ficiency, and mature ecosystem, is “wellpositioned” to expand its role as a GCC hub driving enterprise-wide innovation.
“We can be both: a world-class outsourcing hub and a GCC hub powering enterprise transformation,” added Madrid.
Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP’s Chief Operating Officer, reported that GCCs are now open to looking at places outside of Metro Manila.
“We’d like to share that our existing GCCs here have asked the help of IBPAP to look at provincial locations. GCCs are traditionally located in Metro Manila, but they are now more open to looking at places outside of Metro Manila,” Ilagan said.
“So think that’s a good sign that they are expanding and that they recognize
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
VOWING to prevent a repeat of past fund mismanagement, the House of Representatives on Tuesday formally began plenary debates on the proposed 2026 P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act, emphasizing that every peso should directly benefit Filipinos through essential services, job creation, and sustained economic recovery. In her sponsorship speech, House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela
Angela B. Suansing vowed to uphold accountability by ensuring that allocations are science-based, transparent, and responsive, while denouncing past instances of fund mismanagement. She also said that the budget is not just a policy document but a “backbone of fiscal policy” and a mirror of government priorities. Suansing acknowledged the country’s difficult fiscal environment while expressing confidence in the macroeconomic assumptions laid out by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
“We deliberate today under a challenging fiscal landscape. Global uncertainty continues to weigh on our economy: rising debt obligations, inflationary pressures reducing both household and government purchasing power, and geopolitical disruptions in international markets,” Suansing said. Despite these headwinds, she noted that the 2026 spending plan is anchored on a sound macroeconomic framework crafted by the DBCC. The projections include gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.0 to 7.0 percent; inflation maintained within 2.0 to
4.0 percent; a fiscal deficit target of 5.3 percent of GDP; and a debtto-GDP ratio at a sustainable 61.8 percent by end-2026. Suansing emphasized that these fiscal targets are designed to ensure that the government can sustain growth while keeping its debt burden manageable. She added that the committee will scrutinize agency allocations to ensure every peso is maximized for programs that directly benefit Filipinos. A major highlight of the budget is the realignment of P255 billion originally set for flood
with its talent pool, cost ef-
FILIPINOS swiping their credit cards and obtaining loans against their salaries are helping boost consumption spending in the country but these are deemed “unhealthy” practices, according to ANZ Research.
In its quarterly brief, ANZ Research noted that domestic demand has been weak in the region, except for the Philippines which is seeing an uptick in private consumption as well as inflow of new consumption.
ANZ Research said private consumption in the country, however, was driven by credit card spending and loans against salaries. These borrowings were not being spent on asset creation.
“Growth in borrowings for asset creation [that is, mortgages] has been relatively muted, underscor-
ing household concerns over income prospects. This pattern of spending is unhealthy,” ANZ Research said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that consumer loans to residents—which include credit card, motor vehicle, and generalpurpose salary loans—grew by 23.6 percent from 24 percent.
The data showed salary-based General-Purpose Consumption Loans grew 6.4 percent in July 2025, albeit a slower pace compared to the 8.3 percent posted in June 2025.
ANZ Research noted that the slowdown in consumption in countries in the region, except for the Philippines, has led to the weakness in GDP growth in the region.
“As we have stressed in the past, the post-pandemic nature of job creation has been concentrated in low-paying jobs in
segments like food and accommodation, which in turn has impacted consumption,” ANZ Research also stated.
Apart from this, the Philippines is facing downside risks that could prevent the country from posting faster economic growth.
ANZ Research noted that countries like the Philippines and Malaysia are facing tighter fiscal policies. This is in light of efforts to reduce the budget deficit this year.
The research firm also expects monetary policy easing to be less effective in boosting consumption, given that only one more rate cut is expected in the Philippines this year.
“The efficacy of monetary policy easing seems limited. The hitherto easing is more likely to have eased debt servicing burdens than augment credit. Other than the Philippines and
Vietnam, credit growth has softened in the region,” ANZ Research said. The research firm also noted that the Philippines continues to record a significant current account deficit of more than 2.5 percent of GDP. This, ANZ Research said, is the reason it continues monitoring the country’s current account deficit more closely.
Growth goals
EARLIER, the BSP said the national government’s growth targets may not be met next year as uncertainties caused by higher US tariffs are bound to dampen investor demand. In its latest Monetary Policy Report, the BSP said the low end of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) growth target
DOE keeps track of power sources as ‘Nando’ hits PHL
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THEDepartment of Energy (DOE) reported on Tuesday night that two more renewable energy (RE) facilities of ACEN Corp. went offline while two were synchronized back to the grid, as they continued to keep track of the power situation in areas hard-hit by Supertyphoon “Nando.”
The Bangui wind power plant in Ilocos Norte, with a dependable capacity of 51.9 megawatts (MW), was down due to line faults. However, the DOE has been informed that restoration is targeted within
the day.
Meanwhile, the Pagudpud wind power plant also remains out of service, with its restoration timeline still under assessment.
“Despite these outages, overall
power supply in the Luzon Grid remains sufficient,” the DOE said.
Meanwhile, the 100MW Cagayan North solar power plant in Lal-lo, Cagayan and the 81MW Caparispisan wind power plant were reconnected to the grid.
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported to the DOE that the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (Inec), Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco), and Batanes Electric Cooperative (Batanelco) have yet to restore supply.
According to NEA, 21 of the 32 cooperatives across 22 provinces under monitoring remain in normal operation while eight others are experiencing partial outages. So far, 65.94 percent of municipalities have been re-energized, covering more than 638,000 consumer connections.
In the off-grid areas, restoration works are ongoing at the Basco diesel power plant in Batanes, while five other diesel plants across Batanes, Isabela, Apayao, and Calayan remain on standby as precautionary safety measures.
IBPAP: Revenue from GCCs may grow by…
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Philip-
pines. So really very positive indications there that the Philippines is really gaining traction in terms of getting more GCCs to locate here,” added
The DOE has ordered power firms, electric cooperatives, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to accelerate power restoration in areas affected by super typhoon “Nando.” Stakeholders, it stressed, must work double time with private firms, transmission, and distribution utilities to minimize outages.
As of press time, the NGCP said all affected transmission lines have been fully restored.
The DOE -led Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) said it is closely monitoring the power situation in all typhoon-affected areas to help ensure continuous electricity supply.
In the transport sector, three of 59 electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) in La Union and Ilocos Norte are offline due to weather conditions, while all others remain operational.
Ilagan.
However, both Madrid and Ilagan said during the media briefing that the Philippines should come up with a “very specific strategy or roadmap,” like what India has done, to increase the number of GCCs or offshore hubs established by multinational corporations in the country.
On the policy front, Ilagan said: “What is included in our targets is to have legislation passed for GCCs that is similar to our ROHQ law before. That has been kind of amended because of Create, and we know that other countries have this International Business Services law that they are already implementing so that they can get more GCCs to their countries. So we are trying to work along those lines as well.”
Madrid noted that India, with 2,000 GCCs, has a “very clear roadmap to building that.”
“It’s an example and benchmark for us to follow because it represents the valueadding functions and processes and tasks that we always wanted in IT-BPM from the very beginning,” added the IBPAP head. Madrid said the Philippines is second to India as the GCC hub in the world.
According to him, while traditional IT and Business Process Management (ITBPM) firms and GCCs are “complementary,” the Philippines should strive to increase the share of GCCs in terms of the revenues generated by the local IT-BPM industry.
“I think we should aim for a much bigger share of GCC. Because if you look at the economics, the revenues...The capability of the average GCC types of tasks and processes tend to be higher, tend to be more complex, and correspondingly, the value is also higher,” added Madrid.
In 2024, IBPAP said $8 billion was generated by GCCs, representing 21 percent of the $38-billion revenues earned by the IT-BPM industry in 2024.
In June 2025, Madrid said there are now 250,000 employees within GCCs in the Philippines.
“It’s a growing sector. This is led by Banking, Financial services, Insurance, and health care,” he added. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/06/11/phlshould-focus-on-growing-gccs/)
In a statement on Tuesday, IBPAP said the GCC market, which delivers a “wide range” of functions from finance and HR to customer support, IT, data analytics, marketing and digital services, across multiple industries, is projected to hit $155 billion globally by 2027, with millions of new jobs created.
According to IBPAP, the Philippine IT-BPM industry already employs nearly 2 million Filipinos and contributes 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
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control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Suansing said this amount was redirected to essential services—education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare—after years of questionable flood control spending.
The DPWH’s allocation has been trimmed from P881.3 billion to P625.7 billion while education remains the top priority with P1.17 trillion, the largest in Philippine history.
Healthcare takes the second largest share, with P409.8 billion plus an additional P89.3 billion in realignments.
Social welfare also gained stronger support. The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program received P59.1 billion, expected to benefit about 5.9 million Filipinos in need.
Agriculture received P284.13 billion, including P41.09 billion for farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, irrigation, and crop insurance. The Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk program will provide P7,000 each to one million beneficiaries.
Continued from A14
local snacks, and regional dishes; develop labeling systems or certification seals for food and beverage establishments that source a designated percentage of their produce locally; and directly fund and promote efforts towards selected food festivals and events. The agency will “actively pursue bids to host major international culinary events, such as food expos, chef summits, and gastronomy festivals, to showcase Filipino cuisine on the world stage.”
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and Commercial Banks (U/KBs) at P26.66 trillion as of July 2025, a 6.23 percent from the P25.1 trillion as of July 2024.
This was followed by the resources held by Thrift Banks (TBs) amounting to P1.37 trillion as of July 2025, a 23.13-percent growth from the P1.11 trillion as of July 2024.
Further, BSP data showed Digital Banks (DGBs) grew 33.18 percent to P141.7 billion as of July 2025 from P106.4 billion as of July 2024.
Data also showed resources held by Rural and Cooperative Banks (RCBs) reached P424.9 billion. However, this was an 11.28-percent contraction from the P478.9 billion in July 2024.
Meanwhile, NBFIs resources grew 5.02 percent to P5.99 trillion as of July 2025 from P5.7 trillion as of July 2024.
The BSP said the total resources
For workers, the Tupad program under DOLE was doubled to P26.96 billion, projected to assist 4.9 million displaced or disadvantaged workers. Suansing emphasized that this year’s budget process was more open than before. The House abolished the “small committee” system and allowed civil society groups to take part in budget reviews. Bicameral sessions will also be opened to the public.
Acknowledging eroding trust in Congress, Suansing condemned past mismanagement of funds, especially in failed flood control projects, and stressed that the budget must serve as a “covenant of accountability.”
“The mismanagement of public funds through failed, collapsed flood control projects amid the increasing frequency and intensity of scorching heatwaves and typhoons is of utmost disrespect to our Filipino people. It exposes a deeper sickness: a budget that too often bends to politics and patronage instead of vulnerability and risk. This must end. Our allocations must not only answer today’s needs, but also shield our communities from the disasters of tomorrow,” she said. Suansing also urged colleagues to pass the budget on time or before the Congress break on October 10.
The DOT also eyes the creation of a food and gastronomy tourism marketing guidebook and the development of cookbooks, coffee table books, and regional food guides “to promote and document traditional recipes, culinary techniques, local ingredients, and the stories behind iconic dishes and food communities across the country.” It will likewise improve tourism infrastructure, especially in remote culinary destinations, to facilitate access to immersive food experiences. The agency will also work for the inclusion of chefs, culinary heritage scholars, and food experts in national cultural awards, such as Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan, Presidential Merit Awards, and the like.
data include BSP-supervised investment houses, financing companies, investment companies, securities dealers/brokers, pawnshops, lending investors, and non-stock savings. The data also included loan associations (NSSLAs), credit card companies, government non-bank financial institutions (i.e., Philippine Guarantee Corporation and Small Business Corporation), and authorized agent banks (AAB) forex corporations, wherein assets are reported gross of allowance for probable losses and net of depreciation. Data on NBFIs are based on Consolidated Statement of Condition (CSOC), except for NSSLAs which are based on FRP. Non-bank financial institutions also include Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and private insurance companies (i.e., life insurance companies, non-life insurance companies, and professional reinsurers), wherein assets are reported net of allowance for probable losses and depreciation.
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very steep,” Madarang explained. She also cited issues on packaging certifications, ingredients in terms of color, additives, among others.
The fourth round of negotiations for the FTA between the Philippines and the EU will be held on October 20 to 24, 2025 in Cebu, according to DTI- Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR).
“Both sides aim to ex-
change market access offers for Trade in Goods, Services and Investment, and Government Procurement before the next round, if not within September 2025,” DTI said.
DTI noted that Philippine exports to Europe amounted to $8.1 billion in 2024. The 27-member bloc is the Philippines’s sixth export market out of 201 countries. Meanwhile, the Philippines sourced $7.5 billion worth of goods from the EU in 2024. The bloc is the Philippines’ sixth import source, out of 212 countries it is importing from.
NBI files charges vs legislators linked by former Bulacan public works exec
JBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
USTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin
Remulla said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has been provided with new documents for the possible freezing of assets and bank accounts of individuals following the revelation of former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara that several lawmakers benefited from budget insertions through kickbacks involving flood control and other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Remulla and Alcantara proceeded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters following Alcantara’s disclosure made during Tuesday’s continuation of the Senate blue-ribbon committee’s investigation into the multi-billion anomalous flood control projects in the country, to further assess the latter’s affidavit.
In an ambush interview after the meeting, Remulla told reporters that documents have been submitted to an AMLC representative who was present during the meeting.
“We have to see him against within the week to finalize everything. But, we did good work. We prepared some documents and submitted necessary ones to AMLC for them to freeze the bank accounts,” Remulla said.
After their meeting at the DOJ, Remulla and Alcantara returned to the Senate to give the blue-ribbon panel an update on the assessment made by the Justice department on Alcantara’s affidavit.
Remulla disclosed before the committee that the meeting at the DOJ was attended by the AMLC, as well as representatives from the National Prosecution Office and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Affidavit considered complaint REMULLA said the NBI has decided
to treat Alcantara’s affidavit as already a complaint filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We determined the NBI would be investigating it and on the outset they recommended the filing of charges already, so they treated this already as a complaint with the NBI as the endorsing agency,” Remulla said.
Remulla said based on Alcantara’s affidavit, the NBI recommended the prosecution of Sens. Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, the former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations committee Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of Ao Bicol, former congresswoman Mitch Cajayon and former DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo.
The complaint sought their prosecution for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, indirect bribery under Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and malversation of public funds under Article 211 of the RPC.
Remulla said they are still looking at the case of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Gonzales Lipana and his contractor-spouse who was identified as among those who benefitted from the anomalous flood control projects.
During his testimony before the committee, Alcantara named Bernardo as the one who allegedly facilitated the kickbacks for the respondents.
Alcantara, however, admitted that he had no direct communication with Estrada and Villanueva.
But the former DPWH official confirmed that he personally delivered Co’s kickbacks at his residence in Valle Verde 6 in Pasig City and at Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio City.
According to Alcantara, Co received 20 to 25 percent in kickbacks for 426 projects for Bulacan’s first district from 2022 to 2025 amounting to P35.02 billion.
Marcoleta gets into scrap with Lacson, Remulla
NEOPHYTE Sen. Rodante Marcoleta took center stage at the Senate blue-ribbon committee hearing on anomalous flood-control projects, getting into a scrap with panel chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson and an argument with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
At the start of the hearing, Lacson clashed with Marcoleta over the latter’s allegation of bias.
Just as the hearing started, Marcoleta called out Lacson, who replaced him on September 8 as chairman of the committee, for his supposed bias in favor of former Bulacan public works official Brice Ericson Hernandez over contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.
Marcoleta claimed Lacson’s interview with a news channel raised a “prejudicial issue” that could cast doubt on the credibility of the proceedings.
Obviously displeased by Marcoleta’s allegation, Lacson, said that he was merely stating his own view.
With a raised voice, Lacson told Marcoleta, “That’s my perspective.
That’s my personal opinion outside of the hearing or outside of this hall. So don’t
Ex-Bulacan DPWH engineer links more legislators to flood-control projects mess
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
FORMER Bulacan District
Engineer Henry Alcantara dropped a “tell-all” testimony at the Senate blue-ribbon committee on Tuesday, and tagged, among others, two officials he claimed had been mainly responsible for making him a key implementer of infrastructure projects “inserted” into the national budget and from which billions in bribes were dispensed for the past six years.
In his sworn statement, which he read aloud and was instructed to sign before the panel by the blue-ribbon committee chairman, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, Alcantara, assisted by counsel, said he first met former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo when they were together in a DPWH engineering district in Laguna. When Bernardo was promoted to undersecretary, Alcantara said he helped the latter get
Charges at ICC vs Duterte a milestone in pursuit of accountability–legislator
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
Aquestion my opinion.”
Marcoleta then replied, “But you are the chairman of this committee. Are you not interested in the prejudicial question I am going to raise?”
This prompted Lacson to suspend the proceedings.
He later confronted Marcoleta: “Why are you so protective of the Discayas?”
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa then intervened to pacify Marcoleta.
Later during the same hearing, Marcoleta insisted that the law does not mandate witness applicants to return ill-gotten funds, if any, to the State, but Remulla said this should be done in good faith.
Remulla said that asking Witness Protection Program (WPP) applicants for restitution, or the return of ill-gotten funds, “is a test of good faith, even if the law does not require it.”
“The return of the money is something ordered by the court. But for us to see the good faith of a witness, that’s one question we ask them. Because if they really want to be protected, then with full good faith, they should truly return it,” Remulla said in Filipino.
See “Marcoleta,” A4
LAWMAKER on Tuesday called the unveiling of the charges filed by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity “a milestone in the pursuit of accountability for the atrocities committed against Filipinos.”
House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader Leila M. de Lima, the nominee of the party-list group Mamamayang Liberal (ML), a longtime critic of Duterte’s war on drugs, said the charges validate years of warnings from the human-rights community that the killings would one day lead to international accountability.
“I welcome the charges filed by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court against former President Duterte for the crime against humanity of murder. This serves as a milestone in the process of exacting accountability for the crimes committed in Davao City by the DDS and during the drug war all over the Philippines by the so-called ‘national network’ of death squads, both created and organized by Mayor, then President Duterte,” de Lima said in a statement.
“The wheels of justice started to grind as early as the OTP’s declaration of a preliminary examination of the drug war killings in 2018. As early as then, we already warned Duterte to stop the killings, or he will inevitably face justice before the ICC, no matter how far off in the future,” de Lima added.
She said Duterte ignored all these warnings at his own peril.
See “ICC,” A6
Alcantara said. Of this amount, 20 percent, or P70 million, was delivered to Bernardo, he said.
In 2023, the projects downloaded to Bulacan First Engineering District reached P710 million. Of this amount P450 million made it to the National Expenditure Program (NEP), and P260 million to the General Appropriations Act.
In 2024, Bernardo caused a total of P3.3 billion to be downloaded to Alcantara’s DEO. Again, 25 percent was supposed to go to “proponents.”
Alcantara quoted Bernardo as saying that P300 million was meant for then Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., who was expected to run in 2025 elections. On questioning by senators, Alcantara said he never had any dealings with Revilla, so he could not confirm if indeed any amount reached him.
promoted as district engineer of the First District of Bulacan in 2019, when Mark Villar became DPWH secretary.
Alcantara said Bernardo first “downloaded” projects to his district engineering office (DEO) in 2022, with the tacit agreement that 25 percent of the cost would go to the project “proponent.” In all, the total amount of projects downloaded in 2022 by Bernardo to his DEO reached P350 million,
He named two other senators as having been cited to have “projects,” but also stressed he had no personal dealings with them. “I had no direct communication with Sen. [Jinggoy] Estrada,” Alcantara said, adding he neither delivered money to nor faced the senator.
As for Sen. Joel Villanueva, who was supposed to have proposed a multistory building, Alcantara said he later submitted a list of
flood-control projects to Bernardo that included Villanueva’s name. However, he said, “nagpasa po ako ng listahan [I submitted the list] without telling Senator Villanueva,” whom he knew to be “against proposing flood-control projects.”
Zaldy Co’s “role”
IN addition to Bernardo, Alcantara named former House of Representatives Appropriations committee chairman, Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol, as having caused the downloading of projects to his DEO.
He said it was in 2021 when he first met Co. at a meeting at a hotel in Bonifacio Global City. After one month, Alcantara sent Co a list of six projects worth total P519 million.
From 2022 to 2025, Co allegedly endorsed 426 projects for Alcantara’s DEO, worth a total P35 billion, the dismissed district engineer said in his statement.
According to Alcantara, the supposed share of Co came from “advances” made by contractors, who he said did not know for whom the sums were intended. Mostly, Alcantara claimed he had the money transferred at the parking lot of a hotel. On a few occasions, it
MakatiMed Wins Three Honors at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards
MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER (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 ex-
pands the hospital’s capacity to perform complex treatments in fields such as Urology, Hepatobiliary, and Gynecology. The launch highlighted the Hospital’s role in shaping the future of surgery in the Philippines and its dedication to advancing patient care through cutting-edge 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.
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.
See “DPWH,” A6
Legislator asks govt for more investment on cybersecurity
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALAWMAKER has called for stronger government investment in cybersecurity to safeguard digital platforms such as the eGov Super App, following the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) confirmation of 1.4 million hacking attempts on government websites over the weekend.
Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal of Bagong Henerasyon made a statement after an incident was traced to the separate eComplaints system—one of several third-party platforms integrated into eGov.
With this, Nazal emphasized the need for stricter validation of external systems before they are linked to the Super App.
He said Congress must ensure that DICT has sufficient resources and manpower to secure the entire eGov ecosystem.
“Even if the eGov Super App itself is secure, if the systems being integrated are not validated for security, the app’s credibility will still be questioned,” Nazal said.
He proposed creating a dedicated team tasked with verifying third-party systems to ensure they meet cybersecurity standards before integration. Nazal also vowed to push for stronger government support to safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure, saying he will ask DICT to submit a budget proposal to enhance cybersecurity measures.
He also plans to recommend that part of the more than P200 billion in flood control funds be reallocated to support DICT.
“The public deserves nothing less than a secure digital platform that they can fully trust,” Nazal said.
DICT earlier reported that out of the 1.4 million hacking attempts, 19 websites were breached—including the Anti-Red Tape Authority, DICT itself, the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, and several local governments—but were immediately restored.
The agency clarified that the eGov Super App was not hacked and that all user personal data remain safely encrypted, with the possible incident traced to the separate eComplaints system, one of many integrated platforms.
Zambo manufacturing hub to boost research
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has opened the first Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) in the Zamboanga Peninsula, aiming to strengthen research and development while training students and faculty members in advanced metals and engineering technologies.
Located at the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, the facility was inaugurated on September 23 in partnership with WMSU’s Research Innovation Center for
Metals and Engineering (Ricme).
“We are trying to focus more on research and development, not just for our faculty researchers but especially for our students. We also cater to MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] and industry partners,” Ricme head Kevin Bejerano told reporters on the sidelines of the AMCen inauguration on Tuesday.
Facility services are currently provided at no cost for student projects, he said, while plans are also being drawn up for incomegenerating activities in the next three to five years to sustain the center’s operations.
Bejerano expects that the fa -
cility will support specialized prototyping and design needs of local industries, aiming to complement classroom learning with practical applications.
The AMCen in Zamboanga Peninsula is the first in Region 9, and it forms part of the nationwide AMCen program under the DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC).
It also provides training for regional and provincial science and technology personnel to expand additive manufacturing expertise across the country.
On the other hand, while the facility can handle intricate designs and prototyping, Bejerano
Maritime agencies pledge to protect seas, environment
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE country’s maritime agencies on Tuesday sealed a joint commitment to safeguard the country’s seas while advancing sustainability, security, and innovation in the maritime industry.
Officials from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and the Coast Guard (PCG) signed the commitment, pledging to balance economic opportunities with environmental stewardship, promote low-emission shipping technologies, bolster maritime security, and modernize port and fleet operations.
PPA Assistant General Manager for Operations Mark Jon Palomar said the country needs to advance its green ports initiative, intensify shoreline cleanups, and deepen carbon reduction programs for a more sustainable industry.
“Together, let us amplify this message, inspire collective action,
said that challenges may arise with more complex projects.
“They just have us make intricate designs,” he said. “But it’s manageable with the help of my staff at Ricme AMCen.”
In such cases, he cited that support from AMCen’s central office and the MIRDC will be tapped.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicate that the area’s regional economy grew by 4.2 percent in 2024, slightly slower than the 4.5 percent expansion the year before.
Services accounted for the largest share at 54.9 percent, followed by industry at 29.3 percent and agriculture at 15.8 percent.
DepEd reports ‘significant’ progress on AI
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Department of Educa -
tion on Tuesday reported
“significant” progress in its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve transparency, resource allocation, and leadership selection.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said the results of the midyear report of the Education Center for AI Research (Ecair) reflect DepEd’s push to align technology with accountability.
“Hindi lamang ito tungkol sa teknolohiya, kundi sa pagtutuwid ng ating sistema. Kapag malinaw ang datos, mabilis ang tugon, at patas ang alokasyon, mas tumitibay ang tiwala ng mga guro, magulang, at mag-aaral sa DepEd,” Angara said, noting that that the move is in line with President
Marcos’ directive to strengthen integrity and innovation in the government.
DepEd said the reforms aim to embed a long-term culture of data-driven innovation across the education system, ensuring that integrity remains at the heart of education modernization.
Project Talino UNDER ECAIR, DepEd developed Project TALINO, a digital mapping system that provides realtime visibility of school needs nationwide.
The platform allows DepEd and its partners to pinpoint gaps in classrooms, electrification, and learning facilities, giving priority to underserved and geographically isolated schools.
According to the report, Phase I of the project has been completed
and turned over to the Adopt-ASchool Secretariat.
The system also features an integrated pledge automation tool, now being aligned with DepEd’s donation policies, to streamline the entry of private sector support.
Project Dunong
ECAIR also highlighted progress under Project Dunong, which automates the processing of the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH).
By using dual scoring methods, the platform has reduced outsourcing costs, accelerated the release of results, and improved accuracy.
More importantly, its data dashboards provide insights into the competency gaps of aspiring principals, guiding the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (Neap) in designing targeted training.
The report noted that the system is now fully turned over to the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development, supporting the urgent task of filling more than 24,000 leadership vacancies nationwide.
Project Salikseek
ANOTHER innovation, Project Salikseek, has introduced a GenAI-powered quick response tool for education data inquiries.
The platform enables DepEd personnel without technical training to retrieve validated and structured data in seconds, compared to the days or weeks it previously took. Turned over
use
this year to the Planning Service and ICTS, the system strengthens the department’s capacity for evidence-based planning and timely decision-making.
Projects Sigla, Sabay, Ligtas
LOOKING ahead, DepEd said the second half of 2025 will focus on piloting Project Sigla, an AI tool for growth screening designed to detect stunted and underweight learners.
Initial trials in Metro Manila schools are set for this quarter, with the goal of easing administrative burdens on teachers and enabling faster interventions for malnutrition.
Alongside this, the department is advancing Project Sabay, which uses AI to screen learners for dyslexia and speech sound disorders, ensuring that children with learning difficulties are identified earlier and supported with the right interventions.
The agency is also preparing to roll out Project Ligtas, a multi-hazard analytics platform that will allow DepEd to monitor and assess school resilience to disasters. A prototype geospatial dashboard has already been developed and will be turned over to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service by the end of the year.
The Ecair report emphasized that these projects will continue to expand into 2026, covering more regions, datasets, and training programs for teachers and learners.
and show the world that the Philippines is ready to lead toward a future where our ocean is protected, our obligations are fulfilled, and our opportunities are seized,” he said. For her part, Marina Administrator Sonia Malaluan said the agency is committed to “uphold international safety and environmental standards while ensuring the continued global competitiveness of Filipino seafarers.” Meanwhile, PCG Rear Adm. Teotimo Borja encouraged citizens and industry players to report violations and participate in efforts to prevent maritime pollution. He also emphasized that “protecting the oceans is a shared responsibility hence they are training personnel equipped to respond to both environmental and security challenges.” The country is celebrating the National Maritime Week (NMW) until September 28, featuring activities such as bloodletting drives, educational port tours, tree planting, and a fun run.
Turkey wants to supply chicken to Philippines
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
URKEY wants to beef up the Philippines’ poultry supply through a regionalization agreement to prevent trade disruptions amid bird flu outbreaks.
Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol said his country wants to expand its poultry shipments to the Philippines, given its position as a leading producer of the protein source.
“Right now, there’s a good prospect for poultry products, since there’s a good demand from the Philippines and we are a major producer,” Akyol told reporters on the sidelines of a business-to-business event in Makati City on Tuesday.
However, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has slapped a temporary ban on poultry imports from Turkey since March owing to a bird flu outbreak of the H5N1 subtype in Sarayduzu, Merkez.
With this, Akyol said Turkey is keen on securing a regionalization agreement with the Philippines and accreditation of its foreign meat establishments (FMEs).
“We’re interested [in the regionalization agreement], and we’re working towards that goal,” he said. “There’s also the process concerning individual companies [...] There is a good number of companies that want to be certified by the DA here.”
Based on latest government data, the status of accreditation for seven individually accredited
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“That’s one of our tests. It’s not in the rules, but it’s a test to see whether the witness is reliable or not.”
When his turn came to ask questions, Marcoleta said that he and Remulla settled that restitution is not a requisite for a WPP applicant.
“There is a process. In the process, restitution is not one of the requisites,” Marcoleta said. Remulla said that though it’s not in the law, it is still morally right.
The senator then asked if Remulla is amending the provision of the law.
FMEs in Turkey is for revalidation. Akyol expressed optimism that the process for regionalization and accreditation of poultry shipments would be finalized by next year, at most.
Under the regionalization agreement, the Philippines will restrict shipments of live birds and their products only from certain areas with confirmed avian flu cases instead of imposing a country-wide ban.
Currently, the Philippines has an existing regionalization agreement with the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Poland. For the US, a state-wide ban should only be imposed if there are three or more counties affected by bird flu.
However, a BAI official earlier said a county-level regionalization scheme is underway for the US, which further scales down the current state-wide import ban on poultry shipments to the Philippines during ongoing outbreaks. Last year, Turkey shipped 323 metric tons (MT) of chicken into the Philippines, most of which were mechanically deboned meat (MDM), based on figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). In 2024, Turkey’s exports to the Philippines stood at $140 million, while imports from the Philippines reached $254 million, according to Ali Can Yamanyılmaz, Member of the Sectors Council of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM).
Remulla said “no.” Marcoleta argued that restitution comes “after.”
“How can you say that a person will restitute? Have there already been findings on how much should be restituted? On how it can be restituted? They’re just applying,” he explained.
Remulla said he respects Marcoleta’s opinion but added that restitution can come before and after.
“We’re operating on a unique set of facts and all of these matters are being evaluated because the gravity of this financial crime cannot be underestimated. The more assets that we are able to preserve at the outset, the better for our country,” he said. Butch Fernandez
Marcoleta.
Tiangco accuses Zaldy Co of ethics violations, cites budget manipulation and conflict of interest
NAVOTAS City Rep. Tobias Tiangco on Tuesday filed an ethics complaint against Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, accusing him of violating the 1987 Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713), and the Rules of the House of Representatives.
In his complaint to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Tiangco alleged that Co, the former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, masterminded and tolerated lastminute insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which he described as “the most scandalous, corrupt, and highly irregular budget.”
Tiangco said billions of pesos were inserted by a small committee into the bicameral conference report without proper committee meetings, reports, or explanations, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the appropriations. Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Tiangco, had condemned such budget insertions.
“Representative Co undoubtedly betrayed public trust and ruined the reputation of the institution he ought to protect,” Tiangco wrote in his complaint, stressing that the budget maneuverings bypassed priority projects and diverted funds to unprogrammed appropriations.
The lawmaker also accused Co of continued absence from House sessions in the 20th Congress allegedly due to medical reasons, without presenting proper medical certification. He argued that this violated Section 4 of RA 6713, which mandates officials to perform their duties with the highest degree of excellence and dedication to public service.
Tiangco cited data showing that Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., a company linked to Co, secured P86.1 billion worth of government infrastructure contracts from 2016 to 2025, including around P40.2 billion in Region V (Bicol), Co’s home region.
Tiangco said this raised potential conflicts of interest in violation of House Rules prohibiting members from acquiring personal pecuniary interest in enterprises that benefit from laws or resolutions they author.
Tiangco prayed that the ethics panel impose penalties or sanctions against Co commensurate with his alleged misconduct.
As of press time, Co has yet to issue a response to Tiangco’s complaint.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., meanwhile, said he has not spoken with Co for two weeks.
See “Zaldy Co,” A10
CHED affirms students’ right to fight against corruption, denies directing rally attendance
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday denied that they have directed to attend rallies, but instead affirmed that the youth have every right to demand accountability and good governance, especially in the face of the serious corruption issues confronting the nation today.
In a statement, CHED stressed that students must never be silenced, threatened, or intimidated for standing up against corruption, consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s support for citizens making their voices heard. CHED also denounces all forms of corruption and recognizes the indignation that compels citizens, particularly the youth, to protest. Anti-corruption rallies were held in several areas in the country to denounce flood control anomalies.
“Their right to speak out must always be respected, provided this is exercised within the bounds of the law. At the same time, we remind students to remain vigilant against disinformation,” CHED stressed.
Contrary to false claims, CHED said that students’ participation in rallies is their personal choice, and “we trust in their discernment as critical thinkers shaped by higher education. Higher Education Institutions [HEIs] are expected to protect their students, respond swiftly to any threats, and extend full support to those who may be targeted.”
CHED, likewise, leaves matters of monitoring and intelligence to the proper authorities and expresses full trust in our police and military to responsibly carry out their mandate of maintaining peace and security.
“What is important is that these efforts are carried out with respect for the rights of students who choose to express themselves within the law,” CHED added.
CHED also reiterated that they stand firmly with the President, the Filipino youth, and the higher education community in the fight against corruption.
“The voices of our students must not only be heard but also defended, for they are vital to building a just, transparent, and corruption-free Philippines,” CHED concluded.
House elects Garafil as new secretary general, Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz as sergeant-at-arms
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously elected former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil as its new secretary general, replacing Reginald Velasco. During the plenary session, Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos moved to declare the positions of secretary general as well as sergeant-at-arms vacant, paving the way for the election of new officials. Garafil, a lawyer and former journalist, previously served as press secretary and headed the Presidential Communication Office under the Marcos administration.
PhilHealth to expand primary care package with returned ₧60B fund
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Philippine Health In -
surance Corporation will allocate the P60 billion to be returned by the government to expand its primary care package with free medicines, roll out anticancer screening tests, enhance treatment benefits and upgrade its digital systems.
In a televised news program on Tuesday, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector Dr. Israel Francis Pargas said the fund will help in continuing PhilHealth’s push to increase and expand its benefit packages.
“Our current funds can sustain these even without the P60 billion, but if the fund is returned, we can make sure that these programs will be sustained,” Pargas said.
The fund will be channeled to its primary care package, such as providing members with free medicines and anti-cancer screening tests.
Part of the allocation will be directed to enhancing treatment benefits such as HIV coverage, leptospirosis and animal bites, as well as for normal spontaneous and cesarean section maternity benefits.
“If we expand our benefits, this means that PhilHealth’s share of
hospital bills will also increase, especially for hospitals implementing zero balance billing,” Pargas added.
The higher PhilHealth counterpart, Pargas said, will reduce the share covered by the government or the DOH, making zero balance billing possible for more patients.
The P60 billion will also fund PhilHealth’s digitalization program, which will make its systems faster, more efficient and more convenient for its members.
“That is why the P60 billion, if returned to us, will be of great help,” Pargas said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos
New Marcos EO protects workers’ rights to organize, bans ‘labeling’ of unionists
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Justine Xyrah Garcia
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) No. 97 for the enforcement of the new omnibus guidelines, which will further protect the rights of workers to organize and join associations through provisions such as banning law enforcement agencies from “labeling” labor unionists.
Dated 19 September 2025, but only released to the media last Tuesday, the new issuance will facilitate the adoption of the Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 1 crafted by the Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) last year.
Labor groups welcomed the issuance of an EO elevating the Omnibus Guidelines on the Exercise of Freedom of Association (FOA) into binding state policy, calling it a long-overdue win for workers’ rights.
The Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) said the new EO is a significant step in strengthening the legal shield for workers and their organizations.
“This is a win for the labor movement...It is a concrete demonstration of the government’s seriousness in realizing the recommendations of the [International Labor Organization] High-Level Tripartite Mission that visited the country in 2023,” Sentro Chairperson Abdulani Lakibul said.
Marcos ordered the concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to integrate JMO No. 1 into their respective policies, training programs, operations manual, as well as information and education materials.
Among salient features of the JMO was it banned any agency, stakeholder, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to engage in labelling workers, union members, trade unions, or organizations.
The Order defines labeling as the act of accusing or denouncing, attacking or
persecuting individuals or an organization as communist, terrorist, or sympathizer without legal basis and due process of the law.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government units (LGU), and the PNP were also prohibited from directly involving themselves in “legitimate trade union activities” and indirectly engaging with trade unions on matters which fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The involvement of PNP and AFP personnel in strikes, lockouts, and other concerted actions will be limited to maintenance of peace and order.
The Offices of the DOLE Undersecretary for Labor Relations and Regional Directors were mandated to serve as focal points in the reporting of grave violations of the provisions of the JMO, including labelling.
The Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers will submit regular reports to the Office of the President within six months on the implementation of the JMO, and every year thereafter.
LGUs and the private sector are encouraged to support the implementation of the JMO.
The JMO was crafted in response to the recommendation of the International Labor Organization High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) in 2019 for the government to address the reported incidents of violence, red-tagging, and suppression of trade union rights.
First adopted under the Aquino administration to address trade union killings during the Arroyo years, the FOA guidelines protect workers’ rights to organize, bargain collectively, and participate in union activities free from interference or intimidation.
However, Sentro cautioned that the new measure will only be effective if backed by concrete action and accountability from government.
They said the government should take further steps, including the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, justice for slain trade unionists, alignment of the Labor Code with ILO standards, and an end to contractualization.
“Only then can the promise of genuine freedom of association and respect for civil
House ‘Appro’ panel OKs ₧6.7-T budget
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @jonlmayuga
She also served as chairperson and resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the chamber also elected retired Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz of the Philippine Army as the new sergeant-at-arms, succeeding retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas. As secretary general, Garafil will oversee the daily operations of the House Secretariat and ensure smooth legislative proceedings, while Dela Cruz will be responsible for maintaining order and security within the Batasang Pambansa complex. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
THE House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday approved the proposed P6.7-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, with the realignment of P255.5 billion originally intended for flood control projects as its only amendment. With 54 votes in favor, six against, and four abstentions, the 2026 General Appropriations Bill or House Bill No. 4058 was approved and is now set for plenary deliberations, which also began on Tuesday.
House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing assured the
public that the amendment was transparent and consistent with the recommendations of the Budget Amendments Review SubCommittee (BARSc).
“We only changed the P255.5 billion. We did not insert anything; we did not hide anything. Whatever the committee presented is exactly what’s in the committee report and the GAB,” Suansing stressed.
Realignment
THE P255.5-billion realignment originally allocated for DPWH flood control projects will be distributed as additional funding across key priority sectors under the government’s Eight-
liberties truly be fulfilled,” Sentro said.
Meanwhile, the Nagkaisa labor coalition said the EO brings the Philippines closer to bridging the gap between “principle and practice” in protecting civil Nagkaisa Chairperson Sonny Matula stressed that freedom of association is a fundamental right, enshrined not just in the Philippine constitution but also in international labor conventions.
“Freedom of association is not simply a legal construct or a fiction created by law. It is a right deeply rooted in our inherent human dignity...Kung walang malayang asosasyon, walang tunay na hustisyang panlipunan,” Matula said.
New FOA training resource ON Monday, the ILO and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also launched a new training resource on FOA as part of continuing reforms to strengthen worker protection in the Philippines.
Backed by the Government of Canada and the European Union, the modules cover labor rights, documentation of violations, and FOA in the context of gender, climate, and migration.
The initiative forms part of the country’s commitments following the ILO High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) in 2023, which investigated 380 cases of alleged violations—including forced disappearances, arrests, intimidation, and red-tagging of unionists.
In response to the HLTM recommendations, the Philippines adopted a FOA Roadmap as a national blueprint and created the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) under Executive Order 23 to improve coordination.
The National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) was also tasked to sustain dialogue among government, workers, and employers.
ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said the new training marks another step forward.
“Significant progress has been achieved; and we need to continue working together to sustain the efforts. This new training resource is more than a tool. It reflects the country’s commitment to address challenges and implement recommendations for stronger social dialogue and freedom of association,” Hassan said.
Point Socio-Economic Agenda.
A total of P54.5 billion will go to social protection, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P35.5 billion, including P32.6 billion for AICS) and the Department of Labor and Employment (P19 billion for TUPAD, livelihood programs, and TESDA scholarships) as major beneficiaries.
The education sector will receive P37 billion, broken down into P26.6 billion for DepEd programs such as basic education facilities, IPED, ARAL, ALS, Madrasah, feeding programs, and special needs education; P9.2 billion for CHED’s tertiary education subsidy and Tulong Dunong; and P450 million for DOST’s Philippine Science High School System scholarships and campus facilities.
Jr. announced over the weekend that the P60 billion remitted by PhilHealth to the Bureau of the Treasury last year will be given back.
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Appropriations, as proposed by the Budget Amendment and Revision Subcommittee, realigned the P255.5 billion reduction in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed budget for next year to other priority sectors. Lawmakers returned the P60 billion to PhilHealth by allocating an additional P60 billion to its subsidies for next year proposed at P53.26 billion, now totaling P113.26 billion.
APPLICANTS will only have until Wednesday to avail of the over 400 new job opportunities in the hospitality and food sector in Croatia under the European country’s government-togovernment (G2G) hiring program with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Of the said vacancies, 255 are for room attendants, 110 for waiters, and 70 for cooks. DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said the new G2G partnership is part of their ongoing efforts to provide secure and dignified employment options to aspiring overseas Filipino workers.
“What’s important here is that the agreement is clear and both governments [Philippines and Croatia] will oversee [the hiring program]. That means there is protection, support, and respect for our workers [who will participate in the program],” he said in Filipino in a statement. To qualify for the program, applicants must be Filipino citizens aged 18 years and above, have completed at least 10 years of education (secondary level), possess a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) National Certificate II in the relevant field, and be physically and mentally fit for overseas employment. They must also be proficient in English, but are not required to have prior work experience. The documentary requirements for the applicants are valid National Bureau of Investigation clearance, Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate, and passport with at least one year validity. They must personally submit the said documents to the DMW Central Office in Ortigas or any DMW Regional Office after they have registered online via the DMW Portal (https://portal.dmw.gov.ph) and secure an appointment.
DMW has set the deadline for accepting applications for the program on September 24, 2025 and has scheduled to hold interviews for pre-qualified applicants on October 15, 2025 in its office in Mandaluyong City. Successful candidates can earn salaries ranging from €976.99 to €1,079.24, or approximately P62,500 to P69,000 gross monthly, depending on the position. Samuel P. Medenilla
Health will take the largest share at P89 billion, with P29 billion for the Department of Health’s hospital projects and medical assistance programs and P60 billion in subsidies for PhilHealth. Agriculture will also receive significant funding amounting to P44.9 billion, including P39.3 billion for the Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities, farmer assistance, irrigation, cold storage, soil health, and coconut programs; P5 billion for the National Irrigation Administration; and P600 million for the Department of Agrarian Reform’s bridge and land tenure projects.
See “Appro,” A11
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
DPWH. . .
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was brought to Co’s residence in Pasig City.
Eventually, Alcantara alleged, the funds directed to his DEO had become “swollen” as to draw attention, so they agreed that Co would cause other projects to be downloaded to other DEOs in Central Luzon (Tarlac 1st, Tarlac 2nd, and Pampanga 3rd).
ICC.
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“His detention and indictment for the drug war killings are the direct consequence of his own actions. As we have said again and again, he has no one to blame but himself. His co-conspirators will follow him to the Hague soon enough,” she added.
The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor filed a compact pre-confirmation brief that, prosecutors say, gives judges the evidence needed to decide whether the former President should face trial.
Covering the period November
Remulla brings Alcantara to DOJ
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin
Remulla was allowed by the blueribbon panel to bring Alcantara to the Department of Justice to allow his office to evaluate the sworn statement and annexes he presented to senators on Tuesday morning.
Lacson, however, gave Remulla strict orders to return Alcantara to the Senate after lunch so the other members can also
1, 2011–March 16, 2019, the filing links 49 incidents to a single course of conduct in the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign.
Prosecutors charge Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity for murder and attribute 78 killings to those incidents: 19 from his Davao mayoral years, 14 labelled “high-value target” killings after he became President, and 45 tied to barangay “clearance” operations.
“The attack was widespread and systematic,” the brief states, adding the campaign “resulted in thousands of deaths,” language used to place the 78 deaths in a broader context.
grill him on the contents of his affidavit.
“This will be very helpful to the DOJ and [its] Witness Protection Program in trying to file a case as soon as possible, as this is the demand of the people,” Remulla said at the third blue-ribbon committee hearing on the multibillion-peso flood control projects scandal that has triggered nationwide protests at the weekend.
Replying to a request for clari -
The prosecution’s package pairs victim accounts with documents, forensics, and statistical analysis to show patterns rather than isolated crimes.
The case is now before ICC PreTrial Chamber 1, which will determine if there are “substantial grounds to believe” that crimes against humanity were committed and whether Duterte should face trial in The Hague.
Formally charged THE International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor has formally charged Duterte with crimes against humanity.
In a court document signed by
fication from blue-ribbon committee vice chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo, Remulla explained that someone placed under Witness Protection may or may not be included among those charged, depending on the assessment of whether or not he qualifies to be a state witness.
After allowing Alcantara to read aloud his sworn statement, Lacson instructed Alcantara to sign it in front of the committee, which he
Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, the ICC Prosecutor accused Duterte of being liable for dozens of murders that allegedly took place between 2013 to 2018.
Duterte was charged with three counts of crimes against humanity, involving the death of 78 individuals in the anti-illegal drugs campaign while he was Davao City mayor and during his term as President.
“The Prosecution charges the murders and attempted murders below, although the actual scale of victimisation during the charged period was significantly greater, as reflected in the widespread nature
did, “to prove my willingness to cooperate.”
Co on Tuesday strongly denied the allegations made against him during a Senate hearing, calling them “false and baseless.”
In an official statement, Co said he reserves his right to respond to the accusations at the appropriate time and before the proper forum.
“The allegations made against me during today’s Senate hearing are false and baseless. I reserve
of the attack,” the document read.
Count 1 involves “murder as a crime against humanity in Davao City” of the 19 victims between 2013 and 2016, while Count 2 charges the former Chief Executive with “murder as a crime against humanity of ‘High-Value Targets’ in locations across the Philippines” involving 14 victims between 2016 and 2017.
Count 3 involves “murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity in barangay clearance operations in locations across the Philippines” of 45 victims during his presidency between 2016 and 2018.
The ICC Prosecutor alleged that
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my right to respond to these allegations at the proper time before the proper forum,” Co stressed. Co assured that he would address them through the proper legal and institutional channels. Testimonies of Hernandez and Alcantara before the Senate blueribbon committee linked Co to the supposed delivery of about P1 billion in cash to his penthouse at a hotel in Taguig.
With Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Duterte is liable for the crimes charged in counts 1 to 3 for “indirect co-perpetration, ordering and inducing, and aiding and abetting.”
“During the Mayoral period, the attack was carried out predominantly by the Davao City police and paid non-police hitmen who together comprised the DDS [Davao Death Squad],” the court document read.
“During the Presidential period, the attack was carried out by the National Network [predominantly law enforcement personnel with non-police assets and hitmen under their direction and/or control].” With PNA
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Ukraine faces new test as Russia steps up drive to seize Donetsk’s fortress belt
By Hanna Arhirova The Associated Press
SLOVIANSK, Ukraine—Fall is expected to bring another grueling test for Ukraine’s armed forces as Russia intensifies its campaign to seize an eastern region, once Ukraine’s industrial heartland and a territory it has long sought to conquer.
Russia now controls about 70% of the Donetsk region. Ukraine’s forces have been pushed back to a string of four cities that analysts have dubbed its “fortress belt,” where they’ve repelled Moscow’s efforts to seize the region for years. But shortages of troops, supplies and chaotic management are making it increasingly hard to resist Russia’s relentless pressure in the region.
As the more-than-3-year-old invasion continues despite months of US-led peace efforts, analysts and the military say the country could struggle to resist an intensified push to seize the last cities in the region under Ukrainian control.
Moscow is taking the territory piecemeal ANALYSTS and Ukrainian officers say that Russia is unlikely to engage in protracted urban battles and avoid costly fights like the storming of Bakhmut, which dragged on for months with staggering losses on both sides.
“After Bakhmut and Chasiv
Yar, the Russians clearly understood that large cities turn into vast cemeteries for their army, where they lose thousands upon thousands,” said Col. Pavlo Yurchuk, whose troops are defending a small city at the northern end of the fortress belt.
To skirt the cities, Russian forces are pushing on the flanks and increasingly using infiltration tactics, sending small groups of soldiers through gaps between Ukrainian units.
Some of these groups have achieved tactical gains, slipping behind the front line to hide in tree lines or basements, occasionally occupying abandoned positions or cutting off supply routes. But the human cost is heavy: of a fiveman unit, Ukrainian commanders estimate, two are usually killed, one is wounded, one goes missing, and only one survives to call for a drone to drop water or medicine.
“These are tactical successes, not strategic ones,” Yurchuk said. “This tactic is very slow and does not solve the tasks of encirclement or control of large settlements.”
Drones and glide bombs are also playing a crucial role, allowing Russia to hit troops and supplies headed for the front and to weaken Ukraine’s strongholds without head-on fighting.
Russia is moving around the ends of the fortress belt
THIS summer, Russian forces stepped up attacks at the northern and southern ends of the Donetsk belt. Their strategy, Ukrainian officers say, is to sever supply lines and surround the region’s cities rather than storming them directly.
The region—one of four that Russia illegally annexed in 2022, though it did not control any of them—became the epicenter of the fighting since the start of the full-scale invasion.
In northern Donestk, Yurchuk’s 63rd Brigade is fighting to hold the town of Lyman, a key logistics hub on the way to Sloviansk.
With a prewar population of 20,000, Lyman has rail connections, dozens of basements and bomb shelters, solid infrastructure and strong buildings where command posts or supply depots could be set up. It was occupied during part of the first year of the full-scale invasion but liberated in Ukraine’s autumn 2022 lightning counteroffensive.
If Russian forces manage to take Lyman, Yurchuk said, they could use it to build up troops and attempt to cross the Siverskyi Donets River, a natural obstacle that helps protect Sloviansk.
But the commander says he’s confident Russia’s latest offensive won’t work.
“From a military point of view it
looks correct—on the map it looks neat—but after nearly three and a half years of war we all know that such deep maneuvers and wide flanking operations are not Russia’s forte,” said Yurchuk. “They simply won’t be able to control and supply those penetrations, so I’m sure that they will fail.”
In southern Donetsk, Russia has made advances near Pokrovsk, taking them further around the fortress belt’s southern stronghold of Kostiantynivka, once home to 67,000 people but today all but deserted.
It’s hard to predict how the fighting will unfold: Russia’s advances could turn into a breakthrough that allows it to seize much of the region, or the battles could drag on for months or years.
Ukraine’s army is being ground down
WHILE Russia achieves tactical gains without sparing sentiment
More experts are calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide; but others note that’s a court’s call
By Mike Corder & Molly Quell
The Associated Press
Tfor human life, Ukraine faces the grinding reality of troop shortages.
Exhaustion and a lack of regular rotations could also weaken Ukraine’s defenses.
“People are obviously one of the key problems,” said Taras Chmut, director of the Come Back Alive Foundation, which has raised more than $388 million over the past decade to equip Ukraine’s forces. “Not only the quantity, but their dispersion on the battlefield, the inefficiency of command, and the shortcomings in training and management.”
On paper, he said, some brigades list thousands of soldiers but can only field hundreds in combat, a gap he attributed not to Russian superiority but to mismanagement. He said the chaos means too many soldiers are sometimes doubled up on the same tasks and targets while others are left uncovered.
“It’s a systemic flaw we can neither admit nor fix,” he said. “Until we do, we have to make up for it with technology, with manpower, with the enemy’s weaknesses on the battlefield, and with the courage of people and volunteers who step in where they can.”
But he and others warned that these measures are temporary stopgaps unless broader changes come.
“The overall trend, measured over years, looks unfavorable for Ukraine,” Chmut said, adding that unless changes are made in the rear—such as fixing management failures in the army—and no new technology or geopolitical shift emerges, the outlook will remain grim.
“The longer this drags on, the worse it will get—and without fresh resources the Russians will simply outmatch us in quantity and means.”
“Just because the Russians moved slowly in the past doesn’t mean they won’t accelerate,” warned Nick Reynolds, a research fellow in land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute. “Sadly, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been under enormous pressure for a very long time.”
The fall of the fortress belt, he cautioned, would displace thousands of civilians and cause further economic damage. And even after capturing the whole region, the invasion is unlikely to end.
“I see absolutely no reason, no indication why the Russian Federation or the Russian Armed Forces would stop” with the Donetsk region Reynolds said.
The Associated Press journalists Vasilisa Stepanenko and Yehor Konovalov contributed to this report.
The accusation is vehemently denied by Israel, which was established in part as a refuge for Jews after the Holocaust. Others have rejected it or said only a court can make that determination.
Even so, global outrage over Israel’s wartime conduct has mounted in recent months, as images of starving children emerged, adding
HE HAGUE, Netherlands—A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a UN body, have said Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip amounts to genocide, deepening Israel’s isolation and risking untold damage to the country’s standing even among allies.
to the humanitarian catastrophe of a 23-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and laid waste to much of Gaza.
A current offensive in the territory’s largest city further raised concern, with some of Israel’s European allies condemning it.
But the genocide accusation goes further, raising the question of whether a state forged in the aftermath of the crime is now committing it.
Israeli leaders brand the argument as veiled antisemitism,
PAVLO YURCHUK , commander of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade, poses for a portrait in his cabinet in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday, September11, 2025. AP/ALEX BABENKO
EU, Indonesia seal zero-tariff trade deal for nearly all goods
By Jorge Valero
THE European Union and Indonesia have secured a trade deal that will eliminate tariffs or bring them close to zero on nearly all goods, boosting relations between the partners amid US President Donald Trump’s moves to upend global commerce.
The agreement will also remove restrictions for transactions in key raw materials, the bloc’s trade chief Maros Sefcovic told Bloomberg News in an interview. Around €600 million ($700 million) of tariffs will be saved by European exporters as a result of the deal, he added.
“We are really opening a new chapter of huge, huge proportions,” said Sefcovic, who arrived in Indonesia on Monday following the conclusion of
negotiations after nearly a decade. “Our trade with Indonesia was really below the potential” given that southeast Asia’s largest economy is bigger than Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand combined.
A deal with Jakarta would play an important role in the bloc’s efforts to diversify its supply chains, especially of materials, and to open new markets amid the 15% tariffs imposed on most EU exports by the US, the bloc’s largest
trading partner.
European officials have intensified negotiations with some of the largest global economies, including India, and have concluded talks with the South American bloc of Mercosur, which includes Brazil and Argentina. The EU has also ramped up negotiations with Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.
The deal will reduce tariffs to zero on 96% of goods within five years. That is expected to increase EU exports to Indonesia by at least 30%, or about €3 billion.
Duties on EU cars will be reduced from 50% to zero in five years, while levies for machinery and appliances will go down from 30% to zero in a short period of time, officials said. Agriculture and food products will also benefit from trade liberalization.
In regard to materials such as chemicals exported from the EU, the deal will remove licensing and other restrictions. The EU, meanwhile, will get preferential treatment for duties on Indonesia’s materials exports after the first stage of processing. Still, the agreement will not alter In -
donesia’s ban on exporting nickel to the EU—an ongoing dispute between the two partners at the World Trade Organization.
Indonesia is an important partner for the EU, with a rising economy of 300 million consumers. But the bilateral relationship has been strained by the bloc’s deforestation regulation, which aims to combat the felling of trees abroad, especially to clear land for palm oil and coffee. Indonesia has been one of the most vocal critics of the rules.
The agreement will not affect the implementation of these rules by Indonesia, an issue that was discussed during the negotiations. But Sefcovic said that the deal will create a platform to help Indonesian companies, in particular smaller exporters, to meet EU obligations.
The agreement requires the approval of EU member states and the European Parliament as well as Indonesia’s legislature before it comes into force.
Sefcovic called the agreement a “very clear framework” that would promote trade and create opportunities for both sides. Bloomberg News
Indonesia’s clean energy future is at the center of a supply struggle between the US and China
TBy Aniruddha Ghosal The Associated Press
HE race to replace coal in Indonesia, the world’s largest coal exporter, has become a contest between the US and China. At stake is not only Indonesia’s climate future, but also which superpower sets the terms for the next generation of energy in the developing world. Like much of the developing world, Indonesia faces a choice between two stark energy futures.
Gaza. . .
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saying the country abides by international law and urges Gaza’s civilians to evacuate ahead of major military operations. They say Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war was itself a genocidal act.
In that attack, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, around 20 of whom Israel believes are alive.
Israel’s ensuing operation has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and led to famine in parts. Israeli leaders have also expressed support for the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, a move
Chinese companies signed more than $54 billion in agreements in 2023 with Indonesian state utility PLN, while Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s 2024 Beijing visit added $10 billion in commitments. Chinese firms are now rapidly embedding themselves in Indonesia’s clean-energy supply chain, from solar and critical mineral mining to electric vehicles, also known as EVs.
Palestinians and others say would amount to forcible expulsion.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The ministry—part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals—doesn’t say how many were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up around half.
The definition of genocide GENOCIDE was codified in a 1948 convention drawn up after the horrors of the Holocaust that defines it as acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”
According to the convention, genocidal acts include: killing; causing serious bodily or mental
These investments dwarf the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP, signed in 2022 between Indonesia and a group of wealthy nations to help the country shift away from coal, which contributes 3.6% of the country’s GDP.
The program was faltering even before US President Donald Trump’s administration formally withdrew in March. Only $1.2 billion, or about 6%,
harm; and deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part.
Experts and rights groups increasingly use the genocide label IN a report last week, a team of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council concluded the war has become an attempt by Israel to destroy the Palestinian population in Gaza and constitutes genocide.
The group, which doesn’t speak for the UN, said its determination was based on a pattern of behavior, including Israel’s “total siege” of Gaza, killing or wounding vast numbers of Palestinians, and the destruction of health and educational facilities. Israel says Hamas uses such facilities for military purposes. It lifted a complete 2 ½-month blockade in May.
Many of the world’s leading experts on genocide have reached the same conclusion, with at least two dozen using the term publicly in the past year. Among them is Omer Bartov, a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University.
Early in the war, Bartov, who grew up in Israel and served in its military, argued Israel’s actions didn’t amount to genocide.
He changed his mind when Israel took over the city of Rafah, driving out most of its population. He now considers Israel’s actions “a genocidal operation.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Israel’s conduct genocide this month. “This is not self-defense, it’s not even an attack—it’s the extermination of a defenseless people,” he said.
US, China ‘talking past each other’ on key issues, says US lawmaker visiting Beijing
BEIJING—The United States and China are talking past each other on key issues, said a US lawmaker leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to Beijing on Tuesday.
The visit, led by Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, is the first from the House of Representatives to China since 2019, and comes as tensions have risen between the two countries over trade, technology and opposing views on global conflicts.
The aim of the trip, Smith said, is to increase dialogue between the two sides.
of JETP finances have been disbursed while Indonesia believes it needs over $97 billion for the transition.
The US is the world’s top oil producer and has pushed liquefied natural gas, or LNG, as part of talks meant to head off tariffs for Indonesia. It touts “energy dominance” as a way to cut dependence on rivals like China. Beijing is betting on big renewables
See “Indonesia,” A9
Two Israeli rights groups have also said it’s genocide. While the groups are respected internationally, their views are not representative of the vast majority of Israelis.
In December, Amnesty International used the term, citing similar findings as the UN-commissioned experts. “Looking at the broader picture of Israel’s military campaign and the cumulative impact of its policies and acts, genocidal intent is the only reasonable conclusion,” it said.
Two weeks later, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of intentionally depriving Gaza of water, saying that amounted to “an act of genocide.”
Others do not see genocide— or say it’s for a court to decide ISRAEL —where the Holocaust plays a critical role in national identity—casts such allegations as an assault on its very legitimacy. It says Hamas—which doesn’t accept Israel’s right to exist—is prolonging the war by not surrendering and releasing the hostages.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the report by the UN-commissioned experts as “distorted and false.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel could have committed genocide “in one afternoon” if it wanted, implying it has acted with restraint. Experts say there’s no numerical threshold for the crime.
Responding to a question in August, US President Donald Trump, whose country is Israel’s staunchest backer, said he didn’t think he’d seen evidence to support the accusation.
The Elie Wiesel Foundation, established by the Nobel laureate and
“You have to be willing to start the process of saying, ‘Okay, this is where I’m coming from, where are you coming from?’ And we’re not even at that point yet. We’re still sort of talking past each other,”
Smith said Tuesday.
The US delegation said they hoped China would take meaningful action to reduce the inflow of fentanyl into the US and they expressed concern over China’s restrictions on the global supply of rare earths, according to a readout from the House Armed Services Committee on Monday.
Holocaust survivor, also rejected the characterization.
“Israel’s actions in Gaza do not constitute genocide—they are legitimate acts of self-defense against an organization that seeks Israel’s destruction,” it said in a statement.
Norman Goda, a professor of Holocaust studies at the University of Florida, sees the use of the word as part of “a long-standing effort to delegitimize Israel,” saying the accusations are “laced with antisemitic tropes.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and others say it’s not for politicians or scholars to make the determination.
“We have always been clear that that is a decision for international courts,” then-British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Sky News in May.
The European Union has made a similar argument, as has the Auschwitz memorial, dedicated to the victims at the largest Nazi concentration camp, most of them Jews.
The top UN court has been asked to rule IN late 2023, South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice. About a dozen countries have joined the case.
A final ruling could take years.
To prove its case, South Africa must establish intent.
Lawyers for the country have already pointed to comments by Israeli leaders, including thenDefense Minister Yoav Gallant saying Israel was “fighting human animals,” and Deputy Knesset Speaker Nissim Vaturi saying that Israelis shared the goal of “erasing the Gaza Strip from the
Smith also said Tuesday he is concerned that the US and Chinese militaries are coming too close to each other operationally, and that he wants the Chinese side to engage in more dialogue.
“We’ve seen this with our ships and our planes, their ships, their planes, coming entirely too close to one another,” he told reporters. “At the height of the Cold War, we had regular conversations, regular treaties with the Soviet Union.” In October 2023, the US military said that a Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American bomber over the South China Sea.
Smith added he hoped for more engagement overall with Beijing.
“Many things that seemed intractable and impossible—once you actually start talking from the standpoint of ‘Let’s try and resolve this’—it is unbelievable what you can accomplish,” he said.
The delegation met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and separately with Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday after holding talks with Premier Li Qiang on Sunday.
face of the Earth.” Israeli leaders have downplayed the comments and argued they were taken out of context or directed at Hamas.
Even if it rules for South Africa, the court has no way to stop any genocide or punish perpetrators. Only the UN Security Council can do that—including through sanctions or authorizing military action. The US has a long history of using its veto power there to block resolutions against Israel. The International Criminal Court, meanwhile, has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, but neither faces genocide charges. They are accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, allegations they deny.
Israel faces increasing pressure ISRAEL faces increasing pressure, even from countries not calling its actions genocide. There have been calls for exclusion in the cultural and sports sectors, and protests in several European cities.
The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, one of Israel’s staunchest backers, has called for partially suspending trade ties with the country. Germany and the U.K., both strong supporters of Israel, have suspended or restricted some military exports.
Goda, the academic who doesn’t think Israel is committing genocide, acknowledged the term has ramifications beyond the legal realm.
“’Genocide’ is a legal term, but it also carries a very heavy political and cultural weight,” he said. “A country committing genocide can never outrun the legacy of that crime.”
CHINESE Vice Premier He Lifeng, second from right, speaks with Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash, left, as he leads a bipartisan group of US lawmakers at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. AP/MAHESH KUMAR A.
See “Beijing,” A10
Over 140 world leaders converge at UN to tackle peace, security, and global crises
By Farnoush Amiri
The Associated Press
NITED NATIONS—The an-
Unual high-level gathering at the UN General Assembly this week will see more than 140 world leaders descend upon New York City in an effort to secure global peace and security despite growing divides on how to do that.
Nearly 90 heads of state, 43 heads of government and one crown prince are among the dignitaries to appear on the UN stage beginning on Tuesday to make their case for how to bring an end to regional conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while addressing the growing climate crisis and the dangers posed by the rapid development and use of artificial intelligence.
Looming over the weeklong summit is the internal financial turmoil plaguing the United Nations as it celebrates the 80th anniversary of its founding, which emerged from the rubble of World War II. Questions about the UN’s relevancy and efficiency have sharpened from supporters and critics alike. Recent US cuts to foreign assistance and the reevaluation of humanitarian contributions by other countries have forced a reckoning for the world body.
Here are five things to look out for this week:
Outcome of the two-state solution conference
THE week began with a high-profile meeting chaired by France and Saudi Arabia focused on garnering support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hours-long conference ended late Monday with several countries, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco, announcing or confirming their recognition of a Palestinian state, a day after the United Kingdom,
to cement its role as the biggest supplier of clean energy technology.
The US path risks deeper fossil fuel dependence, while China’s promises jobs and cleaner power with fewer safeguards.
“These two countries...they’re shaping two different visions of the future,” Putra Adhiguna of the Energy Shift Institute said.
US exit impacts politics but not investment
THE US withdrawal in March didn’t derail the JETP, but impacted political leadership, analysts said.
When the deal was signed, US climate envoy John Kerry said America had laid the groundwork. But after Trump dismantled Biden-era climate policies and pushed fossil fuel development, Indonesian officials questioned why they should transition if America isn’t, Adhiguna said.
Early JETP conversations “set expectations unrealistically high,” raising goals that were hard to achieve regardless of US policy changes, he added.
The US pledged $2 billion, with roughly half still accessible via loan guarantees, said Jordan Lee of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Jakarta. The JETP always was meant to cover only a portion of the roughly $97 billion needed. Foreign investment was critical given Indonesia’s tiny solar and wind sector, accounting for 0.24% of total energy compared with 3.8% in the Philippines and 13% in Vietnam.
Lee said the JETP also provided a unifying platform for stakeholders and helped Indonesia partner with new countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Indonesia’s JETP secretariat didn’t
Canada, Australia and Portugal did. Germany, Italy and Japan took part in the conference but did not recognize such a state.
The US and Israel boycotted the event, saying the international push for a Palestinian state rewards Hamas and makes it harder to reach a deal to halt the war and return the remaining hostages.
It came as several US allies, including Canada and the United Kingdom, announced recognition of an independent Palestinian state over the weekend. The meeting and expanded recognition of Palestinian statehood will likely have little if any actual impact on the ground, where Israel is waging another major offensive in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long opposed Palestinian statehood, has threatened to take even further unilateral action in response. But proponents of the effort, including top UN officials, remain unpersuaded that recognition of Palestine is crucial at this stage of the conflict.
As the US isolates, other world powers reaffirm climate pledges
MORE than 110 world leaders will speak at a special UN climate summit on Wednesday, designed to get nations to strengthen their required but already late plans to wean themselves from coal, oil and natural gas that cause climate change. Dozens of business leaders are in New York networking in various conferences aimed at greener and cleaner energy.
“Don’t believe the doomsters and the gloomsters and the naysayers who say that somehow the world is moving away from climate action, clean energy,” United Kingdom climate chief Ed Millibrand said.
respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
China offers a new model
CHINA offers a “different version of energy security,” replacing imported fossil fuels with solar panels that generate electricity for decades, Adhiguna said.
Major Chinese projects in Indonesia include a $6 billion supply-chain venture by battery giant CATL with local partners in 2022 and BYD’s $1 billion EV plant announced in 2024 will produce 150,000 cars annually and employ 18,000 workers.
China’s BTR New Material Group launched a $478 million factory in 2024 that will make anode materials for EV batteries and create around 8,000 jobs, while a solar panel factory unveiled in 2025 by LONGi has an annual capacity of 1.6 gigawatts.
“It’s a whole-systems change,” said Dinita Setyawati, an energy analyst focused on Southeast Asia at the think tank Ember. She noted this meant a country could buy solar panels from China and charge their Chinese-built electric cars with clean electricity.
These projects are deployed quickly, which is crucial for Indonesia’s five-year political cycles, even if Western investors offer more safeguards. POWERCHINA built a 100-megawatt solar park in just seven months in 2024.
“If a US company takes four years to do a feasibility study, Chinese companies will already have invested by then,” Adhiguna said.
But Chinese investments often have come with high environmental costs.
Most of Indonesia’s nickel mines, for instance, are Chinese-owned. The country has the biggest reserves of the mineral needed to build EV batteries and the mines rely on captive coal-fired power plants, built on-site to supply electricity.
The nations of the world were all supposed to come up with new five-year plans for curbing carbon emissions by February, leading into the Brazil negotiations. But only 47 of the 195 nations—responsible for less than a quarter of global emissions—have done so. UN officials said they really need to be submitted by the end of this month so experts can calculate how the world is doing in its emission reduction efforts.
The world’s biggest emitter, China, and another top polluter, the European Union, are expected to announce their plans or rough sketches of their plans this week. The United Nations session this week is designed to cajole countries to do more.
Trump returns to UN after retreating US from world stage PRESIDENT Donald Trump will be the second leader to speak when the General Assembly kicks off its debate Tuesday morning. Trump will be returning to the UN for the first time since beginning his second term in January.
His speech will be among the most anticipated as America’s allies and adversaries wait to see what the president will say about ongoing efforts to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. UN officials will be holding their breath to see if more funding cuts from the US—their largest donor—are on the horizon after Trump and his allies spent the first few months in office slashing international aid spending.
He issued a first-day executive order withdrawing the US from the UN’s World Health Organization. That was followed by ending US participation in the UN Human Rights Council, and ordering up a review of US membership in hundreds of intergovernmental organizations aimed at determining
A 2024 study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air on the impact of nickel mining in three Indonesian provinces found pollution from smelters and the coalfired power plants would cost the economy
$2.6 billion in 2025, rising to $3.4 billion by 2030, while resulting in more than 3,800 deaths in 2025 and nearly 5,000 by 2030.
US gas could lock Indonesia into fossil fuels
INDONESIA’S energy minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, said in April it would boost LNG imports from the US by around $10 billion as part of tariff negotiations. LNG is natural gas cooled to liquid for storage and transport, burning cleaner than coal but still emitting greenhouse gases.
The risk is that the gas deals could further entrench Indonesia’s reliance on fossil fuels. Committing to long-term deals risks leaving countries stuck with outdated infrastructure, even as the world moves quickly toward cheaper, faster-to-deploy solar and wind power, analysts said.
Indonesia could risk falling behind in the clean energy transition and miss out on investment opportunities, such as data centers seeking renewable energy in Southeast Asia, Setyawati said.
“And once they realize it, it might be too late,” she said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia remains deeply tied to coal. It was the only country to propose building new coal plants and had the third-highest amount of coal capacity globally in 2024. About 80% of the 1.9 gigawatts of coal capacity Indonesia built was for the captive coal plants for smelters processing minerals like nickel and cobalt for electric vehicles, according to a report by US-based nonprofit Global Energy Monitor.
“The Indonesian government needs to realize that this is where the world is heading, like it or not,” Setyawati said.
whether they align with the priorities of his “America First” agenda.
“There are great hopes for it, but it’s not being well run, to be honest,” Trump told reporters last week as he prepared for his address to the General Assembly.
Eyes on Syria and Iran’s presidents at high-stakes moment
FOLLOWING Trump’s remarks, the two other headline speakers come from the Middle East, where various conflicts have thrown the region into further tumult over the last several years. On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will appear on the UN stage at a moment of great magnitude for his country, as a 30-day window to stop the reimposition of sanctions on Tehran is closing at the end of this week.
The clock started when France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Aug. 28 declared Iran wasn’t complying with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It also comes after a series of last-ditch diplomatic talks to avoid reimposing UN sanctions appeared to break down in recent days, with
European leaders accusing Iran of not being serious about the conditions outlined.
Pezeshkian and his foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, have the next few days to meet with their European counterparts in New York to come to a resolution that would avoid the series of financial penalties that would push the already crippling Iranian economy into further disarray.
A few hours later, Iran’s once strategic ally, Syria, will debut its new leader, the first head of state to represent the war-torn country at the UN in nearly six decades. Ahmad al-Sharaa will officially represent the new Syria on the world stage for the first time since the ousting of then-President Bashar Assad in December by a lightning insurgent offensive led by al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa has spent nine months seeking to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials were initially wary of his past ties with the al-Qaida militant group. His speech on Wednesday will also be watched closely by the US, which previously designated Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group al-Sharaa formerly led, as a terrorist group.
All the meetings you won’t see SOME of the most tantalizing and impactful diplomacy conducted during the UN General Assembly will likely happen behind the scenes during embassy receptions and at private dinners and drinks at some of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants and clubs.
The high-level week, noted by some UN watchers as the World Cup of diplomacy, is jam-packed with official and unofficial gatherings between heads of state and government, where complex trade deals, sensitive peace negotiations, and even normalization efforts between allies and adversaries alike could see breakthroughs. Officials state that more than 1,600 bilateral meetings are scheduled to take place inside the sprawling UN campus that oversees the East River.
The Associated Press writers Seth Borenstein in New York, Aamer Madhani in Washington and Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Canada, contributed to this report.
The Nation
As Nando exits, Opong enters PAR
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @joveemarie
AS Super Typhoon Nando left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the lowpressure area that has developed into a Tropical Depression is threatening to induce the southwest monsoon into bringing more rains in Luzon, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.
Nando, the first super typhoon to hit the country this year, left PAR at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Maintaining its strength before making its final exit near Itbayat, Batanes, Nando was still packing a strength of 185 kilometers per hour near the center, with gustiness of up to 230 kmh when it finally moved out.
It wrought havoc in Luzon, and left three persons dead. At least nine people were injured, and five others were reported missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.
Because of the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and induced by Nando, a total of 128 areas in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Codilleras, and the National Capital Region were flooded, the NDRRMC said.
Beijing. . .
Continued from A8
The US and Chinese militaries suspended communications with each other for over a year starting in August 2022, following a visit by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The visit angered Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary.
A group of US senators visited Beijing in 2023. China and the US restored military dialogue in November 2023 after a rare meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and then-US President Joe Biden. But it is unclear how regularly
Continued from A5
More rains IN its 5:00 p.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tropical Depression Opong, is not likely to directly affect the weather conditions in the next 36 hours, but the onset of heavy rains is possible by Thursday.
The center of the eye of Opong was spotted 1,045 km east of Northeastern Mindanao and is moving west-southwest at 10 kmh. Opong is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kmh near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kmh.
However, in its Weather Advisory issued at 5:00 p.m., Pagasa said Zambales and Bataan are expected to receive 100 to 200 mm of rain in the next 24 hours. With such rainfall, numerous flooding events, especially in areas that are
the two militaries have communicated with each other and Smith did not address the frequency in response to reporters’ questions on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump said he would meet with Xi at a regional summit in South Korea in late October and visit China in the “early part of next year,” following a lengthy phone call between the two on Friday.
The congressional delegation to China also includes Michael Baumgartner, a Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan, both Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee. The lawmakers are in China until Thursday.
located near rivers, are likely. Pagasa also warned that landslides are likely to occur in moderate to high susceptible areas.
The state weather bureau advised the disaster risk reduction and management offices to take all necessary measures to protect lives and property.
Despite Nando leaving PAR, the Office of the Civil Defense stated that the government has fully mobilized various government agencies, as directed by President Marcos, in areas affected by the super typhoon.
OCD Spokesperson Junie Castillo said immediate action and preparedness have been put in place to ensure that the needs and the safety of the people are addressed.
Army in action
HUMANITARIAN assistance and disaster response (HADR) units of the Army (PA) are now hard at work helping communities in Northern Luzon severely affected by Nando.
Col. Louie Dema-ala, Army spokesman, said: “The 95th, 24th and 50th Infantry Battalions of the 5th Infantry “Star” Division deployed 81 personnel and three military trucks to assist in rescue and relief operations in the coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan in Isabela; San Fernando City in La Union; Santa Ana in Cagayan; Lagangilang in Abra; and Baguio City.
He added that a total of 21 personnel are assisting in relief operations across Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, and the
Cordillera Administrative Region.
“Moreover, 4,909 soldiers and reservists are ready for deployment to assist in HADR efforts in various regions,” Dema-ala noted.
He also said that PA responders are working around the clock with national government agencies and local government units to ensure the safety and well-being of affected people.
“The Army’s HADR teams are ready and committed to delivering swift and coordinated disaster response efforts across the country as another tropical cyclone threatens to hit Luzon later this week,” Dema-ala stressed.
PRC support
THE Philippine Red Cross continues to deliver humanitarian support to families and individuals affected by Super Typhoon Nando in Northern Luzon, the OCD said.
In Ilocos Sur, a total of 85 families received meals, including toasted bread from Gardenia Philippines and NUVI Chocolate Drink provided by Monde through the PRC–Ilocos Norte Chapter. Meanwhile, in Abra, 301 individuals were served with hot meals to provide immediate comfort amid the ongoing situation.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10—Northern Mindanao has distributed 264 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) and hygiene kits in the municipality ng Maramag, while a total of 398 FFPs were distributed in affected families in Valencia City.
447 barangays affected
IN its 8:00 a.m. Situation Report on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said a total of 15,517 persons from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Cordillera were pre-emptively evacuated.
So far, a total of 36,264 families or 123,142 persons were affected in 447 barangays in 105 cities and towns in 24 provinces in eight regions.
The NDRRMC said a total of 252 evacuation centers are now serving as temporary homes to those affected in various areas.
NDRRMC added that the inclement weather triggered flooding in 128 areas, mostly in Luzon, including the National Capital Region.
It said the estimated cost of assistance provided to affected families is P3.96 million.
Transmission lines
THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said all transmission lines affected by Nando (international name Ragasa) have been restored.
NGCP said the TuguegaraoMagapit 69kV Line was restored at 1:03 p.m., the Magapit-Camalaniugan 69kV Line at 1:05 p.m., and the Lal-lo-Sta. Ana 69kV Line at 1:07 p.m. All these cater to the Cagayan II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cagelco II), but only the TuguegaraoMagapit 69kV Line services the Cagayan I Electric Cooperative
Religious group demands release
ARELIGIOUS group on Tuesday urged the government to immediately release the minors arrested after a violent clash between protesters and the police, saying that the anger of the poor, caused by hunger, neglect and corruption, does not create violence but exposes it.
Religious organization One Faith, One Nation, One Voice said the young protesters who were arrested during the September 21 riot near Malacañang should be released to their families without delay as true peace could not be achieved by silencing their anger but by “dismantling” structures of corruption that fuel it.
violence. Hunger, neglect, and corruption inflict daily wounds on the poor that are far harsher than any outburst in the streets. When the poor rise in anger, they are not inventing violence—they are exposing it.”
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that 216 demonstrators were arrested during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests across Manila, 89 of whom were minors.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso also previously said that the youngest detainee was 12 years old.
Inc. (Cagelco I).
“NGCP assures the public that it is continuously monitoring weather disturbances, and its Overall Command Center [OCMC] shall remain activated to monitor the passage of Tropical Cyclone [TC] Opong in the coming days,” the advisory said.
The transmission lines are affected by the heavy rains and wind from Super Typhoon Nando, which is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE), in a news release, said two renewable energy (RE) facilities remain offline after suffering from the impact of Nando.
These are the Bangui Wind Power Plant in Ilocos Norte, with a dependable capacity of 51.9 MW, and the Pagudpud Wind Power Plant.
DOE said the Bangui Wind Power Plant is targeted to be restored during the day, while that of Pagudpud is “still under assessment.”
“Despite these outages, overall power supply in the Luzon Grid remains sufficient,” it said. For off-grid areas, or those outside the areas being serviced by the NGCP, DOE said restoration works are ongoing for the Basco Diesel Power Plant in Batanes, which suffered equipment damage.
“Five other diesel plants across Batanes, Isabela, Apayao, and Calayan remain on standby as precautionary safety measures,” it said. With Rex Anthony Naval and PNA
of detained minors
Malacañang, where protesters in black set fire to a 10-wheeler truck and a motorcycle, hurled molotov bombs and ransacked a hotel, according to the Manila Police District. Videos from Mendiola also showed police using clubs and dispersing the crowd with tear gas.
Remulla said the unrest was an “isolated case” and there were no fatalities, adding that it undermined the efforts of those who had protested peacefully at Luneta and Edsa.
“Their right to grievance was marred by maybe a group of 1,000 hooligans who wanted nothing but to spread anarchy,” he said in a press briefing.
According to Garbin, Co told him he was in the United States for a medical check-up scheduled on September 24. Garbin said Co told him “I will face all of these allegations [and] these are all baseless.”
Garbin clarified that he is not authorized to speak on Co’s behalf, stressing that Co’s lawyers will address the allegations. He also emphasized that the Ako Bicol Party-list is not involved in any illegal activities. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz Zaldy Co. . .
Airtight cases to be filed vs rioters–Nartatez
CASES, are to be filed against those responsible for the violence during the September 21 rallies that left scores of people injured, including almost 100 police officers, will be airtight, the National Police (PNP) acting chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Nartatez said police investigators are extracting essential pieces of evidence as part of the legal offensive against those involved, from the interrogation of arrested suspects to a review of social media posts.
“The investigation is ongoing...Let us allow our investigators to focus on their job. PeroangtinitiyakngPNP saatingmga kababayan sa ngayon ay mananagot ang lahatngmaykinalamandito[But what the PNP is assuring right now is that everyone involved will be held accountable],” said Nartatez.
Police officers deployed to secure Sunday’s anti-corruption protests were strictly advised to exercise maximum tolerance.
The protests were going smoothly in all sites since Sunday morning when a group
“Those arrested must immediately undergo proper inquest proceedings, as required by law, or be freed without delay. Anything less is a violation of due process and further proof of the abuse of power that our people are protesting against,” the organization said.
“We must also recognize a deeper truth: poverty itself is
of masked men started instigating violence in the afternoon, first at the Ayala Bridge and later on Mendiola Street in Manila.
At least 95 policemen were hurt, some of them had serious injuries requiring medical attention.
“The attacks on our personnel on the ground were captured on video and in photos. Hindi ito police brutality na gaya ng gustong palabasin ng iba, ito ay maliwanag na kaso ng brutality sa ating mga pulis—at hindi natin palalampasin ito [This is not police brutality as others want to make it out to be, this is a clear case of brutality among our police officers— and we will not ignore it],” said Nartatez.
For his part, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla commended the 50,000 deployed PNP personnel for exercising maximum tolerance and ensuring the
The incidents took place during the large-scale protests in Luneta Park and Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, which gathered thousands of church leaders, students and civil society organizations to protest against corruption in the government’s flood control projects.
Violence broke out at Ayala Bridge, Mendiola Street and Recto Avenue, all in Manila and near
generally peaceful conduct of the “Trillion Peso March.”
“I would like to commend the PNP for their professionalism and discipline. They adhered to the law and followed their instructions,” Remulla said.
The protest, attended by around 84,000 individuals across 16 areas in Metro Manila and 130 areas nationwide, was largely peaceful despite some isolated incidents.
Aside from the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams deployed in specific areas, the 4,000 officers assigned to Manila neither discharged their weapons nor used tear gas, even when approximately 5,000 protesters set fire to a container truck at the corner of Mendiola and Legarda.
As of Monday, 95 police officers had sustained injuries and were brought to the Presidential Security Group station
For One Faith, One Nation, One Voice, the youth, already suffering from poverty, flooding, and neglect, deserve compassion rather than condemnation. It added that they must be heard and supported as abandoning them at this time would be another “betrayal.”
hospital in Malacañang and the PNP General Hospital at Camp Panopio in Quezon City, for treatment. In total, 216 protesters were arrested, including 127 adults and 89 minors.
The arrested adults are being held at the Manila Police District for processing and the filing of charges related to arson, grave physical injuries, and sedition.
Meanwhile, of the 89 minors, 65 were aged 15-17 and classified as children in conflict with the law, while 24 minors were aged 14 and below, categorized as children at risk.
The minors were taken into the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for further evaluation and to determine whether any of them would be tried as adults.
On social media, the police force also
Meanwhile, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, was saddened by the incident, saying that their call to action was an invitation for people to join the protest with a spirit of truth, justice and peace.
He urged people not to be provoked into violence and raised the importance of standing together in strength and peace to call for honesty and accountability from the government.
“It is saddening that violence broke out during the Mendiola rally...Let us not give in to provocation or violence. What is more important is our collective stand—firm but peaceful—for accountability and honesty in government,” David added Ma. Alyanna Selda
“Labeling the youth as hooligans misses the point entirely. The real criminals are the architects and defenders of this kleptocracy. They must be held accountable for the betrayal of our nation,” the group said.
earned praise from netizens for exercising maximum tolerance.
“Before the Sunday protest, I made it clear that every policeman must exercise maximum tolerance and protect those who exercise their right for freedom of expression. We held the line, and we honored that commitment. The uniformed policemen you saw in the assembly sites today are a symbol of PNP courage, professionalism and commitment to peace and order and human rights,” Nartatez said.
“We honored our commitment to maximum tolerance and respect to freedom to hold protest, we will make sure that they will face the consequences of their action not only for putting the lives of our policemen at risk, but also for disrespecting the rule of law,” he added. PNA
Putin says Russia is willing to abide by nuclear arms deal with US for 1 year after it expires
By Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press
MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared his readiness to adhere to nuclear arms limits for one more year under the last remaining nuclear pact with the United States that expires in February, and he urged Washington to follow suit.
Putin said allowing the New START agreement signed in 2010 to expire would be destabilizing and could fuel proliferation of nuclear weapons. His televised remarks came at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West, and with concerns rising that fighting in Ukraine could spread beyond its borders.
“To avoid provoking a further strategic arms race and to ensure an acceptable level of predictability and restraint, we believe it is justified to try to maintain the status quo es -
Infrastructure, transport, and security sectors will get P5.47 billion, covering DOTr projects such as MRT-3 rehabilitation, bike lanes, and support for the Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA, alongside DND allocations for base improvements, veterans’ facilities, and cyber defense capabilities. Meanwhile, justice and governance agencies are allocated P10.15 billion, with funds going to DOJ, Judiciary, Ombudsman, COA, CHR, and Comelec, the latter receiving P7.5 billion for the 2026 barangay and SK polls.
Other agencies will, likewise, benefit, including DENR with P214 million for wasteto-energy and mangrove rehabilitation projects, DOF and its attached bureaus with P135.9 million, DICT with P2.2 billion for broadband and cybersecurity, DOE with P4.2 billion mainly for the Sitio Electrification Program, and the Local Government Support Fund with P5.9 billion for LGU financial assistance.
Additional allocations include P90.5 million for OWWA support projects, P1 billion for Project NOAH, and P9.1 million for the National Commission for Senior Citizens’ expansion program. Altogether, these allocations comprise the full P255.5 billion in realigned funds.
Strengthening budget process
ACCORDING to Suansing, the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, or House Bill No. 4058, carries reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and public participation in the budget process. Central to these reforms is the abolition of the House “small committee” system and the creation of the BARSc, which ensures representation from the Majority, Minority, and Independent blocs.
Under the approved budget, education remains the top priority, receiving a total of P1.17 trillion for the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, CHED, Tesda, and science education programs of the Department of Science and Technology. This allocation covers classrooms, textbooks, feeding programs, computerization, scholarships, and free tertiary education.
Other key allocations in the proposed 2026 budget include P625.78 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fund roads, bridges, and convergence programs; P409.80 billion for the Department of Health, including PhilHealth and specialty hospitals, to support universal healthcare, family health and nutrition programs, and hospital facilities; and
tablished by the New START Treaty during the current, rather turbulent period,” Putin said while speaking from the Kremlin. He said Russia is prepared to stick by the treaty’s limits for one more year after it expires on Feb. 5, 2026. Arms control advocates long have voiced concern about the treaty’s looming expiration and the lack of dialogue to secure a successor deal, warning about the possibility of a new nuclear arms race and increased risk of a nuclear conflict.
P301.67 billion for the Department of National Defense to boost the operational readiness of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The agriculture and agrarian reform sector will receive P284.13 billion, along with P30 billion for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to assist farmers and fisherfolk, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is allocated P262.97 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), social pensions, and crisis assistance.
Suansing said the reforms in the budget process will ensure discipline and fairness in evaluating amendments, with deliberations to be made per agency and on a line-item basis.
“The P6.79-trillion budget reflects not only the priorities of the government but also the aspirations of our people. Our task is to ensure that every peso is invested where it matters most—uplifting lives, protecting communities, and securing our nation’s future,” she said.
Plenary schedule
ON September 23, 2025 (Tuesday), the deliberations started with the sponsorship, followed by the debate on the general principles and provisions. The agencies scheduled are the Department of Finance, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, the Department of Budget and Management, the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Tourism.
On September 24, 2025 (Wednesday), discussions will cover the Judiciary, the Commission on Elections, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and other executive offices such as the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Games and Amusement Board, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Racing Commission.
On September 25, 2025 (Thursday), the agenda includes the Department of National Defense and other executive offices such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Security Council, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, the National Amnesty Commission, the Anti-Red Tape Authority, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Marawi Compensation Board, the Mindanao Development Authority, and the Metropolitan BLISTT Development Authority. Also scheduled is budgetary support to government corporations, including the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, the Bases Conversion
Putin said maintaining limits on nuclear weapons could also be an important step in “creating an atmosphere conducive to substantive strategic dialogue with the US.”
The New START, signed by then US President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. The pact also stipulates the need for on-site inspections to verify compliance, although inspections were halted
and Development Authority, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Southern Philippines Development Authority, and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority. Other agencies include the Commission on Higher Education, state universities and colleges nationwide, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
On September 26, 2025 (Friday), the deliberations will cover the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture, budgetary support to government corporations such as the National Irrigation Administration, and other executive offices including the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Optical Media Board, the Climate Change Commission, the Philippine Space Agency, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs. Discussions will also include the Philippine Center for Economic Development, the Philippine Postal Corporation, the Department of Energy, and the Energy Regulatory Commission.
On September 29, 2025 (Monday), the agencies set for deliberation are the Commission on Audit, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
On September 30, 2025 (Tuesday), the schedule includes the Office of the Vice President, the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Commission of Senior Citizens, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the Philippine Competition Commission, the Department of Migrant Workers, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
On October 1, 2025 (Wednesday), the deliberations will include the Office of the President, the Presidential Management Staff, the Commission on the Filipino Language, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (including its sub-agencies: the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Library of the Philippines, and the National Archives of the Philippines), and budgetary support to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Other agencies scheduled are the Presidential Communications Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Transportation, the Congress of the Philippines, and Lump Sum Funds, before proceeding to the turno en contra. Finally, on October 10, 2025 (Friday), the plenary will enter the period of amendments and expected approval on second reading.
in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and never resumed.
The treaty was originally supposed to expire in 2021, but was extended for five more years.
Putin urges the US to reciprocate Putin emphasized that Russia expected the US to follow its example and stick to the treaty’s limits.
“We believe this measure will only be viable if the United States acts in a similar manner,” Putin said.
Daryl G. Kimball, the director of
the Washington-based Arms Control Association, welcomed Putin’s statement on X as “an important and positive move.”
He and other arms control experts long have prodded Moscow and Washington to quickly reach an interim deal to maintain existing nuclear weapons limits.
“More nuclear weapons will not make anyone safer,” Kimball said in a commentary earlier this month.
“By agreeing not to exceed the current strategic nuclear limits, they could reduce tensions, forestall a costly arms race that no one can win, create diplomatic leverage to curb the buildup of China’s arsenal, and buy time for talks on a broader, more durable, treaty.”
US President Donald Trump has said that he and Putin talked about nuclear weapons during their summit in Alaska last month. Asked to comment in July on a looming expiration of the New START, Trump noted “that is a big problem for the world, when you take off nuclear restrictions.”
In his televised comments, Putin instructed Russian agencies to “closely monitor relevant American activities, particularly with regard to the strategic offensive
arms arsenal.” Among the concerns he cited were any preparations by the US to deploy missile interceptors in space. Such a move would compel Russia to “respond accordingly,” he said.
The pivotal pact IN February 2023, Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the New START treaty, saying Russia couldn’t allow US inspections of its nuclear sites at a time when Washington and its NATO allies have openly declared Moscow’s defeat in Ukraine as their goal.
At the same time, Russia has emphasized that it wasn’t withdrawing from the pact altogether and pledged to respect the caps on nuclear weapons set under the treaty and keep notifying the US about test launches of ballistic missiles.
Another key US-Russian nuclear arms pact was terminated in 2019. That was the Intermediaterange Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was signed in 1987 and banned land-based missiles with a range between 500-5,500 kilometers (310-3,400 miles).
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting at the Kremlin in Russia, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. ALEXANDER KAZAKOV, SPUTNIK, KREMLIN POOL PHOTO VIA AP
Farm-to-market roads under scrutiny: Audit launched amidst corruption concerns
THE irregularities in flood control projects exposed by employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have also trained the spotlight on other vital infrastructure projects, such as farm-to-market roads. In an explanatory note for his proposed Senate measure, the current chief of the Department of Finance said FMRs increase farmers’ profit, reduce transportation costs and postharvest losses and introduce competition among traders and suppliers. He also noted that FMRs provide access to social services and agricultural support services.
Citing a study of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the effectiveness of poverty reduction interventions on agrarian reform communities in the Philippines, a former lawmaker said roads have the strongest impact on poverty. Building roads especially in the countryside sends a strong signal of the commitment of both the national and local governments to help enterprises flourish. More businesses mean more job opportunities for residents, as well as a ready market for planters in the area.
Going by the pronouncement of the current chief of the Department of Agriculture, the Philippines needs to work double time to create the necessary conditions that would allow rural areas to flourish. Based on its roadmap, the government is targeting to build 131,000 kilometers of FMRs. (See, “Audit of farm-to-market roads sought,” in the BusinessMirror , September 19, 2025). Of this, the DA said 61,000 kilometers are considered backlog or pending validation as of July.
The lack of FMRs in areas badly in need of such infrastructure is one the major factors behind the Philippine farm sector’s inability to reach its full potential despite the advantages presented by the country’s topography and climate. Unfortunately, this loophole has been exploited by traders who know that sans these roads, planters and other food producers have no other recourse but to accept their low quotations for their products. Prices quoted by these traders are sometimes even below their production cost, which means planters will incur losses.
The absence of FMRs tends to discourage the private sector from making investments in areas that are badly in need of their business. Businessmen will consider it risky to set up shop in areas that do not have the requisite public infrastructure such as roads that would make it easier for them to transport their products. Living in areas that do not have paved roads may also be considered a health risk for residents.
The audit of FMRs is a welcome exercise, but the scrutiny should not stop at these projects. Other farm infrastructure projects must also be examined to determine if interventions that have been allocated billions of pesos have benefited target farmers and communities. The government has been borrowing huge sums of money to finance its programs. (See, “End-July debt at new record high of P17.56 trillion,” in the BusinessMirror , September 5, 2025) and these debts will be shouldered by taxpayers who are grappling with high food costs and the adverse impact of floods in their areas.
Reliable partner
TTHE BUILDER
HE Philippines always looks to Japan for funding and foreign investments. And Japan has never failed to deliver on its commitments to us.
Japan remains the Philippines’ largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, with commitments amounting to $14.19 billion (about P805.76 billion), or 39.15 percent of the total ODA portfolio as of March 2025.
Japanese investments in the Philippines, meanwhile, are well-documented and much evident across the archipelago, ranging from manufacturing and infrastructure to automotive assembly and shipbuilding. It is the largest investor in the country’s economic zones, supporting operations that have created over 320,000 jobs for Filipinos.
Japan again last week proved its status as a reliable partner when it reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Philippines’ major infrastructure projects.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto recently led a high-level government economic team to Japan to woo Japanese officials and investors to
Cplace their bet on the Philippines. The Philippine Economic Briefing in Osaka drew over 280 Japanese investors and guests and served as a platform to showcase the country’s economic outlook and investment opportunities.
Japan did not disappoint and committed to provide financial assistance for key bridge and maritime projects to improve connectivity, enhance safety and boost the quality of life for Filipinos.
The Japanese government, represented by Dr. Mori Masafumi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, reaffirmed his country’s cooperation across various fields, including largescale infrastructure development, disaster prevention, information and communications, energy and the Mindanao peace process.
I commend the Philippine economic team for bringing home the bacon. Among the commitments made by Japan is the funding for the
2.611-kilometer Second San Juanico Bridge Construction Project, which will connect the Leyte and Samar Islands via the municipalities of Babatngon and Sta. Rita.
The new bridge will reduce travel time, cut transport costs and open new economic opportunities for local businesses and workers in the Visayas region.
Japan also pledged to provide funding for the Parañaque Spillway Construction Project designed to protect thousands of families in the Laguna Lakeshore areas by reducing flood inundation by up to 37 percent during extreme weather events.
I learned that the project will channel excess lake water from Laguna Lake into Manila Bay through Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Bacoor via an underground drainage system, safeguarding homes, livelihoods and communities.
Japan is a proven and tested partner in Philippine infrastructure projects. It has sought assurances and is keen on project status updates, implementation challenges and corresponding resolutions and the next steps for funded ongoing projects.
These, among others, include the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Rehabilitation Project and the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project.
Equally a paramount concern for Japan is the reconstruction in
Mindanao, especially the progress on the peace process and the Japanese government’s contributions in the island.
On investments, the Philippines secured future expansion plans from Japanese investors that will create more jobs and drive stronger economic growth.
Senior executives from top Japanese companies, including Sojitz, Mitsui & Co, Koshidaka Holdings Co. Ltd. and Marubeni Corp., were on hand to reaffirm their investment pledges.
Sojitz, a global trading company with a strong presence in the Philippines, expressed interest in strengthening the country’s competitiveness through innovation, infrastructure support and technology transfer. The company’s investments here are found in several sectors, from commodities trading to agriculture, telecommunications and property development.
Mitsui & Co., one of Japan’s original sogo soshas and now a global trading and investment firm, expressed interest to expand its business in the Philippines, especially in renewable energy, liquefied natural gas and large-scale infrastructure like ports and transport systems.
Mitsui has long established its presence in the Philippines. It has investments in the automotive, business process outsourcing, information and communication technology
HINA’S labor market is deteriorating just as deflationary pressures showed initial signs of easing, threatening to reverse progress by emptying the pockets of consumers Beijing needs to spend again.
To the surprise of some economists, the distress is suddenly showing up in a range of government data sets to an extent unseen in months. None of the analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected urban unemployment to tick up last month, when it rose to the highest level since February.
And private figures paint an even bleaker picture: a survey of 300 company executives by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business found companies last month were the most pessimistic about future hiring since early 2020.
“The reality of unemployment is probably worse than what we see in official data,” said Raymond Yeung, chief economist for Greater China at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. “This means more downward pressure on wages, which will drive further deflation.”
With deflation at the factory gate finally turning the corner in August, a souring labor market will present some of the biggest challenges to policymakers as they try to end nine straight quarters of economy-wide price declines.
The moment is especially perilous as China is already coping with consumer malaise and a growth slowdown in exports that sustain tens of millions of jobs. Absent an easing of strain in the labor market, it’s likely Beijing will have to act to defuse the risks it poses to domestic consumption.
“China needs to take bigger steps to break the negative loop” between the weak labor market and domestic demand, said Yeung. “It will take more than one or two months of policy stimulus” or a modest 10-basis point rate cut, he said. Among the factors exacerbating
the problem is a record avalanche of 12.2 million college graduates entering the jobs market this year, adding to a mismatch between an abundant supply of highly-educated workers and a shortage of whitecollar openings.
As they left school during the summer months, the official youth unemployment rate spiked in August by more than a percentage point from July to 18.9%, the maximum since the measure was revamped in 2023 to exclude students. In the backdrop, joblessness in 31 major cities rose to its worst in a year.
Other gauges tell a similar story.
An index compiled by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. based on data from various purchasing managers’ index surveys weakened for the first time in four months in August.
National Bureau of Statistics spokesperson Fu Linghui addressed the employment situation during a briefing this month, describing it as maintaining a “stable” pattern and attributed the increase in the overall joblessness to the graduation season. The issue of employment moved
up the agenda for China’s leadership at the height of tensions with the US over trade earlier this year.
As part of an effort to stabilize the jobs market, the decision-making Politburo promised in April to increase the proportion of unemployment insurance funds that can be returned to firms hurt by the higher tariffs. Later the same month, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yu Jiadong said the government will take steps to improve workers’ skills and prioritize youth employment. The latest disappointing stretch could prolong the hardships felt by Chinese workers from the impact of the pandemic and a years-long property slump.
Worsening employment conditions are also a key obstacle for officials who want to boost consumer spending and avert a further descent into deflation in the form of a downward spiral in wages and
profits that threatens to
mestic demand for years
Mark Villar
Milei dangles big tax break for exporters in stealth devaluation
By Jonathan Gilbert
DEVALUATION may be a term that’s anathema to Argentine President Javier Milei—he’s sworn repeatedly he won’t break his promise and let the peso plunge—but a stealth devaluation, well, that’s something he’s willing to accept.
Desperate to boost the supply of dollars in the foreign-exchange market and ease pressure on the peso, Milei’s government announced Monday the temporary suspension of export taxes on many of the country’s key crops. Exempt from those taxes, soybean farmers will reap, in pesos, an extra 25 percent or so for each dollar they get in revenue. For corn and wheat farmers, it’s about 10 percent.
These are in essence targeted devaluations—aimed in this case at those who control the largest supply of dollars into the country, the farmers. The measures last until October 31, or until crop sales under the new program reach $7 billion.
The benefit of this narrow approach by Milei, who’s also negotiating an emergency aid package with the Trump administration, is it allows him to avoid the outright devaluation that would spark a surge in inflation and inflict more hardship on Argentines. But the cost is equally significant, slashing more than a billion dollars in much-needed revenue from an administration that has built its reputation—and market credibility—on balancing the budget.
“The measure may sacrifice fiscal revenue, but that seems second-order today,” Jimena Zuniga, Argentina economist at Bloomberg Economics, said by e-mail. “It is as if you’ve broken your arm but you’ve survived a big accident—you celebrate. Up to this morning, the government seemed to be heading straight to such accident and that has been avoided.”
The announcement by Milei and an offer of aid by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday should see off any broader devaluation until after midterm elections on October 26, enabling the president to campaign under the star of a stable exchange rate and slowing inflation. Without those twin pillars, he risked losing support in congress, potentially stalling the libertarians overhaul of the economy. Milei is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at 11:45 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
The peso posted its biggest gain since early May on Monday, leaping 4.5% against the dollar, part of a broader rebound in Argentine assets. And for the first time since Wednesday, Argentina’s central bank didn’t intervene in the foreign exchange market.
Argentina has regularly reduced the levies on crop exports at times of currency crisis, but the complete elimination overnight—if only temporarily—is something new.
The new measures should quickly boost hard currency inflows, said Erico Weitemeier, head trader at FyO, one of Argentina’s biggest grains brokerages, in Rosario. “There are going to be really strong sales and that the government will easily get the $7 billion before October 31,” he said. “Soy prices are rising by some $50
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and power generation sectors. Marubeni Corp., another large trading company and an integral part of the Philippines’ development for over a century, is also in expansion mode. It is lining up more activities in online consumer finance, residential development and water supply. Marubeni, in addition, committed to help develop renewable energy to provide affordable electricity to Filipinos.
Last but not the least, 28 Japanese companies have expressed in-
Trump’s
plane diplomacy comes to NY as leaders arrive for UN
BBy Siddharth Philip, Leen Al-Rashdan & Julie Johnsson
ACK-TO-BACK aircraft orders are typically the domain of expos held in Paris, Dubai or Singapore. But this week, Washington and New York stand to become the surprise venues of major deals.
a metric ton, and if farmers believe in Milei they also may think the exchange rate will actually strengthen down the line.”
Net crop exports were estimated in a August 29 report by the Rosario Board of Trade to close out the year at $29 billion, with about $10 billion of those cargoes seen coming between September and December. The current levies on exports total 24.5 percent for soy meal, Argentina’s biggest export, and soy oil; 26 percent for soybeans; and 9.5 percent for corn and wheat.
“It’s great news; it may not be permanent but at least it generates profits for farmers for 40 days so we can pay off debts and lock in purchases,” said Julio Reumann, a grower in La Pampa province. “I don’t think the exchange rate will weaken from here. I’m going to take advantage to sell and upgrade my tractors.”
Falling prices
SOYBEAN meal futures in Chicago fell by as much as 1.9 percent and soy oil futures slumped by up to 2.5 percent—as Milei’s maneuver heaped even more supply pressure on US farmers who are already harvesting a soy crop with major demand risks: China, usually their main buyer, isn’t booking cargoes amid trade sparring with President Donald Trump.
Later on Monday, Milei extended the measure to beef, of which Argentina is also a major exporter and which carries a 5 percent levy, and chicken.
But while the move will likely bring billions of dollars into the country, it also shows the desperation of authorities after the peso weakened to the very limit of its trading band last week. The central bank spent more than $1 billion to prop up the currency in just a few days last week, draining its scant foreign reserves that are ultimately needed to repay dollar bonds.
Following Milei’s announcement and Bessent’s intervention on Monday, Argentine dollar bonds maturing in 2035 leaped by the most since they were issued in 2020, jumping nearly 9 cents to above 56 cents on the dollar, according to indicative pricing data compiled by Bloomberg.
Bessent pledged to provide “all options for stabilization” the Argentine economy in a remarkable intervention that demonstrates Donald Trump’s increasingly political role in Latin America. US help could potentially come from the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund. Milei is scheduled to meet Trump on Tuesday in New York.
“While the strong expression of US support by Bessent today would have likely sufficed to calm the currency market, it is reasonable ex ante to adopt as many measures as possible to stop a run and make sure you achieve an expectations reset,” Zuniga said. With assistance from Ken Parks/Bloomberg
terest in bidding for the operations and maintenance of the country’s NSCR System. The interested companies included major corporations such as Mitsubishi Corp., Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo Metro, Sumitomo Corp. and Alstom Japan. We need friendly trading partners like Japan to advance our agenda for an inclusive economy. Japan has proven to be a trustworthy nation that has helped the Philippines for decades and through global challenges.
For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@ gmail.com or visit our web site: https://markvillar. com.ph
The US capital city and its commerce hub to the north will see an inflow of global leaders in coming days as part of the United Nations General Assembly. It’s an opportunity to discuss political, environmental and social crises, but also a time for economic statecraft—that unique blend of dealmaking and diplomacy that’s become a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Transactions involving Boeing Co. are by now a common feature of Trump’s visits with foreign leaders. In recent months, Trump has taken credit for getting major purchases over the line, from British Airways buying US-made jets to Qatar placing the biggest widebody order in Boeing’s history.
Through August, the US plane maker had secured 725 aircraft sales in 2025, versus 600 for Airbus SE— putting Boeing on track to outperform its European rival for the first full year since 2021.
Leaders gathering in New York this week or stopping by in Washington are seeking to replicate that formula—currying favor with Trump, an outspoken aircraft aficionado, while upgrading their home country’s fleets. Among these is Turkey, which could order as many as 250 commercial jets from Boeing, Bloomberg News reported last week. The deal, long in the works, has been held up for the right photo op including
Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump himself has said he’d host Erdogan in Washington on Sept. 25, and that deals on trade and defense would include “the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft,” alongside fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp. Negotiations are still ongoing for the various deals, and the final contours may change, people familiar with the talks said at the time, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
On Monday, Uzbekistan Airways, with the country’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in attendance, announced an order for as many as 22 of the US plane maker’s 787 Dreamliner jets, the largest-ever order in the airline’s history, according to a statement.
Soon after the announcement, Trump lauded the purchase in a post on Truth Social, calling it “a great deal with Boeing,” referring to Mirziyoyev as a “man of his word.”
Other dignitaries seeking Trump’s attention and support may also sign aircraft orders. Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc has been evaluating bids from Airbus and Boeing for dozens of jets. The state-owned airline’s fleet leans heavily on the US manufacturer for larger aircraft, giving Boeing a good shot at closing a sizable deal.
Trump also announced that Indo-
Transactions involving Boeing Co. are by now a common feature of Trump’s visits with foreign leaders. In recent months, Trump has taken credit for getting major purchases over the line, from British Airways buying US-made jets to Qatar placing the biggest widebody order in Boeing’s history.
nesia would buy 50 Boeing jets when the country agreed to a trade deal in July, although few details were disclosed. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been working on a possible order for 50 Boeing 737 Max jets that could be announced this week, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing confidential talks. Another person urged caution, saying the timing may slip.
A Boeing spokesman deferred to the airlines for comment.
Trump has flagged trade deficits as one justification for seeking to rewire the global flow of goods through tariffs. But the US still commands a major trade surplus when it comes to aviation, given the vital roles played by Boeing, General Electric Co. and other key manufacturers.
Airbus has watched with envy as Trump champions Boeing products, vowing to redouble its own sales efforts in response.
Besides the UK and Qatar, Trump has claimed credit for the purchase of Boeing 737 Max jets by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways confirmed an order for 28 787 and 777X widebody aircraft in May during Trump’s state visit, which Washington valued at
White House says doctors may win reprieve from H-1B visa fee
By Rachel Cohrs Zhang, John Tozzi & Jessica Nix
DOCTORS could qualify for exemptions from the Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee for high-skilled H-1B visa applications, the White House said Monday, after some of the biggest medical bodies called out the risk to rural America where there’s already a dearth of providers.
The executive order released Friday said that the application fees can be waived if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the hiring of these workers on an individual basis, or to work for a specific company or industry is “in the national interest.”
“The Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in an e-mail Monday to Bloomberg News. “Ultimately, the Trump Administration defers to the language in the proclamation.”
The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
For hospitals, the H-1B visa program is crucial to recruiting doctors in remote parts of the country where there are in some cases severe short-
China . . .
continued from A12
private companies—which account for more than 80 percent of jobs— grew only 1.7 percent last year from 2023, the slowest pace on record.
Other private data points to an even more severe decline in incomes as well as household sentiment regarding jobs.
Apart from a seasonal surge in college graduates, other factors have been at play over the past few months.
A ruling by China’s highest court that made it impossible for workers and their employers to waive social insurance contributions starting from September likely added pres-
ages of health care workers.
Shares of HCA Healthcare Inc., a major hospital operator, rose as much as 1.4 percent after news of potential doctor waivers. Tenet Healthcare Corp. rose as much as 3.1 percent. Health care employers often sponsor medical residents and other physicians through the H-1B program. American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, a Michigan head and neck surgeon, called international medical graduates “a critical part of our physician workforce,” before the Trump administration said doctors and those in training may qualify for exemptions.
It’s not yet clear if doctors and medical residents will be able to secure an industry-wide exemption or if they will have to seek exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
sure on private and smaller firms.
While it’s unclear how strictly the decision has been enforced, it created huge uncertainty for employers because they could face substantially higher labor costs if officials take the rules seriously.
“China’s social security contributions are very high, and private companies have long avoided full payment,” Ernan Cui, a consumer analyst at the research firm Gavekal Dragonomics, said at an event in Beijing this month. “If it’s forced upon them, many private companies will surely have to lay off staff or reduce salaries, or even switch to flexible or contract workers.”
The adoption of artificial intelligence presents a more lasting challenge for the economy, bringing with
$14.5 billion.
Some deals, however, are tentative, while others have been restructured versions of previous agreements, or reaffirmations of a prior commitment. Given the complexity of large-scale orders, negotiations have often been underway long before Trump returned to the White House—though he can still take credit for closing the sale, using the ultimate leverage that is the power of the US President.
Meanwhile, massive backlogs and sluggish production at both Boeing and Airbus mean new orders will provide limited near-term lift. For the popular Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 models, sales booked today won’t translate into deliveries until early next decade.
Wait times for widebody aircraft like the Boeing 787 are similarly long, meaning any handovers would only occur long after Trump has vacated the White House.
The one big aircraft order that remains elusive is from China, where Boeing is seeking to end a sales drought that stretches back to Trump’s last visit in 2017. The country’s carriers are looking to buy as many as 500 aircraft, Bloomberg News reported in August, though trade tensions between the two superpowers have held up an accord. Trump held a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, and he said he’d meet his counterpart during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. It will be their first inperson meeting since the 2019 G20 Summit in Japan—and another opportunity for Trump to double as a Boeing salesman. Bloomberg
More than 76 million Americans live in places where the government has designated a shortage of primary care doctors, according to federal data compiled by health research group KFF.
Exempting certain health-care workers from the requirement could be particularly helpful for rural communities, where doctors and other providers are often in short supply.
Most areas of the US that lack sufficient primary care doctors are rural, according to a 2024 government analysis. That report projected that the country would face a shortage of over 87,000 primary care physicians by 2037.
More than 76 million Americans live in places where the government has designated a shortage of primary care doctors, according to federal data compiled by health research group KFF.
The American Hospital Association, a trade group that represents thousands of health-care facilities, said it was reviewing the potential impact of H-1B visa changes.
“We will also work with the Ad-
it the threat of widespread job losses.
Already, increased automation among manufacturers has led to a rise in contract workers in the sector—as opposed to formal employees who enjoy better benefits and are more costly to fire, according to research by Zhang Dandan, a Peking University economist.
“Strict implementation of compulsory social security contributions will expand coverage and improve employee welfare over the long term. But in the short term, it could erode household disposable income, running counter to the government’s urgent desire to boost sluggish consumption,” said Bloomberg economist David Qu.
As the government shifted its focus to curbing overcapacity and
ministration to stress the importance of including health care personnel in potential exemptions to these changes,” a spokesperson for AHA said.
Federal data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Service show high-profile health systems including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are among the health-care industry’s top sponsors of H-1B visas. Mayo has more than 300 approved visas, according to the data. Paying the fee could add millions to the labor costs at large medical systems.
As of June, more than 4,000 hospitals and research centers sponsored visas.
The Trump administration has supported moves to slash health-care spending, championing a bill that cut Medicaid spending by about $1 trillion over 10 years, while allocating $50 billion to rural health over five years.
Medicaid coverage is slightly higher in rural areas than urban areas, according to a KFF analysis of government data. With assistance from Ike Swetlitz and Jinshan Hong /Bloomberg
price wars in recent months, a worsening jobs market is a reminder that efforts to rein in investment and production could in fact hurt employment and consumption in the absence of measures to boost demand at home. The country needs to create quality jobs for its youths or risk more entrenched weakness in consumption, according to Lynn Song, chief Greater China economist at ING Bank NV.
“There should also be ramped-up support to encourage hiring,” he said. “Prolonged unemployment in early stages risks a lost generation when it comes to future spending potential, which would certainly hinder efforts to move to a consumption driven economy.” Bloomberg
Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program will get almost P27 billion next year after lawmakers doubled its budget.
Economists warned on Tuesday, however, that the scheme remains short-term and prone to abuse, offering little chance of moving workers into stable jobs.
Ateneo de Manila University
economist Leonardo A. Lanzona said Tupad, unlike the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), has no clear objectives, conditionalities, or legal mandate.
He noted that the emergency employment program lacks targeting and monitoring mechanisms, leaving it open to inefficiency and corruption.
“With this program, workers would more likely be dependent on this type of low productivity arrangements. Money will be better spent building
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special
to the BusinessMirror
THE Department of Tour-
ism (DOT) is working to establish the Philippines as a gastronomy tourism destination in Southeast Asia by 2029.
In its recently completed Food and Gastronomy Tourism Roadmap for 2024-2029, a summary of which was released to the BusinessMirror the DOT said this goal is anchored on the Philippines’s “culinary diversity and locally-produced fare, and contributing to the country’s rise as a tourism powerhouse in Asia.” Speaking on the roadmap’s completion, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the roadmap, along with a Market Tourism Product Development Program, were launched “not as slogans but as strategies designed to deliver work, build pride, and position Filipino culinary culture where it belongs, at the center of national and regional development in the eyes of the world.”
The completion of the roadmap is timely with the Philippines’s hosting of the first-ever Terra Madre Asia & Pacific on Nov. 19-23 in Bacolod City. The event’s organizers expect over 2,000 delegates composed of food producers, chefs, educators, food activists, and experts for lectures, panel discussions, and food demonstrations. (See, “PHL putting its best foo(d) forward for Terra Madre,” in the BusinessMirror, July 21, 2025.)
In addition, the Market Tourism Product Development Program targets to equip local government units (LGUs), tourism officers, and stakeholders “with tools to reimagine traditional public markets as cultural tourism destinations,” she added. Goals, markets identified WHILE the roadmap doesn’t identify an investment amount for the DOT to undertake its strategies, it “aims to guide public and private stakeholders in developing food and gastronomy tourism, foster
livelihood projects...that relate to production in key sectors like agriculture and small-scale manufacturing,” Lanzona told BusinessMirror The caution comes as the Budget Amendments Review Sub-committee of the House Committee on Appropriations on Monday realigned part of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ 2025 budget to raise Tupad’s funding to P26.96 billion from P12.14 billion.
Committee chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing said the hike will allow the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) to reach around 4.9 million Filipinos next year.
No impact evaluation - Canlas
FORMER National Economic and Development Authority chief Dante B. Canlas, however, pointed out that Tupad has never undergone a rigorous impact evaluation.
He said the program merely overlaps with assistance schemes already handled by the DSWD.
“No evidence exists whether it serves long-run employment objectives...Tupad must be re-studied. Otherwise, [it] merely duplicates existing programs of DOLE & DSWD, constituting wasteful spending that has no significant job-creation effects,” Canlas explained.
He added that if Tupad is meant to build skills, it should just be merged with DOLE’s long-term programs.
University of the Philippines Diliman professor Benjamin B. Velasco said emergency jobs are not inherently flawed, but warned that their usefulness depends on integration with skills training and broader employment strategies.
“Instead of street sweeping, Tupad must be integrated with the Green Jobs Human Resources Development program that was recently un-
veiled. Such alignment is desperately needed,” Velasco said, adding that reforms are crucial to cut its ties to political patronage.
Tupad offers emergency jobs lasting 10 to 90 days for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers.
Beneficiaries are usually deployed to clean-up drives, debris clearing, and minor repairs of public facilities.
They are paid based on the highest prevailing minimum wage in the region.
The program has been tapped heavily during crises such as the pandemic and post-typhoon recovery.
But its short-term nature and susceptibility to abuse have fueled criticism from both labor groups and lawmakers, some of whom earlier this month called for its overhaul.
In 2024, Tupad assisted more than 4.45 million individuals—triple its original target of 1.35 million.
As of July 2025, over 1.14 million workers have already availed of its emergency jobs.
DOLE has yet to release data on how many of these beneficiaries were able to transition into stable employment.
TURKEY EYES PHL PRODUCTION HUB FOR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
TURKEY is keen on long-term partnerships with Philippine companies for the production of military equipment such as armored vehicles.
Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines
Niyazi Evren Akyol said his country would be interested in establishing a manufacturing base in the Philippines for defense equipment.
It will, however, depend on the contract announced by the Department of National Defense (DND), he added.
“It depends on the size of the contract.
Just a few items, perhaps, may not be as economical,” Akyol told reporters on the sidelines of a business-to-business event in Makati City on Tuesday.
“Turkish companies are active in more than 150 countries right now around the world, and our defense industry cooperation model is based on long-term partnerships, which means joint production, local production, technology transfer, and knowhow transfer.”
For one, he noted that Turkey has been engaged in joint production in the Asean region, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, for armored vehicles and drones.
“So, we are very interested to do the same [with the Philippines],” he added.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Ambassador said his country is also keen on establishing shipyards “if there is a tender by the Philippine government.”
“Looking back on the history of Turkish military shipbuilders and their contracts
with other partners, I can safely say that they would be very willing to build here locally in the Philippines,” Akyol said. He added, “and then transfer knowhow and technology, so that those ships will become Filipino ships, and the Philippines can produce it in the future as its own, with our partnership and continuing cooperation. So, it’s going to be a win-win.”
However, he noted that this remains “theoretical” since there is no official tender by the DND for such a project.
“But if there is [a tender] on any product, not limited to ships, we can do this with drones or any type of equipment,” Akyol said.
Meanwhile, Ali Can Yamanyılmaz, Member of the Sectors Council of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), noted that bilateral relations between the two nations have been developing in a “multidimensional manner.”
“As one of the most dynamic and highgrowth economies in the Asia-Pacific re-
deeper appreciation of Filipino gastronomy both locally and globally, support storytelling that reflects the cultural diversity of Filipino communities, and contribute to a distinctive and sustainable tourism identity for the Philippines,” said Frasco.
The roadmap identifies four major goals: Ensuring the integrity, diversity, and quality of food and gastronomy tourism experiences; Nurturing the growing awareness and recognition of Filipino food in domestic and international markets; Empowering stakeholders in the stewardship and sustainability of food and gastronomy tourism; and Building institutions for the shared development and management of food and gastronomy tourism.
The DOT will implement key action plans, which may be undertaken with LGUs, other key government agencies like the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, and the private sector. A technical working group will be organized to align efforts of the government and private sector.
Among the core markets identified by the roadmap are domestic travelers; tourists from East Asia such as South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; and travelers of Filipino descent in Englishspeaking countries (“Anglosphere”).
DOT will also develop markets in Europe and other Southeast Asian neighbors.
Other action plans include the development of community-based farm-to-table dining, indigenous food and beverage trails, and agricultural culinary tours, as well as the creation of event packages for key festivals that include guided tours, transportation, and other food experiences, such as workshops and cooking demonstrations, in partnership with LGUs and tour and travel agencies.
Action plans
THE DOT will partner with hotels to offer curated Filipino menus,
he said.
Agri groups: EU NTMs could blunt FTA gains
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
PHILIPPINE agriculture groups are more concerned about the non-tariff measures that may prevent exporters from utilizing the free trade agreement (FTA) with European Union (EU) given the 27-member bloc’s stringent requirements for imported products amid the bloc’s sustainability initiatives.
During the Public Consultation on Philippine Participation in the Philippines-European Union (PHEU FTA) Negotiations held by the Tariff Commission on Tuesday, Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) executive director Jesus “Cocoy” Barrera said: “I echo
the statement of Ms. Madarang regarding the availability of NTMs being imposed by the EU, particularly in agricultural imports.”
Barrera underscored that since the negotiation focuses on tariffs, “We may get market access, or we may appear to get market access because of the reduced tariff, the presence of NTMs may prevent us from having that market access.”
The representative from the country’s sugar sector said this as Imelda J. Madarang, CEO of Fisherfarms, Inc., an aquaculture processor and a pioneer innovation of farm-raised seafood products in the Philippines, pressed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on whether it is monitoring the non-tariff measures which the local industry is currently
experiencing.
“We’re very happy that we are still with the GSP [EU GSP+] , although we are a little bit afraid that we might graduate but again, we have to be prepared for that. But at the moment, we’re very happy. As far as tariff is concerned. I was just wondering if you are also focusing or really monitoring the non-tariff measures which we are actually experiencing, because it’s very, very steep,” Madarang, who’s also the Chairman of the Philippine Export Development Council - Networking Committee on Agri-Policy (NCAP) said during the hearing.
“We are just wondering because these were the issues raised by the industry, but we didn’t know where to go whether it’s the Tariff Com-
mission or somewhere else because it’s really, really steep,” added the representative from the aquaculture industry. The industry representative aired the concern during the tariff hearing as she shared that Indonesia and India complained at the Shrimp Global Forum about the new regulations being imposed by the 27-member bloc European Union.
“It says that all animal-based food products will be covered, and that will include us. I suppose they are now requiring a list of antibiotics that we do not use. And again, a guarantee from the Philippine government or from the governments about the compliance and the control system which is very,
QUEZON CITY RESIDENTS FLEE FLOODS Evacuees stay at the Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Barangay Roxas, Quezon City,
individuals, sought temporary shelter to escape possible flooding
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
SEC: Rules for registration, sale of securities simplified
By VG Cabuag @villygc
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the validity of shelf registration offerings to five years from the current three years, and simplified the process for such transactions.
The SEC issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 12, Series of 2025, providing for amendments to the Delayed and Continuous Offering and Sale of Securities.
Under the amended rule, the registration for securities that will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis will now be valid for a period of five years, from three years previously, effective from the date of the registration statement under which they are being offered or sold.
“Timing is a crucial component
‘DUs
Tthat could determine how a public offering will perform. Beyond improving access to the capital market, we want to make it easier for companies to maximize the advantages of tapping the capital market by taking this into account,” SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said.
“With the enhanced shelf registration framework, companies now have more flexibility in issuing their securities, allowing them to align their strategies better with market conditions.”
The guidelines also reduced and simplified the documentary requirements needed in applying for a permit to sell for each subsequent tranche following the initial offering.
These requirements include a signed and notarized SEC Form 121-SR and annexes, as applicable; an updated offering supplement/prospectus; and a sworn certificate of no material change for items that remained unchanged from the previously filed and approved offer supplement and/or prospectus.
For each subsequent tranche that will be offered within one year from the initial or the last issued tranche, the application for a permit should be filed not later than seven calendar days prior to the commencement of the offer or sale of the said securities.
This will apply if the requirement to submit new financial statements under Securities Regulation Code Rule 68 is not triggered or the company does not file new updated financial statements as part of the
registration statement. The same application should be filed not later than 30 calendar days prior to the commencement of the offer or sale of the said securities.
An application for a permit to sell should also be filed not later than 30 calendar days prior to the start of the offer or sale of securities for subsequent tranches that will be offered more than a year after the initial or last tranche.
The review period for all applications will be reckoned from the date of complete submission of the requirements and payment of the corresponding registration fees, which should be payable per tranche of issuance and proportional to the issued value.
The amendments under MC 12 will apply to all approved, valid and subsisting shelf registration statements, and the remaining validity period of such shelf registrations shall be counted from the effectivity date of the initial registration statement.
must bear cost of net meter testing’
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) told distribution utilities (DUs) not to charge customers for the conduct of testing and commissioning of electric meters for those who opt to enroll in the net-metering program.
“For residential installations, filed by an existing customer who wishes to install an RE [renewable energy] facility in his/her premises, the difference in cost chargeable by the distribution utility for the replacement to the required bi-directional meter shall not exceed P3,000.
The conduct of testing and commissioning is an obligation of the Distribution Utility, to be performed by its personnel at no cost to the applicant. Should the DU delegate such to a third party, the cost shall not be charged to the customers,” the ERC said.
According to ERC Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan there are reports that some DUs refer the testing to third-parties at a cost to
be shouldered by the net metering applicant. “It is the obligation of the DU, not the customer,” said Juan.
Net metering allows customers with up to 100-kilowatt peak (kWp) small-scale RE systems to export their excess generated electricity to the DU and receive credits on their monthly power bills.
The ERC also said DUs are encouraged to commence the calculation and application of billing rebates for exported energy effective from the date of successful testing and commissioning and shall be reflected on the first electricity bill issued immediately following the said date.
These form part of the new directive of the ERC meant to simplify the requirements for net-metering applications.
“On July 28, 2025, during the State of the Nation Address [SONA] of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the Department of Energy [DOE] and the ERC were tasked to accelerate the processing of net-metering applications.
In this regard, all on-grid DUs
are directed to undertake the following actions, effective immediately,” the ERC said in an advisory. These include uniform and streamlined documentary requirements to be imposed by the DUs.
“The DUs shall not impose additional requirements such as, but not limited to, bill of materials, or solar equipment catalogs.
Further, the DUs, as part of its obligation to file a COC [Certificate of Compliance] with the ERC on behalf of its customers, shall be responsible for completing the revised COC form,” it said.
The DUs are also mandated to post a complete digital copy of the ERC advisory on their official websites and all official social media platforms. “The posting must be executed on the first day of the months of October, November, and December 2025. Failure to comply with this directive may be subject to appropriate administrative action in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.”
Early this month, the ERC released the amended rules for the
program, following a series of public consultations and careful review of stakeholders’ inputs.
One of the key amendments permits the banking and rollover of net-metering credits toward a qualified end-user’s electricity usage across current and future billing periods. In the event of a property ownership change, the credits may be transferred to the new owner, subject to conditions such as a conforme letter from the original owner.
The amendments also include making the installation of Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) meters voluntary. In case of waiver of the installation of said REC meter, energy generated from the RE resource shall be computed using the appropriate formula provided under the Rules, subject to the submission of an affidavit and waiver.
These REC meters are issued to those registered under the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) program, which requires power firms to source an agreed portion of their supply from RE sources.
PAL set to deploy refurbished Airbus jets
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday said it will soon roll out its refurbished old Airbus A321 current engine option (ceo) aircraft as part of a retrofit program that will cover 18 of the flag carrier’s planes by 2027. The first reconfigured jet was turned over this month after undergoing cabin upgrades at Lufthansa Technik Philippines’ (LTP) facility in Manila, featuring seats manufactured in the Philippines.
The refurbished A321ceo fleet will be deployed on flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Jakarta, Bali, and Guam this year, with more Asian destinations to follow in 2026. The project is expected to roll out gradually until 2027, modernizing all 18 A321ceo aircraft in PAL’s fleet.
“This cabin retrofit program reflects PAL’s vision of world-class excellence and heartfelt care. At the core of this undertaking is the
dedicated craftsmanship showcased by Filipino workers in the manufacture of aircraft seats and the reconfiguration of the cabin in the Philippines,” PAL VP for Marketing Alvin Miranda said.
The 194-seater aircraft now sports a dual-class configuration with 12 Business Class and 182
Economy Class seats. Business Class passengers will find a 2-2 layout with expanded personal space, stowage options, mini cocktail tables, and in-
MACROASIA Corp., a company led by tycoon Lucio Tan, is expanding its footprint in the Visayas, through a new joint venture in Cebu.
The company, through its newly incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary, MacroAsia New Ventures Inc., is partnering with Princess Jolliant Corp., a Cebu-based commissary serving the quick-service restaurant sector and various institutional clients.
Princess Jolliant plans to scale up its production capacity and services with Cebu as its hub.
“Recognizing MacroAsia’s strong track record and expertise in Luzon, the company invited specifically MacroAsia Corporation to become a strategic partner in its Visayas expansion,” the company said.
Under the partnership, the joint venture will operate the existing Princess Jolliant commissary and develop a world-class facility in Cebu to cater to a broader base of institutional clients. With MacroAsia, the venture underscores the group’s commitment to delivering high-quality catering and food solutions in one of the country’s fastest-growing economic centers.
“Cebu has always been a vital center for trade, tourism, and economic
activity,” Eduardo T. Luy, president of MacroAsia, said.
“Expanding here will allow us to serve more customers, support local businesses, and create jobs, all while bringing MacroAsia’s expertise in food services to the region. This move is not just about expansion—it is about building long-term partnerships in Visayas.”
Cebu’s growth momentum, which is driven by the continuing development of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, new infrastructure investments, and strong airline activity. The company said this makes it a strategic location for MacroAsia’s food business. The project is also expected to generate new employment opportunities, contributing to the province’s economic progress.
The joint venture is considered a brownfield investment, as it will assume operations of an existing commissary with an established client portfolio. Both parties expect the venture to be immediately incomeaccretive.
MacroAsia’s core investments span aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul, airline and institutional catering, ground handling, property development and leasing and water utility services. VG Cabuag
seat power supplies, including USBA ports. Each seat is equipped with a 13.3-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen.
Economy Class, meanwhile, retains a 3-3 configuration but now comes with Collins Pinnacle seats produced at the Collins factory in Batangas. Every seat has a 10.1-inch IFE screen and USB-A charging port.
PAL Holdings Inc., the operator of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, reported a 29-percent decline in total
comprehensive income to P6.7 billion due to foreign exchange losses despite higher revenues.
Net income, however, rose 15 percent to P8.23 billion from P7.16 billion in 2024, driven by steady passenger demand and ancillary revenues.
Revenues improved by 2.7 percent to P93.34 billion from P90.92 billion in 2024, bolstered by an uptick in passenger income at P80.46 billion and ancillary revenue at P8.51 billion. Cargo revenues edged up to P4.31 billion, while other income slightly increased to P59 million.
Total expenses reached P84.65 billion, up from P80.29 billion last year, due to higher costs in maintenance, aircraft servicing, and passenger services. Flying operations accounted for the biggest share at P42.83 billion, followed by maintenance at P12.53 billion.
PAL operated 57,598 flights and transported 8.47 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, up by 2 percent and 7 percent respectively year-on-year.
Entrepreneur
Pinoy MSMEs scale digitally with TikTok Shop’s ASEAN Soar Together program
FILIPINO micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are turning to digital platforms to expand their businesses, with TikTok Shop’s ASEAN Supporting Our Retailers and Artisans (SOAR) Together Program helping to accelerate the shift.
Since its launch, 50 MSMEs across the region, including 8 from the Philippines, have participated in the program. Among them are Anthologie, Kape Lumad, and MAGWAI, three homegrown brands now leveraging the platform to reach new audiences, amplify their stories, and convert engagement into sales.
Anthologie elevates local artisans through digital storytelling
Founded by Logie Tonacao, Anthologie produces handwoven scarves and accessories in partnership with women artisans, preserving traditional weaving techniques while reinterpreting them for modern audiences. What began with modest capital has evolved into a platform that sustains artisan livelihoods and keeps centuries-old craftsmanship relevant in today’s fast-changing fashion landscape.
Through the SOAR Together Program, Anthologie has been able to translate its artisanal story into
digital campaigns that engage audiences and turn interest into sustainable online growth. “Our focus has always been on affordable, locally made products and supporting women artisans in our communities,” said Tonacao. “With the ASEAN SOAR Together initiative, we’ve discovered how to use TikTok to tell these stories in ways that inspire younger consumers, while also learning practical skills in digital marketing and content optimization.”
Kape Lumad connects indigenous coffee to new markets
KAPE Lumad, co-founded by John Ryan Loyloy, works with Lumad farmers in Bukidnon to produce coffee blends that are deeply rooted in indigenous tradition. By bridging heritage and quality, the brand not only offers consumers premium coffee but also highlights a story of resilience and community. Through the ASEAN Soar To -
gether Program, Kape Lumad gained digital marketing skills that allowed them to amplify the voices of their partner farmers and highlight the unique value of their coffee online.
“Our mission has always been to uplift the Lumad farming communities in Bukidnon while offering highquality, unique coffee products,” Loyloy said. “The program helped us realize the power of targeted digital engagement on TikTok Shop and provided practical tools to connect with our audience. Now, we are better positioned to expand beyond our local community and reach national and international audiences.”
The courage to do what is right
ALES is a crucial com-
Sponent of a thriving economy. It drives economic growth and even employment. As such, the role of sales leadership is therefore not just confined in the realm of business. Based on its wider influence base, sales leaders’ impact is actually interwoven in the very fabric of societal values. Doing what is right is therefore a fundamental function of sales leaders especially since they are considered role models of up and coming entrepreneurs.
But one needs courage in doing what is right. In reality, our society’s institutions are unfortunately mostly beset with corruption and less than ideal practices. And to do what is right is to basically swim against the tide. Yet it needs to be done in order to establish the right business values and practices that will foster a more ethical and sustainable business climate. Here are four tips to get you started in doing what is right.
Pray for guidance BEFORE making any decisions, always ask for God’s leading and guidance, as well as the strength and courage to do what is right. After all, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Remember, there is no other source of genuine wisdom except from God’s Word. In Joshua 1:9, the Lord commanded Joshua to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with
you wherever you go.” So fear not, go ahead and do what is right. As the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Philippi, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
When you do the right thing, the Lord will definitely be with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Know where you stand and draw the line
IN order to do what is right, one needs to ascertain where he or she stands. Sales leaders must take a principled stance and draw a clear distinction between what is right and what is not. One’s core values serve as a beacon that defines where the acceptable and uncompromising line is drawn. But why is this important? This is essential because your choice defines you.
As a sales leader, the road you take represents both your values and principles, and projects an image that influences the perception of people towards you—are you to be trusted or someone to be wary of?
MAGWAI promotes sustainable personal care online MAGWAI, co-founded by Mafel Tamayo, produces reef-safe sunscreens, plastic-free shampoo bars, and eco-friendly towels aimed at environmentally conscious consumers. The brand addresses the challenge of encouraging more Filipinos to adopt sustainable alternatives while ensuring its products remain accessible and practical for everyday use.
Through the ASEAN SOAR Together Program, MAGWAI received guidance on digital marketing, content optimization, and live selling, which have already led to stronger engagement and growing sales on TikTok Shop.
“One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is encouraging consumers to try new, more sustainable prod-
Bear in mind that the image formed in the minds of those around you will not simply linger but may potentially stay with them for a lifetime. So know where you stand and draw the line.
Be intentional with your impact IMPACT is defined as the lasting change in a person’s life as a result of his/her interaction with you. It is definitely a life-changing effect. Hence, as a sales leader, you need to be intentional in your actions, being mindful of the potential impact that you may have with others. And when you intentionally do what is right, you can plant the seed of success to the people that you directly and indirectly interact with. If sales leaders can find the courage to always do what is right, the society that we live in will be a much better place to be in. At the end of the day, change begins from within, one day at a time. You got this. God bless!
Alexey Rola Cajilig is the Founder, President & CEO of ARCWAY Consultancy Inc., and Senior Vice President & COO of EM-CORE DOTNET Inc. He is a Sales Leadership Coach, Strategic Sales Operations Consultant, Christian Motivational Speaker, Human Ecologist and Author of Life is a Classroom, The Effective Seller, Solving the Sales Puzzle and Practical Market Intelligence. He is also the creator of ARCH Styles, a behavioral and personality assessment & discovery tool. If you have questions and suggestions, you may connect with him at https:// www.facebook.com/coachlexey and at https://www. linkedin.com/in/alexey-rola-cajilig.
ucts,” said Tamayo. “The program has been a game-changer, helping us unlock TikTok Shop as a key platform to reach our target audience, engage with themauthentically, and even explore live selling. We’re now confident in growing TikTok Shop as
a major sales and engagement channel, while staying true to our brand identity.”
Strengthening MSMEs and digital entrepreneurship
THE success of Anthologie, Kape Lumad, and MAGWAI reflects TikTok Shop’s broader commitment to building a more resilient MSME sector in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. According to Chanida Klyphun, Director of Southeast Asia Public Policy, TikTok, “TikTok Shop aims to empower entrepreneurs with knowledge, tools, and insights to grow sustainable businesses in the digital economy. By helping MSMEs transform engagement into real commerce, we’re supporting inclusive growth and enabling smaller brands across Southeast Asia to compete on both national and regional stages.”
Implemented in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the SOAR Together Program equips participating MSMEs with intensive training, digital challenges, and regional showcase opportunities to boost their competitiveness in today’s digital economy. Top-performing enterprises will be rewarded with up to USD 1,000 in TikTok advertising credits to boost their digital campaigns, and selected MSMEs will also be featured at regional events, including the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2025.
Western Visayas unveils devt plan for startups
By Perla Lena
LOILO CITY—The De-
Ipartment of Science and Technology (DOST) on Tuesday unveiled the 20252030 Regional Action Plan for Startup Development during the opening ceremony for the Western Visayas Innovative Startup Festival and Tech Expo 2025 at the Iloilo Convention Center here.
Developed by the Regional Research, Development and Innovation Committee of the Western Visayas Regional Development Council, the components of the action plan, included innovation structure development, capability-building and talent development, startup support services and acceleration, policy support, ecosystem governance, and knowledge and technology transfer.
In a press conference, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Leah Buendia said it is very interesting to note that the plan has a support group as one of its pillars.
“I think this is the uniqueness in the region. It’s not always topdown; there is also bottom-up because each region is unique,” she said.
DOST Regional Director for
Western Visayas Rowen Gelonga said innovative startups have many stages, but at the local level, they tend to look into four phases, including the preincubation, where one of the initiatives of the agency is the establishment of hubs in all its provincial offices.
“This is where we try to do brainstorming, small group discussions to come up with very good ideas that can transform into a viable business,” he said.
Once approved, it is endorsed to technical business incubators, where startups are mentored to become commercially viable.
Western Visayas has been in the formative stage of an innovative startup ecosystem in the past four to five years.
Two to three years from now, Gelonga said, he is confident that there will be more success stories.
Meanwhile, the startup festival, spearheaded by the Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spinoff Development, features diverse activities, including conferences, training workshops, expositions, forums, and pitching competitions to celebrate and strengthen the region’s innovation and startup ecosystem. PNA
Northern Samar govt raises ₧8.5 million credit fund for MSMEs and coops
By Sarwell Meniano
ACLOBAN CITY—The North-
Tern Samar provincial government has secured some P8.5million commitment to establish a credit surety fund meant to expand financial access of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in the province. The local government raised the Northern Samar Credit Surety Fund through contributions from the provincial government, Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), and eight cooperatives operating in the province.
“It will serve as a trust facility to guarantee loans made by MSMEs who often face difficulties securing bank financing due to lack of collateral or credit history,” the provincial government said in a statement Wednesday. Northern Samar Gov. Harris Ongchuan led the signing on Sept. 15 of the memorandum of agreement, along with key officials from LBP and partner local cooperatives.
Of the total fund, the provincial government is contributing the largest share with P3 million from its 2025 annual budget, matched by an-
other P3 million from the LandBank The remaining P2.5 million comes from the combined contributions of the eight participating cooperatives, namely Allen Municipal Officials, Employees and Communities and Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC); Northern Samar MPC; Agricultural Workers and Entrepreneurs MPC; Northern Samar Capitol Employees Cooperative; Palapag Teachers, Employees and Community MPC; Sumoroy Teachers, Employees and Community MPC; Catubig Multipurpose Cooperative; and the Pacific MPC.
The provincial government thanked the member-cooperatives for supporting the program, noting that the P8.5-million credit surety fund will go a long way in helping small entrepreneurs, farmers, fishers, and cooperatives improve their livelihood.
The initiative aligns with the local government’s development agenda HCO — health, capacity building and climate resilience, and opportunities — which aims to deliver programs that are humane, inclusive, and truly give
Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug
MODELS showcase Anthologie’s handwoven creations, crafted in partnership with local women artisans. The brand is one of the Filipino MSMEs growing its presence through TikTok Shop’s ASEAN SOAR Together Program.
KAPE Lumad co-founder
BSP income declines in first sem as miscellaneous income shrinks
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE net income after tax of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) posted a double-digit contraction in the first semester of the year.
Based on the BSP’s “Statement of Income and Expense,” its net income after tax and capital reserves declined 17.78 percent in the January-to-June period this year.
The data showed the BSP’s net income reached P70.3 billion in the January to June 2025 period from the P85.5 billion posted in the same period last year.
billion in the first semester of 2025 from the P44.3 billion in the first semester of 2024.
“(Miscellaneous income) includes trading gains/losses, fees, penalties and other operating income, among others. However, starting with endDecember 2022 data, net trading losses are excluded and instead recorded as part of ‘Other expenses’,” the BSP noted.
surged 53.21 percent to P33.4 billion in the January to June period this year from P21.8 billion in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the BSP’s net income before net gain on foreign exchange rates fluctuation, income tax expense and capital reserves was at P36.7 billion.
Investors shun locking in yields for Treasury bonds
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE national government failed to raise the amount it intended to borrow through its dual-tranche sale of long-term debt papers, as investors were hesitant to lock in yields for too long.
The government received P25.742-billion worth of bids for the 20-year T-bonds. Demand for the 20-year T-bonds was 1.28 times oversubscribed the P20-billion offering.
The central bank’s interest income posted a growth of 0.92 percent to P120.9 billion in 2025 from P119.8 billion in the January-toJune 2024 period.
However, miscellaneous income contracted 56.88 percent to P19.1
The central bank’s revenues contracted 14.7 percent in the six-month period starting in January 2025 to P140 billion from the P164.1 billion recorded in the same period last year.
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently announced hopes to make the computation of duties and taxes more transparent and accessible for importers by enhancing its “online tax estimator” (OTE).
A statement issued by the BOC last Tuesday read that the upgraded version of the OTE provides “a more detailed and user-friendly breakdown of duties, taxes and other lawful charges.”
“With this, stakeholders can expect a clearer and more accurate guide to their obligations, making the importation process more trans-
parent and easier to understand,” the BOC’s statement read.
Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the BOC’s assessment of duties and taxes remains guided by the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Department of Finance (DOF) orders and other relevant regulations.
“With this initiative, the BOC is not only offering a more accessible and user-friendly tool but also demonstrating our determination to improve systems that directly serve the needs of the public,” Nepomuceno said.
The BOC opened the beta testing
Meanwhile, the central bank also saw a 2.6-percent contraction in its expenses to P103.4 billion in January to June 2025 from P106.1 billion in January to June 2024.
Interest expenses contracted 16.96 percent to P70 billion in the first semester of the year from the P84.3 billion in the first semester of last year.
Other expenses, BSP data showed,
of the upgraded tax estimator and encouraged stakeholders to try the tool and provide feedback.
“Their feedback will be vital in refining the tool, ensuring system efficiency and enhancing overall performance,” it said.
Stakeholders may access the upgraded estimator through the BOC’s website and send their suggestions to the agency’s MISTG unit.
“The BOC expressed its appreciation to stakeholders for their continued support and valuable feedback, which play an important role in strengthening its programs and services,” it added.
Prospective hindsight: Pros and cons
PROSPECTIVE hindsight, in as simple definition as possible, is looking into the future and trying to envision a scenario of a possible problem or challenge or concern of a certain area.
Some of the latter could be using your present software or the turnover of employees, especially key people; a possibility that a CEO or the owner will suddenly no longer be there either through death or sickness or other possible reasons.
These prompt the need to innovate in the future and other possible scenarios. After that you work backwards not only to determine the reason but to do something to avoid it happening. Another way to explain prospective hindsight, according to an April 24, 2023, article on forbes.com, is to use one bias (the hindsight bias) to beat another bias (the planning fallacy).
As the head of our firm, it just occurred to me that rightly so, this makes sense, especially when I also look into
By Mary Jade Gale Jadormio
succession planning, which is part of a prospective hindsight. However, there are also disadvantages. In every decision one should make, both sides should be weighed and determine whether the pros outweigh the cons.
The pros could include increasing the likelihood of not only preventing the problems that may occur but also increasing the likelihood of a project being successful. For instance, if the company is planning to construct an office building where part of the space is for company office and another to be opened for lease, one must look at all sides. Will it be convenient for current clients and more visible to prospective clients? Will you be able to achieve the return on the investment and how many years? What if there are not enough tenants; what are you going to do with the unoccupied spaces? It looks like a feasibility study but from a high-level perspective or a macro view. To be able to identify potential problems and challenges and find ways to
mitigate them or prevent them altogether could be an effective risk management. This is more effective when a team is doing this to be able to get various views and dig up unmentioned weaknesses or threats such as purchasing a software or innovating systems and processes in the office. This is also a tool that can be incorporated into strategic planning.
The cons or the downsides could also be various. It can be uncomfortable for your team to talk about the possible failure of a project, the loss of a key employee or a fixed asset becoming a white elephant. And there is the difficulty and the challenge to imagine to truly be there and how to feel it’s real impact.
A research conducted in 1989 by Deborah J. Mitchell of the Wharton School and Jay Russo of Cornell and Nancy Pennington of the University of Colorado revealed that prospective hindsight or pre-mortem increases the ability to correctly identify reasons for future outcomes by 30 percent (Harvard Business Review, September 2007). The paper mentioned about an example of a Fortune 50-sized company conducting a pre-mortem session where an executive suggested a scenario on the failure of a billion-dollar environment sustainability project because of the waning of interest when the CEO retired.
Another possibility of failure could be due to the dilution of the business case after a government agency revised its policies. Everyone contributed to the list and, at the end of the day, the
“This represents realized gains or losses from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates arising from foreign currency-denominated transactions of the BSP,” the central bank noted. This was a 36.61-percent contraction from the P57.9 billion recorded in the same period last year.
The BSP’s net gain on foreign exchange rates fluctuation grew 22.1 percent to P33.7 billion in January to June 2025 from P27.6 billion in the same period last year.
The bureau credited its Management Information System and Technology Group for developing the system.
This year, the BOC will collect P958.714 billion in taxes, of which the bulk will come from value-added tax on imports worth P589.504 billion, followed by excise taxes amounting to P246.645 billion. It will also raise P106.168 billion from import duties and taxes and P16.397 billion from other fees.
So far, the BOC has generated P622.468 billion as of end-August, up by 1.31 percent year-on-year from P614.394 billion. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
project manager looked for ways to strengthen the plan based on the list. It is not only in business that we should have a prospective hindsight strategy. This should apply to our personal lives as well. For instance, you plan to hold a garden wedding.
Do not presume that the weather that day would be good. Prepare for a worst case scenario such as a back-up area for heavy rainfall. Are you going to have umbrellas prepared for everybody for light rains?
In both professional and personal life, having this kind of insight is trying to get in touch with your fears and facing up to it. By doing so, you will realize that what will happen (even in the worst-case scenario) and the results of it are not as bad as you imagine it to be.
According to Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha, “to fulfill your vision, you must have hindsight, insight and foresight.”
For me, a prospective hindsight is not about being pessimistic about the future. It is about calculating the risks so that you can be confident and optimistic that you can handle the future. Therefore, right planning involves looking at the future with preparation, listening to wise advice and meticulous research, and committing one’s work to the Lord for us to discern His will.
Wilma Miranda is a Finex business column writer and the managing partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates, CPAs. She is also a member of the Board of Directors and former head of the Business Development of Knowledge, Process, System Outsourcing. The views she expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions.
According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., investors showed hesitation in locking into long-term bonds given the market risks required to manage these instruments compared to shorter-dated tenors. This investor stance comes as long-end bond yields in developed countries remain elevated, while concerns persist over inflation if the US Federal Reserve moves aggressively in cutting interest rates in the coming months, as urged by US President Donald Trump, Ricafort said.
The Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) auction committee only generated a total of P26.848 billion at the auction of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) on Tuesday.
The auction committee fully awarded the bids for the reissued 3-year T-bonds, raising P10 billion, but only partially awarded P16.848 billion of the P25-billion offering for the 20-year tenor.
Broken down, the 3-year government securities attracted tenders amounting to P37.924 billion or 3.7 times oversubscribed the programmed offering.
The 3-year debt papers fetched a lower average yield at 5.605 percent, down by 2.9 basis points from the previous yield of 5.634 percent posted last August 27.
Yields of the debt papers ranged from a low of 5.600 percent to a high of 5.610 percent.
The average yield was also lower by 5.6 basis points than the Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (BVAL) Service Reference Rate for the 3-year tenor at 5.661 percent. However, this is 0.5 basis points higher than the BVAL rate for the security itself at 5.600 percent.
The 3-year T-bonds have a remaining life of two years and six months and a coupon rate of 3.625 percent.
THE Security Bank Corp. aims to raise P5 billion from its latest fixed-rate peso bond offering, read a statement the lender issued last Monday. The bonds will have a tenor of 5 years and will be marketed at a fixed rate of 6 percent per annum. The public offer period will run from September 22 to October 17, 2025.
Minimum denominations have been set for P500,000 and increments of P100,000 thereafter. The bank said the proceeds will be used to support its lending activities.
“We’re excited about this peso bond offering as it further strengthens Security Bank’s funding base and supports our growth and lending activities,” said Jim Yap, Security Bank EVP and Financial Markets Segment Head.
“At the same time, it gives investors a high-quality peso investment with stable, predictable returns—underscoring the Bank’s financial strength and commitment to our clients,” he added.
John Paolo R. Rivera, senior research fellow at state-run Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said the auction reflects strong investor demand amid expectations of monetary easing, steady inflation and surplus liquidity.
“Selective awarding also helped the BTr manage rates, while risk-off sentiment is prompting investors to seek safer government securities,” noted Rivera, who holds a doctorate in Economics from the De La Salle University.
However, the government rejected P6.848 billion in tenders
The 20-year T-bonds were capped at 6.421 percent, dropping by 16.3 basis points from the 6.584 percent posted in the previous auction last July 29.
Investors’ asking yields were as low as 6.350 percent to as high as 6.450 percent. Still, the average yield is higher by 7.5 basis points than the 20-year PHP BVAL yield of 6.346 percent. It is also up by 8.2 basis points from the BVAL Reference rate for the security itself at 6.339 percent. The remaining term of the 20year T-bonds is 18 years and 7 months, with a coupon rate of 6.875 percent.
This September, the government only raised P111.848 billion, out of the P120 billion programmed borrowings.
For this year, the government plans to raise P2.6 trillion, with an 81:19 mix in favor of domestic sources, to plug its projected budget deficit of P1.561 trillion.
So far, the government has borrowed P1.757 trillion as of end-July, of which P1.341 trillion came from the domestic creditors, while the remaining P415.918 billion was owed to foreign lenders. The government’s outstanding debt hit P17.563 trillion as of end-July, up by 11.9 percent from P15.689 trillion in the same period a year ago.
In a statement the lender issued last Sunday, Security Bank said it became a part of FTSE’s September 2025 quarterly review, which the bank believed reflected its growing stature in the Philippine financial sector. The inclusion took effect on September 19, 2025.
“This recognition underscores the trust that investors continue to place in Security Bank,” said Sanjiv Vohra, President & CEO. “Our commitment to delivering BetterBanking and creating long-term value for clients, communities, and shareholders is now being validated on a global stage.” Security Bank said it was among a select group of Philippine companies named in the FTSE review. The bank said this highlighted its relevance to international investors who turn to the FTSE.
signed New Government Procurement Act (NGPA). The MEARB is a reform aimed to shift procurement processes from solely focusing on the
price to a broader emphasis on long-term value and quality, read a statement issued by the DBM. The provision offers an option to the “Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid” (LCRB) approach and allows government agencies to consider a combination of cost and quality indicators in determining the winning bid for Procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects. Hindi na po tayo limitado sa pinakamurang presyo lang
will adopt a quality-price ratio to evaluate competing bids to allow the assessment of the quality component based on a determined set of criteria and the assignment of appropriate weights to both of the factors.
The MEARB also allows for the consideration of different criteria in assessing the quality of the project. This is to ensure that the chosen bid will have the best value in terms of both its price and quality.
procuring entities
Through the incorporation of qualitative and quantitative factors, the new law will improve decision-making in
public procurement and promote the selection of bids.
The Budget chief said the entities may consider added value concerning energy consumption, maintenance, sustainability, disposable costs, and “other qualitative standards they deem important to the project.”
The MEARB is among the reforms implemented in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that every peso of public funds must be spent wisely and with evident measurable impact, read the DBM’s statement.
The issue will be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on October 29, 2025. Security Bank said this will provide secondary market liquidity to investors who would like to trade the instruments.
Security Bank has mandated Philippine Commercial Capital Inc. (“PCCI”) and Security Bank Capital Investment Corp. as joint bookrunners, joint lead arrangers and selling agents for this issuance.
Earlier, the bank became the latest addition to the FTSE Asia Pacific Small Cap Index, one of the region’s benchmarks used by global institutional investors.
The FTSE Asia Pacific Small Cap Index forms part of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS), a comprehensive framework covering large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap stocks across developed and emerging markets. Within this series, the FTSE Global Small Cap Index represents over 5,800 stocks with a combined market capitalization of about $7 trillion. Security Bank is a domestic univer-
HAIR TODAY AND TOMORROW: MAKATIMED’S FIXES FOR A RECEDING HAIRLINE
FROM Sting to Jason Statham to Prince William to your dad or tito, let’s be real—a receding hairline is something that happens to almost everyone at some point in their lives. And this gradual thinning and loss of hair, particularly on the temples, thus creating an “M, “U,” or “V” shape when seen from the top, can be something a lot of guys feel self-conscious about, even though it is totally common.
“Hair loss is something we all do not want to have but statistics will show that 50 percent of us will have it by the time we are 50. A receding hairline isn’t just due to aging, it is essentially a genetic and a hormonal problem. Some men experience hair loss as early as their 20s,” says Corazon Almira T. Mella, MD, a dermatologist from the country’s top hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph). “These two factors, genetics and hormones, are the key players that contribute to hair thinning and loss. Stress, certain medications, and a diet deficient in vitamins and minerals have likewise been known to affect hair growth.”
There’s no cure for receding hairlines. “But you can delay its progression or increase the thickness of hair strands on your head with solutions that range from simple lifestyle changes to sciencebacked treatments,” suggests the MakatiMed dermatologist.
n Manage your haircare routine. “Use shampoos specifically formulated to strengthen your scalp and make your hair more robust. Shampoos that are sulfate-free are advisable,” shares Mella. “You can also ask your barber to recommend a more flattering hairstyle. Guys with receding hairlines can wear their hair slicked back, get a close-to-the-scalp buzzcut, or take it all off and go bald.”
n Tweak your diet. Protein, healthy fats, and vitamins contribute to luscious hair. “Go for lean protein. Omega-3-rich salmon and mackerel are said to promote hair growth, and eggs contain biotin or vitamin B7, which strengthens hair,” says Mella.
n Reduce stress. Do you know that there’s actually a name for stress-induced hair loss? “In telogen effluvium, hair falls in clumps following a stressful situation. It certainly doesn’t help men with receding hairlines,” explains Mella. Engaging in regular exercise (from walking and running to swimming and yoga), getting at least eight hours of sleep, and spending time with loved ones can calm frayed nerves. It’s also important to understand that in telogen effluvium, the hair shedding is temporary and if it has been going on for some time, proper evaluation and laboratory investigation is required.
n Take prescription medication. Although minoxidil, a topical formulation that stimulates hair growth, is available over the counter, variants with a higher percentage of minoxidil require a doctor’s prescription. So does finasteride, an oral medication that reduces the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a naturally occurring hormone responsible for hair loss. “As mentioned, these medications are not a cure, and only work for as long as you continue to use them. Commitment to the medications is as important as the treatment itself.” reminds Mella.
n Explore minimally invasive procedures. When you’ve tried the aforementioned recommendations but failed to get the desired results, it’s time to look into the big guns of hair growth.
“Microneedling stimulates the production of collagen through the puncture of tiny needles on the scalp,” says Mella. “Low-Level Laser Therapy subjects a patient’s scalp to low-power lasers, which trigger hair follicle activity. In Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, a patient is administered with his own concentrated platelets on his scalp, where growth factors stimulate hair follicles. Exosome Therapy also relies on growth factors, in this case from the tiny vesicles released by a patient’s cells.”
For surgery, hair restoration surgery comes in the form of follicular unit extraction, where the surgeon transfers the follicles from the sides and back of a patient’s head to the thinning or hairless parts in the front for a more natural look. Out of all the options, hair restoration surgery offers more tangible and long-lasting results. It is available at Makati Medical Center as an outpatient service.
Given all these solutions, Mella underlines a personalized approach to address hair loss, “What’s important to remember is that what works for someone may not work for you, and vice versa. Consult with your doctor on the most effective solution—or combination of solutions— for your type of condition, and be patient with the outcome.”
Play it again: Rediscovering the joy of being playful
WHEN we were children, play came naturally. We ran, laughed, invented games, and let our imaginations soar without hesitation. Somewhere along the way, the responsibilities of adulthood slowly pushed playfulness aside. As we grew older, we began to value productivity over leisure, and seriousness over lightheartedness. Yet playfulness is not something reserved for childhood alone. It is a vital part of being human and one that can bring surprising benefits to our adult lives.
Relearning playfulness as an adult is not about becoming careless or ignoring responsibilities. It is about balancing the serious demands of life with a spirit that knows how to relax, enjoy, and connect. Playfulness lowers stress, sparks creativity, and strengthens relationships. It reminds us that joy can exist even amid challenges. Many adults forget that being playful is not a luxury but a way to keep the mind and heart refreshed.
A simple way to reintroduce playfulness is through humor. Laughing at a funny video, telling lighthearted jokes to colleagues, or even poking fun at your own mistakes can ease the tension of daily life.
For example, instead of getting frustrated at a minor error at work, one might laugh and say, “Well, that is my creative version of the report.” Humor does not erase the mistake, but it softens the weight of it and creates a lighter atmosphere for everyone
involved.
Another way to cultivate playfulness is to engage in games or hobbies that once brought happiness. Many adults feel guilty about spending time on what they see as unproductive, but recreation is never wasted time. Whether it is joining a weekend board game session with friends, playing tennis at the neighborhood court, or experimenting with a new dance class, these activities wake up our playful side. They also open opportunities for social connection, which is one of the significant results of play.
Playfulness can also show up in ordinary routines. Turning chores into playful challenges can change the way we approach them. You might set a timer to see how quickly you can change the bedsheets or play your favorite upbeat music while cooking dinner. These small shifts transform dull tasks into opportunities for amusement. They remind us that play does not always require a special occasion.
Creative expression is another door to playfulness. Drawing, writing short poems, gardening, or even experimenting with new recipes are ways to allow the mind to play. The act of creating without pressure to be perfect is in itself a playful gesture. The value is not in the finished product but in the enjoyment of the process. Adults often hesitate to try creative outlets because they fear they are not good enough. The secret to playful creativity is letting go of judgment and simply having fun with what you are doing.
Playfulness is also about curiosity. When adults remain curious, they engage with the world in a lighter and more open way. Asking questions, exploring new places in your own city, or trying out unfamiliar food can ignite a playful sense of discovery. Even in professional settings, curiosity invites playfulness. Asking a colleague about their unique approach to solving a problem can open the door to new ideas while building stronger connections.
Crate and Barrel welcomes cozy season with timeless new collection
CRATE and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com.ph) unveils its newest collection, a harmonious balance of design-forward elegance and everyday practicality for the cozy season. Rooted in craftsmanship and refined detail, the collection introduces pieces that effortlessly transform living spaces into places of warmth, comfort and beauty. Every aspect of design is considered—clean lines, sculptural silhouettes, and thoughtful proportions, striking a balance between modern timelessness.
Thoughtfully designed furniture that grounds spaces with modern flair, accent tables and chairs that pairs with everyday comfort, decor that infuses
personality, and entertaining essentials that elevate everyday gatherings.
Infused with character and designed with intention, the collection emphasizes versatility, offering furnishings and accents that are as functional as they are beautiful. Whether styled as focal points or seamlessly integrated into existing spaces, each piece is crafted to inspire connection, elevate daily routines, and celebrate the art of living well.
Crate and Barrel’s new collection can be found at SM Aura Premier (0917-8895667), SM Makati (0917-5833373), SM Megamall (0917-8704796) or www. crateandbarrel.com.ph.
Technology, often seen as a source of stress, can also be used for playful purposes. Mobile apps for language learning, trivia quizzes, or puzzle games offer quick opportunities for fun during a break. Video calls with friends can include playful elements like guessing games or shared online activities. These moments may seem small, but they add up to a more vibrant and balanced day.
Relearning playfulness also means embracing childlike wonder. Watching a sunrise, lying on the grass and spotting shapes in the clouds, or enjoying an ice cream cone without worrying about the calories are simple acts that invite joy. They remind us that life is not meant to be endured but experienced. Adults often feel they must appear composed at all times, yet letting go and enjoying small pleasures makes life more meaningful.
Importantly, playfulness strengthens relationships. Couples who share playful moments, such as teasing, inside jokes, or light competitions, often have greater satisfaction. Parents who allow themselves to be playful with their children not only build stronger bonds but also model the value of joy. Even in the workplace, leaders who encourage lighthearted interactions often see more engaged and creative teams.
The path back to playfulness does not require large changes. It begins with small decisions to loosen up and invite joy into ordinary life. It is about saying yes to moments that make you smile, about finding humor in the unexpected, and about remembering that you are more than your responsibilities.
Relearning playfulness as an adult is an invitation to live with greater balance. It is a gentle reminder that seriousness alone does not define success. When you allow yourself to be playful, you bring out a side of yourself that is resilient, creative, and deeply connected to others. In a world that often feels heavy, rediscovering the ability to play may be one of the most practical and life-giving choices you can make.
GSIS, SSS honor nation’s retirees during National Pensioners’ Week
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), in partnership with the Social Security System (SSS), led the celebration of National Pensioners’ Day at the GSIS Head Office in Pasay City as part of the weeklong National Pensioners’ Week.
The event paid tribute to the invaluable contributions of the country’s retirees and pensioners while bringing services closer to them.
More than 200 pre-registered pensioners from the Philippine Alliance of Retired Educators (PARE), GSIS Retirees Association Inc. (GRAI), and SSS pensioners joined the day-long program.
The event featured free medical wellness check-ups, pampering services such as massage and haircut in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), distribution of tokens, awarding of land titles to ten pensioners, and a film screening of “Miss Granny” courtesy of Viva Films.
The celebration was made even more memorable by a special performance from the country’s “Soul Siren” Nina, who serenaded the pensioners with her signature hits, giving the audience a heartwarming musical treat.
In her message, GSIS Officer in Charge President and General Manager Juliet Bautista honored the nation’s retirees.
“Ang araw na ito ay para sa inyo, ating mahal na pensioners, bilang pagkilala at pasasalamat sa lahat ng taon ng serbisyo at sakripisyo ninyo para sa bayan at sa inyong pamilya [This day is for you, our dear pensioners, in recognition and gratitude for all your years of service and
Sis a premier celebration of motorcycle culture and heritage in the country, served as the perfect backdrop for the public debut of these two models, which embody Suzuki’s thrust to reimagine its heritage through these new models. The GSX-8T and GSX-8TT pay tribute to classic Suzuki machines while integrating them with next-generation technology and performance. Suzuki’s booth was a major draw, capturing the attention of riders, collectors and enthusiasts. The new GSX models were prominently featured, marking their first event appearance alongside other Suzuki Big Bikes such as the other 800cc powered GSX-8R, GSX8S and the iconic SV650. The occasion further
sacrifice for the country and your families.],”
Bautista said.
She added that recent reforms, such as the removal of the survivorship pension cap, the lifting of the cohabitation rule for survivorship pensioners, more flexible Christmas Cash Gift rules, and online pension applications via GSIS Touch, are all meant to bring ginhawa and security to retirees.
Finance Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan, speaking on behalf of Secretary Ralph Recto, lauded GSIS and SSS for honoring the country’s pensioners.
“You are not footnotes in our budget books. You are the reason these programs exist,” Tungpalan said.
Quoting Secretary Recto, he added: “Ito ang patunay ng totoong serbisyong publiko: hindi dagdag abala, kundi dagdag ginhawa. Hindi lumang sistema, kundi makabagong solusyon. Hindi mabagal na proseso, kundi mabilis na aksyon [This is the proof of true public service: no more hassles, but more convenience. Not an old system, but a modern solution. Not a slow process, but quick action.]”
He stressed that the Department of Finance’s role is to ensure that government financial institutions like GSIS remain strong
highlighted Suzuki’s heritage which is very timely for the brand as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in the Philippines. This move underscored its commitment to honor the Suzuki’s rich history while pushing the boundaries of innovation for today’s riders.
Beyond the stunning product display, Suzuki engaged riders directly with a free test
and stable, so that “benefits today must still be benefits tomorrow. Promises must outlast the people who make them.”
Tungpalan also pointed to the awarding of land titles as proof that government can “deliver dreams” and affirmed that the true measure of a nation lies in how it treats those who have given their best years in service.
For his part, SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph De Claro emphasized the unity of GSIS and SSS in honoring retirees, “This is not a time to compare benefits but to recognize that both GSIS and SSS honor you, our pensioners, as the people who built this nation. Together, our institutions are working to strengthen governance and improve benefits for our members and retirees,” he said.
Extending the celebration nationwide, Pensioners’ Day activities were held in GSIS branch offices at GSIS Cabanatuan (North Luzon), GSIS Laguna (South Luzon), GSIS Cebu (Visayas) and GSIS Tagum (Mindanao).
The National Pensioners’ Week is being held to recognize the decades of service rendered by the country’s pensioners and provide a platform to address their concerns, promote financial security, and highlight reforms that strengthen the pension system.
ride experience. Attendees had the chance to experience the smooth performance and comfort of the Burgman 400ABS and V-STROM 1050DE. The Suzuki booth also became a hub for community, with numerous Suzuki Big Bike riders and fans alike visiting to show their support and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Also spotted on display by collectors are the early models of the GSX-R750 as well as GS-750G which automatically became crowd favorites.
RidePh’s Philippine Moto Heritage Weekend is already considered as an annual festival celebrating the evolution of motorcycling in the country. Suzuki’s participation, with the debut of its latest big bikes and its strong rider presence, proved its dedication to both the past and future of the motorcycle community as a whole. It is a clear testament to the brand’s enduring promise to support every rider on their journey, no matter the destination. At every twist and turn, Suzuki is By Your Side.
Italian Flavors Meet French Flair at Okada Manila in World-Class Culinary Collaboration
OKADA Manila, in partnership with evian, is set to host a highly anticipated gastronomic event that brings together two masters of flavor. The exclusive fourhands dinner, “Italy Meets France,” will feature the culinary prowess of Mattia Stroppa, Executive Chef at Okada Manila’s signature Italian restaurant La Piazza, and Arnaud Dunand, a renowned one-star Michelin Chef and Owner of Maison Dunand, a French fine dining restaurant in Bangkok.
Happening on September 25 and 26, from 5 pm to 11 pm at La Piazza, this exclusive collaboration unites the authentic flavors of Italy with the refined artistry of French cuisine. Guests can look forward to a multi-course menu that showcases the distinct culinary philosophies of both chefs.
The chefs expressed their excitement about the upcoming collaboration, highlighting how the partnership goes beyond food to celebrate culture and creativity.
“Collaborating with Chef Arnaud allows us to showcase the depth and diversity
Italian Flavors Meet French Flair at
limitless culinary potential continues to grow, more Filipino home cooks and professional chefs are deepening their knowledge, from its origins and production to how it can elevate even the most familiar recipes. Recognizing this growing interest, the USA Cheese Guild has brought its globally recognized USA Cheese Specialist™ Certification Program to the Philippines. This premier training initiative, the first of its kind, equips culinary students and professionals, retailers and importers with in-depth knowledge of cheese, from its history and production to practical use across diverse global cuisines. For the culinary track, the Guild has partnered with the Center for Culinary Arts to integrate a three-tiered certification program (Associate, Intermediate, Advanced) into the second-year curriculum. The program covers cheese families, proper storage and handling, and even artisanal cheesemaking – giving students the skills to elevate Filipino dishes and innovate in the kitchen. “By working directly with culinary students, we’re investing in the future of the food industry in the
Philippines,” said Dali Ghazalay, Regional Director –Southeast Asia, USA Cheese Guild. “These young chefs are the tastemakers of tomorrow. Equipping them with a deeper understanding of cheese, especially U.S. varieties, empowers them to push creative boundaries, elevate flavors, and make thoughtful choices in the kitchen. The USA Cheese Specialist™ certification isn’t just a credential; it’s a creative mindset. It encourages chefs to treat cheese not as an afterthought, but as a versatile, functional, and flavor-rich ingredient that can transform a dish.”
According to Dr. Veritas Luna, Chancellor of CCA Manila, this milestone partnership enhances the school’s mission to uphold global culinary standards and foster culinary innovation. She shares, “This partnership with the USA Cheese Guild is a milestone for CCA and our students. It supports our commitment to internationalization, sustainability, and continuous faculty development, while giving our graduates a competitive edge that open doors both locally and abroad.”
The U.S. cheese industry blends traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation – producing cheese from
and
formats – all crafted to perform well in cooking, deliver exceptional taste,
essence of traditional Northern Italian cuisine elevated with artistry. Priced at P6,000 per guest, this exclusive four-hands dinner presents a meticulously crafted nine-course
Authentic Bavarian fare, Weihenstephan beer at Newport World Resorts’
FROM October 8 to 11, 2025, The Ballroom of Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts will come alive with an authentic Bavarian celebration of food and beer. Guests will gather at long tables, raise their steins, and share in four days of festivity that bring Munich’s most beloved tradition to the heart of Manila. As the country’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination, it sets the stage for the grandest Oktoberfest yet.
The essence of Oktoberfest lives in the flavors poured into steins and served across communal tables. Golden pretzels, smoky sausages, and the crackle of roasted pork knuckle have always defined the feast, matched by the refreshing taste of Bavarian beer brewed through centuries of tradition.
At Newport World Resorts, the festival comes alive with authentic Bavarian fare and the celebrated Weihenstephan beer, creating an experience that feels as festive as Munich itself.
This year, the feast comes in a buffet spread, giving guests the chance to explore and enjoy an even wider array of flavors.
The culinary journey begins with Laugen pretzels, rye bread, and Obatzda, continues with Bavarian cheeses and cold cuts, and moves on to salads like Kartoffelsalat and Wurstsalat. From carving stations come Zwiebelsrostbraten, meatloaf, crispy pork knuckle, and schnitzel, joined by hearty sides of Spaetzle, Bratkartoffeln, sauerkraut, and braised red cabbage. Desserts complete the table with apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn, chocolate Lebkuchen cherry balls, jam-filled Krapfen, and Oktoberfest gingerbread hearts.
The celebration would be incomplete without the beer, and Newport World Resorts proudly partners with Weihenstephan, the
Oktoberfest
Prost! Newport World Resorts Oktoberfest 2025 celebration starts on October 8-11, at The Ballroom of Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts world’s oldest brewery. Enjoy Weissbier and Lager on tap or savor dark beer by the bottle. With nearly a thousand years of brewing heritage, every pour of Weihenstephan embodies the Bavarian tradition of craftsmanship and authenticity, ensuring that each toast at the country’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination resonates with the true spirit of Oktoberfest. Seats are now available for the Oktoberfest celebration at Newport World Resorts. Tickets are priced at PHP 5,500 nett and may be secured through newportworldresorts. com/oktoberfest-2025.
For more information on Oktoberfest 2025, visit www.newportworldresorts. com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/ nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Ten pensioners received their land titles during the National Pensioners’ Day at the Government Service Insurance System Head Office in Pasay City.
Editor: Tet Andolong
BusinessMirror
Filinvest taps ENGIE as strategic partner for sustainability
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
BEING a Third World country, sustainability is no longer just a value-add and has become a core business imperative for the Philippines.
For Filinvest, sustainability serves as a strategic lever to reduce long-term operating costs, futureprove operations, attract tenants, and deliver environmental impact.
Jean-Baptiste Dreanic, Managing Director at ENGIE Local Energy Infrastructures in the Philippines, told the BusinessMirror in an email interview ENGIE will become Filinvest’s strategic energy partner, helping organizations turn ambition into action through fully managed, sitespecific energy and utility solutions.
In the Philippines, Dreanic said companies like Filinvest are facing increasing pressure to meet carbon targets, attract more clients, manage rising energy costs, and modernize aging infrastructure, while improving their profits margin. He added ENGIE offers a pathway to implement integrated low-carbon solutions at a scale. We offer a distinctive value proposition: the ability to guarantee critical energy and utility’s key performance indicators (KPIs) such as ambient temperature, system availability and efficiency, cost and carbon savings.
“From our experience, one of the biggest hurdles—not just for Filinvest, but across the region—is aligning all internal and external stakeholders around a new way of approaching energy and utilities to shift from conventional asset management to a performance-driven energy approach. This means rethinking how energy and utilities are designed, managed, and financed to meet energy efficiency, resilience, and ESG outcomes,” said Dreanic.
Dreanic said the company will use the Energy-as-a-Service or ESCO model. “Under this model, an experienced partner like ENGIE takes full accountability from design to operation—delivering not just infrastructure, but measurable results such as energy and net cost savings, carbon reduction, and risk mitigation,” he said.
He added the ESCO model is designed to help organizations like Filinvest to gain greater value by reducing lifecycle costs and lowering operational inefficiencies. “By contrast, traditional models that limit
investment often result in higher OpEx and system performance issues over time—a trade-off that progressive organizations like Filinvest are actively rethinking,” he said.
Dreanic cited ENGIE’s sustainability project at Festival Mall in Alabang where it significantly enhanced its sustainability by integrating ENGIE’s rooftop solar with a centralized cooling system. This has led to a remarkable reduction of over 47,500 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to planting more than 750,000 trees, while simultaneously improving energy efficiency and lowering operational costs.
He said ENGIE provides end-toend lifecycle support—from strategic advisory and design, to construction, operations, and ongoing performance improvement. This level of continuity ensures that systems remain efficient, resilient, and fully aligned
Favorable interest rate environment to boost property
Conclusion
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) or central bank delivered its third consecutive rate cut for this year, lowering the policy rate by another 25-basis points (bps) to 5.0 percent in August as inflation continues to ease. Since August 2024, the central bank has cut a total of 150 bps. The BSP has also indicated the possibility of another rate cut before the end of the year. Inflation eased to 0.9 percent in July 2025, the lowest in nearly six years or the 0.8percent recorded in October 2019.1 Average inflation reached 1.7percent as of 7M 2024, below the government’s 2 percent-4 percent target range. In our view, easing inflation will likely prompt further rate cuts, supporting a recovery in the residential market that is still recording subdued take-up.
Landlords seizing office market opportunities
FROM the office landlord’s perspective, adaptability is crucial for long-term success. In a market where tenant expectations are evolving rapidly, landlords who integrate sustainability and innovation into their assets are staying ahead. Certifications like LEED, EDGE, WiredScore, and SmartScore are no longer optional—they’re signals of quality and future-readiness. By partnering with energy-efficient contractors and embracing green building practices, landlords not only reduce operational costs but also enhance tenant satisfaction and retention.
Equally important is flexibility. The traditional long-term lease model is giving way to more agile, tenant-centric arrangements. Landlords are now offering shorter lease terms, pre-fitted spaces, and even OPEXstyle solutions that mirror the convenience
of co-working setups. This shift lowers the entry barrier for businesses, especially startups and SMEs.
Colliers Philippine believes that these features are important especially in attracting new tenants in Metro Manila as well as key localities outside of the capital region including Cebu, Pampanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao.
Hotel recovery pales vs peers
THE Philippines remains a laggard in Southeast Asia in terms of attracting international visitors. South Korean and Chinese arrivals are down, and the Philippine Tourism department is scrambling to look for other foreign markets.
With the Philippines paling in comparison to its peers in terms of aggregate foreign arrivals as well as travel and tourism competitiveness, it’s no longer surprising to see the country having the lowest foreign hotel brand penetration in the region. International hotel brands continue to look for expansion sites across the Philippines’ more than 7,600 islands but infrastructure connectivity and a solid tourism branding are crucial in enticing billions of foreign investments into the country’s hospitality sec-
tor—two areas where the Philippines ranks disappointingly globally.
There is a strong case for the Philippine leisure sector to diversify its tourism markets and expand MICE facilities especially now that conferences and business events continue to flourish.
Sustained expansion of industrial is pivotal
THE Philippines has been attracting highvalue manufacturing investments as of late which occupy industrial lots and warehouses. Central Luzon, especially Pampanga, Bulacan and Tarlac, have long been attracting multi-million dollar investments resulting in greater absorption of industrial space in the region. Meanwhile, property developers have become prudent with their expansion plans in both central and southern Luzon.
Aside from improving infrastructure network, sustained economic expansion, and availability of skilled workforce, Colliers believes that fostering a more conducive business environment will likely play a crucial role in sustaining the inflow of foreign direct investments into the country’s major industrial corridors.
Colliers Philippines believes that maximizing pro-investment measures is important in shielding the Philippine industrial sector from global geopolitical concerns which could raise cost of doing business and hike prices of input that Philippine-based exporters use for their goods.
Aside from diversifying export markets, developers with industrial footprint should thoroughly assess expansion plans in the country’s two major industrial corridors. Instilling a more comprehensive supply chain as well as diversifying export markets are also crucial in raising our industrial sector’s competitiveness.
with our clients’ long-term ESG targets. Whether it’s a business park, an airport, or a retail complex, he said the company can deliver technically sound, commercially viable, and locally adapted solutions that help clients move forward on their sustainability journey.
Dreanic said the company plays various roles not just in -
stalling technology but also to help make the transition work successfully on the ground. That means translating global knowhow into something that fits the Philippine market.
“One key challenge we continue to address is how to guarantee reliable cooling across large mixed-use developments—especially in tropical climates. Our Cooling-as-a-Service model allows us to guarantee a comfortable ambient temperature at all times while improving energy performance and managing operational costs—all without upfront capital investment for our partners,” he said.
To support clients in scaling sustainably, Dreanic said the company applies their BOOT (BuildOwn-Operate-Transfer) model, a structure that enables large de -
velopers like Filinvest to redirect capital toward core business priorities while ENGIE assumes full accountability for performance, investment, and delivery. Through joint ventures with Filinvest across solar, cooling, and facilities management, ENGIE has deployed advanced infrastructure while aligning commercial models to locaIn the Philippines, companies like Filinvest are facing increasing pressure to meet carbon targets, attract more clients, manage rising energy costs, and modernize ageing infrastructure, while improving their l needs. These strategic partnerships allow shared responsibility, long-term collaboration, and a flexible route to execution, ensuring that solutions are not only installed, but also operated and optimized over time.
INAX unveils advanced Japanese bathroom technology in first PHILBEX in Iloilo City
SOME of the country’s top architects and designers recently gathered for the first-ever regional leg of Philippine Building and Construction Expo (PHILBEX) at the Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City, to experience the latest innovations and technologies in design and construction.
One of the largest and most anticipated gatherings for architects and designers in the Philippines, PHILBEX saw a showcase of over 130 booths that included INAX, the leading sanitary ware in Japan, together with its partner dealer Moostbrand Home Depot.
Hundreds of excited participants flocked to the INAX interactive booth to experience the exceptional Japanese bathroom innovations on exhibit during the three-day expo.
Sharing the spotlight with INAX bathroom collections is its electronic bidet technology, an outstanding feature of its shower toilets which has a side panel remote to control various toilet functions like water volume and temperature for dual nozzles, and flushing. Guests were wowed by such features as heated seat, hot water storage type and anti-bacterial features for the seat, cover, nozzle and panel.
The event also gave visitors a peek into another INAX innovation—the Hyperkilamic Technology (INAX Surface Coating) which applies a nano-layer of silver on the ceramic surface of toilets that inhibits bacteria to prevent dirt buildup. Its Zircon material—a mineral contributing to durability and brightness—helps the glassy surface to stay smooth, resisting abrasion and staining. With certification under the Japanese Industrial Standards for antibacterial performance, the Hyperkilamic Technology reduces cleaning effort thanks to its silver ion and durable finish that help maintain hygienic surfaces and support long-lasting product appearance.
From toilet innovations, INAX presented Cerafine™ technology which was developed to elevate the aesthetics and functionality of washbasins. Inspired by traditional Japanese motifs, the Cerafine™ is made using specially formulated clay to retain its ultra-thin edges and elegant form to embody the strength and refined simplicity of the brand. These technologies are featured in well-loved INAX products which are the main highlight of the exhibit, the S Series Collections, starting off with the S600 Line, a collection of intelligently designed products that look like pieces of art. Combining Japanese spatial aesthetics with modern innovations, and includes toilets, basins, showers & faucets as well as bathtubs.
Visitors were also amazed by the S400 Line collection which consists of toilets, basins, showers & faucets, and accessories, masterfully designed using light and shadows to transform the bathroom into a space that allows you to recharge and spend a moment of reflection. Meanwhile, the S200 Line offers a full line-up of thoughtful and reliable bathroom products for compact spaces. Designed for the urban lifestyle, the S220 Line offers the Maxi-Compact bathroom for the
ultimate balance of usability, beauty and spaciousness in modest-size bathrooms.
Completing the showcase is the S100 Line—a Smart-Basic bathroom collection perfect for small spaces. With designs that are practical and functional, the full-line up of bathroom products are easy-to-use and long-lasting at a modest price. Present to introduce INAX’s Japanese bathroom innovations to attendees during PHILBEX were INAX Visayas Region account manager Cy Macasero, trade marketing officer Fe Saplala, and INAX brand leader Flor Matildo. Joining them were Moostbrand sales officer Eliza Pineda and sales supervisor April Fajardo. Without a doubt, the first ever PHILBEX in Iloilo City allowed INAX and Moostbrand to strengthen its partnership with professionals from the construction and design sectors, showcasing advanced Japanese bathroom technology for residential, office and hospitality spaces. Visit the INAX showroom soon at Moostbrand Home Depot located at 168 McArthur Highway Buhang Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. For more updates on INAX, visit www.inax.com.ph and follow @INAXPhilippines on Facebook and
JEAN BAPTISTE DREANIC HOME
FIVB backs PHL volleyball’s 7-year plan
TBy Aldrin Quinto
HE Philippines is laying the groundwork for an even brighter volleyball future— with the full backing of the sport’s global governing body.
The FIVB has committed to a sevenyear development partnership with the Philippines, aimed at elevating both its indoor and beach volleyball programs.
The initiative, spearheaded by Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s sporting ambitions.
“We’re preparing a seven-year development plan with the FIVB to strengthen our men’s volleyball team, as well as our women’s team. We have strong support from the FIVB and Volleyball World, and of course, the Philippine Sports Commission is also with us,” Suzara said.
The Philippines will receive assistance from the FIVB over the next seven years.
“We have a really good collaboration with the FIVB, Volleyball World, and our local volleyball associations,” he added.
That collaboration is off to a solid start as Alas Pilipinas, written off as mere participants in the leadup to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, rose from the sidelines to the spotlight.
The team with the second-longest odds in the 32-team field wound up 19th overall.
Defying expectations and captivating fans, Alas Pilipinas bounced back from a nervous opener against Tunisia with a convincing victory over African champion Egypt and fell just a point short of making the Round of 16 when it was edged out by Asian power Iran in a five-set thriller.
“I’m thrilled that fans are now embracing men’s volleyball,” Suzara added. “It used to be all about the women’s game. Now fans are also embracing the men’s game with all the thrilling rallies and intense action.”
“I look forward to seeing more fans in the coming days and to supporting all the other teams that will compete in the finals,” he added.
Czechia dream run continues
CZECHIA’S dream run continues as it booked a historic quarterfinal berth in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship with a 25–19, 25–18, 25–23 sweep of Tunisia on Tuesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. It’s a landmark achievement for the Czechs, who are making their return to the World Championship after missing the past three editions—a comeback nearly 15 years in the making.
As an independent nation, Czechia placed 19th in 1998, 13th in both 2002 and 2006, and 10th in 2010. Czechia, which advanced through
Gonzaga clinches two titles in Sultan Kudarat jr tennis tilt
AYL GONZAGA captured two individual titles in the Governor Datu Pax Sangki Mangudadatu National Juniors Tennis Championships in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Monday.
The top-seeded Gonzaga was in commanding form, dropping just one game in three matches on her way to the girls’ 14-and-under final, where she then dispatched No. 2 seed Justine Gumbao, 6-4, 6-2. Gonzaga, a rising talent from Olongapo City, faced a tougher challenge in the 16-and-under division, surviving a semifinal scare against Mariam Mokalam, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. She returned to form in the final, once again overcoming Gumbao, 6-2, 6-4, to complete a double-title sweep and clinch the MVP honors.
Her latest feat follows a string of impressive performances on the nationwide Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala circuit, including a three-title conquest in Cotabato.
Shaun Globasa also made his mark in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop, dominating the boys’ 18-and-under field with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Iñigo Barrios. Although he fell short in the 16-and-under final to No. 4 Krelz Gecosala, 7-5, 7-5, the Midsayap, North
Pool H as the second-ranked team behind Serbia, ended the fine run of 11-time African champion Tunisia, the Philippines’ rival in the preliminaries and eventual Pool A topnotcher.
The Czechs tallied 42 attack points, with 27-year-old opposite hitter Patrik Indra leading the charge with 13 spikes. Indra finished with 14 points, while Jan Galabov scored 13,
Tunisia in service aces, 8–4.
“It’s something incredible. I think we’re currently writing history for Czech volleyball. We can say dreams come true. I think we can be really proud of ourselves—but we are not finished yet,” Galabov said.
Tunisia put up a gallant stand in the third set and led by six points early, but couldn’t sustain the old outside hitter, and 29-year-old opposite Ali Bongui combined for 20 points—all on attacks—as Tunisia posted a team total of 32 attack points.
“The first two sets we had the game under control, but we probably lost a little bit of focus—especially since Tunisia served pretty well,” Galabov added.
“But we came back, turned the
Cotabato standout shared MVP honors with Gonzaga for his title win and runner-up finish. In other results, local ace Sanschena Francisco turned back Kirsten Gorre 7-6(6), 6-4, in the girls’ 18-and-under finals, while KC Rabino from Gen. Santos City toppled Miel Cua, 6-4, 6-2, in a duel of unranked bets in the girls’ 12-and-under class of the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and supported by Universal Tennis and ICON Golf & Sports. Carl Eduarte from Kidapawan City captured the boys’ 14-and-under diadem with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over AJ Rabino, while Kresthan Belacas from Mlang, Cotabato dominated Andrei Domasing, 6-0, 6-1, in the boys’ 12-and-under finals. Davao City’s Shamira Macapendeg, on the other hand, triumphed in the 10-and-under unisex by downing doubles partner Rabino, 4-1, 5-3. Macapendeg and Rabino later won the doubles plum with an 8-3 romp over Joaquin Calingasan and Kirk Gonzaga.
In other doubles results, Gumbao and Kathryina Makabangkit stopped Gonzaga and Lucia Calingasan, 8-4 victory in the 14-and-under division, while Francisco and Princess Obaniana claimed the 18-and-under trophy with an 8-1 rout of Francine Barcenas and Corazon Sandigan.
Cardel returns as PBA head coach, leads new Pureblends franchise
By Josef T. Ramos
JOHNEDEL CARDEL has made his return to the basketball scene, taking the reins as head coach of the upcoming Pureblends franchise, which aims to be competitive in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 starting October 4 and 5.
Cardel, who last coached in the PBA with Terrafirma in October 2024, confirmed to BusinessMirror on Tuesday that he officially joined Pureblends a week ago. However, the PBA Board of Governors has yet to approve the sale and transfer of the
EJ (Ernest John) Obiena isn’t just an elite pole vault athlete. He is of many personas.
He is a champion in his chosen sport many times over.
He is the only Filipino to have gained world celebrity status as a pole vault enthusiast.
He is presently Asia’s best pole vaulter.
He is a two-time Olympian for the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Games. He is a cinch to make his third Olympiad in 2028 Los Angeles. And, look at this: He is a member of the “Six Meter Club,” whose roster includes only 28 from around the world.
Among them are legends like Sergey Bubka of Ukraine, Reanud Lavillenie of France, Steve Hooker of Australia, Sam Kendricks of USA, Maksim Tarasov of Russia, Okkert Brits of South Africa,
NorthPort franchise to Pureblends.
“It’s good to be back. Hopefully, we can build a team that will compete for a title. I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity to return as head coach,” said Cardel. “So far, I have a team that’s ready to compete this season.”
Pureblends is owned by businessman Bryan Calontoc, with Aldrienne Ang Lim serving as team manager.
Cardel shared that the team has already held scrimmages against NLEX and Phoenix Super LPG, just days after the annual rookie draft held on September 7.
The team has 6-foot-5 Chris Koon, the No. 4 overall pick, and has also signed 6-foot-7 Mario Barasi, an undrafted rookie.
The current roster includes veteran forward Calvin Abueva, Cade Flores, Jerick Balanza, Fran Yu, Joshua Munzon, sharpshooter Von Pessumal, James Kwekuetye, Avan Nava, and 6-foot-7 newcomer Jeo Ambohot.
The team also retains the rights to 7-footer Greg Slaughter and last year’s rookie pick Dave Ildefonso, who has yet to make his PBA debut after declining to sign with NorthPort.
“We’ll take it one game at a time. So far, all the players—especially Calvin—
had his cake and ate it,
Thiago Braz of Brazil, Piotr Lisek of Poland and reigning world and Olympic champion Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden.
Obiena is the only Filipino—and Asian for that matter—to have barged into the exclusive club.
To qualify for membership, you must clear six meters or more in a sanctioned world pole vault competition.
It will take years, if not a lifetime, before another Filipino can duplicate Obiena’s entry into that club—Obiena being the shining example of how one would realize an impossible dream, of how “to reach that unreachable star.”
And yet, only a while back, Obiena had to overcome an obstacle not found on the flying field but off it. Accused of embezzling training funds while in Italy under a foreign coach, Obiena fought back—armed with a 10-foot pole laced with his clear conscience.
ALEX EALA overcame some resistance from Aliona Falei of Belarus before pulling off a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the first round of the Jingshan Open on Tuesday in Hubei, China. The world No. 58 Eala is the top
too have been very cooperative. This is a new team, and we’re going to compete with what we have,” Cardel added. “I’m thankful for
Eventually, he won—thanks to his coach, Vitaly Petrov of Ukraine, who stuck by him up to the ends of the earth.
Only last Sunday, Obiena appeared in the flesh on home soil, playing a dual role as a player and an event organizer. And he outdid himself—again.
He won the gold medal in the World Pole Vault Challenge that he helped mount to a smashing success at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.
To win, he cleared 5.80 meters, nipping France’s Thibault Collet by countback after both missed the 5.90m challenge.
Lisek—yes, Lisek the “Six Meter Club” member—finished third at 5.60m in the event where nine of the world’s best practitioners of the sport were present.
Obiena’s gold was doubly gratifying as it came after he failed to make the finals earlier in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
While others might have sulked, balked, under the weight of invented guilt, Obiena stood his ground.
Why not?
to us. Chin up, Alas Pilipinas! Obiena
In his victory speech, Obiena thanked the crowd that braved the
elements to watch his show, saying: “You guys have made this dream come true. To see the crowd, the lines, the security—it exceeded anything I imagined. Hopefully, we can have this event again next year.”
And, yes, hopefully also next year, Hockett Delos Santos, the aspiring Filipino who made it as a wild card in the event after winning the national challenge the day before, will also be around anew. Although Hockett, only 19, failed miserably on Sunday, Obiena understood.
“Hockett has the heart,” Obiena said. “What we lack is competition.”
THAT’S IT Here’s a glass to our men’s team for beating 11-time African champion Egypt in the
ALY GONZAGA (center) and fellow MVP Shaun Globasa with is Albert Bartquilla IV from the Provincial Sports Office.
FABIO AZEVEDO, president of the world volleyball governing body FIVB (10th from left), PNVF president Ramon
“Tats” Suzara (sixth from right), PNVF secretary general Don Caringal (eighth from left) and top other officials of the PNVF unveil the LRT-2 train vunyl-wrapped in FIVB World Championship official artwork. NONIE REYES
CZECHIA’S Lukas Vasina smashes the ball off Tunisian
defenders Hfaiedh Hamza, Mahdi Ben Taher and Ali Bongui. ROY DOMINGO
