840K deaths linked to work-related risks–ILO By Justine Xyrah Garcia
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WORLD » A6
IRAN PROPOSES TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITHOUT NUCLEAR AGREEMENT, OFFICIALS SAY
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ORK-RELATED psychosocial risks—including long hours, job insecurity, and workplace bullying—are linked to nearly a million deaths globally each year, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In its latest global report, the ILO estimated that 840,088 deaths annually are attributable to these workplace stressors, primarily through their impact on cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders. The bulk of deaths were tied to
heart-related conditions, with 783,694 fatalities from ischemic heart disease and stroke. Meanwhile, 56,394 deaths were linked to mental disorders, including suicide. The ILO said these risks stem from what it describes as the psychosocial working environment— how jobs are designed, organized and managed, as well as workplace policies and interactions that influence workers’ health, well-being and productivity. When poorly managed, the Geneva-based body said these conditions can create harmful stressors that increase the risk
of serious illness. “Work-related psychosocial risks represent a major and growing threat to workers’ safety and health, organizational productivity and broader economic performance,” the ILO said. Regionally, Asia and the Pacific—where the Philippines belongs—recorded the highest number of psychosocial risk-related deaths at 463,313. Of this total, 431,701 deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases, while 31,612 were linked to mental health conditions. The report identified long working hours as a key driver, with
35 percent of workers globally working more than 48 hours per week—a level associated with increased risk of stroke and heart disease. The burden is even higher in Asia and the Pacific, where 47 percent of workers exceed this threshold. By sector, long hours are most common in wholesale and retail trade (49 percent), transport and communications (45 percent), and manufacturing (45 percent). The ILO also noted that long working hours are more prevalent in informal employment, affecting See “ILO,” A2
BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business
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DOE: BAN ON NEW COAL POWER PROJECTS STAYS www.businessmirror.com.ph
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Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Vol. 21 No. 196
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By Lenie Lectura @llectura
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NERGY Secretary Sharon Garin said Monday the ban on new coal-power projects stays.
“We have a moratorium on new coal projects. If a permit was issued by 2019, even if you haven’t done it yet, you can complete it. But if you want a new permit, you will apply now, it is not possible because we have a moratorium. “And that moratorium is staying. There is no lifting of the moratorium. All the DOE is doing is to have them produce more electricity,” said Garin.
She made this clarification amid talks that her office is “pushing” for the lifting of the 2019 moratorium on new coal power projects. “There is no lifting of the moratorium. All the DOE is doing is to have them produce more electricity. And second, we are now reviewing which ones with licenses they obtained before 2019 will not be able to continue. And if See “DOE,” A2
GENEVA TALKS EYED AFTER LIMITED WTO OUTCOMES By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
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@blessogerio
HE Philippines is looking ahead to fresh negotiations in Geneva next month after global trade talks yielded only limited agreements, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said discussions at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon in March resulted in three formal decisions, which leave most issues unresolved and set for fur-
ther negotiations. “So those three. The rest, basically, no decision was arrived at,” Gepty told reporters on the sidelines of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ Gawad Yamang Isip in Pasay on Friday evening. Among the agreements reached, Gepty pointed to the deal on fisheries subsidies as the most significant, describing it as a “milestone” in efforts to address overfishing and excess capacity. “This is a milestone and important for us because that will See “WTO,” A2
LAGOON AND BEHOLD In Coron, Calachuchi Beach—once called Bulungan by the indigenous Tagbanua—anchors a curated eco-adventure by Calamianes Expeditions and Ecotours and Coron Geo-X, where small groups kayak and snorkel through island routes, drift into a hidden lagoon beneath limestone cliffs, and pause for a quiet beachfront lunch overlooking turquoise waters; a standout moment comes on the region’s first “sapot,” a web-like hammock suspended above the lagoon, offering a striking midair view that captures the tour’s blend of cultural grounding, environmental awareness, and immersive escape. BERNARD TESTA
Carpio sues Gov. Eli, AMLC over report By Andrea E. San Juan
BRACE FOR PROTECTION Blue bracelets mark infants registered for free vaccines as San Juan City launches its World Immunization Week drive on April 27, 2026. Spearheaded by Mayor Francisco Zamora, the campaign highlights the urgency of routine childhood immunization, providing accessible vaccines and primary health services to shield children from preventable illnesses. The event was held at the Makabagong San Juan Building, National Government Center on Pinaglabanan Street. NONOY LACZA
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AWYER Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, “vehemently” denied the “suspicious” transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) last week. Paul Peter Danao, the legal counsel of Carpio, revealed this after
he accompanied his client to file a criminal complaint against AMLC officers, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr., and some members of the House Committee on Justice before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. “Unang una, ang sinasabi ko nga, paano namin made-deny o ma-admit ‘yung mga sinasabing transaction kung hindi naman kami binigyan ng
kopya nung AMLC at hindi naman kami binibigyan ng mga reports kung saan galing yung summary ng AMLC,” Danao told reporters at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday. Danao added, however, that in his exchange with Carpio, the husband of the Vice President “vehemently denies” having the amount flagged by the AMLC. “[But in my talks with] Atty. Car-
pio, he vehemently denies having P6 billion [or is that] P3 billion?” added the legal counsel of Carpio, speaking partly in Filipino. On Monday, Carpio’s camp filed a criminal case against the BSP Governor, AMLC officers, among others, for alleged violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, bank secrecy laws and Data Privacy Act. Carpio’s camp said the indictment See “AMLC,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 60.7350 n JAPAN 0.3807 n UK 82.0955 n HK 7.7522 n CHINA 8.8911 n SINGAPORE 47.5905 n AUSTRALIA 43.3830 n EU 71.1328 n KOREA 0.0412 n SAUDI ARABIA 16.1930 Source: BSP (April 27, 2026)