Manila Standard - 2025 August 20 - Wednesday

By Rex Espiritu

Ghost projects haunt Bulacan

DPWH: Validation underway; reshuffle of district engineers eyed

By Ram Superable, Vito Barcelo, Katrina Manubay and Fraye Cedrick Anona

THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee escalated its investigation Tuesday by ordering subpoenas against contractors who skipped its first hearing on flood control projects.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee tackled reports of “ghost projects,” substandard works, and the concentration of contracts among a few favored contractors as it opened Tuesday its inquiry into alleged anomalies in multibillionpeso flood control projects.

tor Rodante Marcoleta said the motu proprio investigation, dubbed “Philippines Under Water,” was prompted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent disclosure that at least 15 contractors cornered a disproportionate share of flood control projects worth

By Charles Dantes

THE new policy mandating zero-billing by state-run hospitals across the country gains traction as more than 12,000 patients in Eastern Visayas alone have benefited from the program.

Meanwhile, the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City has served about 2,000 patients under the zerobilling scheme, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Nationwide, at least 83 hospitals have participated in the program, Herbosa disclosed.

President Marcos credited the success of the initiative to health workers, praising their dedication and service even beyond their regular duties.

“We must thank our healthcare

workers. They are always there when needed, even outside of their duty hours. That is the heroism we saw during COVID, and we continue to see it today,” the President said, adding that he himself was a beneficiary of the medical workers’ service during the pandemic.

He urged the people to spread the word about the program so that more patients would benefit from it.

“Let’s spread the word, let’s instil it in everyone so they won’t hesitate to get checked, get treatment, and get well,” Marcos said.

During an inspection at East Avenue Medical Center, Marcos said the initiative, rolled out after his State of the Nation Address last month, is gaining

SC orders gov’t, Congress, Comelec to comment on BSKE petition

THE Supreme Court (SC) yesterday directed the executive and legislative branches of the government to comment on the petition challenging the law that moved the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to the first Monday of November 2026. In a statement, SC spokesperson

Camille Ting said the high court en banc asked the Senate, House of Representatives, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to comment on the petition “within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.” Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal

filed the petition challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act (RA) 12232, the law that postpones the BSKE that was originally scheduled on Dec. 1, 2025. The law, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Aug. 13, also fixed the term of office of village and

SK (youth) officials at four years.

In his petition, Macalintal cited a 2023 SC ruling that states that postponing the BSKE must be justified by “sufficiently important, substantial or compelling reasons to safeguard the right of suffrage.”

By Pot Chavez

By Maricel V. Cruz

SELFIE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. obliges a child patient with a selfie during his visit at the East Avenue Medical Center to check on the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing Program. Revoli Cortez

EMPTY CHAIRS. The Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, formally opened its inquiry on Tuesday into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. However, only seven of the top 15 contractors listed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. showed up at the hearing. PRIB

Solons takes swipe at ‘noisy’ mayor

LEYTE Rep. Richard Gomez has stirred attention online after criticizing a “noisy” mayor in a Facebook post.

“Why is this city mayor making so much noise?” Gomez wrote, adding that the local chief executive should “fix your own house first before pointing fingers at others.”

“It doesn’t surprise me anymore that this so-called ‘clean’ mayor is throw-

ing accusations of corruption at us congressmen... Corruption has become the easiest issue to ride on nowadays, but let’s be honest, I don’t think this is all about corruption,” he added.

Many observers saw the social media post as an apparent pointed rebuke of

However, there were no such compelling reasons cited under RA 12232 to postpone this year’s BSKE, Macalintal said.

ground both among health workers and the patients.

“This is our continuous inspection and assurance that our zero billing program is, first of all, being implemented by all of our hospitals, our staff, our doctors, our nurses, and that all our medical services understand what the program is and how medical services can be availed,” the President said.

“I’m happy to be able to report that the zero billing program is proceeding well,” he added.

Marcos also said the program combines support from PhilHealth contributions and Department of Health (DOH) resources, which ultimately results in zero out-of-pocket expenses for the patients.

The President also recalled that East Avenue Medical Center, first opened in 1978 during his father’s watch, has since been upgraded into a modern hospital under the DOH.

around P100 billion.

“It’s time to find out and analyze the truth behind the anomalies surrounding the contracts allocated for flood control. Enough with the circling and diverting from the real problem,” Marcoleta said.

“The root of the issue before us boils down to rampant corruption in government. It’s like a cancer slowly destroying our country. Records will show that billions are spent every year, but lives and properties are still lost due to failures in flood control,” he added.

‘Disgusting’ ghost projects

During the hearing, Department of Public Works and Highways officials admitted receiving reports of alleged “ghost projects” in Bulacan, particularly in Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Malolos.

Pressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said based on the information he received, these projects were linked to Wawao Builders, one of the top 15 firms allegedly awarded P9 billion worth of projects nationwide, with P5.9 billion concentrated in Bulacan alone.

Pressed by Estrada, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan conceded that some projects were undergoing “validation” and acknowledged information pointing to ghost projects.

“In all honesty, I think so,” Bonoan replied when asked if ghost projects existed.

Estrada called the situation “nakakadiri” (disgusting) and demanded full disclosure of project awards and payments.

that blood ties and the preservation of one’s family name compel one to conceal crimes committed by close relatives,” the decision stated.

The Court cited Article 20 of the RPC, which provides that “the penalties prescribed for accessories shall not be imposed upon those who are such with respect to their spouses, ascendants, descendants, legitimate, natural, and adopted brothers and sisters, or relatives by affinity within the same degrees, with the single exception of accessories falling within the provisions of paragraph 1 of the next preceding article.”

Among Datu Akmad’s statements noted by the SC were: “Let us listen to Father.

We all agree to kill them,” and “It is better for the Mangudadatus, who are fond of ambition, to all be killed.”

However, the Court held that “mere knowledge, acquiescence, or approval of the act, without cooperation or agreement to cooperate, is not enough to constitute one a party to a conspiracy,” explaining that evidence of actual cooperation is still required.

Datu Akmad, a nephew of Datu Andal Sr., was then the OIC Vice Governor of Maguindanao province.

Bonoan said he plans to reshuffle the district engineers within the DPWH in response to allegations of irregularities in the execution of flood control projects across the country.

“Actually, we are rotating a lot of district engineers now, so I think, maybe it’s time... We should think about such rotations,’’ Bonoan said.

Subpoena absent contractors

Marcoleta likewise approved Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s motion to issue sub -

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong, who has been vocal in his criticisms of alleged corruption in Congress in relation to botched floodcontrol projects.

Gomez, however, did not name the mayor directly.

“If this is about his own congressman, who happens to bring in more projects for his district than he can for his city, don’t include all of us,” Gomez said.

“Don’t drag all of us into your

poenas that will compel absent contractors to answer critical questions in the next session.

Of the 15 top contractors invited, only 11 responded and just seven were represented in yesterday’s hearing.

The contractors under scrutiny include Legacy Construction, Alpha & Omega General Contractor, St. Timothy Construction, QM Builders, EGB Construction, Topnotch Catalyst, Centerways Construction, Sunwest, Hi-Tone Construction, Triple 8 Construction, Royal Crown Monarch, Wawao Builders, MG Samidan, L.R. Tiqui Builders, and Road Edge Trading & Development.

Senator Erwin Tulfo described the flood control program, which has reached P545.6 billion in funding in the past three years, as “nothing less than a grand robbery of our nation.”

“Before a project is even implemented, contractors are asked to shell out 20 to 25 percent commissions to politicians and officials. That is why projects are substandard or worse, ghost projects. At every level of approval, from district engineers up to undersecretaries, additional cuts are imposed until only 30 to 40 percent of the project’s value remains,” Tulfo said.

He alleged that some DPWH officials own construction firms themselves and benefit from “in-house” projects, while others have amassed wealth, including luxury mansions, planes, and casino stakes.

“Names must be named. Heads must roll. Justice must be served,” Tulfo said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian warned Bonoan against maintaining businessas-usual practices in the 2026 flood control budget of P274 billion.

“We will not hesitate to zero this out and just allocate it to schools if this flood control project turns out to be ineffective and yields no results,” he said.

Flood control funds in nonflood-prone areas

As this developed, officials of the DPWH and the Department of Budget and Management explained before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee why billions in flood control funds were al-

removing pages linked to illegal online gambling.

fight. Don’t discredit every congressman just to make yourself look good,” he added.

Malacañang earlier declined Magalong’s offer to lead an impartial investigation into the questionable flood control projects.

“I’m not looking for a fight; I’m looking for the truth,” Magalong said.

“We are not the enemies here, but friendly forces, because we want the President to succeed,” the Baguio City mayor added.

located to provinces that are not among the country’s top flood-prone areas.

Tulfo raised the issue after citing the President’s list of flood control project recipients, which showed Cebu, Isabela, Albay, Leyte, and Camarines Sur as among the top recipients despite not being in the 10 most flood-prone provinces led by Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro, and Ilocos Norte.

Bonoan said allocations under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) are equitably distributed to engineering districts nationwide, with 70 percent required to go to the department’s core programs, including roads, bridges, and flood control.

He admitted, however, that additional projects often enter the budget after congressional insertions during the passage of the General Appropriations Act.

Tulfo described allocations to nonflood-prone areas as “a waste of money.”

Bonoan conceded, “Yes, Your Honor. I agree completely,” when asked if the planning process should have flagged such projects.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, meanwhile, said her agency merely releases funds based on what Congress has approved in the budget law.

“We do not have the manpower to check one by one the projects proposed by DPWH,” she said.

For his part, Bulacan Rep. Daniel Fernando expressed concern that the provincial government is not regularly consulted about flood control projects, which are often executed without proper reporting or approval.

“We were not informed. We were not given any information about the projects they are working on. Sometimes, we see them already completed. They only reported to me once when I called for a meeting,” he said.

More mayors join transparency push

In Iloilo, three mayors joined a nationwide call for full transparency and accountability in the government’s flood control projects.

the trust and protection of our consumers,” Lazada said.

Garcia said of the recent developments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“It could affect the implementation of the gun ban…(But) it has yet to reach the level of being an electionrelated concern,” he added.

On July 19, the MILF Central Committee temporarily suspended the implementation of the fourth and final decommissioning of MILF fighters until there is “substantial compliance” by the government in the other tracks of the normalization process, including the provision of a socio-economic package as agreed upon by the government and MILF peace implementing panels.

In his order dated Aug. 16, MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim officially directed all commanders and members not to participate in the decommissioning activity of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.

But Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said an “open and sincere” dialogue remains the best way to address the current impasse between the government and the MILF.

“To address these apparent differences, we believe an open and sincere dialogue between both sides is the best way forward,” he said, reiterating that the government remains fully committed to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB is the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in 2014 that established the BARMM.

“The Bangsamoro peace process remains robust and dynamic owing to the steadfast commitment of both the government and the MILF to its broader aims,” Galvez said.

Galvez said they view Murad’s directive as an “internal matter for the (MILF) organization.”

He said the government is open to discussing with the MILF leadership which programs can be jointly implemented without violating any prohibition related to the Oct. 13 BARMM parliamentary elections.

As this developed, Comelec is looking at tapping the services of the Philippine Coast Guard to assist voters in the Bangsamoro polls.

Garcia said they are preparing to train PCG personnel to be members of the Electoral Board (EB) if there are teachers who would fail to serve in the election.

“We are preparing 1,000 members of the Philippine Coast Guard. We will no longer tap the members of the Philippine National Police, we would like the PNP to focus on protecting the peace of the area,” the poll body chief said. Garcia said they will need some 9,000 EB members for the BPE.

Aguda explained that some operators, mostly illegal ones, are using messaging apps for recruitment and advertising, while shopping apps may be selling gaming or gambling vouchers.

“The illegal operators, who used to rely on websites, appear to have left those. Most have moved to Telegram and Viber. We are already warning Telegram and Viber that if they don’t clean up their platforms, we will ban them,” Aguda said.

The DICT chief also noted that social media giant Facebook is cooperating with authorities and has begun

“You can expect that this week we will have a solution for that,” Aguda said when asked about the department’s response to apps still violating the policy.

E-commerce giant Lazada, meanwhile, said it is complying with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directive on removing gambling-related access from mobile payment applications and websites.

Lazada said that as of August 15, it had removed all links providing in-app gambling access on its platform. The company added it has reviewed its systems to ensure that no direct or indirect access to gambling-related content remains.

“We remain committed to upholding regulatory standards and safeguarding

Aguda also acknowledged that new gambling sites continue to emerge even after the DICT took down more than 8,000 sites. “We coordinated with telcos, and so far, they have complied. But we still need to keep watch,” he said.

Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz, who joined Aguda at the event, said GCash has already delinked from online gambling sites. He did not disclose the financial impact on GCash revenues but stressed that the e-wallet platform will continue to expand due to its diverse revenue streams.

“Its [GCash’s] revenue stream is highly diversified, and despite the regu-

latory requirement to delink e-wallets from online gaming, the growth story and trajectory of GCash will definitely continue,” Cruz said.

Another digital payments platform, Maya, has also earlier confirmed it had delinked from online gambling sites.

Messaging app Viber said it will cooperate with Philippine authorities and align with their guidance on gambling content.

“Our policies allow gambling-related content only where permitted by local laws and regulations,” Rakuten Viber said in a statement to ABS-CBN News.

“We are engaging with the relevant authorities and will align our approach with their forthcoming guidance.” Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Investiga-

guarding the institution itself.

the Senate premises.

including the President.

“The timing speaks volumes. Instead of cleaning up his own backyard, somebody is trying to deflect attention by dragging the Office of the President into a spectacle. The presidency is not a stage for gimmicks or stunts,” Libanan said.

Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo and 54 members of his staff underwent drug tests on Tuesday, days after a Senate employee allegedly used marijuana in

Tulfo offered to voluntarily step down if he was found positive for drugs, adding that all of his employees should undergo the drug tests “as long as they receive compensation from the government.”

Minority leader Senator Vicente Sotto III had earlier proposed an immediate mandatory random drug test for all officials and employees of the Senate following reports of marijuana use within the chamber.

Libanan stressed that his opposition to Padilla’s proposal was not about shielding any individual, but about safe -

“Whoever sits as President—past, present, or future—must be spared from the indignity of being forced to undergo a drug test. To subject the presidency to such procedures diminishes not just the occupant but the very office itself,” he declared.

Libanan reminded that the Constitution already sets clear qualifications for the presidency, ensuring that only those with proven competence, judgment, and moral fitness can hold the post.

“Our democratic institutions, particularly Congress, must preserve the

dignity of the presidency regardless of who occupies it. Undermining that dignity weakens public trust and destabilizes the system we are sworn to protect,” he added.

Libanan, a lawyer, warned against trivializing the presidency, saying it could make the Philippines “a laughing stock before the international community.” He further urged lawmakers to focus instead on pressing national concerns.

“Let us not waste time on distractions. We should be fixing the economy, lowering the cost of living, creating jobs, and protecting our

communities from floods and disasters. These are the issues that truly demand leadership—not hollow theatrics,” Libanan concluded. For his part, Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay, welcomed initiatives that promote transparency and accountability in government, including random drug testing. Suntay described the mandatory drug testing as a step toward ensuring that public officials remain worthy of the trust given to them by the people. According to him, the House should be proactive, and will benefit in instituting the yearly drug tests.

DA chief supports large-scale rice processing capacity

By Othel V. Campos

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco

P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the DA’s plans to expand rice processing capacity while addressing concerns about possible overcapacity in the milling sector.

Through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), the DA is continuing to establish large-scale Rice Processing System (RPS) units equipped with modern multi-stage mills and dryers.

“More important than rated milling capacity is capacity utilization. To break even, operators need at least

Salaknib drills to include Japan, Australia—PA

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will join the 2026 iteration of Exercise Salaknib, marking their first full participation.

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said planners from the Japanese, Australian, and United States armies recently concluded their conference for the upcoming drills.

“This reflects a broader multilateral defense partnership in pursuit of the shared goal of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” Dema-ala said in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. He added that Salaknib enhances interoperability among the Philippines, the United States, and other allied nations, while strengthening the Army’s capability to defend the country against external threats.

Japan and Australia previously served only as observers in last year’s exercise. For Japan, next year’s event marks its first active participation following the signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with the Philippines.

Asked if Japan would deploy military equipment in 2026, Dema-ala said in a mix of English and Filipino: “As of now, that has not been discussed. What we are doing right now is planning the activities that will be conducted during Salaknib 2026.”

63 percent capacity usage. Go below that, and you’re losing money,” Tiu Laurel said. He noted that full capacity use often indicates monopolistic conditions, while an optimal utilization rate of 80 to 85 percent delivers efficiency gains, reduces costs, and benefits millers, farmers, and consumers alike.

Once mill operations stabilize

within this optimal range, Tiu Laurel said PhilMech could gradually shift investments toward production-side equipment such as tractors and seeders. This would complement the National Food Authority (NFA), whose milling and drying capacity has been significantly reduced since the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019 scaled back its role. Since the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law and the creation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), PhilMech has built 122 RPS units nationwide, 116 of which were completed under the Marcos administration. The agency aims to reach 151 units under RCEF Phase 1, with the remaining 29 scheduled for completion

within the year.

To assist smaller farming communities, PhilMech has also distributed more than 1,000 single-pass and village-type rice mills, along with over 500 stand-alone recirculating dryers.

Tiu Laurel stressed that the DA’s approach focuses on efficiency and balanced growth, ensuring that infrastructure investments are fully utilized rather than left idle.

“By focusing on smart utilization instead of unchecked expansion, we can balance supply, stabilize prices, and protect farmer incomes,” he said. The strategy, he added, reflects a measured approach to agriculture— one that values productivity and resource stewardship over sheer scale.

Binay gives tax relief for Makati flood victims

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Makati City government will grant tax relief to residents and businesses affected by severe flooding that struck the city last month.

“We recognize the tremendous hardships our constituents have endured. This comprehensive measure demonstrates our resolve to deliver swift, tangible relief that will help our community rebuild and recover,” said Mayor Nancy Binay, who signed City Ordinance 2025-A-001.

The City Council approved the

emergency legislation on August 11, 2025. The measure waives penalties, surcharges, and interest on business taxes due on July 21, and grants a 5-percent discount on real property taxes for the third quarter of 2025.

The relief package is intended to help families and businesses recover from the floods that displaced residents and disrupted local commerce.

Qualified taxpayers may avail themselves of the benefits by settling their obligations between August 26–29 and on September 1, 2025. The ordinance also ensures fairness for

those who had already settled their taxes before its effectivity.

Taxpayers who previously paid penalties, surcharges, or interest on business taxes due on July 21 may apply these amounts as credits against future local tax liabilities, subject to City Treasurer verification.

The same provision applies to those who paid third-quarter real property taxes but were unable to avail of the 5-percent discount.

All benefits will automatically apply to qualified taxpayers without the need for a formal application.

IN BRIEF

PH, UAE celebrate 51 years of diplomatic ties

THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday celebrated the 51st anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and UAE Ambassador Mohamed Alqattam Alzaabi reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

“Over the past three years, both nations have signed about 22 agreements covering culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, government modernization, and security,” Alqattam said.

He added that the UAE, home to more than one million Filipinos, remains committed to safeguarding their welfare and deepening relations between the two countries. He also cited the upcoming signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Program (CEPA), which is expected to boost trade and investment. Katrina Manubay LTO partners with malls to hasten plate distribution

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has partnered with major mall operators to speed up the distribution of motorcycle plates. LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the move aims to provide a more convenient and comfortable venue for motorists to claim their plates.

“We thank mall managements, especially SM Supermalls and Robinsons, for their unwavering support. Their cooperation greatly helps us achieve faster distribution,” Mendoza said. Rio N. Araja Bishop names new Radio Veritas Asia manager

MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula has appointed Filipino Divine Word missionary priest Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel as general manager of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA).

Fiel’s appointment was formalized on Aug. 5 in a letter signed by Cardinal Advincula, chairman of the Philippine Radio Educational and Information Center Inc. (PREIC), which manages RVA.

The letter was also signed by Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit of San Pablo, who chairs the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). Vito Barcelo

Iloilo LGU unveils center to curb teenage pregnancy

By Fraye Cedrick Anona

‘ALON 2025.’ The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) conduct joint naval exercises off Southwest Lubang Island, Mindoro, on August 19, as part of Exercise ALON 2025.

FOR BAKWITS. Bangsamoro Muslim leaders and other groups gather on Tuesday, at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City during the 26th Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance anniversary, expressing support for the people of Palestine and renewing calls for justice and compensation for Marawi Bakwits. Manny Palmero

IN BRIEF

Bill seeks ‘coopetition’ in agricultural sector

BATAAN Rep. Antonino Roman has filed a bill seeking to strengthen the agricultural sector by promoting cooperation and healthy competition among the industry players.

Roman’s House Bill 608, also known as the Farmer Coopetition and Empowerment Act, introduces the concept of “coopetition”, where farmer groups collaborate to share resources while maintaining competitiveness in the market.

The measure focuses on the establishment of multi-purpose Farmer Coopetition Hubs, which will serve as shared facilities for post-harvest processing, storage, milling, training, and direct marketing.

The hubs are expected to reduce farmers’ reliance on middlemen and help secure better prices for their produce.

Butch Gunio

Agri training hub opens swine project in Isabela

THE Agricultural Regional Training Center 02 recently opened an innovative swine-raising facility for the benefit of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Sitio Cagurungan, Barangay Eden, San Manuel, Isabela.

ATI Region 2 head Dr. Claris Alaska emphasized the importance of the project’s success, saying,the government aims to see it thrive and help the local hog raisers.

Loreto Velasco, a farmers’ cooperative manager, expressed gratitude for the support of the Department of Agriculture for implementing the project.

The facility is part of the Swine Industry Recovery Project of the Department of Agriculture, implemented in partnership local government units and the farmercooperatives and associations.

Jessica M. Bacud

Marines save injured dolphin in Mindanao

MEMBERS of the elite Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 (MBLT5) rescued a wounded dolphin before joining local villagers in a coastal clean-up drive on Aug. 15 in a town in Maguindanao del Norte. Acting on a report from a resident of Barangay Meti, troopers from the 5th Marine Company led by Lt. Israh Mae Helmuth found the dolphin alive but with visible injuries.

With the help of the villagers, the dolphin was safely released to the high sea.

On the same day, the Marines stationed at Kinimi detachment teamed up with barangay officials and local folk for a coastal cleanup in the area. “Beyond our duty, your Marines are also steadfast to its advocacy for the protection of the environment and marine ecosystem,” the unit said in a statement. Rex Espiritu

Bill provides 14th month pay for private sector employees

By Vito Barcelo

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is seeking the grant of 14th month pay for private sector workers.

TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza filed House Bill No. 3808 providing the extra month of remuneration for employees of private companies.

Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III filed a counterpart bill in the upper chamber.

The proposed additional pay comes almost 50 years after the 13th month pay was institutionalized by Presidential Decree No. 851 in 1976.

“The existence of the bill in both houses of Congress is proof that the 13th month pay is no longer enough and it is time for the 14th month pay

that our workers have been waiting for a long time,” Mendoza stressed.

He said that once this 14th month pay measure is enacted, workers will get their 13th month pay in June and will get the additional 14th month pay in December.

The TUCP is aware that some distressed companies may not be able to comply forthright, saying the bill will provide exemptions but subject to approval by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Mendoza said.

“These exemptions prove that we

PBBM designates lawyer new head of urban poor commission

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Marcos has appointed lawyer Bret Monsanto as head of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), an agency attached to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Monsanto was assigned to the post last Aug. 13, replacing Michelle

Anne Gonzales who served as PCUP chairperson and chief executive.

“Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed commissioner, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Social Welfare and Development, vice Michelle Anne Gonzales,” the appointment paper read.

Monsanto previously served as

chief of staff of former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

The PCUP rank and file employees welcomed Monsanto’s appointment. In a statement, Gonzales congratulated her successor and expressed optimism over his leadership.

The PCUP said Monsanto’s appointment should serve as “inspiration and guidance for more effective

service for the welfare of the urban poor” and as “a path toward greater change and hope for the development of urban poor communities.”

The PCUP acts as the presidential arm that reaches out to the country’s urban poor communities, ensuring that their concerns are addressed in policy-making and development programs.

‘Lay down base to draw AI investments’

THE Philippines has a unique opportunity to ride the wave of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data center investments now sweeping across Southeast Asia.

The think tank Stratbase Institute noted however, that this could be attained if the state can deliver the power and policy framework needed to support it.

“This opportunity is real, but it comes with a caveat—data centers hosting AI technologies need energy on a massive scale,” said Stratbase president Victor Andres Manhit.

“AI also requires robust end-toend connectivity infrastructure. If we can align our energy strategy with this momentum, we have a real shot at attracting AI hyperscalers that can

make the Philippines a major player in the global digital ecosystem,”Manhit said.

He emphasized that while interest in the Philippines is growing, reliable power and broadband connectivity readiness will be “deal-breaking requisites” for data center investors.

“There will be no data center boom if we cannot guarantee a power supply that is sufficient, stable, and clean,” he noted. Global trends showed that AI workloads require far more electricity than traditional cloud operations.

Southeast Asia’s data center capacity is expected to triple by 2030, and countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are scaling up their energy infrastructure to capture this growth, Stratbase said in a statement.

heed the concerns of employers, especially those who are struggling. But let us be clear: when workers receive more and better benefits, they are not only happier but more motivated and productive at work,” he added.

He pointed out that when productivity rises, so does profitability.

“Working families become more comfortable as businesses and the economy grow stronger. Together, we can make this 14th-month pay work not only for our workers but for our employers and the country as well,” Mendoza said.

Warning out versus bogus HPG group

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on Tuesday warned the public against private individuals posing as members of the unit. In a press briefing at the HPG Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said they have received information from concerned citizens regarding the illegal activities of some groups posing as PNPHPG members. The fake HPG officers allegedly belonged to the Highway Patrol GroupForce Multipliers Incorporated (HPGFMI) operating in the regions, notably Calabarzon.

According to Malang, verification disclsoed that the HPGFMI’s registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission had expired.

Malang said HPG director Brig. Gen. William Segun, in a meeting with a leader of the HPGFMI, warned of the consequences of the group’s illicit operations, as well as the unlawful use of HPG insignias and logo.

Malang also said Segun had advised the public to immediately report to proper authorities about unauthorized individuals trying to enforce traffic laws.

Violators will be arrested and criminally charged for usurpation of authority and illegal use of police logo and insignias under the Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code and Executive Order 279, Malang told reporters.

PASAY CITY’S LIBRENG SAKAY PROGRAM. The Pasay City government, in partnership with Toyota Motor Philippines and Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, resumes its free community shuttle rides which will run for one year starting Aug. 12.

PORT CALL. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Emilio Jacinto, lead ship of the force’s Jacinto-Class Patrol Vessel drops anchor at Salomague Port for a goodwill visit to the town of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Navy photo

REMEMBERING QUEZON ON NATAL DAY. Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla and Gov. Angelina de Luna Tan lead the wreath-laying ceremony in Lucena City to commemorate the birth of the late President Manuel Luis Quezon on Aug. 19, 1878. Danny Pata

OPINION

Mr. President: Are you with us or

against us?

THE Konektadong Pinoy Act (KPA) is on the President’s desk.

This is perhaps the single most important reform in years to break the chokehold of the telecommunications duopoly that has kept our internet slow, expensive, and unreliable.

For decades, two dominant players have dictated prices and quality while leaving millions of Filipinos, especially in rural and remote areas, disconnected from the opportunities of the digital age.

The KPA changes that. It removes the outdated requirement for a congressional franchise to operate data transmission infrastructure and replaces it with a simple registration process with the National Telecommunications Commission.

This will open the door to more providers, foster real competition, and accelerate the rollout of internet services across the country.

For remote and underserved regions of the archipelago, this could mean the difference between stagnation and genuine economic progress.

It is no surprise that the opposition is loud and comes from the same entrenched interests who have benefited from the status quo.

PLDT, Globe, and allied groups such as the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (FICTAP) and the Philippine Association of Private Telecommunications Companies (PAPTELCO) have raised a series of arguments aimed at sowing doubt about the bill.

They claim that removing the franchise requirement is unconstitutional, that it will create a regulatory imbalance favoring new entrants, and that it exposes the country to heightened cybersecurity risks.

These arguments do not hold up under scrutiny.

The bill is firmly grounded in the government’s Constitutional mandate to promote competition and provide essential services to the public.

It creates a clear legal basis for open access and infrastructure sharing, ensuring that all players operate under fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory conditions.

Far from creating imbalance, the KPA levels the playing field by giving qualified providers the same opportunity to serve, while maintaining strict oversight by the National Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Philippine Competition Commission.

On cybersecurity, the bill mandates compliance with both national and international standards, requires regular audits by the DICT’s Cybersecurity Bureau, and prohibits foreign state-controlled entities from having strategic control over infrastructure. It does not relax safeguards; it strengthens them.

Support for the KPA spans government, business, and civil society. Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda projects that increased competition will lower costs and expand access within a few years.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan points to the removal of the franchise barrier as critical to attracting investment in underserved areas.

Philippine Competition Commission

Mr. President, the time to act is now. Sign the Konektadong Pinoy Act. Show the country you are with the Filipino people

Chair Michael Aguinaldo underscores that institutionalizing competition will lower prices, improve quality, and broaden access. Groups like Better Internet PH and a coalition of education, health, and business organizations have urged the President to sign the bill without delay.

Make no mistake. A veto of the KPA is a vote to keep the duopoly in power and to prolong the suffering of every Filipino who pays too much for too little internet.

The choice is stark: stand with the people in breaking the duopoly’s hold or side with those who have profited from our digital stagnation.

The political stakes for the President could not be higher.

His popularity has been rising with his anti-corruption drive and initiatives like the “Sumbong Sa Pangulo” whistleblower platform on flood control.

Signing the KPA will reinforce his image as a leader who listens to the people and acts in the national interest.

Vetoing it will send the opposite message, aligning him with the oligarchs and vested interests who have stalled progress for years.

The KPA is more than telecom reform. It is a test of political will, a signal of whose side the government is truly on, and an opportunity to bridge the digital divide.

For Mindanao and other underserved regions, the benefits are particularly clear: new investments, expanded economic corridors, improved governance, and access to the digital economy for communities long left behind.

Mr. President, the time to act is now. Sign the Konektadong Pinoy Act. Show the country you are with the Filipino people.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Marcos’ fight for flood control is a fight for all Filipinos

By Jose Antonio Goitia

IN MY years leading civic and patriotic organizations, I have seen our country grapple with countless challenges. But few are as heartbreaking as seeing our people battered by floods, only to discover that the very infrastructure meant to protect them was built on a foundation of shoddy work and corruption. That is why I fully support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm and decisive actions in inspecting flood control projects. His on-site visits, particularly in Bulacan – one of our most flood-prone provinces – show he will not tolerate negligence or the betrayal of public trust.

I was particularly struck by the President’s inspection in Calumpit, Bulacan, where he exposed a level of deceit that is frankly infuriating. At Barangay Bulusan, more than 200 meters of a supposedly “completed” river protection structure was simply never built. He even sent divers down to find what

was hidden below the surface: thin, uneven concrete and dangerous gaps in the structure. This isn’t just an oversight; it’s a criminal act that endangers lives.

President Marcos is not just building dikes and walls; he is building a system of integrity and quality

The President’s response was sharp and direct. He demanded accountability, telling those responsible, “They must explain why this is how they built it. It would serve them well to come here and feel how hard life is for our countrymen because of their actions.”

This isn’t just a political statement; it’s a clear promise to our people that he will not let this slide.

This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format through traditional pen and ink with colored markers. At the center is a portly woman wearing green polo shirt, her left hand resting on a bag of cash while seated on piles of cash, whose back is turned to the reader. She is

She sports a shoulder length hair that cascades to her nape. Her left hand is resting on a bag of cash. She is seated on piles and piles of cash. She is screaming ‘our education is getting left behind!’

EDITORIAL

Weeding out bad tendencies

AMID the gravity and seriousness of the issues the country is facing – impeachment, relationships with favored contractors, budget insertions, and even harassment at sea by our giant neighbor – many Filipinos now find themselves engrossed in controversies that are comical as they are silly.

There is, for instance, a Senate staff member caught smoking marijuana in the Senate premises.

This staff member was revealed to be the former moviestar Nadia Montenegro, the political officer of drugwar supporter Senator Robinhood Padilla. Montenegro eventually resigned Monday, saying she did not want to distract her boss’ office from the important work it was supposed to do.

And then, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, still in The Netherlands where he sought asylum and was denied it, and who was recently disowned by the Duterte defense camp which he desperately wanted to join, got into an altercation with other Duterte supporters in The Hague.

In a now-viral video, Roque is seen passionately pointing out the distinction between right and wrong. But it was not a human rights issue that prompted this discourse – it was, instead, a famous dish called humba, served at someone else’s birthday gathering which Roque

The same story unfolded at Barangay Frances, where a ₱77.1 million project was found to have poor-quality materials and incomplete work, despite being listed as finished. Following these inspections, the Commission on Audit ordered a fraud audit of all flood control projects in the province. This is the kind of swift, meaningful action we need.

I also commend Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor of Oriental Mindoro for bravely exposing similar issues in his province. He brought to light collapsed dikes and misused funds, appealing directly to the President for justice.

President Marcos’s approach combines this demand for accountability with tangible aid, releasing funds to help affected

is supposed to have gatecrashed. The former Palace spokesperson is accused of helping himself to a generous portion of the dish, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of other Duterte supporters.

In the end, nobody among us wants to hog the headlines in this manner

When he was called out for this, Roque gallantly offered to pay for the humba, ten times over.

At first blush, these instances might look like facepalm moments, as the younger set would say. Imagine giving a richer meaning to the phrase “Senate joint session.” Montenegro denies she ever smoked weed and insists she was just vaping. Meanwhile, Roque now

farmers and instructing agencies to create a master plan that is climate-resilient and data-driven. This is what true leadership looks like.

President Marcos is not just building dikes and walls; he is building a system of integrity and quality. He is fulfilling his promise to his people, and he is actively working to cleanse our government of corruption.

This fight, however, is not his alone.

Every single Filipino has a stake in this.

A single botched dike is a direct threat to a family’s home. Every peso lost to corruption is a peso that could have put food on someone’s table. The President has made his stance clear: there is no room for thieves or sabo-

says he was “blasphemed” by all those who criticized him. These incidents seem like comic relief, a fresh break from the overwhelming challenges that we face as a nation. But they also give a peek into the workings of the minds of those who make light of our institutions. In recent days, we have seen how the Senate halls have become a theater for the display of personal loyalties, as a majority of senators – Padilla not the least of all – doing everything in their power to prevent the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte is accused of, among others, misusing hundreds of millions in confidential funds. Roque, for his part, has steadfastly defended Duterte’s war on drugs and has been accused of enriching himself through Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. He fled the Philippines at the height of POGO investigations, claiming persecution. But now he clings to every opportunity to stay relevant, even as Duterte’s legal team and family will have nothing to do with him. Let us then be amused – but only to a healthy, if instructive, extent. These are indications of what human tendencies could look like if unchecked. In the end, nobody among us wants to hog the headlines in this manner, so we must be mindful of our private actions and make sure they do not run counter to the virtues we claim to have.

teurs in his administration.

Now, it is our turn to stand with him. We must unite in this crusade, expose the dishonest, and condemn the incompetent. We must support a president who has the courage to fight corruption head-on. Because this is more than just politics—it is about the survival, dignity, and justice of every single Filipino.

(The author, who holds an LLB, master’s in public administration, master’s in national security administration and a doctorate in philosophy, is Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement.)

Zelenskyy ready for meet with Putin

WASHINGTON, DC – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he was willing to meet directly with his Russian counterpart to end the war.

Speaking to reporters after talks with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders at the White House, Zelenskyy said he was ready for what would be his first face-to-face with Vladimir Putin since Moscow’s invasion nearly three and a half years ago.

“I confirmed -- and all European leaders supported me -- that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin,” Zelenskyy said following the summit.

Zelensky has come under increasing pressure to cede territory to end the grinding war, as Russia makes a series of advances.

Ahead of the White House meeting, Trump had pushed Ukraine to give up Crimea and abandon its goal of joining NATO -- both key demands made by Putin.

But Zelenskyy stressed he had been able to present a clearer picture of the battlelines to Trump, who he met in a oneon-one in the Oval Office.

“This was the best of our meetings,” Zelenskyy said, according to a statement put out by his office. “I was able to show many things, even on the map, to all American colleagues regarding the situation on the battlefield.”

Rather than concessions from Ukraine, the summit focused on arranging security guarantees in the event of a peace deal,

French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters afterwards.French President Emmanuel Macron called Monday for stepping up sanctions against Russia if its leader Vladimir Putin does not move forward on peace with Ukraine.

“President Trump believes we can get an agreement and believes that President Putin also wants a peace accord,” Macron told reporters after talks at the White House.

“But if at the end this process is met by refusal, we are also ready to say that we need to increase sanctions.”

He pointed to recent secondary sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on India, which has emerged as a major buyer of Russian energy as Western nations cut back due to sanctions following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trump said the guarantees “would be provided by the various European Countries (in) coordination with the United States of America.”

Zelenskyy added that “it is important that the United States of America gives a clear signal that it will be among the countries that will assist, coordinate and also be participants in security guarantees for Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy said those plans would

Survivors claw through rubble after Pakistan cloudburst kills over 350

BAR DALORI, Pakistan

– In the middle of the night, by the glow of their mobile phones, rescuers and villagers dug through the concrete remains of flattened houses after massive rocks crashed down on a remote Pakistani village following a cloudburst.

Using hammers, shovels, and in many cases their bare hands to clear the rubble and open blocked pathways, they searched through the debris in darkness, with no electricity in the area.

In just minutes, a torrent of water and rocks swept down on the village of Dalori on Monday, destroying at least 15 houses, damaging several others and killing nine people.

Around 20 villagers are still trapped under the debris.

“A huge bang came from the top of the mountain, and then dark smoke billowed into the sky,” Lal Khan, a

46-year-old local laborer, told AFP.

“A massive surge of water gushed down with the sliding mountain,” he added.

The cloudburst above Dalori came a few days into heavy monsoon rains that have already killed more than 350 people across mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, along the northwest border with Afghanistan.

Torrential rains in northern Pakistan since Thursday have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, with around 200 people still missing.

And authorities have warned of fresh flash floods in the coming days.

Khan recalled seeing the hand of his neighbor sticking out of the rubble, where rescuers later retrieved her body along with those of her four children.

“We are absolutely helpless. We don’t have the means to tackle this calamity that nature has sent upon us,” Khan added.

Fellow resident Gul Hazir said not one but several cloudbursts from two sides of the village struck the remote valley.

“It was like an apocalyptic movie. I still can’t believe what I saw,” Hazir said.

“It was not the water that struck first, but a massive amount of rocks and stones that smashed into the houses,” Hazir told AFP.

Local administration official Usman Khan told AFP at the site that many of the houses had been built in the middle of the stream bed, which worsened the scale of destruction.

“There was no way for the water to recede after the cloudburst struck at least 11 separate locations in the area,” he said.

“It is immensely challenging to carry out operations here, as heavy machinery cannot pass through the narrow alleys.”

Saqib Ghani, a student who lost his father and was searching for other relatives, tried to claw through the concrete with his bare hands before rescuers pulled him away and villagers gave him water. AFP

be “formalized in some way in the next week or ten days.”

Hopes of a breakthrough rose after Trump said he had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Putin -- whom he met in Alaska last week -- following a “very good” meeting with the Europeans and the Ukrainian president at the White

House. It would be the first meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders since Moscow’s brutal invasion nearly three and a half years ago, and comes as Trump tries to live up to his promise to quickly end the war. Trump, 79, wrote on his Truth Social

Hurricane Erin douses Caribbean, menaces US east coast with floods

WASHINGTON, DC – Hurricane

Erin’s massive footprint battered Caribbean islands with heavy gusts and downpours Monday, as it threatened rip currents and flooding along the US East Coast later this week even without a predicted landfall.

The Category 3 storm strengthened dramatically over the weekend in a historic burst of intensification scientists said was fueled by human-caused climate change. It briefly peaked as a Category 5 hurricane before weakening.

In its latest advisory the US National Hurricane Center said the Atlantic season’s first hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour while moving northwest at 8 mph.

Erin is “unusually large,” with hurricane force winds extending 80 miles from the center and tropical storm winds extending 230 miles, the NHC said.

The storm’s outer bands were forecast to dump rain across Cuba and the Dominican Republic through Monday as well as the Turks and Caicos and the southeast Bahamas -- where a tropical storm warning is in place -- into Tuesday.

These regions could receive localized totals of up to 10 centimeters of rain, according to the NHC.

The agency’s deputy director, Jamie Rhome, warned Americans not to assume the hurricane won’t impact them simply because its track keeps it offshore.

“Nothing could be further from the truth for portions of the Mid-Atlantic, especially the Outer Banks of North Carolina,” he said. On Wednesday and Thursday, waves of up to 20 feet (six meters), coastal flooding and storm surge “could overwash dunes and flood homes, flood roads and make some communities impassable,” he said.

Evacuations have been ordered for two North Carolina islands, Ocracoke and Hatteras.

From Tuesday, much of the East Coast will face a high risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents, which occur when channels of water surge away from the shore.

In Puerto Rico, a US territory of more than three million people, weekend flooding swamped homes and roads in the island’s east, and widespread power outages left residents in the dark, though nearly all service has since been restored.

“Erin is one of the fastest, most intensifying storms in the modern record,” Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist at the nonprofit Climate Central, told AFP. AFP

10,000 Air Canada flight attendants vow to defy back-to-work order but resume talks

TORONTO – Striking Air Canada flight attendants vowed Monday (Tuesday Manila time) to defy another back-to-work order from the country’s labor tribunal, but resumed talks seeking to end a walkout that has canceled travel for half a million people worldwide.

Roughly 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job after midnight Saturday, insisting the airline had failed to address their demands for higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground work, including during boarding.

Canada’s national carrier, which flies directly to 180 cities domestically and abroad, said the strike had forced cancelations impacting 500,000 people.

Over the weekend, federal labor minister Patty Hajdu invoked a legal provision to halt the strike and force both sides into binding arbitration.

Following Hajdu’s intervention, the Canada Industrial Relations Board

(CIRB), a regulatory tribual, ordered the flight attendants back to work Sunday.

The flight attendants’ union said it would defy the order, forcing Air Canada to walk back plans to partially restore service.

CIRB regulators upped the pressure Monday. It ordered the union “to resume the performance of their duties immediately and to refrain from engaging in unlawful strike activities,” Air Canada said in a statement.

The tribunal gave the Canadian Union of Public Employees until 12:00 pm (1600 GMT) to communicate to members that they “are required to resume the performance of their duties,” the carrier added.

Speaking after that deadline, CUPE president Mark Hancock told reporters the solution “has to be found at a bargaining table,” and that the union will not respect the tribunal’s ruling. AFP

network that “everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”

“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky,” Trump said. AFP

IN BRIEF

‘Excessive force used vs. LA protesters’

Scores of people were injured as officers fired hard foam rounds, flash-bang grenades, pepper balls and tear gas from close range, during the largely peaceful response to a dramatic increase in immigration arrests across Southern California.

“Law enforcement officers...used brutal, excessive, and unnecessary force against people standing up for human rights and those reporting on the protests,” said Ida Sawyer, the rights group’s crisis, conflict and arms director.

The protests erupted on June 6, in anger at raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been ordered by the Trump administration to target undocumented migrants across the sprawling, heavily Latino city.

The demonstrations were mainly confined to a small section of downtown Los Angeles. Largely non-violent, they at times spiraled into chaotic scenes that Trump pounced on to send 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines into the city -- a move loudly protested by local officials. AFP

UN debates withdrawal of Lebanon peacekeepers LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement used excessive force and deliberate brutality against Los Angeles protesters and journalists during demonstrations against Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in June, a Human Rights Watch report said Monday.

UNITED NATIONS, New York –The United Nations Security Council began to debate Monday (Tuesday Manila time) a resolution drafted by France to extend the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon for a year with the ultimate aim to withdraw it. Israel and the United States have reportedly opposed the renewal of the force’s mandate, and it was unclear if the draft text has backing from Washington, which wields a veto on the Council.

A US State Department spokesman said “we don’t comment on ongoing UN Security Council negotiations,” as talks continued on the fate of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed since 1978 to separate Lebanon and Israel.

The text, first reported by Reuters, would “extend the mandate of UNIFIL until August 31, 2026” but “indicates its intention to work on a withdrawal of UNIFIL.”

That would be on the condition that Lebanon’s government was the “sole provider of security in southern Lebanon... and that the parties agree on a comprehensive political arrangement.” Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, Beirut’s army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group’s infrastructure there. Lebanon has been grappling with the thorny issue of disarming Hezbol-

DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH?

President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media at the French Embassy in Washington, DC on Tuesday following a meeting with

President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders amid negotiations to end the Russian war in

‘LIKE APOCALYPTIC MOVIE.’ Rescue workers and residents search for victims in the debris of collapsed houses after a cloudburst in Dolari village, Swabi district, in northern Pakistan’s mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Monday. Fresh torrential rains in northern Pakistan killed at least 20 people, local officials said, as the region is ravaged by

Bugna claims 3 tennis titles in Olivarez Sr. tilt

KATHLYN Bugna further cemented her status as the rising star of Philippine tennis, pulling off a rare and remarkable three-title sweep at the Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. National Juniors Championships over the weekend at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque courts.

Displaying a potent mix of athleticism, composure and championship pedigree well beyond her years, the 14-year-old prodigy from La Carlota City delivered another MVP performance, dominating not just in her age group, but conquering older divisions to underline her growing supremacy on the junior tennis circuit presented by Dunlop.

Bugna, already top-seeded in both the girls’ 14-and-under and 16-and-U categories, lived up to expectations by sweeping through both fields with clinical efficiency. She dismantled second seed Shaner Gabaldon, 6-1, 6-3, to clinch the 14-U title, then breezed past fourth seed Astrid Cablitas, 6-2, 6-2, to rule the 16-U division. But it was her fearless run in the 18-and-U class – a category that traditionally challenges even seasoned juniors – that turned heads. After crushing second seed Dania Bulanadi with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 semifinal win, Bugna fended off the inform Melatiah Pascua, who had earlier ousted top seed Izabelle Camcam, 6-0, 6-2, with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 victory in the finals.

The victory marked another impressive tournament conquest, following back-to-back title runs in the Cong. Eric Olivarez National Open, where she also ruled the 14- and 16-andunder events. Her winning streak now spans 10 titles across five major cities, including Iloilo, Bacolod, Roxas, Kalibo, and Cebu, making her one of the most dominant junior players in recent memory.

She didn’t stop there. Teaming up with Isabel Calingasan, Bugna added a fourth title to her trophy haul in Parañaque, capturing the girls’ 14-and-U doubles crown.

PH bets stamp class at Japan Karate tourney

THE JKH Philippine Team brought pride to the country after winning multiple medals at the prestigious 42nd Annual Japan Karatedo Hakuakai Championships, participated in by powerhouse teams from Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, and the host country.

Three Cagayanos/Tuguegaraoeños — Louiemahr Jhoeng A. Pineda, Pryce Riley B. Florendo, and Rayden Pierre B. Florendo — delivered impressive performances, securing five bronze medals in both Kata and Kumite. Their instructor, Shihan Bernard Alvarina, also made waves in the competition, clinching Gold in Kata and Silver in Kumite.

From Cavite, Earl Cedrick Dela Cruz dominated with Gold in Kata and Silver in Kumite, Guiness Logico from Tagum bagged silver, while Jude Owen Carlsen Bullozo of Tagum City added a Bronze medal to the tally.

“This was by far the most challenging tournament we have ever joined,” said members of the team, noting the exceptional skill of the Japanese athletes. “To represent our city, province, and country — and stand on the podium — is truly one of the most thrilling and blessed moments of our careers.”

KENNETH Llover entered the ring at Winford Resort and Casino in Manila last Sunday, August 17, with one mission — to take another step toward a world title opportunity before the year comes to a close.

The 22-year-old southpaw from General Trias, Cavite, made that intention clear as he overwhelmed former two-division world champion Luis Concepcion of Panama, scoring an eighth-round stoppage in front of an electric pro-Filipino crowd. With the victory, Llover extended his unblemished record to 15-0, with 10 wins coming by knockout. Llover wasted no time asserting his dominance, using his youth, speed, and punching

High Speed Hitters rise, reset and rule

WHAT began as a showcase of net dominance and middleline firepower turned into a gruelling test of will, nerve, and resilience for the PLDT High Speed Hitters.

Squandering a 2-0 lead in a winner-takeall match could have shattered the psyche of even the most seasoned squad, but in the end, the High Speed Hitters proved they had more than just muscle—they had the heart of champions.

PLDT didn’t just survive the scare, they stormed back in the fifth set the way future champions do: focused, fearless, and ferocious. They didn’t blink. While Savi Davison’s explosive presence helped tip the momentum, what truly sealed the victory was their triedand-tested formula of commanding the net, blocking lanes, and exploiting the middle with quick, lethal strikes.

At the center of that onslaught stood Mika Reyes.

When Chery Tiggo’s defense hesitated for a split second, Reyes was already landing from

her attack. One, two, three, four rapid-fire kills later, the scoreboard began to tip. This was followed by a kill block from Majoy Baron and a clutch denial by Reyes, capped off by a backbreaking crosscourt hammer from Kim Dy.

What fans expected to be a tense, see-sawing decider instead turned into a coronation. Before a screaming Sunday crowd of more than 11,000, PLDT didn’t just win; they took the fifth set in emphatic, almost cruel fashion, 15-8, to complete their unblemished eight-game sweep.

For PLDT, this was redemption. Head coach Rald Ricafort reflected on the journey.

“I now see all those heartbreaks, all those near-misses, as necessary. They prepared us for this,” he said. He added, “I’m just proud of how the girls held on until the very last set. That was the mindset we wanted—strong, brave, unbreakable.”

Reyes, named Finals MVP, felt the win transcended any individual honor. “Our coaches always remind us to stay present. No lead is safe,” she said. “I’m just grateful that we held on—to each other, to the moment.” For her, the team’s victory meant more than any personal award.

Savi Davison, the team’s star scorer, was quick to shut down the idea that PLDT’s success centered on her. “PLDT was already here before I arrived. I wasn’t added to flip a switch,” she said. “This team is my family. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.”

Meanwhile, Kim Dy, returning from a career-threatening injury, couldn’t hide her emotion. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for over a year,” she said. “It wasn’t easy— blood, sweat, and tears. But here we are, champions.” For her, the victory was even sweeter as she got to share it with longtime teammates from her collegiate days. At the heart of that final push was veteran setter Kim Fajardo. “You don’t want all your hard work to go to waste—not another fourthplace finish. That kept happening before, and I didn’t want us to go through that again,” she said, speaking candidly about her personal drive to break free from the team’s past disappointments. For libero Kath Arado, the team’s anchor on defense, the victory was a culmination of a long, grueling road. “I’m just so proud,” she said. “From Day 1, the sacrifices of this team… it’s been incredible. They give us everything we need; all we have to do is apply it on the court.” This wasn’t just a win. It was a reckoning, a reminder that scars can become strength.

Lady Falcons stay unbeaten in V-League

ADAMSON University rallied from a seven-point third-set deficit to notch its third straight victory and hand College of Saint Benilde its first loss, 25-22, 25-13, 25-20, in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Tuesday afternoon at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.

Fresh off a hard-fought five-set triumph over the FEU Lady Tamaraws last week, the Lady Falcons once again leaned on UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura, who delivered in the clutch to prevent a third-set collapse and keep Adamson unbeaten in the eight-team tournament organized by Sports Vision.

Nitura showcased her all-around brilliance with 18 points built on 16 attacks and two aces, while also tallying eight excellent receptions and seven excellent digs. With her effort, Adamson improved to a clean 3-0 slate after earlier victories over the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and FEU.

“Maganda ‘yung efforts ng bata on how they responded sa mga situations, especially doon sa third set na we were down by seven points, but they responded well and binalik

nila ‘yung focus nila. They worked hard para makuha pa rin namin ‘yung game na ito,” Lady Falcons head coach JP Yude said.

“I’m very happy and very glad that they are contributing na lahat sila. ‘Yon naman talaga ‘yung gusto namin makita na hindi lang si Shaina ‘yung nandiyan na naglalaro

and nag-ge-gain ng more points, but we’re trying our best sa training na ipush ang bawat isa na mag-contribute ang lahat,” he added. The Lady Blazers looked poised to extend the match after racing to a 10-3 advantage in the third set, but Nitura spearheaded Adamson’s fiery fightback, orchestrat-

ing a 10-3 counter-run that tied the frame at 13-all.

The set turned into a tight battle with Benilde still holding a slim 19-18 edge, but the trio of Nitura, MG Del Moral, and Kim Rocha came alive at the perfect moment, powering a decisive 5-1 run that gave Adamson a 2320 cushion. Rocha’s off-the-block hit and Nitura’s fitting service ace sealed the sweep in just 79 minutes. Adamson’s momentum began in the opening frame, where it eked out a narrow win, before catching fire in the second. Three straight points from Nitura, a quick attack from Del Moral, and a crafty 1-2 play from Fhei Sagaysay helped the Lady Falcons break away, building a commanding 21-12 lead to secure a two-set advantage. Abby Segui provided solid support with 11 points on eight attacks, two blocks, and one ace, alongside five excellent digs. Del Moral contributed six points, while Sagaysay steered the offense with 16 excellent sets and added five points of her own.

Meanwhile, Benilde, which previously cruised past Perpetual, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and Ateneo de Manila University, absorbed its first loss to drop to 3-1.

Llover’s next step: A hard test passed, harder ones ahead

power to drop Concepcion in the second and third rounds. However, the 39-year-old Panamanian showed his grit and veteran instincts by pressing forward despite taking heavy shots. Ultimately, the end came in the eighth when Llover unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches, forcing the referee’s hand at the 2:27 mark. Though Concepcion stayed on his feet, he was no longer in the bout, suffering his sixth career stoppage in a win-loss card that now stands at 40-12.

On the surface, it was a triumphant homecoming for “The Lover Boy,” who had fought his last two outings in Japan, both ending in first-round knockout wins. But beneath the celebration, the fight also provided Llover and his team — comprised of boxing legend-turned-promoter Gerry Peñalosa, strength-and-conditioning coach Alex Ariza, and head trainer Dindo Campo — with valuable lessons they will need should a world title shot materialize in the coming months.

Concepcion was the right opponent at the right time. His durability and refusal to fold easily forced Llover to dig deeper and find different ways to close the show. This was crucial as the bantamweight division is no picnic, with names like Junto Nakatani, Antonio Vargas, and Yoshiki Takei holding court. At this level, no belt at 118 pounds will be handed on a silver platter.

The good news is Llover finally got the rounds he needed. In his previous trips to “The Land of the Rising Sun,” he only logged three minutes and 31 seconds of total ring time. Against Concepcion, he had to adjust, test his stamina, and deal with a foe who has seen nearly everything in his storied run.

The concern was that after a blistering start, Llover appeared to coast through the middle rounds, pacing himself rather than pressing the advantage. That allowed Concepcion to rough him up at times and even connect with clean shots — a dangerous proposition against heavier-hitting contenders.

But that’s the point of fights like this — to expose flaws before the stakes are higher. The timing is still in his favor. Peñalosa, in collaboration with Kameda Promotions, is already eyeing a world title eliminator this October. Currently ranked No. 8 by the IBF and No. 14 by the WBC, Llover could find himself in prime position soon, especially with the IBF’s top two slots at bantamweight unoccupied and whispers of Nakatani moving up in weight. For now, Llover remains on the right trajectory. He has the unbeaten slate, the power, the right people behind him, and most importantly, the clear-cut progress report to refine his craft. If he can polish the gaps in his game, Llover just might become the 48th Filipino to capture a coveted world title in the sport of boxing. (For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)

Kathlyn Bugna

The Adamson Lady Falcons celebrate.

In The Red Corner Nissi Icasiano

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

PSC chairman

Gregorio sets sights on hosting ‘World Games’

THE Philippine Sports Commission

(PSC) is exploring a bid to host the 2033 World Games, a move that chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio says will serve as a lasting legacy for the country’s sports tourism program.

During a recent interview, Chairman Gregorio revealed that he has already discussed the ambitious plan with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as well as Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino and secretary general Wharton Chan.

“That’s seven years from now. Makapal ‘yung requirements pero baka naman makatsamba tayo. It (World Games hosting) will be a great legacy for Philippine sports kapag nagawa natin ito,” Gregorio said.

The PSC sees the potential hosting as a major boost to national development and a platform to showcase the Philippines on the global stage.

In the wake of the recent World Games, the PSC is also urging more national sports associations (NSAs) to focus on qualifying for future editions.

Gregorio emphasized the importance of the event, which features sports not typically included in the Olympics, as a key opportunity for Filipino athletes to compete against the world’s elite.

With regards to the performance of the 48-athlete delegation at the latest games, Gregorio expressed satisfaction with their two-silver, two-bronze medal haul.

He acknowledged the heartbreak of final losses, particularly in billiards, but praised the overall effort of the athletes.

Swiatek beats Paolini to clinch Cincinnati crown

CINCINNATI—Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini.

The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities.

The six-time Grand Slam singles champion’s 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set.

“It’s always tough in Cincy,” Swiatek told the Tennis Channel after her maiden win i n Cincinnati.

“This gives me a boost of confidence. “I’m happy with the work we’ve been doing. (The team) had to convince me to play in a different way. I’m now happy with that process; it all feels even better after the match. I”m glad I finished in straight sets.”

The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now head s to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major con fidence boost after the 24th title of her career.

Swiatek is due to partner Norway’s Casper Ruud in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles starting on Tuesday.

The Pole said she is relishing that challenge on the slower courts of Flushing Meadows. “I’m a good player. I can play on any surface,” she said. AFP

Dungca seizes JPGT lead

BAGUIO City—Ronee Dungca moved a step closer to completing a stirring run from the backdoor to the main stage of the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series, carding a three-over-par 72 to take a commanding lead after 18 holes of the girls’ 7-10 division in the John Hay JPGT Championship here Tuesday.

The rising star from Angeles City came out firing, birdieing the first three holes, but struggled to maintain rhythm on the tight, hazard-laden course. She closed with a 34-38 round, highlighted by four more birdies, offset by three bogeys, two double bogeys, and a triple-bogey on the par-3 No. 4, which blunted her torrid start in the 36-hole tournament.

“The course is tough, so I had to stay focused to keep making birdies,” said Dungca, 9, playing the challenging up-and-down layout for the first time.

Still, her 72 was more than enough to seize control of the 36-hole event, building a massive eight-shot cushion over Tyra Garingalao (80), with Amiya Tablac (83) in third and Venus delos Santos at fourth with 92.

Missing the first four legs of the seven-stage Luzon swing had seemingly ruled Dungca out of the finals conversation. But a resurgence at Riviera and Pradera Verde, both of which she won, thrust her right back into contention. Now holding 30 points, she stands tied for fifth with Penelope Sy in the standings – and another win here would give her 45 points, enough to potentially match current leader Mavis Espedido.

With only the top three scores of each player in the series counted for qualification, the final round looms large for several contenders. A win earns 15 points, followed by 12, 10 and 8 points for the next top finishers. Winter Serapio (37 pts), delos Santos (34) and Garingalao (32) remain very much in the race, making Wednesday’s final round a decisive showdown.

Zoji Edoc also stayed on track for a third straight title, shooting a two-over 71 to take a three-shot lead over local bet Marco Angheng (74) in the boys’ youngest division. QC’s Michael Matias shot an 82 for joint third with Samuel Ababa, while Jethro Bayron skied to a 99.

Paalam, Villegas lead PH boxers’ bid in world meet

By Randy M. Caluag

OLYMPIC medalists Carlo Paalam and Aira Villegas are leading the charge for the Philippine national boxing team as they prepare for the 2025 World Boxing Championships.

The prestigious event is scheduled to take place from September 4 to 14 at the Liverpool Arena in Liverpool, England.

Paalam, a silver medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will compete in the men’s 55kg division.

He is joined by Villegas, who secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and will headline the

women’s team in the 51kg category.

The pair, along with their support staff, departed for Sheffield, England, to kick off an international training camp. The group includes former SEA Games’ medalist Riza Pasuit

Espejo: It’s a huge honor playing for country

THE other veteran on Alas Pilipinas Men, Marck Espejo—just like Bryan Bagunas—limped with an ankle injury but has since recovered and doing catch up in the three-country European training camp that’s in its final leg in Portugal.

“I’m taking it day by day, training by training, as I work to catch up with the team after coming back from injury,” said Espejo from their training camp in Santo Tirso, a city situated in northern Portugal, on Monday.

Espejo, 28, and Bagunas, 27, have recovered from their injuries and are now jelling with the team—a mix of young and veterans—since training camp kicked off in Morroco and proceeded to Romania before wrapping up in Portugal.

Alas Pilipinas, now ranked No. 77 in the world, won two of three tune-up matches against the national team of world No. 81 Morocco and yielded—but not without gaining a set—to the Romanian national squad.

These are potential signs that Alas Pilipinas is nearing its mission in the training camp that’s aimed at a strong performance in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship set September 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s well-balanced team [Alas] for long-term growth,” Espejo said. “We have experienced veterans and kuyas who provide leadership, and younger players with fresh legs and a lot of energy.”

The 32-nation FIVB world championship is one tough competition and Espejo knows that well.

“I will take this challenge seriously and give my very best,” he said. “But I’m excited, right now we’re focused to bring out the team’s full potential. We’re enjoying the camp, playing against top teams, and learning a lot.”

Espejo, like the entire Alas Pilipinas squad, would love to see Filipino fans cheering for them come games time—as well as to witness first-hand world-class volleyball action.

who looks undecided as he looks at the rack, get some snacks during a brief stopover in the ve-hour bus ride that took them from the city of Piatra Neamt to Romania’s capital Bucharest to take a ight for Portugal during the weekend.

Photo

JUST how ready the collegiate taekwondo jins are will be known when the Philippine Taekwondo Association stages the 2025 SMART/MVPSF National InterSchool Taekwondo Championships on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Malate, Manila. Led by Grand Master Hong Sung-chon and Secretary-General Rocky Samson, the PTA said two-day event will gather the toughest, fiercest and fittest fighters – all will be fighting for the bragging rights and honors in five divisions of both the Novice and Advanced categories. Fully supported by MILO, the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee, the tournament will also serve as a perfect avenue for participants out to gauge their rivals in time for the opening of their respective leagues.

(women’s 60kg), team consultant Don Abnett, coach Reynaldo Galido, and physical therapist Paolo Reynoso.

Another key member, Ronald Chavez Jr., is expected to join the team in England once his visa is approved. He will represent the Philippines in the men’s 70kg division.

While a core group trains in the UK, other members of the eightboxer squad are also honing their skills overseas.

Jay Bryan Baricuatro (men’s 50kg) and Junmilardo Ogayre (men’s 60kg) are currently in a separate training camp in Xinjiang, China.

Meanwhile, Asian U22 bronze medalist Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 65kg) and Ofelia Magno (women’s 48kg) recently concluded their training in Bangkok, Thailand, and will not be joining the overseas sessions.

This World Championships will serve as part of the boxers’ preparations in their bid to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The opening ceremony on Saturday at 2 p.m. will have Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-Hwa as guest of honor while the Kyungmin University Demonstration Team – a champion team from Korea – has vowed to stage a performance to remember for spectators and participants.

National University, University of Santo Tomas, La Salle, St. Paul (Pasig), Emilio Aguinaldo College and Diliman Preparatory School are again tipped to figure out prominently but they can’t take easily teams fromVisayas and Mindanao as they also are seeking total respect from their NCR counterparts. All affiliated schools of the PTA – one of the country’s most successful sports associations – are expected to field their top athletes also in pursuit of excellence. Elimination rounds start at 9 a.m.

Ronee Dungca came out firing, birdieing the first three holes. Manny Marcelo

The Philippine boxing team, led by Aira Villegas (2nd from left) and Carlo Paalam (3rd from left), are shown prior to their England ight.

A player in blue armor connects with an axe kick to his opponent’s head.

Marck Espejo (sixth from left) and teammates (from left) Bryan Bagunas, Louie Ramirez, Lloyd Josafat, Vince Lorenzo, Peng Taguibolos and Jade Disquitado,

PNVF Communications

Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio

ECONOMY REPORT 2025

PH economy continues to thrive, navigates AI and tariff headwinds

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippine economy is navigating challenges from global trade shifts, artificial intelligence advancements and geopolitical tensions, but remains resilient, with an annual growth above 5 percent.

After expanding 5.5 percent in 2023 and 5.7 percent in 2024, the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4 percent in the first half of 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.

The economy is underpinned by strong domestic demand, record-low unemployment of 4.3 percent in 2024 and a steady decline in inflation. It is poised to achieve upper-middleincome status in 2025, depending on foreign exchange movements.

US tariffs

Still, the country faces headwinds, including the 19 percent US tariff on Philippine exports and tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The US recently announced it would impose 19-percent tariff on Philippine goods following talks between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and President Trump.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the Philippines is among those “least affected” by the higher US tariff policy. While acknowledging that such measures are not good for global trade and may affect overall growth,

Recto said he remains confident in the country’s fiscal position.

The government is targeting a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.4 percent to 6.5 percent this year.

In 2024, the economy grew 5.6 percent, which was lower than the government’s target of 6 percent to 6.5 percent.

From 2026 to 2028, the Philippine economy is projected to expand by 6 percent to 7 percent, a more measured and resilient outlook amid global headwinds.

The projections were lower than the government’s earlier target of 6 percent to 8 percent until 2028.

“To be clear: tempering these targets is not lowering our ambition. It is sound fiscal discipline,” Recto said.

“It shows confidence in our ability to deliver, and the wisdom to pace ourselves so we can finish strong.”

“Our refined Medium-Term Fiscal Program now charts a steady, realistic path to reduce our deficit and debt, while creating more jobs, raising incomes, and lifting millions of Filipinos out of poverty along the way,” he said.

Revenue collection

Recto said the Department of Finance (DOF) collected P4.4 trillion in revenues in 2024, exceeding the P4.3-trillion target without imposing new taxes.

He said the government’s revenue effort reached 16.7 percent of GDP, the highest in 27 years.

“Over the past three years, total revenues have grown double-digits, averaging 13.8% annually,” he said.

“For the first six months of the year, tax collections continue to post double-digit growth at 10.7 percent”

Debt manageable Recto stressed that the country’s

debt remains sustainable and manageable.

“What people need to understand is that when the Marcos Jr. administration took over in 2022, we inherited P12.8 trillion in debt from past administrations,” he said. Turn to B2

AboitizPower leverages A.I. and tech in clean power generation

LIVING out its purpose of Transforming Energy for a Better World and partaking in the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) intends to pioneer sustainable energy solutions powered by advanced technologies and human ingenuity.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of AboitizPower, has adopted artificial intelligence (A.I.) and other technologies to shield vital infrastructure against natural hazards and ensure reliable operations. Digital twins, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR are used to create a dynamic virtual replica of the terrain wherein a facility is situated.

The A.I.-powered system enables periodic monitoring of terrain data to predict landslides with unmatched precision. Combined, high-resolution LiDAR scans and in-depth ERT data allows Aboitiz Renewables to detect geohazard risks early, enabling engineers to take immediate action and minimize risk.

“We’re not waiting for risks to materialize—we’re actively predicting and preventing them,” explained Aboitiz Renewables SAVP for Reliability, Engineering & Asset Management Galen Alova. “By leveraging A.I. technology, we give our engineers the tools to continuously monitor and assess potential landslides, enabling us to maintain safe, reliable energy production with minimal disruption.” This system is already running in

Aboitiz Renewables’ run-of-river hydropower plants operated by Hedcor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables. “Our focus is to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of clean energy as much as possible, no matter the external challenges,” said Aboitiz Renewables First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations Noreen Vicencio. “This A.I. technology enables our engineers to better anticipate potential risks, minimize disruptions, and even help secure the communities we serve.” Looking ahead, Aboitiz Renewables plans to expand its geohazard management capabilities. While the system currently integrates earthquake-induced risks into its landslide simulations, ongoing developments will allow it to incorporate additional

geohazard data, further strengthening the company’s ability to address a broader range of risks and enhance the resilience of its renewable energy assets.

“With these advancements, we are helping shape a more secure and sustainable energy future,” Vicencio added. “It’s about using innovation to protect not only our operations but also the communities and the environment that rely on clean, renewable energy.”

At the same time, serving as the first of its kind in the Philippine power generation sector, Aboitiz Renewables also operates a National Operations Control Center (NOCC), which allows for the operation and monitoring of 28 renewable energy facilities all from one location.

Despite most of the plants being in faraway, mountainous areas, NOCC engineers can observe, make decisions, and control its operations from their computer. Monitoring and data collection are also streamlined, making it easier to consolidate data for strategizing and meeting regulatory requirements.

With operational control and data collection being centralized in the NOCC, operators utilize data analytics, data science, and A.I. for better resource management, leading to more efficient operations and dispatch of the hydropower and solar facilities integrated in the system. The NOCC also allows for faster communication of detected plant anomalies within its regulated ecosystem, contributing to minimized downtime and losses.

Specialized drones are also deployed in some of AboitizPower’s

hydropower and solar power plants to make maintenance and rehabilitation activities more efficient. Power plant operators would no longer have to manually visit and inspect each solar panel, conveyance line, or any other component of a renewable energy facility if a drone can do it for them.

Using drones makes inspections quicker, saving AboitizPower a lot of resources since it initially takes significant time and effort for a person to check on plant assets given the sheer size and scope of its facilities.

Outfitted with high-resolution cameras and other onboard sensing equipment, the drones diagnose maintenance requirements faster, resulting in less

downtime and more reliability in clean power generation. AboitizPower is one of the largest power producers and distributors in the Philippines, with a balanced portfolio of assets located in Luzon, Visayas,

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. and Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan speak during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines ‘Economic Forum 2025’ at the BSP head office in Manila on Aug. 11, 2025.

AI crucial to PH energy sector’s transformation

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ARTIFICIAL

intelligence

(AI) is critical to the energy sector’s rapid transformation, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), as the two are inextricably linked amid fast-paced technological innovation and rising environmental responsibility.

There is a growing demand for energy systems that “provide maximum power, minimal emissions and energy security,” the WEF said.

“To meet these goals, the energy sector must undergo a rapid transformation—reducing emissions while delivering reliable, scalable energy to support economic growth,” the WEF said.

“Central to unlocking this potential is artificial intelligence (AI), which offers unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize the production, management and consumption of energy,” it said.

It noted that AI can be a powerful tool in transforming energy production and management.

“Through advanced machine learning and data analytics, AI can optimize energy consumption, improve grid resilience and enable smarter, more efficient use of resources,” it said.

The WEF also believes that AI can help accelerate the energy transition.

PHILIPPINES

“By enhancing the management and integration of renewable energy sources, AI can stabilize grids, forecast energy demand and minimize waste,” it said.

“Predictive maintenance is another key benefit, as AI can identify potential issues in energy infrastructure before they lead to costly failures, thereby improving the reliability and sustainability of energy systems,” the WEF said.

However, AI consumes vast amounts of energy, and that usage is projected to increase. “By 2030, global power demand from data centers—primarily driven by AI—could increase by 18 to 20 percent annually, reaching over 1,000 terawatt-hours (TWh),” the WEF said.

“This amount is equivalent to nearly a quarter of the United States’ current power demand,” it said.

In April, the US International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report stating that while increased power demand from data centers will also increase emissions, this could be offset by emissions reductions enabled by AI adoption.

“AI is one of the biggest stories in the energy world today—but until now, policy makers and markets lacked the tools to fully understand the wide-ranging impacts,” said Fatih Birol, IEA executive director.

“Global electricity demand from data centers is set to more than double over the next five years,

consuming as much electricity by 2030 as the whole of Japan does today,” said Birol. The IEA said countries wanting to maximize AI need to accelerate new investments in electricity generation and grids, improve the efficiency and flexibility of data centers and strengthen the dialogue between policy makers, the technology sector and the energy industry.

In the Philippines, local energy companies are also leveraging AI. “AI plays a critical role in our organization— not just for improving efficiency, but in strengthening the Philippines’ energy security,” said Emmanuel Rubio, president of Meralco PowerGen Corp. Turn to B4

“And we are still repaying these large debts incurred during the pandemic while continuously investing in our people. That is why, for interest alone, we are paying 848 billion pesos this year,” Recto said. He said the Philippines’ debt is relatively lower than that of most countries in Asia.

Growth strategy

Recto said the government’s growth strategy centers on investing in highimpact sectors and strengthening collaboration with the private sector.

“Through strategic reforms like the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code and the CREATE MORE, we strengthen our ability to attract more investors looking to expand or relocate to the Philippines,” he said.

Creating jobs

The DOF chief also said the country is creating more jobs, roughly 6 million, the highest compared to past administrations.

“But we will not rest until the 1.9 million Filipinos still seeking work find not just any job but dignified, secure, and well-paying employment,” Recto said.

In 2023, Recto said the government lifted 2.5 million Filipinos out of poverty since the pandemic.

“And we will make sure to lift 8 million more Filipinos out of poverty by the end of the President’s term,” he said. Development plan

Meanwhile, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) unveiled the Midterm Update of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. The plan outlines the government’s recalibrated strategy for the second half of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.

Globe teams up with Khan Academy Philippines, AI for learning now in GlobeOne App

IN A shared vision to uplift the state of education in the country, and reach as many learners as possible, Globe and Khan Academy Philippines have collaborated to bring quality education closer to every Filipino. Joining hands to focus on empowering students, and educators through inclusive digital learning, this will especially benefit areas where access to learning materials is limited.

The collaboration provides timely support for the current reforms led by the Department of Education, particularly in school digitalization, teacher support, and connectivity projects.

At the heart of this partnership is the digital skills program, which blends Globe’s nationwide connectivity and presence with Khan Academy’s trusted global content. It goes beyond textbooks and traditional teaching, offering lessons in STEM, digital literacy, online safety, and essential life skills, accessible online or through the GlobeOne app.

Students now have access to courses aligned with the Department of Education’s current curriculum, and teachers are supported by Khanmigo, an AI-teaching assistant that makes administrative work easier, thus enabling teachers to have greater

and Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer Yoly Crisanto in observing students at CENTEX Manila as they use tablets from Globe to access Khan Academy last January. (Photo courtesy of Ayala Foundation Inc.)

learning impact. Khanmigo can work in multiple local Philippine languages upon prompting, such as Tagalog, Waray, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Ilocano.

“Education must evolve with the times. We use technology to make learning easier and more effective for both students and teachers,” said Yoly Crisanto,

Globe chief sustainability and corporate communications officer. “By working with Khan Academy Philippines, we’re opening doors to leapfrog our students to 21st century learning. Using the GlobeOne app, the pedagogy is inclusive, relevant, and within reach.”

The collaboration will include an employee volunteer program for Globe employees to engage with partner schools and communities on how to use Khan Academy’s educational resources.

“This is the future and digitization is the way forward,” shared Geraldine B. Acuña-Sunshine, president and chief executive of Khan Academy

Fearless flexibility, more benefits with All-New GPlan PLUS

TAKE fearless control of your life with the All-New GPlan PLUS from Globe. This SIMonly offer provides flexible features, exclusive perks, and an upgraded network experience, ideal for those seeking value, freedom, and zero lock-ins.

“The All-New GPlan PLUS is designed to fit your lifestyle, whether you’re a digital nomad, content lover, or simply want more control,” said Jo Anne Illescas-Pique, Head of Globe Mobile Postpaid. “Your plan, your rules, powered by the Philippines’ Most Consistent Network.”

Starting at Plan 599, customers enjoy unlimited calls and texts to all networks, landline access, and exclusive perks from partners like Surge Fitness + Lifestyle and Ayala Museum. They can also redeem eGift vouchers using Globe Rewards points from brands like Rustan’s, Grab, Autosweep, and The Marketplace.

Device offers are also available for this plan. Customers may get up to 30% off contract-

free or opt for a plan with a contract to enjoy bonus GBs. Devices may be paid in cash or via credit card (straight or installment). Eligible renewing customers may charge the device to their monthly bill. At Plan 799 and above, users unlock full control via the GlobeOne app, allowing them to swap inclusions anytime — from calls, texts, and data to perks like Unli 5G, unlimited access to favorite apps, and vouchers from Disney+, GrabUnlimited, and more. Previously exclusive to Plan 999 and up, this feature is now available to Plan 799 users until September 30, 2025. The All-New GPlan PLUS sets a new standard for postpaid with its customizable features, exclusive perks, and no lock-in option. It caters to those who are always connected, constantly on the move, or looking to maximize their mobile experience. Apply for the All-New GPlan PLUS at shop. globe.com.ph.

Philippines. “We’re not just talking about physical classrooms anymore. We’re imagining classrooms with screens, smart tools, and open access to a world of knowledge. This is bayanihan in action. Every small contribution, every act of support, helps build something bigger than ourselves.”

Earlier this year, in collaboration with Khan Academy and Ayala Foundation, Globe provided tablets, Blue Boards, and Globe Fiber Prepaid WiFi to five schools as part of Globe’s G-Gantic Goals program. The beneficiary schools include CENTEX Manila in Tondo, Pasong Kawayan 2 West Elementary School in Cavite City, Lahug Elementary School in Cebu City, CENTEX Batangas in Bauan, and Pampanga High School in San Fernando City.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to our valued partners, Globe and Khan Academy Philippines, for championing our digital transformation journey,” shared Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “By bridging our learners and educators to digital tools, we’re not just easing the learning process, we’re empowering dreams and shaping their future.” Globe and Khan Academy Philippines are calling on students, teachers, parents, and school administrators to access digital learning through the Khan Academy platform. To access Khan Academy, visit: https://www.khanacademy.org/. The platform can also be accessed through the GlobeOne app. Click the Essentials button, then select Khan Academy.

From left: Denise Fabella, executive director at Khan Academy Philippines; Geraldine B. Acuña-Sunshine, president and chief executive officer at Khan Academy Philippines; Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability and corporate communications officer at Globe; and Apple Evangelista, sustainability and social responsibility director at Globe

Education Secretary Sonny Angara joined Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino; Ayala Foundation senior director for Big Bets in Education Maria Margarita E. Trinidad;

PHILIPPINES THRIVES IN 2025

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is focusing on trade fairs and digital platforms to bolster micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which it calls the “backbone of the economy.”

The move comes as the sector faces global challenges from artificial intelligence (AI) and shifting trade tariffs.

Over the past year, the DTI has organized five annual trade shows, with three already held this year, according to Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque. The events have become “vital revenue streams” for MSMEs, opening up both local and global market opportunities, she said.

“MSME sales have already grown by 49 percent, and exhibitors have expanded from 200 to 350, on average. The success of MSMEs is the success of the Filipino people,” said Roque.

The emphasis on MSMEs reflects a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “level up” the sector, which accounts for 99.5 percent of business establishments

MSMEs to weather global AI, tariff challenges—DTI

and employs 62 percent of the labor force.

Recent initiatives include the Women Enterprise Fund, a P1billion financing facility for womenled businesses and expanded support for e-commerce adoption. While trade shows and digital integration fuel growth, they also serve as a buffer against mounting external risks. The

rapid advancement of AI could displace traditional jobs and strain smaller businesses that lack digital readiness.

At the same time, tariff uncertainties from global trade tensions and the absence of a Philippine-U.S. free trade agreement weigh on exporters.

The United States remains one of the Philippines’ largest export

markets, particularly for electronics, apparel and agricultural products.

Without an FTA, Philippine goods face higher tariffs than competitors from countries with preferential access to the US market, like Vietnam.

The expiration of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) further adds pressure, especially for small and medium

manufacturers who rely on lower duties.

Roque said negotiating a trade pact with the US could be a “gamechanger” for large exporters and MSMEs alike. “We must find ways to secure fairer market access and ensure our exporters are not left behind,” she said.

The DTI is strengthening domestic value chains and promoting digital commerce as survival strategies until trade negotiations advance.

The government is using tools like the DTI Business Registry and online negotiation centers, which now reach 1.5 million entrepreneurs nationwide, to help firms bypass tariff disadvantages by reaching consumers directly.

Economists argue that while the US remains a critical partner, the Philippines should prepare its industries to be competitive regardless of tariff regimes.

DTI officials remain optimistic, pointing to a 32-percent growth in foreign and local investments in 2024. But Roque stressed the importance of consumer protection to ensure that substandard imports do not undercut MSMEs.

“In a world disrupted by AI and trade frictions, the Filipino MSME must be equipped to thrive, not merely survive. Together, we can ensure that no Filipino with a dream will be left behind,” said Roque.

The Department of Trade and Industry is pursuing smarter, technology-driven public service. DTI Secretary Cristina Roque meets with Wesley Quek of Carbon Sync Ventures to explore AI-powered solutions that can strengthen project monitoring, improve complaints management and enhance implementation support and staff training.

ECONOMY REPORT 2025

Filipino conglomerates still cautiously optimistic

PHILIPPINES

components—down to the year, month, or even week—across millions of assets.

“It will be essential in managing our growing energy portfolio and advanced energy storage systems. For us, every AI solution we deploy must directly contribute to making power more reliable and affordable for Filipino families and businesses,” said Rubio.

Rubio said the Philippine energy industry faces a “very real and very urgent challenge: balancing our renewable energy transition with the continuing need for reliable baseload power.”

He noted that aging infrastructure is a reality, as around 70 percent of large transformers worldwide have been in service for more than 25 years.

“Integrating renewables brings intermittency challenges that traditional forecasting just cannot handle,” Rubio said.

“And every unplanned outage is not just a financial cost—it’s a disruption to millions of lives. This is where AI is changing the game,” he said.

Rubio cited examples of AI-based systems already in use. Siemens’ generative AI for predictive maintenance has shown an 85-percent improvement in downtime forecasting and halved unplanned outages, while Google DeepMind’s wind forecasting system can predict output with remarkable precision by analyzing weather patterns.

He said the Argonne National Laboratory’s AI can pinpoint the remaining useful life of grid

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LEADING

Philippine conglomerates are entering the second half of 2025 with cautious optimism, as easing inflation and the prospect of further interest rate cuts stand to benefit their core businesses.

Economists said the cooling inflation, which fell to 0.9 percent in July, is creating room for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to continue cutting policy rates. The benchmark rate is now at 5.25 percent, the lowest in three years. Sectors like retail and real estate are expected to benefit as lower interest rates encourage investment and domestic spending.

Sy-led SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), with businesses in retail, banking and real estate, said it continues to see steady growth supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions.

“The Philippine economy was steady at 5.4 percent growth in the first quarter, while inflation has eased to its lowest level since 2019, creating a more supportive environment for both corporates and consumers,” SMIC president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said in a statement.

“Despite global trade uncertainties, overall sentiment remains positive, and we share that optimism for the remainder of the year,” he said.

DyBuncio noted that bank lending remains strong, and consumer spending at malls and retail stores continues to rise. The conglomerate posted a consolidated net income of P42.6 billion in the first half of 2025, a 6-percent increase from P40.2 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues for the period rose 6 percent to P319.2 billion from P301.4 billion.

Banking accounted for 50 percent of SMIC’s net earnings, followed by property at 28 percent, retail at 15 percent, and portfolio investments at 7 percent. Separately, Ayala Corp. said its full-year growth targets remain achievable despite its first-half core net income dipping 2 percent to P23.7 billion.

“While our telco and energy businesses have some catching up to do, our full-year targets remain achievable,” Ayala president and chief executive Cezar Consing said.

“These are not distant possibilities. These are real systems, operating today, and they show us what’s possible when we embrace AI strategically. Our responsibility as leaders in Philippine energy,” he said.

Rubio said MGEN is in the middle of an ambitious expansion—doubling the current energy capacity in its portfolio. He noted that the company’s MTerra Solar, with 3,500 megawatts of solar and 4,500 megawatt-hours of energy storage, will be the largest renewable energy project once fully commissioned.

“But as I have said before, there is no one-size-fitsall solution for energy security,” he said. “We cannot afford to be technology-agnostic. We must remain open to emerging solutions, carefully weighing their role in balancing reliability and sustainability.”

The Transition Business Group (TBG) of Aboitiz Power Corp. s also investing heavily in AI.

The company recently announced a strategic initiative to expand the application of AI and data analytics to its coal-fired power plants in Luzon and Visayas. The move is a continuation of “Project Arkanghel,” which modernizes the company’s existing conventional power plants into smart ones, helping ensure plant availability and reliability. The full implementation of the project will be rolled out in phases.

“The first phase of Project Arkanghel is up and running, currently in one of our circulating fluidized

bed plants in Mindanao,” said Celso Caballero III, AboitizPower TBG president and chief operating officer, referring to the 300-megawatt Therma South Inc. in Davao City.

“We’re completing implementation in the Visayas this year and moving to Luzon next year,” he said.

The 340-megawatt Therma Visayas Inc. in Toledo City, Cebu, was also named as one of the pioneer models for Project Arkanghel, while a site for Luzon has yet to be identified.

Project Arkanghel features establishing a Unified Operations Center equipped with digital twin technologies, early warning and anomaly detection systems, and an end-to-end live asset health monitoring system. This center enables engineers to anticipate potential issues and optimize plant operations.

AI-based systems have the potential to help maximize the efficiency of plants, which means lower heat rates, better fuel efficiency, reduced outage days, and longer intervals between planned outages. With this data-driven intelligence, these systems enable engineers to make bolder and more accurate decisions.

The expansion of Project Arkanghel to AboitizPower’s coal plants in Luzon and Visayas is a pragmatic step in the company’s balanced energy mix strategy. It acknowledges the immediate need for stable, dependable, and cost-effective baseload power while renewable energy capacities continue to grow.

The company is also encouraged by better numbers from its portfolio businesses.

ACMobility’s net income jumped to P122 million from P24 million, while Integrated Micro-electronics Inc. posted a net income of $7.6 million, a turnaround from an $8.8-million net loss in the same period last year.

AC Health and AC Logistics also narrowed their core net losses.

Gokongwei-owned JG Summit Holdings also expects sustained topline performance driven by improving consumer sentiment.

“Overall, we are optimistic on the future prospect of the business and will continue to look for opportunities to scale up into adjacencies in airport infrastructure, supply chain/ logistics, and digital finance,” JG Summit president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei said.

PHILIPPINES THRIVES IN 2025

ECONOMY REPORT 2025

Meralco bets on AI to power next century

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power retailer, is preparing for the emergence of “cognitive enterprises” — businesses that use disruptive technology to improve customer experience, the company’s chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said at the One Meralco AI Summit this month.

US tariff deal a downgrade for Philippines—PIDS paper

A REPORT by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) says the recent trade deal with the United States has put the Philippines at a disadvantage compared to Indonesia and Vietnam.

On July 22, US President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to a 19-percent tariff rate on Philippine goods. While this was a slight reduction from a previous 20-percent announcement, it was actually higher than the 17 percent rate that was in effect in April. This means the Philippines experienced a downgrade in its tariff standing, according to PIDS.

In contrast, Indonesia and Vietnam saw their tariff rates drop significantly from much higher starting points. The study’s authors, Josef Yap and Francis Mark Quimba, highlighted the stark difference in outcomes.

“The world has reached an inflection point, and how we respond will determine whether Meralco continues to lead,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said companies that adapt quickly to the shift from artificial intelligence (AI) as a software tool to AI as a workforce will remain competitive. He said the World Economic Forum describes “cognitive enterprises” as continuously learning and improving with the use of “agentic AI,” where AI agents work alongside humans as partners.

“But let me be clear: no matter how powerful AI becomes, it cannot replace human judgment, creativity, and moral responsibility,” Pangilinan said.

“The cognitive enterprise of the future will be defined not by autonomous machines, but by humans who know how to harness AI’s capabilities,” he said.

Pangilinan said AI has gained “remarkable momentum” in the global business landscape but that many organizations are still learning how to maximize its use.

He cited reports by McKinsey that show organizations are moving rapidly from AI experimentation to deployment, and Deloitte’s prediction that a quarter of companies using generative AI will launch agentic AI pilots this year.

“This tells me we’re still in the early stages of this transformation—which means there’s tremendous opportunity for companies that approach AI strategically and thoughtfully,” he said.

Pangilinan said that although AI adoption is widespread, it “doesn’t need to be revolutionary but must first be practical.”

He said the Meralco Group is starting and leading the AI transformation now, with the MVP Group building the digital backbone that will power it.

PLDT, an affiliate of Meralco, recently inaugurated VITRO Sta. Rosa, the Philippines’ first AI-ready hyperscale data center with a 50-megawatt capacity, with plans to expand up to 500MW to establish the Philippines as a regional data center hub.

“This infrastructure will enable companies like Meralco and enterprises across the region to deploy AI at scale,” Pangilinan said, adding that the AI use cases built will become the foundation of a cognitive enterprise that serves the nation for generations to come.

Use, dangers of AI Pangilinan said that the use of AI, even with its potential to improve lives, comes with greater responsibility.

“We’re already seeing the dangers of using AI irresponsibly—from privacy breaches to biased decision-making to systems that fail when we need them most,” he said.

He challenged the One Meralco Group to leverage data to respond to the most pressing needs of customers and the country.

“But we must ensure these systems are reliable, secure, and aligned with our values before we rely on them for critical operations,” he said.

Meralco released its Responsible AI Policy in December for its employees as 8 million customers depend on the company.

Rocky Bacani, Meralco first vice president and head of information communications technology and transformation, said the company is following a phased approach to scale AI responsibly.

“Why phased? Because we are a utility — we are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. We must balance innovation with stability, security, and regulatory alignment,” he said.

According to Bacani, at One Meralco, data and AI are at the very core of their transformation strategy.

AI in action

Bacani cited the company’s Customer Sentiment Analysis tool, which analyzes thousands of feedback forms from business centers in an hour, a task that previously took two weeks manually.

He said Meralco Networks uses AI to predict overloaded distribution transformers before they fail, resulting in 55-percent fewer outages, P15 million saved and half a million customers protected.

Solar panel AI uses computer vision to identify rooftop solar installations across the Meralco service area, with early results showing an improvement to an 88-percent hit rate from 17 percent.

“We’re still refining the model, but this helps us understand patterns and plan grid integration better as our customers evolve to prosumers,” he said.

Meralco subsidiary Radius developed two AI tools for internal efficiency: AI Transcriber and The Contract Reviewer, which analyzes agreements and flags potential issues.

Bayad Center’s Project PIE (Posting Inquiry Engine) automates customer inquiry responses, cutting handling time by 46 percent and saving P2.65 million annually.

Bacani said Meralco is entering a new phase where AI systems stand “shoulderto-shoulder” with employees as “visible, active partners.”

“This is not about AI replacing people. It’s about amplifying people—building a future of co-creation, where human judgment and AI capabilities work together,” he said.

“With AI beside us, and by our side, One Meralco will power a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy future — together,” said Bacani.

It says the Philippines saw a minimal improvement of just 0.32 percent, while Indonesia gained 8.47 percent and Vietnam, 12.15 percent.

The report says that when considering the size of exports, the effective tariff increase for the Philippines was more than double that of Indonesia and over five times that of Vietnam.

A separate deal with Japan, which secured a lower 15 percent tariff, further emphasized the Philippines’

weaker negotiating position, it says. Yap and Quimba concluded that the Philippines has a long history of giving in to US demands with little to show for it, citing the country’s weaker export performance compared to its regional peers.

The PIDS paper urges the Philippines to stop simply reacting to US policy shifts and instead develop a proactive strategy.

The report says the Philippines should instead strengthen regional alliances, particularly within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), create shared intelligence networks to anticipate and understand sudden changes in trade policy, build alternative trade partnerships through agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and reduce dependence on USdominated systems.

On a domestic level, the report advises the Philippines to focus on improving industry competitiveness, cutting non-tariff trade costs and using more affordable US imports for manufacturing to boost production.

The paper suggests that the Philippines send a clear message to Washington that unfair demands will impact future negotiations and that undermining trade rules ultimately harms the US credibility.

Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan

US President Donald Trump meets with Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2025. US President Donald Trump voiced confidence Tuesday at reaching a trade deal with the Philippines as he welcomed his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos to the White House. AFP

PLDT, Globe tap AI to unlock growth potential

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Philippines’ two largest telecom companies, PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom, are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operations and customer service, reflecting a broader national trend toward adopting new technology.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says AI can be highly beneficial to sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, transportation and finance. The DICT also noted that AI has the potential to boost global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 7 percent by 2030, with the Philippines specifically poised to unlock $79.3 billion in productive capacity.

The Philippines leads the world in interest for generative AI, with 5,288 searches per 100,000 people for generative AI tools and 5,236 searches per 100,000 for text-generation AI, according to the DICT.

Globe Telecom Globe is using AI to speed up automation and improve decisionmaking, said president and chief executive Carl Cruz. “Innovation only matters if it creates real impact,” he said.

consumption, which supports both cost control and sustainability goals.

AI is also being used by the marketing team to accelerate content creation and streamline workflows.

DA pushes digital farming, climate-smart practices

By Othel V. Campos

AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco

Tiu Laurel Jr. has called for urgent reforms in the farming sector, saying that digital and climate-smart practices should be adopted amid extreme weather, shrinking farmlands and fresh trade uncertainty from higher US tariffs.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is promoting revised cropping calendars, greenhouse farming and water-saving systems, while also rolling out mobile soil labs and precision tools.

up these innovations.

“The future of our agriculture depends on the choices we make now,” he said. “We must support our farmers, embrace technology, and build strong partnerships for a foodsecure, sustainable future.”

Tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are used for drafting memos and reports, while Canva Magic Studio helps with visual content.

Cruz said AI is being applied across all functions to serve customers better and faster, from expanding chatbots for efficiency to using large language models for sentiment analysis. PLDT

One of the most significant changes is in the company’s human resources department, which has fully integrated AI into its recruitment process using HireVue, an AI-powered platform that combines video interviews with skills assessments. This shift has cut the overall hiring cycle from weeks to just a few days.

In its network group, Globe uses AI for tasks ranging from coding and data forecasting to anomaly detection and repair diagnostics. The company has also implemented AI-assisted solutions through the EdgeWise platform to optimize energy

PLDT is preparing its workforce for “intelligent connectivity” by investing in AI bootcamps and upskilling programs. “If our people don’t embrace AI, there’s no way we can lead with it,” said Menardo Jimenez Jr., PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer.

Jimenez said the combination of 5G and AI is driving PLDT’s evolution from a traditional provider into a key player in developing next-generation solutions. “It is the power of both 5G and AI that will deliver the magic. Not just one or the other,” he said.

PLDT operates the Philippines’ largest data center network and is the only provider capable of offering GPU services essential for AI processing.

These assets position PLDT to meet the increasing demand from enterprises for scalable, highperformance AI solutions.

Speaking at the 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Forum hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Tiu Laurel said innovation is crucial for the sector to remain viable.

“These challenges are not distant threats. They are here now,” he said. “They demand urgent, creative, and adaptive solutions.”

Tiu Laurel noted that artificial intelligence is being used to optimize planting schedules, forecast yields, and reduce losses, alongside regenerative farming methods to restore soil health.

The DA is also working to attract younger Filipinos into farming through scholarships, mentorships, and startup support, noting the average farmer is now over 55 years old. The department is expanding crop insurance, early warning systems and public-private partnerships to scale

The DA chief’s call comes as trade negotiations with Washington have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the Philippines had accepted a 19-percent tariff on its exports while granting duty-free access to American goods.

Tiu Laurel said he had received assurances from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs that key farm products, including rice, corn, sugar, chicken, fish and pork would be protected in the talks.

Malacañang clarified that no concessions harmful to local producers have been made and that exemptions for sensitive exports such as semiconductors and electronics are being sought.

The tariff discussions follow a $1.95-billion agricultural trade deficit for the Philippines with the US in 2024, despite a $3.98-billion overall surplus. Coconut oil led Philippine farm exports at $558.7 million, while US shipments of feeds and cereals remained dominant.

While Tiu Laurel admitted that zero tariffs on US farm imports could pressure local producers, he also said cheaper inputs could benefit the livestock and food processing industries.

Gov’t promotes diversified, future-ready economy

By Thony Rose Lesaca

DIVERSIFIED, productive and inclusive growth is key to a strong and resilient Philippine economy amid global uncertainties, according to Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

Speaking at the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ (EJAP) economic forum, Balisacan said the country needs to expand its demand side of growth beyond household consumption by building on investments and exports.

Shifting growth toward the manufacturing sector and higher value-added services is projected to provide more quality jobs, better wages and stable employment for

skilled and semiskilled workers, he added. This comes as services retain their position as the country’s top sector, while structural challenges continue to affect agriculture and industry.

Balisacan also cited the need to strengthen regional economies by empowering them against local economic shocks and connecting them with fastgrowing economic sectors. This can help broaden

the geographic base of the Philippines’ economic growth, which has been concentrated in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and CALABARZON since the 2000s.

The DEPDev chief said investing in better infrastructure, advanced technologies and technological innovations could help boost productivity. He said prioritizing quality education, strengthening healthcare and empowering the Filipino workforce are essential to fully harness the country’s “demographic dividend.”

“Our nation is advancing during a pivotal demographic window— marked by a growing workingage population and declining fertility and dependency rates— conditions that, if harnessed well, can accelerate economic growth,” Balisacan said.

He also acknowledged the emerging global growth of automation and artificial intelligence, while citing the importance of reskilling workers in roles vulnerable to automation and expanding job opportunities where human skills and AI can work together.

“A future-ready, competitive, and inclusive economy requires attracting strategic investments, expanding into new markets, and boosting productivity through technological diffusion and innovation,” Balisacan said.

“To achieve this, we must sustain reform momentum, adopt transformative policies, equip a workforce ready for the future, and fast-track the development of robust, accessible digital and energy infrastructure,” he said.

Globe president and chief executive Carl Cruz

Menardo Jimenez Jr., PLDT chief operating officer and chief technology officer

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Secretary

2025

SEC rolls out reforms to boost integrity, modernize markets

By Jenniffer B. Austria

NEWLY-APPOINTED Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Francis Lim is taking decisive actions to modernize the country’s capital markets, with a focus on reforms that promote transparency, reduce bureaucracy and make it easier for businesses to participate in the formal economy.

Since assuming office in June, Lim has pushed for structural changes aimed at restoring trust in financial markets. “At the SEC, we are doing our part to make integrity the default, not the exception,” he said.

Among the most significant changes is a 30-percent reduction in fees for certain filings and documents submitted to the SEC. This move is designed to make compliance more accessible, especially for smaller companies. “We reduced fees for each document by 30 percent, making disclosures and other documents more affordable,” Lim said.

The SEC also implemented rule changes to eliminate red tape, including streamlining processes and removing unnecessary regulatory burdens that have long discouraged companies from listing or expanding their operations.

“We approved rule-cutting, red tape, and eliminating the unnecessary. We are promoting digital processes

under the Securities Regulation Code,” said Lim.

Digitalization is a key part of Lim’s reform strategy. By moving services and transactions online, the SEC aims to make regulatory compliance faster, more transparent, and less prone to corruption or delay.

Capital markets

Another major initiative is aimed at encouraging small businesses to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). To support this, the SEC is now offering a 50-percent discount on listing fees.

Lim, who headed the local bourse from 2004 to 2010, said the incentive is not only about financial relief but also about raising governance standards. “We have granted a 50-percent discount to incentivize small businesses to join the formal economy and list themselves on the PSE to improve their governance and ethical practices,” he said.

This move will hopefully enable the Philippines to catch up after falling behind neighboring countries whose bourses have become bigger

than the Philippines’. He noted that Vietnam, whose stock market is much younger, has outranked the Philippines in terms

of the number of listed companies, market capitalization and stock market value turnover.

More reforms

Internally, Lim has also set a clear tone for leadership within the SEC. He has asked all employees to adopt three core principles: serve with integrity, act with urgency and lead with purpose.

“These reforms are not just process improvements—they are signals that ethical leadership can, and must, be built into the very architecture of our markets,” he said.

Lim said these efforts are just the beginning. More reforms are expected, particularly in improving execution and ensuring that rules are applied consistently and fairly.

“When I accepted the SEC Chairmanship—after months of deep reflection—I saw it not simply as a position, but as a calling,” Lim said.

“In the spirit of servant leadership, for the sake of our country and the generations to come, I want to help create markets that earn investors’ trust, that our companies depend on, and our nation can be proud of,” he said.

Through these reforms, Lim aims to transform the SEC into a more agile, responsive and trustworthy institution—one that enables growth while holding companies to the highest ethical standards.

Newly-appointed Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Francis Lim

PHILIPPINES THRIVES IN 2025

ECONOMY REPORT 2025

PH gov’t debt still manageable as revenues rise

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE Philippine government’s outstanding debt is “sustainable and manageable,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said, citing the country’s improving debt metrics and rising revenue collections.

Recto said the country’s total debt stood at P16.05 trillion at the end of 2024, a figure he said was lower than those of neighboring countries. By the end of June 2025, the debt grew to a record P17.27 trillion, an 11.5 percent year-on-year increase.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, Recto said 69.2 percent of the country’s outstanding debt is domestic, ensuring that a majority of interest payments return to the local economy.

About 90.8 percent of the total debt portfolio has fixed interest rates and 82.2 percent has long-term tenors, which insulates the country from sudden increases in debt payments due to higher global interest or exchange rates.

“We will continue to adopt an 80:20 borrowing mix in favor of local sources to take advantage of domestic liquidity and mitigate foreign exchange risks. At the same time, we will make sure that the economy will continue to outgrow the country’s debt, said Recto.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), said the national government’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains manageable at 63.1 percent, similar to the 63.7 percent ratio three years ago.

“So far, global credit rating agencies have not yet been concerned and maintained the favorable credit ratings at 1-3 notches above the minimum investment grade ratings since the

PHILIPPINES THRIVES IN 2025

pandemic started five years ago,” Ricafort told the Manila Standard

However, he noted that it would be better to bring the ratio below the 60 percent international threshold. To achieve this, he cited the need for narrower budget deficits through antiwastage and fiscal reform measures, including the “right-sizing” of the government.

He also suggested “intensified tax collections based on existing tax laws” and “running after tax cheats.”

“If all else fails in terms of bringing down the NG debt-to-GDP ratio to more acceptable levels... new taxes and/or higher tax rates, as the final option/alternative,” Ricafort said. Rising collections

Speaking at a budget briefing in Congress, Recto said the government’s revenue collections are on track to reach P7 trillion by 2030, led by aggressive tax collection efforts and new fiscal reforms.

Total revenues are projected to grow by an average of 10.2 percent annually from 2025 to 2028, hitting nearly P6 trillion by the end of President Marcos’s term.

“By 2030, our total revenues will hit P7 trillion,” he said, adding that this requires the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) “to work harder and boost efficiency at a faster pace.”

Recto said the projections include additional revenues from recently enacted laws, such as the VAT on digital services and the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act.

He cited the government’s strong revenue performance, with collections growing by an average of 13.8 percent annually over the last three years. In 2024, the government achieved a revenue effort of 16.7 percent, the highest in 27 years.

“We are also on course to meet our fiscal program for the year, having already achieved half of our targets. As of mid-year, our tax collections continued to post double-digit growth, totaling P2.03 trillion. This is 10.7 percent higher than last year,” said Recto.

The finance chief said this robust performance has placed the Philippines among Asia’s top countries for revenueto-GDP ratios. The government also expects additional revenues from the soon-to-be-enacted Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime Act and is exploring a possible General Tax Amnesty this year.

With higher revenue collections and improved spending management, the government’s fiscal deficit is projected to drop from a pandemic high of 8.6 percent in 2021 to 5.5 percent in 2025 and to about 4 percent by 2028. It is expected to fall further to around 3 percent by 2030.

“Crucial to this is ensuring that we prevent wasteful expenditures,” he said.

Recto cited the government’s support for President Marcos’s directive to “closely scrutinize the national budget” and ensure that projects funded in the 2026 National Expenditure Program have the highest “multiplier effect.”

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto

BSP vows reforms after PH removal from EU list of high-risk countries

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to fighting financial crimes and upholding global standards after the Philippines was removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk countries.

The delisting on June 10, 2025, marked the third time this year the country has been removed from a major international watchlist.

“The BSP remains firmly committed to driving financial sector reforms, strengthening anti-money

laundering and countering terrorism and proliferation financing (AML/ CTPF) supervision, and building a resilient, inclusive financial system that supports economic growth and global confidence,” BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said in a statement.

Remolona, who also chairs the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC), said work is ongoing to identify areas where the Philippines can further improve its capacity to fight financial crimes and keep abreast with global standards.

The EU cited “improved effectiveness” in the country’s AML/CTF regime and the resolution of technical deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The Philippines was also removed from the United Kingdom’s list of

high-risk third countries on March 27, 2025, following the outcomes of a FATF plenary meeting in February. The exit from the FATF, UK and EU watchlists signals growing international confidence in the Philippines’ AML/CTPF regime, the BSP said.

It said the development is expected to generate benefits, including lower remittance fees and improved relationships between Philippine banks and their foreign counterparts, which in turn drives business activities.

IN BRIEF

By Thony Rose Lesaca

a rise in total premiums that exceeded the population growth rate of 0.87 percent. The growth suggests a higher level of adoption and use of insurance services within the population as of the quarter,” the IC said in a statement. The insurance industry posted a 3.62 percent year-on-year growth, with its total net income reaching P28.78 billion as of the second quarter of 2025. The total benefits paid and assets invested by the industry also grew to P77.57 billion and P2.26 trillion, respectively. PNOC EC seeks partners for

PNOC Exploration Corp. said it is seeking joint venture partners for its exploration program in Service Contract (SC) 57, also known as the Calamian block, located offshore northwest Palawan.

PNOC EC holds a 100-percent interest in SC 57, a 7,120-squarekilometer area about 10 km northeast of the Malampaya Field.

The block is within the prolific northwest Palawan basin and hosts the Bantac 1 well, a non-commercial oil discovery made by Occidental Petroleum.

The company is open to a joint venture partner taking a participating interest of 51 percent to a maximum of 70 percent in SC 57.

“Pursuant to Executive Order No. 80 s. 2019 and its implementing rules and regulations under DOE Department Circular No. DC202002-0006, PNOC EC now calls for the submission of letter of intent from interested parties to participate in the selection of a joint venture operator for a minimum of 51 percent to a maximum of 70 percent participating interest in Service Contract 57,” it said.

Third-party participants should submit their letters of intent by Aug. 5, 2025, and obtain the farm-out documents.

“Only third-party participants that submitted LOls and signed confidentiality agreements shall be allowed to conduct due diligence on SC 57,” PNOC EC said. The deadline for proposal submissions is Sept. 19, 2025, at noon.

PNOC EC previously sought joint venture partners for SC 57 in 2022, but the effort did not materialize.

Alena Mae S. Flores

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), has teamed up with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Phils.) to launch the country’s first Pharma Innovation Hub, forming part of the company’s expected P7-billion investment in the Philippines to advance healthcare innovation and expand access to affordable medicines.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, who also chairs the PEZA board, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between PEZA directorgeneral Tereso Panga and AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin on Aug. 19, 2025. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca’s Innovation Hub will serve as a regional platform for digital health technology, research

and development collaboration and patient-centered healthcare solutions.

Its first project will be the creation of an Oncology Innovation Center, modeled after AstraZeneca’s global hub in the United Kingdom.

The center will leverage artificial intelligence for early cancer detection, enhance patient-support programs, build healthcare workforce capacity and promote evidence-based policymaking.

The partnership also covers AstraZeneca’s support for the Philippines’ investment promotion efforts through business forums, investment briefings, B2B sessions and international delegations to attract healthcare-related investments.

PEZA will help identify strategic ecozone locations, streamline regulatory processes, and link the company with support industries and potential joint venture partners.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

(SMRs) in

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and

assessments. The company sees SMRs as a potential solution for offgrid areas. The Philippine utility also held discussions with existing partners, including Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), Samsung C&T Corporation and LG Energy Solutions. The company said the visits included LG’s Namwon Substation, which hosts

DBM BUILDING. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, together with Undersecretary for Local Government and Regional Operations Wilford Will Wong, sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the construction of the new DBM Building within the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus, on Aug. 13, 2025. Three of DBM’s biggest regional offices—DBM National Capital Region, Region IV-A and Region IV-B, will be relocated inside the UP Diliman campus upon the successful completion of the DBM Diliman Building.

COURTESY VISIT. Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive Agnes Devanadera receives Thai Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor during a courtesy visit on July 31, 2025. Ambassador Sumitmor was briefed on Clark’s investment and tourism programs, followed by an open forum and site tour, which included key developments in the Freeport.

AXA VOLUNTEERS. AXA Philippines opens its Makati headquarters to children from the Payatas Orione Foundation Inc. for a fun-filled day of storytelling, play and learning. AXA turned its commitment to community into action during this year’s AXA Week for Good (AWFG), the flagship annual celebration of AXA Hearts in Action, the company’s global employee volunteering program. AWFG

EEI backlog soars to P36.85b, signaling stronger revenue growth

LEADING construction company

EEI Corporation (EEI) sees stronger revenue visibility and growth as its total backlog, or the unworked portion of existing contracts, has grown to P36.85 billion as of July 2025.

This is a 40 percent jump compared to the P26.39 billion backlog reported during the second quarter of the previous year.

The company is gaining momentum after a significant loss at the end of fiscal year 2024, which was primarily caused by provisions for claims related to prolonged pandemic lockdowns.

During the lockdowns, EEI prioritized the safety and well-being of its people, continuing to pay full wages, food, and lodging to active employees despite the work stoppages.

“Sometimes, we need to take a step back if we want to take care of our employees, particularly during the most difficult times,” said Henry Antonio, EEI president and chief executive.

“We believe that profitability is not the only metric for responsible corporate governance, and that the measures we took in the past were necessary for the long-term future of EEI. Now that we have momentum back in obtaining new projects, we are confident that we will have the full support of the workforce that we took care of during those times of uncertainty.”

EEI recently secured two infrastructure contracts for the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) 07. The projects are worth a combined P1.8 billion.

SM unit building P1.5-b hotel in Sta. Rosa

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SM HOTELS and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hospitality arm of property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc., is set to expand its regional footprint with the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Sta. Rosa in the first quarter of 2029.

The P1.5-billion development will feature 201 rooms, dining outlets, a pool, a gym and spaces for meetings and events. It will be directly connected via a bridgeway to SM City Sta. Rosa and the SMX Sta. Rosa Trade Hall, a new 4,000-square-meter events venue targeting regional and national MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) markets.

“With the City of Sta. Rosa’s growth as a business and industrial hub, demand for accommodation from business and leisure travelers continues to rise. The new hotel will meet this need, generate local jobs and boost the city’s economic activity,” SMHCC executive vice president Peggy Angeles said in a statement.

The hotel is part of the SM City Sta. Rosa integrated development, which also includes The Core Towers, a recently launched three-tower office complex catering to business process outsourcing firms. The project was

OVER the decades of national-budget making in this country, flood control projects have established themselves as two of the principal sinkholes of tax payermoney usage.

The disgraceful record of flood control was again brought to the forefront of national attention during the recent backto-back typhoons that brought knee-high water to the cities and municipalities of some of this country’s most important regions.

The ensuing events were entirely predictable. All the major non-governmental sectors of Philippine society – civic, business and professional organizations, the churches, the press, transport groups and consumer associations – were up in arms and denouncing those who in their view were mainly accountable for yet another manifestation of inability to do a good flood-control job.

The usual objects of their denunciation –the usual suspects – were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Congress, the local government units

designed by architectural firm H1 Architecture.

SM Prime said Sta. Rosa has become a key player in the Calabarzon region’s economy, driven by manufacturing, IT-BPO, ecozones and real estate. It ranked 11th among highly urbanized cities in the 2024 Department of Trade and Industry’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index. SMHCC operates 10 hotels with more than 2,600 rooms, along with six convention centers and two trade halls offering over 42,000 square meters of leasable space. Its portfolio in-

cludes brands such as Conrad Manila, Radisson Blu, Park

by

Lanson Place,

and Pico Sands

Over the next five years, the company plans to spend P15 billion to build eight new hotels and two convention centers in key destinations across the country. This will add more than 1,500 hotel keys to its current portfolio.

SMHCC set an aggressive expansion plan amid strong occupancy rates across its hotel and convention properties.

PSEi falls below 6,300; peso closes at 57.1 a dollar amid foreign selling

SHARE prices extended their decline Tuesday, as strong foreign selling and a lack of positive catalysts pushed the market into a sideways movement.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped 11.21 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 6,277.67. The broader all shares index dipped 3.21 points, or 0.09 percent, to 3,737.90.

The peso also weakened, closing at 57.1 to the U.S. dollar, down from 56.965 on Monday.

“The local stock market extended its decline as investors continued to exit amid a lack of positive catalysts,” said Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc. He noted that investors are also awaiting the upcoming Jackson Hole Symposium for clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.

Sectoral indices were mixed, with conglomerates advancing 0.87 percent while services declined 1.22 percent.

Market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 101 to 86. Trading was active, with a value

turnover of P6.18 billion. Foreign investors were net sellers, with outflows reaching P1.22 billion.

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was the day’s top index gainer, jumping 11.73 percent to P30. Converge ICT Solutions Inc. was at the bottom, declining 3.54 percent to P14. Asian stock markets traded in a narrow range Tuesday and oil prices dipped after US President Donald Trump held what he called “very good” talks with Ukrainian and European leaders on ending the war. Hopes for a breakthrough rose after Trump said he spoke by phone with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and others at the White House.

“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky,” Trump said. Jenniffer B. Austria with AFP

Flood control chaos: DBM is partly accountable

(LGUs) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

One governmental institution is missing from this line-up of the usual objects of denunciation. That institution is the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). DBM is never included in discussions of accountability for the occurrence of disasters like the recent floods. This is incomprehensible and wrong.

Congress deserves to be held accountable because it is the instrumentality of government that appropriates— misappropriates appears to have become the more accurate word—funds for infrastructure projects. And the implementing agencies, especially DPWH, deserve to be castigated for mis-installing or altogether failing to install projects for which Congress has appropriated funds. And they are going to be held accountable for the losses and damage caused by the recent floods.

But hardly anything is being said or written about the role played by DBM in

—“—

DBM should not just be a releaser of funds, but should monitor funds after they are released.

the disaster. It is as though DBM was just a bystander and was not involved in any of the terrible things that recently befell Metro Manila and other parts of this country. DBM again got a free pass.

As already stated, this is not right.

Contrary to the apparent thinking of the DBM’s leadership and staff, their institution’s responsibility does not end with the release of Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and other documents supporting releases of funds. Their responsibility goes beyond making releases of funds. After all, the word ‘Management’ is part of their institution’s name.

It is my view that, in the fulfillment of its budget-management responsibility, DBM

should not just be a releaser of funds but should monitor funds after they are released with a view to determining (1) whether the funds are really used for the declared projects and (2) whether the funds are fully spent and not partially ‘parked’.

The DBM needs to have a counterpart of the US Congress’s Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which not only processes requests for releases of funds but evaluates the performance of other agencies in the implementation of their projects. CBO’s annual report is treated with great respect and its criticism of an agency’s fund-use record is regarded as something to be avoided.

DBM is called the Department of Budget and Management for a reason. Its job is to ensure that the annual national budget is not—‘ceases to be’ is probably more accounts—a piggy bank for Congressmen and their favorite contractors. Otherwise, we might as well drop Management from its name and merely call it Department of the Budget.

(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)

Inn

Radisson,

Taal Vista Hotel

Hotel.

FINANCING AWARD. (From left) Mizuho Bank Manila Branch vice president for corporate banking Juan Ramon

Antonio Gonzales and deputy general manager Jenny Lomboy with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation AVP for corporate finance & treasury Emlyn Apostol and assistant manager for treasury Diesa Lee Magbanua receive The Asian

Banker award for Best Corporate Trade Finance Deal in Asia Pacific — recognizing the successful financing of the toll road giant’s stake in Indonesia’s Trans-Java Toll Road, which was fully completed in 2024.

ABOITIZ LAND’S AWARD. Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, president and chief executive of Aboitiz Land and head of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, is honored as the Real Estate Personality of the Year in the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2025.

COMMUNITY

SPOTLIGHT

El Shaddai’s 41st Anniversary shows power of community, faith

Why sowing mangroves means saving lives

By Bernadette Araño

THE Philippines, one of the most typhoon-prone nations globally, repeatedly confronts deadly storm surges. While seawalls and flood barriers are commonly built for protection, nature has long provided an equally effective shield in the form of mangrove forests.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mangroves act as living barriers that absorb wave energy, reduce flooding, and prevent erosion. Research compiled by TU Delft shows that a healthy 100-meter stretch of mangroves can reduce wave height by between 13 and 66 percent. In addition to coastal protection, mangroves store carbon, serve as nursery grounds for aquatic life, and support coastal livelihoods.

One of the most significant examples of their value lies in Metro Manila. The Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park spans 181 hectares, with around 30 hectares of mangroves that shelter migratory and threatened birds such as the Philippine Duck and Chinese Egret.

The site was declared a critical habitat in 2007 and later included in the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System. It also holds international recognition under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Despite rapid urban expansion around it, the Parañaque mangrove forest remains a rare refuge of biodiversity and a model of both conservation and disaster protection.

Equally vital are the efforts led by communities and private partners. For 14 years, Manila Standard has sustained its IntegriTree program, which has already planted more than 20,000 trees, bamboo, and mangrove propagules across Luzon.

The most recent initiative in Calatagan, Batangas, brought together volunteers who not only planted 600 mangrove propagules but also conducted a coastal cleanup as part of Earth Day. With the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and partner organizations, IntegriTree has grown into a long-standing movement that proves how collective

impact. As the Philippines braces for

By Lyschelle Joy Armijo

MARKING its 41st year, El Shaddai filled the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park with worship and praise from the night of August 16 to the morning of August 17, 2025. Thousands of devotees arrived not only from across the Philippines but also from countries such as Singapore, Canada, and Thailand, proving how far the movement has reached.

Bamboo: A pliant blessing with boundaries

By Robert Harland

BAMBOO has long been celebrated in the Philippines for its versatility, sustainability and cultural significance. From traditional bahay kubo structures to modern eco-friendly furniture, bamboo is a fast-growing resource that supports livelihoods, reduces carbon emissions and offers a renewable alternative to timber.

Its roots help prevent soil erosion, especially in upland areas, and its resilience makes it ideal for disaster-prone regions. In recent years, bamboo farming has gained traction as a climate-smart solution, with government and private initiatives promoting its cultivation for construction, crafts, and even bioenergy.

Yet, while bamboo brings undeniable benefits, its unchecked growth can cause friction - especially among neighbors. Certain species of bamboo spread aggressively through underground rhizomes, encroaching on adjacent properties and disrupting gardens, fences, and drainage systems. In densely populated barangays, disputes may arise when bamboo shoots pierce concrete walls or block pathways. The rustling of tall bamboo groves can also become a nuisance, especially during storms, when branches sway violently or fall, posing risks to nearby homes. Even the leaves, though light and graceful, can accumulate in neighbors’ gutters and downspouts, clogging rainwater flow and creating maintenance headaches during the monsoon season. Moreover, bamboo’s rapid growth demands regular maintenance. Without trimming, it can become a fire hazard in dry seasons or harbor pests like mosquitoes and snakes. Some communities have raised concerns about bamboo obstructing sunlight, drying up nearby plants, or even damaging septic systems with its invasive roots.

THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), with the support of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), will lead the commemoration of the 42nd Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. on 21 August 2025, 8:00 a.m., at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City. A simple and solemn wreath-laying activity will be facilitated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines with flowers being offered by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV, NHCP Chair Regalado Trota Jose, Jr., Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) Chair Atty. Richard Palpal-latoc, MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Ines, Spirit of EDSA Foundation Commissioner Christopher Carrion, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Ma. Cristina V. Rodriguez, Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) Deputy Executive Director Francis Joseph A. Dee, August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) President Volt Bohol, Project Gunita Cofounder Karl Patrick Suyat, and Mrs. Cecille Guidote-Alvarez of the Chino Roces Foundation, NAMSERV and Earth Saver. This program is part of a series of activities organized for the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day.

Throughout the night, the celebration flowed with preaching, heartfelt worship songs, and testimonies that inspired the faithful. In particular, stories of healing and answered prayers brought encouragement, while every song and prayer served as reminders of God’s enduring grace. Moreover, it was more than just an anniversary—it was a night of unity. Families, friends, and strangers stood side by side, lifting their hands in worship. For many, it became a moment of renewal—an experience that revealed the beauty of faith and the strength of a community bound together, even across oceans and borders.

Looking back, El Shaddai was founded in 1984 by Bro. Mike Velarde as a small Catholic charismatic movement with simple prayer meetings. Over time, however, it grew into one of the largest Catholic renewal movements in the world, drawing millions closer to God through prayer, worship, and service. Its mission continues to inspire gatherings like this anniversary celebration.

For longtime followers, the night held deep meaning. “I have been a devotee for 39 years, and at 82 years old, I still come here with the same faith I had when I first joined,” said Lola Fe, one of the eldest attendees. “Every year, I feel God’s presence in this gathering. It gives me strength, hope, and joy to see people of all ages worshipping together. As long as I can, I will keep coming back.”

Even though the rainy season brought wet and muddy grounds, the celebration pressed on with unwavering devotion. Instead of retreating, people brought tents, monoblocks, and mats to stay dry, proving that nothing could dampen their spirits.

Younger devotees also shared their stories. “I’m only 18, and I moved alone to Manila from Eastern Samar,” said James Torres. “It was my grandmother who introduced me to El Shaddai when I was little. Being here makes me feel closer to her and to God. Even if life in Manila is hard, coming here gives me comfort and strength, like I’m not really alone.”

In the end, the 41st anniversary proved that faith knows no age, distance, or circumstance. From the wisdom of an 82-year-old devotee to the hope of a teenager just starting his journey, the gathering stood as a living testimony that God’s grace remains the foundation of the El Shaddai community—one that will continue to grow, unite, and inspire.

Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. was a leading opposition figure during the Martial Law period. After an almost decade-long period of incarceration, he went into exile in the United States to undergo urgent surgery and later rehabilitation. During his exile, he continued to champion for the rescission of Martial Law and the return of democratic rule in his homeland. On 23 August 1983, he returned from exile and was arrested by state forces upon arrival at the then-Manila International Airport. While he was being moved into custody, he was assassinated at the tarmac of the airport which would later be renamed in his memory. His death is widely recognized as a watershed moment in the history of Martial Law in the Philippines and is often cited as one of the early manifestations of People Power after hundreds of thousands participated in his funeral procession. In 2004, Republic Act No. 9256 proclaimed 21 August of every year as Ninoy Aquino Day which is a

Devotees from across the Philippines and abroad gathered in worship at Quirino Grandstand as El Shaddai celebrated its 41st anniversary from August 16 to 17, 2025. Lyschelle Joy Armijo

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

SM CITY North Edsa, the first SM mall now celebrating its 40th anniversary, has opened the country’s third Book Nook, continuing SM Cares’s program to provide inclusive, community-centered learning spaces for Filipinos.

Located near schools and universities, the Book Nook is free and open to the public, designed

to encourage reading, storytelling, and cultural exchange. The launch on Aug. 14 coincided with Buwan ng Wika and featured a Baybayin workshop led by journalist and documentarist Howie Severino

The seasoned broadcast journalist discussed the importance of preserving Filipino scripts and identity, noting, “Baybayin is not

By Jasper Valdez

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is opening its vault of contemporary art to the public in a rare exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts, marking a shift from storing these works behind closed doors to sharing them in one of the country’s most visited cultural spaces.

Titled Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan., the show opens on August 15 and features 36 artworks from the BSP’s collection, now on view in Galleries 18 and 19 until 2027.

The project is part of the BSP’s ongoing partnership with the National Museum, which also houses more than 100 other pieces from the bank’s holdings, including 19th-century works by Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo BSP’s Bea Belen-Ferrer said the move addresses a long-standing limitation: the central bank’s headquarters does not have a large gallery for public exhibitions. “Art is for everyone,” she said. “We don’t want these works to be seen only by employees or visitors to the offices. By partnering with institutions like the National Museum, we make them accessible to more people.”

The BSP’s art collection, now numbering more than 4,000 pieces, began in the 1970s under then-Governor Gregorio Licaros, initially as decorative pieces for the newly built head office on Roxas Boulevard.

By the 1980s, under Governor Jaime Laya, the program evolved into a more strategic approach, acquiring works that reflected significant developments in Philippine art.

SM Cares expands inclusive culture, education hub with third Book Nook

just our native script—it’s a window to our pre-colonial civilization. We were a literate people long before the Europeans arrived.”

Book Nook pioneer Shereen Sy joined the event and spoke on

the role of stories in connecting communities.

“The Book Nook at SM City North Edsa reflects our deep belief in the power of education and culture to

she said. “We are proud to support initiatives that not only promote literacy but also celebrate Filipino heritage and identity, especially during Buwan ng Wika.” Severino and Sy also took part in the first learning session at the new space, which drew attendees for an exchange on reading, heritage, and culture.

The Book Nook at SM North Edsa follows earlier launches in other SM malls. SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, has positioned the program as part of its advocacy to promote literacy, education, and inclusive access to learning.

SM Supermalls, one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers with 88 malls in the Philippines, is marking four decades this year with programs that highlight its role in sustainability, innovation, and community development.

ERNANDO Zobel de Ayala gets a deeper and more studied look in Order is Essential at the Singapore National Gallery.

The newly opened exhibit is arranged in two sections. in Gallery 18, draws from works created between the 1960s and 1990s, a period regarded by art historians as the start of the country’s contemporary art movement. Many of the pieces capture daily life, social conditions, and the realities of ordinary Filipinos.

In Gallery 19, Pagtanaw focuses on art from the late 1980s onward, reflecting changing styles, techniques, and subject matter as artists pushed boundaries in the new millennium.

The roster of featured artists spans generations, from National Artist nominees and awardees to younger contemporary names. Viewers will find works by Antonio Austria, Pablo Baens Santos, Santiago Bose, Brenda Fajardo, Roberto Chabet, Charlie Co, Danilo Dalena, Ofelia GelvezonTequi, Mario Parial, Marina Cruz, Patricia Eustaquio, Emmanuel Garibay, Geraldine Javier, and others.

Many of these pieces had been in storage or displayed in BSP offices before this show. Others had been loaned in the past to local and overseas institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Gallery Singapore. Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan. runs until 2027, with plans to rotate some of the works over time so visitors will have reasons to return.

For the BSP, the exhibition is part of its broader role as a custodian of cultural heritage. While the bank is known for its currency and economic policy, Ferrer said its art collection represents another form of national capital—one rooted in creativity, history, and shared identity.

Lines tracking cosmopolitanism

Ferrer said this ensures the exhibit remains fresh while allowing more pieces from the collection to be seen.

“Even if we don’t have all the space we need, we will continue to find ways to share these works,” she said. “These are part of our heritage, and they deserve to be seen.”

The National Museum of Fine Arts is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Beyond the discussion of forms, techniques, and tasks of modernism, Singapore’s National Gallery espouses cosmopolitanism as a vital approach to and reach of Zobel. This provides a broader scope and a deeper reading of Zobel de Ayala’s works, as he was among the early proponents of modernism in Southeast Asia. I like the curatorial direction on Zobel via cosmopolitanism, which makes him borderless and crossing cultures. Usually, cosmopolitanism is associated with the welltraveled elite like Zobel. There is a danger in aligning “order” with a linear time element—that is, early work, middle work, and decline of the artist and systems. However, time through the lines of Zobel is a function of shifts and dialogue with older works. He is attributed as thoroughly modern, and yet, Zobel initially latched onto the colonial legacies of Philippine images. Is something considered modern if it draws from the past? Thus, order here is the way things are recast and recalibrated, and not a clean linear progression of differences. Order is diminishing hierarchies and shifting positions, which Zobel and his cohorts made significant strides in. For Zobel, this was not only in the Philippines but also in greater East Asia and Spain.

The exhibit juxtaposes Fernando Zobel’s writings on Philippine religious art with his early abstractions

Although his image approach is modern, several themes in Zobel’s works in this exhibit are reminiscent of classical and European influences. Among his most notable images is a vast work that displays his signature streaks from an injector filled with paint. He did not merely drip paint randomly but created a sense of calculated motions, as if in a dance.

The work Icaro is named after the Greek mythological character Icarus, who represented the hubris and folly of youth who dared to fly near the sun, which led to his demise. This is the anchor of Zobel’s art that radiated throughout his career. It is not lost on me that Icarus, in Zobel’s work, is not in free fall but soaring near the horizon. It is poised to achieve great heights, marking the early onset of his journey. It is not about the eventual fall, which is part of the order of things, but about setting the directions of the order.

My favorite part of the exhibition is at the end, where you can see an intricate map of encounters and artistic progenies emanating from Zobel. At the lower left is a copy of a painting of Zobel, which resembles this infographic. It is brilliant because Zobel’s lines are the ones that truly compound weights and measures in art history.

You may reach Chong Ardivilla at kartunistatonto@ gmail.com or chonggo.bsky.social

Attendees join the first learning session at the new Book Nook, celebrating Buwan ng Wika

Pieces from the BSP collection highlight themes of daily life and social realities in Philippine art

Primer Chong Ardivilla

Fernando Zobel’s dynamic movements are captured in an archival image