THEBureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is moving closer to resuming its issuance of letters of authority (LOAs) as reforms are under way to improve the system.
In a statement on Wednesday, the BIR said it rolled out its five-point priority reform agenda, dubbed BIR DARES, and setting audit reforms as its top priority. DARES stands for Digital and Data Transformation, Audit Reform and Accountability, Revenue Collection and Base Protection, Employee Empowerment and Welfare Promotion, and Service Excellence and Stakeholder Engagement.
“BIR DARES reflects what we are already grappling with on the ground,” Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said. “These are not abstract priorities. These are the real challenges we face, and these are the reforms we are choosing to confront.”
Mendoza said audit reform is an “urgent” priority under BIR DARES, as trust in tax administration is shaped by how audits are conducted and how assessments are made.
The BIR halted in November its issuance of LOAs after business groups raised concerns over audit practices and the conduct of some revenue officers.
The pause allowed the agency to reassess its audit framework and address weaknesses in controls and oversight, Mendoza said.
As such, the BIR created a Technical Working Group Review Committee on Assessment Integrity and Audit Reform, which has been reviewing audit procedures and systems and drafting new rules to govern the resumption of audits.
Mendoza said the committee is now in the final stages of completing the policy issuances that will accompany the lifting of the suspension.
When audits resume, taxpayers can expect a public verification tool for Letters of Authority through the BIR website’s chatbot, a policy limiting audits to one LOA per taxpayer per year and the introduction of a “revalida” system, under which auditors will be subject to review to strengthen internal accountability.
Moreover, the BIR is moving toward a digitized and risk-based audit system, using data analytics to identify high-risk cases and reduce the discretion of individual examiners.
Mendoza said the approach will improve monitoring, minimize abuse and make audit outcomes more defensible.
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
spending remains resilient, according to the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro).
In its updated regional economic outlook released on Wednesday, Amro cut its growth projection for the Philippines to 5.2 percent in 2025, down from 5.6 percent previously; and to 5.3 percent in 2026, from an earlier 5.5 percent, citing “fairly weak” outturn per-
formance during the third quarter of last year.
Amro Chief Economist Dong He said during a virtual press briefing that while private consumption has remained firm, investment momentum has faced headwinds.
“So private investment, of course, needs to be supported by investor confidence. That public investment had been affected by some of the some of the, for example, flood control controversies,” He said.
The Philippine economy expanded by 4 percent in the third quarter of 2025, below the government’s 5.5 to 6.5 percent target,
amid slower spending and dampened investor sentiment following corruption allegations linked to flood control projects. This marked the country’s weakest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2021, when output shrank by 3.8 percent.
Economic managers have since adjusted their expectations. Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan earlier said the economy likely grew by 4.8 to 5 percent in 2025, while the growth target for this year was narrowed to 5 to 6 percent, citing global trade and investment un-
On the price front, Amro lowered its 2025 inflation forecast to 1.7 percent, from 1.8 percent previously, and expects inflation to rise to 3.2 percent in 2026. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that the country’s average inflation rate stood at 1.7 percent last year, below the government’s 2 to 4 percent target range and the slowest full-year increase in commodity prices in nine years. While acknowledging that the Philippine economy has been
ALTHOUGH its economic growth faces domestic headwinds, the Philippines could turn the tide by shaping regional economic and geopolitical agendas, deepening trade ties and pushing digitalization as it chairs Asean 2026, according to Maybank.
During the Philippine Macro and Market Outlook 2026, Maybank Investment Banking Group
Economist Azril Rosli said the Philippines might benefit from its Asean chairship this year, as Maybank projects the economy to grow below 5 percent.
Maybank estimated the Philippine economy to grow by 4.9 percent in 2026, slightly faster than last year’s 4.8 percent, even as cuts in flood control spending and broader budget consolidation at
the Department of Public Works and Highways derail the government’s medium-term economic targets.
The impact of the flood control scandal is unlikely to have a lasting impact on the economy, Rosli said, but stressed that the outcome will depend on how proactively the government addresses the issue.
Still, the Philippines has strong institutional processes and impeachment proceedings that follow a clear constitutional framework, which helps contain uncertainty and prevent policy disruption, Rosli added.
Investor sentiment is also expected to remain anchored on fundamentals rather than short-term political noise, Rosli noted, as policy continuity re -
mains intact. Against this backdrop, he said the Philippines can leverage on its Asean chairmanship to strengthen the region’s economic resilience and global competitiveness by championing digitalization, integrating micro, small and medium enterprises and promoting inclusive growth.
“The 2026 chairmanship for the Philippines represent both a regional leadership test and an opportunity to reinvigorate Asean’s relevance on issues where consensus has been difficult,” Rosli said, particularly in the code of conduct in other geopolitical matters, regional diplomacy and balancing trade tensions with external partners.
Maybank Securities Philippines Head of Equity Research Kervin
Sisayan added that the country’s Asean chairmanship comes amid geopolitical risks in the West Philippine Sea, the United States and Europe, as well as other parts of the world.
Sisayan said a 5-percent economic growth for the Philippines remains “achievable” this year, as long as domestic demand remains robust.
“It’s not out of reach, especially given the government’s renewed push under its catch-up plans, as well as recently outlined the big bold reforms,” Rosli added.
However, Rosli said achieving the upper end of the target range, at 6 percent, will require swift and effective execution rather than just policy announcements. The government’s “big, bold
Billions
lack water as global systems decline —UN report
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
BILLIONS of people worldwide remain water-insecure as water systems in many regions continue to deteriorate due to overuse and longterm ecological damage, according to a new report released by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) on Wednesday.
The report said nearly threequarters of the global population live in countries classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure. Around 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.5 billion remain without adequate sanitation.
Separately, at least 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for part of the year, including in countries traditionally considered water-rich.
The UN said these indicators reflect what it described as “global water bankruptcy,” a condition driven not only by physical scarcity but by sustained overextraction and irreversible damage to rivers, lakes, aquifers, wetlands, and glaciers that limits recovery even during periods of normal rainfall.
UNU-INWEH Director Kaveh Madani said the long-standing description of a “global water crisis” no longer reflects reality.
“For decades, scientists, media, and policymakers have warned about a global water crisis. The word crisis suggests something temporary, a shock, an emergency followed by recovery. What we document in this report is a different reality,” Madani said during a press briefing.
“Emerging in many places, what we see is a persistent failure state where water systems can no longer realistically return to their historical baselines.”
The report pointed to the rapid depletion of natural water buffers that once absorbed shocks from droughts and climate variability.
UN said over half of the world’s large lakes have declined since the early 1990s, while about 35 percent of natural wetlands have been lost since the 1970s—an
BIR preps for return of LOA, vows…
“These reforms are being carefully designed to ensure that when audits resume, they do so under clearer rules, stronger safeguards, and better oversight,” the commissioner said.
Beyond audit reforms, the BIR will be accelerating the digitalization of tax services and revenue monitoring this year to support compliance and collection, which remains its core mandate.
Enforcement efforts will also focus on high-risk products, particularly vape, tobacco and fuel, which are vulnerable to tax evasion.
The BIR will also strengthen its workforce, as employee welfare and empowerment are essential to improving professionalism and service delivery across the agency, Mendoza added.
“This is about preparing the organization for what comes next,” he said. “The work being done now will define how we carry out our mandate moving forward.”
As the government’s main revenue-generating agency, the BIR raised P3.105 trillion in 2025.
This is 3.9 percent lower than the P3.232-trillion full-year revenue target, but an 8.9-percent increase from the previous year’s collection of P2.851 trillion.
This year, the BIR seeks to raise P3.579 trillion in revenues.
PHL raises $2.75B as it reenters global bond market
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THEPhilippines successfully raised $2.75 billion from its sale of tripletenor US dollar bonds, its largest deal in over three years, amid heightened market volatility and lingering geopolitical uncertainties.
On Wednesday, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) announced that it priced in its 5.5-year, 10-year and 25-year fixed-rate global bonds worth a total of $2.75 billion, as it reentered the global capital market for the first time this year on Tuesday.
The transaction attracted strong interest from high-quality investors, providing the country an opportunity to tighten pricing from the initial price guidance (IPG) across all tranches.
The 5.5-year offering was priced at 50 basis points over Treasuries, 20 basis points tighter than the 70 basis points initial price talk.
Likewise, the premium of the 10year tenor was 20 basis points tighter, at 80 basis points, than the IPG of 100 basis points.
Meanwhile, the 25-year was priced at 5.750 percent, 15 basis points tighter than the 5.900 percent IPG.
All three tranches of the global bonds were priced with minimal to no new issue premiums, the Treasury noted.
The global bonds are expected to be rated Baa2 by Moody’s, BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s, and BBB by Fitch.
The transaction is expected to settle on January 27, 2026. Proceeds from the bond sale are intended to be used for general pur-
poses of the Republic, including budgetary support.
“Notwithstanding elevated market volatility and geopolitical uncertainties, the transaction achieved tight pricing, a reflection of the Republic’s standing as a benchmark for high-quality emerging market credit and signals robust investor confidence in the country’s credit strength and long-term development trajectory,” National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said.
Proof of trust—Sec. Go
FINANCE Secretary Frederick D. Go said the “exceptional” reception of the country’s first international bond issuance this year demonstrates the trust global investors place in the Philippines.
“Their response affirms the du-
rability of our economic foundation despite challenging market conditions. We are encouraged by the acknowledgment of our solid recovery path, sound fiscal discipline, and our focused efforts to advance sustainable and broad-based economic progress,” Go said.
The transaction marks the Philippines’s return to global markets for the first time this 2026, following the $2.25 billion and EUR 1 billion bond sale in January 2025, and the $2.5 billion tripletranche bond offering in August 2024.
BofA Securities, Deutsche Bank, HSBC (B&D), J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS are acting as Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners for the transaction.
“growing steadily,” He cautioned that growth has yet to return to its faster prepandemic trajectory.
The chief economist said the government should focus on improving governance, restoring investor confidence, and prioritizing public spending—particularly through stronger public-private partnerships.
“What’s important is really to strengthen governance, investor confidence, and to prioritize public spending so the economy will become more resilient against, for example, natural disasters, climaterelated risks and [to] upgrade the capacities to be able to still compete effectively in the [artificial intelligence] age,” He added.
‘Deep-seated risk aversion’ BEYOND Amro’s outlook, researchers from De La Salle University (DLSU) Carlos L. Tiu School of Economics said persistent risk aversion among investors remains a key structural drag on the country’s growth prospects.
Jr.’s call not to let disputes define bilateral ties.
Trade, economic cooperation
JING highlighted China’s role as the Philippines’ largest trading partner over the past decade. He cited growing demand for Philippine agricultural exports such as durian, mangoes, and bananas, pointing to a $36.6-million durian deal secured by Davao exporters at last year’s China International Import Expo.
He also noted the popularity of Chinese consumer brands in the Philippines—from BYD electric vehicles to lifestyle names like Labubu, Pop Mart, Mixue Ice Cream, Chagee milk tea, KKV, Miniso, Huawei, Vivo and Xiaomi.
Looking ahead, Jing expressed hope for more cooperation in renewable energy, environmental protection, and the digital economy. He also pitched Chinese garbage-to-energy technology, which he said could process up to 10,000 tons of waste daily and generate 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—reducing pollution and lowering electricity costs.
Among infrastructure projects, Jing cited the newly-opened Bucana Bridge in Davao, built with Chinese assistance, which cut travel time from two hours to 20 minutes. He said similar bridges in Manila and Davao would soon ease transport and spur development.
Media responsibility JING underscored the role of journalists in shaping public perception, urging them to uphold objectivity and fairness.
“We welcome constructive dialogue and discussion, including on differences and disputes, but we oppose groundless attacks and smears. If fake news are spread, if China is defamed or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation. This is our duty. We have every legitimate right to let the public be aware of the basic facts and China’s position,” he said.
His warning was widely seen as a direct response to the ongoing war of words with Tarriela over the West Philippine Sea.
“The Chinese Embassy serves as a bridge for promoting friendship and cooperation, but also as a fortress in safeguarding China’s national interests and dignity,” Jing added.
He said he hopes that the Philippine media report “authentic voices from all sides—not just
one side” as well as promote China-Philippine bilateral relations. In marking the 50th anniversary of China-Philippines diplomatic ties this year, Jing said Beijing regards Manila as a friend and neighbor, offering “sincere assistance without seeking anything in return.”
He reiterated: “China’s development is not a threat to the Philippines; it is an opportunity.”
First engagement with media
THE New Year’s gathering with media featured cultural performances and booths highlighting Chinese culture, technology, and business. Exhibitors included CHAGEE, DJI, which presented agricultural drone applications, and China Road and Bridge Corporation, underscoring China’s role in infrastructure development.
The gathering marked one of the first formal engagements of Ambassador Jing with the Philippine media. Reflecting on his first month in the country, he said he had been encouraged by the warmth he encountered among Filipinos. “I have been deeply impressed by their hospitality, kindness, friendliness and the smiles,” he said, adding that such encounters “make my heart feel so warm.”
Related: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/12/08/ chinas-new-ambassador-tothe-philippines-jing-quan-veteran-of-us-china-diplomacy/ On maritime tensions, Jing acknowledged the existence of disputes but stressed that conflict benefits neither side. “None of the Filipino friends I have met hopes that our two countries would come into conflict. Neither does China,” he said. He emphasized that “any conflict would inevitably harm the long-term relationship between two neighboring countries,” and reiterated that “the best option is to sit down for talks and solutions in a diplomatic way.”
He also highlighted the need to manage differences responsibly even when immediate solutions remain out of reach. “It’s essential for us to keep communication channels open, refrain from provocative or confrontational actions, and prevent tensions from escalating,” Jing said.
Looking beyond security issues, the ambassador urged the media and the public to view bilateral relations in a broader context, citing trade, infrastructure, tourism, and cultural exchanges as key pillars of engagement. “The South China Sea issue is only one portion of China–Philippines relations,” he said, encouraging both sides not to allow differences to define the relationship. With a report by Wes Cabangon
In a separate economic outlook authored by Jesus Felipe, Mariel Monica Sauler, Gerome Vedeja, Seth Paolo Paden, the researchers said investment remains the economy’s most significant weak spot.
“Investment spending represents the most significant headwind to the current growth outlook. Growth in fixed capital formation has demonstrated a sustained deterioration throughout the year...Collectively, our estimates signal that deep-seated risk aversion continues to permeate within the private sector,” the report noted.
The researchers projected gross fixed capital formation to grow by just 1.7 percent in 2025, sharply lower than the actual 6.3 percent recorded in 2024.
Investment growth is seen turning negative, at –4.0 percent in 2026, a steeper contraction than the earlier –3.1 percent estimate. The findings come as the government rolls out a series of “big, bold” reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, including measures to reduce costs and improve infrastructure. See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/01/17/ big-bold-reforms-to-show-phlbiz-resolve/
Among the proposals presented last week were visa-free entry for Chinese nationals for up to 14 days via Manila and Cebu airports, as well as renewed funding support for the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program, whose unprogrammed appropriations were earlier vetoed.
DLSU researchers also flagged signs of cooling demand. Private consumption growth is projected to ease to 4.3 percent, from 4.9 percent in 2024, reflecting subdued consumer sentiment despite low inflation.
“Our forecast suggests that subdued consumer sentiment continues to weigh on demand, despite a modest rise in inflation. Given this context, we further anticipate the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas [BSP] to retain sufficient policy space to implement further rate cuts in the first quarter of 2026,” the authors noted.
Fiscal momentum, meanwhile, appears to be moderating. The researchers revised their estimate for fourth quarter 2025 government spending growth to 3.5 percent, down from a previous 6.9 percent, noting that heightened scrutiny of public accounts late last year slowed disbursements.
While full-year fiscal spending growth is still expected to settle at 8.8 percent in 2025, they said fiscal policy has provided less support to growth than earlier anticipated.
“While the services sector and export performance somewhat provide a critical buffer against a deeper downturn, overall growth is being constrained by a significant dip in capital formation and moderate private consumption. The domestic private sector is also burdened by caution and governance-related fiscal bottlenecks,” it noted.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
DICT demands safety measures for Grok
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
T@lorenzmarasigan
HE Department of Infor -
mation and Communica -
tions Technology (DICT)
is demanding that Elon Musk’s social media platform X—the company behind Artificial Intelligence platform Grok—implement safety measures to prevent the generation of child pornography and other harmful content, even for premium users.
Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said on Wednesday that the agency is now in the process of meeting with officials from X, formerly Twitter, to discuss the safety mechanisms that the tech company has to deploy for the government to lift Grok’s ban.
“While image generation and editing were limited to premium users, for us, these [harmful materials] shouldn’t be done even through premium—whether through X, other platforms, or through the app,” he said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
The government blocked Grok on Thursday, after the AI was found to have the capability to create sexually suggestive images of real people.
Users are able to generate these images simply by tagging Grok to an existing picture and prompting it to create a sexual version of it.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Renato Paraiso said X has committed to implement system fixes to prevent the unwanted features of Grok.
“Upon communications, they committed that they will fix the system to prevent unwanted features of Grok AI, particularly capability to create pornographic content, especially child pornography,” he said.
He added that the government is prepared to lift the blocking of Grok once X demonstrates what mechanisms will be put in place to prevent the generation of harmful content.
Aguda noted that the safety measures, once spelled out, will be applied globally, not only in the Philippines.
PHL highlights regulatory reforms at ICE Barcelona
THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation emphasized the importance of robust and effective regulatory enforcement to sustain growth in the online gaming sector during a gathering of global industry leaders at ICE Barcelona 2026 in Spain.
Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the rapid expansion of digital gaming has reshaped the industry, erasing borders, accelerating innovation, and exposing regulatory gaps that traditional systems were not designed to manage.
“The greatest threat to both regulators and licensed operators is not higher standards,” Tengco told an international audience of regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. “It is the continued presence of illegal and unregulated actors that undermines trust and distorts competition.”
Tengco cited the Philippines’ recent regulatory reset as an example of how jurisdictions must respond decisively to emerging risks.
He pointed to the government’s decision to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos), a policy fully enforced by the end of 2024 after offshore gaming was
Franchise mission to Indonesia nets ₧6.56 billion in export sales
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
APHILIPPINE government-led franchise mission to Indonesia generated P6.56 billion worth of actual and negotiated export sales, after bringing 11 local franchise brands to the Southeast Asian market, the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) said.
The outbound mission, conducted from October 29 to November 3, was organized by the EMB, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Jakarta and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA).
It coincided with the International Franchise and Business
Opportunity (Ifbo) Expo 2025, one of Indonesia’s largest franchise and business events.
“The strong turnout and substantial sales generated underscore the growing appeal of Philippine franchises in Indonesia and beyond,” EMB Director Bianca Pearl Sykimte said.
“This mission demonstrates the competitiveness of Filipino brands and the effectiveness of
our coordinated export promotion efforts with our overseas posts and private sector partners,” she added.
The delegation featured Philippine franchise brands across food and beverage, quick-service dining, wellness and personal care, education and review services, tourism and hospitality training, water refilling and franchise consultancy.
Activities during the mission included the setting up of a Philippine pavilion at the Ifbo Expo, market scoping visits to retail sites in Jakarta, and business matching meetings at the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia.
Ahead of the trip, the EMB and its partners also conducted a premission webinar on October 25 to introduce Philippine franchise investment opportunities to Indonesian participants.
Indonesia is the Philippines’ fourth major trading partner and one of its largest markets
in Southeast Asia, data from the Department of Foreign Affairs showed.
In 2023, total trade between the Philippines and Indonesia reached $12.2 billion, with Indonesia ranking as the country’s 15th export market and secondlargest import supplier. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to $11.63 billion. As of May 2025, Philippine exports to Indonesia totaled $1.05 billion. Filipino companies operating in Indonesia now offer a growing range of products and services, spanning food and beverage, aviation, shipping and logistics, fashion, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The Philippines is currently the seventh-largest franchise market globally and the largest in Southeast Asia, with more than 1,800 franchise brands.
The sector contributes about 7.8 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, according to industry data.
Group seeks unified fisheries ordinance for Cavite
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
linked to criminal activities such as fraud and money laundering, among others.
Pagcor, likewis,e intensified reforms across the licensed online gaming sector, shifting toward a more player-centric regulatory approach.
These measures include tighter know-your-customer and identity verification standards, mandatory responsible gaming tools such as self-exclusion and betting limits, and stricter controls on gambling advertising to protect minors and vulnerable groups.
Tengco said financial safeguards were also strengthened through restrictions on certain payment channels and the introduction of a new minimum guaranteed fee for licensed online operators to ensure fair contribution to government revenues and promote transparency.
“Regulation is not about avoiding discomfort,” Tengco said. “It is about building a system that is resilient, accountable, and worthy of public trust.”
He also highlighted Pagcor’s ongoing efforts to decouple its regulatory and commercial functions,
DPWH has 2,000 vacant positions for new engineers, fresh graduates
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started recruiting young engineers and fresh graduates to fill some 2,000 vacant positions as part of efforts to reform the agency and combat corruption.
Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon urged young professionals to join the government’s infrastructure agency during the launch of the DPWH Campus Job Fair at Mapúa University on Wednesday, which drew over 300 student applicants.
“This is a golden opportunity for you, young engineers, to come in and be part of the solution. Because that’s what we need. We need more people to join us and try to solve all these problems,” Dizon said at the event.
The secretary called on “dynamic and idealistic young professionals” to help address widespread problems within the department, including corruption. “We need to remove the rotten eggs and we need to bring in fresh blood,” Dizon added.
The DPWH chief expressed optimism about the strong turnout of fresh graduates, saying their participation demonstrates hope for meaningful change within the agency through youth engagement. The caravan is part of the broader reforms following the President’s directive to go after those responsible for anomalous projects while recovering stolen funds and implementing systemic changes. Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in Cavite is calling for a unified fisheries ordinance that will remove the municipal boundaries that limit the movement of small fishermen in the province, which they blamed on the alleged “repressive” fishing ordinance under Republic Act 10654 or the Amended Fisheries Code.
Pamalakaya-Cavite said that the zoning ordinance provision of the RA 10654 restricts municipal fishermen from fishing beyond the 15-kilometer municipal waters, despite having their boats licensed and registered in the province.
As an example, the group said, a fisherman from Tanza, Cavite is restricted to fish up to the neighboring town of Naic, thereby limiting his fishing ground and production capacity.
Making matters worse, the group said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) imposes fines and other penalties penalties amounting to P2,500 on every fisherman caught “fishing beyond municipal boundaries.”
“The zoning ordinance per town is unreasonable because fishing boats are registered in the Province of Cavite. It is only right that fishers registered in the province be allowed to fish anywhere in Cavite,” Richard Catenza, president of PamalakayaCavite, said in Filipino.
He lamented that what Bfar should go after are commercial fishers who enter the municipal fishing ground to fish.
Catenza said limiting the fishing ground of small fishers whose income is already small because of the dwindling fish catch is an added bane to Cavite fishermen and their families.
Pamalakaya said that it will demand that the provincial government in Cavite adopt a Unified Fisheries Ordinance, removing the municipal boundaries for municipal fishermen.
In addition, the fishers’ group reiterated its call for the immediate enactment of House Bill 5606, or the Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Bill, which seeks the exclusive rights of municipal fishermen in the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
Ex-senator, group file plunder, graft charges vs Vice President
FRemulla: No special treatment for Revilla
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
persons deprived of liberty, in strict adherence to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
ORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV and group calling itself “The Silent Majority” (TSM) on Wednesday filed plunder and graft charges against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Office of the Ombudsman.
The complaint, according to TSM founder Jocelyn Marie Acosta, covers alleged anomalies during Duterte’s tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and as Mayor of Davao City, including allegations of receiving funds from personalities linked to the illegal drug trade.
plunder for her alleged failure to account for the P650 million confidential funds she received for the Department of Education during her term as secretary and the OVP in 2023.
It also covers the P2.7 billion of Davao City’s confidential funds during her term as mayor.
“The foregoing gargantuan amounts of confidential and intelligence funds sought and purportedly spent by a single local government unit are unheard of in the annals of local governments in our country,” the complaint read.
Education secretary; the construction of only 192 classrooms out of supposed target of more than 6,000 classrooms; alleged ill-gotten wealth and non-declaration in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of more than P2 billion of deposits and other assets.
The complainants also accused Duterte of bribery for allegedly receiving money from a drug lord several times during her term as Davao City mayor.
INTERIOR Secretary Juanito
Victor Remulla on Wednesday
vowed there will be no special treatment for former senator Ramon Revilla and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First Engineering District officials and engineers following their transfer to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
On Tuesday, the BJMP confirmed the commitment of Revilla to the Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City.
“The DILG and the BJMP remain committed to upholding transparency, professionalism, and the rule of law in the implementation of court orders and the management of all detention facilities nationwide,” a DILG press release said.
The commitment order issued by the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division was in connection with the case involving Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents.
The new complaint accuses Duterte of graft, bribery and
A similar complaint was filed on December by civil society groups accusing the Vice President of employing a “systematic scheme” to divert, mishandle, and conceal confidential funds, through the preparation of vouchers, blind certification, encashment, handover, distribution and cover-up.
The complaint also accused Duterte of graft and malversation for the alleged P8 billion worth of overpriced laptops during her term as Education Secretary; the alleged more than P12 Billion of Commission on Audit disallowances in DepEd during her term; the alleged P7 billion unliquidated cash advances during her term as
“The ongoing investigations into flood control issues should not deter government agencies from pursuing cases against other officials—specifically Vice President Sara Duterte—who are involved in the systemic plunder of the nation’s coffers. Her prolonged silence and failure to address these grave allegations only underscore the need for immediate accountability,” Margaret Corazon “Maita” Aquino, TSM Trustee, said.
Lacson-Marcoleta word war worsens
TBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
HE word war between the current and past Blue-Ribbon committee chairmen has worsened after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta released a so-called “minority report” based on three hearings he conducted on the flood control projects corruption mess, effectively criticizing the direction the current inquiry is taking.
The minority report, signed by six of nine minority senators, was shared with reporters on Tuesday by Marcoleta and Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos, who has recently engaged the current Blue-Ribbon committee chairman, Sen. Panfilo Lacson in a word war.
Lacson, also Senate President Pro Tempore, said on Wednesday he found the minority report disrespectful to the Blue-Ribbon committee that he now chairs. He had replaced Marcoleta as panel chairman on October 8.
Marcoleta said the minority report was based on three hearings he had chaired before being replaced; Lacson has so far also called three hearings.
According to Lacson, the socalled minority report carries no weight, stressing that the only report that will be recognized will be the one that the Blue-Ribbon committee itself is prearing under him.
“That’s not in the rules,” Lacson said, referring to the issuance of a minority report. I don’t know why there was suddenly such a minority report. So, it means nothing. He
sent it to the Blue -Ribbon [committee]. What will I do with it?” Lacson said in a radio interview, speaking partly in Filipino.
“How do they expect me to respect their minority report even as a reference if the minority report itself symbolizes disrespect for the committee? How can I respect that?” he added.
The minority report was signed by six out of nine members of the minority bloc.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano was among those who did not sign.
A key part of the report implicates former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for his supposed active role in mangling the national budget for 2024 and 2025 to allow for insertions.
Romualdez has yet to answer the minority report allegation, but earlier repeatedly denied involvement in the flood control scandal.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the former Speaker may be invited again by the Blue-Ribbon committee in the next hearing, but had noted earlier that the latter could not be compelled to attend owing to interparliamentary courtesy that both Houses of Congress observe.
The report indicated that it was submitted to and was received by the office of Senate President Vicente Sotto III on December 10, 2025. Sottos said that his office subsequently forwarded it to the BlueRibbon committee, which has been receiving documents on the ongoing inquiry into the flood control corruption mess that spurred parallel
investigations in the House and Senate, led to indictments and the arrest of at least one former senator and Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and was marred by the suicide of a former DPWH undersecretary at the heart of the scandal, Catalina Cabral.
Senate President Sotto said the minority report is just a “piece of paper” unless it is taken up during the plenary session.
Don’t stampede Blue-Ribbon panel
THE current investigation by the Blue-Ribbon committee on the flood-control corruption mess need not end abruptly as it continues to unearth new details that may help current efforts of law enforcement and other relevant entities in the Executive and Judiciary branches.
Sen. Anna Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros stressed this point on Wednesday at the Kapihan sa Senado when asked if the BRC, chaired by Lacson, should already terminate its proceedings and issue a report.
Reporters reminded Hontiveros that Lacson had indicated that by the resumption of Senate sessions (January 26), a committee report may already be ready for distribution.
However, Hontiveros said she had “no firm update” yet on the date of the next hearing, and the final timetable for generating a committee report. “So I’ll wait to hear from the chairman.”
Meanwhile, Hontiveros said despite the continuing investigations by the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, and the fact that several people have already been indicted in the Sandiganbayan, there is no reason to force an unplanned conclusion of the Senate Blue-Ribbon committee processes.
“Definitely, the Blue-Ribbon [investigation] has helped ferret out the truth,” the senator stressed. “And, as we have experienced many times before, an investigation may continue even thiough case build
up is continuing, or throughout the filing of charges, or the court hearings, up until the incarceration of guilty parties,” she said in Filipino. She recalled how that “happened in the long inquiries she helped lead under the Senate Committee on Women that she chaired. So definitely, [more so, it’s] no different for the Blue Ribbon.”
“Whatever date the Blue Ribbon decides to adjourn and finalize the committee report, all of those, whatever findings and recommendations we made by then will remain useful on the side of the executive. And if there are issues we wish to follow up beyond the ending of the Blue Ribbon investigation, we can also submit as a resolution to the respective committees of the Senate, and I look forward to that, even in the Senate Committee on Health,” Hontiveros added.
Asked about the so-called “minority report” released by Marcoleta that said Romualdez is either complicit with crooks or negligent in his job, Hontiveros agreed that, indeed, “Leadership has greater responsibility. So that principle is shared among all the members and of course the leadership of the committee.”
She declined to commit on whether she will support or reject the minority report, because, she stressed, the priority is to have the Blue-Ribbon itself—not the minority—conclude its work with integrity and render a report. The Blue Ribbon, she noted, was created with the mandate to investigate misfeasance, malfeasance and nonfeasance in the conduct of the work of public servants.
“So first things first: like any committee doing an inquiry, the [BRC] leadership will draft a committee report which will make the rounds of members, who will give their comments on the findings and recommendations.”
“And if the minority submits a minority report, of course the majority led by the leadership will consider it and decide accordingly.”
Revilla surrendered on Monday night following the issuance of his arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan.
At the same time, the BJMP said it has also received into custody former DPWH officials and engineers Brice Ericson Diaz Hernandez, Jaypee de Leon Mendoza, Arjay Salvador Domasig, and Juanito Coronel Mendoza.
Revilla was received by the BJMP around 2:28 p.m. on Tuesday, while the four others were received at 5:35 p.m.
Revilla was received into custody by the BJMP by virtue of a Commitment Order issued by the Sandiganbayan, Third Division, directing the transfer of Revilla to BJMP custody.
The DILG and the BJMP assure the public that Revilla is being accorded the same treatment, security measures, and jail management protocols as all other
Remulla admitted however that the Remullas and the Revillas are local political allies in Cavite. Despite his close connections with the former senator, Remulla emphasized that Revilla, along with the other accused, will be treated the same as all Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in accordance with the law.
“Matagal na kaming magkaibigan. But, duty calls, there are no exceptions to the rule. Noong sinabi ng Sandiganbayan to arrest him, I advised him to, ang best na magagawa niya is to surrender peacefully,” Remulla said.
“Ang Sandiganbayan na ang magdedesisyon kung saan siya ilalagay. Ang available facilities ay sinubmit na namin sa Sandiganbayan. I assure you walang magiging special treatment,” he added, noting that Revilla’s license to own and possess firearms has been cancelled in accordance with existing rules.
Manila congressman files third cyberlibel case against Barzaga
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ANOTHER lawmaker on Wednesday filed a cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco
A. Barzaga over a viral social media post accusing members of the National Unity Party (NUP) of receiving bribes in exchange for political support.
Manila Rep. Rolando M. Valeriano of Manila, Committee on Public Order and Safety chairman and member of the NUP, said Barzaga’s post gives rise to cyber libel punishable under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code on libel.
He stressed that the allegation was publicly disseminated online and subsequently amplified through news sites and social media pages, widening its reach and exposing NUP lawmakers to public suspicion and reputational damage.
In his post, Barzaga claimed that NUP congressmen were given bribes by businessman Enrique Razon during several gatherings at Solaire prior to the 2025 elections, allegedly in return for backing the reelection of former speaker Martin Romualdez.
The filing argues that the statement is a direct public accusation of bribery against identifiable members of the NUP bloc, amounting to an imputation of a serious crime made without evidence and published on a widely accessible social media platform. It further notes that the post was widely circulated online in a manner that maximized reputational harm.
Valeriano asserted that the post was made maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth, emphasizing that no proof was offered to support the accusation. He added that sweeping allegations of criminal conduct broadcast online as fact are particularly damaging at a time when government officials are working to rebuild public trust in institutions.
Valeriano also disclosed that other NUP members affected by the same post are pursuing their own legal remedies, underscoring that the party remains united in defending its members and upholding institutional integrity. The NUP is currently the second-largest political party in the House of Representatives.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo V. Puno on Tuesday also filed a criminal complaint for cyberlibel against Barzaga, even as the lawmaker vowed to personally apologize to Razon for accusing him of bribery and admitted that his statements were driven by personal grudge.
The complaint specifically cites Barzaga’s allegation that “NUP Congressmen received bribes from Enrique Razon in various gatherings in Solaire prior to the 2025 elections in exchange for supporting Speaker Martin Romualdez.”
Ang’s registered guns surrendered to police
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE camp of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang has surrendered his registered guns to the authorities after his license to own and possess firearms and registration of his firearms were revoked by the National Police’s (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).
Ang is facing kidnaping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges before three different courts in connection with the disappearance of 34 sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts four years ago.
Arrest warrants against Ang had already been issued by the courts in Lipa City and Sta. Cruz, Laguna but he has yet to surrender to authorities or get arrested.
In his letter to Brig. Gen. Jose DJ Manalad Jr., acting FEO chief, dated January 20, 2026, Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, said his client’s firearms had been turned over at the Mandaluyong Police Station.
“In faithful compliance with the foregoing directives, and without prejudice to remedies available to him under the law, our client has peacefully surrendered the following firearms through his duly authorized representative at the
Mandaluyong Police Station, the nearest police station to his residence,” Villareal said in the letter. Turned over to the authorities were Ang’s Colt AR 15 rifle, 5.56 mm; Glock 9 mm; Sig Sauer 9 mm; Smith & Wesson .38 caliber; and Battle Arms Development (BAD) 9 mm pistol.
Another licensed firearm of Ang’s, a caliber .260 rifle, was not included among those surrendered to the authorities as it was lost sometime in October 2025, the letter said.
“We attached herewith the affidavit of loss executed by Mr. Ang in October 2025 attesting to the circumstances surrounding the loss of said firearm, as well as the blotter report from the Mandaluyong Police Station,” Villareal explained in the same letter. Ang’s legal team has filed a motion for reconsideration and to quash the arrest warrant issued against him.
Villareal earlier branded the issuance of arrest warrants against his client as “premature” and “legally questionable.”
He said the action violates Ang’s rights and is “constitutionally infirm.”
Villareal said they will exhaust all available legal remedies to give Ang the opportunity to challenge the arrest order.
Mayon spits out lava
TImpeachment case against Marcos now with Speaker
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE impeachment complaint filed against President Marcos has been formally transmitted to the Office of the Speaker, the House Secretary General confirmed on Wednesday.
House Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil said the transmission signals the start of the House of Representatives’ internal process in carrying out its constitutional mandate.
“Pursuant to established procedure, the Office of the Secretary General has transmitted the verified impeachment complaint to the Office of Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III for appropriate action,” said Garafil.
She added that her office’s role is purely administrative and is strictly guided by the Constitution, House rules, and long-standing protocol.
Office of the Secretary General receives an impeachment complaint, it must immediately transmit it to the Office of the Speaker. The Speaker then has 10 session days to include the complaint in the Order of Business of the House plenary.
With Congress set to resume session on January 26, Luistro said the 10-session-day period will begin from that date.
After inclusion in the Order of Business, the plenary has three session days to transmit the complaint to the Committee on Justice, where a formal review will begin.
It is the first impeachment case lodged against Marcos since he assumed office.
The impeachment complaint lists six grounds, including culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
Militant group to file another case
CITING what they described as “large-scale corruption and betrayal of public trust,” militant groups led by the Makabayan bloc are set to file a second impeachment complaint against Marcos on Thursday.
Party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, Renee Louise Co of Kabataan, and Sarah Jane Elago of Gabriela, all members of the Makabayan bloc, are expected to endorse the second impeachment complaint against Marcos.
unprogrammed appropriations to fund even more anomalous infrastructure projects, and the system of kickbacks, SOPs, and ‘commitments’ from these projects, intended for the president and coursed through his top officials,” Reyes said. He added that the continued use of so-called “allocables” and unprogrammed appropriations, as well as the alleged failure to investigate supposed SOPs and kickbacks involving top administration officials, “only demonstrate the President’s complicity in corruption.”
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
HE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, reported increased volcanic activity at Mayon Volcano in Albay, characterized by increased volcanic activity and seismicity over the past 24 hours ending at midnight on Tuesday.
In addition to lava dome growth and lava flow effusion, volcanic activity at Mayon includes episodic minor strombolian activity.
When episodic minor strombolian activity happens, it essentially means a volcano is “coughing” or “spitting” small amounts of lava in short, predictable bursts rather than erupting in one giant, continuous blast.
In its summary of 24-hour observation, Phivolcs said it also recorded a total of 83 volcanic earthquakes, 273 rockfall events, and 61 pyroclastic density.
Garafil explained that upon receipt of any impeachment complaint, the Office of the Secretary General ensures that the document is properly entered, recorded, and forwarded to the appropriate office, noting that this initial step is intended to preserve order and due process.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, explained that under the rules, once the
Luistro added that whatever decision the committee arrives at, it is required to submit a committee report to the plenary within 60 session days, stressing that suspended sessions are not counted as separate session days.
The impeachment complaint was filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus on January 19 and endorsed by House Deputy Minority Leader Jett Nisay, the nominee of the party-list group Pusong Pinoy.
Renato Reyes Jr., president of Bayan, said various sectoral groups will submit a verified impeachment complaint at 10 a.m., accusing Marcos of complicity in the “systematic and large-scale plunder of public funds” through alleged presidential and congressional “allocations” for pet projects in the national budget.
According to Bayan, the complainants include taxpayers, workers, farmers, students, teachers, the urban poor, professionals, and anti-corruption advocates.
“The impeachment is based on the systematic and large-scale plunder of public funds through a scheme of presidential and congressional ‘allocations’ for pet projects in the national budget, the unprecedented abuse of
Acquisition of offshore patrol vessels showcases PH resolve to protect maritime territories
By Rex Anthony Naval
Mayon, which is currently under Alert Level 3 or intensified unrest, continues to show restiveness. Crater glow has been fairly visible to the naked eye, which means constant or sustained effusive eruption, indicating that magma is generally low in viscosity.
The US National Park Service said effusive eruption or low viscosity means magma is thin, allowing volcanic gases to escape easily without building up massive pressure.
Mayon, a young, classic stratovolcano, is famous for its near-perfect, symmetrical cone, known for its frequent, often explosive eruptions, and produces hazards like lava flows, ash, and mudflows.
On Tuesday, Phivolcs said sulfur dioxide flux at Mayon reached 1973 tons per day, while moderate plume emission reached 500 meters above the crater.
At Alert Level 3, entry into the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and entry without vigilance into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) is prohibited.
Phivolcs said because of the possible hazards that can occur, including ballistic fragments and moderate-sized explosions, flying aircraft close to the volcano is also prohibited. Very weak emission at Kanlaon PHIVOLCS said Kanlaon, an “older” stratovolcano which straddles Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, was relatively calm on Tuesday.
Phivolcs said a total of four volcanic earthquake was recorded at Kanlaon, which is currently under Alert Level 2 or increased unrest, with sulfur dioxide flux reaching 1,337 tons per day.
Plume emission at Kanlaon was also very weak, with eastnortheast drift.
Phivolcs said Kanlaon’s volcano edifice is still inflated.
Under Alert Level 2, entry into the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone at Kanlaon and flying of aircraft close to the volcano are prohibited.
Under its current alert status, possible hazards that can occur at Kanlaon include sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions and precursory magmatic activity, or detectable geophysical and geochemical changes that occur as a result of magma intrusion into the shallow crust, signaling a likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Aside form Mayon and Kanlaon, Phivolcs is also closely monitoring Taal Volcano in Batangas and Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, which are both under Alert Level 1 status or low-level unrest.
THE Navy (PN) flag-officerin-command, Vice Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, said that the acquisition of the future BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), which arrived recently, and the five other offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) ordered from South Korea, highlights the country’s strong determination to protect its maritime territories.
“This vessel’s arrival is a strong testament to our country’s relentless drive toward protecting our territorial integrity, thereby protecting its primary assets: the Filipino people. We owe them a secure and peaceful future, and to deliver on this, it is our duty to strengthen our Navy to ensure that we can counter new forms of warfare,” Ezpeleta said during BRP Rajah
Sulayman’s arrival ceremony at Naval Operating Base–Subic in Zambales on Tuesday.
He also said the OPVs will play an integral role in joint defense within the Armed Forces (AFP), and enhance interoperability with partner and like-minded navies.
“Our OPVs shall stand as a modern symbol of courage, as they will primarily contribute to safeguarding our maritime domain and patrolling the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Ezpeleta said.
The future BRP Rajah Sulayman is the lead ship of the Rajah Sulayman-class OPVs and the first OPV constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the PN.
It left the HD HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on January 13 and arrived in the country four days later.
It is designed for sustained operations, allowing for consistent
and responsible naval presence in the country’s maritime zones, including the West Philippine Sea.
These ships can also support maritime patrols, domain awareness, and law enforcement missions in accordance with international law, which will contribute to the protection of Filipino fishermen, and the promotion of safe maritime activities.
Contract for the OPVs is worth P30 billion.
Named after a fearless native leader who stood firm against foreign conquest in pre-colonial times, the PN said BRP Rajah Sulayman is a modern emblem of the Filipino people’s resilience, courage, and unyielding spirit of independence.
The ship was launched on June 11, 2025 at the HD HHIshipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.
“All those involved must be held accountable, starting from the top,” he said. Reyes said they expect the verified complaint to be transmitted to the Office of the Speaker and included in the Order of Business, stressing that it should not be sidelined in favor of what he described as a “weak” first impeachment complaint.
“We expect that this verified complaint will be transmitted to the Speaker and included in the order of business, and not be excluded in favor of what many are saying is a weak first complaint intended to shield the President,” he added.
The planned filing comes days after lawyer Andre de Jesus lodged the first impeachment complaint against Marcos last Monday. That complaint was endorsed by Nisay.
The first impeachment complaint lists six grounds, including culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
www.businessmirror.com.ph describing the reform as necessary to strengthen regulatory independence and align the Philippines with international best practices.
“As Pagcor transitions toward a purely regulatory role, our focus is to set clear rules, enforce them consistently, and create a gaming ecosystem that is fair, competitive, and resilient,” he said.
Tengco said the Philippine experience, while shaped by local conditions, offers relevant lessons for other jurisdictions facing similar challenges in a borderless digital gaming environment.
ICE Barcelona 2026, organized by Clarion Gaming and held at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, brought together regulators, operators, technology providers, and policymakers from across global gaming markets to discuss regulatory trends, market developments, and the future of the international gaming industry.
House bill resets BARMM elections to September
THE chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has filed a bill amending the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act 11054) to reset the date of the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to September 28, 2026 from March 30, 2026.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong filed House Bill 7236 to address the legal gap arising from recent Supreme Court
rulings, including the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM and the nullification of previous redistricting laws such as Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 58 and 77. By filling this statutory gap, the bill aims to ensure that the first BARMM parliamentary elections are conducted in a peaceful, orderly, and fully lawful manner, consistent with the Constitution, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and prevailing jurisprudence.
Adiong also expressed his gratitude to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament
for passing Parliament Bill 415, or the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Districts Act of 2025, on third and final reading. The law establishes 32 single-member parliamentary districts in the BARMM, which he said is a critical prerequisite for a credible and lawful electoral process. He noted that the allocation of the 32 districts – nine in Lanao del Sur; five each in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur; four each in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi; three in Cotabato City; and two in the Special Geographic Area – will help guarantee inclusive represen -
tation and ensure that every voice in the Bangsamoro is heard.
“This bill is crucial to preserve the integrity of the Bangsamoro peace process and to deliver a lawful, transparent, and democratic transition to a fully elected Parliament,” Adiong added. “By resetting the election date, we give the Commission on Elections [Comelec] sufficient time to prepare, redraw precincts based on the new districts, and conduct a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral exercise.”
See “BARMM,” A12
Trump’s Greenland threats spark outrage from EU and test longtime NATO alliance
By Will Weissert, Jamey Keaten & Emma Burrows The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President
Donald Trump’s pledge to provoke a sweeping tariff fight with Europe to get his way in taking control of Greenland has left many of America’s closest allies warning of a rupture with Washington capable of shattering the NATO alliance that had once seemed unshakable.
The European Union’s top official on Tuesday called Trump’s planned new tariffs on eight of its countries over Greenland a “mistake” and questioned Trump’s trustworthiness. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU could retaliate by deploying one of its most powerful economic tools, known colloquially as a trade “bazooka.”
The rising tensions concerning Greenland, and threats of a deepening trade war between the US and Europe, caused global investors to shudder Tuesday, as stocks on Wall Street slumped.
Trump prides himself on ratcheting up pressure to try to negotiate through a position of strength. He was leaving Washington Tuesday—the anniversary of his inauguration—for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a venue that offers Trump the chance to defuse tensions as quickly as he stirred them up.
But European leaders—digging in and vowing to defend Denmark and its control over semiautonomous Greenland—may be trying just as hard to meet an extraordinary moment with a show of their fierce resolve.
That could hurt the chances of Trump finding a quick way to turn around the crisis. Greenland’s leader insisted on respect for its territorial integrity and called international law “not a game.”
‘We will work something out’
TRUMP made an unusual appearance in the White House briefing room and spoke at length while stocks fell. Asked how far he’d be willing to go to acquire Greenland, Trump said only, “You’ll find out.” He also mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland at one point. Still, the president predicted there could be a deal in the making. “I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy, and where we’re going to be very happy,” he said, without providing specifics.
Trump said he’d been encouraged that NATO had increased military spending, but he also belittled the alliance, saying other members may not protect Washington’s interests. The president suggested NATO members expect the US to come to their rescue but “I just really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pushed back against Trump’s announcement that, starting in February, a 10% import tax will be imposed on goods from eight European nations that have rallied around Denmark. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member.
“The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July,” von der Leyen said in Davos. “And in politics as in business—a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”
“We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape,” she added.
She vowed that the EU’s response “will be unflinching, united and proportional.”
Taking firmer stances defied the approach that many European leaders have offered since Trump returned to office. It had mostly entailed saying nice things about the president to try to stay in his good graces, while working furiously through other avenues to find compromise.
Trump says the US needs Greenland to deter possible threats from China and Russia. But his continued insistence in recent weeks that anything short of the US owning Greenland is unacceptable is testing the limits of the softer strategy.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “the worst may still be ahead of us.” Speaking to parliament, she said: “We have never sought conflict. We have consistently sought cooperation.”
‘We need to have respect for international law’ GREENLAND’S Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a news conference in the island’s capital, Nuuk, that “we need to have respect for international law and territorial integrity.” He said those principles should unite Western democratic countries, and expressed gratitude for EU allies’ support.
“International law, it’s not a game,” he said, adding, “We are willing to cooperate much more, but of course in mutual respect, and if we cannot see that, it will be very difficult to have a good and reliable partnership.”
Trump’s threats have sparked outrage and a flurry of diplomatic activity across Europe, as leaders consider possible countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and the unprecedented use of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument.
A8 Thursday, January 22, 2026
In their words: Trump’s threats over Greenland draw warnings and profanities at global forum
DAVOS, Switzerland—
There were grave warnings from European leaders and expletives from California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday as leaders at the World Economic Forum grappled with the Greenland crisis and heightened concerns over global trade.
The gathering in Davos, Switzerland, comes as US President Donald Trump continues to push for the seizure of Greenland and the imposition of related trade tariffs.
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing aviator sunglasses because of an eye infection, warned of a “new colonial approach” that would undermine decades of collaboration.
Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister and former central
banker, urged countries below the top tier of global power to continue multilateral cooperation with a new, “dense web of connections.”
And in the forum’s entrance hall, Newsom was the bluntest, telling European leaders: “It’s time to get serious and stop being complicit. It’s time to stand tall and firm – have a backbone.” Here’s a look at what attendees said:
Gavin Newsom “I CAN’T take this complicity. People rolling over. I should’ve brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders,” the California governor and prominent Democrat said. “I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage. I mean, at least from an American per -
spective, it’s embarrassing.”
He added: “Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other ... Wake up! Where the hell has everybody been? Stop with this (expletive) diplomacy of sort of niceties and somehow we’re all going to figure it out, saying one thing privately and another publicly. Have some spine, some goddamn (expletive).”
Emmanuel Macron BEFORE expressing his concern, the French president began his address with a joke: “It’s a time of peace, stability and predictability.”
Warning major powers against the temptation of modern colonial adventures, he added: “It’s a shift towards a world without rules. Where international law is
trampled underfoot and where the only law that seems to matter is that of the strongest, and imperial ambitions are resurfacing.”
Then he took aim at the Trump administration, denouncing “competition from the United States of America, through trade agreements that undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions, and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe, combined with an endless accumulation of new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable, even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty.”
Mark Carney “ GREAT powers can afford for now to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity, and the leverage to dictate
terms. Middle powers do not,” the Canadian prime minister said.
“In a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: compete with each other for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact,” he said. “(We) argue the middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Carney strongly opposed US aspirations to expand its Arctic territory. “We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland’s future.”
Scott Bessent WITH President Trump not due to address the elite global gathering until Wednesday, it fell to his treasury secretary to take up his defense in Switzerland.
“I think our relations have never been closer,” Scott Bessent said, playing down the rift among Western countries over Greenland. “Calm down the hysteria. Take a deep breath.” He added: “We are in the middle of President Trump’s policies. And of course, Europe is an ally, the USNATO membership is unquestioned. We are partners in trying to stop this tragic war between Russia and Ukraine, but that does not mean that we cannot have disagreements on the future of Greenland.”
Bart De Wever
BELGIAN Prime Minister Bart De Wever said that with Trump’s Greenland provocations, “so many red lines have been crossed” in Europe.
See “Greenland,” A10
Thursday, January 22, 2026 A9
Iran’s foreign minister warns US: ‘We will fire back with everything we have’
By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran’s foreign minister issued the most direct threat yet Wednesday against the United States after Tehran’s bloody crackdown on protesters, warning the Islamic Republic will be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.”
The comments by Abbas Araghchi, who saw his invitation to the World Economic Forum in Davos rescinded over the killings, comes as an American aircraft carrier group moves westward toward the Middle East from Asia. American fighter jets and other equipment appears to be moving in the Mideast after a major US military deployment in the Caribbean saw troops seize Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
Meanwhile, an Iranian Kurdish separatist group in Iraq claimed Iran targeted one of its bases in a drone and missile attack that killed at least one fighter. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the attack, which would be the first foreign operation Tehran has launched since the protests started.
Araghchi makes threat in column
ARAGHCHI made the threat in an opinion article published by The Wall Street Journal. In it, the foreign minister contended “the violent phase of the unrest lasted less than 72 hours” and sought again to blame armed demonstrators for the violence. Videos that have slipped out of Iran despite an internet shutdown appear to show security forces repeatedly using live fire to target apparently unarmed protesters, something unaddressed by Araghchi.
“Unlike the restraint Iran showed in June 2025, our powerful armed forces have no qualms about firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack,” Araghchi wrote, referring to the 12-day war launched by Israel on Iran in June. “This isn’t a threat, but a reality I feel I need to convey explicitly, because as a diplomat and a veteran, I abhor war.”
He added: “An all-out confrontation will certainly be ferocious and drag on far, far longer than the fantasy timelines that Israel and its proxies are trying to peddle to the White House. It will certainly engulf the wider region and have an impact on ordinary people around the globe.”
Araghchi’s comments likely refer to Iran’s short- and medium-range missiles. The Islamic Republic relied on ballistic missiles to target Israel in the war and left its stockpile of the shorter-range missiles unused, something that could be fired to target American bases and interests in the Persian Gulf. Already, there have been some restrictions on US diplomats traveling to American bases in both Kuwait and Qatar.
Mideast nations, particularly diplomats from Gulf Arab countries, had lobbied Trump not to attack. Last week, Iran shut its airspace, likely in anticipation of a strike.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been in the South China Sea in recent days, had passed through the Strait of Malacca, a key waterway connecting the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, by Tuesday, ship-tracking data showed.
A US Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aircraft carrier and three accompanying destroyers were heading west.
While naval and other defense officials stopped short of saying the carrier strike group was headed to the Middle East, its current heading and location in the Indian Ocean means it is only days away from moving into the region. Meanwhile, US military images released in recent days showed F-15E Strike Eagles arriving in the Mideast and forces in the region moving a HIMARS missile system, the type used with great success by Ukraine after Russia’s fullscale invasion in the country in 2022.
Kurdish exiles claim Iranian attack in Iraq
THE National Army of Kurdistan, the armed wing of the Kurdistan Freedom Party, or PAK, claimed Iran launched an attack against one of its bases near Irbil, some 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Baghdad. It said one fighter had been killed, releasing mobile phone footage of a fire in the predawn darkness.
Iranian state television, which has confirmed attacks on the group in the past, did not acknowledge the assault.
A handful of Iranian Kurdish dissident or separatist groups—some with armed wings—have long found a safe haven in northern Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region, where their presence has been a point of friction between the central government in Baghdad and Tehran.
The PAK has claimed it launched attacks in Iran as a crackdown on the demonstrations took place, something reported by semiofficial Iranian news agencies as well.
Protest death toll rises
THE death toll from the protests has reached at least 4,519 people, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said. The agency has been accurate throughout the years on demonstrations and unrest in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirms all reported fatalities. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll.
A10 Thursday, January 22, 2026
Top ally of South Korea’s Yoon given 23 years in prison for rebellion over martial law crisis
By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—A South Korean court ruled Wednesday that the 2024 imposition of martial law by then President Yoon Suk Yeol constituted an act of rebellion as it sentenced his prime minister to 23 years in prison for his involvement.
Ex-Prime Minister Han Ducksoo became the first Yoon administration official convicted of rebellion charges in related to Yoon’s martial law imposition in December 2024. The verdict is expected to set the stage for upcoming rulings involving Yoon and his other associates, who also face rebellion charges.
Trump. . .
Continued from A7
Unofficially known as the “trade bazooka,” the instrument could sanction individuals or institutions found to be putting undue pressure on the EU. The EU has two other major economic tools it could use to pressure Washington: new tariffs or a suspension of the US-EU trade deal.
Macron warned in Davos that the additional tariffs could force the EU to use its anti-coercion mechanism for the first time against the United States.
“Can you imagine that?” he said, arguing that allied countries should be focusing instead on bringing peace to Ukraine. “This is crazy.” In general, he said, the mechanism “is a powerful instrument
and we should not hesitate to deploy it in today’s tough environment.”
The US president, in a television interview that aired Tuesday evening, downplayed the retaliatory threat.
“Anything they do with us, I’ll just meet it,” Trump said on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight.”
“All I have to do is meet it, and it’s going to go ricocheting backward.” Still, Trump said he believed it was possible an agreement could be worked out, perhaps while he’s at Davos.
Trump earlier posted a text message from Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos gathering. An official close to Macron, who spoke anonymously in
Han, who was appointed by Yoon prime minister, the No. 2 post in South Korea, served as one of the three caretaker leaders during moments of the martial law crisis that led to Yoon’s impeachment and eventually his removal from office.
Rebellion is one of the gravest charges in South Korea, with the independent counsel recently demanding the death penalty for Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion. The Seoul Central District Court is to rule on Yoon’s rebellion charges on Feb. 19.
In its televised verdict Wednesday, the Seoul court determined Yoon’s martial law decree amounted to a rebellion, viewing his dispatch of troops and police officers to Parliament and election
line with the French presidency’s customary practices, confirmed the message shared by Trump is genuine.
In his latest threat of tariffs, Trump indicated that the import taxes would be retaliation for last week’s deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from the European countries to Greenland— though he also suggested he was using the tariffs as leverage to negotiate with Denmark.
‘In the midst of a rupture’
CANADIAN Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country is a founding NATO member, warned of global fissures beyond Greenland, suggesting it was an “illusion” and “fiction” that there remains a rules-based international order.
“Let me be direct: We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Carney said during a speech in Davos.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said at Davos that Europe cannot be a “miserable slave to Trump.”
Others encouraged NATO leaders to stand up to Trump. Speaking on the sidelines of Davos, California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed Europe’s response to Trump’s tariff threats as “pathetic” and “embarrassing,”
offices as “a riot” or “a self-coup” that was meant to undermine the constitutional order and was serious enough to disrupt stability in the region.
The court sentenced Han for playing a key role in Yoon’s rebellion by trying to give procedural legitimacy to Yoon’s martial law decree by getting it passed through a Cabinet Council meeting. The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.
Han, who could appeal Wednesday’s ruling, has steadfastly maintained that he had told Yoon that he opposed his martial law plan. He has denied most of the other charges.
The court said Han, then prime minister, neglected his responsibilities to protect the constitution,
and urged continental leaders to unite and stand up to the United States.
“It’s time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone,” Newsom, a Democrat, told reporters.
Greenland’s European backers have also looked at establishing a more permanent military presence to help guarantee security in the Arctic region, a key demand of the United States, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said.
In Moscow, meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly denied any intention by Russia and China to threaten Greenland, while also describing Greenland as a “colonial gain” for Denmark.
Trump was asked Tuesday what would happen to his tariff threats related to Greenland if the Supreme Court rules against his ability to impose import tariffs as part of a case it is considering.
“Well, I’ll have to use something else,” Trump said. “We have other alternatives.” He didn’t respond when asked about using force.
Keaten reported from Davos, Switzerland, Burrows reported from Nuuk, Greenland. AP writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Jill Lawless in London and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
choosing instead to take part in Yoon’s rebellion in the belief that it might succeed.
“Because of the defendant’s action, the Republic of Korea could have returned to a dark past when the basic rights of the people and the liberal democratic order were trampled upon, becoming trapped in the quagmire of dictatorships for an extended period,” judge Lee Jin-gwan said.
After the court’s ruling, Han was immediately sent to prison, according to the court. Unlike Yoon, he had not been detained before sentencing. His lengthy sentence came as a surprise as the independent counsel earlier requested 15 years in prison.
Yoon, who has already been in jail for months, faces eight
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“Being a happy vassal is one thing. Being a miserable slave is something else. If you back down now you’re going to lose your dignity,” he said during a Davos panel discussion on redefining Europe’s place in the world.
De Wever said that he and Belgium’s King Philippe will meet with Trump on Wednesday when they will plan to press for a return to the old military alliance between Brussels and Washington.
“We either stand together or we will stand divided, and if we are divided, there is the end of an era, of 80 years of Atlanticism, really drawing to a close,” he said.
The former mayor of Antwerp, quoting the Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, said that in a time of great transformation that it is up to US president if the alliance holds. “It’s up to him (Trump) to decide if he wants to be a monster - yes or no.”
Ursula von der Leyen
EUROPEAN Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen said a diplomatic “downward spiral” in the West would only embolden its adversaries.
criminal trials including his rebellion case over the martial law decree and other allegations. Last Friday, Yoon received a five-year prison term at the Seoul court for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and denying some Cabinet members their rights to deliberate on his martial law decree. Yoon, a conservative, has steadfastly denied the charges of rebellion, saying he only aimed to draw public support of his fight against the main liberal opposition party which obstructed his agenda. Speaking at Friday’s court session, Yoon denounced authorities for their rebellion investigations as “frenzied,” arguing that they involved “manipulation” and “distortion.”
“The proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July. And in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal,” the EU’s top official said. The Commission president said Europe was obliged to respond to international pressure.
“My point is: if this change is permanent, then Europe must change permanently too. It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe,” von der Leyen said. “We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape.”
Donald Tusk POLISH Prime Minister Donald Tusk, writing on X, called on Europeans to beware of “appeasement.”
“Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak— neither against its enemies, nor ally. Appeasement means no results, only humiliation. European assertiveness and self-confidence have become the need of the moment.” AP
SHFC marks 22 years, partners with LRA to expedite land titling for housing beneficiaries
THE Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) have entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to expedite and prioritize land registration and titling processes for the Key Shelter Agency’s housing projects nationwide.
The MOA was signed by President and CEO Federico Laxa and LRA Administrator Atty. Gerardo Sirios during the kickoff event of SHFC’s 22nd founding anniversary on January 20 at the agency’s head office in Makati. Under the agreement, a Special Lane will be established within the LRA’s Registry of Deeds to fast-track SHFC transactions. These include the transfer and issuance of land and condominium titles, individualization of titles, annotation or cancellation of encumbrances, correction of clerical errors, and other land registrationrelated concerns.
The partnership supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, which aims to provide people-centered housing services to Filipinos, especially the poor and lowincome families. The administration’s flagship housing program is implemented by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development led by Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling. President and CEO Laxa expressed gratitude to LRA for the partnership. “I thank the LRA for this game-changing initiative that will definitely fast-track our documentation processes,” he said. “We will continue to secure such cooperation from other agencies and institutions that will potentially provide greater benefits to our communities. This is in line with our mission to continue nurturing our communities beyond providing them with homes.”
For his part, Atty. Sirios reaffirmed LRA’s support for SHFC’s housing programs, citing their importance to President Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. “We at LRA support SHFC’s programs and mandate in financing and developing socialized housing projects for the low-income families,” he said.
SHFC continues to expand its networks and strengthen partnerships as part of its efforts to modernize its housing programs to better respond to the rapidly evolving needs of the times. It has signed agreements with various government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to ensure complementary benefits to its housing recipients.
In 2025, SHFC partnered with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office to provide discounted water rates, and with unconnected.org to deliver free internet access to beneficiaries. The agency’s other partners include Apl.de.Ap Foundation and water.org, working together to improve access to basic services and enhance the overall quality of life in SHFC communities.
Guided by the theme “Championing Communities Today and Tomorrow,” SHFC renews its commitment to transform, empower, and nurture the communities it serves.
Recto leads oversight of ₧57.87-B LGU fund to ensure transparency, timely use
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
MALACAÑANG is now keeping a close watch on the utilization of the record-high P57.87 billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which aims to expand the role of local chief executives in public service this year. The LGSF this year was more than double compared to its allocation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto explained the higher allo -
cation for the LGSF this year is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos to make local government units (LGU) “active partners in utilizing the country’s financial resources.”
He met with local government leaders, officials of the Department of Budget and Management and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos last week to ensure the “timely and transparent use” of the LGSF.
“The consultation focused on a rules-based aligning of national priorities with local needs, improving fund utilization, which
will be based on a verifiable and measurable social good that the LGSF can create,” the Office of the Executive Secretary said in a statement last Wednesday.
The higher available funds for LGUs is expected to help spur economic progress outside of Metro Manila by enhancing their capability to deliver basic services and established, livelihood and securities.
Among those who attended the event were Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) National President and League of Provinces of the Philippines
Cebu mayors back swift passage of Sen. Bam Aquinos’ CAP Act to address classroom shortage
Tby butch fernandez @butchfBM
HE League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Cebu Chapter has expressed its unanimous and full support for the immediate passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act into law, citing its crucial role in addressing the country’s classroom shortage.
The LMP Cebu Chapter — representing the province’s 44 municipal mayors — presented Aquino with a copy of Resolution No. 2, Series of 2025 during his visit to the province for the Sinulog Festival over the weekend.
The Senate is expected to approve Senate Bill No. 1482 on third and final reading when session resumes on Jan. 26. The measure has also been included in the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority list.
Under the bill, local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record may build classrooms within their jurisdictions, in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines.
In its resolution, the LMP Cebu Chapter underscored the importance of the CAP Act in addressing the shortage of classrooms and learning spaces in the country, particularly in municipalities.
“Senator Bam Aquino has intro -
duced the Classroom Building Acceleration Program [CAP] Bill, which seeks to hasten the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms nationwide through coordinated and efficient government action,” it said.
“The proposed measure aims to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, improve utilization of education infrastructure funds, and ensure timely implementation of school building projects,” the LMP Cebu Chapter added.
The resolution further emphasized that the CAP Act is a significant step toward achieving inclusive and quality education for all, in line with the national government’s thrust to improve the education sector.
The measure was unanimously approved by the LMP Cebu Chapter on motion of Mayor Lissa Marie Durano-Streegan, with the body collectively urging both chambers of Congress to act swiftly on the bill as an urgent legislative measure.
The resolution was signed by 44 Cebu municipal mayors, including Rajiv Enad (Minglanilla), Mytha Canoy (San Fernando), Caroline Bacaltos (Sibonga), Jose Eugenio B. Singson Jr. (Alcoy), Allan Sesaldo (Argao), Nelin Tambis (Dalaguete), Emerito Calderon Jr. (Samboan), Joie Genesse Derama (Boljoon), Ronald Guaren (Oslob), Marites “Monic” Bucasto (Santander), Cesari Ignatius Moreno (Aloguinsan),
Dana Andrew Dumdum (Asturias), Amos Edwin Cabahug (Balamban), Glenn Baricuatro (Pinamungajan), Pablo John Garcia IV (Barili), Christian Diamante (Tuburan), Orlando Layese (Bantayan), Gilbert Arrabis Jr. (Daanbantayan), and Romeo Villaceran (Madridejos). The resolution was also backed by Mayors Edwin Salimbangon (Medellin), Mariano Martinez (San Remigio), Ithamar Espinosa (Santa Fe), Rex Gerona (Tabuelan), Francis Salimbangon (Tabogon), Nico Dotillos (Borbon), Carlo Villamor (Carmen), Avis Monleon (Catmon), Felijur Quiño (Compostela), Aljew Frasco (Liloan), Manuel “Winky” Santiago (Pilar), Edgar Rama (Poro), Alfredo Arquillano Jr. (San Francisco), Lissa Marie Durano-Streegan (Sogod), Greman Solante (Tudela), Teresa Alegado (Consolacion), and Cesar “Didoy” Suan (Cordova), Fritz Lastimoso (Alcantara), Gilberto Magallon (Alegria), Jerome Librando (Badian), Efren Gica (Dumanjug), Erlinda Piedad (Malabuyoc), Inocentes “Titing” Cabaron (Moalboal), Chantilli Ann Victoria Blanco (Ronda), and Roy Vincent Singco (Ginatilan).
Mayors from Cebu’s component cities—including Gerald Anthony Gullas (Talisay City), Valdemar Chiong (Naga City), Mario Patricio Barcenas (Carcar City), Marjorie Perales (Toledo City), and Maria Cielo Martinez (Bogo City)—also signed the resolution.
CCC highlights role of youth, SUCs in building resilient communities
TBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
HE Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the vital role of the youth as future climate leaders and partners in building resil -
ient communities during the Academic Recognition and 16th University Day of Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU).
While Sultan Kudarat is categorized under medium to low exposure to climate hazards based on the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the
province continues to experience intense heat and flooding, which directly affect communities and livelihoods.
“When floods hit Lambayong, Lutayan, and Palimbang, it is not
(LPP) National Chairman Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, LPP President Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National President Mayor Francis Zamora, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) President Mayor Faustino Dy V, and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas National President Maria Katrina Jessica Dy.
The DBM officials who participated in the event includes acting Secretary Rolando U. Toledo, Assistant Secretary Ryan Lita, and Assistant Secretary Angel Magtalas.
The Marcos administration is targeting to complete the devolution of additional government services and facilities of more government services under the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling by 2028. The ruling is expected to give more autonomy to LGUs with the national government providing them with 40 percent of all government tax collections and not just internal revenue three years prior. Under Executive Order No. 103, series of 2025, the government will stated the “phased implementation” of the devolution starting this year.
‘A sacred quest realized’: Galvez hails BARMM’s 7th anniversary as triumph of dialogue over conflict
By Rex Anthony Naval
AS the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) celebrates its seventh anniversary on Wednesday, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. lauded the resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit of the Bangsamoro people for making this historic event happen.
“The establishment of the BARMM is more than just a fulfillment of the peace agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [MILF]. It is the realization of a generations-long aspiration— a sacred quest for meaningful autonomy,” he added.
The BARMM can sustain its ongoing economic growth with the successful conduct of the first ever parliamentary polls and ongoing ground-breaking reforms, according to President Ferdinand Marcos.
The Chief Executive made the statement as the new self-governing region reported it was able to attract P5 billion worth of investments last year as it sets up its institutions.
Marcos highlighted the importance of the upcoming polls in sustaining peace in BARMM by allowing its people to choose their leaders whom they can hold accountable.
The said polls will also show that BARMM is a region with a stable governance.
“It is our hope that the upcoming BARMM elections will serve as an opportunity for our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to freely express their voices and aspirations,” the Chief Executive said during the 7th Bangsamoro Foundation Day in Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex, Regional Government Office, City of Cotabato, Province of Magu-
indanao Del Norte last Wednesday.
“We aspire to further strengthen a leadership that truly serves the people—one that reinforces democracy and accountability,” he added.
BARMM is currently preparing for the said election on 31 March 2026 after BARMM signed into law the Bangsamoro Proposed Bill No. 415 redistricting law last Tuesday.
“It is our hope that the upcoming BARMM elections will serve as an opportunity for our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to freely express their voices and aspirations,” Marcos said.
Galvez also said that this milestone stands as a testament to the fact that when “we choose the path of dialogue over conflict, we can build a future rooted in justice and dignity.”
And as the BARMM reached this significant chapter in its history, the OPAPRU chief also acknowledged the evolving political landscape, particularly with the recent passage of the Bangsamoro Districting Law.
He added that this development is a crucial step toward strengthening grassroots representation and bringing the government closer to the people.
Galvez said this underscores their commitment to a democratic process that is inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of every community within the region.
“I call upon our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to remain steadfast in sustaining the gains of the peace process. The journey of transition is often complex, but the progress we have made in governance, economic stability, and social healing is far too precious to lose. Let us protect these milestones with the same fervor that brought them to fruition,” the OPAPRU chief said. With Samuel P. Medenilla
Makati extends deadline for business permits and tax payments to Feb. 2
TO give taxpayers and business owners additional time to comply with city requirements, Makati City Mayor Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay on Wednesday announced a deadline extension for the assessment and payment of business permits, licenses, and real property taxes. This was made possible after the Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved City Ordinance No. 2026-002, which extends the deadline for the assessment of business permits without pen -
alty from January 20 to January 26, 2026.
“We recognize that many of our business owners and property taxpayers are still completing their requirements,”Binay said. Meanwhile, the deadline for the payment of business licenses without penalty has been moved to February 2, 2026. Payments can be made from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“This extension gives them reasonable time to comply without penalties, while allowing the city
DepEd, LGUs ink deal to fast-track classroom construction for 2026
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
OLLOWING the directive of President
FFerdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fast-track the delivery of basic education facilities, the Department of Education (DepEd) has finalized a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) with local government units (LGUs) to accelerate the construction, repair, and improvement of public school classrooms under the 2026 national budget.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said that the move expected to ease classroom congestion and improve learning conditions for learners and teachers.
Angara said that the said MOA strengthens coordination between DepEd and LGUs in identifying priority schools, mobilizing resources, and implementing classroom projects that meet national education and infrastructure standards, while remaining responsive to local needs.
Mas mabilis kaming makakakilos kapag katuwang ang LGU, dahil sila ang mas nakakaalam kung alin ang pinakakailangan ng kanilang mga paaralan... Ginagawa natin itong malinaw at maayos kasama ang mga liga ng LGU para siguradong ang pondo ay mabilis na nagiging silid-aralan para sa mga bata at guro,” Angara said, adding that the
Over 400 series of offshore earthquakes recorded near Sultan Kudarat—Phivolcs
ASERIES of over 400 offshore earthquakes hit Sultan Kudarat over the past 3 days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) reported.
The earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 5.2, were felt between 10:52 p.m. on January 19 and 1 p.m. on January 21 near Kalamansig, a coastal municipality with 50,900 people based on the 2020 census.
The last of the “stronger” earthquake, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake, generated Intensity IV that was strongly felt in Labak, Sultan Kudarat. Still, Phivolcs said it is not expecting damage, only aftershocks.
Intensity III was felt in Palimbang, and Intensity II at City of General Santos, Maitum, and Kiamba in Sarangani; Surallah, Santo Niño, Tupi, Norala, and T’Boli, South Cotabato; Esperanza and Isulan in Sultan Kudarat.
Intensity I was felt in M’lang, Cotabato; City of Digos, Davao del Sur; Malungon,
Maasim, and Alabel, Sarangani; City of Koronadal, Banga, and Tantangan, South Cotabato; Columbio, Sultan Kudarat
The earthquake was recorded at 10:30 a.m. on January 21, some 47 km West of Kalamansig. It has a depth of 15 kilometers. There were no reports of damage or casualties as of this writing. According to Phivolcs, 20 of the earthquakes were strongly felt. Phivolcs also said that of the number of earthquakes recorded, 400 were plotted. Plotted earthquakes show global seismic activity, revealing that they concentrate along tectonic plate boundaries, Phivocs advised the public to be prepared in case of strong earthquakes and reminded them to immediately duck or drop, cover, and hold. For offshore earthquakes, Phivolcs advises those living in coastal areas to be prepared to evacuate to avoid deadly tsunamis. Jonathan L. Mayuga
‘Nagparamdam’: Sen. Bato dela Rosa, believed evading a still-unconfirmed ICC warrant, speaks up on his birthday
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SAYING justice must “be served right here, on our shores, in our courts,”
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has been absent from the Senate halls since word spread that a warrant for his arrest had been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in the Duterte-era war on drugs, finally broke his silence on his 64th birthday.
In a post on his FB account on Wednesday, Dela Rosa, whose case had put Senate President Vicente Sotto III on the defensive as critics questioned why Dela Rosa was not being disciplined for his prolonged, unexplained absence, said:
“Here I am, alive and well, gratefully celebrating 64 years of this God-given life.
“I am waiting. Waiting, for a true seeking for justice to emerge and take over. Not this threat of fake and foreign meddling, from those who do not and can never know us or be us. If indeed there are cases against me, then I wait for a time and a certainty that I shall be able to face these cases as a Filipino, before Filipinos. Kung papayag lamangakonaako’yhuhulihinatlilitisinng mgataoatkortengbanyaga,tilabinalewala konarinangpakikipaglabanngatingmga bayaniatsundaloparasaatingkasarinlan.
Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang dugo at pawis ng mga Pilipinong lumaban para sa
Pilipinas. This is patriotism. “I remain patient and composed. I remain dignified.”
He then turned the tables on those all-too-eager and impatient to see him arrested by a foreign entity. “Ask yourself: why are you excited to surrender your fellow Filipino to foreigners? Where is your moral fiber? Why are you the first to applaud the collapse of our sovereignty? I wait, too, for your change of heart.
“Sa lahat ng mga nakaalala at bumati, sa lahat ng mga patuloy na sumusuporta, nagdarasal, at nagmamahal: maraming salamat I am even braver, knowing you are with me in this fight.”
He said his birthday wish was “that the Philippines will once more be restored to true nationhood. One that demands that justice be served right here, on our shores, in our courts. Justice that requires us to stand tall and proud as Filipinos. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Dela Rosa is believed to be high on the list of Duterte accomplices targeted by the ICC, where former President Rodrigo Duterte has been detained since March 11, 2025. He faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the deaths of thousands in the brutal war on drugs that he waged from 2016 to 2019. As then chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Dela Rosa was Duterte’s main enforcer of the bloody crackdown.
agreement is expected to help fast-track the delivery of classrooms as the government works to bridge the 165,000-classroom building gap, ultimately providing safer, less crowded, and more conducive learning spaces for millions of public school learners and their teachers.
The MOA is anchored on provisions of the 2026 General Appropriations Act that authorize DepEd to partner with qualified LGUs for the delivery of basic education facilities.
Under the MOA, LGUs may participate as implementing partners using various modalities, including their usual procurement processes, different funding mixes from
national allocations, the national tax allotment, and special education funds (SEF), as well as programs covering new construction, repairs, or other learning space improvements.
DepEd will provide standardized designs, technical frameworks, and oversight to ensure that all projects meet Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications, as well as audit and accountability rules.
The MOA defines the roles and responsibilities of DepEd and participating LGUs, including the scope of projects, funding arrangements, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms.
It also sets safeguards to ensure transparency, proper use of public funds, and compliance with government auditing rules, with DepEd retaining authority to review plans, validate completed classrooms, and require corrective action when standards are not met.
Angara is also coordinating with major LGU associations, including the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), and the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), to finalize implementation details and ensure that local governments are aligned on standards, processes, and timelines for classroom delivery.
Leviste unveils ‘Cabral files’ detailing ₧721-B in questionable DPWH projects
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
BATANGAS Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste on Wednesday made public the so-called “Cabral Files,” which detail P721 billion worth of projects listed in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
According to Leviste, the projects are broken down into more than P401 billion labeled as “allocable” to district congressmen, P14 billion proposed by party-list groups, P20 billion proposed by senators, additional extra budgets, priority multi-year DPWH projects, and P161 billion worth of project lists he described as suspicious. These were among the items he flagged during Monday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Leviste said the P161 billion in questionable projects carry tags such as OP (ES/SAP), F1, BINI10, OT 2, LEADERSHIP, and CENTI2025. Most are flood control projects, including what he described as some of the most overpriced items in his own district—such as a P300million allocation for streetlights that
BARMM. . .
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Among the key provisions of the bill are the setting of the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections on September 28, 2026, with subsequent elections synchronized with the 2028 national and local polls and held every three years thereafter.
It also provides for the extension of the
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The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution that brought the Islamic Republic into being. Although there have been no protests for days, there are fears the death toll could increase significantly
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was eventually awarded at more than P230,000 per unit.
He added that over 90 percent of these or similar projects appear on the DPWH transparency portal, along with information on the contractors awarded the projects in 2025.
He also presented a separate list of P213 billion worth of DPWH projects funded through Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) in 2023 and 2024.
Leviste noted that UA releases to the DPWH in 2024 followed the transfer of P167 billion from PhilHealth and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) to the UA fund. Unlike regular appropriations, UA-funded projects were selected by the DPWH rather than Congress, supposedly as “priority projects crucial in ensuring the achievement of the President’s Eight-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.” Most of these, he said, were likewise flood control projects. He cited as an example a P48-million UA-funded contract in his district for the bleachers of a swimming pool.
Leviste also presented a list of top contractors for the P161-billion set of suspiciously tagged projects from the files
transition period, allowing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to continue as the interim government until elected successors assume office. The measure mandates the use of the automated election system deployed in the May 12, 2025 national and local elections for consistency and integrity, while authorizing the Comelec to explore alternatives if necessary.
In addition, it reopens the filing period for certificates of candidacy and sectoral manifestations of intent to ensure broader
as information gradually emerges from a country still under a government-imposed shutdown of the internet since Jan. 8.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that the protests had left “several thousand” people dead and blamed the United States. It was the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties.
More than 26,300 people have been arrested, according to the Human Rights
reform, but decisive action to prevent money from capturing our democracy,” Felizco said.
of undersecretary Cabral. He said the top 15 contractors cornered an estimated 40 percent of the identified contracts. For the P213-billion UA-funded projects, the top 15 contractors likewise won about 30 percent of the identified contracts.
Echoing concerns previously raised by the DPWH on how a few firms secured a large share of flood control contracts, Leviste said such concentration—coupled with contract prices close to approved budgets—could indicate possible anomalies in the bidding process.
Unlike projects “allocable” to district representatives, Leviste said the DPWH should account for the inclusion of these so-called “outside allocable” and UAfunded projects in the budget.
If anomalies suggesting corruption are present, he added, it becomes even more important to identify who proposed these large allocations and why the DPWH accepted them.
He said that he is not accusing anyone of corruption but is calling for greater transparency to determine who benefited from the projects’ inclusion in the budget.
participation, and confirms voter eligibility based on the latest permanent registration list, with winning candidates set to assume office on December 1, 2026.
The bill amends Republic Act 11054, as amended, or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, ensures the continuity of prior obligations, and provides for the appropriation of necessary funds through the Comelec and the Department of Budget and Management. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Activists News Agency. Comments from officials have led to fears of some of those detained being put to death in Iran, one of the world’s top executioners. That and the killing of peaceful protesters have been two red lines laid down by Trump in the tensions.
The Associated Press writers Stella Martany in Irbil, Iraq, Konstantin Toropin in Washington and Elena Becatoros contributed to this report.
monitoring of progress.
CCC. . .
Continued from A11 statistics that suffer—it is families. When drought affects Esperanza and Isulan, it is not reports that go hungry—it is the farmers,” CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E. A. Borje said in a statement. Borje stressed that climate change is no longer a distant or theoretical issue, but a lived reality for Mindanao communities—making education and youth participation critical to the country’s climate response.
With more than 15,000 students across seven campuses, SKSU was recognized as a strategic center of talent whose academic excellence can translate into meaningful climate action at the local level.
Borje encouraged students to become proactive contributors and problem-solvers, emphasizing that knowledge must lead to service.
“Angtalinoninyoangmagigingpanangga ng bayan. Ang kaalaman ninyo ang magiging sandigannglalawigan.Atangpusoninyoang magiginglakasngRepublika,”he said. Borje’s pronouncement also highlights the role of state colleges and universities and higher education institutions in implementing the National Adaptation Plan, noting that adaptation efforts are built not only in policy spaces, but in classrooms, laboratories, farms, and communities.
Borje encouraged SKSU to further strengthen its role as a technical partner of local government units in developing climate-resilient solutions. SKSU offers a wide range of academic programs aligned with the development priorities of the province, including agriculture, engineering, information technology, education, and health sciences.
Its growing academic excellence is reflected in the recent achievement of three SKSU graduates who topped the licensure examinations for nursing, education, and engineering— underscoring the university’s impact in producing professionals vital to local development and resilience-building.
The event, which also marked SKSU’s 16th University Day, recognized students who demonstrated academic excellence, perseverance, and commitment to service.
Present during the celebration were Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, SKSU President Dr. Samson L. Mooa, Prof. Masrullizam Bin Mat Ibrahim, representative of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, along with university officials, faculty members, and students.
accumulated loss of roughly 410 million hectares—reducing ecosystem services that help regulate floods, recharge groundwater, and filter pollution.
Groundwater depletion has become one of the clearest indicators of this decline.
The report said around 70 percent of the world’s major aquifers are now experiencing long-term drops in water levels.
Excessive pumping, meanwhile, has already triggered land subsidence across nearly 5 percent of global land area, permanently reducing storage capacity and increasing flood risks in regions where nearly 2 billion reside.
Madani said the impact of water loss is most pronounced in agriculture, which accounts for roughly 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals.
He noted that the burden falls heavily not just on developing economies in the Global South, but also on the Global North which remain deeply dependent on the former’s agricultural output.
“Taking water away from those people, the farmers, means unemployment, an immediate tension, and chaotic situations, and undermining peace and stability in those countries. So the classic solutions of recommending subsidy removal and managing your water better would not work,” Madani said.
Continued from A11 to continue delivering programs and services that benefit all Makati residents,” Binay added. In addition, Makati taxpayers may still avail of the 10 percent discount on Real Property Tax (RPT) payments until February 2, 2026; also from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Binay emphasized that the extension reflects the city government’s commitment to being responsive to its constituents while ensuring the continuity of public services. The mayor clarified that all other existing rules, regulations, and penalties provided under relevant laws and ordinances remain in full force and effect.
“Filipinos are on the frontlines of climate disasters, yet decisions about our safety are increasingly shaped by wealth and political connections. Inequality becomes deadly when greed determines who is kept safe and who is left to suffer the consequences of disasters,” said Oxfam Pilipinas Executive Director Maria Rosario “Lot” Felizco.
Felizco added that the growing concentration of wealth and political power undermines trust in public institutions.
Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
“Addressing inequality in the Philippines requires not only economic
Oxfam pointed out that the Philippines remains the 15th most unequal country globally and among the countries with the starkest divide in Southeast Asia.
Oxfam warns that democratic backsliding is seven times more likely in highly unequal countries, as captured institutions fail to respond to public needs. With this, Oxfam called on governments to confront the political power of extreme wealth by:
n Realistic and time-bound National Inequality Reduction Plans, with wellestablished benchmarks and regular
n Effectively taxing the super-rich to reduce their power, including with broad-base taxes on income and wealth at high enough rates to reduce massive levels of inequality.
n Stronger firewalls between wealth and politics including by tougher regulations against lobbying and campaign financing by the rich, ensuring more media independence, and banning hate speech.
n Accountability for the political empowerment of ordinary citizens, including stronger protection for people’s freedoms of association, assembly and expression and for civil society organizations and trade unions.
Instead, Madani said addressing water bankruptcy requires a broader transition that goes beyond technical fixes.
This includes protecting farmers’livelihoods, supporting shifts in cropping patterns and practices, diversifying economies to reduce dependence on water-intensive agriculture, and decoupling economic growth from everincreasing water withdrawals. He stressed that continuing to treat water stress as a temporary crisis risks deepening ecological damage and social instability.
“The earlier we face the real balance sheet, the more options we still have. The longer we delay, the more we convert manageable stress into irreversible losses,” Madani said.
NFA readies tender for aging rice stockpile
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE National Food Authority (NFA) will auction off 35,000 metric tons (MT) of aging rice during its third tender which may take place next month.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson confirmed to the BusinessMirror that the grains agency will offer 700,000 50-kilo bags or 35,000 MT of its aging rice stockpile. He added that they will likely conduct the tender in February, deviating from its initial plan of holding it this month.
“We’re still busy so there’s a chance that we’ll move the auction to February,” Lacson told this newspaper. “The remaining 700,000 [bags] approved by the NFA council [will be the volume for the third round of auction].”
The NFA chief, however, did not disclose the price range for the aging rice stocks in the third tender. For its second tender last
December, the grains agency awarded 315,000 50-kilo bags or 15,750 MT.
This accounted for 28 percent of the 1.11 million bags of milled rice, or 55,579 MT of the stocks they were expected to bid out.
Lacson said the winning prices for that round fell within the P22.52 to P25.16 per kilo range, which had been lowered to entice participants after its first auction last October failed.
When asked if he had reservations that the third tender might fail, given that the government recently lifted the ban on foreign rice shipments, Lacson said: “We have yet to see.”
Under the current rules, the
‘Higher chicken prices due to lower output only temporary’
POULTRY producers allayed concerns about the elevated retail prices of chicken in Metro Manila, saying it was a blip that was likely caused by slow production after the holidays.
The United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra) made the pronouncement after retail quotations for chicken in the capital region reached as high as P250 per kilo, based on latest government figures.
“Not many players loaded [their production] this period, because most of them already did it during the holidays, thinking the demand would be high,” Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong told the BusinessMirror
“That’s why currently, there’s only a small number of harvest relative to the demand, which likely pushed up retail prices.”
Government price monitoring report showed
that retail prices for chicken range from P170 and P250 per kilo, while the prevailing quotation stood at P200 per kilo.
Inciong added that the P250 per kilo price in the metro is an “outlier,” since the quotations for chicken in “bagsakans” tend to range around P150 to P170 per kilo, with the prevailing price at P190 per kilo.
“Normally, the [outlier price] occurs on the secondary or tertiary market, but in bagsakan, it can go as low as P150 per kilo.”
Despite this, Inciong said farmgate prices of chicken plunged to a low of P70 per kilo in certain provinces at the height of the holiday celebrations, and it only recently recovered to around P120 per kilo.
The country’s poultry production was on an uptrend last year, with think tanks
CHINA has purchased roughly 12 million tons of US soybeans in the last three months, clearing a closely watched trade hurdle and meeting a key pledge outlined by the Trump administration in November. The world’s top consumer had been hovering close to the target for days and has now booked enough cargoes to meet it, according to traders familiar with the shipments. They asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak with the media.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday in an interview on Fox Business that Vice Premier He Lifeng confirmed to him that China has completed their soybean purchases. “We’re looking to next year’s 25 million tons,” Bessent said.
Tariffication Law (RTL), the NFA should maintain a buffer stock enough to cover 15 days of national rice consumption from the previous nine-day requirement.
Recently, the food agency said its palay purchases plunged by nearly 60 percent in November due to limited storage. In its latest accomplishment report, the NFA said it procured 490,142.32 50-kilo bags or 24,507.11 MT of paddy rice during the period, down by 58.7 percent from the 1.19 million bags or 59,273.3 MT it bought in 2024.
Palay purchases in November represented only 28.42 percent of its procurement goal of 86,220 MT for the month.
THIS Bloomberg file photo shows freshly harvested rice in the Philippines.
grains agency’s rice stocks are considered “aging” starting from the third month after milling.
This year, the NFA chief said its budget to purchase palay from local farmers stood at P14 billion. Of this, he noted that P9 billion was allocated to buy paddy rice under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), along with the P5 billion carryover fund from last year.
expecting the sector to buoy 2025 farm output.
In particular, a unit of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said the robust performance of the crops and poultry subsectors will allow Philippine agriculture to post a growth rate of between 3 and 4 percent in 2025. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/12/08/thinktank-crops-poultry-outputto-lift-agri-growth/)
As such, UA&P Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA)
Executive Director Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul said the gross value added (GVA) of agriculture and fisheries will recover from the 1.5 percent contraction posted in 2024.
“We expect a rebound in agricultural output mainly because we were recovering from a low production base the previous year, wherein weather disruptions and supply issues held back crop yields, especially for rice, sugarcane, and corn,” Dacul said in the center’s yearend conference. Ada Pelonia
At an average buying price of P23 per kilo, the grains agency could purchase up to 608.7 million kilos of unmilled rice. As daily consumption is pegged at 37,500 kilos, this could last for 16 days.
While this could cover the
mandated 15-day rice buffer stocks, Lacson raised a caveat that the P20 per kilo program and natural calamities could put pressure on its resources (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2026/01/12/nfaseeks-elbow-room-for-riceprocurement/).
Under the amended Rice
“The decrease in the harvested volume may be attributed to fully maximized warehouses and limited storage space due to the ongoing warehouse repair and rehabilitation activities,” the NFA said.
The grains agency purchases clean and dry palay at P23 to P30 per kilo, while the price of fresh and wet palay ranges from P17 to P23 per kilo. This scheme changes on a weekly basis per province.
Safeguard duty on chicken MDM worries local traders
THE government’s plan to impose special safeguard (SSG) duties on mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken could put pressure on prices of processed goods, an industry group said.
This, after the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently sought the imposition of SSG on five farm products, including chicken MDM, a key raw material for manufacturing canned meats and hot dogs.
The Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) said this would weigh on local meat processors, as additional duties could jack up production cost and trickle into the price of processed products.
“This will [affect] the cost of processed meat... the [production] cost will go up,” Mita President Emeritus Jesus Cham told the BusinessMirror . “It will affect the small processors who have no capacity to import. As of now, we do not know by how much the duty increases.”
Aside from MDM, the DA also wants to impose price-
based SSG on other meat and edible meat offal, salted, in brine, dried or smoked except freeze-dried diced chicken and dried pork skin; onion, except bulbs for propagation. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2026/01/20/da-seekssafeguard-duties-on-chickenmdm-4-others/)
Also included are other prepared and preserved meat, meat offal, blood of turkeys except those mechanically deboned or separated meat; and other prepared and preserved meat, meat offal, blood, except those of turkey and chicken.
The DA said it issued this after the actual cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) prices for these farm products breached their respective price thresholds.
The trigger prices for these commodities are as follows: frozen chicken MDM, P93.96 per kilo; edible meat offal, P70.5 per kilo; onions, P74.21 per kilo; other prepared and preserved meat, meat offal, blood of turkeys, P259.22 per kilo; and other prepared and preserved
meat, meat offal, blood except those of turkey and chicken, P298.55 per kilo.
“Price-based SSG measures to be imposed shall be on a shipment-by-shipment basis, depending on the difference between the actual CIF price at the time of lodgment of import documents and the corresponding trigger price,” the order read.
Under Republic Act (RA) 8800, 50 percent of revenues collected from fees, charges, and safeguard duties on imported goods will be earmarked for the Competitiveness Enhancement Measures Fund (CEMF) to boost domestic industries affected by increased imports. The SSG duty is a trade mechanism that a country can impose on imported products that fall below its respective trigger prices.
Additional duties computed based on the difference between the value of the imported product and the trigger price are imposed on a commodity to protect domestic output against unfair competition. Ada Pelonia
China’s soy purchases hit 12M tons to meet US pledge
China had avoided US crop purchases for months prior to trade talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as tariffs ratcheted higher—but it returned to the market in late October, just before a muchanticipated summit. The White House subsequently announced that Beijing had agreed to buy at least 12 million tons of American soybeans in 2025, a deadline that later shifted to February.
China authorities have taken some steps that facilitated the buying, including reducing tariffs and lifting import restrictions on three US suppliers.
The current tally reflects continued bookings by stateowned firms in recent weeks, the people said. Export data from the US Department of
Agriculture, which lags real time, puts China’s purchases at just over 8 million tons as of January 8. The majority of cargoes are slated to load through the first quarter, the traders said, with a significant amount expected to head into China’s massive state reserves. Soybean futures in Chicago edged lower in Tuesday trading.
A large portion of the purchases were procured by Sinograin, the state company charged with managing those strategic stockpiles. Beijing also held several soybean auctions in recent weeks, an indication that room is being cleared for more incoming cargoes.
Reaching the apparent target, while widely expected, is likely to bolster confidence among traders and exporters that China could also meet the broader goal—outlined by the
White House—of buying at least 25 million tons of US soybeans annually through 2028.
It does not, however, point to a fundamental shift in China’s purchasing patterns. As part of its food security push, the country has made significant efforts to diversify suppliers and reduce reliance on US crops since the trade war in Trump’s first term. Economic challenges have also curbed demand, while top grower Brazil is heading toward another bumper harvest.
China has largely covered its demand through March. It is now also booking new-crop soybeans from Brazil for loading in months as far as August, the traders said.
“That’s going to be an upcoming issue: whether we can count on China to continue to buy after that 12 million or not,”
said Randy Place, senior grains analyst at the Hightower Report.
The uncertainty leaves the possibility that US farmers are left holding a bumper crop with its biggest customer looking elsewhere. Without sustained demand, American farmers will struggle to turn a profit this year, as they continue to be squeezed by higher input costs and low crop prices.
While Trump has sought to bring relief to farmers—a key political constituency— with a $12 billion bailout announced last month, many farmers emphasize that reviving American exports holds the key to recovery. But even as Trump vows to open more markets, his tariff policies continue to create turmoil in global trade.
China, meanwhile, is in a position where it doesn’t need to buy that much from the US,
said Ryan Loy, an agricultural economist at the University of Arkansas. And the opportunity for further significant sales may be limited as Brazil’s season starts to ramp up in March.
“When Brazil comes back online here very soon, what will happen then?” Loy said. “They’re going to be the cheapest on the market at that point, because they’re going to have the more abundant supply.”
Known export commitments by China of US soybeans in the current marketing year sit far below usual levels, with the latest USDA shipment data showing a nearly 40 percent decline compared to last year.
“This marketing year is going to be tough,” said Scott Gerlt, chief economist of the American Soybean Association.
“The window’s closing so fast for us at this moment.” Bloomberg News
Caught in fiscal trap: Why growth targets remain out of reach
FOR three consecutive years, the government has set ambitious economic growth targets, only to watch them slip through its fingers. The recent announcement that third-quarter growth limped in at 4 percent—making the annual target of 5.5 to 6.5 percent nearly impossible to reach—is more than just a statistical disappointment. It is a damning indictment of a fiscal policy characterized by inefficient collection, a lack of transparency, and a debilitating cycle of debt. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Flawed fiscal policy hampers growth— experts,” January 19, 2026).
As economists have rightly pointed out, the country is caught in a “fiscal trap.” On one hand, the government continues to roll out grand infrastructure programs like “Build Better More.” On the other, it remains fundamentally incapable of funding these ambitions through effective revenue collection.
As De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas noted, the issue isn’t a lack of revenue-generating policies, but the efficacy of their implementation. When the state cannot collect what it is owed, it resorts to borrowing. This is not a strategy; it is a survival mechanism that creates a cycle of debt the nation seemingly cannot escape.
The “brouhaha” over budget allocations and the recent ghost flood control scandal further highlight a crisis of quality in public spending. It is a bitter irony that while the nation cries out for infrastructure, the projects being funded are often marred by “allocables” and “insertions” that serve political interests rather than economic ones. When billions are poured into flood control projects that fail to mitigate disasters, it isn’t just a waste of taxpayer money—it is a direct drag on Gross Domestic Product.
Furthermore, the government now finds itself in a “transparency paradox.” In an attempt to clean up the corruption and inefficiency of the past, stricter validation measures and oversight have been implemented. While necessary, these reforms have led to what HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay calls a “fiscal drag.” The bureaucracy is currently so bogged down by its own new requirements that public construction has seen an “abrupt decline.” We are witnessing a government that is currently unable to spend its P6.793-trillion budget effectively because its institutions are struggling to balance speed with integrity.
External factors, such as the looming threat of Trump-era tariffs on semiconductors and electronics, certainly complicate the picture. However, blaming the global stage is a convenient distraction from the self-inflicted wounds of poor governance. As former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas emphasized, the deterrent to foreign direct investment isn’t just global trade wars; it is the internal “scandals” that signal to the world that the Philippines remains a risky place for capital.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) must face the reality that the lower end of its growth target is now “out of reach.” To reverse this trend, the administration must move beyond the rhetoric of “Build Better More” and address the structural rot in fiscal management.
Credible reforms are no longer optional. The government must professionalize revenue collection to break the debt cycle, ensure that budget allocations are shielded from legislative “insertions,” and streamline the bureaucracy so that oversight does not become an excuse for paralysis. Until the quality of expenditure matches the grandiosity of the government’s promises, the Philippine economy will continue to fall short of its potential, leaving its growth targets as nothing more than aspirational fiction.
BusinessMirror
T. Anthony C. Cabangon
Lourdes M. Fernandez
US-China; PHL holds its breath
TJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
HE geopolitical chessboard in 2026 is less a series of careful gambits than a high-stakes tightrope act, where one misstep by Washington or Beijing could send tremors through markets from Wall Street to BGC. Decisions made in these capitals do not stay contained; they ripple through currencies, redirect investment, and test the resilience of economies like the Philippines, reliant on trade, remittances, and global financial flows.
President Donald Trump’s planned—and mostly confirmed— state visit to China in April 2026 is being framed as pivotal. Trade, market access, and “economic cooperation” dominate official messaging. In reality, such visits rarely resolve the structural tensions defining US-China relations. They buy a few quarters of calm in volatile markets before the next wave of disagreements bubbles to the surface.
China-born, Canadian-raised, US-educated Beijing commentator Jiang Xueqin frames the contest not as a military standoff but as a battle over money. Since 1971, the dollar has underpinned the global financial system, supported by confidence, debt, and insatiable demand for US assets. China became a willing and stabilizing partner: buying Treasuries, running trade surpluses, and propping up US deficits while anchoring global commerce.
Today, that partnership is fraying. China is reducing dollar dependence, experimenting with alternative settlement mechanisms. The goal is not to dethrone the dollar tomorrow but to shrink exposure to a system in which US monetary policy and sanctions function as geopolitical weapons. Jiang compares the situation to two nations climbing a ladder over a deep dark canyon: stability exists only if both go up together. When one insists on staying several rungs above, the ladder wobbles—and the fall can be dramatic.
For the Philippines, this is not a theoretical exercise. Open sea lanes, stable currencies, and predictable capital flows are not luxuries—they are lifelines. Every stumble in USChina financial relations reverberates through service/goods exports, foreign investment, and remittances. Policymakers may want to “choose sides,” but in real life, smaller econo -
mies do not win when giants clash. Jiang describes the US economy as propped up by asset bubbles, speculative excess, and a financial sector more obsessed with leverage than productive investment. Some exaggeration exists—equity valuations are inflated; public debt is rising— but the broader point is unmistakable: vulnerabilities in the US financial system are global vulnerabilities. For Manila, that translates into risk in everything from tourist spending to the peso’s stability.
Financial dominance allows Washington to manipulate sanctions and supervise payment systems abroad—but only as long as global confidence in US institutions holds. Erode that confidence and leverage vanishes. Countries holding dollar reserves and engaging in dollardenominated trade need to pay attention: US supremacy is a tool, not a guarantee.
Europe offers a lesson. Jiang critiques its handling of Ukraine, noting bureaucracies often cling to outdated narratives long after conditions have shifted. Southeast Asia needs to internalize the warning: alignments based on ideology rather than economic interest rarely age gracefully. What can we expect from April 2026? Likely, a “grand bargain” between Washington and Beijing— trade tweaks, currency consultations, perhaps a symbolic handshake. Do not confuse press releases for substance. Agreements may emerge not from trust but from mutual carefulness—a pre-divorce truce meant to buy time. Structural contradictions
Canada’s military has modeled hypothetical US invasion, reports say
By Laura Dhillon Kane
CANADA’S military has modeled how it would respond to an American invasion after President Donald Trump publicly talked about the country as a potential 51st state, according to a report in the Globe and Mail.
The northern nation’s defense would include tactics similar to those used in Afghanistan against Russian and later US-led forces, according to the Globe, which cited government officials it didn’t name. The officials stressed they consider a US invasion to be highly unlikely.
The Economist, also citing people it didn’t name, reported earlier this month that Canada’s military is discussing worst-case scenarios that, though improbable, “now include incursions by America.”
The preparations underscore how sharply relations between the two long-standing allies have deteriorated during Trump’s second term. The countries have not been in armed
conflict against each other since the War of 1812, when Canada, then a British colony, successfully repelled American advances.
Since then, the US military has grown into the world’s most powerful. Officials told the Globe the model assumes an attack from the south in which American forces would overcome Canada’s positions on land and at sea within a week—or potentially in as little as two days.
In such a scenario, the Canadian military envisions small groups of irregular fighters or armed civilians carrying out ambushes, sabotage or drone warfare, the Globe reported. Those tactics could include so-called “hit-and-run” attacks involving im-
provised explosive devices, similar to those used by the Taliban in Afghanistan against the US and allied forces, including Canada.
The office of Canada’s defense minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reports come as Trump takes an increasingly aggressive posture toward Greenland, Canada’s Arctic neighbor. In an early-morning Truth Social post on Tuesday, he published an image showing a map with both Canada and Greenland covered by the American flag.
Wesley Wark, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said a direct US military invasion of Canada was “extremely unlikely,” though he’d heard from contacts in the defense sector that contingency planning was underway as a worst-case scenario.
These plans were prompted by Trump’s second administration and were not in place during the Biden presidency, he said. They are tightly
will remain. Markets may cheer temporarily, but the underlying tensions are unaltered.
For Manila, common sense is the only workable strategy. Watch closely. Plan thoughtfully. The global order is not collapsing overnight, but it is shifting. The danger lies less in a dramatic confrontation than in the slow grind of miscalculations by powers that mistake press releases for strategy. In a world where financial tools can be as destructive as tanks or missiles, realism, diversification, and a healthy dose of suspicion are no longer optional—they are survival tools.
The Philippines occupies a precarious perch. We are small, open, and heavily embedded in global trade networks. Every ripple makes us observers, but also strategists. In a world dominated by the monetary maneuvers of giants, foresight matters more than rhetoric, and patience more than bravado. The ladder over the abyss does not wait for us to catch up; missteps can be costly. In short, April 2026 is not a moment for cheerleading or hype. It is a moment for clarity. The US and China will dance, markets will sway, and Manila will need to keep its balance. Success will not be measured by who shakes hands, but by how well we avoid the cracks in a global financial system increasingly defined by both risk and opportunity.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
held and he has not reviewed them directly, Wark added.
“The planning is necessary. The prospect is unimaginable,” he said. “I think the real concerns for the Canadian government are less the unreality of a US military attack on Canada and more the growing realities of economic coercion and political pressure.”
Potential US political pressure points include exploiting and amplifying separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec through tactics such as disinformation campaigns, he said, while economic coercion could manifest as demands for open access to Canadian energy resources, critical minerals and water. Security pressures could arise over the Canadian Arctic, with the US potentially demanding greater access and control, and possibly reigniting the dispute over the sovereignty of the Northwest Passage, Wark said. In the unlikely event of a full-scale assault, a Canadian defense stratSee “Canada,” A15
Analysts warn that Iran crisis carries potential nuclear risks
By Stephanie Liechtenstein | The Associated Press
VIENNA—In the wake of spiraling tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s violent crackdown on protests, analysts warn that the internal upheaval affecting the Iranian theocracy could carry nuclear proliferation risks.
While in recent days US President Donald Trump seemed to have backed away from a military strike on Iran, he called Saturday for an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s nearly 40-year reign in Iran. Trump’s comments came in response to Khamenei branding Trump a “criminal” for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths.
Meanwhile, a US aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca—putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East.
With those dangers, analysts warn Iran’s nuclear material could be at risk as well.
Nuclear material could fall into the wrong hands
DAVID ALBRIGHT, a former nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq and founder of the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, said that in a scenario of internal chaos in Iran, the government could “lose the ability to protect its nuclear assets.”
He said that Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile “would be the most worrisome,” adding that there is a possibility that someone could steal some of this material.
There are historical precedents for such a scenario.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, highly enriched uranium and plutonium suitable for building nuclear bombs went missing due to eroded security and weakened protection of these assets.
So far, Iran has maintained control of its sites, even after the US bombed them in the 12-day war in June that Israel launched against the Islamic Republic.
Iran maintains a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity—a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Viennabased UN nuclear watchdog.
The agency said in a report last November that it has not been able to verify the status and location of this highly enriched uranium stockpile since the war in June.
The agency said in November that therefore it had lost “continuity of knowledge in relation to the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran” at facilities affected by the war.
A diplomat close to the IAEA confirmed Monday that the agency had still not received any information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of the highly enriched uranium stockpile. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity in line with diplomatic protocol.
Albright said that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium would fit in around 18 to 20 cylinders that are designed for transport, weighing around 50 kilograms (110 pounds) each when full. “Two people can easily carry it,” he said of each container.
Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said that there is a risk that the stockpile “could be diverted either to a covert program or stolen by a faction of the government or the military that wanted to retain the option of weaponization.”
She said that this risk increases as the Iranian government feels threatened or gets destabilized.
Some of the nuclear material could get smuggled out of Iran
Trump doubts Greenland threats will spoil Europe trade deal
PIran maintains a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity—a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog. A diplomat close to the IAEA confirmed Monday that the agency had still not received any information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of the highly enriched uranium stockpile. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity in line with diplomatic protocol.
or sold to non-state actors in the event of internal chaos or potential government collapse, Davenport said.
“The risk is real but it is difficult to assess, given the unknowns regarding the status of the materials and the whereabouts,” she stressed.
Possibility of Iran building a nuclear bomb
BOTH Davenport and Albright pointed out that there is also a theoretical possibility of making nuclear bombs with Iran’s 60 percent enriched uranium. Tehran has insisted for years its program is peaceful.
However, a weapon made directly from 60 percent enriched uranium rather than the usual 90 percent purity requires more nuclear material, which makes it “much bigger and bulkier and probably not well suited to delivery” on a missile, said Eric Brewer, a former US intelligence analyst and now deputy vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
He added that such a device could still be “blown up in the desert,” for example.
Brewer said that the possibility that the current government in Iran goes down that road should not be “totally dismissed,” but he underlined that most information suggests that the highly enriched uranium “remains buried in a tunnel as a result of the US strikes and is probably not easily accessible to the regime; at least not with some major risk of detection and another strike by the US or Israel.”
He added that recent events “have also shown that the Supreme Leader has a very high bar for any decision to weaponize.”
Nuclear power reactor could be a target IN the case of internal chaos, Iran’s nuclear power reactor in Bushehr— Iran’s only commercial nuclear power plant some 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran—could also get sabotaged or targeted with the aim of causing havoc or making a political point, Albright said. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran. So far, there has been no sign of Iran losing command and control of its security forces.
Albright pointed to the attack by the African National Congress’s armed wing on South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town, as the country went through increased anti-apartheid resistance in 1982. The act of sabotage caused significant damage but resulted in no nuclear fallout.
“If the Bushehr reactor has a major accident, the winds would carry the fallout within 12 to 15 hours to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman,” Albright said.
By Kate Sullivan
RESIDENT Donald Trump expressed confidence that the European Union would continue to invest in the US even if he imposed new tariffs related to his quest to take control of Greenland, a proposal that has angered leaders on the continent.
Earlier Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Trump’s threats were a “mistake” that would violate the deal he forged last year with the bloc. Officials in Europe have begun drafting plans to retaliate, which could set off a tit-for-tat that may scuttle the accord. But the US president downplayed the chances they would follow through.
“I doubt it,” Trump said at a White House press conference Tuesday when asked if moving forward with Greenland-related tariffs could trigger the EU to renege on investment pledges. “They need that agreement very badly with us. They really do, they fought very hard to get it. So I doubt that.”
Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on goods from eight European countries beginning February 1, rising to 25 percent in June, unless he has a deal for the “purchase of Greenland,” a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a Nato ally and EU member.
Trump, asked how far he was willing to go to secure the island, told reporters: “you’ll find out.”
The president’s rare appearance in the White House briefing room came ahead of his departure Tuesday night from Washington for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he will confront European leaders who are furious over his bid to take over the territory of a fellow Nato ally, Denmark.
“The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July,” von der Leyen said. “In politics as in business, a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”
In a subsequent interview with NewsNation, Trump indicated that he saw the deal as a reason Europe wouldn’t follow through with their threat—while shrugging off European officials who had threatened a trade “bazooka” in retaliation.
“I don’t think they really know what a bazooka means,” Trump said. “And you know—see, anything they do with us, I’ll just meet it. All I have to do is meet it, and it’s going to go ricocheting backward.”
Trump also reiterated his frustration with European fines on US tech firms, including Apple Inc.
The transatlantic rift over the US president’s ambitions has overshadowed the annual gathering of the world’s financial and political elite and has soured Washington’s ties with several key allies.
Trump broadly predicted that across “lots of meetings scheduled on Greenland” this week in Davos, “things are going to work out pretty well, actually.”
He downplayed criticism from European leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron and the UK’s Keir Starmer, saying he expected a warmer reception in person.
“They always treat me well,” Trump said. “They get a little bit rough when they’re—you know, when I’m not around, but when I’m around, they treat me very nicely.”
Trump has intensified his pressure campaign in recent days, including by threatening to impose his tariffs on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland if they continue to oppose his bid. Trump’s designs on taking the island
“I doubt it,” Trump said at a White House press conference Tuesday when asked if moving forward with Greenland-related tariffs could trigger the EU to renege on investment pledges. “They need that agreement very badly with us. They really do, they fought very hard to get it. So I doubt that.”
date back to his first term.
Those levies threaten to further roil markets that have seen stocks and the US dollar fall after Trump’s threat, with gold hitting an all-time high.
Trump has also said the use of military force to seize the island remains an option—a move that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier this month would mean the end of Nato.
While the threatened potential invasion remains an unlikely scenario, Greenland’s prime minister said Tuesday authorities there need to start preparing, adding that a military conflict “can’t be ruled out.”
Trump announced earlier Tuesday that he would meet with several parties in Davos to discuss Greenland and he dismissed suggestions that Europe would “push back too much” on his plans.
Trump has argued the US must control the island for its national interests, claiming that failing to do so will leave it susceptible to Russian and Chinese influence. He’s also said that Denmark and other Nato partners have neglected to boost its security.
On Tuesday, he brushed aside questions of whether he was endangering the trans-Atlantic alliance that has been the bedrock of the post-World War II global order.
“I think that we will work something out where Nato is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy,” Trump said. “But
China defends growth model at Davos, aims to be ‘world’s market’
By Josh Xiao
CHINESE Vice Premier He Lifeng stepped up a defense of his country’s economic track record, dangling the prospect of greater access to its domestic market to reduce imbalances in trade.
He, the nation’s economic czar and top trade negotiator, used an address to international business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday to try to allay fears over the deluge of exports from the world’s biggest manufacturing nation. China, which ran a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus last year, see itself as a commercial “partner, not a rival for other countries,” He said.
“We never seek a trade surplus,” the vice premier said. “On top of being the world’s factory, we hope to be the world’s market too.”
The outreach by He sought to draw a sharp contrast to new threats from Donald Trump, who earlier warned President Emmanuel Macron of crushing tariffs on French wine for rejecting an invitation to back his latest peace initiative.
Speaking in Davos, He presented China as an advocate of cooperation, free trade and multilateralism, reiterating many of Beijing’s frequent talking points.
“The world must not return to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak,” he said. “China’s development presents an opportunity, not a threat to the world economy.”
The vice premier was among key officials representing China in talks
to defuse tensions with the US last year after the tariff war started by Trump. The discussions with the US team led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer culminated in a truce last October after five rounds of negotiations.
Bessent, who held an informal meeting on Monday with He in Davos, said China has made good on an agreement to buy US soybeans and the two nations are looking forward to 25 million tons getting purchased in the coming year. But he suggested the Chinese should “buy a little more” because Trump always raises that subject in meetings with President Xi Jinping.
Bessent also said that rare earth magnets, which were a key sticking point in the 2025 trade negotiations—and a key point of leverage for Beijing—have been “flowing as expected” with a fulfillment rate that’s “in the 90s, which I think is quite satisfactory.”
While the one-year deal has eased tensions between the world’s biggest economies, Trump’s recent actions in countries allied with China, such as Venezuela and Iran, have threatened to test that fragile peace.
Still, so far the ceasefire is holding. Xi and Trump are slated to meet
four times this year, with an April summit likely making the US leader the fifth head of a Group of Seven country to visit China in half a year.
Greer told reporters on Tuesday in Davos that another potential set of trade negotiations with China was possible ahead of Trump’s planned meeting in April with Xi. He suggested the next round could move past highly sensitive issues such as technology competition and China’s supply of the rare earth magnets that are vital to global industrial supply chains.
Asked if the current truce between the US and China meant the Trump administration would hold off on taking any competitive actions against China, Greer said: “China policy is not on hold.”
In his Davos remarks, He called for China and the US to seize on opportunities to cooperate that benefit both sides. In a veiled reference to some tech restrictions on Beijing, he said China is often looking to buy foreign goods but “others don’t want to sell.”
“Trade issues often become security hurdles,” he said.
Still, in a sign of thawing relations with the US, the Trump administration has moved closer to allowing Nvidia Corp. to sell more advanced chips to China, while still withholding top-tier products.
Previously, under then-President Joe Biden the US had rallied partners to blunt Beijing’s access to cuttingedge semiconductors deemed crucial to its military goals.
He’s trip to Switzerland coincides with the visit of America’s biggest ever delegation to the forum. Trump
we need it for security purposes. We need it for national security and even world security. It’s very important.” He’s also linked his claim to the territory to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming that Norway controls the process, even though decisions on honorees are made by an independent committee and not the government. On Tuesday, he repeated that charge and said “don’t let anyone tell you that Norway doesn’t control the shots.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a series of interviews Tuesday in Davos, repeatedly urged US trading partners to not retaliate over Trump’s threat to hit them with tariffs if they do not accede to his demands regarding Greenland and urged that they hear out the president during his visit.
“I am confident that the leaders will not escalate, and that this will work out in a manner that ends up in a very good place,” Bessent said Tuesday during a press conference. Bessent, like Trump, also dismissed the prospect that Europeans would respond forcefully to the US. Asked specifically about the danger of Europe selling off US Treasuries, a countermeasure that would have a seismic impact on markets, he called that speculation a “false narrative.”
European countries hold trillions of dollars of US bonds and stocks, some of which sit with public sector funds. Selling such assets could potentially drive up borrowing costs and send equities down, given the US’s reliance on foreign capital. Most market strategists believe there’s a low chance policymakers would ultimately go so far.
Macron has also floated unleashing the European Union’s anti-coercion instruments to push back on the US, though German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has tamped down on that idea. With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron and Derek Wallbank/Bloomberg
will speak in Davos on Wednesday, attending alongside Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
China’s economy met the official growth target of around 5% last year, according to data released on Monday. While exports have powered the world’s second-biggest economy, its years-long property slump and falling investment are restraining the country’s appetite for foreign goods. Deflation at home also led to depreciation of the yuan in inflationadjusted terms, making Chinese products more appealing elsewhere.
That’s stirring anxiety abroad as China pours exports into Africa, Latin America and beyond—with Macron calling the situation “life or death” for European industry.
Chinese authorities are taking steps to address the rising trade tensions, including by reducing export tax rebates for hundreds of products such as solar cells and batteries. In another sign of easing frictions, the European Union is considering a minimum price system for Chinese electric vehicles to replace import tariffs.
The vice premier said China is looking to build up its consumer sector into a key engine of the economy by bolstering incomes and domestic demand.
Officials are working on turning China into “a consumption powerhouse on top of a manufacturing powerhouse,” he said.
The country’s development is mainly a result of “reform and opening up and innovation, rather than so-called government subsidies,” according to the vice premier. Bloomberg
BusinessMirror
China’s new envoy vows firm pushback vs lies, incitement
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
CHINESE
President
Xi Jinping’s new envoy to the Philippines has urged Philippine media to act responsibly, warning that Beijing “will push back firmly without hesitation” if it is defamed or if hatred is incited.
The strong statement comes after the Chinese Embassy filed a diplomatic protest against Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, who has accused Beijing of “barbaric and illegitimate” actions in the West Philippine Sea and presented satirical AI-generated images of Xi as
a “bully” in an academic forum. At the same time, Ambassador Jing Quan welcomed Manila’s new 14-day visa-free policy for Chinese citizens, predicting a surge in tourism. He cautioned, though, that kidnappings and scams targeting Chinese nationals in the Philippines remain a
Outlook cautious as cement demand falls
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
THE Philippine cement industry is approaching 2026 with caution after demand declined an estimated 2 to 3 percent last year, the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) said.
CeMAP president John Reinier Dizon described the outlook as “wait and see,” noting that recovery will depend largely on the pace of government infrastructure projects.
“It’s an estimate. Let’s say 3 percent, that’s a bit more safer. That’s our estimated decline in market,” Dizon told reporters, partly in Filipino, on the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines’s inaugural meeting in Makati City on Monday.
“But trajectory, we should be following the GDP [gross domestic product]. GDP grows, construction, we should see it growing also,” he added.
The national government expects the economy to grow by 5 to 6 percent this year.
Dizon also welcomed the approval of the national budget. “We just need to build confidence. Once the government projects kicks in, I think that will restore also the private side. But on the fundamentals, the country re-
mains promising,” he said. Despite optimism for growth, the CeMAP head said activity has yet to pick up.
“Last year, we’ve seen a little bit of decline. Particularly that last Q4. Now it’s still too early, we’re just about to restart,” he said.
Government data indicated subdued construction activity. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported 12,281 approved building permits in November 2025, down 12.7 percent from 14,066 in the same month in 2024.
For the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index’s annual growth in Metro Manila, it slowed to 0.1 percent in 2025, down from 0.6 percent a year earlier.
Cement prices fell 1.5 percent in December, slightly steeper than the 1.4-percent decline recorded previously.
Dizon emphasized the role of government projects in driving cement demand.
“Once they build the roads, they put all the necessary infrastructure, there’s a domino effect in the economy for housing, for commercial,” Dizon said.
The industry noted that the upcoming construction season, typically between February and April, will be critical for demand recovery.
serious concern, urging stronger law enforcement cooperation to protect visitors and ensure safe people-to-people exchanges. (See related: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/01/16/ phl-opens-visa-free-entryto-chinese-nationals-january-16/)
South China Sea disputes SPEAKING at a New Year gathering with media, Jing acknowledged that maritime disputes between the two countries have intensified in recent years. He stressed that dialogue remains the best option, noting that diplomats from both sides have reached preliminary
consensus on a roadmap for negotiations.
With the Philippines chairing Asean this year, Jing said talks on the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea are expected to accelerate. (See related: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/11/27/phl-defines-ase-
an-2026-agenda-wps-scs-cocdigital-pact-ftas/)
“Even if we cannot reach a solution quickly, it’s essential to keep communication channels open, refrain from provocative actions, and prevent tensions from escalating,” Jing said, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos
See “New envoy,” A2
MORE BILLIONAIRES TO CONTROL POLITICS–OXFAM REPORT
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
THE number of billionaires involved in politics is expected to shoot up more dramatically than those of ordinary citizens, coinciding with a historic explosion in their wealth, according to a report released by international charity Oxfam. The report was released as world leaders and corporate elites meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The report, “Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power,” also analyzes how the super-rich “are securing political power to shape the rules of our economies and societies for their own gain and to the detriment of the rights and freedoms of people around the world.” The report says that billionaires are now 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than ordinary citizens.
Oxfam warned that such extreme concentration of political
power is hollowing out democracies, weakening public institutions, and driving growing anger and unrest across the world, including in the Philippines.
In 2025 alone, global billionaire wealth grew by more than 16 percent to reach US$18.3 trillion—the highest level ever recorded. Since 2020, billionaire wealth has increased by 81 percent even as living conditions for billions of people have stagnated or worsened since the pandemic began, the report noted.
Globally, one in four people regularly do not have enough food to eat, and nearly half the world’s population lives in poverty.
Oxfam warned that the combination of extreme economic inequality and political exclusion is creating a dangerous and unsustainable crisis for democracies.
“The widening gap between the rich and the rest is at the same time creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and un-
sustainable,” said Oxfam International Executive Director Amitabh Behar.
A World Values Survey of 66 countries found that almost half of all people polled say that the rich often buy elections in their country.
“Governments are making wrong choices to pander to the elite and defend wealth while repressing people’s rights and anger at how so many of their lives are becoming unaffordable and unbearable,” Behar said.
Inequality IN the Philippines, inequality is becoming increasingly visible and politically explosive, per the report. There is a push to certify as urgent bills seeking to finally enact a law banning political dynasties, as provided for in the 1987 Constitution, but there is also widespread skepticism about the chances of this passing, as majority of posts in Congress are held
by dynastic political families. According to Forbes, the combined wealth of the country’s 50 richest individuals rose by 6 percent to US$86 billion in August 2025, up from US$80.8 billion the previous year.
This concentration of wealth stands in sharp contrast to the realities faced by millions of Filipinos coping with stagnant wages, rising rice and fuel prices, overcrowded public hospitals, and repeated displacement due to floods and typhoons.
Last year, public anger intensified last amid corruption scandals, revealing that billions of pesos earmarked for flood control projects, meant to protect communities repeatedly submerged by climate-driven disasters, were allegedly siphoned off by corrupt officials and contractors.
The revelations triggered nationwide protests and garnered international attention.
See
A12 reforms” can support growth, through confidence and investment channels, in the near term.
“We’ll see clearer policy direction, improved regulatory certainty, and stronger public-private engagement that can help unlock delayed private investment and accelerate project implementation,” Rosli added. For 2026, Maybank said economic
growth will be supported by resilient remittances flow, favorable labor market conditions and moderating inflation and monetary policy easing. Maybank expects inflation to settle at 2.2 percent in 2026, within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ target range of 2 to 4 percent, on the back of softening rice prices on stronger harvests and lower global prices.
The BSP is also expected to reduce the key policy rate by a total of 50 basis points, delivering 25-basis-point rate cuts in each half of 2026. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
‘Focus on broadband quality, not just speed’
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
INSTEAD of chasing headline speeds, regulators and ISPs need to focus on broadband quality, says a consumer advocacy group.
On Wednesday, CitizenWatch Philippines urged regulators and internet providers to shift regulatory focus from headline speed figures to broadband quality of service, emphasizing that Filipinos care more about reliable connections than impressive numbers on speed tests.
In a statement, the group said complaints about internet service point to instability rather than raw speed—connections that drop during online meetings, mobile data that don’t work in crowded places, failed digital payments, and signal outages during bad weather.
“When we are online, we don’t
have an internet speedometer in our face to constantly show us the connection speeds of our ISP,” said Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.
“People notice it when calls are dropped, when data service suddenly slows or vanishes, or when transactions don’t push through. That’s what disrupts our daily internet life.”
Oxales emphasized that the increasing shift toward digital platforms for work, education, and government services makes consistent network performance a fundamental necessity rather than a luxury.
A 2025 study from the GSMA supports this view. The report, Towards Better Mobile Quality of Service in Asia Pacific, argues that network improvements depend on cooperation between operators and regulators. It also warns that prioritizing speed
targets can lead to a disconnect from what users truly experience.
According to Oxales, the study shows that most everyday online activities work well at 10 Mbps. “What matters to users is whether the connection is steady and dependable, especially during peak hours,” he said.
The GSMA report distinguishes between “quality of service,” which refers to a network’s technical capability, and “quality of experience,” which reflects how users perceive performance.
Oxales said this distinction is especially relevant in the Philippines.
“We have dense cities, remote islands, challenging terrain, and frequent typhoons,” he said.
“Service quality is affected by power interruptions, fiber cable theft, rightof-way issues, and slow permitting of broadband infrastructure projects. These realities shape user experience
but are not captured by speed metrics.” Demand on networks is also expected to rise sharply. Mobile data use per connection in ASEAN is projected to grow nearly fourfold by 2030, driven by video streaming, digital payments, work applications, and emerging artificial intelligence tools.
The GSMA study also stressed that rigid regulations centered narrowly on speed have shown limited success in improving real-world performance, and can divert resources from network upgrades to mere regulatory compliance.
“Consumer protection is not about chasing the fastest possible speed,” Oxales said. “It’s about setting realistic standards, removing barriers to infrastructure rollout, and building networks that stay up when people need them most,” Oxales said.
“Billionaires,”
AT left, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan addresses members of the media in the New Year gathering in Makati, one of his first major engagements since leading the embassy. Jing highlighted China’s role as the Philippines’s largest trading partner over the past decade, citing growing demand for Philippine agricultural exports like durian, mangoes, and bananas. He also noted the popularity of Chinese consumer brands in the Philippines; and expressed hope for more cooperation in renewable energy, environmental protection, and the digital economy. PHOTOS BY WES CABANGON
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
MCompanies
BusinessMirror
B1 Thursday, January 22, 2026
By VG Cabuag @villygc
ICRO enterprises are now exempt from the submission of audited financial statements as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) moves to streamline compliance and reduce regulatory burdens for small companies.
The SEC issued Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2026, which exempts both stock and nonstock corporations with total assets or liabilities not exceeding P3 million from submitting audited financial statements as part of their reportorial requirements.
Previously, only stock and nonstock corporations with total assets or liabilities less than P600,000 were exempted from mandatory audit.
years ending on or after December 31, 2025. Corporations with fiscal years ending prior to the effectivity of the memorandum circular will follow the threshold in effect at the close of their fiscal year.
In lieu of audited financial statements, a corporation that does not meet the audit threshold must submit financial statements accompanied by a statement of management’s responsibility.
For stock and non-stock corporations, the said statement must be signed under oath by the chairman or the board, president or chief executive officer, and treasurer or chief financial officer, all authorized by its board of directors. The president and treasurer should sign the statement for one person corporations.
“At the same time, the new threshold preserves accountability by requiring management to formally assume responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of their financial statements, ensuring that regulatory oversight remain firmly in place.”
The higher threshold will apply to financial statements covering fiscal
“This reform recognizes the realities faced by micro enterprises, which often operate with very limited resources. By allowing the submission of certified financial statements in lieu of audited ones, we are making compliance more proportionate, allowing them to redirect their resources to growing their business,” SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said.
HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) secured the green light of regulators to implement its Claver-Siargao Interconnection Project (CSIP) which aims to ensure reliable power delivery service in Siargao Island.
The P11.86-billion project involves the construction of a new 69-kilovolt (kV) interconnection facility from Cagdianao NGCP line to Siargao Island. It also includes a 42-kilometer submarine cable with a 58MVA capacity, linking two new switching stations--one in Claver,
Siargao del Norte, and one in Dapa, Siargao Island.
“The project will redound to the benefit of the electricity consumers in terms of continuous, reliable, and efficient power supply as mandated by EPIRA [Electric Power Industry Reform Act],” the commission said in its 27-page order.
Siargao Island is currently connected to the grid through a 34.5kV submarine cable owned by the Siargao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Siarelco) to the Cagdianao NGCP 69-kV substation. Due to recent developments and increasing power demand in the Island, Siarelco has requested the NGCP, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and the
NETFLIX Inc. delivered fourth-quarter results that largely beat Wall Street estimates but issued a cautious forecast for the months ahead, citing higher program spending and the cost of closing its deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.
BYD Philippines Corp. will introduce the Denza brand of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2026 to mark its entry into the premium segment of the local EV market.
BYD Philippines will serve as the official distributor, bringing the brand’s lineup of electrified vehicles to local consumers.
“The future of premium mobility isn’t defined by excess--it’s defined by intelligence. Nowadays, it is technology that truly drives elegance,” said Adam Hu, BYD & DENZA Philippines Country Head.
Hu added that DENZA sees new energy vehicles as “an opportunity to rethink how power, comfort, and sustainability can work together in a more thoughtful, human way.” DENZA vehicles feature two proprietary technologies: the DiSus suspension system is designed to enhance ride comfort without sacrificing handling, while the e3 platform focuses on performance, control, safety and maneuverability. Bless Aubrey Ogerio
The streaming leader said Tuesday it plans to increase spending on films and TV shows by 10 percent in 2026 while forging ahead with plans to buy the studio and streaming business of Warner Bros., a deal that would unite two of the world’s largest entertainment companies. Netflix spent about $18 billion on programming last year, with subscribers growing almost 8 percent to top 325 million.
On a call with investors Tuesday, Netflix executives said they are increasing spending to take advantage of “attractive investment opportunities.” The company has secured the streaming rights to movies from Universal and Sony, is expanding its portfolio of live events and video games, and will introduce a new mobile user interface for the service later this year.
Closing the Warner Bros. deal will add $275 million in costs for this year, on top of the $60 million spent through year end. Netflix will
The signatories will assume full responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and truthfulness of the submitted financial statements.
The new threshold will not apply to entities classified under Groups A, B and C, as enumerated under the Securities Regulation Code, and corporations vested with public interest due to the nature of their regulatory
obligations and the degree of public interest they represent.
Group A covers corporations such as public companies or those with at least P50 million worth of assets, and with 200 or more holders, each holding at least 100 shares; issuers of securities listed in an exchange; and stock and securities exchanges, and other self-regulatory organizations, among others.
Group B includes issuers of registered timeshares, proprietary and non-proprietary membership certificates, and corporations applying for the registration of such securities; investment houses; brokers and dealers; government securities eligible dealers; and universal banks registered as underwriters of securities.
Group C is composed of financing companies with assets of over P10 million in the preceding year; lending firms with assets of over P5 million the year before; transfer agents; and non-stock, non-profit corporations, including foundations, which solicit or receive annual donations or contributions and/or with fund balance of more than P25 million, among others.
gets approval
Department of Energy (DOE) for an extension of the NGCP line to Dapa, Siargao via submarine cable.
The facilities needed to connect Siarelco, such as the 69/13.8-kV transformer and additional 69-kV lines, will be provided and constructed by Siarelco as a connection asset.
“The CSIP is proposed to provide grid expansion and ensure reliable power delivery service to power consumers in Siargao Island and Siarelco coverage areas. The project will increase transmission capacity to support growing load demand, provide a higher-voltage at Siarelco’s new grid connection point within its normal operating levels,” the NGCP said.
pause share buybacks to accumulate cash for the acquisition, according to its quarterly letter to shareholders.
All that spending will weigh on the company’s profit in the short term. For the current quarter, Netflix forecasts earnings of 76 cents a share, below Wall Street estimates of 82 cents. Sales will be $12.2 billion, in line with estimates.
Shares of Netflix fell as much as 5.1 percent to $82.60 in extended trading after the results were announced.
Netflix is in a hotly contested pursuit of Warner Bros.’ streaming and studio businesses. On Tuesday, it announced an amended agreement to buy those divisions for $27.75 a share in cash after previously offering a mix of cash and stock. Warner Bros. plans to spin off its cable networks in a separate transaction.
Paramount Skydance Corp., led by technology scion David Ellison, is offering $30 a share in cash for all of Warner Bros. Netflix executives projected confidence that they would get their deal approved by regulators.
“We’ve already made progress towards securing necessary regulatory approval,” co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos said on the call. Sarandos described the deal as
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the shelf registration of the debt securities program of Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG), which seeks to raise up to P5 billion in the initial offering.
In its en banc meeting, the SEC has given the green light to the statement of CPG covering the shelf registration of up to P12 billion in fixed-rate bonds.
The listed property developer will offer up to P3 billion in fixed-rate bonds for the initial tranche, with an oversubscription option of up to P2 billion.
The bonds consist of four-year series D bonds due in 2030, and seven-year series E bonds due in 2033, which will be offered at face value.
Assuming the oversubscription is fully exercised, CPG expects to net around P4.9 billion in the initial offer. Proceeds will be used to fund the capital for its residential development projects.
The offer period will run from January 26 to 30, in time for the issuance and listing of the bonds on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on February 6, according to the latest timeline submitted to the Commission.
The company tapped China Bank
Capital Corp. as sole issue manager, which will also act as joint lead underwriter and bookrunner together with PNB Capital and Investment Corp. The company earlier held three major events simultaneously at its Azure North Estate in Pampanga. The company said it made the first concrete pouring for Mykonos Tower, the groundbreaking of Azure North Townvillas and the inauguration of the completed Barbados Tower.
“These milestones reflect our commitment to delivering on the aspirations of homeowners and the promise of quality living,” Marco Antonio, the company’s president and CEO, said. “Our focus extends beyond construction—we’re building the foundation for a lasting community where families can flourish.” The Azure North Townvillas represents a strategic shift for the company as it enters the premium house-and-lot segment in Pampanga within the estate. The exclusive 0.8-hectare enclave offers 49 units of three- and four-story homes with lot areas ranging from 69 to 133 square meters, featuring up to five bedrooms. The limited inventory has already sold out, and the development is expected to generate P1.3 billion in revenues with completion targeted for 2028. VG Cabuag
More Filipino workers secure homes as Pag-IBIG housing loan releases hit
The ERC authorized the grid operator to implement the proposed CSIP worth P11,858,425,688.07 and directed it to complete the project by June 2030. NGCP was also required to pay the ERC P88,276,121.75 as permit fee.
The ERC noted that NGCP did not file any motion to adjust the project timeline. As such, the committed date must prevail insofar as establishing the extent of delays in the implementation of the project.
“The commission directs NGCP to complete the CSIP on or before June 30, 2030.”
The CSIP has been certified by the DOE as an Energy Project of National Significance.
pro-consumer and pro-innovation.
Netflix is buying Warner Bros. to obtain one of the richest film and TV libraries in the world, content it can mine for new material and help the company expand newer businesses like consumer products, experiences and video games. Last year’s programming budget delivered a marginal increase in viewership for Netflix, with overall engagement growing about 2 percent in the second half.
The company had a particularly strong programming lineup to close the year, including the final episodes of Stranger Things, a documentary series about hip-hop mogul Sean Combs and a new Frankenstein film.
Even as growth in new users and viewing has slowed, Netflix has sustained double-digit sales growth by raising prices and introducing advertising. The company expects to increase prices in 2026 and predicts ad sales will double this year from $1.5 billion in 2025.
The streaming giant reported sales of $12.1 billion in the fourth quarter and earnings of 56 cents a share, both ahead of analysts’ expectations. Netflix reported sales of $45.2 billion for all of 2025, up 16 percent from the year before. Bloomberg News
PAG -IBIG Fund officials announced that the agency’s housing loan releases reached P140.54 billion in 2025, an 8% increase from P129.73 billion released in 2024. The agency’s home loan programs benefited 90,727 Filipino workers to buy a housing unit or finance home construction, renovation or improvement.
Recently cited by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the National Housing Expo last October for its efforts to expand access to affordable housing in the country, the agency said the milestone reflects sustained momentum in affordable housing finance.
“We are pleased to report that Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan accomplishment in 2025 reflects our sustained work under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, or Expanded 4PH, to help more Filipino workers secure decent homes,” said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who also chairs the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. “This supports President Marcos Jr.’s directive to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing by keeping financing accessible to our fellow Filipinos. We will build on these gains in 2026 by working even more closely with our shelter partners to speed up loan releases and help more Filipino families move into their own homes.”
Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the agency’s housing loan programs are designed to keep homeownership affordable for Pag-IBIG Fund members in the Philippines and abroad, while supporting the government’s goal of uplifting the lives of Filipinos through access to decent shelter.
Of the total housing loans released, the agency said 7,056 Expanded 4PH socialized housing units worth P7.63 billion were financed by the program’s subsidized 3% interest rate. It also cited 4,811 housing units worth P6.2 billion financed under its 4.5% promotional rate for loans of up to P1.8 million. “Pag-IBIG Fund remains fully aligned with the directive of President Marcos Jr. to expand access to quality and affordable housing, especially for minimum wage earners and middle-income members,” Acosta said. “As the largest single source of home mortgage financing in the
country, we recognize our role in helping more Filipino workers secure safe, decent homes through home loans that remain affordable and responsive to their needs.” She added that last year, PagIBIG Fund rolled out home loan programs addressing members’ varying needs, including subsidized and promotional rates for eligible borrowers, as well as financing for home repair and improvement.
Under the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan for the Expanded 4PH, qualified local members and all Overseas Filipino Workers who are first-time homebuyers may avail themselves of loans to purchase socialized housing units at a subsidized 3% annual interest rate for the first five years, extendible for another five years for qualified borrowers. The subsidized rate lowers monthly payments to P4,005 for house-and-lot units priced up to P950,000, and about P8,432 for condominium units priced up to P2 million. Pag-IBIG Fund Acquired Assets that fall within the socialized housing price ceilings are also included. Through the Early Bird Promo, the first 30,000 qualified borrowers may enjoy the subsidized rate for the first 10 years of the loan. Pag-IBIG Fund also offers a 4.5% promotional rate for qualified local members and all Overseas Filipino Workers who are first-time homebuyers on loans of up to P1.8 million, making monthly payments more affordable. Under the offer, a P1.8 million loan payable over 30 years carries a monthly amortization of P9,120.34, compared with P11,082.91 at the regular 6.25% rate, allowing members to save nearly P2,000 a month, or about P71,000 over the first three years of the loan. This loan may be used for the purchase of a residential house and lot, a residential lot, the construction or completion of a home, home improvement, or the purchase of a Pag-IBIG
PHL financial system’s resources up end-Nov
By Andrea San Juan
THE total resources held by the Philippine financial system rose to P35.76 trillion as of November 2025, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow
John Paolo R. Rivera said the latest BSP data on total resources reflects continued deposit growth, balance sheet reallocation toward safer assets and steady credit demand, particularly from households and select corporates, even amid slower growth.
“Banks benefited from higher deposits and investments in government securities, while non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) expanded through consumer finance, insurance, and capital market activities supported by financial deepening and digital channels,” Rivera said.
Latest data from the central bank showed that the combined funds and assets of banks (excluding the BSP) and NBFIs increased by 7.14 percent to P35.76 trillion as of November 2025, from P33.379 trillion during the same period in 2024.
Banks accounted for the bulk, or 82.94 percent, of total resources, while NBFIs held the remaining 17.06 percent.
Resources held by banks climbed 7.65 percent to P29.659 trillion from P27.551 trillion in 2024.
Broken down, universal and commercial banks (UKBs) continued to
briefs
dominate the sector, holding 92.95 percent of total banking resources, or P27.567 trillion. This is higher by 6.91 percent from P25.785 trillion in 2024.
Thrift banks accounted for 4.79 percent of all resources in Philippine banks, at P1.420 trillion, posting a 23.70-percent increase from the P1.148 trillion recorded in the same period in 2024.
Resources of rural and cooperative banks also grew 1.53 percent to P505.9 billion, representing 1.71 percent of the banking system’s assets, from P498.3 billion in 2024.
Digital banks also expanded resources, contributing P165.9 billion or 0.56 percent of the total. The assets held by digital banks swelled by 38.60 percent from P119.7 billion in 2024.
Meanwhile, resources held by NBFIs reached P6.103 trillion as of November 2025. This was a 4.71-percent year-on-year increase from P5.828 trillion.
NBFIs include BSP-supervised investment houses, financing companies, investment companies, securities dealers/brokers, pawnshops, lending investors and non-stock savings and loan associations. Credit card companies, government non-bank financial institutions, such as the Philippine Guarantee Corp. and Small Business Corp., and authorized agent banks and their affiliated forex corporations are also considered as non-bank institutions.
➔ Courtesy urged for Marikina taxpayers
MARIKINA City Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” A. Teodoro last Monday warned city government employees against rude behavior as they are expected to be polite, courteous, and professional at all times. Teodoro’s warning came after the mayor received complaints that some taxpayers and business permit applicants were treated discourteously during the payment of real property taxes and the renewal of business permits. Regardless of workload or pressure, Teodoro said such behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the quality of service Marikina prides itself on. “Dismayado po ako at medyo naiinis. May mga ulat at reklamo tayong natanggap na may ilang nagbayad ng [real property tax] at nag-renew ng kanilang business permit na nasungitan at hindi naging maganda ang karanasan,” she said. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
➔ Sun Life donates
P6.3M
THE Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. announced it donated P6.3 million (CAD 150,000) to support communities hit by the recent typhoons and earthquakes that struck the country. In a statement last Monday, the insurer said P2.1 million will be allocated to help restore learning continuity for 500 schoolchildren affected by the earthquake in Cebu. The program will provide modular temporary learning spaces that are child-friendly and accessible to learners with disabilities. Clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, emergency power stations and internet connectivity will also be provided. The funds will also cover learning continuity kits containing educational and psychosocial support materials, as well as emergency communication lines to ensure uninterrupted schooling. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
➔ Security Bankers raise funds for scholars
THE Security Bank Corp. announced it raised funds for 41 students under its scholarship program through a series of employee-led initiatives held during the bank’s year-end 2025 celebrations. According to the lender, the initiatives generated donations for Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI), supporting the educational needs of the bank’s agency personnel as well as their children. Employees also extended their support through SBFI’s Adopt a Scholar campaign, contributing in various forms including cash. “Every contribution brings our scholars closer to realizing their dreams and building better futures for themselves and their families,” SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. said.
➔ Citi PH honors former colleagues
AROUND 280 Citibank NA alumni in the Philippines gathered to honor two former colleagues who are both luminaries of the banking industry. William B. Go, founder of Chinatrust Banking Corp., served as its president and the current vice chairman of CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp., is the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and Eugene Acevedo, former president and CEO of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp and author, is the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for Network Development. “This event reminds us each year that the real strength of the firm is the ‘Citibankers’,” Citigroup Philippines Country Head Paul Raymond A. Favila said.
➔ PDIC, German counterparts collab
BUILDING on a historically close relationship as active members of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI), the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) and its German counterparts, through the Association of German Banks (AGB)-Deposit Protection Fund (DPF) and the Compensation Scheme of German Banks (CSGB), recently entered into separate 5-year Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on bilateral cooperation. These landmark cross-border partnerships mark the first-ever collaboration between the Philippines and Germany to foster deposit insurance, underscoring the jurisdictions’ shared commitment to strengthening their respective systems and enhancing their effectiveness in safeguarding depositors and promoting financial stability. The PDIC has forged partnerships with peers from other countries to strengthen technical cooperation.
‘Bond yields to keep at pace with economy’s momentum’
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
LOCAL bond yields may rise in the short term even as economic growth improves, with the Philippines expected to track regional yield movements, according to Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corp. (MIM).
During a news briefing last Wednesday, MIM Head of Asia Fixed Income Murray Collis said bond yields will remain highly correlated as they move in line with regional peers.
“We are expecting that there will be some moderate bias or some pressure for yields to rise, particularly in the short term. And that’s what we’ve been seeing over recent months,” Collis added.
With the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaling that it is nearing its easing cycle, Collis said any further rate cuts would be warranted if economic growth falls below 5 percent.
“The central bank will be looking to balance currency stability against inflation control over the coming year,” Collis added.
The economy likely expanded by
4.8 percent to 5 percent in 2025, according to Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan. This year, the government is targeting a 5-percent to 6-percent growth in gross domestic product.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said monetary authorities could still reduce the key policy rate this February 19. Remolona added that, however, any further rate cuts beyond that are likely to be limited and would require a sharp slowdown in economic growth. Should the BSP deliver another rate cut next month, this would bring down interest rates to 4.25 percent from the current 4.50 percent.
Meanwhile, risks to the local bond market are mostly global factors, such as the United States tariff policy and how it might feed into global growth.
Across Asia’s fixed income market, Collis said positive dynamics will continue this year as global investors
turn to Asia for improved valuations and diversification. Asian local bonds have delivered robust returns in 2025, Collis said, riding on the momentum of monetary easing and de-dollarization.
“A lower US interest rate environment, an evolving Asian high-yield universe, and growing diversification away from the US dollar are creating attractive opportunities for investors,” Collis said.
China, Japan and India stand out as key markets where policy support, market depth, and structural reforms continue to enhance the investment case, Collis added. MIM expects Asia to remain a key destination for investors looking for growth, income and diversification amid an evolving global landscape. While volatility and uncertainty are likely to persist, MIM said improving macro visibility and supportive policy trends are creating a more balanced environment for long-term investors.
Scrapping travel tax seen to boost tourism sector
WHILE reducing government revenues, scrapping the country’s travel tax could stimulate tourism with the sector’s P2.3-trillion contribution to the economy, a tax expert said.
According to Raymond A. Abrea, chief advisor of the tax consulting firm Asian Consulting Group, the travel tax is a “tiny fraction” of the total tourism activity but imposes a highly visible and distortionary cost on Filipino travelers.
“Abolishing the travel tax is not simply a social or consumer measure—it is an economic and competitiveness reform,” Abrea, also ACG founder, said.
The travel tax, imposed on outbound travelers under Presidential Decree 1183, contributes about P7 billion to P8 billion in revenues annually.
While removing the travel would result in around in revenue losses for the government,
Abrea described the P5-billion revenue loss as “modest” as the tourism industry has generated more than P2.3 trillion in direct gross value added in 2024, accounting for
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
AMID the projected tepid economic growth this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) informed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that it will still be ending its policy to cut interest rates. Last Tuesday, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. informed the chief executive that the Monetary Board (MB) “sees its current monetary policy easing cycle as nearing its end.”
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Deutsche Bank AG CEO Christian Sewing called to dismiss a report from one of the German lender’s analysts that had suggested European investors may dump US assets.
“This notion that Europeans would be selling US assets came from a single analyst at Deutsche Bank,” Bessent said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “The CEO of Deutsche Bank called to say that Deutsche Bank does not stand by that analyst report.”
The analyst, Global Head of FX Research George Saravelos, said in a note on Sunday that Europe may become less willing to hold US as-
almost 9 percent of gross domestic product. He cited the Tourism Satellite Account of the Philippine Statistics Authority as source.
Travel taxes, Abrea said, are among the most distortionary forms of taxation in tourism as it raises the “all-in” cost of travel, suppresses demand at the margin and disproportionately affect students, families and migrant workers.
He said higher travel volumes and stronger connectivity can help offset foregone revenues through valueadded tax collections, income taxes and employment growth throughout the tourism value chain.
Lower travel costs also support higher passenger volumes, stronger airline networks, increased tourism spending and job creation across hospitality, transport, retail and services, Abrea added.
Regional outlier
MOREOVER , Abrea said the Philippines stands out as a “regional outlier” for retaining a standalone travel tax.
Most Asean countries no longer impose a separate outbound travel
Remolona’s meeting with Marcos came weeks after the MB, the highest policy making body of the BSP, decided last December to reduce the key policy interest rate to 4.5 percent from 4.75 percent in October 2025.
The MB also lowered interest rates on overnight deposits from 4.25 percent to 4 percent, and on overnight lending facilities from 5.25 percent to 5 percent.
The lower interest rate aims to stimulate economic growth as the
sets amid President Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland. Such a dollar rebalancing would likely limit the negative impact on the euro, he argued.
The reaction by Deutsche Bank, which operates a large business in the US, underscores the heightened sensitivity around the topic. Europe is the US’s largest lender with its countries owning $8 trillion of US bonds and equities, almost twice as much as the rest of the world combined, Saravelos said in the note.
US benchmark stock indexes sank more than 2 percent on Tuesday, the dollar slid against most major currencies and 30-year bond yields climbed toward 5% as Trump’s threat to slap
tax on their citizens and rely instead on standard airport charges embedded in ticket prices, he noted.
“At a time when Southeast Asian countries are competing aggressively for airline routes, tourism flows, and regional connectivity, maintaining an explicit exit tax weakens the country’s competitive positioning and raises the cost of mobility for Filipinos,” Abrea said.
Senator Erwin T. Tulfo has filed Senate Bill (SB) 1409 to remove the travel tax. Tulfo said while the Philippines signed the Asean Tourism Agreement, Manila still imposes a travel levy. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/11/03/ solon-seeks-abolishing-lawsbacked-travel-tax/)
The current collection of the travel tax, however, is based on several laws. Republic Act (RA) 1478 allots 50 percent of the collections to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Board of Travel and Tourist.
RA 7722, meanwhile, allocates 40 percent of the revenue to the Commission on Higher Education. RA 9593 also allots the remaining
country’s gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2025 slowed down to 4 percent.
State statisticians attributed the trend to the natural disasters, external factors such tariffs imposed by the United States as well as the slowdown in government spending as it initiates its crackdown on anomalous flood control projects in the second half of 2025.
Citing their latest monetary policy meeting, Remolona informed the President that they expect economic
new tariffs on European allies— combined with a plunge in Japanese debt—rippled through markets.
“We generally do not comment on potential communication between the bank and government representatives,” a spokesperson for Deutsche Bank said. “As a matter of long-standing policy, Deutsche Bank Research is independent in their work, therefore views expressed in individual research notes do not necessarily represent the view of the bank’s management.”
10 percent of the collections to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Abrea said Congress can provide direct and transparent appropriations for tourism infrastructure, tourism education, and cultural programs through the General Appropriations Act.
“This approach improves accountability, strengthens oversight, and aligns funding with national priorities—without imposing a blanket levy on outbound Filipinos,” he added. In the end, Abrea said a P5-billion revenue stream should not constrain a tourism economy worth well over P2 trillion, nor undermine regional integration and the mobility of Filipinos. The latter is set in what he calls as an increasingly competitive Asean landscape.
“Abolishing the travel tax—while safeguarding tourism and education funding through the national budget—sends a clear signal that the Philippines is serious about competitiveness, inclusive mobility, and sustainable tourism-led growth,” he said.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
growth to pick up this year. The central bank expects a “modest” growth in the first semester of the year before a rebound in 2027 that is partly supported by earlier policy easing.
Remolona earlier said that it usually takes “one to two years for monetary policy to exert its full effect.” As of press time, Malacañang has yet to give a statement if the President gave any instructions to his economic managers on how to respond to the central bank’s policy tack.
note
Saravelos noted in his report that Danish pension funds were among the first to reduce their dollar exposure last year. AkademikerPension, which which manages around $25 billion in savings for academics in the country, said on Tuesday that it’s planning to exit US Treasuries by the end of the month, amid concerns that the policies of the Trump administration have created credit risks too big to ignore. The pension held about $100 million in US Treasuries at the end of 2025.
“In an environment where the geoeconomic stability of the Western alliance is being disrupted existentially, it is not clear why Europeans would be as willing to play this part,” Saravelos wrote. “Developments over the last few days have potential to further encourage dollar rebalancing.” Bloomberg
Health&Fitness
Aortic stenosis diagnosis is more dangerous than cancer—expert
By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor
WHILE many people fear a cancer diagnosis above all else, clinical data reveals that symptomatic aortic stenosis, a severe heart valve disease, is frequently more deadly than most common cancers.
According to the American Heart Association, aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve opening narrows, a condition often described as a “failing heart valve.” This narrowing restricts blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and can dangerously increase pressure in the left atrium. Because the valve cannot open fully, it reduces or blocks the vital flow of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Cardiologists from the Center for Structural Heart and Vascular Interventions at St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) note that aortic stenosis can either be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Many individuals experience no noticeable symptoms for years until the narrowing becomes severe. Even then, some patients with severe aortic stenosis remain asymptomatic despite carrying significant risks, highlighting the critical importance of monitoring even those who seem healthy.
Symptomatic presentation AS interventional cardiologist Dr. Ferdinand Alzate explained, symptomatic presentation typically involves shortness of breath, fatigue, and episodes of syncope, or loss of consciousness.
“So the timeline, usually, these patients will develop angina [chest pain]. So the lifespan of these patients is usually around four to five years. When they have loss of consciousness, four years. And then when they do develop heart failure, that’s the end stage, three years. So you need to open that valve to provide some relief in the symptoms and likewise prolong the life of these patients,” said Dr. Alzate.
“For individuals with symptoms, such as patients with heart failure, they cannot sleep flat in bed and often have swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet,” said Dr. Fabio Enrique Posas, head of SLMC Center for Structural Heart and Vascular Interventions.
“They cannot do much because of shortness of breath; their lungs are full of fluid. For those individuals, when you look at the data, the mortality rate is 50 to 60 percent in one to two years.”
“So when you look at the comparison in terms of mortality, aortic stenosis is even more deadly than most cancers that we typically treat. It’s really deadly and functionally limiting,” added Dr. Posas.
He emphasized that public awareness is critical and understanding these symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention can quite literally be a lifesaver. Patients should be aware that various treatment options are now available within the country. Accessing the appropriate medical environment and specialized care has become significantly easier, offering patients a clear path toward better health outcomes.
When diagnosing aortic valve stenosis, doctors first look at the patient’s medical history and current symptoms. Dr. Alzate also said that during the physical exam, the doctor uses the stethoscope to listen to a heart murmur, which is a common sign of a narrowed valve. An important test is the 2D echocardiogram which shows how blood flows through the heart and heart valves. It can tell how severe aortic valve stenosis is.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
THE treatment for severe aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement either through openheart surgery SAVR (surgical aortic valve replacement) or the less invasive procedure called TAVI or TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve implantation or transcatheter aortic valve replacement). Although SAVR has traditionally been the standard for treating severe AS, TAVI is now available to most patients.
SLMC-Global City recently marked a significant milestone for its cardiovascular services, having successfully completed over 300 TAVR procedures to date. This achievement solidifies St. Luke’s position as the pioneer and one of the leading providers of TAVR in the country, a journey that began in February 2012 when the hospital introduced the revolutionary technique, where a percutaneous TAVR procedure was performed on an 86-year- old patient. The program is led by Dr. Posas.
During a recent event celebrating this milestone, former San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and Jun Gil, chairman of Executive Edge, Inc., shared their experiences as TAVR patients. Both in their 80s, they described how the procedure served as a safe alternative to surgery, significantly improving their symptoms and boosting their heart function. They specifically highlighted their rapid recovery as a major benefit.
“In the words of Dr. Posas, I was given the gift of being young again with a new heart,” said Gil.
“Reaching our 300th TAVR case is more than just a number; it represents our journey of 300 opportunities to provide life-changing care without the need for traditional open-heart
Bangus skin can treat patients with burn, other major
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes Contributor
THE famous bangus (scientific name Chanos chanos ) has been a source of delicious menus such as sinigang na bangus, daing na bangus and paksiw na bangus on the dining tables of Filipino families.
In the scientific field, researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) raised the possibility that it could turn the skin of the bangus, a common byproduct of the Philippine fishing industry, often discarded as waste, into an invaluable medical resource.
The Ateneo scientists found that milkfish or bangus could give doctors an economical way to treat patients with massive burns and other major injuries.
Cost-effective, vital tool
ALTHOUGH it is not yet considered as a home remedy, wound dressings made from fish skin may become a cost-effective and vital tool for doctors in developing countries like the Philippines.
When a person’s skin is severely damaged, such as in large third-degree burns where all skin layers are affected, the researchers said doctors may dress the wound with an artificial skin to protect exposed tissues and to promote the healthy growth of the patient’s own skin cells.
This groundbreaking Ateneo study is the first time that bangus skin has been eyed for this purpose. Previous studies used tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
injuries—study
as a remedy for wound care.
Sustainable wound care method AS bangus is commonly raised and sold all across the Philippines, this research holds major implications for healthcare in the country. It offers the possibility of an affordable and sustainable wound care method that also potentially reduces reliance on imported medical materials. And since fish skin is often discarded as waste, this research also promotes environmental sustainability.
“Among the economically significant fish species in the Philippines, bangus is one of the most widely cultivated. However, limited research has been conducted on the suitability of milkfish skin for wound care,” the researchers said in their paper.
“Given its abundance and potential collagen content, milkfish skin presents a valuable opportunity to expand the donor pool for fish skin grafting,” they added.
The Ateneo scientists compared bangus and tilapia skins collected from a local market in Metro Manila, making sure that these were fresh and free from impurities. The skins were descaled, rinsed with saltwater, and cut into uniform strips. Some of the fish skin samples were then sterilized in a solution of silver nanoparticles (AgNP); the untreated skins served as control samples.
Love your heart by getting a check-up
By Maridol Ranoa-Bismark Contributor
IS your blood pressure soaring? Take garlic, then add honey for good measure. Others reach out for an omega-3 tablet after a meal.
But do you know that natural solutions don’t work? That is according to Dr. Jose Paolo Prado, Director of The Medical City’s Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) Clinical Care Program.
“Taking garlic for lower blood pressure doesn’t work,” he says. He calls the belief an urban legend and warns against relying on anecdotes alone. Besides, garlic in the diet may lead to bad breath.
So what do we do?
Prado wants everyone, especially heart patients, to see a doctor instead. There’s a big difference between a natural remedy and a conventional one, he explains. The latter underwent clinical trials and is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved.
Blessing of science
YES, he admits, it’s big pharma that creates the pills. But its edge lies in the fact that it bears the blessing of science and the surety of confirmed studies.
surgery,” said Dr. Posas. “When we started this journey over a decade ago, our goal was to ensure that this kind of advanced intervention would be made available locally, and that no one would have to travel abroad to receive world-class cardiac care.”
“Today, our outcomes remain at par with the best international institutions. It is by far one of the most advanced and experienced cardiac programs in the country,” added Dr. Posas.
TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure designed for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Unlike traditional surgery, TAVR allows doctors to replace the diseased valve with a bioprosthetic valve through a small catheter, usually inserted via the groin or wrist. This approach eliminates the need for large chest incisions and general anesthesia, resulting in significantly shorter recovery times for patients.
Viable option
TAV R has also proven to be a viable option for elderly or high-risk patients who are ineligible for open-heart surgery.
The 300th milestone follows the recent launch of the St. Luke’s Center for Structural Heart and Vascular Interventions, a dedicated facility equipped with the latest technology to manage complex heart diseases through nonsurgical means. Beyond TAVR, the center will soon venture into other minimally invasive cardiac techniques, consistently delivering optimal outcomes of care through expertise, patientcentered therapy, and advanced technologies.
“St. Luke’s remains committed to bringing the future of medicine to the Philippines,” added Dr. Dennis P. Serrano, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Medical Center. “The success of the TAVR team is a testament to our mission of delivering patient-centered care through clinical excellence and innovation.”
For more information about TAVR and other cardiovascular services at St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, contact the St. Luke’s Center for Structural Heart and Vascular Interventions (CSHVI) at (632) 8789-7700 ext. 3021/3025.
complete inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth, and close inspection under a microscope also revealed that bangus skin retained its collagen structural integrity just as well as tilapia skin.
“By demonstrating that milkfish skin can be effectively sterilized and used similarly to tilapia skin, this research provides innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable wound-healing solutions. This finding has the potential to transform wound care in underserved areas, improving patient outcomes in regions with limited access to advanced medical facilities,” the paper concluded.
The paper, “Determining the Applicability of Milkfish (Chanos chanos) for Skin Grafting through Microbiological and Histological Evaluations,” by Dr. Janice Ragaza and Bianca Patrice Go of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Engineering Department of Biology’s Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Laboratory, was published in BIO Web of Conferences in November 2024.
Long way to go
WHILE the initial feasibility study was a success, ADMU pointed out that there is still a long road ahead before you see these in hospitals.
Right now, the research is currently at the laboratory stage. The next steps would involve in-vivo (animal) and human clinical trials to ensure long-term biocompatibility.
If funding and support continues, lead researcher Dr. Ragaza indicated it could take roughly seven to 10 years for milkfish skin grafts to become widely available in clinics and hospitals.
The project is being framed as a “waste-to-value” initiative, turning discarded fish skin from the fishing industry into life-saving medical supplies.
harm than good. Take vitamins A, D, E and K. These fat-soluble vitamins lodge themselves in the liver, fatty tissues, and muscles. Worse, an overdose can cause toxicity or organ damage. Prado also warns that there’s such a thing as vitamin D overdose, which comes from taking too much of the “sunshine pill.”
Get out and enjoy the sun, which the Philippines has plenty of. But don’t expose yourself at midday (11 am to 3 pm), when the rays of the sun are at its strongest.
Eat calcium-rich vegetables like broccoli, okra, and others. Take supplements when your Vitamin D level drops, but don’t do so forever. Stop when the doctor says your vitamin D level normalizes. Vitamins C and the B complex are watersoluble and are passed out from the body when we pee. But these have a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) which has to be followed.
Natural vs synthetic HOW about combining natural solutions with the pill?
Prado says it depends on what you want to do. It’s fine when you want to lower blood pressure. Natural and synthetic solutions can work hand in hand without causing harm.
Take the case of apple cider vinegar, he adds. This popular natural remedy contains sugar. Its vinegar content makes apple cider highly acidic and harmful to the enamel that protects the teeth.
Besides, he adds, one has yet to see a documented study on thousands of heart patients to show how apple cider lowers blood pressure.
Omega-3 is another case in point. Prado advises eating lots of fatty fish instead of Omega-3 supplements that promise to lower blood pressure. The solution, he insists, lies not in health fads but in lifestyle changes. Do you want a healthy heart for you and your family? Prado goes for skipping fried food. This way, you need not worry about using heart-friendly cooking oil.
Fried food
CAN’T avoid frying? Choose the lesser evil. Opt for corn oil, olive oil (except for high temperature cooking, which can produce cancer-causing elements), soybean, vegetable, corn and sunflower oil. Limit use of coconut oil, palm oil and butter for cooking because they have high fat content. And of course, stay away from deep frying. Steam, broil, bake and grill instead. These good lifestyle practices spell a healthy diet that makes vitamin or mineral supplements unnecessary. Thus, Prado asks, “Why take supplements if your diet is good?”
He adds that some supplements may do more
But lifestyle changes are still the best for your heart, says Prado. He walks the talk and exercises out of habit. That’s because he knows those living in so-called blue zones, or countries where people live long, make movement part of their routine.
Lowering stress levels also works wonders. This is where prayer, yoga and meditation, which reduces the stress hormone cortisol, and lowers blood pressure, come in. Multitasking, chronic sleep deprivation, and lack of social connections, on the other hand, have the opposite effect.
“While the brain can handle multitasking, this can burden it and raise cortisol levels,” warns Prado.
A millennial who wakes up each morning thinking of the many things he has to do is always high in adrenaline. He’s constantly in fight or flight mode. And that, says Prado, can shorten life span.
Access to better health care is also vital. People in the blue zones, observes Prado, enjoy this blessing, which, combined with the above-mentioned natural lifestyle choices, lowers the risk of old age diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
So how do you love your heart, this vital organ that can make you live or die? Give it tender loving care the natural way—good sleep, rest, exercise, a healthy diet, the joy of family and friends. At the first sign of trouble, see the doctor and obey his orders about taking pills on time. Your heart will reward you with many healthy, happy years.
Rethinking movement for a healthier 2026
THE familiar “New Year, New Me” mindset is starting to lose its hold. In fact, more people are rethinking what it really means to move well, not just in January, but throughout the year. Instead of punishing routines and short-lived resolutions, the focus is shifting toward movement that can be lived with, returned to, and sustained. This change is increasingly reflected in purposebuilt studios that prioritize consistency over intensity.
In East Greenhills, Ohm Yoga Studio is one such space. Recently opened, the studio offers a quieter approach to wellness: an alternative to the all-fornothing fitness cycle that often leads to early burnout. Here, movement is framed less as a test of willpower and more as a regular part of daily life, something steady rather than extreme.
The thinking is simple: a routine only works if it’s still there months down the line. Ohm Yoga’s space is designed with that in mind.
Located on the second floor of the Ferrari Building, the studio slows the pace from the moment you arrive. Bamboo flooring, an uncluttered practice room, and areas for easing in and out of class create an intentionally unhurried environment. The same philosophy guides the studio’s class
lineup. Instead of pushing a single way to practice, Ohm Yoga’s 2026 schedule is built around flexibility and long-term health: n Foundational practices such as Foundations, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Ashtanga offer structure and familiarity.
n Recovery-focused classes including Yin, Restorative, and Gentle Flow prioritize rest, mobility, and nervous-system balance.
n Functional movement options like Mat Pilates, Core and Flow, Body Sculpt and Strength and Mobility support joint health and everyday strength.
Beyond the mat, Ohm Yoga is positioning itself as an “in-between” space, neither home nor work, where people can go to regularly, reconnect with their bodies, and build habits that fit into real life.
As wellness conversations continue to move away from quick fixes, studios like Ohm Yoga point to a more measured way forward: movement that supports the rest of your life, rather than competing with it. Ohm Yoga Studio is located at 2F Ferrari Building, ConnecCcut cor. Columbia Streets, East Greenhills, San Juan City www.ohmyogaph.com | Instagram: @ ohmyogaph
Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
THE team from St. Luke’s Medical Center which includes Dr. Dennis Serrano, President and CEO: Dr. Sue-Ann Locnen, head of the Heart Institute; Dr. Fabio Enrique Posas, head of SLMC Center for Structural Heart and Vascular Interventions and interventional cardiologist Dr. Ferdinand Alzate.
SFA Lazaro, Japan FM Motegi meet, sign significant accords
SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs
Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro welcomed and met with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan during his official visit to the Philippines.
In their January 15 meeting, the foreign ministers reviewed key developments in Philippines-Japan relations, then discussed the improving cooperation in security, economic, and development areas, as well as other priority areas of mutual interest.
They reaffirmed the mutual commitment to enhancing the “Strengthened Strategic Partnership” between their countries.
Lazaro and Motegi also exchanged views on regional and international matters, including the Philippines’ Asean chairship this year, and other developments in the region. They expressed commitment to the Trilateral Cooperation framework among the Philippines, Japan and the United States. The secretary stated that the Philippines remains ready to host the next Trilateral Maritime Dialogue.
Both reiterated the Philippines and Japan’s shared commitment to upholding a rules-based order governed by international law, as well as the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and through dialogue. They also emphasized that the rule of law should apply in the maritime domain, especially the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS), where freedom of navigation and overflight need to be upheld and remain undiminished.
The meeting was followed by the signing of bilateral agreements: the Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan, otherwise known as
the “Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement” or “ACSA,” the Exchange of Notes for Japan’s Official Security Assistance or OSA for Fiscal Year 2025, and the Grant Aid for the Establishment of Wireless Broadband Connectivity for BASULTA or Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi with the grant amount of ¥1.63 billion.
Regional, international situations FOR the foreign minister, Asean’s stability is crucial to the entire region’s prosperity, and that Japan is fully committed to supporting the Philippines’ efforts as this year’s chair, so that the bloc is able to exercise its unity and centrality.
Regarding Japan’s view on the current situation in the Indo-Pacific, the two ministers shared serious concerns over the continuation and the intensification of the unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the SCS/WPS. Both concurred to continue closely working together.
In the face of the current severe international situations, the two ministers confirmed the strategic importance of deepening Japan-USPhilippines trilateral cooperation and the US engagement in the IndoPacific region, in addition to bilateral efforts. They agreed to promote concrete cooperation, especially in maritime security.
The two ministers also discussed the situations in Venezuela and the Middle East and their policies toward North Korea—including nuclear and missile-related issues, as well as abductions. They confirmed their intention to continue collaborating on
the aforementioned matters.
Various activities
MOTEGI was also at various main events on January 14, which commenced with a flower offering at Rizal Park at around 2 p.m.
Thereafter, the foreign minister visited the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Site, which is under Japan’s official development assistance or ODA. It features an embankment and other infrastructure being developed by yen loan, according to the Embassy of Japan.
The Japanese government official also went to the Manggahan Floodway, which was completed with Japan’s support. He received explanations regarding the progress of flood-control measures.
Later, he held a meeting with Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez, and Public Works and Highways Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, as they exchanged views on approaches to strengthen economic relations between Japan and the Philippines.
‘Important partner’
THE minister reiterated Japan’s com-
mitment to the sustainable economic development of the Philippines, which aims to achieve an upper middle-income status. He mentioned the Philippines as a key partner in both trade and investment, then articulated Japan’s high expectations for the Philippines’ market potential.
The government officials discussed further improvement in the transparency and predictability of the investment environment in the Philippines.
Motegi shared his thoughts on Japan sharing its expertise and technology. The Philippine government officials stated their gratitude for Japan’s long-standing support and their hopes for future cooperation. They also tackled the future direction of economic cooperation and challenges about disaster management, the development of transport infrastructure such as the Manila Subway, agriculture, information and communications, and other areas of collaboration.
The minister stated that ensuring economic security is also a crucial challenge for achieving sustainable growth amid the increasingly uncertain global situations. He shared his desire to boost cooperation from the perspective of diversifying and reinforcing supply chains for key minerals and semiconductors.
Asean diplomats’ meet tackles PHL’s chairship theme, thrusts and thinking
PRIORITIES as Asean chair for 2026 were the focus at the regular meeting of the bloc’s diplomatic missions in New Delhi hosted by the High Commission of Malaysia.
The Philippines assumed the rotating chairmanship of the bloc on January 1, taking over from Malaysia. Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio briefed fellow Asean heads of mission and their officials— convening as the Asean New Delhi Committee (ANDC)—on the official theme, logo, strategic priorities, and policy directions the Philippine chairship has pledged to pursue during its yearlong stewardship across political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars which underpin efforts toward an integrated Asean community.
Ignacio shared the Philippine chairship’s clarion call for the organization: “Navigating Our Future, Together,” as it hopes to rally the 11-member bloc toward a forwardlooking, innovative, inclusive, and people-centered Asean, anchored on unity, centrality, and adherence to international law.
The Philippine envoy also presented the Philippine chairmanship’s official logo, together with its manifold symbolisms: the rice stalk and grains for Asean’s membership and aspirations for prosperity; the wave for the role of maritime connectivity and cooperation; the Fili-
pino “balangay” boat for the members’ collective journey; as well as the thatch weave for the bloc’s unity in diversity.
He further outlined the country’s “3P” priorities: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment, which will imbue work on shoring up regional peace and stability, advancing economic integration and digital transformation, plus promoting inclusive and resilient communities.
The ambassador closed with a presentation on the organization’s key dates for the current year. Asean missions conveyed their sincere appreciation for the briefing, then re-
iterated their support for the Philippines’ turn at Asean’s helm. He retold the account of the association’s formation in 1967 by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, which has since expanded to 11 members that include Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Cambodia and as of October 2025, with Timor Leste. With a combined population of 670 million, it boasts one of the world’s most economically dynamic regions, with a gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion. Treated collectively, the region is poised to become the world’s fourth largest economy
HER EXCELLENCY’S ‘SWAN SONG:’ Strengthening US-PHL bonds
By Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson
BEFORE I arrived three and a half years ago, I spoke to every living [former] US ambassador to the Philippines and numerous others to prepare for my posting.
All spoke of the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, the importance of our shared history and values, and the rewarding and consequential work we do together as allies and partners. I received great advice, but was surprised by one persistent question: “What’s your song?”
People earnestly counseled me to select a song I would be willing to sing in public. But I had never sung karaoke! Thankfully, I quickly learned that renowned Filipino hospitality extends to being very forgiving of one’s vocal range.
It’s not about how well you sing; it’s about the shared experience that helps build meaningful relationships. In the Philippines, contacts become colleagues; colleagues become friends; and friends become family.
Building and maintaining trust is essential in every strong relationship. To me, that’s diplomacy: building relationships of trust born of mutual respect to achieve common objectives based on shared values.
The US-Philippines relationship as friends, partners, and allies has never been stronger or more consequential. I am heartened to hear that a recent poll shows 82 percent of Filipinos trust the United States as their premier security partner. The sheer number of visits and engagements by senior-level US officials and business leaders demonstrates the importance Americans place on relations with the Philippines.
Our relationship shapes lives, drives progress and prosperity, and secures futures on both sides of the Pacific. Strong people-to-people and cultural ties enrich our lives. I’ve seen this in our shared obsession with basketball and our love of good food—I’ll miss the fresh mangoes and lumpia!
Over 170 Peace Corps Volunteers serve across this beautiful country.
Our many exchange programs advance key issues like civil nuclear cooperation—something made possible through the oldest continually operating Fulbright Commission in the world.
Our two countries have worked together—“on hyperdrive”—to achieve progress in trade and economic cooperation, bolstering our shared prosperity. Multiple US trade missions opened new avenues for investment and partnership. We launched the Luzon Economic Corridor in collaboration with Japan, driving infrastructure development, job creation, and sustainable growth.
In 2025 alone, the US committed more than $313 million in foreign aid to the Philippines to stop the spread of disease, promote maternal and child health, counter illegal fishing, foster energy security, and promote economic development.
On the military and security front, our ironclad alliance is stronger than ever, ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. We hiked the complexity and size of our premier annual exercise Balikatan, and established Task Force Philippines to facilitate comprehensive, archipelagic defense and disaster response coordination.
Together, we engaged in more than 500 security-related activities and exercises in each of the last three years, enhancing joint interoperability and readiness to deter emerging threats. Significant US support for defense modernization included new funding and technology transfers to strengthen the capabilities of the Philippine Armed Forces and Coast Guard.
The US introduced targeted maritime assistance programs, promoting freedom of navigation and countering coercion in the West Philippine Sea. And we stood together to save lives with military airlifts that delivered family food packs and emergency supplies to Filipinos throughout the country. In 2026, the United States and the Philippines have much to celebrate: 80 years of diplomatic ties, the 75th anniversary of our Mutual Defense Treaty, America’s 250th birthday, the Philippines’ Asean [chairship] year, and the 10th anniversary of the landmark UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] ruling upholding Philippine maritime claims. While I will no longer be in the US Ambassador’s chair, I’ll continue to champion US-Philippines ties, confident that our hard-working embassy teams and vast network of American and Filipino friends, partners, and allies will still build relationships of trust benefitting our nations. So, what’s my song? Over the last three-plus years, I sang Louis Armstrong’s A Kiss to Build a Dream On many times because it’s short and has a long instrumental interlude! But as I depart the Philippines, the quintessential Filipino holiday tune “Kumukutikutitap” by Ryan Cayabyab is the song I take in my heart—along with fond memories of sparkling parols, friends and family, and the sheer joy that accompanies the longest Christmas season in the world! Serving as the US’ ambassador to the Philippines has been an honor— the highlight of my 40-year career. Maraming, maraming salamat at hanggang sa muli.
Instituto Cervantes to hold lecture on the Brit. Empire, Phil. Revolution
THE Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes will host a lecture on “The British Empire and the Philippine Revolution” on January 27 at 2 p.m. to be led by Spanish historian Laura Díaz Esteve and will be conducted in English.
by 2030, according to Ignacio.
The ANDC is one of 55 “Asean Committees in Third Countries” that bring together member states’ diplomatic missions around the world, established pursuant to the Asean Charter to promote visibility and support coordination.
The Embassy of the Philippines is scheduled to assume the ANDC chairship thereafter, for the period July-December 2026, coinciding with the Philippines’ broader Asean chairship. Crucially, the Philippines is also officially designated as coordinator for Asean-India Dialogue Relations for the period from 2024 to 2027.
The Philippine Revolution from 1896 to 1902 and the archipelago’s subsequent transition from Spanish to American rule marked a decisive turning point in global history. This period represented the culmination of Filipino nationalism, the loss of Spain’s Pacific territories, and the emergence of the United States as an imperial power. According to the Instituto, the lecture will explore the said events from a perspective that has received little scholarly attention: that of British communities and officials based across Asia, including Chinese treaty ports and Singapore. It will examine different agents of the British Empire—concerned with maintaining geopolitical dominance in the region and protecting their strategic and commercial interests in the islands—
and its reaction to the Philippine conflict, while seeking to influence its course.
Laura Díaz Esteve is a Spanish historian specializing in Philippine history, with a research focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Her work addresses political history, media history, and colonial warfare. She has taught at several universities and published in leading academic journals such as Diplomatic History and Hispania Nova. Since September 2025, she has been a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, and is currently undertaking a research stay at Ateneo de Manila University. Attendance is free, but advance registration is recommended. Interested participants may reserve their slot via https://forms.office.com/e/ mP8mcpfUFL.
For more information, visit the Instituto Cervantes de Manila website at https://manila.cervantes.es or follow its Facebook page: InstitutoCervantesManila.
LAZARO and Motegi DFA-OPD/JAMES RYAN ARTIAGA
AMBASSADOR Ignacio (fifth from right) with Asean heads of mission and officials NEW DELHI PE
Highlands Gold Scores Back-to-Back
Major Wins on the Local and Regional Stage
Highlands Gold has achieved a standout milestone after securing two major industry wins within the same week — GOLD for Best Rebranding Campaign at the 2025 Panata Awards and Campaign of the Year – Philippines at the 2025 FMCG Asia Awards.
The Panata Awards is one of the Philippines’ most prominent marketing recognition bodies, honoring campaigns that create meaningful impact, elevate brands, and drive business performance.
Highlands Gold earned GOLD for Best Rebranding Campaign, recognizing the campaign’s success in revitalizing the brand and refreshing its identity in a way that resonated with Filipino consumers.
On the regional front, the FMCG Asia Awards, held in Singapore, celebrates outstanding work across the fast‑moving consumer goods sector, highlighting campaigns that strengthen brand identity, build emotional connection, and demonstrate exceptional execution and results. Highlands Gold receiving
Campaign of the Year – Philippines reflects the strength and craft behind its strategy and rollout.
Together, these back‑to‑back victories demonstrate the campaign’s ability to stand out across platforms and audiences, proof that the brand refresh was not only creatively compelling, but also strategically and commercially effective.
The Highlands Gold campaign centered on a singular, authentic message, made with Angus beef, and transformed it into a story of discovery and modern mealtime experiences.
The rollout featured two key phases.
A chef hosted food tasting event. Food and lifestyle creators documented their first time reactions to Highlands Gold prepared in a variety of dishes, generating organic curiosity and conversation. A second wave expanded the narrative through a stylized brunch gathering, where returning and new creators showcased how Highlands Gold fits naturally into modern meals and shared moments, shifting perception from a premium treat to an everyday staple.
The collaborative strength behind the campaign also played a pivotal role.
Lead communications agency Seven A.D. shaped the brand’s refreshed voice and visual identity, while media partners UM Philippines and Spark Foundry rolled out both phases at scale, ensuring synergy across digital, television, and in store
HOTEL Sogo concluded the inaugural run of SOGO Dance Revolution, a nationwide dance competition that brought together live performances and digital engagement, with Ride Safe Crew emerging as the overall champion. The grand finals gathered hotel executives, media partners, invited guests, and supporters to witness performances from seven finalist dance crews selected from hundreds of online submissions nationwide. Finalists represented Marilao, Bulacan; San Fernando, Pampanga; Teresa, Rizal; Quezon City; Taguig; North Caloocan; and Tondo, Manila, highlighting the competition’s broad geographic reach. Participants initially qualified through online entries posted on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, where submissions were evaluated based on public engagement and technical merit. The top entries advanced to the live finals, where performances were scored on
dance skills and choreography, creativity and overall presentation, social media engagement, and on stage confidence and energy.
The judging panel was composed of professionals from the dance industry, hotel operations, and public service, led by dancer and content creator Andrea Pauline Brillantes and choreographer Jam Medina, alongside Swaggy Eleven, Hotel Sogo Sector Head Cristy Santiago, and Indigenous Peoples’ advocate Jennifer Pia Sibug Las.
Following the final round of performances, the official winners were announced. Ride Safe Crew was named champion and received cash prizes, a Hotel Sogo staycation package, and the title of Official Hotel Sogo
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“The recognition from both the Panata Awards and the FMCG Asia Awards reinforces the strength of our strategy and the collaboration behind Highlands Gold,” said Bernice Ilacad‑Jalgalado, VP for Marketing, CDO Foodsphere Inc. “Seeing the brand resonate with both the industry and consumers motivates us to continue elevating how Highlands Gold shows up in people’s mealtimes.”
Beyond the accolades, the Highlands Gold campaign delivered not only creative recognition but also measurable business results. According to Nielsen, the brand recorded significant sales growth, increased segment share in premium corned beef, and strong year to date value performance, clear indicators that the refreshed positioning translated into commercial impact. This momentum reflects the campaign’s ability to drive both business and brand outcomes by strengthening consumer trust, improving preference, and reinforcing Highlands Gold’s presence in its category.
Beyond the back to back wins, Highlands Gold continues to gain traction, reflected in deeper consumer connection, a stronger brand presence, and positive movement in both perception and business performance. With sharpened storytelling and sustained visibility, the brand is poised to expand further in Filipino homes.
interaction throughout the competition.
Intermission performances from guest artists and special stage numbers by the judges complemented the competition rounds, contributing to the program’s steady pacing and audience engagement.
Sue Geminiano, Hotel Sogo Corporate Marketing Head, shared: “Hotel Sogo Dance Revolution was created not just to showcase talent, but to give people a stage where dreams can move, stories can be told, and confidence can grow. Hotel Sogo believes that behind every hardworking Filipino is a dream waiting for its chance. We planned this event because we know that dance is more than movement; it’s expression, healing, and hope. It’s a voice when words fall short. Just like a stay at Hotel Sogo, it’s a release after long days of work — and a reminder that talent exists everywhere, no matter the background.”
SOGO Dance Revolution was designed to provide Filipino dancers with a platform to showcase their skills while engaging audiences both onstage and online. With the strong turnout and high quality of performances, Hotel Sogo management is already looking forward to mounting a second season.
Geminiano added that the company sees the program as part of its broader efforts to support youth driven and creative initiatives.
With the successful conclusion of its first season, SOGO Dance Revolution is now positioned to grow into a recurring national platform, highlighting emerging dance talent and celebrating Filipino creativity and passion.
joins the Cebu Community in celebrating local culture, craftsmanship this Sinulog 2026
cultural and historical foundations of Sinulog and remain an integral part of the overall celebration.
to
Exhibits. These activations offered a closer look at the traditions and craftsmanship that bring deeper meaning to Sinulog. During the same period, the Sinulog Artisan Fair at The Mall at NUSTAR showcased Cebuano delicacies, handcrafted items, and products from local artisans and small businesses. Cultural shows, roaming Sinulog Ambassadors, and a parade within the property were also scheduled during the festival weekend from January 16 to 18.
Designed for convenience and comfort, NUSTAR’s Sinulog activities allowed guests to move seamlessly between exhibits and performances without leaving the property. Free shuttle services and multiple access points supported easier access for both locals and tourists. The full shuttle schedule may be viewed at www.nustar.ph/ free-shuttle/.
Through its lineup of cultural showcases, community events, and exciting experiences, Sinulog 2026 at NUSTAR offered an inclusive and welcoming way to take part in one of Cebu’s most important festivals. For more information, guests may visit www.nustar.ph or contact (032) 888 8282.
AS the new year begins, Hotel DreamWorld looks back on the highlights of the past holiday season, one marked not only by celebration, but by compassion and community service. Capping off its 2025 festivities, the hotel successfully held its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Balls for a Cause at the Hotel DreamWorld North Edsa lobby, bringing together partners, media, and guests in the spirit of generosity and hope. Hosted by Gina Donato, the evening brought together stakeholders from various sectors in a festive and meaningful gathering. The atmosphere was enriched by musical performances from the Quezon City Performing Arts Development Foundation Inc. (QCPADFI) choir and Tales of Music, whose violin performance added warmth and elegance to the celebration. A symbolic highlight of the event was the lighting of the hotel’s Christmas tree, adorned in white, blue, and gold. Beyond its visual appeal, the moment represented unity, hope, and the shared spirit of generosity that defined the season. Central to the celebration was the Christmas Balls for a Cause initiative, which invited guests to purchase Christmas balls, write personal messages, and hang them on the tree. Proceeds from the activity were donated to Bahay Aruga, a free halfway home that supports pediatric cancer patients and their families. Representing the beneficiary organization were Viana
and
The Highlands Gold brand, media team and agency partners receiving their Panata Trophy.
Ride Safe Crew is crowned champion of Hotel Sogo’s first ever SOGO Dance Revolution
Parentlife
GENPRIME BRINGS GLOBAL FERTILITY CARE CLOSER TO FILIPINO FAMILIES
THE Philippines has long been shaped by stories of resilience, hope, and family. Last December, a new chapter began as GenPrime—a growing fertility network in Asia—opened its doors in Manila, offering Filipino families access to fertility support shaped by international experience and grounded in local context.
“For many, the path to starting a family has not been simple,” said Margaret Wang, CEO of GenPrime. “Our hope is to make support easier to reach, so individuals and couples can begin their journey close to home.”
With its clinic in Parqal, Manila, GenPrime gives Filipino patients access to fertility care locally, while connecting them to the trusted practices used across its network in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Los Angeles.
GenPrime offers fertility preservation, reproductive diagnostics, IVF, and genetic testing—guided by international standards and tailored to each patient’s needs. For pathways not permitted locally, such as surrogacy, GenPrime guides patients on legally supported options abroad.
At the center of GenPrime Manila are two Filipino specialists whose careers have been shaped by a deep commitment to helping hopeful parents.
Dr. Anthony Marc Ancheta, GenPrime Manila’s medical director, has spent nearly two decades caring for individuals and couples navigating fertility. Trained at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and further specialized at the National University Hospital in Singapore, he brings a blend of scientific precision and quiet empathy to every case.
Beside him is Dr. Marinella Abat, a reproductive endocrinology expert with over 20 years of experience and a former president of the Philippine Society of Reproductive Medicine. Her work in clinical governance has shaped how fertility care is delivered nationwide, but patients often describe her first and foremost as deeply thoughtful and attentive. She brings both leadership and heart to the Manila clinic. Together, they lead a team of embryologists and nurses trained in respected institutions, such as Victory ART Laboratory, The Medical City, and the National University Hospital Singapore—forming a group that pairs international training with an unmistakably Filipino sense of care.
Fertility is often described in strictly medical terms—but GenPrime sees it as an emotional and deeply personal experience. Its approach blends science, thoughtful design, and support for emotional wellbeing.
At the heart of this work is Rhea Labs, which develops tools that give clinicians a deeper and more holistic view of a patient’s fertility picture. One of its key technologies comes from Embryonics, where AI is used to support embryo assessment and help guide diagnostic decisions. Led by AI specialist David Silver, the team focuses on technology that enhances clarity for clinicians without overwhelming patients—tools that support thoughtful, informed decisions at moments that matter most.
GenPrime’s support doesn’t begin or end within clinic walls. It extends through a connected ecosystem designed to make fertility care feel continuous, flexible and grounded in real-life needs. “People are living differently now—building careers across borders, starting families on new timelines, and navigating complex pressures,” Wang said. “Our platform is built for this reality. By combining innovation, empathy, and flexibility, we hope to help patients pursue their familybuilding goals with confidence, wherever life takes them.” More information can be found at www.genprime.com.
THE new year is a good time to look back and move forward with new lessons and perspectives. Senior recreation center Sunshine Place member Marriz B. Agbon—writer, retired executive, and endurance masters athlete—has written much on aging, movement and community. Sunshine Place can be found. He was, however, surprised when attending the senior hub’s holiday party gave him new insights on these subjects. Here, he shares with us exciting new perspectives on aging, movement, and community.
n Long before “active aging” became policy language, Sunshine Place practiced it—through movement, creativity, and care. Sunshine Place Senior Recreation Center, founded by the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, was created to answer a question our society often avoids: “What does dignity look after retirement?”
After eleven years, it has become “a safe, joyful community where there is life after retirement” with its art , music, and wellness lessons which seniors can enjoy with family and friends.
n The Christmas event was a lesson on how aging can be lived. Agbon described walking into a hall filled with seniors, caregivers, walkers, wheelchairs, and Disney balloons—ordinary, yet unexpectedly moving.
He described how dance numbers followed one after another—tap routines, pop songs, choreographed pieces adjusted to bodies that no
Intentional routines: Resetting family rituals after the holidays
AFTER all the Christmas carols and family gatherings, many families quietly admit the same thing: “We feel a bit tired.” The holidays are joyful but they can also leave households overstimulated, off-schedule, and craving a sense of normalcy. Children feel it too. Sleep is lighter, screen time has stretched longer, and our vacation mode has not been thoroughly shaken off. Post-holiday fatigue is a shared experience, and instead of rushing back to “fix” everything, this moment invites us to reset with intention.
This is where understanding the difference between routines and rituals becomes important. Routines are the systems that keep life moving— wake-up times, school prep, bath schedules. Rituals, on the other hand, are the moments that give meaning to those systems. Rituals carry emotion, connection and memory. A bedtime routine might include brushing your teeth and putting on pajamas, but a bedtime ritual is the same story read in the same voice, the same prayer whispered, the same hug that brings warmth and affection. For families with children aged zero to eight, rituals are powerful anchors. At this stage, children thrive on predictability, not because life is rigid but because it is reassuring. One of the simplest rituals
to reset after the holidays is mealtime connection. This does not require elaborate menus. It requires presence. A screen-free family meal, even once a day, creates space for conversation, laughter, and modeling attention. For toddlers, it might be naming colors on the plate. For preschoolers, it’s sharing a funny or sad moment in school. For early graders, it might be storytelling or gratitude sharing. When grandparents, titos, and titas are present, invite them into this ritual too. Children learn belonging when generations gather around the same table.
Bedtime rituals are another gift we can reclaim. In homes where screens have crept into evenings, choosing a consistent “screen-off” signal can gently transition children to rest. Our usual signal when my children were growing up was that we would close the curtains together, turn on their night light, play their bedtime music, and turn off the lights together. Then we would read their favorite books while they were on their bottle. These rituals did not just help my children sleep better, but it also allowed us to have 100 percent bonding time, just me and my child. As a working mom, these few hours were priceless. Daily check-ins can also be woven into play. For younger children, floor play becomes a ritual when adults join in without distraction. Even 10 minutes of undivided attention—no phones, no multitasking— can regulate a child’s emotions more effectively than long lectures. When uncles, aunts, or grandparents join playtime, children witness cooperation, patience and shared joy. These moments quietly reduce screen dependence because real connection becomes more rewarding.
For our own spouses, older children or our relatives who live with us, we can show our care ritual by preparing their “baons” or lunch even once a week. You can also include On-the-Go care packs like the Biogesic On-The-Go Pack. Compact and easy to spot
New year, new insights on aging, movement and community
embarrassment.” We’re used to thinking of aging as loss: slower movement, fewer roles, shrinking independence. Yet what Agbon witnessed suggested something different: that aging can be shaped with intention, community and dignity.
n Even when your body slows, life does not
The highlight of the afternoon, says Agbon, was the Super Seniors Chair Dance.
“Seniors remained seated while caregivers and partners stood beside them, mirroring movements so the dancers could follow,” he says. “Tight knees, fading eyesight, unsteady balance—none of it stopped the performance. It simply reshaped it.”
These Super Seniors were not performing despite their age. They were performing within it.
in a full bag, work pouch, or travel kit, it ensures that relief is always within reach during long commutes, shifting schedules, or unexpected headaches. It provides convenience and preparedness, ready for use anytime, anywhere. Available in peach and blue, the Biogesic On-The-Go Pack fits effortlessly into one’s bag, desk, or travel kit. Most importantly, the Biogesic On-The-Go Pack is a small act of care, of “alaga.” As one user shared, “It’s such a small thing, pero it really feels like alaga.” Each tin may look different, but the intention is the same: to keep comfort, relief and care close, reminding us that looking after ourselves and others can happen in the simplest everyday moments. The Biogesic OnThe-Go Pack is now available in leading drugstores nationwide.
Rituals create safety and security. Neuroscience tells us that predictable, nurturing interactions help regulate stress and support brain development in early childhood. But beyond the science, rituals shape memory. Long after toys are forgotten, children remember how it felt to be listened to, played with, and loved.
As a simple ritual challenge, I invite families to choose just one ritual to start on this week. It could be a screen-free dinner, a shared bedtime story, a Sunday family game with grandparents, or a weekly gratitude note in your loved ones’ lunch bag. Start small. Rituals grow through simplicity and consistency, not grand gestures.
As we reset after the holidays, may we remember that structure does not limit joy, it supports it. In choosing intentional rituals, we are not adding more to our plates. We are clearing space for what truly nourishes our families. And in those quiet, repeated moments, we build homes where children feel secure, connected, and deeply loved...with no limits. Happy New Year Rituals, everyone!
What struck him most “was not how much they could still do it, but how thoughtfully the environment had been designed to let them do it.
Caregivers were not directing from above; they were accompanying from beside. Movement was translated, not imposed. Dignity was built into the program.
n The art of aging forward. In practice, Agbon says it’s not a denial of decline, not heroic independence at all costs, but thoughtful design—of spaces, programs, and relationships that allow older adults to keep participating, choosing, and moving in ways that makes sense for them
n Our deepest fear about aging is not pain or even death, but being left behind. “The Philippines is aging faster than we like to admit it,” Agbon says. “Families are smaller. Caregiving is harder. Retirement often means isolation.”
With this, it becomes easier for older adults to slip into invisibility. The new year becomes an invitation to look outward, to notice who may be drifting to the margins, to keep them included in conversations and gatherings not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. Sometimes the most meaningful resolution is simply choosing connection.
When we keep seniors engaged, aging becomes less about fading away and more about continuing to belong. When we take aging seriously, it becomes “not perfect. But humane. And unmistakably alive.”
B8 Thursday, January 22, 2026
Bejino bags gold, sets new Asean Para Games record
PARALYMPIC swimmer Gary Bejino set a new record in the Asean Para Games in winning the 400m freestyle S6 on Wednesday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
It was the first gold medal for Team Philippines in the 13th staging of the multi-sport event for differently-abled athletes in the region. The 35-year-old Bejino took the lead early and finished with a time of five minutes and 32.08 seconds at Nakhon Ratchasima Sports Complex.
the
I was so happy to get the gold, then I shaved a little time off the record,” said Bejino, dedicating his win to his son who was celebrating his birthday on the same day he won his fourth gold medal in the 400m freestyle. It also happened to coincide with my son Gray Bejino’s birthday. I was thinking last night that it’s my son’s birthday, this set up the mood to win,” said Bejino of his two-year-old son. A nother Paralympic swimmer, Ernie Gawilan, delivered the country’s second gold medal by winning the 400m freestyle S7 in a time of 5:02.39. The 35-year-old Gawilan trailed after three laps then caught Singaporean rival Wei Soong Toh of Singapore to win his first gold medal in the tournament.
First of all, I dedicate this to our country and then to my baby who is yet to be born,” said Gawilan, eager to welcome his first child. Meanwhile, both the Philippine men and women’s fell short in the 3x3 wheelchair basketball event against
host and defending champion Thailand.
The Lady Warriors suffered a 5-12 defeat in their first championship and wound up with silver, their first medal after an eight-year wait.
The Philippine Warriors’ losing streak against the Thais continued as they suffered a 13-20 defeat.
In women’s para powerlifting, Marydol Pamati-an contributed a silver in the 41kg category for her lift of a total of 77kg. and Denesia Esnara a bronze in the 55kg category for her lift of 73 kg.
Para cyclist Michael Bayani also delivered a bronze medal, while Francisco Ednaco earned third place in the singles event of tenpin bowling.
Aussies dazzle at world surf tilt in La Union
ISLA HUPPATZ and Dane Henry completed an Australian sweep of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) World Junior Championships Philippines Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia, bucking not only a strong field but an Urbiztondo Beach in La Union that played tricks on the under-20 surfers on Sunday.
I can’t believe it, to be honest, this is crazy,” said Huppatz,18 and the reigning Australia/Oceania titlist who defeated 2023 world junior champion and fellow Australian Sierra Kerr in the final. Henry, on the other hand, booked the biggest win of his career on a tense final day that featured inconsistent one-to-two-foot swell prompting smart wave selection and critical small wave skills for all the protagonists. It’s been a massive week, it feels like I’ve been here for about a month,”
Sabalenka, Gauff march on
MELBOURNE, Australia—Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, two of the top three women’s seeds at the Australian Open, both reached the third round Wednesday. And the topseeded man, Carlos Alcaraz, joined them.
Top-seeded Sabalenka defeated Bai Zhouxuan of China 6-3, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena, and No. 3 Gauff won over left-hander Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena.
A lcaraz defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in a tough match for the Spaniard, who prevailed 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2.
I knew he [Hanfmann] was going to play great,” Alcaraz said. “I knew his level. We’d played a few times already. But to be honest, it was tougher than I thought.”
“ The ball was coming as a bomb— forehand, backhand, so I had to be ready for that,” Alcaraz added of Hanfmann’s shot making.
A lcaraz, 22, is trying to win his first title at Melbourne Park to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Sabalenka won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 and was the runnerup a year ago against Madison Keys. She is after her fifth Grand Slam title and has two trophies at the US Open.
G auff has never advanced past the semifinals in Australia and has Grand Slam titles from the French Open and US Open.
Sabalenka raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set but then needed seven set points at Rod Laver Arena to take the set against the defensive-minded Chinese player, who used clever drop shots to help her stay in the match.
Sabalenka will next face Anastasia Popapova, who defeated 28th-seeded and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu 7-6 (3), 6-2. I was happy to get this win, a tricky opponent,” Sabalenka said. “She really stepped in in the first set.” Sabalenka led 4-0 in the second set and overpowered the smaller Bai. Sabalenka even tried a bit of serve-andvolley in the match, trying to diversify her game.
said Henry in epicenter San Juan in La Union. “I want to say a massive thanks to my coach, Adam Dufner. I’ve been training with him for 10 years, honestly wouldn’t be able to be here without him.”
Huppatz got 12.67 points to beat fellow Australian Sierra Kerr (12.17)—who was off the surf for six months because of infection from tick bites—for one of the two biggest trophies of the competition also supported by the Philippines Sports Commission, SMC Infrastructure Inc. and BMEG/Nutrichunks. He nry, meanwhile, earned 13.67 points to run away with the trophy from Israel’s Nadav Attar (11.40) in the event that preceded the Longboard International Qualifying event—the La Union International Pro—that kicked off Tuesday also off Urbiztondo Beach.
You saw serve-and-volley today,” Sabalenka said. “It didn’t really work well, but I did one.”
B ai was making her second appearance in the Australian Open and reached the second round for the first time.
I n another women’s match, 12thseeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeated Linda Klimovicova of Poland 7-5, 6-1. Gael Monfils, a popular 39-year-old Frenchman and Svitolina’s husband, said goodbye at Melbourne Park in his retirement year, losing on Tuesday in a first-round match to qualifier Dane Sweeny.
I n another women’s match, Zeynep Sönmez of Turkey, who was highly praised during her first-round match Sunday for assisting an ill ballkid, advanced to the third round after beating Anna Bondar 6-2, 6-4.
Sönmez played at one of Melbourne Park’s outside courts and the stands were crammed with members of Melbourne’s Turkish community.
“ I really appreciated there were many Turkish people, and I felt like I was at home,” she said. “At first I couldn’t even hear my own thoughts. It was very, very loud.”
I n men’s results, 2021 US Open winner and 11th-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Quentin Halys 6-7 (9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, 13th-seeded Andrey Rublev beat Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 and 19th-seeded Tommy Paul defeated Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. A lso, 14th-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won the first two sets but then struggled to beat American Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.
Medvedev advances AFTER the season he’s coming off, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is celebrating his run to the third round at the Australian Open as positive progress. His results in Grand Slam events in 2025—losing in the first round at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open after a second-round exit in Australia, after smashing a tiny camera attached to the net while avoiding a monumental upset in the first—were his worst since his debut season in 2017. AP
Tiu optimistic after conducting first practice with Fuel Masters
By Josef T. Ramos
CHARLES TIU says he liked what he saw during the practice on his first day with Phoenix.
A head coach in the Philippine Basketball Association for the first time, the 37-year-old Tiu is determined to get the Fuel Masters on the winning track. Phoenix signed Tiu to a one-year deal, replacing Willie Wilson after one conference. The Fuel Masters finished with a 3-8 win-loss record in the Philippine Cup. Tiu becomes the sixth head coach of Phoenix after Ariel Vanguardia, Louie Alas, Topex Robinson, Jamike Jarin and Wilson. I would say positive. I like what I saw from the team, and I am so excited with this group,” Tiu told the BusinessMirror after the team’s practice at Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday.
Chris Tiu, hopes the team can become a consistent layoff contender.
A former deputy at Converge and champion head coach of College of Saint Benilde in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Tiu makes his coaching debut on March 11 at the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.
I wish I have a good import with great basketball skills. But so far, cannot name names yet due to confidentiality now,” Tiu added. “About my status in Saint Benilde, they may change my current position there.
Maybe, a team consultant or something else but I still stay with them.” Tyler Tio, Ricci Rivero, Bryan Santos, Kenneth Tuffin, Kai Ballungay, Francis Escandor, rookies Will Gozum, and JC Cullar, Evan Nelle and veteran Jason Perkins welcomed Tiu’s arrival.
S ome of the players released by Phoenix management before Tiu was
Dof the University Athletic Association of the Philippines High School baseball tournament on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Coliseum. The Junior Golden Sox’s third win in four games provided a timely boost heading into the second round as they bounced back from an 11-13 upset loss to PAREF Southridge.
Lagac, Dagoon bag three titles each at Zentro clay courts
Jan
MDagoon picked up right where they left off, launching their 2026 campaigns emphatically by sweeping three titles apiece in the Zopiya Morales National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Zentro clay courts recently in Apalit, Pampanga. Fresh from strong finishes in the season-ending MAC’s Crank It National Junior Championships, Lagac proved his recent surge was no fluke, ruling the boys’ singles 16- and 18-and-under divisions in dominant style. anked No. 5 in the 16-and-under class, the rising Cebuano star dismantled second seed Troan Vytiaco, 6-2, 6-0, in the quarterfinals, overwhelmed No. 3 Antonio Bengzon, 6-0, 6-1, in the semis, then shut out top seed Anthony Cosca, 6-0, 6-0, to clinch the title. Lagac sustained his scorching form in the tougher 18-and-under division despite entering as an unseeded player. He blasted past second-ranked Felizardo Lota III, 6-1, 6-0, in the semis before repeating the feat against top seed Vytiaco, 6-0, 6-1, to secure his second straight Most Valuable Player honor in the Group 2 tournament. The event is part of the PPSPEPP program spearheaded by president and CEO Bobby Castro. Dagoon, who also captured MVP honors in the girls’ division of the MAC’s Crank It meet, matched Lagac’s two-title haul on her side of the draw. She toppled top seed and doubles partner Ayl Gonzaga, 6-0, 6-3, to win the girls’ 16-and-U crown, then asserted her mastery over her fellow Olongapo campaigner with a 6-3, 6-0 victory in the 18-and-U finals. L agac capped his campaign by teaming up with Elijah Okano to edge Cyrus Javier and Vytiaco, 8-6, in the boys’ 18-and-under doubles final. Meanwhile, Dagoon and Gonzaga survived Dania Bulanadi and Athena Liwag, 8-7(5), in the girls’ doubles final. Other singles winners in the Philtasanctioned event, supported by Dunlop, Universal Tennis, Icon Golf & Sports, and the Palawan Group of Companies, were Pangasinan’s Jairus Peralta, Olongapo’s Yuan Torrente, Makati’s Lilith Rufino, and Iloilo’s Donarose Olavides. Peralta stunned top seed Tyronne Caro, 7-5, 6-3, in the semis before turning back doubles partner Torrente, 7-6(4), 6-3, to claim the boys’ 14-andunder title. Torrente later secured the boys’ 12-and-undercrown with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Liam Harrow. R ufino dominated Liwag, 6-2, 6-2, to capture the girls’ 14-and-under title, while Olavides mounted a gritty comeback to outlast Kyla Caguioa, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(8), in the girls’ 18-andunder final. I n doubles play, Peralta and Torrente ruled the boys’ 14-and-under division with an 8-7(5) victory over Caro a nd Avriel Panaligan. Sofia Aguilera and Liwag claimed the girls’ doubles crown with an 8-2 romp over Carolina Fandino and Rufino, while Joaquin Dacyon and Liwag clinched the mixed doubles title via an 8-7(7) decision over Peralta and Alexa Morales.
