin Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press journalists Kim Tong-Hyung in Seoul, Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Paul Wiseman in Washington, D.C., also contributed.
1.5- percent inflation in August. This is faster than the 0.9 percent posted in July but slower than the 3.3 percent posted in August 2024.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said La Niña conditions, which may develop from September to December, could lead to flooding and crop damage in high-risk areas.
“In anticipation of these weather shocks, we must ramp up preparatory activities and proactively ensure sufficient food supply to protect Filipino consumers from price volatility,” Balisacan said. During the briefing, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the increase in inflation between the 0.9 percent in July and the 1.5 percent in August was substantial.
Mapa explained that food items, specifically meat, fish and vegetables, significantly contributed to the increase in inflation. He added that when combined, these items have a significant weight in the basket of goods.
In terms of weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), vegetables, tubers, cooking bananas and pulses was at 4.01 percent; fish and other seafood, 8.5 percent; and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 6.15 percent. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/09/06/la-nina-could-lead-tofaster-inflation-psa/).
“Over the past week, we scoured hundreds of pages of documents — each page painting tell-tale signs of how deeply entrenched corruption has become in the BGC Kingdom. Patterns emerged not by accident, but by elaborate design: a framework of rigged/ questionable biddings, impossible timelines of completion, manipulated progress reports, and falsified public documents.
“Certainly, these are not clerical errors, Mr. President. These are fingerprints of a system perfected over the years to pocket billions of funds at the expense of our people’s safety and welfare.”
Former PM Thaksin jailed, but vows to keep serving Thailand
WBy Patpicha Tanakasempipat
ITHIN minutes of being handed a one-year prison sentence Tuesday, Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra made clear he had no plans to vanish from public life.
Having survived coups, court setbacks and exile, the country’s most influential politician this century signaled he still plans to extend his family’s nearly twodecade hold on Thai politics.
“Today I choose to look forward, and bring closure to everything in the past, both the legal battles and any conflicts that have arisen or are connected to me,” Thaksin, 76, wrote in Thai in X. “I will maintain my physical and mental strength to spend the rest of my life serving the monarchy, the land of Thailand, and the Thai people, no matter what my status is from now on.”
Thaksin’s move to return from an overseas trip a day earlier and face the short prison time, rather than flee the country entirely, shows that he’s determined to fight, according to Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political science lecturer at Ubon Ratchathani University.
“This isn’t the end of his political fight, as there’s still a lot of interests of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics that he still has to protect,” Titipol said. “But it will be a tough fight this time after he lost credibility with his supporters. It’s not going to be easy to make a big comeback.”
Tuesday’s verdict to send him back to jail to serve a past sentence capped a string of setbacks for Thaksin. Thailand’s political landscape has changed in recent weeks, with Thaksin’s rival Anutin Charnvirakul sweeping to power after his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office last month.
The reversal in the Shinawatras’ fortunes is seen as a breakdown of a deal between Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party and the conservative establishment. That agreement had allowed Thaksin to return from 15 years of self-imposed exile in 2023.
Besides Thaksin, who led Thailand from 2001 until he was ousted in a 2006 coup, five other prime ministers tied to his family were removed from office through court rulings or coups.
Tarnished brand THAKSIN may be wrong to think that coming back to serve time would help restore people’s trust in him and Pheu Thai, said Napon Jatusripitak, acting coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
“The Shinawatra brand has
already been tarnished beyond repair by the grand compromise he struck with the conservative establishment in 2023,” Napon said. “The most important step the party must take to avoid what now appears to be an almost inevitable decline is to demonstrate strong leadership and identify a new successor.”
The ruling against Thaksin came days after the Thai parliament picked Anutin as premier, defeating Pheu Thai candidate Chaikasem Nitisiri.
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions ruled Tuesday that Thaksin’s six-month stay in a police hospital in 2023, when he began serving a reduced sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest, didn’t count toward his term. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Thaksin attended the hearing with his two daughters, and was taken by prison officials to Bangkok Remand Prison immediately after the court’s order.
Unlawful
THE court said Thaksin’s transfer from jail to the police hospital was unlawful, and his stay there was unwarranted as he didn’t suffer from any serious illnesses that constituted an emergency as claimed.
He spent only a few hours in jail in 2023 before being moved to the hospital to serve an eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power, later reduced to one year by a royal pardon. He was released on parole in 2024.
Earlier this year, the Medical Council of Thailand suspended two doctors and reprimanded another after finding they helped justify Thaksin’s transfer out of prison.
Last month, Thaksin was acquitted in a separate royal defamation case, leading to a travel ban being lifted and allowing him to visit Dubai and Singapore.
In the pre-prepared statement on X, Thaksin also thanked the king for commuting his lengthy jail term.
“Even though I will lose my freedom, I will still have freedom of thought for the benefit of the nation and its people,” Thaksin wrote. With assistance from Pathom Sangwongwanich, Suttinee Yuvejwattana, Anuchit Nguyen and Janine Panzer/Bloomberg
war in Gaza.
terrorism, regardless of their source,” according to a statement from his office.
The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and cooperates with Israel on security matters, has been largely sidelined since the start of the war.
Netanyahu threatens more major West Bank raids
Later, he warned that Israel would respond to such attacks with wide military raids, referring to operations that inflicted heavy destruction on built-up refugee camps in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank, and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians earlier this year.
“The fact that we eliminated these two terrorists is not enough. The fact that we go after the supporters and aides, that is not enough either,” Netanyahu said.
PRIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene after his ongoing corruption trial was delayed due to the attack. He praised the soldier who fired on the gunmen, who was from a newly-formed unit for ultraOrthodox Jewish soldiers.
“We have already eliminated nests of terror in refugee camps, in three. We simply evacuated the population from there and flattened all the terror infrastructure—and my instruction is to do the same in other nests of terror.”
Hundreds of security forces searched for additional attackers or explosives that could have been planted around the area.
On Monday afternoon, police said they arrested a resident of east Jerusalem who was connected to the attack.
The Israeli military said it is encircling Palestinian villages on the outskirts of the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah as it steps up defense in response.
In October 2024, two Palestinians from the West Bank opened fire inside a light rail train in Tel Aviv, killing seven people and leaving many others wounded. Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for that attack, the deadliest in Israel since the October 7, 2023 raid that started the
Data from the UN’s humanitarian office says at least 49 Israelis, including some soldiers and police, have been killed by Palestinians in Israel or the West Bank between the start of the war and July this year.
During the same period, Israeli forces and civilians killed at least 968 Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank, according to the data. The Israeli military has said many were militants, though the dead have also included stone throwers and uninvolved civilians.
The Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
THAKSIN SHINAWATRA and his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrive at court in Bangkok on September 9. VALERIA MONGELLI/BLOOMBERG
PHL, Cambodia expand crime-fighting pact amid rise in womb-for-hire and offshore gambling scandals
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines and Cambo -
dia have agreed to expand their cooperation against transnational crimes, as both countries confront a surge in illicit activities linked to womb-for-hire trafficking and offshore gambling operations.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minis -
ter and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn formalized the agreement through an exchange of diplomatic notes witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The exchange amends the 2016 memorandum of understanding between the Philippine National Police and the Cambodian National Police, broadening its scope to address non-traditional security threats such as human traffick-
ing, cybercrime, and online fraud.
President Marcos, in remarks delivered during his State Visit to Cambodia, underscored the urgency of regional collaboration. “The pressing challenges that cut across borders—human trafficking, cybercrime, illicit drugs, and other transnational threats—affect the safety of our citizens and the stability of our societies,” he said. “It is in this spirit that we agreed to strengthen collaboration
By Manuel T. Cayon
among our law enforcement and security institutions, so that our collective response will be swift, coordinated, and effective.”
The exchange of notes followed a bilateral meeting between Marcos and Hun Manet on September 8, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regional security and people-centered development.
Beyond security, the two heads of government also witnessed
the signing of agreements on air services and higher education cooperation. These aim to boost connectivity and human capital development across the ASEAN region, reinforcing long-standing people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Cambodia.
The expanded crime-fighting pact comes amid mounting concerns over cross-border trafficking networks exploiting women for surrogacy rackets and the proliferation
of offshore gambling hubs linked to cyber-enabled fraud. Both governments signaled their intent to pursue more agile, intelligence-driven enforcement and policy coordination in response.
President Marcos’ visit to Cambodia is part of a broader diplomatic push ahead of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, with Manila positioning itself as a regional leader in security, connectivity, and inclusive development.
DAR’s support services caravan goes to Basilan Davao Light puts more facilities to provincial expansion
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has brought its Agri-Extension, Gender Mainstreaming, and Crop Insurance Caravan to Isabela City, Basilan.
The two-day Caravan provided small farmers belonging to various Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) with sustainable farming knowledge, gender-inclusive training, and livelihood protection.
The simultaneous events held in Barangays Menzi and Baluno, Isabela City benefited 60 members of the United Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (UWARBMPC) and the Latuan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (LARBENCO).
They also undergo practical training in natural farming methods, including composting, bio-pesticides, and the cultivation of high-value crops such as bananas, lanzones, mangosteen, rubber, cacao, and other crops.
The event was led by DAR Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Office, headed by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Rolando M. Libetario Jr., in partnership with
who has increasingly becoming unpopular.
“We are here to protest because our youths and friends are getting killed, we are here to seek that justice is done and the present regime is ousted. K.P. Oli should be chased away,” said Narayan Acharya, who was among the protesters outside the battered wall of the parliament building Tuesday.
“We need to protest the killings of so many young ones and students aiming directly at their
the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
The session also highlighted Gender Equality in agriculture, with women trained in rubber tapping and other farm tasks, ensuring shared opportunities and strengthened family welfare. PCIC introduced insurance options to protect farmers from losses due to pests and disasters.
“We remain committed to going beyond land distribution by empowering our beneficiaries with knowledge, resources, and protection to ensure productive and resilient farms,” Libetario said.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) member Cesario V. Cielo, himself an ARB, shared practical insights on sustainable farming technologies. With ARPO II, Lowell B. Lozada introduced the Natural Farming System, focusing on Effective Microorganism Activator (EMA) formulation and Bokashi crafting.
The DAR also announced that similar caravans will be rolled out to 15 more ARBOs across Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City in the coming months. Jonathan L. Mayuga
head by this Hitler-like K.P. Oli’s government. As long as this government in in power, the people like us will continue to suffer,” said Durganah Dahal, another protester. “They killed so many youths yesterday who had so much to look forward to, now they can easily kill us all. We protest until this government is finished.”
Several widely used social networks, including Facebook, X and YouTube were blocked in the Himalayan nation last week after failing to comply with a new requirement to register and submit to government oversight. Monday’s rallies against the
KAPALONG, Davao del Norte—Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Co.
installed electrical poles on Friday in this interior farming town as the company extends its services to this latest additional area to it franchise.
Davao Light installed 45 electrical distribution poles in barangay Pagasa of this town, placed
alongside existing lighted poles along the unpaved road going to Poblacion of the town.
This came two months after the company established its digital substation and warehouse stockyard in Tagum City, the capital of the province.
Gov. Edwin Jubahib witnessed the simultaneous implanting of the electrical poles placed at 40 meters apart.
In a program later at the public
gymnasium in barangay Maniki, Jubahib recalled the times he worked for the eventual entry of Davao Light to the franchise held by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, or Nordeco. The Nordeco has been severely criticized on providing irregular electrical connection.
“Why are we paying much for a service that is very poor,” he told the public forum on Friday.
Late last year Congress granted
the petition of provincial leaders to extend the franchise area of Davao Light to include the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, frmerly Compostela Valley. Davao Light said it was currently awaiting the response of Nordeco to its request for the creation of a Joint Transition Committee that will be vital in ensuring a smooth, orderly and efficient handover while minimizing disruption to customers and stakeholders.
Comelec sets deadline for PSO assembly results ahead of BARMM polls
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered accredited parliamentary sectoral organizations (PSOs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to submit the results of their assemblies a week before the October 13 parliamentary polls.
In Resolution No. 11174, the Comelec en banc said PSOs must transmit the outcome of their assemblies to the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO) between October 6 and 12.
“[The]…Results of the Sectoral Organizations shall be submitted to the [BEO]…The BEO shall, then, transmit the Assembly Results from the concerned agencies to the Regional Board of Canvassers
ban swelled to tens of thousands of people in Kathmandu and crowds surrounded the Parliament building before police opened fire on the demonstrators. Nineteen people were killed.
“Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media,” the crowds chanted, waving national flags. Monday’s rally was called the protest of Gen Z, which generally refers to people born between 1995 and 2010.
Seven of those killed and scores of the wounded were received at the National Trauma Center, the country’s main hospital.
“Many of them are in serious
[RBOC],” it added.
The resolution also requires the transmission of the names of sectoral representatives already determined in separate assemblies.
These include two Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) representatives from the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention, one traditional leader chosen in the IntraSultanate Assembly, one ulama selected in the Regional Ulama Convention, and one Bangsamoro women’s representative.
The assemblies must also provide the name of the Bangsamoro youth representative and the two representatives from the settler communities.
“The assembly-elected sectoral representatives of the NMIP, Tra -
condition and appear to have been shot in the head and chest,” said Dr. Badri Risa. Families waited for news of their relatives while people lined up to donate blood.
Oli said in a statement he was forming an investigating committee to submit a report in 15 days and that compensation would be given for the lives lost and free treatment for the wounded.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also resigned at an emergency Cabinet meeting late Monday.
The violence unfolded as Nepal’s government pursues a broader attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the
ditional Leaders, Ulama, Women, Youth, and Settler Communities shall be proclaimed by the RBOC,” the Comelec said.
To recall, eight out of the 73 parliament seats will be occupied by sectoral groups.
The Comelec also earlier announced that for the first-ever polls in the region, the choosing of sectoral representatives will not be inclueded in the elections. Instead, the groups will choose their representatives through assemblies.
Canvassing and proclamation
THE resolution also outlined that district representatives will be proclaimed at the district or provincial level.
platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online.
The bill includes asking the companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and fundamental rights.
The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal.
Neither Google, which owns
“The DBOC/PBOCs [District Board of Canvassers / Provincial Board of Canvassers] shall proclaim the winning candidates for the position of district representative to the Bangsamoro Parliament in their respective district,” it said. Political party representatives, meanwhile, will be proclaimed at the regional level by the RBOC. The Comelec said the proclamation of sectoral representatives will proceed alongside political party representatives once the October 13 polls are completed. The Bangsamoro Parliament will be composed of 73 members: 40 political party representatives, 32 district representatives, and 8 sectoral representatives. Justine Xyrah Garcia
YouTube, nor Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Elon Musk’s X platform did not respond either.
TikTok, Viber and three other platforms have registered and operated without interruption. Nepal in 2023 banned TikTok for disrupting “social harmony, goodwill and diffusing indecent materials.” The ban was lifted last year after TikTok’s executives pledged to comply with local laws, including a ban of pornographic sites that was passed in 2018.
PPA to rebid Zamboanga Port Passenger Terminal project, says no taxpayer funds lost
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said on Tuesday it is preparing to rebid “within the year” the The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said on Tuesday it is preparing to rebid “within the year” the stalled Zamboanga Port Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) project.
At the same time, PPA Assistant General Manager for Engineering
James Gantalao assured that no taxpayer money was lost in the project, stressing that construction funds came from the agency’s own corporate coffers.
“Linawin po natin na ang ginamit na pondo sa pagpapatayo ng Zamboanga Port ay hindi po mula sa buwis ng mga tao kundi ito po ay galing sa PPA Corporate funds, ibig sabihin po galing ito sa operasyon o kita ng PPA bilang GOCC [government-owned and
controlled corporation],” he said.
He explained that as of termination, the contractor had completed 56 percent of the project, valued at P272.8 million, but only received P82.8 million or 18 percent of the contract price. This left around P190 million in unreleased claims, effectively putting the contractor at a financial loss.
Awarded in January 2021 after a three-way bidding, the project was derailed by pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions and ris -
ing material costs. Despite extensions and repeated calls from the PPA, contractor MAC Builders failed to complete the terminal, prompting the agency to cancel the deal.
Gantalao noted that the PPA will follow normal procurement processes for the rebidding, with notices to be posted publicly this year.
The project, originally designed to accommodate 3,500 passengers at any given time, was intended to be one of the largest
and most modern passenger terminals in Mindanao.
The Zamboanga Port serves as a major hub for domestic and international trade, linking the Zamboanga Peninsula with Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and neighboring Asean countries. It plays a critical role in moving passengers as well as goods such as sardines, coconut, rubber, and aquaculture products.
Despite the setback, Gantalao said the Zamboanga port remains business as usual.
Group deplores dumping of lead-containing paints in PHL market
IBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
MPORTED paints containing high concentrations of lead, a neurotoxin and endocrinedisrupting chemical, continue to enter the country’s ports, an environmental health and justice group said.
The EcoWaste Coalition, which advocates lead-free paints, denounced the illicit trade following its discovery of a new paint brand called Easyman Spray Paint All Purpose Enamel that claims to contain “no Pb” (the chemical symbol for lead from the Latin plumbum) even if it is laden with lead way in excess of the legal limit of
Quiboloy. . .
Continued from A5
note verbale to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“The formal one has yet to be sent. That will set the ball rolling,” Romualdez said, noting that the DFA is awaiting the official diplomatic communication that would initiate the extradition process. Romualdez explained that while the US typically bypasses justice departments in other jurisdictions when making ex -
professor of information science at Cornell University. “This has happened several times in the neighboring countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. So, this is nothing new—in fact, I would say this is taken from the playbook, which is now very established, of trying to control social media narratives.”
Not just Nepal
LIKE neighboring countries, Nepal’s government have been asking the companies to appoint a liaison in the country. Officials are calling for laws to monitor social media and ensure both the users and operators are responsible and accountable for what they share. But the move has been criticized as a tool for censorship and punishing opponents who voice their protests online.
“Governments absolutely have a valid interest in seeking to regulate social media platforms. This is such a daily part of our lives and in our business. And it is certainly reasonable for authorities to sit down and say we want to develop rules for the road,” said Kian Vesteinsson, senior research analyst for technology and democracy at the Washingtonbased nonprofit Freedom House.
“But what we see in Nepal is that wholesale blocks as a means of enforcing a set of rules for social media companies results in wildly disproportionate harms. These measures that were put in place in Nepal (cut) tens of millions of people off from platforms that they used to express
90 parts per million (ppm). The importation, distribution, and sale of lead-containing Easyman Spray Paints violate DENR A.O. 2013-24 banning lead use in paints, the group pointed out. According to the group, the mislabeling of such paints as containing no lead when in fact they have lead is a deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable act that goes against RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. The group said consumers have the right to be protected against fraudulent claims and unsafe products, as well as the right to be provided with facts needed to make an informed choice, it insisted.
tradition requests, its “special relationship” with the Philippines has led to more detailed coordination.
“They have many requests like that with other countries without having to deal with their Justice Department. Pero sa atin, they’ve been coming back and forth with a draft,” he said.
The ambassador added that it will be up to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to determine whether the US request should take precedence over Quiboloy’s ongoing cases
themselves, to conduct daily business, to speak with their families, to go to school, to get healthcare information.”
It’s not just Nepal. Freedom House has found that global internet freedom has declined for the 14th consecutive year in 2024, as governments crackdown on dissent and people face arrest for expressing political, social or religious views online. While China consistently tops the list as the “world’s worst environment” for internet freedom, last year Myanmar shared this designation as well. The organization did not track Nepal. India passed a telecommunications law in 2023 that gave its government “broad powers to restrict online communications and intercept communications,” according to Freedom House. Three years earlier, a sweeping Internet law put digital platforms like Facebook under direct government oversight. Officials say the rules are needed to quell misinformation and hate speech and to give users more power to flag objectionable content. But critics cautioned it would lead to censorship in a country where digital freedoms have already been shrinking.
In January, meanwhile, Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed a bill that gives the government sweeping controls on social media, including sending users to prison for spreading disinformation.
Online freedom and democracy
CALLING Internet freedom a “pillar of modern democracy,” Freedom House said a healthy 21st-century democracy cannot function without a trustworthy online environment, where people can access information and express themselves freely.
EcoWaste purchased the said paints manufactured in June 2025 for P99 to P120 each for 400 cc cans from retail stores in Hagonoy, Bulacan, and Quezon City, and subsequently screened them for lead with the aid of an Olympus Vanta M Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), a scientific device.
The label gave no information about the product manufacturer, country of manufacture, or local distributor. However, the precautions and usage instructions are provided in English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai. The Spanish text, as translated, states that Easyman Spray Paint is a non-toxic product that does not contain lead.
in Philippine courts.
Lawmakers, including Senator Risa Hontiveros, have expressed support for advancing the extradition process, citing the gravity of the charges and the need for accountability.
(See related stories: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/08/23/temporary-surrender-of-quiboloy-to-us-tohelp-all-of-his-victims-risa/)
Increasingly, though, governments are putting up roadblocks.
Often, regulations are in the name of child safety, cybercrime or fraud, Vesteinsson said, “but unfortunately, a lot of this regulation comes hand in hand with restrictive measures.”
In the Nepali law, for instance, “the same provision of this law, directs social media platforms to restrict content relating to child trafficking and human trafficking and labor, a really important issue,” he added. “Two bullet points above that, it orders platforms to restrict people from posting anonymously.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday that the protests “underscore the widespread concerns over Nepal’s ban on social media and the pressing need for the government to drop its order. Such a sweeping ban not only restricts freedom of expression, it also severely hinders journalists’ work and the public’s right to know.”
Can VPNs help?
The crackdown appears to have spurred a surge in use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, according to Proton, which provides encrypted services. Signups for Proton’s VPN service in Nepal have jumped by 8,000% since Sept. 3, according to data the company posted online. A VPN is a service that allows users to mask their location in order to circumvent censorship or geography-based online viewing restrictions.
Business Writer Kelvin Chan and AP Technology Writer Matt O’Brien contributed to this report.
“Despite the “no Pb” pictogram and the assurance that it does not contain lead, six colors of Easyman Spray Paint were analyzed to contain lead levels above 90 ppm, of which three contained dangerously high lead content surpassing 10,000 ppm, such as yellow (over 100,000 ppm), orange (84,900 ppm), and green (65,600 ppm).
The signal red, blue, and silver red contained 1,577 ppm, 866 ppm,
and 446 ppm, respectively.
The primer gray, rose pink, and violet colors, in contrast, screened negative for lead, indicating paints can be formulated without the addition of lead as a pigment, anticorrosive ingredient, and drying agent.
This is not the first time that the EcoWaste Coalition uncovered mislabeled paints with lead levels in excess of the 90 ppm limit.
From 2020 to date, the following spray paint brands labeled as “no Pb” or “lead free” were verified to contain violative levels of lead: Easyman, Korona, Sinag, Standard JR, and Tiger. In light of its latest toxic discovery, the group reiterated the need for stronger measures to ensure that the country’s lead paint ban is upheld and the people’s health is protected.
UN report: Healthy diet increasingly unaffordable for many Filipinos
AHEALTHY diet, according to the World Health Organization, includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains, such as unprocessed maize and brown rice. WHO said people who want to eat healthy should consume unsaturated fats found in fish, avocado and nuts and avoid saturated fats and trans-fats of all kinds that are found in pre-packaged foods. The United Nations agency also said salt intake should be limited to 5 grams, equivalent to about one teaspoon per day and that it should be iodized.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), however, noted that rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have shifted dietary patterns. The relative ease of accessing processed food, along with its affordability, is making it increasingly difficult to promote the consumption of nutritious foods. Higher food and fuel prices are also discouraging consumers, especially the poor, from cooking their own food at home.
The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report indicated that the cost of a healthy diet in the Philippines rose last year. The report, published by the five specialized UN agencies, including FAO, noted that consuming nutritious food cost each Filipino $4.39 last year. At the current exchange rate, that means each Filipino had to shell out around P250 a day to consume food items that enable them to keep diseases at bay.
Comparing the cost of a healthy diet in other Southeast Asian countries, the lowest was recorded in Malaysia, one of the major food exporters in the region. Each Malaysian who wanted to eat healthy shelled out $4.27, lower than what their Filipino counterparts had to spend for nutritious food. Among the Southeast Asian countries, the average spend for a healthy diet was the lowest in Myanmar and highest in Brunei where it costs $5.89 per person. (See, “Healthy diet costlier for Filipinos in 2024–FAO report,” in the BusinessMirror , August 6, 2025).
Despite the price increase, the report noted that the number of Filipinos that were unable to afford a healthy diet shrank last year. Data showed that 51 million Filipinos did not have enough money for a healthy diet, down from 52.2 million in 2023. However, this means that four in 10 Filipinos are still unable to afford nutritious food and are still consuming items that could eventually impair their health. In a country where fruits and vegetables grow in abundance and are accessible even in urban areas, the UN report is perplexing and should serve as an eye-opener to policymakers. There is an urgent need to tweak policies and implement the necessary projects to make a healthy diet more affordable and accessible particularly to the vulnerable sectors, like women and children. They can also consider incentives that will encourage consumers to eat nutritious food, a practice that will eventually enable the country to fully realize the opportunities of its demographic sweet spot.
Railway projects revisited
FMark Villar
THE BUILDER
ILIPINO commuters are pinning their hopes on the completion of mega railway projects that will greatly change their travel experience.
I am referring to the P488.5-billion Metro Manila Subway and the NorthSouth Commuter Railway (NSCR) projects—game changers that should boost our gross domestic product (GDP) and ease the plight of ordinary workers and students.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called these projects the “railway renaissance” of the Philippines, a reference in the past when the country had an efficient railway system, transporting commuters from the southern end of Luzon to the northern part.
Judging from the news I read on newspapers and watched on television last week, work on the Metro Manila Subway Project appears to be progressing well.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to award the remaining three contracts for the project by October or November this
Tyear. They include the construction of two underground stations, Kalayaan and BGC terminals and tunnel works, and the building of two underground stations (Lawton and Senate-Department of Education) as well as similar tunnel jobs.
The third contract calls for the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 station and tunnel works.
Although much of the work on the subway project is not visible to many, I can imagine the pace of work underground. We can only see the work above the ground but construction underground is surely at a feverish pace.
The DOTr earlier awarded the contract for four stations—East Valenzuela, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora and North Avenue—as well as the depot and the Philippine Railway Institute Building.
By Soo-Hyang Choi
HE US and South Korea are in a deadlock over details of a $350 billion investment fund the two countries agreed to as part of a broader trade deal, with a top Seoul official warning that even the shipbuilding partnership is at risk if they fail to narrow the differences.
Speaking at a forum on Tuesday, Kim Yong-beom, director of national policy at South Korea’s presidential office, said Seoul has been emphasizing to US officials that it cannot accept the same terms as Japan’s $550 billion investment pledge finalized last week, citing the disparity in the size of the two economies and the potential repercussions on the foreign exchange market.
“Without an agreement, it will be difficult for the MASGA project to even get off the ground,” Kim said, referring to Make American Shipbuilding Great Again, a term Seoul coined for reviving the US shipbuilding sector. Kim said the US had presented South Korea with a draft similar to the one Japan accepted,
but Seoul has maintained it cannot agree to those terms.
“The circumstances facing South Korea and Japan are fundamentally different,” Kim said, pointing to Japan’s currency swap arrangements and the yen’s role as a reserve currency.
While it’s important to determine who makes the fund’s investment decisions and how the profits are shared, the more pressing issue for South Korea is figuring out how to secure and manage $350 billion from the foreign exchange market, he said.
The $350 billion fund is a central pillar of the trade deal that preserved a 15 percent tariff on imports from South Korea, but the two countries remain divided over how
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called these projects the “railway renaissance” of the Philippines, a reference in the past when the country had an efficient railway system, transporting commuters from the southern end of Luzon to the northern part.
The project, which is expected to be fully operational by 2029, is seen reducing travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes. It will serve an estimated 370,000 passengers a day in its first year of full operations, with capacity to serve up to a million passengers a day in later years.
The 33-kilometer subway, also dubbed the “project of the century,” stretches from Valenzuela in the north to NAIA Terminal 3 and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) in the south.
The subway is a strategic rail network that will be physically interconnected and inter-operable with the North-South Commuter Railway System’s south segment. This will enable passengers to board the subway train, for example, in the North Ave. Station and get off at the Calamba Station of NSCR.
The NSCR is attracting foreign investors, proof that the infrastructure project is a groundbreaking initiative.
The deadlock comes amid other points of tension between the two nations. The detention of hundreds of South Koreans in a US immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor Co.-LG Energy Solution Ltd. battery plant in the state of Georgia threatens to make Korean companies more reluctant to invest in the US even as they are encouraged to do so as part of the trade deal.
the fund will operate. Kim said last month that the investment pledge would be structured mainly as loan guarantees rather than direct capital injections. The deadlock comes amid other points of tension between the two nations. The detention of hundreds of South Koreans in a US immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor Co.-LG Energy Solution Ltd. battery plant in the state of Georgia threatens to make Korean companies more reluctant to invest in the US even as
Several French companies have expressed initial interest in the operation and maintenance of the NSCR. The Philippines will surely welcome foreign expertise in running this railway.
DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan reported “encouraging” interest from countries and private firms to participate in the NSCR.
“The participants operate the broadest railway network in the world. They are seriously taking a look at participating in the NSCR,” says Batan.
Eric Gerardo Tamayo, the Philippine chargé d’ affaires in France, said the Philippines would benefit from French expertise given that France has one of the most developed railway networks in the world.
“You have different options of railway here in France. You have the subway, regional railway and highspeed rail. Their railways are really commuter-friendly,” says Tamayo. Complimenting the NSCR is the integration of the cargo freight operations of the $3.2-billion SubicClark-Manila-Batangas Railway Corridor (SCMB).
A cargo train running parallel to the NSCR project creates a comprehensive logistics network that will enhance economic efficiency, improve the livelihoods of farm-
they are encouraged to do so as part of the trade deal. Last week, President Donald Trump finally signed an executive order implementing his trade agreement with Japan, with a maximum 15 percent tariff on most of its products. The deal, including the investment pledge, was struck in July. But it has taken weeks to be formalized as Washington and Tokyo haggled over its terms. A memorandum of understanding detailing the funding pledge showed that Japanese imports may face higher tariffs if the country doesn’t fund Trump’s selected investments. Trump has yet to sign an executive order to lower auto tariffs for South Korea as agreed, so the two countries have also been holding working-level talks to follow up on their July deal. “The auto industry is important, and narrowing tariff differences is also important, but a
Macron looks for a new prime minister after Bayrou’s ouster
By Samy Adghirni and William Horobin
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a new prime minister within days, after the current premier lost a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is formally presenting his resignation to Macron on Tuesday. Whoever Macron picks as his successor will need to assemble a government and then find a way to pass a budget in a starkly splintered National Assembly, an exercise that’s toppled the last two prime ministers.
While Macron doesn’t lack for people who might accept the role, selecting someone who can find common ground among the groups is far from obvious.
“Which party can one even recruit from?” Kathryn Kleppinger, George Washington University professor of French studies said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. “I fear we’re going to be dealing with more of the same.”
The new premier will be France’s fifth in less than two years, a reflection of the irreconcilable blocs in the country’s fractured political landscape.
Several of the names floated in French media for the post are in Bayrou’s government, which limits their ability to appeal to parties beyond the centrist groups that had supported the outgoing premier. They include Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who was a front-runner in the last reshuffle for the position, or Labor Minister Catherine Vautrin.
Finance Minister Eric Lombard, who was instrumental in building bridges with Socialists to secure the 2025 budget, is another possibility.
Outside of Macron’s core group, Socialist leader Olivier Faure has said that he’s ready to be prime minister. Former Socialists could include Bernard Cazeneuve, a former prime minister under President Francois Hollande or the current head of the state audit court, 67-year-old Pierre Moscovici. If no political profile can work, Macron could try to find a prime minister seen as purely technocratic, but would be an implicit admission from Macron that politics has failed.
The Socialists were quick to propose their services following the vote. “I think it’s time for the left to again govern this country and break with the policies that have been implemented for the past eight years,” Faure said on TF1 television, referring to Macron’s time in office.
At the same time, on France 2 television, outgoing interior minister Bruno Retailleau, who also heads the center-right Republicans, said he wouldn’t take part in a government led by a Socialist prime minister. Speaking on the same channel, farleft firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon also said he would not support a government led by Faure.
The current upheaval comes a year after Macron called an illfated snap election to consolidate centrist power in the face of a rising far right. Since then, France’s CAC 40 Index—home of bellwethers such as LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Airbus SE and L’Oreal SA—has fallen 3.3 percent, compared with a 5.4 percent gain for the Stoxx Europe 600 Index and a 25 percent rise in Germany’s DAX Index, excluding dividends.
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ers and fisherfolk and significantly lower food prices, according to PNR Chairman Michael Ted R. Macapagal. The SCMB project seeks to link major economic hubs by connecting four strategic points in Luzon—Port of Subic, Clark International Airport, Port of Manila and Port of Batangas. Railways are the more efficient way to transport people and goods.
‘Mga guni-guni at kababalaghan:’ Dominant political
The new premier will be France’s fifth in less than two years, a reflection of the irreconcilable blocs in the country’s fractured political landscape.
French bonds opened little changed on Tuesday, with the yield on the November 2035 bond at 3.48 percent. Futures on the CAC 40 fell 0.1 percent at 8:03 a.m. in Paris, while Euro Stoxx 50 futures declined 0.3 percent.
“Whichever outcome of the current political crisis, the probability of a significant public finances reform will remain low,” Michael Nizard, head of multi-asset and overlay at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, wrote in emailed comments. “So much so that financial markets themselves seem resigned and might settle for a scenario where the budget deficit does not deteriorate further.”
Bayrou had proposed €44 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes that would narrow France’s 2026 deficit to 4.6 percent of economic output from an expected 5.4 percent this year. He also floated an unpopular proposal to cut two public holidays as a way to reduce costs in Europe’s second-largest economy. France’s deficit is the widest in the euro area with debt rising by €5,000 ($5,840) a second, according to Bayrou. The cost to service its obligations is set to hit €75 billion next year, he has also said.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally as well as the leftist France Unbowed have both called for new legislative elections, something that Macron appears to have ruled out with his statement on naming a new prime minister. Some have also called for Macron’s resignation, but he has steadfastly said he will remain through the end of his term in 2027.
“For us, it’s a snap election or nothing,” National Rally President Jordan Bardella said on RTL radio Tuesday. “Any other prime minister appointed by Emmanuel Macron will be brought down.”
A union strike planned for Sept. 18 is putting pressure on Macron to have a new government in place by then. A separate, less centralized, protest is planned on September 10.
On Friday, Fitch Ratings is scheduled to update its assessment of France’s creditworthiness.
The French president is solely responsible for picking a new premier, and there is no constitutional time limit for a decision. It took Macron two months to appoint the previous premier, Michel Barnier, who lasted only 90 days. Macron took more than a week to name Bayrou after Barnier was ousted. Once appointed, the premier must propose a cabinet to be signed off by Macron.
“The urgent need is for our country to have a budget by December 31,” Gabriel Attal, former prime minister and president of the Renaissance group in the National Assembly, said on TF1. “Another snap election would be the worst solution.” With assistance from Claudia Cohen, Blaise Robinson and Julien Ponthus /Bloomberg
They significantly reduce travel time and link farmers and those in the countryside to urban centers.
Improving transportation connectivity is essential to increased trade, the creation of more jobs and improving the incomes in the rural sector. The expanded rail network also marks the resurgence of the Philippine economy.
For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@ gmail.com or visit our web site: https://markvillar. com.ph
elite mangling the economy
Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo
LABOREM EXERCENS
PRESIDENT Bongbong Marcos hit the nail on the head: Many of the flood control and other DPWH projects are ghosts or guni-guni. Non-existent, unfinished, fraudulent, substandard and not built to last. Meant to save people and their homes, these phantom projects make lives difficult and unbearable for everyone, especially for those staying in the disaster-prone communities of the urban, rural, coastal and upland poor. They subvert development and deepen social and economic inequality. As a result, the economy is mangled beyond recognition. Pinagkakikitaan ng iilan ang mga proyekto habang winawasak ang bayan at buhay ng nakararaming mamamayan!
Ironically, the plundering gang, composed of the insatiable contractors/subcontractors and their conniving partner officials from different agencies, are led by the political elite sitting in Congress. In fact, the prime target of the gang’s money making are the budgetary proposals/insertions that this elite has been able to put in the annual national budget, such as what happened with the corrupt 2025 GAA. Thus PBBM’s yell— Mahiya naman kayo!—is interpreted by many to be directed to his SONA listeners in Congress. However, the damages inflicted on the nation by a plundering political elite are far greater and go beyond the scandals created by the phantom flood and public works projects. The dominant political elite, despite opposition from civil society organizations and their allies comprising a small minority among those who still managed to hold political positions, has been fostering an antidevelopment rent-seeking culture in the governance of the country. This is clearly reflected in their failure to address the climate, economic and other sustainability issues of the archipelago. In particular, they have failed to come up with a comprehensive and corruption-free infrastructure development program that include projects supportive of climate mitigation, environmental protection, flood/landslide control and integrated community development nationwide. Of course, such a program is incomplete if there is no just and inclusive national land and resource use plan, a proposal that has been gathering dust in Congress.
So what do members of the dominant political elite do in relation to infra development? They simply allow select members of Congress and their partner contractors to identify in a haphazard way DPWH projects all over the country without consulting the people, the LGUs included. The results are corruption-laden
ghost projects that are now haunting the PBBM administration and are causing endless misery to the citizenry.
The anti-development orientation of the political elite is also reflected in their failure to oppose or question the neo-liberal economic programs of privatization, deregulation and liberalization imposed by the IMF-WB duo in the crisis decade of the 1980s. In an earlier piece, we wrote how rent seeking has been elevated to a state policy based on these triad programs of the IMF-WB. How?
The political elite and their business allies have transformed these policies as instruments of amassing wealth through the privatization of select public services that happen to be natural monopolies.
A good example of this is the power industry. The 2001 electric power industry reform act (EPIRA), enacted to promote the all-out privatization of the power sector, has enriched a dozen or so oligopolists or taipans engaged in the transmission, generation and distribution of electricity. And what are the benefits to the consuming public? None as reflected in the ever-rising cost of electricity, the second most expensive in Asia.
And what have our political leaders done to arrest the power inflation? None. To date, they have not published any sound analysis of why EPIRA has failed to deliver its promises of efficient and cheap electricity service. Congress and Malacanang have also managed to ignore the demands of civil society organizations for the overhaul of the EPIRA: transparency in the pricing of electricity, phaseout of dirty and expensive coal in favor of cheaper renewables, prohibitions in the cross-ownership practices among power players, and limits to rates-of-return in tariff or price determination.
The big-time capturing of rents or profits in the power sector is replicated by the privateers under the
Ironically, the plundering gang, composed of the insatiable contractors/subcontractors and their conniving partner officials from different agencies, are led by the political elite sitting in Congress. In fact, the prime target of the gang’s money making are the budgetary proposals/insertions that this elite has been able to put in the annual national budget, such as what happened with the corrupt 2025 GAA.
concession agreements or the socalled public-private partnership agreements in the delivery of water services, highway toll management, building of hospitals, airport operations and so on and so forth. The PPP Center has a long list of government services, projects, assets and businesses that can be subjected to privatization, with the private bidders even encouraged to submit their own unsolicited proposals. Consultations with the affected communities, workers and farmers, including Church and other actors in the larger civil society, are missing in the PPP guidelines. Hence, most of the PPP projects are undertaken based on the business or profit-making perspective of the private partners of the government, which explains why many people’s concerns are being raised belatedly; that is, once the projects are finished or are being implemented in full swing as what we are witnessing in the case of the privatized water services of Prime Water and other companies.
By definition, rent seeking means gaining wealth or extra profits without making substantial contributions to benefit society. This is the argument used by the neo-liberal economists in justifying the policies of privatization and free trade, on the assumption that these policies make the markets efficient and protect the consumers. And yet, Philippine experience in the last four decades shows that this has not happened. The privileged privateers are able to extract extra profits in various ways; e.g., establishing monopoly positions, seeking tax-free arrangements, influencing (or even capturing) the regulatory bodies such as the power/ water boards, ignoring social and environmental standards, securing interest-free credit assistance and so on. And yes, building corruptionladen phantom DPWH projects is part of rent seeking unlimited.
Lest we forget: Rent seeking has also been happening on the trade front. As pointed out by the government economists, Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs have limited impact on the Philippines. This is so because
our exportable products are few and puny compared to our Asian neighbors like South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. However, our imports are many and have been growing. Over four decades of aimless import liberalization and economic deregulation have eroded our industrial and agricultural base, making us an import-dependent country with limited domestic capacity to produce basic necessities such as food, medicines, household items and various community needs.
Rolly Narciso, the CEO who helped transform the National Steel Corporation into a profitable government corporation in the 1970s up to the mid-1990s (before the disastrous privatization of NSC under President Fidel Ramos), has the following observations on our dire import-dependent situation:
“As we rely on substantial imports to fill our supply-demand gaps, we are unwittingly creating virtual monsters in the middle (between producers on one side and consumers on the other side) due to our weak and inconsistent enforcement of applicable rules. As a consequence, import traders eventually become smugglers, tax-evaders, hoarders, price manipulators and peddlers of sub-standard products. And because of their nefarious activities, they tend to bribe the government’s regulatory officials to look the other way as they carry on their get-richquick operations.
“…unlike domestic producers and manufacturers, import-traders don’t have huge permanent investments in their businesses. They only have comparatively small short-term stakes tied up in multi-purpose warehouse, inventories and receivables.” Because the trade sector is dominated by these rent-seeking monsters in the middle, Rolly Narciso concludes that quality investments, be they domestic or foreign, are not pouring into the Philippines. The country simply plods on, dependent on the two legs of the economy: OFW remittances and BPO earnings. This is why big businesses not dependent on government largesse are content in investing primarily on services such as malls and entertainment, transport, etc. But in a volatile and uncertain world economic order, how long can this economic set-up be sustained, especially when the two legs start crumbling? And how long can the excluded many—the urban, rural, coastal and upland poor who continually suffer the devilish impact of the ghost projects of the elite—tolerate the kind of governance we have?
Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines. For comments, please write to reneofreneo@ gmail.com.
Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion PIF to set new investment roadmap
By Christine Burke
SAUDI Arabia’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund plans to unveil a new long-term strategy as it looks to boost investment returns, bolster the local economy and drive the kingdom’s push to diversify away from oil.
“In the coming two months or so, we will set the new strategy for the PIF, which is a continuation from the original one, until 2030 and from 2030 all the way to 2040 and beyond,” Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan said during an interview with David Rubenstein at the Economic Club of Washington D.C. on Monday.
He didn’t offer details but said the PIF continues to prioritize investments in Saudi Arabia as it looks to develop new sectors, create jobs and increase the use of domestically-sourced goods to support the economy.
The PIF is deploying about 80 percent of its capital locally, while the rest goes abroad, Al-Rumayyan said.
The fund is keen on co-investments with international players that help bring money back to Saudi, he added.
“We need to increase and grow our local content and one of the best ways to do so is to get direct foreign investments to the country,” AlRumayyan said in a wide-ranging interview on everything from oil to sports and tourism. The PIF’s current strategy includes growing and diversifying assets internationally, developing so-called giga projects like Neom and drawing in more participation from the private sector. It has also expanded its portfolio of companies and sold off or listed some of those firms to draw in cash.
Domestic pressure
THE sovereign wealth fund is the main entity tasked with driving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda—a job
that has become more challenging in recent years as lower oil prices weigh on government revenue and inflate the kingdom’s budget deficit. That has added pressure to the PIF to spend more at home, or focus on international deals that develop the Saudi economy, and led to a shift in business dealings with asset managers and Wall Street heavyweights like Blackstone Inc. and BlackRock Inc. Financial executives used to regularly trek to Riyadh in search of global investment opportunities backed by PIF checks but now find the fund wants commitments to Saudi Arabia as part of any deals, Bloomberg has reported. When asked about how Saudi Arabia will deploy $600 billion of investments into the US following President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May, Al-Rumayyan said details are still being worked out and that “everything” is on the table in terms of areas to deploy capital.
The PIF has said it plans to boost total annual deployment to $70 billion a year after 2025 and emphasized that its investments in absolute
dollar terms will continue to rise abroad even as it focuses at home.
The International Monetary Fund said in August that the PIF is expected to continue spending at least $40 billion a year on domestic investment, which would help keep Saudi economic growth “positive and robust.” The wealth fund is currently working to diversify its sources of funding, including through international bond sales. Assets under
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Infra flagship projects goal not likely met before 2028
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THEMarcos administration may fall short of its target to complete more of its Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) by the time President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. steps down from office.
In a presentation at the House of Representatives Committee of Flagship Programs and Projects, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Assistant Secretary Roderick M. Planta said as of the second quarter, the Marcos administration has a total of 207 IFPs worth P10.45 trillion.
Of these IFPs, seven projects worth P68.65 billion have been completed as of June 2025 while 60 projects are undergoing various stages of implementation and on track to be completed by 2028, including eight masterplans—leaving only 52 projects up for completion by 2028.
“The 52 IFPs are already under construction/implementation, approved for implementation, or for
government approval which are critical to ensure accelerated infrastructure development, across key sectors such as physical connectivity, water resources, and digital connectivity within the timeline set by the current administration,” Planta said.
The 52 projects which has a total cost of P2.036 trillion represents 19.49 percent of the total cost of 207 IFPs. Of these projects, only 23 are on schedule and 29 have delays of 2 months to up to 120 months.
Implementing agencies with delayed projects include the Department of Agriculture (DA); Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Department of Transportation (DOTr); and Department of Public
Lacson: Network behind flood-control corruption may be laundering funds
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SENATE President Pro Tempo -
re Panfilo M. Lacson on Tuesday delivered his second privilege speech on the multibillion-peso corruption in the flood-control program, detailing this time the mindboggling network that perpetrated a slew of failed, substandard and ghost projects.
He narrated how some engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) colluded with contractors and some public officials to draw down payments for projects by falsifying documents like progress reports, among others.
In one example, he showed a slide of one such report that included two photos of a flood control project in Bulacan that was supposed to show “progress” in the work in just over a span of three months. But one detail did not escape the eye of the Senate’s top sleuth: while the report certified by the DPWH engineer supposedly showed the project status on two different dates, the photos showed two men in the distance standing over the project. How on earth, Lacson wondered aloud with sarcasm, could these two men have been standing in the exact same spot for over three months?
Besides the flamboyant lifestyle that allowed the perpetrators to buy luxury cars and watches and lose millions in casinos, Lacson raised a more insidious angle: could the frequent casino trips be a way to launder ill-gotten money? He said he has submitted relevant documents on this to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
“Exactly three weeks ago, I took this floor to expose what I called the flooded gates of corruption—a dam of deceit that has burst open, unleashing the tales of insatiable greed that continue to drown our nation,” Lacson said in his privilege speech.
“Our frustrated countrymen cry in unison: ‘Name, shame, AND prosecute.’ WE, in this august hall, share the same frustration. Except for the chaos and anarchy in the
streets and in some public and private properties which hopefully will not escalate, it is but right and just that we all demand that heads must roll and those responsible must be put behind bars—whichever agency or office, even THOSE IN high towers of power, they may come from. “Justice must catch up with these people because ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
His office “is fully committed to submit the overwhelming loads of reports we received on substandard and ghost flood control projects to the concerned authorities in view of the forthcoming investigation by the yet to be constituted independent probe body,” Lacson said. He devoted his second speech to showing: “First, how the fruits of corruption are being squandered, albeit partly by these officials entrusted to protect people’s lives and low-lying communities from the devastation caused by typhoons and low-pressure areas. And when I say, partly, I do not mean paltry sums of money, Mr. President; “Second, how the same officials maneuver and manipulate the processes and procedures involved to collect from unaccomplished or uncompleted—even ghost projects, perpetrated by these incorrigible, and probably beyond-redemption government officials.”
BGC Boys—the Casino Spree LACSON continued: “On top of their million-peso wristwatches, signature clothes and sneakers and whatever else lavish lifestyles, these five erstwhile DPWH officials of the Bulacan 1st district engineering office gained them a moniker –“BGC boys”. Not Bonifacio Global City boys, Mr. President. But rather—the Bulacan Group of Contractors as they have been known to casino employees. The BGC boys, he said, have been using aliases in casinos, and he named five: 1. The newly dismissed DPWH OIC assistant regional director for Region 4A and former Bulacan district engineer Henry C. Alcantara alias JOSEPH CASTRO VILLEGAS;
Works and Highways (DPWH).
The list includes the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA); Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); National Irrigation Administration (NIA); Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); University of the Philippines (UP); and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
The DPWH has 11 projects behind schedule, including: the CaviteLaguna Expressway (Calax); China Aid Localized Project for Davao River Bridge (Bucana Bridge); Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation (InFRA) Project—Phase I; and Metro Manila Flood Management Project, Phase I, among others.
This was followed by the DOTr with seven projects behind schedule such as the Busuanga Airport Development Project; Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project; MRT-7 Project; and the New Manila International Airport (Bulacan International Airport).
Planta said among the delayed projects, eight projects are behind by less than a year; 10 have delays of 1 to 3 years; 5 are delayed by 3 to 5 years; and 4 have been delayed for more than 5 years.
“In sum, 23 projects are moving
on schedule while 29 face slippages of varying lengths, largely within DPWH and DOTr,” Planta said.
“These are not minor items— they are the country’s backbone for mobility, water security, and digital services. This snapshot frames the scale and significance of the portfolio,” he added.
These projects are delayed because of site condition/availability which includes right-of-way issues; the performance of contractors/ consultants; budget and funds and flow; procurement issues; and legal and policy issues.
These delays are part of the challenges faced by the public works department. DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said last year, the agency was not granted a budget to undertake the IFPs assigned to them. Sadain said in 2024, the DPWH was not granted a budget to undertake IFPs. The agency had to secure funding, which remained insufficient, from the unprogrammed funds causing massive project delays.
He said under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026, the DPWH is provided with a P100billion budget. Sadain hoped this
See “Infra,” A2
PHL MUST FOCUS ON BEEFING UP SERVICES EXPORTS: EXPERT
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
AMID the evolving trade dynamics, the Philippines should focus on beefing up its services exports instead of contending with its Southeast Asian neighbors on manufacturing goods as the country’s “unique value proposition” is its people, according to an HSBC Asian Economist.
Ines Lam, HSBC Asia Economist, underscored at the 23rd MAP International CEO Conference on Tuesday: “I think the Philippines’s unique value proposition is its people, the soft skill. Instead of manufacturing, I think the exports of services is, in fact, the strength of the Philippines that the country should focus on developing, rather than chasing after manufacturing like all other Southeast Asian countries.”
“I’m not saying that manufacturing is not important, but because the Philippines has already found its uniqueness, its comparative advantage, I think it’s important that the Philippines does not lose this and instead focus on developing this in this new trade paradigm,” added Lam.
The HSBC Asia Economist pointed this out as she noted that the Philippines is “not per-
forming as well as other Asean economies in terms of attracting foreign investments.”
This, Lam said, has a lot to do with the “relative low” presence of manufacturing in the Philippines because she emphasized that Vietnam has become the primary destination for manufacturing-related investments in the past four years.
Hence, the HSBC economist said the Philippines should build on what it already has which is its people, such as the “highly educated” and English-speaking population.
Lam said this because “it’s quite hard to compete with Vietnam on manufacturing now, to be honest.”
The HSBC Asia Economist said, however, that the growth of the Philippine BPO industry rests on how the Philippine government “goes out and tell the world about what the Philippines can offer.”
Alfred S. Panlilio, the president of Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), however, opposed the view of the HSBC Asia Economist, explaining that manufacturing is important as it would attract investments which will propel the Philippines to long-term economic growth.
See “PHL,” A2
RBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
ICE arrivals reached nearly 3 million metric tons (MMT) 11 days before the Philippines closes its borders to imports.
Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that 2.95 MMT of rice shipments have entered the country as of September 4. Of this, BPI data indicated that 2.35 MMT came from Vietnam, which remains the country’s top supplier. Myanmar followed this, accounting for 333,520.33 MT. The Philippines also purchased
rice stocks from other countries such as Thailand (163,360.26 MT), Pakistan (76,344.02 MT), and India (19,856.45 MT). Agriculture Assistant Secretary A rnel de Mesa recently said that only rice shipments that left their respective countries of origin by the end of August would be allowed entry, citing an order issued by the BPI. He noted that the BPI would no longer issue sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) on September 1, following an Executive Order issued by President Marcos, which suspended the imports of regular and well-milled
rice until October 30, 2025. However, de Mesa said that rice shipments that left the country of origin before the ban started can still enter the Philippines until September 15. He added that only four ports, specifically Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu, would cater to rice imports arriving before the cutoff.
“So, if shipments left the country beyond August 31, they won’t be allowed to enter. If they ever arrive [beyond the allowable period], these will be returned to the country of origin,” de Mesa said in a previous interview.
Despite this, agriculture officials had clarified that specialty rice varieties, such as Japonica, glutinous, and basmati rice, will be exempt from the ban. The BPI approved and issued 267 SPSICs in August for the purchase of 482,723.99 MT of imported rice. Of this, 251 were used, translating to 341,211.23 MT rice arrivals. The government’s decision to slap a temporary ban comes as farmgate prices of palay have plummeted to as low as P8
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Meralco: September power rates to fall on strong peso
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is expecting lower electricity rates for September due to the decline in power generation charge, the largest component of a Meralco electricity bill.
“We expect lower generation charge to pull down the overall rate this September,” said Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga. “The decrease is mainly due to a stronger peso against the US dollar which affected costs of Meralco suppliers’ that are dollardenominated.”
The lower generation charge will more than offset the cost recovery of SMC Global Power Holdings, Corp. for its terminated contracts, the implementation of which was given go signal by the Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) beginning this month.
“Overall, we are optimistic that the reduction in generation charge will be able to offset increase in other bill components. We’re set to announce actual rate adjustment on Wednesday,” added the Meralco official.
Last July, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) was ordered by the Court of Appeals (CA) to immediately implement the latter’s 2023 decision in the price adjustments sought by Meralco and the units of San Miguel Global Power--South Premiere Power
Corp. (SPPC) and Sual Power Inc. (SPC).
The case stemmed from the 2022 joint motions filed by SPPC and SPI with Meralco, seeking temporary price adjustments under their 2019 power supply agreements (PSAs). They cited “a change in circumstances” (CIC) brough about by higher fuel costs that led to P15 billion in losses.
When the ERC denied the parties’ motion to recover their losses amounting to a total of P34 billion in incremental fuel costs, SPPC and SPI then elevated the matter to the CA, which reversed the ERC’s ruling, citing “grave abuse of discretion.”
Meanwhile, Meralco is seeking a reconsideration of ERC’s 2024 ruling that limited the sourcing of the contracted capacity under its power supply agreement (PSA) with San Roque Hydropower Inc. (SRHI) only to renewable energy facilities. This after SRHI did not accept the ERC-approved rate of P5.19 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as against the proposed P6.95
per kWh rate.
The ERC decision makes it impossible for Meralco to perform its obligations under the PSA with SRHI, possibly resulting in the termination of PSA between Meralco and SRHI. If terminated, this will not only affect Meralco’s ability to ensure continuous and reliable electricity for consumers, but also its ability to comply with its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) obligations.
As a result, Meralco may be constrained to source from other markets that could lead to higher power rates. ERC Chairman Francis Saturnino Juan said the commission must immediately address the motions filed by Meralco.
“This contract was supposedly implemented starting February 2025. As the commission’s action on this application takes longer, Meralco may be exposed to additional costs to comply with its RPS obligation by purchasing from the RE market what are called RE certificates.”
RLC building to rise in Davao City
By VG Cabuag @villygc
OBINSONS Offices, the of -
Rfice development and leasing arm of listed Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), on Tuesday said it will develop a multi-storey office building in Davao City.
This development will rise along JP Laurel Street on a portion of property acquired from Great Earth Marketing and Development Corp., a company majority owned by New City Commercial Corp.
The development, which will be completed in 2027, involves a nine-storey building. It will showcase a modern and iconic facade, complemented by a premium lobby design that redefines office space standards in the region.
“Engineered for functionality, the building will feature an efficient vertical transport system
for smooth and convenient access across all floors,” the company said.
The building is pursuing a green certification, the company said. It will also incorporate sustainable design elements, underscoring the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. At the moment, Robinsons portfolio in Mindanao includes eight shopping malls, three GoHotels properties, one Grand Summit Hotel and two office buildings.
“The project solidifies the property developer’s position as a leading player in the Philippine real estate industry, adapting to evolving market needs while upholding sustainability and innovation.”
RLC’s attributable net income for the first half of the year reached P6.87 billion, down by 5 percent from the previous year’s P7.25 billion.
Revenues grew to P23.03 bil -
lion, an 8-percent increase from the previous year’s P21.33 billion. The company said the growth came from both the investment and development portfolios, resilient performance across business units and prudent financial management.
“RLC’s solid results in the first half of 2025 reflect the strength of our diversified portfolio and our commitment to disciplined execution. We sustained our growth momentum with strong performances across our core businesses, while enhancing financial flexibility through prudent balance sheet management.
We remain focused on creating long-term value as we expand strategically and innovate across both investment and development portfolios,” company president and CEO, Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, said.
PCA honors Chemrez in inaugural awards
CHEMREZ Technologies Inc., a unit of chemical manufacturer D&L Industries Inc., was recognized as “the most diversified and innovative firm” in the Philippine coconut industry and as “the most socially responsible enterprise” during the inaugural Coconut Industry Sustainability (COINS) Awards.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) organized the said award to celebrate outstanding contributions of stakeholders to the country’s coconut sector.
“The PCA and the coconut industry provide many opportunities to share the advocacy of the Lao Foundation. This includes education, values formation and livelihood building. The award is recognition of the work and partnerships made by LFI to date. There is much more to do, and we see many opportunities to collaborate with the PCA, the LGUs, and the communities where our facilities operate,” Chemrez President and CEO Dean Lao Jr. said. Chemrez has been driving the
NOVARTIS AG agreed to buy
Tourmaline Bio Inc. in a deal valued at about $1.4 billion as the Swiss drugmaker continues to pursue bolt-on deals to boost its drug pipeline.
The company will pay $48 per share in cash for the New Yorkbased biotech, which is developing a promising treatment to reduce systemic inflammation, a major driver of cardiovascular disease. That’s a premium of about 60 percent to Tourmaline Bio’s closing price of about $30 on Monday.
Tourmaline Bio stock rose as much as 57 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday, with the shares trading just under the offer price at $47.25. Novartis fell slightly in early trading, but remains up about 15 percent since the start of the year.
Novartis has been on the hunt for acquisitions that could boost its sales beyond 2025. The company is facing competition from cheap generics later this year for three key drugs, including its top-selling heart medicine Entresto. In April, the company also agreed to buy US biotech Regulus Therapeutics in a deal that could be valued up to $1.7 billion.
“This deal makes strategic sense as it complements Novartis’s cardiovascular franchise that focuses on high, unmet need in cardiovascular diseases,” Stefan Schneider, an analyst at Vontobel
wrote in a note.
Chief Executive Officer Vas Narasimhan has spent years revamping the company’s aging portfolio and has narrowed the company’s focus to innovative medicines in specific types of diseases. In April, Novartis raised its outlook for the year after profit beat estimates in the first quarter, driven by medicines for breast cancer, multiple scleroris and psoriasis.
Tourmaline is focused on developing an anti-IL-6 IgG2 antibody drug called pacibekitug to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, Novartis said Tuesday. ASCVD is caused by plaque buildup in the arterial walls. Related conditions, including coronary heart disease and peripheral artery disease, remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, according to the American Heart Association.
“With no widely adopted antiinflammatory therapies currently available for cardiovascular risk reduction, pacibekitug represents a potential breakthrough in addressing residual inflammatory risk in ASCVD,” Novartis’ President of Development and Chief Medical Officer Shreeram Aradhye said in the statement.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. Bloomberg News
advancement of the Philippine coconut sector for over four decades. The company pioneered the development of higher-value applications of coconut oil, such as on bio-fuels, going beyond traditional uses to open new applications and growth opportunities.
In 2006, Chemrez built Asia’s first continuous coco methyl ester (CME) or biodiesel plant in the country, essentially building the backbone of the Philippine biodiesel industry.
Chemrez supplies about 40 percent of the total biodiesel requirement of the country.
The company is recognized all over the world as a trusted supplier of sustainable and natural ingredients derived purely from coconut oil.
These ingredients are widely used in personal care, home care and wellness products. Its roster of customers includes leading multinational companies that manufacture some of the world’s most recognized household brands. Chemrez also works with the Lao
Foundation Inc. (LFI) for its corporate social responsibility initiatives with the mission of uplifting and enriching the lives of the communities where it operates.
Through partnerships with institutions such as Don Bosco and Dualtech, the foundation has provided scholarships for children of coconut farmers, combining financial assistance with hands-on plant training and employment opportunities at Chemrez.
These efforts enable graduates to build sustainable careers while contributing to inclusive industry growth.
At the industry level, Chemrez’s initiatives are rooted in empowering coconut farmers and their cooperatives. The company links copra-based cooperatives directly with private sector markets.
Chemrez also works with the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute and the PCA to develop strategic planning and social enterprise management skills of coconut farmers. VG Cabuag
From uniforms to coffee: Roxanne Montealegre-Luz’s journey of passion and entrepreneurship at Chinggay’s
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
ATENEO de Manila University
alumna Roxanne MontealegreLuz is one passionate entrepreneur. For the past 15 years, she has been running and managing A-List producing and selling school and corporate uniforms, jackets and sports apparel.
Before becoming the official merchandise provider for UAAP, A-List has served thousands of Ateneans in its flagship at Ateneo de Manila’s A-SHOP since 2010 fulfilling both uniforms and retail items.
“We provide opportunities to local tailors and our hardworking team of designers, artists, embroidery and printer operators to provide premium gifts and quality apparel. In every shirt, polo, jacket, jersey or clothing- we hope to bring joy and comfort to the one wearing us,” says Montealegre-Luz.
A new passion project
THE management graduate of Ateneo de Manila University opened
in March this year her latest passion project called Chinggay’s. “Named after my aunt, we wanted something that’s not intimidating for a normal, everyday, modern Pinoy,” Montealegre-Luz.
The former GMA 7 talent says she wants to honor her aunt from her mother’s side because Auntie Chinggay was a generous and selfless person. “She raised all of us and felt like we’re all her kids,” says Montealegre-Luz.
“I told my relatives we’ll pattern it from Chinggay’s characteristics. Being a generous lady, we will be serving generously to our customers,” Montealegre-Luz adds. To attract Gen Z clients, Ching-
Gaining confidence
SELF-CONFIDENCE is essential in sales leadership. Can you imagine a leader who doubts his own ability to lead? He will always be unsure of the steps to take, and will most likely freeze when asked to make a timely decision. Yet nearly all new sales leaders feel more than just a tinge of doubt when it comes to their capacity to effectively lead a team. Here are four components that can help you gain the confidence that you need in your sales leadership job—competence, past experiences, community and self-perception.
Competence
IT is often said that confidence is a function of competence. Indeed, this is true. You will definitely feel confident in your abilities to succeed at certain endeavors once you’ve mastered specific skillsets relating to that particular field. For instance, people engaged in selling as a profession tend to be confident when participating in businesses that likewise involve sales. Their proven competence in the sales profession provides a high level of confidence that they can successfully maneuver other businesses that also require the act of selling. Unfortunately, this is not always true. While competence may rank high in confidence-building, it is usually not enough to enable individuals to confidently proceed to a pre-determined endeavor.
Past Experiences
IN my years of coaching and mentoring sales leaders, I found that while most were competent enough, their past failures kept them at bay. Such extreme negative experiences result to psycho-emotional trauma that served as confidence-blockers which prevented them from having enough self-assurance in successfully moving forward. In the same manner, a positive experience may most likely boost an individual’s confidence for a similar or related venture. Therefore, positive experiences act as confidence-boosters, while negative experiences serve as confidence-blockers. In order to lessen the impact of negative experiences, I recommend a thoughtful review of lessons learned. By learning from our failures, we gain better insights for success, which consequently transforms a negative experience into a victorious one. Your goal as a sales leader is to build a track record of positive experiences.
Community
ASIDE from competence and past experiences, your community (or the people that you closely and regularly associate with) may also affect your confidence. You see, our minds are usually shaped by the norms and expectations of people closest to us. According to Jim Rohn, we are the average of five people that we spend the most time with. So if people around you lacks confidence, there is a
gay’s will be Instragrammable in all the corners of the coffee shop.
Opening Chinggay’s is not only going back to their roots but also giving back to the province by providing employment opportunities to the people of Marinduque. Moreover, the future coffee shop will hire baristas and bakers trained by a local foundation. “We’re thinking of partnering with the foundation and we’ll later get some interns from the schools in the area,” she says.
For the future, Montealegre-Luz thinks she can help the young people to work in other coffee shops so they can have the opportunity to earn working experience.
Interestingly, Montealegre-Luz’s two of her cousins joined the business to help her run and manage Chinggay’s. Since both of them are based in Marinduque, they have been helpful in providing ideas to the business. “What’s good about my cousins who are Gen Zers, who have eyes, hands, presence in the province where I’m not there physically, is that their ideas are limitless,” says Montealegre-Luz.
Another motivation for Montealegre-Luz in establishing Chinggay’s is to provide the cosmopolitan experience to her fellow Maridueños. What we want is for our province to be able to provide this special moment and they don’t need to book
high probability that your sales leadership outlook will also be clouded with self-doubt. To gain confidence, endeavor to regularly deal with confident people. You must intentionally build or join a community where confidence and positive thinking are integral to its culture. “Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive, nourishing and uplifting people—people who believe in you, encourage you to go after your dreams, and applaud your victories” (Jack Canfield).
Self-Perception
A SALES leader’s mindset is likewise an important component for confidence-building. It is worth noting that one’s mindset is dictated by an individual’s perception of self. This means that a person’s perceived capacities are actually determined by how he sees himself. That’s why the image of a cat seeing a lion as its mirror image fascinates me. How about you—what do you see whenever you look at the mirror? Do you see a failure of a man or a person who is now ready and able to succeed? Remember, whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. At the end of the day, it’s all about your mindset. The Bible says that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Hence, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—Philippians 4:13. You can too. God bless!
Alexey Rola Cajilig is the Founder, President & CEO of ARCWAY Consultancy Inc., and Senior Vice President & COO of EM-CORE DOTNET Inc. He is a Sales Leadership Coach, Strategic Sales Operations Consultant, Christian Motivational Speaker, Human Ecologist and Author of Life is a Classroom, The Effective Seller, Solving the Sales Puzzle and Practical Market Intelligence. He is also the creator of ARCH Styles, a behavioral and personality assessment & discovery tool. If you have questions and suggestions, you may connect with him at https://www.facebook.com/coachlexey and at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ alexey-rola-cajilig.
an international flight to Japan to be able to taste something.
The senior citizens who don’t have the energy to move around will also benefit as they don’t have to travel to distant places to experience good coffee and pasta.
Our goal is to bring in both local and international flavours that are legit or let’s say original that they can enjoy.
Nonetheless, she is aware that Marinduque is a price-sensitive market. She also had to try the different
LOCAL SMEs aim for a strategic foothold in the global private label market with a showcase of highquality, reliable services for customizable products and ingredients.
International market movers highly impact the trajectory of local offerings in key product segments. Photos show trade buyers during IFEX Philippines 2025. Philippine food exporters are set to further the country’s private labeling
coffee flavors such as Japan, Belgian chocolate and other potential offerings to ensure their products will have quality and affordability. “We want to bring an experience to our province that is different but at the same time we balance quality and affordability.
Promoting family bonding
CHINGGAY’S also want to promote family bonding through spending afternoons with families and friends and having a decent conversation.
By promoting family interactions in Chinggay’s, the owners hope people, especially the children will be veered gradually from their gadgets.
“At least there’s a place where you can hang out. Let’s bring back a little bit of the old times where you just have a decent conversation,” she says.
The coffee shop has a seating capacity of 30 persons.
Right now, expansion is not on the horizon. Since it is her first time to venture into a family business, it is hard to tell when tghey will expand. Since it’s a different kind of business, Montealegre-Luz does want to disappoint their customers.
“We want to be perfect first. And what we want is for our family to have a personal touch. So it’s hard if you’re not able to focus and monitor,” says Montealegre-Luz.
Aside from coffee, Chinggay’s
and an important player in the global value chain, instead of seeing ourselves as mere providers or manufacturers for others.”
This year’s participation is made possible with the close coordination of CITEM with DTI’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai (PTIC-Dubai), which actively promotes Philippine export capabilities to the region. This year’s participating Phil -
competitiveness in the international market as they join the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in the upcoming Market Sensing Mission with Trade Participation in Private Label Middle East 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre on September 15 and 17, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, the move encapsulates the organization’s thrust. “Development of our industries should be inclusive by default, and CITEM is always working to provide our stakeholders with tools and solutions that are adaptive to international standards and practices as they are instrumental to their competitiveness and growth.”
This is the first time that CITEM is taking concrete steps in establishing a viable market presence in global private label food exhibitions. The global private label market has seen considerable growth in recent years, driven by consumer demand for better value for money, brand loyalty, and trust, as well as quick turnarounds of market trends and new offerings.
Another critical aspect to enhancing the country’s global export presence, Executive Director Ocampo believes in reframing perspectives for Filipino SMEs, saying that “we must think of ourselves as partners in innovation
ippine companies include: Brand Exports Philippines Inc.; Market Reach International Resources; One Vizcaya Export Corp.; Organique Inc.; Sabroso Chocolate Manufacturing; and See’s International Food Manufacturing Corp. Their product offerings range from
also offers pizza, different pastas and family recipes such as a special recipe from her mother.
A defining moment
LOOKING back, Montealegre-Luz describes the COVID-19 pandemic as a defining moment. “I actually almost gave up during the pandemic. I closed everything,” says
“During the pandemic, I closed the office, the headquarters in Katipunan. We stopped because we had to pivot everything during the pandemic. Who will wear the uniforms? There’s no face-to-face classes,” she recalls. A-List clients in the corporate sector had to work from home. As a result, they don’t need uniforms. Forced by circumstances, Montealegre-Luz shifted into the digital agency business. She shifted to virtual meetings, mounting influencer activations. “I was able to tap our network of hosts, influencers, and bloggers. After the pandemic, Montealegre-Luz had to unlearn everything that she learned traditionally. “I am now able to pandemicproof the business. What I learned during the pandemic is whatever you do, wherever you are, if you’re passionate, if you’re excited to go to work, if you’re excited to serve, even if there’s a pandemic, the burning passion of an entrepreneur will always be there.”
tions for food retail sales in the GCC are expected to reach $216B in 2026. Many supermarkets and retail chains continue to grow their own brands as they compete in today’s highly competitive and diverse consumer base. The UAE, which accounts for a third of the GCC market share, is home to many of these major food stores, like Carrefour, Lulu, and Spinneys. Its expatriate resident population at over 80% is also driving the demand for more ethnic-specific, organic, and private label products. This demand in the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, accounted for combined Philippine exports that exceeded $100M in 2023. The Middle East also emerged as the leading buyer group in the 2025 IFEX Philippines.
A show component of IFEX Philippines, the Grocer’s Exchange Mart (GMart) is a dedicated business-matching platform that allows buyers to tap Philippine MSMEs engaged in private and white labeling, toll manufacturing, and other customization needs.
CITEM hopes to continue this export streak with MENA as it organizes this trade opportunity for select Philippine food manufacturers to expand their market presence through strategic networking and product offerings in the private label market, and eventually help open doors for new food export players from the country.
The participating enterprises will
gourmet ingredients, health-focused drinks, ready-to-eat snacks, and other dry goods, among others.
Focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), CITEM is optimistic about getting its fair share of the region’s private label market in the food and beverage sector. Market share from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising six Middle East countries, was valued at $6.5B in 2023. These countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Market predic-
showcase their products and services under the FOODPhilippines brand of CITEM, helping amplify the global visibility and market access
Vittorio V. Vitug
ATENEO de Manila University alumna Roxanne Montealegre-Luz
Editor: Dennis D. Estopace
State firms seeking lawmakers’ nod for higher budget next year
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
STATE-RUN companies are seeking higher budgets in 2026, with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cornering the biggest amount.
During her presentation to the Senate Committee of Finance last Tuesday, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Assistant Secretary Mary Anne Z. Dela Vega said the budgetary support to government corporations for next year is proposed at P149.654 billion. This is higher by 17.4 percent, or P22.226 billion, compared to this year’s allocation of P127.428 billion. The bulk of the budgetary support sought, at P147.152 billion, will be allotted as subsidy to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs). The amount is higher by 17.1 percent from this year’s P125.713 billion in subsidies. The remaining P2.502 billion proposed budget for GOCCs will be
THE Bureau of Treasury (BTr) successfully generated P30 billion from the sale of 5-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) last Tuesday, as investors’ asking yields declined.
With a remaining term of 3 years and 8 months, the debt paper fetched an average yield of 5.772 percent.
The average yield is 12.4 basis points lower than the 5.896 percent recorded in the previous auction for the same tenor last July 1. This was also down by 4.2 basis points compared to the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) Reference rates for the 5-year tenor at 5.814 percent.
Likewise, it is lower by 2 basis points from the BVAL rate for the security itself at 5.792 percent. Investors asking yields for the
AS lawmakers grill government officials on their roles in controversial flood control projects, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto vowed to stamp out corruption starting at the local level.
A statement issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) last Tuesday said this was Recto’s marching orders to newly-appointed local treasurers in Visayas and Mindanao is to act as the country’s first line of defense for fiscal governance.
“As our first line of defense of fiscal governance at the local level, we are counting on you not only to guard and manage our resources well. But to ensure the faithful execution of our local budgets,” Recto said in his message. Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Supervising Assistant Secretary Danielle Marie S. RiezaCulangen and DOF Legal Services and Local Finance Group Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin facilitated the Ceremonial Oath Taking of 195 newly appointed local treasurers and assistant local treasurers on September 8, 2025.
“We gather at a time when the clamor for transparency, integrity, and good governance has never been louder. The President has made it clear: under his watch, it will not be business as usual,” Recto said.
Recto called on the local treasurers to strive for efficiency, lead with
allocated as equity, or payment of capital subscriptions.
Among the top 10 GOCCs, PhilHealth will receive the highest subsidy for next year, worth P53.262 billion. The increase was due to the funding of the annual insurance premiums of indigent beneficiaries, according to Dela Vega.
Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) is set for a 10.3-percent increase in budgetary support to P6.444 billion, if the proposal is accepted. The added subsidy is for the provision of subsidy for the electrification of the 3,019 unenergized sitios based on the National Total Electrification Roadmap for 2026, computed at P1.8 million per sitio, based on the actual
average cost per sitio in 2023.
The Bases Conversion Development Authority will also be allotted P2.787 billion, an increase of 11.9 percent, to support the government’s infrastructure development program.
The Philippine Heart Center will, likewise, gain a higher budgetary support of P2.424 billion, up by 4.6 percent, for the reimbursement of its quantified free services.
However, five GOCCs will face a reduction in their budgetary support next year due to some one-time allocations in 2025 and because of the completion of several projects, Dela Vega said.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is proposed an allocation of P500 million, a 68.5-percent decline from this year’s allotment of P1.587 billion.
Budgetary support for the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority will also fall by 62 percent to P2.1 billion from P5.526 billion this year.
Similarly, the National Irrigation Administration will see its budget cut by 35 percent to only P45.066 billion from this year’s P69.368 billion.
The Philippine Food Authority (NFA) and National Housing Authority (NHA) will also suffer reductions
of 22.7 percent to P11.177 billion and 10.2 percent to P2.2 billion, respectively.
For the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., the amount of their budgetary support remained the same at P8 billion and P4.5 billion, respectively.
Dela Vega reported that majority of the allocations for the top 10 GOCCs have already been released as of end-August, amounting to P107.23 billion, with a remaining balance of P9.3 billion.
This balance consists of Psalm with P8 billion; SBMA, P1 billion; NHA, P250 million; NFA, P50 million; and NEA, P17,000. These refer to Congress-Introduced Changes/ Adjustments (CICA) that have not yet been disbursed, Dela Vega said.
In 2024, GOCCs received lower subsidies at P138.763 billion—the lowest in six years or the P136.652 billion recorded in 2018—as they needed less budgetary support and had better operating income.
The government provides subsidies to state-run firms to fund operations not covered by corporate revenues or to finance specific programs or projects.
via sale of T-bonds amid yields’ decline
5-year re-issued T-bills ranged from as low as 5.760 percent to as high as 5.780 percent.
Meanwhile, tenders for the longterm debt papers reached P76.666 billion, making the auction 2.5 times oversubscribed and prompting the auction committee to award the full P30 billion on offer.
The demand was also higher than the P57.491 billion in bids tendered during the previous auction for the same tenor.
“With its decision, the Committee raised the full program of P30.0 billion, bringing the total outstanding volume for the series to P386.7 billion,” the Treasury said in a statement after the auction.
Strong demand RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp.
(RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the drop in T-bond yields was driven by strong demand for government securities after the maturity of P288.7-billion worth of bonds on September 9, which prompted investors to reinvest in fresh issuances.
The Treasury has said there will be no more large national borrowings for the rest of the year, “so no new large supply of Treasury bonds supported the lower local government securities recently,” Ricafort said.
“The 5-year Treasury bond average auction yield is also lower amid the recent gains in the local Treasury bill and Treasury bond markets in terms of higher prices and lower yields due to higher demand,” he added.
Ricafort said the yields also de-
Stransparency and uphold the highest ethical standards for their fellow Filipinos.
“The taxes we collect are equivalent to the sweat of a farmer, the earnings of a worker, and the dreams of a father or mother for their family. That is why we must take care of them. We must guard them well,” the DOF chief purportedly said in Filipino.
Recto added that it is only right that every hard-earned taxpayer’s money is under scrutiny.
“We need allies on the ground to keep a vigilant watch on the Filipino people’s money,” he said. “Now, we are seeing a tidal wave of accountability sweeping across the nation. The old walls of corruption are finally beginning to crumble. The people have spoken: enough is enough.”
Under Sections 470 and 471 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the Finance Secretary is mandated to appoint local and assistant local treasurers of all provinces, cities and municipalities.
Local treasurers are the backbone of local government units, ensuring the proper management of the taxes collected.
Provincial, city and municipal treasurers and assistant treasurers are under the technical and administrative supervision of the DOF through the BLGF. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
INCE 1985, the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) has bestowed career service awards upon exemplary public servants in the academe and in the uniformed services. The search for MBFI’s Outstanding Filipinos is now in its 40th year, celebrating individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty in contributing meaningfully to Philippine society.
Each of the 10 awardees per year receives “The Flame” trophy, a million-peso cash prize, and a medallion of excellence for making exceptional contributions to nation-building and community empowerment. This flagship project of MBFI honors the teachers, soldiers, and police officers whose lives embody social responsibility, integrity, and courage – inspiring future generations to excel in their respective fields.
The Outstanding Filipinos program is a testament to MBFI’s advocacy of recognizing excellence in public service. It aims to instill a culture of professionalism and dedication among government employees who serve with passion and purpose. As the corporate social responsibility arm of Metrobank, MBFI has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in this annual program.
For the 2025 cycle, the board of assessors composed of distinguished experts and institutional partners
BSP backs bills expected to fortify central banking
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is supporting the passage of three bills that will amend the Bank Secrecy law, absorb the Credit Information Corp. (CIC) into its bureaucracy; and encourage digital payments.
In a presentation at the House of Representatives Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries on Tuesday, BSP General Counsel Roberto L. Figueroa said these three bills will support the central bank fulfill its mandates.
The three bills are: the Amendment to Republic Act 1405 (Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits) and RA 6426 (Foreign Currency Deposit Act); the New Credit Information System Act; and, the Digital Payments bill.
“This is for the purpose of [the] BSP being able to do its job as a regulator and supervisor of banks. Because right now, even the function of the BSP as a supervisor or a regulator (is saddled by limitations set by some laws),” Figueroa told reporters last Tuesday.
On the first bill to amend the RA 1405 and the RA 6426, the salient points of this amendment includes a new definition of deposits that will be obtained from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) Charter but removes inapplicable portions, particularly on insurability.
clined amid “continued effects” of the recent reduction of the local key policy rate by 25 basis points to 5 percent, which reduced borrowing costs for the government, businesses and consumers.
Finance Secretary and Monetary Board (MB) Member Ralph G. Recto has said he is in favor of a rate cut in the next rate-setting meeting in October.
Recto’s statement comes after Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. told Bloomberg that monetary authorities may hold interest rates steady in October.
Remolona said inflation has reached its “sweet spot” but, if demand slows, the MB may consider another policy rate cut.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
evaluated a total of 256 nominees –thus ensuring a fair, credible selection process. From this nomination pool emerged 10 winners, namely: Noel Sadinas, Amando Perfecto Molin, Mylene Uy, Angelo Marck Walag, Anro Anthony Turallo, Ricky Canatoy, Joey Fontiveros, Frederick Obar, Elmira Relox, and Ivan Velasco.
These men and women were honored as the 2025 Outstanding Filipinos during a conferment ceremony last September 5 at the Grand Hyatt ballroom in Bonifacio Global City. Conferring the awards were DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and PNP Officer-inCharge Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as well as Metrobank Chairman Arthur Ty, Metrobank President Fabian Dee, and MBFI President Philip Dy. This event coincided with Metrobank’s 63rd anniversary celebration, which included the GT Foundation Inc.’s annual George S.K. Ty Grants Turnover commemorating the legacy of the late Metrobank founder, Dr. George Ty. Such noble initiatives involving public-private partnerships
will not be unnecessarily shared with other parties,” Figueroa also said. On the proposed New Credit Information System Act (NCISA), this bill seeks to transfer the powers and functions of the Credit Information Corp. (CIC) to the BSP. This, Figueroa said, aimed to streamline credit information processes and enhance regulatory oversight, as part of the country’s commitment to offer credit data at minimal cost, protect consumer rights, and ensure fair competition.
The aim of the NCISA is to make credit information available for banks and other financial institutions. This will help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and low income individuals better access to credit.
The NCISA will establish and maintain a credit information system to regulate and supervise credit granting businesses, as may be determined by the Monetary Board.
The proposal is key to financial stability, which is an objective of BSP and will strengthen the policy formulation of BSP, specifically in the areas of banking and credit.
“(When we) say public, it’s not like it’s available to everyone. No. Under the proposed bill, specified lang ’yung kung sino yung pwede. So, this would be the borrowers, the banks or the lenders. Again, and also only for the purpose of evaluating the loan or lending,” Figueroa said.
The salient provision also include the removal of investment bonds issued by the Philippine government and a safe harbor clause to protect banks and financial institutions against “frivolous suits” from their depositors when it comes to an inquiry and examination o deposits by BSP.
It can be noted that under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act or RA 12010, the BSP is authorized to examine and investigate bank accounts, e-wallets and other financial accounts involved in prohibited acts.
The amendment also includes additional unlawful acts such as the use of the law for persecution or harassment to hamper competition in trade and commerce as well as the update of penalties.
“Of course, under the proposed amendments, meron namang protections to ensure that whatever bank account information we look into
(PPP) are worthy of emulation by other industries and organizations that empower the citizens to become role models and catalysts for change.
Another noteworthy PPP is the recent investment of the Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippine Stock Exchange-listed Century Properties Group (CPG). Last July, the SSS acquired a 6.4 percent strategic stake in CPG via a P500 million block sale. The acquisition highlights the role of the SSS in investing its reserve fund for long-term viability and income, with CPG providing a significant investment opportunity at a 4.9-percent discount and an expected dividend yield of 7.8 percent.
As an anchor investor, the SSS can profit significantly from CPG’s affordable housing and premium residential segments – primarily through the PHirst Park Homes brand, which has become a major driver for CPG as shown by this segment’s 60 percent contribution to the company’s total revenues in the first quarter of 2025.
PHirst Park Homes recently expanded into new markets such as Bacolod City in the Visayas and General Santos City in Mindanao. It also has ongoing residential projects in Luzon, particularly in the provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, and Cavite aside from its existing developments in Pampanga, Laguna, and Bataan.
The SSS stands to benefit from the housing sector by tapping into a reliable and high-growth revenue stream, making this investment
The last bill, the digital payment bill, Figueroa said it aims to facilitate transactions, arrangements, or exchanges of goods and services by use of digital payments in financial transactions of the government and the general public.
He said this is aligned with the national government’s mandate to adopt digital payments for government disbursements and collections to expedite transactions, greater savings, reduce graft and promote financial inclusion.
The BSP official also stated that this is consistent with the central bank’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap which aims to convert at least 50 percent of the total volume of retail payments into digital form. This roadmap also aims to have at least 70 percent of Filipino adults onboarded to the formal financial system by 2023.
highly attractive for the state-run social insurance agency which needs stable, long-term returns for its millions of members. This strategy provides consistent dividends and the potential for capital appreciation. Starting this month, the SSS will roll out the first tranche of its pension reform program for retired and disabled members. The next two tranches will take effect in September 2026 and September 27, and each of the three staggered hikes shall reflect a 10 percent annual increase. This would effectively increase the monthly benefits by 33 percent at the end of the three-year program. For the first time in its 68-year history, the SSS is implementing a multi-year, multi-tranche pension adjustment–developed through a combination of strong financial performance and careful actuarial planning. This allowed the government financial institution (GFI) to approve the program without the need for a concurrent increase in member contributions–proving that a GFI mainly serving corporate and non-government employees can be a successful model of collaboration between the public and
sectors for a social good.
FINEX FREE ENTERPRISE
Joseph Araneta Gamboa
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When saying ‘no’ is the smartest yes
THERE are times in life when following instructions or rules seems like the safest path. We are taught from a young age to listen, obey, and respect authority. These lessons are important because they keep us safe, orderly, and respectful of others. Yet there are moments when obedience, however well-intentioned, can lead to harm or missed opportunities. This is where the idea of intelligent disobedience comes in. The concept was popularized by Ira Chaleff in his book Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You are Told to Do is Wrong. He borrowed the term from observing guide dogs for the blind. A guide dog is trained to stop its handler from walking into danger even if the handler insists on moving forward. If the handler commands the dog to cross the street but a car is speeding toward them, the dog will refuse to move. That refusal is not stubbornness. It is a lifesaving decision.
In our daily lives, we face similar moments though they are not always as dramatic as avoiding a speeding car. A manager might insist on rushing a project even if it will compromise safety or quality. A friend may pressure you into a plan that feels wrong. A family member may expect you to follow tradition even if it goes against your values. In these situations, the easy path is to obey and avoid conflict. The wiser
path is to practice intelligent disobedience. How do we apply this in real life without being seen as difficult or disrespectful? The first step is awareness. Pay attention to moments when you feel a gut reaction that something is off because that instinct is worth listening to. Second is courage. It is not easy to go against authority or the expectations of others. Courage does not always mean a grand act. Sometimes it means quietly and firmly saying, “I do not think this is right.” Third is communication. Intelligent disobedience works best when paired with a clear and respectful explanation. Saying no is more effective when you follow it with: “I believe this approach could harm the team so let us consider another option.”
Consider a workplace example. Imagine you are asked to skip an important safety check to meet a deadline. Blind obedience may finish the task on time but it risks long term consequences. Practicing intelligent disobedience means respectfully refusing and suggesting an alternative such as adjusting the schedule or redistributing tasks. By doing so, you protect both the project and your integrity. In personal life, the same principle applies. A teenager might be pressured by peers to take part in something dangerous. Choosing to walk away is a form of intelligent disobedience. It may not be popular but it shows strength and self-respect. For adults, the challenge can come in family expectations. Perhaps relatives expect you to follow a career path you do not want. Saying no and pursuing what truly matters to you can feel like disobedience, but it is an intelligent choice that honors your future.
Another area is everyday decision-making.
Imagine being in a group where everyone agrees to a plan but you sense it will not work. Speaking up and offering another perspective may feel uncomfortable. However, your willingness to disobey group pressure
could prevent wasted effort and lead to a better outcome.
Practicing intelligent disobedience is not about rejecting all rules or being rebellious for the sake of it. It is about balancing respect for authority with responsibility for your own judgment. The goal is not to create conflict but to prevent harm and promote better choices.
Here are some practical ways to strengthen this skill. Pause before you act and ask yourself: Will this decision cause harm to me or others? If the answer is yes, then consider a different response. Learn to voice your concern with respect. Instead of saying, “This is wrong”, try saying, “I am concerned this approach may create problems.” Offer alternatives whenever possible. A refusal followed by a constructive suggestion is easier for others to accept. Finally, build confidence by practicing small acts of intelligent disobedience such as declining an unnecessary purchase despite persuasive marketing.
History is full of examples of people who changed the world because they practiced intelligent disobedience. Civil rights leaders refused to accept unjust laws. Innovators challenged old ways of thinking. Everyday heroes spoke up against wrongdoing in their workplaces or communities. Their courage reminds us that progress often begins with a brave and thoughtful “no”.
The next time you face a situation that feels wrong, remember the guide dog who refuses to step into danger, and remember Chaleff’s message that doing what is right sometimes means not doing what you are told. Respect and obedience are valuable but wisdom sometimes means standing firm and choosing a safer and smarter path. Intelligent disobedience is not about being contrary. It is about protecting what matters and opening the door to better possibilities.
PROFESSIONALS UNDERGO TRAINING FOR DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES
WITH the assistance of several government agencies, schoolbased professionals underwent a comprehensive training series which equipped them with the necessary knowledge and practical skills in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and emergency response.
This initiative, called Promoting Resilience through Innovation in Managing Emergencies (Prime), was organized by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) through its Center for Emergency Management, Safety, and Security (CEMSS) and People and Organization Development Office.
“In a school environment, where the safety of students, faculty and staff is paramount, such training ensures that associates and administrators can act decisively and effectively during emergencies,” CEMSS deputy director Mark Henry Lapuebla noted. “Given that we are an educational institution, it is vital to empower associates to render immediate assistance when incidents occur.”
Representatives who shared their expertise and assistance during the event were from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa), DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), Bureau of Fire Protection, and Safety Organization of the Philippines Inc. (SOPI).
The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bureau of Fire Protection-Manila Fire District, Office of Civil Defense, and the Philippine Red Cross-Manila Chapter likewise collaborated in the activities which aimed to protect lives, promote partnerships with different agencies, and encourage capacity development through Benilde PRIME.
“In the event of large-scale emergencies, responding agencies may also be affected, delayed, or operating in the most affected areas, making it crucial for us to be self-reliant,” Lapuebla stated.
Two notable speakers for the pocket seminars were DOSTPagasa weather specialist II engr. Vivian Gay Aggasid, who discussed hydrometeorological hazards, and DOST-Phivolcs senior science research specialist Maria Isabel Abigania, who spoke about geological threats.
DENR-MGB geologist Il Jethro Capino’s topic revolved around rain-induced landslides and ground subsidence, while SOPI division director for disaster sesilience Martin Aguda Jr., CEM, CBCP talked about disaster preparedness.
The Benilde Prime Training Series was intended to widen the participants’ understanding of disaster risk reduction and management principles tailored to the school context and hands-on competencies in emergency response, incident management, and safety planning.
Why the search for meaning can cause ‘purpose anxiety,’ and what to do about it
By Alina Tugend The Associated Press
“FIND your purpose.”
It has become such common advice that few question it. But rather than inspirational, it can feel like a burden. How do I go about finding this and what if I never do?
This is “purpose anxiety”—the gnawing sense that one’s life should have an overarching purpose, but it’s unclear how to discover it.
“There’s a lot of commands to find purpose, but not a lot of support to find purpose,” said Michael Steger, a professor at Colorado State University and director of its Center for Meaning and Purpose.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE ‘PURPOSE’?
THE definition of purpose can be elastic. Can you have only one purpose or can you have many? Does it have to involve service to others or can it be something that consistently gives only you great pleasure and meaning?
Think of purpose not as something that governs behavior but as a compass you can choose to follow, helping direct your energies toward a central life aim, says Todd Kashdan, a professor at George Mason University and founder of its Well-Being Laboratory. A sense of purpose can help “close that gap between who you are and what you ideally want to become,” he said.
People can lead content, meaningful lives without ever articulating a sense of purpose, he emphasized. There are many legitimate reasons for the advice
given by parents, teachers, mentors and an array of online gurus that finding purpose is key to a good life.
Research has shown that people who more strongly feel a sense of purpose tend to be physically and mentally healthier.
But the word has become so weighty that finding a purpose has, for many, become a source of angst. The term “purpose anxiety” appears to have been coined in 2014 by a University of Pennsylvania graduate student, Larissa Rainey, and caught on.
Author Elizabeth Gilbert, for example, best known for her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, has spoken frequently about an unhealthy obsession over a “purposeful life.” It is, she said in one interview, “the formula we’ve all been fed.”
SOME OF THE OLD GUIDEPOSTS ARE GONE PEOPLE have always searched for life’s meaning and purpose.
“Part of what it is to have a human consciousness is to think about our place in the universe,” said Jody Day, a psychotherapist and author of Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future without Children
“But a lot of the places that we’ve naturally found meaning in our culture in, say, the last hundred years are falling away.” Religion, for instance, often offered purpose and meaning to believers. But those who identify as religious has dropped significantly over the years (although that appears to be leveling off recently according to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center).
Other people traditionally found purpose in ensuring that their children had a better life than they did. Many don’t have confidence that will be the case anymore, Day said.
As Steger said, “now we’re stuck trying to do the harder thing, which is, one by one, figure out everything in the universe and how we fit.”
TAKE YOUR TIME, AND OTHER ADVICE FOR ALLEVIATING ‘PURPOSE ANXIETY’
YOU might begin, Steger said, by realizing that you don’t have to pin down a purpose immediately; searching for purpose in itself helps generate meaning in life.
It entails “understanding who you are and what you have to work with, understanding what you care about, what you’d like to see be better, either in yourself or in the world” and then figuring out if you can make an impact, he added.
“In our culture, we are so outcome-focused and process-adverse,” he said. “Probably my best advice is to take your time and be all right not always knowing.”
LOOK TO HOBBIES, JOBS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
FOR Jordan Grumet, author of The Purpose Code, there is big “P” Purpose and little “p” purpose, and too many people stress about finding the first and ignore the second.
“Big ‘P’ Purpose is goal-oriented—it’s usually big and audacious, and often unattainable,” he said. Social media, he said, “is full of people trying to voice that version of purpose on you so that they can make
money.”
Better, he said, to focus on little “p” purpose and pursuits that some might simply call hobbies— gardening, singing, collecting baseball cards. Or it can be found in a job, or volunteering.
“What could I do that would light me up and fill me up and be a good use of my time?” Grumet said. It’s not just for self-improvement, he said. When people do something they love, they attract people to them, which can help create communities.
Not all agree that hobbies and passions are the same as purpose. Reading books, Kashdan said, isn’t a purpose in itself but can be a tool to discovering it.
“They’re just like fledgling seeds of, hey, something might be there that you might want to pursue with more depth and more gravity in your life.”
WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVEBALL SOMETIMES a traumatic event can change or create one’s purpose in life. For example, Day, the psychotherapist and author, assumed that her purpose would be to raise a family, but by her early 40s she knew she would not be able to have children
“I felt so pointless as a human being because I wasn’t a mother,” she said, recalling the grief she felt.
But she ended up creating an online community for childless women called Gateway Women.com. In rural Ireland, where she lives, she is also helping build an in-person group that brings people without children together as they age.
“I feel that to be alive in this time, and to have a platform and to be awake is an incredible privilege, and that is my purpose,” she said.
PHOTO BY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ON UNSPLASH
Meralco is ‘Company of the Year’ at 21st Philippine Quill Awards
Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has once again displayed excellence in business communications after amassing 36 awards and earning the highly coveted recognition as “Company of the Year” at the prestigious 21st Philippine Quill Awards.
Meralco took home 10 Awards of Excellence and 26 Awards of Merit for its exemplary communications programs centered on customer service, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, public safety, and digital transformation.
“This honor affirms the vital role of strategic communication in advancing Meralco’s mission to keep the lights on. Being named Company of the Year inspires us to continue raising the bar in using clear, timely, and relevant communication as a driver of positive change that empowers the communities we serve, and builds trust with our stakeholders,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
Meralco’s latest recognition as Company of the Year cements its position as an industry leader not just in energy, but also in communications as the sole company to have earned the prestigious distinction five times.
The distribution utility’s award-winning communications programs spanned a wide range of advocacies and initiatives.
These included effective use of data for communication campaigns; creative and impactful executions to communicate the company’s monthly rate adjustments, sustainability initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion, renewable energy, and urban farming; customer service efforts like the Lifeline Rate Program and the Interruptible Load Program; cybersecurity awareness; digitalization projects including the Meralco Newsroom and Manong Joe digital channels; public safety campaigns such as the Anti-Urban Blight program and year-round electrical safety communications; corporate
social responsibility programs such as electrification for marginalized households and livelihood platforms; and stakeholder management and events.
These recognitions highlight Meralco’s ability to deliver messages that resonate with stakeholders, drive organizational performance, and contribute to nationbuilding.
Now in its 21st year, the Philippine Quill Awards—organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines—stands as the country’s premier recognition program in the field of business communication, honoring organizations that exemplify excellence in using communication to achieve goals and make a difference in society.
Now you can build your Blizzard stash at home with DQ’s Blizz & Chill tubs
SUnique to the Blizz & Chill line, it is made with DQ’s signature soft serve mixed with coffee concentrate and cookie crunch and then garnished with even more cookie crunch!
And then there’s the Mango Cheer-Up Cheesecake Blizz & Chill (starts at P325), another flavor unique to the Blizz & Chill line. It is made with DQ’s signature soft serve mixed with mango purée, caramel fudge and cheesecake chunks, and then generously topped with mango purée and even more cheesecake chunks!
For the ultimate chocolate ice cream indulgence, there’s the Belgian Chocoholic Obsession Blizz & Chill (starts at P415). Also unique to the Blizz & Chill line, it is made with DQ’s real Belgian chocolate soft serve, mixed with chewy brownies, chocolate chunks, and cocoa fudge, and then topped with even more brownies and chocolate chunks!
New SM Foundation school building ends shifting schedules for Grade 6 pupils in Iligan
O more emergency classes.
NMore than 200 Grade 6 students of Sta. Filomena Central School (SFCS) in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte will now be able to attend whole-day classes following the turnover of a new two-story, four-classroom building on August 27, 2025.
The building, donated by SM Prime through SM Foundation, addresses classroom congestion that previously forced pupils to attend emergency classes or shift schedules.
Each classroom is equipped with curved whiteboards, wall fans, and individual toilets with wash basins. A total of 200 armchairs, including ones for left-handed students, were provided. These were crafted by a Persons with Disability (PWD)
community in Surigao. Accessibility and safety were also prioritized in the design. The building has a ramp and a restroom for PWD students, along with fire alarms and emergency lighting for both staircases.
A 10-faucet handwashing facility, supported by an overhead tank, was also installed in a strategic location to benefit the entire school community. Additional spaces inside the building include a child protection room, a mini library room, and a faculty room.
SFCS Principal Walter Tupas said the new building will ease long-standing classroom shortages, while providing better learning conditions for pupils and improved teaching environments for faculty.
Yu Lei Offers Elevated Chinese Cuisine at Okada Manila’s Premium Dining Portfolio
YU Lei, Okada Manila’s premium Chinese restaurant, offers guests an elevated gastronomic experience, blending time-honored flavors with a modern presentation.
Helmed by the renowned Chef Mikiya Imagawa, Yu Lei reimagines traditional flavors, adding a modern elegance that lingers long after the last bite.
“We want every guest to experience exceptional Chinese cuisine through a journey of taste, culture, and craftsmanship,” said Chef Mikiya Imagawa.
The multi-awarded chef presents a meticulously curated menu that highlights exquisite dishes, each crafted with premium ingredients and an exacting technique. Standouts include the Chef’s Choice of Seven Appetizers, a harmonious medley of flavors and textures in delicate, artfully presented bites.
Signature mains such as the Dong Po–style Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly feature melt-inyour-mouth slices bathed in a rich, bold brown sauce. From intricately plated dim sum, like the whimsical goldfish-shaped dumplings, to indulgent entrées, every creation is a masterclass in balance, flavor, and presentation.
OMETIMES, the best place to chill out in is simply at home. Whether it’s the cozy warmth of your bed, the smell of your home-cooked food, or the company of that unaffectionate cat you still love no matter what, there can be so many ways staying in is better than going out. And now, even your favorite DQ Blizz & Chill Tubs can join in on the fun, ready to be taken home, tucked into your freezer, or even delivered straight to your doorstep. For those days when touching grass sounds unappealing and you just want the peace and quiet of your own space, DQ’s new collection of cold treats has you covered, waiting for whenever the ice cream craving hits. Bring home the fun and make your stay-ins sweeter with DQ’s Blizz & Chill Tubs! Made with DQ’s signature soft serve and packed with crowdfavorite mix-ins, this mouthwatering collection comes in 16-oz and 22-oz tubs and are available in four delectable flavors!
Enjoy these after a productive day of work and chores, as a snack when binge-watching your favorite movies and shows, or as comfort food for when you want to eat your feelings or fill the void inside! Whatever homebody vibes you’re going for, you’ll never go wrong with these Blizz & Chill Tubs!
Guests can also savor Yu Lei’s signature Afternoon High Tea, a sophisticated offering of savory and sweet delicacies paired with carefully selected teas. Meanwhile, the seasonal multi-course menus change throughout the year, spotlighting the freshest ingredients and regional inspirations.
Savor the simple yet satisfying combo of cookies and cream with the Anytime Oreo Blizz & Chill (starts at P305), made with DQ’s signature soft serve mixed with crushed Oreos and generously topped with even more Oreos! Coffee lovers are in for a treat with the Toffee Movie Night Blizz & Chill (starts at P305).
DGet these new treats exclusively in takeout and delivery via DQ’s official delivery partner, GrabFood (prices may vary) from select DQ stores nationwide. Don’t forget to follow and give DQ a like on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) so you won’t miss out on the latest updates, offers, and deals!
AILYFIX, a well-loved granola and trail mix brand in the country, is proud to announce its first-ever DailyFix Power Run, happening in partnership with premier race organizer RunRio on January 11, 2026 at the iconic Mall of Asia Grounds. This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the brand as it strengthens its commitment to promoting healthy breakfasts and snacks that inspire a more active and balanced lifestyle.
DailyFix Power Run invites runners, health enthusiasts, and families to take part in an exciting event that celebrates wellness, movement, and wholesome nutrition. This fun run marks DailyFix’s biggest brand event to date, created to inspire lasting health transformations through the power of community. Additionally, it also reflects the brand’s mission to make wellness fun, engaging, and accessible through a lively fun run that celebrates connection, energy, and shared experiences.”
“DailyFix’s mission as a brand has always been to make breakfast and snacking not just healthier—but smarter and more enjoyable for all Filipinos. We’re excited to bring wellness to life through this fun run.”
said Abigail Ng-Reyes, Vice President for Marketing at Fly Ace Corporation. Launched in 2020, DailyFix was created to offer a wholesome, enjoyable breakfast and snacking experience. Made from a nourishing blend of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, it’s designed to satisfy and sustain you any time of
Beyond the cuisine, Yu Lei enchants with its serene, flower-themed ambiance. The main dining hall blends traditional Chinese motifs with contemporary luxury while offering sweeping views of Okada Manila’s Garden.
the day. Whether you need a hassle-free breakfast, quick pick-me-up or a guilt-free snack that supports an active lifestyle, DailyFix delivers the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and nutrition—making it your go-to companion for smart, on-the-go snacking. Racers can choose from four exciting categories: 1K Run (with Pet Dog), 3K Fun Run, 5K Intermediate Fun and 10K Competitive Race. Each category is designed to match every fitness level, whether you’re joining for fun, aiming for a personal best, or looking to jumpstart your wellness journey, there’s a race tailored just for you. Running a marathon is no small feat, that’s why every participant will take home a bag brimming with exciting goodies from DailyFix, Fly Ace Corporation, and other partner brands. Beyond the race, the finish line village will come alive with wellness booths, a nutrition talk, and a “meet the experts” corner where runners can learn more about healthy living. Participants can also look forward to games, raffles, and fun interactions, plus the chance to mingle with fellow wellness enthusiasts and creators. To top it off, everyone will recharge with a generous serving of DailyFix Granola and Trail Mix. In conclusion, Ng-Reyes shares: “This event is more than just a race, it’s a celebration of community and shared passion for wellness
Yu Lei is a destination that promises sophistication, authenticity, and unforgettable flavors. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or simply seek an upscale dining experience.
Reserve a table now and discover the refined beauty of Chinese cuisine at Yu Lei. For inquiries and reservations, email RestaurantReservation@okadamanila.com or call +632 8555 5799.
The crystal floral accents create a tranquil setting ideal for elegant afternoon soirees or grand celebrations. The restaurant also has seven lavishly appointed private dining rooms, suitable for family and small corporate gatherings.
Meralco was hailed as “Company of the Year” at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards after amassing 36 awards for demonstrating excellence in communications. The recent feat reaffirms Meralco’s position as an industry leader not just in energy, but in business communications as well.
Teachers and Grade 6 students of Sta. Filomena Elementary School in Iligan City gather in front of their newly refurbished school building, turned over through the support of the SM Prime and SM Foundation.
Helmed by the renowned Chef Mikiya Imagawa, Yu Lei reimagines traditional flavors, adding modern elegance
Editor: Tet Andolong
MEGAWORLD DEFIES CONDO GLUT, ACHIEVES SMASHING SUCCESS IN PARK MCKINLEY WEST
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
MEGAWORLD remains resilient despite the condominium glut prevailing in Metro Manila with Park McKinley West as a prime example of the company’s strong performance.
Park McKinley West’s Towers A and B, each with 450 units, have completely sold out. The most sought-after unit, a 336-square-meter, five-bedroom penthouse priced at nearly P120 million, sold out particularly quickly.
Megaworld’s stellar performance is attributed to its continued strength in the upper r esidential segment, even in a market that’s been struggling with oversupply concerns. It attributes their success to its formula—giving premium to lifestyle over lifestyle over d ensity and experience to enable buyers to achieve a good measure of work, life, balance over volume—which has allowed the developer to serve buyers who want more than a p lace to stay. They want a complete environment to live, work, and thrive.
M egaworld said they are committed to raise the bar in condominium living. A key driver of this success is the company’s commitment to elevating condominium living.
T his is manifested by the integration of the developer's expansive, well-planned thoughtfully curated amenities that enable go beyond the basics—turning each property to deliver the ideal lifestyle destination. into a lifestyle destination in itself.
Moreover, Park McKinley West is strategically located at pivotal points in Metro Manila. It is 10-15 minutes away to the Makati
commercial business district, 5 minutes away to Bonifacio Global City, and also 10 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and it’s so convenient also to take the south zone expressway.
Launched in 2018 at P216,000 per square meter, Park McKinley West has seen a dramatic increase in value and is now selling for P420,000 per square meter. Further, the development’s first two towers have already sold out, and the third and fourth towers are 90 percent sold out, reflecting the strong demand for units in the building.
Megaworld is performing well in the luxury property market, building on its strong financial results from 2024 and expanding its fo cus on the high-end segment. It achieved a record net income of P21.7 billion in 2024, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.
Total revenues also saw a significant jump of 17 percent to P81.7 billion. Real estate sales, a key driver of this growth, surged by 19 percent to nearly P51 billion, fueled by strong demand for residential properties, including those in its luxury developments.
Meanwhile, analysts view Megaworld’s recent move into the ultra-luxury market as a “smart move” because the segment is generally less sensitive to high mortgage rates, providing a stable source of revenue.
To capitalize on this, Megaworld is
Smart savings, every month:
How eco-friendly features lower your living costs
WE often hear about eco-friendly features when buying a home. But for many future homeowners, these still feel like abstract add-ons—nice to have, but not exactly life-changing. The real shift happens when sustainability begins to show up in ways that directly affect one’s day-to-day life: a home that stays cooler even in peak summer, lets in more natural light, uses less electricity, and helps trim monthly bills.
At RLC Residences, this belief is deeply rooted in how their developments are designed. By embedding sustainability into the blueprint of each project, RLC Residences is helping future homeowners experience the everyday benefits of smart, green living without needing to think about it constantly.
“When we talk about sustainability at RLC Residences, we’re not just talking about environmental impact but also the daily impact to the residents of our developments, like how much more comfortable their home feels, how much less they have to spend to keep it running, and how these choices ultimately support their lifestyle in the long run,” shares Stephanie Anne Go, Vice President and Head of Business Development and Leasing of RLC Residences.
From concept to cost-saving reality IN the process of building more sustainable communities, RLC Residences uncovered something equally important: the same design choices that benefit the planet also reduce costs for homeowners. A study
conducted on Sierra Valley Gardens—RLC Residences’ most advanced sustainable development—revealed that homeowners can save approximately P1 per square meter on their monthly dues. This was thanks to a variety of green features built into the project’s DNA, from energy-efficient systems to smart water management.
While a peso per square meter may seem minimal at first glance, the savings become more significant when you consider the scale of a residential community. For families living in mid-to-large sized units, that’s month-on-month savings that continue for years—all built into the design from day one.
Developments such as MIRA, Mantawi Residences, and Le Pont Residences are planned with passive cooling strategies, optimized building orientation, and larger windows that invite natural light and improve ventilation. These thoughtful choices reduce the need for artificial lighting and lessen the strain on air-conditioning systems—ultimately lowering electricity consumption.
“Design plays a crucial role in sustainability,” explains Architect Conrad Erfe, Head of Design and Planning at RLC Residences. “By incorporating natural light and ventilation, and energy-efficient systems early on, we help create homes that are not only eco-conscious but naturally cost-efficient.”
Additional features like solar panels powering common areas, motion-sensor LED lights, and insulated building materials further contribute to reduc-
ing operational costs—not just for the developer, but directly for homeowners.
The power of renewable energy
ONE of the most forward-thinking moves RLC Residences has made is the shift to renewable energy in select developments. The Residences at The Westin Manila, located in Ortigas Center, runs on 100 percent renewable energy for its common areas. The result? An impressive 8 to 9 percent average savings on electric bills every month, according to the latest data from RLC Residences.
And this isn’t limited to just one address. Other completed projects such as East of Galleria in Pasig, and McKinley Park Residences, The Fort Residences, and Fifth Avenue Place in Bonifacio Global City have also transitioned to renewable energy—with units sub-metered to admin load—marking a decisive step toward a cleaner, more cost-efficient future for homeowners.
Everyday features, everyday impact
AT RLC Residences, sustainability is thoughtfully woven into daily living. Sierra Valley Gardens, for instance, houses a hydroponics farm that provides residents with fresh, locally grown produce at a discounted price— bringing healthy living closer to home.
Beyond food, sustainability also shows up in essential utilities. Developments like Sierra Valley Gardens, Le Pont Residences, and Mantawi Residences feature rainwater harvesting systems that collect and reuse water for the irrigation of landscaped areas. These systems not only support conservation but also help lower monthly bills—a simple feature that creates lasting impact.
Inside every unit, low-flow plumbing fixtures minimize water usage without compromising comfort. And because they’re seamlessly integrated, residents don’t have to change habits to enjoy the benefits— they simply use less, and save more.
Indoor air quality is also a priority. By using low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and adhesives, RLC Residences ensures cleaner, healthier air inside the home—an especially meaningful advantage for families with children or elderly members.
Beyond individual units, RLC Residences applies the same sustainable thinking to the broader community. Developments feature green open spaces, efficient garbage disposal facilities, and even EV charging provisions on select developments, all designed with the future in mind. These aren’t just lifestyle perks—they’re investments in longevity, convenience, and peace of mind.
“Sustainability isn’t about grand gestures,” adds Stephanie Anne Go. “It’s about thoughtful decisions that add up—creating a home that supports your well-being, your finances, and your future.”
PHirst Park Homes, the first-home brand of Century Properties Group, is accelerating its nationwide expansion with a planned entry into the thriving island of Mindanao.
The company has set its sights on several key cities in Mindanao for its expansion, and now officially marks its entry with its maiden project in General Santos City—PHirst Park Homes Gen San.
PHirst Park Homes Gen San is strategically positioned to amplify the city’s rapid growth. Nestled in Brgy. Baluan and conveniently accessible via the Sarangani-Davao del Sur Coastal Road, this 25-hectare master planned community with an estimated sales value of P5.3-billion, will bring in over 2,000 homes to Mindanaoans.
Proudly bearing the PHirst development signature, PHirst Park Homes Gen San will showcase thoughtfully designed, fully finished homes that are move-in ready. The project will feature two of PHirst’s well-loved house models: the Amani, a townhouse with a 36 sq m floor area on typical lot areas ranging from 44-60.5 sqm with introductory prices between P1.8-2.1 million; and the Dua, a single-attached unit with a 48 sq m floor area on a typical 77 sq m lot area, with prices starting at P2.8 million. Each home is built with flexibility in mind—expandable to accommodate the needs of a growing family.
Staying true to its promise of “a home in a park, and a park in a home” experience, the community showcases a harmonious balance of comfort, nature, and modern living. Families can look forward to well-planned amenities that promote recreation and togetherness, as well as generous open spaces spread across the development for ease of access and enjoyment. Most importantly, residents are assured of a safe and secure environment—making PHirst Park Homes Gen San a community where families can truly thrive.
“PHirst’s expansion in Mindanao, through PHirst Park Homes Gen San, directly reflects our unwavering vision to empower Filipino families with access to quality homes,” said Ricky M. Celis, President and CEO of PHirst.
“We see this as more than just an investment— it’s a real opportunity to help shape the future of a dynamic, emerging frontier.”
This milestone marks a new chapter in PHirst’s bold mission for nationwide presence. In 2023, the brand expanded beyond
launching the “Megaworld Signature Collection,” a new brand that will offer “rare” and opulent” residential properties. These will be distinct from their usual projects and are expected to be available only once or twice a year in select locations. This new initiative is seen as a way to complement their e xisting portfolio of townships and developments, which have traditionally catered t o the middle-income market.
Megaworld’s luxury properties are typically found within their master-planned t ownships, which offer a “live-work-playlearn-shop” lifestyle.
Meanwhile, KMC founder Michael McCullough told the BusinessMirror i n an email interview that the entry of Megaworld in the luxury market is a significant pivot. Nonetheless, he said it would not be easy because of the stiff competition.
“This is about reshaping their brand perception and entering a space where prestige, e xclusivity, and design excellence are paramount. If they succeed, they could redefine t he competitive landscape. If not, they risk diluting their brand and alienating their core market,” he said.
Luzon with the launch of PHirst Park Homes Bacolod—its first development in the Visayas. The 16-hectare community, designed to deliver nearly 1,500 homes, set the stage for PHirst’s regional growth. By August 2025, the project is on track to turn over its first batch of homes—welcoming happy homeowners and bringing the PHirst promise to life in Bacolod. Long recognized for its vast potential, Mindanao is rapidly emerging as a strategic economic powerhouse, fueled by extensive government investments in infrastructure. Among these is the highly anticipated Mindanao Railway Project, which will connect major cities, streamline regional transportation, and enhance global connectivity. Such developments are opening new economic corridors and driving robust regional activity across provinces and key urban centers—making Mindanao one of the most attractive and promising markets in the real estate industry. As the area continues to evolve, it also faces the urgent challenge of addressing the country’s significant housing backlog. Rapid urbanization and a rising population have sharply increased the demand for affordable, quality homes. This makes PHirst’s planned entry both timely and essential. With its upcoming entry into Mindanao, PHirst is well on track to build a strong footprint across all major regions in the Philippines—bringing the dream of homeownership closer to more Filipino families nationwide.
The PHirst core CURRENTLY, PHirst operates 31 active projects across Luzon and Visayas, with developments in key locations in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon Province, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Bacolod City (Negros Occidental). Carrying its brand pillars—Complete Homes, Conceptive Amenities, Connected Essentials, and Convenient Selling & Buying Experience—PHirst has built a solid reputation for creating thoughtfully designed homes that cater to the needs of the modern Filipino family. With every development, PHirst remains committed to building not just homes, but vibrant communities where families can Dwell, Create, and Thrive. PHirst is a subsidiary and the first-home business segment of Century Properties Group. For more information on PHirst’s developments and upcoming projects, visit www. century-phirst.com.
SIERRA Valley Gardens, designed with sustainable features for future residents
PARK McKinley West
YOGA room
AMENITIES area
Alas middles, liberos: Defense department
Eala rises to world No. 61
ALEXANDRA EALA moved up to No. 61 in the world rankings after her victory in the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico.
R anked 75th entering the tournament, Eala jumped 14 places up as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) updated its points rankings on Monday.
Eala edged Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the final at the Panamerican Tennis Center in the city of Zapopan in Mexico on Saturday.
T he 20-year-old Eala is the first from the Philippines to bag a WTA singles title. Udvardy, 26, climbed from 134th to 118th in the world rankings after the runner-up finish.
A manda Anisimova jumped five spots to a career-best No. 4 in the
COACH Norman Black is not leaving any stone unturned in forming the best team possible as the country seeks to retain the men’s basketball gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December. The SEA Games are only three months away and Black, always a key figure within the Philippine team and a multi-titled coach in the Philippine Basketball Association, can feel the urgency to get things going.
“Our preparations are going to be short, that’s why we need to get guys who can play together very quickly and who can play together very well,” Black told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Black—who coached the Philippine team led by collegiate stars Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, Chris Tiu and Ray Parks to the gold in the 2011 SEA
WTA after finishing as the runner-up to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Women’s Open. Sabalenka was assured of remaining at No. 1 by getting to the quarterfinals in New York, then wound up collecting her second US Open title in a row with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win Saturday over Anisimova, a 24-year-old American.
A nisimova’s second consecutive runner-up run at a major—she lost to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final in July—allowed her to climb five spots from No. 9, part of a remarkable surge from outside the top 350 when she returned last season from a mental-health break. Swiatek, eliminated in the US Open quarterfinals by Anisimova, stayed at No. 2, followed by Coco Gauff. Jessica Pegula slid from No. 4 to No.
Games in Jakarta—has encountered difficulty forming the squad due to conflict of schedule for PBA and collegiate players and those playing as imports in Japan and Korea.
But Black said already in the fold are naturalized players Justin Brownlee, who helped Gilas win the gold in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, and Ange Kouame. O thers who have committed to play are RayParks, Matthew Wright, Remy Martin, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman and Veejay Pre.
Black, who was accompanied to the forum by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy, assured everybody that once the team is formed, “we will be ready.” Dy, meanwhile, spoke of the SBP programs for the remainder of the year—further promoting the sport in public schools in collaboration with the Department of Education through Secretary Sonny Angara and the Philippine Sports Commission through chairman Patrick Gregorio.
7. She exited against Sabalenka in the semifinals last week, a year after losing to her in the US Open final.
Naomi Osaka’s first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2021 Australian Open—she lost Thursday to Anisimova in that round—carried her from No. 24 to No. 14. The four-time major champion and former No. 1 hadn’t been in the top 20 since January 2022.
Alcaraz formally returns to top CARLOS ALCARAZ officially returned to No. 1 in the ATP rankings for the first time in two years on Monday, replacing Jannik Sinner there after beating him in the US Open men’s final.
When you achieve the goals you set up [for] yourself at the beginning of the year, it feels amazing,” Alcaraz said after winning his second title at Flushing
By Aldrin Quinto
LAS PILIPINAS is counting on a cohesive system of offense and defense, with Kim Malabunga and the crew of middle blockers determined to show they’re up to the task.
The FIVB Volleyball Men’s Championship gets going on Friday with the Philippines taking on Tunisia at the Mall of Asia Arena, and while focus has been mainly on the wing spikers led by grizzled overseas pros Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, those manning the defense are quietly preparing to anchor the team’s resistance.
“I t’s a big challenge for us middle blockers because we have to protect the team through our blocking,” said Malabunga.
The veteran Malabunga, who had served as Alas Pilipinas team captain in previous international stints, heads a cast of middle blockers with an average height of 6 feet 5.5 inches.
T hat’s around two or three inches short of the world’s elite, such as the perennial FIVB Volleyball Nations League contenders, but Malabunga Peng Taguibolos, Lucca Mamone and Lloyd Josafat are out to prove that timing and court smarts could outweigh the deficiency.
We need to apply everything coach Angiolino [Frigoni] is teaching us. So far, our training has been really good. Our transitions are improving.”
They get their first test against a
Meadows and his sixth Grand Slam trophy.
“For me,” he added, “[to] achieve that once again...is a dream.”
Alcaraz moved up from No. 2 and swapped places with Sinner by virtue of a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over him in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.
Sinner had held No. 1 since making his debut there in June 2024, a 65-week stay.
Alcaraz first reached that spot in September 2022 at age 19—making him the youngest No. 1 in ATP history—by claiming his first major championship at that year’s US Open. He relinquished that ranking in September 2023.
A lexander Zverev stayed at No. 3 on Monday, while Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major champion who lost to Alcaraz in Friday’s semifinals, went up three spots from No. 7 to No. 4. With AP
“Hopefully, we will be signing a memo-
randum of agreement soon,” Dy said.
“It’s gonna be tough. It’s not gonna be easy. But we still have the talent to win the Southeast Asian Games,” said Black during the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Smart/PLDT and the country’s 24/7 sports app Arena Plus.
At the same time, Black said winning the gold this time will be far different than when his team won the SEA Games gold 14 years ago in Jakarta.
“It’s a lot different now. Things have changed at how teams are recruiting players now. Things are different in the sense that everybody has improved in Southeast Asia,” he said.
“But the goal will definitely be to win the gold,” said Black, adding that once the initial pool of players is formed, he will call for practices on Mondays and prior to departure for Thailand, the team will do eight to nine straight days of practice.
There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.
SEO YUN KIM seized the solo lead with a gritty one-under 69 to open the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Negros Occidental Classic at the unforgiving Marapara Golf and Country Club on Tuesday.
A w eek removed from a gutwrenching collapse in Binitin where she squandered a six-shot lead in the final round, the 21-year-old Korean stormed back into contention to redeem herself in a week’s time.
“I don’t want to think or recall my past performances because if I do, this only makes me nervous,” said Kim, who admitted that the scars from last week’s collapse still linger. “I want to play without my mind wandering somewhere else, just stay focused.”
K im birdied No. 7 late in her round to cap a card of four birdies against three bogeys for a narrow one-shot edge over five players after a wild opening round where the leaderboard shifted late in the round.
Florence Bisera, Lois Kaye Go, Tiffany Lee, Princess Superal and surprise package Angela Mangana all signed for matching 70s to stay within striking distance, while others who once looked poised to dominate faltered under the rain-softened Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course’s subtle but brutal demands.
Princess Superal, aiming for a follow up to her Caliraya Springs’ playoff victory, clawed back from a one-over backside with a flurry of birdies before a bogey on the par-three No. 8 dropped her back to even par. Lois Kaye Go was steady but let a share of the lead slip away with a bogey on the 18th.
M angana—after barely earning her Tour card last week in Bacolod— shone early with a two-under frontside 33 before losing momentum on the closing stretch for a 70. Behind the top six, a logjam is forming. Mafy Singson looked sharp
Nagga in Pool A play on Friday. The match starts at 7 p.m. after a dazzling opening show featuring Korean pop sensation BOYNEXTDOOR and Cebuana star Karencitta at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available via philippineswch2025.com.
J osafat is
early but unraveled with four straight bogeys from No. 10 for a 73. Daniella Uy and Pamela Mariano are still very much in the mix at 74, just five off the lead. Villanueva in control with 65 DINO VILLANUEVA rode a blistering frontside performance that verged on the spectacular to overcome a shaky windup and seize control after 18 holes with a five-under 65 also on Tuesday. C oming off a hole-in-one feat to cap his campaign in last week’s Bacolod Challenge, Villanueva looked unstoppable out of the gates, torching the Marapara layout with a jawdropping 28 on the front nine—a run highlighted by four straight birdies from No. 5 and a pitch-in eagle on the ninth under overcast skies and amid tricky course conditions. W hat was expected to be a grinding survival round on the tight, hazardladen par-70 course turned into a showcase of poise and precision, at least for the first half, as the 13-year pro in search of a breakthrough Philippine Golf Tour victory played near-flawless golf, hitting fairways and sticking approaches close to set up makeable putts.
DY BLACK
JOSAFAT TAGUIBOLOS MALABUNGA K ALINGKING
SEO YUN KIM (upper right) is in strong contention at Marapara and so is Dino Villanueva who cards a blistering five-under 65 on Tuesday. PGT PHOTO
ALEX EALA jumps 14 places up in the updated Women’s Tennis Association points rankings. FB PAGE
