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A CASE of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing?

That seems to be the reason behind the dropping of the tourism master plan for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a project instigated by the House of Representatives under the 19th Congress, with funds from the General Appropriations Act for 2024 allocated to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza).

In the recent 2026 budget presentation of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies and government firms, Tieza Chief Operating Officer Dr. Mark T. Lapid told Finance Committee chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian that his office is ‘in the process of terminating the master plan because we didn’t get any clearance from the DND (Department of National Defense).to go to the islands.’

He added, only P7 million has been spent for the project’s ‘mobilization,’ while the rest of the funds are still with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The P99.2-million project for a detailed engineering study of the WPS and neighboring islands was awarded in December to WTA Architecture and Design Studio, which was the lone bidder.

Earlier, Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda (Albay, 2nd District) explained to the BusinessMirror: ‘The item is part of [the] 2024 budget’s assertive stance towards protecting our territorial integrity, including a realignment of confidential funds towards WPS defense.. Nothing says domestic territory like tourism. And indeed, this part of the sea is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places in the world.’

2026 travel taxes seen at P7.26B

Another project which Tieza terminated, said Lapid, was the P1.25-billion Mayon Volcano Heritage Aesthetic Lighting project, another congressional initiative. Phase one of the project was allocated P500 million under GAA 2024, and phase two, at P750 million, under GAA 2025. ‘Not a single centavo has been spent on this,’ he stressed, except for P5-million Tieza spent from its own funds for a feasibility study.

‘Iilawan natin ang Mayon Volcano? ‘Di ba sumasabog ‘yon?’ asked Gatchalian in disbelief.

To which, Lapid explained that it was ‘technically viable’ to light up the volcano at a distance from the lava flows, as proposed in the project, but it was terminated because it was ‘socially [unacceptable].’ Objections were raised by stakeholders, the local government unit, and the Department of Environment and National Resources during public hearings overseen by Tieza. ‘So there’s no purpose in implementing the project,’ said the Tieza chief.

The government corporation has no proposed budget for 2026 as its operations are mainly financed by collections of travel taxes. For 2026, it projects travel taxes to reach P7.26 billion, of which it will retain 50 percent for Tieza’s operations. Lapid said earlier they will likely exceed its P6.86-billion target this year.

Bicol, Tacloban stadiums hang

Of its P620-million subsidy for 2024, the construction of a Tubbataha Ranger Station, which cost P20 million is ‘being reviewed’ as it involves the transfer of funds to the province of Palawan, he said. The project is supposed to be executed by the local government unit in partnership with conservators of the popular dive spot.

Gatchalian was looking into the low disbursement rate of Tieza projects funded by GAA subsidies. ‘It’s already end of the year and none of these projects in 2024 and 2025 materialized,’ said the lawmaker.

For instance, Tieza was also allocated a P1.55-billion subsidy under GAA 2025 to fund lawmakers’ other pet projects such as the the Construction of a Baywalk in the Cruise Port project in Puerto Galera (P10 million), Construction of the Bicol International Sports Stadium-Phase 1 (P390 million); and the Construction of the Tacloban International Sports Stadium-Phase 1 (P395 million) projects.

While plans are ongoing for the baywalk project, Lapid said Tieza ‘has yet to receive any information and scope for both projects.so the amounts are still with the DBM.’ No coordination has been made by the projects’ proponents.

At least 25 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are now on death row abroad and need legal support, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

They were among the 1,106 OFWs with pending cases abroad, who are receiving legal aid from DMW through its P2.2-billion Agarang Kalinga sa mga OFW (overseas Filipino workers) na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund this year.

DMW Hans J. Cacdac explained initially they have 50 to 60 OFWs, who were sentenced to death, but it was greatly reduced after Malaysia implemented a new policy, which made it more flexible in terms of commuting the death penalty.

The said cases are now down to 25 after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sought the commutation of OFWs on death sentence in Malaysia.

Cacdac said they are now working with the DFA and the Office of the President to save the remaining 25 OFWs, who are facing the death sentence, by seeking for the postponement of their executions and then appealing for their sentence to be commuted or for their acquittal.

‘The President is also very concerned about death row cases and we have been working quietly to hold the executions at bay and you are right, you have hit the nail on the head, [we are pushing for] those cases to be commuted.If not completely removed,’ he said in Filipino.

DMW is currently seeking for a higher AKSYON Fund, which is set to be reduced to just P1.2 billion next year due to low utilization rate, so it can hire more legal counsel to assist OFWs, who are facing charges abroad.

The agency currently has 23 legal retainers and 10 in-house lawyers to handle the said cases. It also has some partnerships with 22 law firms, which it taps for cases which reach the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of the host countries.

The said lawyers were deployed in countries with a large concentration of OFWs with cases namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Israel.

Cacdac explained that hiring legal counsel abroad is very costly. He noted they disbursed P332,257,000 out of the AKSYON Fund to pay its legal personnel abroad.

He asked the Senate to increase their AKSYON Fund next year from P2.4 billion to increase the number of their in-house lawyers and partner law firms next year.

Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian and Rodante D. Marcoleta backed the said proposal of raising the AKSYON Fund since OFWs with pending cases abroad, who have regular legal aid from DMW, are able to win their legal appeals.

At least seven to eight more Migrant Workers Office (MWO) are expected to be operational next year to make government services accessible to more overseas Filipino workers (OFW) abroad, according to the DMW.

This will be on top of the 42 existing MWOs worldwide including its most recently opened in Bangkok, which will accommodate 40,000 OFWs in Thailand.

Cacdac said another three MWOs will be established before the end of the year in Cambodia, Guam and Vietnam.

‘I will be conservative, I will say 7 to 8 [MWO] will be opened [in 2026]. But we are aiming for 13 next year Mr. Chair,’ he told Senate Committee on Migrant Workers chairperson Senator Rafael ‘Raffy’ T. Tulfo during a budget hearing last Monday.

Cacdac said the plan will help address their significant backlog in terms of MWO.

Under the Republic Act No. 11641 or the ‘Department of Migrant Workers Act,’ DMW must establish MWOs in areas where there are Philippine Foreign Service Posts and have a large concentration of OFWs.

Among the services provided by the MWOs are promoting and protecting the welfare and interests of OFWs; verifying employment contracts and other employment-related documents; and monitoring the status of OFWs in a specific country or territory.

‘The DFA has presence to at least 92 [nationwide locations] as far as I know, and are still far off [from what is required in the law] at 42,’ Cacdac said.

DMW issued the pronouncement when asked by Tulfo if its 1,429 filled positions is already sufficient to accommodate the estimated 10 million OFWs abroad.

Cacdac explained that their current number of personnel is only 75 percent of their total manpower.

As part of its DMW’s proposed P10.2-billion 2026 budget, he said they are eyeing to hire six additional personnel per post.

‘Right now, we will always have to say that we are short on people and it would be good to add more, especially in regular positions,’ he said in Filipino

THE Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has criticized Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for snap elections, calling it a ‘typical obfuscation’ of the issue of corruption in government.

‘Cateyano is trying to divert the focus from corruption accountability to snap elections, giving the illusion that corruption can be addressed simply through the electoral process that is still dominated by political dynasties and corrupt politicians. How will holding snap elections address the issue of accountability? The proposal is a distraction and a way to douse cold water on the people’s protests,’ the bloc said in a statement.

The bloc added that a snap election, without systemic reforms, would only result in a change of personalities and would not tackle the root causes of corruption.

Cayetano, in a statement posted on his official social media accounts on Sunday, urged all sitting government officials-from Malacañang to Congress-to resign to pave the way for snap elections and a completely new set of leaders.

He said the country’s political institutions have been shaken by a series of corruption scandals that ‘eroded the very foundation of our people’s faith in leadership.’ According to Cayetano, genuine accountability requires more than mere words from public officials.

The senator, who serves as the minority leader of the upper chamber, described his proposal as both symbolic and practical-a ‘national reset button’ to emphasize that public service is about stewardship, not self-preservation.

Cayetano’s statement comes amid renewed public outrage over high-profile corruption allegations involving infrastructure projects and the misuse of discretionary funds.

Wishful thinking

MALACAÑANG on Monday brushed aside Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s call for a snap election involving all elected officials in the executive and legislative branches, calling it ‘wishful thinking’ and irrelevant to the country’s pressing concerns.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos remains focused on governance and disaster response, particularly assisting those affected by the recent disasters.

‘It is just his wishful thinking. We do not have time to talk about one’s personal desires. Abala ang Pangulo na magtrabaho para sa bayan at tulungan ang mga naapektuhan ng lindol at bagyo. Wala po siyang oras sa mga ganitong klaseng pamumulitika [The President is busy working for the country and helping those affected by the earthquake and typhoon. He has no time for this kind of politicking],’ Castro said.

She urged public officials to set aside political maneuvering and prioritize the people’s welfare.

‘Mag-focus po tayong lahat sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan, hindi sa mga pansariling interes lang [Let us all focus on the needs of the people, not on personal interests],’ she added.

Law needed

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday clarified that holding snap elections is not possible unless a law explicitly allows it, following renewed calls in the Senate to elect a new set of national leaders.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia explained that the terms of elected officials are fixed under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which means the poll body cannot simply hold another election without legal authority.

‘On the part of the Comelec, we cannot conduct any kind of election-whether special or snap-without a law mandating it. Our duty is to implement election laws, and without such a mandate, we have no basis to proceed,’ Garcia said in an interview.

The clarification came after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano over the weekend urged all sitting government officials-from Congress to Malacañang-to resign and pave the way for a snap election to install a new set of leaders.

Garcia, however, cautioned that the Comelec has no power to hold such an election on its own.

‘That kind of mechanism exists in a parliamentary government. When there is a loss of confidence, the government itself can immediately call for an election,’ he explained.

‘But here in our system, there’s no such provision. Whether this would require a constitutional amendment or simply a new law, I cannot say.’

When asked how snap elections were made possible during the Marcos Sr. administration, Garcia pointed out that the Batasang Pambansa at the time gave the President both executive and legislative powers.

Under the 1987 Constitution, however, the principle of separation of powers and a system of checks and balances were clearly established.

‘The terms of elected officials are fixed,’ Garcia said. ‘The president cannot be re-elected, and the vice president may only serve two consecutive terms. These provisions were put in place to prevent abuse of power.’

Still, if public pressure for snap elections gains momentum and lawmakers find a legal remedy, Garcia said the Comelec will be ready to carry it out.

‘There would be no problem. We’re open to such proposals, but of course, all actions, especially those by the Comelec, must be based on existing laws, particularly when it comes to elections,’ he said.

THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) raised the possibility that banks and their employees may be complicit in the release of funds from accounts linked to the anomalous flood control projects.

In a radio interview, AMLC Executive Director Matthew M. David said if this were the case, the AMLC can initiate an examination or compliance checking against the banks, including their employees.

David said AMLC can also file criminal cases of money laundering against banks and their employees who are complicit in the current corruption controversy.

‘Pwede pong mangyari na kasabwat ang mga bangko [It’s possible that some banks are complicit]. Unang una [First among them are], supervisors [of] covered persons, we can initiate examination or compliance checking against the banks, including their employees,’ David said.

‘[This form of] money laundering that a bank employee can do is called facilitating-money laundering offense through facilitating of the transaction,’ he added.

David said banks should file suspicious transaction reports to the AMLC if there are withdrawals that are suspicious, as provided under the law.

He said if the bank, compliance officer or bank manager thinks a withdrawal is possibly related to corruption, they should file a suspicious transaction report. If they do not do that, AMLC will never know.

‘Ang tawag natin sa mga [We call the] banks and covered persons [the] first line of defense. Because the banks are the first that can see this, not the AMLC. They’re the first that can see, detect or even prevent these unlawful activities,’ he added, partly in Filipino.

Meanwhile, David said AMLC included in its investigation foreign assets of the respondents. This includes offshore bank accounts, real properties or properties acquired by respondents in other countries.

Through mutual legal assistance (MLAT), David said AMLC can request foreign entities to file a civil forfeiture abroad in order to return these to the national government.

‘We are coordinating with our foreign counterparts to determine if they are respondents in financial transactions abroad; they share that with us. And they share whatever properties these people may have overseas,’ David said.

To date, AMLC has immobilized P4.2 billion worth of assets linked to the alleged irregularities in flood control spending.

This was after AMLC secured its fourth freeze order from the Court of Appeals on Friday. The latest order covered 57 bank accounts, 10 real properties, and nine motor vehicles.

AMLC expects the latest valuation of frozen assets will increase as the flood control inquiry progresses.

The Court of Appeals has frozen a total of 1,620 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 40 real properties and 12 e-wallet accounts.

AMLC said the assets seized include high-value holdings such as a luxury compound in a prime urban district, multiple high-end vehicles, virtual currencies and unit investment trust funds.

The Council said it remains committed to tracing financial links to public sector anomalies.

Underscoring government’s commitment to support teachers at the frontlines of learning recovery, President Ferdinand Marcos and the Department of Education (DepEd) capped this year’s National Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day celebration with the rollout of programs and benefits aimed at strengthening the welfare, training, and professional growth of educators.

At the National Teachers’ Day Culminating Program, Marcos joined Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, National Teachers Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC) Chair Aniceto Sobrepeña of Metrobank Foundation, DepEd officials, lawmakers, and education partners in recognizing the pivotal role of teachers in nation-building.

‘Patuloy na nagbibigay ang DepEd ng prayoridad sa inyong kapakanan, mula sa career progression, dagdag benepisyo tulad ng teaching, medical, overtime at overload pay, hanggang sa pagbawas ng admin tasks. Lagi kayong kaagapay ng Kagawaran. Ngunit gaya ng paalala ni Pangulong Marcos, dapat maramdaman ang tulong sa bawat silid-aralan, sa bawat guro, sa bawat bata,’ Angara said.

Meanwhile, in his keynote message, Marcos said that the teachers are the guiding hands, and in their hands lies the nation’s progress.

‘In your strength, in your wisdom and in your courage, we find assurance that our future is secured. For this National Teachers’ Day, we offer our respect, our deepest gratitude for shaping minds, touching hearts and in your way, building a nation that we can be proud of, one student at a time,’ Marcos said.

DepEd, likewise, highlighted reforms designed to ease teachers’ workload and improve working conditions, among them the reduction of required school forms being accomplished by teachers and the creation of 60,000 new teaching positions under the proposed 2026 national budget.

Under the PBBM administration, teachers have received higher allowances and benefits, including the P10,000 teaching allowance under the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, the medical allowance of up to P7,000 for eligible personnel, and the Special Hardship Allowance for teachers assigned to difficult posts.

Public school teachers are also set to receive the annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit of P1,000.

Meanwhile, private school teachers also received a P6,000 increase in the annual salary subsidy for private school teachers covered by the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) component of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program.

Other measures include the release of the 2023 performance-based bonus, expanded vacation service credits from 15 to 30 days, and the implementation of a clearer career progression system that provides additional teaching and administrative positions to address teachers’ long-standing concerns about promotions.

Under the current administration, teacher profession is also being improved through the launch of the Teacher Education Roadmap 2025-2035 and the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR), which will support teachers in adapting to emerging technologies. DepEd said these complement the agency’s push to digitize classrooms, backed by a proposed more budget for laptops and connectivity support next year.

Angara pointed to the resilience of teachers who continue to serve despite the recent string of disasters that struck parts of the country, including the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu and typhoons that damaged schools in Northern Luzon and Bicol.

He said DepEd is working to speed up the delivery of temporary learning spaces, modular learning materials, and psychosocial support for affected teachers and students.

‘Our teachers have been the first to step up in every crisis, ensuring that children’s education does not stop. That is why recovery efforts are tied closely with teacher support,’ Angara said.

The culminating event, attended by some 12,500 teachers from Luzon and Metro Manila, also featured the unveiling of a PhilPost commemorative stamp, recognition of national awardees from TESDA, Metrobank Foundation, and other partners, and a variety show with raffle draws as tribute to educators’ contributions.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday he is confident there will be no leadership shakeup in the Senate, amid speculations fanned by netizens at the weekend that certain blocs are moving to replace his month-old leadership.

Asked again at the end of a press conference if he is confident that there won’t be any shakeup when the Senate convenes on Friday (Oct 10), Sotto, whose 15-man majority bloc is viewed by some as a tenuous lead over a 9-member minority, replied, ‘Quite confident,’ while adding, ‘but any senator elected into the leadership serves at the pleasure’ of the members.

He also said that Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, rumored to be groomed to replace him, had told him, when they spoke the other day, ‘wala he naman akong kinakausap kahit na sino.’

He explained he has been talking to most senators and was confident his leadership was addressing their concerns, citing as example Sen. JV Ejercito, who was reported in social media as planning to bolt the majority over issues in the direction of the flood-control projects investigation.

At the same time, Sotto sounded certain that the 2026 budget will not be hounded by questions of irregularities like the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) because the President has ruled out certifying the budget bill-the first time in many years it will not get Palace certification.

This means, Sotto explained, that lawmakers have three days between second-reading approval and their third-reading vote to read the budget bill thoroughly.

He said that Congress was told by President Marcos ‘they will not be given the certification of urgency.’

The ‘President doesn’t want to certify budget so there will be time for everyone to go over the budget. The President himself said that: ayaw niya yung short cut ng 3-day rule.’

‘Taon taon, may fina-fast break,’ and the President does not want that to happen this year, Sotto said. He was referring to criticism that most lawmakers had failed to read the budget in detail as a result of the quick succession in second and third-reading passage, accounting for numerous questions about so-called insertions.

Asked if a non-certification by the Palace won’t affect or delay the budget, Sotto replied, in Filipino, ‘No. It will be even good for the process. Every year, Congress asks for a certification to skirt the 3-day rule. The question is: ‘ did you read the budget?’ No.

‘Now, you have 3 days to go over the budget. We will make sure we all read the budget.’

Lacson stays for now

In another development, Sotto said he would rather that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson keep the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) , amid wrangling over the direction of the Senate inquiry.

He said he understood why Lacson wants out. ‘Senator Lacson is frustrated. He is not stressed..Sanay sa stress yun. Maghi-hearing siya, merong umaangal bakit maghi-hearing; pag di naman siya nagtawag, meron pa ring umaangal.’

He said he has not received yet Lacson’s letter of resignation from the BRC, but ‘I will support whatever decision he makes; and I will accept whatever decision he makes.’

Still, ‘I can only hope for the best.’

THE Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) is amenable to the creation of an official ‘blacklist’ of firms found to have committed integrity violations when it comes to projects they implemented with the government.

In a briefing on Monday, DepDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said this is something that can be put in place in light of the recent controversies surrounding the flood control projects.

‘Yeah. I think that the public, being aware of what is a good partner and a bad partner, should be part of the accountability mechanism that will need to be put in place,’ Balisacan said.

Budget and Management Assistant Secretary Romeo Matthew T. Balanquit said the new government procurement act can also help in this regard.

Balanquit said under the new law, companies participating in biddings are required full disclosure when it comes to all procurement data and documents, including beneficial ownership.

‘I think this would be a very good way of not only deterring these possible incidents happening again in the future, but also the appropriate penalty that can be also imposed on those people who make these anti-competitive practices,’ Balanquit said.

Meanwhile, the Economic Development (ED) Council said other efforts include the revision of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) guidelines, the first time it was revised in 10 years.

Balisacan said the revision includes raising the ICC threshold to P5 billion from P2.5 billion. He told BusinessMirror last month that this was being done due to inflation.

Apart from these, the ICC’s coverage now includes Public-Private Partnership projects.

Further, the ICC will now conduct mandatory review of all foreign loan-assisted projects regardless of loan amount or total cost, excluding grant-assisted projects that are reviewed by DepDev.

Balisacan said these changes aim to streamline the ICC process and make project evaluation more rigorous, minimizing delays.

The Country’s Chief Economist also said this is being done alongside safeguards placed on various stages of the approval process to prevent problems that may arise when it comes to projects.

He added the new guidelines has also placed value on project monitoring and evaluation, which needs to be embedded in all projects.

‘We need to embed impact evaluation and monitoring evaluation in excellent projects because that will not only improve our learnings on what works and what does not, but also potentially save us from costly mistakes,’ Balisacan said.

Meanwhile, Department of Finance Undersecretary Joven Balbosa also stressed that efforts to improve governance in projects can also take a cue from the country’s development partners.

He said lessons on project preparation, project implementation, execution, and monitoring and evaluation can be included in new project proposals.

Balbosa also said including intermittent reviews throughout the project cycle can help ensure quality of project delivery while keeping projects on track to completion.

‘On the procurement process, our multilateral partners especially, we work with them on international competitive bidding, open bid,’ Balbosa said.

‘Two steps. First to look at the quality of the project bid or the proposals before you even go to the price part. So it is important, again, to learn from the analysis on the quality or the design that is being proposed,’ he added.

The ICC consists of the Secretary of Finance, as chairman; the DEPDev Secretary, as cochairman; and the Executive Secretary, the Secretaries of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Budget and Management and the Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, as members.

The committee, one of seven interagency committees of the ED Council, evaluates the fiscal, monetary and balance of payments implications of major national projects, and recommends to the President the timetable of their implementation on a regular basis.

It also advises the President on matters related to the domestic and foreign borrowings program and submits a status of the fiscal, monetary and balance of payments implications of major national projects.

AMID declining public trust in the House of Representatives, the Speaker on Monday urged all employees of the lower chamber to work together in restoring the people’s confidence in Congress.

Speaking during the flag-raising ceremony, Speaker Faustino Dy III emphasized the need for integrity, unity, and genuine public service.

‘I know this is a difficult time for Congress. Our institution and each of us are facing tough challenges,’ Dy said.

‘It is painful to admit, but public trust in our institution has declined. However, this should remind us to work harder and restore that trust through honest and dedicated service.’

‘Let us remember: after every storm, the sun will shine again; after every night of darkness, there is light ahead. There is always light at the end of every tunnel,’ he added.

Dy expressed his gratitude to House staff for their tireless efforts during budget deliberations that stretched until the early morning.

The Speaker stressed the importance of solidarity, saying that public service is a collective mission.

‘In Congress, no one stands alone,’ Dy said. ‘Each of us plays an important role-from lawmakers to the simplest staff member-in upholding a patriotic, honest, and dependable public service. Let us remember: we do not serve for ourselves, but for every Filipino family who depends on us.’

Dy reminded House employees that the Philippine flag represents not only the nation but also their oath to serve the Filipino people with honor and compassion.

‘This morning, as we face our flag, let us remember that it symbolizes not just our country but also our pledge-to serve with integrity, excellence, and humanity,’ Dy said. ‘Let us work together and remain united. In every task and every step we take, let the spirit of patriotism guide us.’

The brightest young athletes of the Philippines will be celebrated at the 5th Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) Siklab Youth Sports Awards presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Saturday at the Grand Ballroom of Diamond Hotel Manila.

This year’s edition shines a spotlight on the Youth Heroes Awardees, led by weightlifters Jay-R Colonia, Alexandra Ann Diaz, Althea Bacaro, Jhodie Peralta, and Albert Ian Delos Santos.

Their stellar performances at the 2025 World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru earned the Philippines the top spot among 33 nations, with a remarkable haul of 10 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals.

Joining them are elite junior athletes from various disciplines: Karl Eldrew Yulo (gymnastics), Rianne Malixi (golf), Pi Durden Wangkay (athletics), Dean Darnet Venerable (taekwondo), Tenny Madis (tennis), Kira Ellis (triathlon), and Sam Cantada (volleyball).

Yulo, the younger sibling of the double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, will be recognized for the fifth consecutive year, underscoring his continued excellence in the sport. The event is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, CEL Logistics, MVPSF, Smart/PLDT, Go For Gold, Homegrown, Orich and Blue Hydra.

Seven-year-old jiujitsu prodigy Aielle Aguilar returns for her third straight Siklab honor after dominating her division at the Pan Kids IBJJF Tournament in Orlando, Florida-the world’s largest youth jiujitsu competition.

Also being hailed as Super Kids are Xian Baguhin (boxing) Sophia Catantan (fencing), Kyra Abella (judo), and Joan Denise Lumbao (karate).

Top performers from the 2025 Palarong Pambansa will also be recognized, including swimmer Titus Sia, archer Naina Tagle, chess player Mar Aviel Carredo, dancesport standout Bhenz Rudolf Owen Semilla, and gymnast King Cjay Pernia.

Not to be outdone, the Batang Pinoy Games will be represented by standout athletes such as Albert Jose Amaro II (swimming), Hazel May Risma (athletics), Haylee Garcia (gymnastics), Mariano Matteo Medina IV (archery), and Arvin Naeem Taguinota II (swimming).

A total of 73 awardees will be honored by the PSC-PPC-POC Media Group, with three special distinctions to be conferred: gymnast Carlos Yulo as Sports Idol of the Year, Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Christian Gonzalez as Godfather of the Year.

LOSS of investments and employment, among others, may be the ‘broader impact’ on the Philippine economy if the country’s exports keep underperforming, according to Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr.

‘Well, loss of investments, expansions will be held, definitely loss of employment,’ Ortiz-Luis said in a recent televised interview when asked about the impact on the Philippine economy if exports continue to plunge.

With this, he reiterated the need for a ‘more realistic’ budget for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to prop up the country’s outbound shipments.

In particular, the Philexport chief said ,’Maybe double [the budget of DTI] it. What is P10 billion compared to some projects that we are not doing now?’

In a witty retort towards the reallocation of funds from the anomalous flood control projects, Ortiz-Luis said: ‘If we can only get 5 percent of what is lost in the floodwater.that would help a lot the development of exports also of SMEs, which are lagging behind all our Asian neighbors.’

While he could not quantify by how much corruption has held back the export sector in the Philippines, he pointed to the participation rate of exporters in international trade fairs.

‘We have big fairs outside which we couldn’t afford which are supported by our neighbors. In the [China-Asean Expo] CAEXPO recently, you know how many exporters our neighbors sent? More than 200 from Thailand, more than 200 from Malaysia. You know how many we sent? Ten. Although the space will be given to us for free, it’s expensive for exporters to go,’ added Ortiz-Luis.

Apart from the lack of budget for the country’s exports, Ortiz-Luis took note of the changing trend in the trade data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which indicated that growth of exports in August slowed down while exports to the US plummeted, with Hong Kong now being the Philippines’ top export destination.

‘We know that Hong Kong overtook the US last August as the number one export destination,’ which could prove, he said, that ‘we’re trying to shift to other areas but it’s easier than done.’

PSA data showed that in August 2025, or during the month when the 19-percent reciprocal tariff imposed by Washington took effect for the Philippines, exports to the United States contracted 11.2 percent to $1.09 billion from the $1.22 billion recorded in August 2024.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ shipments bound for Hong Kong soared by 26.4 percent to $1.19 billion in August 2025 from the $942.56 million in August 2024.

For August 2025 alone, this means that Hong Kong is now the Philippines’ top export destination.

The PSA data showed the growth in country’s outbound shipments slowed down in August compared to the previous months or when the tariff imposed by Washington was not yet in place.

PSA data showed that export earnings growth slowed in August as outbound shipments only grew 4.6 percent to $7.06 billion in August from the $6.75 billion in the same period last year.

This, after exports peaked at 26.9 percent in June 2025, then export earnings slowed to 17.6 percent in July and posted single-digit growth in August.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector slipped into ‘negative territory’ in September on the back of drops in output and new orders.

Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) economist Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr. said, ‘this has to do with the poor performance in exports.’

‘I think this has to do with the poor performance in exports. Manufacturing is significantly linked with exports. Hence, given the global headwinds, particularly with Trump’s unconventional policies, exports are down, bringing down manufacturing as well,’ Lanzona told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday.

For her part, Elizabeth Lee, Chairperson of Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message recently that while the September dip reflected weaker domestic demand, weather disruptions and rice import restrictions, ‘companies’ continued purchasing activity and upbeat sentiment suggest the downturn is viewed as temporary.’