‘Investors may exit on flood-fund mess’ A WORLD » A6
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BUSINESS leader has warned of potential diversion of investments away from the Philippines if “nothing solid” comes out of the probe into the flood-control mess. Ferdinand Ferrer, chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Committee for Science and Technology, told reporters on the sidelines of the 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Tuesday that there is currently no diversion or loss of business due to the flood control mess in the country. However, Ferrer pointed out: “Will there be in the future? I be-
lieve there could be if we do not act, if there’s nothing solid. If this one prolongs all the discussion, prolongs for months and months, I think not only semiconductor [will be affected] but also other investments.” Explaining the pulse of investors amid the ongoing corruption mess in the country, the business leader said investors are on a “wait-and-see” mode, asking the question: “Is this everywhere?” While these investors are not “holding off,” Ferrer revealed that they are monitoring the situation in the country. “Because the investments that are supposed to come in
now have already come. By the yearend, we have very few that’s coming in but we’re looking at the first half, the Q1, Q2 next year,” added Ferrer. The business leader pointed out that investors are “cautious,” describing the flood control anomaly as a “big scandal.” Ferrer also revealed that some Philippine business leaders even received phone calls from investors asking how deep and widespread the corruption in the country is. Moving forward, the PCCI official said the Philippines needs to show the world that despite “falling flat on our face,” the country is “solid,” meaning the
government and private sector will roll out corrective actions and implement reforms that will address corruption issues. “We need to act fast for our own sake as a country,” Ferrer emphasized. During PCCI’s business conference, the major business group offered its help to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which it urged to use the private sector as its “eyes and ears” on both government and private projects. “We want to help the government, you heard Secretary Dizon, there are 20,000 projects,” Ferrer said. Andrea E. San Juan
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ASSET RECOVERY ‘SOON’ IN FLOOD FUNDS THEFT www.businessmirror.com.ph
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Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Vol. 21 No. 14
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Pinoys abroad may now invest in securities issued by BSP
By Andrea E. San Juan
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@andreasanjuan
ONCRETE actions” on the flood control investigation are expected to unfold in the next few weeks, particularly in recovering the assets of those involved in the multibillion corruption mess, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon.
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
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“In the next few weeks, mayroon na pong mga kongkretong aksyon kayong makikita. Mayroon po tayong batas ‘yung civil forfeiture law, bihira pong ginagamit ito [we will see concrete action. We have a civil forfeiture law, which is rarely used],” Dizon said during the 51st See “Asset,” A2
PHILIPPINE TOURISM TO GET A TIKTOK BOOST UNDER DEAL FOR MSME By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
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Special to the BusinessMirror
ELL on TikTok, promote the Philippines? The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with the popular social media company to improve the promotion of services from the micro, small, and medium tourism enterprises (MSMEs). On Tuesday, the government agency and TikTok Philippines signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a project called, “Content Camp: Level Up with TikTok,” which is designed to equip these tourism MSMEs with digital skills and tools. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco told reporters that among the key performance indicators to measure the success of the partnership, “as far as we are concerned…it will include, number one, the increase in revenue; number two, increase in market penetration because their reach is now global; and number three, the conversion. So in other words, it is our goal that it will convert into actual arrivals, actual revenues, and actual expansions in businesses.” For his part, Yves Gonzalez, Head of Public Policy for TikTok Philippines, said in a mix of Filipino and English that workshops will be held for interested tourism SMEs. “Those who still don’t know how to use [TikTok], we will teach them how to use it, while those who already know, we will teach them to level up. We will teach them how to do content creation, effective use of the live feature, as well as advertising. So it’s about really empowering them See “Philippine,” A2
ONE RFID, ONE LUZON DRIVE President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang and Metro Pacific
Investments Corporation Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, graces the launching of the One RFID program for the interoperability of expressways operated by SMC Infrastructure and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. at Kilometer 44 of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) in Calamba, Laguna, on Tuesday, October 21. Also in photo are Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Jose Arturo M. Tugade. The One RFID program allows motorists to travel seamlessly using just one RFID and account across major toll roads in Luzon, including NLEX, SLEX, Skyway, TPLEX, SCTEX, CALAX, and CAVITEX. Story in A5 News. PCO/SMC PHOTO
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VERSEAS Filipinos can now invest in securities issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) through retirement-focused investment funds, following a regulatory change that lifts previous restrictions on non-residents. The BSP said on Tuesday that it updated the its rules and is now exempting the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) from the 10 percent non-resident ownership rule. With the exemption, PERA-UITFs can now invest in BSP securities, removing the barrier to investment and allowing more Filipinos abroad to diversify their retirement savings through BSP-backed instruments. Before, non-residents were prohibited from owning BSP-issued debt instruments. UITFs managed by banks and trust companies could only invest in these securities if nonresident investors made up less than 10 percent of the fund. The reform will benefit nine out of 13 PERA-UITFs, which exceed the 10 percent non-resident ownership limit, allowing them to diversify their portfolio, the BSP said. The central bank said the move forms part of its ongoing efforts to promote financial health. “It helps Filipinos, both at home or abroad, build secure and sustainable retirement savings. It also helps develop the country’s private pension system and strengthens domestic capital markets,” the BSP added. UITFs are pooled funds from individual investors to create diversified portfolio, even for those investing in small amounts, and are managed by banks and trust companies and regulated by the BSP. They are similar to mutual funds, which are managed by investment companies and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Recently, the BSP also allowed UITFs with foreign exposures to qualify as PERA products to channel more retirement savings into global markets and deepen capital market development. PERA is a voluntary retirement savings program launched in 2016 to supplement the existing retirement See “Pinoys,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.1380 n JAPAN 0.3860 n UK 77.9747 n HK 7.4844 n CHINA 8.1620 n SINGAPORE 44.9463 n AUSTRALIA 37.8711 n EU 67.7017 n KOREA 0.0409 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.5022 Source: BSP (October 21, 2025)