THE volatile geopolitical situation in the region as well as domestic political issues could prevent the Philippines from attracting more foreign businessmen to invest in the country.
Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong & Co., said this has already become evident in the latest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday.
The BSP reported that FDI inflows contracted 23.8 percent to $3.4 billion in January to June 2025. The data also showed FDI inflows declined 17.8 percent to
$376 million in June 2025.
“Yes, the United States tariffs hurt—especially our manufacturing sector—but it’s also about weak global trade and our own policy gaps,” Ravelas said. “The sharp drop in foreign direct investments is a wake-up call. Investors are watching how we respond.”
Ravelas told BusinessMirror in a phone interview that recent events in Indonesia and Nepal are among the issues that could also discourage investors from investing in the region, including the Philippines. Recent reports from Bloomberg said the violent protests over jobs and wages in Indonesia have left three
people dead and dozens of public facilities destroyed. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/08/31/ indonesian-president-prabowoscraps-china-summit-trip-afterdeadly-protests/).
In Nepal, protesters also “set fire to homes of some of Nepal’s top political leaders in opposition to a social media ban that was lifted a day after the deadly anti-government protests.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/09/09/protesters-innepal-attack-homes-of-political-leaders-over-social-mediaban-and-corruption/).
“If we don’t fix logistics, clarify
rules, and build confidence, this could turn into a trend. But there’s still time to turn things around,” Ravelas said. “They will stay at the sidelines and wait for clarity.” BSP data showed that the slowdown in FDI net inflows during the month reflected the shift in nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings) to $57 million outflows from $85 million
JOBLESS RATE
their jobs— are not disasterproof as extreme weather events led to significant job losses in July, according to the national government and local economists.
Typhoons and the floods that ensued as a consequence led to an increase in the number of jobless Filipinos to 2.59 million in July 2025. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/09/10/more-pinoys-jobless-in-july-psa/).
Typhoons were also to blame for the increase in underemployment, which reached 6.8 million, and the 1.42-million decline in Labor Force Participation to 48.64 million, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told reporters.
“What happened in the July round, first, many areas of our country were hit by typhoons; this is what we really saw as the main reason for the decline
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE decline in construction employment could worsen in the coming months as the government’s ongoing investigation into flood control projects (FCP) disrupts infrastructure works, labor experts warned on Wednesday.
Results from the July 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed construction jobs dropped by 206,000 quarter-on-quarter.
The sector, which has been a driver of employment, also shed 147,000 jobs compared to the same period last year.
Ateneo de Manila University
economist Leonardo A. Lanzona
Jr. explained that declines in construction jobs are not unusual since the industry is largely seasonal and project-based.
“Many construction workers are hired on short-term contracts tied to specific projects. When a project stops or gets cancelled due to typhoon damage, these temporary contracts simply aren’t renewed,” he told the BusinessMirror
However, Lanzona pointed out, the current probe on flood control projects could aggravate these normal fluctuations.
“The ongoing investigations will even make these jobs more precarious. Government should
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THE reduced import volumes and sustained drop in global oil prices dampened revenues of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in August.
Preliminary data from the BOC showed it collected P78.517 billion last month, just 0.01 percent or P5 million lower than the P78.521 billion recorded in August last year.
According to the bureau, the decline in revenues it collected last month “is a direct consequence of reduced import volumes and continued decline in global oil prices, which significantly undermined the BOC’s revenue-generating capacity.”
“These external economic pres-
sures have been further compounded by operational disruptions caused by holidays and work suspensions due to inclement weather, which collectively contributed to the downturn in collections,” it added.
Month-on-month, the BOC’s collection declined by 7.8 percent from the P85.180 billion posted in July 2025.
Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla told the BusinessMirror last Wednesday that the BOC had “a little shortfall” in its collections due to lower import volumes and with August being tagged as “Ghost Month.” During the so-called “Ghost Month,” many people refrain from starting new businesses or making
investments in debt instruments grew by 9.3 percent to $305 million from $279 million.
“Equity capital placements in June 2025 were sourced primarily from Japan, the United States, and South Korea. Industries that received most of these investments were manufacturing, real estate, and wholesale and retail trade,” BSP said.
BSP statistics on FDI are compiled based on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, 6th Edition (BPM6). FDI includes investment by a non-resident direct investor in a resident enterprise, where the equity capital in the latter is at least 10 percent. It also includes investments made by a nonresident subsidiary or associate in its resident direct investor. FDI can be in the form of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and borrowings.
BSP FDI statistics are different from the investment data of other government sources. BSP FDI covers actual investment inflows. In contrast, the approved foreign investments data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are sourced from Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). These represent investment commitments, which may not necessarily be fully realized in a given period. Furthermore, the PSA data are not based on the 10-percent foreign ownership criterion under BPM6. The BSP’s FDI data are presented in net terms (i.e., equity capital placements less withdrawals). On the other hand, the PSA’s foreign investment data do not account for equity withdrawals. Cai U. Ordinario
Steepest decline in 5 mos: July factory output shrinks
By Cai U. Ordinario
THEcountry’s manufacturing output contracted for the first time after three consecutive months of growth, marking the steepest decline in five months, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Based on the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (Missi), the country’s Volume of Production Index (VoPI) contracted 1.1 percent in July 2025. The largest contraction in VoPI recorded this year was the 1.9-percent decline posted in February 2025.
However, National Statistician
Claire Dennis S. Mapa noted that while there was a decline in the overall VoPI, manufacturing output in food manufacturing prevented losses in manufacturing jobs in July.
“Generally, manufacturing as reported in the Missi [comes with a reduction in production]. If you look at the sub-industries, particularly food and meat products, they gained (in production),” Mapa said in a briefing
on Wednesday, speaking partly in Filipino.
In the Labor Force Survey results, manufacturing gained 109,000 jobs in July. This meant there were 3.56 million workers in the manufacturing sector in July 2025, higher than the 3.45 million posted in July 2024. Mapa said this was largely due to the growth in the food manufacturing sector which posted a VoPI of 16.5 percent in July 2025, faster than the 13.3 percent posted in July 2024. However, this was slower than the 22.4 percent posted in June 2025.
Meanwhile, in terms of Value of Production Index (VaPI), PSA data showed this contracted 1.3 percent in July 2025, a reversal from a 1.2-percent annual increase in June 2025.
The decline in the VaPI was the lowest recorded since it contracted 4.1 percent in November 2024. In July 2024, the VaPI for manufacturing also posted a growth of 6.6 percent.
In terms of the VaPI for food manufacturing, the data showed this growth was recorded at 17 percent in July 2025. This was faster than the 14.4 percent posted in July 2024, but slower than the 22.9 percent recorded in June 2025.
The PSA data also showed that based on responding establishments, the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in July 2025 was reported at 77.1 percent.
The average capacity utilization rate in July was faster than the 76.6 percent in June 2025 and the 75.8 percent recorded in July 2024.
PSA said all industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent during the month.
Typhoons…
in labor force participation, and in employment as well” Mapa said, speaking partly in Filipino.
“If you notice, the sectors that are quite sensitive to weather were the ones that reflected declines Agriculture, you have construction, you have fishing, and in a way retail trade,” he added.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan agreed and said that adverse weather conditions due to multiple tropical cyclones were to blame for the grim employment picture.
“[These] led to widespread flooding, landslides, and other disruptions. These events halted economic activity and business operations across large parts of the country—particularly in Luzon, where a series of class and work suspensions were implemented due to displacement, inaccessible workplaces, and safety concerns,” the DepDev noted.
Temporary jobs FOR Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr., one thing this data shows is the reliance of the labor market on temporary jobs or work rather than stable employment.
Lanzona said if typhoons impact businesses and cause them to lay off workers even after a storm or spate of monsoon rains pass, this means these workers do not have tenure in their companies.
Ideally, he said, companies should be able to bounce back after typhoons or floods while they continue essential operations that do not require laying off workers.
“Permanent workers with secure contracts should see their jobs return as companies recover. Companies should bounce back from typhoons while keeping essential operations running,” Lanzona told BusinessMirror
“However, when companies do lay off workers due to natural disasters, they typically let go of their least productive employees first. This happens because removing these workers is seen as necessary for the company’s longterm survival and recovery,” he added.
Challenge THE challenge now, Lanzona said, is the lack of a government
The top three industry divisions in terms of reported capacity utilization rate were manufacture of tobacco products at 85.1 percent, other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment at 83.4 percent, and manufacture of leather and related products, including footwear at 83 percent. The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity or 90 percent to 100 percent was 42.9 percent of the total number of responding establishments.
Meanwhile, PSA said 35 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity and 22.2 percent operated below 70 percent capacity.
The Missi or the Production Index and Net Sales Index, continues to monitor the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector. With Erwin James T. Gianan
program to help workers “in precarious conditions.” These conditions can be seen in certain sectors such as construction.
In the latest data, a total of 147,000 construction jobs were lost. This meant there were only 4.5 million construction workers in July 2025—lower than the 4.75 million posted in July 2024.
Lanzona explained that while construction is considered a precarious type of employment, the government does not have programs to support them for long periods of unemployment.
“When a project stops or gets cancelled due to typhoon damage, these temporary contracts simply aren’t renewed. The ongoing investigations will even make these jobs more precarious,” Lanzona told this newspaper.
“There should be an unemployment insurance scheme that will tide them over until they get employment. In addition, the government should help them search for jobs or upgrade their skills to attain more regular jobs,” he added.
These programs may be needed, as there is a chance that severe weather patterns could complicate the employment situation in the country, among other factors, moving forward.
Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera told this newspaper that while it is possible that typhoons may impact the future jobs picture, it is crucial to consider other factors.
Rivera noted that job quality and stability matter, especially in the coming months when the country faces challenges such as weak demand which will affect the growth and employment.
Based on the data, there was a 27 percent year-on-year growth or addition of 699,000 jobs among those classified as engaged in invisible underemployment.
Compared to the previous month, the increase was 51.9 percent or an addition of 1.123 million among those who are invisibly underemployed.
The PSA said those classified as invisibly underemployed include Filipinos who are employed but are still looking for additional work hours to increase their incomes.
Further, visible underemployment—or those who are contractual or temporary workers—has also increased by 10.4 percent year-onyear or by 331,000 workers.
However, there was a 2.3-percent decline or reduction of 83,000 workers who were visibly underemployed on a month-on-
steel bars being produced by facilities using induction furnace (IF). “There’s a basis for this because in the Philippines, we’re in the Ring of Fire. We’re currently upgrading our standards to be on a par with all the rest in the Ring of Fire. Because right now, we’re not at par,” Hidalgo said. At a media briefing in Manila in April 2025, Roberto Cola, former president of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) and a member of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), reported that substandard steel bars already banned in some countries are still lurking around the steelmaking plants in the country. These are steel bars produced by facilities using induction furnaces (IF) which experts have long deemed substandard and could pose a threat to building safety. Cola emphasized that these IF-produced steel bars continue to proliferate in the market. In fact, he said: “For the Philippines, induction furnace steelmaking capacity increased from less than 150,000 MT per year in 2017 to around 3 million MT [MMT] today.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/04/13/not-with-substandard-steel-around/)
month basis.
“This may be due to weakening demand in key export-oriented sectors and delayed growth in domestic investment, especially as we navigate pronounced global headwinds and policy uncertainty,” Rivera told BusinessMirror
Meanwhile, apart from the weather, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas said the country should also monitor the impact of external factors on jobs.
The higher tariffs imposed by the United States on countries like the Philippines could lead to layoffs because of lower orders or a means to reduce production cost.
“Job losses here may become permanent if fears of Trump tariffs and related US economic policies are expected to persist,” Canlas told BusinessMirror
Government take BALISACAN stressed that in response to the decline in agricultural employment, government policies must focus on boosting productivity and resilience in the sector through modernized production methods, climate-smart practices, and stronger market linkages.
“This must be complemented by expanded rural infrastructure, improved digital connectivity, and increased access to training opportunities,” the country’s chief economist added. In addition, the government is accelerating the implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, the country’s first 10-year labor market masterplan.
Effective execution of the plan, Balisacan stressed, hinges on enabling investments in high-value sectors, aligning training and reskilling programs with emerging industry demands, and promoting flexible yet secure work arrangements.
“The latest employment figures underscore the urgency of modernizing our economic sectors to withstand disruptions, whether from climate change or technological shifts. We are also fully committed to enhancing employability, expanding labor market programs, and collaborating with key stakeholders to future-proof the Filipino workforce,” Balisacan said.
The DepDev chief also highlighted the importance of reducing the school-to-work transition period a nd enhancing youth employability. He said expanding youth employment programs, such as the Government Internship Program, JobStart, and the Special Program for Employment of Students, is essential to equipping young Filipinos with the skills needed to thrive in today’s workplace.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
DOJ summons Ang, more than 50 others
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Department of Justice (DOJ)
has issued summons compelling gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang and more than 50 others to answer the multiple murder and serious illegal detention complaint filed against them by the families of 34 missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungero.
State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon confirmed the issuance of the subpoenae which came after the DOJ prosecutors found basis to proceed with the preliminary investigation following the evaluation of the evidence so far gathered in connection with the case. Ang and the other respondents have also been included on the Bureau of Immigration’s lookout bulletin or watchlist to alert authorities of their possible attempt to leave the country.”
The DOJ said the subpoenae were released on Tuesday and were still being
served to the known addresses of the respondents as of Wednesday.
“Our goal is to have everyone served their subpoenas by today,” Justice Undersecretary Jose Dominic Clavano, DOH spokesman, said.
“So we can expect that all 59 or 60 of the respondents would have been able to receive their subpoenas yesterday or today,” he added.
The respondents were ordered to appear before the panel of prosecutors and submit their respective counter-affidavits on September 18.
Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan has tagged Ang as the mastermind behind the he abduction of the cockfighting enthusiasts four years ago.
He also linked actress Gretchen Barreto and several other individuals belonging to the so-called “Alpha Group” of Pitsmasters, which operates online cockfighting games, to the crime.
See “DOJ,” A7
Owwa to Pinoys in Qatar: Avoid public areas
IN the wake of Israel’s recent airstrikes in Doha, Qatar, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) urged overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the Middle East country to avoid going to public areas.
In an advisory posted in its social media page, Owwa said OFWs should remain calm and avoid going out of their homes for now to remain safe.
‘Discayas cannot be state witnesses’
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE head of the three-panel
House Infrastructure Committee has asserted that controversial contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya are unfit to become state witnesses.
Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro, the panel chairman, said that instead of placing the Discayas under the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program, the government should consider filing plunder charges—or at the very least, cases of corruption of public officials— against them.
“They are not qualified under the ‘least guilty’ standard. In fact, I believe they are among the
most guilty in the corruption surrounding flood control projects,” said Ridon.
“As one of our committee members pointed out, they can be charged with plunder based on their own affidavits, where they admitted involvement in corruption,” he explained.
He echoed Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto’s assessment that the Discayas are seeking state witness status to shield themselves from possible criminal liability while turning against public officials whom they admitted paying billions in kickbacks.
Sotto had previously defeated Sarah Discaya in the Pasig mayoral race last May.
Ridon also warned that the couple’s discredited affidavit,
already presented during Curlee Discaya’s testimony before the House panel, should be enough grounds for the government to reject any attempt to secure witness protection for them.
The possibility of granting state protection to the billionaire contractors was first raised at the Senate blue-ribbon committee hearing on alleged ghost flood control projects when Sen. Rodante Marcoleta still headed that panel.
During Tuesday’s InfraCom hearing, Ridon further revealed that based on financial statements submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Discayas had collected a total of P93.5 billion from government contracts between 2014 and 2023, mostly for flood control works.
“Based on your admission, you were making a net income of 10 percent to 15 percent. That means that you made P9.35 billion to P14 billion over the course of those years,” he told Pacifico Discaya.
“That’s not really that much, your honor,” Discaya countered.
But Ridon reminded him that he and his wife had boasted in recent television interviews that their wealth reached “eleven digits.”
“That means it’s in the billions,” Ridon said.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Discaya couple must first return the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous and substandard flood control projects if they want to be granted immunity.
PHL strengthens defense cooperation with Japan, Mongolia
countries to share classified information.
D“If you will need immediate assistance or have questions, you can contact officials in active contact channels of Owwa,” the agency said in Filipino in a new advisory.
OWWA said the affected OFWs can relay their concerns at the following contact
Israel conducted a “surgical strike” in a residential area where Hamas leaders were staying, in an effort to eliminate the leadership of the group. Owwa also said Filipinos in Qatar should continue to follow the instruction of local authorities and monitor the security situation from reliable news sources.
See “Owwa,” A4
EFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Philippine military and Japan’s SelfDefense Forces, amid China’s growing military presence in the East and South China seas.
During their meeting in Seoul, the defense chiefs also agreed to speed up discussions to conclude a general security of military information agreement, or Gsomia, that would allow the two
After the meeting, Nakatani told reporters, “The fact that we confirmed our commitment to deepening defense cooperation is very meaningful for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Also in Seoul, Teodoro met with Mongolia’s Minister of Defence Batlut Damba on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2025 on Tuesday where they both reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to strengthen their defense relations.
“The two Ministers emphasized the full implementation of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] on Defense Cooperation, underscoring its importance in advancing mutual security interests,” the Department of National Defense said in a statement on Wednesday.
The two defense chiefs also agreed to explore practical collaboration in key areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and counterterrorism.
Both also discussed the potential for
joint military training, capacity-building programs, and cooperative disaster relief operations.
“Minister Damba expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ participation in Khaan Quest, an annual multinational military exercise hosted by Mongolia, and proposed initiating educational exchanges, particularly between their national defense colleges,” the DND added.
See “Mongolia,” A4
DENR keeps 30% forest cover goal for 2030
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) aims to expand reforestation and enlist broader multi-sectoral participation to protect the country’s terrestrial areas, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
On the sidelines of the Forest Foundation Philippines’ nature-based solutions (NBS) event, Environment Assistant Secretary Noralene Uy said the target, known as the GBF
“30x30 goal,” commits countries to conserve at least 30 percent of the world’s land, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems by the end of the decade.
“We are now working under the GBF 30x30 target,” Uy told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino in Quezon City.
“We hope to be able to increase by 30 percent the terrestrial, land-based [areas] by 2030 because that’s the global target we are working towards,” she added.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that forest cover in the Philippines reached 6.91 million hectares in 2020, or 23.4 percent of the country’s land area. This marked a 2.9 percent rise, which is about
Legislator pushes online govt transactions
ALAWMAKER has pushed for the passage of the proposed Promotion of Digital Payments Act, which seeks to institutionalize the use of digital platforms in government transactions, tax collections, tolls, fees, and public disbursements.
In pushing the bill, Camarines Sur Rep. Migz Villafuerte called on the Bangko Sentral (BSP), national government agencies (NGAs), and local governments (LGUs) to intensify efforts in adopting safe and interoperable online transactions, saying this is crucial in overcoming persistent challenges to the government’s digital transforma -
tion agenda. He cited lingering obstacles to a full digital shift, such as unreliable digital infrastructure, poor internet connectivity in remote areas, high transaction fees, and limited merchant acceptance of digital payments.
Under HB 3646, digital payment adoption would be strengthened by mandating the BSP to fasttrack a national quick response (QR) code standard for interoperable payments; requiring LGUs to pass ordinances compelling businesses to install digital payment systems, with assistance for small and micro-merchants; allowing
agencies to set up technical support units and incentives for digital transactions; and directing the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to improve access and affordability of digital infrastructure.
The measure builds on Republic Act 11127, or the National Payment Systems Act, and complements RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018.
Villafuerte noted that the BSP has already reached a digital transaction share of 52.8 percet in 2023 and 57.4 percent in 2024, surpassing
193,000 hectares, from 2015.
To meet its commitment, the DENR is ramping up the National Greening Program (NGP), the country’s largest reforestation initiative launched in 2011 under Executive Order (EO) 26, which sought to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares by 2016.
Further, the Expanded NGP, issued through EO 193 in 2015, aims to rehabilitate 7.1 million hectares of degraded forestlands from 2016 to 2028.
The department has also set a campaign to plant five million trees by 2028 under the current administration.
“Many have indicated support, so it could be double or triple that,” she noted.
Other reforms
THE carbon market is being explored by the agency by opening identified forest areas to investment from private companies, civil society groups and development partners.
These efforts will support the Philippines’ updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which now includes forestry in its climate commitments.
Databases are being developed to monitor reforestation projects and guide future NDC submissions.
“Our issue is really on the scale. What we have in the Philippines are mostly small pilot projects, and we want to be able to scale that up,” Uy said. Alongside these initiatives, the DENR is finalizing its NBS framework with support from the United Nations Development Programme. The policy, set to replace the existing ecosystem-based adaptation principle, is intended to serve as a “mother policy” for NBS integration across government, non-profits, and the private sector. It also forms part of the Forest Carbon Policy Roadmap and NBS stocktaking studies now underway. The DENR stressed that these policies must align with existing national frameworks, including the Philippine Development Plan, the National Adaptation Plan and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
DPWH given until Sept. 15 to submit revised ’26 budget proposal to House
its 2023–2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) target of converting at least half of total retail transactions to digital mode.
He said HB 3646 aims to enhance fiscal transparency, cut transaction costs, expand financial inclusion, and strengthen the digital economy, stressing that no new or renewed business permit should be granted unless a merchant has a functional digital payment system in place.
The bill also authorizes LGUs to provide incentives such as reduced fees for merchants that efficiently adopt digital payments.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
‘Give DPWH free hand in reviewing projects’
TO ensure transparency and accountability, a legislator emphasized the need to grant the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) a free hand in reviewing all of its projects to ensure transparency and accountability.
Parañaque Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has vowed to make the city’s Second District a model of transparency and accountability in the implementation of infrastructure projects of DPWH. Yamsuan said he is giving
newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon a “free hand” to review all ongoing and proposed projects in his district to support the agency’s goal of establishing a comprehensive flood control master plan for Metro Manila.
“I, as the representative of the Second District of Parañaque, am giving you a free hand to review all the projects in my district. I leave it all up to you. If you think the project is feasible for our area, implement it. Remove or add what
you think will help our master plan that is designed to ease the problems of our country. Do it,” he said.
He said allowing Dizon to thoroughly assess DPWH initiatives would help address long-standing problems in flood control and ensure that resources are used effectively, starting with Parañaque’s Second District.
Yamsuan also lauded Dizon’s integrity and efficiency in public service, citing their decades-long working relationship since their early years in the office of the late
Senate President Edgardo Angara.
“I am grateful that you are the one appointed to that post. At least we can now sleep soundly knowing that you are now the secretary of the DPWH,” he said.
For his part, Dizon expressed gratitude to Yamsuan, whom he referred to as his “batchmate in government service,” and assured lawmakers of his commitment to deliver.
“You can count on us to do all that we can” Dizon said.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Cops nab online gunrunner, text blast machine seller
TWO persons, one selling a loose firearm, and the other a text and voice blaster machine online, were arrested separately in Quezon City and Tarlac province, the National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said on Wednesday. In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP-ACG chief, Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said one alias “Sonny,” 31, was arrested by operatives
Tarlac Provincial Cyber Response Team (PCRT) and the Paniqui Municipal Police Station in an entrapment for the illegal online sale of an SMS blaster device on September 3 in Paniqui, Tarlac. Yang said the operation was launched after the Tarlac PCRT discovered the suspect’s Facebook post selling a 16-port GSM Gateway (Text and Voice Blaster Machine) for P27,000.
Further investigation revealed that the item allegedly originated from equipment pulled out of a defunct Philippine offshore gaming operator hub and was later sold to the suspect online by a Chinese national.
Upon coordination with National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), it was confirmed that the confiscated item is a high-end device with Wi-Fi and call capabilities, distinguishing it from other text blaster machines previously seized from past operations.
Due to its built-in internet feature, the device has a wider range, enabling it to reach international calls, text, and voice communications.
Yang said the suspect is facing charges for violation of Section 4(a)5 (Misuse of Device) of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
“This operation reflects our commitment to safeguard the public from cybercriminals who exploit technology for illegal activities. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and report suspicious online transactions to the authorities
to prevent cyber-enabled crimes,” said Yang.
Loose firearm in QC
IN Quezon City, Yang said one alias “Binoy,” 24, was arrested by Cyber Response Unit (CRU) in an entrapment on September 3.
The suspect also advertised the firearm on Facebook for an initial price of P25,000.
After a series of conversations, the suspect agreed to sell the firearm for P20,000 arranged to deliver the item in exchange for the payment.
Seized from the suspect were one 9-mm pistol, two magazines, and 12 live rounds of ammunition, which will be presented as evidence in court.
The suspect is facing charges for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act).
“Using the internet to traffic illegal firearms poses a serious threat to public safety. We are intensifying our efforts to track down and stop those who exploit digital platforms for criminal activity,” Yang said. PNA
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday granted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) an extension until September 15, 2025, to submit its revised budget programs for Fiscal Year 2026.
The decision came after Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, in a letter dated September 9, formally requested Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the panel to allow more time to finalize the revisions.
During the budget hearing held on September 5, 2025 the appropriations panel deferred deliberations on the DPWH’s proposed allocation, directing the department and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to submit updated proposals by September 12. The motion was earlier pushed by Assistant Minority Leader Leila de Lima, the nominee of the party-list group Mamamayang Liberal to the House of Representatives.
In his letter, Dizon explained that the extension was necessary owing to the “volume of items and documents requiring review” alongside other pressing matters faced by the agency.
He assured lawmakers that the
Mongolia. . .
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Also, Teodoro welcomed the proposal and emphasized the value of fostering mutual understanding, trust, and regional knowledge between their armed forces. He further suggested expanding the exchange program to include technical experts, research officers, and civilian personnel from the DND and its bureaus.
“Both Ministers extended invitations for official visits to each other’s countries.
Secretary Teodoro also invited Mongolia’s disaster management officials to engage in collaborative efforts, particularly in disaster preparedness and response,” the DND stressed.
Owwa. . .
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details: Viber:+63 915 079 5005, +63 969 169 7068,+63 966 473 9543; and WhatsApp:+63 966 473 9543; Facebook page ng OWWA 24/7 Operations CenterOwwa Opc (https://www.facebook.com/ owwa.cares.3) or email the owwacares@ owwa.gov.ph.
This developed as the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that no Filipino has been directly affected by Israel’s strike. In a statement, the department said Philippine diplomats in that country are
additional three days would enable the DPWH to “exercise greater diligence and prudence” in aligning its programs with the administration’s priorities.
“We respectfully seek the kind consideration of the Committee on Appropriations in granting this request. Rest assured of the Department’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the budget submission is accurate, transparent, and fully aligned with the Administration’s priorities,” Dizon wrote. The committee’s chairperson, Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Sunasing, approved the request during Tuesday’s proceedings, saying the panel had already received Dizon’s letter.
She also noted that the revised submission, whether in the form of an errata or a complete proposal, will undergo the same scrutiny as other agencies’ budget proposals. The DPWH’s budget is among the biggest line items in the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), largely covering infrastructure, flood control, and road projects nationwide. The panel is set to resume deliberations on the DPWH’s 2026 budget on September 17, once the corrected documents have been submitted.
The DPWH has proposed a budget of P881.3 billion for 2026.
The two officials also committed to continued cooperation within the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum (ARF) defense dialogues. Both representing developing nations, they also expressed a shared interest in expanding cooperation across various sectors and strengthening people-topeople ties.
“On peacekeeping, Secretary Teodoro and Minister Damba exchanged views on their respective efforts to strengthen contributions to United Nations missions, with emphasis on increasing the participation of women peacekeepers. The meeting concluded with both sides pledging to work closely together to enhance regional stability and security,” the DND concluded. PNA and Rex Anthony Naval
checking on the condition of Filipinos living and working in Doha.
“No Filipino has been directly affected by the strike. In view of recent developments in Doha, the embassy urges all Filipino nationals to remain calm, monitor news from credible sources, and heed the advice of local authorities,” the statement said. In addition, the Philippine Embassy in Doha said: “In view of recent developments in Doha, the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar urges all Filipino nationals to remain calm, monitor news from credible sources, and heed the advice of local authorities.”
Zambo cops nab 233 fugitives, nets ₧1-B illegal drugs in August
By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox
DAVAO CITY—The Zam -
boanga Peninsula police
hauled back to prisons 233 fugitives of the law and seized more than P1 billion worth of illegal drugs in August.
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 9, covering the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao, said that series of coordinated law enforcement operations conducted from August 1 to August 31, “successfully arrested 233 wanted individuals, including 80 most wanted persons [MWPs] and 153 other wanted persons [OWPs], across various areas in Western Mindanao.”
Police also confiscated 204 firearms it classified as “loose.”
Also, in three anti-illegal drug operations alone in August, the police command already netted
P1.088 billion in shabu.
This included a drug haul of 89 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P605,200,000 in Zamboanga City last week, which also led to the arrest of a high-value individuals residing in the city and Basilan, a drug buy-bust on August 19 in Zone 1, Barangay Bunguiao, also in Zamboanga City of 67 kilograms of suspected shabu with estimated street value of P455,600,000, and another haul on August 19 of four kilos of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P27,200,000. The latter operation was conducted in Mayor Jaldon St., Barangay Canelar, Zamboanga City.
The PRO 9 said it conducted 157 coordinated operations across the Zamboanga Peninsula and operatives arrested 179 individuals linked to illegal drug activities.
BARMM elections on track: Comelec starts ballot rollout
By Ma. Alyanna Selda
HE Commission on Elections
T(Comelec) will start deploying election ballots and other materials this Friday beginning in Tawi-Tawi, marking the first rollout of materials for the October 13 polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Comelec Chair George Garcia assured voters on Wednesday that the BARMM elections will push through as scheduled, noting that all ballots have been printed and verified and are set for deployment across the region.
“We will begin deploying our equipment starting Friday afternoon, first in Tawi-Tawi and then in other provinces,” Garcia said in an interview. “As of now, our voters’ education campaign is ongoing in different parts of Bangsamoro, and the training of the electoral board members who will serve for Bangsamoro is also ongoing.”
Garcia added that while six municipalities in Basilan and four in Maguindanao have been classified as red category areas, none have yet warranted placement under Comelec control, adding that the peace and order situation in Bangsamoro remains “generally peaceful.”
In a separate Aug. 30 briefing, Comelec director and head of the packing and shipping committee Julio Hernan said the poll body intends to facilitate the simultaneous distribution of ballots, ballot boxes, automated counting machines and other poll materials between Sept. 16 and 30 to cut costs and streamline shipments. Additional allocations, if needed, would be delivered from October 1 to 8, he added.
Materials will be shipped from the Port of Manila to entry points in Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao before being dispatched to provinces across BARMM.
Comelec is set to deliver a total of 2,250,935 ballots for the BARMM elections: 251,958 for Tawi-Tawi, 439,311 for Maguindanao del Sur, 520,285 for Maguindanao del Norte, 695,669 for Lanao del Sur, 228,179 for Basilan, and 115,533 for the Special Geographic Area.
Issues
HOWEVER , this comes as Comelec
major investments to avoid bad luck, Maronilla explained.
“We kind of expected it because usually, August is a slow month,” he said, noting that the BOC set its targets a bit higher for the collection districts to collect more.
DPWH set to file criminal complaints against officials and contractors over anomalous flood-control projects
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will file criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman today, Thursday, against its own officials and several contractors implicated in anomalous flood-control projects.
In a media advisory, the agency said it is filing the charges at 9 a.m., marking the first wave of cases in what is shaping up to be the agency’s largest corruption crackdown in recent history.
No individual has been named as of press time.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the charges stem from
faces issues in the BARMM 2025 elections following the recent signing of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77 by Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, which redrew the region’s 32 parliamentary districts and reallocated seven seats originally assigned to Sulu, a province no longer part of BARMM. Because the law was enacted just 44 days before election day, Comelec said it lacked the time to adjust its preparations for the automated polls. As a result, only 73 of the 80 parliament seats will be contested in the October 13 elections.
Garcia also raised concerns over a second issue that the Comelec has yet to resolve, the “none of the above” (NOTA) option introduced under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
“The second issue is the issue of the ‘none of the above.’ For the first time in the history of our election, the Election Code of the Bangsamoro contains a provision that, in case there are five candidates for a parliamentary district, there will be a sixth candidate, the ‘none of the above,’” Garcia said earlier in a press briefing. “So we ask the question, what will happen if the ‘none of the above’ will win the election in that particular district? Who will the Comelec proclaim?”
Garcia noted that the poll body has no legal basis to interpret the provision without effectively legislating.
He explained that the clause was inserted at the last stage of the electoral code’s passage through a two-page explanatory note which states that if NOTA garners more than 50 percent of the votes, a failure of election should be declared and a special election must be held. However, the law provides no details on how to conduct such a special election, where funding would come from or who the eligible candidates would be.
The provision also states that if NOTA gets the highest votes but below the 50-percent threshold, the second placer will be proclaimed winner. According to Garcia, this runs contrary to the Supreme Court’s abandonment of the “second placer rule,” leaving Comelec without legal basis to rely on.
“That is one predicament, and we will have to come up with our interpretation by the first week of October, ahead of the October 13 elections,” Garcia said.
“Unfortunately, because of the low volume, the low base activity, it didn’t go in,” Maronilla told the B usiness M irror . “But I think we still performed better than we expected. Whatever shortfall we gained, we’re very much confident we can recover it during the ‘-ber’ months.”
From January to August this year, the BOC has raked in a total of P622.468 billion, higher by 1.31 percent from P614.394
evidence of a “pattern” across multiple projects: a compressed bidding process, the almost simultaneous issuance of a notice to proceed, and the expedited payment of contractors—even in cases where physical projects were absent or grossly substandard.
“What we are seeing here is a pattern. Almost the same. The
bidding, notice to proceed, and payment all happening on consecutive days. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same in other areas as well,” he said.
The latest discovery involved three non-existent flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro— funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) but with no trace of construction along the Panggalan, Tubig, and Catuiran rivers.
“There is nothing here. These are figments of imagination,” Dizon said.
Dizon also flagged a separate flood control structure in the same barangay for being substandard. He stressed that line-item budgeting in the GAA was designed to prevent such anomalies by making each project traceable to specific details and locations.
Inspections in Mindoro mirror earlier revelations in Bulacan, where lawmakers uncovered
“ghost” projects linked to contractors allegedly renting Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) licenses—one of the core issues raised in Senate and House hearings.
Ahead of Thursday’s Ombudsman filing, the DPWH chief also asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who has been linked to questionable projects.
Dizon said preventing Bernardo’s possible departure from the country is crucial to ongoing investigations and to the Senate probe being conducted “in aid of legislation.”
The crackdown on ghost and substandard projects forms part of the administration’s broader effort to clean up the DPWH, which Dizon said, already received about 100 complaints and reports of irregularities nationwide.
Teachers to receive overtime pay for extra hours—DepEd
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
PUBLIC school teachers who go beyond their six-hour teaching load will now be compensated for their overtime work, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said the move underscores DepEd’s commitment to value teachers’ sacrifices and align with the President Ferdinand Marcos push to provide additional support and benefits.
“Mahalaga para sa Kagawaran na mabigyan ng sapat na kompensasyon ang ating mga guro—lalo na kapag sila ay naglalaan ng dagdag na oras sa ating mga paaralan. Tugon natin ito sa panawagan ni
PBBM na tiyaking may dagdag na benepisyo at kompensasyon ang ating mga guro,” Angara said following the issuance of DepEd Order No. 26, s. 2025, which sets the Guidelines on the Payment of Overtime Services of Teachers.
ZTeachers will be compensated at 125 percent of their hourly rate for overtime rendered on regular workdays, and at 150 percent for services rendered on weekends, holidays, and special non-working days.
Furthermore, DepEd clarified that:
n During weekdays: At least two hours of overtime will be granted monetary compensation. Less than two hours will be converted into Vacation Service Credits (VSC).
n During weekends, holidays, and special non-working days: Up to four (4) hours of overtime will be compensated monetarily, with any excess converted into VSC.
The policy applies to all fulltime DepEd-employed teachers, including those in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) under permanent, substitute, and provisional appointments. Teachers are reminded that overtime must be pre-approved by the school head or authorized official and rendered only when strictly necessary.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mahal na Pangulo dahil laging nasa pinakamataas ng kanyang prayoridad ang edukasyon—lalo na ang kapakanan
ng ating mga guro. Patuloy nating isusulong ang mga makabuluhang inisyatiba upang higit pang iangat ang dignidad at kapakanan ng ating mga guro,” Angara added.
This latest issuance builds on the reforms introduced last year, when Secretary Angara signed DepEd Memorandum No. 53, s. 2024, which set out concrete implementation guidelines for DO 5, s. 2024. The Order streamlined the rationalization of teachers’ workload in public schools and the payment of teaching overload. These measures aim to foster a more supportive work environment by ensuring that teachers are fairly compensated for additional responsibilities.
DOLE-NCR: Alien permits now need 15-day processing
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Department of Labor and Employment–National Capital Region (DOLENCR) has reminded foreign nationals and their employers that alien employment permits (AEPs) now take 15 working days to process, up from the previous five.
In its latest advisory, the agency said the longer timeline is meant to allow a “more comprehensive” and “efficient” evaluation of applications from non-resident foreigners seeking to work in the Philippines.
The 15-day processing cycle covers several steps, including the review of documents such as educational credentials, work experience and qualifications, and the endorsement of the application to the Regional Director for approval.
It also involves the submission of compliance documents when required, possible verification inspections, printing and preparation of the permit card, and the scheduling and release of the approved AEP.
“Due to the said extension of the process cycle time, a request to
expedite the processing of the AEP is not necessary, as the 15-working day period is designed to accommodate all necessary steps in the process, including evaluation, compliance, approval and issuance,” DOLE-NCR said.
The office added that incomplete applications will be put on hold until all requirements are submitted, which may further extend the processing period.
Earlier this year, DOLE issued Department Order No. 248, Series of 2025, revising the guidelines for AEP issuance.
Among the new rules are the
inclusion of an economic needs test to determine if hiring a foreign national is justified, as well as requirements for Understudy Training and Skills Development Programs to ensure Filipino counterparts acquire the expertise to eventually assume the roles of foreign hires.
The order also introduced a simplified labor market test. Between 2022 and 2024, DOLE issued more than 192,000 AEPs The highest number went to Chinese workers at 73,518, followed by Vietnamese nationals with 43,580 permits.
CAAP champions shared responsibility for safer skies at APASS 2025
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reaffirmed its commitment to shared responsibility in aviation safety at the Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar (APASS) 2025 on September 10 and 11 in Pasay City.
CAAP Director General retired Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario underscored the relevance of this year’s theme, “Safety Without Borders:
billion in the same period last year.
The eight-month collection is already equivalent to 64.92 percent of its P958.714billion revised full-year collection target.
Anti-smuggling
MARONILLA emphasized that the BOC is strengthening its anti-smuggling measures to offset an estimated P150 billion in
Global Partnership, Local Impact,” which reflects the essence of protecting lives and strengthening trust in today’s interconnected aviation industry.
“Safety is not confined by geography, industry, or language. It is universal. It is built on shared values and collective actions. It reflects a fundamental truth: aviation is a shared responsibility, to which we, at the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines, is deeply committed,” Lt. Gen. Del Rosario said during his speech at the event.
Organized by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) and hosted by Philippine Airlines, APASS is the region’s premier forum for advancing aviation safety. This year’s seminar featured four focus areas: flight safety, cabin safety, engineering and maintenance, and turboprop operations.
CAAP’s participation in the seminar demonstrates its dedication to strengthening collaboration with regional and international partners, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos and Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez to continuously raise the Philippines’ aviation standards.
Discaya’s revenues: From 0 to billions starting 2016
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
AHOUSE of Representatives leader revealed that contractor Pacifico Discaya II’s revenues surged from practically nothing before 2016 to billions of pesos during the previous administration.
Discaya and his wife, Sarah, owners of St. Timothy Construction and several other fcompanies, are at the center of the House investigation into ghost and substandard flood control projects flagged by President Marcos.
During a recent hearing of the House Infra Committee, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin questioned Discaya over the “extraordinary rise” in revenues of his construction companies.
Garin said the sudden financial windfall of the Discaya group of companies undermines the couple’s credibility, particularly after they implicated lawmakers in alleged anomalies during a Senate investigation.
Citing financial statements submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Garin noted that Discaya-linked companies reported zero revenues in 2014 and 2015 and only P99.25 million in 2016.
Revenue surge BY 2017, revenues surged to P1.034 billion, a 942 percent increase from the previous year, said Garin.
“When we entered 2017, your total revenue jumped to P1,034,443,000. Is that correct? And this reflects an increase of 942 percent compared to the previous year’s revenue?” Garin, who represents Iloilo, pressed.
Curlee answered, “Yes, your honor.”
IN 2018, Garin said Discaya’s revenues spiked further to P12.05 billion, another 1,065 percent increase, before reaching P13.55 billion in 2019.
Garin emphasized that the billions kept coming even during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when ordinary Filipinos were struggling.
“This was when many lost their jobs, faced uncertainties, sank into debt, and struggled with the high cost of testing in the Philippines,” she said.
“This was also the period when our healthcare workers were underpaid. Yet the Discaya group of companies earned P11.583 billion from government projects in 2020,” she added.
According to Garin, the revenues continued to balloon: P16.07 billion in 2021, P20.52 billion in 2022, and P18.62 billion in 2023—all from government contracts.
“Of course, with due courtesy to Mr. Discaya, maybe they took advantage of a situation,” Garin said.
She likened it to being so hungry that one devours everything in sight without regard for others.
Garin stressed the inquiry’s broader goal: to prevent such schemes from persisting under the present administration.
“As a Filipino, I am relieved that this has been uncovered. My hope is that this practice ends under the current administration, because we cannot allow the continuity of such projects,” she said.
NEWLY installed Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday night said the Senate should consider releasing partial committee reports on ghost and substandard flood control projects instead of waiting for the full investigation to be completed.
During his interpellation on Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s second privilege speech about the issue of substandard and ghost flood control projects, Cayetano warned that delaying action could allow those involved to escape accountability by dragging many names into the controversy.
He was apparently alluding to observations that the “bombshell” sworn statement before senators by contractor spouses Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya at Monday’s Blue Ribbon was full of inconsistencies and appeared to be “selective” in its recollection.
“Will you be in favor of partial committee reports kung klarong-klaro [if the issues are very clear]?” Cayetano asked Lacson, who responded in the affirmative.
“I know it’s fraught with danger, [but] if the investigation takes us until the end of
Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro, who chairs the House InfraComm, said the couple must address three glaring gaps in their Senate testimony: no record of political payoffs before 2022, no senator supposedly involved, and their claims of minimal profits despite displays of immense wealth.
Selective amnesia
BATANGAS Rep. Gerville Luistro accused Curlee of “selective amnesia” for refusing to identify officials who allegedly demanded kickbacks during the Duterte years, when his companies secured billions worth of contracts.
During the inquiry of the House InfraComm, Discaya admitted that officials had demanded money from him even during the Duterte administration but refused to identify them, unlike in his affidavit, where he named lawmakers and DPWH officials for more recent years. Luistro reminded Discaya that testimony under oath requires full disclosure, saying his refusal to name names from 2016 to 2022 cast “strong doubt” on the credibility of his affidavit submitted to the Senate, which only cited personalities from 2023 to 2024. Luistro pointed out that Discaya and his companies—collectively known as the Discaya Group of Construction Companies— cornered P12 billion worth of contracts during the Duterte years, ranking number one nationwide among contractors with the biggest awarded projects.
The Discayas earlier testified before the Senate, accusing lawmakers of benefiting from anomalous flood control projects. They also submitted an affidavit detailing alleged fund flows and beneficiaries—claims that those implicated have denied.
Cayetano warns vs squid tactics in flood control corruption probe
the year… [and that’s the only time we will have a] committee report, pangalawang [it’s the second] debate [na] rito sa committee report,” Cayetano added.
In his speech, Lacson revealed that certain contractors tied to the Bulacan District Engineering Office were even known to casino employees. He also identified individuals allegedly hiding behind false identities by managing to secure valid ID cards and driver’s licenses.
With this, Cayetano pointed out that corruption networks often use confusion as a tactic to blur accountability.
“If you cannot convince them, confuse them. Mukhang iyan ang [It seems that’s the] strategy. Atnarinigkonaitoeven before the speeches na ‘pagka nilabas ninyo ito, idadamay ko na lahat.’Ang problema natin ngayonsinoang[nagsasabing]totooathindi [And I’ve heard it before the speeches were made that ‘if you expose this, I will drag down all of you. Our problem now is unearthing who is telling the truth],” he said.
Cayetano added that identifying those clearly guilty at an earlier stage could give
direction to the investigation and prevent attempts to muddyle the issues.
“’Pag ka ‘iyong klarong-klaro na guilty or at least the evidence is overwhelming, that will also help us get direction,” he said. He also issued the reminder that exposure alone will not solve the problem unless people are held accountable.
“It’s not enough that the problem is exposed, it’s not enough that there’s a solution…someone must really be accountable,” he said, partly in Filipino.
Acknowledging the complexity and broad range of issues in the multibillionpeso flood control corruption mess, Lacson said he will first pass on to relevant agencies the low-hanging prosecutorial fruits, such as the charges of malversation and falsification of public documents against those parties—DPWH engineers and contractors—who made possible some of the ghost projects. The plunder cases, he said, take long, so it is important to first prosecute the ones where the evidence is already overwhelming.
Butch Fernandez
Four legislators seek opening of House members’ SALNs
IN the spirit of transparency and accountability, four lawmakers on Wednesday filed a resolution directing the Secretary General of the House of Representatives to make the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of all House members available to the public.
House Resolution 271 was filed by Partylist Reps. Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula of Akbayan and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.
The move comes as the House investigates alleged anomalies in flood control projects, including ghost projects, overpriced contracts, questionable bidding, and possible conflicts of interest involving relatives or associates of public officials.
“The Constitution is clear: public office is a public trust. If we truly want to weed out corruption, lawmakers must first open themselves to scrutiny,” Diokno said.
“By making our SALNs open to public
DOJ
Continued from A3
The missing sabungeros were believed to have been summarily executed following their abduction four years ago after they were caught cheating during games.
Ang has denied any participation in the disappearance of the sabungeros and, instead, accused Patidongan of trying to extort P300 million from him in exchange
scrutiny, we are showing the people that we have nothing to hide and everything to account for,” he added.
“Recent flooding has raised serious concerns about irregularities in the implementation of flood control projects, including allegations of ghost projects, overpriced contracts, questionable bidding practices, and the involvement of relatives or close associates of public officials,” the resolution stated.
The resolution noted that under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, SALNs must be made available for inspection at reasonable hours and for copying within ten working days of filing.
However, the Office of the Ombudsman restricted public access to the SALNs on file with its office through Memorandum Circular 1, s. 2020 issued during the Duterte administration.
for not dragging his name on the case.
In a statement Ang’s lawyer Gabriel Villareal said: “We welcome the opportunity to respond frontally to the accusations which have been since been shrouded in innuendo and unsubstantiated claims by a Julie “Dindo” Patidongan, who, by evidence we have unearthed in the meantime, appears to have had motive to and is the one responsible for the disappearances.”
“The time for reckoning has come.
In time, the truth about the one truly
To protect lawmakers’ privacy and safety, the resolution proposed that sensitive information such as home addresses, signatures, and ID details be redacted from publicly released documents.
Diokno earlier urged members of the InfraCom investigating the flood control issue to “make a full disclosure of financial, business, or pecuniary interest that may be directly or indirectly affected by any investigation into the government’s past or present flood control projects.”
“I believe we need to assure the public that this investigation will not be a whitewash and that no members of the three committees conducting this investigation have a conflict of interest,” Diokno said.
He also challenged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials involved in the flood control controversy to submit their SALNs and sign bank secrecy waivers to ensure full accountability. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
responsible for the disappearances of the missing sabungeros will [come] out,” he added Barreto, through her lawyer Alma Mallonga, has denied any involvement in e-sabong operations of Pitmasters Group, owned by Ang, and in the disappearance of the sabungeros.
Mallonga said Barreto was merely an “investor in the business” among around 20 other individuals who are considered “alpha members.”
A8 Thursday, September 11, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Nepalese army deployed as protests over social media ban, corruption turn violent
By Binaj Gurubacharya The Associated Press
KATHMANDU, Nepal—
Nepalese soldiers guarded the streets of the country’s capital on Wednesday and ordered people to stay at home as they moved to restore order after tens of thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to government buildings and attacked politicians.
Armed troops guarding the main areas of Kathmandu appeared to give some sense of control returning to the city that was engulfed in violence and chaos in the previous days. Soldiers told residents about the curfew in place as they checked vehicles and people.
The army had warned late Tuesday that security forces were committed to preserving law and order. The military is rarely mobilized in Nepal and had initially stayed in the barracks as police failed to control the situation. An army statement said 27 suspected looters have been arrested.
Earlier on Tuesday, the protests had grown increasingly violent as demonstrators set fire to government buildings and politicians’ homes and attacked some leaders.
As criticism of the country’s political elite widened, the prime minister resigned, though it appeared to have little effect on the unrest.
Tens of thousands of protesters remained on the streets, blocking roads and storming government facilities. Army helicopters ferried some ministers to safety.
Also Tuesday, hundreds of inmates escaped from prisons in Kathmandu and other cities after police there abandoned their posts as a growing number of protesters attacked the security forces.
Anger over the social media ban was just the beginning ON Monday, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped Katmandu, with police opening fire on the crowds,
killing 19 people. The social media ban was lifted on Tuesday, but the protests continued, fueled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption.
President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, appealed to the protesters to pursue a peaceful resolution and stop further escalation. He accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and tasked him with leading a caretaker government until a new one is in place, though Oli’s position and whereabouts were not clear.
The demonstrations—dubbed the protest of Gen Z—began after
the government blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying those companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.
The protests spiraled to reflect broader discontent.
Many young people are angry that the children of political leaders—so-called nepo kids—seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at about 20% last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates that more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day
to seek work in the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
Political leaders, buildings and homes were targeted VIDEOS shared on social media show protesters beating up Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the current foreign minister. Both appeared to be bleeding, while one video shows the party leader being helped to safety. The party is the country’s largest and is part of the governing coalition.
Smoke was still rising Wednesday from the parliament building, presidential house, the central sec -
retariat that houses the offices of the prime minister and key ministries, and the prime minister’s official residence.
The building of Kantipur publication, Nepal’s biggest media outlet, was torched and damaged. Car showrooms were also torched and burned-out vehicles dotted the streets.
In addition to the 19 fatalities, scores of people were wounded. Oli has ordered an investigation into the shootings and promised compensation to the families.
The government is seeking to regulate social media
THE violence unfolded as Nepal’s government pursues a broader attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the 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 would require 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. Those that didn’t comply were blocked last week, though TikTok, Viber and three other platforms that registered were operating without interruption.
Poland shoots down dozens of Russian drones that violated its airspace during Ukraine bombardment
By Claudia Ciobanu & Illia Novikov
Associated Press
ARSAW, Poland—Po -
Wland said early Wednesday that it and its NATO allies had shot down Russian
drones that violated Polish airspace in what it called an “act of aggression” as Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media that “Last night the Polish airspace was violated by a large number of
Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.”
Poland’s armed forces were on a heightened state of alert overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday because of what they described as “further massive airstrikes against targets located in Ukraine.”
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that “more than 10 objects” crossed into Polish air space and those that constituted a risk to Poland’s security were neutralized. He thanked NATO Air Command and The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force for supporting the action with F-35 fighter jets.
Bernard Blaszczuk, mayor of the village of Wyryki in Lublin region, told TVP Info that a house was hit by “either a missile or a drone, we don’t know yet”. He said people were inside the building but nobody was hurt.
The Polish armed forces said Wednesday morning that a search for possible crash sites is ongoing and urged people not to approach, touch or move any objects they see, warning that they may pose a threat and could contain hazardous material.
Warsaw’s Chopin Airport suspended flights for several hours, citing the closure of airspace due to military operations.
EU says drones may have been intentionally flown into Poland EUROPEAN Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that early indications suggest the drone incident was intentional.
“Last night in Poland we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it
was intentional, not accidental,” Kallas said in a statement.
The EU’s top diplomat said that she is in contact with NATO and Poland’s foreign minister and following developments.
“The EU stands in full solidarity with Poland. Russia’s war is escalating, not ending. We must raise the cost to Moscow, strengthen support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s defense,” she said.
In a post on social media, NATO chief spokesperson Allison Hart said that “numerous drones entered Polish airspace overnight and were met with Polish and NATO air defenses.” Hart said later that the military organization’s 32 national envoys will discuss how NATO at a pre-planned meeting.
Poland says Russian objects have entered its airspace before POLAND has complained about Russian objects entering its airspace during attacks on Ukraine before.
In August, Poland’s defense minister said that a flying object that crashed and exploded in a
cornfield in eastern Poland was identified as a Russian drone, and called it a provocation by Russia.
In March, Poland scrambled jets after a Russian missile briefly passed through Polish air space on its way to a target in western Ukraine, and in 2022, a missile that was likely fired by Ukraine to intercept a Russian attack landed in Poland, killing two people.
Russian attacks hit central and western Ukraine
UKRAINE’S Air Force says Russia fired 415 strike and decoy drones, as well as 42 cruise missiles and one ballistic missile last night.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or jammed 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles, according to the report.
“At least eight enemy UAVs crossed Ukraine’s state border in the direction of the Republic of Poland,” the Air Force message said. Russian drones injured three people in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, its head Serhii Tiurin wrote on Telegram early Wednesday morning. He said a sewing factory was destroyed,
a gas station and vehicles were damaged, and windows in several houses were blown out.
One person was killed and one injured in Zhytomyr region overnight, regional administration head Vitalii Bunechko wrote on Telegram, while homes and businesses suffered damage.
In Vinnytsia region, Russian drones damaged “civilian and industrial infrastructure,” according to regional head Natalia Zabolotna. Nearly 30 residential buildings were damaged and one person was injured.
In Cherkasy region, several houses and a power grid were damaged in a Russian attack. In Zolotonosha district, a shock wave destroyed a barn killing two cows, regional head Ihor Taburets wrote on Telegram.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in its morning report on Wednesday that it had destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions overnight, including over the illegally annexed Crimea and areas of the Black Sea.
Kyiv anxious over RussiaBelarus military drills JOINT military drills involving Russian and Belarusian troops are due to take place in Belarus starting Friday and will last until Sept. 16.
Troops from both countries will simulate repelling an attack, including airstrikes and sabotage, according to official reports of the games, dubbed “Zapad 2025,” or “West 2025.”
from
Novikov
PROTESTERS celebrate at Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal’s government ministries and offices, after it was set on fire during a protest against social media ban and corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, September 9, 2025. AP/PRAKASH TIMALSINA
The
Trump floats joint US-EU tariffs on India and China to pressure Putin on Ukraine
By Skylar Woodhouse & Alberto Nardelli
PRESIDENT Donald Trump told European officials he’s willing to impose sweeping new tariffs on India and China to push President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table with Ukraine—but only if EU nations do so as well.
Trump made the ask when he called into a meeting with senior US and EU officials in Washington, according to people familiar with the discussion who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. The US is willing to mirror tariffs imposed by Europe on either country, one of the people said.
The proposal amounted to a challenge given that several nations, including Hungary, have blocked more stringent EU sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector in the past. Such
measures would require the backing of all member states.
Other potential measures discussed by US and EU officials include further sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers as well as restrictions on its banks, financial sector and major oil companies, according to the people.
Trump’s suggestion, first reported by the Financial Times, comes after his deadline for Putin to hold a bilateral meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy passed without indication that the Russian leader, who met Trump late last month in Alaska, was genuinely interested in engaging in face-to-face peace talks.
Instead, Moscow has stepped up its Ukraine bombing campaign, with a strike Tuesday killing at least two dozen pensioners as they collected payments in eastern Ukraine.
Any US action would ultimately
depend on Trump, who has so far refrained from punishing Russia directly despite skating through several selfimposed deadlines and Putin’s continued reluctance to negotiate an end to the war. Trump has, however, already doubled tariffs on India to 50% over its continued purchase of Russian oil.
Later Tuesday, Trump wrote a social media post that the US and India were continuing negotiations to address their trade barriers, and expressed optimism the two would reach an agreement to resolve their dispute. He also said he looked forward to “speaking with my good friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks.
Trump’s tariff proposal contrasts with a softer tone he has taken in recent months on China as part of apparent efforts to secure a summit with President Xi Jinping and a trade deal with the world’s second-largest economy. Last month, he extended
a pause on higher tariffs on Chinese goods into early November, a move that stabilized trade ties.
Xi would likely retaliate against any escalation. Chinese exports have shown resilience despite a 55% levy on shipments to the US, indicating Beijing has room to withstand more pain. For Trump, returning to tit-for-tat moves risks destabilizing China’s supply of magnets that are critical to American manufacturing of everything from mobile phones to missiles.
Such a scenario could also jeopardize a meeting between Trump and China’s top leader that both nations are working to arrange, and could take place as soon as next month on the sidelines of a major summit in South Korea.
Signaling Xi’s defiance against attempts at isolating Putin, Russia last week announced China had signed an agreement on the Power of Siberia 2, a
vast energy pipeline that Beijing had sought to delay for years. That came after photos of Xi, Putin and Modi smiling and holding hands at a summit in Tianjin were beamed around the world.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said his country had always adhered to an “objective and fair stance” on the war in Ukraine, when asked at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday about Trump’s latest tariff proposal.
“China is not the creator of this crisis, nor is it a party involved,” he said. “We firmly oppose using China to make excuses and exerting so-called economic pressure.”
A delegation of EU officials is visiting Washington this week to meet US counterparts and discuss the potential for joint action to pressure Russia to end its war against Ukraine and enter into negotiations with Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yuliya Svyrydenko, who also joined the discussions, said in a social media post that she urged Kyiv’s partners to target the shadow fleet, oil majors, refineries, traders, and other enablers. The discussions come as the EU is discussing the content of a 19th package of sanctions, Bloomberg reported earlier.
Moscow is already under crippling sanctions from both the US and Europe but has been able to skirt some of their impact by sourcing restricted items from China and other third countries, as well as finding customers for its oil and gas in Beijing, India and elsewhere. But as the Russian economy shows increasing signs of strain, measures targeting those supplies and sources of vital revenue would likely dial up the pressure on Moscow’s war machine and finances. With assistance from Charlie Zhu/Bloomberg
A10 Thursday, September 11, 2025
Pipeline deal to send Russian gas to China shows Beijing’s dominance in relationship
By David Mchugh & Joanna Kozlowska The Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany—The head of Russia’s state-owned gas company Gazprom says it has a deal to build a pipeline to China, but there are many unanswered questions about the details of the agreement.
On paper, the project—known as the Power of Siberia 2—would give Russia a way to replace some of the revenue from its decades of selling natural gas to Europe that was lost over its invasion of Ukraine. The pipeline would carry gas from reserves in western Siberia through Mongolia to China.
And what Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller called a “legally binding” memorandum to build the pipeline with the China National Petroleum
Co. is a chance for Moscow and Beijing to underline their deepening ties against the United States. Here are key issues surrounding the Power of Siberia 2 and why it can’t completely replace Russia’s lost revenue from Europe:
A new link to China
THE pipeline would run 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles) from gas fields in the Yamal Peninsula in western Siberia, past Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia, and then across Mongolia into China. For more than 50 years, Russia earned fat profits sending Yamal gas to Europe through pipelines leading west.
But Russia cut off most pipeline gas to Europe over the war in Ukraine, and the European Union wants to end the remaining trickle of supplies by 2027.
So, the new pipeline would be a way to shift those lost gas sales to a big new customer.
The geopolitics of the deal POWER of Siberia 2 would carry 50 billion cubic meters a year to China, compared with the up to 180 billion cubic meters a year that went to Europe—meaning the new pipeline could only make up part of the lost business. It would supplement a previous, smaller Power of Siberia line that carries gas from different fields in eastern Siberia with a capacity of 38 billion cubic meters per year.
Miller’s announcement, which came during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, left out key details. There was no agreement on gas prices or even who would finance the pipeline’s
construction.
Analysts say the announcement was primarily a chance for Russia and China to underline their closer relationship, and for China to snub supplies of US liquefied natural gas that comes by ship.
India is buying Russian oil despite US President Donald Trump retaliating with 25% tariffs on imports, and China’s purchases of US liquefied natural gas are blocked by tariffs imposed as part of China’s trade dispute with the Trump administration trade. Meanwhile China has started taking LNG shipments from Russia’s Arctic-2 terminal, which has been the target of US and EU sanctions.
So, the theatrics of the deal are clear.
“You’ve got this show of Russia, India, China saying, ‘you know what, we don’t care about your
sanctions, we don’t care about your LNG,’” said Michal Meidan, head of China energy research at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
The announcement was “an absolutely perfect way...to say: ‘Look, we’re not all talk, here’s an actual measure,’” said Annette Bohr, associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House in London.
But while the deal is “a step forward for Gazprom, it’s not a done deal. There’s no confirmed timeline, no definitive pricing agreement,” she said.
China’s hard bargain on prices DISCUSSIONS on the pipeline have moved slowly, largely because China has held out for low prices.
“At the moment, it’s entirely possible that Beijing is still only ready to commit to part of the
pipeline, and at heavily discounted rates, which has in fact been the problem for a number of years,” Bohr said. “So, Russia is, in effect, still subsidizing Chinese gas consumption.”
She added that “China is definitely in the driver’s seat” when it comes to energy deals. The announcement underlines that China is the dominant partner, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
China “has multiple other sources to import gas. So, if Russia is ready to provide conditions that satisfy China’s demands, then it’s probably a green light,” he said.
“But without that, it’s just a friendly reminder that Russia needs to accommodate some of Chinese
See “Pipeline,” A11
Israeli military urges full evacuation of Gaza City ahead of expanded military operation
By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, & Melanie Lidman The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—
Israel’s military told Gaza City residents on Tuesday to evacuate ahead of its planned offensive to take control of what it portrays as Hamas’ last remaining stronghold and where hundreds of thousands of people remain struggling under conditions of famine.
The warning came hours before Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas’ leaders in Qatar, intensifying its campaign against the militant group and endangering negotiations over ending the war in Gaza.
The alerts directed at Gaza City were the first calling for a full evacuation. Until now, the military has only told specific sections of the northern city to evacuate ahead of operations or strikes.
Associated Press reporters saw lines of cars and trucks leaving Tuesday, more than previous days. Children and adults sat atop mounds of blankets, pillows, chairs, and clothing piled high on trucks and wagons.
Residents with nowhere to go IN the wake of escalating hostilities and calls to evacuate Gaza City, the number of people leaving nearly doubled the daily average in recent weeks, a coalition of humanitarian groups monitoring the situation said Tuesday.
But many families remain stuck because of the cost of finding transportation and housing, said Site Management Cluster, which uses eyewitness accounts, social media and information from on
Pipeline. . .
Continued from A10 demand. And it’s telling you that China has tremendous leverage, and has, in a way, the seniority in this relationship.”
the ground to track displacements.
“We were displaced two days ago, and here we are, my wife and I, unfortunately, sleeping in the street,” said Hazem Abu Reyash. “There’s no shelter, no tent, nothing, no water, no food.”
An estimated 1 million Palestinians—around half of Gaza’s overall population—live in the area of north Gaza around Gaza City, according to the Israeli military and the United Nations. Many are exhausted from moving multiple times and unsure if traveling south will be safer.
“There’s no place for us. This is the second time we’ve been displaced, paying 800 shekels ($240) for a vehicle and finding nothing,” said Mohammad Ashraf. “We don’t know if God will make things easier for us. God willing, they’ll hit us with nuclear weapons and we’ll find relief.”
Israel says multiple towers destroyed in Gaza City ISRAEL said it has demolished 50 high-rise buildings in Gaza in the past two days. Israeli leaders accused Hamas of using the buildings for military infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said demolishing the high-
Does China need another fossil fuel pipeline?
GIVEN the global effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, one good question is whether China needs another gas supplier, says the Oxford Energy Institute’s Meidan.
rises was “only the beginning of the main intensive operation—the ground incursion of our forces.”
First responders rescued two survivors and pulled two bodies from one building on Tuesday, according to the civil defense, part of the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. It said others were trapped under the rubble.
The United Nations agency that oversees Palestinian refugees said Tuesday said the attacks on residential towers had left many families on the streets without shelter or basic necessities.
Israel is urging Palestinians to move to a designated humanitarian zone in the territory’s south.
Military spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee warned last week that the full evacuation of Gaza City was “inevitable,” saying families who leave would receive humanitarian assistance. But aid groups warned there was little infrastructure to support them.
Palestinians and hostage survivors protest Israeli operation
Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza City, including doctors and medical staff, gathered Tuesday to protest the Israeli warnings.
“We will never leave our land… health care workers won’t leave,” said Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, the general director of Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Dr. Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital, said that the facility remained open despite the unease and he didn’t notice displacement around the hospital. “But the atmosphere is tense and there is great psychological pressure on the staff and patients,” he told the AP after the evacuation warning.
In Jerusalem, families of hostages and former captives in Gaza pleaded with Israel to halt the Gaza City offensive.
“I was held captive by Hamas for 498 days and was released in a deal in February,” Iair Horn, whose
“It’s not clear that it really does need Power of Siberia 2,” she said, adding that there is “huge uncertainty about just how much demand China will have in the 2030s, even from Chinese analysts and Chinese institutions.”
China’s future demand is part
brother, Eitan, is still in captivity, told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. “If I was released through a deal, then apparently that’s the right way to free the rest of the hostages who remain.”
UN says it costs at least $1,000 to evacuate to southern Gaza
THE UN humanitarian agency said many displacement sites are overcrowded and that it can cost more than $1,000 in transportation and other costs to move to southern Gaza.
An initiative headed by the UN to bring temporary shelters into Gaza said more than 86,000 tents and other supplies were still awaiting clearance to enter Gaza as of last week.
The Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza said 1,500 aid trucks mostly carrying food entered Gaza last week, and there are plans to bring in 100,000 tents in the coming weeks.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people on October 7, 2023, and killed some 1,200 people, mostly
of a complex equation involving a shift away from coal, which emits more carbon dioxide, as the swing fuel used to cover peaks in electricity demand that can’t be met by renewables such as wind or hydro power.
A faster move away from coal
Israeli civilians. Forty-eight hostages are still inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how 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 some 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.
2 Palestinian teenagers killed in the West Bank
Two 14-year-old Palestinian boys were killed in the Israelioccupied West Bank on Monday, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Israeli military said the incident happened in Jenin when several people approached Israeli soldiers in a way that “posed a threat.” The area was under military closure and entry was prohibited at the time, the military said, without providing further information.
means more gas use over the short term, while a slower coal exit could increase gas consumption. Battery storage to cover demand peaks and nuclear power could also play a role.
Ahmad Majarmeh, who lives in Jenin, said Israeli soldiers started shooting “randomly” at a group of people collecting belongings from their homes, which they were forced to leave months ago. Majarmeh said his nephew, Islam Majarmeh, was one of the boys killed.
Also in the West Bank, an Israeli investigation continued into two Palestinians who opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people. It was the deadliest attack against civilians in Israel in nearly a year.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, but Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service said the two attackers had no known militant ties and no prior arrests.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he placed sanctions on the relatives and residents of the towns where the two attackers are from and canceled 750 work visas for its residents.
Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
“They might not necessarily use more gas if they do renewables and storage faster than anyone else, or if they find other ways where...they use their hydro and their nuclear,” Meidan said.
For China, gas “is sort of a nice to have (but) it’s not a must-have,” she added.
Kozlowska reported from London.
DISPLACED Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza carry their belongings along the coastal road toward southern Gaza, Tuesday, September 9, 2025, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders from Gaza City. AP/JEHAD ALSHRAFI
A12 Thursday, September 11, 2025
UN chief argues that investing in fighting poverty instead of wars would make a more secure world
Edith M. Lederer
The Associated Press
NITED NATIONS—Soar -
Uing global military expenditures are reducing essential investments in health, education and job creation and don’t guarantee peace, the United Nations chief warned on Tuesday.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the evidence is clear that heavy military spending often undermines peace by “fueling arms races, deepening mistrust and diverting resources from the very foundations of stability.”
With military spending surging to a record $2.7 trillion following a decade-long military build-up, the UN studied the impact on UN development goals for 2030. The resulting report, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future,” is expected to be discussed at the annual meeting of world leaders at the General
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report, the Philippine Department of Finance applied in November 2023 for a P29 billion (P710-billion) loan—P25 billion (P439 billion) of it from South Korea.
“While EDCF loan applications are typically preceded by consultations between governments, the Philippine government reportedly sent the application unilaterally without following this procedure,” the Hankyoreh21 report said.
A month later, the DAR Secretary and Undersecretary flew to Seoul, meeting MOEF officials, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hak-yong, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which manages EDCF funds.
The delegation included LCS Group chairman Luis “Chavit” Singson, a political and business heavyweight, and expressed a preference for Korean firms to join the project, said the Korean media report.
MOEF’s repeated ‘No’
BY February 2024, after months of review and no interest from Korean companies, the MOEF concluded that “EDCF support is difficult.”
It cited the logistical challenge of managing 350 sites with varying conditions, costly local permitting, and the Philippines’ weak road and
Assembly starting September 22.
The 17 goals adopted by world leaders in 2015 include ending global hunger, promoting good health and providing quality education for every child, while reducing inequalities in the world. In his July report on the status of the goals in 2025, Guterres said only 35% of them are on track.
He said Tuesday his report is a call to action to rebalance global budgets and spending, stressing that the current trajectory of military spending is “unsustainable.”
“A more secure world begins by investing at least as much in fighting poverty as we do in fighting wars,” Guterres told UN reporters. His report said that, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, last year’s $2.7 trillion in global military spending is projected to reach $6.6 trillion by 2035 if current trends persist. And increased military spending is widespread, with more than 100 countries boosting
transport infrastructure management.
A major red flag was the involvement of “Company A,” a Philippine consultant linked to a 1996 modular bridge project marred by overpriced supplies, unusable bridges, and confirmed cronyism.
Similar concerns had been raised in Manila: in October 2024, then Senator Francis Tolentino warned that a UK-funded modular bridge program had left most materials “still stored in a warehouse.”
Enter Rep. Kwon Seong-dong IN early February 2024—just after the MOEF’s internal rejection— People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, described as a “core insider” of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, directly pressed Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to reconsider.
Hankyoreh21 sources said Kwon suggested that EDCF support could secure nickel mining rights in the Philippines for Korean firms, and named Daewoo E&C and Sambu Construction as interested parties.
Despite the MOEF’s April 2024 formal refusal, Kwon persisted. In May, the Export-Import Bank’s Philippine office met with the DAR undersecretary, who again stressed the project’s priority status. Daewoo E&C later told the bank it could not participate due
expenditures last year.
“Redirecting even a fraction of today’s military spending could close vital gaps,” Guterres said, “Putting children in school, strengthening primary health care, expanding clean energy and resilient infrastructure, and protecting the most vulnerable.”
Only $93 million—less than 4% of the $2.7 trillion in military spending last year—is needed annually to end hunger by 2030, the report said. And $5 trillion could fund 12 years of quality education for every child in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
While $1 billion in military spending can create approximately 11,200 jobs in the military, the report said the same amount of money can create 26,700 jobs in education, 16,800 in clean energy and 17,200 in health care.
UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu told reporters that “rebalancing global priorities is not optional—it is an imperative for
to the project’s scale.
When no progress followed, Kwon summoned MOEF officials to his office, citing diplomatic ties and accusing bank officials of a “diplomatic gaffe” in Manila—an allegation the bank denied.
From rejection to feasibility study BY October 2024, under sustained pressure, the MOEF approved a reduced-scope feasibility study—70 bridges instead of 350, with a budget cut from P710 billion to P110–130 billion.
While the bank stressed that feasibility studies do not guarantee approval, the news magazine reported that MOEF’s own February 2024 review stated that “even if the project was conducted as a pilot or its scope was reduced, it was highly likely to fail due to the lack of infrastructure, such as roads.”
Lee: ‘Watchdog on power’ PRESIDENT Lee underscored the significance of halting the project before any disbursement, saying it was “fortunate the project had not yet started, so no funds from the EDCF or other sources had been spent.”
He added: “We prevented the unnecessary waste of 700 billion won in taxpayers’ money and blocked risks that could have led to poor performance and corruption.”
He praised the press as “a
humanity’s survival.”
Haoliang Xu, the UN Development Program’s acting administrator, stressed that development is indispensable for maintaining international peace and security.
“When people live healthy, educated and fulfilling lives in dignity, their societies are often more peaceful,” he said. “And vice versa, societies with high poverty rates and underdevelopment often experience insecurity and violent conflicts.”
Nakamitsu was asked how the UN can convince countries to reduce their military spending and spend more on improving the lives of the world’s more than 8 billion people. “There is no one single silver bullet,” she said.
The aim of the report, Nakamitsu said, is to start a very serious conversation by the UN’s 193 member nations, and in the public, on rethinking how global security can be achieved by investing more in development and economic growth.
watchdog on power and the salt that prevents social corruption,” expressing “deep gratitude for the courage and effort of the media in guaranteeing the people’s right to know through this investigative report.”
Kwon has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations politically motivated and insisting he merely supported a “livelihood project” for the Philippines.
LCS Group’s Korean footprint LCS Group, controlled by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Singson, has been actively expanding in South Korea in recent years.
In 2021, the conglomerate committed $100 million to the Mangsang District 1 development in the East Coast Free Economic Zone—its first major Korean project—envisioned as a mixeduse residential, commercial, and resort complex.
The group has also explored hotel and resort ventures along Korea’s east coast, partnered with Korean firms such as Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and launched K-pop tour and winter travel programs in Gangwon Province for Filipino tourists.
LCS Korea, its local subsidiary, was established to pursue longterm economic partnerships, with Singson citing Korea’s strategic location, investor-friendly policies, and personal ties as key draws.
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“The technology drivers such as [Industrial Revolution] IR 4.0, AI, big data. Because as you know, any technology-driven device you use, uses chips,” the Seipi chief explained to reporters, when asked which ones could mitigate the impact of tariffs.
He said this as Ines Lam, HSBC Asia Economist, said during MAP’s 23rd International CEO Conference that electronics exports from Southeast Asian countries have continued to be resilient, citing the trend of AI as the one driving up the demand for electronic products in the region.
“There are three factors behind the resilience of electronics exports from the region. The first reason is because the electronics industry is still exempt from tariffs right now. And the second reason is that for the past few months, we have seen what’s called frontloading of exports, and that’s when American companies anticipate tariffs to come. They have a rush of purchases from the rest of the world. That’s what we call the front loading, and that’s pushing agent exports higher in the past few months. The third factor is the seemingly unstoppable trend of
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offer programs that will support these workers for long periods of unemployment,” he added.
This newspaper earlier reported that many construction workers on flood control sites nationwide have been in “hanging” status for three weeks while the government investigates anomalies in flood-control contracts. (Related: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/09/09/ construction-workers-in-limbo-asflood-control-projects-stall/)
Their jobs were affected after the subcontractors they work for were also covered by the blacklisting of companies linked to those named by President Marcos Jr. in the probe.
Benjamin B. Velasco, a labor professor from the University of the PhilippinesDiliman, said the employment slump also reflects deeper structural issues in the sector that could magnify the impact of the investigation.
“The construction industry has been in boom for several years or more than a decade. I think it is now in the process of winding down due to the build-up of property assets,” Velasco explained.
He added that real estate demand has also been weakened by the slowdown in business process outsourcing (BPO) expansion and the shutdown of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Velasco said these structural headwinds, combined with the fallout from the flood
AI or artificial intelligence that’s been driving up the demand for electronics in this region,” Lam said. Lachica said the Philippines could ride the AI wave: “Absolutely, because it’s not just AI chips. It’s the peripherals that support a data server or computer so we’re certainly gonna ride that wave.” An October 2024 analysis by United Kingdom-based think tank Oxford Economics said the AI boom could become the biggest factor influencing Asia exports in 2025.
“Of global semiconductor production capacity and supplies of key materials, 75 percent is concentrated in Asia. More notably, for the chips under 10-nanometers that are required to execute advanced AI functions, nearly all fabrication capacity is located in Asia,” the think tank said.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed exports of electronic products amounted to $25.61 billion in the January to July 2025 period, 7.2 percent higher than the $23.88 billion in the 7-month period in 2024. In 2024, export receipts from electronic products amounted to $39.09 billion, a 6.7-percent contraction from the $41.91 billion recorded in 2023. Andrea E. San Juan
control projects probe, may push the downturn even further.
“Economic and political factors have converged, resulting in decreased employment in construction. The impact of the economic fallout from the outrage over corruption will deepen the labor market downturn in construction unfortunately,” he said. Both experts said government intervention will be crucial to cushion the impact of the decline.
Velasco urged the state to step in through pump-priming, such as building public transport facilities and pushing renewable energy projects that require construction labor.
He pointed out that even retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency remains an untapped source of employment. For Lanzona, the focus should be on worker protection.
“There should be an unemployment insurance scheme that will tide them over until they get employment. In addition, the government should help them search for jobs or upgrade their skills to attain more regular jobs,” he said. To recall, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier this year identified construction and transportation as key sectors expected to drive job growth in 2025, citing the government’s infrastructure flagship projects under the Build Better More Program. (Related: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/29/ dole-lists-construction-transportationamong-critical-sectors-in-2025/)
‘Wholesale price of rice falls on ample stocks’
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE average wholesale price of rice in August plunged to its lowest level in more than two years, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Data from the PSA showed that the average wholesale quotation for regular milled rice dropped by nearly a quarter or 24.5 percent to P35 per kilo in August, from P46.34 per kilo in the same period last year.
The latest regular milled rice price is the lowest level in two years and nine months, or since November 2022, when it settled at P34.88 per kilo, based on PSA data.
Figures from the PSA also indicated that the price of well-milled rice averaged P39.8 per kilo last month, which was the lowest since the P39.79 per kilo recorded in April 2023.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa attributed this to the rebound in local rice
production and the continued slide in the global prices of the staple grain.
He added that the government’s initiatives, such as Ricefor-All and the subsidized P20 rice programs, also helped lower rice prices.
“The confluence of these factors is affecting the [movement of] rice prices,” De Mesa told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.
On a monthly basis, the wholesale price of regular milled rice and well-milled rice were also 1.2 and 0.6 percent lower than the P35.44 and P40.05 per kilo recorded in July, respectively.
will have massive global effects on the rice industry.”
Last March, India lifted the last rice export ban following a series of export restrictions from 2022 to 2023. This resulted in a surge of Indian rice onto world markets, with projected exports of around 23.5 MMT in 2025, according to the study.
India alone shipped over 14.7 MMT until the end of August, which dwarfed Thailand’s 4.7 MMT and Vietnam’s 6 MMT in the same period, thus “dramatically” softening global prices. With India returning as a “leading price-setter,” the study noted that global rice prices hit multiyear lows in 2025.
THE government may allow Cambodia to export more farm products to the Philippines, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently met with Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina to bolster agricultural cooperation between the two nations. Among the discussions were the potential uptick in Cambodia’s agricultural exports to the Philippines, particularly its premium aromatic rice, citing growing demand in Manila and other urban areas.
The last time palay output breached the 9-MMT mark in the first half of the year was in 2023, when it reached 9.026 MMT.
Global supply glut MEANWHILE , a study recently noted that global rice supply glut, driven by India’s bumper
PSA data indicated that palay production in the first semester stood at 9.08 million metric tons (MMT), higher than the previous year’s 8.53 MMT.
crop and bulging stockpile, will keep international prices of the staple grain low into 2026. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/09/05/ global-rice-glut-to-keep-priceslow-in-2026/)
A study by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Senior Scientist Alisher Mirzabaev and The Rice Trader CEO Jeremy
PHL keen on allowing Cambodia to ship more food items
Zwinger said India’s government-held rice stocks reached 37.9 million metric tons (MMT) by August, owing to record harvests and minimum support price (MSP) procurement.
“With stocks at record highs and a new bumper harvest coming, potentially exceeding domestic utilization by 30 MMT, the oversupply situation in India
It indicated that high-level stocks, strained warehousing capacities, and incoming new harvest in India will put further downward pressure on global rice prices.
“Globally, rice supplies are abundant, and prices are expected to stay low into 2026, barring a major shock,” the study read. “The world rice stock-to-use ratio now exceeds 34 percent, one of the highest levels in modern times. Today’s level signifies extreme oversupply.”
He added that the Philippines is preparing to welcome more Cambodian agricultural products into its domestic market, which would enhance bilateral trade and food supply resilience.
“This bilateral meeting is a step forward to flesh out the agreement signed earlier this year by the Philippines and Cambodia on agricultural trade, cooperation, and knowledge transfer.”
The discussion concluded with both countries reaffirming their commitment to enhancing cooperation in agriculture, ensuring mutual food security, and promoting sustainable trade.
For his part, the DA chief noted that Cambodian products such as rice, fish, meat, and vegetables could help meet the country’s growing population needs.
The recent meeting between the officials took place during the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Cambodia, which focused on boosting collaboration in agricultural trade, food security, and market access for farm products.
Last February, the Philippines and Cambodia forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation during the state visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to Manila.
The agreement aims to boost investments in Cambodia’s agriculture sector, especially rice production. It also stipulates exploring trade opportunities in vegetables and meat, while
enhancing technical exchange and training.
“Cambodia will gradually be an important agricultural trading partner as the country diversifies its markets, particularly for rice,” the DA chief said in a previous statement.
The DA said trade between the Philippines and Cambodia in 2023 totaled $80.5 million, with agricultural products accounting for $20.4 million.
As part of the ongoing collaboration, the agriculture officials of the two countries visited the Khmer Food Group and the Tram Bok Modern Agricultural Community to observe best practices in vegetable farming and agriinnovation. Ada Pelonia
This startup turns almond shell waste into organic fertilizer
CHIPOTLE Mexican Grill
Inc. and Khosla Ventures
LLC are among investors providing a fresh round of funding for a startup that makes fertilizer from ground almond shells.
Nitricity, founded by Stanford University graduates, announced Tuesday that it has raised $50 million to scale production of its organic and vegan fertilizer and expand across the US and into Europe. The company is targeting organic farmers amid heightened concerns over the environmental and health impact of agrochemicals, a movement boosted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Our goal is to reduce emissions, promote healthy soils and help farmers improve yields,” said Nicolas Pinkowski, co-founder and chief executive officer. “There’s a lot of concern right now in the US about chemicals in and on foods. More and more people care not just about getting enough calories every day, but about making sure what they eat is healthy and safe.”
Conventional synthetic fertilizers are based on a century-old process that’s heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Producing fertilizers accounts for some 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers overapplying them in their fields can cause nitrogen-laden runoff that pollutes water and the air.
Nitricity uses almond shells, which are rich in nutrients such as potassium. The company first combusts the shells, then “brews” them in water, creating what it calls Ash Tea. The product is made using clean energy, and production costs vary with the price of electricity. Overall, Nitricity says its emissions are at least 92 percent lower than those of some other conventional fertilizers.
The liquid is sent to farmers who dilute it and apply it to the soil. The company is trying to compete with fertilizers derived from manure, which bring heightened food safety risks, Pinkowski said. Production costs are competitive with commercially available organic fertilizers, though the company didn’t share pricing specifics. Nitricity says that
Ash Tea increased yields by up to 30 percent in field trials.
Almond shells are abundant in California, the world’s top grower and where Nitricity is based.
The state generates an estimated 850,000 tons of almond waste a year.
Other startups are also trying to make low-carbon fertilizers. They include Toopi Organics and NPK Recovery, which make fertilizers from human urine, and other companies that use insects or seaweed.
Nitricity’s Series B round, which brings its total funding to $100 million, exceeds the total funding that’s gone into alternative fertilizer startups through this June, according to estimates from BloombergNEF. Other funders include Change Forces and World Fund, with Nitricity being the first US investment for
the European climate-tech fund. Venture funding for sustainable food production has declined steeply from a 2021 high as companies struggle to bring down costs. Nonconventional fertilizers also have relatively small uptake, making up less than 2 percent of the US market due to their relatively low nutrient content, higher costs and limited yield results, according to research from Bloomberg Intelligence.
The new funds will enable Nitricity to start field trials across Europe, where it plans to use local agricultural waste materials like wood and leftovers from olive oil output. It’s breaking ground this week on a new factory in Delhi, California, that’s set to produce 8,000 short tons of liquid fertilizer annually.
Bloomberg News
Global bird flu dialogue targets the rising pandemic threat
IN an unprecedented response to the rapid global spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), stakeholders and experts from across the poultry sector, public health, science, and policy spheres have convened in Brazil in a landmark meeting.
This first-ever global multisectoral dialogue, which kicked off last September 9, aims to forge coordinated defense against the escalating threat to animal and human health and agricultural livelihoods, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily infects birds. The virus belongs to the Type A influenza family, which is known for its ability to mutate and change rapidly.
Since 2020, HPAI has expanded rapidly across continents, devastating poultry flocks, impacting biodiversity, trade and food security, and raising concerns over its potential to spark a human pandemic. The currently circulating avian influenza panzootic is now widespread, and represents one of the most serious pandemic threats, experts warn. Avian influenza has spread to 83 mammal species including dairy cattle and wildlife, and poses a rapidly evolving risk.
“Avian influenza is no longer a sporadic threat; it’s becoming a global challenge,” Beth Bechdol, FAO deputy director-general said in a statement. “No single country or sector can tackle this threat in isolation—and failure is not an option. Practical, science-based collaboration like this is essential to protect our agrifood systems, livelihoods, and public health.”
Organized by FAO in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the event “Tackling high pathogenicity avian influenza together-Global science, policy and private sector dialogue” brings together around 500 experts and decision-makers to galvanize multisectoral collaboration and investment.
Representatives from the private sector, including industry associations involved in the production of poultry and the provision of animal health services joined government and scientific leaders for the first time in this type of global dialogue--providing an opportunity to better understand private sector’s challenges, recognize its ongoing efforts, and highlight the solutions it is already implementing to tackle the threat posed by avian influenza.
Experts from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas--many of whom are members of FAO and World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) OFFLU Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza – are also participating
in the dialogue.
“Addressing avian influenza requires a collective effort that unites countries, productive sectors, the scientific community, and international organizations. This challenge must be met with full transparency, as only in this way can we build trust and safeguard global food security,” said Carlos Favaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
“I would like to emphasize that this year, when avian influenza was detected on a commercial farm, Brazil demonstrated a decisive difference. Our swift and effective response highlighted the strength and credibility of Brazil’s sanitary system.”
Priority themes
THE event seeks to build on the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of HPAI, recently launched by FAO in collaboration with WOAH. This strategy aims to support the development and implementation of national and regional action plans while strengthening global efforts to reduce transboundary and pandemic risks.
The three-day event focuses on:
n Identifying effective HPAI prevention and control strategies—particularly in lowincome countries and informal backyard poultry systems.
n Promoting early warning systems, vaccination strategies, and biosecurity measures.
n Enhancing multisectoral coordination based on the One Health approach.
n Sharing innovative, field-ready solutions for diagnostics, surveillance, and outbreak response.
Thanawat Tiensin, Chief Veterinarian of FAO and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division summarized FAO’s approach in his remarks: “Improved surveillance, biosecurity, and vaccination when appropriate, combined with rapid disease control are keys to controlling this disease. At the same time, the sustainable transformation of poultry production offers new approaches and safeguards to prevent losses from poultry diseases. It will take a holistic approach and partnering with the private sector to effectively reduce the risk of avian influenza for generations to come.”
“The debate around avian influenza is a matter of international cooperation and requires joint efforts from all nations,” said Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein and of the International Poultry Council. “It is an issue with a direct impact on trade flows and, consequently, on inflation and on global food security. These are sensitive matters that must be guided by knowledge and science, and that call for a revision of concepts and paradigms.
THIS BusinessMirror file photo shows a local farmer in Candon, Ilocos Sur carrying a sack of rice fertilizer. PHOTO BY NONIE REYES
IMD report exposes PHL’s talent crisis: A call to action for educational reforms
THE Philippines’ recent drop to 64th place in the 2025 IMD World Talent Ranking serves as a clear signal of the pressing need for a robust strategy to develop, attract, and retain talent within our economy. This ranking marks the country’s lowest position in five years, a troubling trend that reveals deep-seated issues in our education system, investment in talent development, and overall appeal to skilled professionals. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PHL World Talent index rank at 4-year low,” September 9, 2025).
The IMD World Talent Ranking evaluates nations based on three critical pillars: Investment and Development, Appeal, and Readiness. Unfortunately, the Philippines has seen a decline in all of these areas. In particular, we ranked 66th in Investment and Development, underscoring a troubling lack of public investment in education and the development of homegrown talent.
Moreover, the absence of sufficiently implemented apprenticeship programs limits opportunities for students to gain practical experience in their fields. This deficiency directly impacts the quality of our talent pool, hindering the competitiveness of Filipino workers in a rapidly evolving global economy.
The Philippines also fell short in the Appeal category, ranking 56th. The IMD report highlights a low quality of life score of 4.57 out of 10, which poses a significant barrier to attracting foreign talent. In a world where skilled professionals have numerous options, countries must offer not only economic opportunities but also a high standard of living—including safety, health care, and infrastructure.
Alfred S. Panlilio, president of the Management Association of the Philippines, said that enhancing the appeal of the Philippines involves focusing on vital sectors such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In this era of rapid technological advancement, especially with Artificial Intelligence, it’s vital that educational institutions prepare graduates with relevant skills.
The country’s drop to 58th in the Readiness pillar illustrates a pressing need to align our educational system with the demands of the economy. With only 22.56 percent of graduates in STEM fields, we are at risk of falling behind in a competitive global landscape. Our educational system must adapt to industry needs and equip students with essential skills for future job markets.
The call for more investment in STEM education is essential, not optional. As Panlilio pointed out, the jobs of the future—many of which do not currently exist—will demand skills that are not adequately addressed by our present curriculum. A responsive educational framework that incorporates emerging technologies and methodologies is essential for preparing the next generation for the challenges ahead.
The decline in the Philippines’ talent ranking serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders alike. Addressing these shortcomings requires a unified effort to revamp our investment in education, enhance the quality of life to attract foreign talent, and ensure our workforce is equipped with the skills necessary for a competitive future.
We must acknowledge these challenges and take concrete steps to create a talent-rich environment. The future of the Philippine economy and the wellbeing of our people rely on our capacity to nurture and retain talent in a brutally competitive world.
BusinessMirror
Militarization always demands social sacrifice
NJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
ATO, born in 1949 to fend off Soviet ambitions, finds itself in 2025 not just surviving but thriving, with a collective defense budget projected to reach $1.6 trillion. The United States shoulders $850 billion of the total, while European allies show mixed commitment: Poland pushes past 4 percent of gross domestic product, Estonia hits 3.4 percent, yet Spain and Belgium dawdle at 1.4 percent. Nato now eyes a 5 percent GDP target by 2035, citing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and rising cyber threats.
New threats demand new strategies, granted, but one wonders if this endless escalation secures peace or merely inflates the global arms industry’s profits.
This military alliance enthusiasm is creeping into Asia, where pacts like AUKUS—binding Australia, the UK, and the US—center on nuclear-powered submarines. Sold as deterrence against China’s assertive moves in the South China Sea, they carry a subtle scent of “defensive provocation.” The Quad, uniting the US, Japan, India, and Australia, markets itself as a regional cooperation forum but increasingly flexes through joint military drills.
Beijing calls this an “Asian NATO,” a term that may overreach but captures a trend: a web of militarized alliances tightening across the Pacific. The Philippines, for its part, joins trilateral dialogues with Japan and Australia and hosts expanded US military presence under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement (EDCA). These arrangements promise security but pressure defense budgets upward, risking a shadow arms race with no guaranteed economic payoff, as global think tanks have warned.
For the Philippines, ranked 116th globally in GDP per capita, this trajectory poses a delicate, maybe damning dilemma. In 2024, Philippine defense spending rose to $6.1 billion, or 1.3 percent of GDP, on a nominal economy of $460.5 billion—maintaining the same defense-to-GDP ratio as the previous year despite regional pressures. Modest by global standards, it stings locally, where every peso spent on weapons or jets is a peso not spent on hospitals, schools, or flood defenses.
Poverty afflicts 18 percent of Filipinos, roughly 20 million people, while natural disasters—typhoons, earthquakes—drain up to 1 percent of GDP in severe years, averaging around 0.75 percent annually. These are not abstract trade-offs; they translate to shuttered clinics, overcrowded
True security is not measured solely by the size of a navy, but by the strength of a nation’s ability to endure. A country that cannot feed its people, rebuild after storms, or keep hospitals open during crises is vulnerable—not just to natural disasters, but to external pressure.
classrooms, and communities left exposed to the next storm. Could redirecting that $6.1 billion transform the nation? Not quite—115 million people demand systemic fixes, not just budget tweaks—but the opportunity cost is undeniable.
The challenge is balance. China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea—seizing reefs, harassing Filipino fishermen, and asserting unlawful claims—demands a credible response. No sovereign nation can stand idle. But the nature of that response matters.
True security is not measured solely by the size of a navy, but by the strength of a nation’s ability to endure.
A country that cannot feed its people, rebuild after storms, or keep hospitals open during crises is vulnerable—not just to natural disasters, but to external pressure.
When defense budgets swell at the expense of health and education, the state may look strong on paper, but its foundations erode. The result is a hollow victory, fragile in reality. A resilient population—healthy, educated, and protected from disaster —is not a substitute for deterrence. It is its essential counterpart.
How does a resource-strapped Philippines navigate this?
China factory deflation eases but not enough to call turnaround
CHINA’S factory deflation eased for the first time in six months even as consumer prices slipped below zero again, leaving open the question of whether the government will make a lasting difference with its campaign to ease overcapacity across the economy.
The producer-price index decreased 2.9 percent in August from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday, remaining in negative territory for the 35th straight month but narrowing its decline from July’s 3.6 percent drop. In month-on-month terms, output prices in some upstream sectors such as the mining and processing of metals rose for the first time in months.
But deepening food deflation meant the consumer-price index turned negative for the first time in three months, with a drop of 0.4 percent in August from a year earlier.
That was worse than every forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists surveyed, whose median estimate was minus 0.2 percent.
Market reaction to the data was muted. China’s 30-year government bond yield was little changed around 2.2 percent, while the yuan was steady against the dollar. China is in its third straight year of deflation for the first time since it started to transition away from central planning in the late 1970s. Nine straight quarters of economywide price declines reflect a mismatch between supply and demand, weighing on the balance sheets of
China is in its third straight year of deflation for the first time since it started to transition away from central planning in the late 1970s. Nine straight quarters of economy-wide price declines reflect a mismatch between supply and demand, weighing on the balance sheets of companies and pushing down the earnings of both households and the government.
companies and pushing down the earnings of both households and the government. A drop in food prices and the effect of a high base from last year were the main cause of the CPI decline in August, according to Dong Lijuan, chief statistician at the NBS. Food costs declined 4.3 percent
First, reject the false choice between defense and development. Smart deterrence is key: prioritize maritime domain awareness— coastal radars, satellite monitoring, C-208 Caravan aircraft—for surveillance at a fraction of the cost of fighter jets. These tools enhance sovereignty, though maintenance and training quietly add to the tab. Second, leverage alliances beyond military might. Australia and the US should be pushed to tie security pacts to health and infrastructure aid. Swap some war games for more joint disaster response drills—typhoons are the Philippines’ reality. Those oft-repeated US investment promises? Remind them to deliver schools, not just ships. No child is fed by a promise, no clinic opened by a pledge—no matter how often the US repeats it. Fiscal discipline is the harder pill. The Bureau of Internal Revenue collects 14 percent of GDP in taxes, below the Asean average of approximately 16.5 percent. Tackling corruption could free funds without raising rates. Transparency is non-negotiable: Filipinos deserve open debate on what we buy, what it costs, and what we sacrifice. A nation that invests in its people is tougher to break than one leaning on foreign fleets. Nato’s lesson is sobering: militarism, once entrenched, rarely retreats. The Philippines must chart a wiser course, blending deterrence with domestic strength—resilience over recklessness, quietly but strongly urged.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
year-on-year, with the cost of fresh vegetables plunging over 15 percent —the most since November 2022. But core CPI, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, rose to an 18-month high of 0.9 percent. Dong said its increase shows policies to boost demand and consumption are taking effect.
“The smaller drop in China’s factory-gate prices in August is an early sign that the government’s anti-involution pledges have started to ease deflationary pressures in upstream and midstream industries. But the pickup so far looks driven more by market expectations than actual policy actions—and will last only if Beijing delivers more concrete measures to rein in cutthroat price wars,” said
Indonesia President Prabowo fired Indrawati after she offered to resign twice
By Grace Sihombing
OVER the last weekend in August, after her house was ransacked by looters, Indonesia’s then-Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati traveled to President Prabowo Subianto’s country estate in the Hambalang hills in West Java. She planned to resign.
The country had just been rattled by its worst unrest in years. This was at least her second attempt to quit, after one in March amid a market meltdown, partly driven by rumors of her departure.
For a second time Prabowo rejected her offer, uncertain he had a suitable replacement.
But by Monday, advisers had convinced him a shakeup was necessary and she was gone, switched out with economist Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
This account of her firing, based on interviews with people familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition they not be identified discussing private matters, encapsulates a key tension in Prabowo’s presidency between the former general who wants to spend big and the technocratic economist focused on fiscal discipline.
Prabowo governs convinced that he can boost the economy through expensive social programs and strong-arm central control, which risks over-torquing the country’s $234 billion budget.
Indrawati, 63, had served in three administrations, as well as stints at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. She had the respect of global investors and bondholders, lending a veneer of fiscal legitimacy to Prabowo’s ambitions, which kept markets at ease.
But after her two previous attempts to resign, Prabowo decided to find a replacement.
As public anger over inequality and economic anxiety boiled over last month, leaving at least 10 dead across the country, Prabowo’s advisers urged a cabinet purge that would show the president took the public concerns seriously.
Indrawati had already tried to quit before, they reasoned, which raised doubts about her commitment. And persistent rumors of her departure had kept markets jittery, they said, making it better to appoint someone new and provide a clear direction.
Prabowo’s office declined to comment. Indrawati didn’t respond to a request for comment.
ly due to food,” said Michelle Lam, Greater China economist at Societe Generale SA.
“The CPI outlook is still fragile given easing house prices and the diminishing impact of government subsidies,” she said, adding “the pickup in core CPI was weaker than what we have expected.”
Whether consumer and producer prices will continue to rebound is a question with profound implications for markets from equities to bonds. Frail domestic demand will be an obstacle to a government effort to reverse deflation. And although there are early signs of output reductions for some commodities such as coal, steel and copper, it’s not yet clear if the turnaround can be sustained and lead to a long-term rebound in prices.
A Chinese lithium mine that pushed up battery-metal prices when it halted production last month is now gearing up to restart sooner than previously anticipated, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg, underlining the uncertainty around the policy push.
China’s economy meanwhile began to decelerate across the board
The dual nature of debt: Building a stronger future or weighing down generations?
IIndrawati, 63, had served in three administrations, as well as stints at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. She had the respect of global investors and bondholders, lending a veneer of fiscal legitimacy to Prabowo’s ambitions, which kept markets at ease.
One figure central to advising Prabowo was former senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan. He suggested an economist who had worked with him for years when he was coordinating minister for maritime and investment. He was no-nonsense, neutral, someone markets could trust. He was known within the finance ministry, but not to most of Prabowo’s inner circle: Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. Luhut couldn’t be reached for comment.
Purbaya, 61, also got a call from the presidential palace Monday, summoning him for a meeting. He would later say he thought it was a prank, and found himself later alongside four other new ministers at a swearing in ceremony.
The call to Indrawati from the presidential palace also came Monday, when she was directing a ministerial meeting in the afternoon. She stepped out to speak on the phone. When she returned, she dismissed everyone except her deputies and top officials. She then waited for the news of her replacement to be announced.
The next day, she and Purbaya attended a handover ceremony, as a show of continuity. Hundreds of finance ministry officials cheered her arrival, and she appeared to be tearing up.
In her remarks, Indrawati apologized for any missteps, saying “no human is perfect.”
“I entrust you to continue to safeguard state finances,” she told her former colleagues, urging them to “help the new leadership.”
She then said farewell, and asked her privacy be respected “as an ordinary citizen.” Bloomberg
this summer and appears to have lost even more traction in the second half of August, according to Bloomberg Economics. Export growth also slowed to the weakest in six months in August, as a slump in shipments to the US deepened again.
Still, the latest inflation reading in August suggested signs of easing deflation are emerging.
The coal mining and washing industry saw prices gain 2.8 percent from the previous month, the first increase since October. The ferrous metals sector—including iron and steelmakers—recorded a 2.1 percent rise.
And despite indications that a boost from the government’s subsidies for consumer goods was fizzling out, prices for durables such as household appliances surged in August, jumping 4.6 percent from a year earlier in the biggest increase since records began in 2001. A category of goods and services that includes gold jewelry saw a price spike of 8.6 percent.
“Judging from core and non-food CPI increases, there are signs of easing deflation,” said Serena Zhou, senior China economist at Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. With assistance from James Mayger, Tian Chen and Winnie Hsu/Bloomberg
By Henry Go
MAGINE a peso borrowed today as a fork in the road: one path leads to stronger economic foundations, resilient communities, and opportunities for all; the other spirals into fiscal strain, corruption, and deferred costs for future generations. To some, government debt is an “asset,” generating returns for investors and circulating in the financial system. When directed toward productive purposes, every peso can boost growth, enhance public services, and open up more opportunities. If used poorly, it reduces fiscal space, limit investment in crucial sectors, and imperils long-term economic stability. The question for policymakers is clear: is debt spurring progress, or silently creating liabilities for our future?
The tool in question
FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto defends rising debt as an enabler—an “asset” financing development while allowing institutions like SSS and GSIS to earn returns. With debt-toGDP around 61 percent, the country remains within generally acceptable safe limits. Yet debt is not intrinsically positive or negative; it is a tool. Its value depends entirely on whether it is used to strengthen economic foundations—or to burden them.
Strategic borrowing can drive growth
EVEN well-functioning economies borrow—their tax revenues alone cannot fund everything they need. Thoughtful borrowing, aligned with the “multiplier effect,” can expand productivity and resilience. But when borrowing fails to translate into strategic capacity—whether through infrastructure, competitiveness, or human capital—it becomes a hollow investment while increasing repayment obligations.
Who gains—and who pays?
WHILE institutional investors may benefit from government debt, or-
dinary Filipinos ultimately bear the cost through higher taxes, inflation that erodes purchasing power, and a national budget where a significant share is spent on debt servicing instead of essential public services. Debt servicing is squeezing the budget. In 2024, it consumed around a third of all revenue; in 2025, interest payments alone will take up nearly 14 percent of spending (DOF via BusinessWorld, July 2025). That leaves less for health, education, and resilience-building projects.
The double cost of corruption BORROWING mirrors good intentions—and corruption. Between 2023 and 2025, mismanagement and anomalies in flood control projects are estimated to have cost between P42.3 billion and P118.5 billion (DOF, July 2025). Cases of contractors with minimal capital landing massive contracts spotlight systemic flaws. When borrowed funds are lost to graft, the repayment plus wasted opportunity equation doubles the burden for citizens to bear.
Global benchmarks and regional lessons
To some, government debt is an “asset,” generating returns for investors and circulating in the financial system. When directed toward productive purposes, every peso can boost growth, enhance public services, and open up more opportunities. If used poorly, it reduces fiscal space, limit investment in crucial sectors, and imperils long-term economic stability.
GLOBALLY, public debt is nearing 95 percent of GDP, with projections reaching 100 percent by decade’s end. The IMF warns Asia faces headwinds from trade tensions, emphasizing the importance of fiscal discipline. Economically, the Philippines’ neighbors show how borrowing can take different paths. Vietnam, with debt at around 37 percent, has channeled funds into factories and infrastructure that fuel jobs and exports. Indonesia, at about 40 percent, pairs borrowing with tax reforms and digital systems to make government work better. Thailand, carrying debt close to 62 percent, leans on stronger institutions to keep spending in check and development more balanced. The real issue for the Philippines is whether borrowing expands opportunities without closing the door on fiscal space, competitiveness, and resilience tomorrow.
Economic baseline: Growth and external resilience IN spite of the uncertainty around the world, the Philippines maintains solid economic fundamentals. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is predicting a shrinking of current account deficit—to 3.3 percent of
GDP in 2025 and 2.5 percent in 2026 (Reuters, June 2025). While growth projections are at 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent for 2025 and subsequent years at 6 percent to 7 percent (Reuters, June 2025). The World Bank and IMF support this optimism with better macro indicators and strong domestic consumption as the country’s anchor. Such fundamentals create room for borrowing—but only under strategic supervision and disciplined fiscal management.
Borrowing with purpose BORROWING is not the issue; it is why we must borrow. Much of the current Philippines’ borrowing goes to cover fiscal deficits—funding gaps between revenues and expenditures —rather than financing projects to lift productivity and expand opportunities. While short-term borrowing to bridge the budget is sometimes necessary, it does nothing to spur productivity, create resilience, and achieve inclusive growth. Instead, it may possibly turn the debt into a burden for future generations.
Conclusion: Make debt work as a promise—not a bailout DEBT is not free money. It comes with interest and carries the people’s trust. It is a strategic fiscal tool, whose worth rests on prudence, integrity and sustainable effect. Every peso borrowed carries a responsibility of building a stronger economy and create benefits that last for future generations. The task is clear: leaders must borrow carefully and use funds for real growth, while citizens must demand honesty and accountability. Only then can debt become a bridge to progress and a better future—not a heavy load that drags us down.
White House’s rare break with Israel highlights Gaza risk
By Natalia Drozdiak, Skylar Woodhouse, Paul Wallace & Alisa Odenheimer
ISRAEL’S attack against Hamas in Qatar drew rare public criticism from Donald Trump and underscored the risk that the war in Gaza could get worse before it gets better.
The US president’s break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left many questions unanswered Tuesday. Trump said he learned of the attack too late to stop it, giving little time to warn Qatar. Officials there said the US notice came as the bombs were already falling.
European leaders denounced the strike as a setback for Qatarimediated talks on ending the war and the release of hostages held by Hamas. That group, meanwhile, said its leaders survived the attack, a claim that couldn’t immediately be verified.
Caught between two US allies, Trump said he spoke with both Netanyahu and Qatari leaders after the strike and that he assured Qatar that such an attack wouldn’t happen again.
“I will tell you this, I was very unhappy about it,” Trump told reporters Tuesday night, adding that he expected to make additional public comments on the operation the following day. “Very unhappy about every aspect—we got to get the hostages back, but I was very unhappy about the way that went down.”
The events, though, raised questions about whether the US president can deliver on his promise.
“A number of the Gulf States will seek additional reassurances from the United States that they would intervene to prevent this kind of activity on their soil,” said Dan Shapiro, former US ambassador to Israel.
“And if they don’t feel they can get those reassurances, that might lead to some distancing of the US defense relationships with those countries, which would obviously not be in our interest, probably not be in Israel’s
interest either,” said Shapiro, who’s now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Qatar is both home to the largest US military base in the Middle East and boasts one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds. Trump visited the country in May and Qatar has pledged to invest billions in the US over the next decade. Qatar has mediated talks to end the fighting in Gaza and return the hostages taken by Hamas in its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
After Qatari Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Majed Al Ansari noted that the country’s officials only had learned of the attack from the US as the operation was underway, Trump said in a social media post, “I feel very badly about the location of the attack.”
At the same time as it manages fragile partnerships with Arab countries in the region, the US has had to tread delicately with Israel—supporting its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which the US and European Union designate a terrorist group, while prioritizing the release of hostages and an end to the fighting without deeper US involvement in the Middle East crisis.
Trump said Netanyahu told him during their call “that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE.” He didn’t elaborate on whether there would be consequences for Netanyahu’s unilateral action or fresh demands of Israel, even as the US has said the strike didn’t advance the goals of Israel or the US in ending the conflict that’s soon set to stretch into a third year.
Trump has generally supported Israel’s military actions against Hamas and other Tehran-backed
On top of Qatari charges of a violation of territorial sovereignty and international law, condemnation poured in from other Middle East and European capitals. Several states echoed concerns that the conflict could spread—at odds with Netanyahu’s and Trump’s characterization of the incident as opening a path toward peace.
militant groups—as well as Netanyahu’s airstrikes on Iran itself three months ago.
Israel’s unilateral action “shows Netanyahu feels empowered to take greater and greater risks to pursue what he views as Israel’s interests. The attack shows his risk tolerance of repercussions from the US is quite high,” said Will Todman, senior fellow for the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“He feels he can act decisively and in unprecedented ways without incurring serious repercussions from the US.”
Netanyahu called the latest move against Hamas “a wholly independent Israeli operation.” Later, in a speech at the US embassy in Jerusalem, he said the strike could open the door to ending the war in Gaza if Hamas, like Israel, accepts Trump’s principles for a resolution.
Hamas, however, said the attack will not change the conditions it is seeking from Israel in talks.
The group said in a statement that five of its members were killed in the Doha attack, but that officials from its main negotiating delegation survived.
On top of Qatari charges of a violation of territorial sovereignty and international law, condemnation poured in from other Middle East and European capitals. Several states echoed concerns that the conflict could spread—at odds with Netanyahu’s and Trump’s characterization of the incident as opening a path toward peace.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with Israel five years ago under the Abraham Accords that Trump brokered, warned Israel its actions would have “extremely dangerous repercussions” for regional security. Saudi Arabia, which the US leader is pushing to join the accords, called it a “criminal act.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X said “the priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid to Gaza,” while French President Emmanuel Macron said that “under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region.”
Oil jumped after reports of the Israeli attack, which revived fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate climbed 2.3 percent to top $63 a barrel before paring gains.
Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza since the militant group’s deadly attack on the country in October 2023. Qatar is one of the key mediators between Israel and the Palestinian group, designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, and has been central to the halting ceasefire talks between the two sides.
Those talks have not advanced since Hamas said in mid-August it had agreed to a proposal to release half of the hostages it still holds from the October 7 attack in exchange for a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel, which has demanded Hamas fully disarm, has since initiated plans to take over Gaza City, and this week ordered its 1 million residents to leave ahead of a major military offensive.
Arab nations were already on edge about the death toll from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the humanitarian impact of the war, which has devastated the territory. A United Nations body has declared a famine in parts of Gaza due to blocks on food aid, intended to raise pressure on Hamas. With assistance from Neil
BusinessMirror
Nearly ₧50-B DSWD fund cuts to hurt ₧7-M Filipinos
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
NEARLY
7-million Filipinos are projected to lose access to social welfare services by 2026 due to significant budget cuts to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the complete phaseout of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap).
Presenting data during budget deliberations at the House Committee on Appropriations, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian revealed that the AICS budget will be slashed from P44.4 billion in 2025 to just P27 billion in 2026, reducing its coverage from 6.6 million to only 2.9 million beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Akap will receive no allocation in 2026, leaving over four million clients unserved.
“Since the Akap will be removed, that’s already a major loss. On top of that, the budget for AICS has also
been reduced. Taken together, we’re looking at nearly P50 billion in cuts,” Gatchalian told lawmakers. Gatchalian warned that without restored or increased funding, around 7-million Filipinos in need of emergency aid and social protection could be left without support. He also cautioned that merging Akap with AICS might further strain the latter’s already reduced allocation.
Habito leads study ACCORDING to the secretary, the
agency has commissioned a macro-level anti-poverty study led by former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito’s group. The study, covering AICS, Akap, Tupad, MAIP, and other anti-poverty initiatives, is expected to be released in the last quarter of 2025 after delays caused by the election period.
The findings, officials said, will be shared with Congress to help guide policy decisions on funding and improving the effectiveness of antipoverty programs.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian has assured the House Committee on Appropriations of a 100 percent agency budget utilization by the end of 2025, as he emphasized that a budget misspent or unspent equals a Filipino individual in need who is denied the right service.
Gatchalian explained that the department will ensure its full implementation by fully utilizing the 2025 budget amounting to more than P6.156 billion.
2026 budget THE DSWD, including allocations for attached and supervised agencies, is seeking a P223.2-billion budget for 2026.
Gatchalian said the proposed budget will sustain flagship programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pili-
pino Program (4Ps), the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
For the 4Ps, the 2026 budget under the NEP is P113 billion, of which P98.4 billion is for cash grants, including the First 1,000-Day grants for pregnant and lactating women.
Gatchalian reported that the agency will also expand the SFP’s coverage to ensure that more children receive daily meals that support their growth, learning, and overall well-being.
He also emphasized the continued implementation of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which promotes proper nutrition and sustainable food consumption to address involuntary hunger.
Among the department’s newest initiatives is the Pag-Abot Program, which helps families and individuals in street situations (FISS) return to their homes or places of origin and eventually get reintegrated into their communities.
“For 2026, we are requesting P807 million, with P586 million dedicated to grants and P66.6 million for outreach operations. As of July 25, the program has already reached out to 1,711 beneficiaries,” Gatchalian said.
OTWITHSTANDING
NWashington’s threat to impose tariffs on chips, the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry is seeing a flat to “modest” growth of 1 to 2 percent this year as the sector is also banking on the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is fueling demand for electronics.
“While we projected flat growth this year, we’re not predicting gloom and doom so we’re still maintaining our forecast of flat. And maybe, optimistically, some modest growth, notwithstanding the US tariffs,” Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Seipi) President Danilo C. Lachica told reporters on the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) 23rd International CEO Conference on Tuesday.
However, Lachica pointed out that should Washington push through with the slapping of the 100 percent tariff on semiconductors this year, it would not immediately manifest on the supply chain. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/08/12/governmentwants-to-shield-chips-fromus-tariffs/)
“It’s not an immediate impact.
You will see the supply chain adjusting itself so you won’t see an overnight effect. When you see perturbations in the US, usually [it’s about] six months before you see it in the Philippines,” he explained further.
The Seipi chief explained that it’s “business as usual” right now for the industry. “For the semiconductor integrated circuits, we’re just producing whatever comes with the orders because we’re still enjoying the zero-tariff exemption because of Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962. So it’s status quo, it’s business as usual.” He added that the industry is not “agitated” by the hundredpercent tariff threat by Washington.
“Of course, it’s still a threat. You don’t know, right? But why would you respond to it now when things are normal in the sense of the zero tariff? Of course, there’s always that risk if that exemption is removed, then we will have to recalibrate and re-strategize what we need to do,” Lachica said. Meanwhile, Lachica pointed to the adoption of AI as one of the growth drivers for this year, despite the geopolitical uncertainty caused by the unilaterally-imposed tariffs by Washington.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
and Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
FUNDING for a prefeasibility study of the Marcos administration’s rural bridge program has been suspended by South Korea after an exposé in Seoul alleged political pressure and corruption concerns in securing the deal.
In Manila, the Department of Finance said the Philippines is in talks with France to fund the P28billion Rural Modular Bridge Project—for 350 locations across the Philippines to improve countryside progress and productivity—after it halted discussions with South Korea in 2024.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Finance (DOF) made clear that the P28.7-billion financing for the Rural Modular Bridge Project is now being proposed to the Government of France.
The DOF said that the Philippines is now in advanced negotiations with the French government to finalize the project’s technical and financial terms.
Although the project was initially considered for funding through South Korea, the DOF said that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) decided to stop previous discussions last year due to “nonalignment on scope and other key technical specifications.”
As early as the last quarter of 2024, the Philippines looked for other bilateral partners who could implement the full scope of the project, the DOF added.
“Hence, there is no existing loan for the said project with South Korea,” it stressed.
The DOF’s clarification comes after the daily newspaper The Hankyoreh published a story indicating that a Korean politician is pushing for the resumption of talks on the project.
“The ‘Philippine Rural Modular Bridge Project’, which the Ministry of Strategy and Finance decided in April 2024 ‘not to support the EDCF’, was resumed under pressure from People’s Power Councilor
Kwon Seong-dong,” the article read in English translation.
The exposé came as public frustration runs deep in Manila over “ghost projects,” overpricing, and substandard work in big-ticket infrastructure.
In a Facebook post, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said he had “immediately ordered the suspension of procedures for a project determined to be a faulty undertaking with potential for corruption.”
He was referring to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) flagship bearing President Marcos’s name in its title, with the goal of improving farm-to-market access.
The weekly news magazine Hankyoreh21 had reported that South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) had initially rejected the loan request under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), citing low feasibility, high corruption risk, and the poor track record of a local consulting firm in similar projects.
The Hankyoreh reported that in November 2023, the Philippine government requested a loan worth $439 million (P24.58 billion) from the Korean government through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the ExportImport Bank of Korea.
“In particular, the decisive reason why the Ministry of Strategy and Finance refused to support the project was the possibility of insolvency and corruption,” the article read in English translation.
As such, the DOF clarified in an earlier statement that a P28-billion official development assistance loan between South Korea and the Philippines does not exist.
“Nevertheless, we reaffirm to our bilateral partners that the Philippine government will match their trust and confidence with full transparency and accountability,” the DOF added.
Unilateral application, political heavyweights ACCORDING to the Hankyoreh21
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
THE Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), the country’s umbrella organization for manufacturers and producers, is strongly urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enforce the “strict” implementation and monitoring of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for all building materials, particularly cement and steel, used in public infrastructure projects nationwide.
In a statement on Wednesday, FPI Chairperson Elizabeth Lee
emphasized that adherence to the Philippine National Standards is “non-negotiable.”
“Only by strictly following these standards—especially in cement and steel—can we ensure safe, durable, and resilient public infrastructure for our people,” Lee said.
The group of manufacturers and producers stressed the importance of strict compliance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS) as it explained that the use of substandard materials—whether in cement, steel, or other critical construction inputs—compromises public safety, wastes resources, and undermines confidence in national
development efforts.
“The Philippine National Standards [PNS] are based on global standards and further customized to the unique environmental and geological conditions of the Philippines,” the group noted.
“This is why strict adherence to PNS in public infrastructure projects is critical. At its core, PNS is about safety and resilience—ensuring that structures, especially those built with cement and steel, can withstand the country’s harsh climate conditions,” it also noted.
FPI said it is working closely with the Department of Trade and
Industry’s Bureau of Product
“Together,
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Thursday, September 11, 2025
PLDT unit pitches reforms in data governance policy
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
VITRO Inc., the data-center arm of PLDT Group, is calling on policymakers to enact robust data localization policies, arguing that such reforms are key to sustaining demand, especially from government, hyperscalers, and AI-powered enterprise workloads.
In the first half of the year, Vitro reported a record-breaking 36 percent year-on-year surge in colocation revenues, driven by growing demand from financial institutions, the public sector, and hyperscale cloud operators.
“To sustain this growth, we look forward to stronger data localization policies that will safeguard government data, accelerate cloud and AI adoption, and create even greater demand for the local data center industry,” Vitro President Victor S.
Genuino said.
The Philippines currently lacks comprehensive data-localization or data-residency laws for private-sector data, although cross-border data transfer rules do apply. Nonetheless, Vitro is gearing up for growth, as it maximizes its newest data center, while planning for future expansion.
“We are building strong momentum in our data center business, with Vitro Santa Rosa (VSR) driving
sustained demand from enterprises and hyperscalers. We’re growing our colocation business not just on VSR but also across all Vitro data center sites,” Genuino said.
Vitro Santa Rosa, the company’s flagship facility, has a total power capacity of 50 megawatts, is Rated-3 certified, and is Rated-4 ready. It is fully connected to other Vitro flagship sites, the country’s domestic fiber optic backbone, and international subsea cable systems.
The site also hosts ePLDT’s GPUas-a-Service (GPUaaS), which provides enterprises access to NVIDIApowered infrastructure to run highcompute workloads, including AI, machine learning, large-scale analytics, financial modeling, rendering, and advanced simulations.
The company is now in the planning stage for its 12th data center, with key expansion sites already identified.
Last month, PLDT reported that its consolidated net income dipped 1 percent year-on-year to P18.1 billion
in the first half of 2025, as higher revenues were offset by softer telco core earnings.
Consolidated service revenues held steady at P97.1 billion, while gross service revenues rose 3 percent to P106.3 billion, driven largely by a P1.3-billion increase in data and broadband revenues to P82.2 billion, which now account for 85 percent of the total.
By segment, individual wireless revenues stood at P42.3 billion, with mobile data contributing P37.4 billion. Home revenues reached P30.4 billion, of which fiber accounted for P29.5 billion, up 7 percent from last year. Enterprise revenues were P23.5 billion, led by P17.4 billion from corporate data and ICT services.
PLDT reduced its capital expenditures (capex) for 2025 by as much as 13 percent thanks to favorable vendor terms and pricing. In absolute terms, this translates to as much as a P10-billion cut to P63 billion from the earlier capex range of P68 billion to P73 billion.
SMPH raises $350M from debt offer
SHOPPING mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) has raised some $350 million from the issuance of 5-year notes, which it will list on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd.
The notes have a coupon rate of 4.75 percent, the lowest for such an issuance since September 2020.
The said notes came from its $3-billion multi-issuer Euro Medium-Term Note program established in May 2024. The issuance was almost three times oversubscribed, with final de -
mand reaching over $990 million, the company said.
The net proceeds from the issue will be allocated for general corporate purposes, it added.
This issuance marks SM Prime’s inaugural US dollar-denominated debt offering in the bond market, and represents the second drawdown under the multi-issuer EMTN program with SM Investments Corp.
“Through this latest drawdown, we are able to tap the market at an opportune time to support our future projects and strategic initiatives,” Jeffrey
C. Lim, president of SM Prime, said.
“The continued interest from global investors underscores their sustained confidence in our long-term growth prospects.”
The 5-year notes were distributed to high-quality global accounts. By geography, it was distributed 91 percent to Asia, and 9 percent to EMEA. By investor type, the paper was distributed 80 percent to fund managers, 12 percent to banks, 4 percent to private banks, 3 percent to financial institutions and 1 percent to insurers.
METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has tapped two contractors to finish the remaining sections of the Cavite–Laguna Expressway (Calax).
MPCALA Holdings Inc., the MPTC unit that holds the Calax concession, said on Wednesday it has signed construction contracts with EEI Corp. and CM Pancho Construction Inc. (CMPCI). Under the agreement, EEI will handle Subsection 1, which stretches from Open Canal to Kawit, while CMPCI will take charge of Subsection 2, linking Governor’s Drive to Open Canal.
“This milestone marks another step forward in bringing the full alignment of Calax closer to completion, ensuring improved connectivity and enhanced mobility for motorists traveling across Cavite and Laguna,” MPCALA said in a statement.
Calax, a 45-kilometer tollway project under the government’s PPP program, has been partially operational since 2019. Its existing sections—Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Silang East, and Silang Aguinaldo interchanges— already provide an alternative to the oftencongested Santa Rosa–Tagaytay corridor.
The remaining subsections, including Subsection 3 that will link Silang Aguinaldo to Governor’s Drive, are currently being built.
Once the entire tollway is completed, targeted by the first half of 2026, Calax is expected to cut travel time between Cavite and Laguna from two hours to about 45 minutes, while supporting growth corridors in the region. Lorenz S. Marasigan
By VG Cabuag @villygc
Issued by SM Prime’s wholly owned subsidiary, SMPHI SG Holdings Pte. Ltd, the notes are guaranteed by SM Prime. HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS acted as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners. BDO Capital and Investment Corp. and Chinabank Capital Corp. were appointed as joint domestic managers.
“This issuance will support our commitment to sustainable growth and continued contribution to the nation’s progress,” John Nai Peng C. Ong, the company’s CFO, said. VG Cabuag
Sfrom
By Henry Empeño
of P1.023
operations in the first half of 2025, eclipsing its P976-million earnings in the same period last year.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said Wednesday that the January-July 2025 record represented a 4.8-percent revenue increase attributable to an 18-percent surge in containerized imports and a modest 2.6-percent growth in containerized exports. Subic boasts of 15 operational piers and wharves, including the 300,000-TEU New Container Terminals 1 and 2, a bulk fertilizer terminal, a bulk grains terminal, and a general cargo terminal.
SBMA port operations cover seaport and airport management, as well as trade facilitation and compliance services for port users.
By the end of this year, the SBMA is projecting P1.75-billion in port revenue earnings—about 2.77 percent higher than P1.706 billion earned in 2024, Aliño said in a statement.
According to SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie R. Yambao, increased importation of assorted food items and other agricultural products buoyed Subic’s 18-percent imports growth.
A 437-percent surge in importation of non-containerized (dry bulk) cargo such as rice, and an 18-percent rise in timber imports likewise drove SBMA port earnings in cargo-handling services, Yambao said. The rest of port operations income came from SBMA shares from jointventure operations, miscellaneous tariff adjustments, and other port services fees, he said.
He also said that the SBMA’s efficient management of airport logistics and improvements in trade automation contrib -
uted to the increase in earnings from port operations.
Yambao said the SBMA Port Operations Group has committed to generate P3-billion revenues by 2030, and P10 billion by 2050, by taking advantage of the national government’s thrust to boost high-impact investments through the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).
The LEC aims to accelerate trade and investments, boost logistics, and enhance supply chain connectivity by connecting the economic hubs of Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas through ports and railway.
Yambao said SBMA policies are being shaped towards increasing port revenues through aggressive global and domestic marketing campaigns, and creating alliances with local and international ports.
He also said the government has already appropriated P100 million for the first phase of SBMA’s shore power connection project that aims to make Subic the first carbon-neutral port in the country.
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expanded the type of companies that may register through the One Day Submission and Electronic Registration of Companies (OneSEC) Zuper Easy Registration Online facility to include corporations with foreign equity.
“Streamlining the company registration process for foreign entities is a crucial component of our thrust to improve the ease of doing business in the country,” SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said.
“By expanding the coverage of OneSEC to foreign entities, we want to send a strong signal to the international business community that the Philippines is open for business, and hopefully encourage them to set up shop here.”
In the first half, SEC has already registered a total of 145 foreign corporations. The number is expected to increase with the implementation of the faster registration process.
Launched in 2021, OneSEC is a subsystem of the Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for
CUSTOMERS of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will pay less for electricity this month after the utility firm cut its rates, citing lower generation charges from its suppliers.
Meralco said the overall rate for a typical household this September will go down to P13.0851 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from P13.2703 per kWh in August, or a reduction of P0.1852 per kWh. This means that residential customers consuming 200 kWh will see their bills drop by about P37.
“We hope that along with relatively lower consumption during this period, this rate cut will bring relief to our customers,” Meralco VP and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said in a statement.
The generation charge declined by P0.2603 per kWh due mainly to lower costs from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Power Supply Agreements (PSAs).
Charges from IPPs went down by P1.3459 per kWh, while PSAs dropped by P0.3660 per kWh, driven by the peso’s appreciation against the US dollar and falling international fuel prices. Meanwhile, WESM charges rose by P0.3785 per kWh as average demand in the Luzon grid and generation ca -
Registration of Company (eSPARC) that utilizes pre-filled application forms to speed up the registration process. Through the system, applicants can complete the company registration process in as fast as one minute and 14 seconds, from the start of the application to the receipt of a digital certificate of incorporation.
One-person corporations and regular corporations with two to 15 incorporators, board of directors and stockholders are eligible to register via the “pass through” system.
Recently, the SEC has also expanded the industry classifications allowed to register through the system to 81 from 33.
In June, the SEC issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 6, Series of 2025, to reduce the rates for corporate data requests by half. It also issued a memorandum circular that implemented strict timelines in the processing of applications for permits, licenses and registrations, among others and adopted a deemed approved” policy if the agency fails to observe its own review timelines.
pacity on outage rose by 182 MW and 132 MW, respectively.
Meralco also began collecting contract price adjustments of Sual Power Inc. (SPI) and South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) after the Supreme Court affirmed their right to invoke the “Change in Circumstance” clause in their supply agreements. The Energy Regulatory Commission approved a total recovery of P5.1 billion, to be collected over six months starting this September, equivalent to about P0.26 per kWh for this month. PSAs, IPPs, and WESM accounted for 65 percent, 29 percent, and 6 percent, respectively, of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period. Transmission charges, meanwhile, rose by P0.1130 per kWh due to higher ancillary service costs from the reserve market. Other charges, including taxes, posted a net decrease of P0.0379 per kWh. Meralco reiterated that its distribution charge has remained unchanged since it was reduced by P0.0360 per kWh in August 2022. Customers also continue to benefit from the distribution-related true-up adjustment, equivalent to a reduction of P0.2024 per kWh for residential users. Lorenz S. Marasigan
Beyond Points: Rethinking Loyalty in Philippine Banking
ARE credit card rewards still meaningful; or have they all started to look the same?
For many customers, the rewards catalog has become a blur of identical offers. Discounts are recycled across cards, perks shift from one issuer to another, and benefits no longer feel exclusive. What was once a differentiator has now turned into a commodity. This raises an important question: “Is loyalty in banking just about points and discounts?”
Loyalty as relationship, not currency TRUE loyalty is not about stacking points: it’s about building trust and relationships. In banking, this matters more than in any other industry. People invest their money with institutions they believe will look after them. That trust, once lost, is hard to regain. Unfortunately, many banks fail to maximize the most valuable asset in their loyalty programs which is customer data . Too often, programs stop at rewards catalogs without analyzing spending habits, life stages, or preferences. As a result, every loyalty card feels the same—impersonal and interchangeable.
What customers really want BANKS can learn from leading nonbank loyalty programs that have moved beyond generic points. Retailers and digital platforms now use data to send personalized messages, recommend relevant offers, trigger upgrades based on actual purchase behavior, and promote the values that it stands for. Take “H&M’s Conscious Loyalty program.” Members don’t just earn points for purchases—they’re rewarded for sustainable behaviors like recycling old clothes or bringing reusable bags and getting points for buying recycled clothes . The message is clear: loyalty is not just about spending; it’s about values. Banks can apply the same principle. Imagine a loyalty program that
INSURANCE companies will face an annual interest charge if they fail to pay on time the claims of public utility vehicle (PUV) passengers involved in accidents.
The charge was etched in Circular 2025-17 that Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo A. Regalado issued last Wednesday. The order revises the framework for the passenger personal accident insurance, or “PPAI,” program for PUVs.
One of the notable changes is the imposition of a 12-percent interest per annum for claims paid beyond the prescribed period without a valid justification.
The framework states that all claims filed under the PPAI program shall be paid within five working days from the submission of complete and duly validated claim requirements. If insurers fail to do so, the unpaid amount will earn interest starting on the sixth working day until it is settled in full. Complaints on non-payment or delayed payment of claims may also be filed directly with the Insurance Commission (IC) by public utility vehicle operators or recognized transport groups acting on the passenger’s behalf. All existing benefits under the PPAI
Marcos urges SSS to boost revenues as fund’s life cut
Pdoesn’t only reward transactions but also financially responsible choices— like saving regularly, paying loans on time, going paperless, or investing in sustainable funds. This approach deepens loyalty while enhance the bank’s support for sustainability.
Humanizing the digital experience
DIGITALIZATION has made banking more convenient but also less personal. Chatbots and automated responses often leave customers feeling unheard. While efficiency matters, banks can balance automation with proactive engagement for their most valuable customers—through personalized emails, tailored advice, or exclusive previews of new perks.
These small touches can make customers feel like they have a “relationship manager” behind their credit card—without the cost of assigning one to every account.
The future of loyalty in banking BANKS and credit card issuers must “unlearn old loyalty models” and take inspiration from industries that value personalization and purpose. Points and perks will always have their place, but the real differentiator lies in how well a bank knows its customers, anticipates their needs, and aligns with their values.
Loyalty is not just about rewards— it’s about relationships and relevance.
In a world where trust is the true currency, the banks that embrace this shift will win not just their customers’ wallets, but their lasting loyalty.
Yayu E. Javier is the CEO of Avanza, Inc., a tech-driven loyalty marketing and CRM company with international and local awards. Avanza provides end-to-end customer experience solutions, including platform development, campaign management, rewards fulfillment, merchant partnerships, CX training, and customer service. Connect: yayu.javier@avanza.ph.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called on the Social Security System (SSS) to modernize its system and boost its revenues as the pension increase would cut the fund’s life by four years.
This was Marcos’s response as SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said that the pension hikes will reduce the fund life from 29 year to 25 years.
To extend the fund life of the SSS, the Chief Executive urged De Claro and the pension fund’s managers to invest wisely, modernize systems and make processes efficient.
“Ensure that your services are easier to reach, be it through digital platforms or help desks and ki -
osks, even in the most remote areas. Make sure your services are available whenever the need arises, wherever the need arises,” Marcos said.
The President spoke during the ceremonial launch of the 2025 SSS pension reform program in Quezon City last Wednesday.
The program will grant its qualified members an annual pension increase until 2027. A total of P93 billion will be released to SSS pensioners with the implementation of
the reform in the next three years. Its beneficiaries will include 2.6 million retirement and disability pensioners and 1.2 million survivor pensioners.
De Claro, however, said the increase doesn’t require raising the premium of SSS members.
The initial tranche of the pension hike will raise pension of retirement and disability pensioners by 10 percent and for death or survivor pensioners by five percent starting this month.
The next tranches of increases, which will be at the same rate, will be implemented every September in 2026 and 2027.
The SSS said this was the first ever major pension adjustment since 2014; the last pension increase was in 2017.
De Claro said they will be working to sustain the pension reform
through expanded coverage, improved collections, and through efficiency gains in their operations.
Marcos, nonetheless, lauded the increase. He said the move will not only “help improve the lives of pensioners, but also boost the economy through the increased spending of its recipients.”
“This is aligned with our scheme of promoting the theme ‘A Comfortable Life is Assured in the New Philippines,” as we improve retirement and survivorship benefits that will remain fair and responsive to the times,” he said in Filipino during the launch of the program as SSS celebrated its 68th founding anniversary.
Aside from leading the launch of the pension reform program, Marcos also declared the start of the National Pensioners’ Week, which is held every second week of September.
BOC to probe staff linked to Discaya cars importation
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto Reporter & Mary Jade Gale Jadormio Intern
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has identified more than ten persons of interest involved in the importation of Discayas’s luxury cars that were allegedly smuggled into the country.
The luxury vehicles were not imported by the Discayas but by different consignees, unless clarified that their company names were just used as a front, BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said during a news conference last Wednesday.
Nepomuceno also admitted top officials of the BOC had to look at its own people.
“Even though it pains me, we have to look at our own people. I do not want to say that it did not happen in our time and make it an excuse because we are already members of the BOC then,” he said in Filipino during the briefing.
Nepomuceno said they will ask their “own people” how the vehicles were brought in without proper documents, such as import entry and certificate of payment. He added that the positions of the BOC personnel who may be involved were appraisers, examiners and division heads.
“We will have to hold even our own people accountable,” the customs com -
accident insurers face 12% charge
program, as well as the existing premium rates, remain the same. Meanwhile, the IC is also requiring insurance pools to ask claimants to submit an accomplished standard claim form, a valid certificate of cover, a copy of police or traffic investigation report, medical certificate, hospital bills, or death certificate, among others.
“The insurance pools are not precluded from relaxing the above-listed requirements, but not to the effect of requiring stricter or more cumbersome requirements,” the IC said.
In addition, the IC may also require a higher claims fund from insurance pools handling passenger accident coverage based on its risk profile and actual coverage data.
Each insurance pool must set and maintain a claims fund that shall not, at any time, fall below P50 million.
The management company will also now be responsible for monitoring the movement of the Claims Fund and ensuring its adequacy at all times.
“In the event that the fund falls below the prescribed threshold, the member insurance companies shall be jointly and solidarily liable to restore the fund within a period prescribed by the Commission,” the IC said.
Management companies are also required to submit a quarterly claims processing report containing the number of claims received during the period, the average number of working days from receipt to payment, a list of claims paid beyond the five-day period and reason for delay and the total amount disbursed for the period.
Moreover, the IC mandates the establishment of consumer access points.
Within 30 days of accreditation, insurance pools, through their management companies, must set up branch offices near the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) offices or satellite offices and provide a 24/7 hotline for claims assistance.
Further, insurance pools and their management companies are now required to support information and education campaigns to inform commuters and transport groups of their rights under the PPAI program.
These include producing physical and digital information materials, translating key documents into Filipino and major regional languages and explaining the “all-risk, no-fault” feature of passenger accident insurance. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
missioner said. “ Wala po tayong pwedeng pagtakpan dito,” he added. [We cannot exempt anyone here.]
Meanwhile, top contractors Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico F. Discaya II have named government officials they alleged were involved in the flood control project.
The Discaya couple identified congressmen, some officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and their staff.
Nepomuceno said they will also investigate these individuals.
Port entries
NEPOMUCENO revealed that 15 vehicles purportedly owned by the Discayas were found to be lacking proper documentation, with eight of them presumed as “smuggled.”
He said during the briefing that 30 luxury cars, including two all-terrain vehicles, are now in the BOC’s custody.
Nepomuceno added that eight of these luxury vehicles are considered smuggled for having no import entries and certificates of payment.
“That’s the assumption because there are no documents. So, that is the BOC’s assumption,” he added.
During the briefing Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said there are many possibilities as to how the eight vehicles were brought into the country.
“It could also have been brought in
TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
WO Philippine banks joined the inaugural cohort of the global initiative set up by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to promote green banking. The IFC through a statement that the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Security Bank Corp. are now part of its Alliance for Green Commercial Banks (the Alliance), a curated and by-invitation platform.
The Alliance convenes commercial banks committed to embedding sustainability into their core strategies while financing the transition to low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive economies.
“This inaugural cohort reflects the increasing commitment and leadership of commercial banks in green finance,” said Allen F orlemu, IFC Regional Industry Director, Financial Institutions Group, Asia Pacific.
The Alliance promotes green financing such as covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, sector-wide transitions, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and circular economy. This aims to accelerate the transformation of banking in emerging markets towards sustainable and resilient growth.
As part of this initiative, the IFC said the peer-to-peer community becomes a space where members learn, connect, and lead
outright. We have many shorelines, so it could have entered through other means,” Maronilla said referring to a Toyota Tundra 2022, a Toyota Sequoia 2023, a Rolls Royce Cullinan 2023, a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 2022, a Mercedes-Benz G500 2019, a Lincoln Navigator L 2021, a Bentley Bentayga 2022 and a Toyota LC300 ZX V6 2024.
Nepomuceno said the luxury vehicles entered the country through various ports, including five cars via Batangas, three through Cebu, three via Manila and seven through the Manila International Container Port.
The entry points of the eight smuggled cars without import records are yet to be identified.
Lacking documents
NEPOMUCENO said the Discayas will be given 15 days to present the proper documents and records of the vehicles as proof. Otherwise, the BOC will eventually issue a corresponding warrant of seizure and detention.
On top of these, seven luxury vehicles, although having import entries, were also found lacking certificates of payment and having deficiencies in customs duties and taxes.
These cars include GMC Yukon XL Denali 2022, Cadillac Escalade ESV 2022, Lincoln Navigator 2024, GMC Yukon Denali 2022, Cadillac Escalade 2021, Maserati Levante
through an action-oriented model that promotes best practices in green banking and supports their transformation journey.
Leveraging its network of leading institutions, the IFC said the Alliance facilitates the access of banks to specialized advisory and financing to help banks scale solutions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental opportunities in energy, transport, agriculture, and urban development.
Representing eight markets, the inaugural members make up a diverse mix of leading institutions recognized for their market leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.
“The Alliance is more than a network— it is a community of committed institutions working together to transform finance, close the multi-trillion-dollar climate finance gap, and position emerging markets at the forefront of sustainable economic growth,” Forlemu said.
Apart from BPI and Security Bank, other banks included are BNP Paribas; Cambodia’s BRED Bank Cambodia and KB PRASAC Bank; and China’s Bank of Nanjing, Ma’anshan Rural Commercial Bank, MYbank, and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The list also includes Indonesia’s Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and Bank Shinhan Indonesia and Lao PDR’s Banque Franco-Lao (BFL), Banque
Modena 2022 and Jeep Grand Wagoneer 2023.
Nepomuceno said the BOC is obligated to issue a warrant of seizure and detention and investigate the transactions of the consignees or importers.
“This will undergo a post-clearance audit. We have the authority to backtrack and review their past three years of transactions and documents. If there is a presumption of fraud, the review can go back as far as ten years,” the commissioner added.
Post-clearance assessment
THE remaining 14 luxury vehicles have import entries and certificates of payment, as these were brought in by authorized dealers of high-value or luxury car brands. However, Nepomuceno said that the BOC will still look into the documents and the vehicles will also undergo “post-clearance assessments.” Just last week, the BOC executed a court-ordered search of the luxury vehicles owned by the Discayas. The Discayas are contractors and own the companies linked to the government’s flood control projects under investigation for alleged anomalies. Customs personnel raided the headquarters of Saint Gerrard General Contractor and Development Corp. in Pasig City and initially found two vehicles covered by the warrant.
Envoys&Expats
Australia makes ₧172-M impact loan to support Fil. women entrepreneurs
FOR the Embassy of Australia, there are simply too many Filipino women entrepreneurs who still face barriers in accessing capital.
That is why the commonwealth’s government, through the Australian Development Investments (ADI), has announced a $3-million (P172 million) loan to ARQ SME Finance— a female-led lending organization— to bridge finance gaps for small businesses in the Philippines.
UK nature envoy advances climate, nature partnership
Uworkforce, or grow their own businesses, through the Investing in Women program—an Australian initiative working to lift women’s economic equality in the Philippines and the region.
NITED KINGDOM’S Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis has reaffirmed her country’s support for the Philippines on climate and nature, strengthening partnership around nature finance, innovation, adaptive and resilient food systems, oceans, and biodiversity.
“The Philippines is home to extraordinary Filipina entrepreneurs—but many face barriers when they seek funds to grow their businesses,” said Innes-Brown. “Australia is proud to partner with ARQ to help create more business opportunities for women and build economic growth that benefits women and men alike.”
ADI is the Australian government’s flagship impact investment fund. It is a global movement that uses public and private capital to help reduce poverty and inequality.
The loan—ADI’s first impact investment in the country—was announced on September 2 by Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown PSM at the 2X Global Summit in Manila. As the leading international forum on impact investment for greater gender equality, the conference gathered 100 leaders from government, finance, and the philanthropic sector.
The loan expands Australia’s existing commitment to help more Filipino women participate in the
ARQ serves the “missing middle”—firms “too big” for microfinance, and “too small” for banks. The loan will expand the capital available to Philippine businesses that are committed to greater gender equality in leadership, workforce, supply chains and human resources management.
“This investment is a catalyst for resilient, inclusive [growth for small and medium enterprises or SMEs],” said Co-Founder and Managing Partner Abigail Tan of ARQ SME BDC. “It enables ARQ to scale support for Philippine enterprises that embed gender equality, financial governance and sound business practices—driving long-term opportunity across communities.”
Türkiye monitoring Bangsamoro dev’t, ready to provide support
THE Republic of Türkiye is closely following the developments in the Bangsamoro Region following the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) suspension of its decommissioning process.
Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol said Türkiye is ready "to extend any support that may be required" by the parties.
Akyol commended the progress reached in the Mindanao peace process. However, he recognized that certain issues still needed to be resolved.
Niyazi Evren Akyol PNA
“At this point, most importantly, we are glad to observe that all sides are fully committed to the success of the peace process,” the ambassador said. “Within this framework, we are closely following developments concerning the process—includ -
ing the decommissioning aspect. [We] believe that the issue should be discussed in depth by the parties through constructive dialogue.”
Türkiye has long been a strong supporter of the peace process in Mindanao, and has provided necessary assistance since negotiations began.
The West Asian country is among the members of the International Contact Group and Third-Party Monitoring Team that support the peace process. It headed the Independent Decommissioning Body following its establishment in 2014.
In a memorandum order dated August 16, Chair Alhadj Murad Ebrahim of the MILF directed all
commanders and members not to participate in any decommissioning or normalization activities of the government “without prior written approval.”
The directive follows a July 19 resolution of the MILF Central Committee that temporarily suspends the implementation of the fourth and final phase of the decommissioning process.
Despite the current differences, the Bangsamoro peace process remains “robust and dynamic,” according to Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. He said an “open and sincere” dialogue is the best way to address the current impasse. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
THE Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippine Office hosted a commemorative event at the Ambassador’s Residence to mark the 60th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV).
The event late in August celebrated six decades of volunteerism, development cooperation, and the enduring friendship between Japan and the Philippines as a partner country.
Aside from Ambassador Kazuya Endo and JICA Philippines Chief Representative Baba Takashi who served as the hosts, the event was attended by Chairperson Yuko Obuchi and members of the JICA Parliamentary League: Yuzuru Takeuchi, Emi Kaneko, Kiyoshi Ejima, Shinichi Nakatani, Takako Suzuki and Shu Sakurai. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri who is president of the PhilippinesJapan Parliamentary Friendship Association; Representative Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Undersecretary Carlo Bernardo Abad Santos of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development also participated in the event, along with other national government representatives, alumni volunteers and members of the local partner institutions.
Launched in 1965, the JOCV program has dispatched more than 57,000 Japanese volunteers to 99 countries around the world. The Philippines has developed a deep cooperative relationship with the volunteers over the years since the first dispatch to the country. To date, more than 1,700 members have contributed to community development in various parts of the archipelago.
In her congratulatory remarks,
Obuchi expressed her deep respect and gratitude for the JOCVs, who have deepened mutual understanding with local residents through their commitment to “think together” and “work together” with the communities as “grassroots diplomats.” She also acknowledged the Filipino people’s consistent warm welcome of the volunteers.
The chairperson emphasized her belief that the cumulative efforts of each volunteer—their passionate work and the problem-solving skills developed on a foundation of friendship and cooperation in the Philippines and other host countries, will become a social force capable of shaping a new era in today's com-
plex international environment. She then reaffirmed her continued support for the JOCV program.
For his part, Zubiri lauded the vital person-to-person dimension that the JOCV program has brought to the Philippines-Japan friendship. The senator said the volunteers symbolize Japan’s unwavering support and assistance, and that their spirit of volunteerism truly reflects the very best of the Japanese character. He expressed his deep gratitude for their immense contributions over the years, and hoped for the continued success of the JOCV program in further strengthening the strong ties between the two nations. Finally, volunteer Shion Yama-
moto delivered a report on behalf of his peers. He shared his experiences of being in his first overseas experience, the bonds he forged with the local community, and his family's pride in his contributions, which they followed through media coverage.
The ceremony concluded with all the participants, led by Yamamoto, declaring: “ Mabuhay, Pilipinas… Mabuhay, Japan… Sama-sama sa Kinabukasan! [Long live the Philippines… Long live Japan… Together Towards the Future!],” as they celebrated six decades of JOCV activities and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Japan-Philippines relations.
In her recent visit, Davis’ meeting with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) chief Raphael Lotilla underscored the UK and the Philippines’ shared commitment to protecting nature. By working together, the two countries will concretize collaboration on mobilizing finance, climate adaptation, carbon markets, critical minerals, ocean conservation, and the blue economy. Both sides acknowledged the importance of multilateral and regional cooperation to protect nature.
The special representative committed to continuing working with the Philippines during its Asean chairship in 2026 to help deliver such outcomes.
A high-level forum on blue economy and blue carbon showcased the transformative potential of blue ecosystems in driving climate action while supporting economic growth in coastal communities.
The event also marked the launch of the UK’s Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Facility and Innovation Grant Fund in the Philippines. A component of the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, COAST Philippines was first announced by the Foreign Secretary in April 2025. Through this initiative, local organizations are invited to apply for grants of up to £500,000 to support innovative projects that advance sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, innovative blue finance, and nature-based coastal solutions.
Davis noted that “our history, culture, and economy are bound to the ocean. As fellow island-nations, we understand that healthy seas are a foundation for prosperity, and that climate change, overfishing, and pollution are not just environmental risks, but economic and security risks.”
For her part, Senator Loren Legarda said that “urgency must guide our response. Partnerships like the UK’s COAST Facility exemplify the solidarity we need, turning loans into
sustainable livelihoods and grants into lasting guardianship. We must pioneer debt-for-nature swaps and blue bonds that turn capital into community-led revival.”
Meanwhile, Secretary Robert Borje of the Climate Change Commission pledged to ensure that “these projects are co-developed with the communities who depend on these resources: the fisherfolk, the indigenous peoples, and the local leaders. Their knowledge is irreplaceable, and their empowerment is the true measure of our success.”
During discussions with the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme as well as Food and Agriculture Organisation, Davis reinforced the UK’s commitment to nature-based solutions, building resilient agrifood systems, supporting just rural transition, and explored ways to better leverage nature and climate finance to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
She also met with leading scientific and research institutions: the Asean Centre for Biodiversity, International Rice Research Institute, University of the PhilippinesLos Baños, Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Agriculture, PhilRice, Department of Science and Technology, and the DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and Straw Innovation.
There, Davis underscored the UK’s commitment to turning worldclass Philippine and regional scientific expertise into global action.
US equipment donation boosts PCG vessel-repair capabilities
THE United States government, through the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), donated P1.9 million ($34,500) worth of equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Fleet Maintenance and Repair Group (MRG) Workshop in Sangley Point, Cavite. The donation was aimed at enhancing the PCG’s ability to maintain and repair vessels.
“This activity is another important step in our capability buildup to provide the necessary equipment for our MRG,” Coast Guard Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Rommel Supangan said during the turnover ceremony. He also welcomed this support as “another meaningful step forward” in the cooperation between the PCG and the US Embassy to promote maritime security.
“INL pledged to continue supporting the MRG as they operationalize their maintenance facility and address vessel sustainment requirements comprehensively across the Coast Guard Fleet,” U.S. Embassy INL Director Kate Riche said. “ T his transfer of essential equipment and backup power supply will enable a broader and more effective equipment repair program.”
The PCG’s 400-square-meter Fleet MRG Workshop in Sangley
Point was inaugurated in May 2024 as a joint initiative among INL, the Joint US Military Assistance Group Philippines, and the PCG to enhance maintenance and repair capability for small boats and systems aboard larger patrol vessels, complementing the MRG facility in the Manila Port Area. The US Department of Defense funded the construction of the P54-million ($950,000) MRG Workshop in Sangley Point, while INL bankrolled its design and outfitting in partnership with the US Coast Guard.
INL and other US government agencies are planning additional support for PCG vessel maintenance efforts in the coming year through technical training programs, maintenance and logistic systems planning, as well as equipment donations for vessel operating stations.
AMBASSADOR Marc Innes-Brown
AMBASSADOR
AMBASSADOR Kazuya Endo and Senator Miguel Zubiri (third row from front) with the volunteers and officials from JICA, the Japanese Embassy and the Philippine government
REAR Admiral Rommel Supangan and INL Director Kate Riche sign the donation agreement.
REPRESENTATIVE for Nature Ruth Davis (left) and Asian Development Bank’s VP Fatima Yasmin
Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
Health&Fitness
BusinessMirror
Study highlights link between HMOs in milk, infants’ immunity, development
By Kenneth M. del Rosario | Contributor
ANEWclinical study has found that infants who consumed formula milk supplemented with human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), bioactives naturally found in breast milk, experienced fewer sick days, reduced healthcare visits, and stronger developmental outcomes compared to those who did not.
Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study is the largest and longest of its kind to date, involving more than 600 infants monitored over the course of a year. Researchers observed that those fed with HMO-supplemented formula had 40 percent fewer healthcare visits and averaged 3.4 fewer sick days in their first year of life.
The children also showed notable differences in developmental milestones. More children in the HMOfed group imitated words during early speech, and on average, they understood 24 percent more everyday phrases than children who consumed formula without HMOs. Researchers said this suggests that supporting gut health through prebiotics may influence how quickly and effectively infants acquire language and social skills.
“When children spend fewer days sick, they spend more time exploring,
engaging, and developing the skills they need later in life,” Dr. Beth Reverri, PhD, RD, lead scientist at Abbott, told BusinessMirror in an exclusive interview in Manila. The improvements in early language and socialization scores are particularly important, as experts view these as predictors of cognitive readiness for school.
Solid component HMOs are complex carbohydrates that make up the third most abundant solid component of breast milk, after fat and lactose. They are indigestible by infants but play a key role in nourishing beneficial gut bacteria, shaping immune health, and supporting neurodevelopment.
“The gut and brain are connected from the earliest stages of life. What happens in the gut has far-reaching effects on a child’s immune system and even on developmental milestones,”
said Reverri, who is also a pediatrician. “Our findings show that adding HMOs to infant nutrition can have a measurable impact not just in reducing infections but also in supporting social and language development.”
The study reported that children who consumed HMO-supplemented formula had higher scores in early language development and greater socialization skills compared to peers on standard formula. These findings suggest that HMOs may help bridge gaps in growth and development, especially for children unable to receive breast milk.
Easing burdens for families
ASIDE from measurable health outcomes, the study also pointed to practical benefits for families. Fewer infections translated to reduced stress and fewer disruptions at home.
“Every sick day for a child often means a missed workday for a parent. By lowering infection rates, HMOs not only improve children’s well-being but also ease the daily challenges faced by families,” Reverri said.
Dr. Gamaliel Tayao, head of Medical Affairs at Abbott Philippines, said that the research builds on Abbott’s decadeslong focus on early-life nutrition.
“Over the past two decades, Abbott has built a strong body of evidence on HMOs,” he said. “This new research strengthens what we’ve long seen—that HMOs can support children’s growth, immunity, and cognitive development. For us, understanding the specific needs
of Filipino children is just as important, and we’re committed to developing nutrition solutions backed by science to meet those needs.”
The findings carry particular weight in the Philippines, where children are highly vulnerable to infections. According to Abbott, one of the HMOs highlighted in the study—3-fucosyllactose (3-FL)—is found in high concentrations in Filipino mothers’ breast milk, making its inclusion in formula especially relevant for local infants.
From research to application
ABBOTT was the first company to introduce infant formula with HMOs in 2016. Building on this research, the company recently launched Similac Essencia+ in the Philippines. The new formula contains a blend of five HMOs, BB-12 probiotics, and nucleotides, ingredients designed to support gut balance, immunity, and development.
Seventy percent of a child’s immune system resides in the gut, according to Abbott. When that balance is disrupted whether due to cesarean delivery or frequent antibiotic use, children can be more susceptible to infections.
While breastfeeding remains the best nutrition for infants, researchers note that advancing formula science is important for children who cannot be breastfed. As Reverri said, “The science of HMOs is still unfolding, but what we know now is promising. We are starting to see how close we can get to the benefits of natural breast milk in supporting children’s health.”
Maternity packs help women in times of crisis
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes Contributor
MATERNITY packs offer comfort during a critical time by providing the necessities, easing the burden on families, and ensuring that newborns are cared for from the start.
In an article by independent writer Shirin Bhandari posted in the UNFPA Philippines website, she commended the dedicated efforts of UNFPA Philippines, through its Multi-year Prepositioning Project with the Australian government, to deliver maternity packs in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi) which badly affected Catanduanes in October to November 2024, prioritized women and girls, especially pregnant, lactating mothers, and women with disabilities. She added the collaboration bewteen UNFPA and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Philippines ensured that maternal health, family planning, and gender-based violence protection services are prioritized alongside food, shelter, and water.
“The area was hard hit by the consecutive typhoons in October and November 2024, including the most recent Super Typhoon Pepito. This left many without access to essential services including women and girls, who end up with limited to no access to sexual and reproductive health,” explained Jose Roi Avena, Assistant Country Representative and Officer-in-Charge of UNFPA Philippines.
Horrific ordeal LOOKING back, 17-year-old Sunshine (not her real name), described the horrific ordeal she and her family had undergone “I remember that day. We were terrified,” Sunshine recalls after a Pili tree fell on their home in Gigmoto, Catanduanes. Sunshine’s plight was more challenging becasue she was five months pregnant at the time when a super typhoon hit her village. Sunshine was concerned both for the safety of her family and the baby in her belly.
In late October 2024, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine unleashed torrential rains across the Bicol region, including Catanduanes, triggering widespread
flooding and landslides. Just as the
province was on the path to recovery just weeks later, Super Typhoon Pepito devastated communities and overwhelmed emergency services. “We had no choice but to evacuate. We were lucky no one was hurt when the tin roof of our home was damaged,” Sunshine recalled.
Her partner, 19, worked at a local piggery at the time. They left to take refuge at a nearby evacuation center.
“We had to share the space with so many families; it was very cramped, and I worried we would not have enough food to eat,” Sunshine remembers their situation.
Mud and flood
HER partner was unable to return to work because of the mud and floods.
The UNFPA said the needs of women and young girls are often overlooked when a climate disaster or conflict strikes.
Sunshine visited a nearby school with other expecting and lactating mothers to enlist for their maternity kits.
“They gave me everything I needed before I gave birth. It was a great help,” Sunshine said.
Women and young mothers received soap, rubbing alcohol, clothes, baby cloth diapers, and receiving blankets for their newborns, among other essentials. The maternity packs bring a huge relief to a mother’s situation and relieve financial strain while bearing or rearing a child, especially after a crisis.
The maternity pack came at the right time when Sunshine needed it most, and the little money they had been saving with her partner could be kept for food and the hospital bill for the birth of their child.
Today, Sunshine has a healthy threemonth-old baby boy. They moved to a more secure home, and her partner works as a fisherman. “I’d like to go back to school when my son turns one; it has always been my dream to protect others and become a policewoman, ” Sunshine said. Since she is a young mother, she is kept company by her aunt, who helps her care for the baby.
Sunshine hopes her young infant son one day will also finish school, break the c ycle she fell into, and create a better future for both of them.
MakatiMed Wins 3 Honors at 21st Philippine Quill Awards
AKATI Medical Center
M(MakatiMed) earned three distinguished recognitions at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards on August 27, 2025, at The Manila Hotel, Manila City, underscoring its excellence in communication, innovation, and corporate responsibility. The Philippine Quill Awards, organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, is one of the country’s most prestigious award-giving programs, honoring outstanding communication strategies and initiatives that meet global standards of excellence. MakatiMed was honored for the launch of its da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System under Communication Skills Division, Special and Experiential Events category. With its ability to deliver more precise procedures, quicker recovery, and minimal scarring, the da Vinci Xi expands the hospital’s capacity to perform complex treatments in fields such as Urology, Hepatobiliary, and Gynecology. The launch highlighted the hospi -
tal’s role in shaping the future of surgery in the Philippines and its dedication to advancing patient care through cuttingedge medical technology. The hospital’s 2023 Annual Report titled Breakthrough: Recognizing Opportunities and Reinventing Innovations also received recognition under Communication Skills Division, Publications Category. The report captured the resilience and adaptability of the institution amid a changing healthcare landscape, showcasing groundbreaking achievements, patient-centered initiatives, financial performance, and policies that reinforce MakatiMed’s standing as a leader in innovation and excellence.
By Rory Visco Contributor
FOR residents of Sto. Tomas City in Batangas, a cancer diagnosis often feels like a life sentence, not only because of the illness itself but because of the cost of fighting it. These are the reasons why many decide to abandon care altogether, not because they’ve lost hope, but because of one perennial problem—money.
This is the harsh reality Sto. Tomas Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar
Marasigan hopes to change with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city government and the Global Care Cancer Institute Inc. Through this agreement, the city is taking a step toward bringing affordable cancer care closer to its citizens, especially those with limited means.
Since 2022, the city health office has recorded 137 cancer-related deaths. Marasigan believes that behind each number is probably the story of a mother, father, or child who might have survived had there been earlier detection and accessible treatment. This is more than just a statistic, he noted but also a call to act.
“Reducing premature mortality from this invasive disease attributed to late diagnosis, combined with poor access due to unaffordable costs, is our immediate concern,” he said in an email interview with BusinessMirror
Breaking down barriers
THE partnership aims to make cancer treatment less daunting, both medically and financially. By working with a specialized cancer institute, Sto. Tomas residents will now have greater access to diagnostic tools, trained medical specialists, and therapies that were previously out of reach for many.
More importantly, the agreement ensures that qualified patients can receive financial assistance, helping families stay on course with treatment instead of dropping out due to high costs.
The initiative is part of a broader city ordinance, the Girl
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
TO raise awareness about leukemia, the leading blood cancer in the Philippines, September is observed as World Leukemia Month.
Leukemia, the DOH said, is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that happens when the body makes too many abnormal white blood cells.
These abnormal white blood cells are unable to fight infections, and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce other important blood cells like red blood cells and platelets.
MakatiMed, likewise, gained distinction for its Environmental, Social and Governance Program Webinar Series and Sustaining Initiatives under Communication Management Division, Corporate Social Responsibility—Sustainability Communications Category. Designed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 - Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4 - Quality Education, the webinar series and offline initiatives emphasized that sustainable healthcare is a collective responsibility. By extending its ESG knowledge and practices to stakeholders and its value chain, the hospital continues to drive environmental and social responsibility while advancing better health outcomes. Through these three prestigious recognitions, MakatiMed once again reaffirmed its leadership in healthcare communications and its unwavering commitment to excellence, sustainability, and innovation for the benefit of its patients, stakeholders, and the community it serves.
Power Integrated Cancer Control Program (GPICCP), which pushes for a comprehensive approach to cancer care. This includes prevention, early detection, timely treatment, palliative care, and survivorship support.
What makes this significant is its patient- and family-centered vision, not just about fighting cancer in the hospital but about supporting Tomasinos through the entire journey, from prevention, treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation. By strengthening education and screening programs, the city also hopes to catch cases earlier, when they are far easier and less expensive to treat.
For years, many residents of Sto. Tomas have had to travel far or spend beyond their means for specialized treatment. With this partnership, those services can now be accessed closer to home.
The approach also reflects a broader vision for health equity. Marasigan has repeatedly emphasized that healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for the few but a right enjoyed by all. By bringing in private sector expertise while ensuring government support, Sto. Tomas is showing that inclusive health care is possible even in smaller cities.
Hope for the future WHILE challenges remain—cancer will always be a formidable disease. Marasigan emphasized that the agreement gives patients and families something priceless: a fighting chance. It is a step toward rewriting stories that too often end in loss, and toward giving Tomasinos the opportunity to survive, recover, and live full lives.
“This partnership is a major leap toward making health care accessible and affordable to all,” Marasigan noted.
For residents of Sto. Tomas, this means that cancer doesn’t have to be a disease that’s impossible to conquer and fought dreadfully alone. It can now be faced with the support of a community determined to give its people not just treatment, but hope.
n Fever, chills, night sweats and other flu-like symptoms
n Weakness and fatigue
n Swollen or bleeding gums
n Headaches
n Enlarged liver and spleen
n Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes
n Bone pain
n Pallor
n Tiny red spots on the skin
n Weight loss
n Frequent infections
Diagnostic
TO diagnose leukemia, a doctor will usually conduct a complete blood count (CBC).
Leukemia, surpassing lymphoma and multiple myeloma, ranks 8th in morbidity and 5th in mortality, according to the DOH.
Causes THE DOH said that leukemia occurs when the genetic information of cells that produce white blood cells become mutated over time.
This leads to increased production of immature white blood cells that are unable to function normally. Various factors may increase the chances of developing leukemia,including:
n Exposure to high levels of radiation
n Repeated exposure to certain chemicals (for example, benzene)
n Chemotherapy
n Down Syndrome
n A strong family history of leukemia
n Increasing age
Signs and Symptoms
SYMPTOMS vary depending on the type and stage of leukemia, but they can include the following:
This test may reveal if you have leukemic cells. Abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts can also indicate leukemia.
If an individual tests positive for leukemia, a biopsy of the bone marrow is then done to determine which type of leukemia the person has.
Treatment
TREATMENT depends on various factors like the person’s age, general health, and type of leukemia.
A patient may receive a combination of treatments that could include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Prevention and control
BECAUSE the exact cause of leukemia remains unknown, there is no certain way to prevent it.
“However, avoiding exposure to solvents, such as benzene and toluene, and unnecessary exposure to radiation may reduce the risk of developing leukemia in the future,” the DOH said.
PhilHealth Delivers: GAMOT Claims Paid Before 15-Day Commitment
PhilHealth recently turned over its first payment under the GAMOT (Guaranteed Access to Medicines and Outpatient Treatment) program to CGD Medical Depot Inc., a PhilHealth GAMOT accredited retail pharmaceutical outlet located at Ayala Malls-Vertis North in Quezon City.
PhilHealth GAMOT, a comprehensive outpatient drug benefit package that covers essential medicines, is the newest enhancement to its primary care benefits YAKAP. It has added 54 more essential medicines to the existing 21 medicines designed to treat various conditions, such as infections (anti-microbial), asthma and COPD, diabetes, high cholesterol (dyslipidemia), high blood pressure and heart conditions (cardiology), and nervous system disorders, along with other supportive therapies. This initiative fulfills the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) to make medicines affordable and accessible to all.
This turnover is a symbol of our commitment to fulfilling the promise of accessible treatment for every Filipino.
“Hindi lang ito basta bayad sa
DBP lends P815-M for Bulacan social housing project
STATE-owned Development Bank of the Philippines
(DBP) has extended a P815-million term loan to a mass housing developer for the construction of three residential buildings in Bulacan, heeding calls from President Marcos to broaden support to the housing sector, a top official said.
serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ating partner pharmacy. Ito ay pagtupad sa pangako na gawing abot-kamay ang gamot sa nangangailangan nito [This is not just a payment for the service provided by our partner pharmacy. It is a fulfillment of the promise to make medicine accessible to those who need it.],” said PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado during the simple turnover rite held in Makati City. By partnering with FDA-licensed retail pharmacies nationwide, PhilHealth ensures that members can conveniently access their prescribed essential medicines through accredited GAMOT facilities under PhilHealth YAKAP. To
avail of these benefits, members are encouraged to download the eGovPH mobile app for a convenient registration, YAKAP Clinic selection, Primary Care Provider (PCP) choosing, and First Patient Encounter (FPE) scheduling.
As of September 3, there are 41 GAMOT facilities operating across the National Capital Region, with more expected to join the program in the coming months. PhilHealth members can stay updated on the list of accredited GAMOT facilities through the PhilHealth website at the following link: https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/ partners/providers/facilities/accredited/ GAMOT.pdf
DigiPlus Earns 6 Awards at 21st Philippine Quill Awards
entertainment in the Philippines. It introduced leading platforms BingoPlus and ArenaPlus, widely known for their engaging experiences in interactive gaming and sports entertainment. DigiPlus also operates SpinPlus, Tongits+, and GameZone, with more to come. For more information, visit: www.digiplus.com.ph.
D
IGIPLUS Interactive Corp., the company behind popular gaming platforms BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, won six prestigious awards at the recently concluded 21st Philippine Quill Awards, the country’s distinguished award-giving body in business communication. DigiPlus earned its first-ever Award of Excellence and five Awards of Merit for its exemplary communication initiatives across multiple categories, a remarkable feat for a first-time participant in this annual communication awards program organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
The 21st Philippine Quill Awards gave an Excellence Award to DigiPlus for its “DigiPlus Website: A Digital Gateway to Entertainment Excellence” (Communication Skills - Digital Communication/Communication for the Web category), which presented how the revamped website became a powerful tool in helping the company become a leading digital entertainment powerhouse.
DigiPlus also earned five Merit Awards across multiple categories including
investor relations, customer relations, audio/visual, publications, and marketing, advertising, and brand communication.
The Merit Award was given to “DigiPlus: The Investor Relations Powerhouse Behind the World’s Hottest Gambling Stock” (Communications Management - Financial Communication and Investor Relations category), which illustrated how a well-executed investor relations strategy helped transform the company from an under-the-radar stock to one of the best-performing stocks on the Philippine Stock Exchange, even earning a spot in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500.
Another Merit awardee is the “DigiPlus: Redefining Digital Entertainment in the Philippines” (Communications Management - Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication category) which unveiled the brand reinvention from a legacy gaming operator with over 130 brick-and-mortar stores into a pioneer in digital entertainment.
Additionally, the customer-centric campaign GameSmart, a pioneering project on responsible gaming, financial literacy, and mental health awareness from the BingoPlus Foundation, earned a Merit Award in the Communications Management - Customer Relations category. The campaign was presented in the entry “How BingoPlus Foundation is Redefining Responsible Gaming in the Philippines.”
Also recognized with Merit Awards were the communication initiatives namely “DigiPlus Integrated Report: Ushering a New Era of Digital Entertainment” (Communication Skills - Publications category), which featured the company’s first-ever Integrated Report; and “From Doubt to Data: How DigiPlus Set the Record Straight with a Fair Play Campaign” (Communication Skills - Audio/Visual category), which showcased a transparency campaign on gaming mechanics and stringent protocols through three short videos.
“We are honored that our communication efforts have been recognized at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco. “These accolades are a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to building strong, transparent communication with our customers, investors, and the public. We will continue to redefine digital entertainment and uphold our commitment to responsible and impactful communication.”
With its theme Advancing Intelligence in Business Communication (AI.B.C.), the 21st Philippine Quill Awards, held last August 27, 2025 was a celebration of excellence in business communication and a recognition of organizations that set the gold standard in the field. This year’s winners were selected by a jury of seasoned communicators based on their work plan, strategic alignment, and creativity.
DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus said the Bank’s funding assistance to Bright Homes & Realty Corporation is under its Credit Facility for the 4PH Program (BAHAY-4PH) specifically designed to mobilize resources for the Bagong Pilipinas - Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program of the Marcos Administration.
“DBP’s funding support is consistent with its thrust of promoting social services and community development, as well as to realize the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of providing decent and affordable housing for our countrymen, especially those with limited financial resources,” de Jesus said. DBP is the 10th largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four priority sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development. Bright Homes & Realty Corporation is a 30-year-old
Elevate Your Riding Experience at the PCXceptional Ride
HONDA Philippines, Inc., the country’s No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer hosted the PCXceptional Ride on August 29, 2025 giving media representatives and Moto vloggers a first-hand experience of The All-New PCX160’s premium performance and comfort.
The event aimed for representatives to experience the scooter’s standout and elevated performance, exceptional comfort, and smart features. More importantly, it showcased exactly where The All-New PCX160 truly excels—out on the open road.
Featuring both the Standard and RoadSync variants of The All-New PCX160 Honda’s new premium scooter, the ride began at the Honda Safety Driving Center in Parañaque City, heading towards Café Cecilia in Tanay, Rizal. The participants explored the scenic roads of Tanay, which is ideal for its perfect blend of urban, uphill and countryside riding. The All-New PCX160’s performance was a highlight for riders on the twisty roads from Parañaque to Tanay. The smooth acceleration from its 157cc, 4-stroke, 4-valve, SOHC (Single Overhead Cam), Liquid-Cooled, ESP+ engine was more than enough to handle the route, with riders appreciating its power output of 11.8 kW at 8,500 rpm and torque of 14.7 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Its impressive fuel efficiency of 46 km/L also made it an excellent companion for the long journey ride. They also feel a more comfortable ride with the spacious foot area.
Participants felt confident and in control, especially with the RoadSync type’s advanced safety features. The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) provided enhanced braking stability, which participants found useful, especially in wet conditions. For sudden acceleration, the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) was a standout feature, ensuring improved traction and stability. The twin shock rear suspension with subtanks on the RoadSync type provided excellent damping performance. They also noted more riding experience. As for the Standard type, the Combi Brake System on its front and rear disc brakes provided reliable stopping power.
The ride’s superior styling turned heads, with its newly designed All-LED lights. The sleek color choices, like Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Fadeless White for the RoadSync type and Vortex Red Metallic, Pearl Fadeless White, and Matte Bullet Silver for the Standard type, drew admiration from fellow motorists.
Participants also praised its smart and practical features, designed to make both city and countryside riding more convenient. The Honda Smart Key System, with its convenient keyless operation and anti-theft immobilizer, was a popular feature. The built-in USB Type-C charger was appreciated for its modern compatibility and fast-charging capability, keeping
devices powered throughout the ride. Another practical addition was the spacious 30-liter luggage box, which provided secure and weather-resistant storage for their things.
Riders on the RoadSync type particularly enjoyed the integrated technology. They took full advantage of the Honda RoadSync system, which, when paired with a smartphone, allowed them to access turn-by-turn navigation, music, calls, and messages. This was all hands-free, thanks to the intuitive multi-function switch on the left handlebar and voice humanmachine interface (HMI). The 5-inch TFT meter panel received praise for its enhanced visibility, both day and night, and its user-friendly display of information. The passing light switch was also an important detail that provided an extra layer of safety and improved visibility, especially when overtaking. The participants of the PCXceptional Ride were in good spirits when they arrived at Café Cecilia. The event concluded with refreshments and snacks while enthusiastically discussing their riding experience. This event reinforced Honda Philippines, Inc.’s position as the country’s leading provider of premium, stylish, and technologically advanced scooters—machines built to move people.
“We are proud of how this event turned out not just because everyone had a good time, but because we were able to showcase the features of our new premium scooter. And as always, we are fully committed to bringing the joy of mobility and beyond to every Filipino, and continuing to Elevate your riding experience with The All-New PCX160 where elegance meets truly exceptional performance.” said Apple Magaling, Motorcycle Planning, Department Manager at Honda Philippines, Inc.
MG Philippines Hosts Hybrid Experience Drive for Bank Partners
MG Philippines recently held the MG Hybrid Experience Drive, an exclusive event for its bank partners that showcased the cutting-edge hybrid technology of the AllNew MG ZS Hybrid+ and New MG3 Hybrid+, along with MG Pilot, the brand’s advanced driver-assistance system. The drive gathered 40 bank officers from some of the country’s most trusted financial institutions, including Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO), Bank of China (BOC), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), China Bank Savings, China Banking Corporation, EastWest Bank (EWB), Maybank, Philippine National Bank (PNB), Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), Philtrust Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Security Bank Corporation (SBC), and Sterling Bank of Asia. The day began at MG Greenhills, where guests enjoyed breakfast while the MG Philippines team introduced them to the brand’s latest hybrid technology and its advanced driver-assistance system, MG Pilot. At 9:30 am, the convoy set off from EDSA, cruising smoothly along Skyway and SLEX, taking the open stretches of CALAX, and finally climbing the scenic uphill roads of Tagaytay to Sinta Restaurant. This mix of city congestion, highway cruising, and uphill roads gave participants a true picture of how MG’s hybrids perform in real-world Filipino driving conditions.
Upon arriving at Sinta, participants were welcomed into a sanctuary-themed restaurant and mini-museum adorned with pieces created by nine National Artists. Nestled on the quieter side of Tagaytay with sweeping views of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, the
Ariel personally curated an MG-exclusive welcome drink and a four-course meal, even taking the time to describe each dish before it was served. This thoughtful touch not only elevated the dining experience but also underscored the importance MG Philippines gives to its partners. A key highlight of the event was the fuel economy challenge,
AS WE NAVIGATE GHOST MONTH, MAKATIMED SHARES PERPLEXING YET VERY REAL GHOST-RELATED DISORDERS
WHO’S afraid of the Ghost Month? Apparently, many are. In many Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, the seventh lunar month, which often falls within August, is the time when the souls of our dearly departed leave the gates of hell to pay us a visit. During this period (for 2025, it starts on August 23 and ends September 21), we are advised to put off making major decisions like starting a business, buying a house, postponing medical treatments, or getting married to avoid upsetting restless spirits.
But what if the “ghosts” aren’t supernatural entities but conditions that manifest in real, yet often misunderstood, ways? In a different vein, people diagnosed with “ghostly” conditions face numerous challenges as they live with their unusual (but real!) disorders.
Jon Edward B. Jurilla, MD from the country’s top hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph), enumerates four “ghost”-related conditions and how they are treated.
n Phasmophobia is defined as the extreme and irrational fear of ghosts. Pop star Lady Gaga, who reportedly had phasmophobia, was said to have spent $50,000 on a device that detects ghosts in a room. Those with this condition manifest the disorder through an elevated heartrate and blood pressure, intense anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. “In fact, some fear darkness and nighttime. Being alone or sleeping alone is a frightening thought,” reveals Jurilla. Behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and relaxation techniques are effective in addressing this phobia.
n Ghost sickness supposedly happens when the spirit of a recently deceased loved one supposedly attaches itself to a member of the living, thus sucking the life out of them or causing them harm. A common belief among Polynesians and Native Americans, this disorder presents itself through lethargy, nightmares, hallucinations, nausea, and a loss of appetite. “Medications can ease the symptoms, but not the ‘ghost sickness’ itself, or the belief that a ghost is behind the symptoms,” explains Jurilla. “For us in the field of medicine, lethargy and loss of appetite, especially following the loss of a loved one, may be due to intense grief and sadness, and not necessarily caused by a ghost.”
n A person suffering from Capgras delusion is convinced that a family member or close friend is an impostor. “The patient becomes agitated and aggressive in the presence of the ‘impostor’ and refuses to believe they are anything but,” shares Jurilla. Caused either by a brain injury (which imaging tests like a CT scan or MRI can confirm), mental health disorder (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), or neurological condition (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia), Capgras delusion is treated with anti-psychotic medication.
n Hypochondriasis and Illness Anxiety Disorder are other terms for hypochondria—the persistent worry that one has an undiagnosed life-threatening disease. “They’ll keep checking their vital signs, insist that they undergo unnecessary or repeat diagnostic tests, research obsessively about their perceived illness, and jump to conclusions with the slightest symptoms,” says Jurilla. “Hypochondriasis is more a mental condition than a physical one, so solutions range from psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy to antidepressants.”
As people navigate the traditional superstitions of the Ghost Month with prayers and appeasement, Jurilla also hopes to bring awareness to real-life “ghostly” disorders and their impact on people.
“They may be rare or unusual, but they also present significant challenges for those affected. The best support we can offer them is understanding, empathy, and evidencebased medical approaches that can help them manage the symptoms and ultimately live a life free of ghosts—that may include stigma, isolation, and the debilitating impact of their condition.”
THE Unilab Group has launched Unilab Education (UniEd), its newest pillar and venture in an event titled Building Career Pathways, Shaping the Workforce Together. The launch gathered over 200 leaders from government, academe and industry, underscoring UniEd’s mission to help address the country’s persistent jobs-skills mismatch.
UniEd is Unilab’s response to a long-standing national challenge: graduates struggling to find jobs that match their training, even in sectors like healthcare and STEM where demand is high.
Parentlife BusinessMirror
Doctors want women to know the nuanced reality of hormone therapy for menopause
By Laura Ungar The Associated Press
usher in a host
ENOPAUSE can
Mof disruptive symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and sleep problems.
Hormone therapy promises relief.
But many women wonder about taking it. That’s because the treatment, subject of a recent expert panel convened by the Food and Drug Administration, has long been shrouded in uncertainty.
It was once used routinely. But in 2002, research testing one type was stopped early because of concerns about increased risks of breast cancer and blood clots. Concerns lingered even though later studies showed the benefits of today’s hormone therapies outweigh the risks for many women.
“There is still a lot of confusion and a lot of fear,” said Grayson Leverenz, a 50-year-old from Durham, North Carolina, who hesitated to take it but is glad she did.
Others increasingly are also giving hormone therapy a second look. But experts continue to disagree about how to present the treatment’s pros and cons. The FDA-assembled panel stressed the benefits and suggested health warnings be removed from at least some versions—prompting dozens of experts to call for more input before making any changes.
Doctors say hormone therapy is a great option for many, but not all, menopausal women—and it’s important to understand the nuanced reality of these treatments before deciding what’s best.
HOW HORMONE THERAPY WORKS
IT treats symptoms that can arise when menstruation winds down and ends, causing levels of estrogen and progesterone to drop very low.
One type is low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy. Because it’s applied into the vagina, very little circulates in the blood and the risks are far lower.
Doctors say it’s a good option for women whose biggest complaint is vaginal dryness.
Whole-body therapy includes pills, patches, sprays, gels or a vaginal ring that deliver doses of hormones into the bloodstream at levels high enough to have significant effects on symptoms like hot flashes. Such systemic hormones include estrogens and progestogens.
Jennifer Zwink, a nurse in Castle Rock, Colorado, began using an estrogen patch more than a year ago and also has an IUD, which gives her progesterone. The treatment has relieved her hot flashes, improved her sleep and eased her joint pain and bloating.
“It’s not like a 100 percent magic wand,” she said. “But it definitely has made a significant difference.”
The Menopause Society says hormone therapy can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease if started within 10 years of reaching menopause. It may also reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and maintain bone density for longer.
“They might have a drop in their bone density at age 60” instead of at age 50, said Dr. MargEva Morris Cole, an OB-GYN with Duke University.
HORMONE THERAPY CARRIES SOME RISKS
WHEN Leverenz was first prescribed hormone therapy last year, she kept worrying about the risks
of stroke, which goes away soon after stopping hormones. The risk of blood clots rises if you take hormones by mouth, but may be lower if you use a patch, gel or spray. “A lot of these risks are small,” said Dr. Nanette Santoro, an OB-GYN at the University of Colorado. “And they have to be weighed against the benefit of symptom relief.”
Age, medical history and how long women stay on the hormones are also considerations. Many women take them for around five years, and those who’ve had a stroke or certain other conditions may be advised against using them at all.
DEBATE ON CHANGING WARNINGS ON HORMONE MEDICATIONS
DOCTORS are divided over whether there should be changes in “black box” health warnings on some
letter signed by 76 doctors and researchers argues that
of misinformation, like false claims on social media posts that hormones will prevent dementia and ensure a healthy old age.
“We can’t say that you are going to live a longer, healthier life because you took hormones,” Duke’s Cole said. “I don’t want the pendulum to go so far that people feel that it is promising health for the next 30 to 40 years.”
ALTERNATIVES TO HORMONE
THERAPY FOR MENOPAUSE
SANTORO pointed to a new non-hormonal medication called fezolinetant, marketed as Veozah, for hot flashes and night sweats. The anti-epileptic medication gabapentin, in low doses, can also be used for hot flashes and a moisturizer can improve vaginal dryness. Experts also say regular exercise and a healthy diet can help manage symptoms.
Santoro urged against the “wild proliferation” of supplements claiming to be menopause cure-alls.
“Everybody is in on the menopause gold rush,” she said. “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
PHOTO BY KATERYNA HLIZNITSOVA ON UNSPLASH
RINCESS SUPERAL sent a strong message that she remains as the face of women’s professional golf in the country after carding a flawless four-under 66 to seize a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Negros Occidental Classic on Wednesday. al carved out the lone bogeyfree round on a challenging day at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and with a 36-hole total of 136, the inaugural Asia-Pacific Cup champion moved tantalizingly close to adding another Ladies Philippine Golf Tour title. he birdied three of the first seven holes—Nos. 1, 6 and 7—all from inside 13 feer and added a tap-in birdie on the par-three 16th to highlight her sharp iron play and deft touch on the ’m happy where I’m at, my driving and everything went okay,” said
Superal, who edged Sarah Ababa in sudden death at Caliraya Springs last month. “All I need is for my putting to click tomorrow [Thursday].”
Superal is coming off a muchneeded break to complete shoulder therapy and skipped the Bacolod Challenge in the process.
Korean Seo Yun Kim, however, stood as Superal’s biggest threat. K im made a second 69 to trail Superal by two at 138 heading the final round of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Lois Kaye Go continued to lurk quietly at 140 after back-to-back 70s, just four strokes behind Superal, while Florence Bisera had a disastrous triplebogey on the 11th and closed with a 72 to drop to fourth at 142.
Daniella Uy rebounded with a 70 for a 144, while Angela Mangala faltered with a 75 after an impressive 70 for a 145. Pauline del Rosario, last week’s
Young Alas going all out in worlds
By Aldrin Quinto
ALAS Pilipinas is fielding one of the youngest squads in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship and the home team’s rising stars vow to show that age doesn’t define ability when elite squads from across the globe begin battle this week at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
BRIMMING with confidence, Alexandra Eala came up with a strong start in the SP Open in Sao Paulo by making short work of France’s Yasmine Mansouri, 6-0, 6-2, on Tuesday at Parque Villa Lobos.
Eala—coming off victory in the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico, her first Women’s Tennis Association title— proved too much for the world No. 380.
The SP Open is also a WTA 250 event, meaning the tournament offers 250 ranking points to the singles champion.
The world No. 61 Eala next takes on Argentina’s Julia Riera, world No. 188, in the Round of 16 on Thursday. Riera defeated Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-3, 7-6(1).
The 20-year-old Eala defeated Mansouri in an hour and 10 minutes.
“This is my first time in Brazil and my first time in South America, actually, so I’m so happy to see that the crowd is so lively,” Eala said.
“I didn’t expect so many people to come out and watch me play. I guess I was a bit lucky to be sandwiched in between two great Brazilians, so I’m just happy to be here and to be able to play well,” she added, referring to the matches of Laura Pigossi before her and top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia afterward.
Eala entered the WTA winners’ circle on Saturday with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 118 Panna Udvardy of Hungary in the final at the Panamerican Tennis Center in the city of Zapopan in Mexico on Saturday.
At 24, Buds Buddin, emotional leader of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion National University (NU), know the stakes couldn’t be higher with the Philippines hosting the world championship in what may be a once-ina-lifetime opportunity.
“ This is a dream come true. I couldn’t ask for more. Coming from the province, I just dreamed of making it to Palarong Pambansa, then I played for NU in the UAAP, and now the national team,” said Buddin, a late callup for Alas Pilipinas last year and proving his worth by earning Best
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Partick “Patò” Gregorio deeply thanked two of the country’s largest business conglomerates—MVP Sports Foundation Inc. and Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI)—for forging a partnership that opens more opportunities for Filipino athletes to get a strengthened support system.
“This partnership is exactly what current efforts in the development of Philippine sports are called to do—sync, catalyze, and expand our mutual work— especially in sports infrastructure, sports tourism and grassroots development,” Gregorio said. Let this partnership
winner, was too far back to mount a serious challenge at 147 despite a closing birdie on No. 8 to salvage a 70. Mondilla ties Jahns as Marapara heats up CLYDE MONDILLA fired a 65 also on Wednesday then watched Keanu Jahns falter at the front in a separate flight to force a share of the lead halfway through the men’s tournament.
J ahns appeared poised to pull away early and cruise to a third straight Philippine Golf Tour crown after a superb backside 32 vaulted him to a two-shot cushion.
But the long-hitting
enable dreams, nurture hope, guide with opportunity, and enable champions,” said Chairman Gregorio.
A mong the notable beneficiaries of the programs were Paris 2024 double gold medalist Carlos Yulo and Asia’s No. 1 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, who have been both supported by the MVP and Ayala Group, respectively, even before reaching the pinnacle of their international career.
Under the agreement, both parties will develop a comprehensive framework to support Filipino athletes, including the establishment of talent identification programs aimed at
discovering world-class athletes for longterm development.
AFI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and MVPSF chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, along with AFI President Tony Lambino and Senior Director for Development Programs Emil de Quiros and MVPSF President Alfredo Panlilio
signed the memorandum of agreement. We will sit down and discuss further where we can align our objectives,” Panlilio said. “The MVPSF has programs on grassroots, talent identification, youth level development and the elite program while the Ayala Foundation’s focus is on their Atletang Pinoy program.”
BOYNEXTDOOR and Cebuana singersongwriter Karencitta starting at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event are available through the official web site www. philippineswch2025.com
Alas faces No. 23 Egypt on September 16 before taking on No. 13 Iran on September 18.
The Alas Pilipinas pool will be cut to 14 after the preliminary inquiry on Thursday.
Jade Disquitado is one of the youngest in the Alas Pilipinas pool at 21, and two years after getting called up for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, he is vying for a roster spot for the world championship.
“This means a lot to me, especially for the experience. And for the younger players coming after us, I hope they work hard in training, listen to their coaches, and keep pushing so they can also reach this level someday.”
“Honestly, I never expected to reach this level. I’m really proud of myself for making it this far. It’s not easy to get here,” said Disquitado.
Disquitado was part of National University’s five-peat team in the UAAP with Leo Ordiales, 22; Peng Taguibolos, 23; and Buddin.
Alas Pilipinas also has a National Collegiate Athletic Association star in Perpetual Help’s Louie Ramirez, the twotime season Most Valuable Player eager to carry the flag of his league.
“I’m proud that wherever I go, I still carry the NCAA with me. It means a lot to come from there,” said Ramirez.
“This will definitely be one of the best moments of my volleyball career. It’s the world championship.”
125 Open, marking a historic milestone in her young career.” The match in Mexico, Go noted, underscored her determination and ability to overcome adversity: “Eala displayed exceptional skill and determination in the finals of the Guadalajara 125 Open, where she defeated Hungary’s Panna Udvardy in a hard-fought come-from-behind victory, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.” Go also praised her consistency and fighting spirit on the international stage. She has time and again proven her ability to rise to the challenge, consistently displaying the indomitable Filipino competitive spirit in the international arena of sports,” he said. Go str essed that Eala’s accomplishment stands not only as a milestone in her career but also as a rallying point for national pride and inspiration.
A s the resolution stressed, “This historic triumph not only highlights her extraordinary talent and perseverance but also serves as an inspiration to the Filipino youth and a source of national pride for the Philippines.”
Beyond recognizing Eala’s victory, Go emphasized that such achievements highlight the importance of sustained investment in sports development.
Philippines on September 30.
A ll these calls to arms are fitting set-ups for the big opening on October 1.
W hat are these pep rallies like? They’re big parties filled with entertainment—song, dance, music, pep squad numbers, skits and unexpected performances from athletic teams that never fail to bring the house down.
It’s a time to have fun, get wild, show off and elicit smiles and laughter from the school body. Throughout the enjoyment, nobody ever forgets the serious mission of each team and athlete for the season. The pep rallies deliver the message that “We got your back, Teams!” We’re in this together and from this day forward we both have a solemn duty to play our best and cheer our best to bring you to The Promised Land.
But partying like Vikings at pep rallies is not just a function of recent times. In fact they reflect exactly what ancient armies and World War soldiers go through before they are sent off to battle. S ports teams are, after all, the “armed forces” of the schools, and although their wars are fought on playing fields
and indoor courts, they need the same psychological
AYALA Foundation Inc. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (third from left) and MVP Sports Foundation Inc. chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan (fourth from left) forge the landmark partnership with (from left) Ayala Foundation Senior Director for Development Programs Emil de Quiros, Ayala Foundation president Antonio Lambino II, MVP Sports Foundation president
ALEX EALA is off to another strong start. WTA PHOTO
